Classroom Heartbeats

Chapter 6. The Flower Of Friendship And Kindness!

On a Friday night, the sky over Okinawa was a canvas of twinkling city lights. Kibin stood on the rooftop, cradling a hot cup of coffee. The warmth of the cup battled the cool evening breeze that brushed against his face, a constant reminder of how different this bustling city was from the quiet countryside of his childhood. Yet, after over a month here, he felt like he was starting to find his place.

Kibin’s phone buzzed, jolting him from his thoughts. It was an email from Mr. Sato. His heart raced as he wondered if it was about his exam results from Monday. Mr. Sato had mentioned the results would be out by next week, but here it was, Friday night. Kibin’s hands trembled as he opened the email. The message didn’t disclose his results but asked him to come to Mr. Sato’s office for something important, which included the exam results. Kibin quickly replied, confirming he’d be there.

Late that night, Kibin tossed and turned, his mind racing with possibilities. He woke up late the next morning, sunlight already streaming through his window. It was 8 AM. He leapt out of bed, hurriedly tidied up, and went to the kitchen. Spotting the leftover rice in the cooker, he decided on a hearty breakfast—fried rice, sunny-side-up eggs, and the last two pieces of danggit. As the danggit sizzled in the pan, he opened the windows and door to let the fishy smell escape, chuckling to himself that he didn’t mind if the neighbors caught a whiff, as long as he enjoyed his meal.

Kibin prepared a dipping sauce with vinegar, garlic, onions, pepper, and chili, and sliced some tomatoes to soak in soy sauce and vinegar—a proper Filipino breakfast. After cooking, he took a quick shower to wash off the danggit smell, then dressed and sat down to eat.

Meanwhile, Yuto, who had arrived and knocked on the open door, stepped inside. Kibin looked up and smiled. “Oh, Yuto! Come on in.”

“Wow, your place smells like fish left out overnight,” Yuto teased, laughing.

Kibin laughed too, acknowledging the lingering scent of danggit. “Join me for breakfast,” he invited, fetching an extra plate, fork, and spoon for Yuto. Familiar with Kibin’s hospitality, Yuto sat down and took in the aroma of the food. “So this is where the smell is coming from,” he chuckled.

“Try it. It’s delicious,” Kibin urged. Yuto sampled everything, enjoying the danggit, the dipping sauce, and the tomato slices soaked in soy sauce and vinegar.

As they ate, Kibin asked if Yuto needed anything. Yuto shook his head, explaining he had seen Kibin’s open windows and door and, knowing he had a tutorial class on Saturdays, wanted to make sure everything was okay. Kibin explained he had skipped the tutorial because he felt lazy and shared that he had taken an exam at Mr. Sato’s office on Monday. If he passed, he would be exempt from the tutorial. The results were expected on Monday. Yuto confidently assured Kibin that he would pass the exam.

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Meanwhile, during the tutorial class, the atmosphere in the room was tense but focused. Kentaro stood at the front, clipboard in hand, conducting the attendance check. His eyes scanned the room, counting heads, but he quickly noticed a glaring absence. Kibin wasn’t there.

It struck him as odd. Kibin was rarely the type to skip class. A twinge of guilt pricked at Kentaro’s consciousness as he remembered their heated argument from the previous day. Maybe Kibin’s absence had something to do with it. Kentaro shook off the thought, refocusing on his task.

“Our topic today is The Japanese Writing System and Pronunciation,” he began, his voice steady but tinged with underlying concern. “Pronunciation in Japanese is quite straightforward. There are five basic vowel sounds: a-i-u-e-o. 'A' sounds like the 'o' in 'hot' or the 'a' in 'awesome.' 'I' sounds like saying the letter 'E.' 'U' sounds like the 'oo' in 'zoo.' 'E' sounds like saying the letter 'A,' or sometimes it can be soft, like the first 'E' in 'enter.' 'O' sounds like saying the letter 'O.'"

The students listened attentively, scribbling notes as Kentaro explained. He continued, "Japanese letters are called kana. Every kana in Japanese is a syllable. The vowel sounds combine with the consonants k-s-t-n-h-m-y-r-w. There is also a lone sound 'N.' You already know words like 'karate' and 'sushi,' so remember to pronounce every vowel in Japanese, just like you do with these words."

As he spoke, Kentaro’s eyes kept drifting back to Kibin’s empty seat. Despite trying to focus on the lecture, the nagging worry about Kibin lingered. He pushed on, "There are a few things we should take note of when looking at these kana. First, some kana are limited; there is no 'yi,' 'ye,' 'wi,' 'we,' or 'wu.' Second, the pronunciation changes with a few of the kana. 'Si' becomes 'shi,' 'ti' becomes 'chi,' 'tu' becomes 'tsu,' and 'hu' becomes 'fu.' Lastly, the pronunciation of 'wo' をヲ. When written in hiragana, you don't pronounce the 'w.' It has the same pronunciation as 'o' お."

