This fic is inspired by the doujin "せめて、あの雪のように" (roughly translated as 'at least she's just like snow: I read the Chinese version so this is the best that I can translate the title into). It's one of the few non-hentai doujin that I really come across and really like. I'll say half the idea of the whole story is based on the doujin while I change some backgrounds and add some of my own ideas into it.
This story is intended to be dark. There'll be a total of 4 chapters and this one is relatively short, but I hope you'll like it nonetheless.
As disclaimer, I still have not much idea of what Charlotte's last name is since I've seen both 'Dunois' and 'Dunoa' in various sites. For convenience purpose I'll stick to 'Dunois' for this fic, only because I think it looks/sounds better than 'Dunoa'.
For ease of reading, I'd suggest you change the view to 1/2 as if reading a book. Personally I find it more enjoyable to read in that way.
Now, please enjoy the story.
'Ours is essentially a tragic age, so we refuse to take it tragically.' – D.H. Lawrence, 'Lady Chatterley's Lover'
I would have never guessed I would meet her in such circumstances.
That was a relatively peaceful night when I finished my part-time work at a convenience store. Leaving the place that had trapped my freedom for four hours, I intended to have a quick dinner before going back home. It's nine in the evening and I wasn't entirely in the mood to cook dinner for myself.
My parents passed away long time ago in a traffic accident, leaving me and my elder sister behind. She's having yet another meeting in the headquarter and she probably wouldn't be home until past midnight. Yes, Chifuyu-nee was a public prosecutor, and she always stayed in either her office or the police department to work overtime. She's always busy with work that I was constantly left alone. Not that I'd blame her though. Supporting both of us by herself was quite a thing to do.
Anyway, having someone to serve you sounded a better idea to relax for a night. Besides, Chifuyu-nee never cooked. I had been the one cooking ever since we're left alone in the house.
I left the main street and aimlessly tried to look for a random place to eat when a familiar figure caught my eyes. I saw a girl with braided blond hair standing next to a vending machine in an empty park, seemingly waiting for someone. Not many people wander around this park as it was rather far from city centre. Her face was easily recognizable: after all, there weren't that much blonde I knew in my school. She was the girl from the other class in my year, a mixed beauty in all aspects. Popular among boys and girls, she and I never talked though: I just knew her, that's all. It was hard not to know the idol of your school, you know, when people constantly talked about how perfect she was. If I remembered correctly, she was also in the School Tennis Team and had a position in the Student's Council, although I've heard a rumour that she quitted both recently.
Why a young and pretty girl like her was alone in such an ungodly hour was unknown to me at that moment. The pale blue shirt of her fit her dim green sweater perfectly. Wearing such a cute violet skirt made her an eye-candy of every male passing by her. I found it strange though: to avoid running into my annoying classmates, I worked at a place far away from school, and I dared say I hadn't heard anyone live near this area. So why was she here?
Her company had arrived, stopping in front of her to catch his breath. A middle-aged bald man with a plainly-designed jacket on his hand.
What the heck?
A girl about my age just crossed arms with a middle-aged bald man with thick glasses. Judging from the white shirt and black trousers that he was wearing, he just got off work from his office. Just another normal employee in the city. His face was flushing from the close contact but the blonde seemed perfectly fine with it. If I was holding anything I would have dropped it to the floor out of shock. I kept on blinking until I was sure I needed not glasses to confirm what was happening there was real. Mentally I crossed out 'father' or 'uncle' or 'relative' from possible categories that I could think of. An idea of what was going on crossed my mind, but I dared not to jump to conclusion. Although right now it seemed highly probably…
That was when she caught my stares as I thought to myself. I could see surprises there, and she stopped talking to that old guy for a second to look at me, silently gasping. I looked back at her like an idiot. I didn't know why but my eyes seemed glued to hers. It was only after another couple walked through my vision that I realized they had left. I tried to look around to spot them again, but my effort left in vain. I gulped and recalled the scene back then, begging to myself for another plausible explanation, other than my own hopefully false assumption, for what I had just witnessed.
That was the first time I met Charlotte Dunois.
On my way to school, I keep on thinking about what happened last night, of what I had witnessed. Somehow the image of her stunned face cannot escape from my mind. I have spent the whole night trying to let this thing go, hoping that I was merely hallucinating, but I failed miserably, and insomnia attacked me at my weakest state.
In addition to that, I just feel something has hit my back. Hard.
'What's with the long face Ichika?' I hear a voice beaming from behind. I groan and turn to face my childhood friend, Gotanda Dan, with an annoyed expression that mutters all the curses I've known in my life.
'Hmm…let me guess. Insomnia?'
Glad that you guess it right. And thanks for waking me up by breaking my spine.
'Com'on, it's not that bad.' Then he goes on his usual mumbling of how he and his sister had another fight last night and how his parents are always protecting his sister, Ran. Usual stuff.
Dan is not a bad person though. In fact, he's my best friend since junior high. We were both in the basketball team and in the same class ever since then. Even I myself find it surprising that in our second year of senior high we're still in the same class. His long red hair is a reason that he stands out of the crowd, and he always brags about how his hair is attractive to girls. Given that he hasn't had a single girlfriend in his life so far, I'd rather not comment on that issue.
'And that's how Ran won the fight again…hey are you even listening?' Noticing that my show locker is in sight, I decide to ignore him and change my shoes. Gomen Dan, but there's too many things running in my head now to listen to your routine chaotic fight with your sister.
'Orimura-san?'
I really shouldn't have peeked that long last night.
Charlotte Dunois is standing next to a column of shoe lockers, leaning on it for support. This is the first time for me to have a direct conversation with her, and I observe her quickly. Her countenance does not show any kind of frustration, awkwardness or ignorance that I kind of expected her to have. She looks as calm as a lady in peace. Her eyes…when I notice more carefully I realize they are violet. I know that she is the daughter of a French father and a Japanese mother, but I never think that foreigners look so…attractive in the sense of charisma. Our school's white uniform clings tightly to her well-developed body, with her green tie hanging neatly from her collar. She seems to have shortened her dark blue skirt a bit, just like any other girl does, showing her long legs with few to hide. Reminds me of why I like this school again.
This isn't time for daydreaming, you hentai. I have to remind myself that your school idol does not just appear and talk to an anonymous for no reasons.
Y –yes? I somehow manage to mutter.
'Do you have a minute?' She smiles. Yes, she is smiling at me. A curve on her face that sends chills down my spine. Dan seems petrified, and some people around are starting to whisper among each other. Seeing (former) tennis team star player and (current) basketball team player talking to each other must be a good source of rumour, I reckon. Not that I enjoy bragging about myself like my moronic best friend does.
Yes, I reply. Not that I stand a chance against that bright, warm smile anyway.
End of Part I
I know there's nothing much here. I actually have the second chapter ready but then decide breaking it into separate parts seems easier for people to read.
Hope you enjoy reading this. Please kindly review and stay tuned for the next chapter!