@kurosawa87: -nods- -nods- thank you for always reading my fic.
@GNUpon: LOL! I would love to be with Maimi on TV too.
and I'm actually not that good at writing drama scenes yet.
@darkacex99: hahaha! I honestly don't like Ryo on my own fic too, but I have to put some spice on this story. xD.
@twintt: And thanks for the comment too.
Seems like everyone doesn't like Ryo here. haha! Don't worry~
@rokun: Hello there~ Thanks for reading this fic. I did read some old Yajisuzu fics recently, and I loved all of them. IDK why some already stopped from writing. And I want the YajiSuzu love to be alive and active again~ hehehe.
CHAPTER 5
Airi slowly scans herself from head to toe and later realized why Maimi is staring at her as if she’s in disgust. She quickly gave Maimi a wait signal and went back to her room in haste to fix.
What is Yajima Maimi doing here?! Airi thought to herself and now in state of panic. She didn’t go out of her room immediately; instead she walked back and forth, thinking of how she’ll face Maimi and what to say. She rubbed her palms together to remove her nervousness somehow and slowly walks out where Maimi is standing, near the front door.
“How did you get in? You’re supposed to be ringing the bell on the gate first, not on the main door.” Airi asked with a huge distance between where Maimi is standing and her position.
“You left it open so I just walked in and passed by the garden in front.” Maimi simply answered.
“I see.” Airi replied back and nailed the conversation with that short answer.
Maimi keeps her calm and takes a glimpse on the awkward Airi far from her. She’s obviously uncomfortable on Maimi’s sight, for Airi is seen looking away while she bites her lower lip, and rubbing her palms together. Airi couldn’t even let her in the house and let her stay outside. Maimi wants to eliminate this awkwardness and so she stepped closer but Airi made another step backwards.
“Okay, I won’t come close!” Maimi gave up and rolled her eyes in disappointment.
“I’m sorry!” Airi blurted out all of a sudden. “I’m sorry for calling you an idiot and stupid. I’m sorry for interrupting your game last time and made a commotion during the game. I was just… frustrated.” She apologized.
Then Maimi laughed at her apologies, “Now I get it. You’re acting like that because you thought I’m mad at you.”
“Eh? Why? Are you not?” Airi asked clueless.
“Why should I? If I am then I shouldn’t be here standing in front of an awkward you. Rather than getting mad, I was motivated with your words. I came here to say thank you because I haven’t said it personally.” Maimi explained.
Airi exhaled in relief that she fell on the ground, “Thank God! I was wrong all the time then.”
“But…” Maimi also sits down on the ground to level her head with Airi as she smiles, “…I came here to talk about something.”
“Something?”
Maimi nodded. “Yeah. Your friends came yesterday at my dorm, though they asked me not to tell you. They said you’re worried about me, so I thought I should let you know about it too.”
Airi was once again dragged by Maimi that she couldn’t argue further to wherever she’ll take her. All the passers-by who recognize them would tilt their heads just to stare at them and start to gossip. Maimi ignored all while Airi is so conscious about it but still goes on anyway. They took a long ride on a train, going far from their place, far from the crowd and far from noise.
“Why… are we here?” Airi shivered upon arriving on a solemn cemetery full of trees swaying with the cold wind.
Maimi didn’t respond and continues on walking forward but her steps are getting narrower and finally reached their destination, “It’s here.”
Airi looked at the name written on the grave. “Mano Erina. Yajima-san, could it be…”
“My late girlfriend, the reason behind everything.” Maimi said while looking on the grave.
Airi was taken aback in shock that she can’t let a word out of her mouth. And only leaves it open. She looked at Maimi and deeply looks into her eyes, full of sadness and pain, full of regrets and disappointment. It’s the first time that she witnesses the ace player’s miseries.
“Do you know how it feels to lose someone you love?” Maimi asked. “Have you ever felt being left by someone who gave you a reason to change? Did someone already left you and you were not given the chance to say how much you love that person?” She continues on asking as her clenched fists are trembling and tears are forming fast on her eyes.
“Yajima-san…” That’s all Airi could utter.
“A year ago, she had her last breath without me by her side. She’s supposed to meet me, but she was involved in a car accident. I waited for her, she said I must wait on the middle of the soccer field, even if it will take me forever. I waited for two hours, until they called me and said she died. I hated myself, I hated everyone around me for couple of months. I blamed myself for everything. Erina shouldn’t have died if we didn’t plan to meet that day. She’s supposed to be still here with me. Then her soccer captain Shimizu Saki approached me, and told me that Erina really loves playing soccer. That was the time I decided to join the Saitama Team, in place of Erina, and plays as an ace player like how Erina used to be. In short, up until now, I’m working hard because of Erina.” Maimi confessed and tears fell from her eyes upon saying her last words.
In front of Airi is now the broken Maimi that she has never seen before. Hearing directly those words from Maimi, Airi felt her heart cracked deep inside, and can feel her heart beat stopped for second, her mind halted for a minute, and gave her pain. But, to see Maimi in such a state breaks her more that she can imagine, she never thought she’ll feel pain.
