Hello and nice to meet you again. Thanks for reading till part three.
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Summer holidays~~!!! Yeesssh! After all those hellish exams I can finally update this fic!
Still got some jobs left but, oh well.This chapter is...well, a bit lacking in comedy compared to the previous chapters. That's to be expected, though.
Hmm and I wonder if it's because the blue color? Even the picture feels a bit melancholic thanks to that. Or was it just me? Well, whatever. Not that I hate melancholy anyway... *nods nods*
Anyways, time to put my ramble aside. Let's get on with the fourth part~
This one from that all-smiley senpai,
the kuudere idiot charmer.
Enjoy~
Notice ME, Senpai !!
~ Senpai Side: Shibuya Nagisa ~
__________________________________________________________
"Wheeew, what a long day..."
I sighed, hitting my shoulder a few times as I walked down the crowded area of the shopping district. Geez, my body's all sore. There's so many clubs needing help lately so I'd been busy. I should've taken a day-off one of these days, ha ha.
..hm? Oh yeah, I haven't introduced myself.
The name's Nagisa. Shibuya Nagisa.
Oodora Public High School, 2nd year, also a member of [Rainbow Makers].
Oh? What is [Rainbow Makers], you ask? Well, it's a small club me and some friends back in Osaka made when we were still in Junior High. We simply went around helping anyone in trouble, thus the name 'rainbow' maker. In fact it's also the reason why I'd been helping the other clubs with their need, going around without asking anything in return. Sounds silly, huh? Ha ha, yeah. I know. But even knowing that I couldn't stop myself; even after we all went to separate high schools and I moved to Tokyo I still ended up carrying over that habit.
Thanks to that,
I am accustomed to treat everyone in an equally good manner. So I don't know how to, let's say, hate someone for a long time or do something special to a certain person. Not even to myself.
People tended to see me as a friendly and kind person because of that,
but it seemed that habit also had its own down-side...“You're sighing again.”
Hm? I glanced to my right, seeing someone stared back at me with a worried look.
“What's up? It's not like you to look so down.”
“Huh? Oh, it's nothing. ”
I gave her a big smile.
“Sorry 'bout that, Churi-san. Even though you've gone out of yer way to help me.”
“I told you it's fine. No biggie.”
She waved her hand in dismissal, returning my smile. I chuckled and muttered a quick 'alright', continuing our walk. This girl beside me is Takayanagi Akane, though people mostly called her by her nickname Churi. She's a third year student of Ryuugami High and also the president of its famous choir club. How did I know her? Hmm, now that's a story from one year ago. I was helping my own senior with Oodora choir club back then, being a substitute member since they lacked people. It was the first time I knew about Ryuugami, and how the choir clubs of the two schools had been rivals for ages. But don't worry; it's not a bad kind of rivalry. In fact some of the members were quite close. It was then that my senior Miyuki introduced me to some of her friends from Ryuugami, and much to my own surprise, it was also the moment I met my girlfriend.
Hm? Did I forget to mention it? Yeah, I have a girlfriend. And she's a member of Ryuugami's Choir Club.
Her name is Kitagawa Ryouha.
You see, helping people had turned into something so natural for me; it was just like breathing, and I didn't feel anything particular when I do that. But that wasn't the case with Ryouha. Whenever I see her happy I felt like my own chest would burst from happiness. It's strange because, like I said, I never find anyone special before. So when I'm with her sometimes I didn't know what to do. Hmm, if I have to put it into words...
I want to make her happy.
But not in the same way I make everyone happy. The problem is, I don't know how and sometimes I ended up making things awkward instead.Uurgh, it's just so confusing. Thinking about that made my head hurts. Is this why my junior kept calling me hopeless in romance? I shook my head and sighed once again.
“Whoa, you're doing it again.”
I heard Churi-san said beside me and she put her hand to her hip, studying my face.
“Did your date with Ryouha three days ago really go that bad?”
Ugh. I groaned and clenched my face, trying to erase the image of that day from my mind.
“Please don't remind me about it...”
“
That bad, huh.”
Aah, I want to crawl into a hole and disappear somewhere... Ha ha... I laughed to myself and I could feel Churi-san patted my shoulder in condolence.
“Come on, cheer up~ Isn't that why we're here today? Let's find some good present for your anniversary so you guys can forget about that horrible day.”
