"In the Morning, I'll Say Hello" - by Jaime Lustig
Chapter 33
"Holding Hands"
SCENE 1:
Just white panels, then some faint outlines
and light gray shapes that gradually coalesce into a hospital ceiling, the view
is through Eriko’s eyes looking up.
Eriko
(to herself): “Ughhh, I feel terrible. Where am I? It’s so bright? I don’t
recognize this ceiling. A hospital? How’d I get here? What happened to me?”
We see Eriko, lying in a hospital bed. We
pan to see that someone is holding her hand. Then we see that Yuka it is
sitting next to Eriko’s bed in the hospital, with her head down on the mattress,
hand in hand with Eriko, but asleep.
Eriko
(to herself): “What’s she doing here? She...she's holding my hand! It's so
small and delicate. UGHHH, stop thinking those things. Remember, she doesn’t
like you, she likes him. But...but she's here.”
Eriko leaves her hand in Yuka’s the whole
time. She reaches out with her other hand, as if to touch Yuka’s hair, but
right then Aiko walks in:
Aiko:
“Don’t wake her up, she’s had a long couple days.”
Eriko blushes, scowls at Aiko, and quickly
puts her hand back at her side.
Eriko:
“How long?”
Aiko:
“She found you two days ago, you’d been missing for a couple days by then. She
hasn’t left your side.”
Eriko:
“She found me?”
Aiko:
“She wouldn’t stop looking for you, even after you pushed her away.”
Eriko
(to herself): “I had to.”
Aiko:
“She should just give up on you, but she won't."
Eriko
(To herself): “I don't get it either."
Eriko:
“It..it doesn’t mean anything...does it?”
Aiko:
“Don’t go feeling sorry for yourself. It demeans me as your rival. But if you
aren’t going to fight for her, then you might as well back out right now.”
Eriko
(to herself): “Rival? You?”
Eriko looks off to the side now, not making
eye contact with Aiko.
Eriko:
“But...that boy...”
Aiko:
“You're an idiot. She turned him down.”
Eriko:
“What!?”
Aiko:
“If you had stayed a little longer instead of running out with such a hot head,
you could have heard for yourself.”
Eriko:
“She...she did? But why'd you tell me?"
Eriko
(to herself): “Aren’t you trying to keep us apart?”
Aiko:
“I'm only going to say this once, so listen close. What I did to you on her
birthday was wrong. Telling you about him is my repayment. Now we’re even. I
don’t owe you anything. You’re on your own from now on.”
Eriko:
“Fine."
Eriko
(to herself): “She turned him down. Now's she's here. Is it possible? Maybe I
wasn't wrong about her feelings?"
Eriko is looking down at Yuka who is
sleeping with an angelic face. Yuka starts to stir. She opens her eyes slowly,
they’re bleary, but when she opens them fully she notices that Eriko is looking
right at her. They both blush and Yuka does a half awake smile (contented and
relieved). At Aiko’s next line, Yuka and Eriko turn their heads away and break
from their brief moment of connection.
Aiko:
“Ahem. Yuka, I brought you lunch, but you’ll probably need both hands to eat
it.”
Eriko notices they’re still holding hands
and jerks hers out from Yuka’s. Yuka gives a big smile. Eriko blushes.
The doctor and nurse walk in.
Nurse:
“I’m sorry, now that the patient is awake, we have some more tests that need to
be run, you’ll have to leave for the day.”
Aiko:
“She's fine now, you can see her later."
Yuka gets up and takes Aiko’s hand and
begins walking out the room. As she’s leaving she turns around and waves “bye”
with a big smile on her face. Eriko blushes, demurs, and lifts up a hand to
gently signal “bye” back – Eriko is shyly cute here.
SCENE 2:
At the Arishima residence. The phone is
ringing. Heizo goes over to pick it up. He’s talking to someone. Heizo goes and
knocks on Eriko’s bedroom door.
Heizo:
“Eriko-chan, I’m sorry to bother you, I know you just settled in. It’s
Fujimaki-san on the phone for you.”
Eriko opens the door a little ways to
accept the phone.
Eriko:
“Thank you.”
Eriko closes the door. Heizo is left there
and goes back to what he was doing.
Heizo
(to himself): “Those injuries, they’re worse than the other times. How did you
end up in that alley again?”
Eriko is on her bed now talking on the
phone.
Hatsue
(on the phone): “Eriko-chan! I’m so sorry I didn’t come to see you in the
hospital!”
Eriko:
“It’s okay. It’s hard for you. Being outside, I mean.”
