THE PRIZES WILL BE FOR THE TOP THREE AUTHORS BASED ON A COMBINATION OF VOTING AND THANKS
1st Place is a $50 gift certificate from YESASIA and a shirt from milk-tee (http://milk-tee.com)
2nd Place is a $50 gift certificate from YESASIA
3rd Place is a $20 gift certificate from YESASIA
All participants will get a pat on the back for participating
Good Luck to all and there is only six more days to sign up :)
Entry #3
Life is fragile, and one must handle it as though it were glass.
Nightfall descended upon the nation of Japan, allowing the stars to scatter across the sky without remorse; each and every one of them twinkling from the distant.
Barely any sounds were produced in the neighborhood containing rows of houses that stood side by side. Lights from the light post hanged overhead in between each house; easily letting those see in the darkness. Few motor vehicles were making way through the roads nearby, pointing out that it’s late in the day.
If one were to observe the entire area, they would be pleasantly greeted with the peaceful atmosphere. Almost as if the community away from the city of Akihabara was welcoming citizens and strangers with open arms.
A single red Lexus car drove through the empty streets; its headlights illuminating the paved path before its body. Soon it turned right into one of the many homes’ driveway. The lights of the car were quickly flickered off. It was then followed by the opening of the door from the driver’s side.
The driver had just gotten out of her car and closed it when there was a squeal of happiness heard from within the home.
A young girl burst open the front door with a loud slam. That short figure continue to squeal loudly as she dashed out into the dark night. Arms outstretch, the small hands reached out for someone. And alas, she didn’t have to run far for she wrapped her arms around her mother who had come home from work.
“M-Milky!” Watanabe Mayu cried out her nickname as she slightly stumbled backward. Her arms managed to wrap around the little girl’s body to prevent her daughter from accidentally slipping and falling to the ground.
Watanabe Miyuki in her grasp was bouncing up and down in happiness. Her eyes closed, there was the silly, cute grin that was plastered on her face.
“I’m glad Mommy’s home now!” the adopted six year old girl exclaimed.
Then without a second’s hesitation, Mayu bent down to pick up her daughter and embrace her in a warm hug. The girl by her side, she landed a quick peck on Miyuki’s cheek to show affection.
This little girl had been adopted when she was only four. Both of her real parents having abandoned her from an unknown circumstances, Miyuki didn’t have a single ray of light shining in her direction. Until she was found near death by the epidemiologist. Taken her into Mayu’s care, she was granted with happiness that had suppressed what she had long ago with her blood-related parents.
Mayu nuzzled her girl’s nose, the ends of her lips widening. The two girls had a tinge of pinkness coloring their cheeks, showing the affection that were expressed between them.
“I’m glad to see you back from your work, Mayuyu~”
Upon hearing the one voice she was looking forward to, the dark haired girl in her work attire unconsciously giggled. The two girls glanced over at the door to see the tall, dark short-haired girl
Watanabe Jurina was standing by the entrance. With both of her arms crossed against her chest, the other girl grinned. Just the sight of her wife made her heart race with joy. As for the other girl, she did not hesitate to, with Miyuki in her hold, run up to Jurina and hug her.
The three in a firm embrace with each other, they all cracked out their best smile. Together, their smiles could bring light to a dark night that surrounds them.
While Mayu gently and slowly retracted herself from Jurina, the taller female led them all into the house. The safe haven instantly greeted Mayu with warmth. Compared to the laboratory that she spent many hours for today, it was like heaven. The smile from earlier was still plastered on her face.
After lowering their daughter down to the ground and allowing her to run off into the living room, the two quietly exchanged a giggle. Not surprising, the man of the relationship swiftly grasped Mayu’s chin in a single motion. She gently turned the epidemiologist’s head towards her direction; their lips met together.
“I miss you so much,” Jurina whispered before planting another kiss to the girl’s mouth. Her other hand decided to join in the fray, resting its palm on her wife’s waist. Their smiles still retained in the kissing sequence.
The soldier and researcher separated from each other’s contact.
“I miss you too, Jurina,” Mayu muttered under her breath, resting her face against the chest of her wife. Eyelids closed, her heart screamed with joy and content at the life she was presented with.
The two girls having met long ago, it was destiny that brought them to this day. The epidemiologist, who was once an active soldier a couple years ago, met the wife that she is proud to call. Jurina, who still carries on the duty till this day without retiring like Mayu, granted government support for their family. How they met was interesting.
Both of them came from an interesting background. Mayu didn’t have a mother due to a terminal illness that claimed her life while her father was a workaholic. Jurina had great parents, but carried a burden into supporting them due to their financial crisis. Why they joined the army was both for their family’s benefits.
How they met was also intriguing. It would be of great shock for someone to gain the knowledge that Mayu hated Jurina at first. The two girls at a tender age training in boot camp, Mayu always saw the taller girl as a pest and an annoyance. Yet it didn’t drive the stubborn woman away. What sealed the deal was one of the missions that they were sent out to complete.
A mission that wasn’t particularly dangerous quickly transformed into a life or death situation. A simple mission of escorting a prime minister from point A to point B went spiraling out of control. And at that crucial part of their life, Jurina had saved Mayu’s life against the order of the other girl. Although there was resentment and some silent treatments retrieved from the quiet girl, it was only a matter of time before she finally faced Jurina and thanked her.
Friends at first, their relationship blossomed into love. There were rocky moments every now and then, but they were tightly knitted to each other; almost as if the red string were tied on their pinkies to one another. Before both Mayu and Jurina knew it, they had gotten married.
Mayu retired in order to pursue the public health field as Jurina remained. The older girl worked as an epidemiologist in a laboratory not too far from where they live. Jurina on the other hand, despite being on active duty, has remained home comfortably. Sometimes in the week, she would drive over to meet with the commander and be updated on the news of the nation’s political affair. And so far, their life played out in the direction that they wanted to.
Everything in their life is perfect. Everyone is always smiling at every single moment of their life in this household. The perfect life that others hungrily crave for… The three of them have it at the palm of their hands. The key word that everyone wish to proudly announce to the world: content.
Jurina led the researcher to the living room, in which their daughter greeted the two of them with sock puppets concealing her small hands.
The goofy googly pair of eyes staring at the two parents as their mouths opened.
“Well, Mister Donald!” the gray sock with an elephant ear mock speak from Miyuki’s voice. “I am glad Mama and Papa are here with me!”
The other yellow sock with a yellow beak and a blue sailor’s hat representing one closely related to Donald Duck bobbed its head. “You’re right! I love them a lot!”
“I love Mama and Papa too!”
Their daughter glanced upward at the two of them and flashed her best smile with closed eyes. The sight alone was simply adorable. Jurina didn’t hesitate to reach her hand out and bring Miyuki close. She ruffled the top of her head, messing up the black hair similar to theirs.
“We love you too, Miyuki,” she grinned with ease. “Mama Jurina and Mama Mayu love you a lot.”
----------
[Next Day]
As her wife had gone to work, Jurina was left at home as usual with her adopted daughter.
It was a peaceful morning where she might have a chance to hang out with Miyuki. Another great chance for the two to develop their bonds together to the next level.
At the breakfast table with her coffee mug at hand, the dark pair of eyes the girl genetically inherited from her parents flickered left and right. A newspaper lying on the white and red checkered cover, showing interesting topics about today’s society. The neutral mood that she always carried transitioned into sourness. There was a few scoff heard coming from the older girl. Squinted eyes, Jurina turned her attention away from the article.
‘Capitalism at its best…’
She could mentally rant on and on about the government, and their power on regulating the information being brought to the community. But that could be for another day. Right now, she didn’t want her mind clouded with negativity about such world. It didn’t help for a fact that she is an active soldier awaiting orders from the higher ups, knowing for a fact that she could be called in at any moment.
However, Jurina had one important focus for today. It was to spend time with her daughter.
Her face erased all traces of uneasiness, and replaced it with both corners of her lips curved upward. A smile that would charm both her wife and her kid, Jurina truly was proud of carrying the dimpled grin. She got up from her seat. With the mug in her hand, the athletic female trended forth to the stairs, humming to herself a tune that she knew since she was a child.
When she had gotten close to the base of the staircase, there was the ringing of the doorbell. It stopped her on her track. Jurina groaned in irritation when her desire to wake up her daughter was interrupted by the person in front of the door. Her other hand scratching the back of her head for a brief moment, she used the same hand to swing open the door.
In front of her, she saw no one. A little confused, it was only when she accidentally gazed downward that she saw there was something for her. At her feet, there was a light brown envelope.
Jurina did not hesitate to bend down and pick it up. The next second, she went back inside of the house. With the coffee mug laid gently down on the nearby small table for convenience, the tall girl tore open the seal, revealing the content.
There was a single letter inside it followed by a small business card. Lazily the girl shook the envelope to see if there was any more content flowing out of it. When there was no more, she finally directed her focus to the letter and card.
Her eyes skimmed through the letter. But after skimming it, she ended up rereading it again. And again. And again.
Each and every single time Jurina read through the finely printed text, her eyes widen in horror and shock. The grasp on the paper trembled as all of the blood rushed up to her head, giving her a headache.
The letter was telling her that a war had been declared between the nation of Ukraine with Russia and China. Those in support of helping the nation become independent of its holder, the United States, Japan, and South Korea formed an alliance to provide support against the big powerful countries. A war that was similar to the Cold War in regard to superpowers; it’s a worst-case scenario. The war that would be named World War III.
Nausea hit the woman as she struggled not to upchuck in her spot. A cold sweat ran down the side of her face as she saw the words of recruitment and active duties the soldiers must play. Most of the roles are involved with the frontline danger zone. And it begins today.
For once, Jurina was thrown into one of the biggest conflict that would pit the greatest nations against each other. And at what cost? Bloodshed, lives, and hope. The greatest disaster mankind can bring upon this planet, and truly the worst.
Jurina clenched her teeth when she checked the card. The card merely provided information of directions and a couple phone number to contact the military department here in Japan.
Her body unconsciously pressed against the door for support, Jurina was in a huge dilemma. To crack the news to her wife and her daughter… It wasn’t going to end well. But alas, despite the emotional turmoil she is forced to go through, a sense of justice and need to protect her nation sparked from the back of her head.
She did sign up for this job many years ago. The job that she has first met Mayu; the job that she was able to fall in love with Mayu; the job that she was could get married to Mayu; the job that allowed her to have a family; the job that provided security to her entire family; the job that taught her the skills to protect her family and nation. Without it, she would most likely would’ve been with someone else, and Jurina honestly can’t see that sort of vision. With her current lifestyle, she was more than content compared to everyone else.
‘It’s to keep my family and country safe.’
That single statement planted itself deep into her brain, making it the driving force to willingly participate in a cruel battle for power and independence.
.
.
.
It was a struggle to watch the active soldier be back to her duty. A female whose sole duty is to protect her nation and family with her life.
That was something Mayu and Miyuki admired about Jurina. But alas, they were left back home with a missing loved one in their life. They were at home without Jurina. Without a wife, without the other mother.
They had given her their farewells not too long ago. A long, passionate kiss mixed with the salty tears running down their faces were exchanged. To add Miyuki’s bear hug that seem like it would last forever, it was difficult for the soldier to march onward without remorse.
However, Jurina knew that it was not just for the sake of the nation of Japan, but for her family. The war that was progressing at a dangerous rate might one day impact the area that her family and friends reside in. That was the last piece of thought she wanted to become reality. Thus this caused the lone soldier of the family to, with ease, separate from them; just for the time-being.
But that was a couple weeks ago. At the time-being, the mother and her daughter were doing their best to progress through life as usual. There would be faltering in their composure, but the two girls remained strong for Jurina; for her wife, for her mother.
One unexpected day, Mayu brought Miyuki to her room.
“I want to show you something special,” Mayu smiled as she saw her daughter leap on the bed. While she walked over to a nearby desk, Miyuki was hugging her stuff animals; the two being a dog and a mouse. As she snuggled them close and sunk in the comfortable mattress, the girl watched the doctor pull a sky blue box out from one of the drawers.
Her eyes widen when she saw Mayu came over to her. The box that her mother had retrieved was presented to Miyuki.
“This is for you, Milky,” the hands urged her to take it. “Go on and open it.”
Granted permission from the older female, Miyuki didn’t hesitate to receive it. After finding the opening of the smooth box, her small, but thin fingers carefully remove the lid. What awaited her from inside caused her to drop her jaw in awe.
Small sounds of excitement and amusement exited out of her daughter’s mouth when she took out a glassed object. From the sunlight outside of the windows nearby, it reflected against the surface and sparkled. A castle that sparkled, almost making it seem as if it was magical.
“Allow me to tell you about this crystal castle,” Mayu began her lecture as she watched her daughter handled it carefully. “That was given to me by Mama Jurina. On the first birthday of mine, she presented me with this beautiful gift. She told me… that the castle is magnificent and huge despite its physical form like this. But on a metaphorical sense, Jurina told me that she gave this to me for the sake of saying how fragile life can be.”
Mayu’s mind began to wander back, remembering the special moment that she had received the gift as her mouth rambled on.
Why Jurina chose the gift left her slightly puzzled. But she did know for a fact that Jurina wanted to give her something that represents their relationship and life.
”Life is fragile. No matter how strong we are both physically and mentally, there will always be something that can shatter it. Just like this castle of glass… It is built with great care and hard work for years. Yet it can be destroyed within a matter of seconds.”
Those words from her wife echoed in her skull, bouncing around like soundwaves. It was deeply engraved into her brain for sure. And with those same exact words, she repeated it to her daughter just as Jurina had to her.
She chuckled to see that her daughter was half paying attention to her words and more on the castle. It didn’t matter if the young girl understood it or not; eventually she will have to.
“I see that you really love it, Milky,” she commented.
“I really do, Mama!” the little girl quickly replied; eyes still trained on the foreign object. “It’s really pretty!”
Mayu giggled and covered her mouth in politeness. “Neh, did you know that I always look at it every morning for good luck?”
“Ah, really?! It brings good luck?!”
“At least to me it does,” she smiled.
Miyuki continue to be at awe when she heard that this glassed object could be a good luck charm. Perhaps it could give her good luck too if she examines it every morning! However, her eyes squinted every now a then from confusion. She tilted her head to the right slightly and said, “Mama… I see a crack on this glass.”
