Hello! So I had this story planned out a long time ago, but when I began writing it, it had a lot of gaps. The rest of the "planned out" stuff will take place in the next chapter or two.
I will also apologize in advance if the line breaks do not show up. I am still new to uploading, so please bare with me. Thanks, hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Love Live!
"I'm going to go home, Maki. I'll email you the lyrics when I have finished them." Umi got up, gathered her belongings and left.
They had all gotten together in the club room for a little meeting. They had finished practicing the dance moves and were chatting idly while Umi and Maki went over the lyrics and the music.
Umi seemed a bit more distant lately which affected the whole dynamic of their group. But she still went out of her way to help the others, so they were okay with it.
Kotori and Honoka were more hurt by this though, but for different reasons.
Kotori and Umi had been dating for about a year now and Umi had always opened up to the bubbly ashen-haired girl. Nowadays, she seemed to want to limit her conversations with Kotori and limit their time with one another all together.
Honoka had always loved Kotori, but after learning Umi loved her as well, she let her go and wished for their happiness. When Umi stopped talking to Kotori, the girl would talk to Honoka about it, and the latter would feel she was cheated. She let the love of her life go to someone who was slowly abandoning her.
"Why don't we all go home. It's pretty late already." Nozomi said, getting up as well.
"Ne, let's go eat ramen, Kayo-chin!" Rin grabbed Hanayo and dragged her out the door.
"A-ah...only if they have rice..." Hanayo called back, trying to stay on her feet.
"Hmph, let's go, Maki-chan." Nico began walking out.
"Why do you want to go home with me?"
"W-well...I was just suggesting it! Don't think too far into it, baka!"
"I-I wasn't! Mou!" Maki blushed as red as her hair as she willingly followed her senior. Their retorts could still be heard as they walked down the hall.
"Let's go, Elichi~"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming. See you tomorrow, Kotori, Honoka." Eli waved, following the other girl.
The two remaining girls sat in the room silently. The silence overwhelmed them a bit, so Honoka decided to ask something.
"Kotori-chan...do you still like Umi-chan?" Kotori blushed deeply at that. Probably not the best question to ask out of the blue.
"W-well...I don't know. I think I still do but...I don't know if she likes me anymore." Kotori looked down at her hands.
Lately the bluenette always managed to make an excuse to not be with her. It was always going to archery club, helping at her home, or needing to train at home. It was always something, and then she would walk off without another word.
"Kotori-chan...how would you feel if I told you I loved you." Honoka asked with a straight face. She needed to know.
"I-I...I don't know." Kotori felt a finger lift her face and felt warm lips press against her's. She froze at first, but then returned it.
Separating to catch their breaths, they stared into one another's eyes. Kotori then wrapped her arms around Honoka's neck and they met in a more passionate kiss.
"I think...I love Honoka-chan."
"Tadaima..." Umi had arrived home and slowly took her shoes off. She was only delaying the inevitable, but it was better than having to deal with it the moment she stepped in her house.
Her grandmother had passed away about a year ago, so that would only make things worse since she can't stop him anymore.
"Umi." the stern voice called to her. With an emotionless face, her grandfather beckoned her over. He held two bokkens in a firm grip and stared her down.
Umi dropped her book bag on the ground and approached him with a similar expression. Standing in front of him at an arms length, she felt the first sting of pain resound across her cheek...
"Good morning, Umi-chan~." Nozomi and I were making our way to the campus when we saw Umi.
"Mm...morning." she said simply. She looked to be deep in thought, but not in a good way. After spending almost a year with her, I noted that her present expression was one to be wary of. I think Nozomi knew that too.
"Are you okay, Umi-chan? You look a bit down this morning..." Nozomi's mischievous tone had disappeared and was replaced by her more motherly tone. I was right, she did notice.
"Mm, I'm okay, don't worry." Umi smiled back with a bit of hesitation. I wasn't sure if my eyes were playing tricks on me, but Umi's face looked bruised on the left side. I didn't say anything though.
We walked with Umi to her classroom, talking about small things like Umi's lyrics and our duties at the student council. We also spoke a bit about the upcoming festival that was taking place in a few months. And, it was apparently run by the Sonoda family.
