I'm sorry the summary was a bit dodgy, basically its just what happens next, but I've skipped foreward a bit. Its my second attempt at writing fanfiction and I'm sorry if the chapter is a bit long! I'll be putting out new chapters soon I think, if its enjoyed.
P.S you'll have to have read what there is of the manga to understand it better! I'm warning you in advance!
P.P.S I don't own Kimi ni todoke, (ALTHOUGH I do wish I had a dog like Maru-chan!)
"What are you thinking about now Shouta? Is something wrong?" Ryuu Sanada asked colorlessly as he lifted a large plastic spoon full of curry to his mouth, pausing only to observe Shouta Kazehaya's glazed look as he stared off into space. Shouta jerked back from his thoughts, his cheeks flushing, instantly his hand flew up to cover what he could of his face.
"Nothing, stop looking at me!" he answered quickly. Ryuu swallowed his first bite in appreciation, shrugged and continued to eat as if his friend's behavior was nothing out of the ordinary.
"Aren't you going to eat your ramen?" He asked, looking at the bowl in front of Shouta that lay untouched, warm steam no longer issuing from its contents. Shouta ignored this question; he was too busy trying to ease the blush off his face, keeping his head determinedly turned away from Ryuu.
"Ah, I see, you were thinking of Kuronuma," Ryuu said almost lazily. If you didn't know Ryuu well you'd think he really didn't care what his friend was thinking about. Ryuu was patient, quiet and never lied; it was hard for him to inject emotion into his voice at the best of times. But of course where the casual observer guessed his personality as uncaring and indifferent was where they were wrong. Shouta made a noise like a mouse being trodden on.
"She crossed my mind..." he said hurriedly, turning away from Ryuu's expectant gaze, as his blush intensified.
Ryuu shrugged and ate the last bite of curry on his plate. He was well used to his friend becoming flustered at the mere mention of Kuronuma, even though he never really understood why. He did think that they'd left this stage behind in high school after graduation. But maybe living in the same apartment as Kuronuma and attending the same university reawakened his self-consciousness. He dimly realized that Kuronuma would also be on edge all day because of that fact. He shrugged mentally; Chizu and Ayane would be teasing her a lot, they'd ease her nervousness. Shouta couldn't help but let his mind wander to Sawako at the oddest times, wondering if she was smiling as she learned what she needed to to become a teacher. Wondering if he could see her soon. Wondering if she was doing okay and worrying about if she wasn't fitting in again. But he knew she would be ok, she had begun smiling more, tying her hair back and speaking her feelings. He recalled the conversation they had on the day of graduation after she'd been bombarded by a sobbing Pin, going on about how he would need to find a new exorcist to keep him healthy and all that nonsense.
"I can't wait, I wonder if I'll make any new friends?" he had heard her murmur from beside him. At her words it struck him, like it always did, about what a sincere person Sawako was, always thinking of others. He was forever marveling at how Sawako could make him remember the thoughts he had when he'd first seen her smile, when he'd first spoken to her. Such old thoughts she still brought to his mind, making them feel fresh, new.
He turned his head in her direction, grinning widely. He felt he was always smiling around Sawako.
"Of course you will!" he had blurted. Then out of the blue her cheeks colored and a small smile played around her lips shyly.
"I'll try my best," she answered quietly, letting her long coal black hair fall over her face, hiding that charming smile Shouta had been drinking in, his heart feeling as light as air. Only Sawako put that feeling into his chest. It was a mix between nervousness, self-consciousness and soaring affection.
"Shouta, you could fry an egg on your face," stated Ryuu blandly, he had been observing his friend from the corner of his eye. Shouta's expression had returned to one of dazed longing.
"If you want to see her go and visit her lecture room," Ryuu said, feeling slight amusement at how his friend snapped out of his thoughts, looking flustered. Shouta's shoulders drooped and a look of deepest disappointment crossed his features.
"I have classes next, in ten minutes."
Ryuu felt a definite urge to chuckle at how his friend was pouting at the table, his eyebrows furrowed. He buried that instinct however and instead let a small smile slip onto his face.
"Then you'd better run."
"H-hello?" Sawako said still feeling slightly dazed at how happy her lectures and classes were making her. The other students were kind and didn't seem to want to avoid her. Maybe it helped that she had plaited her hair? She fingered the long plait draped over her shoulder as a reply rang out at the other end of the phone.
"How's it going Sawako-chan?" Ayane's voice asked, half teasingly half curiously.
"Ah, it's wonderful A-ayane-chan!" Sawako blurted as she waved back to a classmate passing in the hallway.
"Aaah that's great Sawako-chan! Have you made any new friends yet?" Ayane asked, sighing in relief. Ayane was studying fashion at a university not too far away but detested that she couldn't help Sawako through her first week at University. It made her happy though, to hear Sawako's bright voice answer her, a sound that she had gotten used to and adored.
"Not yet, but everyone in my class are such nice people Ayane chan!"
"Sounds good Sawako-chan," Ayane breathed, she admitted that she had been more nervous for Sawako than Sawako herself seemed to have been.
