YUUKI TO YUKI
Title: Yuuki to Yuki (Brave and Snow)
Author: AzerArcacia
Genre: Slice of life, Supernatural.
Language: English
Author's note: I really appreciate it if anyone would check my grammar, especially things like present and the past. I’m still having a trouble at which one is correct by using past after dialogs or not. And so, I decided to use all in present tense after dialogs (e.g.: “dialogs” present)
update:
(*)Chapter 5 part 1 (21st July 2009)
(*)Chapter 4 completed (13th July 2009)
(*)Merged all the post
(*)Removed the pictures (will be replaced later)
(*)Changed all past tenses to present to after-dialogs
(*)Removed the colors (will be added later on)
Spoiler untuk Prologue :
"Who...is it?" I say that with a low voice.
Right now, I'm not sure about what is going on. I am in a dark and timid place without light. There's nothing to see in my sight. Only cold-frigid things which I sense within my body that could tell me it's snowing.
At a single glance, I see a little girl with a dark-brown coat. Her hair is as silky as this darkness. Her face shows no expression. And with a black hat and a white scarf, they do suit her somehow.
"Who...are you?"
***GLARE***
The girl doesn’t bother to reply my question. She just constantly glares at me. Soon...I don’t notice that my legs have moved on their own---------toward her.
Just as I begin to come closer and closer...
Ah! Now I know! This is a dream right?
That is...my conclusion. I often dream about this if I remember correctly. But since I tend to forget all the things which struck in my dream, this is the result of it.
Still...
No matter how many times I gaze at her...she is just as cold as the piled snow.
I want to grasp at her. But----
Spoiler untuk Chapter 1 :
~To him…the world is too normal. But to her…the world is extraordinary~
Chapter 1: Normal yet Extraordinary
The sun has arisen. The air of my room is filled with dust. I haven’t got a time to clean all of it. Even I have laundry to be cleaned of ASAP or otherwise, I won’t have a thing to wear by noon.
No!
I should’ve said I was too lazy to tidy all this mess. I have class at 10.00 AM, but my body doesn’t seem to listen to my voice.
***YAWN***
Of, course, this yawn of mine is the reason that my body needs to rest. Even so, this day is special for me. I have to go no matter what happens. I wash my face and go downstairs. Then, I eat the breakfast which made by none than myself-a baked bread with an egg on the top of it.
“…I guess this is the only thing that I could make in a rush, eh?”
As I mumble to myself, I turn my TV on the other side of the table.
“There’s nothing interesting. I am bored. I just sick of this normal life. I get up and go to campus, study there, having something which people usually call it as ‘fun’, go back and sleep. It always ends in this circle.”
“Then, you should have just done something else. You know, like doing one or two things which considered as ‘hobby’.”
“WHOA! When did you-”
And I yell as I look into a figure of someone who has just taken my breakfast in an instant.
“Just right now, the window is not locked, so I go through it. So, are you interested? If you are interested, I’d like you to help me-”
As he spouts his nonsense of him to my brain throughout my ears, I cut his dialogue.
“Not interested. It’s just bothersome. By the way, WHAT ARE YOU doing here, Kouta?”
“Huh? Me? Well, of course, I’m eating right now.”
“No, I mean…THIS IS my house, you know! You should have knocked or pushed the bell.”
“It’s all right. You don’t have to worry about something that trivial.”
“…you just want to eat breakfast, don’t you?”
“Yep! Mom is not at home and I have to fill my stomach.”
The person, who stands in front of me right now, is Matsuzaka Kouta. He is a friend of mine since my elementary school. He is also my neighbor. When my parents died 7 years ago, his family adopted me as their child. Though I bear the name of ‘Matsuzaka’, I still live in this house of mine.
His appearance is rather short. He has a short hair with a rather untidy one. How should I explain it? He has pony to the forehead, and his sideburn is long. With a triangle shaped chin, he just seems normal as a person. He isn’t ugly, yet he doesn’t stand out too. He always wears a long black sleeve shirt with blue jeans. Even when he sleeps, he still wears that! A real troublemaker but sometimes dependable, that’s Kouta for sure. He uses glasses when he’s in class, but aside that, he doesn’t use it. His hobby is watching films, be it all kind of genres.
“Oh, mom said you can take the vegetables and eggs in the refrigerator. You know, since she won’t be back till tomorrow.”
“And that means…I have to do all the cooking?!”
“Yeah. You got that right. Man…I envy you so much, since you can do all the things by your own power. You are popular, well known for the good marks, cool and cute, unreachable, charismatic, and so on. It’s a shame that you are so lazy.”
“Stop with that ‘cute’ thing. I hate being called cute. It‘s disgusting, you know. ”
“It can’t be helped. The opinion’s not mine; people just tend to judge you like that. Yesterday, I was approached by a cute girl. I thought she was interested in me. But my heart was tore apart into pieces when she just wanted to know you by investigating me. ARRGH! It was so frustrating you know when everybody just seems to call me by ‘Matsuzaka two’."
“Uh…sorry about that, I didn’t intend to pressure you like this by having this name as my surname.”
Well, if he wants to blame me for this, it’s just normal. After all, I’m not a real ‘Matsuzaka’. Yet, the smirk on Kouta’s face is bothering me. He then laugh with a joy in his face and open his mouth,
“Fufufu…I really like that face of yours when you feel guilty.”
As he unmasks himself, I reply with a silence in a few seconds, and then I open my mouth,
“Well, vegetables and eggs, eh? I’ll make sure to notify you when the dinner is ready.”
“Awright! As expected from Yuuki!”
