THROUGH TIME - CHAPTER 24
Once the sun came out, it was time to come back to reality. A reality were Jurina is hiding me something, something that includes Ichijo Honoka. I knew since the first time that I heard her name, that she was someone who had influence on Jurina’s life, and the fact that I had no idea what it was is killing me.
Today the competences begin, and the first one is Horses races, it’ll be a kind of tournament and everything in a single day, that’s why the competences begin since early in morning, which explains why when I just opened my eyes, Jurina was already dress and almost ready for the race.
“Good morning, I was about to wake you up” She said while she wondered around the room looking for something “The first round start in no time, you should start to get ready” I didn’t say a thing, I could only follow her around the room with a blank expression, I still had to process what happened last night “Rena, are you listening?”
“Can you please answer me something” I felt like if I was about to make a fire test, and I could only pray to please be wrong with the result that I think I’m going to get.
“Sure what it is?” Jurina answered while she began to put on her boot once she fund them
“Look me in the eyes” In those moment I was feeling like a perfect masochist. Jurina did what I asked her a little bit confuse with my sudden attitude.
“What’s wrong?” I felt like falter for a moment when her deep eyes found mines.
And if actually the best thing is to not know? I remember that once my father told me, that the best way to be happy, is to be ignorant, this way you wouldn’t have to be worry about anything, like a kid that doesn’t know what happening around him, while her parents are solving all kind of problems. But I erase that thought from my mind immediately, that’s just run away from them, and I’ve already promised that I won’t run away again.
“You really have nothing to do in the past with Ichijo Honoka?” I could see the exact moment when fear took place on Jurina eyes, and in a blink she took away her eyes from mines.
“I’ve already told you, she’s just Yudai’s daughter and his a family friend, I just know her because sometimes he bring her with him to the castle, that’s it” Jurina scratched the back of her neck, while her eyes digress around the room, she was clearly avoiding any contact with me.
And there it was, Jurina was lying to me, because even if I don’t know the story, I can tell without fear to be wrong, that Ichijo Honoka wasn’t just a friend’s daughter on Jurina’s life.
Suddenly I felt like a huge space were separating us, and everything in a matter of seconds. Once again I saw like Jurina’s past was hunting her, just that this time is different, because I was feeling like if I couldn’t do something, like if I couldn’t reach her no matter how much I run to catch her.
“I see… you go ahead, I’ll go in a minute” I didn’t say anything else, I just wanted to be alone.
“O-ok” Jurina came close to me waiting for me to give her a kiss, like we always do, but I could only have my head down, I won’t be able to bear looking at her eyes in this moment.
Seeing that I hadn’t any intentions to move, Jurina just lay a gentle kiss on my forehead that last more than normal, and then she the room.
I didn’t knew how to react, I didn’t know if I should feel sad or angry, if I should cry or scream from anger, my mind was simply blank, the only thought that was crossing my mind, was that Jurina was lying to me, and it wasn’t just once but several times. Now more than ever I have to know what happened between Jurina and Honoka, but I knew that Jurina won’t be the one who is going to tell me, that’s why I will have to look for the answers in another place.
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To a slow peace a walked to the stable, something good had to have this week, and have the possibility to ride a horse for a whole day and to do archery, made a little bit easier the task to put up all the annoying people that are all the time over me with no apparent reason.
The stable was full of wonderful horses for the race, every single one was perfectly care on every single aspect. Shinoda really did a great job with all the preparations. Paruru told me that the horse that I was assigned should be on the last spot.
After walk around a little bit lost, (it was incredible how big the place was) finally I found the place where the horse with black coat should be, just like Paruru specified. Once I approached, I realized that the gate for its spot was open, but the horse didn’t seem like escaping, on the contrary, it was completely sober, and that’s because there was a small hand caressing it, I didn’t had to look at her face to know who it was, her long light-brown hair betray herself.
“You shouldn’t be here” I didn’t wait for her reply to take away the horse so I could begin to prepare it, the faster I end the better.
“It is a really beautiful horse” She didn’t even try to move a bit, despite my clearly hostility
“There are several more that you can go and see” I didn’t know how to make more clear that I wanted her to go.
Honoka didn’t say anything else, but neither did she moved nor even a centimeter from her place, she just stood there following me with her gaze and with a blank expression. If I weren’t use to her intense glare, my hands would be shaking for sure because of the nervousness, like does every person that just meet her, it’s a shame that she never had the effect she wanted on me.
“I prefer the other part of you Jurina” She finally broke her silence, almost lie if she were having a tantrum “Before you were fun” She began to run her fingers over my shoulders, and almost in an instinctive way I slap her hand away from me.
“You never understand, do you?”
“I know what you’re trying to do Jurina” She said with a smile “I’m happy to know that I won’t have to move a finger” Now what she said caught my attention.
“What do you mean?”
“What I mean is… That you’re doing all the job for me” She finally turned around to leave with a triumphant smile when she saw her work done. But her steps were stopped by the presence of the only person that until now has been the only one I know can confront her.
