BLURRY EYES

It is a nice quiet day in the Fujima home.

The matriarch is busying herself with her embroidery in the living room. The father is nowhere to be seen, he must be at work. Their only child just hanging around in his room. Beautiful, relaxing silence envelop the whole household...

*ring*ring*

...until the sound of the ringing phone disturbed it.

The matriarch left her work on the table beside her and strode over their tatami floor to answer the whining phone.

"Hello?... Ah, of course, please wait a moment." She gently put the receiver on the table and went upstairs to her son's room. "Kenji! Kenji dear!" she shouted in the second floor.

Her son, Kenji Fujima, popped out of his head from his bedroom door. "Hai, Okaasan?"

"There's a call for you, dear." "Thanks, I'll just answer it in my room ok?"

"You're welcome, dear." she answered and went back down to the living room.

Meanwhile, Kenji gently closed the door, sat on his bed and answered the phone, which is on the bedside table.

"Hello?"

"A-ano, Fujima-san? Fujima Kenji? Um, it's me, Shinobu, Shinobu Umeda."

Fujima gaped and nearly loose hold of the receiver. He can't beleive the one he was thinking about awhile ago just called him. He almost want to faint. Maybe he was just dreaming. Maybe it was just...

"Hello? Fujima-san? Are you still there?"

The other's voice finally waked him out of his stupor. "A-ah, y-yes! Yes, I'm still here. Um, why did you call you call by the way?" 'Not that I mind...'

"Um, you see..." Shinobu's voice sounded like he was hesitating. "...Ano, Fujima-san, there's this orchestra that's going to have a concert tomorrow night. I have these two tickets... Well, Sakuya is not much fond of orchestras and I'm sure he's not going to come with me... I asked Sendoh-san but he said he's busy and... Shinji-aniki and Maki-san are out doing who-knows- what... It would be such a waste if I just throw away the ticket... and um, I want somebody to accompany me there so... um..."

'Ok... one ticket... he wants company... he calls me... OH MY GOD IS HE...?!?!?!?! Calm down, Kenji. Calm yourself down...'

"Ano, Fujima-san... Willyoucomewithmetotheconcert co'zIdon'tknowanybodyelsetocomewithme?"

'Wha-what? Did I hear that right?!' "Shinobu-san, will you say that again only a bit slow?"

He heard Shinobu took a deep breath and released it like a sigh, "Fujima-san, Will you come with me to the concert co'z I don't know anybody else to come with me?"

'OH MY GOD AM I DREAMING?!?!?!?! He...he...'

"Fujima-san? Well, I'll understand if orchestras are not really your type so..."

"No, no! I mean yes! I would be glad to go there with you."

"Really? Are you sure? I'm not forcing you."

"Really, it's ok. I guess some change in music is good."

"Arigatou, Fujima-san! It's formal, so just wear your best shirt and pants. The concert starts at 8:00pm. I'll pick you up on...6:30? Is 6:30 ok with you?"

"Uh, yes, 6:30 is just fine."

"Great! Well, I guess see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, see you tomorrow."

"Remember, I'll pick you up on 6:30pm tomorrow."

"Hai, 6:30 tomorrow."

"Ja."

"Ja."

Fujima gently set the receiver back on its cradle, still staring in space.

'He...he asked me to go with him...'

After a few minutes of silence, after all of the information sanked in, Fujima whooped and jumped for joy like a little kid who got his toy on Christmas.

"Ha, ha, ha, ha! He just asked me out! Whohoo!"

Meanwhile, on the first floor, when the man of the house came home, "Tadaima."

"Okaerinasai, honey."

Hearing all the noise on the second floor, he can't help but ask his wife. "What's with our son?"

"You know he's like that when he's happy. Maybe his friend gave him good news."

"I know. I'm just worried that someday that floor is going to give." he sighed and shook his head.

****

Shinobu sighed, turned off the cordless phone and plopped down on his bed. He just stared at the ceiling almost like forever, thinking about what he has just done. It's not like he had a choice. His brothers are not interested in such events. He didn't have a lot of friends to ask. Sendoh was the closest but he said he was busy. Maki, eventhough he's not with his aniki, he would not ask him since they're not really that close. Kaji... Kaji just left but promised that he'll be back. He didn't know why but Fujima just popped out of his mind. He knows Fujima has this infatuation with him and it sometimes make him feel uncomfortable.

Shinobu's thoughts suddenly shifted to the time when they were going to the audio shop. When Fujima pulled him into his arms to avoid the accident, it felt so warm and... safe, which he never felt after Kaji. And the kiss... the kiss would have been nice...

Shinobu abruptly sat up and hit his head over and over with his pillow. 'BAKA! BAKA! BAKA! BAKA! What the heck are you thinking?! Snap out of it, Shinobu Umeda! Don't tell me you're having feelings for him! He IS good-looking and really nice... ARGH!!!'

Chapter 18