This is my first story that I am positive I will follow through on. However, I am subject to serious mental blocks and have difficulty getting my thoughts down. That's where you guys come in. I will be able to write much more quickly if I get support from you, my readers. Thus, support, comments, and ideas will be accepted.
クリスタルラブ
Crystal Love
1
我々の記憶
Our Memory
It was the perfect moment. The sun was setting, the wind blowing gently, the commotion of the city far behind us. We stared at each other with a deep gaze, as if trying to read each other's minds. Her eyes were glistening with a sense of deep affection.
"Tomoya, I….," her voice was soft and calm, "Tomoya, I…," she approached my face with her own, blushing out of embarrassment and passion; then it happened.
I turned and slapped my alarm clock off the desk.
"Really? Such a cliché."
My name is Tomoya Natsuzaki. I am a second-year student at Kibo Academy. I'm your typical 17 year-old guy; I live with my parents, have an older sister and a younger brother. I have a small group of friends who I hang out with whenever I can. I have light black hair that seems to style itself every day. I've also got a bit of a strange "talent" that allows me to change my eye color from my original brown to an unnerving black.
Yeah, I know what you're thinking, 'So that was all a dream? Wow, I don't even want to keep reading. I've read it all before.' I don't blame you. This is just one of the many cases of redundancy I keep experiencing in my life.
It's the first day back to school after the summer break.
"Tomoya! Wake up! You're going to be late!"
My mom yells for me to get myself ready. I pick up my clock off the floor and realize how much time I spent complaining and not getting ready. I throw on my summer uniform, which consists of a white short-sleeve shirt, blue tie, and red-brown pants with black shoes and a belt. The summer heat is pounding, even at 7:45 in the morning. I run downstairs and throw a piece of bread in the toaster.
"Morning, Mom," I say casually, "Where's Rina? She's gonna be late, too."
"Rina left early," my mom said, "Something about meeting her teachers early and getting to know them."
"OK. I guess I'll go, too," I said as I grabbed my last-minute breakfast, "Oh yeah, tell Tsutomo to have fun on his first day of 5th Grade."
"I will. But, aren't you forgetting something?"
"What?"
The next thing I know, my bag is sailing toward my head. I catch it, clumsily, and almost drop it. Luckily, my friend, Kenta Saiyaki, is a martial arts student and forces me to train with him, so my reflexes are quite fast.
"Right," I say without emotion, "Well, I'll be off now."
"Have fun!"
I head out the door and begin my walk through temperatures no human should ever have to experience. My batteries are drained after about 5 minutes, and I'm not even close to school. What I wouldn't do for some shade right about now. Then, as if out of nowhere, a purple, lacy parasol appears above me. I turn around to see no one other than Mei Kutaragi.
Mei is my girlfriend of two years. She's about my height. She has long, flowing, purple hair and fair skin. Her eyes are her most defining feature. She has a genetic disorder called Heterochromia, which causes the eyes to be two different colors. Her right eye is a deep, elegant purple that makes you think of a twilight sky. Her left eye is an icy, luminous, crystal blue. What's strange is that Mei has perfect vision, even though her icy eye is a little cloudy. Mei also wears a sunset-colored ribbon with a white stripe on the ends, which she uses to tie up her hair in the back. She has a natural blush, which only adds to her already amazing looks. She is literally the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. Her only quirk is that she gets flustered whenever someone brings up our relationship.
"My, my," she says, "You really do not like high temperatures."
"Well, I figured that the inside of my house and the heat out here were the same temperature."
"Quite a predictable mistake from you, Tomoya," she said with a slight giggle, "Walk with me. The parasol is big enough for us both."
Feeling slightly more refreshed, I began walking with Mei. We've known each other for quite some time.
We first met 9 years ago. I was at the stream that runs behind our town. I was skipping stones since I had nothing better to do. As I started walking back, I saw a girl sitting on a bench, looking at the ground. She appeared to be crying. Being the curious moron I was at the time, I went to ask her what was wrong. As it turns out, Mei's sister was scolded for coming home from school late. Through all the yelling, Mei got scared and just ran off. I figured that her mother and father were worried sick, so I offered to take her home, which she hesitantly accepted. Shortly after we started walking, a stray dog came up to us, and Mei became petrified. So, I had to shoo the dog away, which was actually a very difficult task. After that, Mei was easily startled. She got scared by a twig that fell and hit the ground and wrapped her arms around me. I comforted her, and I held her hand the rest of the way back to her house. Mei was incredibly elated to be home. I, however, was not. Before I even got halfway up the main walkway, bodyguards that looked like they came from the Yakuza came between me and Mei. I was saved by the skin of my teeth when Mei explained the whole situation to them and called them off.