Nozomi and I had then learned that Umi's family was in charge of the organization of the local festival that occurred every year. She seemed displeased to talk about it, so it was only mentioned in our scattered conversation.
"Bye, thank you for walking me." Umi said quietly before strolling into the room without another word...just like yesterday.
"Ne...did you see Umi-chan's cheek?" Nozomi inquired. We were on our way to our classroom when she asked that out of the blue.
"You noticed it was bruised?"
"Yeah..." seems my suspicions were, sadly, correct. My mind raced, thinking of the possibilities that would have gotten her that bruise, but my thoughts were stopped as we walked into our classroom.
"Elichi, we can talk about this later, okay?" she whispers over to me.
"Y-yeah..."
"Don't worry, I'm worried about her too..." the two of us sat in our seats and waited for the teacher to arrive, but even within those few minutes, I couldn't help but worry for Umi.
It was after school and I was waiting for Umi to come into the music room. She had told me that she needed a bit of help putting the words into the right rhythm of the song.
We weren't having dance practice today, so we could work without needing to stop halfway. The door then slid open and in came my blue-headed senior.
"Hello, Maki."
"Umi." I regarded her. Even though the two of us worked together all the time, we were still a bit awkward because of our personalities.
"I am surprised you did not just start playing the piano." she sat beside me on the bench as she set her notes out.
"I-I was j-just waiting for you...geez it's not like I play the piano all the time." I began twirling the end of my hair. It had become a bad habit of mine... something just about everyone I knew used against me.
"Hehe...I was not trying to insult you. I apologize if that was how it was interpreted." she chuckled softly. Even though the two of us had clashing personalities, we somehow always became our natural selves around one another.
We always talked to one another about our responsibilities and expectations from our families. We even talked about the people we liked...I mean! N-nevermind...
I also found myself smiling more and speaking more around her, and she always seemed more relaxed. I guess she was always tense since she has to deal with both Honoka and Kotori. She even played the "responsible big sister" role as she always kept us all in check.
We had been going through the lyrics and the music for a while. I would play while she and I would both sing. We would sing continuously, without stopping and when she would fix the lyrics, we would start the measure over and continue from there. It is a pretty progressive way of doing things, as we only stopped when either of us asked a question, suggested something, or someone would walk in.
We had been stuck on the same two measures for a while till the door opened, revealing Honoka and Kotori.
"Umi-chan, did you want to come to my house? Okaa-chan made a new type of manjuu!" Honoka asked excitedly. She was always so hyperactive...
"Umi you can-" I started.
"It is alright, you two can go on ahead. I am still working on the song with Maki." Umi interrupted. I knew Umi had an obsession with manjuu and enjoyed spending time with Honoka and Kotori (especially Kotori), so I wanted her to go. But then again, Umi always prioritized things.
"Okay, see you, Umi-chan!" Honoka waved, dragging Kotori with her. It sounded different somehow...their parting. Like...something was missing.
Umi gently layed herself down on the keys; she looked exhausted. Getting a good look at her, I noticed a blemish on her, normally, pale white cheek.
"Umi...?"
"Yes?"
"What happened to your cheek?" having experience with wounds, it looked like she was hit with something hard.
"It is nothing..." she pushed herself up and focused on the lyrics, trying to change the subject. "Why don't we go back to-"
"Umi, I'm not stupid. It looks like somebody hit you with something." she tensed at that. "Y-you can tell me." I placed my hand on her shoulder and she instantly winced, moving away from my contact. "Umi, are you alright?" I was worried now. The bruise was enough to see something was wrong.
"Well...do not worry about it." she looked away, but I still caught her facial expression: pain; emotionally and, from what I've seen, physically.
"Why shouldn't I worry?" my voice rose a bit. I don't normally get worked up over people, but the fact that she was hurt and refused to tell me worried me a bit. "You can tell me. We talk about sensitive subjects all the time."
She looked me in the eye with an expression that made me want to hug her (not that I would ever do that!). She looked to be in a lot of pain and just in need of someone to comfort her.
"You have to promise not to tell anyone."
"Y-yeah but-"
"No buts. Please...do not tell anyone about this, Maki, especially not Kotori." she practically begged. Not being able to say anything else, I nodded slowly.
