Sayonara No Imi [Nogizaka46][Chapter III||290917]

[finiarel]

Sayonara No Imi

PROLOGUE: 6 Years Ago

Tick. Tick. Tick.

While staring at the clock hanging on the wall in front of her, she realized she’s been stuck inside the room for more than 10 hours. Just how much longer do they have to wait? She wanted to ask but seeing the man sitting on the desk in front of her she knows that he’ll only yell at her instead of giving her a decent answer.

She’s not supposed to be here.

If only she was better at keeping her emotion in check, none of this would have happened.

She wonders if that person knows about what is happening.

It would take less than half hour run to reach that place, but considering that maybe they would send someone to chase after her she would need to use another way which will take even much longer time. Even if she managed to do that there’s no guarantee that person will already be there.

However, if she waited until their usual meeting time she’ll most likely already on her way out from the city and she knows that they wouldn’t let her make any contacts with other people anymore.

She looked to her side where her young sister sat while reading a manga.

“I’m heading out for a moment, okay?” She said to the girl who in return gives her a bit frightened look.

“I’ll be back. I promise,” she spoke again this time in a much lower volume that could be counted as a whisper. After the younger girl nodded she squeeze her hands for several seconds then stood up, but her movement didn’t go unnoticed.

“What are you doing?” the guy on the desk eyed her in suspicion.

“I need to go to the restroom.”

The man sighed before standing up and gave her a signal to follow him, when their distance is close enough he grabbed her shoulder and led her out from the room.

“Escort her to the restroom,” he said to one of his subordinates, the other guy nodded after inspecting her from head to toes.

Unlike his superior, this guy is too scared to even touch her. Seems like escaping will be much easier than what she had expected.

The restroom is at the opposite end of the room that she was in, but before that, they’re going to pass another corridor that will lead her to the building exit.

She tried to calm her racing heart by clenching her hands but she stopped upon realizing the tiny thorns have started to grow from her skin. She could hear the guy that supposed to be escorting her letting out a slight groan of disgust.

She smiled a little, realizing that his revolt towards her kind work in her favor. Then she stomped her feet toward her right and started to move her legs as fast as she can. Her hands harshly pushed the door opened while her brain is trying to tell herself to don’t look back despite the shouting that she clearly heard.

She run, run, and run. Making an abrupt turn every now and then, choosing to go through alleys instead of huge streets. Despite the pressure, it’s not hard to do so because it is not her first time running from the police. In fact, she has lost count how many times she had done so over the last half year.

She was too fixated on running that she had no idea how long that she’s been doing so, but one thing for sure that she’s less than 100 meters away from her destination.

‘Ringggg’

A loud chime of a bell suddenly reached her ears, causing her to leap forward in reflex. Despite her successful attempt to avoid the bike to crash into her body, her long jump didn’t go that well, she stumbled clumsily when her foot touched the ground. It didn’t help when she realized the cracking sound that came when she used one side of her arm to keep her face from kissing the pavement.

“Great,” she muttered to no one in particular as she supports herself to stand up again, trying to pay no mind to several people around her who have started to whisper amongst each other.

She walks around and observed the sunny park, looking to each of girls around her age to find that person. Trying to ignore the side of her hand that throbbed a little after the fall, it’s probably bleeding, but she really has no time to pay attention to it. After a bit running from one side of the park to the other, she finally found the person that she’s looking for.

The girl is actually two years older than her, she sat on one of the park benches with her hands on her lap to stop the wind from lifting up the lower part of her dress, her beautiful eyes is taking the view of the tallest tower of the city.

As if realizing that someone has been observing her she turned right to where a short haired girl is standing.

“Nanamin, what happened?” she asked with a strained voice. The girl dark long hair is contrasting her short one. The soft dark strands are waving along with the hot summer wind as she stands up to approach her.

“They found us out,” Hashimoto Nanami replied with a sad smile, “both me and Asuka are going to the shelter.”

“Is Asuka-chan all right?”

“She is. You see, of all the options that I have this one is probably the best. Well, not for me but for Asuka. However, Asuka needs me so I’m letting them take me too, I’ll be going with her.” She locked her eyes with the person in front of her as she speaks faster than she usually is, “Thank you for everything that you did. Those books that you lend to me is still in my room, they didn’t let me meet anyone or go back home for the last time, so I can’t give them back to you personally, I’m sorry. You still remember where I hide the key, right?”

“It’s fine, actually the books were meant for you to keep,” she sighed after catching a glimpse of the short haired scratched arm, “are we never going to see each other anymore?”

The way her voice cracks before trailed away at the end alerting the other girl of what’s possibly going to happen.

To tell the truth, the young girl really wanted to say no, telling the one in front of her that somehow she will find a way, but to do so will be selfish of her, “that’s how it works for someone like me.”

She felt a little bit better after saying that, knowing that hiding her growing feelings for the other girl will be the best. It’s not like she had a chance from the first place, so she wouldn’t want to complicate the situation for both of them

“All of this happened because of last night, isn’t it?”

She doesn’t need to confirm to make her realize the answer of the question. They both know the rules, the one that she has been disobeying ever since her thorns grew for the first time and the other one that she broke last night.

“You know that I had to. That guy went overboard. I don’t care whether he knows you personally or not, or whether he’s sober or not, but he clearly was harassing you. I don’t regret what I did to him,” the short haired looked down to inspecting the little blood stain on her arm, recalling that it was also bloody last night but the difference is that the blood wasn’t hers, “he deserves it.”

She took several steps back when she heard a police siren that’s getting louder in every second, but suddenly the older girl grabbed both of her hands, squeezing it softly with hers.

