Odds and Ends to Best Friends

Tadao sighed as he walked on the side walk at the dead of night. He didn’t have a choice as his work had made him stay at the office, working overtime. But he was glad that he had the next week off so he could relax at home from his hectic schedule. Suddenly, he heard footsteps behind him. He furrowed his brows but didn’t think much of it. Maybe someone else was also going home late from work? He was too tired to care much. He started getting a little worried though when the steps continued to follow right behind him. He stopped to check. And to his horror, the footsteps stopped too! He couldn’t just call the police or else they will harm him. He started walking faster and the footsteps followed his pace. He was close to his apartment. Just a few more blocks-

His vision went black as he was hit on the back of his head. One of the men threw him on his shoulder and nodded to the other. It seemed like a miracle when at the exact same time, a black van pulled over next to them. Both the men, along with their captive, got inside the van and drove off.

Tadao groaned as he opened his eyes. He blinked to clear his vision and soon noticed that he felt restrained. He looked down but he couldn’t see anything. He shook his hands and noticed that he couldn’t move them. So, his hunch that he was restrained was proven right. He tried to move forward or stand up but he couldn’t. He guessed it’s because he was chained to the wall. But he did notice that if he stretched enough, he could reach more than his arm’s length. And his legs were also not that restrained. That was good, Tadao thought, satisfied. Maybe his training will finally come in handy.

‘’Hello?’’ He decided to call out to someone and immediately regretted it. His throat hurt and his mouth felt so dry. He needed some water but he didn’t think he would get some, anytime soon. He jumped and almost yelled when he heard,

‘’Hey. You okay there?’’ The voice seemed to come from across the room, cell, wherever he was. He hesitantly nodded but realized the other person couldn’t see him.

‘’Yes, I am. Who are you?’’ he asked, trying not to put too much strain on his voice. The person-a guy judging by his voice- sighed.

‘’Oh. Good to know. My name is Katsu! It’s nice to meet you!’’ This guy was awfully cheerful for someone who was kidnapped. He narrowed his eyes at the man, though both of them couldn’t see each other.

‘’Nice to meet you too but do you know where we are?’’ He guessed Katsu shrugged.

‘’I have no idea where we are but I think I was here for three days. Time is funny here. But I think the reason we are here is for ransom.’’ Tadao pondered with the given information. He doesn’t think they were here for ransom. If it was for ransom, they would have just threatened them with a gun or something, seeing as they were fully grown men. They would have kidnapped children if it was for ransom. It seemed like a much more likely reason.

‘’But don’t worry! They will bring us food once a day even if it isn’t that good.’’ Katsu muttered at the end of the sentence. Tadao had to resist the urge to facepalm. They were kidnapped and his cellmate was more concerned over the quality of the food. Tadao sighed.

‘’Do you know anything else?’’ Katsu hummed.

‘’Well, they usually bring rice, curry and water. But I did get meat on my last meal, when I kept on whining for it.’’ Tadao resisted the urge to slam his head on the ground. Can Katsu not think of food for five minutes?!

‘’OH! I just remembered! The guy who brought me meat was muttering about, ‘auction, prisoners but I couldn’t catch the rest of it.’’ He said. Tadao knew for a fact that Katsu was grinning like a madman for remembering something. He didn’t know why but he just knew. His face paled when his brain finally registered the words. AN AUCTION??!!

He panicked for a little while, trying to be quiet. Tadao took deep breaths so that he could calm down. Panicking won’t help now. He was a twenty-five-year-old man, damn it! He has to calm down and think of a way to get out of here. He could do it! If he just paid attention the next time a man came here and try to wheedle out any information from him, he could come up with something!

‘’Hey, you didn’t tell me your name!’’ Katsu snapped him out of his thoughts.

‘’My name is Tadao.’’

‘’Tahdah O! TAhDAh!’’ Tadao did facepalm this time.

‘’No Katsu. My name Tadao. T-A-D-A-O.’’ Katsu sighed in disappointment.

‘’Oh. That’s too bad.’’

‘’What?! Why is that bad?’’

‘’Well it’s because your name sounded much cooler when I said it.’’ Tadao really wanted to pinch the bridge of his nose, to stop the oncoming headache.

