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Dear Ichimatsu-kun,
It’s alright to call you that, isn’t it? After all, there are quite a few Matsuno-kuns I could be talking about. I hope you don’t mind, although I’m not too worried. You don’t seem the type to get upset over something like that.
It feels odd, writing a letter in this day and age. I mean, I send postcards but that’s not the same thing. I don’t think I’ve ever sent a letter like this before. Have you ever received one? No, I don’t suppose you have.
Look at me, babbling on. I guess I’m trying to avoid the awkwardness of what I need to say. I suppose I’d better come out and say it. There’s no need to worry about what happened. I wasn’t offended or anything. I get it, things like that can be hard. Your brothers explained it to me but I would have understood anyway. We haven’t been friends for very long I know but I think I know enough about how you work and that’s why I’m writing to you now. I thought a letter would take the pressure out of keeping in contact if that’s what you want to do. You can take as long as you want to reply and I won’t mind at all! It’s only if you want, of course, but I think it would be fun to be pen pals! What do you think? Would you like that?
I should probably say what I was trying to before, although it’s not hugely important. The journey back was fine, even if it took forever, and my family very much enjoyed the fish Totoko-chan gave me. It feels so hot here compared to Tokyo and I’d spend every day sunbathing if I could! I’ve got to get back to college though so unless I cut class it’s not really an option.
I hope everyone is well and please give my regards to your parents! And your brothers, and Totoko-chan and ESP Kitty. Oh, and Chibita! Everyone really!
On second thoughts, maybe not… It might be fun to be secret pen pals, don’t you think? I don’t know, just an idea really. You haven’t even agreed to be normal pen pals yet, so I shouldn’t get so ahead of myself! (I think you will though!)
That’s all for now, plus I’ve already got a ton of reading to do for this term I’d better get started on…
I look forward to hopefully hearing from you soon!
Your friend,
Kin
PS: Thanks again for giving me such a fantastic time in Tokyo! I’m so glad we met!
***
DEAR KINKO INUYAMA-CHAN,
I DO NOT MIND IF YOU CALL ME THAT.
I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A LETTER BEFORE.
I DO NOT MIND BEING PEN PALS.
YOURS SINCERELY,
MATSUNO ICHIMATSU
***
Dear Ichimatsu-kun,
Wow! We are going to be pen pals! I hope this will be easier for you. I know I said I didn’t mind what happened and I don’t really but I was a little sad when I wondered if maybe you didn’t want to talk to me. I think this will work much better! I know I said I thought you’d agree but honestly I did worry a little afterwards, especially when you took so long to reply. Sorry, I don’t mean to criticize! I just mean I kept worrying it was a really silly idea because after all, who takes the time to send letters nowadays when you have email and phones? Although, I suppose time isn’t too much of an issue when you’re a NEET!
I can’t say the same for me I’m afraid. Lectures have been pretty full on but at least most of my professors are nice. I get on fairly well with the others on my course (but they’re nowhere near as much fun as you and the guys!) I’ve got an assessment in a few weeks that I should probably be studying for now but when I got back and found your letter in my mailbox I ran upstairs to start writing immediately! Maybe I should have waited for something actually interesting to happen first, oops. Hmm, there must have been something…
Oh, I know! You’ll never guess what happened the other day! Actually, you probably can. I was hanging out my washing and then… my bra flew away again! I have no idea why they do this so much and this time there were no friendly neighbours about at all. I had to climb this huge tree all by myself and rescue it and it took me like half an hour. Where are the Matsunos when you need them, huh?
That was probably the major event of interest since I last wrote, which is pretty sad now I think about it! I hope your week was more interesting!
Also, you didn’t say if you wanted to be secret pen pals or not. I don’t mind either way but I haven’t told anyone about our letters yet, just in case! I don’t know why, it’s just quite an exciting idea, don’t you think? Or did you already show your brothers? Knowing them they probably snuck a look anyway by now!
It’s getting late and I really must study soon if I’m to do any good on the test. I’m not nearly as bright as some of the girls here so I guess I’d better just work hard!
I’m already excited about your next letter!
Your friend,
Kin
PS: You don’t need to use my full name, silly! Kin-chan like in real life is fine!
***
DEAR KIN-CHAN,
I DO WANT TO TALK WITH YOU.
YES, I HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO WRITE LETTERS.
I AM GLAD YOU RETRIEVED YOUR ITEM OF CLOTHING.
MY WEEK WAS NOT MORE INTERESTING.
I HAVE NOT SHOWN MY BROTHERS YOUR LETTERS. THEY ARE HIDDEN.
GOOD LUCK ON YOUR TEST.
YOURS SINCERELY,
MATSUNO ICHIMATSU
***
Dear Ichimatsu,
Secret pen pals?! Amazing! Getting your letters was already an exciting part of my week but getting secret letters is even better! Even if they are kind of short it still makes me happy to hear from you. You have such neat writing as well! I don’t know why but I was expecting it to be kind of messy, like your hair.
