His And Her Circumstances Fan Fiction ❯ Pictures of Matchstick Men ❯ The Smooth Move ( Chapter 2 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Ssinurn Solen 
In the park out front, Annie was lying on her back with her hands behind her head. She was looking at the sky. Her chest rose and fell, making her breasts, under the small halter top, more alluring. Her hip hugging shorts matched her top, making her a perfect vision. Annie almost looked like a classical statue.
Anime/Manga: His And Her Circumstances Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Hentai | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 09.28.2004 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.4K | Visits: 448 | Status: Completed
In the park out front, Annie was lying on her back with her hands behind her head. She was looking at the sky. Her chest rose and fell, making her breasts, under the small halter top, more alluring. Her hip hugging shorts matched her top, making her a perfect vision. Annie almost looked like a classical statue.
Anime/Manga: His And Her Circumstances Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Hentai | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 09.28.2004 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.4K | Visits: 448 | Status: Completed
Chapter 2: The Smooth Move
Asaba found himself sitting against the dining room wall whenever Yukino and Maho went over to Annie's place to study. He figured that since she would not let him in on their study group, he would just grab his books, and listen in through the common wall. He had to keep his grades up, or risk being kicked out of school.
He did not care so much about school itself, he just did not want to be forced to go back and live with his dad. That was the agreement he made with his dad when he was allowed to live by himself.
It was tough. Asaba's publisher/ manager kept him busy with art showings at some of the local galleries. It left Asapin very little time for himself to goof off, or to study. He needed the help and he knew it. Arima was great about making time to study with Asaba, but lately he had also joined Annie's study group next door. Thank goodness Arima took good notes.
During a break in one of the study sessions when only the girls were over at Annie's, Asapin listened to the conversation through the wall.
"What does your dad do, Annie?" Maho asked
"He is a hotel manager in Okinawa. He was a hotel manager in Tokyo when he met my mom."
"I take it you don't get along." Yukino said.
"We have never gotten along. That is why I stayed with my grandmother when she moved to San Francisco."
"Your mom is an American, right?"
"She was. She was an airline attendant when she met dad. They got married, had me, then dad had an affair with a married woman. Dad divorced mom, his mistress divorced her husband and dad married his mistress. Mom had a hard time keeping a job with me around, so dad got custody. Mom killed herself. When dad got sick of my constant questions about mom, he sent me to live with his mother. That's about it."
"Man! That is awful! I am so sorry for asking, Annie. I didn't mean to make you feel bad."
"It's alright, Yukino. It was a long time ago and I have made an effort to look hard at it. I suppose the best revenge is that my grandmother was rich, and when she died last year, my dad didn't get a yen of it. Grandma really liked my mom."
"I see, that is why you can afford the really cool TV, surround sound, stereo and karaoke set up here."
"Yeah, Maho, that is one of the perks. I still miss my grandmother though."
"I know, lets pull out some CD's and have a round of karaoke before we start studying again."
"That's a good idea, Yukino, but, I only have American music right now, and most of it is obscene. It's all in English."
"Then we will just have to go shopping and get you some Japanese language karaoke CD's tomorrow. No use letting this cool setup go to waste. The get outs and the guys planed on shopping with us tomorrow anyway, after we go to Asapin's showing at the art gallery."
"Well, I guess I will meet you after you go to see asshole's artwork then."
"Why are you so hard on Asapin? He really isn't that bad. I know he is a really big flirt, and all the girls practically flock to him, but he can be really nice."
"There is only one thing guys like him want, and I am not gonna let the fucker have it, Yukino."
"Don't be such a hypocrite, Annie. The guys flock around you just as bad as the girls flock around Asapin. You even date a few of them."
"Yeah, Maho, I date. But, I keep my hymen in tact. Guys use sex as a power play. I refuse to let a guy take me over. So, I do just like the guys do, love em and leave em."
"But not all guys are like that, and sex can really be great if you care deeply for someone. A real gentleman takes his time and lets feelings grow before getting too close. "
"Wait, Yukino, you mean you are not a virgin?"
"Well no, I mean Arima is so sweet, and he never pushes me into anything."
"I'm not a virgin either," Maho added to save Yukino any more embarrassment, "The conversation ahs degraded. Lets get back to studying."
"Thank goodness Arima and Tonami are not here."
