It was a beautiful Sunday morning in Sapporo, or at least it was for all but one man who stayed in his apartment and didn't even bother to open the blinds after waking up. That sorry, sorry man is Giuseppe Himura. If you were to look upon his frizzy, curly mess of a hairstyle, you'd weep for his lack of care and grooming. If you were to look into his dark, baggy eyes, you'd weep for his criminally poor sleeping habits. If you were to look through his closet, only to find shirts and shorts, you'd weep for his savagely disgusting sense of fashion. The truth is, Giuseppe is just a normal, working man like everyone else. And today, he had no reason to be happy. He promised to visit his father today, early in the morning. In prison.
Giuseppe drove all the way out to the prison for what amounted to a 45 minute drive. When he got in and sat down behind the glass barrier between him and his father, he immediately wanted to get out.
Giuseppe: Hey. How are you holding up?
Nori Himura, Giuseppe's father, smiled at his son.
Nori: I'm doing alright. What about you?
Nori's face was scarred with wrinkles. His hair was straight and neat unlike his son's, though it was kept at a short length. He was a fairly muscular man, and he had a gentle smile.
Giuseppe: I'm alright I guess.
Nori: Make any friends lately?
Giuseppe: No...
Nori: Well, you know, friends will help you get through tough times in life. It's always good to have some friends. You should go out more. You're young, you're handsome, and you've got your whole life ahead of you still. 22 years old is the prime of a man's life, my son.
Giuseppe: Look, please stop calling me that. I hate it when you call me your son.
Nori's smile turned into sadness.
Nori: I know you can never forgive me. But I swear on every vein in my body that I....I love you deeply.
Giuseppe: So did Mom...
Nori: Just....just promise me you'll make some friends, okay? Just go out into the world. Laugh, cry, get angry, get jealous, fall in love, accomplish your dreams. Don't let my mistakes stop you from being you.
Giuseppe: I'll try.
Giuseppe left the prison, happy he no longer had to look his father in the eye. Giuseppe's mother, Maria, was a beautiful woman from Italy. She was the one who gave him his last name. She met Nori when Maria moved to Japan to pursue work opportunities in Hokkaido, and the two would have a child together in due time. But, as there are all kinds of flowers on the Earth, there are all kinds of fathers as well.
Giuseppe returned home and spent most of the day watching T.V., attempting and failing at continuing his artwork, and listening to the 70's hard rock records his mother had given him when he was 12. On this day, however, Giuseppe couldn't shake his father's image out of his head. He had photos of his mother, himself, and his father laying around the house. Even though they had his mother in them, he didn't believe his father deserved a place in his home. He began taking the photos and ripping him out of them, putting the ripped sections into the garbage. When his fit of resentment subsided, he grabbed his phone and keys and took out the garbage. By now, the sun was close to setting. Even someone as miserable as Giuseppe could see that despite the negative events of the day, it was still a beautiful day. And beautiful days, in his mind, deserved walks. And so he walked, and walked, and walked. Through the busy streets and into the more quiet and secluded areas of the neighborhood. Giuseppe often had a problem with talking to himself when he was alone. He had done it ever since he was a child.
Giuseppe: What kind of father tries to say sorry after all these years for what he's done? I don't know, maybe a jackass. Well, that's not really a good thing to say, is it? Oh f*ck off, he deserves it. I can't wait until he's put down. Damn it, I'm having conversations with myself again.
Giuseppe took a deep breath and tried to kickstart his mood back into happy mode.
Giuseppe: But at least it's a beautiful Sunday! Sunday is funday as they say! Hahahahaha! Oh man, that is so not me. Happy people are such cunts. I mean, did you see that asshole back there smiling about nothing? What have you got to smile ab- DAMN IT I'M DOING IT AGAIN!
Giuseppe stopped walking when he realized he was completely alone now. He had walked into a hilly area covered with meadows of flowers. There was a dirt road leading up the hill and to an old abandoned church. From where he was standing, the glass from the church reflected the light of the setting sun so intensely, it hurt his eyes to look directly at it.
