@rndmn - Ahh the reasons why we love festivals so much
@stefy - Thanks for the great idea!
@ayase - wow you actually made me blush
@kRisZ - Hmm life wouldn't be same without some TakaGaki
@JFC - Epic comment! Woohoo!
Would have updated earlier if not for school. Who invented assignments anyway
Anyway, presenting part 2...
Chapter 6 (Part 2)Eri watched the scene before her. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she saw Ai kissed Risa. She walked dazedly to the nearest bench and sat down. She looked up to the night sky to stop the tears. The lively music from the festival did nothing to lift her spirit. Vision blurred, she sensed someone sitting next to her and offering her a handkerchief.
“Are you okay?” Eri could sense the sincerity in the voice.
“Go away”
“I’m sorry…” Reina apologise but sat still nonetheless.
“I should say what’s in my mind right?” Eri sobbed. Reina could only nod silently seeing how broken hearted her housemate is. She had unintentionally chanced upon Risa and Ai confessing their love for each other. To make things worse, she saw Eri standing at the side and knew the girl currently in her arm had witnessed the confession as well.
“I like Risa. But Risa likes Ai-chan.” Eri sniffled, “Risa loves Ai. I’ve always knew that. But I can’t help liking Risa.”
Reina didn’t know how to console the girl next to her as she cried into Reina’s shoulder. Instead, she just pats Eri’s back. The girls sat in silence; no further words need to be said.
It took a while for the crushed turtle to calm down. Reina noticed Ai, Risa and Sayu walking towards them. Sayu, for one, seems to be sulking and this was aggravated by the suspicious position Reina and Eri are in right now. Ai and Risa, on the other hand, seems lost in their own little world.
Reina could see the sadness in Eri’s eyes as she watched Eri looking at the oblivious Ai and Risa. Unable to bear it any longer, Reina pulled Eri away from the group much to the surprise of the others and even herself.
“Come with me.” Reina gripped Eri’s hands into her own and ran. The two girls snaked their way through the crowd. Soon, the hustle of the festival dimmed as the girls walked into a familiar ground.
“Tanaka-san, where are we going?” Eri asked, gasping for air. Reina ignored Eri’s question and lead her to the rooftop of a building at the back of the university.
“We’re here!” Reina announced proudly.
“Wow this view is spectacular. How did you find this place?”
“I normally come here whenever I need to be alone or time to think. Since not many people use this building, nobody would come up here except me”
Eri takes in the sight of the town in front of her. The night lights look like little fireflies illuminating the town. She can understand why Reina chose this place. It offers solitary in the midst of the everyday chaos that they live through.
Reina took this opportunity to study Eri. There is something about this girl that unsettles her. However, she couldn’t point at the exact reason. Being around Eri makes her happy yet sad at the same time. For a second there she thought she saw Miki standing there instead of Eri. Reina quickly shook her head and blinked. She reprimands herself for being silly.
The sudden screeched in the sky announced the start of the pyrotechnic display of colourful lights and loud noise. Reina could hear faint shouts from the excited town.
“Beautiful wasn’t it? Fireworks will disappear immediately. Even if you forget the shape and colour of the fireworks, the joy it brings and the faces of your ones next to you will be etched in your memory forever. Just like our relationship” Reina remembered Miki’s words one year before. It seems like it was just yesterday.
“You’re right Miki. Just like our relationship” Reina sighed.
“I’ve decided. I will give up on Risa so that they will be happy together” Eri said with determination, “From now on, I will look out for her as her good friend”
“Are you sure?” Reina turned to Eri.
“She’s happier with Ai. That’s good enough for me,” Eri gave a sad smile, “Thank you Reina”
“For what?”
“For being here. It means a lot to me.”
“I didn’t do anything” Reina hoped the occasional lights from the night sky do not expose her blush.
The two girls continued to enjoy the fireworks without saying any further words.
Reina finally broke the silence and offered her hand, “Come on, Eric needs a partner, don’t he”
The two girls started to make their way back to the festival, back where their friends are.
~~~
Eri had just finished her bath and was drying her hair when she heard the door bell. She wondered who it could be this late at night. Maybe Reina has forgotten her keys when she left for the konbini. Eri opened to the door and came face-to-face with a short-haired girl.
“Umm I think I got the wrong house. Sorry” The girl apologise and started to leave.
“It’s okay” Eri was about to close the door when the girl turned to face her again,
“Excuse me, do you know where is the Tanaka residence?” The stranger presented a handwritten address to Eri.
“You are?” Eri asked, curious about the smaller-built girl.
“I’m Mitsui Aika…”
Topic: Solus (Chapter 15.5 - 01/04) (Read 45480 times)