He paused, scanning the room. “As some of the kana we have learned are unvoiced, we can change each kana to its voiced equivalent by adding two dots that look like quotation marks to the top right of the kana. Here are the changes: 'K' becomes 'G' (ka → ga), 'S' becomes 'Z' (sa → za), 'T' becomes 'D' (ta → da), and 'H' becomes 'B' (ha → ba).”

Kentaro’s voice remained steady, but his mind kept drifting back to Kibin. He remembered the way Kibin had looked at him, the hurt in his eyes. Despite their fallout, Kentaro wasn’t used to seeing Kibin absent from class. It felt wrong, unsettling.

He wrapped up the lecture, assigning the students some practice exercises. As they worked, Kentaro sat at his desk, his thoughts swirling. He wondered if he should reach out to Kibin, apologize perhaps, or at least check on him. The thought of making amends lingered in his mind, but the fear of rejection held him back.

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Yuto then inquired about Kibin’s plans for the day. Kibin mentioned he had laundry to do—clothes, bed sheets, and curtains. Yuto said he planned to tidy up and paint new flower pots for his mother’s shop, which was right in front of their house.

Kibin offered to help with the flower shop, asking Yuto what time he’d start. Yuto said around 11 AM. Kibin agreed to help, deciding to finish his laundry first. With a washer and dryer, it wouldn’t take long.

While the washer was running, Kibin and Yuto sat at the table, chatting. Kibin’s phone rang—it was his mother. He answered cheerfully, “Hi Mom, how are you?”

“I’m doing well, son. How about you?” his mother asked warmly.

“I’m great here, Mom. How’s Dad and my siblings?” Kibin added.

“We’re getting by, thanks to God’s grace. Are you eating well over there?” she asked with concern.

“Yes, Mom, I eat well. I just finished breakfast with a friend,” Kibin replied. He turned the phone towards Yuto, who smiled and greeted Kibin’s mom with a “Good morning.”

Kibin’s mother smiled back. Kibin shared that Yuto enjoyed the danggit but complained about the smell, making everyone laugh. Kibin then told his mom about the financial assistance of 250,000 Japanese yen from his scholarship, which was already in his bank account. His mom was thrilled to hear the good news.

Kibin asked if they needed any money back home. His mother reassured him they were fine, mentioning his father had harvested a lot of vegetables and sold them at the market. At that moment, his father and siblings were delivering eight sacks of vegetables.

Kibin felt happy hearing the news. His mother ended the call, saying she needed to start cooking lunch. Kibin told her to send his regards to his dad and siblings before hanging up.

Returning to his laundry, Kibin heard the washer beep, signaling it was done. He rinsed the clothes, put them in the dryer, and then hung them on a drying rack attached to the wall near the window inside his apartment. The morning sun streaming through the window promised to dry them quickly.

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After the tutorial class ended, Kentaro, with nothing else on his schedule, immediately left the classroom to head home. He made his way to the parking lot and got into his car. At the same time, around 11 AM, Kibin and Yuto left Kibin’s apartment. They stood at the intersection just in front of the building, waiting for the traffic light to turn green so they could cross the street.

As they walked across the crosswalk, Kentaro spotted them from his driver's seat. His car was idling, halted by the green pedestrian light. He watched as Kibin and Yuto chatted and laughed, enjoying their walk. It was the first time Kentaro had seen Kibin so genuinely happy, a true smile lighting up his face. When the light turned red, and the cars began to move, Kentaro found his gaze lingering on Kibin and Yuto as they strolled toward the park.

Meanwhile, Kibin and Yuto arrived at Yuto’s mother's flower shop, a quaint little place nestled in a row of shops. The colorful blooms spilled out of the shop’s entrance, inviting passersby to stop and admire. They immediately set to work, eager to freshen up the space.

The shop’s walls needed a new coat of paint, so they chose a dark gray to make the vibrant colors of the plants and flowers pop. Kibin suggested that a darker shade would accentuate the greenery, whereas bright colors like yellow, red, or blue could make the leaves look dull and dry.

Yuto nodded in agreement. “You’ve got a good eye for this, Kibin. Dark gray it is.” They worked side by side, painting the walls with careful strokes, making sure every inch was covered evenly.

Once the walls were done, they turned their attention to the flower pots. They painted them a lighter brown mixed with white, a combination that beautifully highlighted the lush green leaves of the plants. As they painted, they chatted about everything from their favorite foods to their plans for the weekend.

