Part 5

"Stop! Don't laugh!" Akiza shot Akeno and Kanata a disapproving look. They were supposed to be on her side and yet here they were—laughing of all things!

"I’m sorry, I can’t help it", Kanata apologized in-between snorts. Navigating through his mid twenties, the young man stood tall at a height of 6'3". His lean and athletic build, paired with a confident and determined demeanor, made him the epitome of coolness. His blonde hair was styled in a messy and unkempt manner, with a few locks falling across his forehead and framing his sharp features. His piercing, steel blue eyes were always alert, giving him a somewhat intense expression that sent shivers down the spines of his enemies. His outfit, much like his personality, was simple yet stylish: A black leather jacket draped over his broad shoulders, accentuating his chiseled frame. He wore a tight-fitting, grey t-shirt underneath, which showed off his well-defined muscles. Dark denim jeans hugged his long legs, while black leather boots with silver buckles added a touch of sophistication. A silver pendant, a treasured memento from his late grandfather, hung from a thin chain around his neck. On his left arm, he wore a black leather bracer with silver accents, which was lined with small hidden blades.

"Don’t Kanata!" Akiza continued to nag. Her companion could be such an insensitive jerk sometimes.

"That is the definitely the craziest thing to get upset over.”

“Not to me!”

“I have to agree,” Akeno added, finishing her beer.

Thanks bestie!

"Come now Akiza, you are overreacting." Akiza struggled to accept that Kanata was simply incapable of understanding. Living in the same house as Izayoi was akin to yanking out teeth every day.

"No, I'm not. He really is that bad. I swear he does it just to spite me. I can’t wait to get away from him. As soon as I have a successful interview, I'm moving out." The three of them were situated equidistant from one another. It was better that way. Akiza checked the Companion Pass on the Taboo Index app on her phone. She still had some time left to spend with Kanata.

Companion Passes were very affordable, but not easy to come by. Only people who have been together for at least three hundred consecutive days could jointly apply for one, under Section 27.

Being found without one, that carried a hefty penalty. It was either a fine and two years in a correctional facility, or just the time spent. Given the numerous laws they had to memorize, it sometimes became difficult to keep track of them all, hence the need for the Taboo Index app.

Even with the Companion Pass, it was only Tier 1 right now, meaning that physical contact such as hand holding or sitting next to each other, specifically after five o’ clock in the afternoon, on a weekday, while both parties were unmarried, was strictly against the law.

Two months in a correctional facility, or a fine.

"Akiza, I keep telling you, you can room with me,” Kanata told her sincerely. "Don't worry about money.” Her Companion could also be such a selfless darling sometimes. "You can earn your keep by spreading those legs and keeping me happy every night."

"Kanata!" Akiza then scowled back. “What are you doing? You can’t say things like that?!” She leaned in closer and both he and Akeno mimicked her. “What if someone is listening?”

It wasn’t that uncommon either. Before signing up to the Taboo Index app, which was of course mandatory for all citizens, you had to agree to various permissions. One of those being the permission to have periodical surveillance of conversations.

There was nothing wrong with it. After all, sex must never be used for recreation. Debauchery is illegal. It should be snuffed out!

"Fine, I'll settle for a blowjob a day”, Kanata whispered back. Akiza pulled a face and sat back, agitated. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. How could her sweet Companion say such horrible, illegal things?

He was not only endangering himself, but also her. And Akeno!

Not only that, but she knew that he knew it was against the rules to use such lascivious language in the presence of a member of the opposite sex. They were not yet certified as a couple, even though she really liked Kanata. There were permissions that they had to apply for, as well as criteria that they haven’t met yet.

It was simply impossible and talking about it like that was only gonna cause trouble for them.

“Stop it, you’re gonna get us in trouble.”

"Actually, that is a decent arrangement”, Akeno chirped in.

“Akeno! Not you too!”

What is the matter with these two tonight? They're behavior so strange.

Akeno tossed the beer bottle overhead and without looking, grinned as it safely landed in the dustbin near the front door. “Maybe you should take him up on his offer."

"No thank you. I prefer to not be arrested as a no-good deviant." Akiza stared back at Kanata. "And as degenerate as your offer is, I am going to choose to take only the best bits away from it and say ‘I love you’ for it."