She tried to encourage me and I lowered my hands. Yeah. This is no time to be so down. I managed to get Churi-san to help me so I mustn't let this opportunity come to waste. You see, Ryouha and I are keeping our relationship a secret. Among the few people who knew about us was Churi-san, and since she met Ryouha almost everyday in club I guess she knew about her better than anyone else. That's why I asked her to help me looking for present. It's almost a year since I started dating with Ryouha and I wanted to make a surprise for her. So yeah, even me going to the shopping district today was a secret. Besides, ain't they say girls like surprises? So I hope this could make up for it.
The thought of her cheered me up a bit and I looked around, staring at nothing in particular. Huh? Will she find out, you ask? Nah, it's not a problem. I'm an expert in pretending and making lies. I hummed to myself and turned to Churi-san, seeing her grinning.
“Seems like you've cheered up a little.”
“Hmm, I guess?”
“Well then, shall we go get something for you lovebirds?”
I scratched my nose in embarrassment, chuckling.
“Aaactually... I already have something in mind.”
“Really? Then let's take a look.”
I nodded and led her through the many shops lining along the street, stopping by a certain jewelries store. My eyes scanned through the numerous rows of ornaments. Now where is it... I hope it's not sold out yet. Ah, there it is. I approached the glass cover on the far end, staring at the little trinket inside.
It was a pair of matching silver rings, with a small heart carved on it. I planted my hand on the glass and smiled.
“I wonder if Ryouha will like it.”
I quietly whispered to myself, hearing Churi-san giggled beside me.
“Aww, Nagisa~ She'll definitely love it!”
“Really? I never saw her wearing jewelries though.”
“Trust me. It's perfect.”
“...then I'll take yer advice.”
I called over the shop attendant to make my purchase, while Churi-san waited for me outside. I felt my smile widened and I put the small box safely into my pocket, walking out of the store and back to the busy street. Churi-san was there with a mischievous look on her face.
“Now now, stop grinning for a while~ Save your happiness until you give that to her.”
“Eeh? But I'm already so happy right now, ha ha~”
We gave each other a good laugh before she suddenly blinked, pulling her phone out of her pocket. I tilted my head curiously.
“Phone call?”
“Yeah. Hold on a sec.”
She put the phone to her ear, her face grew a bit solemn as the person on the other end talked. I furrowed my brow. Did something happened? I tried to catch the conversation, and then, a certain name entered my ears.
“Wait... Did ya just say 'Ryouha'?”
I muttered under my breath and Churi-san stared back at me with wide eyes, lowering her phone.
“N-nagisa. I think we have to go now.”
“What's wrong?” I clenched my fist, starting to feel a bit uneasy from the look she's giving me.
“Did something happen to Ryou—“
I saw a flash of something familiar in the crowds and I swiftly switched my gaze toward that direction, trying to identify the figure.
…
…
…
“...Ryouha?”She was there standing. Staring at me from afar. I approached her in reflexes, but before I could reach her she suddenly turned away and ran. I quickened my own steps as I saw that, running after her.
“Wait, Ryouha!”
I pushed through the crowds, shoving people out of my way without a single care, reaching my arm toward her.
“Ryouha!“ I caught her left hand, stopping her from escaping. “What's wrong? Why are you running away?”
“L-let go...”
Her voice trembled, her face hidden behind her long strands of hair. I clenched her hand tighter.
“No.”
“I said let go— “I won't.”She tried to shake out of my grip but I easily overpowered her, pulling her closer.
“I won't let go until you tell me what's wrong— SLAP!!I stumbled back a little, a sharp painful force hit my left cheek. My mind went completely blank. I slowly turned my eyes to Ryouha, seeing tears falling down her cheek as her face twisted in pain and anger. She swallowed her breath.
“...is this...how it truly is?”
She whispered quietly, her voice hoarse and choked by tears.
“The reason why you always came late... why you're cancelling our meeting at times... was it because of this...?”
Her shaky words painfully struck me and I felt my grip on her hand weakened. My own voice wavered.
“W-what do you mean?”
“...stop playing dumb, Nagi... just how many girls have you been playing?”
What!? I stared at her in disbelief.
“N-no! Ya got it all wrong, Ryouha!
I've never—”
“...it doesn't matter if I couldn't satisfy you, right? ...you still have other girls...”
“No... I don't...”
I felt my own voice stuck in my throat as I saw her painful gaze, and I lowered my head, unable to look into those eyes. My other hand unconsciously clenched the rings in my pocket. I could hear some random whispers and murmurs around us as people started gathering.
“...let's just end this, Nagisa...”My whole body froze as those words echoed inside my head and I felt her hand slipping away from mine. The world seemed to have stopped right then, only the empty feeling in my hand remained. Her last words lingered in the air.
…
…
…
“Goodbye...” =0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=
Empty. Everything is just so empty.
