Chapter Text
August 23rd
Dear Kojiro,
I hope this postcard finds you well.
I wonder how long it took to arrive, considering the distance between Japan and Italy. This postcard might be more well-travelled than I am myself— a slightly infuriating thought, admittedly. Would you mind telling me the date you’ve received this in your mail?
Finding a proper postcard was surprisingly difficult as well. I suppose it’s no longer common practice to send physical mail. Of course, mine isn’t quite nearly as horrendous looking as yours. I will consider that a win.
Are you struggling to pick up your phone to text me yet? Personally, I am quite enjoying the silence. I’m so much more productive now. At least you have your precious kitchen towels to remind you of just how much you miss me.
My notifications are still on, mind you. Carla predicts that you will crack within the two month mark and I am determined to capture the evidence.
Ah, I forgot how little space there is on postcards. Let me finish my message to you with a proverb synonymous to your inevitable defeat:
“Kappa swept away by the river”
Thank you for the free calligraphy practice.
-Kaoru
~
September 5th
To my dearest Four-Eyes,
‘I hope this postcard finds you well’ → really?? What are you, a sixty year old divorced housewife?
Anyway, I got your card on September 3rd, just so you know. I always wonder how those photographers manage to get snapshots of the most touristy places without a single person in it. Our beaches do NOT look like that!
I bet it's scorching in Okinawa right now, ha. It’s pretty warm here too but different. Less humid. I think you’d like summers here, since you could parade around in your fancy shmancy robes without complaining every five seconds about how it sticks to your skin.
By the way, I’ve been learning a bit of Italian lately. Too bad you won’t be able to hear me speak. Unleeessss…….. ;)
Also, who the hell is Carla?? We stop talking for like half a month and you’ve already replaced me? I’m wounded! Hurt! Battered and bruised! Absolutely heart-broken! Woe is me!
Thanks for the proverb by the way, it fits you really well since you’re obviously gonna text me first :)
Alright, that’s it for me for now. Can’t wait for your text message~ Byeeee
- Kojiro
~
September 20th
To the world’s most overly-confident Gorilla,
Very well, I will refrain from attempting to be kind then. It seems like you obviously haven’t been paying attention in literacy classes throughout secondary school, otherwise you would have long since learnt some proper letter writing etiquette.
Aha. So our postcards take approximately 10~14 days to arrive, assuming that we write and post within a day of receiving one another’s. I must admit that although I was pleased to see a slightly more modern postcard this time, your previous one reflects your overall style more accurately—
Tacky.
Furthermore, you have already resorted to talking about the weather. How bland. I already check temperatures on a daily basis. And your alleged advancements in the Italian language are an obvious bluff. You should know by now that you won’t be winning this one, so save your breath. Or ink, in this case.
Who is Carla? Excuse me? Do you ever listen to anything I say? I’ve mentioned Carla on numerous occasions during our video chats! Perhaps this exchange of physical messages might teach you a lesson. Rude.
Which reminds me of a personal proverb for you:
“The heart never outgrows the ego”
- Kaoru
~
October 4th
To RuRu,
Aahh, there’s the Kaoru I grew up with, snarky and haughty as ever ♥ Are you gonna grade me on my letter-writing skills now, Professor Sakurayashiki? Why would I pay attention in language class when I could just copy your notes, which you always so generously let me sneak out of your backpack whenever you weren’t looking?
Damn, that’s pretty long, huh? Definitely waaaay more convenient to just.. Y’know. Grab your phone and message me. You should try it sometimes, I heard it’s pretty neat~
Honestly, I can’t even argue with that. Tacky and proud! Your ‘carefully selected’ postcards also kinda remind me of you, y’know? Boring ♥
Yeah, no, because talking about the time it takes for our cards to arrive is such a deeply personal conversational topic. C’mon man, cut me some slack. I did say that I think you’d like it here, that’s kinda personal?
OOOOHHH your robot wife!!! Yeah totally forgot you named her that. Pffff. Why would you even give your nerdy talking computer thingies a name? Kinda creepy Ru, not gonna lie.
