Kotoko Strikes Back! 

 

Chapter 9 – Crash! Bang! Oops?

 

 

" What were you doing that for?" A lady, with her eyes wide-opened, obviously couldn’t comprehend what was going on, exclaimed. She quickly rushed over and took off the towel that was previously wrapped around her head in order to stop the bleeding.

 

" Irie-kun!" Kotoko just stood rooted to the ground, obviously still in a state of shock.

 

" Call the ambulance! Quick!" The lady shouted.

 

" Hai!" Kotoko ran out of the room.

 

" What was Irie-kun doing here? Who's that lady?"

 

Kotoko was totally confused.

 

" I am afraid this is a case of assault, you have to take a trip to the police station with us." One police officer informed.

 

The lady had actually made a police report using her mobile phone

 

" What? But I've already said that I thought the house was..."

 

" I am sorry, we have to go by the book since Miss Fujiwara had file a report against you."

 

" Miss Fujiwara?"

 

" We have to go now."

 

" I am really in deep trouble."

 

Kotoko was feeling very helpless as the police handcuffed her before bringing her out of the apartment.

 

Sai was about to call it for a day when the phone rang.

 

" What? I will be right there!" Sai quickly put down the receiver.

 

" Kin, lock the gate for me! I need to rush off now!" Sai shouted.

 

" Otouchan!" Kotoko almost cried out when she saw Sai came into the room.

 

" Kotoko!" Sai was happy to see Kotoko again, however, the thought of having a family reunion in a police station really dampened his mood.

 

" What happen to you?" Sai asked.

 

" Irie-kun…" Before Kotoko could explain, she burst into tears because she was very worried.

 

" Naoki? You saw him?" Sai asked again. Kotoko just nodded her head profusely.

 

" What did you do to him this time?"

 

Sai was glad that Naoki had managed to locate Kotoko.

 

" I nearly killed him! He is now in the hospital." Kotoko was still crying.

 

" What?"

 

" Miss Aihara, you may go now. Miss Fujiwara had decided to drop the charges." One police informed.

 

After signing some documents, Kotoko immediately dashed out of the station.

 

" Kotoko! Where are you going?" Sai shouted while chasing after her.

 

" Hospital! I must see Irie-kun!" Kotoko shouted back, without turning her head.

 

" Where am I?"

 

" You are in a hospital."

 

" Hospital?"

 

" Yes, you got attacked by some crazy woman."

 

" Crazy woman? Urghh! My head, it's so painful."

 

" Take it easy. You need some rest."

 

" Irie-kun! Irie Naoki!"

 

" I am sorry, there's no such person admitted to this hospital." The nurse replied after checking through her database.

 

" Are you sure? He was admitted just a few hours ago! Please check. The one with head injuries." Kotoko tried her best to refresh the nurse's memory.

 

" I am really sorry, there are so many people coming in tonight, I couldn't possibly remember all of them?" The nurse was getting quite impatient with Kotoko.

 

" Onegai! His name is I-R-I-E -N-A-O-K-I" Kotoko still refused to give up.

 

" That's enough! Do you know that I have a lot of things to do than to entertain you! Are you sure you are in the correct hospital?" The nurse couldn't stand it anymore.

 

" Huh? Isn't this Tokyo Hospital?" Kotoko asked.

 

(O_o);;; (nurse's exasperating statement)

 

" This is XXX hospital, the hospital that you are looking for is two streets away." The nurse couldn't believe that she had spent so much time entertaining this baka.

 

" Gomen! Gomen!" Kotoko apologized repeatedly before making a dash towards the exit.

 

" Irie-kun, here I come!"

 

 

Chapter 10 – Mistaken Identity

 

 

" I am sorry, there's no Naoki Irie in our record." The nurse explained patiently to Kotoko after doing a detail check through her database record.

 

" How could that be? Is this Tokyo Hospital?" Kotoko asked.

 

" Hai. But there is no such person being admitted here." The nurse replied.

 

" Kotoko?"

 

" Mrs. Kurozawa?" Kotoko realized Mrs. Kurozawa standing behind her, the lady whom she saw earlier was standing just beside Mrs. Kurozawa.

 

" Mrs. Kurozawa, do you know which ward Irie-kun is staying?" Kotoko asked.

