Their Future - Chapter 7

Their Future – Chapter 7

Deciding to stay behind for a while after school to do some work, I get home a little late. Shizune’s already back, watching television. She smiles at me as I came in, and asks about my day.

[Not bad. Students are still students, teaching’s still teaching. Misha was kinda weird at lunch, though. Asked about us marrying and having kids.]

A look of what appears to be annoyance flashes across her face, before it’s replaced by a more neutral expression.

[Well, I’m sure it’s nothing. You know her, after all. She’s strange.]

[Yeah…]

The evening, and the rest of the week, passes by without event. I didn’t see too much of Misha, and nothing more of our strange conversation is mentioned. Soon it’s Sunday, and I find myself on the bus into the city, to meet with Emi.

I take a glance at my phone to check the address again, and within a few minutes, I’m outside the restaurant. I see Emi sitting at a table on the patio, and she waves me over. She’s not wearing her tracksuit this time, instead having a far more casual look, with a green short-sleeved t-shirt, tan shorts and her blonde hair tied in twintails by red ribbons. She grins at me as I walk to her.

“Heya Hisao! What’s up?”

“The sky.”

“Booooooooooooooooooooooooo”

I take a seat, smirking at my own stupid joke. The waiter walks over to take our orders. We both choose a sandwich and a glass of water, as it’s quite hot today.

“So, Emi, how are things going for you?”

“They’re pretty good! Like I said, the team’s pretty hard work, but it’s really good fun too! Finally got a day off today! Anyway, how is it, teaching at Yamaku?”

“It’s kinda weird, but it also feels good. Like I’m making a difference, or something like that. To be honest, I just like being back at the place. It feels comfortable. It’s a stroke of luck that we managed to find a house in the town, too. It’s so close to both Yamaku and Shizune’s office.”

At the mention of my girlfriend Emi, who has been silently nodding along while I’ve been speaking, suddenly speaks.

“Oh yeah! How’s it going with you two?”

“We’re pretty good, actually. Fallen into a pretty comfortable routine. Haven’t managed a date night since Valentine’s Day, for… several reasons.” I shudder when I remember our disastrous Valentine’s celebration, which ended in the hospital. “Anyway, yeah, things have been going pretty well for us. Had a weird lunch with Misha earlier in the week, but that’s all fine now.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Oh? Whaddya mean?”

“Eh, well I had lunch with Misha a few days ago, and she asked about me marrying Shizune and having kids and stuff. It was really quite random.”

“Well, d’you want to have all that?”

I think about this for a while. I love Shizune, I really do. I couldn’t imagine my life, or my future without her. And marriage is…
I’m snapped back to reality by the waiter putting down our food and drinks. We thank him, and sit in silence as we enjoy the beautiful day. Birds fly far above us, and people hurry to and fro to complete whatever tasks they have today. I imagine marrying Shizune on a day like this, her wearing a beautiful white wedding dress as she walks up the aisle. Then again, weddings are expensive, and we already know we love each other anyway. Why would we need a piece of paper to prove that?

And as for kids, well, that’s a whole other thing I’d have to think about. And anyway, who’s to say Shizune even wants them? It’s her body, after all. It’s a good thing she’s been on the pill; too many surprises aren’t good for my heart. But raising a child together, bringing new life into the world – isn’t that the greatest sign of love, or meant to be, at least? Although, who’s to say my heart could even cope with the stress of having kids?

“Uhh, Hisao? You doing okay there?” I shake my head, clearing my clouded mind.

“Yeah, sorry Emi. Just lost in thought.”

We move on to more lighter topics, talking the hours away and ordering more drinks and sandwiches every now and then. We talk about the news, get into an argument about the ending to a certain television show, and while the hours away. Finally, the restaurant closes, and we go our separate ways, promising to meet up again soon. On the bus back to town, I slip back into my thoughts from earlier. Marriage…
That’s a thought to continue another day. For now, though, I just want to enjoy the relationship I have with Shizune, without worrying about the future. Our future.

I step out of the bus, and walk towards our house, ready to see my beautiful girlfriend again.