‘’Katsu, how old are you?’’

‘’I’m twenty-three!’’ So, he was an adult. Well he certainly didn’t act like one.

Few moments of silence.

‘’Hey Tadao, do you wanna be my friend?’’ There was a thunk. It was Tadao hitting his head on the wall. The twenty-five-year-old sighed, exasperated.

‘’Katsu. We just met.’’

‘’So?’’ Katsu seemed genuinely curious on what was so wrong about it.

‘’Katsu. You don’t just become friends with a person you just met like half an hour ago.’’

‘’Why?’’

‘’You just don’t.’’ Katsu seemed to pout. How Tadao could tell was beyond his understanding.

‘’Well...’’ Katsu finally seemed to get his logic, Tadao thought.

‘’That’s just stupid.’’ And his hopes were dashed in a heartbeat.

Before he could argue more, Tadao heard footsteps coming their way. The steps seemed to stop right in front of them. He heard the jingling of keys and the door(?) opened. There was a flash of light and then a man came in. He walked towards them, placing Katsu’s food before him first. And then, approaching Tadao with caution. Well he was right to be cautious but too stupid. Just when he was close enough, Tadao’s fist flew and connected with his thigh or stomach. Tadao wasn’t sure. The man groaned and fell forward on his knees. Tadao took the chance and knocked him on the head. The man fell to the floor, unconscious. Katsu looked up, after completing his food or more like inhaling it.

‘’Wow Tadao! How did you do that?!’’ Before responding, Tadao first checked the man’s pockets on his pants and jacket. He found two pairs of keys.

‘’Hold still Katsu.’’ He said, as he quickly unchained himself. Well, almost quickly since it took him five minutes to do it. He hurriedly approached Katsu but not before opening the door a little, so that he could see what he was doing.

He unlocked Katsu much quicker than he did for himself. Both of them cautiously went outside the door. Well Katsu became cautious when Tadao glared at him, warning him to be anything but silent. Katsu pouted but obeyed.

They made it out the door but before both of them-read Tadao- could think of the next step, a bunch of people just appeared out of nowhere. Well, not exactly nowhere. Tadao guessed they came from the door which was on the other side.

A man dressed sharply in a black suit, with a mic and a grin, stepped towards them.

‘’Congratulations! You have won the ‘Odds and Ends to Best Friends!' contest. This was a competition to see if both complete strangers were to end up in a room, fearing what will happen to them, would be compatible enough and become friends. Mr. Tadao! I can see you shocked and shaking your head but you signed up for this and so did Mr. Katsu!’’

Tadao and Katsu just stood there confused. Then both of their faces dawned with realization at the exact same time. Tadao remembered his sister talking about this and saying something about ‘signing him up for a contest’ which he had just agreed to, not thinking about it too much. Tadao didn’t know that this would be what the competition would be about! Katsu was in the same position except he was the one who asked his brother to do so and had completely forgotten about it!

The man grinned and Tadao just really wanted to punch him in the face but controlled himself.

‘’Congratulations! And for your prize, here is a ticket for both of you to enjoy at the ‘All you can eat buffet.’ Now ladies and gentlemen, if you are lonely and need a friend, sign up for this competition! It’s absolutely free! Just go to our…...’’ Tadao tuned him out and shakily walked to the corner of the room. Katsu followed him and both of them just stood beside each other.

Finally, Katsu chuckled and sheepishly admitted,

‘’Well, these were unusual circumstances for us to meet, huh?’’

Tadao couldn’t help but agree with him.

‘’Yeah.’’ They again lapsed into a silence. But it wasn’t awkward, it was a comfortable silence. When they were finally allowed to leave, both of them exited the door and walked to the main gate together. They stood outside it and shuffled, trying to come up with something.

Finally, Tadao took out a card and gave it to Katsu, who took it but looked at him confused. Tadao smiled.

‘’How about we meet up on the weekend to go use the ticket? You did say you wanted to become friends.’’ Katsu grinned brightly at him and nodded.

‘’Yeah! Let’s meet up but this time without being kidnapped.’’ Both of them laughed and after noting down Katsu’s number, the two of them turned their backs to each other. Looks like this wasn't that bad, after all.

Right?