Here's one of my longer fics as promised~ I finally finished editing it and I'll be posting one chapter a week (there's 8 chapters in total).
Surprisingly, the first chapter's the longest
It's mainly WMatsui but with Mayuki as a small side pairing along with a hint of Kojiyuu and Atsumina. But still, mostly WMatsui, the other pairings are just mentioned
I'd appreciate some feedback like what you thought while reading or any tips to improve. Thanks in advance~
Anyways enjoy~
One and the SameChapter 1My name is Matsui Rena and I’m just your average senior at AKB High. My grades are top notch since it was expected of everyone who went to the most prestigious school in the country. Other than that, I guess you could say I’m a pretty normal girl, at least I thought I wasn’t anything special but my best friend keeps telling me otherwise. She’s the president of the student council and everyone adores her, heck she’s even got her own fanclub...but I bet some would drop out of that club the moment they found out about her black side. Her name is Kashiwagi Yuki by the way, and we’ve been friends for a long time, like since we were born and placed next to each other in the nursery, that long.
But Yuki calls me the ‘princess of the school’ and I just keep denying it. If I’m a princess then that would make her a goddess or something. Which is so not true. But then she’ll just rebut with the same old reasons like how my skin’s so white (which I consider a bad thing) or how I carry myself like an Ojou-sama (which is also something I don’t like because of my family’s rich background). And then we’ll argue for a while until we end up laughing at the ridiculous stuff that she came up with.
Honestly though, I’m not like those preps. Not that Yuki is a prep (most of the time). Just kidding, I labeled her as one just to bug the hell out of her since she’s always loved dressing nice and being popular just somehow came to her naturally. I, on the other hand, prioritize studying and don’t like wearing tons of makeup. I hardly ever dress up since being comfortable is way more important in my opinion. I don’t keep up with trends but I don’t think I’m completely ignorant of style at the very least. She likes to say I’m living under a rock though. I’m not that isolated.
Lately, Yuki has been using that as a reason to get me to go the dance that’s coming up. And I flat out reject her every single time, but she still hasn’t given up just yet. I swear the persistence of that girl will be the death of me...
I’d never even gone to a dance before. Yes I know, high school is all about being social and having fun...but I don’t really care to. Maybe I’m just lazy. Truthfully, I get along with everyone in my class just fine, but I tend to avoid interaction in the first place. I want to be left alone and I’m not really good at talking, I guess you could say I’m kind of shy in a way. That’s what most people tend to think. So Yuki’s the only one who I will actually hang out with outside of school. And I say hang out, but it’s really her dragging me around to wherever she wants to go. Usually I end up carrying all of her bags as she hops from store to store in the mall. She really needs to get a boyfriend so I don’t have to keep doing that!
This time though, Yuki at least helped me carry half of the stuff as we shopped. It was already noon and I was getting hungry so she suggested taking a break in a nearby café. She took my arm and pulled me into this fancy looking one across the street from the mall. Most of the time we’d finish shopping by lunchtime and go to our respective homes to eat, but she sure was taking her sweet time today.
We sat down in the booth by the window. I didn’t like that place since random passerby could watch me as I ate, but Yuki already set the bags down so whatever.
“What’s with you today?” I asked as I took my seat.
Yuki sat across from me and tilted her head quizzically, blinking her doe eyes. “What do you mean?”
“Okay, cut it out. I know you’re trying to be all cute and acting like you don’t know what I mean.” Honestly I was a little crabby since I was starving and some lady just glared at me from outside the window. Seriously what was HER problem?
Yuki just laughed it off and grabbed a menu to comb through. “All in due time~”
I sighed and started fiddling with the salt and pepper stand to kill my boredom. No use in prying since I wouldn’t be able to get anything out of her until she wanted to tell me. But I had a bad feeling about it...
“So what do you want to eat?”
“Surprise me.” I said as I glanced absentmindedly out the window, already bored with the condiments.
On the street there were all kinds of people walking around. A mom with a stroller that was towing another kid along behind her, some businessman talking on his phone hurriedly, and a punk-looking girl in a hoodie leaning against the wall across the street. The girl had her headphones on and seemed to be ignoring the world. How I wish I could do that sometimes. Headphones weren’t allowed in my school and the only reason I had a pair was because I snuck out to buy some, since my parents forbade me from listening to music unless it was classical. They didn’t approve of the ‘rubbish’ kids listen to today. How old fashioned.