Alright, alright, I’ve got a quote for you too:
“Never judge a nerd by his robot”
Or maybe this one’s more for myself. Ha.
- Kojiro
~
October 20th
Dear Dimwit,
Ugh, I despise that nickname. Remind me why I still put up with your nonsense after all these years? Sending you postcards nonetheless. Your foolishness must have been rubbing off on me.
You say that as if I wasn’t aware you were the one behind my disappearing notebooks; you’re as subtle as a bull in a china shop. You could have easily asked me for my notes back then. There is no need to pretend you have any dignity when I already know your brain consists solely of muscle and pasta.
You are right, texting is indeed more convenient. However, hand-written messages require more thought and effort. And I, for one, do not miss the hourly cat pictures, Gordon Ramsay cursing compilations, and blurry selfies. Not one bit.
Boring? Me? It’s not my fault that all postcards look like the photo compilations your aunt posts on Facebook every time she goes on vacation. I’d rather spend my time productively than hunt down the impossible. A sentiment which you seem to share, considering the fact that your last two cards have the exact same Venetian gondola image on them.
I was almost going to hand that one line of sentimentalism to you, until you proceeded to insult my hard work. Carla is a nice name and it suits her very well! I bet you would have named her something tasteless, some robot pun, no less.
Hm, no space for a quote today. Until next time.
- Kaoru
~
November 1st
Dear Kao-chan,
↑ You hate that one even more right? And shush, we both know you love my slightly chaotic yet lovable charm~ Like you said, you wouldn’t be sending me postcards anymore if you didn’t.
Don’t act all noble now, I know you added fake notes in there to trick me. I know damn well that the capital city of Nepal isn’t ‘Sukhmadikk’. Brat. Besides, lots of people are into my muscle and pasta filled brain, so ha, take that!
Are you saying that my carefully selected memes don’t suit your taste? Because I very vividly recall you nearly pissing your pants laughing at that one video of a cat meowing underwater.
Anyway, I’m sure you’ve noticed that I picked today’s postcard keeping in mind how much you miss my quality content. Cats AND a blurry Halloween selfie! That’s how much effort I put into finding / creating the perfect postcard for you, so you CAN give me a point for sentimentalism. Take that!
Wha— a pun? Me? Unheard of! I totally would have named your robot wife something classy like. uh. MechaKaoru5000. Or… Robob. Or maybe something a bit more charming like ‘Kojiro’. Who knows.
No quote? What a treat! Can’t wait to see how you’ll pathetically attempt to one-up me with another lame ass, store-bought postcard :)
- Muscle Man Pasta Brain
~
November 11th
Dear KoKo,
Yes I do hate that nickname, but two can play that game. Oh, please. I’m only humoring our contest with these postcards in the name of some healthy competition. And I am sure you can tell that I have indeed ‘one-upped’ you with this specific card. I spent at least an hour scouring through my albums to find the absolute least flattering pictures of you and had them printed onto a postcard.
Or rather, a set of twenty. The printing company didn’t offer smaller quantities, so you may expect to receive one of these every year on your birthday for the foreseeable future. On that same note, that halloween image you glued onto the postcard is a nice addition to my growing collection of blackmail material. Thank you for that.
Well, you’re in culinary school, of course you’d meet people interested in that singular noodle for a brain you’ve got. Yet you’re spending time writing postcards to me. Should I be flattered?
The underwater cat video is a rare exception, and you had technically not found that one yourself, so it obviously doesn’t count.
...Robob. I had low expectations, but this is far worse than I could have possibly anticipated. I don’t know whether to be disappointed or concerned. I have just the right proverb to describe your stupidity,
“Unless an idiot dies, he won’t be cured”
- Kaoru
~
November 22nd
Dear Kaoru,
Aww KoKo ♥ Remember when you were sorta nice to me and called me all these cute little nicknames? Though I’m still convinced that you just didn’t bother learning my name back in the day. Ah, good times.
Honestly? This card is definitely the best one you’ve sent me. You know why? Cuz my face is all over it B) I don’t care if half of them are pre-sneeze snapshots. In fact, it earned a spot on my Wall of Fame, right next to the picture of our kindergarten drama performance. Seeing your baby-faced murder stare cracks me up every single time.