"Ah, I love you too."

"Argh, I get it,” Akeno said while pretending to vomit. “You love each other. Just apply for a marriage certificate already before I have to revisit breakfast in the worst possible way."

"You're just jealous." Akeno turned away for a moment, adjusted her glasses and rejoined the conversation in high spirits.

Akiza knew that marriage was impossible right now, even though she really wanted to stop referring to Kanata as her Companion, and would really like it if she could start calling him Husband. But those kinds of applications required years of Companionship first. And there were plenty of paperwork to fill out first.

And permissions.

"Maybe you're right Aki. Think I'll call up that baby-face brother or yours and see if he's interested in doing something ‘fun’ tonight."

"You wouldn't dare!" It wasn’t even the fact that what Akeno just now suggested would definitely land both participants in a correctional facility, maybe even Akiza and Kanata for hearing about such a plan and failing to report it, but it was the partner specifically Akeno suggested.

Akeno, are you feeling alright?

Akiza wanted to say that these kinds of comments were isolated incidents, and part of really wanted to believe, but...

Over the past few weeks, more and more of this taboo language had been dropped into their conversations, seemingly without anyone but her noticing.

"I don't know,” Akeno continued in a playful tone. Akiza knew she’d made a mistake taking the bait. She just couldn’t help herself. “Izayoi is a special kind of yummy. Maybe Akeno wants a taste."

"If you did something like that, then you don’t even need to worry about the Obscenity Institute, I’ll get to you long before they can."

"What is the matter with Izayoi anyway?” Kanata asked again. “I thought you guys grew up together or something."

"Or something?"

"Huh?"

"Akiza and Izayoi didn't exactly grow up together. Their folks were part of the same social club or something like that."

"Basically,” Akiza concurred. “My uncle is friends with both our parents. They all used to be a member of the same society or something, but my mother and Izayoi's father didn't actually meet until mother got divorced."

"How is that possible?"

"Simple. When a man and a woman no longer like each other—"

"I meant how come they never met if they had a mutual friend?"

"The same way you and Akeno are friends. I've known her since I was little and I've know you for a much shorter time. You only met up later because not every social circle has to overlay perfectly."

"I guess that makes sense."

"Which is why I have to find work. The longer I'm in the same house as my idiot ‘brother’, the more likely it is you two will see me on the news."

"You're welcome to stay with me here,” Akeno offered, giving a short gesture to the rest of her apartment. “It’s nice and roomy. You don't even have to blow me."

"Don’t say that!" Again with these outlandish things being said with no regard for the consequences.

"Alright fine, I do expect to be eaten out every once in a while though."

“Akeno!”

Even though she knew they were both joking, deep down Akiza wished they wouldn’t even do that much. She glanced back at the front door and thanked her stars that nobody from the Obscenity Institute had come knocking.

That sort of thing did happen, right?

She’d heard stories of people being arrested for simply using terms such as ‘eating out’ without the proper context. Akiza found thought of Obscenity Officers kicking down the door, surrounding them and taking them in for merely making a few jokes absurd.

…and terrifying.

But this was the way of the world.

Being in possession of sexual depictions had always been a crime.

Ten to fifteen years easily.

In recent years, the laws governing those kinds of things had only gotten stricter. The Taboo Index introduced a long list of banned words, several of which had been uttered tonight. The government passed a surveillance law that increased the CCTV presence in the city.

It was excessive.

Akiza tried to recall how many years in the jail a certain woman received for publicly confessing the kinds of things she planned to do with her soon-to-be husband at the time.

Was it five years?

Without meaning to, a stray yawn found its way out of her mouth.

"It’s getting late,” she said looking down at her phone’s time display. “I should go."

"Noooooooooooooo!"

"Come on, our passes are still valid for a little longer."

"I can’t. I have to get home."

"One more drink?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because one more drink will turn into another drink and another and another.”

“We can pass the time just talking”, Kanata suggested, putting away his drink.

"I meant what I said before, you’re welcome to stay with me”, Akeno offered again, but more insistent this time.

"I think I’ll consider that."

"Do you want me to give you a ride?"

"If you mean that you are gonna drive me home in your car, then yes."

