Hi girls, the last chapter of Ao Haru Ride pissed me off terribly. And I just had to write a two-chapter essay on it. The purpose is to torture fucking Kou Mabuchi. He's so stupid, such a dumbass that I don't even know why I keep up with the manga. My only excuse/justification was that I like the way the mangaka draws men and movement very much, and I do art, you see. This story is very short - it is just to vent my anger.
My main focus are the two Inuyasha stories (I'm still very faithful, don't worry)
Chapter 1: Breaking the Habit
Junior year was almost over, only two weeks left before another school year end. Exams were just around the corner. It had been months since he had kissed her and ended up making that decision. Kou ate quietly with his student-counsel friends, intently listening to Kominato blabbering about something. He could pick up the girls' muffled voices and small giggles across the table filtered through the low rowdy noise of other students in the background.
He glanced over to his right, for about the hundredth time, his eyes vexing on the half-filled bento box. His mind had once again become disquiet despite the calm and cool look his vision sent her way. She was on the phone again, leaning on a wall at the dining hall entrance. She has been engaged in a suspicious phone call during lunch every day, for almost two weeks already. Kou watched the girl's grim expression and the dejected look her aura exuded as she spoke, inaudibly to his ears.
He averted his attention back to his meal, careful to avoid the prying eyes of their close friends sitting around the table - too much for his secret affection toward Yoshioka. Completely released the fork on the plate, he pondered…
A nagging weight began to pull at his heart as his memory traced back to the conversation he had with Youichi, his brother, a few days ago.
"Kou, you know. I found out something strange today that I thought you would like to know," his brother shared as he took a stack of three ceramic bowls out of the cupboard.
A sense of premonition crept in as Kou delivered the steak dish onto the table. "Hmm?"
A momentarily silence filled in while both brothers sat down, waiting for their father… and Narumi. "Uhm… I learned that Futaba is an American citizen. She is not Japanese naturalized."
"What?" What? The younger boy stared, flabbergasted at the serious demeanor lining his brother's sharp features. He peered silently, impatient for further explanation.
"I dropped by the office today for a cup of coffee when I overheard the principle talking to the class counselor about Futaba's nationality, and about her mother trying to convince them about something. But another teacher passed by the lounge, so I had to give up eavesdropping."
Kou's eyes glued on the food and became unfocused as they darkened at the blow of his brother's words. Gripping the chopsticks tight with his right hand, the shock washing through his face quickly turned into confusion before dissolving….
"Kou"
"Kou, can you pass me the black peppers?" a feminine voice called from his left. "Kou?"
"Kou!" A deep voice called from his right and he felt a gentle shove on his shoulder.
"Geez, get your head out of the gutter, will you?"
Being rudely pulled out of his stupor, Kou ceased his forehead as he watched Kominato sent the black pepper container skidding across the table… towards Yoshioka.
The said girl winked Kominato a cheery 'thank you' before she turned to give Kou an incredulous look, aiming to jokingly exasperate at his daydreaming. She isn't mad at him anymore, is she? Then she shot her attention back to the girls.
"How was my chemistry notes yesterday? Did it help?" she chirped, her eyes gleaming with mirth and light. It was very difficult for him to tell if the life in those hazel orbs of hers is real or fake.
"Yeah, you're our lifesavers girl. Oh… Oh, I want my English score as perfect as yours. How do you always get top score in it?" Yuuri gleefully asked while Shuuko calmly nodded multiple times.
"Hahaa, you'll be surprise how much I studied for that damn language."
More chattering filled in the strangely amiss atmosphere, before Kou snapped his eyes back to the three girls.
"I won't be hanging around much with you guys this summer." He heard her soft voice between quick sighs.
"What?" Beating Kou to his relayed response, Kominato lowly inquired, fully aware that Yoshioka wasn't addressing to just the girls anymore, but to the whole group.
"I will be taking a few weeks of vacation in Florida." She replied, her lilting tune bordering hesitation as she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, eyes on no one but the food. "For family gathering," she added.
"You have family oversea?" Shuuko asked, her voice quite soft and sad despite the calm exterior.
"Distant family. I live with mom and dad and my older brother here though." Yoshioka offered her explanation.
Yuuri sighed, "Anyway, just be back early so we can at least hang out for a few days before senior year start."
"Yeah, yea…" the gold-eye girls chuckled. "Don't worry."
…. The background rumbling noises wafted back into his ear canals as he tried to make sense out of her words. His brain was repeatedly attacked with a jumble of incoherent thoughts, and he feared he might faint. He saw the light in his eyes flickering and his heart beat faltered.
Kou watched the pink of Yoshioka's lips moved, went on rambling with the frowning girls. He studied the mess of brown hair that fall over her shoulders, the small of her arms and the delicate digits of her fingers. Her facial feature was somewhat foreign, he recognized.
His breath hitched as he finally realized what was wrong
He didn't know a thing about her, except for her home address and her personality at school.
What life had she lead? How was it like to go back and forth? What was her life like over there? Is her family nice to her? Why was she here to begin with?
And why had he never asked her about her past?
… and to think that she would believe in his silent liking in her.
Perhaps he was that kind of guy after all. Despicable. He enjoyed smelling her hair, tasting her lips, holding her frame, living in her fiery fire, gawked at by her beautiful eyes. Pray tell his deepest desire - he would like to go to bed snuggling with her, or to have her hand in his when they stroll down the road.
But… he had never stalked her home, never attempted to pry her little heart for stories about her upbringing, or even prodded her brain for her to open up to him… like she did to him. The thing was- he thought she was already opened wide like a book. So, he assumed that he would never need to go to such extent.
He was like a child spoiled rotten in her blatant display of affection, so full of himself that he barely cared about her, too absorbed in his own ego and dreamy in his misery boat to pursue a more profound connection between them. He thought small physical connection, gesture like touches and hugs are enough. Little did he know…
So stupid… that he couldn't even perceive the feeling of his overdue desperate heart.
… and to say that he loves her. He couldn't quite believe in his idiocy, really.
Why didn't he explain the misunderstanding about the kiss and ask her out? Was it because of Narumi? Woa, sounds so dumb.
The mere thought of being separated from her by an ocean began to sink in and dawn on his egocentric brain. Kou heaved in a breath, desperate to bury the load of pressure down his chest. He looked up, suddenly felt sick as the scene played in front of him.
Kikuchi was tugging her away from the group mumbling something about stage preparation. She happily followed him after sending Shuuko and Yuuri a smiley wink.
The world in his mind swirled in no particular direction and he thought he might collapse because of the dizziness. Clasping his hands together under the table, he felt clammy and cold.
… She seemed to be losing interest in him.
AN:
That was very short, I told you already. I apologize in advance to avid readers who find the length distracting and unprofessional.
Thanks for reading. Remember to tell me what you think. Review?
PS:
Btw, how come I find that shojo mangas, lately, is very smutty and naughty, and what - the repeating mentioning of sex in High School conversation? I don't remember hearing kids talking about sex even in American schools. Pray tell me if I'm wrong.