“But look what an undesirable company” Paruru didn’t even try to hold back her real thoughts, just like she always do.
“Shimazaki-san I didn’t thought that I’ll be seeing you again” By this time Honoka’s smile had already disappear.
“Believe me, neither I” Both of them were looking daggers at each other, each of them knew that the other one was the only person who could hold their intense glare, or even think on trying. Just in front of me I had the two most feared persons in kingdom, that hide under the best mask, an angelical aspect, that hide perfectly their truth self, the one that could freeze you with a simple look.
“How’s Yui-chan doing?” Honoka didn’t hesitate on attack Paruru’s only weak point.
“Much better than when you were in her life” What she didn’t know is that Yui is at the same time what gives strength to Paruru “In fact I think that everyone is better without you in their life” She counterattacked, I would never stop on being surprise on how Paruru can confront Honoka so easily.
“I remind you that you are not very different from me” Even though Honoka wasn’t far behind. And it looks like that it was the end of this kind of confrontation “I’ll be cheering on you Jurina” She said before disappearing.
“I didn’t need your help” I told Paruru once she came closer with her reproachful glare.
“Yeah sure, it was write all over your face that you had everything under control” She replied on a sarcastic tone.
“Shut up” I had to accept my defeat “Somehow she always finds what to say to hit my weak point” I admitted.
“Just stay away from her” Paruru then placed her hand on my shoulder and gave a look that I didn’t see too long ago, a glare full of worry and angst “Just don’t fall again on her game” She patted my shoulder to then begin helping me with the horse.
“I won’t, this time… I definitely won’t”
“What thinks Rena about all this” I knew that at some point Paruru would ask me for Rena, I just expected that it wasn’t so soon.
“She doesn’t know anything of what happened” Paruru leaved what she was doing to look at me with an incredulous expression at the same time than a unacceptable glare “And I hope that it stays that way” I told her hoping to make clear that I don’t want her to say a thing.
“Is not like I can force you to tell her” She began to say after a moment of silence “But I think that she deserves to know, you don’t have to go through this by your own Jurina” Even if I didn’t want to admit it, I know she was right.
“You wouldn’t understand it” Even so, I was stubborn with the idea that it was better if she doesn’t get to know, it would be three more days and everything would be over.
“You said the same thing back then” Commented Paruru more for herself, that’s why I didn’t try to said anything else. “You’re so stubborn Jurina” Was the last thing she said before ending with the preparations so we could get out from the stable.
“But look who is around here” I let out a heavy sight when I just had to get out from the place to find another person that I definitely didn’t wanted to see, do I have a magnet for undesirable people?
“What do you want Ryuu?” I had to ask in the most fed up way that I could find, with the hope that maybe he would just let me go.
“I saw Honoka coming over here and just followed her” He said at the same time that he stood in front of me so I couldn’t escape “You haven’t see her, do you?”
“What, are you her new toy?” I guess that I should had seen that coming.
“I don’t think so, I do have control over myself” He answered, sending a clearly indirect “By the other side, it’s a pity that we don’t get to compete on Horse races” He commented, and indeed, the competence was divided by gender.
“Yeah what a pity” In fact I couldn’t care less, he’s the one who always wanted to compete against me, even in the most stupid things.
“But on archery I’ll definitely win you” Could he be more childish.
“Yeah sure as you say” And finally I was free to go.
The morning competitions went by in a blink, and luckily and easier than I thought, I managed to make it to the final round. But there was something that didn’t let me focus on the last race, and is the fact that I couldn’t find Rena anywhere, and because it was already noon, the place had more people that in the morning, which make harder find her between the crowd.
There was a short break before the last round that will determine the finalist, even though it wasn’t enough time to go and look around for her.
“Paruru have you seen Rena?” I wondered worry “This morning she was a little bit strange”
“No, I’ve been with you all morning remember?” She answered, and in fact she was right, she has been helping me with everything that I need for the races.
“Can you please go and look for her? She may be sick or something” I asked her almost begging, I know that Paruru really hates this kind of favors.
“I’ll go to look around just one time, if I don’t find her I will not look for her any longer” She accepted even if she had a grimace of annoyance, and I couldn’t ask for more coming from her, I was surprise on how she accept so easily “I don’t promise anything, I’ll be right back” And with that she went out in a slow peace.
A couple of race more, and I was on the final, and I have to say that it was mere luck that I made it, my mind kept on digress all the time, and just in the last race I went out with a little bit of delayed, a mistake that almost cost me the race. There won’t be any chance for me to win if I don’t get some news about Rena, keeping on mind that the last race is against Yamamoto Sayaka and Miyazawa Sae, I won’t have any chance if I don’t have my mind of the race.
It was about time for the last race, and just when the judge was about to start the race, I saw Paruru coming out from the crowd, and as fast as I could I went to ask for some minutes.