But that girl kind of piqued my interest. Was she waiting for someone? Her boyfriend maybe? But she seemed too relaxed...maybe she just felt like standing on the sidewalk and listening to music. I couldn’t really tell.
Suddenly she looked up and somehow, STRAIGHT AT ME. I avoided her gaze quickly and attempted to not seem embarrassed. I didn’t need Yuki harassing me for staring at a stranger.
Our food came quickly and I arched an eyebrow as it was placed on the table. Yuki had ordered my favorite melon pan and not just one either...there were 5 of them stacked neatly on the plate in front of me. Yuki just smiled angelically and if that didn’t raise any alarms than I didn’t know what would. I was still deciding whether or not to make a break for it when she cleared her throat. Oh no...
“Rena...”
I gulped and figured that it wasn’t going to be something that I’d like. It never was.
“You’re going to that dance.” Yuki said with a tone of finality. Wow she didn’t even try asking.
I chose my words carefully as to not upset her. An upset Yuki is very hard to deal with. “No, I’m not.”
Okay so maybe that wasn’t very careful since Yuki immediately frowned, her forehead creasing a bit. “I don’t understand you sometimes Rena. It’s just a dance. What harm can come from going? Come on, you haven’t even gone to ONE. And it’s your last year in highschool... Don’t you want to have some fun? Make some memories?”
She stared at me as I seriously contemplated her words. It WAS my last year... Maybe I should go. “I don’t know Yuki...”
She groaned, “Ugh Rena~ What are you so afraid of?”
“Well...” I fidgeted a little in my seat, “Don’t I have to get a date or something?”
Yuki paused for a second before she burst out laughing. She didn’t stop either, she just kept on laughing like a maniac for the next minute and my face must’ve been bright red by that time. She clutched at her chest, gasping for air, “THAT’S what you were worried about?!”
“Sh-Shut up!” Damn it, I was stuttering. I was already embarrassed enough and the funny looks the other tables were shooting us really didn’t help. I smiled sheepishly and let out a sigh as they reluctantly turned back to their own conversations. “Yuki...”
“Hehe sorry~”
“No you’re not,” I accused. “Seriously your reactions are way too big sometimes...” I mumbled it under my breath but she caught it anyways.
“You’re the one that was too funny. You’re always so serious I forget how naïve and innocent you are sometimes~” She winked at me and I frowned.
“Don’t call me that. It makes me sound like a lost puppy.”
“And what’s wrong with that? Puppies are cute~” Yuki argued back and leaned forward insistently. I had no idea why she chose to start fixating on this all of a sudden. “Don’t you like puppies?”
“I suppose...”
“Don’t give me a half-assed answer~”
“Yes yes, puppies are cute. Happy now?” I gave in and just let her have it.
“Yes ma’am~” Yuki grinned happily and finally backed out of my personal space, taking another sip of her milkshake before saying, “But you still have to go to that dance.”
I groaned inwardly. Damn, she caught onto me. And I thought that I was doing a pretty bang up job of distracting her.
I guess I made what I was thinking too obvious though, Sometimes Yuki could actually catch on pretty quickly because then she said, “Hehe, thought I forgot did ya~?”
“Shut up.”
Yuki shrugged indifferently, “Anyways finish your melon pans ‘cause we need to get going.”
“Going where?” I’d already gotten enough surprises today and I really didn’t want another one to add to the list.
She only smiled sweetly and it creeped the hell out of me. “To get you a dress of course~”
At that moment there was nothing I would’ve liked more than to bang my head on the table repeatedly. The only reason I didn’t was because I didn’t want to cause another scene. Then the other customers would think that BOTH of us were crazy, and I didn’t need that.
“And there’s no getting out of it~” She said in a sing-song voice.
I sighed yet again, knowing that there’d be no way to change her mind. Once Yuki decides something, there’s no going back, ever. “Hey go easy on me. I’m begging you here.”
“Hmm...” Yuki pretended to ponder for a moment before smiling at me. “Maybe~”
“Fine~” I gave in and stuffed a melon pan into my mouth, might as well enjoy the treat while I could. At least SOMETHING good came out of this day. And I ate my bread as slow as possible just to irritate her.
