When I was younger, I used to play with this girl down the street. She had a red bow to tie back her golden hair, and she always wore this pink seashell necklace, even if it didn't go with her outfit. I remember that specifically, because my mother always made it a point to say what an un-stylish dresser the mother must have been. I always thought she looked cute, and in fact she's who inspired me to start wearing a yellow headband in my hair. But unlike my old friend, I still have to be very conscious of how that headband looks accessorized with my other clothes. I try to give my mother little to no reason to talk to me at all. Pleasing her seems to do the trick.
But that girl was my best friend, I remember. She'd sit for hours with me on beaches and hilltops and hold my hand like it was her most precious treasure. At night if we'd see a shooting star she'd beam up at me with big, amethyst eyes and say, "Look, Chikane-chan! Look! Isn't it beautiful?"
"It was always beautiful, Himeko." But that's me answering her question now as I rifle through a packet of photos I've kept in my dresser drawer. I do this sometimes. I look at the old pictures of us taken with a disposable camera Himeko's father bought her. A lot of the pictures were of me. Here I was sitting on a swing, or here reading a book. Himeko even snapped a shot of me dropping my ice cream.
Every moment was honestly so precious and she managed to capture nearly all of them. But all that was ten years ago. I'm a seventeen year old reminiscing about times I had when I was seven, with a girl I haven't seen since.
Suddenly, one morning, Kurusugawa was gone. I cried for weeks. I only stopped crying because I had to go to school and I became sick of my mother berating me for being so emotional. I tried my best to channel my frustrations and sadness into something productive, so I learned to play the piano and I took up tennis. It's purely by circumstance that I'm good at these things, because if Himeko hadn't left, I would never have put time in my schedule to learn them. I would have spent every day of my life with her and felt alive.
It was early morning when I looked through those pictures. Class starts promptly at 8, and unfortunately I'm the type of person that gets there on time. The limousine takes me to and from school, however embarrassing for me, and every boy and girl at Ototachibana Academy likes to greet me as though I'm their precious gift from God. Our Miya-sama, they call me.
I am most certainly not 'their' Miya-sama. I'm hardly my own Miya-sama. Hell, no one's even called me Chikane since… PIIIIIIING.
I dislike the school bell infiltrating my thoughts like that. It seems to happen all the time. It completely breaks the mood. Screw me for trying to have a monologue.
My hands were on my chin as I looked out the window during teachings. Mr. Toshio stopped his lesson when a knock came upon the door. Our principal walked in with a girl at her side, but I couldn't see her. Mr. Toshio showed the girl her seat, and informed me that I would be showing her around the school later. What joy it is being head of the student council. What absolute joy. I focused my attentions back on the outside where I could see the rose garden. If Himeko were here, I'd surely take her there. She'd tell me how beautiful it was and maybe take pictures. I wonder if she still does those things, wherever she is now.
The bell rang again and Mr. Toshio reminded me of my duties. He and all the students left, so I waited for this girl at his desk. She was leaned over, strapping her knapsack in a bit of frustration. Her silky blonde hair completely enveloped her face. In her hair sat a red bow, and I felt my heart get sick. I still hadn't gotten used to seeing other girls with hair that color or girls that wore bows. Never had I seen a girl with hair so much like Kurusugawa's adorned with her special accessory. It made me absolutely sick.
But then she stood up and brushed the hair away from her face. I looked away and pretended to be interested in the chalk board as she approached me.
"Um.. Hi." That voice. "I'm Himeko Kurusugawa." This is sick. This is a sick, horrible joke. I couldn't move my eyes to look at her. "You're going to show me around? I used to live around here when I was little so I'm familiar with the town, but this Academy is definitely foreign."
"I know you used to live here." I whispered, finally gaining the strength to face her. "We used to be friends, you and me. Chikane Himemiya." I smiled at her. I smiled so big it managed to hold back my tears. I held my hand out for her to shake, and she took it gently. The contact jolted my nerves, but she didn't seem to notice.
"Chikane-chan." She said softly while skating her fingertips across my hand.
"Himeko." Her eyes met mine. Those huge, amethyst eyes. They filled up with tears and I finally let mine do the same. She fell against me and positioned her arms snugly around my back. My hands held her head close to me as we embraced.
"My head is spinning." She admitted, her voice muffled into my uniform. "There's so much I want to say to you, but I just can't pick a specific thing right now."
I stroked her hair and smiled. "You don't have to say a thing, Himeko. You being here right now, in my arms like this… I'm so happy. I've never been so happy." She tightened her grip on me and lifted her face to mine. The wave of her shampoo that filled my nose mixed with the sudden closeness made me dizzy. I was lucky to be leaning on the desk.
Her eyes weren't full of tears anymore. She detached herself from me completely and ran her fingers down my arms. I couldn't help but look down. She took hold of my wrists and softly tugged them to her waist. "Chikane-chan." She giggled. Her hand touched my face. Our eyes met again. "You are happy, right?"
I wanted to tell her how happy I was that she was there, glistening in front of me like this blonde goddess. I really wanted to. But I was so lightheaded from her touch that I couldn't form words. My mouth fell open as I tried to plead with her, tried to convey my sincerest happiness through my eyes. Himeko's eyelids became half lidded, and she returned my stare with a grin. She knew.
That's why she inched forward and let her nose brush against mine.
"Show me around, Chikane-chan?"