Nah, it’s my other noodle they’re interested in ;) Look, I know you’re convinced that I still need my phonics chart to spell properly (which I DON’T for the record), but it really doesn’t take that much time to buy and write you a postcard. Or are you telling me that you pour hours of time and effort huffing and puffing over a postcard to your good old pal on the other side of the globe? Sounds to me like you’ve been watching one too many a romcom, Ru.
Uh, yeah I did! I FOUND the cat video in my messages. Take that, smartypants!
And how dare you insult Robob like that. You know what, I’m gonna call your AI wife Robob now just to spite you. If she’s ‘intelligent’ enough she’ll pick up on the name nice ‘n quick.
Yeah, well, I’d rather be an incurable idiot than a mad computer scientist :)
- Robob’s #1 fan
~
December 2nd
Dear Knucklehead,
I remember knowing your name before we even met because the teachers were always yelling at you to stop picking your nose. That’s all.
Of course that’s why you like it, I’m not even surprised. I can’t believe you’ve brought that picture with you, how painfully sappy. Must be a wonderful sight for all those ‘Italian Beauties’ you take to your bedroom, a wall full of embarrassing childhood photos and a visual compilation of your most charming expressions among the plethora of postcards you exchange with someone from home right on display.
Ugh, gross, Kojiro. Is that what you call it? A noodle? This is the second time in the past five minutes that I feel bad for the women who fail to see past your blown up muscles and that dumb grin of yours.
Other than finding all those pictures, the actual writing process doesn’t take me an awfully long time. I’m a busy man, after all. Ah, and speaking of which, I’ll be moving into my own apartment soon, so please address your postcards to the following address starting December
Akemichi, 241-1049,
904-2152 Okinawa-shi,
Okinawa, Japan
You’re ridiculous, you know that? I can’t for the life of me imagine how you’re managing to survive in a foreign country. At least you’ve got the benefit of being able to feed yourself. Though I must admit that I admire your tenacity; it takes an awful lot of willpower to remove yourself from home to pursue your dream. Ha. I suppose I’m feeling a little sentimental today. As such, let me leave you this quote,
“If you do not enter the tiger’s cave, you will not catch its cub.”
- SmartyPants
~
December 14th
Dear Pinkie,
You can say what you want about my endless quest to tickle my own brain via the nose route back in kindie, but you’re the one who accepted my origami fish peace offering when we got seated next to each other. So I guess we’re both weirdos. Ha.
My picture wall is my love and pride and a great conversation starter, mind you! But I guess you wouldn’t know since you only talk with me. Must be really lonely chatting with your robo-wife now that I’m not there to fill your weekly social quota.
I have a bunch of nicknames for it, yeah. Sue me. No wait, actually, please don’t sue me. You know way too many things about me, I feel like I’d be at a disadvantage.
Anyway!! New apartment, you say? I hope I wrote it right. You should totally send me some pics, I’m super curious! Is it close to the atelier you’re interning at? Do you have a spare room for your beloved Carla Robob? How big is the kitchen??? Very important questions, y’know?
Awww look at you, being semi-nice to me ♥ An early Christmas gift, maybe. Once-in-a-blue-moon type of sight. I will cherish this moment forever. And speaking of Christmas, by the time my next post card arrives it’ll probably be the new year already I think? Not sure though, math and stuff. Anyway, merry early xmas and happy early new year!! You better baptise your new place properly even if I’m not there, yeah? Promise me!
- Naan Joe (lovingly named by my professor)
~
December 31st
Dear Naan-Joe (I like your professor already),
It seems like you have remembered incorrectly, unsurprisingly. I didn’t accept your origami fish, I took it so I could show you how to do it the proper way. Your folding was atrocious. Still is, I’ve seen how you fold napkins.
Oh shush it, if everyone had been a social butterfly like yourself the world would be in even greater disarray. And extremely noisy. As I’ve said before, I am more productive this way and I don’t see anything wrong with that. Even more so if it keeps me from listening to you listing off all the names you’ve given your ‘noodle’, Kindly imagine me shuddering as I write this.