That's how my days felt ever since Ryouha broke up with me that day. I still continued my routine as [Rainbow Makers]; I still smiled and laughed as I usually did, but all of that felt so empty right now. As if my whole life had lost its meaning.
“No. That's wrong. I've always been empty. So what's the different?”
I mulled to myself as I walked down the empty road, staring at nothing in particular.
One week had passed since then. One whole week without her. I spent the first three days in daze, my mind still unable to register what happened. When the realization finally hit me I found myself crying in my sleep, but I hid that fact so well, immersing myself in more works. The next three days I started to wait on the train station, sitting on the same bench she usually sat, waiting until the last train arrived. But I never met her even once. In the end I grew tired of waiting, so I came to this place instead, hoping that I could see her again.
“Ryuugami High School for The Gifted.”I quietly read the name carved on that magnificent gate before me, approaching the heavily guarded entrance. This place is a private school for the elites and it's not accessible to public, so at most I could only wait for her by the main gate. The security eyed me suspiciously for doing that, and just like I could already guess, one of them approached me.
“Excuse me, miss.” He politely asked. “Can I help you?”
I stared at the man for a while, before giving him my usual bright smile.
“Hello, mister. Naw, I'm just waiting for my...
friend. Lesson ended a bit early in my place, y'know~ Summer holiday just 'round the corner and school's been all lax~”
“I see. What school are you from, miss?”
Uh-oh. Will he try to contact my school? I skipped the day so telling him wouldn't be a great idea. Good thing I wore a jacket today so he couldn't see my emblem. I tapped my chin, trying to bluff my way out.
“Eeh, what was the name again? I just transferred recently so kinda forgot...”
He raised a brow at me, and I stole a quick glance at the clock behind him. Just a few more minutes until school's end.
“Can I see your student ID?”
“Of course~ Now where is it...”
I pretended to search around my bag, delaying as much time as possible.
Come on, come on, come on. I silently prayed, seeing the guy started to grow a bit impatient.
“Eeh? Where did I put it?”
I made another bluff and the man frowned. He crossed his arms.
“Strange... I swear I have 'em with me...”
“Look, miss. You can't—“
He stopped mid-sentence, his voice drowned by the loud sound of the school bell ringing. The security worker sighed and left, opening the huge gate behind him.
Wheew, that was close... I secretly let out my breath in relief, my eyes scanned the crowd trying to find a certain timid girl among the sea of students. More and more of them started to disperse but I couldn't find her anywhere. Did she have club activity today? I silently thought as the last of the student walked out of the gate, my eyes still searching throughout the school's premises. The previous security worker approached me.
“So, miss? Is your friend here?”
“Err, just a moment. She's supposed to be...”
I abruptly stopped as I caught sight of her walking through the school's yard and I instinctively ran toward her.
“Ryouha!”She flinched, staring back at me in horror.
“Ryou—!”
“That's enough, miss. You're not allowed to enter beyond this point.”
The security held my shoulder, stopping me from entering the school's gate.
“But I—I need to talk to her!”
“Hey! Who are you?”
Huh? I turned my eyes to the source of the voice, finally aware of the shorter girl standing beside her.
“What do you need from Ryouha-senpai!?”
The girl glared at me dangerously, her tone surprisingly hostile. I clenched my hand as I heard that, unsure of what to say.
“I-I need to talk to her."
"And who are you again?"
"I'm... I'm her girlfriend.”
“Oh really now?”
She crossed her arms, giving me a suspicious look, before she glanced at Ryouha.
“Do you know this person, senpai?”
…
…
…
“No.”...huh? I stared at her in disbelief, and she turned around, walking further away into the school area.
“Ryouha...?”
“I... I don't... know her...”
I complete lost all of my reason back then and I pushed through the security, feeling more of them coming to stop me. The other Ryuugami girl looked at me with disgust.
“Keep that lunatic away from us, please.”
“Yes, ma'am."
The security workers pushed me away roughly, making me fall to the asphalt in a loud 'thud'.
“We advise you to stay away, miss. Or we might refer to violence.”
I glared at them for a while, before looking away and pushed myself back to my feet. Though how stupid I am I knew I couldn't win against three grown men. So I just left, trying to ignore the painful feeling in my chest as I walked toward the usual train station. I sat down on that bench again, raising my face to stare at the darkened sky. My mind went blank.
“I knew I'd find you here.”I blinked, hearing a familiar voice beside me. I knew this voice, and I glanced toward the source.
“Hiya, Ririka.” I put on a fake smile for her, letting her sat beside me. "What's up?"
