DISCLAIMER: I do not own the manga, nor the characters. Yagate Kimi Ni Naru and all its characters belong to Nio Nakatani and serialized by Dengeki Daioh in April 2015. This is just an AU version of the story. Also, this is my first time writing a fan fiction so your reviews will be very much appreciated. I hope you enjoy!
It's a lazy afternoon. Mio Nee-chan is watching TV while I'm reading a book. My head lay comfortably on her lap. The story is so long-winded that I can't help but yawn. She smiled at me fondly, petting my hair. Mom called her in the kitchen to wrap up some snack when the doorbell rang. Ding dong... Ding dong… Ding dong…
Ring! Ring! Ring! My phone violently wakes me back to reality. Where am I? I check my phone. It reads September 3, 2018 6:45am. September 3… it's been seven years, huh? I slap myself to focus. I barely have time to prepare for school. I ran the cold shower and hurriedly went in…
Seven years ago, there's this little girl who looked up to her older sister. Her older sister was the textbook definition of perfect. She's athletic, she excels academically, had a lot of suitors and admirers. Mom and Dad were always so proud of her…they never looked at me. But it was okay, because then I feel no weight of expectations. Not that I realized this back then, I was too busy spending time with my perfect older sister. I'm glad that I did… when Mom and Dad fell into a depressive state; I made a decision to follow her footsteps. I have to become like Onee-chan. This is the least I could do to ease their pain...and mine.
I stepped out of the shower and hurried to school.
"Touko! Good morning!" Sayaka senpai called out from a distance.
"Good morning, Sayaka. How are you today?" I replied with a smile.
Sayaka is like Onee-chan, beautiful, smart and caring. She is the reason I manage to fool everyone else with this mask that I'm wearing.
"I'm doing great, except I'm wondering what your answer will be. So what is it?" she stopped in front of me, her eyes pierced towards mine.
"Please give me more time to think." I muttered and looked away.
"Eh? Okay then. You have until Friday. I'll be waiting until then." she smiles and pats my back.
"Thank you, let's go." I smiled back.
"Yes, we better." she held my hand as we walked towards the classroom.
A month ago, Sayaka asked me to help out in the student council. It's a step closer for me to become like Mio Nee-san, she was the Student Council president after all. But I don't think I'm ready yet… something is missing. I don't have a purpose in joining the student council.
School's over. I was called in the student council by Sayaka. They needed help with activities for the upcoming School Festival. Everyone has been loaded with so many tasks and they're a little short-handed. She showed me the rundown of the program. There's an hour gap that needs to be filled in the schedule… I remembered something.
"Hey Sayaka," I was surprised at myself doing that, I don't want this yet. Not yet.
"Yes, Touko?" she looked at me with a puzzled face.
"How about we fill this gap here with a play?" I pointed at the program rundown. "What are you doing?!"I yelled at myself.
Sayaka looked at me, her eyes lit with excitement. "That's a brilliant idea! We haven't done that in years!" She hugs me and pats my head. "This is why we need you here."
"I guess I can help if you need me to." I muttered.
She lets go of me and holds my hands up. "YES! That's exactly what I wanted to hear. But are you sure? You have until Friday, after all."
"Mou. How can I say no when you're all excited?" I smiled, my cheeks flushed. "Wait, think this through!" my internal monologue interjected.
"Well I didn't want to force you." she replied.
"You're making me change my mind…" I playfully replied.
"It's settled then. I'll request for Riko Sensei to make it official. Thanks for all your help, Touko. We have months before the school festival so we can come up with a plan and find more students to help out." She said, wrapping all the paperwork up energetically.
"Anything for my best friend." I smiled, helping her out.
That's right. Sayaka has been there for me all the time. After Mio nee-san died, I changed myself in a way where no one would ever ignore me again. I began to work on my studies, pulling all-nighters to have good grades. I even started to wear make-up so I would look more presentable. All of these I did to please my parents…so they would not feel so sad. That's when Sayaka and I started this friendly rivalry. It made us closer, and I started opening up to people again. I wasn't this shy, invisible, little girl anymore. It was mostly because of Sayaka. Helping out in the student council is the least I could do to pay her back.
The next day, Sayaka formally introduced me to the rest of the student council members: Maki Seiji. This makes three people, Sayaka, Maki and yours truly. They really are short-handed. The next day, I was tasked to look for more students to help out in the student council.
I was about to go home when I saw a letter in my locker. This has been the fourth one this week. I opened it out of curiosity and read it:
"Hello, Nanami-san. Please meet me outside the cafeteria after school. Thank you."
It had no name from the sender. How vague. I decided to hear him/her out like I did to all the other students who sent me letters. I went outside the cafeteria after school. On my way there, I saw this first year in the library. She looked so familiar…as if we've met somewhere before. She seemed too absorbed in her book. Maybe she could help out in the student council?
The pain in my feet snatched me out of my reverie. "Ouch!" I exclaimed, trying to look for the cause.
"Sorry Touko, I can barely see where I'm going." It was Sayaka. I helped her pick up all the papers scattered on the floor.
"It's okay, you're in perfect timing actually. What do you think?" I gave her the last bunch of papers that I picked up and motioned towards the library.
"Think of what?" She wondered.
"The first year with blonde hair reading a book, do you think she'll be of help to the student council?" I asked.
"I don't see a problem with that; you can invite her over to help whenever she can." Sayaka answered.
"Actually I have to meet someone right now, please talk to her for me?" I winked.
"Sure. Take care now." Sayaka nodded assuredly. I saw Sayaka approach the first year as I walked briskly towards the meeting place.
I finally arrived in the said place only to have found a first year girl wearing glasses. She must have seen me coming since she timidly found the ground interesting.
"Sorry I'm late—Uhm…" I bowed.
"N-not at all, thank you for coming here. My name is Hinata Izumi, first year. I'm sorry for not introducing myself in the letter." she stammered.
"Nice to meet you, Hinata-san. I'm Touko Nanami. It's a pleasure to meet you. May I know what brings me here?" I inquired.
"The pleasure is mine. And the truth is I… It's because I have a confession to make." she said. I nodded for her to go on. "I know it's weird to like girls. But I like you, Nanami-senpai. P-please go out with me." she continued.
"Thank you, Hinata-san. But I'm sorry. I cannot go out with you." I apologized.
"I see. I knew it was weird…because we're both girls." she looked sad.
"No, that's not the reason. I don't intend to go out with anyone whoever they might be. I hope you understand." I bowed.
"I totally understand. Thank you for being honest. Have a good day then." She bowed as tears started falling from her eyes. As Hinata was running away, I heard a tree branch crack from behind me.
-END of CH.1-