"How is it for you Ayane-chan? Is it what you expected?" Sawako asked bravely. Ayane chuckled at the other end of the phone. The course she was taking was enough to keep her interested and that was a start.
"It's been good, but I miss you and Chizu. Want to go shopping when you're free again?"
"O-of course!" Sawako replied, her voice bright and cheerful. Ayane smiled, then remembering the ulterior motive she had, continued talking.
"So, Sawako-chan, how is it living with Kazehaya? Does he snore? Is he messy?" Ayane asked as casually as she could. She heard a sharp nervous intake of breath. Sawako, you're always so full of nerves when it comes to Kazehaya, Ayane thought fondly as Sawako stumbled over her reply.
"W-well he's been very considerate, he doesn't seem to snore and he's v-very neat…" she answered her cheeks glowing red on the other side of the phone. This is embarrassing! She thought to herself squeezing her eyes shut.
But I'm happy…because everyday I know I'll wake up to see Shouta in the next room, and everyday I'll return to see him…she let her eyes shoot open again, a small shy smile playing around her mouth as her cheeks flushed a deeper shade of crimson. I've gotten very greedy. She concluded suddenly.
"What? Are you two not even sleeping in the same bed? You're so slow!" Ayane said sounding irritated, a muscle going in her cheek.
"What! T-t-that-s-should we be?" Sawako stuttered her eyes wide.
Ayane rubbed her forehead with her hand silently cursing Kazehaya's for being a gentlemen. Those two are already taking their sweet time! I don't even think he's gotten the nerve to kiss her! Ayane raged inside her head.
"R-really just seeing him is enough," Sawako continued sounding flustered.
Ayane let out a tinkling laugh which suggested that someone was going to meet hurricane Ayane soon and face her wrath. Sawako swallowed, the evil chuckle reaching her ears.
"Its ok Sawako-chan, I'll see you soon, I'll pass on the message to Chizu about the shopping trip ok?" Ayane smiled evilly, Kazehaya was going to get an earful.
"Y-yes ok! See you then!" Sawako said, brightening at the promise of a shopping trip with her friends. Sawako flipped her phone shut with a click beaming.
Shouta rushed through the hallways hoping he'd at least get to ask how her day was going before he'd have to sprint to his class like a maniac.
"Kuronuma Sadako that's her name isn't it?"
"No, I remember her introducing herself to me as Kuronuma Sawako."
"Oh, so you're in the same class as her! That's great I hear she gives good luck!"
"Don't be stupid, she seems nice, a bit tense though."
"Really? I thought she looked like a ghost! A really FREAKY ghost!"
"I saw her smiling a lot and she looked really cute! She seems shy!"
"Ehhhh? Really? So what is her personality then?"
"Maybe we should find out? She is in the same division as us!"
Shouta froze listening to the chorus of laughter that followed that statement. He turned around stiffly; a group of boys in the teaching division were the ones conversing. Shouta felt a hot surge of possessiveness. Yet he couldn't help but hang on the statement that she had been smiling a lot, it made his heart erupt in happy flutters. Too bad he wasn't there to see it. He turned on his heel, abandoning his thoughts of telling the group that she had a very scary boyfriend, and sped down the hall. He'd do that another time.
Turning his fourth corner he spotted her, just flicking her phone shut, smiling her genuine smile. It was enough to melt his fluttering heart.
"Sawako!" He called out, his wide smile making an early appearance. Sawako jumped, caught sight of him, blushed deeply and waved timidly. He was in front of her now, grinning and puffing from his run.
"Hello Shouta," She said, sounding quietly pleased to see him.
"How's everything going? I came to check up on you," He continued straightening up. Sawako couldn't help but be slightly blinded by his sparkling expression, she felt a burning warmth in the pit of her stomach, she was so happy he'd cared enough to come check up on her, it was indescribable. She hoped he got the message without the use of words.
"Everyone's very nice!" She answered.
"Thank goodness, that's great Sawako."
Sawako savored the gentleness in his voice, already soaring above the clouds at just getting to see his smile. He stretched out a hand and touched her plait.
"It's really cute," He stated, his cheeks beginning to flush scarlet as he quickly drew his hand back. Sawako's own hands flew up instinctively to her plait blushing like a red stop light.
"T-thank you," She answered looking down.
There was a short silence were Shouta tried and failed to take his eyes off her, he didn't want to creep her out by staring. He couldn't help it, even after dating her for three years. It still felt like one of his dreams really, he never wanted to wake up. The same thoughts flew through Sawako's mind as she glanced up into Shouta's face, caught his milk chocolate colored eyes and quickly turned away, flustered. Shouta was very apprehensive to leaving, but if he dawdled any longer he would be late and it was only the second day.
"I'm sorry Sawako! I have to go now; I'll see you at the apartment?" He asked, feeling his heart grow lighter at the promise of seeing her again soon. Sawako flashed him a quick smile and nodded, waving him on his way.
Its funny, I can't stop smiling…she thought to herself as Shouta turned the corner. It feels nice…I don't hate it at all.