Mayu was a little shocked to hear that from her girl. Quickly she scooted herself close to Miyuki, peering over her shoulder to observe the precious treasure. Her eyes examined the surface with careful attention paid to details. And just like her daughter had stated, there is indeed a crack on the surface. A frown crossed Mayu’s face.
“Hm… Too bad there’s a crack on this…”
“It still looks fine, right?”
“I suppose so.”
Miyuki’s mother tried to overlook the fact that there was a crack on the treasure that had be given to by Jurina. She couldn’t remember the last time it was there, and for sure it did not appear when she checked on it this morning. Perhaps she had been a little rougher this morning into putting the castle back in the box? Whatever it was, there wasn’t much she or her daughter could do.
With a small sigh escaping out of her mouth, Mayu turned to look at her girl. Though the fear of seeing an abnormality seen on the object, she regained her composure and instead, flashed a smile. She reached out and rested her hand on top of Miyuki’s shoulder.
“I want you to have it, Milky.”
It seemed to have surprised the black haired girl at the statement. The little girl twisted her head around to see her mother; pair of eyes widen.
“R-Really Mama? I can have it?”
Gently Mayu combed Miyuki’s hair with her hand, nodding her head.
“Yes, you can have it.”
----------
[1 year later]
There was a knock at the door.
“I’m coming!” Mayu’s voice was heard from within the kitchen.
She allowed a single sigh to escape out of her lips. Out of all the times for someone to be knocking or ringing the doorbell, it was when she was packing her daughter’s bento box for school.
As she hastily threw the food into the plastic container, from the corner of her eyes, Mayu saw her daughter rushing towards the door. She did not hesitate to yell out a scold to not open the door in fear of a stranger. But alas, Miyuki didn’t hear and proceeded to approach the front door.
She jumped up and down, managing to unlock the simple lock mechanism of the front door. Afterward, her small hands came into contact with the golden knob of the door, twisting it without a second’s hesitation.
24 year old General Yokoyama Yui was standing in front of the door, dressed at her very best. In her black suit attire with medals gleaming thanks to the sun’s rays, it was a surprise to how she wasn’t sweating from such attire. Her firm eyes focused on greeting the individual that would soon open the door.
What she wasn’t expecting was a young, seven year old girl to confront her.
Miyuki stared at the person she has never seen before in her life. Eyes trailing upward to the tall figure, her lower jaw opened slightly with curiosity. There was a long staring contest that ensued until she finally spoke up.
“Who are you?” she blurted out in a loud tone.
Yui stiffen her shoulders as she shot her gaze away from the girl, looking at everywhere but her figure. She then slowly articulated each and every single word that left her lips.
“General Yokoyama Yui desu.”
Upon hearing the key word ‘general’, the girl’s dark eyes widen in amusement; sparkled even with admiration. Mouth opened to a greater extent, Miyuki let out a small, cute exhale.
“General Yuihan!” she boldly pointed her finger at the frozen general standing before her. Yui could only blink a couple times in complete dumbness; unsure of what was going on. A single sweat drop mixed with the production of the heat and nervousness slid down the side of her face.
Honestly, she had never dealt with a child in her entire career life; let alone this girl give her such a nickname!
“W-Who are you…?”
“Me? I’m Watanabe Miyuki! Yoroshiku!”
Yui was speechless. When she wanted to speak more, none of the words had successfully escaped from her voice box and through the trachea. All she could do was watch the other girl with interest.
‘So this is the daughter Jurina had been talking about…’
When she continued to remain silent with a tensed stare, Miyuki pouted, puffing her cheeks in annoyance. Before she was able to open her mouth and throw out a tantrum, Mayu appeared behind her daughter.
“Milky, I told you not to… Y-Yui?”
Internally, Yui was thanking the kami-sama slightly for being able to see an adult. But what made the colors of her face drain is the identity of this figure.
“Watanabe Mayu…” she breathed out. “Retired soldier from the military…”
“It’s been a while, Yui!” Mayu did not hesitate to throw out as she stepped out to the front porch. With a gentle smile, she tilted her head to the left. “How have you been? I see that you’ve become a general now!”
“E-Er… I guess…”
The researcher was somewhat confused to see the general’s eyes changing its direction of its gaze downward. The bright, optimistic mood that Mayu and her daughter carried around was something that contrasted what Yui had carried. Mayu reached out to bring Miyuki close to her, she then asked a question.
“So is there something important that you wanted to tell us about?”
It was almost like a taboo question despite how harmless it was. Everyone uses and throw out that question, so why did the woman flinch upon hearing it?
Yui bit the bottom of her lip, turning her head to the side with distress. From seeing her reaction, Mayu almost regretted asking that sort of question. The bright mood instantly spiraled downward into uneasiness and terror. Her hands resting on top of Miyuki’s shoulders began to tremble; her heart increasing its pace within her chest.
Her daughter was oblivious to the fact of what was going on, glancing upward at her mother with concern.
“M-Mama…?”
Miyuki’s concern was brushed aside when Yui finally spoke up in a shaky tone, finally gazing directly into the eyes of the ex-soldier.
“Watanabe Jurina… will not be coming home. She had died on the line of duty.”
Mayu didn’t hear it right. No, she did hear it; her mind just didn’t cooperate to soak in the information that was given to her. The girl’s consciousness shifted almost as if she was watching the scenario unforld from the distant. Mayu gaze fixated on the other girl, five seconds has awkwardly passed by before she opened her mouth.
“E-Excuse me? What did you mean by… that?”
The general mentally sighed. Yui knew that this girl, a friend from a long time ago, is in the state of denial about Jurina’s state. It was a shock to her too, but the strict young lady has to keep her composure up. At least for the moment. So with her dark eyes staring deep into Mayu’s eyes, she inhaled deeply. It was held in for a few seconds before she exhaled through her nose loudly.
“As I had said, Jurina won’t be coming home.”
----------
[5 years later]
Within the five years without Watanabe Jurina in their life, the Watanabe family barely managed to make it through their life normally.
Mayu had fallen into the state of anger and depression, trying to cope with the fact that she had lost someone so dear and close to her. It didn’t help for a fact that her new wife, Kashiwagi Yuki (who didn’t want to change her last name), had to replace the hole that Jurina left behind.
It was a little difficult for her adopted daughter to accept, but Yuki was, thankfully, kind and sweet, caring for the child like it was her own child. How they came together was not out of pity, but rather another individual that Mayu has known for a few years after Jurina’s death. The registered nurse that helped her through the dark times that still raged on till this day.
Yet this did nothing to help ease the pain of a great lost.
Every single night, those who remained in the household would hear the muffled cries that came from the older girl. Despite the amount of comfort from outside, no one could do anything. Even with Yuki, it barely did anything to soften the damaging emotional blow.
Miyuki, on the other hand, was suffering from great sorrow. At first, she was at denial; always running to the front of the living room and peeking through the curtains, awaiting for Jurina's return. When reality sunk itself in her brain, she was at great despiair.
Yet her face continue to smile for the sake of her mother. That was the best she could do for Mayu, and that was the best she could do for herself. She was an individual that continue to keep her mother sane after so many years has passed by after all.
The entire household had fallen under the deep state of darkness. Rarely anyone would come out of the house with the exception of Yuki; only to come out for both school and work. Every single day was met with the deadly silence and murmurs between the two older women. The child was always holing herself in her room, coming out with the forced smile she's begun to naturally become accustomed.
As time progresses by, something had finally unraveled itself in Watanabe Mayu. In the time span of five shaky years, something finally clicked in the girl's head.
.
.
.
It was a request that Yuki, her second wife, was astonished to hear.
The pupils within her eyes darkening, she stared at the shorter girl for the longest time possible. She was staring into the fiery spirit that had long been extinguished ever since five years ago. The rekindling of the fire that brought Mayu alive to this world.
However, the words that Mayu had uttered mere seconds ago left her in a state of shock.
When Mayu saw that they were just staring at each other at the edge of their shared bed, she exhaled loudly. Both of her hands clasped together and fingers intertwining, she whispered a plea.
“Please Yukirin… I want to resume my military service.”
“For what though?” Yuki finally managed to grasp her consciousness. “I don’t understand.”
“I have an important job that only I can do.”
She frowned.
“Is it so important that you’re willing to leave both me and your daughter behind?”
There was a slight chuckle as the younger girl closed her eyes. She leaned forward and pressed her forehead against the hands that formed into fists. A slight tremble was seen in Yuki’s perspective; which prompted the girl to reach out and rub her shaking back. The eyebrows that were slanted downward to express disbelief now shifted towards sympathy.
It took a while for Mayu to give a proper reply.
“Yuki… The war is still raging on even after the death of Jurina.” Her face retracting from her hands, she then shot a glance over at her second wife. “We are very lucky to live in a remote area that is safe from the war zone. However, I can’t sit around and allow it to ruin other family’s lives… Especially when they have someone participating in the war.”
“Mayu…”
Without warning, Yuki’s lips was met with Mayu’s for a split second. Her eyes widen when the other girl pulled away; the sad eyes with the fake smile forming on her face.
‘I’m sorry Yuki, but there’s much more than what I’m letting out,’ she stated to herself inwardly, exiting out of their bedroom.
Mayu did have a reason more than a good deed to motivate herself out of depression and back into action. She wanted to do something for the person that she so dearly loved. Even though she loved Yuki… The first person to have taken a step into her life and stayed with her till the war…
Jurina… Mayu wanted revenge for her death.
As the years progressed by, the stored sadness that she drowned herself in soon transformed into a silent fury that can only be appealed by countering against the cause of it. And the cause of it? The war itself alone; the sole enemy group that had killed Jurina.
“Mama… Where are you going?” the 12 year old daughter yawned as she rubbed her eyes.
There was a faint chuckle from Mayu’s direction at her response. The little girl that, no matter how old, is still such a sleepyhead. Considering that it’s the weekend, it’s no surprise.
Mayu decided to make a stop to her daughter's bedroom. The entire pink layout did nothing to relieve the tensed atmosphere that only grew between the two of them.
She reached out to caress the side of Miyuki’s small face. The forced smile glued on her face, she then answered.
“I must return back to work.”
“Mm… Don’t you work at a labora… labroraro… laboro…”
“Laboratory.”
“Whatever it is,” Miyuki puffed her cheeks as she sat up on her bed; still rubbing her eyes to erase any remaining trace of daze. “Don’t you work there anyway?”
Mayu scratched the back of her head nervously. “No, I meant… I’m going to return back to the military.”
Her daughter widen her eyes and became fully aware of what her mother was explaining. Instantly her eyes became teary. Miyuki rapidly blinked in hopes of not letting Mayu know that she was about to cry out of desperation. She knew what had happened to her other mother, Jurina. Now she couldn’t help but wonder if the same fate will revisit Mayu. The young girl in her pajama bit the bottom of her lip.
“I don’t want you to go, Mama…”
“But Milky,” her mother pulled her into a hug “I have to do something very important for the both of us.”
Miyuki buried her face into Mayu’s chest, taking in all of the scent and warmth from her mother. Skinny arms wrapped around her stomach, she mumbled in a small voice.
“I’m scared of losing you, Mama. I don’t want to lose you like Mama Jurina.”
That name mentally startled the older girl. Just the mention of it froze the mother stiff. But quickly recollecting herself back to reality, Mayu’s hand shakily reached out to her daughter’s hair. Fingers combed through the straight, smooth black hair that was inherited from her blood-related mother, there was a tinge of heartache.
She knew that she was going to make her only daughter go through the same pain as previously with Jurina. Yet Mayu had this profound confidence that she… isn’t like Jurina. She will make it out alive from the war. She will come home safe and sound; into the arms of her second wife and her daughter.
Mayu will make it unlike Jurina.
Such thought revolved around her mind infinite amount of times, keeping a faint passion and hope alive within her.
“I promise you… I will return back home. Just for you.”
Miyuki retracted herself from hugging her mother. Mayu saw the girl’s dark eyes glisten from becoming watery; the little girl holding back her tears. The sad smile still plastered on her face, the soon-to-be returning soldier on duty gave a kiss on her daughter’s cheek; followed by nuzzling the tip of her soft nose. Both pairs of eyes closed from the two individuals, she exhaled softly.
“I promise you with my life; I will return home.”
----------
Jurina, remember the castle of glass you’ve bought for me?
I gave it to Miyuki.
She really liked it.
Yet there was a crack.
It made us feel sad, but that’s okay.
Miyuki will take good care of it.
On another note, I really miss you.
I cry every single night in my sleep.
I always dream of seeing you bloody and dead.
That's reality though, right?
I just hope you’re resting in peace now.
Since I’ve finally avenged your death.
----------
[3 years later]
There was the knock on the door at the Watanabe residence.
“Milky!” Yuki’s voice was heard from the background. “Do you mind to get the door?”
“Wakarimasu!”
Quickly the 15 year old girl raced towards the door. Miyuki, who was now older, stood in front of the wooden object. Her hand reached out to grab the golden knob, but hesitated. The grip around the object froze in its position as the girl’s heart began picking up its pace.
‘Could it be Mama…?’
It has been so long since she last saw her mother. After leaving her home in order to participate once more in the military service that she had dropped, Miyuki impatiently waited for Mayu’s arrival. Stuck with Yuki, who cared for her dearly, it was not enough to fill in the enlarged hole in her heart. Mentally she hoped to be embraced in the warmth that only Mayu could provide to her.
Not wanting to jump to conclusion so fast and for safety’s sake, Miyuki tiptoed on her toes in order to peer through the peephole. Besides, Yuki was busy with the next door neighbor to help assist them in their spring cleaning.
Miyuki widen her eyes. She saw the familiar, tall, slender figure in her black suit. Medals gleaming off from the smooth exterior as the white colored cap reduced the heat from the sun’s rays outside on top of the figure’s head. Black hair tied in a ponytail, the female stiffly lowered her head.
This caused the younger girl to feel nervous now. It wasn’t Mayu… It wasn’t her mother at all. It was Yokoyama Yui at the front door. Even though not a single word was spoken about what exactly was going on, a sense of dread hovered above Miyuki’s head.
