@ScarletWings: Thanks for your comment. It's sadder than I thought when I first planned it, sorry! But I can assure you that the ending will not be sad. The main focus of the story is Yuki so that's why I want it to develop into something that's good for her character, if this makes any sense....
Chapter 6 (Sae POV)
A/N: Since now the truth is fleshed out (not that it wasn’t obvious in the first place), I want to write a chapter from Sae’s point of view. There’s nothing new in terms of plot advancement, but please bear with me here!
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I feel my body slowly disintegrating from outside in.
My life, if you can call it that, is over.
“It’s totally worth it!” I shouted out as my last expression of gratitude.
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flashback back to 48 days ago Dunno when it was, but I started having consciousness and has been living in Yukirin’s room since.
My master looks after me well, even though her attention is divided between homework, books and music.
Sometimes, she tickles my paws for fun, and sometimes, she talks to me about school or things that bother her. Sometimes, she even sings in front of me and make stupid moves like the “Tapioca dance.” [A/N: this is real readers. Please google Yukirin doing it.]
Occasionally, she’ll put me in a bucket of foamy water and watch me swirl, swim and roll in excitement. She’ll laugh at my clumsy moves and rubbed my nose gently, telling me to stop. Then she’ll carry me out to the backyard for some sunbathing. After that I will look all refreshed and smells like flowers.
I bet she doesn’t know that dogs do get tanned, darou?
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Genking, genking!
She calls me.
How can I not be genki for her?
I wish I can reply to her calls with a yelp sometimes. But I can’t do it, I’m just a doll after all.
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Recently, my master has been troubled. So troubled that she won’t even share what’s wrong with me. Almost everyday, she came back from school crying. But I can tell that someone’s not treating her well. Her school bag is full of dirty ink and pins. Who’d do that to such a sweet girl?
“If you are real, you probably won’t smile at me now, will you? Will you wipe the tears of such a useless person?”
She said to me as she rested her face on one of my paws.
Of course I will! I tried to shout with all my might. But I failed. She’s now fast asleep with me in her sweet embrace.
I’m so desperate to comfort her now that I feel like crying.
I can’t, I can’t even creeeeyy…because I’m just a toy. My mouth perpetually curves to a smile like I’m mocking my master.
Yukirin, Rin-chan! As I always wanted to call her a nickname of my own.
I will do anything, ANYTHING, to cheer you up again…
Suddenly a bright light appeared and I looked up.
“I hear a very moving plead…” an angelic voice echoed from the light source.
“But aye, all creatures must follow one rule: to be rewarded with fruits of success, one must forgo something equally precious, they say.”
“Yes I can! Please let me talk to her!!”
“An object can only choose to be alive or dead, not halfway in between. Dear puppy, the best I can offer you is 48 days of being human, but in return, you will cease to exist after this.”
“I will!!”
“Don’t speak in such haste! It’s a cruel offer, puppy. You do know what it means to ‘cease to exist’ right? Everything you know, the comfort embrace you are in, the carefree life you are given…all of this will be gone for certain, in 48 days time.”
“I am determined to do this. If I see Yukirin getting sadder day by day, and can’t do anything about it, it’s worse than the torture of knowing my end will come soon!!”
“Ok then,” The bright light flickered. “I shall grant you your wish.”
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Here I am, with hands and fingers and feet, all dressed in a neat school uniform. I’m in a small hut with nothing inside. I want to know what I look like…and bwah!! A puff of smoke appeared with a mirror. Seems like I can dream of anything (reasonable) and get it here.
I checked my slightly tanned face in front of the mirror and tried to grin.
The girl who is my reflection looked back at me with a genki smile. Yosh! I’m ready to see my Yukirin!
Walking out of the hut, I felt a huge force pulled me and suddenly I find myself outside a Shinto shrine. I looked back and grasped.
The hut I was in is actually no larger than a shoebox…whaddaaaaa…kind of magic is this!!? There are other small huts besides mine too but none of them looks enter-able. I made a mental note to make sure I can get home safe for the next 48 days and ran to school.
Wohohohowow! It’s so good to be alive! Everywhere is pink as sakura started blossoming in the cherry trees. It’s still not the peak season yet, but spring is here alright! The strong winds brushed against me, peeling a layer of dullness off me, leaving me fresh and giddy.