 

" Irie-kun? Who's Irie-kun?" Mrs. Kurozawa was confused by Kotoko's question.

 

" I had knocked him down with a vase. I hope he is okay now." Kotoko was at the verge of breaking down because it seemed forever for her to get to Naoki.

 

" Sou desu ka." Mrs. Kurozawa finally understood whom Kotoko was referring to; however, she was wondering why Kotoko kept insisting on the name Irie.

 

" You this troublemaker, stop pestering us will you!" Miki gave Kotoko a hard push.

 

" What's this?" Mrs. Kurozawa picked up an opened red cardholder that fell from Kotoko's pocket when Miki pushed her.

 

" It couldn't be?" Mrs. Kurozawa's eyes widened when she saw the photo inside the cardholder. Now she could understand why Kotoko kept calling her son by that name.

 

" He is not Irie-kun? How could that be?"

 

Kotoko finally got to know that the guy whom she ‘attacked’ wasn’t Naoki at all. It was almost morning when she reached the apartment. As she passed by the room, she went in and saw the dry bloodstains, which belonged to Kenrou Kurozawa, on the floor.

 

" That must really hurt."

 

Kotoko touched her forehead while anticipating on the damages that she had caused to that poor fellow.

 

Miki had forbidden Kotoko to visit Kenrou. Kotoko had spoiled her happy mood by sending her beloved Kenrou into the hospital after she had managed to persuade him to come back for holiday.

 

" Wow, they look as though they are identical twin, except Naoki is more handsome."

 

Kotoko started to compare the two guys while looking at the photo that was placed on the table.

 

" What a night, I will clear up the stain during tomorrow."

 

It was already 5 a.m. in the morning when Kotoko finally fell asleep on Kenrou's bed.

 

" You saw Kotoko?" Machiko asked excitedly.  It was the first time she had reacted to anything ever since Kotoko left.

 

" Hai! But I had lost track of her. She told me that she had almost killed Naoki." Sai explained.

 

" Almost killed me?"

 

Even though Naoki didn’t show any interested in the conversation, he was in fact listening to every word coming out from Sai.

 

" What happen?" Machiko prompted.

 

" I am not very sure. But I hope she would call back." Sai was equally worried.

 

" Oh, Kotoko." Machiko gave a hard stare at Naoki.

 

" What now?" Naoki asked.

 

" You better find out where Naoki is or else I would stopped cooking meals for the family." Machiko threatened.

 

" Didn't you already do that?"

 

Without even bother to reply, Naoki headed towards the doorway.

 

" I must find her. Something bad must have happened."

 

Naoki reminded himself before stepping out of the house.

 

 

Kotoko was awakening by a hard smack on her buttocks.

 

" Huh?" Kotoko slowly opened her eyes. Through the blurred visions, she managed to see a lady standing in front of her with both her hands on her waist.

 

" How long are you intending to sleep?" Miki asked.

 

" What's the time now?" Kotoko's eyes were searching for any available alarm clock.

 

" What? It's already 11 a.m.?" Kotoko quickly jumped out of the bed and almost knocked Miki down.

 

" Hey! Watch out! You jinx! Kenrou had to spend the rest of the week in the hospital because of you and now you want to harm me as well?" Miki screamed.

 

" Gomen! I am already late for my work!" Kotoko quickly apologized.

 

" If obasan hadn't stopped me, I would personally make sure you end up in jail." Miki continued.

 

" Gomen! Gomen!" Kotoko wanted to run out of the room but was pulled back by Miki.

 

" You must clean this mess before you go!" Miki demanded as she pointed to the floor.

 

" But…" Kotoko tried to explain but was stopped by Miki.

 

" No but, clean it now. Remember? You are the housekeeper of this apartment! I will ask obasan to fire you if you are not doing your work properly!" Miki was venting all her frustration on Kotoko.

 

" Hai!" Kotoko had no choice but to do as told since she couldn't to afford to lose this job as well.

 

" I think I will have to find myself another job in another restaurant."

 

Kotoko sadly proceeded into the kitchen to get the necessary equipment for the cleaning.

 

" WAHHHH!!!!!!! My precious Armani!!!" Miki screamed out loud when she realized that Kotoko had slept on her favourite skirt that she had put it on the bed during the night before.