"Eew, sex talk," Asaba thought to himself as he rested sat and listened through the wall. Yet, he could not stop his chest from pounding or his brow from sweating. He wanted Annie, more than he wanted any other girl he flirted with or protected, even Yukino.
"Get a hold of yourself, Asapin," he murmured, "she will never let you in. Quit trying."
The weather had one of those freak hot days. Asaba found out the other reason his place was so cheap. There was no air conditioning. He opened the windows upstairs and the front door to let the air cool the apartment.
In the park out front, Annie was lying on her back with her hands behind her head. She was looking at the sky. Her chest rose and fell, making her breasts, under the small halter top, more alluring. Her hip hugging shorts matched her top, making her a perfect vision. Annie almost looked like a classical statue.
Asaba was not about to let this opportunity go to waste. He rushed inside to grab his pastels and his sketch pad. He quickly drew her shape as she lay there oblivious to his actions.
"Persephone in the grass, waiting for Hades to take her." He thought to himself as his pastel crayons colored the paper.
Once finished, he took the drawing back in to his living room to inspect his work. The drawing was beautiful, but no way expressed how beautiful she really was.
"I wonder what she is thinking?" he said to himself. "There is such an emptiness to Annie, it comes out , even when I draw her."
He stood up and walked outside. He lay on his back an arms length next to her, mirroring her posture. He was careful not to get too close, in case she decided to hit him, hard.
"What are you thinking about, Annie?"
"Birds."
"Hmm. They certainly like to sing alot, when it's hot outside."
"They can fly. I wish I could fly. Mom loved to fly. She wanted to be a pilot, but she wasn't skilled enough. That is why she became a flight attendant. "
"To fly, like an angel to the heavens above."
"Why do you care anyway, Asapin?"
He took a breath and made a small smile. It was the first time she had called her something besides, fucker, asshole, idiot, lecher, crazy, or stupid guy next door. She actually used his nickname.
"I suppose, I want to fly too. I just never thought about doing it physically."
"You are a guy, how can you know the feeling? Guys are grounded, just like that asshole that happens to be my dad."
"I don't get along with my dad either. He sucks up a little now that I am making money, but that's it. I hate how he treats women and he hates how women flock to me. To him, women are like property. I never want to grow that cold."
Annie sat up and looked at Asaba. "Your smooth moves won't work. I have heard all of the lines hundreds of times."
"What moves?" Asaba continued to stare up at the sky.
"I already told you I'm not interested."
"I know."
"Then why are you pestering me?"
"No reason, really."
"Fine!" Annie got up and ran into her apartment. She slammed the door and turned her stereo on loud like she always did when got really mad. Asaba rose and went back into his place as soon as she let the music die down. "Yep, that is what is missing. She is missing romance. She may have been around the block a time or two, but she can't tell lust from romance."
As the local sales from his art book died down, Asaba found himself with a little more time to spend goofing off without being assaulted.
"Hey Hideaki," Arima said as he caught Asaba in the hall at school, "Annie is having a big cram session at her place. You coming?"
"Nah. I am not invited. I never am. She hates my guts."
"Well, have you asked her lately?"
"No, I don't want to bother her. I mean, I invite her to my art shows all of the time. She just calls me something vulgar and cranks up her stereo so she won't have to listen to me. I wonder if she likes art at all."
"Yeah, she does. She has all kinds of prints and paintings covering her walls. I am surprised you don't know that."
"Soichiro, I have never been inside her place, even though I am right next door."
"If your eyes make it past her chest , she may be a little nicer."
"Well,"
"And you are always making comments about her hot body."
"Yeah, but,"
"All you talk about are her tits and ass. No wonder she wants to keep you at arms length. She knows how dangerous you are."
"Arima! You above anybody knows that I would never do anything to hurt her!"
Arima started laughing at his best friend's outburst. He was laughing so hard that he doubled over.
"What is the matter with you?"
"Oh I get it now. Mister pheromone boy has finally done it and crossed the fine line."
"What in the hell are you talking about.?"
"You have fallen overboard and you don't even know you're drowning."
"Arima!"
"You are in love with Annie!"
"C'mon. I love all women."
"But you love Annie above all of the rest."
"Oh, yeah!?"
"Yeah! Even Miyazawa has noticed how different you have been acting lately."
"That is just because of the overseas sales of my art book."