Ah, yes. It’s a bit old and I had to replace all the tatami, but I have since begun decorating and buying furniture. It’s nice to have my own place though I find myself unable to sleep well. I would blame the busy streets nearby but I can hardly convince myself that that’s the main cause. Other than that, it’s quite nice. I have a spare room which I use as a work-space, and the kitchen is decently sized. Kaoru-size, not Kojiro-size, mind you. I would send you photos but you would have to message me first, of course.
Yeah, yeah, don’t get used to it. Sarcasm doesn’t translate quite as well through postcards as I had hoped. And I will be celebrating a perfectly sensible New Year’s Eve hunched over the 100 new year’s wishes I have to letter by hand for the atelier. Possibly surrounded by that good bottle of sake your mother passed down on me after you left.
Anyhow, Happy New Year, Kojiro. I hope you enjoy the gift I sent a while ago. I wonder if it has arrived by now.
- Kaoru
~
January 10th
Dear KaKao,
Okay, forget anything moderately rude I’ve said in my past 57934 postcards, because I’m going to dedicate this one to an attempt at expressing what I felt when I received your package EXACTLY ON DECEMBER 24th! You mad scientist wizard, you!
I think I actually, genuinely teared up. For real. You get all the teasing privileges here because I can’t even begin to deny how happy I felt when I opened up your care package. The pictures are already up on my wall, of course, and I’ve put that polaroid camera to good use already (see the glued on hangover selfie that I took especially for you).
AND THEN THE FOOD!! God, I didn’t think I’d miss consomme chips this much but I’ve already inhaled an entire bag and I’m eyeing the second one.
I wasn’t expecting the Carla-patented shirt but damn, you start your branding early, don’t you? It’s pretty comfy, not gonna lie. Wait lemme… okay I just took a pic and glued that one on as well. Making selfies with a polaroid camera is surprisingly hard, took me like three tries. Anywayyyy
Kaoru. Thank you. I really don’t know what to say that could show you how much I appreciate this but. Yeah. I hope you get the gist of it. And I also hope you enjoyed that bottle of sake because you obviously deserved it. Lemme give you a proverb here that probably does a better job than my own words:
“Absence makes the heart grow fonder”
- Kojiro
~
January 23rd
Dear Sap,
Who would have known that all it took for you to be nice to me was a Christmas gift? I didn’t know you were this materialistic.
In all seriousness, I am pleased that you enjoyed the package. I may have shot myself in the foot by gifting you a polaroid camera, your hangover picture being the evidence here, but I suppose this goes to show how confident I am that I will be winning this challenge regardless of the advantage I have given you.
Admittedly, it felt a bit strange not to hear your usual hollering during the countdown. Visiting the shrine by myself felt off too, though that might have been caused by the bad luck fortune I received.
Anyhow, the sake was lovely. A bit too much so; I had to stop lettering after midnight because I promptly forgot the kanji despite having finished 73 already. Shameful.
That being said, here is a befitting quote,
“Even a sea bream loses its flavor when eaten alone”
Until next time.
- Kaoru
~
February 4th
Dear Kaoru,
Ssssh I’m not materialistic at all. Just extremely cheesy :)
You liked my pictures didn’t you? I bet you hung them up somewhere. Did you bring that old cork board to your new place? GASP are you keeping all my postcards on there? You know what, don’t answer that question, I’m just gonna pretend you pray to your Kojiro Postcard Shrine every morning when you wake up for some much needed good fortune.
And hey, if anything, I think the polaroid camera is a leg up for YOU because you won’t feel the need to message me just to see my beautiful face. I’m sending you pictures willingly! Meanwhile, I get to stare at a black t-shirt with a bright pink C on it and pretend it listens to me while I spout about how I keep getting yelled at for not julienning carrots at a perfect 3 millimeters.
Which… totally doesn’t sound creepy at all, does it? Yeah. Doesn’t. Completely normal to talk to your best friend’s merch. I’d almost want to believe that you planted a listening device in there (please tell me you didn’t because I don’t want you to hear my shower serenades). Then again, that would totally count as using tech for communication, which means I’d win, so.
