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DEAR NORI-KUN,
I’M SORRY FOR CONTACTING YOU LIKE THIS. YOU DON’T KNOW ME. AT LEAST, I DOUBT YOU DO. I DON’T EXPECT SHE’D ADMIT TO KNOWING TRASH LIKE ME. IT DOESN’T MATTER. I KNOW OF YOU AND THAT WILL HAVE TO DO. I HOPE THIS IS THE RIGHT ADDRESS. KIN-CHAN MENTIONED YOU LIVE BELOW HER SO IF SHE IS ROOM 215 THEN I THOUGHT YOU MUST BE ROOM 115.
SHE MENTIONED SHE’S FRIENDLY WITH YOU AND YOU HAVE HELPED HER WITH RETRIEVING AN ITEM OF CLOTHING PREVIOUSLY. I UNDERSTAND IT’S POSSIBLE YOU ARE A CHERRY BOY AND THAT MAY ACCOUNT FOR YOUR STRANGE BEHAVIOUR BUT THAT’S NO EXCUSE FOR WHAT YOU’VE DONE. KIN-CHAN SHINES TOO BRIGHT FOR ANY OF US. IF EVEN A SHITHEAD VIRGIN NEET LIKE ME CAN TRY TO HELP SOMEONE LIKE HER THEN WHY THE HELL HAVEN’T YOU?
SOMETHING’S WRONG WITH KIN-CHAN. SHE’S NOT KEEPING CONTACT. SHE HASN’T BEEN SOUNDING LIKE HERSELF. ALL SHE WANTS IS TO DO IS STUDY AND GET GOOD GRADES. I KNOW A LAZY NEET LIKE ME CAN’T UNDERSTAND BUT IT CAN’T BE WORTH HER HEALTH.
PLEASE, CHECK ON HER. MAKE SURE SHE’S OKAY. I’M DOING ALL I CAN FROM TOKYO BUT SOMEONE LIKE ME CAN’T DO A LOT. I DON’T LIKE ASKING THIS OF A STRANGER BUT I DON’T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. PLEASE. SHE’S SCARING ME.
YOURS SINCERELY,
MATSUNO ICHIMATSU
PS: PLEASE DON’T TELL HER I SENT YOU THIS.
****
DEAR THE KINKO FAMILY,
I AM SORRY FOR WRITING TO YOU WHEN I DO NOT KNOW YOU. I FOUND THE ADDRESS IN THE PHONE BOOK. I WOULD NOT DO THIS UNLESS I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT.
I AM A FRIEND OF KIN-CHAN’S. MY BROTHERS AND I MET HER IN THE SUMMER WHEN SHE VISITED TOKYO. I AM NOT SURE IF SHE MENTIONED US OR NOT.
UNTIL RECENTLY I WAS IN REGULAR CONTACT WITH KIN-CHAN, BUT SHE CLOSED HERSELF OFF AFTER I SAID I WAS WORRIED ABOUT HER. I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU ARE AWARE BUT SHE HAS BEEN WORKING INCREDIBLY HARD AT COLLEGE AND I THINK IT HAS BEEN AFFECTING HER HEALTH. I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM HER IN A FEW WEEKS AND WHEN I HEARD FROM HER LAST SHE DIDN’T SOUND HERSELF. I KNOW THIS IS NOT MY BUSINESS BUT I HAD TO DO SOMETHING SO I THOUGHT I SHOULD LET YOU KNOW. SHE MAY NOT APPRECIATE MY DOING THIS AND BE ANGRY BUT IF IT HELPS THEN THAT’S FINE BY ME.
APOLOGIES AGAIN FOR THE INTRUSION,
YOURS SINCERELY,
MATSUNO ICHIMATSU
****
Oi, college professors…
I don’t know which of you fuckers have Kin-chan on your course so I’ll just send this to the whole Marine Biology department and you’d better bloody well read this letter or you won’t like what I’ll do to you… Whoever it is, you know who you are.
What do you think you’re doing? Kinko Inuyama is the best damn student you’ll ever get so you’d better make sure she knows it. Did you even notice how she was tearing herself apart over your dumb class? I bet you’re just some sad forty-year-old virgin loser who could never get a real job so you had to teach instead.