 

" Oh O…" Kotoko could hear the scream from the kitchen and she knew that she had created yet another problem for Miki Fujiwara.

 

 

*******************************************************

 

NOTICE BOARD:

 

 

AIHARA KOTOKO GOT CAUGHT FOR ASSAULTING!!!

 

*******************************************************

 

 

A photo of Kotoko being handcuffed while walking out from an apartment was pinned on the notice board as well.

 

" Who did she assault?"

 

Naoki was staring hard at the photograph. He wanted to tear off the notice, and this time, he did it.

 

" Damn it. Naoki had torn the notice!"

 

Reiko clenched her teeth angrily when she recalled what Naoki had done to the notice.

 

" Neechan, you are back! See who's here?" Ayako dashed out to the doorway.

 

" Who?" Reiko had no mood to entertain Ayako.

 

" See for yourself!" Ayako pointed at one figure standing in the living room.

 

" Miki?" Reiko's eyes widened with excitement.

 

" When did you come back?" Reiko asked, behaving like one hyperactive child. Miki Fujiwara was Reiko's best friend since young but Miki was three years older.

 

" Yesterday." Miki replied and sighed.

 

" What happen? You don't look too happy?" Reiko could sense Miki's unhappiness.

 

" It's a long story." Miki started relating the whole incident that happened during the night before.

 

 

Chapter 11 – Getting Really Close…

 

 

" Please, give me another chance! I won't be late next time." Kotoko pleaded.

 

" No, we cannot afford to hire such an irresponsible person. You are fired!" The manager rejected firmly. Knowing that there's no hope in getting back her job, Kotoko left the office.

 

" I need to get another job or perhaps I should go back to school? I really miss Zinko, Satomi and Kin."

 

Kotoko thought sadly while checking the content of her purse.

 

" Gomen…may I know how much does this cost?" Kotoko pointed at a beautifully wrapped hamper that contained some fruits and flowers.

 

" 6000 yen."

 

" So expensive?"

 

Kotoko took out her purse and recheck the amount of money she had with her.

 

" Arhh…what can I buy with one thousand yen?" Kotoko asked.

 

" What?" The sales girl gave Kotoko a cold stare and started looking at the shelves.

 

" This. The price is 600 yen." Kotoko was given a single stalk of white lily wrapped in some translucent wrapping paper.

 

" Only one flower? How much is the apple?" Kotoko took one big apple from the basket.

 

" 140 yen."

 

" Okay, I will take this flower and the apple." Kotoko replied, wondering how she was going to survive with only 260 yen left.

 

" Kenrou Kurozawa." Kotoko carefully read the name on the door in order to confirm entering the correct ward.

 

" Do you know that YY fast food restaurant was offering Set Meal A at only 300 yen during yesterday?"

 

" Wow! Come let's go and grab one set. I've always wanted to have set A."

 

" Nah…they only offered for one day. It seemed that one of their staffs had key in the wrong prices and so they decided to let it be in order to retain the incoming flow of customers."

 

" Too bad we missed it."

 

" YY fast food restaurant? Hmmm…"

 

Naoki overheard the conversation between the two students.

 

 

" Oh…he looked so much like Irie-kun."

 

Kotoko couldn’t help but to take another few more glance at the sleeping face because she missed Naoki too much.

 

" Kotoko, you are here?" Mrs. Kurozawa entered the room.

 

" Konnichiwa." Kotoko greeted.

 

" Shhhh…not so loud, Kenrou had a hard time falling asleep during last night." Mrs. Kurozawa informed.

 

" Gomen…" Kotoko quickly apologized, but her voice was still as loud as ever.

 

" Shhhh…come take a seat here." Mrs. Kurozawa called Kotoko over to the sofa area.

 

" Opps…" Kotoko quickly covered her mouth with her hands.

 

" Gomen ne…I didn't mean to hurt your son." Kotoko whispered.

 

" It's okay. Kenrou was to be blamed too. He should have informed me about his arrival in advance." Mrs. Kurozawa placed her hand onto Kotoko's while looking at her sleeping son.

 

A short moment of silent in the room…

 

" In fact, I have to thank you for the 'attack', or else I might not get to see him at all." Mrs. Kurozawa's eyes started swelling with tears.