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At school, all my plans worked out without much of my planning, lol
I was assigned to the seat beside Yukirin. I grabbed her hand energetically and said “From now on, please take care of me!” Now that I’ve grown in size considerably, I realized how slender and small Yukirin actually is.
The only part where it didn’t seem to have shrunk due to the change in my perspective is her nose (just kidding…hahahaha), and well, her…um…assets.
Damnit!! What am I thinking??
The save-yuki-from-bully plan shall begin NAU!!!!!!!!!
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It’s not that hard to identify her bullies. They’re the only ones hostile to her at class, while all other people are quite indifferent and cluster into their own groups.
I wish Yukirin can just lift her head from the textbook to look at all the wonderful friends she can make.
Cha-chan! As the new kid in the block, everyone came to talk to me without much of my effort. After getting to know each one of them, I decided that I better let Yukirin break into a circle of strangers first before tackling her classmates. The school band will be a good place to start.
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Every time I see Hiro and her gang draw close, I either give them a fierce look, or flirt with them annoyingly to shoo them away.
“Such a loyal dog to her master huh, newbie?” One of them snorted.
Because I am, you idiot! I said to myself.
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Quickly, we both found our places at school. The band members are really really really really yasashii ne….Even though Rin-chan warms up to her friends sooo slowly, they never excluded her. Please!! I beg silently: quick and discover Rin-chan’s quirky side!! On the other hand, I’m having fun with basketball too, and found myself having a blast with Yuko!
Dunno why, but I have a feeling she’s a real squirrel sometimes. Is she my kind as well?
Anyway, there’s also Sayaka, this holy-!@$#$^&%*(&* goddess that’s so pretty and powerful, elegant and schexy at the same time. I keep thinking to myself….ne, if I’m going to have a second life, I want to be like Sayaka!
The only sad thing amidst of all this fun I’m having is that time is catching with me, fast.
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In the basketball courts…Rin-chan just landed on top of me. [please see chapter 3- the basketball practice part] Gosh, our noses are squashing against each other’s. Is that why the gods made me a potato nose like Rin-chan’s too?
I…. think I’m heating up as I feel every inch of her on top of me. I can’t help but think about her slender torso, and her you-know-what weighing upon my chest. Arghhhh! I’m not becoming pervy like that squirrel!!! Nothing in me is under my control now— it’s like I’m under a petrifying spell! I’m gonna burst into fire and die!!
“Hana to hana, chu chuuu shimashita!” Yuko woke me from my daze and I finally sat up in embarrassment. Rin-chan looked uneasy too. Did I just detect a smile on her pink face?
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Rin-chan finally opened up to me about Genking’s disappearance! I’m so happy that she worries about me so much. Of course I will not laugh at you! I wanted to cry in joy but I can’t let you know I’m Genking.
”...you are very important to me too..”
I want to make sure I didn’t hear this wrong…Can I really take a special place in your heart? Why is my own heart racing so quickly?
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“Miyazawa Sae!” Opps…I got caught…
By none other than Sayaka…
“I can’t believe what I just saw! What are you?” She flashed a stick with strips of white paper dangling at the end.
Sayaka actually lives near the shrine because she’s a daughter of the priest. I should’ve been more careful when I entered my hut [A/N: disguised as a mini shrine like a hokora, usually for local deities. Of course, Sae wouldn’t know the names], but she saw me go in last night and waited for me to come out for the whole night.
“Sayaka! Please let me explain!! And put that away from me, what the hell is it anyway? It’s blocking your face!”
“Oh,” the Gorilla dutifully retracted her haraigushi [A/N: the shinto wand priests used on purification rituals] and said, “You better be talking sense then.”
I explained everything to her, including my bargain with the gods.
The extremely glass-hearted girl is now bawling her eyes out.
“Saepo, are you crazy? You’ll die!” She hugged me and said.
“Well, I was never alive in the first place…But look!” I beamed. “Everything is working according to plan. Rin-chan met amazing people like you! Slowly she’s changing herself and becoming more confident each day. I’ve never seen her like that my entire life!”
“It’s true Sae, but you played a big part in this too…”
“Big or small, my role is make her grow up, and Genking is succeeding!” I pumped my fist.
After that, we sat beside each other in silence.
“Sae-chan, you have roughly 3 weeks yet. I just want to warn you: don’t fall in love with Yuki-chan.”