---
“Hurry up would ya? I wanna see what you look like in that dress!”
“Ugh but you’ve already had me try on dozens~ How can this one look any different?” I replied through the thin curtain of the changing stall. I was working on the stubborn zipper, tugging on it relentlessly but it just wouldn’t give. Damn thing. My arms were getting tired from reaching behind my head and my patience was wearing dangerously thin. Lunch had ended too quickly for my liking and now I was stuck in a cramped fitting room, trying on dress after dress after dress...
“Of course it’ll look different! We need to find that perfect one that makes you look the absolute best! Now come out here before I come in there myself.” Yuki didn’t know it but she could really be menacing when she wanted to be, it was like she was all sadistic and cute at the same time. It’s quite frightening actually.
“Argh! I give up!” I ripped the zipper up and tore the curtain aside, not even caring that I probably looked like a crazed lady emerging out of the fitting room. Great. People were staring.
Yuki was also gaping at me openly which I found somewhat disturbing.
“What?” I crossed my arms over my chest impatiently.
She closed her mouth and smiled, her hands clapping together in delight. “I think we found it!”
“Huh?”
Yuki started walking around me taking in the dress from all angles, then nodding and making little noises of approval.
“You mean this is what we’re looking for?” It was just a plain white one piece dress that reached about my knees. It left my shoulders bare, and there were little lace designs on the edges. There wasn’t really anything special about it.
“It fits you perfectly~” Yuki said with a glimmer in her eye. “You just can’t tell because you don’t care about clothes.”
“Okay yeah, you’re right about that, I don’t care about clothes. Second, that’s a creepy look on your face right now and you sound like that freaky aunt that nobody ever wants to go shopping with.”
She pouted, “But it’s true~” Now she was just being whiny.
I shook my head and suddenly I felt a sharp pain from my scalp. I hissed in pain, “Ow!”
“What is it?” Yuki asked curiously.
I had tears in my eyes as I turned my whole upper body to look at her slowly, not daring to move my head even an inch. “Yuki...”
She looked at me, still expecting an answer.
“...My hair got caught in the zip.”
---
After some hair pulling and many curse words later, my hair was finally untangled. The fact that Yuki was not gentle at all just worsened my day. Now I was in an even grumpier mood than before, and I hadn’t though that was even possible. We had left the store with my hair a mess, I tried to be sneaky and leave without the dress but Yuki grabbed my arm and pulled me to the register to pay for it. Darn.
I pulled open the front door to my house and kicked off my shoes. “Tadaima...” It was quiet but somehow the maids still heard me say it and came out to greet me.
“Okaerinasai, Ojou-sama.” The three maids chorused in unison as they bowed.
I forced a smile, I guess I couldn’t be completely rude and grouchy...I still had appearances to keep up. Most of my smiles were fake, okay so maybe all of them were, unless Yuki actually said something funny. But I didn’t have much to smile about, my life was pretty dull and boring, sometimes I wished something interesting would present itself. At least something that would take me out of going through the motions every day, and I don’t mean randomly being dragged to one of my parent’s business meetings every once in a while.
They took my bags as I started up the stairs to my room and one of them followed me at a respectful distance. “Ojou-sama, would you care for dinner or a bath first?”
“I’ll take a bath first, but don’t worry about it. I can do it myself.” They always tried to do everything for me, like running the bath water or picking out my clothes, but I didn’t need the help. I’d just be screwed if I ever moved out on my own. Honestly I hated being waited on. Having the maids around just made me feel entirely isolated and pampered.
Sometimes, being too polite can make people feel very distant and lonely.
“But Ojou-sama...it’s our job.”
I sighed as we reached the door to my room at the end of the long hallway. Did I forget to mention that my house was basically a mansion at the end of the cul-de-sac we lived on? It was absolutely enormous too. I could easily get lost in it and I actually did once when I was little. But the size made everything feel that much emptier.
“Are Mother and Father home yet?” I tried to change the subject. I didn’t feel like arguing with them today, it was never any use anyways. They’d just keep doing what they’re doing and I’d give up eventually.
The maid shook her head, “No, they won’t be back until late and wished that you would dine on your own once again.”