This is not the first time for the girl to hold her hands but she usually breaks the hold in just a matter of seconds. Even though she knows that the legend of her kind’s deadly touch is not true, she is still afraid that one of her sharp thorns will leave a mark on the girl flawless skin. She doesn't think she would ever be able to forgive herself if that ever to happen.

However, this time is their last straw, so albeit still being hesitant she let her do so. Slowly her thorns started to shrinks before finally disappears beneath her skin. Seeing this the older girl smiled as if she is the one that has been waiting for this moment to happen for years.

“Say, if I told you that I’m falling in love with you and willing to wait… Someday, will you come back to find me here?”


AN:
Hi! So I've decided to post the prologue first, I'm really really sorry for not being able to finish it in time, the past couple of supposed to be a day off weeks has been so hectic for me because of the whole moving stuff and now orientation week is here already and I'm basically  when it comes to writing fanfictions. Nevertheless, I will still continue this story and also Sakanatachi. So see you later 

Nanamin, Happy Birthday and Congratulation for your graduation 
For me Nanamin is not just an idol, I wouldn't hesitate to call her my role model. That's why when Nanamin announces graduation I was really sad, I don't know any other idols that I can relate to. But then I realized that this is what she want and after all the hard work that she has done I believe she deserves to have it. I might not be a Nogizaka46 fan since their beginning and I kinda regret that, but despite that, I could still be able to have a chance to admire Nanamin and I am thankful.
That's why, with this I'm saying my farewell to Hashimoto Nanami of Nogizaka46 and wishing that she'll have an even greater life ahead of her



 

[wakaten]

i'm too happy for you to finally posted it here, well you kinda kept your promise to upload it the day Nanamin grad.. (so i want to comment right away)
 
but i'm also sad for her graduation.. i didn't realized she has that kind of effect to me,. seriously.. she grew bigger in me, and like you.. she is my role model too

so, now back to the story, the girl definitely is maimai right?? HashiGawa is always there and i cannot to dislike the pairing.
how irony it is right after maimai grad, nanamin followed...

so far i like the prologue, sasugaa my fav author, saiko dayo!! (my poor japanese)

and, so... there will be maiyan, matsun, misa and waka right? (i hope so, based on mv hahaha)

btw, let's work hard together in balancing private life and our fanaticism..

UPDATE SOON!! 

[@gee]

NICE PROLOGUE...
I've been crying all day because Nanamin's graduation, I've been binge watching her MV and still crying everytime I watch her Naimononedari MV....
Damn Feels.... Although she's not my number one oshi in Nogizaka (it will always be Reika) her graduation still leave a deep bittersweet feelings to me. It's sadder then Maimai graduation, because she'll leave for good from the showbiz.

Anyway.... I want to thank you for your nice prologue... it's save me from binge crying that I've been planning to spend my night... somehow this fic make me realize that we can still remember her through her works and of course through a fanfiction. I finally realized that it's not the end of the world (even if it still feels a bit like that to me and maybe for you too) and I should make some departing gift for her too...
Now I became more motivated to continue my fic about her, and it's all thanks to you...

PS:
I hope you can overcome the sadness of her graduation, and change it to motivate you to make the greatest fic for her....

Oh and I can't wait to read what happens next between the Hashigawa pair...


Sorry for the long Comment though... ^_^

[ミサキ]

finally you posted it !!

so the story is basically from Sayonara no Imi MV? i've just realized that after I read it for 3 times 
and is that maimai? HashiGawa pair

anyway thank you for the fic... you managed to write it.. i know that you are still busy with real life please update soon finn!!

and about nanamin graduation... for me, it's not that sad like maimai... but still we lost that short haired girl that always shows her pouting face, everyone's role model, and daddy figure.... 

[finiarel]

Notes: This story is adapted from Sayonara No Imi Music Video, however in order to make more sensible plot there are several things that will be changed. Also, I really have no idea how Shitoushiki works so what I write in this story is purely based on my imagination mixed with a little bit of information that I gained from the MV.

CHAPTER I

“Hashimoto Nanami-san.”

The sound of her name seems to echo through the shrine hall and crawling along the wooden floor. She blinked a few times, not expecting her name to be the one that's going to get called. Suddenly the world seems so quiet, her ears could only hear the sound of her own heart that has started to beat faster.

Noticing the man gaze that lay upon her is starting to turn cold, she realized that she was taking too much time. She nodded before standing up from her seiza sitting position, hoping that she wouldn’t look like she is losing her balance as she walks forward.

Stopping 5 steps away from the man she kneels down. Actually feeling a bit uncomfortable because her thorns are reacting to her emotion and have already grown a few inches from her skin, causing a little bit problem with positioning her hands on each of her knees.

The person in front of her carefully took a thorny crown from the little table beside him. She lowers her head, letting him place the crown on the top of her head.

“May the God of peace always watch upon us,” the man said, before turning around to start the prayer.

Hashimoto used to wonder what does it like to be the person wearing that strange looking crown. She also used to wonder what does it like to be chosen as the representative of her kind.

Well over the last two years she has learned that despite always being dubbed as an honor, the duty of being the chosen one to wear the surprisingly light crown isn’t enjoyable at all. In fact, from all the past ritual that she has heard and 5 that she has experienced there’s only one case where a person that is not chosen volunteer ended up to be the crowned one at the ritual.

She closes her eyes, softly inhaling through her nose and exhale through her mouth, immersing herself with the sound of prayer chant, hoping it would ease her racing heart.