Ha, that’s a nice proverb. Never heard of it before but I guess that’s just the Kaoru way of saying that you miss me ;) I like it when you’re nice to me SO lemme share this one phrase my professor used a while ago,
“You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”
Ha, food quotes!
- Kojiro
~
February 19th
Dear Muscle Man Pasta Brain,
‘Like’ is a strong word. I merely tolerate them when I pass by the cork board in my dimly lit hallway, that’s all and I don’t want to hear another word about it.
Ah, yes, because I was absolutely dying to see a polaroid of you threatening your Carla shirt at knifepoint. Why on Earth would I waste a perfectly decent GSM bug on the person I have been spending a great majority of my life with when said person is more than happy to overshare unprompted anyway? It’s like you don’t know me at all, Kojiro.
That being said, yes, it is a bit nonsensical that you talk to the shirt I gifted you, but far from the stupidest thing I have witnessed you do, so I’ll let it slide. Just this once.
Do you honestly still think that you will win this? How cute. I both admire and resent your unbridled confidence.
Anyhow, I must end my postcard here since I will be meeting with my very first client today. I do hope that my bad fortune won’t be rearing its ugly head quite yet. Fingers crossed.
However, should all else fail I must remind myself,
“After the rain, earth hardens”
- Kaoru
~
March 10th
Dear Mr. Businessman,
That’s as close as I’m ever gonna get, huh? Well, in any case, I tolerate you too, Kaoru ♥ Anyway, sorry for the late reply this time, it’s internship season and I’ve been trying to get my ass into any restaurant that doesn’t require perfect command of the Italian language. Surprisingly impossible!
Hey, if artificial intelligence is as intelligent as you say it is, I have every right to distrust your robo-wife shirts! After a close inspection and snipping out the labels, I think I’m safe though. It serves as a pretty decent gym tee. I’m branding for you on the other side of the planet, you should compensate me. I take payment in consomme chips and pocky~
Oh, speaking of which, how did your business meeting thingie go?? Did you get the gig? Or commission or whatever it is they wanted from you? Robo-wife stocks or that sick digital calligraphy thing you were working on before I left? Tell me everything, don’t leave out any details!
Pfsh, think I’m gonna win? I KNOW I’m gonna win. I bet you’re dying to rant about how you were forced to scrub all the floors in the atelier again or how the lady at the supermarket keeps calling you “Miss” or how much you miss your dearest, most beloved pal. You’ll be going off on an hour long tangent without breaks when we speak again. Warn me beforehand so I can prepare some popcorn, will ya?
Here’s a little proverb that’ll help you recover from your defeat:
“It’s no use crying over spilt milk!”
-Kojiro
~
March 11th
SHIT SHIT SHIT
I literally realised two seconds after putting your postcard in the mailbox that your birthday is this month and I totally forgot that it takes a million days to send and receive cards so uh
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
I decorated this postcard all by myself just like we used to do back in the day. Good thing I didn’t pursue a career in visual arts and design :)
Also, I wanted to send you a package but that shit’s expensive and I’ve already nearly blown through my entire budget so I’ll make up for that when I get back to Japan, okay? C’mon, don’t make that face.
Enjoy this day, yeah? Wish I was there to fill your toilet with confetti or hang up one of those ‘honk for the birthday boy’ signs by your door or something. Oh well. Guess I’ll be extra insufferable next bday ♥
- your bestestestest friend in the world, Kojiro
~
March 29th
Dear Airhead,
Both your cards arrived on the same day, though I decided not to read either until my birthday, just in case. Thank you for the beautifully decorated card, your artistry provided a really nice comparison to see how rapidly my six year old niece has surpassed you.
Moreover, I would have enjoyed the birthday cake you had delivered to my apartment more if I hadn’t had to explain to my visiting grandparents why your face was printed all over it, and that I hadn’t, in fact, ordered it myself. Asshole.
...though I did enjoy slicing you up into small pieces. Your left ear and eye are still in my fridge.