“Fall in love? What’s that?” I scratched my neck and wonder if thoughts like wanting to touch her assets count.
“*Sigh* Just don’t let your heart beat too fast around her, okay?”
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On Open Day, band show…[chapter 4A]
“Yukirin! Yukirin!” I cheered loudly. She’s dressed in checkered skirt and a red vest that covered part of her long-sleeved white blouse. They were dancing to Aitakatta, and they look just like AKB48. It’s one of the groups Yukirin loves. I wonder if Rin-chan will become an idol one day?
They were all so energetic, but I only have eyes for my Rin-chan. When she winks at the part “Aitakatta, Yes, kimi ni~~~” I’m sure she’s pointing at me. *Kyun kyun <3
Then another exciting dance number followed— Love Machine— they changed into goofier outfits to match the song’s mood. Fu-uh, fu-uh, they are really bombing like a dynamite!
Nippon no mirai wa (wow x 4)
Sekai ga urayamu (yeah x 4)
Koi wo shiyou janai ka! (wow x 4)
Dance! Dancin’ all of the night
Rin-chan has become a totally different person on stage. Her eyes sparkles in delight and her face lits up with confidence.
In the last song, Rin-chan changed her outfit to a simple white dress. Befitting of her name [A/N: the kanji of Yuki’s name is not snow, but they share the same sound], and the song’s theme, “White Love”.
She’s swirling round the mic-stand with slick moves under the jazzy introduction, like a pro. I am totally sucked into Yukirin’s world of winter beauty. She’s such an angel. I paid attention to her every move, trying not to miss any details even as small as the flick of her bangs.
Anata no tame ni ikite, ikitai… [I want to carry on living, for your sake…]
I felt a squeeze in my throat after hearing this last line. Quickly giving her a huge fist-pump, I ran away, hoping to hide my welled up eyes from her.
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In the haunted house… [See Chapter 4B]
The fluorescent light lits up, revealing my bloody palm and a scared girl lying beside me.
“Daijoubu??” I quickly asked this innocent looking girl with pigtails. She almost smashed herself into the ground because of this stupid trap of mine!
Luckily, Haruna and Yukirin seemed to have cheered her up! I’m so relieved! Rin-chan has now brought me to the changing room downstairs to treat my wounds.
The antiseptic hurts!!!! I tried to suppress my pain but end up wriggling around my seat.
Rin-chan noticed too, so she kindly fed me a few peppermints and patted my head. Aww…if everyday can be like that, I don’t mind getting more cuts….!
She’s now pressing on my wound to stop the bloodflow. Silence fell between us and my eyes fell upon her fingers.
Her hands feel so soft even though they’re clasping tightly onto my palm. It’s white and beautiful, like her dress.
“Rin-chan, your fingers are so nimble…” I raised my other hand to touch her. Recalling the performance just now, I praised her. “You were so great today. Even the way you lifted your pinky when you held the mic makes my heart dokidoki…”
I look up and see her looking at me. It’s the first time I look at her face like this. Usually I just pay attention to whether she’s happy, sad or things like her crazy reactions and winks. But this time, I look at her for who she is—a beautiful young lady— and scrutinize every detail. A force pulled me closer and closer to her. My gaze focussed on the thing I’m concentrating on— her lips. I want to examine them more closely. No, I want to feel them with my own lips.
“Stop!”
I jolted back.
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“Sae, you are playing a really dangerous game here.”
“I’m sorry Sayaka.”
“There’s no use to apologize to me. I’m just worried about you.”
“I…don’t understand…It’s like there’s a magnet that is pulling me closer and closer to Rin-chan. I can’t resist her smile, her pout, her glare, her lips, her everything! Is that what you mean by falling in love?”
“Sae, yes, this is love. It’s not such as bad thing, but you don’t have much time left. You’ll only hurt yourself and her if you two get any closer. For her sake, you must keep a distance.”
“I will, but I still want to be with her till the very end.”
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Yosssh! I must be her friend till the very last minute. I walked back to class and find her packing her things. Her outfit is changed back to school uniform.
“Rin-chan, let’s go home.”
“Um…Sae-chan, I want to stay a bit longer with the cooking club. Please don’t wait for me.”
Is she regretting what has happened just now? Of course, you baka! You are only her friend. Not even that, you are only her toy…and yet you almost forced yourself upon her.