I won’t do anything this time but remember, I can and will find out who you are and where you live so if anything ever happens to Kin-chan again, if I’m ever scared for her like this again, I will make you regret it. I have a friend who knows how to do horrible things with an oden skewer. Kin-chan can’t – I won’t let anything happen to her again. I won’t feel powerless like that again. I can’t watch over her while she’s away but you’re her god damn teacher. Aren’t you fuckers meant to have some sort of responsibility?
Kin-chan deserves to smile. Feeling crap is for trash like me.
From,
Her Cherry Boy NEET.
****
Dear Ichimatsu-kun,
I don’t really know how to say this. I should have written a week or so ago but I couldn’t. There’s no reason for me not to but I wasn’t able to, maybe because I’m ashamed. Is that how it is when you can’t pick up the phone?
I couldn’t put it off any longer though. I knew it wasn’t fair on you, especially not when you’ve been so kind to me. I don’t know what I’d have done without you. Probably carried on like I was.
You were right. I wasn’t taking care of myself. All I was doing was working. You remember I told you we had plans for a beach barbeque after the test? I didn’t go. Once I walked out the test hall all I could think of was how little I knew. I went straight back to my room and started studying again. The only time I went out was to get food and do my laundry. They both fell by the wayside a little. More than a little. Thank you so much for those biscuits you sent! You’re a lifesaver, Ichimatsu-kun, and a surprisingly good baker. Oops, sorry! That’s the kind of thing that usually makes you blush, isn’t it?
Joking aside, I owe you an apology. At first, I was too tired all the time to write proper letters, and then I avoided it on purpose. I read your letters over and over but I couldn’t bring myself to reply. I guess it’s hard to face up to when you’re wrong. All you ever did was care for me! I’m so sorry for my behaviour! I understand if you don’t want to be pen pals anymore, but I wanted to at least let you know how I was doing. I feel dreadful thinking I caused you and everyone such a worry.
It was very strange. I’d been so low for a week, living off instant ramen and barely getting out of bed, just like a proper student (or NEET!) and I could hardly drag myself to lectures. I didn’t talk to anyone and nobody talked to me. You’d probably enjoy the isolation but for me, it’s just weird. It would have been if I’d noticed, I mean. I was too caught up in schoolwork to think about things like that. I didn’t mean for you to realise how bad things were but I guess I’m not very good at hiding it, or I just didn’t want to. Everyone had such high hopes for me. You know I’m the first in my family to go to university? I couldn’t let anyone think I was slipping. You were the only one I could confide in.
Even so, I guess people must have cottoned on. I’d finally run out of instant ramen and I was too tired to even pop down to the shops to get some so I was just sat on my bed doing nothing when someone knocked on my door! Guess who it was? Nori-kun! He brought me up some food and said he wanted to hang out a bit and I was so hungry I just let him in. I managed to get a proper sleep for the first night in a while after that.
He kept coming back every evening to check on me with food and stuff. Apparently, he’d had a feeling something was up. I tried to tell him I was fine but he wouldn’t have it, he just muttered something about ‘cherry boys’ and kept showing up. Do you have any idea what he meant? He’s definitely an odd one!
About the same time, my family called for the first time in a while. It was kinda embarrassing because we don’t tend to make a big deal out of things but they all said they were really proud of me and reminded me to take care of myself. I guess I really needed to hear that. I actually cried! Can you imagine? What you must think of me I don’t know! A couple of days later I got a parcel from them like a care package with some nice stuff inside. It sort of reminded me to sort myself out a bit.
The final thing that helped was also pretty weird. One of my professors came up to me and asked me how I was doing and said to make sure I didn’t overwork myself. She also said I was doing really well in her class, which was nice of her. I did wonder if she was okay though, she had a haunted look in her eyes. I asked if something was up and all she mentioned was something about NEETs and then scurried off! Wasn’t anything to do with you and your brothers, was it? Ha-ha!
With all that, I managed to take back control of myself. I’m still working hard, but I’m having fun too. I even went out for drinks the other night. Still, I don’t think I could have got through this without you. Everyone’s concern was touching, but it was the thought of how much I’d worried you that made me sort myself out. You kept reaching out to me and that really meant a lot. Thank you for being my pen pal!