Giuseppe: Is that a church? Hmm...Well, I'm all the way out here, may as well check it out. At the very worst, it will be a messy building. At best, I'll get to sit alone in church like I used to do.
Giuseppe walked and walked up the hill and arrived at the creaky doors of the abandoned church, which he shut as he walked in. There were statues of the Virgin Mary, of child angels, a Pieta replica, and high ceilings. There were rows of seats separated by a long red rug that led all the way down to the Pastor's podium. Behind the podium was a large statue of Jesus nailed to the cross, and an organ that sat facing the podium and away from the cross. The sun shined through the solid colored glass panel windows, converting the color of the sunlight to the individual color of the window panels. Blues, pinks, reds, yellows, greens, it all shone gloriously on the seats and on the statue of Christ.
The church itself was wide, with plenty of space between the walls. It looked as if the church could hold about 200 people at once. The floor was messy as some bits of the roof had fallen off. Being abandoned, this was never cleaned up. There were some plastic sheets draped in the back section of the church, as well as some crucifixes and other religious ornaments next to the podium.
Giuseppe liked this building. It wasn't overly filthy, and the glass made the sunlight colorful and beautiful to look at . He walked down the aisle and sat down at one of the seats.
Giuseppe: I gotta say, for an old building, this is pretty cool. It's so peaceful here.
Giuseppe lowered his butt on the seat, only to find he had rudely sat on what looked like a diary.
Giuseppe: Ah crap! Good thing nobody was around to witness that. Hmm? "Anzu's diary, donut steel"? Anzu? What the hell is donut steel? Did this person mean "Do not steal"? Man, kids these days.
Suddenly, there was a loud yell in the church, right in front of Giuseppe. A girl appeared out of nowhere and tackled him to the ground, wrestling him for the diary.
Anzu: Give it back! Give it back you clumsy idiot!
Giuseppe: I'm sorry, I'm very sorry!
Giuseppe caught his breath and let go of the diary. He sat up and was able to look at the girl. She wore an open floral kimono cardigan with a black shirt underneath and black jeans. Her hair was long, black, and curly, adorning her face and blue eyes beautifully as it continued down to the end of her back. She wore a silver, sparkly choker around her neck, and had very mild freckles on her face, particularly around her nose.
Giuseppe: I'm sorry, I didn't know that was yours! My sincerest apologies....uhm....uhhh...
Anzu: It's Anzu! You literally JUST had the diary in your hands! You read my name out loud and you already forgot it!
Giuseppe: Ah crap! I mean, sh*t! I mean, god damn it!
Giuseppe covered his mouth so he could stop cursing.
Anzu: Wow, cursing on a church on a Sunday? Man, you're pathetic!
Giuseppe: It's not my fault! I'm just a little surprised to see someone else in here. I thought I was here alone.
Anzu: Well, your certainly not, are you? I'm here too! Wait a minute...
Giuseppe: What?
Anzu brought her face closer to Giuseppe's face, as if to inspect him up close.
Anzu: How exactly are you able to see me and talk to me right now? Are you dead too?
Giuseppe: Well, I'm certainly dead inside if that's what you mean.
Anzu: No no no. I mean, have you passed away recently or something?
Giuseppe: Well if I had, I wouldn't be here, would I?
Anzu: Hmmmm....
Anzu turned around to think, turned around again, and delivered a swift and mighty kick to Giuseppe's manhood. He fought very hard not to cry out in pain, but spoke in a high pitched voice because of the kick.
Giuseppe: Why did you do that?!?!?
Anzu: I'm so confused...you actually felt that?
Giuseppe: Of course I could feel it, anyone could've felt that! I may be a loser but I intend on having kids some day!
Anzu pondered to herself while Giuseppe eased his manhood, asking it if it was okay and to forgive the mean stranger girl for hurting it.
Giusppe: Why are you so perplexed to see another human being here?
Anzu: It's just...I'm dead. You shouldn't be able to see, hear, or feel me.
Giuseppe: Hold on, red light. You're dead? What do you mean?
Anzu: It means I'm in love with you, and I want to do all those bad things those naughty girls do in those JAV films
Anzu let off a suggestive gesture, which seemed as if she was stroking two phallic objects in the air.
