A Simple Story of Yaya and Hikari
Chapter 1: Assertiveness
The night was quiet with a cool wind blowing over Astraea Hill. In her room, Yaya sat solemnly with her head hung, thinking yet again about her roommate. She slumped to her side on her bed, a faint sadness in her eyes, wondering why she had to fall in love with a girl who had the Prince of Spica looking after her.
"Its not fair. What does she see in that tall drink of water anyway?" Yaya sighed with her eyes looking at nothing in particular. If only she had told Hikari how much she loved her before she was dating Amane, maybe, just maybe, she might…
"No. I can't think of this anymore. It's driving me nuts. I need to just forget about that stupid blonde. No, not stupid. She's sweet. A beautiful, caring, graceful, wonderful angel that I suppose I will never have in the way I want." Yaya's head drooped as she closed her eyes, a sad frown donning her face.
The third year student of St. Spica Girls Institute, Nanto Yaya, is a rather enigmatic one. At a first glance one would note her proper posture, her waist-length hair and her curvatious hips and chest. Even from hearing her leading voice of the choir, most wouldn't know that behind her eyes and her smile is an inner feeling of sorrow. In spite of her rationality and common sense, when it came to the one she loved she was as lost in her mind as anyone could be.
"If I can't stop loving her at least I can stop obsessing over her. I think its time for me to finally let it go", Yaya said with a depressed tone and a dry mouth. "I need something to drink." Picking up her room key, the raven-haired damsel headed down the hall, took a drink from the water fountain, and headed out of the dorms. She strolled off of the sidewalks and slowly walked away from the Strawberry Dorms. Wandering along the edge of a wooded area, she followed a path that headed to Astraea Lake, the cool wind helping calm her nerves as well as chill her body. "Should have brought a jacket I suppose."
As she walked in front of the lake, Yaya looked up at the stars covered barely by a few traces of clouds and lit only by the moonlight. She stood with an air of sadness about her, feeling the intermittent breeze blow wisps of her hair As she felt a light breeze cool her legs, she looked up and a pang of sadness caused a light tear to roll down her cheeks.
"I know I should stop loving you Hikari, but just not tonight." Sitting down in front of the lake, she looks down with tears in her eyes, thinking yet another night of the angel that she loves. "Dammit Hikari, why can't I stop loving you?"
Yaya arrived back at the dorms around 9:30, quietly sneaking in as to avoid another punishment from the headmistress. As she unlocked the door to her room, the knob turned and the door opened by itself. Yaya looked up with shock, worrying she had been caught, but was met with Hikari standing in front of her in a nightgown. Hikari gasped, but immediately relaxed as she scolded in a hushed tone
"Yaya-chan! Where have you been, hurry up!" Hikari grabbed her roommate's hand and pulled her inside while quickly but quietly closing the door. "You can't be out this late. I was worried you were hurt, or that you had gotten caught by the headmistress again." She looked down and realized Hikari was still holding her hand, and subtly relaxed her hand out of the petite girl's grip.
"I could say the same thing about you Hikari. When I had left it was already pretty late. Another late night with Amane, huh?" Yaya smirked and rested her hand on her cocked hip.
Hikari faintly blushed and muttered "ah, yeah. Time got away from us." She looked sheepishly up at Yaya who dropped her taunting expression and simply turned to get her clothes.
"I'm going to clean up and get ready for bed." Hikari watched as her roommate turned away and walked into the bathroom. She noticed that Yaya had stopped her teasing somewhat abruptly, something she was doing a lot more of these days. When the door closed, Hikari let out a breath she didn't know she was holding in. The events of earlier in the evening started to replay in her head.
The third year student known as Konohana Hikari sat on her bed contemplating how to ask her roommate to open up to her. Hikari stood just a hair shorter than her roommate, with curly, flowing blonde hair, a slimmer frame, and lately a slight look of worry when around her roommate. Since they met, Yaya had always been a great friend to her, always looking out for her and putting her consideration at the forefront of her own. With the exception of one evening after a certain date, she had never doubted Yaya's ability to keep her safe. That is until lately when she noticed Yaya's demeanor had changed.
"That's right. I need to remember what Amane and I talked about. I need to be strong and be more assertive. Something has been bothering Yaya for a while now." After voicing her concerns with Amane, the two of them had a long talk this evening. Hikari had asked for advice about Yaya being so distant lately, and Amane suggested that Yaya was much tougher and more complex than Hikari thought and wouldn't open up about what was bothering her with one simple question. Yaya's apathy and smirking may have fooled Hikari, but Amane guessed that it was just a shell to hide what was bothering her inside. On the walk back, Hikari decided that she would try and find out what's been bothering Yaya and help make her feel better. Even given all that has happened in the past, Yaya was her best friend, and she cared about her enough to try. "I have to be strong for Yaya's sake. She would do anything to cheer me up. I have to do the same for her."
She emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later, breaking Hikari from her trance. Hikari stood there like a deer in the headlights, watching Yaya walk to her dresser. She changed right in front of Hikari, thinking nothing of it. When she was finished, she looked over and noticed the girl staring right at her. "Something the matter Hikari?"
"Oh, no. Um, Yaya-chan? Can I ask you something?" That's right, I've got to be strong, for Yaya-chan.
Yaya hated this part. Hikari would ask if everything was okay. Hopelessly in love with her roommate whom she has to sleep near every night, Yaya found this occurrence was becoming commonplace. So as usual, Yaya had to put on her fake smile and tell her everything was fine. After all, she loved Hikari so much that she wanted her to be happy, even if it was with someone else. So the masquerade continued. She huffed and spoke. "Yes Hikari. What is it?"
"Um, Yaya-chan, are you feeling alright? Lately you haven't been the same. Are you sure something isn't bothering you?" Come on Hikari, that wasn't nearly assertive enough.
"Yes Hikari, I'm fine. Thank you for asking. Now lets go to bed."
Hikari gulped and readied herself. Okay, time to be strong. For Yaya-chan. Hikari mustered up as much courage as she could. "Yaya-chan! You always say that. But I'm worried about you. You're my best friend and I care about you. Something has changed. I know it has! Even your teasing you do to me, it's not the same. And although it may have bothered me at first, I miss it. I don't want you to have to be this strong around me anymore Yaya-chan. Please…" Hikari's face started to turn a feint red and her eyes started to get moist. Nonetheless, she steeled herself, straightened her back, blinked her eyes to try and wipe away the tears and continued. "I really think something is bothering you and I want to be your best friend again. Tell me Yaya-chan. Tell me what I can do for you."
Yaya was taken aback. It's not often for her to see Hikari being any bit stern with her. Hearing her best friend sound genuinely concerned about her gave her warmth in her heart. But that warmth didn't even last a second. Yaya immediately thought about how even though she was being strong, the memories of Hikari came rushing back into her mind, as well as the feeling of love she had for the blonde. Yaya decided to once again steel herself and put on her façade as strongly as she could; to hide her feelings and not say a word. She smirked, and swallowed and was about to open her mouth to say something like "Hikari, I really am fine, you're over thinking things." But the look in Hikari's eyes, so strong and yet so caring had already done its damage. So much for deciding to give up on Hikari, at least for now. At this moment, Yaya was still head over heels in love with the girl standing right in front of her, sounding so caring, and yet it pained her so much to not be able to tell her, that her smirk fell right off her face. And for the first time in a while, Hikari saw Yaya look sad. Full of sorrow and a longing in her heart, Yaya looked at Hikari and started to cry.
"Hikari….you…you just…." At a total loss for words, and not wanting Hikari to see her crying like she had so many times in private, she did the only thing she could think of. She leapt forward and embraced Hikari firmly and pulled her entire body flat against hers.
"Thank you Hikari. It means a lot to me that you're trying so hard to make me happy. I've been feeling down because…I missed having you around all the time before…" Yaya thought of the girl who was taking up all of Hikari's time and grimaced inside. "…you became so busy lately. But knowing that you are looking out for me makes me feel like a best friend again. Thank you Hikari." She lied again, but it was for Hikari's happiness, and that was all that mattered. Hikari didn't need to know that she was in love with her and that she was upset, not because Hikari was gone, but because Hikari's heart yearned for someone other than her.
"You've always been my best friend Yaya-chan, and you still are." Hikari did care, and she stood there, hugging her for what seemed like minutes while Yaya's tears dried. Maybe Yaya didn't have her as a girlfriend, but she had her as a best friend. And that was good enough. Yaya felt a different warmth in her heart. Maybe it was relief. Maybe this time she really could finally be okay getting over Hikari. Because all things considered, she still had her best friend.
Yaya looked into Hikari's eyes. "Thanks Hikari, I mean it." She huffed and smiled at her best friend. "Now seriously, lets get to sleep."
"Okay." Hikari smiled warmly. "Yaya-chan, would you like to sleep together?" Yaya's body temperature went up several degrees and felt like her heart was about to explode. No, Hikari meant that in the most platonic, friend-like way. Do NOT think like that Nanto Yaya, you JUST resolved that Hikari would be your friend and nothing more. "No, I'll be fine. But thanks though." Yaya smiled genuinely at Hikari, despite her body now being in high gear. They parted and crawled into their beds, Hikari falling into a quiet sleep, Yaya laying awake and pondering her thoughts for an hour before falling to sleep.