More than 100 years ago the people of the country was ruled by a group of greedy shoguns who made other people suffer in poverty and hunger. Protesting will lead to a death sentence, disobeying the orders will lead to a more unimaginable punishment which will make the suspect beg for them to just kill him instead. With their ruthless samurais as their wall, the shoguns were untouchable.

Until one day a curse was fallen to the shoguns and their reliable protectors. Thin and sharp thorns started to grow from beneath their limbs skin. They have called every physician, even some of them had come from far outside the country. Nevertheless, there was no one that can help them. Even when they tried to cut the thorns from the skin it would start to grow again after some period of time. Strangely somehow the thorn has become a part of their body.

Upon seeing this the people of the country took their chances to roll over the situation and banish them from their position, which lit the flame of war between both sides. Blood was everywhere, making the country even more dangerous than before. Perhaps because of their much larger number, the normal human was at the winning side and they weren’t stopping, with their sharp thin blades they try to slay every single thorn humans or as they called them, shi-jin.

At the end, knowing that if the war continues nothing will be gained instead of more bloodshed of their kind, the shi-jins beg the human for reconciliation, saying that they won’t bother the humans again as long as they let them live. The humans agree and both parties signed a treaty which is followed by a ceremony of thorn removal for some of the shi-jins.

It’s believed that Shitoushiki-the name of the ceremony, is necessary as a symbolism that humans and shi-jin could leave alongside with each other despite their differences, while the act of slaying the thorns illustrate how shi-jin had surrendered and will let the humans determine the punishment for those who disobeys the treaty.

Ever since that day, the ceremony is performed yearly with a representative chosen randomly through a simple yet sacred election ritual. Some believe, that the Gods actually play a part on having a particular name chosen. They believed that this is why a Shitoushiki without the true chosen representative had never gone smoothly.

She blinked her eyes twice, realizing that she was getting lost in her own mind instead of paying attention to prayer chants. Hesitantly she looks straight ahead and sees that the man who leads the prayer has stood up to retrieve a tray of offerings, their eyes met for a moment and she realized that she should be standing up and follow him, which she quickly does.

Right before the altar, he waited for her to reach the spot right next to him and let her place the offerings down. When she finished putting down every single thing on the tray, both took one step back and do their finishing bow.

With the help of the man, she took off her crown placing it carefully in a box that will keep it safe from any harm.

“Hashimoto-san, after this you should have your lunch with everyone else, but after that, I’ll have you meet the human representative. Also, you should start thinking about 4 people that you want to escort you. Since we’re supposed to start practicing tomorrow I expect you to give me the names at dinner time today. Do you understand?”

She nodded as she stole a glance towards the other girls who are making their prayer, “Tokuyama-san, when exactly the arranged meeting time with the human representative? It’s my turn to do chores today, I will have to tell someone beforehand if I couldn’t do it because of that.”

“She should be here by 1 PM, you should tell someone to switch with you because I expect you to be on time.”

Again she nodded before she realized the first word the man used in his last sentence, “she? The representative is a she?”

“Yes. She’s actually the direct descendant of Nishino- the human representative who sign the treaty.”

Hashimoto raised her eyebrows part of her couldn’t believe what she had just heard but chosen to don’t prolong the conversation and end it with a curt nod before turning her feet to where the shelter house is. As she makes her way she keeps her eyes looking straight ahead in an attempt to ignore the paper signs stuck on the iron fence of the building.
 
The lunch time goes by without her needing to talk much, that’s not surprising since the other Shi-jins seems to be avoiding her. She couldn’t blame them because she also did the same over the last several years and to be honest, she’s also thankful that they chose to do so because after what had happened she had somehow lost her will to converse.

She was taken by surprise when she feels a hand on her shoulder when she’s washing her plate, “seriously, have you ever heard of the term greeting with words instead of a touch?”

The girl behind her chuckled softly, “sorry, Nanamin, but should you be preparing to meet the human rep? It’s fine to go ahead, I’ll take care of your portion of chores.”

“Thanks. Let me finish this one first,” she smiled in gratefulness at the other girl.

“Sure. Anyway, has he told you to pick a few people for the escort?”
She wiped her hands with the towel hung on the wall, taking a step back to let the girl occupy the space in front of the sink, “Yes, he did.”

“You should choose me. I have been in your place before, three times-even. So you shouldn’t hesitate to ask for my help,” the long haired said sincerely before tying her hair up in a ponytail.

Hashimoto couldn’t help but stare at the other girl’s moving hands. Despite the beautifully light tone of her skin, there’s a long line formed across the back of her hand, starting from the part below her thumb to the start of her little finger. A grim reminder of how dangerous the ceremony could be.

Hashimoto gulped down the sudden anxiousness that has fallen over her, “will do, thanks for everything, Maiyan.”

“Your welcome. Take care”

She nodded and tried to smile a little as if to assure her that everything is going to be just fine, “you too. See you later.”

The walk to the study room where she’s supposed to wait until the human representative come is short lived and once she’s inside she shut the sliding door behind her and take a deep breath. Now that she already got one person for her escort she just needs to think about 3 other girls. She is aware that she has every right to choose whoever she wants and that person would not be in a position to refuse, she is also aware that being an escort will not bring them any harm, but still she feels the need to make sure that she’s choosing the most capable person.

After prancing around the room for several minutes she decided to open the window and sit on the railing, balancing both of her legs on top of it. She could hear a faint sound of people talking behind the door meaning that the human representative has arrived, but choose to place her focus on making paper plane instead of trying to listen, after all, she is not the kind who would bother to eavesdrop things that are not for her to hear.

