Arghh I'm so stressed over this fic @.@ Too much inspiration is a bad thing isn't it?
But, I have chapter 7 done so here!
Hey! Just Smile:
Chapter 7 - Unleash, Release, Retract
I covered my mouth in shock, and blushed at my sudden outburst. Am I already too late?
I cleared my throat and folded my arms. May as well ask the question now. "Jaa, who is this person?" I stooped over the counter and rested my chin on my palm. I waited for a response from Koharu who was having trouble answering my question.
"Well actually, you know this person. She's come by here a few times remember?" She paused and fiddled with her bracelet before answering, "K-Kamei Eri?" I could visibly see her gulp. She has it bad for her doesn't she? Seeing her so nervous about this, there's no doubt about it.
I drummed my fingers on top of the counter in thought. What should I do now? Clearly she's asking me for some sort of advice when really I'm the last person who would want to help her get with someone else. Agh! Should I be a good usa-chan and give her advice or take out my poison tongue? B-but this is Koharu! I can't do anything that would hurt her feelings but...
"Sayu?" Koharu tilted her head to the side and snapped her fingers at me. "So?"
"You admire Kamei-san right? She did save you from those guys that kept hitting on you, so why wouldn't you? and I guess she's... c-c-c-cute..." I struggled to get the last word out, then I cleared my throat. "A-Anyway, so that would lead you to really look up to her right? So I'm thinking that you don't really like her, but just really admire her! Yup thats it! I mean you can honestly confuse yourself between the two! Trust me!" I laughed nervously and clenched my hands. That was advice right? Not exactly good advice, but hey.
"But... I kind of feel that its way past that."
I sighed, "What makes you think that?" I asked, my voice hinting irritation at what Koharu said.
"I don't know." She shrugged her shoulders. "Whenever I see her it’s like nothing else matters anymore. I would do anything for her just to see her smile." Koharu started smiling and she seemed as if she was looking far away. "There's never a time when she's not on my mind... I've never felt like this for anyone else."
I felt my heart sink just then. That means... I'm nothing to her huh...
"But what do you think Sayu?"
What do I think? I remained silent, still hurt from knowing that Koharu doesn't think of me in the way I want her to think of me as. I wanted to walk away and just sulk in my misfortunes, yet I felt like I still had something important to say, something I
should say. "I know how you feel."
"Eh? Why, Sayu do you have someone you like?"
Instantly I could feel my cheeks becoming red and my heartbeat increased. If I wasn't so nervous I swear I could have felt sweat trickling down my forehead. I looked at Koharu who was intently staring at me. Now I regret not taking the chance to walk away.
I nodded reluctantly, "I do."
"What! How come you didn't tell me?" Just then, I felt my eye twitch.
"It’s you.” Koharu’s eyes shot open and her mouth was gaping open, as if what I said was the most scandalous thing ever.
“I mean Yuuuuu...Ko Haru" I said, laughing awkwardly at my stupidity. “Yuuko Haru, ahahah... ha... ha.”
"Oh good,” Koharu put a hand over her chest and stepped back to breathe, “I thought you meant me!" I reached for my magazine and began to crumple the front page, releasing my frustrations. “I would’ve died if you said that!” She then started to laugh.
I crumpled the front page of the magazine completely and ripped it off, still smiling. Why Sayu?! Why!? It was such a perfect opportunity to tell her directly how you feel and then! and then! I mentally kicked myself in the face. Myyyyy gawd... Now I’m getting mocked. Great. If I tell her how I feel she’ll die? Just dandy.
I rested my head on top of the counter and covered my head arms. "Koharu..."
"Yes?" Koharu stopped laughing and tried peeking in on my shielded face with that cheerful grin and those googly eyes of hers.
"Just go upstairs and change."
Confused for a few seconds, Koharu reluctantly replied with a ‘yes’ but then quickly changed her expression to cheerily skipping upstairs to her room to change. I remained in the same position, resuming mentally kicking myself in the head at not taking the chance to tell Koharu how I felt. I looked back at the past months since I decided I loved Koharu and realized how I’ve done nothing about it. Pathetic. Now Koharu is close to being snatched away by someone else and I haven’t even managed to tell her how I feel. Can I really handle just standing by and watch her being taken away? Can I really handle Koharu being with someone else?
