Akari awoke to the sound of her alarm clock. It brought her back to life at the same time as every other day. It once again disturbed her from a good dream, which she cursed it for. But this dream was a little different than the usual one. This time she dreamt only of one person. She dreamt of Chinatsu, and the kiss they shared yesterday. It was all she could think about yesterday evening, finding difficulty in concentrating on her homework as she repeated the event over and over in her mind's eye. She couldn't describe the feelings she felt throughout the evening or from the dream, only that they made her heart flutter with a unique type of happiness that she had never before experienced. Whether this experience changed anything, she would have to wait and see, but the little redhead was ready to seize the day.
"I cannot wait to see what today holds," she said to her reflection in-between strokes of her toothbrush, "and to see Chinatsu-chan!" She went downstairs to eat her breakfast before her friends arrived. Akane entered and couldn't help but notice her little sister's irresistible smile. "Good morning, imouto-chan," she addressed her, "You look happier than usual this morning!"
"Hmm," she nodded, "I'm very excited for school today."
"Oh," Akane pondered, "any particular reason?"
"Oh, not really," Akari finished her cereal and put the bowl in the sink, "I'm just in a good mood today is all." Akari felt it best to keep her kiss concealed from her older sister for the time being, until she knew what this actually meant. She was always a bit protective of her and she didn't want her to feel she has to worry.
"Well, that's good to hear. It always does me good to see you happy, imouto-chan," Akane told her assuringly as she patted her head. She didn't appear suspicious.
"Hehe," Akari smiled, "thanks, onee-chan." Their doorbell rang.
"Eh? They're hear already? That's a bit earlier than routine-"
"Go along, Akari-chan," Akane said, "I'll clean your bowl for you."
"Okay, thanks onee!" They hugged, and the girl gathered her belongings and head towards the door.
"Hi-! Eh-?" she stopped, surprised to find Chinatsu alone waiting for her. "Good morning, Akari-chan," she said.
"Hello, China-cha-, er, Chinatsu-chan, sorry!" Akari said, smiling on.
"Oh, that's okay," Chinatsu said, a little shaken. Akari didn't notice this. "I forgot we were done playing," she said as the two started to walk.
"Where are Yui and Kyoko?" she asked her.
"Oh, I came on ahead early," Chinatsu replied. "I wanted to walk to school with you…just the two of us."
"Eh? Okay," Akari said, and the two head down the road together. Walk alone with me? Akari thought to herself. What does this mean?
The pair walked together, in silence for most of the time. It was an awkward silence. Neither side really knew how to proceed talking about this.
"So, Akari-chan," Chinatsu asked, still avoiding the issue, "how was the rest of your evening?
"Oh, it was pretty good," she responded, "I had dinner with my sister since my parents were out. And then I just did homework and watched a little TV!"
Chinatsu nodded, "I did the same thing, too-"
"Of, course," Akari continued, blushing as it came out of her mouth, "I was a bit distracted … about yesterday-"
Chinatsu blushed, too. "Yeah, er, so was I ~"
They opened the school's gate and came upon the grounds, but Chinatsu stopped on the front steps of the school. Akari stopped with her.
"Eh?" she inquired, "what's wrong, Chinatsu-chan?"
"Umm, Akari," she said, "I feel we have to address yesterday, and…and decide on what it really was-"
"Oh?" Akari said, "sure."
The two sat down on the front steps. Chinatsu started, she sighed, "Akari-chan, I-" she said, "I … I think we're friends-"
"Well, of course we're friends-"
"Yeah, but I mean, we should be friends. Still."
"Oh-," Akari felt a sharp pain shoot through her. "Oh, well, of course, Chinastu-chan."
Chinatsu looked at her. "It's just yesterday, we-" she paused," It's just after I got home, I saw a photo of Yui-sempai and me that I had up on my wall. One that I took from when we we're out in the city center that time. And I like Yui-sempai, as you know."
Akari tried to swallow, but her mouth was dry now. "Okay," she responded. She dug for other words, but could find none. It was all she could say.
"-and I like you," Chinastu continued, "You're my friend. You're my best friend. I mean that, truly. Everything I said yesterday, I don't take back a word of it. But our kiss…that was-" Chinatsu didn't say anything. Akari awaited. "Well, I'm in love with Yui-sempai. I guess that about covers it," she finished. She looked at her friend and found her to be sort of dazed.
Yui! Akari saw her older friend in her mind's eye. Yui still!? Even after yesterday?
"Akari-chan?" the pinkette asked concerned. "Eh?" Akari snapped out of it, "Oh, yes, of course. Yeah, I know that. Knew it, even going in-" she stopped.
"Akari-chan," Chinatsu took Akari's hand, "this won't affect us, will it"
"Oh, no! Of course not," Akari tried to smile. She wanted to smile, "of course it won't Chinatsu-chan! You're my very dear friend."
Chinatsu smiled and she hugged her. Akari returned it. "Thanks, Akari-chan," Chinatsu said, "you're the best! Just the best."
Apparently not. "Thanks," she replied, "you too, Chinatsu."
"I didn't get any breakfast, so I'm going to go the store and get something," Chinatsu said. "Want to go?"
Akari sighed, "No, I already I ate. I think I'll just head to class."
"Oh okay. I'll see you in there, then," and Chinatsu left for the store.
Akari walked down the empty corridor to her classroom, which lay vacant itself. She slowly went to her desk and plopped down onto her chair. Even though alone, she held back her tears. She didn't know why she had tears in her eyes to fight back, anyway. She just knew felt dejection. A potent sense of dejection.