She wonders about that Nishino girl, is she around the same age with her? Is she much younger? Or maybe much older? How does she look like? She probably could guess about her features since she had seen the girl older brother before, he was actually a representative for the human a few years ago.

Personally, she thinks that it’s strange that the humans chose a girl for their representative, after all as long as she can remember they always appointed male descendant for the role. It’s supposed to be the same for the representative of her own kind. However, the male population of her kind is actually on the brink of extinction, maybe because they usually run away from the shelter and try to disguise themselves as a normal human. Just like her father.

Her fingers played with the paper plane, still could not decide whether to let it fly away or not, while her thorns appearing and disappearing every now and then because of her nervousness. She noticed that the people behind the door have been more silent. She couldn’t help but to think whether they are still there or not, more importantly, just how much longer does she have to wait?

She averted her gaze from the plane to the door and that exact moment her movement is halted because she realized that the door is opened a little bit. Revealing three girls staring at her in bewilderment.
 
One of the girl seems to be surprised that she saw them and close the door shut abruptly.

Hashimoto stands up, not knowing what to do. Does she have to tell them that it was fine? She really wanted to do so but she is aware that being a representative doesn’t give her the allowance to make that kind of pointless contact with a human. On the other hand, that short unexpected moment is truly bugging her, especially when she remembers their face upon seeing her thorns.

Because the last thing she needs is having the representative afraid of her.

~To Be Continued~

AN:
Hi! So I’m trying to get this out as soon as possible so you guys could have a slight idea about how the story would be. Also, I think I’m going to try to write more from Nanamin perspective which is the opposite from the MV, I’m hoping that would leave me more room to improve and build the story.
After this update, I’m going to focus on both this story and Sakanatachi so it probably going to take some time. See you later

replies

@wakaten:

but i'm also sad for her graduation.. i didn't realized she has that kind of effect to me,. seriously.. she grew bigger in me, and like you.. she is my role model too

so, now back to the story, the girl definitely is maimai right?? HashiGawa is always there and i cannot to dislike the pairing.
how irony it is right after maimai grad, nanamin followed...

Yes that's the thing about Nanamin, I guess. You think you don't really pay attention to her but before you know it you actually look up to her so much  Yep that girl is maimai, and of course there's no disliking hashigawa, they're cute

so far i like the prologue, sasugaa my fav author, saiko dayo!! (my poor japanese)

I'm glad that you like the prologue, I hope you will like this one as well, thanks for supporting my works 

and, so... there will be maiyan, matsun, misa and waka right? (i hope so, based on mv hahaha)

And Yes of course, there will be maiyan (she's probably not the main character but I'm always up to write something for my oshi) and also matsun, misa, waka, reika and the other girls that appeared in the MV.

btw, let's work hard together in balancing private life and our fanaticism..

Let's do so! I hope we can do a better job on it

@gee:

NICE PROLOGUE...
I've been crying all day because Nanamin's graduation, I've been binge watching her MV and still crying everytime I watch her Naimononedari MV....
Damn Feels.... Although she's not my number one oshi in Nogizaka (it will always be Reika) her graduation still leave a deep bittersweet feelings to me. It's sadder then Maimai graduation, because she'll leave for good from the showbiz.

Thank you very much. I'm glad that you like the prologue 
Yes, Nanamin graduation it's sadder because we won't get to see her anymore.... But she doesn't want to be idol from the first place, so I'm glad that she has chosen to follow her heart and do what she want... okay I'm getting emotional

Anyway.... I want to thank you for your nice prologue... it's save me from binge crying that I've been planning to spend my night... somehow this fic make me realize that we can still remember her through her works and of course through a fanfiction. I finally realized that it's not the end of the world (even if it still feels a bit like that to me and maybe for you too) and I should make some departing gift for her too...
Now I became more motivated to continue my fic about her, and it's all thanks to you...

I'm glad that this can help you to move on from crying phase  Yes, we can still remember her through so many things that she has done at her time in Nogizaka and fanfiction could also be a way. Hahahaha of course nanamin graduating feels painful but it's not the end of the world, in fact, I'm pretty sure it open a whole new world for nanamin herself. Now that you mention it, for me, writing this story help to let her go much easier, so maybe you should make something too 

PS:
I hope you can overcome the sadness of her graduation, and change it to motivate you to make the greatest fic for her....

Trust me, that's what I'm trying to do

Oh and I can't wait to read what happens next between the Hashigawa pair...


Sorry for the long Comment though... ^_^

Hmm... because I will be following the MV plot, hashigawa pair wouldn't appear much, actually. But this story is an eventual Hashigawa, if you can understand what I mean 
And please don't be sorry, I love reading long comments 

@ミサキ:

finally you posted it !!

so the story is basically from Sayonara no Imi MV? i've just realized that after I read it for 3 times 
and is that maimai? HashiGawa pair

anyway thank you for the fic... you managed to write it.. i know that you are still busy with real life please update soon finn!!

and about nanamin graduation... for me, it's not that sad like maimai... but still we lost that short haired girl that always shows her pouting face, everyone's role model, and daddy figure.... 

it's understandable that you find it hard to realize that    but I'm flattered you actually read it 3 times, wow 

Your welcome! I'm actually was surprised that I could get the prologue out on time, but nevertheless writing is one of my favorite ways to spend spare time so 

Nanamin hit me harder than maimai, maybe because I started to become a big fan on Ima Hanashitai days and maimai graduated not long after that so I didn't have more time to fall in love deeper  but maybe it could also because I can relate to Nanamin in being the first daughter / eldest child in the family  I think I will always consider Nanamin as a father figure in Nogi and also always my daddy  Thanks for the comment tho 
 
DADDY I MISS YOUUUU

[pretend_2besome1]

You’re starting a new fic! An interesting one at that. I was wondering if anyone will write something based on the PV and here you are.

