Wednesday, April 9, 1980
Arthur looked at the calendar and got ready for another day. With his hair dyed dark, he looked like a completely different person, though his features were still the same — only the color had changed.
"Bye, Mom," he said as Yumi waved him off. Slinging his backpack over his shoulder, Arthur started walking toward his high school. On the way, he couldn't stop thinking about how to share his ideas with his uncle without making it too obvious. If the Yakuza saw that he had good ideas, they might never let him go — AOI would never be free again, though Arthur might. Good thing I left myself an escape, he thought to himself.
As he neared the school, he saw the other students arriving. While changing into his indoor shoes, he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"So, Arthur… new color?" Emiko looked curiously at his dark hair.
"It's my new look," Arthur replied. "Mom said it's kind of strange for someone to have blonde hair here, so she let me dye it black."
Emiko nodded. "It looks weird, but I guess it's a fashion thing. People do dye their hair here, but not that often."
Arthur smiled faintly as Takashi approached.
"Arthur, Emiko — nice to see you both! And Arthur, that hair… definitely strange, but I guess it's a new trend," he said with a laugh.
They walked together toward their classrooms. Takashi waved goodbye and went inside his own. Before Arthur and Emiko could enter theirs, Daichi came running up.
"Guys! It's great to see you!" he said cheerfully just as the class was about to start.
During lunch, Arthur sat quietly, writing instead of eating. Daichi and Emiko exchanged a look.
"Not hungry, Arthur?" Daichi asked.
Arthur glanced at his lunchbox. "I'm just a little busy. I'll eat later."
Before he could say more, Emiko picked up some food with her chopsticks and shoved it into his mouth. Both Arthur and Daichi stared at her in shock.
Emiko smiled. "Now you can eat and write."
Arthur blinked, then nodded, chewing awkwardly.
"Let's practice Japanese later, Arthur," Emiko said.
Daichi noticed her tone and backed off. "I'll leave you two to it," he said, walking away.
"No problem," Arthur replied. "Before class ends, we can practice."
Emiko looked at him with bright eyes. "Or… I could go to your house."
Arthur nearly spat out the soda he was drinking. Emiko stared at him with a blank, almost teasing expression.
"I doubt it would be a problem if I went to your house, Arthur," she said coolly.
"Well, I mean… I don't really mind, but—"
Emiko looked up at the sky. The afternoon light bathed her face softly, and Arthur found himself mesmerized. Her calm gaze, the way her hair caught the sunlight—it all seemed to blur around him.
Then, suddenly, Emiko punched him in the shoulder — hard.
The dull thud made Arthur flinch as his arm went numb. He stared at her, stunned.
"Maybe someone told you Japanese girls are delicate and reserved," Emiko said with a smirk. "Well, I'm not one of them, Arthur."
With that, she walked away, her back straight, her pace confident.
Arthur rubbed his aching shoulder, watching her go.
Did I say something wrong? he thought, bewildered.