***SIGH***
I sigh with a deep breath, leaving a tiresome impression on my face. It’s not that I am having a trouble with that. I’m just too lazy, as lazy as a bum in the yard of the park. People say I’m good in all of aspects. They even considered me as a ‘genius’. That is…if I am willing to do it. Even my conscience says that I’m a lazy boy. I wouldn’t dare to call myself as a man, since I’m just too lazy at doing things. So I’m stick with ‘boy’.
The clock is mentioning the time by 9.30 AM. That means 30 minutes left for the class to start
************************************************** *********************************
Spoiler untuk Chapter 2 :
It all begins in a blink of an eye~
Chapter 2: The Beginning of Everything
When I ask Kouta whether he has a class or not this day, he just sits on my sofa while watching the DVDs of some films which I rented yesterday. He said not to worry about the house since he is going to stay at my house till night. Then, I decided to tell him that I will put the key in the usual place, and go.
“Yeah, yeah. Just put it at the usual place. I don’t want to get yelled by someone who is lazy like you.”
“You said I’m lazy, but YOU are lazy right now!”
He ignores me as his attention is absorbed by the excitement of the films. But…is he going to watch all of those films at once? Well…whatever, I gotta go or I will be late. Today is the day when one of my lecturer said that everybody who takes his class should come to teach English at a high school. If I don’t go, He would surely kick me out of his class, and I don’t want that.
I move my legs into the nearest station. From my house, it’s about 5 minutes. As I turn left from the first intersection of the usual road, I once again look at the watch from my cell phone.
9.32 AM
I should reach the train station as soon as I walk a further away. But this road is so steep. This is why I hate going to campus. If Kouta has class this noon, I could go with him! It’s good to have a driving license. He can go to the campus vice versa.
So, the question is…
Why don’t I have a driving license?
The reason is simple. I’m too lazy to take all of those stupid tests. Having a vehicle is different with having a driving license. Of course, I don’ want to get arrested when I entered the Highway. Up until now, I am using a train to take me to the campus.
“At last, the train station…I’m here. Now I just have to buy the ticket and wait in a crowded freight.”
Yes, most of the citizens in this town use train to transport themselves to various places. It can’t be helped since it’s cheap and fast. But I hate the situation when I am in the train.
The train that I awaited for has come, and I step in to the freight, hoping that there is a seat for me. Unfortunately, the freight is as crowd as usual.
“And here, I was hoping to get a little rest. Oh well, if I plug my ears with this, I think I would be fine.”
I plug my ears with a set of earphones which comes from my cell phones. Here, I am listening to Jazz music in order to soothe my mind. As an addition, I also close my eyes. With my right hand on the upper ceiling and my left hand in the pocket of my dark-blue jacket, I think everything will be okay.
A few minutes later…
I saw the image of the next train station, and then I push myself onto the door so that I could get out of this freight quickly as the train descends.
However…as the time passed by, there is an earthquake which shakes the ground and suddenly, I lose my balance. The old man beside me is trembling with fear. His two fragile hands shake. And after I look into the other side, there is this woman who hugs her child. The child herself is crying out loud. Even a delinquent-looking boy who sits in the seat is now praying, though I don’t know if this boy is a believer or not.
Everything is in chaos. The earthquake is quite big. Should I predict its scale, it’s about 7.9 SR. After a few minutes; the earthquake has stopped. Luckily, this freight didn’t take to much damage. I didn’t get any injuries in this accident. It’s strange isn’t it? Let’s say it’s a relief instead of that.
************************************************** ********************************
I quickly make a call to Kouta and his family as soon as everybody is threatened into the nearest hospital. It’s true that I didn’t get any injuries. But the man from the hospital insists that I should take some examination.
“Maybe there is a symptom of injury in your head. Usually, a person would have injury in this kind of accident. Yet, you say you are perfectly fine.”
I protest to the man as he insists on examining me.
“But, sir! That doesn’t mean I must be examined.”
The man in the white coat just gives a sigh to me. He gives a nod and touches my shoulder.
“I know that. But let us do our duty.”
I guess I have no choice then. I’ll do as he said. After I am given an injection, I fall asleep.
************************************************** ****************************
I wake up in a white-painted room. I lie in a bed. The table beside me is decorated with a vase and flowers. And from my blurry vision, I could see two people who sit on the chair.
“Who is it?”
I can’t see clearly. The room is too bright. My eyes are not used to it yet.
“Yo!”
Ugh, this voice, don’t tell me…
“Kouta?! Is that you?”
The one with the voice is Kouta. His right hand gives a sign which is similar to that of stopping a car. Henceforth, I call it a ‘stop-pose’. I don’t really understand him sometimes. Is he trying to cheer me up? Or is he trying to tease me as usual?
“Yo!”
Once again, Kouta’s right hand makes a ‘stop-pose’.
“………what are you doing, really?”
“Nothing! Glad to see you fine. I heard from the news, the earthquake was big. I also got a call from Juno that the campus was damaged. Some classes are prohibited to use.”
“Then…what about our region? Was it damaged too?”
“Luckily, our area didn’t seem to be affected by the earthquake.”
This time, the one who answer my question…was Matsuzaka Reiji, the head of the Matsuzaka family. With a tidy hair that is overcombed to the left, he resembles Kouta so much. Right now, I can see him in a green polo shirt and a pair of brown trousers.
“Ayano is worried about you, Yuuki. She is even worried when she couldn’t contact your cell phone.”
Then I open my cell phone’s log and I found about 52 missed calls and 37 messages. They are from my friends and of course, some of them are from Kouta's mother.
“Sorry I have made all of you worried.”
