[Mutou] Belong

Belong


It's really cold outside today. Sitting on the porch of my home in the dead middle of winter, my breath is thick and visible in the freezing air. I'm expecting a visitor today, a man I've only been in contact with for the past two years over phone, text and e-mail. I take exhale smoke that I've extracted from the cigarette that is present inbetween my middle and index fingers. This is actually the most excited I've been since the day I went to his wedding, which was nearly four years ago now. Hard to believe that this boy - rather, now a man - has grown up so quickly. I remember the days of being his mentor back at Yamaku, the first time ever that I had made a connection with one of my students. His interest in science was incredible, more than any other student that I had taught in the past. It's amazing what less than a full school year together did for our bond; not just as a teacher to student bond, but as a friendly one.

This time of year up here is so gorgeous. I've been retired now for just over two years, and I can't say I haven't enjoyed it. Of course, I miss teaching others about my true passion in life, but it feels great to finally have some time to escape from everything. I still have been in touch with some of my former students, making an appearance at a few weddings and bachelor parties. I still occasionally make the journey down south for a night of drinking at Kenji's bar that he owns. It's nice to see him, as crazy as he is, even though I never actually had the privilege of having him as a student. He was and still is a very close friend of Hisao's though, so I ended up meeting him mutually after the two of them graduated. I also still find it hilarious how he managed to marry Yamaku's school librarian, Yuuko.

I guess sometimes, love knows no boundaries.

A little smile forms on my lips as snow continues to lay on the ground a few feet away from me. If I didn't have a little roof on this porch, I doubt I'd be outside this morning. This time of year, though, is my favorite. I prefer it cold rather than hot, just as I also love the picture perfect setting outside when it snows. I've still got about an hour until Hisao said he'd be here. He told me that he'd taken the day off to come pay me a visit, as we needed to catch up. It makes me feel really good that someone, who I might as well consider my best friend, was willing to take the day off just to come pay me a visit for the first time in two years. I know he's a terribly busy man. He works at a medical research facility in Tokyo, and is married to a beautiful girl who I can proudly say I taught as well. He told me on the phone earlier this morning that it was going to just be him coming up today, as Shizune seven months pregnant with their first child. Knowing that the two of them met in my class still makes me smile.

I stare out into the street that I live on. Quiet as a ghost town, just as I like it. I take a sip of my coffee and sit back into my chair, just as I see a young man walking up the sidewalk in the distance. He must have taken the early train today, because he got here a slight bit early, but that's not a problem. I smile as he walks up the path onto my porch, and wrap him in a big hug. It feels so good to see him again.

I give him a big pat on the back before we break away, a big grin on his face.

"How's it going, Mutou?" I hate when he calls me by my last name. We're far past formailities, yet he's always insisted on calling me as that's what he was used to back in high school. I guess some things really don't ever change.

"You know I hate when you call me Mutou, Hisao. Why can't you just call me Akio like everyone else does?" It's a somewhat playful shot at him, as he knows it bothers me, but I've sort of gotten past it. "Let's go inside and chat a bit, I've got some coffee and biscuits prepared if you're interested."

We step out of the below freezing temperatures outside into my home. It's not the largest place, but it really doesn't need to be. My ex-wife and I divorced seven years ago, and our kid is grown up to the point where she already has a family of her own. I think I enjoy having Hisao around in my life because he's practically the son that I never had. We head into the kitchen and Hisao takes a seat at my small table. I pour him some coffee and slide the mug across the table before taking a seat across from him, facing him and looking at him for the first time in a long while.

His eyes have bags under them. He must lack a lot of good rest because of the various hours that he must work while at the research facility. His face that was once that of a smooth teenage is now specked by some short facial hair, and his brown mop of hair that he used to have is now cut much shorter. He shoots me a weird look, and I realize that I was staring at him without saying anything. To break the silence, I figure I should speak up.