Giuseppe: Whoa, what?!?!
Anzu: It means I'm dead, you idiot! Deceased! I'm a ghost!
Giuseppe: Are you trying to pull a fast one on me or something?
Anzu: Ugh! Just forget it! How did you even end up here anyway? Nobody's come up here, ever!
Giuseppe: Well, I uh...I just kinda took a walk, made some turns, and then whoosh! I was here all of a sudden. Haha, funny right?
Anzu: More like pathetic.
Giuseppe: Yeah, I know. But wait, how would you know if people come here often? Do you stay here frequently?
Anzu: I live here.
Giuseppe: Really? How old are you?
Anzu: 17 years and not counting! Ghosts don't age, you know.
Giuseppe: Right...ghosts...
Anzu: Oh hey, you have my name, but I don't have yours.
Giuseppe: Ah, right! It's Giuseppe, nice to meet you!
Anzu and Giuseppe shook hands.
Anzu: It's a pleasure to meet you too, Giuseppe. Sorry about tackling you earlier. I just don't like it when people touch my stuff.
Anzu and Giuseppe sat down together in the empty, abandoned church, adorned by the colors of the window panels.
Giuseppe closed his eyes and brushed off the tackling like a gentleman.
Giuseppe: It's no biggie, honestly! So, do you like sitting in empty churches too?
Anzu: Yeah, I love it! It's so peaceful, isn't it?
Giuseppe: Absolutely! I used to do it all the time when I was a child, when my mother.....my mother......
Anzu: Hmm? What's wrong?
Giuseppe: Ah! Nothing!
The two conversed about their interest, their hobbies, and what makes them tick. The sun had fallen and the moon had risen. Moonlight shone through the colored window panels, and the church grew cold and dark.
Giuseppe: Ah crap! I didn't realize I stayed here so long. I should get going. It was wonderful meeting you, Anzu.
Anzu: You're going?
Giuseppe: Yeah, I've got work tomorrow. I'll stop by again sometime though, I hope to...to...
Giuseppe yawned and his eyes grew heavy.
Giuseppe: Oh, I'm sorry. Do you live near here? I can walk you home if you'd like.
Anzu: No, that's fine. As I said. I live here.
Giuseppe: There's no way a girl as young as you seriously lives in an abandoned building all by yourself, with no power or anything.
Anzu: I do, though. I wasn't lying to you.
Giuseppe yawned again.
Anzu: Are you sure you want to walk all the way back? You can sleep here if you want. I have extra blankets and pillows.
Giuseppe: Oh, no. That's kind of you but I-
Anzu: Please. Please don't go...
Giuseppe: Are you okay?
Anzu: Ah! I'm sorry. I don't want to trap you here! Haha!
Giuseppe: ......I like to sleep with 2 pillows.
Anzu looked up at Giuseppe and smiled a true smile of happiness.
Anzu: You'll sleep over?! I'll go get the blankets and pillows right now! Come up on the podium!
Giuseppe stepped up on the podium, and Anzu brought out a portable lantern to illuminate the area. She laid down two sets of blankets and 2 pillows for each set. She even had a spare mattress to share with Giuseppe.
Anzu: I don't even remember the last time I had a sleepover!
Giuseppe: Really? Girls your age tend to do that a lot now though, don't they?
Anzu: Yeah, I suppose. But I'm not like other girls.
Giuseppe: Yeah, I get where you're coming from there.
Anzu: Alright, we're all set for sleepy time! I think this is better than making you walk home in the middle of the night like this, since I'm the one that kept you here so late.
Giuseppe: Don't worry about it....uhhh.....uhhh..... crap....
Anzu: It's Anzu!
Giuseppe: Oh! Right! Haha, sorry about that! Goodnight Anzu!
Anzu: Hmph!
Anzu jumped on her mattress and pulled the sheets over her head, facing the opposite direction of Giuseppe.
Anzu: Turn off the lantern!
Her blanket muffled her voice, but Giuseppe could still understand what she was saying.
Giuseppe: Alright. Good night, Anzu. Thanks for letting me sleep here tonight.