After that, the two of them were asked to get out because the time for visiting is over. I was asked by the doctor to stay here tonight.
************************************************** ****************************
“Now…what should I do?”
At this time, nobody is around. Even people who get treatment beside me have been asleep. After awhile, I decided to take a stroll for a bit. The image of a creepy, haunted and silent corridor of the hospital gives me a bad feeling.
Damn it! Oh, ‘me’, please don’t think too much! It is just my imagination! But on second thought, it is possible for a soul to appear here, wandering in this hospital endlessly, though I don’t want such a thing.
Step by step, I walk toward the corridor. I begin to pull my left leg to descend the stairs of the hospital. Actually, I want to buy some juice cans from the vending machine. I guess it’s okay for me to buy some. I didn’t get any injury after all.
Then, I slowly walk down to the 2nd floor.
“Ah! There it is.”
I quickly gaze at the vending machine on the hall. The red-lighted vending machine is easy to catch. Let’s see, I think an orange juice might refresh my throat better than the others. And luckily, it’s the last can of orange juice.
Just as I about to press the button after inserting some coins, I see a small right hand that comes from my left side. From the size, I could easily tell that it is a girl. And what’s more, the pointing finger, which is originally from that right hand, is pressing the button!
“AAAAAH! What are you-?"
Apparently, the owner of the hand suddenly pops out in front of me. She then claps her two palms as she is going to pray for something. Coming with an expression of regret, she opens her mouth and says,
“Sorry. I will pay the juice. I really want to drink this. So please let me treat you something instead, okay?”
I…was shocked. Well if you ask me about the reason why I shocked, it’s half-true half-false involving the orange juice. But that’s not all.
Her face…
“Hmm? Is there something wrong with my face?”
“No, actually there is nothing wrong with your face. It’s just…”
No! I can’t tell her that I have seen her before. Not that it was in my dream!
************************************************** *********************************
Spoiler untuk Chapter 3 :
“The girl has a secret. She wants to tell her secret. But nobody believes her.”
Chapter 3: Her World
In the meantime, I feel awkward toward her. Having questioned like that, I do not dare to look at her. However, whenever I look at the other side, she just keeps her face in front of me no matter what happen. She then, giggles at me.
“Ahaha. You are funny.”
“Shut up.”
Geez...don't say something like that. I believe I should explain the rudeness that I have committed. Still I don't know how I should react. Her face...
“Hey, what do you want?”
“Huh? What do you mean by 'what do you want'?”
“I mean...about the drink.”
Oh...it's about the drink, eh?
“Nah, forget it. You can have it.”
Hey, hey! Why did I act so tough in front of her? To tell you the truth, my throat lacks of orange juice. It has to be an orange juice or that won't do. I usually refresh myself with orange juice whenever I wake up. Back at home, I can take one from the refrigerator or make by myself. Yet the only orange juice has been stolen in front of my very eyes!
***GLARE***
After I replied to her, she just glares at me.
“Wh-what is it?”
I say with an uneasy feeling towards her. Did I do something that pissed her so much? I didn't do that, did I?
As the time passed by, she then shakes her head. Yelling something like 'No that won't do!' with a loud voice. After that, she takes my hand and orders me to sit in a long chair beside the vending machine. Not only that, she also sits beside me. She opens the can and begins to drink the juice.
“Uh...would you please say something?”
She doesn’t even bother to reply. Her two blue eyes now are concentrating on the juice. And of course, I have to admit seeing her small lips make me nervous.
“Here.”
She stretches her hands to me. It is the orange juice.
“...”
I don’t say a single word. I just remain silent until she opens her mouth again and then...
“You want this, right? I’ve had enough of it. You can have it.”
“Hey! Wait...I didn’t want it.”
“No, you definitely want it! I’m the one who feel bad because you didn’t accept my offering. Besides, you are a stranger to me. I don’t want to bother someone’s that I don’t know.”
“In other words, you will accept that ‘bother’ of yours if he/she is your friend.”
“Yes! That’s the problem.”
This very existence of her...I don’t know how I should explain it.
Well indeed, of course she is different from what I always see in my dream. It’s impossible the two of them are the same. As I wondering about her absurdity, she then opens her mouth again,
“In that case, you should tell me your name, so that I could bother you with ease later on if we meet again.”
“That’s not something you should say out loud.”
“Huh? Which part of my speech then?”
Is somebody out there can tell me what’s wrong with her mind? Am I the one with the false thought? I don’t know anymore.
“Nothing. Just forget about it. It is Matsuzaka Yuuki.”
I want to hit the bed as quickly as possible. I’m getting tired of this nonsense.
After she heard my name, her face is showing grin. She then drinks the juice and throws it to the nearest thrash can.
“You are...Yuuki, right? Just call me Yuki, okay. See you later!”
What the...she just ran off like that; On top of that, calling me by my first name. I wonder what she meant by ‘see you later’. It’s not like we will meet again, right? Unless I have to stay for another day in this hospital, that won’t happen.
***YAWN***
Time to hit the bed then.
************************************************** *********************************
The next day…
I wake up earlier than usual. When I look on the wall-clock, it is still too early. The breeze of the morning wind gives me a chill. The weather doesn’t look good. It’s going to be rainy soon. Well, it’s not like I have a class today. So, I probably will be extremely lazy today. No class, no homework, no task to do…
I know it’s not appropriate for me to say this. I’m somewhat grateful of the disaster. Or maybe I’m just a little tired? Ah! But I haven’t done my laundry! Like I said before, no laundry means I don’t have anything to wear except this piece of clothes, which belong to me.