"So Hisao, what's the news? It feels like I haven't had a face to face conversation with you in what feels like a century." I feel kind of bad for saying that. I know that he enjoys spending time with me, just as he does with all of his friends, but his job restricts him. Not to mention, having a deaf, pregnant wife who can be quite a bit 'bossy' isn't the most ideal situation for him either. He has other priorities that come before seeing friends, especially ones that don't live close to him. He only caught a break today because that Shiina Mikado girl - I believe he told me to just call her Misha - is back in the area for a two week trip back home. I can't remember exactly what he told me about her, but I believe he said she went off to the United States to persue her next level of education.

"Well, same old shit as I've been telling you over the phone, I suppose," he begins, releasing a sigh as he talks. "The queen is on her high horse as Misha came back home for a nice, surprise visit from America. Her horomones have been making the past two or so months of my life a living hell. She can't work and is frustrated that she has to stay at home all day long, so when I get home every night she's always in a pissy mood. I love the woman, but I really can't wait until this kid is out of her system..."

I laugh hard at his expense. It's a funny tale, knowing that he never really was one to deal with heavy amounts of stress well. Reminds me exactly of how my wife acted when she was pregnant with our only child. To be honest, if I had heard all of these stories without actually knowing Hisao, I would have called him a clone. The boy shares my passion for science, is handling his wife's pregnancy the same that I did and isn't the most enthusiastic type of guy out there. Maybe that's why I like having him so much as a friend; he's basically a younger, more inexperienced version of me. I reach across the table and give his head a good rustle with my hand, a light hearted smile on my lips. As much of a negative guy as I am, I can't help but be happy when this guy is around.

"Boy, you're reacting the same way I did when my wife was pregnant. I understand you also have to deal with a slight obstacle in terms of her deafness, but this sounds like you're telling me a story that I've already heard once." I raise my mug off coffee to him before taking a sip. A smooth, black roast, just as I've always preferred. I can see Hisao is fidgeting a bit on the other side of a table, as if he's got something nagging him.

"What's on your mind, son?" I never quite understood why I began calling him 'son' on occasion, but it only feels natural to me now. It hasn't ever bothered him too much, so I've always continued to use the moniker on occasion. "I can tell you've got something you want to get out."

"Well, there's an extremely important reason that I'm here today, and it's not just to hang out with you," he starts, sort of taking me off guard with the ending portion. I mean, we're going to end up hanging out all day anyways, but what other reason is there for him to be here with me today?

"As you know, the baby is due in just another month. Shizune and I have had an extremly in depth discussion about something important to our child's future." I'm sort of at a lost right now. What could I possibly have to do with this at all? I'm not a relative of the two or even a close friend of the soon to be mother...

My thoughts trail off as he continues.

"We came to the conclusion that you would most certainly be the best man for the job. So, Akio, I was wondering if you would be interested in being the godfather of our first child." My heart skips a beat. He wants me to be the godfather of his first born child? I don't even know what to think, as my eyes stare widely into his and my coffee mug rests frozen against my lips.

"What did you just say?"

"I want you to be my first born's godfather. Will you accept? If you're not interested, I'll have-"

"Hisao, I would be honored to be the godfather of your child." I cut him off. There's no need for him to continue with what he was saying. I feel an overwhelming amount of joy wash throughout my body, still a bit of disbelief about what has been asked of me in my head. The man wants me to be the godfather of his child. I get up from the table, as does he, and I wrap him in a massive hug. It feels as if I haven't smiled this much in my entire life, but I can't complain about the feeling. It makes me feel incredible.

A massive grin forms on his face. I believe that this all means so much more to him than I, and to me that's a very good thing. I used to think that he really didn't think of me as more than just a normal old friend, but now I can see he cares about me more than that; he practically cares about me as if I was a part of his family. He's the first to speak as we break our embrace.

"Well then, I suppose you would fancy a night of celebration down at Kenji's place? You can crash at my house for the night and head home tomorrow if you're interested." I give him a heavy laugh. Just like Hisao to bring up a night of drinking with another old friend for celebration.

"Boy, I think you just read my mind."


'Belong' is a song produced by Submerse.