Hatsue:
“But I don’t want it to be so hard. I wasn’t there when you needed me. I swear
I’m going to try harder, I’m going to beat this thing!”
Eriko:
“Ha, you’re fired up!”
Hatsue
(to herself): “Oh, I didn’t mean to make this about me.”
Hatsue:
“Yeah, well...anyway, how are you feeling?”
Eriko:
“I’ve been better.”
Hatsue:
“Ha ha ha, at least you’re honest. Kiyoura-chan wasn’t in school the past couple
days, they said she was with you in the hospital? You two have caused quite the
stir around school.”
Eriko:
“What do you mean?”
Hatsue: “Oh, you know how gossip works. Anyway, does that mean you guys have made up?”
Eriko:
“It was me...I...misunderstood something.”
Hatsue:
“But things are okay now?”
Eriko:
“Umm, maybe...I don’t know.”
Hatsue:
“But she was there with you the whole time; that has to be a good thing?”
Eriko:
“I...I guess”
Eriko
(to herself): “I don’t want to get my hopes up though.”
Hatsue:
“AH! So cute!”
Eriko:
“Humpf”
Hatsue:
“Do you think you’ll be back in school Monday?”
Eriko:
“ummm...probably."
Hatsue:
“Finals are coming up, you’ve missed a lot of school, and your grades aren’t
exactly great to begin with. Want to come over and study?”
Eriko
(to herself): “She’s acting like everything is normal. But, nothing is normal
at all.”
Eriko:
“Oh...okay.”
Hatsue:
“Really? I’m so happy!”
SCENE 3:
Eriko gets off her bike and is walking up
to Hatsue’s house. Tetsu is coming down the path to the front gate.
Tetsu:
“Eriko-chan! It’s been a long time. How are you?”
Eriko:
“Ummm...fine...thank you.”
Tetsu:
“Have fun with Ha-chan!”
Eriko:
“okay...bye”
Tetsu is getting into his car. Eriko sees
someone in the shadows in the passenger seat, a woman, sitting patiently.
Eriko
(to herself): “Who's that?”
She goes up and rings the bell. Hatsue
comes to the door.
Hatsue:
“Eriko-chan! I missed you!”
Hatsue gives Eriko a big hug, Eriko is
shocked and has her arms out to the sides, awkward at accepting affection.
Eriko:
“I...I’m sorry...”
Hatsue:
“What are you sorry for?”
Eriko:
“I haven’t been right lately...but...I’m okay now.”
Hatsue:
“I’m glad to hear it, even if you look a little worse for wear! Anyway, come on
in, you have to tell me everything!”
Eriko:
“Sorry for intruding [ed. note: Ojama shimasu].
Eriko:
"Your brother...in the car just now?”
Hatsue:
“Oh, um...her...she’s his assistant from work, Shibata-san.”
Eriko
(to herself): “I guess that makes sense.”
Hatsue’s mom enters the entrance hallway.
Eriko is startled to see an adult home.
Eriko:
“Oh!”
Yukiyo
Fujimaki (Hatsue’s mom): “Oh, you must be Arishima-san, Hatsue talks about you
all the time.”
Eriko:
“Oh..umm...nice to meet you...I brought this.”
Eriko gives Hatsue's mom a gift.
Yukiyo:
“Oh thank you, that’s so kind. We’ll have to have this for snack later.”
Hatsue:
“Okay mom, we’re going up to study.”
Yukiyo:
“It was nice meeting you Arishima-san, please take care of Hatsue.”
Hatsue
(embarrassed): “Mom!”
Eriko:
“mmm” (affirmative)
SCENE 4:
In Hatsue’s room.
Hatsue:
“Sorry about my mom.”
Eriko:
“It’s okay.”
Hatsue:
“She works a lot for the family business, she and dad travel a lot for work, so
when she’s here she likes to fuss over me a bit.”
Eriko:
“It sounds nice.”
Hatsue:
“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to seem ungrateful. Have you been able to remember
anything yet? I mean, about your family, or anything?”
Eriko:
“mmm, no...not really.”
Hatsue:
“Arishima-san told us, I didn’t know that you didn’t even know your
name...that’s awful!”
Eriko:
“I’m getting used to this one, I guess.”
Some awkward silence between them.
Hatsue:
“I...I was really worried about you. Okumura-san didn’t tell me much about what
happened, just that Kiyoura-chan found you.”
Eriko
(to herself): “Worried? About me?”
Eriko:
“That’s all I know, too.”
Hatsue:
“But she was there with you in the hospital right?”
Eriko
(blushing): “ummm, yeah.”
