3) I'll try to post regurally once a week.
4) this story is in Akane's POV. They may be OOc but I'm stubborn and want them to be this way. "
5) "I'll" is not my property. It belongs to Asada-sensei and I just use his great work to be able to make myself believe that I have a great imagination. xD
6) Please enjoy.
THE SCENT OF THE SEA
CHAPTER 1
I close my eyes.
I inhale. Deeply.
The familiar, slightly salty scent of the sea at Kouzu overwhelmes me.
Two years. Only two years although it seems like an eternity.
It's been two years since I last felt like that.
Calm, free, strong.
I remember him.
Him and that one day which I will always identify with this scent.
I should feel sad but I only feel nostalgic.
That day.
That day we were coming back from a party at Yama's place. It was early morning and only the two of us.
Me and him. Nobody else. And it was perfect.
Back
then it had been about three months since I had realized my feelings
for him weren't just those of a close friendship and a rivalry. Three
months of looking for the opportunity to tell him that.
That day around 6 a.m. I felt strangely at ease. Maybe it was because of drinking too much beer or lack of sleep. I didn't know and I didn't really care. We were passing by our usual meeting place at the beach. The same place where I am now. I asked him to stop here for a little while. I sat down and stared at the horizon. The sun was slowly rising to warm this chilly morning. He was standing. I looked down and started drawing lines in the sand with my finger.
And then it came out. As if it was meant to be told at this exact moment.
- I like you.
I was suprised myself. At first I didn't even realize that I said it.
Everything stopped. I didn't see anything because everything became a blur. I didn't hear anything either.
Only the scent of the sea was lingering in the air.
- Wh...what?
He muttered.
- Actually, I love you.
Strangely, I was calm and collected. It wasn't as if I hadn't prepared for all possible answers.
One minute passed.
Two.
Three...
Five.
I was prepared for every answer but I hadn't prepared myself for the lack of it.
He didn't answer.
- Let's go, Tachibana.
That's all he said.
Later we walked in silence.
I still have no idea what he was thinking back then. Hell, I'm not even sure what I was thinking.
The
only thing that comes back to me every time I think about this event is
a disappointment. Becasue even a refusal would be better than nothing.
At least I would have known if I could hope for anything.
Afterwards we never talked about it again. Everything seemed like before, as if nothing happened that day. As if it was only my dream.
I occupied myself with basketball and trainings.
Four months later I had this fateful accident and soon I moved away.
Even then there was no answer.
It saddened me.
It hurt.
I left with a total mess in my heart.
And now.
I'm here again. Altough it's only for a little while I can't help but feel butterflies in my stomach.
What if I meet him again?
What will happen?
Will anything happen at all or will it be only silence between us again?
The same scent, the same warm sun. Everything seems just the way it used to be.
I exhale and inhale deeply enjoying this peaceful, heart-warming atmosphere of the begining of a new day.
If only it wasn't for someone's trotting it'd be just perfect.
Trotting.
Even stupid trotting reminds me of him. With that another memory comes back.
Another memory of him.
He used to jog every morning.
It
may seem stupid but even for something as petty as this I keep my eyes
closed and invite the memories to take me back in time again.
The trotting stops nearby abruptly.
- Tachibana?
This voice.
My eyes open immediately and I stare at the person in front of me.
The one I've missed so much.
Maybe the fate is pulling another trick on me or maybe some god took a pity on me and decided to give me a present like that.
I don't know and I can't care less at the moment.
- Hiiragi.
He's the only one in my head right now and again I feel overwhelmed.
TBC
Did you like it? Did you hate it? Tell me what you think. xD