“Ok…”
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There’s no way to get our feelings sorted anymore. You are so busy with band practice now. We hardly talk. However, I’m happy that you seem to be managing fine alone, so I don’t want to push it.
I will watch over you from a distance. I will protect you even when you’re not aware of it.
When Rie-chan and I share a cake, or when Yui-han and I draw cartoons together, my mind is not on any of these people or things. I’m secretly paying attention to you and Hacchan talking about homework, or Hiro and her gang, who are itching to pounce onto you again.
You leave home early and get back late for practice, so we no longer walk to school together. Or that’s what you think. I still follow you everyday like a stalker. Watching your back alone makes me relieved.
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Today at lunch, Rin-chan went to practice again. I gobbled down a few bites before going to the same floor she’s in to listen. I’ve been doing that for the past few days but of course, she doesn’t know.
From far away, I heard the laughter of Hiro and her gang. [see chapter 5A] They are in your room. I moved closer to the door to make sure they won’t notice me.
From the window at the corridor, I saw it. One girl’s trying to pour soup on you.
Why are you sitting still??!!! Run!
Just as I’m about to burst in, you spring into action and push the bowl away. I can see the determination in your eyes. You have grown up, you have changed. You can fend for yourself now.
So I guess my job is really done? Is there any reason for me to stay like this anymore except my own desires?
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After shooing the bullies away, I run towards you and hug you. I love you, I can’t say it out loud, but there’s no doubt about it.
I want to rip my heart open and let you see how bright it burns for you.
I know I’ve made a bargain with my life, and now you can truly shine by yourself. But a selfish me wants to be with you forever.
Finally I can’t hold it anymore. Hot tears rain down my eyes and I can see you crying too.
Remember when you asked me whether I will always wipe your tears no matter what happens? I couldn’t answer this when I was only a toy, but now I can do it with real action.
My thumb brushes across your cheek. You are so beautiful even when you’re crying. But I mustn’t let you feel sad anymore.
“Rin-chan, my angel…look how far you’ve come. I’m so proud of you!” I grinned.
You pulled me close to you and planted a kiss on my forehead. My mind goes blank as you trace your lips all the way down to my own.
“Surely, you must feel the same way, right?” you asked.
Your lips closed in against mine. They are as soft as your hands. It’s the sweetest thing I’ve tasted. No, this sweetness is not like sugar or chocolate. It’s like the sweetness of very fresh water that quenches your thirst after you tried your best in a hot summer day.
Yes, Rin-chan, I feel the same way too! You pulled me closer and I can feel your body’s heat against mine. You caressed my waist and triggered my body to react uncontrollably. I sucked the sweetness of your lips deeply. My hands raged through your body fiercely, trying to feel every inch of you. I never want to leave you, but we’re running out of breath. We must break apart.
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At the band matsuri…[Chapter 5B]
Seeing Mayu’s hands work like a sewing machine, I have found the 9th wonder of the world after Akimoto Sayaka.
This is my last day alive and also your big day. Without me, your friends have helped you triumph over all challenges. I can go without any worries.
Ganbare! I brushed your chin and left the backstage.
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After your performance, Sayaka accompanied me back to the shrine. It’s a nice and warm day. Summer has come and there is but a trace of fallen sakura petals lying on the roadside.
“Sayaka, you’re the best person I’ve ever met!” I cried.
“Saepo, you too. We’ll always be twintowers. Trust me and don’t be afraid.”
“Goodbye…”
“Take care, wherever you will be…” Sayaka sobbed.
The time has come and I went back into the little hut I came from. The bright light is waiting for me.
“Genking, I am sad to see you leave, but a bargain is a bargain. Do you have any last words to say?”
I felt whirlwinds tearing my body apart, and know that I’m disappearing into non-existence. Honestly, for all that happened, I don’t regret my decision.
“It’s totally worth it!”
I felt lighter and I lighter…
Goodbye, Rin-chan.
Goodbye, my master, my friend, my lover.
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I've drafted most of the last chapter already but I'm not happy with it so please be a bit patient....thank you!!
Also omedetou to Yukirin's solo debut announcement!! Sae's wedding dress SONAR POCKET PV is so gorgeous too. And seems like the two is on a date now...
Topic: Heaven on Earth (Mayuki) - Chapter 9 - Uekara Maritroll (Read 33764 times)