“Say, if I told you that I’m falling in love with you and willing to wait… Someday, will you come back to find me here?”

Whew...that’s some ending for the prologue there. The older girl is brave and bold, yet gentle at the same time (must be the Holy Mother).

No, Maiyan’s hands! The person who made that scars should be punished even if it’s part of the ritual’s risk.
I like that it’s from Nanamin’s POV. Because the MV feels more like a Nanase MV instead of even if it should have been Nanamin’s song.

Can’t wait to read how you’re going to write the MV world in your fic 

[finiarel]

CHAPTER II

Throughout the meeting, neither she or Nishino Nanase- the human representative, say more than a simple yes and I understand. Well, maybe because what they have to do is mostly listen to what the priest is saying and do several things under his instruction, such as taking a sip of sake as a symbolism for hope to do well together.

She and the girl are seated to face each other, but she’s highly certain that the other girl is trying to avoid locking her eyes onto her by pretending to be massively interested in the tatami floor. To be honest, Hashimoto had expected a look of curiosity or maybe disgust or if it’s none of the above she had expected for the girl to be more strong looking, the one who would meet her gaze in confidence. However, she shows none of them.

Perhaps the girl is still in shock after what she sees before the meetings. Hashimoto couldn’t help but to wonder if that was the first time the girl had seen shi-jin thorns clearly, that will actually explain her reaction.

While exhaling the air from her lungs she tries to control her mind, pulling her shoulder down a bit in hope that it will help her to keep her emotion stable. That seems to work since her thorns obliged to stay beneath her skin.

“Now, you may shake hands,” the priest said normally as if he’s saying the ‘you may kiss the bride’ in one of the weddings as if nothing bad could happen.

She was quite taken aback with the sentence and realized that she’s not the only one. The girl in front of her has finally averted her gaze from the floor to Hashimoto’s hand.

Hesitantly the shi-jin held out her hand for the girl, but the girl doesn’t make a movement, she just sat there frozen while her eyes are following every single move of Hashimoto’s waiting hand.

Hashimoto looks at the girl's eyes, hoping that she would meet her gaze so she could assure her that it will be fine, that she is keeping the thorns under control, but the girl wouldn’t even look up. However, albeit slowly, Nishino Nanase held out her trembling hand, inch by inch her hand moved closer to the shi-jin’s waiting hand.

Nonetheless, before she could even touch it, Hashimoto retracted her hand.

She couldn’t do it.

She is aware that the girl and the priest are looking at her in confusion, but she’s not going to do it. Instead, she stood up and ran from the room, ignoring the priest who called her to stop and also almost crashes into her sister who had just come from school and probably was looking for her.

As she runs she couldn’t push the images of what just happened. Nishino trembling fingers and the way she tried not to meet her eyes has hurt her feelings, and that’s not just something that her mind came up with, it’s easy to prove the truth because once she realized what’s happening it’s only a matter of seconds for her thorns to come out and show her emotion to the world.

Hashimoto clasps her hands together as if that could soothe her mind instead of adding another pain from little cuts that the thorn caused to her palm. Somehow her legs bring her back to the study room where she had waited for Nishino less than an hour ago. Her thorny hands moved forward to open the window once more. She looked at the huge tree outside and halted.

It’s not going to be that hard for her to jump to one of the stronger looking branches, it’s not even 1.5 meters away from the house. She’s also pretty good at climbing up and down from trees. Once she’s down it will be easier for her to go to the small yard at the back of the building and jump over the fence, the area that she might have to pass are usually empty, especially now that the shi-jins are gathering inside one of the rooms on the lower ground.

The shi-jin took a deep breath, looking at the tree that has somehow turn into something so irresistible, and feeling the wind softly hitting her face as she started to lean forward, she lifted up her right foot to the railing, planning to use it as a momentum for her jump of freedom.

She closed her eyes, trying to settle into a decision, knowing that once she fled she wouldn’t want to turn back, a long time ago she had decided to not fickle upon her decisions and she plans to stay true to that.

She opened her eyes, her lips curled into a sad smile as her mind take her away to another girl outside of the region, the girl that until this day is still waiting for her to return. She had never declared her promise out loud, afraid that it will put an obstacle for the beloved childhood friend to move on once she manages to find someone better than her. However, silently she promised that if the girl doesn’t find someone else, she will come back to her side.

She sighed, knowing that the human that she loves the most wouldn’t be delighted if she runs away from here right now. The girl always put her high expectation on her, which she will try to fulfill with all her might and strength.

She heard the soft sound of the door sliding behind her, yet she keeps her eyes to the little bird on the tree, still trying to prepare herself for whoever it is that’s coming.

The person clears their throat, but the voice came out softer than she had expected. Hashimoto slowly turns her head to meet the newcomer, her expression is full of sympathy but not the fake kind because from how the person slowly rubs her own arms in discomfort, she could see how she’s concerned.

“I take it the meeting ceremony didn’t go smoothly?” she asked.

“That’s an understatement. I may have actually ruined it,” Hashimoto admitted as she retracted her foot from the railing to slide down and sit on the floor with her back facing the wall.

Shiraishi Mai sits next to her, eyes looking to the ceilings as if she’s finding the correct thing to say.

“I didn’t let her shake my hand,” Hashimoto explained, pulling her leg closer to her body.

“You’re afraid that she’s afraid,” the older girl states the accident perfectly as if she was there when it happened, it doesn’t surprise her that Shiraishi could predict that, after all, she has been through the same thing too.