With that, the light was turned off and the two went to sleep. Giuseppe thought nothing of the nonsense Anzu was spouting about being dead. A young girl always does tend to have a good imagination anyway. Giuseppe awoke at about 5:45 AM. The sky was turning into a deep blue as the sun began to rise. He reached over to Anzu to wake her from her slumber.
Giuseppe: Hey, Anzu. You gotta get up, I have to go soon.
Anzu slowly opened her eyes and sprung up out of bed faster than lightning can strike.
Anzu: Alright! Let's go! Wait....I don't even live anywhere besides for here.
Giuseppe: Not this again. Listen, you have a great imagination, but you really should get home now.
Anzu: I told you I wasn't lying to you! What do I have to do to prove to you that I'm dead?
Giuseppe: Well, first of all-
Anzu: Don't answer that! I know exactly how to prove it to you! Let me follow you home.
Giuseppe: What? Damn, I think you got up way too fast.
Anzu: I'm serious! Let me follow you around. Watch how people walk right through me! They can't even hear me when I scream!
Giuseppe: If you somehow manage to pull that off, I'll bake you brownies. How about that?
Anzu gasped in delightful excitement.
Anzu: They don't have nuts in them do they?
Giuseppe: No, I hate nuts.
Anzu's face grew closer to Giuseppe's face.
Anzu: And they'll be crusted on the top and soft and moist in the middle, right?
Giuseppe: Of course they will.
Anzu's forehead was now just inches away from Giuseppe's.
Anzu: And I can have vanilla ice cream on top, right?
Giuseppe was clearly uncomfortable with the lack of respect for one's personal space.
Giuseppe: Y-yes...
Anzu: Then let's go! You're gonna make me those brownies, bitch!
Anzu opened the door to the church, letting in a powerful gust of morning wind that blew around her voluminous hair. At least Anzu had a better sense of hair care than Giuseppe ever did. Anzu and Giuseppe walked back into town. On their way there, Anzu yelled and screamed at the people walking by, but nobody paid any attention to her. Giuseppe was shocked that nobody would even bat an eye to a screaming girl this early in the morning.
Anzu: Oh look! Someone's coming my way! If this doesn't prove to you that I'm dead, I don't know what will!
A jogging woman came down the path, directly towards Anzu.
Giuseppe: Enough games, you should move out of-
To his dumbfounded astonishment, the woman quite literally ran right through Anzu, as if she wasn't even there.
Anzu: See?
Giuseppe: No...no no no no. No way! I must still be tired. There's no way any of that just happened because it's just not even possible.
Anzu: Why are you such a nonbeliever? I really am dead, Giuseppe. I guess this means you can worship me now and do stuff like lick my feet and feed me strawberries!
Giuseppe: Like hell!
Another civilian was passing by them, and Giuseppe initiated the final test to see if Anzu was telling the truth.
Giuseppe: Uh, excuse me, sir! Do you see this young girl right next to me?
Anzu: He can't see me, idiot.
Man: Hmm? What girl?
Giuseppe: Oh! Uh, nevermind. Sorry to bother you.
Giuseppe walked onwards with Anzu, his heart beating faster than a drum solo at a rock concert.
Anzu: Are you okay? You look like you're about to give birth or something.
Giuseppe: You're....you're really dead. Hang on, I need a minute to catch my breath.
Anzu: Oh come on, it's not that big a deal.
Giuseppe: You're dead! It's a huge deal!
Anzu: Well I wouldn't have even told you if I knew you were gonna be such a biggity bitch about it.
Giuseppe and Anzu finally arrived back at Giuseppe's apartment. He unlocked the door and allowed Anzu to enter first, since she was a lady.
Anzu: How chivalrous of you, I appreciate it.
Giuseppe shut the door, locked it, and stared at it like a madman stuck staring at the walls of a prison cell.
Anzu: Wow! You made good use of the square footage of the apartment.
Giuseppe: Anzu....
Anzu: Yep?
Giuseppe grabbed Anzu by the shoulders and pushed her against the wall.
Giuseppe: If you're dead then how come you're still here in the world of the living?!?! Don't spirits pass on somewhere else when they die? You know, heaven, hell, or even reincarnation?!?!