She then straightened herself and turned her back towards me. Then very slowly, she began unbuttoning her uniform.
Umi grunted as another blow went to her stomach. Holding herself with her arms the best she could, her hands were left wide open. The wood came down on her wrist, forcing her to drop her bokken out of pain.
The next was her knees as she felt them forcefully buckling underneath her. She fell to the wood floor with a thud, which then her body followed as another wave of pain surged through the left side of her back.
She had curled in on herself as blow after blow made contact with the same spot on back. The thud of the wood against her back stopped as a firm grip forced her to her feet.
She stood shakily, only to fall to the ground again as she felt another shock of pain hit her left cheek, again.
The dull sound of voices could be heard while a gentle hand rested against her shoulder. But the pain clouded her mind once again and she soon could hear nothing but the sounds of her own whimpering.
At first I was very confused as to why Umi was undressing, but as she did, I saw why. Her smooth, white complexion was stained with black and purple, especially on the upper part of her back.
They looked really recent...like, yesterday-recent. I carefully brushed my fingertips across the wound which even then, caused her to stiffen.
I moved my hand away and that was a sign for her to put her uniform back on. As she did so, I realized what was missing when Honoka and Kotori left.
"Mm..." I moaned into the warmth that was Honoka-chan's lips. I had my arms wound tightly around her neck as she pulled me closer by my waist.
Honoka-chan then followed forward, pushing me down roughly onto the bed. We separated to catch our breaths and my heart fluttered as I saw the string of saliva that still connected us.
Honoka left without that sad look she always had. She actually looked...happy that Umi couldn't go with them. Why does this give me a bad feeling?
I stared into Honoka-chan's bright, blue eyes and saw a never ending amount of love within them. They filled me with warmth that I only received from Umi-chan at the beginning of our relationship.
Umi-chan...
She and Honoka-chan were completely different. Umi-chan had sharp brown eyes that made me feel safe when she embraced me firmly. Honoka-chan had sparkling blue eyes that made my stomach churn with goodness. Her embraces were soft and allowed me to feel all the love radiating from her.
Umi-chan lost that a few months ago. Her eyes used to make me feel safe, but were now cold and distant. Her touches used to make me draw closer for more, but now made me want to scoot away. She used to embrace me against her firm frame and whisper words of love into my ears. She used to hold my hands and kiss my daringly out in a crowd, even though she was hesitant at first.
"My grandfather...does not take my relationship with Kotori kindly. My grandmother did not care. She just wanted me to be happy." Umi hesitated before she continued. "But now she is gone...and I have no one to turn to for help, or support."
Umi curled in on herself further, hugging her broken self. I had never seen her like this before, and it scared me to no end.
My strict, responsible, yet socially awkward senior...she always knew how to deal with things and never let her emotions control her actions unless they overwhelmed her.
And now, they were so overwhelming that she was trembling and holding herself to protect what hasn't already been broken.
I had a feeling that Kotori was her saving grace, but I had already promised I wouldn't tell anyone. I also still have that horrible feeling from when I saw how Honoka's face lit up when Umi said she couldn't go with them.
But now...we always had a distance between us and she refused to ever hold conversations with me. Deep down, I think I stopped loving Umi a long time ago, and only held on because of some desperate attempt to me loved.
Now, I don't need to strive for my love anymore. It was right in front of me with soft ginger hair, bright blue eyes, and warm lips.
"I love you, Honoka-chan." I pulled her down and captured her lips before anything else could be said.
I had found my true love.
She had begun to cry at this point, so I did what my mama did for me when I cried: I embraced her.
I was careful though. One, I had never comforted a person before. Two, Umi was still in physical pain, and I didn't want to harm her further.
Luckily, I caught a shade of black, and silently beckoned her over as she caught sight of us from outside the door.
"Oh my god, Umi, are you okay?" Nico-chan was always stubborn, but she also had a motherly side that came out because she cared for her siblings.
She gathered the broken girl into her own arms and held her close as Umi gripped Nico's cardigan. Nico was about to rub Umi's back when she saw the discoloration of skin.
