When lunch finally came about, Kaho was quick to leave the classroom and face Mamoru. He was pale, his gaze downcast even as he hovered by her door.
Mamoru grabbed Kaho by the arm, steering her downstairs to the canteen. He hadn't waited for Ryota or Mariah, who had lingered in the classroom to chat to their classmates. She sat at their usual bench and raised her eyebrows at him.
"You going to tell us what's happening now?" Kaho demanded, rummaging in her bag and tossing a plastic wrapped bag of apple slices onto the table.
Mamoru gagged, flicking the bag of apples back to Kaho.
"Don't. Those are disgusting."
Kaho sighed, flicking the back the bag of apples. Mamoru flicked them back again.
"What is with you and apples, you weirdo?" Kaho said.
"Oh come on, Kaho. They're disgusting. I haven't eaten them since I was a kid," he mimed gagging and Kaho scowled at him.
"Kikiyo said that you choked on one because you're an idiot. That's not the intercontinental oligarch we love and trust with our lives."
Mamoru scowled and crossed his arms. He reached into his bag and grabbed a bottle of water from inside his bag, unscrewing the cap and having a sip. He glared over the rim of the bottle at Kaho. She scowled at him.
"You need to talk to us, Mamoru."
Mamoru shrugged, rummaging in his school bag and producing a blue plastic folder, "Before I tell you, that is everything I could find on the new guy. Matsuoka. Aside from what I'm compiling, I have to dilute it to help you guys digest what tangibly explains the failing Civilizational model and the strategically artificially misshaped lived reality that the populations across the continents specifically are getting precise about. I have to break it down without overwhelming or worrying you, minds are different, what one mind can handle isn't what a different mind can, it can kill their spirit if they become too alert about what has already been documented and about the tangible correlations, it can make some people spiral, it's like some programmers that can comprehend information and complex books that a average disoriented person that has been getting destabilized for years would have a difficult time reading, there's reading levels for a reason, oftentimes there's information that is complex, there's complex systems and networks that have been placed to strategically get the precise result the core of the populations have been seeing for themselves. People can find it as they willingly by themselves decide to improve their discernment, distinction, pattern recognition abilities and make the decision to improve their abilities to figure out and look in the actual right places. I have to articulate the information not just for you guys bu t for a lot of networks. I'm going to introduce you guys to soon. In the meantime, about who it is you asked about the new guy Naseru Matsuoka. I have to admit about gathering some information fast. There's some things that are the basics you should know about Naseru Matsuoka that you should really not get too involved Kaho. Sorry it took so long to get this to you, Kaho. There's lots of blanks, you know. But he played basketball as part of a swanky program in the States, so I'm surprised he hasn't appeared begging your brother to join the starting lineup"
She shrugged and stuffed the folder in her bag, "I don't care about him right now. Why did Kikiyo pass out?"
Stupid question, Kikiyo had said herself that she was exhausted. She'd made it clear that she was burning at both ends, but what had thrown her wasn't that Kikiyo hadn't slept, it was the state of her. How she could see how she'd altered her school skirt to make sure it didn't fall down, how her body was so dangerously thin it looked like it would break.
Mamoru put his head in his hands. Shoulders bobbing up and down. Kaho winced. Mariah and Ryota joined them at the table, raising their eyebrows at Mamoru.
"You okay there?" Mariah asked, poking his hand. Mamoru stiffened and looked up. Tears were streaming down his cheeks, eyes red and puffy.
"I messed it all up," he cried, "Fuck!"
Ryota slung an arm around Mamoru's shoulder. He sobbed into his palms. Kaho pressed her lips into a line. What had his letters been saying about Kikiyo that nobody else knew? Had Ryota known? What had his letters said? And what about Mariah. Just because Future Kaho wasn't spilling her guts didn't mean Future Mariah or Future Ryota hadn't divulged every single secret in their arsenals.
Kaho sighed and opened her bento box, pointedly ignoring Mamoru's tears. Her lunch was simple, rice noodles, shredded pork and stir-fried veg. The dividers in her box had been removed to make room for the meal, completely mixed together. Taiga had made lunch last night, probably to appease his mother after whisking her away during the evening during dinner. She took a bite of meat and groaned. Damn Tauga knew how to season meat. Himiko was going to be having a field day. Mariah and Ryota's eyes flickered from Mamoru to Kaho, who was still refusing to look his way. He'd been the one to dismiss her help last week. And now she'd been sent home after passing out. She could have been seriously hurt.
"She's working herself to death," Mamoru sobbed, "That's what my letters said."
"Was her dad mugged again?" Mairah asked.
"That's what I asked!" Kaho said, dropping her chopsticks and crossing her arms.
"It didn't tell me why, my Future Self never said why, all he said was that it was urgent that I fix it, that we fix it, since I've completely fucked it now."
"Do we need to call someone? Social services maybe?" Ryota asked.
Mamoru wiped his eyes, "I thought I could help her. I've been slipping her money and things however she'll take it. But she won't take it. She keeps throwing it in my face. I put the money back in her shoe locker when I asked to go to the bathroom earlier. She won't take it tomorrow either but she needs help. Actual real help."
"Then shouldn't we call a social worker?" Ryota prompted, "I know our letters are giving us instructions on how to be better and whatever, but at the same time, isn't it important to know when enough is enough and we should actually depend on the people in the institutions that are supposed to help us."
"Like Ueno helped?" Mariah countered, "Poor Emi was a wreck when Ueno ignored her."
"Did Makoto say whether Kibata Mae was in the massage parlour?" Ryota asked, "It's been hard to hear a word he's said since he's now surrounded by adoring fans."
Kaho shook her head, "He hasn't said she was there. I don't think Emi's had the guts to ask. Especially considering the absolute state of his face."
"Fuck Ueno. We're better equipped to help, surely," Mariah said, opening a plastic-wrapped pork brioche. She bit into it and shrugged, looking to the table for everyone else's opinions.
Kaho shrugged back, "I don't know if a cop is the same as social services, Mariah, I think that calling a social worker might actually help her."
Mamoru shook his head, "Bureaucracy will take too long. Kikiyo is on a knife edge and now I can't fucking watch her."
"Watch her?" Ryota scoffed, raising his eyebrows. "Like a stalker?"
"Sure, whatever, call me a stalker for all I care, Ryota. She is working herself to death. She's barely eating, or sleeping, and she's doing it all for her siblings."
"Ichigo isn't old enough to get a job, yet, is she?"
Mamoru shook his head, "I need some help. Please. Come to my place after school and then we can work it all out. Before she does something she can't take back."
Kaho nodded. Mariah and Ryota shared a glance and nodded too.
"I'll come to yours straight after practice tonight," Ryota declared. He placed a reassuring hand on Kaho's shoulder. "We'll be sure to help Mamoru help Kikiyo. We can figure something out this week, after school."
Kaho nodded, feeling a bit of the tension ease from her shoulders under his touch.
Ryota gave them all an encouraging look before getting up. "Speaking of, I have a meeting with the volleyball team!"
He saluted the table and headed off to practice. Kaho rolled her eyes, though with less irritation than before. Looks like Ryota was going to learn some tricks from the other sports teams...