With a gulp, she unlocked the door and cracked it open. Slowly the door widen to reveal the old general standing tall as ever before her.
Yui’s dark eyes blinked a few times when she saw Miyuki. A faint smile formed on her lips; glad to see the girl older than ever. Her entire figure was still firm and strong as the girl has seen before, but Miyuki saw the weariness and tiredness behind the general’s eyes; emptiness behind her pupils.
The younger tilted her head to the side and stared up at the female standing on the doorstep.
“The war…” Yui began speaking in a slow motion. “…is almost over.”
A surge of relief ran through Miyuki’s body as such news came to greet her. Unconsciously she smiled as she proceeded to ask the burning question that she wanted answered.
“I’m glad to hear that! So how’s Mama Mayu then?”
There was a long silence that came between the two figures. Confused, Miyuki kept her smile plastered on her face as she watched Yui. The other girl clenched her jaw as she took off her cap. Pair of worn out eyes still not meeting Miyuki, she croaked out a reply.
“She’s… She’s passed on.”
“…Eh?”
Another brief silence.
“I’m so sorry…”
A single teardrop escaped from the corner of Miyuki’s eye as she heard Yui’s voice crack and strain to say the apology. The smile that she had worn just seconds ago instantly curved the ends to the opposite direction. Soon, tears were streaming down her face as if they were a waterfall.
Her brain had registered hastily in concern with the situation: Watanabe Mayu is dead.
Miyuki silently wept in sorrow at the news. Once again, she was left alone in the world without her mother. As if losing mother Jurina wasn’t enough, it was mother Mayu that had vanished from her life.
She knew that Mayu was acting selfishly, yet she couldn’t blame her mother. After all, she wanted to have revenge against the force that had ended her other mother’s life. And now that the war was nearly over, she had no one but Kashiwagi Yuki.
Her eyes squeezed tightly as more tears seeped out from the corners. Both hands on her sides were balled into fists, trembling with a mixture of rage and sadness. In front of the 15 year old girl, Yui, who was now 32, arched her brows to express empathy. The general that knew her and her parents so well too felt regret and the aching agony of losing them. Especially when she knows for a fact that Miyuki is left in this world with both parents dead.
From the background as Miyuki reopened her wet eyelids, she saw her kind stepmother sobbing with her two familiar friends, Kuramochi Asuka and Sashihara Rino. Her swollen, red eyes barely heeded any more attention to their existence as she returned her gaze back to Yui.
The older female bit the bottom of her lip as she herself glanced downward. She didn’t want to meet the eyes of a child that was in much more emotional pain than she was. All she could utter was an apology over and over in a small mumble; not knowing whether Miyuki would hear them or not.
Regardless of it though, the young girl sniffled as she clenched her jaw stiffly. What was she to do without both Mayu and Jurina? She has Yuki, but it’s not the same as having her actual parents with her. What would she do with her life? What would her future be like?
Then she made up her mind. Her heart has been shattered into numerous pieces and can never be the same ever again. Yet she could do something.
The pair of eyes that she carried began to darken as her heart pounded against her chest. Miyuki was only 15, but she only had a couple more years till she’s able to follow the steps of her parents. Even though she knew that it would be reckless and selfish of her to decide on such option, her entire consciousness was blinded with the fact of avenging her parents. Or was it merely to bury her grief into action? Whatever it was, she knew what she wanted to do.
Miyuki’s dark brown eyes stared hard at the general bent down in front of her. Yui finally lifted her worn out eyes at the girl. The expression she had worn shifted into surprise as she saw a burning, emotional passion before her. It was the same look that she had known from the wife of Watanabe Jurina after her death.
‘Don’t tell me she’s…’
Yui didn’t even have to think any further than that. She knew exactly what this little girl was thinking, and it horrified her that it was going to repeat again.
The daughter of the deceased Jurina and Mayu firmly stood in her spot as she opened her mouth.
It was time for her to finish it.
[END]
Entry #5
From the ripe old age of ten, I was completely fascinated by one thing. It was the sole cause of 13% of all human deaths worldwide. It astounded, fascinated and horrified me at the same time. How it’s made from you but aims to destroy you. How quick your own body comes to hate you. One minute you’re completely fine and then the next, you’re not. Instead, you’re on the way to meet Death. Like a murder. And the murderer was cancer.
At that innocent time of my life, I didn’t know anyone who had cancer. It was like a myth. I’ve heard stories about people contracting this condition, like malaria or HIV, but I’ve never come to know anyone close to me to experience it first-hand. Yet, it was a daily occurrence, constant campaigns on television or on the street.
Help fight cancer. Help us win the war.
Like it was a pandemic, like it was the end of their world. But why should I have cared. It wasn’t the end of mine.
It wasn’t until I was seventeen, seven whole years later, that I would come to know someone personally who had cancer. Someone who would change me and my life as I knew it, indefinitely.
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The first time I met her was definitely a special moment in the midst of an ordinary day. Alone, I sat at my desk during lunch, with my bento box and my own copy of Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’. I would tell myself it was because I was too good for my juvenile classmates, but in truth, I just didn’t want to make friends. No one approached me and I was too shy to approach them, then a year passed since the beginning of high school and it was already too late. I was known as ‘The Loner’ and that title encapsulated me.
I pretended to be engrossed in the book, but I had already read the same sonnets at least three times.
“My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite.”
Romeo, Act 2, Scene 2.
At that moment, I wondered, would I be able to face such a love so endless and selfless. Would I sacrifice everything for something that I knew could not come true.
“Hi.”
The voice was so frighteningly close that I couldn’t help but jump, facing the person who evaporated in front of me. She sat at a desk which was always empty, like she belonged there. The girl smiled impishly at me, her shining teeth gazing at me, as if she knew me. My first impression of her was ‘what a freak’.
“My name is Kuramochi Asuka.” she said, her eyes glittering as if she found a new toy.
I was so stunned that I just replied out of conditioned politeness; “I’m Nito Moeno.”
“Nito Moeno.” she mulled, as if tasting my name. “You have really pretty ears.”
“What?”
“Can I bite them?”
Then, as sudden as a snake attack, she leapt forward and sank her fangs into my tender ear. I screamed rather girlishly and loudly. However, she paid no heed to my scream or the students looking at us, and just continued nibbling by ear, sending shockwaves through me body. She held me, constricting me and I was trapped.
From then on, I’ve been a constant and willing victim.
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After lunch, the teacher announced to the class who she was. Kuramochi Asuka, a returning student who had to take a year off school due to health issues. The desk in front of me originally belonged to her.
“My name is Kuramochi Asuka. My life goal is to graduate from high school. Please take care of me.”
I heard the whispers after her brief introduction and simple yet unusual goal. After the commotion she caused, there was no way anyone wouldn’t be interested in her, but her eyes were focussed on me and that just made it worse. I just wanted to blend in. I wanted nothing to do with her.
However when she sat in front of me, I couldn’t help but stare at her hair. Though black, it glistened in the sun. It captured me like the cool dark night, a common yet granted sight that could calm any wavering heart. Like stars or the moon, her hair was so close yet so far. If social boundaries didn’t prevent me from doing so, I imagine that I would have reached over and stroked my fingers through the thin strands and let myself become entangled.
The bell rang and I almost jumped out of my seat. To others I might have just been sitting there, but my insides instantly withdrew. My skin suddenly felt not my own and a whole new sensation emitted from my nerves which made me want to instantly retreat.
All of a sudden, Kuramochi Asuka spun round, her hair almost, teasing, tantalisingly, whipping me in the face. For that moment, my rationality flew out of the window and I could have easily just stayed and watched her smile. However, like any human, my body reacted instinctively. Adrenaline rushed through me and I ran away. Quickly diverting my gaze, I gathered my things and retreated from the class without even looking back. It wasn’t until I was outside when I felt an insatiable pull and looked towards the window next to my seat. There, I saw Kuramochi Asuka looking at me with a gaze I couldn’t recognise, a gaze which I could now imagine in a second. A rush filled me. It was new and frightening. Yet, though I didn’t want to admit it, it was exciting. I hoped that I wouldn’t have to see her anymore.
However, she was there the next day. Honestly, what did I expect? We had school and it wasn’t like Kuramochi Asuka was going to disappear.
“So tell me about yourself.” she asked as soon as I was settled.
“What is there to say?” I replied, because I didn’t stick out in any way and her seeking me out was not helping me. I was used to being alone.
“Your hobbies, your likes and dislikes.”
“Why do you want to know?” I never did like anyone to know too much about my personal life. They call it personal for a reason.
“I just want to know.” she honestly answered, which for some reason annoyed me. Maybe because honesty wasn’t a quality that I had, especially towards myself.
“I like reading.”
“And?”
She asked like she knew I had a secret. It unnerved me. That was why I didn’t like others to know about me. They could use it against you. However, she looked at me so earnestly that my mouth twitched with the desire to talk.
Finally I spoke about one small secret. “I can make perfumes.”
“So that’s why you smell so nice!”
Even though the comment was brash, it brought a strange heat to my cheeks.
“I’m crazy about pro-wrestling.” Asuka said.
“Wrestling?” It was unexpected, however it seemed odd things suited her.
“The feel of skin slapping against skin, throwing each other, violently expressing their individual desire to win. Don’t you think that would be amazing just to experience that close bond to someone you’re supposed to fight against?”
“I guess.” I didn’t really understand what she was talking about; but that glitter in her eyes when she spoke about her passion made me want to agree.
“I like you Nito Moeno.” she said. My name sounded so different and yet so familiar from her lips. “I hope we can become great friends.”
As unlikely as it initially was, she began to grow on me, like a fungus growing in the most unwelcome conditions. However, persistent was another one of Asuka’s qualities that made her so strong. And I knew, deep down, I just wanted someone to accept me. Before I knew it, we were part of each other’s world.
We had recently taken to having lunch on the school roof. Asuka said it was the place she felt most free in this institute. I just thought it was a nice place, where I could feel like I was living while being kept safe within the school fences.
“Kobashi Kenta is my hero.” said Asuka as she picked at her bento. “I wish I could just see him live.”
I turned to Asuka, whose long hair was tied in a tight braid, as she stared out towards the city. I remember how a few weeks ago I wanted to become tangled in those knots. In contrast, my untied brown hair blew softly in the breeze.
“Why don’t you go to a match if you love him so much?” I asked.
“Alas, I cannot.” Asuka acted, as if she were part of Romeo and Juliet. “I blew all my money away.”
“On what?”
“Chemotherapy.”
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Asuka’s cancer was classified as leukaemia; cancer of the blood. To be specific; acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Blood constitutes for 7% of a human’s body weight. Imagine if 7% of you didn’t want to be you. Honestly, we must have days that we didn’t want to be ourselves. If 7% of the days we were alive, we didn’t want to be ourselves, it doesn’t seem like much. However, in medical terms, it was a lot. In cancer terms, it was enormous. That’s probably because; those with cancer tend to have fewer days to live.
At twelve, Asuka’s blood decided to hate her. However, thanks to years of vicious radiation and vigorous treatments of chemotherapy, they announced the cancer was gone. At seventeen, Asuka was cured. When I say cured, I mean a lasting remission, a.k.a. absence of detectable cancer cells in the body or what we like to call, ADCC (which I later discover is also an abbreviation for the Abu Dhabi Combat Club – Submission Wrestling Championship). This gave her a year to fully recover and catch up with her studies.
However, cancer was not the only thing that defined Asuka. Her favourite sweets were green tea mochi. When she truly smiled, her eyes would curl into moon crescents. Her favourite season was winter. She could be very kind but extremely blunt. She supported the Saitama Seibu Lions. Her hands felt so warm against mine.
“Do you know what it’s like to be in love?”
“What?” I replied, watching Asuka cling onto roof fence, as usual.
However, Asuka didn’t return a word and instead decided to climb the fence. I exclaimed when she jumped over the rail with an ease that made me hideously frightened.
“Asuka!” I cried. “Get back here!”
She didn’t listen to me. It’s not like she usually did anyway. So I ran to the fence and through the gaps, clung onto her fingers with the sole purpose of anchoring her to this world. I was terrified. Yet Asuka was just casually leaning against the fence while she stood at the edge of the five floor building.
“I want to have the overwhelming joy, that endless desire.” she said as the wind caught her hair. “Scream at the top of my lungs that I AM IN LOVE! I want to say to someone that they are the one, and for them to say it back. I just want to be completely, inexplicably, wonderfully in love.”
Asuka turned back to me with her glittering eyes.
“Do you get what I mean?”
Honestly, at the time, I didn't. I was too hysterical to think.
“Have you ever wondered why people congratulate cancer survivors by saying things like ‘you won the battle’?” Asuka continued, as if I wasn’t there. “I may have looked messed up back then, but it wasn’t a battle for me. I just kept living.” The fear escalated in me when Asuka glanced down, as if something was tempting her. “But maybe my body unconsciously wanted to fight. It wanted me to be healthy again. No one wants to be unhealthy. Except if you want to ditch school.”
I stared at her incredulously. Does having cancer make you casual about death? Maybe people said she had won the battle because she had already danced with death and she had won. Now she was immortal.
However, that’s not the case. In one second, the gift of life could easily be lost.
Finally it all became too much for me.
“Please come back.” I pleaded.
When Asuka looked at me, the shine in her eyes disappeared and I felt she was finally seeing me. In seconds, she stealthily climbed back over and I immediately held her, mostly to prevent her from climbing again and partly because I had to make sure she was with me. I didn’t even notice it was the first time I had embraced Asuka. I held on so tightly that my arms hurt, the pain showing me that Asuka mattered. But then something happened that made my heart stop and made me pull away from the person I thought I knew.
She kissed me.
It may have lasted only a second, and it may have tasted sweeter than any chocolate, but it instantly changed the relationship I was used to knowing. I had completely lost my grasp on everything I thought I understood. So, I did the first thing I always did when I lost control.
I ran without looking back.
Asuka didn’t follow me but her face was constantly in my sight. The look that changed from surprise to despair, probably matched my own. That expression haunted me all the way home and then I was inhabited by my guilt. I rejected a girl who had cancer. I was the worst.