It’s been a hell of a term, huh? Or maybe not from your point of view. At least it’s nearly summer. Only a couple of weeks left! I’ll be in Tokyo again, isn’t that exciting! I hope I’ll be able to see you again then. And the others of course. How is everyone? Still my same old NEETS I’ll bet!
I’m going to sign off now. This letter’s been a long time coming but even so, it took me a long time to write. I’m still not sure I’ve done it right. Thank you again for all you’ve done. Thank you most for being my friend.
You’re a good guy, Ichimatsu-kun.
Love,
Kin
****
Dear Kin-chan,
I told you to take care, didn’t I? Honestly, nobody ever listens to me. It’s a good thing you sorted yourself out or I would have had to go out there myself. I would have been seriously scared pissed if you hadn’t been okay in the end. Remind me to beat your ass when you get here.
I’m glad you’re okay.
The others don’t know we’re writing but after I got your letter I suggested they called you again. Said I had a hunch you’d pick up this time. Then I went out to feed the cats so I don’t know if you picked up or not. They seemed relieved when I came back though. And yes, that how it is with the phone. And events. And talking to strangers. And sometimes buying things. Lots of stuff I guess. I’m not brave like you, I can’t make myself do it.
I guess it’s lucky all those people realised you needed help. No, it was not to do with us I don’t know why you would think that. Nori-kun is a very odd one. I have no idea what he meant. I only asked him to help you, not hang out in your room, the bastard. Are you eating properly again now? I’m glad my biscuits helped. They’re like what I give to the cats when they’re ill and won’t eat, except without fish and that.
I told you not to make fun of me like that though. You know I think that compliment crap is stupid. ‘Lifesaver’ is definitely an exaggeration and I’m not that good a baker. You’re probably doing it on purpose, aren’t you? Fine, I admit it. I guess it does make me go a tiny bit red and my insides summersault when you say stuff like that so casually. The end of your last letter, for example… There, I said it, so will you stop it now? It’s annoying. I mean, I don’t mind it so much but my brothers are a nuisance if they catch me reading your letters or thinking about them. They’re already kind of suspicious so I don’t want to give them more reason to snoop around.
Everyone is fine and we’re all very excited for when you visit. We went shopping with Totoko-chan because she wanted some new clothes to wear when you are here. She was super cute but not as cute as you. Hell, even writing the blasted things is hard. Chibita is also looking forward to you coming. He says we’ll save you a seat at his cart every night if you want.
Oh, I guess I should tell you. I’m not entirely a NEET anymore. I got a part-time job at Chibita’s. Nothing fancy, just washing the dishes and that. I don’t think he’d ever dream of letting me serve anyone. I’d probably scare them right off. I’m happier around the back anyway. Pay’s not much but it’s good enough. I put some towards the house, some towards my cat and I’m also saving up. I thought maybe I could buy a phone. Not a smartphone like Totty but a little normal one. I think I could text you people which would be good. Phone calls might be easier if I can do it from the roof or somewhere alone. I don’t know, it’s probably a stupid idea. I’m a few weeks off being able to afford one anyway. Just thought I’d let you know.
Even if I did get one, I’d still like to write letters. I wouldn’t mind if you didn’t send any back. It’s just, I don’t know, calming or some shit. You’re calming, which makes no sense at all because you’re the second most enthusiastic person I know. One guess who the most enthusiastic is. You’re excitable and energetic and do worrying things like the past few weeks and you do all these things to my already messed up head and fluster me because you think it’s funny or something but you’re still calming. I’ve known Chibita since we were kids and I was still nervous as hell asking him about the job but I thought of you when I did and it turned out okay. Hell, that’s probably weird. I don’t know.
I don’t really know where I’m going with this. I just rambling by this point. Sorry this letter’s a bit crap. Out of practice, I guess. It’ll be good when you come up to Tokyo. We’ll go round all the places you wanted to see. All the shops. You deserve it after all your hard work.
Maybe we could go to the aquarium together. Without my brothers, that is. If you want. It’s not a big deal either way.
I’ll see you soon I guess. Until then, take care.
Yours,
Ichimatsu
PS: I attached some more of those biscuits. It’s okay if you don’t want to eat them. I’m pretty sure I gave you the non-fishy batch but you might want to check.