“Noooooo.” I said, replying to my own thoughts while groaning.
“Sayu~!” Koharu came down the stairs, dressed a bit better than she usually would. I scanned her appearance and raised an eyebrow. That was fast, but why is she dressed so nicely?
“Are you... going... somewhere?” I said pointing at her clothes, my eyebrow still raised.
“Yeah, me and Kamei-san are going shopping. We just went home to change that’s all. Mind not telling my mom that I skipped school?” Koharu asked putting her palms together and bowing.
She skipped school just for her and they both went to the beach together... Is Kamei-san that important to her?
Can I really handle just standing by and watching her being taken away? Can I really handle Koharu being with someone else? NO.
“Not if you take me with you~” I replied to her request, pouting and crossing my arms.
Koharu shot back up, surprised, “B-but Sayu you still have work! If my mom comes back to find out that you’re not here, she’ll fire-“
“Don’t worry, there’s that new part timer coming in today right? She’ll be here in a few minutes. Even if Sayumi gets in trouble Koharu-chan will cover for me right?” I said using my cutest, sweetest voice possible, complete with a wink and peace sign. “You won’t let your buddy usa-chan down right?” I added pouting.
Slouching, Koharu sighed and frowned, seeming as if she didn’t want to take me along. “Come on.”
I ran around the counter clapping in glee. Koharu took my hand in hers unenthusiastically, and we walked out the bakery together. I giggled in happiness as I hugged Koharu’s arm closer to my body.
=================================================================The sun was now setting. People rushed from one point to another to go home, the streets filled with tired and hungry people. Junjun and Linlin chatted among themselves in their native dialect while they walked down the sidewalk, their shadows becoming long.
Linlin nodded along to what Junjun was saying while chewing on the anpan bun she didn't have the chance to finish from lunch that day.
Junjun sighed, "That school isn't the same anymore. When I was there, it wasn't exactly peaceful, but now it’s a nightmare! No one even listens to authority anymore. Kids these days..."
Linlin took another bite from her anpan bun and replied with her mouth full, "Authority? Don't you mean you just suck at teaching? You've also never worked a day in your life, y'know being a pampered rich girl and all." Linlin swallowed her food in and soon after took another bite from her anpan bun. "It's a miracle how you got that job as a sub,
and for my class."
"Wait, didn't I say I would pay for half the rent and pay for the groceries too?" Junjun added, whining.
Linlin stopped walking and looked up at Junjun with disbelief. "Now
that’s just ridiculous." She then laughed through her nose, making a snorting sound and shook her head. Linlin walked ahead of Junjun who stood still annoyed, and continued to shake her head, laughing.
Pouting, Junjun followed Linlin, angrily stomping through. Catching up to be by the shorter girl's side, she lifted her head up and sighed in defeat. Her eyes wandered through the crowd of people going to and fro, when finally she noticed someone familiar.
"Linlin! Linlin!' Junjun grabbed the back of Linlin's shirt and pulled her in front of her. She bent over slightly and hid behind Linlin.
"Whatever it is you're hiding from, hiding behind me isn't doing a very good job of covering you. You're too big." Linlin laughed, only to feel Junjun hit the back of her head hard. "Oww!!" Linlin rubbed the back of her head in pain, Junjun nudging her to walk forward.
Linlin frowned as she quickly turned her head to look at Junjun. Rubbing the back of her head she faced forward and smirked at the sight of who it was Junjun was hiding from. "OH TANAKA-SAN!!" Linlin waved her arms in the air and yelled over to Reina who was walking down the opposite side of the sidewalk. Reina looked up, her eyebrows rising, to see who it was that was calling her.
"Shh!!!" Junjun covered Linlin's mouth, muffling the girl's voice.
When she quieted down, Junjun let go of her. "Geez, what did you fight about
now? There's, like, never a time when you aren't fighting. You guys sure are weird friends."