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I took the next day off, feigned I had a cold. Even though it was a lie, I needed rest because that night I did not sleep a wink. Sleep is impossible when you can’t stop thinking. I stared at my phone. The background was of Asuka smiling, showing both rows of pearly teeth. She had changed it for me and I just couldn’t be bothered to return it back to the original neutral grey wallpaper. As I stared, my heart constricted with a familiar pain. The same feeling I have when I lie, when I know I’ve done wrong.
I was an utter idiot.
However, it happened so intensely fast that I felt it was ridiculous. Who falls in love with a complete stranger, at first sight? This wasn’t Romeo and Juliet. This was real life. So in denial, I had just pushed down the feelings and hoped it would fade away. Yet, I couldn’t tear away and I just fell deeper. I wish I was more honest with myself.s Unlike Asuka and her cancer, my emotions won over me.
However, this time I wouldn’t let my fear get the better of me. Grabbing my phone again, I typed my message quickly before my doubt could catch up.
‘Can I come over today? I want to talk.’
Relief washed over me. I didn’t know if it was too late, but it was worth a try.
However, after an hour of no response, I was starting to lose hope. My despairing thoughts made me wonder if I really was too late, that Asuka was truly hurt by me. That thought, made me curl into a ball and cover myself with the heavy duvet. I breathed until the air was hot and I was slowly suffocating. I couldn’t bear to allow myself to even look at the light, that’s how ashamed I felt. I should always remain alone, in the dark. That way I don’t hurt anyone, especially myself. At that point, I still thought of myself. That’s how selfish I was.
Suddenly, I heard my phone vibrate on my desk and I immediately shot out of the covers. Her text was the cool air that hit my desperate lungs.
Asuka replied with one word.
‘Okay.’
It was simple and blunt, but it unlocked the door to many possibilities. All I had to do now was push the door open.
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Five minutes had passed until I had the courage to ring the bell. Even though I was frightened to the point it felt like a boa constrictor was around my throat, I rigidly waited until I heard the door click open. Like an angel, the house lights shined around Asuka making her glow as she stood at the doorway.
“Hi.” she simply said.
“Hi.” I croaked out, the constrictor tightening.
Asuka allowed me to enter her home, even though I wouldn’t have blamed her if she slammed the door in my face.
It probably makes me a bad person, but I expected Asuka’s house to be much different from what it was. It was either going to be a grandly decorated or the bare minimal, the opposite sides of the spectrum, especially when it came to costly cancer treatment. However, it was an ordinary home, much like my own. Dotted with pictures of Asuka and her parents, they showed her life at different stages. When she was a baby, her first day at elementary school, when she was lying in a hospital bed, when she went to Hong Kong, when she had no hair, when she entered high school. She looked different in each picture, except from one common factor. Asuka was smiling all the way through. However, if it was forced or genuine, I didn’t know.
“Mom, Dad, this is Nito Moeno.”
I stood in the living room, tense as Asuka’s parents faced me. From the way they looked between us, I knew that they suspected something. Did they know about Asuka’s feelings? Did she cry to her parents about my rejection? I just had to wait until they threw me out.
However, they suddenly smiled.
“So this is the girl you’ve been talking about?” her father said.
“She’s very cute.” said her mother.
Smiling must have been a family trait. As they fawned over me, I thought about what they said. Kuramochi Asuka talked about me. I was still part of her life. Plus, their reaction was different from what I imagined, much like their home. They welcomed me with open arms. I was initially shocked, but then I realised. Their only daughter nearly died. How could they deny her the simple pleasure of love?
“Okay kids, we’re leaving.” they announced. “Try not to wreck the house.”
A part of me wished for them to stay because their presence dispersed the awkward atmosphere. With their departure, it meant we would have to talk and expressing my feelings wasn’t something I was great at.
Sitting in Asuka’s room was like outer space. It was new, filled with diverse sights, and oxygen was lacking for me. Even though it was like any other high school girl’s room - except for a simple oxygen tank gathering dust in the corner - it was still like a different world for me. I wanted to explore but didn’t know how to take the one small step.
“So, do you come here often?” Asuka suddenly said, smiling at me.
Her attempt at light humour ignited something in me that had sparked when I first saw all those photos of Asuka.
“Don’t.” I snapped. “Don’t force yourself to act as if everything is fine. I hurt you. Why won’t you show that?”
For the second time, I caused Asuka’s smile to disappear and I wished I took it back. It wasn’t until later that I realised that’s why Asuka smiled and why her parents could be so strong. More than herself, Asuka smiled for the sake of others.
“I was hurt.” Asuka said, with a hint of disappointment. “When you ran, I cried on the roof. Your rejection hurt more than my first chemotherapy.” I know Asuka wasn’t saying that to be spiteful but guilt radiated within me all the same. Asuka looked at me with eyes that glittered like stars, elements of the sky which tragically would never last forever. “But I can be happy because it worked out. You’re here now.”
She reached and touched my hand and I felt a pulse from the centre of my body. It was as if my body, my entire skin and blood, was drawn to her touch. Asuka was the Sun and I was the Earth, continuously going along the axis around the bright star. It riveted through me, making all my senses concentrated, the heat from her hand burning me. Then on impulse, I kissed her. Again I felt the shocking pulse, but this time it came from my lips as Asuka gently pushed against them, like she was activating something within me. People say first kisses are unforgettable. Personally, I liked our second kiss far more.
When we slowly broke apart, my heart was beating so furiously I thought I was going to die from a heart attack. I opened my eyes and Asuka was smiling ever so gently and so purely that I wondered if she really was an angel.
“See.” Asuka whispered. “Everything works out in the end.”
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It was at night when my mother called from downstairs to answer the phone, saying it was for me. I was just doing my homework, getting ready to start the week all over again. I hadn’t seen Asuka over the weekend because she came down with a cold on Friday night, so I was excited for the first time to go to school. It had been three months since we began our relationship and I’ve never felt so content. Simply having Asuka in my life was a blessing and I was thankful for every day.
As I headed downstairs, I wondered who was calling me and why.
I wish I didn’t answer it.
I barely recognised Asuka’s mother. Her voice - dry and desolate as a desert and emotionless like a machine - told me to come to the hospital. I’ve never been hit by a hammer, but I could imagine it felt like the sudden impact on my heart. I told my mother and she immediately drove me to the hospital. Finally I saw Asuka. It had only been three days since I’ve seen her but she was a completely different person. With tubes in her nostrils and around her arms, like tiny see-through snakes with their venom pumping into her, Asuka still managed to weakly smile at me from the bed.
“That’s right Nito-san; I am completely, inexplicably, wonderfully filled with cancer.”
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I stared at her while she lied there on the hospital bed, waiting for my reply. I wanted to say something, but I didn’t know what I could say.
You’ll be fine. You can fight it. You won’t die.
Those empty words that I wanted to regurgitate just wouldn’t come to my lips. There was nothing that could convey what we both knew. It was the end of the life we once knew.
It was only a week ago that we had made love for the first time. It was awkward and nerve-wrecking, but it was the most magical moment I have shared with anyone. I remember how I felt her frantic heart beat against my hand, her hot breath in my ear and her naked body heating against mine. I thought it would be forever imprinted in my memory. But I had already forgotten what her naked body looked like, how warm it was, how smooth it felt. If I had known that night was going to be the last time I saw that beautiful form, I would have savoured it more, touched her more, felt her more against my body. I just selfishly wanted more.
I’ve heard that we need pain to experience joy. But why do I need to know the existence of one thing to know the other exists. I’ve never had frog legs but it doesn’t affect the deliciousness of sushi. I did not need to know what pain was because I was completely content before.
However, there are different levels of pain. Like air or God, pain cannot be measured or seen, but we know it exists. When you go to the doctor, when they assess your pain, you have to rate it out of one and ten, one being a slight prick and ten being a true whopper. When I was seven, I had fallen off my bike, managing somehow to flip over and so crashing my body onto the ground. As painful as it was, luck was on my side as the ground was padded with thick grass. However, I did break my ankle. At that moment, when I was asked how much pain I was feeling, through my hot tears and body shaking sobs, I said nine. Being young and usually careful, it was the most painful experience I had up to date. However, now I truly know what a nine pain feels like. But it wasn’t physical. This time the pain was emitting from depths within me and ripped from the inside out.
I wondered, was this a sign of heartbreak or cancer.
Saying nothing, I climbed into the bed, held her fragile body, and sobbed with all my might, reverting back to my seven year old self.
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Asuka soon stopped going to school. However, as a health human specimen, I still had to continue attending. But any chance I could get, I would visit Asuka, no matter her state. If she was in a drug induced sleep or throwing up her dinner, I was there. My grades suffered. My mother worried and Asuka’s parents insisted that I need not have to come every day. However, I did because every moment I’m away from her, or even when I’m with her, I was afraid it was going to be the last. No matter how relieved I felt being away from the disinfectant smell or the sight of dying people, the fear clung to me.
However, her cries were like bones rubbing together, making my body shiver. Inhaling, I took a step into the room but instantly froze. I caught a glance at the massive needle that was the length of my hand. Instantly I retreated and slammed my back against the wall next to the door, shaking my lungs back into life.
Even after the nurses left, it took me an hour before I had the courage to enter again.
Sleep can be so deceiving. If I didn’t see the bags under Asuka’s eyes and her sunken cheeks, I would say she was a healthy young girl. Instead her body was riddled with cancer.
She must have sensed my presence because Asuka’s eyes fluttered open.
“Hi.” she breathed.
“Hi.” I said. “You should go back to sleep.”
“You know I had a dream about you.” Asuka said.
“Tell me about it.” I said.
Asuka signalled for me to lean in, and I did. Leading with my ear, I brought it to her lips. However, instead of a weak whisper, I felt her teeth bite surprisingly hard on my lobe. I yelped and drew back in reaction. Asuka smiled innocently and I could only puff my cheeks.
“You’re so cute.” she said.
“And you’re so annoying.” I replied, but still lied on her bed.
“Have you heard this quote?” Asuka asked, while I stroked her hair. “In the end, we were all just humans. Drunk on the idea that love, only love, could heal our brokenness.”
“Who’s the quote from?”
“Scott Fitzgerald.”
“Well tell him he’s a miserable old fuck.”
Never in my life had I sworn and now I know why people do it. They use it when there is no other way to express how they are feeling through any other words. I grin at Asuka. Her shock dissolves into a smirk. Then, we burst into gallants of laughter.
“I’m going to say it again. Nito Moeno-san, I love you so much.”
“Gross.”
Immediately I felt a rush of red reach my ears and I immediately bolted upright. However, Asuka was smiling, lightly rubbing the heat of my ears. A tall young girl, with wide eyes, a bucked smile and long straight black hair stood at the doorway. I stood up as she made her way towards. I didn’t like it when people saw our intimate moments. Our time together was private and I wanted to keep it special, between only me and Asuka.
“This is Maeda Ami.” Asuka introduced.
She took a deep bow. Then, she took her wig off.
I must have gasped because the two of them started to laugh.
“Everyone has that reaction.” Ami grinned. “It’s made from my sister’s hair. When my hair started to fall out, she completely shaved her head and got it made it for me. That’s why it looks so real.”
“What are you doing here Ami?” Asuka asked, patting the empty spot so Ami could slip next to her.
I hate to admit it, but I was sort of envious. Sometimes knowing that Asuka had cancer made me afraid to touch her, like she was going to break. However, seeing Ami so casually lie next to her while Asuka held her shoulders with one arm, reminded me that Asuka wasn’t fragile.
“What are you going to use your wish for?” Ami said.
“Wish?” I heard myself say.
“You know, from the ‘Make a Wish Foundation’. You can be utterly selfish without anyone judging you because you happen to be dying. Asuka said she still hasn’t used hers from the first time round.”
“Maybe I should use it to get your hair back.”
“They’re genies, but they’re not magic. They can’t bring back what’s dead.”
I don’t know if they heard my intake of breath but my heart skipped a beat at those words. Even though they laughed, I couldn’t do it. I didn’t want to tempt death.
“What about you?” I asked Ami, attempting to change the focus so I could feel better. “Do you have a wish?”
“I do and I know what I’m going to use it for.”
“What?”
“I want them to make me a strawberry jelly mound that is as big as the Tokyo Tower. Then from a helicopter, I want to jump out and dive into it, mouth open and swim in the jelly until I am so full that everything that comes out of me is pink. Then I can literally say that I’m so sweet that my piss tastes like strawberry jelly.”
There was a moment of silence that can only be described as stunned. Then, Ami smiled, then Asuka and like a chain reaction, we burst into laughter at the ridiculousness of the wish. We laughed so loud that a nurse had to escort me out of the room. As I left, I turned and saw that the nurse was hiding a smile. Who can blame kids for enjoying their life?
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Two weeks later, Maeda Ami died in her sleep.
It was my first time. Someone I personally knew had died. I would never see her again.
Dressed in black, Asuka and I silently watched as Ami’s casket was lowered into the ground. We weren’t crying. Our tears had already dried from the service earlier where we saw Ami lying so peacefully as if she were asleep in her bed. We cried with her family, offering words of comfort to Ami’s sister who still bore her shaved head. Now, it was time to silently say our final goodbyes. As we watched, Asuka and I held hands and though we didn’t say it, we were thinking what everyone was asking themselves. How long did we have left?
Even though there were many nights I would awaken from the sound of vomiting, in the morning Asuka would say to her mother that she slept like a baby. When someone you know lies to someone else, chances are they have lied to you too. So, when Asuka said she was fine, I didn’t believe her. After the funeral, we were meant to go back to the hospital, but instead I decided to stay a bit longer. I guided Asuka around the large graveyard, passing the dozens of different gravestones that marked different individuals.
“Let’s go home.” I heard Asuka say behind me.
“Why? You need fresh air and its beautiful here.”
And it was. The graveyard was designed in such a way that it was more like you were walking through a wooded park, with the autumn season dyeing us in sepia tone. Plus, where else could you feel so at peace, where not even the sound of breathing could be heard.
However I heard Asuka’s steps stop behind me. It made me turn and for the first time, I saw true anger on Asuka’s face.
“Don’t look at me like that.” I said. “I understand what you’re going through-”
“No you don’t.” Asuka interrupted. “You will never understand because you’re not me.”
Those words made me experience a distance I have never felt with Asuka. It made me want to cry even though I had no more tears left.
