hi guys! as what i've said last week, the stalker will be revealed on this chapter...
it's jurimayu's turn this time so just let them explain what happened... enjoy!
@cisda83: hey yo! i always wait for your comment and expect the word "trouble" in it! cisda83 wa omoshiroi na hito ne... so may i present you the trouble you are waiting for! let's start from atsumina first!
@korin48: alright, alright.. i'll update a little faster now okay hehe
@Keisthename: i'm trying hard to get back to being punctual! but the faster i update the sooner zenpen ends y'know lol
@Tanchan: hmm ray is... well she's uhm... (sigh...) to those who already read her, you think i can give spoilers now? can i? can i? lol chotto abunai ne? i might lose atsumina readers if they learn about it T^T
@ryu201: hope you're not disappointed if i kinda compared her to jurina's character... i just think it suits her though their auras were totally different hehe
@IamNot_Glad: trouble with a capital T? what does that mean? hehe lemme guess... uhm T-Takamina?? lol
@Justqle: well technically they did the problem hehe.. you'll find out at the end of this chapter
When the Time StopsChapter 17She's the only reason why I chose to go to this school.
Mayu-chan. She knows I always wait for her up here at the rooftop every lunch break, but still she never shows up. I understand that she already made new friends in this school, unlike me. She's the only friend I knew here, so I had no choice but end up eating alone.
She's one year ahead of me, so she graduated middle school first and I was left behind. I can't imagine how I survived that one year without her, that's why I decided to follow her in highschool. I was so excited then to be finally able to enter her school, just to realize that things between us have already changed. I thought she'd be happy to see me here, but it seems like the opposite way. She became distant and I don't know why.
Eventhough I knew she's not coming to eat lunch with me, my heart still continues to hope and wait for her. Sometimes, I just practice few dance steps here at the rooftop to kill time before I return to my classroom. Now that I mention it, during my first few days up here, I remember there are also seniors having lunch here. I wonder why they're not coming back anymore.
Lunch break is almost over, I guess it's time for me to go back to my class now. I opened the door of the rooftop and accidentally hit someone inside. A male student dropped some photos he's holding. I apologized and helped him pick up the photos one by one. He immediately ranaway after, but then I noticed there's still one photo left on the floor.
"Wait, you forgot this one!" I shouted.
I ran after him to return that one photo he missed, but I didn't catch him. He went straight inside his classroom. WAIT. Isn't this the room of Class 2-A? So, it means he's one of Mayu-chan's classmates!
The school bell rang. Shoot! I'm late for my afternoon class! Maybe, I'll just return this photo some other time.
I entered my classroom and took my seat. I looked at the photo, it's a picture of a girl wearing same uniform like ours. She's a student here and I find her very pretty. Maybe, that guy who took this photo is in love with her. I wonder why I think she's somehow familiar. I guess I already met her before, I just can't remember where. Our lesson has started so I slipped the photo somewhere in between my note pages and put it inside my bag.
After my afternoon classes, I went next to the student council room. I knew from the start that Mayu-chan is a member of the student council, that's why I volunteer myself to be the first year representative. This can give me a chance at least to be near her everyday. Desperate move? Well, maybe.
Takahashi-senpai is already there, quietly reading the school newspaper. She's looking at the photo of Maeda Atsuko featured on its front page. So, the drama club will have another school play this year and she'll be the main actress. I noticed that there's something in the way Takahashi-senpai stares at her photo.
"Seitou kaichou and Maeda-senpai are really close, ne?" I said as I took the seat next to her.
Takahashi-senpai suddenly turned around to look at me. She's blushing hard.
"Sorry, did I startle you?" I apologized.
"It's okay..." She looked back on Maeda-san's photo. "Well.. yes, we're kind of close." She smiles and scratches her head. "But maybe not as close as you and Mayu-chan."
"What made you say that, Seitou kaichou?" I asked.
"Because you mentioned before that you've been friends since middle school. Atsuko and I just met when we started highschool." She explained. "I was actually wondering how the two of you became friends?"
I think she's the first person to ask how Mayu-chan and I met. And I'm very pleased to tell her about it.
"I was also a freshman that time when I first saw her in an empty piano room. It was late in the afternoon and everyone's got home already. Then I heard someone playing the piano. She doesn't play so perfectly but I know she plays from her heart. And that what keeps me on coming back to that room to see her again."