"What if I mean the other ride?"

"Then no."

"Fine. Let me grab my keys."

Akiza considered herself blessed to have friends like these. And she was extremely fortunate to have someone like Kanata in her life. She couldn’t imagine it without him.

***

It was generally looked down upon. The streets were safe enough to walk, and being together in a car would mean violating the proximity rules of being companions after the sun has set.

Thankfully the Tier 1 pass did allow for limited close proximity in a vehicle, for a short time no longer than one hour, provided that neither passenger, nor driver made any physical contact with one another, unless they were members of the same sex, but were not engaging in any sexual activities.

The journey home didn’t feel nearly as long as it usually did.

Thankfully.

Akiza didn’t want to say anything in front of Kanata, but she really was quite exhausted.

"Thank you."

"Huh?"

"For tonight. With Akeno. I needed it."

"You’re welcome. "

"These last couple of weeks have been…" It was only now that the weeks of fatigue slapped her across the face. "…I don’t know."

"Listen, this might not be my place to say, but… Maybe you should take Akeno up on her offer. You can’t continue on like this."

"I know that. It’s just, my mother really wants me and Izayoi to connect.”

"You can’t force someone to like someone else."

Her boyfriend, capable of dishing out strangely appropriate words of wisdom.

…sometimes.

The car eventually slowed down before coming to a halt in the driveway.

"Thank you Kanata."

"Try and put Izayoi out of your mind, please?"

"I’ll try." But she made no promises. Akiza exited the car and waved Kanata off before heading back, but not before another yawn forced itself out of her mouth as she meandered over to the door.

"Huh?"

…It’s ajar? She hesitated, quickly stepping back and choosing instead to scan around for any signs of burglary.

She knew her mother never left the door open. Something was wrong.

Akiza took out her phone and punched in Kanata’s number…but then put back the phone away.

Not yet.         

She carefully opened the door all the way and entered. She spotted her mother’s shoes parked nearby.

And Izayoi’s.

Akiza carefully closed and locked the door before proceeding.

Wait!

Actually.

She hurriedly unlocked the door and left it ajar, remembering that she might need to make a hasty escape. After all she couldn’t waste time unlocking the door first.

Treading carefully, Akiza made her way further inside. As she checked each room for intruders, the temptation to call out only became more intense, but the uncertainty of the situation kept her from following through.

Please be forgetfulness.

Please be forgetfulness.

Akiza noticed that her hand was shaking.

Her throat was dry with worry.

The floorboards creaked with every step she took, no matter how softly she stepped.

Creek! Creek!! Creek!!!

Every inch on this goddamned staircase felt like a public service announcement.

Akiza’s heart slowed down when she got to the top.

She could hear something.

Talking?

"Thank god,” she whispered to herself while wiping the sweat from her forehead. The sounds were coming from the bathroom so she approached before gently knocking on the door.

"Mom? Are you in there?"

.

..

…

"Akiza. Is something wrong honey?" Hearing her mother’s voice, safe and sound, blew a gust of relief through her body. Her heart also decided to pump at a casual pace again.

"I was just making sure. The house seems empty. Where is Izayoi?"

.

..

…

"I haven’t seen him. Maybe he stepped out for a moment."

The hell?!

Are you kidding me?

Just hearing it made Akiza’s blood boil.

How can Izayoi be so careless?

Mom is here all by herself.

What if something happened to her?

Yes, Yukie wasn’t his biological mother, but still. A little consideration wouldn’t hurt.

"He’s such a no-good idiot!” Akiza spit out. “He left the front door open!"

"It’s fine Akiza. I’ll have a talk with him later."

A talk?

That’s all she plans to do?

Am I the only one who appreciates how dangerous and irresponsible this behavior is?

On the other hand…

"Heh~ I know. Let’s lock him out and watch him squirm." Akiza approved of the idea. It would teach her idiot step-brother a lesson after all. Having him sleep outside tonight.

"Good plan. Why don’t you get started on it?" Akiza was slightly taken aback by how easily her mother accepted the idea.

"O-kay." She left her mother behind to go lock Izayoi out of the house, forming a smile that she couldn’t keep concealed.

To think such a terrifying situation could be spun into such a wonderful act of satisfaction?