***SIGH***
What a troublesome chore…I wish I have someone to do all my chores. Not to mention I have to cook for Kouta and his family. Well…I am grateful of them taking care of me. If anyone should see this circumstance, it’s only natural for me to help.
4.30 AM
Since the doctor said I can leave today, it doesn’t mean that I can leave at this time, right? It will be ridiculous if somebody mistakes me as a thief or something like that. Of course, take a walk at this time is not a good idea. I might catch a cold, even flu if things are being worsened. They say idiots don’t catch cold. I guess Kouta is considered as an *****, eh? I never see him got a cold.
Still…
This is really cold! I need to warm myself up with a coffee or a tea. And of course…I have to go buy one at that vending machine.
Then…I decided to go to the 2nd floor where I met that girl who addresses herself as Yuki.
“Yuki…that reminds me; the difference of hers and mine are the middle vowel ‘u’. Mine is Y-u-u-k-i and hers is Y-u-k-i. Besides, the meaning is obviously different, right? It’s pointless thinking about it. It’s not like I will see her again at that place.”
Yes…it is how it should be. The fact is…Now I see her drinking with her small figure. She uses her two palms to grab it. As the drink itself is hot, I can see her breathe on the air.
“It’s a little cold today, isn’t it?”
I said that with a straight face to her.
She then notices my presence and begins to avert her gaze toward me.
“Morning, Yuuki!”
“Good morning.”
I try to hide my face to her by facing to the other direction where the vending machine located. Anyway, it’s going to be a long day and having thought it, I decide to buy a can of coffee.
Oh, she waves her hand. What is it? Does she want me to sit next to her?
I don’t want to sit next to her, as she will easily read my face with a blush.
“Hmm? What is it, Yuuki? Don’t you want to sit here?”
“No, you don’t need to spare the space for me.”
Hearing that, her face suddenly looks gloomy.
“H-hey…what’s wrong? Are you feeling sick?”
No reply. She shuts her mouth and continues to drink it.
“Alright, I’ll sit beside you. So don’t give me that gloomy expression again.”
“Really? Then…will you listen to me?”
“Okay, okay. I will. I will listen to you and your nonsense.”
“Then…will you believe me to the very end?”
Oh, boy…she is surely persistent.
“I told you, I will!”
“No matter what happens?”
“Ugh…Yes, no matter what happens.”
***GIGGLE***
What? Now she is giggling? Am I being teased just now?
“N-no! It’s not like that. I didn’t mean to tease you like this. I was wondering whether you are easy to be teased or not. Sorry, Yuuki.”
This means…she really is teasing me.
“Hey…do you believe in strange things?”
“Huh? What do you mean by strange things? I’m not sure what are you talking right now and I think you still teasing me up to this very minute.”
She makes a serious face.
Wait! Don’t tell me…she is not joking. Is she trying to fool me? I shall remind you. This is not even April mop.
“You may call me insane after this. I have abnormalities. Sometimes…I get to know what I shouldn’t know. Basically, I am not normal.”
“What? Wait. This thing and the one that you said earlier don’t match. Besides…I want to know beforehand what do you refer to ‘strange things’?”
“…”
She keeps silent. The situation is getting awkward. I have to break the ice somehow.
“Err…forget what I said. Let’s pretend I believe your entire story. What do you mean by you are not normal?”
“Geez! Don’t say you are pretending to believe me! You said you would believe me no matter what happens.”
As she spouted it in one breathe, I realized she is back to her self again.
“You know…I often dreams about awful things. I don’t know when the first time I start to dream like this. Whenever I see the vision on my dream, I become frightened and scared. Yesterday, when the earthquake occurred, I already know it. I know this is absurd, yet…I just feel helpless.”
“Well…you don’t have to worry over that. It’s just a coincidence. A dream is just a dream. It occurs due to your imagination and your rapid eye movement. It may occur due to your unstable condition too.”
“I know. I already know that. But, I can tell…this is not a dream.”
“If it is not a dream, then…what is it?”
Then…she answers my question with a shake on her head.
I want to courage her. I want to know her problems. Isn’t she just having a problem with her current life? Being paranoid like that won’t solve anything. I have to help her.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve bothered Yuuki with these stupid things. Tee-hee, what a strange person I am. Asking an unreasonable thing to someone I just met yesterday. But I’m surprised. You didn’t laugh at me. Well, even though you didn’t believe me.”
“…”
I didn’t say a single word. Am I supposed to laugh at her? Though I don’t know her circumstance, I can’t sit idle here. I don’t want to look at her melancholic expression again.
“That’s it.”
I stand up from the chair. However, she is stunned at my sudden movement.
“Huh?”
“I have decided to help you, Yuki.”
I don’t know whether I can solve her problems. This is what I have decided.
************************************************** *********************************
“Thank you. Yuuki. Though I’m not sure how you will help me.”
“Hearing things like that is not nice, you know. And I was being serious here.”
It’s true. I don’t have a clue. Moreover, I don’t really understand what’s going on. She said she has some strange events which usually occur in her dreams. How can you solve something in someone’s dream? It’s impossible. Unless you are the person itself, you cannot interfere with someone’s thought.
“Yuki, can I ask you something?”
Again, Yuki is looking at me with an uneasy feeling.
“Uhm. Feel free to ask. But before that, can you sit back? I’m having a trouble seeing you like this. You know…I’m getting tired facing up like this.”
“Ah! S-sorry. I didn’t notice. It must be hard for you continuing this conversation.”
I sit down back.