I let out another sigh. I had expected this answer as it was the same every day. They would always have business meetings that ran late or just decide to go out to an expensive restaurant by themselves. Sometimes I wondered if they even remembered that I existed.
“Fine. I’ll just be in my room. Please bring me my food as usual around 7.” I never ate at the dinner table since I’d be the only one sitting there anyways. I wasn’t going to make myself feel lonely on purpose.
She didn’t argue and nodded, bowing again before leaving me. They’d given up long ago to try and get me to eat dinner at the table. It’s not like my parents used the dining table either. What did we even buy it for?
I pushed open the door to my room and trudged over to the bed before plopping down on it. It had been a long and tiring day. After a moment I reached up and tried to dig my earbuds out from between the mattress and the headboard. I plugged them in and scrolled through my song list but that girl from earlier started invading my thoughts. What kind of music does she listen to? Oh man I’m getting really fixated on that girl... But I guess I couldn’t help it...she was kinda pretty. Shit did I just say she was pretty? Since when did I start liking girls? Oh wait, I have kinda liked cute girls for a while now, blame it on Yuki for rubbing off on me. And the number of girls greatly outnumbered the guys in our school, so what did you expect to happen?
That girl’s gaze though...it was really scary, like there was something hidden in those eyes of her’s....Something painful.
I ripped my earbuds out and headed to the bathroom. I really needed to stop that train of thought I was having. I cranked on the shower and got in after peeling my clothes off. The pounding of the water was soothing and I let it run down my head. I almost never took a bath on the contrary to the beliefs of everyone else. My parents liked baths because they were traditional, but I didn’t care. The walls of every room were soundproof too, so the maids couldn’t hear the water running and report me. Parents can be so ridiculously strict. I tended to take extremely long showers and I bet I was in there for a good half hour before coming out. I ended up going to bed since there was nothing else to do anyways. Such a big house but with nothing to do.
The weekend passed by quickly and school started up on Monday again, it was only the first Monday since school had started but I already didn’t want to go back. My family’s car dropped me of like usual and the stares from the other students were still glued to me. I’d already been going to this school for the last year but the stares never stopped. It’s not like I was the only one dropped off in a limo anyways, so I didn’t understand.
Yuki showed up after me like usual. She once asked me why I came to school so early and I told her she was just late. She always showed up 5 minutes before the first class and I figured it was because she liked to sleep and make herself look nice too. Those two together did not make a good combination for showing up on time.
The school we went to was a pretty well known one. It was a private school but it accepted a lot of applications. Since it was so famous, all the rich people sent their kids here and I’m sad to say I’m one of them. Yuki was too, her parents were business partners with mine and they always collaborated on everything. Besides the rich kids, AKB High also offered a lot of scholarships for kids with extremely good academic grades, making it a school for the smart and rich. And somehow, we were also known to have a few idols here as well, which was the real reason why everyone wanted to get in. A few smart, rich pretty girls were the main buzz around here. I don’t know who they are though and Yuki refused to tell me.
But due to the social gap between the normal kids and the rich, they never really interacted. There were some classmates that tended to avoid me probably for that exact reason. I’ll never understand... Why were they unable to approach me just because my parents had money? That was the problem with social order and society in general.
I took my seat just as the first bell rang and the teacher came in. It was Yuki’s job asclass rep to direct us as we all greeted and bowed to him. First class of the day was Japanese Literature and it always made me want to yank my hair out. I ought love this stuff because I look like a perfect Ojou-sama but I hate it, I just don’t show it.
The day passed by slowly until I almost fell asleep but thankfully the bell rang, signaling lunch time and Yuki sauntered over to my seat.
“Hey let’s go to the roof!” She seemed kind of excited for some reason. I wonder what happened to make her so bubbly.
“Why? We never eat on the roof...what’s with the sudden change?” I inquired.
“Just a change of scenery~ Isn’t it boring eating in the classroom or garden every day?” She said so but I liked the garden. It was kind of secluded and people didn’t really go there, so Yuki and I could talk about anything we wanted. The flowers and tall bushes surrounding us were nice too.
But I didn’t argue and just followed Yuki up to the roof. She swung the door open and a nice breeze wafted past. I immediately walked to the edge and leaned on the fence with my eyes closed, just enjoying the feeling of the sun and the wind flowing through my hair.
