A short thank you gift for my constant commentators
O r i g a m i-san and
Rukaeru-san. And of course, for all AtsuMina/non-AtsuMina fans
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6. Then And Now“Shortie! Shortie! Shortie!”
*sob sob*
“Hehe, are you crying, shortie?! Miss your mommy already? Then, she won’t come, will she?! Haha, shortie!!”
*sob sob sob sob*
“Get away from her! Leave her alone, you brats!”
“Oh, look who’s here! The princess! Came to save your shortie? You know you won’t be able to protect her forever, princess! Haha!!”
“She might be short, but she’s stronger than you! Look at yourselves, fatties, uglies, beasties, toothless kiddies!!! Get out!!”
“Ha, it’s boring! Let’s go have some fun!!”
“Hey, are you alright?”That’s what I asked her, and I remember her sobbing harder, thanking me, and running away. She tripped halfway, but somehow managed to stand up and safely hided from me...
I wonder how she’s doing... Is she the same cute short girl, crying over the slightest thing? Is she still not able to properly skip and trips at least thrice a day?..
I always protected her from those bullies... They all, even myself, had parents, while she was living with only her grandpa, who drank so much, she stayed the nights at kindergarten... Life was cruel to her then... I hope she’s living better now...
I think about her everyday.. Silly me... She probably forgot me, when I left... My parents went to Australia, I went with them.. Now I’m here in Japan, three years already... I still can’t stop thinking about her... Everything, even the birds chirping outside the window remind me of her...
*bing bing*
Ah, it must be another client, who came to buy a ring for his lover... That would be the seventh today... Well, Yuko will handle, whoever it is...
“Acchan, come for a sec! Someone is looking for you!” I hear her shouting.. Me? Who can be looking for me.
I go to the counter and look up at the person. For some reason my heart starts jumping in my ribcage, as I look up and down a short female, her hair in a ponytail with a huge ribbon on top of it. That ribbon...
“Minami?” I ask, and I can hear my voice is shaking.
“Atsuko...” she smiles genuinely, and I feel like crying. I see her worried face, her hand is suddenly on my cheek, wiping the tears that fall like rain. “I thought you forgot me...”
“No... I always thought about you, everyday... I hoped for you to come, stumbling with your steps, falling into my hands... Ah, what I’m talking...” I blush and shake my head. “Silly me... You probably came to buy something for your boyfriend...” my voice cracks at the end of the sentence.
“Mhm... Do I look like a girly girl to you?” she flashes an awkward and sad smile. Then beams a huge grin. “I came to see YOU.”
“Minami... Why are you still keeping that ribbon I gave you on your 5th birthday?”
“Because it’s you who gave it to me. You were always important to me, always. I never stopped thinking about you, hoping to find you one day, and prove to you I became stronger. Just like what you said to those kids back then.”
Looking at her sincere eyes, listening to that gentle voice, hearing those sweet words I leave the counter and hug her firmly, all the stress abandoning me in a matter of seconds. I feel her hands hug me back. Strong warm hands, comforting and safe embrace.
“Atsuko... Please, be my friend.”
“I am your friend, I always was, and I will always be, Minami.” I smile and let out a chuckle.
“That wrinkle on your nose, so cute.” she states and kisses lightly on it, while tiptoeing. I close my eyes, and feel my cheeks burning hot.
“So cute, like always.” I hear her giggle, then she hugs me again. I open my eyes and see Yuko waving, as she silently leaves the shop. Probably for a date with Riku, her fiance.
“Minami... Never let go of me, okay?”
“I promise, Atsuko, to always be by your side.” she says, and I feel the warmth hugging my heart and spreading through the whole body. It’s so good to hug her after so many years. Especially knowing we’ll be always together from now on.
THE END.
REPLIES.@Rukaeru: well... thank you
@hidden_player: I agree, they are cute, dem AtsuMina. I will continue, don't worry
@Crossing Crossroads: Ah, I made you comment on my fic!!!
LOL, I also support wWatanabe, and I'm glad I made you like them as much as I do, too
Mhm... You gave me an idea, but I'm not sure when I'll be able to make it into a fic , but the idea is
Thank you
@O r i g a m i: Yuko-sama is always amazing, anytime, anywhere, etc..
And I'm glad you missed my AtsuMina fics
@Haruko, Pdpond: Thank you for reading and commenting!