“I want to know. What do you mean by ‘you’re not normal’? It’s not like you can predict the future, is it? The one that bother you right now is-You can’t accept the fact that you are being unable to help even though you see the disaster in your dream. Am I wrong?”
I almost forgot. I have bought the coffee, yet…my attention right now is focused at her. I have to drink this before it gets cold.
Yuki continues to drink her can. As her figure sits with her two legs being carried up to the chair, she seems cute. Her long, silky black slender hair captivates me. Wearing blue pajamas, she looks like a snow princess. It does suit her.
“I think…It’s not fair. Why it should be ‘me’? I can’t do anything but to watch them dying. A single person like me couldn’t change anything. I’m just a normal-”
Yuki bits her lips with anger on her face. She then continue her speech,
“No, I’m already abnormal.”
“…”
“Last night, I have a dream too. Someone told me that this city is not normal. Someone or something might be responsible for it. If I remember correctly, he mentioned about rain.”
“Someone…or…something? So this time…it’s not the vision of some sort of disaster? More importantly, ‘rain’? Has it got something to do with the weather today?”
She nods.
How the hell am I supposed to do? Will there be a flood in this city? No, that’s impossible. This city’s canal is well-built. Even if there would be a flood, the district next to this city would be overflowed with water. Besides, there is no river or dam to increase the probability of flood.
This conversation is going nowhere. First, I don’t know how to help her. The same thing goes for her. She doesn’t know what to do. Second, her dream is not very convincing. Just to let you know, I don’t believe her dream and the recent disaster is related. As I said before, it’s a pure coincidence. She is only scared and her mental is not stable. Perhaps consulting with a psychiatrist is a good idea, but I’ll do that later.
I have come into a conclusion. Let her mind rest is my first priority. Well, duh…it’s already 6.00 AM. The cafeteria isn’t open yet. They say it is open at 6.30 AM. I am going to take her for a breakfast.
“Hey, why don’t we have a breakfast at the cafeteria after this? You need to fill your stomach. Otherwise, you can’t think of a way to solve this problem.”
“Heee…”
I see a smirk on her face.
“Ahaha, why won’t you say you are hungry?”
“S-shut up! It’s not like I’m hungry. I’m doing this because you seem to be tired!”
Of course, that’s obviously a lie. I am really hungry right now. I didn’t eat the dinner from the nurse. After seeing the content, I lost my appetite.
“Nah-I bet you didn’t eat your dinner. Oh, boy, you sure are picky at this age. No wonder you have a rather short height.”
She spouts this in a half-tone manner. Am I being teased again?
“I-I told you that’s not the case! I am not hungry at that time. Stop teasing me!”
Again and again, she laughs at my reaction. Well, I don’t mind as long as she smiles.
“Anyway, if you want to eat breakfast, I suggest you should pack your things first. I know a place where we can find a fine food. You are not injured. So, you can leave this hospital today. The same goes for me.”
“Well…if you say so. Then take me to that place.”
But she scowls as if she sulks.
“Geez! I need some time to pack my goods too! Are you planning to go right now? I haven’t taken a bath yet. We’ll meet again in this place an hour from now. Okay?”
Girls are surely nosy, aren’t they?
“All right. It is at 7.00 AM.”
“Well, off I go! See you later Yuuki!”
“Yeah, see you later.”
Then, she runs on her way. Is she always runs like that? It’s dangerous to run in such corridor like this. ************************************************** *********************************
And here we are…She told me that I must pack all my belongings. The first thing that I should take care of is my own face.
I wash my face on the sink. Looking myself at the mirror, I notice my left eye is red.
“Hm…Strange, I don’t feel anything itchy, yet my eye is red.”
I take a look closer. Maybe the cause of this is because I lack of sleep. Plus, I haven’t eaten anything last night.
“Oh well. I don’t think it will bother me. I’ll just rest after I go home.”
Next is to pack these clothes of mine. Kouta rent some of his clothes at that time. I have to take all of it somehow. I guess I have to rent something to carry it on later.
Time passes quickly. It’s already 6.25 AM.
“Crap. I waste so much time on thinking. I might be late if this goes on.”
Of course, I haven’t taken a bath yet. It has been 10 minutes since I came back to this room and I wasted my 15 minutes on thinking something trivial. I wonder what will she says if I were late, since I’ll make a girl wait.
************************************************** ********************************
***TAP…TAP…TAP***
I hear my footsteps along the corridor. I quickly go to the 2nd floor where I promised to meet her at 7.00 AM.
“Uh…sorry, I was being late. I thought I could finish all of my belongings in a few minutes.”
I say to her with an excuse of being late for 30 minutes.
I bet she is sulking right now. But when I see her face and her reply, I hear something that I didn’t expect.
“It’s okay. I thought you will be late.”
She says it with a smile in her face.
“Huh? You’re not mad…aren’t you?”
I thought she was angry. Well, who won’t be angry if someone whom you make a promise to is late, and the last thing that the person do is apologize to? Yes, the person who just apologizes by making an excuse is no one but me.
“Of course I’m mad. But I have my ways for you to atone for your sin. But don’t worry. I won’t force you to do something irresponsible for me.”
Good. Now I know she is really mad. Still, she said all of those words with a pure smile! I bet nobody would notice that she is angry right now. Her gesture, her voice, even her way of talking is just the exact opposite of those who are angry!
“…It’s not a sin you know. It’s a mistake.”
“Ehehe…just forget everything I said before. Then, shall we get going then? Just follow me.”
I follow her to the main entrance. The sky is cloudy just like before. I hope it won’t be raining. I don’t bring an umbrella.