When I opened my eyes, I saw Yuki smiling at me. “I knew you’d like it up here~”
I’m sure my cheeks were a little red but I ignored it and sat down to eat. Yuki followed suit and we chatted for a while. It was all random and light and I actually really enjoyed myself.
“Do you ever get tired of melon pan?” Yuki had been firing all kinds of questions at me for a good 5 minutes now.
I rolled my eyes and took a big bite to prove my point. “Nope, never.”
“I’m sure you’re not getting enough nutrients from that thing.”
I shrugged, “How about you? You brought another giant bento for lunch again, ever think you’ll get fat?” She deserved a little teasing after doubting my melon pan.
Yuki pouted, “I’m not going to get fat~”
“Are you sure?”
“Why? Do I look fatter?” She started panicking and looking at her waist, trying to pinch her nonexistent fat.
I laughed at her reaction and she looked confused for a moment before recognition set in.
“Meanie~ Quit teasing me!” She punched my arm a several times while sulking all the while. I kept laughing but the girly punches were starting to hurt so I stopped.
“Alright, alright. Ow!” That was a particularly strong one. “Okay I’m sorry~”
“It’s your own fault~” She stopped but not before adding a slap to my shoulder for good measure.
I guess she was still upset that I teased her about being fat. “Don’t worry about it, you’re not fat. So don’t go trying any fad diets or anything, okay?”
She seemed to be a bit reassured after that and relaxed with a small smile on her face. “You know, you can be surprisingly good a cheering someone up~”
I gave her a deadpan look, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing~”
“Hmm...” I let it go for now but I’ll be sure to question her again later, probably after she’s forgotten about the whole fat thing. She forgets about stuff pretty easily.
So I ate my melon pan in silence, since I couldn’t think of anything to say at the moment. And Yuki turned her attention back to her food as well, devouring the bento. See what I mean about her attention span?
Silence spread across the rooftop and it felt kind of weird, not like it was awkward but something was off...
“Nee, do you ever feel like something’s missing?” I asked out of the blue. I’m not sure where it came from but I felt like asking.
Yuki furrowed her eyebrows, “What do you mean?”
“I don’t know... Like you need something, but it’s just not there...something that would...I don’t know, complete your life?”
“I guess...”
“I can’t figure out what it is though...”
“Ah! I know~” Yuki smiled, “You need a girlfriend~”
I was so shocked I spat out my bread, then frowned at the perfectly good, yet wasted melon pan. “I don’t think that’s it.”
“You never know~”
I shrugged my answer. How would she know anyways? It’s not like she had a girlfriend.
We finished the rest of our lunch quietly. Not that we didn’t have anything to say but sometimes you just want to enjoy your food. And since we’re lucky enough to be going to such a rich kid school, the lunch period actually lasted about an hour long and we ate at our leisure.
Classes once again dragged down for an eternity until it was the last period. I’d gotten so bored that I started to doodle on my desk, with the eraser end of my pencil of course. Actually marking the desk was frowned upon and like I said, I have an image to uphold. Nobody needed to see the daughter of the president of the biggest conglomerate in Japan reprimanded for doodling on the table. That’d just be silly.
When school was over, I immediately packed up my stuff and went looking for Yuki. Normally she’d be at her desk, waiting for me, but today she wasn’t...which was really weird. This happened every once in a while, Yuki would disappear and make me look for her but then she would suddenly show up like nothing happened, not even bothering to explain where she went off to. So I wandered through the halls aimlessly and thought I’d just take it easy and not look too hard today. She’d pop up when she wanted to be found.
As I rounded another corner, I finally saw her standing behind the end of a row of lockers. I was about to call out but something made me change my mind. There was another girl that was actually hidden by the lockers that I didn’t notice until I got closer. They seemed to be arguing about something and I didn’t want to eavesdrop. Not to mention I’d never seen that girl before in my life. I didn’t even recognize her let alone see Yuki ever approach her before. She seemed to sense my presence though, and started turning towards me. At the last minute I turned on my heel and walked into the classroom to my right. The door slid shut and Yuki spared it a glance before going back to arguing with the unknown girl.
“Phew...” I let out a sigh and leaned against the wall. I was really curious about whom that girl with the pigtails was but I knew Yuki wouldn’t want me to pry. I ought to trust her a little more, I guess. I just hope she’s not keeping some big secret from me because that’d be way too troublesome to deal with.