"Iunno, at first she got mad about me quitting school and then—"
"You didn't tell her about the thing about you becoming the company president did you? I'm sure if you explain it to her she'll understand. But, Junjun... I have to say the way you're going about it is very childish of you."
"What?" Junjun said becoming annoyed.
Linlin ignored Junjun and continued, “It’s pretty weird though for Reina to get
that mad about you quitting school. I would’ve expected for her to actually just scold you shortly then shrug it off. Most of the time she acts as if she doesn’t even want you... there...hmm, maybe... oh my gosh, is it possible?—No way!!— Maybe Tanaka-san...!” Linlin shut up abruptly and looked up at Junjun with a playful smirk, knowing something that the older panda didn’t.
“What do you mean? What are you smiling about?” Junjun said raising an eyebrow.
"Noooothing~ Welp! No use talking to me about it," Linlin got behind Junjun and put her hands on the taller girl's back, "Go sort things out!" Linlin said grinning as she pushed Junjun forward with the most force she had. “TANAKA-SAN OVER HERE!!” Once again she lifted her free hand and waved it frantically in the air for the cat like 20 year old to notice.
“Stop that!” Junjun’s cheeks began to show a bright shade of pink before she shook Linlin off her back. “Wait where are you going??”
“Get me something at the bakery!” Linlin ran off towards their apartment, leaving Junjun to sort things out with Reina by herself. “I’m totally rooting for you two. Ohohoho.” Linlin said to herself quietly and giggled, her hand covering her mouth.
Although sometimes childish and boy-like, Linlin had a strong want for others to get along with one another, especially for her friends and family. Helping Junjun make up with Reina seemed like the right thing a friend would do.
Reina emerged through the crowd of people walking in the opposite direction and nonchalantly greeted Junjun, cleverly disguising how awkward she felt just walking up to the taller girl. When she saw that Linlin wasn’t there, her legs became weak and she felt like dashing past the older foreigner. Gulping, Reina tried to avoid making eye contact with Junjun who was equally feeling awkward about meeting her under such circumstances.
“R-Reina... what brings you here? I mean, don’t you live near the other side of the city now?” Since Junjun was uneasy in Reina’s presence, she had trouble getting her words out and instead wound up sounding angry.
Right then, Reina’s mood changed to being a mix of nervousness and irritation, “If you didn’t want to talk to me why bother calling me over.” She said rolling her eyes and frowning. “Now if you excuse me I have to get going.” And with that, Reina began to push Junjun out of the way and resume making her way to Aika’s house.
“W-Wait!” Junjun grabbed Reina’s arm and pulled her back, earning a few strange looks from the shorter girl and the people around them. “I know we haven’t been talking these past few weeks since our argument...” she started looking down, her grip on Reina’s arm loosening, “There’s a lot I haven’t told you about; why I decided to quit school and why I’ve been acting really stubborn about it lately...”
“Uhhmm, Junjun? There’s someone behind you.” Reina said pointing behind Junjun.
“Huh?” Wondering who it was, Junjun turned around and saw a familiar face—one of her father’s lackeys, Hiro. Knowing what he had come to her for, her stunned state of mind immediately changed to that of warning and by instinct she grabbed Reina’s hand and began running back up towards the school. “Come on Reina run!!” Caught off guard, Reina stumbled on her first few steps, one of her heels slipping from her foot. Now scared about being captured by the burly looking man, she took the fallen shoe from the ground and threw it at Hiro’s head, the sharp heel of the shoe directly hitting in between his eyebrows.
“Gahh!!” Hiro bent over and held his head in pain. When he looked at his hand he was surprised to see spots of blood on it. In a whining voice he called out to Junjun, “Madam~! I have only come to retrieve you. That was absolutely unnecessary!” Ignoring his bleeding forehead, he went after Junjun, his speed slightly slowed and his steps heavy.
“Jun carry me!” Reina tugged on Junjun’s sleeve.
“What!?” Junjun stopped to turn around, her eyebrows rising up in surprise at the strange request.
