This little episode of his life somehow passed so quickly, much to his annoyance. Higo always thought that after sealing the deal with that kiss, he and Kumiko could enjoy the ’honeymoon phase’ where they could act more lovey-dovey with the others. Unfortunately, he had to go back to Germany as the head coach had already sent a message yesterday.
Frohling-sensei: You will arrive tomorrow night, right? Get yourself one day of rest, and start going to the training ground three days later! See you in Berger Feld!
Higo couldn’t help but curse secretly when he saw the message on his phone. ’Just when things start to get better between Kumiko-chan and me... Are you fucking kidding me?!’
Unfortunately, he had already signed a contract, so the boy had to go no matter whether he liked it or not.
Right now, he had already stood in Sapporo International Airport, waiting for the plane to Tokyo to fly. Together with him were Kumiko and Minami, while Fujita-san, his agent, was helping him deal with the administrative tasks.
"My son is going away again!" Minami started crying the moment they were in the waiting room, creating enough commotion to make the others stare at them.
"Mom, stop it! Everyone is staring!" Higo sighed helplessly. However, instead of pushing the woman away, he just let her hug him, even rubbing her back soothingly. "You said it yourself that you would fly there immediately once your schedule is getting better, so no need to be this dramatic!"
Yeah, it was crazy that his family situation right now was good enough that Minami could take a week off to go to Germany and watch for him without having to worry about the money. Still, there was no way he would let her do that right now. No, if anything, Higo would invite her only when he had already gained a strong foothold abroad.
No way in hell he would let her watch him just sitting on the bench quietly.
"Tch! This is different!" Minami snorted, wiping the tears away from her face. Fortunately, she still knew that Higo was feeling embarrassed right now, so the woman shook her head away quickly, trying to maintain her perfect image again. "Still, are you sure you will be okay? Kumiko-chan will only go there in October, right? Should I just... I don’t know, tag along for a week to check your living condition first?"
"Calm down, Obaasan. Ryukkun is already 18; he knows how to live alone." This time, it was Kumiko who came to bail him out. "If anything, the only problem here is that he will be homesick, but this is a problem that he has to face sooner or later. You cannot always be there, right?"
If anything, though, the thought of Higo having to face loneliness alone, sobbing silently in the corner of the room while also waiting for her to reply to his chat, only made her tears flow more profusely while she hugged him tighter than usual.
’Great, now what?’ Higo sighed helplessly, glaring at Kumiko half-heartedly. The girl herself just shrugged, acting like she was innocent. In the end, he could only rub her back gently while saying, "It’s okay, Mom, I promise I will call you every night to make sure that I am okay. How about that?"
Still sobbing with a runny nose like a little child, his mother asked with a quiet voice, "You promise?"
"Pinky swear."
That was when she could finally calm down a little bit. Honestly, Higo saw how his mother coped when his sister went to Tokyo, and while he knew that this would be bad, the boy still felt horrible at the sight of his mother like this. He knew she had separation anxiety, but that didn’t make things easier for him.
"Anyway, I am so sorry; I must’ve embarrassed you, right?" Minami wiped the tears once again from her face. "Yeah, I am the adult in the room; I need to do better."
After this, she decided to go to the washroom quickly to fix her makeup, leaving both Higo and Kumiko alone. This was the first time they were in this situation since they were on the school’s rooftop, and Higo could feel his ears warm immediately when that memory knocked on his brain.
"What, still thinking about the rooftop kiss?" Kumiko suddenly asked with a mischievous smile on her face. "Want to have another one?" She touched her own lips with one finger, looking at him with dangerous, seductive eyes.
"W—What?! W—What are you saying, Kumiko-chan?!" He stuttered, feeling heat creeping on his face. "You cannot say something like that openly, okay?! You are so horrible!" He groaned, still feeling like his head was getting boiled right now.
"What? We have been dating for quite a while, and we have kissed as well; what is wrong with talking like that?" Kumiko brushed off his concern nonchalantly. However, the glint of mischievousness was still there as she quite enjoyed teasing the boy like this. "Who would’ve thought that the tough keyboard warrior would fold whenever he talks about his love life?" She giggled quietly.
Higo pouted slightly, not having a word to return that jab.
"Don’t worry, if you are still embarrassed, let’s not mention it for now, okay?" Kumiko’s gaze softened. "Once I arrive there the next October, though, I will make sure that I give you a proper one! So, don’t you dare turn around to another girl, okay?"
"What?! I would never!" Higo gasped, feeling offended at the accusation.
Soon enough, Fujita-san finally arrived, calling him to get on the plane. His mother was there as well, making sure that nothing was left behind. After making sure that everything was ready, the two women finally let go of him, waving from the waiting room.
"Don’t forget to call us every day, okay?" Minami called.
"Don’t worry, Mom, I will never forget!" Higo sent a thumbs-up. Once the announcement for the flight echoed throughout the airport once again, he gave his mother and Kumiko one last look before shouting, "I am going first! Wish me luck, okay?!"