Mamachari Matchmaker – Chapter 6

ERIKO

“This is all Mamachari’s idea. Not mine. This is a bad idea. There’s no way I’m going to pull it off.”

“Stop mumbling to yourself or you’re going to look like a freak,” Mamachari yells at me. Good thing I’m the only one who can hear her.

I clutch the small bag of books to my chest and wait across the street from the school for the lunch bell to ring. Since Henry’s not a homeroom teacher and said he likes to get bentos from the restaurant around the corner, I figure he doesn’t spend his lunch hour at school. In Japan, it’s typical for kids to eat the school lunch in their classrooms with their teacher but I can’t imagine this is something English teachers do.

I check the time on my phone and sigh. I have thirty minutes to do this and get back to work. Thankfully now that I have Mamachari, I can get anywhere local fast, sometimes even faster than a cab. Two weeks ago, this would not be a possibility for a lunch time errand.

Across the school blacktop, the side doors open and several teachers, Japanese and foreigners, exit the building, laughing and making conversation. I stand on my tip toes and catch sight of the brown wavy hair and green eyes of Henry. Huh. He’s more handsome now in a button-down shirt, and with a smile on his face, I remember the way he laughed when I spoke to him in English. He laughs again now at something one of the other male teachers says, and I cock my head to get a better angle on their conversation. They’re talking about the soccer team, and Henry is just laughing and smiling. Maybe he didn’t think I was being stupid or awkward when he laughed at me. Maybe he’s just a happy guy?

He breaks off from the group and crosses the street heading in my direction. I made a guess at the local restaurants he may have bought lunches from, and it looks like I guessed correctly about the restaurant two doors down behind me.

Henry almost passes me, not noticing me at all, when Mamachari yells, “Hey!”

I startle and lurch forward towards him. “Henry! Hi!” I burst into an awkward blush as he trips to a halt and turns towards me.

“Oh! I know you,” he says, laughing again. I smile in response. “Eriko, right?”

“Yes. Hello.” I bow to cover my blush and he bows back. “How are you?”

“I’m good, really good. And you?”

“I’m good as well.”

He glances left and right, his eyebrows pulled together. “Do you usually eat lunch around here? I don’t think I’ve seen you here before.”

“No, no,” I say, waving my hand. “I eat lunch at my desk, but…”

“Be aggressive,” Mamachari whispers.

“But I wanted to give you something, and I didn’t know where you live, but you said you eat lunch out so I waited here hoping you’d come this way.”

His face widens in a smile before his expression turns stern and he crosses his arms over his chest. “Are you stalking me now?”

All of the blood in my head drains to my body. This totally looks like stalking. What was I thinking? “Oh, God. No. No. I’m not stalking you. I’m so sorry. I’ll go and I won’t bother you again.” I turn to grab Mamachari when he laughs again and grabs my arm.

“Eriko, wait. I’m only joking around with you. I’m sorry.” He sighs. “A lot of people here don’t get my sense of humor. I’m afraid I’m being too American.”

I blush again, this time because I feel like a fool. Why can’t I be the person I want to be around guys? I’m a jokester too, and I like to play practical jokes and have fun, but I morph into an idiot as soon as I meet someone I’m interested in.

Henry sighs again. “Listen. Let’s start over. Ready?” He walks away, and as his back recedes from my view, I get the chance to check out his butt, tight in dark jeans. Wait. He is more handsome than I first remember. There’s no way he’s going to be interested in me.

He turns around and comes straight back to me. “Hey, it’s Eriko. It’s good to see you again.” His hand clutches my shoulder easily before letting go and we bow to each other. “How are you?”

“I’m much better now. Thanks.” I bow again and laugh. “I’m sorry I left the picnic so early. I was enjoying our conversation about manga and wanted to stay.”

“I was too. I wish you had stayed. I was lonely the rest of the day.”

We smile and I manage to keep the blush to my temples only.

“Keep talking to him like a friend,” Mamachari urges.

I clear my throat. “So I thought you might be interested in some of my favorite manga.” I hand the bag I’ve been holding out to him and he takes it from me, peeking inside. “I gathered up the first few editions of each of my favorites for you to read. I’m sorry they’re all in Japanese, but I checked online and you can get English versions of these for your club. If you like them, that is.”

I shut my mouth before I start babbling and mumbling. Best not be too weird on our first meeting outside of friends. It was already off to a rocky start there.

“This is so nice of you!” He pulls out a few of the manga. “Oh cool. Look at this.” He tilts the cover towards me and I smile at the illustration of a busty girl in a space suit floating outside of a space station in front of the main hero, Michiru-san. Ah, Michiru-san. So perfect in every way.

This is probably why I’m still single.

“That’s my favorite. It’s about the people and aliens that inhabit this space station. Lots of fun. Kind of reminds me of Star Trek.”

“I can see that,” he mumbles, flipping through the pages and mouthing the Japanese words to himself. “I love it. I’ve always loved Star Trek, too — seen every movie, watched every show.”

“Me, too.” I swallow, worried I’m about to be pranked for liking all the geeky stuff no one else I know likes. Well, no one else but my friends I go to conferences with.

But he doesn’t even flinch, like it’s expected and it’s okay. A wash of relief pours over me, goosebumps prickling on my arms in the warm noon sun. It’s been so long since I wasn’t made fun of, I don’t know how to proceed. Usually I just run away.

He pulls out a piece of paper from the bag and smiles reading it. I wrote my full name, address, and phone number on it so he could get ahold of me, if this went well.

Reaching into his pocket, he extracts his phone, types into it, and my phone buzzes a moment later.

“Thanks for the manga. I’d love to get together again sometime soon. Are you free on Saturday?”

I read the text, almost unbelieving. He’s asking me out, right in front of me, but over text. How funny! He stares at me, his green eyes reflecting the sunlight as someone exits the restaurant behind him.

“I’m going to an anime convention this weekend. Want to come?” I type back.

As I wait for him to get the text, I notice the time. Shit. I have to go.

“Yes! Just tell me the place and time and I’ll be there.”

We both let our hands fall to our sides with our phones in them. I bow to him. “I’m looking forward to Saturday now, but I have to go. I’ll text you later, and we’ll make plans.”

“I’m looking forward to it as well.” He bows in return, a sweet little grin softening his face as I grab Mamachari to head back to the office.

I glance over my shoulder once as I pedal away, and he raises his hand to say goodbye.