I am wearing a scarf in this cold breeze. So do her, the one who walks aside me. I notice she is wearing a white long shirt with a blue-greenish scarf on her neck. As an addition, her wrists are tipped with a fine, indigo ribbon. Her lower is covered with a black denim skirt and black-and-white-stripped stocking.
“Hm…What is it, Yuuki? Why are you spacing out like that?”
“Er…It’s nothing! It’s really nothing particular!”
“Hee…?”
It’s bad! I was staring at her.
“Yuuki, are you tired?”
“Eh?”
“Before it's gonna rain, let's start running!”
And so, she grabs my hand while running nowhere.
************************************************** *********************************
Spoiler untuk Chapter 4 :
“I always hate the rain.”
That thing won’t change. I couldn’t forget the frigid and cold nature of it.
Chapter 4: The Rain Whom I hate so much
The rain falls down quickly. Luckily, we have gotten in the place which Yuki mentioned. From here, I can read the sign which hanged in the front door.
~Lumina~ café, Open at 6.30 A.M. till 7.00 P.M.
Then, I open the door and we two are going into the café.
The café, ~Lumina~ is surely crowded. Not to mention because outside is raining but the space is so spacious that we can relax in this kind of situation. Then, I just noticed most of the customers are girls. Well, aside from the man who sits in the cashier, I think I can count the males here with these fingers.
As the rain continues pouring down, Yuki tells me to pick a seat. But I insist she is the one who should take a seat. This is my first time coming here after all.
Aside from the atmosphere, it surely is a nice café. There are so many antique ornaments. Most of them are made of wood. Even the floor is made of wood. I wonder what if it gets burned with a fire or something. Won’t it be troublesome? Still, I must say this place is really something.
***SIGH***
Ah…she just sighed.
“Sorry, I didn’t expect the rain would come so easily like this. What if the rain won’t stop after we finished eating?”
“Don’t ask me. Moreover, that’s my line. I thought you bring an umbrella.”
Hearing that, she just gives her “sweat” expression on her face.
“Oh, well. I guess it’s not so half bad in here.”
…
A silence…
It’s not my imagination, is it? Did I just say something that I shouldn’t have said? But I don’t see her in a bad mood or something.
“Yuki?”
“Hmm? What is it?”
See? It really is just my imagination. She is fine. Yet, why does she continue this silence?
“I was wondering for a while. But why are you suddenly kept silent?”
“Eh? I thought you were mad at me.”
“Huh? And why would I be mad at you?”
Then I see a smile.
“I’m glad you’re not angry anymore, Yuuki.”
“I told you I’m not angry!”
“I know that. You are not angry. You are just sulking. Am I right?”
“Uh…I’m not sulking either.”
“Really? Then why do you put a sad face like this. You should’ve smile…like this!”
Aw, my cheek is being pulled.
“Hey! Stop that or I will…”
And suddenly I stop my speech. Her two hands have stopped pulling my cheeks. Her eyes are focused at me.
“Will what?”
I can’t answer her question. I bet my face is all red. Knowing that, she just won’t stop teasing me.
“Ahem. I am sorry to disturb you two. But what are your orders, sir?”
Phew! I’m saved. Behind me, I see a waitress wearing maid clothes. I guess we forgot to order something.
“Let’s see…I’d like to eat this and this. Then for the drink, I’d like to drink this tea.”
Yuki’s finger is pointed at the menu. From what I see, she is ordering a set of cabonara and mushroom soup, and then she picks some baked cheese. Her drink is obvious. It’s an orange juice.
“Yuuki? Don’t you want to order something?”
“The same goes for me.”
“Is that so? Then it makes all of these as two.”
“I understand. Please enjoy your time. The meal will be ready to be served after a while.”
Then, the waitress left with our orders.
“Hey, Yuuki.”
“What is it?”
I don’t know if she emits a smirk or a smile this time. As if it was a child’s play and I’m her toy, she really enjoys her time. Then she continues her speech.
“Don’t blame me if you can’t finish all of the food, okay?”
What is the meaning of that? I don’t know what she meant. ************************************************** *********************************
“Uh…these are…the food?”
“Yep!” she replies with a mischievous expression.
“But how are you going to eat all of these?!” I ask her with such confusion.
No matter how you look at them, the table in front of me has been fitted with two enormous long breads. From here, there’s a nice smell of cheese. The cabonara, although the size is small, when I try to chew into my mouth, it was good. But for some reason, I find it difficult to finish the main dish. Luckily, the mushroom seems normal to me though.
She’s an evil. No matter how you look at her, she’s really an evil. She said she wasn’t mad anymore. And how I was convinced with her expression of loneliness since we’ve come here…it’s not fair you know!
“Hm? What’s wrong? Aren’t you gonna eat them? Don’t be so formal. It’s my treat. After all, we’re friends.” Once again, she asked me after chewed some of them.
“Uh…”
I couldn’t answer it. If this were afternoon, I could finish all of them. Since this is morning, I can’t help but to stare at them, chew some, drink the orange juice, and then I just repeat the step again and again.
On the other hand, Yuki continues to enjoy her meal at ease. But strangely, I smile for a moment. This time, she doesn’t notice me smiling. I bet she’ll tease me once she sees me like this.
Few minutes later, I stand up.
“Huh? Where are you going? Don’t tell me…You’re going to abandon the food? Fu fu, that’s not nice. You order it for yourself and ended up like this.” She says.
No! She’s not asking. I know she really is teasing me! How embarrassing. It’s still half a way to finish the food. I haven’t eaten the bread yet. Not to mention the soup is still untouched, while Yuki has finished all of hers.
“Of course not! I’ll come back after a while.”