Mei's father came out and I half-expected him to yell at Mei or throw me out. Instead, to my surprise, he knelt down and shook my hand, expressing his deepest gratitude to me for bringing his daughter back. At that moment, Mr. Kutaragi had me make an eternal promise to protect his daughter in any way possible. From then on, almost every time Mei wanted to go out, she either had to be escorted to my house, or I had to walk to her house and pick her up. I will admit, it got boring, but all that changed one day 7 years later when we were walking through Hiroshima. There was a goon in a leather jacket who pushed me out of the way and started hitting on Mei. She was horribly afraid, so, obviously holding true to my word to Mr. Kutaragi, I got back up and fought for Mei. I was able to get Mei to safety before the thug got to me…. and beat me up.
When I woke up, all I saw was a white ceiling. I was in pain, and it felt like years had passed. Then, I heard my name, in a voice all too familiar.
"Tomoya! Tomoya, are you okay? Can you hear me?"
I turned slowly to make sure that I didn't fall under any more pain than necessary. What I saw was astonishing; Mei, sitting at the bedside, tears in her eyes, a look of worry and fear on her face. Before I could even say a word, Mei lunged forward, wrapping her arms around me, crying her eyes out, and nearly screaming my name over and over. She was squeezing me as hard as she could, but I didn't care. I was just happy to see that she was perfectly safe. The door opened, and Mei's father walked in. He kneeled down at the other side of the bed and stared at me. He then stood up and turned to look out the window.
"For the past seven years I have had you under surveillance. However, your actions today have exceeded my expectations of what anyone would dare to do. I see I have made the right choice in who keeps my daughter safe. You have held true to your word every day since we first met, which is more honorable than any person I have ever known. I no longer need to keep you under watch, for you have won me over." Mr. Kutaragi turned back to me. "Mister Natsuzaki, you have saved my daughter on many occasions, but this stands above them all. I am eternally in your debt. Should you choose to date my daughter, my blessing would not be enough. If you shall ever need anything, do not hesitate to ask. On behalf of the Kutaragi family, I thank you."
I looked at him with a puzzled expression. Was the head of one of the most powerful families in all of Hiroshima bowing to me? I figured that a response was needed, so I drummed something up on the spot.
"Mr. Kutaragi," I began to say, "You have raised an amazing daughter with a great personality. All I ask is that you continue raising her exactly as you have. And besides, it was my first instinct to protect Mei. I made a promise, and I never go back on my word. And there's no need to be so formal. Please, call me Tomoya."
"Understood," Mr. Kutaragi responded, "in that case, I want you to call me by my first name; Takeo."
After a few more minutes of pleasant chatter, Mr. Kutaragi took his leave. Then, it was just me and Mei. Moments passed in awkward silence. Then, Mei finally spoke up.
"Um…," she said quietly, "Tomoya…..thank you."
I turned to respond, but didn't get a word out. All I saw was Mei, her face extremely close to my own, her eyes closed. She was blushing full on, with her lips pressed against mine. Needless to say, I was surprised. As our lips parted, Mei kept her face close to mine. She looked embarrassed. Then, she began to talk again, "Tomoya, ever since that day we first met, I felt that there was something special about you. I now know that I was right. You are a sweet, compassionate, honorable person who would throw his life on the line to keep your word; Even more so, for me. After seeing what you did for me today, my feelings for you have evolved to a level I could never expect." She paused, as if trying to collect her thoughts then continued. "I guess what I'm trying to say is…" Mei took a deep breath, "i love you," she said almost inaudibly.
"Huh," I asked since I didn't hear her the first time.
Mei took an even bigger breath and looked like she was about to explode.
"I love you! I love you! I love you so much! Ever since we first met I've been in love with you," Mei started to look really frazzled; "I know you may not return my feelings but I love you, ok? I love you, Tomoya! I love you! I love you! I love you! I love you! I love you."
Needless to say, I was caught off guard. Mei was entirely red, like a tomato, a cute little tomato. She was looking at me with innocent eyes.
I broke the silence. "It's about time."
"Huh?"
I pulled Mei close and kissed her with a passion and emotion I have never expressed before. For the third time, the room went silent. We stayed like that for what seemed like an eternity. After a while, our lips parted and Mei started to tear up.
I wiped away her tears and broke the silence again.
"You know I've never been one to admit my feelings just out of the blue, so I've been waiting for you to do it," I explained. Then, the words that set my life officially in motion escaped my lips. "I love you too, Mei."
Mei covered her mouth softly with both hands. Huge amounts of tears were welling up in her eyes, and eventually started cascading down her cheeks. She started talking through her sobs.
"Tomoya, you don't know how happy it makes me to hear you say that. Had I not met you seven years ago, I don't know what my life would be like, and I don't want to think about it."
I held Mei by the shoulders and pulled her close, wrapping my arms around her in a deep embrace. She kept crying tears of joy.
"I just have one question, Mei."
"Yes?"
I looked at her with a calming expression. "Where should our first date be?"
And that's how Mei and I started going out. Everyone was shocked, but the commotion eventually settled down. I had completely forgotten that it's so hot outside. All I've been focusing on is the cool shade under Mei's parasol, the feeling of her hand in mine, and the tranquil atmosphere as we walk towards Kibo Academy.