Capítulo 12: Chapter 12: She Who Fears
School Clinic
Trafalgar yawned. His apartment was quite far from the school. It'll be some hours after his next shift so he just decided to sleep in the clinic. He saw that the door was unlocked. As he opened it, he saw a black-haired lady's back. She's seated on his computer chair in front of the wide-open window. There were a relatively large canvas and a palette on the side. He leaned on the wall and just quietly observed. She must have been absorbed in what she was doing that she wasn't able to sense someone just entered.
Finally, she moved into a position where Trafalgar could catch a glimpse of her artwork. He cleared his throat since it didn't turn out the way he expected it to be. "Have you been taking Galdino's class seriously?", he finally spoke. The lady flinched and turned. "He specializes in sculpture, not painting", Airi reasoned out.
She's wearing her summer school uniform with her hair tied up. "Trafalgar-sensei. What are you doing here", she stood and covered her canvass. "I won't ask your reasons so don't bother me", he opened the curtain and dove onto the bed. Airi saw her lab gown and guessed he just came from the hospital.
What a tough life.
Trafalgar remembered Lami drawing at a young age. He realized that Lami's drawing is better than what she previously saw from Airi's painting. He shifted position and looked at the ceiling.
"Your cat is doing well. I'm thinking of keeping it longer. He comes in handy in waking me up at random times", Trafalgar opened.
"Is that so?", was her only reply.
Airi felt sweat forming on her brow as she gave a finishing touch. She looked at the view outside and back to her painting. It's nowhere close. She sighed and went to get something to drink.
Corridor
She saw the vending machine and prepared some coins.
"Oh, Isobe-san. Why are you at school this time of the month? You should be at the beach. I heard Luffy and the rest are enjoying the summer in Shirahoshi's summer vacation house'", Brook passed by.
"For some reason", Airi remembered jumping off from the second floor. Her mother will be having a three-day conference. Her private tutor suddenly fell ill and asked for a leave. "Sensei", Airi stood straight and gave a very low bow. "Can you teach me how to sing?", Airi asked. Brook wasn't sure what he heard so he asked again.
"I want to learn how to sing", she repeated.
Clinic
He was able to get a good position for sleeping when suddenly, he heard an indescribable sound coming from the music room. At first, he tolerated it. Soon, it became louder.
Yohohohoho. Bink's sake...
He sat and massaged his head. "What does that woman want to do with her life?", he clenched his fist. He went out and saw that the canvass was no longer there and the paints were neatly arranged at the side.
Yoohoo....
He heard again and nearly tripped. For someone who is as stern-looking as she is, he was quite surprised to see her vulnerabilities. He likened it to a car suddenly taking a break. Trafalgar sat in front of the canvass and looked outside.
It's nowhere close.
Music Room
"It's horrible, isn't it?", Airi sighed and sat on a chair near the door. "You have a rich tone, Isobe-san", Brook gave a friendly smile. "Don't mind Isobe-san. You've got so many redeeming features. You're intelligent and you're helping Luffy with all the school events", Brook enumerated. Airi suddenly had a dark aura hovering over her. "Hmm, what I mean is that we all have our unique talents. Don't you think people should bloom where they are planted?", Brook saw her looking at the flowers outside. Airi was also amazed at how the flowers she tended bloomed well.
"Luffy, he...", Airi cleared her throat. She nearly opened some random thoughts. "What is that?", Brook gave a gentle smile. "Luffy said he needs me. I just want to arm myself with reasons to be needed", Airi kept her eyes glued on Brook's smiling face.
What would he think of me?
"Is that so? Let's get on phase two, then. Let's do it step by step. Mind singing this tone?", Brook pressed a note in the piano. She was able to do it. Brook knew she's a fast learner. He stood and made a victory post. "See! You can do it", he gave a thumbs up.
Crack.
They heard a bone-cracking. "Sensei, you're getting older. Staying in this school will also shorten your life", Airi made a cold comment.
"Isobe-san, why didn't you join Luffy and the rest?", Brook asked while playing a solo. "Mother hired a tutor so I need to stay during the summer vacation", Airi answered. "For what?", Brook hummed. "Politics and Economics", she replied. "Really? You're here though", Brook stopped playing. The lady slightly flinched. "Any more reasons?", Brook said with a gentle voice.