"An empty room... I can clearly imagine. Your first meeting is quite familiar with mine. The scene is almost close to how Atsuko and I first met, too."
"Really? So, what happened?" I curiously asked her.
Takahashi-senpai blushed even harder. Maybe she's remembering something special to her.
"The time back then... it just stopped for a moment..." She whispered to herself.
"Stopped?"
"Ah, hehe... don't mind what I said!" She giggled. The smile on her face isn't fading away. She turned back the topic. "So, is Mayu-chan... a special person to you?"
I wasn't expecting that kind of question from her. "Mayu-chan... well, she's..."
"What are you guys talking about?" Just right on time, Mayu-chan arrived.
"Jurina? You look like you've seen a ghost. I hope you're not talking about me..." She raised an eyebrow.
"Ofcourse not! Seitou kaichou and I were discussing about the latest issue of our school newspaper." I defended.
"Oh, I already read the article written there about you, Seitou-kaichou. Nothing but good things." Mayu-chan said.
She has an article? I borrowed a copy of the newspaper and looked for her part. I scanned what's written about her. It says Takahashi-senpai is genius, kind-hearted, hardworking, and a perfect role model to all the students. Wow, she sounds so cool here. Does she have any flaw?
"I haven't read it yet." Takahashi-senpai said.
She's funny! She's holding the newspaper the entire time she's here but she's not interested on reading about herself. She's only staring at Maeda-senpai's photo.
"Drama club's featured on the frontpage since it's now their sixth consecutive year being the top club of our school." Mayu-chan speaks again.
"How about the other clubs' status?" I asked.
"I have here the list of old and new clubs. And also those clubs pending for approval." She handed me the list.
As I browsed the list, one club name captured my attention. I read the details about that new club request.
"Rooftop club?"
Suddenly, two female students went inside the student council room. They seem to be close friends of Takahashi-senpai. Then, the shorter girl noticed my presence and started yelling at me.
"You're a student council member?!!"
Huh? Does she know me? Mayu-chan started scolding me again eventhough I don't know what's happening. Then the girl yelled next at Takahashi-senpai. Is she talking about the Rooftop club? Oh, I finally recognized them! They were those seniors back at the rooftop. So, they want it to be a private place on their own.
"I'll just wait for my turn next year to use the rooftop." I decided to give it up to them.
The taller girl went near me and held my hand. Woah! She's so pretty upclose! OMG. Now, I remember her! She's the girl on the photo earlier! So that's why she looks so familiar!
Mayu-chan and the smaller girl tried to stop us, so she let go of my hand.
"Nyannyan, let's leave now!" The shorter girl said.
"Yuuchan, will you please at least say thanks to....."
"Ah, it's Matsui Jurina." I followed up.
".....to Matsui-san." She continued.
"Fine..." She pouted cutely then turned to me. "Hey, freshman. Thanks, anyway." She obediently said before she went out the room.
"Sorry for Yuuchan's attitude. She's not like that at all times. By the way, I'm Kojima Haruna and she's Oshima Yuko." She offered her hand as she introduced herself. I was about to take it but...
"I'm Watanabe Mayu! 2nd year representative!" Mayu-chan grabbed her hand before me.
What's wrong with her?!
"Nice to meet the both of you. We're actually Takamina's classmates. Speaking of Takamina, where is she?"
We looked around and Takahashi-senpai is suddenly nowhere to be found. All of us didn't notice that she's left already. Kojima-san then excused herself and followed Oshima-san outside.
Mayu-chan didn't speak to me again when we're left alone in the student council room. After our duties are done, we finally decided to go home. We went out the room and saw my fan girls waiting for me outside. Oh, great. I can sense Mayu-chan's reaction and it feels scary. The girls started talking to me.
"Matsui-san! When is your next performance!"
"We'll watch you dance again!"
"Ah hehe.. thanks.. I, uhm, need to go now.." I excused myself.
They're still squealing. I saw Mayu-chan's reaction became even worse. I immediately ran after her.
"Mayu-chan, why aren't you talking to me?" I asked.
"Nothing." She continued to walk away.
"What did I do again this time?"