Anzu: Your breath smells like cocks.
Giuseppe backed away and covered his mouth
Giuseppe: You just did that to trip me out, didn't you!
Anzu: Yep! And to answer your question, I honestly don't know why I'm still here. But then again, I don't even remember much about my life before I died, or even how I died in the first place.
Giuseppe's shock began to turn into sympathy for the young girl as her expression mirrored the many expressions he himself would have on his face when he felt lonely.
Anzu: All I know is that I awoke in the graveyard next to the church 3 years ago, and I stayed there ever since. I tried talking to people, but they never even looked at me. I tried singing to people, but they couldn't hear me. I even saw a woman crying in the park once, but she didn't respond when I tried to console her. I realized I was dead, and that nobody cares about me. It's been that way for 3 years. But the good news is, I met you! And for some reason, you can see me.
Giuseppe: I noticed you immediately after I sat on your diary. Maybe that has something to do with it? If so, we could run around making everyone touch the diary if you want.
Anzu: "Oh hey, I have a great idea! Let's just go ahead and let a bunch of strangers touch a 17 year old girl's diary! Wow, I'm so smart, I'm drowning in cocks! Hyuk hyuk hyuk hyuk!" That's exactly what you just sounded like! And what if this diary gets reported to the news or something! Everyone from every corner of the world would see it! It's bad being completely alone, but it's just as bad being completely surrounded by people who can only make you feel alone!
Giuseppe felt those words hit him in his heart. It seemed that He and Anzu were alone in different ways. It's possible to be surrounded by people and still be just as miserable as being in solitude.
Giuseppe: You're right. It was a stupid idea. Sorry.
Anzu: Well, you don't have to apologize for being retarded. You're apparently born with it. Oh, and by the way, you owe me brownies.
Giuseppe: Crap, I have to get ready for work. The brownies will have to wait. Stay here, alright?
Anzu: I can't come with you?
Giuseppe: No! You'll be a distraction! I still need to grasp the fact that you're not actually alive right now. Feel free to use my T.V., listen to my music, and eat my snacks. Just don't break anything, alright?
Anzu: Aww! But being home alone for so long is boring!
Giuseppe: My house, my rules.
Anzu crossed her arms and puffed her cheeks in a pout.
Anzu: Fine. But you'll be back, right?
Giuseppe: Of course, where else would I go?
Anzu: A gentleman's club or maybe a child prostitution ring.
Giuseppe: Of course you'd say something like that.
Anzu laughed delightfully.
Anzu: You're starting to know me already! Well, alright then. Have a good day at work and do your best out there! I'll hold the fort down for ya!
Giuseppe got his suit on, fixed his tie, and headed off for work. Anzu took the time to get used to her surroundings. She noticed the stacks of records on Giuseppe's desk, as well as an extensive digital music collection.
Anzu: Hmm....what's this? "Buffalo-Shylock"? I hope he won't mind if I play something off of his computer.
Anzu hit play on the song Shylock, and was blown away the instant she heard it. She had never heard music quiet like this, at least not in the time she's been dead. When the song kicked in, she couldn't help but rock her head and dance around to the powerful drums and the dark, distorted guitar.
Anzu: Oh hell yes!
Perhaps Anzu took it too far when she began to do an air guitar solo, but for a girl that's been dead, she had never felt so alive. Besides, who was there to judge her?
For hours, she listened to that one song, and even managed to learn the lyrics just from repeated listening. Giuseppe finally returned home, able to hear the music before even opening the door.
Giuseppe: Hmm? Is that Shylock? She must've found my music collection.
Giuseppe stepped inside and shut the door, but Anzu seemed to be more caught up in the music.
Anzu: Giuseppe! You didn't tell me you had such awesome music! Oh wait, wait! Here comes the best part!
Giuseppe: Ohh...the false ending before it picks up again!
When the song picked up again, Anzu rocked her head and jumped on top of the couch. Giuseppe had taken off his tie and shoes and joined her on Mount Sofa, where they sang the final part of the song together.
Giuseppe & Anzu: Pay me! Oh Shylock! Pay me! Oh Shylock, babe!