Their banter made the time fly by, and soon the shop looked refreshed and inviting, the new colors enhancing the natural beauty of the flowers. The shop wasn’t just a place of business; it was a testament to the care and effort Kibin and Yuto put into their work. As they cleaned up, Yuto’s mother came out to see their handiwork.

“Wow, you boys did an amazing job! The shop looks beautiful,” she praised, her eyes sparkling with gratitude.

As the late morning sun streamed through the large windows of the flower shop, casting a warm, golden glow over the vibrant plants and flowers, Yuto’s mother arrived carrying a large basket filled with food, soda, and fries. She pushed open the door with her hip, balancing the basket in her arms.

“I brought lunch so you can eat here at the shop,” she announced with a warm, motherly smile, setting the basket down on a foldable table to the side. The spread was impressive, with an array of dishes that made both boys’ mouths water. “I’ve brought plenty, so dig in. And if you need anything else, just call me,” she added before leaving them to enjoy their meal.

Kibin and Yuto, grateful and excited, quickly unpacked the food and sat down to eat. They joked and laughed, savoring the delicious meal and each other’s company. The flower shop, with its freshly painted walls and neatly arranged pots, felt like a cozy haven. The large windows allowed a cool breeze to drift in, adding to the comfortable atmosphere.

After finishing their lunch, they leaned back in their chairs, feeling pleasantly full and satisfied. “That was amazing. Your mom is the best,” Kibin said, patting his stomach.

“Yeah, she sure knows how to cook,” Yuto agreed with a grin.

Feeling the fatigue from their morning’s work setting in, they decided to take a short break. The gentle breeze and the peaceful ambiance soon lulled them into a restful slumber. Their heads nodded, and within minutes, they were both sound asleep, the rhythmic breathing indicating just how tired they were.

When Yuto’s mother returned to the shop, she found them both peacefully sleeping, their heads resting on their arms folded atop the table. She smiled softly, touched by the sight. Quietly, she tiptoed over and began clearing away the dishes, careful not to disturb them.

Watching them sleep, she felt a deep sense of joy and pride. The shop looked beautiful, transformed by their hard work and attention to detail. The vibrant colors of the flowers stood out against the freshly painted walls, and the pots gleamed with their new coats of paint.

She couldn’t help but feel grateful for their efforts and the blossoming friendship between the two boys. It was heartwarming to see them work together so harmoniously, each contributing their strengths to make the shop a better place.

After a deep and restful sleep, Kibin and Yuto woke up to the soft afternoon light filtering through the large windows of the flower shop. They stretched and yawned, their bodies still a bit weary from the morning's work but feeling refreshed.

Just then, Yuto’s mother entered the shop, her face beaming with a warm smile and a basket in hand. “Oh, you’re awake! Perfect timing, I’ve brought some snacks,” she announced, her voice filled with maternal affection.

“What did you bring, Mama?” Yuto asked, his curiosity evident as he eyed the basket.

“I bought milk tea and made some Katsu sando for you both,” she replied, setting the basket down on the foldable table that was set up to the side.

“Thank you so much for the food,” Kibin said appreciatively, his stomach already growling in anticipation.

“And thank you both for fixing up my flower shop,” Yuto’s mother responded with a grateful smile. She handed a small envelope to Kibin.

“Mama, what’s that?” Yuto asked, puzzled by the gesture.

“It’s payment for helping out with the shop,” she explained.

Kibin shook his head, a kind but firm refusal in his eyes. “Please, I can’t accept that. I came here to help a friend, and I didn’t expect any payment. The fruit Yuto brought me last time and your delicious cooking are more than enough.”

Yuto’s mother gave him an understanding nod. “Well, I’d really like you to take this, but if you won’t, then at least take some fruits you like and a plant from the shop, okay?”

“Yes, thank you very much,” Kibin replied, his gratitude genuine.

“Alright, I have some things to take care of at home. Enjoy your snack!” she said as she headed out of the flower shop, leaving the boys to their treat.

Kibin and Yuto sat down to enjoy their snack. The Katsu sando was crispy and flavorful, and the milk tea was the perfect accompaniment. “This Katsu sando is amazing,” Kibin remarked, savoring each bite. The flower shop, bathed in the warm light of the setting sun, seemed even more vibrant with the colors of the flowers glowing against the freshly painted walls. The atmosphere was serene and comforting, like the flowers themselves were basking in the late afternoon glow.

After finishing their snack, Yuto left for a brief errand. When he returned, he was carrying a bag of fresh fruit. “What flower would you like to take home, Kibin?” he asked.

Kibin looked around, his eyes landing on a beautiful begonia with red and orange flowers. “I’ll take this one, and this one” he said, admiring its vibrant colors.

When Kibin got home, he carefully placed the red begonia on his small dining table and the orange one on his study table. The begonias added a splash of color to his space.