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/ YagiAbeWorking 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.
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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 - NatsUmeIt 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.
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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!
-YuutaI 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.
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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!!”
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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
Topic: AKB Fanfics Contest 2015-EXIT POLL (Read 80716 times)