Chapter 9: VIII.

. . .

The harbor was pleasant enough to stand in, seeing the ocean as we made our way to the dock to get on the boat, the sun beaming down onto our skin, though I don’t think it was quite warm, I honestly can’t remember.

I was walking with Diana, Goryo, and Hibiki as Akane walked with Ann, Luna, and Akira.

It was going to be Goryo, Hibiki, and Akira’s first time on the island; their first time seeing what exactly it was like to be an Okamura. Specifically, Akira, in a way.

I would say she knows slightly what it is like to be an Okamura, just because she is Akane’s best friend. That’s the way I would put it. I definitely think it would be nice to know Akira more, considering that Akane does, though very, and by very I mean very, slightly, understand Diana.

I would classify Diana as an Okamura, though, not in the sense that she married someone and got into the family.

I would classify her as a friend that has gotten so close to the family, that she is considered part of the family.

Goryo used to be my best friend, but that was when I was ten. I hadn’t even had my birthday then, I would’ve been elevent if he had waited just a few more months.

Hibiki doesn’t even know jackshit about me, therefore I truly believe that he will be, at the very least, surprised.

Goryo is going to be quite surprised about my current situation now, thank you Hisa.

“...so… are you guys excited…?” Diana spoke softly as we continued walking. “It’s going to be quite different.”

I sighed as I spoke, “...please for the love of God have manners… My Uncle is a big stickler about that bullshit.” My voice was slightly raspy, not sure why. I glanced at Hibiki, that line directed specifically towards him.

I took a deep breath, nobody saying anything as we walked. Though, that wasn’t completely true. Akane and Akira were chatting about something while Ann and Luna had started marching behind them, talking about their own things.

My eyes wandered to the dock, where the boat was waiting for us. We continued our trot as we finally arrived at the dock. The boat swayed slightly in the water.

Captain Ousuke stood near the steps. Had he been waiting for us this entire time? Now I feel pretty bad actually.

“Hey, Captain Ousuke! How are you?” Akane yawped loudly as Captain Ousuke smiled at her.

“Hey, ‘Kane! I’m doin’ great! What about ya two? How was Shibuya?” Captain Ousuke asked Akane and I.

“Hi Ousuke, it was… fine,” I responded. “...were you waiting out here for us the whole time?”

“Don’t worry ‘bout that! I was waitin’ for ya to get here on the ship. Could spot ya walkin’ up to the docks through those windows.” He pointed to the ship, and I spotted where he was talking about.

Afterwards, his expression shifted to one of more surprise and delight, I think he spotted Hibiki and Goryo. “Ah, and who are ya friends?” He asked softly as Akane responded for me, which irritated me slightly.

“This is Goryo Takahashi!” She pointed at Goryo. “And this is Hibiki… Kaiyo…!” She stuttered slightly, I guess she didn’t know his last name completely.

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But she did get it right.

“Nice ta’ meetcha!” Captain Ousuke spoke gently as he extended an arm for Hibiki and Goryo to shake.

They did, both saying nice to meet you as they did so. Thank the everlasting lord that they have manners.

After a moment of silence, we loaded onto the boat.

. . .

The boat rode pretty quickly, something I was quite used to. Sure, Ousuke did lower the pace just in case Hibiki and Goryo couldn’t handle it, they seemed to handle it just fine.

It just occurred to me that Akira was never greeted by Ousuke. “...hey, Akira? Can you handle this speed?” I asked her as she sat with Akane, she seemed fine.

“Oh, the speed? No, it’s fine! I ride boats when I go fishing with my dad,” her voice let out gently, smiling lightly as she went back to looking at the scenery.

I was doing that too, it was quite beautiful. I liked seeing the water and trying to spot some sea creatures as we zipped past.

I turned the other way to start talking to Hibiki. “Please, be respectful, I- …I don’t know how you are… but my… My family is really rich.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be perfectly respectful, I always have been,” he answered, he seemed to be honest about that. He started to glance into my eyes, the same way Goryo did at the occultic store.

He was quite beautiful too, dear God why am I such a faggot? And I wouldn’t even have a chance with him, he already has Celeste and there is no way in Hell he would dump her for a half-assed trans gay man. And one he’d fuck once or twice too because I fucking hate sex.

“...thank you,” my voice let out as I turned to Diana, she was looking on her phone at social media, I didn’t want to bother her. “I’m going to go talk with Goryo.”

Hibiki and Diana nodded as I stood up and walked over to the steps of the lower cabins of the ship.

It was sort of like an orlop deck, there were corridors, but Goryo was in the first room, the room where I usually hung out while the ship was going to the island.

It wasn’t large under the ship, there were about five cabins, and two people could sleep in each.

Two on one side and three on the other, I’ve never slept on the ship before, but I’m sure it certainly would not have been comfortable.

I slowly went down the steps as I spotted Goryo. He wasn’t doing anything but just sitting on a couch. I sighed as I sat next to him.

“Sorry, I… I should’ve came down here with you,” I sighed as he glanced at me.

“Don’t apologize King. You have new friends, you don’t need-” Goryo started before I cut him off:

“D-don’t say that…! You helped me out a lot when I was younger…! A-and… you… don’t really know anyone I know either…”

“...it’s not just about that… you… …I don’t like the feeling in my stomach when I’m up there…”

“I never mentioned anything about being up there,” my voice let out softly as Goryo smiled lightly.

“I’ve missed you, King.” I blushed lightly when he said that. But, as I was enjoying myself: “...how is your relationship with your dad?”

My eyes widened as I blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “M-Mom divorced him…”

“I thought they weren’t married.”

“...they were but… they didn’t like talking about it…” I sighed, “...and I don’t want to talk about that. I don’t even want to talk about him at all.”

Goryo smiled more as I seemed to be a frantic mess. “It’s okay, don’t worry about that. I’d rather you be comfortable.”

I smiled at Goryo as I felt an abrupt stop of the ship. Goryo shook slightly and held onto me.

I really did forget how warm he was.

But I didn’t ever forget how warm he made me feel.

He still does make me warm.

And not a lot does.