Chapter 51: Familiarity

Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Familiarity

Mataguchi monologue, POV

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There was a brief pause, then Oota’s expression changed.

He looked at me which in turn i looked back. Did I say something bad?

A smile gradually spread across Oota’s face. "Wait."

I already knew where this was going.

"You’re meeting an elderly lady?"

"That’s what I said." I replied

"On a Sunday?"

"People are allowed to have appointments on Sundays." I inserted.

Oota pressed his lips together, apparently struggling to keep himself from laughing. I on the other hand, just remained there and waited patiently.

"Prez," Oota said at last, "I didn’t know you were into older women."

"I’m not."

"Then why are you meeting one?" He asked teasing further.

"Because she asked me to."

"Oh?" Oota’s eyebrows rose.

"Don’t." I regarded him without expression.

"I haven’t said anything."

"Your face has." I added, that earned a genuine laugh. Oota looked away, briefly rubbing the side of his nose as though attempting to recover his composure.

"Sorry, sorry. I just didn’t expect this from you."

"Neither did I." I replied.

"You’re not even denying it properly."

"Would that make you stop?"I asked, obviously the answer was...

"No." Oota replied immediately.

"Then I don’t see the point." I responded in turn.

Oota laughed again. The exchange was ordinary enough to pass unnoticed by anyone nearby. Two childhood acquaintances had met by chance, exchanged a few words, and discovered an opportunity to make fun of each other.

There was no hidden significance to it. Not every interaction needed one. At least, not from the perspective of the people involved.

Oota eventually settled down. "Well, I won’t keep you from your date."

"It isn’t a date." I corrected. He seem to be making that mistake.

"Of course."

"Enjoy your Sunday, Oota." I added.

"Yeah, yeah." Oota playfully replied.

I turned slightly, preparing to continue along my route but then Oota spoke again.

"What about you? Are you meeting anyone?"

I looked back at him. "I just told you."

"Besides the elderly lady." He added immediately.

"I’m not aware of anyone else who qualifies for that description."

Oota rolled his eyes. "Forget it."

He shoved his hands deeper into his pockets.

"Actually, I’m meeting a friend."

"A friend?" I paused.

"Yeah." Oota’s expression softened a little.

"Someone I recently got in touch with." There was something different about the way he said it. Not enough to suggest that anything was wrong, but enough to distinguish the statement from his earlier teasing.

I didn’t immediately ask who it was, since I already knew.

Instead, i waited.

Oota seemed to consider saying something else, but whatever thought had crossed his mind eventually disappeared.

"It’s been a while so we decided to talk properly," Oota continued. "And then decided to meet up."

"I see."

"That’s all you’re going to say?" Oota questioned. I wonder what he thought I was going to say?

"Would you like me to congratulate you?" I asked.

"Don’t make it weird." He

"You brought it up." I defended myself.

"Because you seemed to have asked where I was going!" Oota protested

"I don’t recall asking you that."

Oota opened his mouth, then he stopped. For a second, he looked genuinely offended.

I watched him with the same blank expression.

"You’re actually annoying." He finally added after going silent for a moment.

"I’ve been told." I replied honestly

"By who?"

"People." I replied

"Name one."

"You."

Oota stared at me. Then, despite himself, he laughed. It wasn’t a particularly loud laugh. Just a short, involuntary sound that escaped before he could suppress it. I found that more satisfying than i would have admitted.

Our conversations had become less frequent recently. School had a way of doing that to people. Even those who had known each other for years could find themselves gradually separated by new responsibilities, unfamiliar relationships, and problems that were difficult to explain. Sometimes, all it took was a chance encounter to remind them that not everything had changed.

Oota checked his phone. "Anyway, I should get going."

"Then go." I implied.

"You’re not even going to wish me luck?"

"Good luck." I replied, wishing him what he asked for, didn’t see the use though.

"You sound like you’re sending me to my execution." Again with this.

"Would you prefer a more enthusiastic delivery?" I asked.

"Never mind." Oota shook his head and began walking backward for a few steps. "See you at school, Prez."

"See you." I replied.

Oota turned around. I watched him merge into the stream of pedestrians.

For several seconds, i remained where i was.

Oota’s figure gradually grew smaller as he walked farther down the pavement. Eventually, a group of people passed between us, and i lost sight of him.

I waited a moment longer. Then i turned away.

A that smiling and I could even do so, my expression still remained the same all through. I reached into my pocket and retrieved my phone.

The screen lit up. I opened it once more, glanced at the notifications that had accumulated during our conversation, and navigated to the settings.

Then i switched the device off, the screen went black.

I held the phone for another second before slipping it into my pocket. There was no particular reason to keep it on anymore.

Not for the next part of my day.

He resumed walking.

The road ahead was relatively quiet. A delivery truck pulled away from the curb, and somewhere behind me, a child complained to a parent about being hungry. The city continued with its usual business.

I crossed at the next intersection.

My destination was still some distance away, but i knew the route well enough that i didn’t need to check it.

Still, the encounter had reminded him of something. People were always meeting each other. Old friends reunited. Strangers became acquaintances. Acquaintances became friends, enemies, or something less easily defined. And every time two people met, they brought their own expectations into the interaction. Sometimes those expectations aligned, sometimes they didn’t.

Most people only noticed the difference after something went wrong.

I continued down the pavement, my hands resting comfortably inside my pockets. I had no intention of finding out which category today’s meeting would fall into.

Not yet. First, i wanted to hear what the elderly woman had to say. After all, she had been the one who requested the meeting. And whatever her reasons were, i had a feeling she hadn’t asked me to come all this way simply to discuss the weather.

Funny cause she might actually say that.

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"Familiarity breeds contempt."

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