“I guess my anxiety kicked in the moment I realized that. I would probably hurt her if I didn’t retract my hand,” the representative give a look of annoyance to the thorns on her skin, “ but well, I shouldn’t have run away.”

The long haired nodded, “what’s done is done.”

“Do you think it will be okay?” Hashimoto asked, keeping her eyes on the girl as she waited for an answer.

“I don’t think shaking hands are compulsory, so it shouldn’t be a problem for the shitoushiki. However, I think what you did can be viewed as rude, hence I think Tokuyama wouldn’t let this problem slide, he most likely will give you a plain-boring-but-important lecture about manner.”

Hashimoto sighed trying to make a plan on how she should face the priest after this and probably she should face Nishino to apologize too, “I think I should apologize to her. I might have gotten her offended.”

“Well despite how we’re not supposed to make unnecessary contact, if you really want to do so I think it’s possible to do that if there are a lot of people around, like when we have a meeting regarding position later today.”

Hashimoto Nanami sighed, she’s not the kind of person who enjoys being the center of attention, she had always tried to avoid them, but seems like doing so will be impossible now.

The sound of door sliding opened gained her attention, she looked up and find her sister there, looking as despondent as she usually is.

Shiraishi Mai stands up from where she sat, giving the younger girl a little smile before turned her head and softly said to the older one, “if I were you, I won’t apologize, maybe that could be a little push for her to do her job properly.”

Her words have successfully sent a chill onto Hashimoto’s brain. Realizing how the representative expression has turn into a bit frightened Shiraishi shrugged as if to tell her to don’t even consider what she had just said and left the room. Her sister closed the door behind her, before did a half run to her side.

“You should go, now!” She said in a rush, while her head is peeking out from the window to check the situation, “it’s clear. You’ve got nothing to worry about. I can also cover for you for several minutes to buy you some time to get away.”

The teenager stopped when she realized that her sister hadn’t move a single inch for where she sit. She raised her eyebrows, couldn’t comprehend what the older girl is thinking, “you don-”

“- it’s fine Asuka, I’m not leaving,” she slowly said before adding, “well at least, not before the ceremony.”

The young girl gawked at her in surprise before her expression hardens into a complete disagreement, “No. If anything, this should be the reason that you have to go now.”

“I’m not going to. I am chosen and I’m not going to abandon it.”

“So what? Are you one of those people who think shitoushiki such a sacred ceremony and it’s an honor to participate? Well, nee-chan, it’s probably an honor for the humans, but it’s nothing but a pain for our kind.”

Hashimoto placed each of her hands on the girl’s shoulder, “but still, one of us has to do it. I have given people a lot of trouble and I will make more, at least for once I could do something good.”

“You don’t have to offer yourself to be slain with a katana to do something good,” the young girl took a step away from her, from her sharp biting tone, Hashimoto knows that the girl is trying to figure out a way to get her out from the ceremony.

“Don’t worry, it will be fine. I mean that Nishino-girl must be pretty good to get chosen as first girl representative,” her reassurance came out a bit weak.

“Really? They probably choose her to restore good old family name that has been tarnished because the first son failed miserably last year and now running away ashamed.”

“Asuka!” Hashimoto reprimanded, “that’s clearly none of your business, I thought you are better than that.”

Surprisingly, the girl replied with her tone increased, “I also thought you are better than this, nee-chan.”

Hashimoto sighed, as much as she wanted to yell at the young girl for being stubborn, rude and improper, she couldn’t. She knows that all of this is also hard for the young girl. Even though she’s not going to be involved, she has always hated the ceremony, so having her own sister wearing the thorn crown must be agonizing.

“You know what? Say what you want, but you should keep that kind of words between the two of us. I’ve always try to keep you away from trouble so you can legally go out from this place someday, so I would be really thankful if you keep trying to protect your untarnished records.”

Hashimoto was struck with guilt as soon as she finished her sentence, however, she’s not going to take them back because she feels the need to put it out bluntly so the younger girl can realize how much she wants her to not having to live her life like her.

Asuka clenched her hands in a failed attempt to keep her thorns from surfacing, her mouth was forming a straight line before she started to reply, “Fine, as your wish.”

Hashimoto sighed, hoping her sister wasn’t just saying that half-heartedly and would actually try to keep her words.

~To Be Continued~

AN:
Sorry for the long wait... I'm even busier now  but well here it is, I hope you will like it.

Replies:

@pretend_2besome1:

You’re starting a new fic! An interesting one at that. I was wondering if anyone will write something based on the PV and here you are.

Yes! Here I am with Sayonara No Imi MV inspired fic. The MV is actually one of my most favorite and I really want to do something for Nanamin graduation, thus' this fic is written 

Whew...that’s some ending for the prologue there. The older girl is brave and bold, yet gentle at the same time (must be the Holy Mother).

I was actually afraid that was too out of character for Maimai, but still settled into putting that in the story. Looks like it's actually works 

No, Maiyan’s hands! The person who made that scars should be punished even if it’s part of the ritual’s risk.
I like that it’s from Nanamin’s POV. Because the MV feels more like a Nanase MV instead of even if it should have been Nanamin’s song.

Yeah I feel bad to write that for Maiyan.. Like even though she's not the main character, she's still hurting 
Yes, I figured that I should write it from Nanamin POV, because we know more about Nanase from the MV. I think they were trying to tell Nanamin's story via Nanase's eyes there, but yeah it ended up with Nanase being too prominent...

