01. pivotal gambit
It was another start of another new year. New term in ORB High School began. New unfamiliar faces of classmates. And another alien surrounding that instantly made a certain brown haired boy felt a little melancholy. It was no different than when he had to part ways with his junior high school comrades, and somehow he had started to miss his first year of high school terribly.
But he had no time to feel down, since he was now a eleventh grade student. This year would surely be a much busier year that would be filled with studying and studying.
He sighed lamely, and he walked without care to the world toward one of seats available in his new class. He didn't bother to talk to his new classmates since he barely knew anyone of them. Usually, a new year was always filled with shyness and tension at first before everyone would slowly get along. Except X
K.A glimpse of pastel. His eyes widened.
He pivoted around as he came face to face with a girl with bubble-gum tresses falling limply behind her back. She was his classmate from year before, wasn't it?
Aware that someone had been gawking at her with eyes that widened unexplainably large, she soon brought her head upward and smiled. Her blue eyes were shining with brilliancy he never saw before, and somehow, he felt his stomach somersaulted
"Good morning, Kira Hibiki-san," she smiled warmly, "How was your holiday?"
Ah yes. They were classmates before, and it was normal that she would ask since they were acquaintances of. He then remembered that they didn't really talk much.
"I-It was fine. I-I spent it with my older sister. She is studying on PLANTS so Xso our time together is quite small," he laughed nervously as he realized that his words were really messed up and there were stumbles here and there. He bowed his head in shame; face was red with unexplainable embarrassment.
But he could hear that she giggled softly, the voice rang merrily and his body was suddenly warm.
"Is that so? My older brother also studies on PLANTS," her smile gleamed with fondness and he reckoned that it must be due to the talk about her beloved brother, "Maybe they know each other there?"
He nodded a little, as if he also agreed with the notion, "Probably true, but my sister doesn't tell me that she knows your brother though,"
She giggled once again, "Maybe she doesn't become honest to you, Hibiki-san?"
He widened eyes a little, quickly felt a little horrified with that idea, "I-it would be bothersome if it's true!" he swallowed, "I mean, I'm her brother, aren't I?"
The bell suddenly rang and their time just felt like it stopped. Their classmates quickly jumbled around as they sat hurriedly, waiting for the homeroom teacher to come in.
She then smiled apologetically to him as the bell stopped to ring. He felt as though he never knew this girl before. Because before, that pastel haired girl, Lacus rarely spoke to anyone in his class as though her mind was elsewhere. Of course she was friendly when someone talked to her or asked her. But she never made any effort to talk with anyone else before. And for him, it was a surprise. However, that surprise was really a pleasant surprise because he never knew that talking with her would make him feel less melancholy.
He was not alone after all, he knew one of them and suddenly, he felt relieved somehow.
"It's so nice to talk with you Hibiki-san, I hope we have a chance to talk again someday," she stared at him with an unwavering smile that she held for him earlier. So brilliant. So marvelous. So blindingly radiant.
"Thank you for not being ignorant to me,"
His eyes once again widened as her smile turned a little sad before she shook her head a bit.
He put a smile on his face as he also scampered to get on his seat as he could feel the teacher was nearing, "Um yeah, we have to talk again someday,"
Why would she thank him to not being ignorant to her?
Yes, he got to work hard this year, because the homeroom teacher, Natarle Badgiruel had listed all of things they would have to learn this year. Sure, he was born with a brain of genius, but only hard workers who got their places. He wasn't, surely wasn't, interested in finishing the year with lazing around and witnessing other people grinded him into pieces.
The smell of nervousness and timidity were still wafting around the class, even after the students had introduced themselves one by one. He wasn't particularly interested as he put his elbow on the desk, his amethyst eyes were following the movement of student who stood in front of class. At least he had an idea of who his classmates were. There was this boy named Tolle, who had been secretly sending his winks to a certain light brown haired girl, Miriallia Haw. And there was this boy with a scar on his face who scowled almost all time, Yzak Jule. Overall, almost all his classmates were nerds.
He could already imagine that if they did talk, they would probably talk about how weather today, or how to measure blood pressure. He sighed as he felt depressed all of sudden. Sure, got into a top class was a great thing, but to talk about things like that everyday would surely make him turn into a pure nerd.
He sighed a long, long sigh when he felt a hand jabbed him in the back. Turned around, he was greeted with a grinning face of Tolle who pulled his mouth wide from ear to ear.