 

" Huh?" Kotoko was totally confused by Mrs. Kurozawa's sudden outburst.

 

 

 

Chapter 12 – She Is Just Like Me…

 

 

 

" I heard obasan calling her Kotoko…"

 

" Kotoko? As in Aihara Kotoko?" Reiko prompted further.

 

" I don't know her first name. But let me tell you this, I've never seen such a clumsy girl in my life and she almost ruined my precious Armani." Miki grumbled.

 

" Hmmm…" Reiko confirmed the Kotoko whom Miki mentioned might be the one after all. Who else would fit the tag other than the infamous Aihara Kotoko?

 

" Obasan, please don’t cry." Kotoko was trying her best to calm Mrs. Kurozawa down because she had been crying over the past 10 minutes.

 

" Gomen ne…" Mrs. Kurozawa quickly took out a handkerchief and wiped off the tears from her face.

 

" Is there something wrong between you and your son?" Kotoko asked.

 

Mrs. Kurozawa nodded her head.

 

" I see, what happened?"

 

" Oh…we had a fight during two years ago, that's the reason he went to America." Mrs. Kurozawa sniffled while readjusting her snood when she realised a nurse entering the room.

 

" What's the big deal? I always quarrel with my father too." Kotoko remarked.

 

" Well, I just wanted him to be with this girl whom I really like. You see, she is quite an adorable girl, just like you." Mrs. Kurozawa smiled as she recalled those happy days when Keiko moved in with them.

 

" Her name is Keiko. She is such an energetic girl and had brighten up our boring life since the day she moved in." Mrs. Kurozawa explained.

 

" Hmm…this scenario sounded so familiar."

 

Kotoko started scratching her head.

 

" However, Kenrou didn't like her as much as I do. He kept complaining that she wouldn’t behave like a normal girl would behave. You know what? He even complained that her voice is so loud that he would just go crazy whenever he heard her voice. Don't you find that just too much?" Mrs. Kurozawa grumbled.

 

Kotoko remained speechless.

 

" Is that how Irie-kun sees me too?"

 

Kotoko got depressed with this thought.

 

" And then one day, Kenrou said something nasty to Keiko and she just went disappear since that day. I was so angry that I gave Kenrou a slap. A slap which I regretted giving him. He hasn't spoken a word to me since then." Mrs. Kurozawa continued, her eyes reddened once again.

 

" Don't cry." Kotoko gave Mrs. Kurozawa a hug because she wanted to cry out too.

 

" Poor Keiko, she is just like me."

 

" Excuse me, do you know if there is one Aihara Kotoko is working here?" Naoki asked.

 

" That Aihara?" the cashier responded.

 

" Well, this confirmed my suspicion then."

 

Naoki paused for a while.

 

" Ya, that Aihara." Naoki nodded.

 

" She was fired just this morning." The waiter informed.

 

" Expected."

 

Naoki frowned.

 

" Do you have her particular, for example where she lives?" Naoki prompted further.

 

" I am sorry, you have to ask our manager. Do you need anything from the menu?"

 

" Eh…give me one Set A please." Naoki ordered.

 

 

" I am back!" Naoki informed.

 

" You are back!" Machiko rushed out from the kitchen. She had resumed her old self since Sai told her about Kotoko.

 

" Any news?" Machiko asked excitedly. Naoki just shrugged his shoulders.

 

" What? Still no news?" Machiko was disappointed.

 

" Don't cook my share, I've had my dinner already." Naoki informed.

 

" Damn that manager. Nevermind, she must be staying somewhere near her working place."

 

Naoki was still angry with the manager for not giving him Kotoko’s particulars.

 

" I think I had pass by this stretch of building just now."

 

Naoki was looking at the photo that he had torn down from the notice board during that morning.

 

 

" Poor Keiko."

 

Kotoko was still feeling sorry for that girl after leaving the hospital. Kenrou was asleep all the while therefore; she didn't have the chance to apologize to him on the spot.

 

" Look who's back?" Kotoko's thought was interrupted by a voice coming from the living room.

 

" Konbawa, Kotoko-chan."

 

" Reiko-chan?" Kotoko was surprised to see Reiko standing beside Miki.

 

 

To be continued...