As for the meeting with my prospective client, it went well. He ended up commissioning me for a font set to use on his company’s rebranded website. Quite an interesting project, albeit a bit time consuming alongside my studies and internship.
Speaking of which, have you been able to find a restaurant willing to hire a gorilla who knows a grand total of three Italian phrases? Surely there must have been at least one place that would pity you enough. After all,
“There are even bugs that eat knotweed”
- Kaoru
~
April 20th
Dear Snob & Robob,
I couldn’t be happier that you thoroughly enjoyed my present~ The bakery sent me two confirmation mails just to make sure I didn’t upload the wrong picture lol. I hope that you and your grandparents enjoyed the matcha flavored icing!
Yooo for real? You got your first real commission?? That’s sick, Kaoru, congrats! That guy must’ve really believed in your work because I dare to bet that he wasn’t expecting your delinquent looking self to sit across from him, ha. Even the prettiest yukata can’t conceal a true punk. Would that count as a proverb?
“Even the prettiest yukata can’t conceal a true punk”
There. Anyway, I’m really proud of you, that’s a big deal, man!
So I guess we’ve both been having some good weeks cuz I found a work study place a little while ago!! Cute little family owned restaurant that needed an extra pair of very capable (cheap) hands to help out. The owner’s granddaughter speaks a bit of English and she’s been translating the rapid yelling so that’s pretty neat. So uh, yeah, replies are probably gonna be a bit sporadic for a little while. Enjoy the quiet while you can.
Kojiro
~
May 5th
Dear Chef Nanjo,
Congratulations on finding a workplace. They must have realised that the language barrier is, in fact, an advantage since it effectively shuts you up. I should have thought of that sooner.
Do tell me about your internship though. Is it more insightful than your training on campus? Is it what you had initially hoped for or expected when you decided to pursue a career in the culinary arts? I can only assume that authentic Italian restaurants must operate somewhat differently from what we are used to here in Japan.
Oh, shush. I have long since removed my piercings for that exact reason. I knew that I would eventually have to get rid of them if I ever wanted to pursue a career in traditional arts so it wasn’t particularly troublesome to wave goodbye to them. Though, admittedly, I do miss seeing them in the mirror. It looks off.
I must end my message here. Today is the final day of Golden Week and I will be joining the atelier on a live event as an assistant for the first time. Allow me to leave you with the proverb we will be showcasing today,
“Fall down seven times, stand up eight”
Best of luck on your internship.
- Kaoru
~
June 1st
Dear Sakurayashiki-sensei,
Hey stranger! I kinda lost track of time there, sorry. Anyway! Internship has been going pretty damn well. It’s been nearly two months now and I’ve got one more to go until the summer break. Kinda thinking about offering to work here throughout the summer as well though for some extra cash, y’know?
So yeah, it’s been pretty neat. Training on campus was a great base for like basic skills, which I get to apply here. But I definitely prefer working in an actual restaurant, it’s real neat. Especially because uh…
I started dating the girl I mentioned a while ago? Granddaughter of the owners. Her name’s Isabella. We hit it off pretty well and started hanging out after working hours. She’s real nice, I think you’d like her. Been teaching her how to skate hehe.
I know it’s ages ago now since you wrote your last card but how did the event thingy go?
Welp, can’t think of a good quote and Isa’s coming over any minute now so I gotta pick up my dirty socks and pretend I always keep my room as clean as a certain pink-haired nerd I know!
-Kojiro
~
June 16th
Kojiro,
Ah, that explains your lack of timely responses then. Noted. I am assuming that her family isn’t aware of the fact that their newest recruit has somehow seduced the poor girl. You’re playing a dangerous game here, asking to work there throughout the summer after pulling such a disrespectful stunt.
I did not think I would have to lecture you on proper workplace etiquette, as I thought you were aware of how impossibly unprofessional it is to date a coworker. At your internship, nonetheless. Couldn’t you have at least waited until after they evaluate you for your work at the end of the academic year? What if they mark you down and you have to redo the year? How irresponsible.