She reflected on Chinatsu declaration of intent, that she was going to continue pursuing Yui. Chinatsu should pursue whoever she feels is best for her, she thought. We work better as friends anyway. These thoughts didn't assure her however. The vacancy of her classroom might as well reflect the general state of her life - empty and forever alone.
She swallowed her sadness and went about her day as if nothing of significance had happened, and mentioned it to no one. Her presence also fell a good deal that day, not that she minded because she wanted to be left alone.
After much deliberation, she did decide to attend to the club meeting today, although she wasn't really in the mood. The club meeting was straight forward enough - Kyoko whipped out a deck of cards and they all played a few card games. In one particular round, Kyoko suffered an embarrassing defeat at Yui's hands.
"Egh!" the blonde exclaimed, "Yui-chan, you cheated!"
"How could I cheat? It's a game of chance~" Yui responded dryly.
"Ayyaahh!" Chinatsu exclaimed, and hugged her, "You're so cool, Yui-sempai."
'Eyeh?,' Akari whispered to herself. She's showing such affection to Yui-sempai so openly? In my face? As if nothing ever happened!? Akari had enough. Her thoughts grew bitter, and no longer in the mood for participating she left, not really caring that anyone noticed if she did. She walked to the front of the school building, to the cubby section, in order to collect her belongings and head home. Akari couldn't really determine if she was sad necessarily by the events of today or even if she was angry at Chinatsu. She felt befuddled. I guess it's just all these events happening so fast between each other: being stood up, then Chinatsu just going back to Yui-chan! Like nothing ever happened! Akari sighed. Of course, she should be with Yui-chan. She's so grown-up and mature and brave and smart. What am I compared to her, anyway? And it's not like we aren't friends anymore, Chinatsu and I. And I don't really like her like her like that, anyway ~
These ruminating thoughts didn't provide much in either comfort, clarity, or closure. Akari did begin to cheer herself up mildly though, as she felt that if she just went home and slept this day off, she'd forget about it by tomorrow, at least she hoped. She arrived at her cubby and grabbed her coat. She pulled it out, "Eh?" she said as something fell to the floor.
"EEHH!?" It was another envelope, a pink one this time. Akari picked it up, and matched the writing on it as the same fine cursive on yesterday's envelope down to the heart that dotted the "i."
"Hello, Akari-san!"
"GEH!" Akari jumped around, and saw Chitose and Ayano closing up behind her. She hid the envelope behind her back. "Ah, Chitose-sempai, Ayano-sempai," she mumbled nervously. "What're you doing here?"
"We've just finished up in the Council Room, and now we're about to head home," Ayano said, concerned a little bit about the redhead's nervousness. Chitose recognized it, too.
"Are you alright, Akari-san?" she asked, "You seem a little jumpy? Where're your club-mates?"
"Oh," Akari answered, still keeping her new letter concealed, "I'm just feeling a little ill is all, and I decided to leave club early today."
"Oh, are you okay," Chitose extended her hand towards her, "do you want help getting home or?"
"Oh, no! Not at all," Akari waved her hands. "I'm fine, really. I'm just gonna go home now and sleep."
"Alright," Ayano said, "well, take care of yourself." Akari nodded and left.
She ran all the way home and up to her room, sealing it tight behind her. She didn't want any intrusions. She threw herself onto her bed, and with great anticipation ripped open the envelope carefully, and pulled out the letter:
"Dearest Akari," she read the first line, "I really hope you find this letter and don't accidentally ignore it, as I really do want to reach out to you. I owe you an explanation for yesterday. Having poured my heart out into that poem for you, and then leaving you by the wayside, you must certainly feel a bit confused."
"I don't really know what happened myself to be honest. I guess the simplest explanation is that I got cold feet. I saw you there, Akari-chan, waiting there for me, and I was just so overwhelmed, I mean I just couldn't believe it, and in a moment of panic I ran the other direction. By the time I worked up the nerve to try again, I saw you leaving with Yoshikawa-san, and I just couldn't run up to you."
"Akari-chan," the letter continued, "you probably hate me right now, and you have every right to! But I just need to try again. If you still want to meet me tomorrow, at the same spot, in the morning before school starts, then I would most appreciate it. How about 7:45? I know now I'm forcing you to wake up earlier than usual, but I promise you I will appear this time."
"Of course, the choice is yours. And I will completely understand if I don't see you under the tree, tomorrow morning. I will just continue admiring you from afar. ;)"
"Take care of yourself in any case."
"Sincerely Yours," it finished.
Akari put the letter down and stared at it aghast. This wasn't a joke; it was real. At least she hoped it wasn't a joke, but she couldn't think of anyone who would really put her up for this long or anyone who would even want to. Her secret admirer was real and she still wanted to see her. Chinatsu-chan was right, she thought, she was just afraid.
Akari put the letter in her drawer, and already made up her mind that she was going to see her.
She heard her mother summon her from downstairs, "Akari! Dinner."
"Alright, mom," she responded.
She left her room, only taking one last look at the drawer before turning off her lights.
A/N:
Here's the first chapter to the sequel of "It's Valentine's Day, Akaza Akari." So, Akari gets friendzoned by Chinatsu, leaving anime's greatest protagonist disheartened and dejected following her amazing high. But along comes the secret admirer to turn the tide. Will she show up as promised though, and who is she?
Leave your guesses in the reviews. I'm excited to see what some people will suggest. :)
Review/Favorite; all that jazz.
Peace.