Chapter five, 2017, leverage: 9

Ulf woke halfway into an ongoing conversation between Noriko and another girl. If not exactly halfway then at least a good part into it from what he heard. While he recalled the voice he wasn't entirely certain who sat on the other side of Noriko.

A couple of times he could see slender legs sticking out in the train corridor, but he was facing the wrong way to see her face.

He heard the girl revealing some rather unexpected details about herself while he pretended to sleep, and then she said something absolutely astounding and he couldn't pretend any more.

He yawned, something that wasn't an act at all, and stretched his arms. "Sorry Noriko, I fell asleep." Ulf turned in the seat and hugged her even closer to him. 'Oh, it's Hitomi,' he thought when he recognised the face behind Noriko's head. "Hi, didn't notice you getting on."

Noriko didn't seem to dislike being manhandled like this. Ulf felt her burrowing her face into his chest, and her arms wrapped around him in a way that was definitely frowned upon by most here in Japan. He didn't care.

"Hi, how much did you hear?"

'What the…'

Noriko squirmed in his arms, but Ulf just stared at Hitomi. "How?"

"When the train moved. You started compensating for it."

'I'll be damned.' "Do you study people for a hobby or something?"

"You were awake the whole time?" Noriko had finally made herself partially free from him.

A short laugh from Hitomi made her turn. "About half of the time. Anyway, I want in."

"And we're supposed to because you gave us, what did you call it, leverage?"

Hitomi nodded.

Ulf stared at Noriko who stared back at him. "You never really had any friends, did you?" he said after a while.

When she only gave him a blank star he realised he had to continue.

"Look, Hitomi, friendship doesn't work that way. It's not a fear based transactional system."

She tilted her head sideways and let her eyes wander between Noriko and him. It made Ulf feel uncomfortable, as if she was assessing them both.

"Hitomi," Ulf started again, "you don't make friends because they fear you'll hang them out to dry otherwise. There's this thing with enjoying each other's company and all that stuff." He shook his head in amazement. "What kind of people do you hang out with?"

"Apart from the club? The blackmailing kind," she responded without any hesitation.

Ulf shrugged and exchanged glances with Noriko. When she nodded approval he hoped he had guessed right. "You know," he said and turned his attention back to Hitomi, "it's your life, but I suggest you ditch those people."

"It's not that easy, and besides, why should I?"

There's a certain kind of naivete that only comes with cynicism. Ulf tried wiping a growing smirk from his lips. "Look, Hitomi, the day you get yourself a girl or boyfriend that kind of people could hurt the one you care for really badly."

He only got a raised eyebrow in return at first. "So you heard that part?" she said.

What could he do but nod? "What if I did?"

"Heard the part about me being interested in Noriko?"

Ulf shrugged again. This time Noriko moved uncomfortably in his arms as his shoulders shot up. He gave her what he hoped was an apologetic smile while he decided on how to answer Hitomi.

He came to a conclusion. "This is where you expect me to say: I can't stand dykes? Or: Stay off Noriko, she's mine?"

Hitomi didn't answer, but the gaze she shot him was definitely an invitation for him to continue.

"Well I won't. I'm straight as straight can be, but other people's inclination is none of my business. So that takes care of part one."

Hitomi just nodded once for him to continue, and Ulf accepted her response.

"I'd get pissed off like hell if someone made moves on Noriko, but in the end she decides who she wants to spend her time with or not. I hope she'll keep picking me, and I'll work my arse off to make it so."

Two small hands hardened their grip around his arms. "I'm Japanese, not Swedish," Noriko said and turned to fully face Hitomi. "You stay the hell away from Urufu! He's mine!"

"And about yourself?" Hitomi asked. Ulf saw a naughty grin spread on her face.

In his arms Noriko was busy giggling. 'So they're in on some kind of joke I can't understand. Oh well, as long as it's just a joke.'

Noriko got her giggling under control. Then she inclined her head as if to gaze at her shoes. "I'm sorry Hitomi, but I like someone else." And with that she turned and grinned at him. "Urufu, text Yukio and see if I got that line right!"

Beside them Hitomi bent her head backwards and laughed. "That was a perfect delivery Noriko. I've read my fair share of manga myself."

Ulf shook his head but sighed in relief. That turned out to be short lived though.

"So, what's the secret with Urufu, Kuri, Tomasu and Jeniferu anyway?"

'You really really want in!' He looked at Noriko who shook her head.

"Not here," she said. "You decide if she ever learns, but not here on the train."

That made sense, but Hitomi still shot Noriko a cold glare.

For the third time since he woke Ulf shrugged. This time he made sure he didn't force Noriko's arms upwards like the last time. "You're the only one apart from the old gang who decided to rough it out."

"You mean my returning to Himekaizen? Got nothing to do with you. I just hate being told what to do."

Ulf grinned. "You're a hard one being friends with. I think you'll be just fine in our little group of dysfunctional maniacs."

The train stopped at a station, let people off and on. Tired travellers passed them in the corridor, and Ulf used the time to allow Hitomi to chew on what they had said. Guess we're telling her. He blinked. 'Haven't I said that once before? Oh, yes, when we let Ryu and Noriko in on our secret.'

"I could call my guardian. It's cramped but there's space for the two of you to spend the night."

Noriko might have wanted to spend it alone with him, and he himself definitely felt those urges more and more often, but that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. Ulf looked at her to see if there were any signs of anger or disappointment in her face.

To his surprise there were none, but there was a mischievous smile. "Sounds great! Hitomi, join us!" she said.