Hatsue:
“Oh my god! So you made up? You have to tell me everything!”
Eriko:
“Shouldn’t we study?”
Hatsue:
“Really, you’re just going to leave me hanging? Fine, fine, but I’ll get it out
of you eventually!”
SCENE 5:
Scenes of them studying, eating snacks,
studying, laughing, etc...
Later, by the front door, Eriko is getting ready
to leave.
Eriko:
“Bye...thank you for today.”
Hatsue:
“I’m so glad you’re okay, and I’m so glad that you and Kiyoura-cahn have
patched things up! So the real question is when are you going to finally
confess to her?”
Eriko
(coughing): “Con...Confess?”
Hatsue:
“Ha ha ha, of course, that’s what you do when you’re in love.”
Eriko:
“Love? Even if we're both...girls?"
Hatsue:
“Am I wrong then, about how you feel?”
Eriko:
“Um, I don’t know...I’m just getting used to it...to understanding this feeling...”
Hatsue:
“AH!!! How cute! If only you’d show this side to more people.”
Eriko
(to herself): “Which side is the real me? I still have no idea.”
Eriko:
“It wouldn’t matter.”
Hatsue:
“Don’t underestimate yourself so much.”
Hatsue takes Eriko’s hands in hers. Eriko
blushes and is shocked again by the physical contact.
Eriko:
“Umm...thanks...I’m glad you’re my...friend.”
Hatsue:
“Be careful making faces like that or I might fall for you too!”
Eriko:
“Don’t you dare!”
They start laughing together.
Eriko:
“See you”
Hatsue:
“See you!”
SCENE 6:
Eriko is walking down the front path
towards the sidewalk when she sees Tetsu coming up the pathway.
Tetsu:
“Eriko-chan! Did you two have fun studying?”
Eriko:
“Ummm, yeah, thanks.”
Tetsu:
“Do you have a minute? Can I ask you something?”
Eriko
(to herself): “What does he want with me? We’ve never really talked before.”
Eriko:
“Uh, sure.”
Tetsu:
“Did Ha-chan seem okay?”
Eriko:
“What do you mean?”
Tetsu:
“Did she say anything about me?”
Eriko
(to herself): “That’s a weird question.”
Eriko:
“No.”
Tetsu:
“Oh, okay, nevermind then. Did you want a ride home?”
Eriko
(to herself): “I’m sure its safe, but I don’t really know him.”
Eriko:
“No...I rode my bike.”
Tetsu:
“Okay, have a good night then, bye.”
Eriko
(to herself): “What was that all about?”
SCENE 7:
Tetsu enters the house now. Hatsue is
sitting in the living room watching TV.
Tetsu:
“Hey Ha-chan! Whatcha up to?”
Hatsue keeps watching the TV and doesn't
look at him. She replies coolly.
Hatsue:
“Nothing.”
Tetsu flops down on the couch next to her.
She scoots further away creating some space.
Tetsu:
“How did the study session with Eriko-chan go?”
Hatsue still isn't looking at him.
Hatsue:
“Fine.”
Tetsu:
“You said something about her being sick in the hospital, is she okay?”
Hatsue:
“Yes.”
Tetsu
(to himself): “Okay, guess that's that. She’s been cold to me for weeks now. Is
she really upset about me and Shibata-san? I thought she was ready, with her
friends and all now.”
Tetsu:
“Where’s mom?”
Hatsue:
“Dunno”
Tetsu sighs and goes to get up off the
couch. As his back is turning to Hatsue, she says:
Hatsue:
“How was work tonight?”
Hatsue
(to herself): “That’s not what I really want to ask.”
Tetsu:
“I didn’t have work.”
Hatsue
(to herself): “I know you didn’t, but what were you doing with her then?”
Hatsue:
“Oh, I see.”
Tetsu
(to himself): “Come on Ha-chan, just tell me what’s bothering you so we can
talk about it. But, I don’t think I should bring it up. She’s got to be ready
to talk.”
Tetsu:
“Is something wrong?”
Hatsue
(to herself): “I don’t know, I don’t know! I should be happy for you right? Why
can’t I be happy for you? Happy that you have a life outside of me.”
Hatsue:
“No, everything is fine.”
Tetsu:
“If something is wrong, if something’s troubling you, you know I’ll always be
here for you. You can always talk to me.”
Hatsue
(to herself): “Like hell you will...I’m losing you aren’t I? What am I going to
do if you leave me? How am I going to get by without you?”
Hatsue:
“Sure.”
Tetsu:
“Okay, so long as you know that.”
Hatsue:
“Yup.”