“Umm...Do you need something?”
The voice startled me and I jumped a little in response. I hadn’t even noticed that the classroom wasn’t empty and I probably looked like a freak just standing there and sighing to myself.
“Uh, no. I just...” I tried to come up with a believable excuse, “I needed to hide for a sec, that’s all.” At least it was the truth.
The girl looked at me curiously for a second and I just stared back. She had shoulder length black hair and dark brown eyes. She looked kind of boyish and if she wasn’t wearing a girl’s uniform then honestly, I might’ve mistaken her for a guy.
“Hmm.” She hummed and went back to stuffing her things in her bag, finally breaking our staring contest. I wasn’t sure what to do so I just stood there awkwardly. I couldn’t go back out into the hallway yet... So it might be a good idea to start a conversation...
“So I’m just taking a guess here...” And she looked back up at me while slinging her bag onto her shoulder. “But you’re hiding from those two out there, right?” She asked, nodding in the direction of the wall, the one that was hiding Yuki from view.
I nodded.
“Same here. Mayu’s been talking to that girl every day lately and I’m not one to butt in, so I wait in here until they’re done.” She sat down on a desk and motioned for me to do the same on the one directly in front of her, but I chose to sit 2 desks away, not wanting to be too close. If you haven’t noticed, I’m not much of a people person. I’m sure she noticed though, and just chose not to say anything.
“So Mayu is the one with the pigtails, I take it?”
“Yeah, and if I’m not mistaken, then she’s talking to Kashiwagi Yuki...And you must be Matsui Rena.”
I blinked a few times. Somehow she seems to know me. “How do you know my name?”
The girl chuckled, being blatantly sarcastic about it too. And can you even chuckle sardonically?
“Of course I know you. Everyone knows the daughter of the richest family in Japan. The prissiest girl in the whole country. You’re the princess of AKB High, the snow white, the yuki-onna. Should I name any more?” Her eyes were somewhat intimidating. Yep, for sure, she was taunting me.
And I didn’t like it.
I didn’t even know her name. I’d never even MET her before, yet here she was, mocking me for no good reason. “Excuse me, but you don’t need to be rude.”
She shrugged like she didn’t care. Damn was she getting on my nerves.
“And what’s your name Miss Satirist? Or do you prefer me to keep calling you that?” I sneered. Now it was her turn to be a little surprised and I took sadistic pleasure in the look on her face. But it soon faded as she grinned at me.
“Well, well...the princess knows how to riposte~” Her eyes twinkled and I don’t know why but that was even scarier than when she was mocking me. She hopped off the desk and walked around the one that was separating us.
I had this funny feeling that I should get as far away as possible...but willed myself not to move.
Then she held out her hand, “My name is Matsui Jurina. Nice to meet you, your highness~” She winked at me and it made me cringe. Then she laughed at my reaction and grabbed my hand forcefully, seeing as I wasn’t going to return the offered handshake.
“Umm...” I wanted to tell her to release my hand...
“I think we’ll be seeing each other a lot more from now on, so let’s get along shall we?” She let go, but not before sending me another wink, and headed for the exit as I wiped my hand on my skirt vigorously. I knew that was horribly impolite but she didn’t mention anything about it, instead sliding the door open and leaving without another word.
I visibly relaxed after she was gone and sighed heavily. I sigh a lot, don’t I? I guess I have a lot to sigh about...
“Rena~” Yuki appeared in the doorway, snapping me out of my thoughts. “What are you dawdling for? We don’t have a meeting today so let’s go home!”
I rolled my eyes at her statement. “Yeah ‘cause I’m the one that’s dawdling...” I muttered under my breath and this time she didn’t catch it. I stood up and she dragged me away by the same hand that the girl shook earlier.
Matsui Jurina was it? I’m going to remember that name... And if I ever see her again...I’m going to put her through hell and back. I grinned as I thought about it, luckily Yuki didn’t notice or else she would have scolded me for being a creep...again.
But really, I was already against this Jurina person, and that didn’t happen often. I don’t usually hate someone so much right away. But I was sure, that there was absolutely no way I’d EVER get along with her.
Topic: One and the Same (WMatsui) - COMPLETED (Read 45551 times)