“If I go down you’re going down with me!” Confused, Junjun hesitantly bent over and offered her back for Reina to climb up on. As Reina climbed onto her back, she looked back at Hiro who was now fast approaching them.
“What are you doing?! Go!” Reina slapped the back of Junjun’s back to get her moving.
“Geez, have you gotten heavy?? I haven’t carried you since high school and now you weight a ton!” Junjun tried running at top speed but the noticeable weight added onto her back caused her steps to become heavy and slow down. Not wasting time to look behind them, she forced her legs to move under the extra weight. Junjun noticed the uneven distribution of weight on her back, making it difficult for her to run. “Can you hold on properly?? If you fall I can’t afford to waste time by picking you up again! Like this-“
While running, Junjun took Reina’s hands which were loosely placed on top of her shoulders and wrapped them around her neck. “Put your head beside mine. You’ll strain your neck moving your head so far away from mine.”
Blushing, Reina snugly tightened her grip around Junjun’s neck and moved her head so that her cheeks would be touching Junjun’s. She hoped that the older girl couldn’t feel the warmth from her now red cheeks.
“
Back in high school I didn’t really mind riding on Junjun’s back but... I feel so conscious about it now.” Reina remained quiet, relishing in the feeling of being so close to Junjun and closed her eyes. She could hear Junjun panting and at the same time her heart beating in her ear. “
If me and you became lovers, would I always be able to feel this warmth?”
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Peering through the glass display cases belonging to one of the department store’s many make up brands, Sayu began to choose which makeup kit she liked the most. Living by herself in the city, she had many expenses to take care of. Make-up and clothing were never paid much attention to and were only thought of when she had extra money laying in her wallet.
Beside the self proclaimed usa-chan, Koharu and Eri stood beside one another, exchanging their recommendations of concealer, blush and lip-stick. Various shades were spread out one of the glass display cases in front of them and some were held in hand. They both talked amongst themselves which due to Sayu’s jealousy, sounded flirtatious. Sayu sighed at how she had been shunned and left to amuse herself. Although she had said to herself that she would do something about the increasingly intimate two, she found herself having trouble breaking into their conversations. Only having met each other a few weeks ago, the two seemed as if they had known each other forever, causing Sayu to become envious.
“U-Uhhmm!” Sayu raised her voice slightly to get their attention, yet it had no effect. Koharu and Eri yapped on about what shade of lipstick would best suit the nicknamed turtle.
Pursing her lips together, Sayu turned around and laid her chin on top of her palm, drumming her fingers on top of the display case. “Is that...?” Sayu narrowed her eyes to get a better look at the pair of friends looking at clothing. Despite one of them wearing eyeglasses and a hood, Sayu immediately recognized who it was and jumped. She tugged on Koharu’s sleeve repeatedly to get her attention.
“Koharu look! Isn’t that Ai-chan?!” Sayu squealed in happiness, “Even in real life she still looks so cute~” Sayu added, her eyes twinkling with admiration at the rising, young actress.
“Hmm? Sayu is she waving at you?” Koharu said, her eyes widening in surprise.
“EHHHH!” With her mind now completely focused at her favourite idol, Sayu ran up to Ai-chan with glee, her squeals filling the department store.
Eri ducked her head from behind Koharu to see what her and Sayu were excited about and saw Ai-chan waving at her. Shy, she smiled and waved back. When she saw Risa walking beside her, her smile faded and she hid her face.
Ai-chan put a finger over her lips to tell Sayu to be a little quieter in order not to draw attention. She laughed, scrunching up her nose and walked up to Sayu. Ai-chan bowed and likewise Sayu did the same thing, soon after giving her favourite idol a hug. An unknown adrenaline rush had filled Sayu and before she knew it she immediately began spilling all the details of her fandom to Ai-chan.
“Koharu?” Eri hid behind Koharu, holding onto the taller girl’s sleeves. Koharu looked down at Eri wondering what it was she wanted. “Can we go to a different store? There’s that new one down stairs; let’s check it out.” Eri said, quickly glancing at Risa who noticed and in return gave her a concerned expression.