Tetsu looks at her for a second, sighs
again, and leaves the room. Hatsue flops down on the couch and puts a pillow
over her head. A tear forms in her eye.
Hatsue
(to herself): “I’m such a terrible person. I’ve been monopolizing you for so
long, you’ve done everything for me, you’ve been my protector. Why am I so
jealous that you’re spending time with someone else? I’m awful, but I can’t
help it. I’m so scared of losing you.”
SCENE 8:
Next Monday in school. It’s early, Eriko is
arriving on campus. It’s quiet, only a couple of other people are around. She’s
standing, looking up at the building.
Girl
in background: “Wait, is she back?”
Other
girl: “Who is that? Do you know her?”
Girl
in background: “She’s that delinquent from the other class, I heard she got
into a gang fight and was in the hospital.”
Eriko, overhearing this, just sighs.
Eriko
(to herself): “Can I really pretend like everything is back to normal? What’s
the point? I feel like some day the whole thing will just be pulled out from
under me and I’ll lose everything again, so why bother? But...she’s in
there...”
She goes and sits down on her normal bench,
legs spread (not very lady-like), arms on legs, head down, hair falling
forward. She doesn’t notice but Yuka comes up and stands in front of her, Yuka
bends to the sides (first one way then the other) trying to see Eriko’s face.
Then Yuka goes and squats in the garden next to Eriko and starts playing with
the flowers and bugs. Eriko surreptitiously turns her head to the side, looks
through her fallen hair, and sees Yuka playing there. She watches her, Yuka's
ear poking out of her hair, her tiny hands, her slim neck, her soft lips.
Eriko
(to herself): “She’s like a little faerie, not even real. Dammit she’s so cute.
It’s like you’re the only thing tying me to this world.”
Yuka turns, noticing Eriko looking at her,
and makes eye contact and gives a huge smile. Eriko blushes and looks away
quickly/shyly. Yuka silently laughs and goes back to playing with the flowers.
Next we see a hand putting a flower in Eriko’s hair. Eriko startles and grabs
Yuka’s wrist.
Eriko: “Wha?!”
She is staring right into Yuka’s eyes,
they’re just inches apart. Eriko blushes, Yuka blushes. Eriko starts to loosen
her grip on Yuka’s wrist, so Yuka slides her hand down into Eriko’s hand,
they’re still only inches apart, just staring into each other’s eyes, but
holding hands now, palm to palm.
In the background (not heard by Eriko or
Yuka):
random
girl: “Look at those two, are they dating?”
Random
girl 2: “So shameless!”
Random
girl: “I mean, even if they are, to do that in public!”
Random
girl 2: “But seriously, two girls?”
Random
girl: “I guess it happens at schools like this.”
Random
girl 2: “It’s bad enough there aren’t any boys here, but we don’t need people
like that giving us a bad reputation.”
Hatsue is coming up the walk, thinking to
herself.
Hatsue
(to herself): “I hope Eriko-chan makes it in today.”
Suddenly she sees the scene between Yuka
and Eriko, they're sparkling.
Hatsue
(to herself): “Will you look at that? Looks like they’ve made quite a bit of
progress after all. Well, I’m not going to be the one to disturb them.”
Hatsue walks on by and into the school.
SCENE 9:
Hatsue gets into the classroom, Aiko is
already sitting there.
Hatsue
(to herself): “I wonder if she saw them? It’s not like her to let that go.”
We notice that Aiko is pretending to read,
but really able to see Yuka and Eriko outside the window and is sneaking a
peak.
Hatsue
(to Aiko): “Oh, you’re here early?”
Aiko turns back to her book.
Aiko:
“My driver had errands to run.”
Hatsue
(to herself): “Let’s just poke a little...”
Hatsue:
“Where’s Kiyoura-chan?”
Aiko looks up sternly from her book.
Aiko:
“She’s not here yet.”
Hatsue
(to herself): “This is too much fun! But I’m amazed that Okumura-san isn’t
stopping that little scene out front. Maybe she's feeling a little guilty.”
Hatsue:
“I hope Eriko-chan makes it in today. It will be good to all have lunch
together again, it feels like it’s been forever.”
Aiko goes back to reading.
Aiko:
“If you say so."
Hatsue
(to herself): “Heehee, too much fun, but I’ll let it go for now.”
Outside, the bell rings. It shocks Eriko
into reality, she immediately lets go of Yuka’s hand and gets up with a start.
Eriko:
“Um, we’ll be late.”
Eriko gets up quickly and starts walking in
briskly with Yuka skipping behind her into the building.
(to be continued...)
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