"You are a horrible liar too."
"Then why are you so protective of her?"
"I'm not!"
"Oh yes you are."
"What are you two shouting about?" Yukino said as she saw Arima making fun of Asaba.
"Tell him, Miyazawa, tell him he is wrong."
"Wrong about what?"
"Asapin has been acting overly moody lately, hasn't he?"
"Come to think of it yes. You have been really grumpy, Asapin since Annie called you a pig headed jerk when she saw you with us shopping last week."
That sent Arima in to further hysterics.
"What are you laughing about?"
"I will tell you later, Yukino. Lets get going."
Asaba growled a couple of times and turned to look out the window. Annie was lying on her back in the grass, looking at the sky.
"The angel needs to fly." He murmured to himself.
After school, Asaba took the drawing of the angel and hung it on the common wall upstairs. Perhaps if he could look at what she inspired in him, she would quit haunting his thoughts and dreams. He wanted to protect her. He wanted to show her that there was more to romance than just sex. He wanted her to find that empty place inside herself, so she could fill it.
"Or perhaps I could fill it?"
When she did, her soul could be free to fly, just like the girl in his drawing.
He went downstairs to get something to eat. The bread was moldy, so he decided to feed it to the birds.
As Asaba found the bench he like to sit, he looked to see Annie sitting there. She had the same idea about feeding the birds.
Neither of them said a word as the birds fought over the breadcrumbs. Annie rose and started back to her place. Asaba threw down the rest of the bread and followed her.
"Please talk to me, Annie."
"Why?"
"Because I want you to tell me how you feel, how you really feel inside."
"Asshole," Annie said as she ran ahead to her apartment, shut the door and cranked up the stereo.
"Well that was a smooth move." He went inside his apartment and went upstairs.
Asaba sat on his futon and stared at the drawing of the angel as the music shook the entire place.
The lyrics of the song were clear. Asapin had heard the song so many times that he had memorized it , and managed to find someone to translate it:
Pictures of matchstick men and you
Images of matchstick men and you
Alls I ever see is them and you
You're in the sky
You're with the sky
You make men cry
You are, you're in the sky
You're with the sky
He listened for the violin that signaled the repeat of the song.
Within the quiet space, he could clearly hear something he did not expect.
"She's, She's crying. Is that why she plays that song so loud?"
Asaba immediately ran downstairs and started pounding and yelling at the dining room wall. As soon as the sound of the music died down, he yelled at the top of his lungs, " Why won't you tell me! Can't you see how much I really care!"
He slid down the wall in a heap and sobbed.
Notes: Pictures of Matchstick Men by Camper Van Beetoven, 1968
Review.
Asaba found himself sitting against the dining room wall whenever Yukino and Maho went over to Annie's place to study. He figured that since she would not let him in on their study group, he would just grab his books, and listen in through the common wall. He had to keep his grades up, or risk being kicked out of school.
He did not care so much about school itself, he just did not want to be forced to go back and live with his dad. That was the agreement he made with his dad when he was allowed to live by himself.
It was tough. Asaba's publisher/ manager kept him busy with art showings at some of the local galleries. It left Asapin very little time for himself to goof off, or to study. He needed the help and he knew it. Arima was great about making time to study with Asaba, but lately he had also joined Annie's study group next door. Thank goodness Arima took good notes.
During a break in one of the study sessions when only the girls were over at Annie's, Asapin listened to the conversation through the wall.
"What does your dad do, Annie?" Maho asked
"He is a hotel manager in Okinawa. He was a hotel manager in Tokyo when he met my mom."
"I take it you don't get along." Yukino said.
"We have never gotten along. That is why I stayed with my grandmother when she moved to San Francisco."
"Your mom is an American, right?"
"She was. She was an airline attendant when she met dad. They got married, had me, then dad had an affair with a married woman. Dad divorced mom, his mistress divorced her husband and dad married his mistress. Mom had a hard time keeping a job with me around, so dad got custody. Mom killed herself. When dad got sick of my constant questions about mom, he sent me to live with his mother. That's about it."
"Man! That is awful! I am so sorry for asking, Annie. I didn't mean to make you feel bad."
"It's alright, Yukino. It was a long time ago and I have made an effort to look hard at it. I suppose the best revenge is that my grandmother was rich, and when she died last year, my dad didn't get a yen of it. Grandma really liked my mom."