“It's not 'what's up'. Where were you, senpai? It's not like you to skip school.”
“Ha ha, sorry. I just... don't feel like it.”
“...”
She looked at me in silence, setting her bag on her lap. I took the time to study her, staring at the bandaids around her arm and head.
“What happened to ya?”
“This?”
She touched the one on her cheek, a hint of annoyance in her face.
“Some hysteric pipsqueak assaulted me with a golf club.”
I blinked as I heard that, before patting her head a few times.
“Ya have it hard too, huh...”
"You bet I am."
I gave her a light chuckle, before switching my eyes back to the sky. We stayed like that for a while, not saying a single word, before she decided to break it first.
“How long are you going to stay gloomy like that?”
She suddenly said, and I let out another fake laugh.
“Eeh? I ain't gloomy or anything~ I'm fine~”
“Then what is it with that lifeless look on your face?”
She suddenly moved her hand and grabbed me by my cheeks, forcing me to look at her. I didn't answer that time, staring at her angered gaze. She huffed and released her grip.
“Just how long do you think I've known you, senpai?”
“...sorry.”
I put off my smile and switched my eyes to the ground, staring at the cold concrete.
“Does this unhealthy behavior of yours have something to do with your girlfriend?"
I clenched my hands, trying to keep myself together.
“Yeah, we... We just... kinda broke up..."
“So you're heartbroken now because of that.”
“...ha ha. Ya sure don't sugarcoat it.”
“I don't see the need to. In fact I'll say it to you right now;
you'll eventually forget about her and move on. That's what going to happen.”
I chuckled as I heard that, closing my eyes.
“I don't think it'll be that easy, Ririka.”
“It will.”
“No... It's just... I just...” I sucked my breath, trying to stop the tears that threatened to come out.
“I just love her so much...”I understood now. This is not emptiness. I guess... this is what they call 'pain'?
...
...
...
“Maybe you do have changed a little.”
I heard Ririka sighed and I reopened my eyes, seeing her already standing and walking toward the edge of the platform. A train waiting just beside her.
“Look, Nagisa-senpai. Summer holiday will start tomorrow. How about you take the time to calm yourself?”
I only flashed her a soft smile and she sighed again, walking into the train. Summer holiday, huh? I chuckled to myself, hearing the screeching sound of the rail as the train left the station.
I wonder if you will be able to forget me by then, Ryouha...=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=
“So this is the place.”
I lowered the piece of paper and put it into my pocket, staring at the simple yet fancy two storey house. This is Ryouha's home. And after being with her for almost year it was the first time I ever come to this place. I even got her address from Churi-san; that fact made me felt uneasy, right until the point where I felt disgusted of myself. I chuckled and stepped forward, reaching my hand toward the door bell. I rang it once and waited. But there was no response. I rang it again a few times but still no luck, so I pulled out my phone, dialing her number.
…
…
…
Click--“Hello? Ryouha, I—“
--”The number you've called is not available.”I froze as I heard that, my face fell.
--”Please leave a message after the tone.”I took a deep breath, holding my phone tighter.
“Ryouha, I'm in front of your house right now. I'm sorry, I know it's so selfish of me but I... I need to talk to you. Please.”
I couldn't stop my voice from wavering in the end, and I sighed, putting my phone back to my pocket. The road was so empty and I could faintly hear the sound of the cicadas in the air. The hot summer sun burning above my head and I gulped, relieving my dry throat. Beads of sweat started spilling down my forehead and I wiped them off, sighing under my breath. I waited there without moving. At some point my legs started to grow numb and I closed my eyes, humming some random song to distract myself from the sizzling heat.
CLACK-- I reopened my eyes as I heard that, turning into the source of the voice.
“Ryou—“
“What is it with you?”...huh? I froze, staring at the girl in front of me. It wasn't Ryouha standing by the gate; it was that girl I met back at Ryuugami High, the one who kept looking at me with that hateful glare. Even now she was there giving me the same look, one hand on her hip while the other one resting against a golf club. I tried to straighten myself, giving her my usual big smile.
“Hello, miss~ We meet again I see, ha ha.”
She looked a bit startled from my friendly greeting, before she deepened her glare. I didn't waver even a bit.
"Say, is Ryouha inside? Will ya be so kind to call her?"
"Well, will YOU be so kind to leave?"
"Eeh, but I can't~ I need ta talk with her."
"We're doing our homework so stop bothering us and leave."
"Then I'll wait."She looked at me with wide eyes.
"I'll just wait here until yer done with yer homework."
"We won't finish until nighttime."
"It's alright, just take yer time. I won't be goin' anywhere."