Thanks for the reply 

[finiarel]

CHAPTER III

Hashimoto Asuka thinks that fate is joking with her. Spinning her life around in the most twisted way possible. From the beginning, she was never one to sympathize with the need to do a Shitoushiki, from the time when the priest told her everything about it and why it is necessary, she always thinks that it is foolish, she even had bluntly voiced out her opinion on this matter.

In her opinion, there never was a peace between the humans and shijin. It’s not really a peace when the human has a higher standing than her kind, allowing them to do as their wish, treating them like nothing but a poisonous being. They have to hide while being scared for life hoping not to make a single mistake that would pretty much rob them out of the tiny bit of freedom they have left.

To tell the truth, she’s sick of it- of being a shijin and also for having to live among humans. Sometimes she feels like they should maybe team up and start a rebellion, sure there will be a lot of casualties but they say true freedom comes with a cost and she thinks it will be worth everything even people’s life.

However, of course, she can't-do so, not if she pretty much owes everything to her sister who has done every single thing that she deemed necessary to have her live as normal as possible. This is also why she was 100 percent approve her sister plan to leave the village and go back to the city, she had even promised her that she would take care of herself here in the village, do her best to make everything goes smoothly and after she finally come of an age without any single spot in her records she would be able to legally leave this place and meet her sister once more.

A week ago, everything was going smoothly until the day when they have to decide the Shitoushiki representative came. She wasn’t there when they had announced it as the one that is eligible participate is those who are at least 18 years old and only candidates and the priest should attend the little ceremony, hence she was doing her normal routines as if nothing big is happening in the shrine.

However, this year she’s finally of age to witness the ceremony for the first time and just like her most of the girls in the class has also turn 16, which is why the other girls were talking about the ceremony excitedly, wondering about who will be the Shijin representative since her classmate’s older sister is going to be the one representing the human.

Even one of them had dared to ask her about whether she knows who will represent her kind or not. Which she coldly answered with a no.

“Wow, they don’t even let one of their people know about it? That’s really strict,” Kitano Hinako the girl who is always cheerful had somehow failed to notice how she tried to push her away with the short and strict answer, instead the girl- who sits right in front of her is actually scooting her chair closer to her table which makes her feels a bit uncomfortable. “Then who do you think will get chosen?”

She couldn’t take it anymore, she hates how they are acting as if this is some sort of entertainment that would be enjoyable to watch. She slammed both of her hands onto the table, which surprised pretty much everyone who hasn’t left the class and said in a low tone.
“I don’t care.”

She noticed how the girl had leaned back, most likely afraid that she would do something foolish that would hurt her. She scoffed and roughly shoved all the books on her table into her bag, not saying anything else before leaving the class with everyone’s eyes on her.

She feels lucky that the class has ended as she doesn’t think she would be able to face her classmate again for the day. So, she started to walked back home as she hoped her poor table is somehow free of any damage because of what she just did totally involved the thorns.

Once she’s home she went straight to the room that she shared with her sister and two other girls, placing her bag on the floor and pranced around the room before realizing that it is awfully quiet today. Raising her eyebrows because of the rare occurrence she decided to look for the others, taking note that they had finished announcing representative this morning, usually after that, the girls gathered in their backyard.

However, when she passed one of the room that is used for accepting a guest the door suddenly slide open, revealing the priest, the girl that she has never seen before and her own sister who was the one who opened the door and by seconds has passed through her in a half run towards the other side of the building.

“Nee-chan?”

Her sister didn’t answer her gaze stick to the floor as her hands clenched on her sides, she could clearly see her thorns protruding from her skin. She stood fazed, her brain couldn’t comprehend the situation, why would her sister have to meet with someone on the watch of the priest even.

She had actually figure out the answer ever since she saw the older girl walked out from the room. However, she couldn’t accept it. At that moment, she realized that she doesn’t want her sister to get hurt that’s the reason for her to try staying as calm as possible besides how she found herself on the verge of lashing out a lot of times.

So, Hashimoto Asuka tried to find where her sister went, which lead her to the study room. From outside she could hear the small voices of two people talking, so she stopped herself from pulling the door open and opt to stand still and wait for the two people inside to finish their conversation before entering the room.

She was glad that Shiraishi actually decided to give both of them privacy as it is what she needs to have her sister run away from the window while buying more time until someone notices her disappearance.

Nevertheless, the older Hashimoto said no.

She couldn’t stand it, how a ritual that she hates so much and has to witness for the first time in her life will have her sister putting her own wellbeing on the pedestal. Just like she couldn’t stand her classmate who keeps talking about how her sister is really honored to stand in that position. Every time someone mentions it, she wanted to scream, to say that it’s not actually fun and games for them.

But she has promised that she wouldn’t ruin it, so she keeps her silence, albeit sometimes she still lashed out and shut them out with a harmless but rude gesture.

If only she could she would prefer to act like the ceremony is not happening, just like how she did it in many years before. If she could just like how she did it in many years of her life she would like to just skip it, not even going to breach that topic whenever she is around the other shijins.

Sadly, that’s not an option for her this year.

In two years her name will be among the pools of the other mature shijins, having the same chance as the others in the pool to be called for being a representative of a shitoushiki. For the shijins ever since they turned 16 they are not just allowed to observe the practice and the ceremony but it is compulsory for them too.

However, she is still trying to avoid the practice as much as she can, with a reason that she has school, well at the several first practices where the shijin rehearse independently from the humans she was somehow able to do so. Too bad that the practice where both parties will do a mock ceremony is taking place after school time ends.

So, with a heavy heart, she drags her foot towards the area where they practice, trying to keep her ear shut from the chattering of her classmate who walks a few meters ahead of her, irritated by herself for forgetting her earphone at home.