"I see, that is why you can afford the really cool TV, surround sound, stereo and karaoke set up here."
"Yeah, Maho, that is one of the perks. I still miss my grandmother though."
"I know, lets pull out some CD's and have a round of karaoke before we start studying again."
"That's a good idea, Yukino, but, I only have American music right now, and most of it is obscene. It's all in English."
"Then we will just have to go shopping and get you some Japanese language karaoke CD's tomorrow. No use letting this cool setup go to waste. The get outs and the guys planed on shopping with us tomorrow anyway, after we go to Asapin's showing at the art gallery."
"Well, I guess I will meet you after you go to see asshole's artwork then."
"Why are you so hard on Asapin? He really isn't that bad. I know he is a really big flirt, and all the girls practically flock to him, but he can be really nice."
"There is only one thing guys like him want, and I am not gonna let the fucker have it, Yukino."
"Don't be such a hypocrite, Annie. The guys flock around you just as bad as the girls flock around Asapin. You even date a few of them."
"Yeah, Maho, I date. But, I keep my hymen in tact. Guys use sex as a power play. I refuse to let a guy take me over. So, I do just like the guys do, love em and leave em."
"But not all guys are like that, and sex can really be great if you care deeply for someone. A real gentleman takes his time and lets feelings grow before getting too close. "
"Wait, Yukino, you mean you are not a virgin?"
"Well no, I mean Arima is so sweet, and he never pushes me into anything."
"I'm not a virgin either," Maho added to save Yukino any more embarrassment, "The conversation ahs degraded. Lets get back to studying."
"Thank goodness Arima and Tonami are not here."
"Eew, sex talk," Asaba thought to himself as he rested sat and listened through the wall. Yet, he could not stop his chest from pounding or his brow from sweating. He wanted Annie, more than he wanted any other girl he flirted with or protected, even Yukino.
"Get a hold of yourself, Asapin," he murmured, "she will never let you in. Quit trying."
The weather had one of those freak hot days. Asaba found out the other reason his place was so cheap. There was no air conditioning. He opened the windows upstairs and the front door to let the air cool the apartment.
In the park out front, Annie was lying on her back with her hands behind her head. She was looking at the sky. Her chest rose and fell, making her breasts, under the small halter top, more alluring. Her hip hugging shorts matched her top, making her a perfect vision. Annie almost looked like a classical statue.
Asaba was not about to let this opportunity go to waste. He rushed inside to grab his pastels and his sketch pad. He quickly drew her shape as she lay there oblivious to his actions.
"Persephone in the grass, waiting for Hades to take her." He thought to himself as his pastel crayons colored the paper.
Once finished, he took the drawing back in to his living room to inspect his work. The drawing was beautiful, but no way expressed how beautiful she really was.
"I wonder what she is thinking?" he said to himself. "There is such an emptiness to Annie, it comes out , even when I draw her."
He stood up and walked outside. He lay on his back an arms length next to her, mirroring her posture. He was careful not to get too close, in case she decided to hit him, hard.
"What are you thinking about, Annie?"
"Birds."
"Hmm. They certainly like to sing alot, when it's hot outside."
"They can fly. I wish I could fly. Mom loved to fly. She wanted to be a pilot, but she wasn't skilled enough. That is why she became a flight attendant. "
"To fly, like an angel to the heavens above."
"Why do you care anyway, Asapin?"
He took a breath and made a small smile. It was the first time she had called her something besides, fucker, asshole, idiot, lecher, crazy, or stupid guy next door. She actually used his nickname.
"I suppose, I want to fly too. I just never thought about doing it physically."
"You are a guy, how can you know the feeling? Guys are grounded, just like that asshole that happens to be my dad."
"I don't get along with my dad either. He sucks up a little now that I am making money, but that's it. I hate how he treats women and he hates how women flock to me. To him, women are like property. I never want to grow that cold."
Annie sat up and looked at Asaba. "Your smooth moves won't work. I have heard all of the lines hundreds of times."
"What moves?" Asaba continued to stare up at the sky.
"I already told you I'm not interested."
"I know."
"Then why are you pestering me?"
"No reason, really."
