Thrown to the other side

Chapter III: Thrown to the Other Side

Ren stared outside helplessly. Seems like the rain won't stop for a while. The once bright landscape from his window was covered in heavy rain drops. The trees swayed with the wind and no birds chirped on the tree branches. The weather today is gloomy after a few weeks of clear skies and windy mornings. He did not want to predict the weather. Tomorrow might be humid, then in three hours the snow will start pouring.

He stopped tossing the ball and held it above his head. Since he can't go outside, it means he won't be able to play for a while. There was no space inside to spike and toss smoothly. The house will either end up with broken lights and furniture or successfully destroy a whole floor. Mizuki will not like it either, so he sulks in his room.

Demi was asleep in the corner of his bed, snuggled closely to the warmth of his pillow. She's a light sleeper but the weather seems to affect her and her sleep. He doesn't want to disturb his bunny by playing tug of war just because he's bored.

Mizuki was supposed to be at home for dinner. She left two days ago for Vancouver, for a business meeting, she says. She often left before summer. Her reason was rather reasonable. She finds summer inconvenient when travelling ruins her clothes by sweating. Ren couldn't agree more.

He got up carefully, trying not to create the faintest rustling of sheets. He placed the ball on top of his shelf, not wanting Demi to get her teeth into it. Once he glanced at a clock and he knew Mizuki should be here by now, but considering the heavy rainfall, it looked like she was sheltered somewhere on the way.

Ren evacuated to the second floor where their kitchen, living room and dining room were located. Searching for a snack before she arrives. He sees Logan sprawled on the couch. When he grabs the nugget, the Husky's head is whipped quickly at him but he goes back to sleep when he sees it's just him.

He served himself a pure black coffee, fried nuggets and fresh fresh if Mizuki whether to catch him in that state or not.

"Ah— Logan!" He shrieked and calmed down when Logan brushed his fur against his calf. "You startled me. Geez, come here if you want a belly rub."

The Husky sprawled at his feet, exposing its tummy for Ren to give him what he wanted. He chuckled at his adorable action and accepted defeat when it earned him a lick of affection.

Well, it seems like his evening will be like this until Mizuki comes and ends this fantasy. She's scary as reality.

The sun sets, he faces Noah out of boredom. His friend is most likely to be on a tennis court, still in practice. They hadn't eaten that much time per se. Ren received a message from his mother.

Mizuki S.

We'll wait for the storm to pass. Don't eat junk food and try real food Ren. See you at home.

That was all it says in the message, but it eases worry he didn't know it was there. Maybe because trauma and she never missed a chance to inform him whenever she couldn't make it on time. Ren knew his mother's sharpness in time.

When Noah ends the call, he has nothing to do again. He could list another school to go to but he wasn't feeling it.

He wants to play volleyball. He wants a school with a volleyball club, with members as cool as the Libero he witnessed years ago. But looking for one in Canada doesn't appear to be that easy. When he managed to find one, he was criticized. Mizuki advised him to look in Japan. Volleyball isn't only limited to Canada.

He lost information and follow up news when he and Mizuki moved from Japan. The name still rang a great feeling inside him and the sport still excited him the first time it was laid in front of him.

A sharp knock popped his bubbles of thought, both he and Logan got up to open the door. Logan starts pawing and scratching, indicating that it was his mother.

"Welcome home." he greeted her, eyeing her appearance. She's not disheveled nor wet from the rain and it's still pouring.

"Ren." she managed to give a small thin smile before her eyebrows were raised in familiarity. "A nuggets. I told you to cook real food."

He should've aired out the second floor, but if he dared to open the window, the water would slide inside the window pane.

"I woke up late. The weather is good for napping."

She groaned upon entering, Ren noticed two dry paper bags. She placed it on the kitchen island and dropped her shoulder bag on the couch. Logan followed throughout the house. "Ren, put my luggage in the corner. I've got gifts there."

He glanced between her and the luggage. "Gifts?"

"Hm. Don't just stand there and move. Close the door, Ren."

Confused, he followed. When it was rare for her to bring a gift for taking trips, especially if it didn't end up well, she was more relaxed than on most of her business trips.

Something good must've happened in Vancouver, he thought. He shrugged it off and said as he said.

"Ren, let's talk later. Nothing to fuss about, just a short vacation out of the country."

                                       ...

"Before summer I'll be in Japan."

Ren looked up from the bright screen of his phone. She hadn't mentioned Japan in a while and it made him wonder, despite originally living there, she didn't want to go back there. This time is a surprise.

"For meeting? How long?"

"Ren, I'm thinking of bringing you with me."

He stopped scrolling, halting in the middle of a digital book he saved to read. "Sure. How long?"

She went silent for a while. "For summer. I have meetings to do at home. Most of them couldn't come to Canada and Japan seems to be our main place."

"Okay. I'll tell Noah."

"Preliminaries start in summer in Japan. If we are unable to attend, you can stay a little longer to see the start of the Spring Tournament."

His eyes widened, then he broke into a small smile. "Thank you."

It's not that he was opposed to going back to Japan, nor didn't he want to go either. There was just something unsettling for him to go back without a proper memory of what happened. He was rather afraid of the responses he would get.