A lot of times she caught Nishino Miona looking back at her, with eyes looking troubled as she tried to tone down the topic about the practice that is taking place. The girl also knows the truth about the ceremony and what went wrong with it a year ago. For someone coming from the founding family, she must have heard about that, especially because it deals with her own older brother.

“Say Miona-chan, do you think one day you will stand in your sister place?” Hoshino Minami innocently asked. “Isn’t that how it works? I mean it used to be your brother being the representative, now it’s your sister, so someday it’s going to be yours, isn’t it?”

Asuka bets the short-haired face would be pale by now, she unconsciously paid her attention to the girl, silently waiting for her answer.

“It’s more complicated than that,” she softly answered.

“Well, maybe when it comes for you to take the turn you will have Asuka-san to be the shijin representative. It would be really cool.” Kitano Hinako butted in with her ever cheerful expression on her face, “right, Asuka-san?”

To tell the truth, that time there’s nothing she wished more than to slap the girl out of her lack of knowledge. But she is aware that might be more of society fault than the person, so she just pretended she was too busy with her phone to even notice. Good thing that Kitano wasn’t able to repeat the question as her friend tried to distract her with some stuff about assignments.

That’s when Asuka decided to take another direction on their next turn, choosing to walk the long as it means she doesn’t need to listen to them more. It is also good that she will be able to cut several few minutes of the practice where they would have told her to introduce herself to the humans.

She has no idea whether the way that she had chosen is truly much longer or is she the one who was walking as slow as possible, but once she finally reached the grass field with a small wooden stage where people gather to either practicing or watch the practice, the quarter of the mock-ceremony is already done. She could see the disapproval looks of the priest for her lack of punctuality but she decided to ignore that.

That’s when she noticed that Nishino Miona is not just spectating the practice. The short-haired has a video camera in hand, looking focused as she records every second of the action.

At that moment, there is one thing that she could think of.

What if she uploads that to the internet?

It is already bad enough that people will definitely say something mean about their kind, mocking her sister who will be the face of the shijin, but what’s even worse is that possibility of more people will know about the older Hashimoto. In this case, if she ever ran away, there’s a possibility that someone might recognize her and report her especially if they notice that the older girl is close to a human.

That video could destroy Hashimoto Nanami future just as much as the blade that is currently going to slain the tiny space between the thorns of her hands could.

The future that the girl long so much yet prohibited by the law. The one that she has always hope her sister will have.

Thus’ Hashimoto Asuka took a step closer to the short-haired and tried to snatch the video recording device out of the girl’s hand, “don’t record it. You shouldn’t. It’s not right”

“I already got a permission,” the girl said, holding the device even tighter so that she wouldn’t be able to take it away.

“Oh yeah of course, because you humans are always so special, aren’t you? Is this not enough for you guys that you have to show the entire world that you are taking charge? That you could just easily do everything and have right to judge every-single-thing that we do while we basically have no rights at all?”

The girl looks flabbergasted and half-shouted “what are you talking about?”

“Just STOP THE RECOR-”

She could feel someone is holding her left wrist, pulling it away from her classmate’s video recorder. She tried to get away from the person tight grip, but it was too late.

She heard a cry of pain as the person took a step away from them, covering her palm with her other hand, face twitching in pain as blood started to drip down from the palm, glided smoothly across her skin till it reached her elbows before finally fallen to the grass beneath them.

The person is the human representative, the person that irked her so much despite not even had interacted with her before.

A part of her thinks that she should have felt happy about this, yet somehow, Asuka feels nothing but excessive guilt.

Asuka clenched her fist, feeling more terrible that she has ever been, her eyes albeit afraid moved to her sister who stood up to approach them but in response was shoved away by one of the human escorts who is dressed in blue.

“Don’t! You will only make it even worse,” the human escort said as she approached the representative in a protective manner, she looked up to the priest and ask “can we please end the practice for the day? Let me take care of Nanase.”

The priest looks troubled but nodded as soon as the long-haired girl finishes the sentence. The person gave a brief nod as an acknowledgment before pulling the hurting girl gently by the shoulder, keeping a protective arm across her back as she guides the girl away, carefully instructing the girl to keep a pressure to the cut as they walked.

“I am sorry,” Asuka apology came out weak and let as the person concerned is already in the distance where they wouldn’t be able to hear her soft whispers, her thorns protruding to reminds her of the misdeed.

This was the first time she had truly gotten someone hurt physically. Not before this day she had ever experience a stronger feel of guilt and fear.

For the first time over the last few years, Hashimoto Asuka shed a tear.

~To Be Continued~

AN:
Turns out it's been 5 months since my last update. Whoops
Well despite how my life has been hectic I was having a problem with this story, like how to connect one piece of information to another. Which is why I decided to make this chapter Asuka centric- It's gonna be back to Nanamin centric on the next one so enjoy 

[rightsaver143]

Waaahhh!!!!

So this story is based from sayonara no imi mv but on nanamin’s pov 

I hope there is nanamai (nanase x maiyan)

I wonder who is the person who puts her arms on nanase’s shoulder when she’s hurt  kazumin?

Well looking forward to the next chapter/s

[four4four]

Why did Maimai and Nanamin have to get separate?
How did Nanase's brother mess up?
Looks like we will see a change in Asuka's character. 
Will Nanamin be able to escape from her fate?

I will found out next time on the next episode of Sayonara No Imi! 
Looking forward to the next update.

[rightsaver143]

Author-san 

I’m still waiting

So pleeeeeaaaaasssssseeeee 

Update it