She slowly peeled back the shirt that haven't been put on properly, and her eyes widened in both, what looked like, surprise and...anger?
"What happened." she demanded so strongly, it didn't sound like a question.
"I...I promised her I wouldn't tell anyone." I was very conflicted. I wanted to tell someone else because I knew I couldn't do anything to help Umi. But she also entrusted this with me and I didn't want to go back on what I said.
Nico looked very frustrated before she took and breath and focused again on Umi.
"Can you get first aid or something? Or like, ice?" she asked me calmly. I nodded furiously and wanted to slap myself for not thinking of that sooner. I got up and ran to the infirmary, hoping the door wasn't locked.
The room was silent now as I stood and held Umi against me. I was used to crying since Kokoro, Kokoa, and Kotaro always got into fights. But this was different.
This was Umi.
But then again, I always knew the girl was a like balloon, filling with more and more water until she burst, her emotions coming out in uncontrollable fragments. This was one of those times.
Everything she kept in...her own school work, being our lyricist, being the one that kept us together, being in two clubs, needing to keep Honoka in check, and having her responsibilities outside of school.
She kept in all of her pent up stress and frustration and let it out like this because she couldn't handle them.
I imagine that something happened between her and Kotori. The two seemed a bit distant lately...but then again, Umi was being distant in general. This was most likely why.
Her back was covered in bruises and what looks like healed scars. The most recent and worst was the one on the top left corner of her back.
It was a nasty shade of black and purple and looked impossibly painful. I didn't how or when she got it, but it looked painful, nontheless.
I then looked at the girl in my arms; broken and hanging on by a thread, and that thread so happened to be my ashen-haired junior.
I tried pulling the door open but it wouldn't budge. I gave up and sighed, trying to think of another place with a first aid kit of some sort.
"Maki-chan?" I turned and saw Nozomi and Eli. I guess they had finished their student council work. "What's wrong?"
"Nozomi, Eli! I need you to open the infirmary door! I need like ice or like a warm pack or something!"
Not bothering to ask me any questions, thank goodness, Eli rushed over with the keys. I ran in and found an oil. The oil was used for sore muscles and maybe they would help with Umi's bruises. It should help until we can get some ice on it our something.
"C'mon, Nico-chan and I really need your help." I silently pleaded as I ran off. I heard faint footsteps behind me so I knew Eli and Nozomi had followed.
When we came to the music room, Maki-chan had already ran in. As we looked inside, Nico-chan was standing and holding Umi-chan's head as she was crying loudly with her clothes half on-half off.
Elichi glanced at me before the two of us slowly crossed the room to them. Maki-chan was applying the ointment onto Umi-chan's back which I was confused about. But when I walked around to look behind Umi-chan, I gasped.
Her back had several healed wounds and a large bruise and several other smaller ones scattered across her skin. Elichi looked just as shocked, just that it looked like she was trying to hide it.
We stood there awkwardly for a bit and Umi-chan's sobs seemed to die down. Maki-chan was trying to carefully put Umi-chan's uniform back on without hurting her.
After a while, we all ended up sitting on the floor. Umi-chan had her head resting on Nico-chan's lap, which I don't think she minded.
"What happened...Umi?" Elichi asked out of the blue. I didn't think it was very wise to ask that suddenly, but it was out of Elichi's mouth before anyone could say anything.
She hesitated before opening her mouth, starting with something I didn't think she would begin with.
"Please...do not tell Kotori."
"What? Why?" Nico-chan still had her rough tone, but she lowered her voice a bit, trying to stay calm.
"I do not want her to think this is her fault. Or Honoka's for that matter. Please do not tell either of them."
"Why shouldn't we? They should have a right to know." Maki-chan still spoke quite bluntly, but she also tried to lower her voice. I guess her and Nico-chan understood the situation enough to not speak their minds with their usually tone.
"And why would they think it's there fault? They haven't done anything wrong...right?" Elichi muttered the last word.
Umi-chan hesitated again before she looked me straight in the eye and said something that silenced us all for different reasons.
"Kotori and Honoka are having an affair."
So, that's it, for now. Hope you all enjoyed it! I know there are errors in here and I will try and edit them as I read this over again. Thanks for reading.