Home visit~Epilogue~

2006/01/12 19:04

Well, I was planning to wrap up the “Home Visit” saga with the last entry,

but since it left such a terrible last impression of Y-ko, I’m composing an epilogue with the full truth.

Warning: I nearly decided to completely omit this part of the story.

The following should only be read by the stout of heart.

The car is heading back to the station with me inside.

Y-ko is driving, and I am in the passenger seat.

ME:	The Shinsengumi show was pretty good, huh?
Y-KO:	Yeah. That boy running at the end was pretty cute, too.
ME:	… You mean Tetsunosuke Ichimura?
Y-KO:	Yeah, Tetsunosuke. How do you remember that stuff?
ME:	It’s fairly common info…
Y-KO:	Was he your type?
ME:	………

I shot back a silent, chilling glare.

But Y-ko, concentrating on the road, didn’t notice.

Y-KO:	The Shinsengumi were a really interesting group, weren’t they?
ME:	Well, you have to understand, there were a lot of liberties taken with that show.
Y-KO:	Really?
ME:	They say that Soji Okita was actually rather dark skinned and wide faced.
Y-KO:	…… Would you mind not crushing a young maiden’s dreams like that?
ME:	You’re not a “young maiden” anym—okay, I’m sorry! Just watch the road!

Don’t take your eyes off it just to glare at me!

ME:	I mean, it makes for an interesting story.
	But I always wonder what the real Shinsengumi were like in person.
Y-KO:	You do?
ME:	Yeah. Like, I imagine the real Toshizo Hijikata was much fiercer and probably came across much more savage than even in the TV show…
Y-KO:	Ah.

Y-ko gripped the steering wheel, making sounds of agreement.

ME:	Of course, the show was pretty good overall. The casting sure was deluxe.
Y-KO:	Yeah, totally.
ME:	And by the way, did you know this?
	The Shinsengumi were actually—[omitted]—not to mention—[omitted]—like that. Also—[omitted]—was—[omitted]—and—[omitted]—in fact—[omitted]—put to death. Interesting, isn’t it? (← endless reams of trivia)

… Whoops. Did I go a little overboard?

Y-KO:	I see… So to sum up all of that…
	Tetsunosuke was really cute.

… Um…

ME:	Were you listening to me at all?
Y-KO:	Oh, look over there! That restaurant is really good.
ME:	……

I could have cried.

Y-KO:	I’m just kidding. Of course I was listening; don’t cry.
ME:	I’m not crying…

I’m almost crying. There’s a difference.

Y-KO:

You know, it’s really hard to listen to a bunch of trivia that you don’t give a crap about.

“Hard”… “Don’t give a crap about”…

The words are stabbing me. Painfully.

Y-KO:	But you know, after that whole speech…
	I’m thinking maybe I should cut back on giving you lectures about BL this year.

It was such an apologetic admission,

a statement of actual empathy for what I’ve had to go through.

For some reason, Y-ko pulled the car off the road and into the darkness.

ME:	Um… What’s the matter?
Y-KO:	Here’s your question! Why didn’t I come to pick you up earlier today?
ME:	Uh, because…
Y-KO:	(A) I was watching Satomi Hakkenden.

That’s the answer.

Y-KO:

(B) It’s been so long since we met, I was feeling shy.

… What?

Y-KO:

(C) Because if I came to pick you up, it would be too hard to resist making out.

… Uh…

Y-KO:

(D) I told my parents that after I drop you off, I’m going to return some DVDs.

… Meaning that you have extra time to burn during this trip?

Y-KO:

(E) Can I kiss you?

… Why are you taking off your seat belt?

Y-KO:

What is the correct answer?

……

ME:	(A) You were watching Satomi Hakkenden.
Y-KO:	Is that your final answer?
ME:	That’s my final answer.
Y-KO:	… That is correct! You win!!

I was right?!

Y-KO:	It was a trick question. Answer A was wrong, and all the others are right.
	So you picked the right one.
ME:	… That doesn’t make any sense.
Y-KO:	Now, you deserve your prize… What do you think it is?

…

……

………

I’ll let you imagine what the prize was. Go on, use your imagination.