"Why do you keep on asking that? Do you want to know the answer? Since you came here you bring me nothing but headache!" She answered in a higher tone.
It hurts to hear those words from her. Maybe, I'm just a nuisance to her after all. We continue to walk home from school without talking. Then, I break off the silence again.
"So, you didn't want me follow you here?"
She stopped walking and took a deep sigh.
"That's... that's not what I meant." She turned around and looked at me.
"Why are you staring at Kojima-senpai like that earlier?" She asked out of nowhere.
"E-Eh? I just think she's familiar..."
"Ofcourse she is! She's the most popular girl in our school since she transferred here. So, tell me... Do you like her?"
"W-What?! She's pretty but... you clearly know that it's always been you who I really liked!"
Mayu-chan faced away, I saw her blushed a little.
"G-Grow up, Jurina... having crushes are so childish..."
"Why is it hard for you to believe that my feelings for you are real?"
"We were only middle schoolers back then... We're too young! We don't know what we're doing. You can easily change your mind anytime... and... I'm afraid for that to happen." She explained herself.
"Change of mind is easier than change of the heart. Look, I'm not a kid anymore! I can handle things on my own now. I won't change unless you gave me a concrete reason for me to. And please stop treating me like your younger sister!"
"Jurina..."
"Mayu-chan, I suffered enough when you left me. So, please... I beg you... don't ever leave me behind again!!!"
"Baka... I'm one year ahead of you. Ofcourse, I'd still graduate first!"
"How about you flunk your subjects and repeat another year?"
She pinches both my cheeks hard.
"I-IIITAI!!!! I'm just joking!!!! Stop it... my face hurts..."
She then stopped and stared at me.
"If I leave you behind once more... will you come and follow me again?"
The way she asks that question... it suddenly makes my heart pound harder.
"Because... I'm willing to pause my time and wait for you to catch up." She finishes.
"I'll grow up fast! Just wait! I'll soon catch up and we'll be together!" I answered.
"What if you stopped and get tired of coming after me? Then maybe... I'll turn around and come back for you. I wonder if you'll be able to wait for me."
"Mayu-chan... why do you always think of complicated things? You just have to trust in me. It's just as simple as that. I will wait for you no matter what..."
Her eyes got a little teary because of what I said. Oh, no... I don't want to make her cry.
"If you won't come back, then I'll hunt you down! I swear to find you wherever you are!" I warned her.
"I don't know if that sounds romantic or creepy..." She finally smiled.
"Ofcourse, it's romantic!" We laughed and continue to walk again. Then I notice the guy from earlier. "Speaking of creepy, isn't that guy from your class?"
"Right... it's Jiro-kun. How did you know him?"
"I bumped to him earlier, I saw him went inside your classroom."
"He's my classmate. He's known in our class for being head-over-heels in love with Kojima-senpai. I heard he tried to confess to her last year, but he was dumped."
"There's no way Kojima-senpai will like that creep!"
We tried to look at him closely. He's holding a camera on his hand, he's about to take a photo of something... at... the bus stop? I wonder what it is... And then. OH MY GOD.
"Isn't that Seito kaichou and Maeda-senpai?! And they are K-KKKISSING??!!"
"SSSSHHH!!! Lower your voice..."Mayu-chan puts her hand to cover my mouth.
And that Jiro guy just took their photo!!! "Mayu-chan, he's running away!!!"
She tried to run after him to stop him.
"Jiro-kun!!! I saw you took their photo!!! Delete it now!!!" Mayu-chan told him.
But he just ignored her and continued to get away.
"JIRO-KUN!!!!!"
Damn it! He got away with their photo! What should we do now?
"Mayu-chan, we must tell this immediately to Seito kaichou!"
"We definitely should!!! Or else this will ruin her..." She sounded so worried.
"I didn't know you'd get this worried about her..." I said.
"Jurina, I forgot to mention. Jiro-kun... He's actually... the main photographer of our school newspaper team."
TBCi remember when i wrote of atsumina talking about their dreams together (ch 12)
i felt the same sad feeling when writing the scene where jurimayu talks about their plans, too
maybe because... maybe because... (sob...)
and jiro (ch 10)... he's still alive lol
thanks for reading!
Topic: ZENPEN: When the Time Stops [AtsuMina - COMPLETED] (Read 68442 times)