“You get to have a healthy body. You don’t have to go on every day with the fear that you might not live tomorrow.” she cried, with quiet streams running down her face. “You don’t have to worry your parents every living day. You don’t have to be scared of anything. You don’t have cancer.” she screamed the last part, liberating herself.
Asuka was truly sobbing at that stage, and she knelt to the ground, the dry leaves crumbling under her like the ground underneath my feet. However, it wasn’t about me. I think if I couldn’t have supported Asuka then, I would not have been able to after. It was the first leap I needed to prepare myself for every possibility, ready for anything that may be thrown at us. I was ready to catch anything, including Asuka.
Slowly, I approached her until I was just in front.
“Are you crying?”
She glared at me with a ferocity I had not seen in a long time, even if her weak body was kneeling on the ground. “What does it look like?”
“Then you’re alive.” I kneeled until I was at the same level as Asuka. “You’re right, I don’t have cancer. And I’m never going to say I wish I had cancer because I’ve seen how awful it can be.” The truth was seeping out of the holes that I could no longer plaster. “But don’t ever say I’m not scared of anything. One of my greatest fears is that you’ll abandon me. That I’ll be alone. That at everything I look, I will remember and I will be washed by such pain that I would wish I could join you. And I’m scared I would do it.” I grasped her cold hand, hoping she would feel how much I loved her. “So even though I don’t know anything and I’m being utterly selfish, please don’t give up. Don’t be scared to live for the things you love.”
Then I held Asuka as she sobbed, as if she were the seven year old me.
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Asuka finally used her wish. To watch a Kobashi Kenta wrestling match. It certainly for a day to remember, with the sour odour of sweat and excitement, it made me wonder why Asuka liked this sport so much. However, when I saw the enthusiastic cheers of the people around us and from Asuka, the buzzed atmosphere was contagious and I soon found myself shouting.
Kobashi Kenta won. Cheers and boos erupted around us. It was deafening. And when I turned to Asuka, she was crying. Silent tears that endlessly fell and only seen when the light reflected in just the right places. I wasn’t sure what classification her tears came under, but I didn’t ask. I just watched. Even though she cried, I couldn’t help but think she was beautiful.
The Foundation people really knew how to grant a wish because Asuka was even allowed to go back stage and meet Kobashi himself. He even let her smack him right in the chest. I’ve never seen her look stronger. On the way home, Asuka said that it was the best day of her life.
Since that day, her state declined.
Asuka was a permanent resident at the hospital. She lost all her hair, her weight fell until she seemed hollow and her normal healthy person glow was replaced by a clammy sheen. Even so, we lived day by day as normal as possible, as if the next day wouldn’t be the last.
“It’s such a nice day, let’s go outside.” she said one afternoon.
I went to get the wheelchair but she reached out her hand. I looked at her and she shook her head. I glanced down to her pale, bony hands that should have belonged to a sixty year old women rather than an eighteen year old girl. I nodded and held her as I’ve always done.
By the first flight of stairs, she was breathless. By the second, she had already taken two breaks and she needed more. However, Asuka was determined and I would follow through until she said otherwise.
Finally, we stepped outside and onto the rooftop. It was similar yet different to the school rooftop. There were a lot more plants. Maybe they were using the lives of plants to replace the people they lost in this hospital.
Asuka hobbled to the fence that surrounded the roof.
“It would be so much easier if I just jumped.” Asuka said as she stared outwards, like that afternoon which seems so long ago. “Instant death. Easy.” I imagined countless people had thought the same thing.
“If you did that, you know I would come after you.”
Asuka turned to me and smiled. “How romantic. Very star-crossed lovers like.”
She opened her arms wide, as if she was standing in front of the Titanic. She was Rose and I was Jack. She was Juliet and I was Romeo. Star-crossed indeed.
“Moeno, can I just tell you something.”
“Anything.”
She suddenly screamed at the top of her lungs, “I LOVE NITO MOENO!”
At the end of it, she was gasping for air and I was by her side, completely blown away. She glanced at me expectantly. I took her place. Standing at the edge of the rooftop, I stared past the buildings, ignored the lives below us, and gazed at the infinity and the future we might have. It was blinding and terrifying and beautiful. I took the plunge.
“I LOVE KURAMOCHI ASUKA!”
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We were hit by rounds of bad news. The chemo was no longer working. The radiation wasn’t doing great. The steroids were little more than useless. No matter how aggressive the treatment was, the cancer fought back. Asuka’s condition was deteriorating fast and they had to do something. There was only one option left. A bone marrow transplant.
However, as soon as the doctor brought it up, Asuka immediately contested.
“No, I don’t want the surgery.”
“But Asuka, please, it’s your last hope.” her mother pleaded.
“I don’t care!”
“Don’t you understand Asuka?” her father insisted. “If you don’t do this, you’ll die.”
“So be it.”
That was the last strike. Asuka’s mother broke down and ran out the room, with Asuka’s father quickly chasing after her, but not before throwing Asuka a furious and disappointed look.
“Why don’t you want to do it?” I asked.
“It’s too much to put them through all this.” she said. “It’s expensive and it’s not going to work. I should just die.”
I slapped her. I would imagine this was unthinkable, striking a dying person, but I couldn’t help it. I had never felt such a sudden anger and frustration.
“How can you be so selfish?” I demanded.
“I believe what I just said was the complete opposite of selfishness.”
“Don’t you see that we don’t want you to die? Your mother, father… me. I want you here for as long as possible. I want to grow old together. Maybe I’m a match” the last part I said in a whisper.
Asuka reacted so fast it was like she jumped into my throat. “I can’t let you do that. It’s an extremely dangerous procedure and it’s unlikely you’ll be a match-”
“I don’t care.” I said. “I’m younger and have a better chance of recovery. And we don’t have time to wait. We have to at least try. Please Asuka.”
Finally, seeing my earnestly, Asuka sighed. “We can to do the compatibility test.”
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was a match.
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As we were both wheeled into the operation room, it was strange. Even though we had so many things in common, this was the first time I’ve felt this connected to Asuka. I was finally going to experience the same operation as Asuka. A part of my body was going to physically be within hers. We would literally be one.
I knew the anaesthetic was kicking in because my vision was fading and my mind began to fog. The last moment before I completely lost my conscience, I reached my hand towards Asuka. She did the same.
I’m not sure if we reached each other, but when I slept, I dreamt of the two of us. It was of just us, sitting on the school’s roof, staring at the setting sun, holding hands. It was so mundanely, boringly, real. However, as the blue melted into a golden orange, I felt the heat from Asuka’s strong grip. Finally, in this place, I was enveloped in a sense of peace. And even though I just kept staring at the constantly changing sky, I knew Asuka was smiling next to me and I was happy.
It was completely, inexplicably, wonderfully, beautiful.
:jphip:SO IT BEGINS!!! :jphip:
This is a contest where the best will be determine by a set of works rather than one story.
With this the rules are the same except that any writer participating will have send in a SET OF WORKS. Nothing less to be considered.
However, the set of works will be comprised of three different types of fiction: Drabble (~100 words), Flash(Up to 1000 words, more than 250), and Short story (1500-3000 words, open to a little over but not that much)
Prizes can be pride or the senbatsu single... whichever seems right at the time XD
Anyways a bit of info into it
One pairing per piece (if you're pairing is taken, must pick another so Drabble- AtsuMina, Flash- WMatsui, Short- KojiYuu works but if someone takes the pairing you must change, I will post often which is taken so nobody gets confused)
Drabbles can be in script but DO NOT COUNT CHARACTER NAME OR SOUND EFFECTS TO THE WORD COUNT. I'll be strict on that so much as you can use it but if it is under 100 I'll inform via PM
Short story I'm being loose about word count as long as it got proofread by two people and name them (I don't care who they are but remember that this is a contest so help yourself more than harm by bad grammar, etc)
Voting will be done the same way but the posts will consist of the three piece in total.
I'm going to start the application period on April 26th and will give it about two weeks for those interested (May 9th)
Then start a week after the application period (whenever we have enough people)
Any questions or comments? Angry comments? PM me I'll respond to it.
GOOD LUCK and suggestions for prizes send it over :thumbsup
ENTRY #1
#1. Drabble - SakiChii
(Nakata Chisato’s POV)
Foolish. That’s what I could describe about you.
Memories were still fresh on my mind—of how you tug my inner feelings despite I was still Shimada’s. Those delicate fingers that pressed on the ivory keys of the piano back in the music room, those careful sly eyes that watched me from far, and those thin lips I kissed in the middle of the rain.
Back then, it was me who was being a foolish to fall for you, but now it was you.
When Shimada found out, it was you who ran to protect me from the cold sharp knife you’ve bleed yourself out as well. It was you that drew your last breath for me.
Such a foolish man you are, Matsui Saku.
#2. Flash - WMari/ YagiAbe
Working as an investigator in the city’s police department has surely made Nagao Mariya aware of everything, cautious of her surroundings, and annoyingly hard to get.
Despite being one with sharp tongue and gets into the actions so many times, she was quiet a beauty with the average height, brown flowing hair, and attractable lips she owned.
Casting it all aside, tonight was a big deal, with a threat of thievery was delivered to the museum that were displaying valuable jewels for a period of time. No fingerprints and clues could be found by her colleagues and the time slowly ticked away until the promised date arrived.
“I can stand by the targeted jewel.” She offered herself to the plan. Everyone agreed instantly knowing that she could knock out nearly all the man in the department with her combat skills, thus they could trust her.
“Nagao, meet the owner of the jewels.” Her boss introduced a tall man in his mid twenties. The dark brown messy hair attracted her easily with the black suit and a silk tie hung on his neck neatly.
“Abe Maru.” He offered his hand to her. The smile was friendly in a mysterious way, making her eyebrows raised.
“Nagao Mariya.” She took the hand and shook them. “I will make sure your jewel stays safe, Abe-san.” She looked at him in the eyes.
“I will be watching.” He said before the head inspector announced the time to step back and reminded the others that the promised time was in few moments.
“Keep yourself well hidden.” She instructed the squad standing by around the room as she put on her vest and load her gun before putting them on her waist. She looked up the time and saw the seconds ticking till midnight, the promised time. Once her squad gotten ready in position, she sat on a wooden chair looking straight at the displayed jewel, sparkling of the display lights in the glass case.
“Come on, thief.” She whispered to herself before suddenly the room was boomed with Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk.
This hit
That ice cold
Michelle Pfeiffer
That white gold
This one, for them hood girls
Them good girls
Straight masterpieces
Stylin', while in
Livin’ it up in the city
Got Chucks on with Saint Laurent
Got kiss myself I’m so pretty
“What’s happening there, Nagao?!” She heard the other investigators over the transmitter. “The camera here suddenly got switched to a cartoon show.”
“Diversion,” she simplified as she pulled out her gun. “Stay cautious!” she yelled above the music to her squad, but once she looked around, all her squad passed out in a slumber.
“Not so much of cautious now are you, investigator?”
She turned back to the jewel and found a figure standing in front of her and face away from the jewel towards her. She raised her gun straight to the figure but her gun suddenly got thrown away by a force, accidentally hurt her hand as well.
Winching in pain, Mariya studied the tall masked figure. Tall black hat as well as black caped suit, the hideous eyes behind the white eye mask watched her as well with the lips curved into an amused smile.
“I never expect to have to face such a beauty that guards the jewels I wanted.” He said with a calm mysterious tone. “Maybe I should really consider which one is actually my target.”
“Kissama…” Mariya growled still in pain. She moved towards him but suddenly she felt him already reached her first and tug up her chin up to him. It was a flash of moment that she get to see his onyx eyes behind the eye mask and appreciated the beauty before he stole her lips with his own.
“Gotcha.”
Blushing, Mariya realized what he had just done but by the time she realized about it she smelt the chemical in her nose that stole her consciousness straight away just like how he did to her lips. She felt her body going limp and her eyelids getting heavier. The image of his smile was vague but she knew she was defeated.
=====================================================================================
The smell of coffee and lights welcomed her back to the reality from the dark slumber. She found herself in the middle of the white linen bed sheets and comfortable pillows. Realizing, she sat up straight and still found herself dressed in her attire. Her watch and the necklace she had on before are still there, all but her shoes and her bullet vest. She tried to reach for the gun and remembered how the thief knocked it out of her hand, she looked at her injured hand and saw it bandaged neatly.
She heard a slight noise from the slightly opened door and walked towards it only to see a grand landscape of the city morning and a wide inched TV set on morning news.
“The police announced that one of their investigators was missing after a thievery at the City’s Museum last night. Nagao Mariya, 23 years old was last contacted just before-“
“You’re awake.” Mariya turned to the voice standing by her and widened her eyes.
“Abe.”
“You’re going to arrest me?” he asked with a smile.
“Explain.” She looked at the man carefully.
“You’re attractive, Nagao. So attractive that I’m willing to steal for you.” He smiled. “Tell me, you want it as well right?”
Speechless, Nagao step back and found herself with her back already meeting the wall. Abe bent down and studied her face in a way that even the investigator could feel her heart thumping.
“It’s morning.” She said without even knowing what she said caused the guy to smile amusedly.
“You prefer night?” He asked with a husked voice near her ear.
“I prefer anyone that can play slow.” She said as she avoided looking at him.
“I could do slow.” He smiled before he welcomed her lips to his and carried her back to the room.
#3. Short Story - NatsUme
It was a really nice dream I had. I was up on the edge of the Eiffel tower, and the girl I dreamt off the whole time was there beside me sitting on the edges of the iron tower.
“It’s beautiful.” She said with a smile as she gazed upon the fireworks in front of us. “If anybody knows we’re up here, we are so busted.”
“I know.” I replied with a grin. “I’m glad you like it. I don’t find them beautiful though.”
“Why not?” She asked with a frown.
“I find you much prettier than that.” I said without averting my eyes as I studied the girl in front of me.
“Natsu you-“
“Shiichan, be mine.” I proposed to her as I leaned closer to her face and-
“MATSUBARA WAKE THE HELL UP!!”
“Whoah!” I yelled, hearing the high pitched voice in my ears and, all of sudden the night scene was shattered along with the dream girl of mine--Replaced by my own bedroom filled with morning lights. I groaned as I saw the expected figure standing beside my bed with her hands on her hips.