Then again, I am not particularly surprised. Impulsivity and bad decisions are your middle names.
For once I’m glad that we only contact each other sporadically. Good luck with this mess you've gotten yourself into, and don’t forget,
“One who chases after two hares won’t catch even one”
The ‘event thingy’ went well, by the way.
-Kaoru
~
July 17th
What the actual hell, Kaoru?? What’s your deal? Did you really think I’m stupid enough to ruin an internship and jeopardize my studies, which I work extremely hard for? Get off your high horse already, this isn’t high school anymore.
Of course Isa’s family knows! She told them the moment we deci
You know what, I don’t owe you an explanation. Besides, knowing you, you’ll probably ignore what I say and just assume that I can’t make good decisions on my own.
You really can’t be happy for me for once without challenging and critiquing everything I do. Getting real tired of that, Kaoru. And to think I was gonna ask you to come visit over the summer.
Don’t bother sending me another card if you’ve got nothing nice to say.
-Kojiro
~
August 2nd
Oh, you’re getting tired of me, you say? Nobody is forcing you to keep spending time with me, Kojiro.
And you know what I’m getting tired of? You hitting up whatever girl falls for your inflated ego and blatant flirting only for you to end up heartbroken a few months in when she realises there is more to you than sickeningly romantic gestures and abs.
Whose shoulder do you cry on whenever this happens? Well?
And you thought that I would sacrifice my own studies to fly across the globe for a week of third-wheeling? Please, and you tell ME to get off my high horse.
Whatever. Good luck with appealing to your ‘in-laws’ who barely understand a word you say. And go find someone else to cry on when your girl tosses you aside.
- Kaoru
March 29th
To Kojiro,
Hello again.
I assume that you were not expecting to see my name in your mailbox again. You probably aren’t particularly pleased to see it, I acknowledge that, if you are reading this to begin with.
It has been over half a year since our final postcards. I can’t quite remember the last time we didn’t speak for this long, and I must admit that I have been tempted to message you online on a few occasions these past few months. However, it wouldn’t feel right to break our challenge upon such a sour note.
I have said this before, but handwritten messages often require more thought, hold more purpose and emotion. Sincerity. But unlike a message online, handwritten ones cannot always be read back once they’ve been posted. In this case, I am grateful that I can’t. I wouldn’t want to reread the things I have written to you in our last few exchanged notes.
Then again, what difference would it make when I still hear the nasty things I have spouted upon those tacky cards ringing in my head all these months later.
Ah, you will have to excuse me for my rambling. I attempted to write to you a handful times, but each of my efforts far exceeded the limited space of a mere postcard. Hence the letter paper today.
Moreover, apologies aren’t my strong suit, you know that. But I know when I have crossed the line, and
Right. Rambling again. What I am trying to say is
I’m sorry, Kojiro.
I’m sorry for always automatically assuming the worst when you share your victories with me, for kicking you down and denying you your happiness. Well-deserved happiness at that, after your hard work.
I’m sorry for judging these undoubtedly lovely people who have welcomed and accepted you with open arms into their restaurant and their lives.
I’m sorry for acting out of line when you clearly meant well, intending to invite me to spend time together over the summer.
I’m sorry for making fun of you when you shed a tear at the airport before you left.
I’m sorry for laughing whenever you fail to land a backside 50-50. Or a wallride. Or a laser flip.
...or an ollie.
I’m sorry for breaking your mother’s vase and blaming it on you in third grade.
I’m sorry for locking my bedroom window even when I knew you were coming to visit me.
I’m sorry for telling you that your bolognese sauce tasted bad when it obviously didn’t, just so you would feed me more free pasta.
I’m sorry for being absolutely insufferable whenever you introduce someone new to me.
[........]
I’m sorry for not always being a good best friend.
Ha. That felt surprisingly good.
I understand and respect if you can’t, don’t, won’t forgive for any of the above. However, if you do, please do me the one favour of returning this letter back to me. I am not expecting a response, just the knowledge that I haven’t lost one of the most important people in my life due to my own pettiness.
Thank you, and please know,
“Out of sight, but not out of mind”
- Kaoru