“O~~kay! Just take your time, Yuuki.”
I turn myself and walk towards to the toilet.
“Thanks…”
Huh? I swear I just heard someone thanked me. Is it Yuki?
I look back to the direction where Yuki sit at the table. She then notices me and just wave with her right hand.
What was that? Am I imagining things? Oh well…it would be weird if I back to the seat just to ask her.
************************************************** *********************************
On the way to the toilet, I notice there’s a television hanged on the wall. The size isn’t that big though, about 21 Inch. Then…I stop for a while to see what happens.
Ah…it displays the news about yesterday’s earthquake.
“Yesterday, an earthquake has occurred in the region of Shiga. More than 10.000 people were dead and 150.000 were injured heavily. Many of public services will be closed due to the recent earthquake. For all civilians, please refrain from going out to dangerous places such as stations and highways. Also, always search for a hiding place under tables or hard things. Do not go outside if there is an earthquake. The next news comes from…”
Huh?! 150.000 people? Are the injured ones really that much? It’s strange. If there were so much victims at the first place, then why would that hospital gives me a feeling of ‘not too crowded’?
I continue walking towards the toilet. My mind is completely exhausted. It’s not because I take this problem seriously. It’s not that I deeply concern to the food which I haven’t finished yet. I have a feeling…that this won’t be over. Here I am…imagining things again.
I wash my face. After that, I slap my cheeks a bit.
“Come on. There’s nothing wrong…right?” I said to myself while looking at the mirror.
************************************************** *********************************
***ACHOO***
It’s cold. Why won’t the rain stop already? It’s been two hours, you know.
“Um…do you need this?” Yuki offers me a pack of tissue from her pocket.
I take one from her. My nose is all red. Just to let you know, I’ve been in and out from the toilet because of this matter.
“Ah, thanks.”
Yuki’s eyes are seeing trough me. She emits a silence. Just like a tutor being busy with her student, she continues to look at me seriously. Her small figure is indeed tired. After all, we have been waiting for more than 2 hours. The café is more crowded as time passes by.
“Here’s a special treat for you two.”
And suddenly, a 29-year-old lady is offering us with two cups of blended coffee. Her appearance is gorgeous, her hair is tied ponytail and she has a fair complexion. With her white, stripped long-sleeves and black mini skirt, she just looks like a teacher to me though. As an addition, she also wears glasses.
“Tee-hee. Sorry to disturb your work as usual, Master.”Yuki said with a smile on her lips. Then, she continues to open her mouth,
“Ah! I forgot to introduce you. Yuuki, this is Kagami Hiromi. And Master, this is Yuuki Matsuzaka.”
Wait. Why did you introduce me backwardly? It should be Matsuzaka Yuuki, right?
“Err…Miss…Kagami, isn’t it?”
“Just drop the miss already. ‘Master’ will do fine. That is what people here usually address me.”
“Oh, okay. It is Master…right? Nice to meet you, my name is Matsuzaka Yuuki.”
“Nice to meet you too. So…are you Yuki’s boyfriend?” The Master asks me with such curiosity on her face.
Maybe that’s too direct for a question…even for someone who has just met. Guess what? I find it difficult to answer her question. Then, I look at Yuki’s face. However, she only smiles at me, which gives me an awkward situation. Well…she doesn’t deny it, but she doesn’t confirm it. Judge from the situation, we’ve just met today. I doubt that someone will address us as a couple. That is…if they know our situation.
A silence, I think I’m the only one who emits silence towards these two.
“Well…we’ve just met today.” I replied at her.
“Wow, even though you two just met today? Great for you, Yuki.”
But Yuki just goes ‘Ahaha’. She’s not an airhead. Yet, she acts as if she were. Come on, say something already, Yuki!
“By the way, can I borrow Master’s umbrella? I forgot to bring one.”
“Huh? That’s rare for you to forget something’s so important like that, especially in this kind of weather. If I were you, I’d rather not go out.”
Then I ask Master a question.
“Why not?”
“If you see this morning news, you’ll understand why.”
This morning news…I only saw the part of earthquake.
“Master? Don’t tell me…this rain…has acidity?”
Master is suddenly surprised. Then she continues her speech.
“Why, yes. So you saw it in the news too?”
Yuki doesn’t answer her. She is shivering. I don’t know why, but her expression is the same as she was in the hospital this morning.
“Masteeer! Mr. Koiwai said he wanted to talk about the shipping.” Somebody from the cashier yell at Master.
“Ah! I’ll come back later. I’ve got more and more customers.”
Before she is going to the cashier, she asks me by whispering at me.
“Take care of her, won’t you? She’s been depressing like that lately. I don’t know why. But no matter what happen, she only keeps silent.”
Then, I nod at her. The Master left, leaving only me and Yuki. I take a deep breath, and ask her.
“Yuki…? Hey Yuki?! What’s wrong?”
She stares down. Her expression is like a doll. I tried to shake her for a bit. Still, there’s no response. When I touch her forehead, she is as hot as boiled water.
“Ah…Yuuki? What’s the matter?” She then keeps her head up while looking at me.
“It’s not ‘What’s the matter’! You need to rest! YOU HAVE A FEVER!”
“Eh? EH?!”
Without a doubt, I take her to Master. But Yuki’s body is too weak. Not only she can’t walk properly but she also can’t stand. So, I decided to lift her up. I ignore the look of the girls who went ‘kyaaa~kyaaa’ or whatever they say. I hide my embarrassment by biting my lips. Then I ask the person at the cashier. The person just seems to be Yuki’s friend and she tells me to leave it to her and wait for Master. She also tells me to come inside and accompany Yuki.