I don’t know if you knew but I did call your brothers a few days ago. They offered to go find you but after last time I wasn’t sure if that was a good idea. I hope you don’t mind. They sound the same as ever, although I think they were fighting over who got to hold the phone. Aren’t they sweet? You probably don’t agree but I think they are.
I had to think about what you meant by my ‘item of clothing,’ for a moment when I read it. Why didn’t you just write ‘bra’? Or is it a boy thing?
I’m sure something interesting must have happened in your week! Or if not that week then surely by now? I’d like to hear about what you’re doing. That’s why I write to you after all!
My lectures this week have been really good. Who’d have known you could learn so much about overfishing? (Don’t tell Totoko-chan! She’d be furious!) I’m making a couple of friends and we’ve been out once or twice. After the test we’re going to have a barbeque on the beach! I also met another guy who lives on the floor below mine in the dorm halls. He’s also on my course and seems cool. Other than studying and talking to people outside of lectures I haven’t done anything much since I last wrote to you. Apart from rescuing my bra from that tree again! Why does it always happen to me?
I think the test will be alright. I’ve been up late studying every night so hopefully that will be enough to keep up with the others, but I’m so tired I haven’t had a chance to go shopping or anything since the start of term! At least I’ll be able to do lots in the summer when I visit Tokyo again!
I’m already excited! What do you think we should all do?
Your friend,
Kin
PS: it’s not too bad I haven’t had a chance to go shopping recently! Without you guys to steer me right I’d probably pick something like that dress you all hated!
***
DEAR KIN-CHAN,
I AM SORRY IF MY LETTERS ARE TOO SHORT. THEY TAKE A LONG TIME TO WRITE. I HAVE TO PLAN THEM AND WRITE NEATLY. MY NORMAL WRITING IS MESSY. SOMETIMES ESP KITTY WALKS ON THE PAPER AND I HAVE TO START AGAIN.
I AM SORRY FOR WHAT I DID BEFORE. MY BROTHERS ARE NOT SWEET. JYUSHIMASTU ATE ESP KITTY’S TOY YESTERDAY.
I WROTE ‘ITEM OF CLOTHING’ BECAUSE I DIDN’T WANT TO BE RUDE. I AM SORRY FOR THE CONFUSION. IT’S PROBABLY A CHERRY BOY THING.
MY WEEKS ARE NOT INTERESTING BUT I WILL TELL YOU IF YOU WANT. WE WENT TO CHIBITAS. I BOUGHT CAT FOOD. TODOMATSU DREW A PICTURE OF WHEN CHOROMATSU DYED HIS HAIR. WE WENT TO CHIBITA’S AND ALMOST HAD ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY.
I DO NOT KNOW WHY THAT HAPPENS TO YOU. MAYBE FATE.
I KNOW YOU WILL PASS THE TEST.
I DO NOT KNOW WHAT WE SHOULD DO WHEN YOU NEXT VISIT. WE COULD GO TO SHOPS.
THAT DRESS WAS NOT AWFUL.
YOURS SINCERELY,
MATSUNO ICHIMATSU
***
Dear Ichimatsu-kun!
I’m so sorry! I thought the letters would be easier than speaking on the phone for you! I didn’t realise you were putting in so much effort! Now I feel bad for rushing mine off so quickly! It’s okay if there are mistakes and crossings out in your letter! It doesn’t need to be perfect - it just needs to be from you! Could you try writing the next one without planning it out, from the heart? And I absolutely do not mind if ESP Kitty walks on the letter.
And it’s fine, please try not to worry about it! If you hadn’t hung up the phone like that then we wouldn’t have started writing like this and that would be a real shame. Honestly, that is just like Jyushimatsu! He’s so silly!
‘Bra,’ isn’t a rude word you know! Or at least it isn’t for people who aren’t cherry boys! Sorry, I don’t mean to be unkind! I was just surprised you could give it back with no problem but can’t write the word! You’re so funny, Ichimatsu-kun. And I think you’re right about the fate!
That sounds like a great week to me! Apart from the part about Choromatsu’s hair. Poor Choromatsu. And poor Chibita. You guys really ought to pay him some time.
Of course we’re going shopping but I was wondering what you yourself were looking forward to doing. There’s no way we did everything in the short time I was with you guys!
Sorry for such a short letter today but I’ve got the test tomorrow and I’ve been up all night studying. I need a few hours’ sleep if I’m to have a chance. My course is hard work but it’ll be worth it when I get that dream job and looking forward to your letters helps me get through the week. Don’t forget, write the next one from the heart!
As ever, I’m looking forward to it!
Your friend,
Kin
***
Dear Kinko Kin-chan,
Okay. I wrote this as soon as I got your letter. Now I will send it.
Lo From,
Ichimatsu