Unexpectedly seeing Risa like this after she had just told her how she felt that morning caught Eri off guard. She had promised herself that she would forget about Risa but to see her constantly like this made it difficult for her to do so.
Sensing the abrupt change in Eri’s mood, Koharu looked back at Risa and thought that she might have had something to do with it. The look of concern Risa kept giving Eri and the multiple times Eri glanced back told Koharu that something big must have happened between the two, an event connected as to why Eri seemed so down in the morning.
“
Is she the reason for why Eri was crying?” Koharu took one last look at Risa and nodded. She began walking, “Let’s go. Sayu probably forgot about us by now.” She said laughing.
“Eri!” Risa emerged from Ai-chan’s side and rushed towards Eri. Koharu turned around, yet Eri remained stagnant. “I need to talk to you. Please don’t keep running away from me.”
Eri slowly turned around her, face emotionless, and looked up at Koharu who stood glaring at Risa. “Koharu, please excuse us.” Eri said now staring directly at Risa.
“
Only this time.” Koharu walked past Risa and bumped shoulders. When they stood side by side, she gave her a quick glare before changing it into a smile for Ai-chan. “
Don’t do anything stupid now.”
Once the seventeen year old had left and went over to Ai-chan and Sayu, Risa began speaking. “I know you’re feeling down, but you don’t have to keep avoiding me like this.”
Eri smiled faintly, “I need time Gaki-san,” she paused, “Meeting you already... it’s making it hard for me to get over you.”
Risa’s eye shot open wide and her heart sank. Somehow she felt sad, “But Eri we’re still friends right?” Risa searched Eri’s eyes for an answer and yet found nothing. The girl before her remained silent with her head down. “Eri we
are still friends right?”
For a few moments Eri remained silent before answering, “I need time. Just—for now—leave me alone.” Eri began walking over to Koharu who was keeping a close eye on Eri from the corner of her eye while she exchanged emails with Ai-chan.
“Eri!” Risa called out to Er. Eri stopped walking, her back still to Risa, “It was really painful—that month you ignored me. Not talking to you or seeing you hurt a lot... So please, hurry and come back to me.”
Eri laughed sarcastically. Even though she knew Risa only saw her as a mere friend, the way she sounded right then made it seem as if they were together. She felt happy, but the feeling felt bittersweet. “You have Ai-chan right? Don’t do anything to make her jealous now.”
“I’m sorry—“
“Sorry? For what? Don’t say sorry as if you regret being with Ai-chan.” Eri began walking towards the entrance of the department store. She knew it was rude to suddenly just leave Koharu and Sayu, but the mixed emotions she felt of sadness and pity for herself was enough for her to ignore that fact. “I confessed knowing I would be rejected. Remember Gaki-san,
Ai-chan is your girlfriend not me.”
Risa nodded slowly, reflecting on what Eri had said, and watched as she walked away from her and moved to the entrance of the store, leaving the four behind. Turning around, she looked at the ground with loneliness in her eyes, and went back to where Ai-chan and the rest of them were.
Sayu chatted on with Koharu and Ai-chan. Even though she was extremely excited about finally being able to meeting her idol Ai-chan, she couldn’t help but listen in on Eri and Risa’s conversation as well with interest. Several times she also caught Koharu sneaking in glances at the boke and tsukkomi pair. It annoyed her that Koharu was looking out for Eri like that, but to her it made the whole situation even more interesting. Having heard most of the details of Eri and Risa’s conversation she learned a very juicy bit of info about Ai-chan that not even gossip magazines such as
Friday knew about.
“
That person Niigaki-san and Ai-chan are dating?” Sayu giggled to herself making sure Ai-chan didn’t notice. She stopped when she realized something else. “
And Kamei-san confessed to Niigaki-san but got rejected? That explains why she’s all over Koharu.”
Sayu moved her eyes and looked at Koharu chatting pleasantly along with Ai-chan. “
Koharu... she’s just using you.”
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Topic: Hey! Just Smile: Chapter 8 - Nobody Nobody but... Me? 09/15 Update (Read 12222 times)