“But please don’t late more than five minutes Jurina-sama” He answered trying to not be impolite but at the same time being strict.
“Yes, thank you very much” I thanked him and I went out running to Paruru’s direction, her typical blank expression didn’t give any me clue “So? Did you find her?” I asked her once we distance from the other people.
“Yes I found her” She answered curtly, like if she were mad.
“And? Where is she? Why didn’t she came with you is she ok?” I asked her for more details, because she didn’t seem like she was going to say anything else.
“Yes, she is fine don’t worry, you’ll get time to talk with her when the race end, I imagine that she will be waiting for you in your room” She continue talking sharply, but for the moment it was enough for me to know she was fine.
“Ok thank you” I couldn’t waste any more time, my five minutes were already gone and I already had the answer that I needed.
Knowing that Rena was fine I managed to concentrate on the race, which even with my mind on it I barely could win, I knew they both were good but not that much, I won by a nose, if it wasn’t because the judges were focus on the finish line, we would have to do it once again, and I don’t know if I could make it on a second time.
The award ceremony took long than I wanted to. My whole body was in pain, it’s been a while since it hurts like this, and that was just a reminder that I shouldn’t be on my office all day. I could only dream with a warm shower and with the soft mattress that is waiting for me along with Rena. Even if it was painful I rushed my steps to arrive as soon as possible, I still had to ask Rena were she was all day.
And just as Paruru said Rena was in the room, the thing is that she didn’t trouble on at least look at me when I came in, and the atmosphere in the room was kind of tense, but I just decided to ignore it, maybe I was too tired.
“Hey, you missed a great race, it was against Sae and…” I began to tell her everything that happened, but it was just a monologue, because Rena didn’t comment or at least make a sound, she was just looking on a blank space in the room “Where were you all day, I was worry” I asked but she continue with the same attitude “Rena, you ok?” I decided to get closer to her, and when I touched her shoulder and finally could see her face, I immediately knew that something was wrong.
“I know everything Jurina” It was impossible for me to recognize any feeling on her eyes, they were just looking at me without saying anything.
“Wha-what do you mean” Deep inside me I already knew what she was talking about, but I didn’t want to accept it.
“I know that you’ve been lying to me” And that was the moment where my heart stop for a split of second to then race like crazy, Rena stood up and slowly walked to me, I couldn’t find a way to react I was just freeze in my place “I know what happened between you and Honoka”
For some reason Honoka’s words reply on my head “You’re doing all the job for me” and looking at Rena’s eyes is that those words found a meaning.
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I stayed all morning lying on my bed, I had to take my time to pull myself together, the races must have already begin, and I know that I should be supporting Jurina in this precise moment, but frankly I didn’t want to, and if I go I would just have a bad time. Even though I have to get out from the room for another reason.
That’s why with the amount of serenity and bravery that I could get, I went out from the room to find the only person that I know can give the answers I want. And if like destiny were helping me, I just had to walked a couple of minutes to find her.
“Great I didn’t though that I would really find you” Paruru came to me “Jurina is like crazy, have you been sleeping all this time or what”
“I have something to ask you” I ignored everything she was saying and jump to what I wanted to know. Even if Paruru was taken a back a little bit form my strange and forward attitude, she nod with her head allowing me to ask “I need you to tell me what happened between Jurina and Ichijo Honoka” Her brow furrowed once she listened my request.
“That’s not up to me” She turned around to leave but I had to stopped her taking her by the wrist
“I already know that, but Jurina won’t tell me even if I ask, and I know you know that too” Her glare that reminds a cat was locked to mine, hesitating between if she should tell me or not.
“Look, I can’t say anything” Finally she sentence, and there goes my only option “But I know who can” She said to give me a hint of hope.
In the very deep of my mind was the idea to came to her, it’s just that I had the hope that I didn’t had to, after all talking to Sakae’s Queen was not as pleasant as I wish, I feel like she’s reading my mind all the time, but you can never know what she is thinking, and that’s a really uncomfortable at the same time that strange feeling.
But without having any more options I knocked her door, not being really sure if she would be there at this time of the day, but Paruru told me that she definitely will. The door opened confirming that Paruru was right, and in a room that was two times bigger than the other ones was Shinoda Mariko.
“Ah Rena I thought that you will visit me earlier” She invited me to come in, this might be easier than I thought.
“Then I guess you know why I am here” I sat on a chair that was in the middle of the room.
“Kind of, but I want to hear it coming from you” She said while sitting next to me and handing me a glass of wine “Then, for what am I good?”
I took a sip from the red wine, getting ready for what was coming “I want to know what happen between Jurina and Honoka”
A calm expression took place on Shinoda’s features.
“Just what I was thinking” I can tell by her expression that the memories that she is bringing back to her mind are not good, which explains that hint of sadness in her eyes “get comfortable this is a long story… and you may won’t like it”
Topic: THROUGH TIME (WMATSUI) COMPLETE (Read 60661 times)