Did their neighbors wonder why someone was playing music so loudly in the evening? Perhaps. But it didn't seem to matter at all to Giuseppe and Anzu. When the song finished, Anzu questioned Giuseppe as to what was to be had for dinner.
Anzu: Whew! So then! What should we eat?
Giuseppe: I don't know. I've got left over chicken salad. Wait a minute, do dead girls really need to eat anything?
Anzu: I sure do. I still get hungry.
Giuseppe: Seriously? Hmm. Are you alright with chicken salad, or do you want something else?
Anzu: Chicken salad is fine if you have potato bread.
Giuseppe: Aha! Even you know that potato bread is the best kind of bread there is! Well done, Anzu.
Anzu: You know it, baby!
That night, that blissful night under the pale moon and evening winds, was consummated by nothing more simple and straightforward than chicken salad sandwiches and cheesy horror films on television. Before they knew it, the time to go to sleep again had come. Anzu and Giuseppe took turns brushing their teeth and taking showers, that is, before Anzu realized she didn't actually have to do anything like that. The two sat in the bedroom when they finished cleaning up.
Giuseppe: Well. Did you want to head back to the church? You said you lived there.
Anzu: Oh! Uhhmm....the church is nice and all, but....
Giuseppe: Hahaha!
Anzu blushed and guarded herself.
Anzu: What's so funny?!
Giuseppe: Come on, just say it. You want to live here, don't you? You don't have to be shy about it, it's not like I'd really kick you out of here just to make you go back to an abandoned building by yourself. You said that you've been alone for 3 years since you died, right? It wouldn't be fair if you went back to the church after having so much fun here today, even when I wasn't home.
Anzu: Is that really okay then? Can I live here?
Giuseppe: Hmm. Maybe.
Anzu: Don't blueball me like that!
Giuseppe: I don't think it's really "blueballing" if you're a girl...
Anzu: Blue cunting! Dry pussy-ing! Snatch tightening!
Giuseppe covered her dirty mouth with his hand until she stopped saying such foul thing.
Giuseppe: I was just messing with you. Of course you can live here. But if you're gonna live here, and especially if you're gonna listen to my music, you'll also be responsible for the upkeep of the house, understood?
Anzu smiled and blushed.
Anzu: Of course! I know how to do housework, I think!
Giuseppe: Well, that's halfway reassuring...
Anzu: But....I'd still like to visit the church from time to time, with you if that's possible. Just to break up any monotony.
Giuseppe: Alright, sure. I like that church anyway. I've got some extra pillows and blankets here but I don't have a mattress to share with you.
Anzu: Oh! Don't worry about that, I'm fine sleeping on the floor.
Giuseppe: Hmm...Nope. That certainly won't do. My mother would curse me from the grave if she ever found out I made a 17 year old girl sleep on the floor. You can have my bed. I'll be the one to sleep on the floor.
Anzu: Really?! I feel terrible now!
Giuseppe: Oh, okay then. I'll just keep the bed th-
Anzu: NO I WANT IT!
Giuseppe: Take it then!
Anzu leaped up and spread her arms and legs wide as she landed on Giuseppe's soft and comfortable queen sized bed and dug herself into the covers. Giuseppe turned out the light and prepared to go to bed.
Anzu: Hey, Giuseppe?
Giuseppe: Yeah?
Anzu: Thanks for letting me stay with you.
Giuseppe: Anytime. Now get to sleep. We do it all again tomorrow.
Anzu: Yes sir! Power sleep, activate!
As childish and playful as it was, it seemed as if Anzu seriously went to sleep the minute she activated her "power sleep".
Giuseppe: Anzu? Anzu? Wow, she's really sleeping. Lucky her. I still can't believe she's dead. She's pretty lively for someone who's supposed to be deceased. Though, I wonder. She said she was 17, right? What on earth, or who on earth would kill a 17 year old girl?
Two souls, one living and one dead, were now bound together. There was still much for Giuseppe to discover in Anzu and vice versa. Perhaps they were both too caught up in their happiness to realize it, but this day and the day before were the only times in a long time that they had both enjoyed the company of someone else. Two different kinds of solitude broken by one friendship.