"Hey Kira, do you want to take a bite?" Kira's face was a little confused and Tolle sighed, realizing that he probably didn't hear that the bell already rang earlier.
"It's lunch time, lunch time! You are hungry, aren't you?" Tolle's face was turned into a scowl as Kira's feature didn't change at all
"Um, I don't know you before, do I?" Kira asked back a little uncertain, before Tolle quickly cut him with annoyance evident on his feature
"I'm from that photography club! Don't you remember me? I think you do since we ever talked once before you decided to switch club! Geez Kira, I think you're the only one I know in this class but now you don't know me too I guess I'm dead here," he rolled his eyes and Kira only stared back at him trying to remember.
Oh, he got it now. That's why his face was familiar even though Kira couldn't remember where he ever saw him before. That Tolle was the one who enrolled himself into the photography club just to get closer to the brunette who was now his classmate. Even though the method was still questioned since it never brought them closer whatsoever. Kira himself only signed up because of misunderstanding before quickly switching for computer research club.
"Oh, I remember you now. You're that Tolle who pursuing after that girl, aren't you? I'm so sorry Tolle, but if I'm not mistaken, we only talked for five minutes and it was so brief," Kira laughed sheepishly
"Have you got her now?" they're still talking as they both headed to the cafeteria
Tolle almost choked, "What? She likes her camera more than boys, you know," he sighed dramatically, "I originally wanted to give up already but then this thing happens,"
Kira spared him a glance as his brow raised, "And that is K?"
Tolle was grinning, "God grants me a chance to be in the same class as her! I strike a big jackpot! This is a hint that God wants me to be together with her, you know K"
"Yeah maybe, I hope your dream comes true," he was amused at how energetic this Tolle could be. Talking to him was quite fun, Tolle was treating him like Kira was his lost best friend or something.
When they had their foods on hands and sat down, Kira saw her. The pastel haired girl with sheer brilliance of blue eyes. He had always remembered that she was always alone and ate alone. But now, he saw that Miriallia, a girl that had taken Tolle's heart was sitting besides her, chatting and laughing together. From Lacus' eyes, he could tell that mirth was gloating and that, she was truly happy.
His eyes softened a bit, he was glad that somehow, she could find her own solace in her second year of high school.
"Oi Xoi," Tolle's hand was rustling his chocolate colored mane as he stared at Kira with a weird look, "Don't tell me you're also interested in my crush too, Kira? I won't let you that easy, she's mine you know!"
"No, I'm not!" his cheeks were starting to burn as he defended himself, "I Xum," he certainly wouldn't tell Tolle that he was interested in any of them or he would probably make fun of him, kind of, " XI was checking if your taste is quite good or not, so I took a look!"
Tolle's brow was raised as he kept on staring at Kira weirdly, "And what's your opinion? She's cute, right? My taste is overwhelming, right?"
Kira nodded as quick as possible, nibbling on his onigiri, "Yeah, kinda. She's cute I admit,"
"What? I know from the very first that you want to steal my girl! Kira I won't ever forgive you!" Tolle screeched as he glared quite sharply at him and Kira continued to nibble on his food as though the scream never happened in the first place.
Tolle would never get mad if only Tolle knew who Kira actually referred to as cute.
He was shocked beyond anything as he found his older sister was standing in front of their house, chin drawn high and golden eyes were glazed with pride. He just got home and found her in their doorstep was really bombshell. Wasn't his onee-chan supposed to depart to PLANTS today when he went to school?
"W-why are you still in ORB? I think you have departed this morning, onee-chan?" his mouth was agape as his sister was heading his way and pulled his hand inside the house
"I can't return if I myself have such important guests tonight, can I?" she grinned, "Come on up, you don't want to be an old geezer and moping around there all day, do you?"
She was pulling his hand along, and he had to wonder why today his older sister seemed so much more glowing than usual. Inside the house, her sister had been even weirder as she began to do all the daily tasks all by herself and grinning like it was never before. Quite strange, considering how lazy his sister actually was.
When she was still in school, he would be the one who studied and her to hang out. And the daily tasks were always part of his job everyday, she slept instead of doing her part. So, today, when he saw that she was doing it willingly, not to mention the giddiness that overflowing, made him somehow aware that something was about to happen.