“Umeda…” recognizing the voice instantly.
“Didn’t I tell you to stop playing video games at night?” she pouted with a frown. “You’re going to make both of us late!”
“If you don’t like it, you could go to school by yourself.” I grumbled sleepily, pulling the covers over me but only to be held back by her hand. “Let me go to sleep again!!”
“For God sake, Natsu! Noro’s gonna kick your ass if you miss out her test again!” She reminded me as she struggled to pull the covers off me. “You’ll fail for sure if you missed out this time!”
“Let it be anyway.” I gave up the cover and decided to sleep without it, facing away from her.
“Matsubara, if you don’t get into the bathroom in three counts; I’ll tell your mum about your hidden porn stash.” She threatened--making my eyes snapped open in instant. “One...”
“Wait a sec-“
“Two.” She raised her fingers to a two as she looked at me in amusement especially down there. “Gosh, your boxers are unexpectedly childish.”
“Shut up.” I blushed and got off my bed before I grabbed the towel hanging on my chair. “Why is it have to be you..” I muttered.
“Two and a half.”
“Fine I’ll go!!” I yelled before dashing out to the bathroom, “Get out of my room, Umeda!” I yelled before closing the door.
============================================================================
After the quick shower and getting dressed in my uniform, I grabbed my bag and went downstairs. She was already there on the table eating breakfast prepared by my mum with my dad also reading his news paper.
“Good morning.” Greeted my mum as she studied my face. “You seemed to be sleeping late again, Natsu.”
“Blame the math homework.” I grumbled before settling down next to my dad, just across the annoying girl.
“I double checked it when you were showering. You missed out some of the sums causing it to be switched.” said the girl as she put down the chopstick and the bowl, not paying attention to my glare. “Thank you for the food.”
“Well, I guess you’re lucky you have a friend like her, boy.” My dad nudged me after he put down the newspaper and grinned. “No girl would do that for someone like you.”
I glared at my dad in annoyance and muttered, “Thanks.”
She nodded quickly and heads to the kitchen where my mum was still cooking and she did the dishes quickly. The routine had been going for almost ten years since the Umeda family moved next door. Her father was a close friend of my dad in college, and when he was sent to another country due to his work as a diplomat, her mum accompanied him but their daughter decided to stay here in Japan. The girl lived next door but she often came visiting us for breakfast and occasionally gave me extra tutor as she was number one in class.
“Hurry up and finish your breakfast, Natsu.” Said my mother, pointing at the clock as she put down my bento in front of me. She whispered with a wink behind her back. “You’re lucky indeed to have Ayaka as your friend.”
“Mum, forget it.” I looked at her grumpily as took a bite of my toast. “She has a boyfriend already.”
“A boyfriend. Doesn’t mean that she’s marrying him.” She whispered, making me choke on my food for a moment. “Whoops.” My mum grinned.
I gulped the water on the side and gave the ‘stop it’ look to the two adults in front of me. Those two, as if they were naughty kids, just grinned apologetically, making me sometimes think seriously of how I had parents like them.
After breakfast, the two of us went out of the house and walked together to school. Again, it was a routine repeatedly for the last ten years. Ten years I always watched her back as we walked to school. The span of ten years I had spent watching her growing up from the pink overalls she wore to elementary school until it changed into the deep blue blazer accompanied with a checkered skirt.
“Oi, Natsu!”
“Hmm..?” My thoughts got disturbed by her. “What?”
“Mou~ You’re not listening aren’t you?” She grumbled with a pout as she kept walking backwards. “I said, have you turned in the Future Plan form yet?”
“Oh that..” I mumbled, remembering the damn paper. “It’s in my bag, I think.”
“You think?” she looked at me in disbelief. “You seriously haven’t filled it out yet?”
“Nope~”I said lightly. “What?” I stared back at her.
She sighed. “Do you have a plan yet for it?”
“Hmm..” I considered. “I was thinking something based of IT..”
“Any specific of the sort of ITs you want?” she asked--still walking backwards.
“Learning about the software and hardware would be nice. I’m interested in programming especially Gaming, I guess.” I shrugged. “Stop walking backwards, you’ll fall.”
“I won’t.” she was still walking backwards.
“Will.” I replied quickly.
“Will not!” she pouted still walking backwards.
“Will.”
“Will no-AAGGHH!!” she suddenly leaned backwards too much, not sensing the slight hole on the road. I was in a stance of surprised to move forward and catch her. Luckily someone did catch her.
“Ohayou.” He greeted the girl in his arm. “Hey, Natsu.”
“Mii-kun!” she blushed and let him stood her back up. “Thank you..”
“Anything for you, Umechan.” He smiled. “You should listen to him, Umechan. Walking backwards like that would make you likely to fall.”
“He never listens to me, so why should I listen to him?” She poked her tongue at me.
“Why should I listen to someone that barged into my room in the early morning just to get my ass ready for Noro’s tortures?” I complained back. The two of us stared in such scary stances that if eyes could kill, both of us would have been dead by now.
“Now.. Now..” said Nonaka trying to calm the mood. “You guys, stop fighting already. We’ll be late for school.”
She poked her tongue at me again before hooking her arm to Nonaka’s arm and walked with him. I watched the lovers walking in front of me and wishing how I could do the same with Shiichan. Nonaka Misato was in the same year as the two of us, with a neatly brown hair and glasses as he was a member of the literature club. He was quite a talk between girls in the school until Ayaka confessed to him first before anybody else did, thus making those two becoming a good talk when it comes to lovers at the school. He knew about the routines and was cool with it since he saw no threat in me as I was her childhood friend.
As for me, this Shiichan I was talking about was the ace of the school’s cooking club; Oya Shizuka. Standing in her 164cm tall, and single, she was a charming girl--with a smile as bright as her hair for everyone. Not as charming as the girls at the model club though. But she was enough to get me occupied to look out at the windows to see her picking some ingredients fresh from the school’s garden patch.
The three of us finally arrived at school with still some minutes before the bell. Ayaka and Nonaka separated hands as they got into their classes with me following behind Ayaka as I was also her classmate unfortunately.
“Mr. Matsubara seemed to be moody today~” I heard a voice cooed behind me as well as a light slap on the shoulder, not hard enough to disturb my day dream.
“Morning, Yuu.” I mumbled. Oshima Yuu, a friend of mine as well in the class. He was short and a bit cocky for his charming squirrel look, enough to get the model club’s ace, Kojima, to be his girlfriend.
“Must’ve been, Umeda, eh?” he teased knowing the routine. The only ones that knew about the routine were my gang and Nonaka, if the others knew about Ayaka and me, it would be a seriously great subject to talk about. I pursed my lips as I also tried to see if I could spot Shiichan anywhere but, no, I couldn’t find her at all.
“Hey hey..” whispered Yuu. “I heard Umeda and Nonaka kissed again on the yard yesterday after school, is that true?”
“Yuu, for the last time I don’t care what she does with him.” I simplified. “They’re officially dating and she can take care of herself.”
“But doesn’t she talk to you about their relationship?” I shook my head. “Mweh, at least a friend you should know..”
“There is a border line of being ‘friends’ and being a ‘snoop’, Yuu.” I tried to resist the urge to slap his head. “And I am not crossing it.”
“Fine then.” He backed off. “Just to let you know, sometimes feelings come as fast as a flash and sometimes it’s slow like a snail. But when it came, don’t lie to it.”
I didn’t answer that.
=================================================================
It was a moment of bliss as the lunch break rang, saving me from spending another time to listen to Noro’s blabbers of Biology. I leaned back on my seat taking deep breaths and got off my seat with the bento box in my hand. I saw Ayaka and Nonaka were talking outside the classroom with their hands entangled and (definitely Ayaka) swinging the hands happily as her was smiling at him the whole time he was talking.
I ignored the two and headed upstairs and saw my friends chilling out on the roof with their lunch. Masuda Yuuta was playing his bundle of hamburger and Kasai Tomohisa was playing with his phone as he ate his yakisoba bread.
“Where’s Sae?” I asked the two as I settled down next to them.
“Detention, he slept again in Shinoda’s class.” Said Yuuta munching his burger. “You should see how that sadistic woman lifted him by his ear when he slept.”
“Super Kowaii.” Nodded Tomo. “Yuu?”
“Lunch with his girl.” I took the sausage in my bento to my mouth. “You two not doing it?”
“Naah.. Natsuki’s eating with her gang, joining her would be bothersome.” Said Yuuta.
“Tomochin is also with her gang.” Said Tomo.
Another thing about the gang, we’re friends alright. But when it comes to relationship, they can’t help me out as they’re also busy with their own.
“Wanna hang out after school?” Yuuta offered. I raised my eyebrows in agreement as well as Tomo.
“Where to?” I asked allowing Tomo to take a piece of my bento.
“Shibuya.” The basketball ace grinned. “We’re going to teach you how to flirt.”
“Seriously?!” I choked on my food again. I accepted Tomo’s water bottle and gulped it out in a flash before staring back at them.
“You like Oya, but never have the guts. Now we’re getting you to do it to other girls first.” Stated Yuuta confidently.
“Umeda’s gonna kill me if she knew..” I palmed face remembering how blabber-mouthed she could be when it came to me hanging out with my friends, especially in Shibuya.
“She’s won't.” Retorted Tomo. “She has Nonaka to fawn upon anyway. And besides..”
“Besides?”
“It’s their anniversary today.” He winked. “I bet they’re going out as well.”
===========================================================================
Tomo was right about it--they were going out indeed with Ayaka informing me to go home by myself today as she was going out with Misato for an anniversary date.
Like hell I would listen to her.
So here I was with Yuuta and Tomo as the two boys weren’t busy with their girls and decided to start off with a can of soda of the three of us as we watched the streets of Shibuya crawling with teenagers especially girls.
“Now the first thing to do is to know which girl to flirt.” Said Yuuta. “What you want is a girl that can get amused by you and will stop at her tracks to get to know you a bit more.”
“That one looks good, they looked lost.” Tomo pointed at two girls in a school uniform talking to each other as they walk. “The one with black long hair looks cute.” I looked at the girl from far and studied the figure with interest. Well, she was kinda cute.
“Go for it.” Patted Yuuta before he pushed me off lightly. I took a deep breath and walked to the casually and as calm as possible.
“Excuse me,” I greeted the two girls politely but my eyes were fixated on the black haired one. “You seemed to be lost. Can I help you?” The girl and her friend looked at me in disbelief but her eyes caught mine and it seemed that she was also interested in me.
“Yea sure.. I mean,” She straightened up. “I’m looking for the famous pancake parlor near here, I’ve been going around but we can’t seem to find it.”
“Ah… Pancake..?” I tried to spin the map of shibuya as far as I knew in my head. “You mean The Kurisu Pancake Parlor?”
“Sou desu!” said her friend. “Could you tell us where it is?”
“I’m…” I saw my friend signaling me I’m doing a good job and to continue it. “Sure, I’m meeting up with some friends there. I’ll take the two of you there.”
“Really? Thanks!” said the two smiling as I walked next to them. I learnt their names as well I introduced myself to them. The black haired one was Maeda Ami and her friend was Iwasa Misaki, both were from Akazuka Gakuen. We arrived at the pancake parlor until I received a message over my phone.
Great job! Time to get her number!
-Yuuta
I closed the phone and looked at them apologetically, “My friend just texted me that we’re meeting in another place. So I won’t be going in.”
Ami looked disappointed, “Oh well.. But thank you for showing us the way.” She said with a smile.
I smiled back, “No problem. Hey, I was wondering..”
“Yes?”
I gulped, “I was wondering if I could have your number.” Without realizing my cheek blushed in red. I saw hers blushing as well with Misaki giggling at the two of us. "You know.. If we ever want to meet again, perhaps?" I added quickly.
“Sure.” she answered shyly and typed up the number on my phone.
“Thanks.” I smiled again at her before biding a goodbye and walked to my friends.
“Well done!!” exclaimed Yuuta giving me a high five. “Now you can try hooking on Oya.”
“Let’s celebrate our Natsu can flirt.” Grinned Tomo. “My treat!” He exclaimed before leading us to a family restaurant.
===============================================================================
The sky in Shibuya’s sky was getting darker and the three of us were still eating out treats at the restaurant. The rain fell and we were still there chatting as well as setting bets for the school dares. I looked up to my phone when I saw it ringing. Ayaka called.
“Umeda.” I explained to the two looking at me in question. “Sup?” I picked it up.
“Natsu, you’re busy?” she asked. Her voice sounded strange somehow, she was choking and I could hear voices like it was raining on the other side.
“Kind of.” I said. “Hey you’re okay? It’s noisy on the other side, what are you doing?”
“Enjoying the rain.” I heard her tone weakened. I stood up, straight away.
“Where are you?”
“My favorite all time place.” She said before I could hear her sobbed. I waved to friends and grabbed my jacket before I went out and dashed out into the rain.
I ran and ran. Passing the streets, the crowds, despite the major down pour. Not a care in a million year how bad my hair was going to look like later, all I could think of was that foolish girl.
“Umeda, you idiot..” I muttered to myself as I ran and reached a park. I ran inside, looking for the swing and finally saw her.
She was there, swinging weakly on the swing. Her long hair was mess and her clothes were soaked in rain, her bag laid out not far from her. I approached her and stood in front of her lowered head.
“Umeda, what’s wrong?” I asked her as I bent down on my knees, trying to look at her face but all I saw was her hair covering it. “Nonaka?”
“I saw him..” She muttered lowly. “I saw him kissing Sakiko in the music room…”
“Ayaka..”
“I loved him, Natsu. I loved him the whole three years, but…” she choked. “He did it just like that in front of me..” she burst into tears and leaned forward to hug me tightly as she sobbed.
I was stunned hearing the news. Nonaka... I’ve heard long before that Nonaka used to date with Matsui Sakiko, the ace of the music club back in junior high, but with his relationship with Ayaka so far I witnessed.. I thought..
Ayaka cried as she hugged me tightly, her voice of cussing and choking in sadness was clear despite of the raging sky. I didn’t push her off or anything. I let her cried in arms instead in the rain. Not knowing what I should do next…
====================================================================
Short story, I managed to get back home with her. My dad would probably be home a bit late due to work and mum was at a reunion till late as well. I made her sit on the kitchen stool for a moment. She still seemed to be in shock with the puffy eyes and choking as she tried to calm herself down.
