[Shorter Story - First Person]
I sit on my bench at the airport. Blistering sun flashing in my eyes. I'm waiting on someone, someone I saw a few months ago. They said they would fly out to see me. All the way from "Splatsville", never heard of it before then. The bench was sticky; oddly, it must be the heat melting the paint off. Watching the azure paint drip down my pants was disheartening, but then I saw a familiar silhouette walk through the gate. Bulbous afro, large rounded ears, short, it was him alright. He walked through the gate, holding a duffle bag and a cooler? How did he get that on his flight?
"Flying in from Inkadia must have more lax laws." I say to myself.
He fully exits the gate, looking around for me. I didn't have a sign, and this area seemed a little crowded. But soon enough, he noticed my distinct glow and walked right on over. I could see him better with his dark skin, black eyes, and stupid smile he always had.
"Mr. Anagram was it? I'm so happy I could make it!" He shouted, plopping down on the bench beside me.
"Yeah, I'm so happy you could come all the way out here to Japan to visit." I responded. "You know, you didn't have to pay for a plane just to get here; I could have flown to pick you up or something."
"Its alright! I'm just happy to be here. Anyway, check this out."
He gestured to the cooler. I opened it and it was filled with two authentic "Splatlandian" drinks, bagged drinks with straws poking out. Stompin' Grape and Sub Lime. Our favorites.
"How? What?! How did you get these?!" I gushed in excitement.
"Lucky for us, Crab-N-Go whent corprate, so they have locations in airports now." He responded.
We sipped our drinks on the bench. Two guys, enjoying drinks on a hot summer day. After the drinks past we sit, the wet paint now dried up on our clothes. My friend looked at his bag, then up at me.
"Y'know man? We should go out to eat somewhere, eh'? You got leftovers at your place, right?" He asked.
"Nah, I ate everything. We can go to to The Hungry Farie if you want?" I suggested. "Decent eats with plentiful options."
"Sure. Why not?"
We start walking over to my car, and I hold his bags as we walk.
A few months ago, I took a vacation to Inkadia, specifically Splatsville. I was doing a culture tour of the place after accidentally tuning in to a "Rainmaker" match, which is an Inkcadian sport of anarchy. I fell in love with the bright colors fighting for an objective, so I thought a trip to its homeland would be wonderful. During a free period on my tour, I walked into a local restaurant. They were almost full capacity due to it being after a big tournament, so I had to share a table with a random. This random person I sat with was quite talkative, introducing himself as Otoko. He really liked this game Frystars Online V+, a large food-themed online multiplayer game. Otoko excitedly told me about the gameplay of Frystars Online V+. He explained that in the game, players take on the role of cute food-themed characters and engage in various challenges and adventures. From cooking competitions to food fights, the game offers a unique and colorful experience. Intrigued by his description, I decided to give it a try after finishing my trip. I bought it a week ago, and he's played it for months. We quickly bonded over food and games, and talked for hours. We talked for so long my tour group left me! But I did have to leave, promising we'd see eachother again.
At The Hungry Farie, me and Otoko plopped down at a table for two. The Hungry Farie is known for its ambiance and is often a date-night spot for couples. I often just get takeout because the food is actually delicious. I scan the room as I order the taquitos; dirty looks surround me.
I wondered why. Could either of us be doing something wrong?
I never understood things like this, could two friends go eat at a place like this without getting shot looks? It's something people call "platonic love" I found this out shortly after I met Otoko.
I shrugged it off , he shrugged it off, We waited some more, the taquitos came, we ate, we tallked. Then Otoko started getting serious, very out of charater for him.
"Why don't we head back to your place?" He suggested, "Its getting late."
"True true, you can crash at my place for as long as you need." I offered.
Then he stopped smiling a bit. Concerned, I asked him.
"Hey, what gives? What's wrong?"
"I kind of need a break from all the stuff happening in Splatsville. Too much you know?" He said, pecking at a taquito. "Nothing new is going on. Burnout got ahold of me; all this sports stuff hasn't been fun."
"You're the only non-Splatinadian friend I have, and I thought maybe you could help me out."
He needed help. A desprate plea for an escape from the mundane. It's funny, because I yearned for the mundane for so long, and breaking free from it was the best feeling I ever felt. I can help him, have him feeling as great as me! Everything in my life is, in fact, fresh; burnout is impossible for me. But its dangerous, my life is dangerous. Should I take that risk?
…
What's the worst that could happen?
I sip my Cola as I smirk at Otoko's meek face.
"Sure, stay with me." I say "I'm sure I can commidate. Lets get this stuff to go, come on, to my place!"
His face lights up with a smile, a sincere one, not the stupid one he always has. The warmth from his happiness fills me with joy.
Later At My Place...
I flick on the lights at my apartment, and walk in. Otoko wanders in holding his bags, cooler, and leftovers. I take his bags, putting them in my closet. All the driving made me tired, causing me to subcontiously walk into my room, get changed, and flop into bed. I slowly doze off, but was woke by Otoko shaking me awake, he too was in his sleepwear.
"Hello? Hi. I was wondering where I'd sleep… I didn't see any other rooms." He said. "Should I sleep on the couch?"
I look at him, then my couch. My precious couch, with me since the beginning. Then back at Otoko, in his pijamas, a t-shirt and shorts, skin slightly slimy, with his bulbous afro looking like a nice plump takoyaki.
"Sure, I guess you can sleep with me for a period. I'll find you a place to sleep in the morning." I say gesturing to the empty spot on my bed.
He crawls in as I scoot over to the edge of the bed. I quickly doze off.
Next Morning...
I wake up, Otoko is cuddling me, arm wrapped around my torso. Odd, I thought. I try to move him, but he won't budge. Instead, he squeezes me tighter.
"Homeboy...! Dude...! OTOKO!" I shout startling him awake, still clinging to me.
"Oh my, I must have been having a great dream… I haven't cuddled someone in forever." He says, releasing his grasp. "That sure was wierd eh'? You're staring at me cockeyed."
I was looking at him weirdly, not nderstanding his words. I couldn't tell if it was because I was tired or that his affection was such a foreign feeling that I just couldn't register in my head normally.
"I was hugging you like we were lovers dude. Sorry, it must be jetlag. I could tell it was you, just not that it was you y'know?" He says, climbing out of my bed.
I also get out of my bed saying nothing, more confused then anything. I enter the kitchen, I grab a ready-made breakfast and begin prepping It as Otoko stands behind me. Gawking at what I'm cooking.
"Again sorry about this morning, and probably all last night too..." He said "I must of slept walked, eh'? Or I just sleep cuddle, eh'?"
Otoko is acting awkward; I'll ask him more about what happened. I finish making breakfast, and Otoko grabs his share of what I cooked. We sit down at my table, and we discuss what his home was like. He told me about his previous roommate, who went missing after a failed job. I tell of my past, of what I would like to tell, of my curse, my origin, my circumstance.
"What do you do for like, money?"
"You're always in danger?!"
"So you don't like other guys..."
"The glowing, is it normal?"
Those are the various things asked of me during our talk. I had to make another one of those ready-made meals to talk over. It was good. Having someone to talk and relate to, feels so good not to be alone. Not to be the only not-exactly-human. Otoko smiled at me after finishing his meal.
"As friends, and now roommates, you should call me what everybody else does." Otoko said. "You can call me Chewy!"
"Sure. Alright 'Chewy'. Do you want to order pizza later?" I asked, finishing my meal.
"Awesome! sounds great New Roommate!" Chewy says.
We wash the dishes together, laughing and having a good time.
I feel like having a roommate won't be so bad.