"What?" she snapped as she saw that he had stared at her for quite some time now, "Never see a girl cleaning the floor?"
"It's more like, I never see Cagalli-neechan cleaning the floor," he corrected her a bit and she scowled again, amber eyes rolled as she resumed her work again
"Uh Kira, my baby brother, do you know I do this damn thing everyday in PLANTS? It's not like I want to anyway. I'm so so sorry you rarely see me doing this great thing often," Cagalli replied rather sarcastically when she scrubbed the floor even harder, annoyance popped on her head
"But you didn't do it in the holiday, so I'm surprised why you bother to do today," Kira chirped as he gulped down the cold water from refrigerator.
"I have told you that I have important guests tonight, haven't I, little brother?" Cagalli sighed, "I have to ensure that you don't screw things and doing it by myself somehow is more secure," she said, resumed her works even more serious.
"Are the guests that important that you're willing to do it by yourself, Cagalli-neechan? Will you tell me?"
"Well, I don't even tell dad and mom, so why I should tell you?"
"Because we are siblings, you see?" Kira was amused as he saw that his sister fumed
"No! Once no, it's no! See it by yourself then," Cagalli smirked as her younger brother's facial dropped a little
"Maybe I just like to tease you so much, but no, I won't spoil the fun. It's se-c-ret," grinning with satisfaction written all over her face, Cagalli walked away with a very bright face, leaving Kira with curiosity plastered on his facial
"Ah, next the apple pie. I hope I don't butcher it again on my fifth try,"
Oh, the strangeness still ensued, if not ever weirder. For once, he saw his older sister dressed up nicely and even applied a little make up on her usually make up-free face. Kira was even more bewildered as Cagalli told him to dress up nicely too.
"Listen little brother, tonight, you have to wear something that won't embarrass me, you understand?"
"Embarrass?" Kira was confused. Very confused.
"Yeah, don't wear your stupid shorts tonight. It will certainly scare our guests!" she snapped as her hands were busily sorting what good outfits she should wear tonight
"But you wear stupid shorts too everyday!"
Cagalli glared sharply at him as he gawked at her with innocent eyes. Uh, siblings fight. She would certainly miss this thing even more if she had returned back to PLANTS.
"At least my stupid shorts have brands, your shorts even have holes on them!" she mocked with hilarity hinted on her alto voice, as her hands gestured a big circle, trying to imitate holes on his shorts
"Okay, okay, understood onee-chan. I'll try to see if I have something nice to wear," Kira chuckled as he realized that even though he was the younger brother, but it was always him who surrendered in the end. What an irony.
"If you don't have anything to wear, I will pick something from my wardrobe for you, don't worry," Cagalli had to bear not to chortle as her younger brother' face was red with embarrassment, arms flailing in the air
"Onee-chan!" he whined helplessly, blushing profusely as Cagalli clutched her stomach, red with laughter
"Yes, yes, my cute younger brother,"
It was past eight in the night. Kira glanced at Cagalli. She was certainly glowing, no doubt about it. They were seated in the living room, each baited their breaths while guessing who these important guests could be.
He sighed as he looked at his own outfit, suddenly felt even more uncomfortable than when his father had shoved the tuxedo to his face and told him sternly that he had to wear this thing. Who were these important guests until they had to wear something that they never wore before?
Cagalli herself looked quite nervous as her hands fumbled on the green pastel dress that seemed to appear out of nowhere since he never saw her buy it before. Kira could tell that she had already felt itchy with the dress, as she had numerous times tried to pull the short dress down, so that it didn't show the majority skin of her legs.
He was amused then. What a masochist. Why did she have to wear something that she didn't like? But then, all of their family members felt the same. His father, Ulen Hibiki had already pulled his tie apart as he fanned himself with newspaper. His mother, Via Hibiki changed her high-heels with sandals, hoped to put it back when these important guests had come to their small house.
Why? Cagalli had hinted that their important guests were people who looked presentable, so as not to put their family dignity to trash bin, they had to look well-dressed themselves.
Kira frowned as he thought about it once more. Why did Cagalli care? Usually, she didn't even think about what other people thought. But, she was concerned, and even told their entire family firmly to mind that thing too! Unless X
Ding dong! The doorbell rang quite cheerfully. Kira had felt his entire stomach churned and somehow his heart also stopped to beat. He looked at Cagalli uncertainly as she made a determined face and opened the door with sweat on her hands.