"Fine!" Annie got up and ran into her apartment. She slammed the door and turned her stereo on loud like she always did when got really mad. Asaba rose and went back into his place as soon as she let the music die down. "Yep, that is what is missing. She is missing romance. She may have been around the block a time or two, but she can't tell lust from romance."
As the local sales from his art book died down, Asaba found himself with a little more time to spend goofing off without being assaulted.
"Hey Hideaki," Arima said as he caught Asaba in the hall at school, "Annie is having a big cram session at her place. You coming?"
"Nah. I am not invited. I never am. She hates my guts."
"Well, have you asked her lately?"
"No, I don't want to bother her. I mean, I invite her to my art shows all of the time. She just calls me something vulgar and cranks up her stereo so she won't have to listen to me. I wonder if she likes art at all."
"Yeah, she does. She has all kinds of prints and paintings covering her walls. I am surprised you don't know that."
"Soichiro, I have never been inside her place, even though I am right next door."
"If your eyes make it past her chest , she may be a little nicer."
"Well,"
"And you are always making comments about her hot body."
"Yeah, but,"
"All you talk about are her tits and ass. No wonder she wants to keep you at arms length. She knows how dangerous you are."
"Arima! You above anybody knows that I would never do anything to hurt her!"
Arima started laughing at his best friend's outburst. He was laughing so hard that he doubled over.
"What is the matter with you?"
"Oh I get it now. Mister pheromone boy has finally done it and crossed the fine line."
"What in the hell are you talking about.?"
"You have fallen overboard and you don't even know you're drowning."
"Arima!"
"You are in love with Annie!"
"C'mon. I love all women."
"But you love Annie above all of the rest."
"Oh, yeah!?"
"Yeah! Even Miyazawa has noticed how different you have been acting lately."
"That is just because of the overseas sales of my art book."
"You are a horrible liar too."
"Then why are you so protective of her?"
"I'm not!"
"Oh yes you are."
"What are you two shouting about?" Yukino said as she saw Arima making fun of Asaba.
"Tell him, Miyazawa, tell him he is wrong."
"Wrong about what?"
"Asapin has been acting overly moody lately, hasn't he?"
"Come to think of it yes. You have been really grumpy, Asapin since Annie called you a pig headed jerk when she saw you with us shopping last week."
That sent Arima in to further hysterics.
"What are you laughing about?"
"I will tell you later, Yukino. Lets get going."
Asaba growled a couple of times and turned to look out the window. Annie was lying on her back in the grass, looking at the sky.
"The angel needs to fly." He murmured to himself.
After school, Asaba took the drawing of the angel and hung it on the common wall upstairs. Perhaps if he could look at what she inspired in him, she would quit haunting his thoughts and dreams. He wanted to protect her. He wanted to show her that there was more to romance than just sex. He wanted her to find that empty place inside herself, so she could fill it.
"Or perhaps I could fill it?"
When she did, her soul could be free to fly, just like the girl in his drawing.
He went downstairs to get something to eat. The bread was moldy, so he decided to feed it to the birds.
As Asaba found the bench he like to sit, he looked to see Annie sitting there. She had the same idea about feeding the birds.
Neither of them said a word as the birds fought over the breadcrumbs. Annie rose and started back to her place. Asaba threw down the rest of the bread and followed her.
"Please talk to me, Annie."
"Why?"
"Because I want you to tell me how you feel, how you really feel inside."
"Asshole," Annie said as she ran ahead to her apartment, shut the door and cranked up the stereo.
"Well that was a smooth move." He went inside his apartment and went upstairs.
Asaba sat on his futon and stared at the drawing of the angel as the music shook the entire place.
The lyrics of the song were clear. Asapin had heard the song so many times that he had memorized it , and managed to find someone to translate it:
Pictures of matchstick men and you
Images of matchstick men and you
Alls I ever see is them and you
You're in the sky
You're with the sky
You make men cry
You are, you're in the sky
You're with the sky
He listened for the violin that signaled the repeat of the song.
Within the quiet space, he could clearly hear something he did not expect.
"She's, She's crying. Is that why she plays that song so loud?"
Asaba immediately ran downstairs and started pounding and yelling at the dining room wall. As soon as the sound of the music died down, he yelled at the top of his lungs, " Why won't you tell me! Can't you see how much I really care!"
He slid down the wall in a heap and sobbed.
Notes: Pictures of Matchstick Men by Camper Van Beetoven, 1968
Review.