Well…maybe she mistook me and Yuki as a couple. Oh well…
************************************************** *********************************
“So…How’s her condition?” Master says with a serious look on her face.
“Not good. I think we have to take here to a doctor, or call a doctor instead.” I reply without looking back at her.
The first option is not even considered as a way to solve the problems right now. I guess the best way to treat Yuki right now is to call a doctor to examine her.
“Well, this is going to be a long day.” She tilts up her glasses.
“What do you mean by ‘that’?”
“I mean…we can’t bring her to a doctor right now because it’s dangerous and, I also have something to do right now. So, may I ask you to bring a doctor here?”
“I don’t mind…but…before that…” I pause for a while, then
“Can you lend me an umbrella?”
Hearing that, the person named Kagami Hiromi just stares at me with a blank-looking expression. As if I have said something so strange, she gives a sigh at me and says
“Look…the rain is heavy and it has acidity. Normally, people wouldn’t go out at these times. But since I asked you to fetch a doctor for Yuki, of course it doesn’t mean you have to go by feet, using a single fragile umbrella to burst through your way.”
“Then, how should I go? On top of that, how the hell am I supposed to bring a doctor in this kind of bizarre weather?” I ask at her.
“Can you drive?” She asks me.
“I can. But the problem is I don’t have a driving license.”
“That’s not good then. I’ll have someone accompany you then. He’ll explain of everything afterwards.”
After that, she calls someone in. Standing there, a man with a narrow look comes in. He is somewhat reminds me of the princess who is sleeping right now due to her temperature. His hair is short and curly. He has a rather fair complexion, but what makes me think that he resembles her is the fact that his eyes are gleaming blue like that of the clear sky. Yeah, except, his looks are different than hers. Of course, I don’t have to mention that he wears the uniform of this café, do I?
“Well, I leave the rest to you two.” Master leaves the room as soon as she says that.
That makes this room’s inhabitant is just the three of us.
“So, when will we go?” The man who stands in front of me asks me such question.
“Is it a bit harsh not to introduce ourselves before?” I reply with a sarcastic tone.
“If I feel like it-”
“Alright, alright, we’ll go right now----satisfied?”
I abruptly cut his conversation. I have a feeling that we do not match each other.
“You don’t have to remind me. That’s what I’m going to do anyway.”
And so, we go to the garage to pick up the car. I wonder, is Yuki going to be alright, let alone her on the bed? Perhaps master have already had someone to take care of that. I hope so.
************************************************** *********************************
Spoiler untuk chapter 5 part 1 :
Chapter 5: Connection
Ah, I remember now. He is the one who in charge of the cashier. I was so absorbed by the fact that all employers and customers at that café are just women. Wait, that kind of thing is not important. Right now, I-no, I mean, we have to get a doctor or else, Yuki’s condition will be worsen.
“Hey, I’ve been wondering. We’re supposed to call a doctor, so, isn’t Kyokuushin hospital the right place to go? It’s just nearby.” I say to the man who drives the car.
Kyokuushin hospital, the hospital which I spent night after the earthquake, is what I thought to be the destination at first. However, the man just gives a grin on his face.
“Well, you’re half-right, half-wrong.” He replies.
“Okay, explain if you would.” I consciously narrow my eyes.
Sigh, and now I get a feeling when people around me like to tease me a lot.
“I assume you should know that Yuki’s disease is not something that can be cured by medical treatment.”
“I believe it’s not a disease. It’s a sickness. Then again, if it’s not her physical, it’s her mind that brings out her sickness, am I wrong?” I protest at him.
“That is what common people would judge, isn’t it?” He continues to drive nowhere.
He doesn’t stop at that sentence; he then continues his speech-
“In order to cure her disease, there is only a thing to do, that is-”
Then, I heard a sound. It’s a sound of someone’s cell phone. I don’t think it’s mine, so it must be this man’s.
“Sorry, but pick that for me. After all, I’m driving.”
Sigh, I guess I have no choice but to pick his phone.
“Hello?” I answered the phone call.
“WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING?! I COULDN’T CONTACT YOU AT ALL!” Obviously, someone is yelling and you know---if this happens in the future for more than 4 times, I’m sure I’d turn deaf in an instant. Judging from the sound, I think it’s a girl around her 15th.
“…sorry, but the number you are calling is out of range or either the person turned of the phone. Please leave your message.” I try to mimic like that of answering machine back at my home.
“LIAR! I know Maki’s here.”
And of course, who would fall for such a cheap trick? Not to mention a few of my friends fell to that trick.
“Ah, good grief I didn’t stop just to answer Suzu’s call. It’s a good idea you picked up that for me. She’s being loud like that on the phone lately.”
He giggles a little, and then stops the car somewhere else. It’s a good thing that rain pours down heavily. Nevertheless, it will be considered as ‘illegal parking’.
“Let me answer that.” He stretches his hand to me, and then I quickly hand over his cell phone.
“I’m on my way. Just wait a bit.” The one who’s called Maki is now talking with someone I don’t know on the phone. Maki said her name is Suzu, though.
“Yes, make sure you pack your things. Yuki’s condition is a bit worse.” He continues his speech.
I cannot hear Suzu’s voice clearly, it’s a bit vague.
“See you later.” Maki closes his talk.
“Right now, the one who can cure Yuki’s disease is Suzu. And we’re going to her place.”
After that, he puts the key and turn on the car.
“I told you, it’s a sickness, not a disease.” I once again protest at him. I don’t think it’s contagious or else, she’d be in Kyokuushin hospital until now.
************************************************** *********************************