"Good night Cagalli," A man with navy hair and emerald eyes was in the view, smiling politely before he blinked as he realized the elders that seated on the couch slowly made their ways to the door.
"Good night to you too, Mr. Hibiki and Mrs. Hibiki. My name is Athrun. It's my pleasure to have the honor to meet you," he bowed deeply
Kira was stunned as he observed the midnight-haired man from his seat. Should he also go there and greeted this man? He looked K. so polite and well-behaved. And somehow, Kira had already an idea of who this man was.
"Ah, nothing, nothing! It's, umm, nice to meet you too!" his mother was laughing fretfully as her hand gestured him to go inside.
"Well, well, I see, you have friends too outside. Why don't we greet them?" his father went outside, forgot to fix his unchained tie. Probably he was too giddy in the thought of making new friends.
Kira sighed. Well, it was hard when your family was quite messed up in the head like them.
"Oh, so you are the younger brother Cagalli has been talking about!" Kira could see grin creep on his face, "It is a pleasure to have the honor to meet you!"
"It's my honor too," Kira nodded, his hand slowly shoved forward in an attempt of shaking hands, "Mr K.?"
"Athrun. Athrun Zala," he nodded too, his emerald eyes shone with masculinity, "And you?"
"It's umm, Kira Hibiki," he shook hands with Athrun.
So, this Athrun guy was Cagalli's boyfriend. What's so special then? Just boyfriend went to visit his girlfriend thing.
But somehow, the family name was quite familiar for him. However he couldn't recall where he ever heard of it before.
Before he could make any conclusion about his own theory, the comrades of Athrun Zala made it into their living room. Stood behind Athrun was a middle-aged man who retained a displeased face Xpossibly from meeting his father who looked disheveled outside presumably, a woman with the same navy hair as her child who smiled tenderly, and behind them was X
K.A glimpse of pastel? Yet again?
Athrun coughed a little before he began to introduce them one by one
"He is my father, his name is Patrick Zala. He is a well-known politician in ORB parliament," his hand gestured the old man who only bowed a little
"And this is Lenore Zala, my beloved mother," Kira could hear a faint giggle from the old woman when Athrun said 'beloved', "Only a housewife, but she is good in cooking!"
"And last X" Kira's amethyst eyes only widened even more, as the gentle looking pastel haired girl who was his classmate of two years was stepping forward, her shoes clinking perfectly on the floor
" Xmeet my younger sister, Lacus Zala."
They were face to face then when she bowed slightly, the pastel tresses were floating like a fountain
Kira could feel his cheeks began to flush red and even redder as she smiled at him, an icy trail itching the back of his neck
"It's so nice to meet you again, Hibiki-san," she beamed warmly, "My older brother and your older sister really do know each other, isn't it?"
There it was. He looked at Cagalli and from the look of it, Cagalli had known all along that he was classmate with Lacus. He now felt a little furious that Cagalli never actually told him anything about this boyfriend of hers. That, except from the fact that his name was Athrun and he was a very very very, terribly nice guy ever existed in this world, he really knew nothing beyond that.
"Umm, y-you're right," he muttered softly as he stole a glance at her. He didn't really know if what she meant this morning earlier could be interpreted that she had already known this appointment would be held beforehand. She looked lovely alright, with a white dress that hugged her curves perfectly and red ribbons that tied the falling tresses, made exquisite pigtails. But, wait a minute. So, didn't that mean Lacus was the younger sister of his older sister' boyfriend?
He didn't see the resemblance between the two except that they both were very polite and Xborn to be nobles
Athrun nudged his father and stared rather sharply as then the older man shrugged quite uncomfortably before announced something.
Kira had always felt that their arrival was quite suspicious, and now he knew why his guts were always true.
"So Hibiki-san, we come to propose your only daughter Cagalli Hibiki, into a marriage with our only son, Athrun Zala."
Um what? Propose? Marriage?
"My son has proposed your daughter personally, Hibiki-san. And now we come to propose her formally," the senior Zala told them with awkwardness laced his voice.