"..."
"So?"
"...you're so distasteful."
She slammed the gate in front of my face and I closed my eyes, before letting out a sigh. I rested my back against the wall, wiping more sweats dripping down my neck. Come to think of it, how many times had I made Ryouha wait before? Even though this is all started from a misunderstanding I guess I deserved this much. I covered my forehead and looked upward, watching the cloudless sky above. It seemed like even the weather were out to punish me. I swallowed my breath and smiled.
One, two, three...I mentally counted, trying to forget the heat.
Twenty one, twenty two, twenty three...The high temperature started to make me dizzy and I shook my head.
One hundred, one hundred and one...Six hundred and thirty two, six hundred... huh? What was it again? Aah, I don't know anymore. I held my head and laughed. My throat felt sore.
...
...
...
"You're a stubborn one, huh?" Hm? I opened my eyes and glanced to see that girl by the gate again, still holding her golf club as if threatening me.
"Just how many more hours you intend to wait?"
"Hello~ Yer done with homework?”
“Don't just ignore my question...”
“Sorry, sorry~ Anyways, can ya help me call Ryouha now?"
She gave me a growl and I tilted my head.
"I guess you really are her senior after all. I can't stand you; the two of you."
Senior? I stared at her, trying to decipher her words as she tapped her golf club to the floor lightly. Golf club. Golf club... Ah, could it be? I scratched my head, giving her a quick bow.
"Thanks for taking care of Ririka."
"Huuuh???"
I smiled, pointing at the metal stick.
"It's you, isn't it? The one chasing her out with that?"
"..."
"I know she can be a handful at times but that's kinda brutal, ha ha~"
"She deserved it..."
"Yeah, maybe she is."
"I'm still not letting you in."
"Then I'll still be waitin 'ere."
She closed the gate again, but not slamming it like before. I chuckled. She's actually a good kid, I see. I took a deep breath, tapping my finger inside my pocket as I hummed some more songs. My head started throbbing painfully and I closed my eyes again.
Ha ha, this is bad. I slid down the wall and crouched. My whole body felt sore.
“Pfft, I should've brought myself a hat. Ha ha~”
I flinched as I felt something dripped on my nose, and I looked up to the sky.
“...or perhaps an umbrella. Yeah, that would be better.”
=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=
It's cold... It's cold... It's cold... What time is it now?
I faintly thought, raising my shaky hand to look at my watch. Eight...nine...uuh, what's the number again...? Everything's just so blurry and I couldn't see. I coughed, before letting out a sigh. It's already dark as far as I knew, so it's probably night already.
“You... Are you some kind of an idiot?”
Ah, it's that voice again. It had gotten so familiar now.
“Hello...”
I greeted her again for the third time in that day, still giving her that same smile.
"Ya finished...with homework yet?”
“Homewo—
grrh, are you nuts!? Who cares about that!” She lashed out at me, but I simply tilted my head, giving her an oblivious look.
“Don't give me that look! Don't tell me you—you keep standing here without moving!?”“I...told ya I'll wait.”
“It's raining for god's sake! And it's been pouring down for hours!!”
“Yes, so?”
She slapped her face and I could hear her sigh.
“Just, what does Ryouha-senpai see in you...”
“Ha ha, I... wonder about that, too...”
I chuckled, resting my head on the wall to lessen my headache.
“You're right; I'm just an idiot. I'm insensitive... blunt... and hopeless with romance...”
“...”
“I even go as far as making her cry...”
I hugged my shivering body tighter. My mouth kept talking on its own.
“I'm so horrible, ain't I? I'm horrible, and that's why... I'll selfishly say that I want to see her one last time...”
I bit my lip, swallowing my voice.
“I want to tell her that I'm sorry... And that even though I'm bad at showing it, I—”
...uh-oh. My mind suddenly felt fuzzy and everything turned black.
“H-hey! What's wrong with you?”I could hear the girl's voice faintly, something cold and hard hitting my cheek. Did I collapse down the street? Ha ha, this is strange. And I thought they say an idiot can't catch even a cold? I took a deep breath, trying to calm my rapid breathing.
Hey, Ryouha. I'm sorry.
I know this is all started from a misunderstanding, but perhaps I too have hurt you many times before without knowing it.
You don't need to forgive me if you don't want to.
You can just forget all about me if that'll make you feel better.
But at least, just the very least,
will you listen to my selfishness one more time?
…
…
…
Let me tell you a proper goodbye...
And I love you, Ryouha...__________________________________________________________
Notice Me, Senpai! : Shibuya Nagisa Side // END >> onto the revelations...