“You need to get a shower now.” I said placing a clean towel and my mum’s clothes from the clean hamper. “She wouldn’t mind you use it.”
When she was gone, I made myself to shower as well. Dressed in a shirt and shorts, I headed down to the kitchen and started the kettle for some hot chocolate. She came out to the kitchen by the time I served the drink and sat on the dining table. I put the cup in front of her and sat on the opposite side.
We didn’t talk for a while as I calmly drank my chocolate and studied her expressions. She looked devastated, so different than the annoying girl that annoyed me every single morning. No more of her bright eyes, just dullness and sadness.
“Thank you.” She stated, still not touching her cup yet. I nodded and drank mine, still looking at her.
“It’s our anniversary.” She sniffed. “Three years, I thought about to get Akane to teach me how to bake a cake for it…”
She continued, “and when it was done, I asked everyone where he was so I could deliver it to him. They said he was in the music room, so I went there.” She stopped. “Then I saw him kissing with Sakiko on the piano stool..”
“I dropped the cake and ran. I ran looking for you, but you weren’t home. And the sky was getting darker and it rained..” she sniffed. “I was an idiot..”
“No you’re not.” I retorted straight away even know I did muttered repeatedly she was just a few hours ago.
“Yes I am.” She said. “I’m such a stupid and a fool for believing in him!!”
“You’re a fool only if you think so yourself.” I said. “You’re not thinking straight, come on!”
I stood up and told her, “You must be hungry, I’ll make something,” before I walked to the fridge. There were still some leftovers from the morning food, and eggs. I did my best with all of it with some dried rice and a few drops of soy sauce. In minutes, I placed a plate of fried rice in front of her.
“Eat it.” I said placing another in front of myself and watched her eat the first spoon of hers.
“It’s good.” She mumbled spooning another of the meal to her mouth. “I thought you can’t cook at all.”
“Distance might be close, but there are still secrets remained undiscovered.” I said while eating my own food. “Read it off a book somewhere.”
She smiled, “There is no way you can create such word by yourself.”
“That’s why I admit it, smarty pants.” I said with a friendly scowl. I saw her cracked up a smile upon the insult.
“I get that a lot.” She said smiling dryly. “I’m sorry.”
“For?”
“Never telling you of my relationship with him.” She said. “You seemed to hate the fact that we’re dating.”
“Hate?” I huffed and crack a laugh. “In your dream! I was relieved that at least there was someone who would share your annoyingness with!”
She pouted, “Meany~”
I smiled, “No, I don’t like nosing on stuff that wasn’t my problem. You’re big enough to take the responsibility of it yourself.”
I wasn’t sure if it was an insult or not but I saw her smiling weakly at it anyway, “Thanks.”
“Anytime.” I said continuously eating. After the both of us finished the meal, she thanked me again and headed home next door. I washed the dishes and gone up stairs to sleep but when I was about to doze off I could hear a yell from downstairs.
“WHY ARE THERE PUDDLES AROUND THE HOUSE, MATSUBARA NATSU?!!”
Oops, I forgot to mop it up.
=====================================================================
Unexpectedly, I woke up early today. I was strange enough for my parents to see me coming out of the bathroom before they even reached the kitchen. And what was much weirder, Ayaka was not around as usual.
“Where is she?” I asked my mum as she settled down my breakfast.
“She said she’s sick today. Said she got caught in the rain yesterday after a club activity at school” said my mum. “I’ll drop by at lunch to drop some food. But I want you to deliver her the breakfast before you go to school.”
I knocked at the door and wait for the footsteps, but no sign of the door opening after some minutes. I decided to dig for her house key which only my family and Ayaka know about it, just in case anything happened.
“Ayaka?” I knocked softly at her room’s door. “I’m coming in, okay?”
I opened the door and saw the room still dimly lit by the sunshine slipping through the gaps of the curtain. Initiatively, I pulled it open and get the lights in the room.
“Ugh..” I heard her groaned. “What are you doing here?”
“Dropping your breakfast.” I said shaking the container in my hand. “Mum.”
“Oh..” she said sitting up, still in my mother’s clothes. “Tell your mum, thank you.”
I shrugged and sat on the bed by her side, “How are you? Heard you’re sick.”
“I need a bed rest.” She said. She really looked rather sick with the pale face and sweated forehead. “I felt someone banging on my head like crazy.”
I grinned at the statement and placed my outer palm on her wide forehead, “My…. your forehead is so big I think I could land an airplane on it.”
“Shut up, Matsubara.” She blushed and hushed my hand away.
“Well you are quite warm, so I guess bed rest would do well for now.”I nodded. I saw her table across and saw the soaked books from last night. “Are those from your bag?”
“Yeah.” She said. “Those will need to dry as well.”
“I guess bed rest then.” I said. “Man, I wish I’m sick as well.”
“You really hate school, aren’t you?” She asked sympathetically.
“Not hate, dislike.” I said. “I like the girls though.”
“Tell me.” She said.
“Tell you what?”
“Your crush.” She grinned. “I know you have one. “
“So what if I have one?” I asked her back.
“Oh never mind!” She grumbled, crossing her arms. “Wondering when Shiichan will ever notice you.”
I felt my cheek blushed instantly, “OI YOU-“
“It’s true, right?” she grinned sneakily. “I heard you mumbled her name so many times in your sleep.”
Damn it, the little midget got me.
“I’m off to school.” I announced as I stood up. “Don’t forget to eat your breakfast. My mum is coming to drop you some lunch.”
“Jeez, the son and the mother are so different.” She said hastily before spooning her food from the container. “Tell everyone I’m sick and take notes on the lessons!!”
===========================================================
I arrived at school just before the bell rang and was seconds away from Noro coming in to the class.
“I see you there, Matsubara.” She said with sharp eyes. “I expect this would be the last.”
“Yes mam.” I muttered and sit on my desk.
“Where’s Umeda?” husked Yuu leaning back from his seat.
“Sick.” I said before taking out my books and paying attention to Noro’s lessons for the first time ever.
The lunch bell rang and I got out of the class with Yuu telling me how Haruna gave him a math book as a present.
“Can you believe it? A maths book??!!” he said in dismay.
“Maybe she wants you to start proving your grades.” I pointed out his last mid test. I paused for a second and saw a figure who I had been wanting to see. “Wait here.”
“Hey what’s wro-“ Yuu asked but I ran off to the figure already. “Oi!”
I bit my lips and clenched my fist as I walked up to the figure, he saw me coming close and welcomed the fist openly on his cheek. “YOU SON OF B*TCH!!” I yelled.
“NATSU!!” I heard Yuu yelled to me. But I ignored him and picked up the guy by the collar and slammed him to the wall. “Man, calm down!”
I ignored him and looked at the guy in my hands in anger, “Tell me one reason as to not beat your ass up at any moment now, Nonaka…”
Nonaka with blood dripping out from his lips, still gasping from the punch looked at me. “I did not do it on purpose.”
“Since when kissing with your ex in front of your girlfriend ever be a coincidence?” I growled. “She loved you.”
“Natsu man, you need to calm down…” I heard Yuuta’s voice behind me as well as Yuu too and Tomo.
“I’m not calming down until this bastard apologized to her!!” I snarled.
“Oh shit, teachers coming..” informed Tomo.
“Matsubara Natsu, let go off Nonaka before I get you to the principal office!!” I heard Noro yelled with her heavy voice. I glared at Nonaka before shove him to the wall again. “Matsubara, detention room with me now. Nonaka, you too.”
I looked at my friends as they nudged me to go and follow the teacher to the detention room with Nonaka. I was still tempted to punch the guy again, but for Ayaka’s sake I did not.
===========================================================================
“I heard you punched him.” She said when I came to her house that night to deliver her dinner.
I looked away, “I did and got myself to a week detention every lunch time.”
“You shouldn’t.” she said.
“I did anyway.” I said.
“For what?” she asked. “Thought you said you don’t like nosing on other’s problem.”
I hesitated, “for being a jerk.” I said. “He shouldn’t have done it even if Matsui pushed him to do so.”
“He came after school.” She said. “Told me the whole thing and apologized.” I raised my eyebrows.
“I forgave him.” She said. “But I told him I need a time for myself until who knows when.”
I patted her shoulder. The cheerful aura I used to see wasn’t there anymore. It was as if the Umeda Ayaka I knew was gone now and replaced by a gloomy one. She did need a time to heal herself.
“I’m going back, okay?” I asked before I stood up. I felt her hand stopped me.
“Just stay for a moment will you?” she asked pulling me back to sit next to her on the bed. “It’s lonely being here alone for the whole time, your house is so much brighter.”
I sighed and let her head rest on my shoulder. “Thanks.” She mumbled.
“Sure.” I said.
“Natsu,” she said.
“Yea?”
“Read me a bedtime story.” She said out of the blue. I turned to her in disbelieve.
“What are you? A toddler?!” I can’t help but laughing.
She smiled sheepishly, “No one read me a bed time story for the last ten years, so would you do so?” she asked with a sparkly eyes all the sudden. “Please..?”
I studied her face for a moment and saw the Umeda Ayaka I knew of was coming back slowly, “Alright fine.. But don’t complain to me if I read it badly.” Ayaka grinned and gave a thin children storybook for me to read as she tucked in to the blankets like a kid.
I smiled looking at the scene and began reading.
======================================================================
Ayaka came back to the school next day as her usual self. The news of her break up has spread throughout the school, but she didn’t act much towards it. If anybody comes near to ask her about it, she simply smiled thinly and told them about how close the final exams are and how she needed to focus.
Speaking of focus, I turned in my Future Plan form to my teacher. I was serious about aspiring to study IT in the college. When Ayaka heard about it, she promised me and my mum an extra tutor time, causing me to pout in annoyance, but still enjoyed my time with my friends and her as the gang also joined up for the extra tutors by the genius friend of mine. She taught all of us patiently along with her friends (a.k.a their girlfriends), new routine was set for five times a week after school for all of us to study at Ayaka’s house until the finals.
The months of studying worth it as I felt in ease when I worked on the exam questions. I looked up slightly to where Ayaka sat as she also seemed like she was doing her best as usual. Until the final day, there wasn’t a day she didn’t remind me to improve my weak points in all studies directly or via phone calls or text messages. And when the time was up for the last examination, I looked up from my desk—feeling satisfied.
“We did it!!” cheered Yuu as the gang and their girls tuned in for a party at the family restaurant after school, Ayaka was also invited as she also smiled happily and raised the soda cup to cheer with us. It was a moment to see her laughing brighter than ever to my friend’s jokes and leaned over to me as she laughed uncontrollably when Yuuta did a manzai with his girlfriend.
“Man… That was good…” She was still giggling as we walked back to our neighborhood. “You did it..” She patted my shoulder.
“All thanks to you.” I said smiling at the midget. “The gang and I… We couldn’t have done it without you.”
Ayaka smiled, “So how was your plan on Shiichan? I haven’t been updating.”
I sighed, “Kuramochi got her first before I could way before the finals. Therefore my love is unrequited.” I announced. “Happy?”
“Not exactly.” She frowned. “Just joking.” she smiled.
“You hoped for the Tokyo College acceptance?” I stirred the topic.
“Yeah..” she nodded as she walked backwards like she usually did. “I want to study about philosophy.”
“Philosophy?” I frowned upon the strange choice. “Are you sure?”
“A hundred percent positive.” She nodded. “I hoped you got in as well. You applied for Tokyo too right?”
“Yep.” I said. “Ayaka, stop walking backwards. You’ll fall.”
“I won’t.” She was still walking backwards.
“Will.”
“Will not!”
“Will.”
“Will no-AAGGHH!!” she was about to fall again thanks to the unfixed hole.
Except that I caught her this time.
She looked at me in disbelief as I was also looking at her. I looked into the warm honey eyes of hers and the brightened lip-glossed lips of hers. The flashes of her face from the ages came to my eyes until it stopped and showed me the Umeda Ayaka now in my arms.
“Natsu..”
“Ayaka..” I realized my heart thumping.
The whole time, the whole ten years… It took that long for me to finally realize that my heart has been thumping for her. The unchanged feelings I had for her ever since I knew her..
Just to let you know, sometimes feelings comes fast as a flash and sometimes it’s slow like a snail. But when it came, don’t lie to it…
“I love you, Umeda Ayaka.” I confessed.
=============================================================================
A month later
“Where’s your date, Matsubara?” asked Noro as she came across me in her rather revealing black dress. “I expect to see you have one.”
“She’ll come.” I assured the lady before she nodded off.
“Your hair looked messy as usual.” Said Yuu beside me as he enjoyed the party. His gray suit was an absolute lady’s charmer but too bad he’s Kojima Haruna’s property. “Can’t you tidy it?”
“Nope.” I said looking anxiously at my watch. “Where is she..?”
“Tomochin said she needs time to get Ayaka pretty up for tonight.” Said Tomo sipping from his cup. “They better be quick, I want to dance this prom out.”
“They’ll be here…” assured Yuuta loosening his necktie. “There they are.”
A bunch of girls came in to the hall, dressed in style for the prom. The gang hugged each one of their girls and accompanied them to the dance floor, leaving me to see her approaching me.
She was a beauty. Her hair was tied up in a fancy bun, secured by the braids of her bright hair. Dressed in a fancy strapless pink dress that goes to her knees as well as a pearl necklace and earrings, the high heels she wore managed to make her height increased so at least I didn’t need to bend down so much for a kiss.
“Go and laugh.” She said sheepishly blush in red “I have never worn in such formal occasions like this.”
“Don’t worry,” I smiled casted the naughty hair hiding her ears. “You’re beautiful, Umeda Ayaka.”