“It’s alright to cry!” Airi said in a high tone. Instead of turning back to give Maimi a privacy, she pulled her closer and gave her a warm tight hug, letting Maimi’s head to cry on her shoulder. “It’s okay…”
Though Maimi didn’t hug her back, she let her tears to keep on falling and until it wet Airi’s shoulder. It’s only Airi who can comfort her at the moment, it’s only her who can make her stop from crying hard, and it’s only Airi who can read and get through her heart and mind.
“Are you alright now?” Airi whispers as she hears no sobs from Maimi anymore. She slowly let go and sees Maimi’s tired eyes from crying, almost the same eyes as Airi had last night when she cried.
“Now I’m embarrassed.” Maimi forced out a laugh and wiped her tears away.
“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. Now my questions are answered. I know why you were so distracted.” Airi smiled and offered her hand. “If it’s alright, let’s walk back hand in hand.”
“Why?”
“I just want to.” Airi blushed. “I just feel like holding your hand after you cried like that. C’mon, it’s a request from your number one fan.” She then giggled.
“Number one fan huh?” Maimi smirked before accepting Airi’s hand.
While they walk out of the cemetery, both keep their silence and none of them bothered to talk. They walk side by side and hand in hand, but their eyes are fixed straight ahead on their way.
“I’ll be fine here.” Airi stopped halfway and hesitantly let go of Maimi’s hand. “I’ll just flag a taxi on the intersection. If people will see us together like this, they might misunderstand it again.” She explained.
“Ah, yeah.” Maimi nodded. “Then I’ll take the other way.”
“By the way, you asked me a while ago if I ever felt how to lose someone I love…” Airi exhaled. “…I have an answer. I never felt it because no one has died so far with me. However, I know how it feels to have nothing but myself, I know how it feels not to be loved by the people I expect to love me back more. Though my friends are always with me, the people I expect to be with me all the time aren’t around, so I know how it feels to be left out by the people I love.”
After saying those words, Airi turned back and walks away without letting Maimi to respond. Maimi watched her back slowly vanishing from her sight, until she finally made a turn and she’s nowhere to be seen anymore.
Meanwhile the Saitama’s team is busy preparing for the nationals which is three weeks ahead. Giving all their best from practice, the members aren’t stopping and continue on even if the coach says they should rest.
“It feels different without Maimi-chan around. Where did she go by the way?” Miyabi breathed.
“She went to see that crazy fan.” Captain Saki said and stopped for a while. “I don’t really know what came into her mind but she said she’ll meet with her.”
“I heard that girl’s name is Suzuki Airi, isn’t Suzuki a popular rich family here and even overseas?” Chinami asked in curiosity.
“Yeah, they have a lot of business.”
“Then that girl shouldn’t be wondering around freely. You know, there are a lot of people disguising themselves as a friend, they act kind and all get close to you, then once they got into you, they’ll do something to you or something like they’ll kidnap you for ransom.” Chinami said.
“Aish! You watch too many movies Chinami-chan! Do you think that kind of person really exists?” And it caused a little laughter among them.
Weekdays have come again, and Airi is expecting another day of gossips and everything. However, that expectation didn’t happen. As she stepped out of her place, no one bothered looking at her unlike the past week. She walks on the busy streets and still people won’t glare at her, until she reached school, more students would greet her a good morning. And all of these confuse Airi for she didn’t go out of her place on Sunday, and doesn’t have an idea what’s happening.
“Airi-chan! Have you seen the newspaper?” One of her classmates immediately approached her on the way to their classroom.
“Hey, we were so worried about you!” Risako slapped Airi by the shoulders as she entered of the classroom. “You didn’t call, you didn’t even send an e-mail or even called back!”
“Yeah!” Nakky agreed. “We called you a lot of times last weekend and you didn’t pick up!”
“Wait, what’s with the newspaper?” Airi asked and made her way on her seat.
“Here, look at this! Yajima Maimi finally talked about that issue last time regarding your sudden appearance on their match.” Chisato said and handed her the newspaper.
“Yajima Maimi answers the media.” The title itself made Airi to continue on reading. “Yajima Maimi finally faced the media and clarified the issue regarding their last match. She confirmed that she was injured even before the match began and caused the first half of their team to lose. However, the second half, the mysterious crazy fan appeared that time, and this was also answered by Yajima Maimi. In quote, ‘She’s not just a fan, she’s my number one fan, a special friend of mine. Because of her, I was able to get back on my play and grabbed the victory.’ Yajima Maimi also asked the media not to bother this high school girl.”
“Wow… she did it for me.” Airi was amazed on the article and knew why people aren’t that interested anymore, it’s because Maimi finally answered everything on her own.
“Did something happen Airi-chan?” Risako hissed.
In fact, after that day with Maimi on the cemetery, the day all of her questions were solved, Airi spent her weekend thinking alone. Since it’s only a secret between her and Maimi, she denied and said, “Nothing. I only stayed at home the whole weekend.”
“Airi-chan…” Ryo appeared behind them with a smile. “Are you alright?”