"Ah. What is it again? You could repeat it once more?" Via was gawking, her voice was weak as she stared at Patrick Zala dumbly
"We. Come. To. Propose. Your. Daughter," the annoyance started to be evident in Patrick Zala's voice and Lenore started to send dangerous glances at her husband
"Wait a minute! We need to discuss it with our daughter first!" Ulen exclaimed, quickly pulled Cagalli and Via further from the Zala before started to whisper in panicky tone
"What Cagalli, marriage? You don't tell us about it before! You just told us that your boyfriend's family would only come, didn't you?" Ulen put his hand on his daughter's shoulder as he began to shake her frantically
Cagalli glared at their parents before shrugged, "I told you that it was surprise, right? If I'm not wrong, I also never told you that his family would come! Don't make fake memory about what I said!"
"Uh, Cagalli sweetie," his mother began hesitantly, "Don't tell me you want to marry as soon as you finish your study?"
Cagalli was mad. So they were not pleased with this surprise at all?
"Dad, mom, you want to say no, now? He has brought their huge family here now, for Pete's sake! You don't want to embarrass ourselves now, do you?" Cagalli could pull her hair out if she wanted now.
"It's your mistake not to discuss it with us beforehand! We're very shocked when he said it! It's just lucky I didn't have heart attack," Ulen muttered under his breath as he glanced at the Zala family who had grown impatient Xwell, actually it was only the head of Zala family that was.
Kira could make out what they whispered to each other and already felt that the outcome would probably be a catfight if they didn't stop their private conservation as the senior Zala was fuming each second passed
"Well?" Patrick Zala looked even more displeased, his shoes began to rasp on the floor
Ulen pulled away from the brief-formed alliance between him, his wife, and his daughter, while smiling awkwardly
"W-we are very happy to have your son as our soon-to-be son-in-law, yes! That is," Ulen was laughing rather clumsily and Patrick Zala' facial turned a bit brighter
"That's good. Now let's talk about our children' engagement banquet,"
Kira sighed. Now that's quite a shock that his older sister would soon get married and not to mention, to someone he never knew before. Yes, it was like letting a stranger joined their family somehow, since this Athrun was not someone he was familiar of. It was not like he did mind of that Xthey could really start to acknowledge each other before they became family, right?
A nudge out of nowhere startled him as he turned slightly to see Lacus smiling, but hesitation could be seen creep on her face
"You are not angry, are you?" she asked him hesitantly
Angry? He didn't know what she meant. Why should he be angry?
"No, I'm not angry," he shook his head gently
"Then, how does it feel to witness your sister get married?"
He then looked at the ever so noisy discussion, both sides began to yell when their ideas were not accepted. Even Cagalli and Athrun, the ones who were getting married were silent and occasionally winced when one of the fathers banged their hands to the desk
"I don't know, Zala-san," he replied softly, "I just think that if she gets married, then she will probably step out of this home forever and I don't want to accept any changes right now. But if that's what makes her happy, then so be it,"
"I myself at first didn't like the idea of them getting married, actually," she giggled as she watched his eyes went wider, "It is like letting someone who you know almost all your life to someone you never knew altogether," her smile faltered a bit before it turned into a genuine smile
"But when I see that Cagalli-san is quite a kind and understanding girl, I think, they get married is not a bad idea at all. Don't you think so?"
"I don't care to whom she gets married actually," he looked at the ceiling, "But yeah, I can say the same like you. If he's happy with her and she's happy with him, then maybe this is a good idea," he smiled as he then looked at her, the smile never at once changed
He didn't quite understand, but the blush was evident on her cheeks before it disappeared far too fast
"Say, Hibiki-san. It's a good opportunity to get to know each other, isn't it?"
He was startled, indeed he was, "Eh?"
She giggled, felt amused, "Say, after this, we will often meet each other. And we will be a family too. Don't you think it's really a good opportunity to know each other?"
He then took a time to think through. At first, Lacus was only a classmate. But after this, they would not be only classmates who knew each other names. Their siblings' relationship really screwed everything up. He swallowed.
But it was not a bad idea. Not at all. There was nothing he gambled from the very first. There was nothing he could win and nothing to lose on.
He grinned to himself. Yeah, maybe this was fate that their siblings married and that he and Lacus met once more under this circumstance
"Before we start to know each other, please just call me Kira,"
She giggled sweetly, "Ah, then Kira, please just call me Lacus too from now onwards,"
They smiled to each other and then laughed together as faint blush began to smear on their cheeks, even the deafening discussion of the parents could not affect them.
Out of their reach, Cagalli smirked as she whispered something to Athrun's ear softly
"Looks like something will happen very soon,"