“Thanks..” she said. I leaned closer to her and kissed her there on the lips, not caring if anybody was watching. Her lips were soft and sweet as the scent of her perfume, I didn't waste a time to enjoy the kiss until the need oxygen separated us
“Shall we dance?” I asked offering my hand. She took it and walked with me gracefully to the dance floor.
boku wa imasara nani ka ni kidzuita
boku no hontou no KUIIN
kanojo yori chikai hontou no PAATONAA
konna boku wo ai shite kureru hito ga ita
yasashisa ni tsutsunde kureta
ai wa kumiawase da
kimi ni oshierareta
saa odorou
I came to realize so late
My true queen
Is my true partner, someone closer than she is
There was someone right here who's able to love me
Someone who wrapped me in kindness
Love is a partnership
You taught me that
Come, let's dance
-NMB48 : Prom no Koibito
The End
ENTRY #2
DRABBLE
[TomoTomo]
Word Count: 128 -- (166: if those inside the asterisks are included)
KASAI: Tomochin, let’s watch the sunset together! *drags Itano at the beach*
ITANO: *sits on the sandy beach*
KASAI: *sits beside Itano* Isn’t it beautiful?
ITANO: It surely is beautiful…
KASAI: I wonder if… Tomochin loves the sunset as much as I do?
ITANO: I don’t know…
KASAI: *leans head on Itano’s shoulder*
ITANO: Say, Tomo, how much do you love the sunset?
KASAI: I can’t explain how much… but when I was young… I promised to myself that… *looks at Itano*
ITANO: That…?
KASAI: I’ll watch the sunset with the person whom I love the most… *smiles*
ITANO: *blushes* Tomo…
KASAI: Tomo is in love with you…
ITANO: …
KASAI: Do you… like Tomo?
ITANO: *kisses Kasai*
KASAI: So… does that mean—
ITANO: *kisses Kasai again, this time deeper* Yes, I love you, Tomo~ I loved you since before… and right now, witnessed by the setting sun, I promise to love you forever…
KASAI: Pinky swear?
ITANO: *nods and links her finger to Kasai’s*
KASAI: I promise I’ll never stop loving you…
(And the two girls stared at each other, drowning in the intensity of their gazes…)
FLASH
[YukaNacchi]
Word Count: 583
“Sato… That’s enough for now.”
My teacher said as I feel that my hands were already sore from writing a letter of repentance. A letter of repentance for wrecking a school property… Why? Because of that Osaka girl who pissed me off early this morning. That crazy girl! We were mortal enemies ever since grade school. We always tease and piss off each other… That’s part of our daily routine.
I went out of the detention room and was walking out of the school building when I realized that I left something important in our classroom.
I ran back inside the building and headed to the stairs. I cannot leave that thing there! There’s a great possibility that Masuda, the girl from Osaka, will see it! She always arrives at school early in the morning to put some weird things on my desk.
The door of our classroom was slightly opened. Who can still be at the room at this time of the afternoon? I slowly peered in and…
O___O
Oh no!
“M—Masuda! What are you doing with my sketchpad?!”
She was startled when she heard my loud voice. I ran towards her and snatched my sketchpad away – hoping that she hasn’t seen its contents yet.
“Sato…”
I was in the act of leaving when I felt her warm hand on my wrist, stopping me.
“What?!”
I asked her angrily. Maybe she has seen what’s inside my sketchpad…
“Why do you have… so many portraits of me… on your sketchpad? Did you draw them yourself?”
She has really seen it. My tears started to form on the corner of my eyes. I was feeling a mix of emotions right now – embarrassment, nervousness, and a bit of happiness.
“Hey… Natsuki…”
N—Natsuki? This is the first time she ever called me by my first name. It triggered my tears from falling heavily on my cheeks. And in an instance, I was sobbing before her very eyes – before the eyes of the girl whom I secretly like… Well, it’s not a secret anymore.
“Do you… like me?—”
“YES! I LIKE YOU, MASUDA!”
It isn’t a nice way to confess my feelings… and I never even thought of confessing. But there are things that surely come in unexpected ways.
She was not speaking. So, I prepared myself from the further rejection from her.
But I was surprised when I felt her warm arms wrapping around my body. She was hugging me from behind.
“Is that… for real?”
She asked that in a really soft voice which I never heard before.
“Yes…”
Then, I felt her hugging me tighter.
“I like you, too… Sato Natsuki.”
O/////O
“Don’t pull off your jokes now, Masuda. I’m not in the mood to joke around.”
“I’m dead serious, Natsuki. I like you… ever since the beginning. I tease you because you look so cute when you’re getting angry. And I’m pissing you off because in that way… I can make you notice me.”
Her words suddenly made me blush. It made my throat very dry. She moved to face me…
“Look into my eyes. I’m not lying, okay? This is one of the rare occasions that I’m not joking around.”
“Yuka…”
I looked straight into her eyes. It seems like there’s a weird connection between our gazes. It felt like I was being sucked up by her eyes… so, I moved my face closer to hers. We both moved our faces closer… closing the distance between our wanting lips.
SHORT STORY
[UmeYuu]
Word Count: 2173
She was my best friend yet I loved her more than that…
She loved someone else. I’m perfectly aware of that. How can’t I be? When every time we talk, she finds a way to tell something about the girl… It hurts me, yes, but I cannot complain. I cannot even let her see a hint of jealousy or sadness in my eyes. That’s why I was really good in hiding up my real emotions. When she tells a funny story that happened between her and the girl, I pretend to laugh along… when inside of me; my heart was slowly tearing up into pieces.
I cannot blame her of my misery, though. It’s not her fault that I can’t stop myself from falling in love with her. It’s my entire fault. It’s the fault of my frail heart… because each time I’m seeing her smile and dimpled cheeks; I just keep on loving her more and more… And the more I love her, the more painful it will get in the end. But how can you stop your heart from beating for a single person? I don’t know how to… that’s why I’ll keep on loving and loving her… and hurting and hurting myself… until I finally knew how to stop.
One night, she phoned me. I quickly answered the phone. I was giddily excited to hear her voice…
“Umechan…”
Her voice was shrilly. I perfectly knew that she cried.
“She left me.”
That was all that she said until I heard her sobbing at the other end of the line. The sound of her tears seems to be piercing deep in my heart.
“Where are you? I’ll go there…”
It took quite a few seconds before she finally answered my question. Maybe she tried to straighten up her shaky voice.
“At my apartment… Thank you, Umechan…”
I knew her every action… I knew all her moods. I know the things she likes – and those things she dislikes, too. We were best of friends ever since grade school, how can I not know her? I thought she was just a sister for me… but as time passed… I felt that there is something more – a love that is deeper than that of a sister’s love.
We studied in the same school and became classmates from grade school and until we graduated in high school. But after that, we got separated because of our courses of interest. It was fate. We cannot stick with one another forever most especially that we won’t be taking same college course… In the end, we studied in different universities, too. But we kept being in touch with one another. It was a great adjustment for me to live my college life without her right by my side because among the two of us, I was the inferior one. I had few friends, while she had many… That’s also the time when she met the girl she loves. The charming Haruna, a classmate of her, made her heartbeat extremely fast the moment they first met. That’s what she told me… Then, after some weeks, her stories will always be about her and Haruna’s stories. At first, it really affected me… but then as time passes by, I got used to it. There’s still the same pain, though… but at least, now, I was prepared of any more pain.
The travel to her apartment wasn’t a long one. As I was travelling along, I can’t help but to notice the bright streetlights everywhere. She loved this scenery of modernization… That somehow in an urban place like Tokyo, though we cannot clearly see the stars in the night sky, the streetlights will act as our own set of stars. In other ways, they looked lovelier to my eyes…
I knocked at her door and she shortly opened the door and let me in. We felt a breeze of cool air got inside, too. I looked at her face. Her cheeks were still wet from tears and her eyes were blood-shot.
“I’m happy you got here safely.”
She still managed to smile. It just hurts me more. I don’t want her to feel the same thing I was feeling. The feeling of faking up a smile and pretending to be okay when she’s really not.
“What happened, Yuuko? Tell me… I’ll listen.”
We sat up in the couch. And she began telling her story…
“She left me. Isn’t it funny? Today’s our anniversary.” She said with a hint of bitterness in her voice.
“Why’d she do that?”
“I don’t know why… She didn’t explain. She just… left me… with a broken heart.”
“Maybe she has a reason… but it’s not just the right time to tell you.”
“When will be the right time to tell me? Someday? When I’ve already moved forward, she’ll return, tell me her reason, and bring back the pain? That sounds unfair.”
Her words left me speechless. I saw her eyes began to be filled once more with her tears…
“I hate it, Umechan. I’m not angry because of her… I was angry because of myself… What did I do to make her leave me? I don’t know if I did something wrong… Wasn’t my love enough for her? Or was it too much… that it started choking her up?”
“Yuuko… I don’t… know.”
Then, I felt her body so close to mine. She wrapped her arms around my body. My shirt was starting to get drenched of her warm tears… I softly pat on her back to console her… Her sobbing just gets louder and louder.
“I feel so worthless, Umechan… Did I fail to make her happy?”
“Don’t say that, Yuuko… There are persons, other than her, who love you more than you know…”
“I loved her more than anyone else in the world… I thought I will spend the rest of my life with her. I’m prepared to marry her… and be her partner forever.”
My throat suddenly felt dry. She doesn’t know how painful her words are to me. It silently stabs my heart.
It seems like I can’t control my tears anymore… so, I let go of our embrace and walked to the kitchen. As I was walking, I was trying to compose myself. A tear showed in the corner of my eye and I quickly wiped it away.
I got back to where she is, with a glass of water in my hand.
“Compose yourself, Yuuko.”
I said as I handed her the glass. She took a sip of the liquid…
“I know it won’t wash the pain away… but at least… maybe it will prevent you from dehydration.”
She let out a laugh after hearing my words. I sat up beside her on the couch.
“Seriously… is Umechan cracking up a joke now?”
“I don’t think it’s a joke. I was serious, though. You’ve been crying for quite a long time already… It’s possible that it will dry up all the fluid in your body.”
She smiled at me. I know it was her real smile, because I saw her eyes shine a bit… but still not the usual luster from her brown eyes.
“But I’m glad I made you smile. I think I need to crack up a serious joke every now and then.”
“Thanks for the effort, Umechan. I’m glad you were always there for me…”
“Sure thing… That’s what friends are for.”
And then, a brief silence consumed the two of us.
“Maybe you should go get some sleep, Yuuko.”
“I guess that would be great. My eyes feel so heavy… But, Umechan…”
“Yes?”
“When I woke up… I want to see you. Don’t leave me here. I don’t want to be alone for now…”
I ensured her with a nod. Then, I moved at one end of the couch… and she rested her head on my lap… just like what she would always do when we were younger.
“I missed this, Umechan… I’m sorry for causing you such inconvenience… and thank you so much for always listening to me.”
“You’re always welcome. I’m always ready to do anything for you… because… I am your best friend.”
I said as my lips formed into a smile… She closed her eyes as I began stroking her long hair.
She doesn’t know how much it hurts me seeing her like this. I can’t stand seeing her cry. I wanted to bring back her happiness to her… even if it hurts me… As long as I see her smile… then, I’ll be able to smile, too.
But what if she and Haruna weren’t really meant for each other? What if destiny made her lose Haruna… because it was the time to make her realize that I was really the one for her? Supposing that it would happen… will I ever have the courage to look straight into her eyes and tell her all my hidden feelings for her? Was it even possible that I belong to her and she belongs to me only…? I belong to her… My heart belongs to her. But I can’t seem to think that her heart will belong to only me… because if it was possible, then, why didn’t it happen before? Before she met Haruna…
Was it my fault that our supposed-to-be relationship wasn’t happening?
Don’t tell me that it still isn’t time.
Maybe it’s not really just the two of us…
But if I tell her what I feel… will these thoughts leave my mind in peace? I guess so… So, that means… I’ll be telling her? But I cannot even imagine myself doing that! Besides… the pain she’s feeling was still fresh from her mind? I’ll just add up to her confusion…
Aha!
I know what to do now!
After a while of thinking, I kept on observing her face. I guess she was asleep now. Her chest was bobbing up and down in a soft and timely rhythm. I tried to move her hand just to make sure that she was really asleep. She didn’t react, so it means she was really in deep sleep by now. I let out a sigh as I gathered all the courage that I have…
“Yuuko…”
I paused. I can’t seem to think of what to say. Well… she’s asleep, so she won’t hear anything.
“I love you.”
Just those three words were enough. Those three simple words were enough to tell her everything. But I cannot let her know. Not this time…
“Umechan…”
I opened my eyes at the sound of her voice calling my name. Her face was so close to mine.
“Ohayo. You look so cute when you’re sleeping.”
I blushed at the thought that she was watching me sleep.
“Are you feeling better now?”
I asked her just to change the topic. She nodded and sat beside mine on the couch.
“Didn’t your neck hurt? You’ve slept while still seated there.”
“Oh. Not really… I never noticed that I’ve already fallen asleep. By the way, what time is it already?”
“A quarter to six…”
“Oh…”
Then, she hugged me tight.
“Thank you so much, Umechan. I know this hug isn’t enough to thank you… but I am really grateful that I have you right here by my side.”
Yuuko… This hug is more than enough. My heart was thumping now.
“Maybe we can go out and then I’ll treat you with some good food. Or… what do you want to do? I’ll do anything just to thank you.”
Just stay by my side forever. Even as my best friend only. Just let me see your smile again… That’s enough.
“Anything is fine. Well, I don’t really need any thank-you-gift, Yuuko. Just take care of yourself and be happy.”
“I’m so lucky to be your best friend!”
She hugged me tighter. If only I can stop time. I wanted to stay in her arms… like this… forever.
“Same as I…”
“By the way, Umechan… you know I’ve had a funny dream when I was sleeping. I fancy I heard someone say “I love you”. Was that you? Did you ever say anything like that last night?”
She looked at me consciously – her eyes full of innocence. I think I blushed slightly but I managed to keep myself calm.
“Me? Who’d I tell those words to?”
“Maybe you’re talking with someone on the phone…”
“No, I didn’t phone anyone last night. I was just silently watching your sleeping face.”
“Oh… Maybe it’s just really a fragment of my own imagination.”
“Yeah… maybe it is.”
After all I know this isn’t the right time to tell her everything. I don’t want to let more things eat up her confused mind. For now… I will continue watching all her moves silently. I will be happy each time I’m seeing her happy. I will continue loving her in silence… until the day I can finally let her know of what I feel for her – how much I love her.