“Y-yeah.” Airi awkwardly replied. “Sorry for acting a little weird last time. I wasn’t feeling so well that’s why.” She again lied.
“It’s alright.” Ryo smiled wider. “I’m glad to hear you’re doing fine again. I was so worried about you. Is it alright if I walk you back home today then?”
“Hey hey hey!” Chisato interrupted. “Do I sense love aura?”
“I feel it too. There’s a love blooming around us~” Nakky teased further.
“Hey Ryo-kun!” Risako confronted. “Are you hitting on my best friend?” She asked with her eyebrow raised.
“Rii-chan! What kind of question is that?!” Airi blushed. “I’ll think about it Ryo-kun…”
“Airi-chan! Studying all the time won’t give you a good memory! High School life comes once! Try to date, have social life and have fun sometimes! He’ll only walk you back home, I guess there’s no need for you think about that!” Nakky said with a grin on her face.
Airi let out a deep sigh, “I guess it will be fine then. I’ll wait for you by the school gate after class.” She decided and he left.
“Airi-chan, are you sure about that?” Risako asked.
“C’mon Risako-chan!” Chisato elbowed her. “Someone is finally showing a love interest to your best friend! You should be happy about that! And Ryo-kun knows Airi-chan for some time now, there shouldn’t be a problem with that.”
“I know!” Risako said. “I… just don’t feel good about him.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. Maybe his face isn’t my type or maybe I’m just thinking too much.” Risako awkwardly laughed. “Forget it. If my best friend wants to go with him then it will be fine.”
All throughout the classes, Risako’s mind is on Ryo who’s obviously trying to get Airi’s attention in the past few days. She finds it odd that he suddenly showed interest in her, knowing that Ryo isn’t interested in dates just like Airi. Risako couldn’t explain it to herself why she just can’t like Ryo’s presence around Airi.
“Excuse me…” Risako raided the rooftop, which is Ryo’s place during lunch time.
“Oh, Sugaya Risako-san, how may I help you?” Ryo sits up from the hot ground and faced her.
“It’s about Airi-chan.” Risako glared at him. “What are you planning to do?”
“You make it sound like I’m a bad guy.” Ryo said.
“I’m sorry but that’s what I really think about you. I hate the way you look, those eyeglasses, that innocent-like hair of yours and generally your handsome face.” Risako frankly said.
“I don’t care if you hate me. But as long as Airi-chan doesn’t care about those, I guess there’s nothing to worry about. Let me tell you this too, Airi-chan is going through a hard time with her parents, her relationship with them. I just want to help her, to cheer her up a little.”
“And how did you know about her hard times?”
“Rich people like them often encounter a family problem. So there’s no doubt Airi-chan is suffering the same problem. If you’re going to doubt at me, you’re just wasting your time. Go back down there and comfort your lonely best friend instead of accusing me up here.” Ryo concluded and ignored Risako’s presence.
As promised, Airi is waiting for Ryo by the school gate after their classes were finished. As she stands still, she keeps on flipping her phone as if she’s waiting for message. And watching her from afar is her worried best friend, who is still uneasy with her being with Ryo. Knowing that Airi is a lonely girl, anyone would easily get an advantage towards her weakness, that’s why Risako always keeps on eye on her.
“If you feel lonely… or maybe if you need someone to talk with… or if you feel down or anything… just give me a call…” Airi remembers what Maimi told her long time ago, the first time she was hugged by Maimi in front of their dorm.
“Should I call her? Should I send her an e-mail?” Airi asked herself as she scrolled down her phone until she reached Maimi’s name on her phonebook. Because of her hesitations, she ended up cancelling her call and went on her e-mail box instead, but again she doesn’t know what to say.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.” Ryo appeared in front of her.
“Eh?” Airi got startled with his sudden presence and accidentally pressed the send button of her phone, and successfully sent a blank message to Maimi. “Y-yeah. It’s alright. Shall we go now?”
Maimi who is currently watching her team mates having a hard practice on the soccer field is silently resting on the benches while the coach is giving her a proper aid on her ankle injury. Not long, she noticed her phone vibrated and grabbed it on her side.
“From Suzuki-san…” Maimi twitched her eyebrows at the blank message sent to her. “Huh? What’s with this?”
“Why? What’s wrong Yajima-san?” Her coach asked.
Maimi tried to call Airi but she got no response, “That’s weird. Suzuki-san sent me a blank message.”
“Maybe she needs someone to talk with.” Her coach said.
Just then, Maimi remembered what she told Airi back then,
“If you feel lonely… or maybe if you need someone to talk with… or if you feel down or anything… just give me a call…”“Coach.” Maimi hastily packed her unorganized things. “Sorry but I have to go.”
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Again and again, thanks for reading this chapter~ A little bit of spoiler, you guys can kill Ryo on the next chapter. LOL!
Btw, I don't know if it's allowed to post my twitter link here, xD. But if you guys are interested, follow me~ haha!
https://twitter.com/jungkrys1024I hope to see you guys on the next chapter too! XOXO!