"Today marked someone's death", Airi took a long time to give an answer. "I see", Brook nodded. "People are really frail, aren't they? Regardless of how healthy they look outside, their insides are silently eating them away", Airi had a bitter look in her eyes.
"What keeps me alive in this world is neither bodily organs nor muscles. It's my soul", Brook walked towards her and patted her shoulder before exiting.
She closed her eyes and raised her feet curling into the chair. She squeezed her cheeks to suppress whatever unnecessary feelings she perceives. The door opened with Trafalgar grabbing her wrist. Airi opened her eyes and was startled. He kept dragging her until they reach the parking area.
Trafalgar's Car
"Where are we going?", Airi panted after running. "Which cemetery?", Trafalgar asked. Airi's eyes widened. "How did you know?", Airi went stiff. "Brook told me you need someone to bring you somewhere", Trafalgar obviously had an irritated look in his eyes. "Do we have to go?", Airi held onto her shoulder. "Who knows?", Trafalgar started the car.
Cemetery
Airi stood in front of the cemetery with her mind unprepared. "Sorry, I wasn't able to bring anything at all", Airi looked at the surroundings and saw various things scattered. "You're fortunate, aren't you? So many people love you", she tried to reach out towards the gravestone. "Oh, another one", Airi heard and looked at the small girl holding an apple. "Are you one of his friends?", she asked and place the apple on top of the gravestone. Airi just nodded. The little girl lighted incense and closed her eyes. Someone else would bother taking a time off to visit someone who is already dead.
"I haven't seen you for two years", the little girl finished paying respect. "I'm not really-", Airi was about to leave when the girl grabbed her hand. "Why don't we remember him together?", Tama, the younger child smiled. She fixed a picnic napkin and dragged the lady to sit with her. "Did you know? We were in the slums when I first met him. Hungered, I and the bigger boys decided to gang on him. We tied him to a pole and took whatever we can. He silently watched us eat his food, then he smiled. He apologized saying "Sorry, it's all that I have". He stayed for a couple of days, then he referred us to orphanage houses", Tama narrated.
Airi looked at the name carved into the stones. "How about you?", Tama arm hugged her. She wasn't used to it before but after being acquainted with Carrot and Nami, she began to ignore the act. "He was... someone I rarely met. I often heard stories from him so I decided to visit myself", Airi's voice cracked. "I see. If you want, I can tell more stories about him", Tama started his narration.
You had time to take care of a child like her.
Airi felt warm and tight. "Thank you, young girl. Someone is waiting for me so I need to go", Airi stood up. "You can always come here. I bet you'll meet more people who'll tell stories", Tama waved her hand.
Parking Area
Airi saw Trafalgar's car in a distance. She can see a silhouette of him sleeping. She slowly opened the door of the car in order not to disturb him.
"Are you done?", he asked.
"I don't want to die", she suddenly said.
Trafalgar sat and started the car's engine. "People die, eventually", he said. Airi had a short soft laugh and looked at herself in the rear mirror. "I don't want to die yet", she changed her previous statement.
"I'm going to do the medication. Just, don't call my mother's attention", Airi said in a soft voice. Trafalgar didn't give any answer.
Airi saw something at the side of the door. She took it out and was slightly intrigued.
Hmmm? Who's getting married?
Airi opened the invitation card. Her eyes widened and looked at Trafalgar who is looking at the road. His eyes showed sleep depravity.
There are still so many surprises in this world.
Roger Residence- Front Gate
Airi walked up the road and saw some people standing in front of her house gate. She insisted Trafalgar drop her on the road. She wanted some time to breathe.
"Oh, I can now see her!", Chopper shouted. "Melorine!!! You still look pretty in...", Sanji stopped. "School uniform", Zoro said plainly. "Shut up", Sanji wanted to plug his ear holes. "Where have you been?", Nami asked with her hand on her hip. "What are you guys doing here?", Airi sweatdropped. "We decided to come back. Luffy said you might be crying alone because you weren't able to join", Carrot winked and raised a paper bag of fireworks.
"Luffy?", Airi looked around and he was not present. "He said he has some matters to attend", Zoro noticed her looking for the lad.
"Mom's not around so I guess we can do it on the rooftop", Airi opened the gate.
Chapter end.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder