A/N:
STORY SUMMARY: Transfer student Azusa shakes up Yui's comfortable existence. This is an alternate universe setting where the cast members are Japanese-American high school students in San Jose, California. OOC, YuiAzu, Mugi x Ui, Mitsu, yuri, profanity. Rated T mostly for language.
CHAPTER SUMMARY: Yui starts her junior year at the private, majority-Asian Cherry Ridge Preparatory Academy in San Jose, California. On the first day of school, she is immediately drawn into the relationship drama her friends are going through, and is decides she's content to remain single for now. Then Yui meets Ui's new friend, transfer student Azusa, and is immediately knocked out of her comfort zone. There is a side arc regarding Mugi's pursuit of a quite-willing Ui, with some Mitsu for good measure.
DISCLAIMER! I do not own any part of the K-On! franchise. Ownership belongs to Kakifly, Hōbunsha, and Kyōtō Animation.
Chapter 1: Game Changer
8/26/2008, 7:39 am
I-280 West, approaching Exit 7, San Jose CA
The Ford Fiesta barreled westward on I-280, its stereo blasting Tokio Hotel's Ready, Set, Go. The three teenage girls inside belted out the lyrics along with Bill Kaulitz's lead vocal.
…Ready, set, go, it's time to run
The sky is changing, we are one
Together we can make it while the world is crashing down
Don't you turn around…
The driver, 16-year-old high school junior Yui Hirasawa, was attempting to sing, drink coffee from a travel mug, and drive at the same time. So far, things had gone surprisingly well. As the Fiesta headed down the Exit 7 off-ramp, however, task saturation began to catch up to her.
The car began to weave as it hurtled down the long curve toward the merge lane with Saratoga Avenue. The two 15-year-old passengers, Yui's younger sister Ui and Ui's best friend and classmate Jun Suzuki, forgot about singing and hung on for dear life as Yui cut the last portion of the curve a bit too close to the shoulder.
"Sweet Jesus, Yui, watch where you're going!" Jun exclaimed as she bounced around in the back seat. "I want to make it to my first day of senior high alive!"
"Sis, put down the coffee!" Ui commanded.
Yui ignored Jun, but decided it wasn't a good idea to do the same to Ui. She jammed the travel mug into a cup holder and yanked the right side of the steering wheel downward. Four tires squealed in protest as the Fiesta careened through a sharp right turn into the entrance to Cherry Ridge Preparatory Academy's Upper School campus.
The car swept along the access road, finally skidding to a stop in Yui's designated parking spot. Yui switched off the ignition and grabbed her cell phone to check the time: exactly 7:40 am.
"Not bad," she noted. "Exactly thirty minutes of goof-off time before homeroom. I'm improving."
"You're going to 'improve' your way to a suspended license," Ui scolded.
"Or kill us all first," Jun groaned as she slumped against the back seat and heaved a sigh of relief. "Seriously, Yui, I like you a lot, but you suck at driving."
"Hey, did you guys see if Moog's Beemer is in her spot?" Yui asked, ignoring her passengers' critiques.
"Sorry, I was too busy praying for safety to every deity I could think of to look for it," Jun answered sarcastically.
"Ooh, there she is!" Ui cried, the terror of the ride quickly forgotten. She pointed to a cherry-red BMW 128i convertible as it rolled into position several parking spots away from the Fiesta.
"You seem unusually happy to see her," Jun teased.
"Who wouldn't be happy to see someone like Mugi?" Ui said admiringly. "She's totally awesome!"
"I think she's awesome, too, but I don't drool over her like you do," Jun snickered.
"Who's drooling?" retorted Ui, her objection sounding unconvincing. "Welcome to senior high, Jun. Every California high school needs at least one girl student who is hot, blonde, and drives a red convertible. It's like an unwritten law. Mugi qualifies on all three counts. And she's definitely the hottest in a school full of hotties."
"She's also the richest," Jun noted. "I'd love to drive a car like that. I'll bet her allowance is huge, too. Must be nice to be rolling in dough. And Mio's hotter. Just sayin'."
"Back off, Jun," Yui snapped, showing a rare flash of temperament. "Moog's no snob. She may drive a fancy car, but that's because her father surprised her with it. You know Moog – she couldn't say no her dad. But she's embarrassed about how rich her family is. So don't say anything to her about it, okay?"
"She doesn't get any more of an allowance than Yui or I do," Ui informed Jun. "Although ours is technically a salary, because we have to work at the travel agency on weekends to get it. Anyway, Jun, don't say negative things about Mugi. And she's hotter than Mio. Not by much, but she is. Deal with it."
"Okay, okay!" Jun complained, rolling her eyes. "You two don't have to gang up on me. Geez."
The three girls left the Fiesta behind and headed for the BMW, backpacks slung over their shoulders. The subject of their conversation, 16-year-old Tsumugi "Mugi" Kotobuki, Yui's classmate and best friend, was securing the top of her convertible as they approached.
Like the three of them, she was clad in Cherry Ridge's new senior high uniform: a cherry blossom pink polo shirt embroidered with the school logo, khaki trousers, and brown loafers. It was a new uniform this year, having replaced the old blazer and plaid skirt combination.
The new uniform was unpopular because many of the students thought the khaki pants didn't flatter them and were too masculine-looking. But on Mugi, the new uniform looked flattering indeed. A beautiful blonde half-Japanese, half-Finn with the build of a stereotypical California beach bunny, she made any clothes she wore look stylish.
When Mugi saw Yui and the others approaching, she greeted them warmly.
"Hey, guys!" she called. "Mio and Ritsu here yet?"
"Nope," Yui replied. "Knowing Ritsu, it'll be a few minutes."
Yui and Mugi were referring to their sixteen-year-old classmates Mio Akiyama and Ritsu Tainaka. The four had met the previous August, when bassist/vocalist Mio and drummer Ritsu, newcomers to Cherry Ridge, posted a flyer at the school looking for girls wanting to join a rock band. Keyboardist Mugi and lead vocalist/guitarist Yui, longtime Cherry Ridge students, had answered it, and that was the beginning not only of their band, HTT, but also of a very close group friendship.
Mugi, Mio, and Ritsu weren't just band mates to Yui. They were her inner circle of closest friends. Mugi was the closest of them all. She had been Yui's best friend since the seventh grade, and was essentially her adopted second sister.
So it wasn't surprising that as soon as Yui had Mugi within reach, she dumped her backpack and pulled Mugi into an affectionate hug, which the blonde returned enthusiastically. After they released each other, Mugi greeted Jun, then turned to Ui.
"Hey, Ui," she smiled, her eyes lighting up and a hint of flush spreading over her cheeks. "I really like the new uniform on you. You look too cute for words in it."
"Hi, Mugi," Ui replied with a smile and a blush of her own. "You look really hot, er, uh, I mean, pretty this morning…um, yeah, pretty."
"Real smooth," Jun muttered.
"Thanks, Ui," Mugi replied, her flush deepening. "That means a lot, coming from you."
"Um, we've got to go find our homerooms now," Ui announced, her face now a bright crimson. "See you guys later. C'mon, Jun."
She took off, dragging a protesting Jun with her.
"We're gonna wait here for Ritsu and Mio," Yui called after them.
As she turned to Mugi, Yui noticed her friend's eyes lingering on Ui as the two younger girls walked toward the main academic building. Traces of flush still remained on her cheeks.
"Oh, fine," Yui said sarcastically. "First, you hit on my sister right in front of me, and now you're totally checking out her ass. Real classy, Moog."
"Hey, she's hot," Mugi protested. "And you know I can't resist hot."
"This is Ui we're talking about, not some bimbo you picked up at Valley Fair Mall."
"I know that," Mugi countered. "What? Because she's Ui, I can't say she's hot?"
Yui smiled, but didn't respond, and the conversation moved on. The two of them loitered next to Mugi's BMW, enjoying the beautiful late-summer weather and making small talk as they waited for their band mates to arrive.
Normally, Mugi and Yui would be chatting animatedly, but this morning, Yui thought something seemed off about her friend. Mugi seemed less talkative and more thoughtful than usual.
"Hey, Yui, can we talk?" she asked suddenly.
"Sure," Yui nodded, wondering what was coming. She knew from long experience that Mugi only asked this particular question when she had something important on her mind.
"Is Ui…uh…seeing anybody at the moment?" Mugi seemed strangely uncomfortable asking the question. She usually brimmed with confidence when it came this sort of thing.
"Wow, you're totally crushing on her," Yui smirked, her voice heavy with irony. "What a huge surprise. I can't believe I never noticed."
"Quit messing with me," Mugi huffed. "You know very well I've been crushing on her for a long time. It's just gotten, um, more serious recently."
"And you know very well her ex-girlfriend dumped her back in May," Yui replied. "You could have asked her out back then. Why didn't you?"
"I don't date middle schoolers," Mugi replied haughtily. "No matter how cute they are. I have an image to uphold, after all."
"Says the girl who almost got expelled for putting a wireless spycam in the aquatic center locker room and patching the video feed into the school intranet. Anyway, Ui's in the Upper Division now, so your argument is moot. In fact, it sounds like an excuse."
"It is most certainly not an excuse," Mugi disputed, clearly wishing Yui hadn't brought up the now-infamous spycam incident. "The point is, Ui's not a middle schooler anymore. So would it be cool if I, y'know, asked her on a date?"
Yui looked at her with curiosity.
"Why the sudden lack of confidence? I've seen you in action, Moog. You're one of the smoothest operators I've ever met, except for maybe Ritsu. But now you're suddenly all nervous. What's the deal?"
"Ui's different," Mugi replied, the uncharacteristic flush returning to her cheeks. "Special, I guess. And I wanted to know how you felt. You're pretty protective of her."
"I'm her sister, not her matchmaker, Moog. Look, it's obvious even to clueless me that she totally digs you. Just ask her out already."
"I don't know, Yui," Mugi said anxiously. "What if she's just flirting? What if she…rejects me?"
"Mugi Kotobuki, what is wrong with you?" Yui exclaimed. "I've seen you walk up to complete strangers at Valley Fair, tell them they're gorgeous, and ask for their phone number. And I've seen you get shot down in flames, only to go to the next girl and start all over again, even more bold than you were with the first girl. What is the deal?"
Mugi began to pace nervously. To Yui's surprise, she seemed uncharacteristically emotional.
"Those girls at Valley Fair, and all the others…I was just playing," she replied. "It's always been a game for me. Chasing after those girls, the pictures and videos, the spycams, my yuri blog, it was all about me satisfying myself. There was never any love there, only lust. But like I said, Ui is different. I got to know her through you, after all, and I'm attracted to her for who she is, not just what she looks like. I don't want to take from her, I want to give to her. She needs to be cherished, not used."
"If I thought you'd treat my sister like the others, you'd never get near her," Yui said flatly. "But I know you well enough to know you wouldn't take advantage of her. I believe you, Moog, and I trust you. But you still haven't explained why you're so nervous."
"With the others, if they said no, it wasn't a big deal," Mugi replied, her voice beginning to break, and her words coming in a jumble. "But I couldn't stand for Ui to say no. I want, more than ever, for her to say yes. Don't you get it, Yui? For the first time in my life I'm scared to death of being rejected. It's new territory for me, Yui. I'm off my game. This time, getting shot down…well, I don't think I could handle rejection from Ui. I really like her, Yui, and I want her to like me back. And I'm scared that she doesn't."
Yui looked at her friend, astonished. Her best friend, the one with ice water in her veins, who was bolder even than Ritsu in so many ways, had tears streaming down her pale cheeks. She began to sob, and Yui was at an absolute loss. All she could think to do was to hold Mugi until she regained her composure.
"If I thought she'd say no, do you think I'd be encouraging you to ask her out?" Yui finally said, gently stroking her friend's hair. "I know my sister, Moog, and I see how she looks at you, and I hear how she talks about you. She's no player, and you know it. She's just waiting for you to ask. But if it'll make it easier, I can talk to her for you."
"What is this, seventh grade?" Mugi retorted, pulling away from Yui and sniffling as she wiped her eyes. "I need to do this myself. I just…I'm terrified. You're my best friend, Yui. I need you to help me keep from losing my nerve."
Yui nodded, and Mugi took a deep breath to settle her emotions.
"Okay, I'm gonna do it," she decided, clenching her fists in determination. "I'm gonna ask Ui on a date. This afternoon. Promise you won't let me chicken out, okay?"
"I'll be right there with you," Yui assured her. "But I still don't get it. I've never seen you lose it like this before, Moog. It's a little, um, disturbing."
"Have you ever been in love?" Mugi asked pointedly. "I mean seriously, deeply in love. The can't-eat, can't-sleep, can't-breathe kind."
Yui shook her head.
"You know I haven't."
"That's why you don't get it," Mugi declared.
"Okay, point taken," Yui shrugged. "Moog, you need to promise me something, though. No perverted stuff with Ui. Treat her right, okay?"
"You don't need to worry about that," Mugi replied softly, almost as if talking to herself.
At that moment, a bright yellow Ford Mustang with black racing stripes, the sound of Nirvana's Breed pounding through its open windows, roared down the access road and screeched into a nearby parking spot. The music cut off when the car's engine stopped.
"Looks like Ritsu drove today," Yui observed.
"Raced is probably more accurate," Mugi added.
"Better be ready," Yui told her. "If she was speeding, Mio will be pissed, and we're going to have another fight to break up. Another day, another drama."
"Oh, she'll be annoyed about something," Mugi confirmed. "Ritsu usually finds a way under her skin."
The passenger's side door of the Mustang opened. Mio jumped out, then turned and screamed through the door.
"You're a goddamned idiot!"
The tall, statuesque beauty slammed the door as hard as she could and stalked toward the waiting girls, her free-flowing waist-length black hair trailing in her wake, her dark eyes glittering with frustration.
"Good morning, Mio," Yui called cheerily.
"What's good about it?" Mio fumed, glaring at Yui. "I swear to God she makes me crazy! You'd think that on the first day of school she'd at least have her shit together. But no, it's like every other goddamned day. First, she lies around in bed until the last minute, and then she tries to break the land speed record to get here on time. I know we had to drop Satoshi at Bellarmine Academy, but that's no goddamned excuse. And then that idiot damned near got me killed on the way here, twice!"
Mio turned and shouted the final sentence in the general direction of the Mustang. She stood in front of them, chest heaving angrily, trying to regain her composure. Mugi patted her shoulder reassuringly.
"Take it easy, Mio," she said in a low voice. "Try to calm down. People are staring."
Other students walking from their cars were goggling at Mio's very public display of anger.
"I'd better go get Ritsu," Yui said, opting to let Mugi soothe the irate Mio.
Ritsu was slumped in the driver's seat of the Mustang. Her normally happy-go-lucky face was clouded with embarrassment and frustration. With her dyed-brown hair swept back and held in place with a hair band, Yui could clearly see the flush of anger on her prominent forehead. She stared at Yui, but didn't greet her.
"She's really pissed this morning," Yui reported.
"Ya think?" Ritsu replied sarcastically. "I can't believe her, Yui! She's like fingernails on a chalkboard. She's been on my ass since I picked her up…"
"Hey, Ritsu, take a deep breath, okay?" Yui interrupted. Ritsu paused in mid-sentence, frowning at her.
"It's not worth getting spun up about," Yui added. "This is Mio, right? You guys have been best friends forever. You always bickered before, but since you started going out it seems like your fights have really gotten vicious. Why?"
After a moment, Ritsu relaxed, and much of the fight drained out of her.
"I don't know," she said dejectedly, slumping even further into the seat. "I always seem to push her buttons without trying. Okay, sometimes I do it on purpose, but mostly not. And today, I didn't really mean to make her mad. Honestly, since we started going out she's gotten so hypersensitive. She never used to get so emotional before."
"How can two people who say they're in love go to war over stupid stuff?" Yui said, clearly confused.
"I told you, I don't know," Ritsu repeated. "It does seem like we're fighting constantly. It drives me nuts, and sometimes I wonder if it's worth it. But when it comes down to it, I could never break it off, Yui. I really love her, and I'd be completely lost without her. That's all I can tell you."
"Since you say you love her so much, apologize," Yui ordered. "Besides, you shouldn't be fighting on the first day of school."
Ritsu shrugged, knowing it was pointless to argue with Yui's peculiar brand of logic. She got out of the car, locked it, and shuffled along behind Yui, carrying both her and Mio's backpacks. She slunk over to Mio and wordlessly held out her hand, waiting for Mio to take the proffered backpack from it.
"Mio, talk to her," Mugi directed.
Mio complied, turning to glare at Ritsu. She grabbed the backpack from Ritsu's hand and slung it over her shoulder.
"Tainaka, I am seriously pissed off at you right now," she said through gritted teeth, staring balefully at her penitent girlfriend.
"Aw, baby, don't be mad," Ritsu replied in as conciliatory a tone as she could manage, scratching the back of her head as she usually did when embarrassed. "I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I promise, next time you can pick the music, and I'll drive more slowly. Forgive me?"
She flashed a sheepish grin at Mio, who still clung to her indignation, although Ritsu's impish apology had noticeably lessened her resolve.
"Lycopene," she added, and finally Mio's wall of reserve crumbled.
"Dammit, I can't stay mad at you," she snorted, trying unsuccessfully to frown through the giggles. "Especially when you say goofy words to make me laugh. God, you're such a pain in the ass, Ritsu."
"C'mere, baby," Ritsu beckoned, her grin broadening.
The two dropped their backpacks and embraced tightly.
"There's no public display of affection allowed on school grounds," Mugi reminded them. "Unfortunately. Better watch it."
"She's right," Ritsu agreed. "Mio, baby, show me some sugar. Quick, before we get caught."
"Are you kidding?" Mio objected, trying to wiggle free as Ritsu's lips closed in on hers. "I'm still sort of mad at you. And not in front of these guys. I mean it, Ritsu! Get away! Mmmf…!"
Mio's words were cut off as Ritsu's lips made contact. She fought for a moment, then wrapped her arms around Ritsu and returned the kiss willingly. Yui froze in mingled fascination and embarrassment, but Mugi whipped out her cell phone.
"Hawt!" she exclaimed, positioning the phone for a picture. "Aw, yeah! Money shot!"
The LED flash brought Ritsu and Mio back to reality.
"Hey, you!" Ritsu barked. "Gimme that phone!"
"Never!" Mugi cried. "This one's going on my blog!"
Sticking her tongue out at Ritsu, she turned and took off for the main school building, slipping and sliding in her new school loafers. Ritsu followed in hot pursuit as Yui and Mio gaped after them.
"Are you guys really okay?" Yui asked Mio doubtfully after the two were out of sight. "One minute you're screaming mad at her, and the next you're locking lips with her. It's all very confusing to me. I guess I don't get relationships."
"Yeah, we're good," Mio sighed. "It's the way we roll, Yui. We hate each other sometimes, but we love each other way more, if that makes sense."
"Not to me, it doesn't," Yui frowned. "I wouldn't ever want to fight like that with someone I loved."
"I keep forgetting how naïve you are, Yui," Mio replied, shaking her head. "Love doesn't come without pain and frustration, and I get a double dose of both with Ritsu. We're so different, and we're both strong personalities, so that's why we constantly bicker. But Ritsu accepts me for who I am, bad temper and all. If I get a 99 on an exam, my parents want to know why I didn't get a 100. Ritsu sees that same 99 and tells me how smart and capable I am, and how I can be anything I want to be, and she means every word. She's always believed in me, from the time we were little kids. I'll put up with all the bullshit she throws at me because of that. That's why I say that I hate her sometimes, but my love for her is so much bigger that it sort of swallows up the hate."
Mio was being profound, as usual. Yui said nothing, shaking her head in frustration as she tried to make sense of what she'd just heard.
Meanwhile, Ritsu returned, red-faced and out of breath.
"She got away, Mio," she reported apologetically. "I almost had her in a choke hold, too. Damn these new shoes! The soles are too slippery."
"Don't worry about it," Yui said. "You know Moog. She's just trying to lighten the mood. I'll get her to delete it later."
Mio looked at her cell phone, checking the time.
"Hey, guys, we'd better go in," she urged, slinging her backpack over her shoulder again. "The first bell's going to ring any minute."
Yui lagged behind them, trying to process the last half hour. She'd seen Mugi in tears over the thought of being rejected by Ui, something totally out of character for her normally self-assured friend. And then there was the screaming argument between Mio and Ritsu, which ended with a kiss almost as soon as it began.
This was supposed to be love? It almost seemed more trouble than it was worth. Maybe Mugi was right, and she'd never understand until she had fallen in love herself. But that hadn't happened yet.
She wasn't against the idea. But she was a straight girl in a girls' school, and romance seemed a long way off. Besides, after that morning's events, she decided she wasn't in any rush. She played guitar in a band, had a loving family, and had close friends she valued. There didn't seem to be anything missing.
Shrugging, she decided there was no point worrying about something that probably wasn't going to happen for a while.
"Mio, Ritsu, wait up!" she called, scurrying after her friends.
8/26/2008, 2:55 pm
Room A208, Cherry Ridge Preparatory Academy
Mr. Kobayashi, the teacher of Yui's AP Japanese Language and Culture class, was droning on and on. Yui glared at the clock, willing it to advance. However, it was as though the teacher's voice was actually slowing down the passage of time; the closer it got to the final bell, the slower the clock seemed to move. Finally, she gave up. Tuning out Mr. Kobayashi's monologue, Yui took stock of her first day as a junior.
She had Cherry Ridge's standard college preparatory curriculum for junior year: five academic courses, gym class, and study hall. She'd be fine in English and History, but Algebra II and Physics I were going to be tough. AP Japanese, however, was far and away her easiest academic class. Since she was bilingual, fluent in both English and Japanese, she could handle the course work without breaking a sweat.
It was an easy A, requiring minimal effort. All she had to do was stay awake in class. Unfortunately, Mr. Kobayashi's monotonous, sleep-inducing delivery was making that a monumental challenge. And the warmth of the room wasn't helping. Soon, she lost the battle to stay awake.
Oh, my God, look at the size of that ice cream sundae! Sweet momma, bring it on! Yeah, more hot fudge sauce. Jujubes and chocolate chips? Yes, please! Don't bother with the whipped cream – just gimme the can and I'll spray it right into my mouth between bites. Mmm, God, this is the best! Hey, quit jiggling my spoon arm, Ui. I can't eat when you do that.
She snapped back to consciousness to find Mugi leaning over from the desk next to hers, shaking her arm. Suddenly, she was painfully aware that the class was roaring with laughter, and Mr. Kobayashi was staring at her with a half-annoyed, half-amused expression.
"I trust we're not interrupting your nap, Miss Hirasawa," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"N-n-no, sir!" Yui stuttered. "It won't happen again, sir."
"Don't make it worse by lying," Mugi said under her breath.
The final bell rang, granting Yui a reprieve. She heaved a sigh of relief when Mr. Kobayashi simply glared at her and told her to stay awake in the future rather than keeping her after class for a lecture on work ethic.
"Way to go, Sleeping Beauty," Mugi said drily as they headed down the nearby stairs. "Great first impression."
"Whatever," Yui answered, waving her hand dismissively. "It's his own fault. The man's a cure for insomnia."
"What were you dreaming about anyway?" Mugi asked, her curiosity getting the best of her. "You sure looked happy. You were kind of moaning in the back of your throat, too. Was it related to sex, by chance?"
She looked at Yui hopefully.
"You're such a perv," Yui sniffed. "I was dreaming about ice cream, as usual."
"Aw, you're no fun," Mugi pouted. "You so need to get laid. Then maybe your dreams would be more interesting. Seriously, ice cream? That's so lame. Unless it's on a naked body or something."
"Meh," Yui shrugged, ignoring Mugi's lurid word picture. "Why do I need a boyfriend? I'm fine with practicing my guitar and eating snacks. Those two things always make me feel good and are always available to me. Plus, they're drama free. What boy could ever be like that? And even better, I never gain weight, so I can eat all the snacks I want. Life's good as it is, Moog."
"I hate so you much right now," Mugi muttered as she adjusted the waistband of her khakis. "My uniform pants are too tight from all the junk food I ate this summer."
"Your uniform fits just fine," Yui said matter-of-factly, knowing Mugi wouldn't believe her.
They exited the stairs and headed down the main hallway of the first floor, bound for the front door. The hallway was a beehive of activity as students went here and there to athletic practice, club activities, and the like.
"We're still on for band practice at your place, right?" Yui asked.
"You bet," Mugi smiled. "It's been a couple days. I need to jam."
"You know it," Yui agreed. "I've been working on that rhythm riff for Jumpers, and I want to see how far I've come. Man, I wish we had a true lead guitarist. I feel like I'm bluffing my way through every song. I wish I could just sing and play rhythm."
"You're doing fine, Yui," Mugi said reassuringly. "Every day you get better and better."
Yui smiled. Mugi was a loyal friend, but hers was not exactly an objective opinion.
As they walked toward the main entrance, Yui caught sight of Ui in the crowd of students milling around in the atrium. With her were Jun and a third girl Yui didn't recognize. Ui spotted Yui and Mugi and waved, and the group of three girls changed course and headed toward them.
When Yui got a closer look at the third girl, her breath hitched involuntarily.
She was tiny, with the compact stature of a gymnast, and a figure the school uniform flattered. Her black, shoulder-blade-length hair was cut hime style like Mio's, but with the longer locks tied off into two ponytails that draped over each shoulder.
But it was her face that really captured Yui's attention. She was clearly Asian, but her complexion was lighter than most, so light it was almost alabaster. The skin of her face was as smooth as a toddler's, and that gave her a very young, almost childlike appearance. To Yui, her large, deep-brown eyes, rounder than the typical Asian's, were her most arresting feature.
Yui thought she looked adorable, just like a doll. She grabbed Mugi's arm tightly.
"Moog, check her out," Yui whispered.
"Yeah," Mugi said dreamily. "It's Ui."
"No, silly, the girl with her," Yui persisted.
"Who, Jun?" Mugi teased. "I didn't know you were hot for her. She's straight, you know. So she says, anyway."
"Jun?" Yui scoffed. "You must be joking. I meant the girl who's with Ui and Jun."
"Oh, her," Mugi said thoughtfully. "I've never seen her before."
Yui saw Ui speak to the girl, then point to her. The girl looked at Yui and smiled, her eyes lighting up as she did so. There was a liveliness to those eyes, and Yui found herself drawn to them, although she wasn't sure why.
"God, she's so cute!" Yui gushed. "Look how tiny she is. And her smile's so pretty. Ooh, it looks like Ui's going to introduce us. How good is that?"
"Oh, ho!" Mugi grinned. "Our Yui is finally coming to terms with her true sexual identity."
"Aw, shut up," Yui retorted, reddening with embarrassment. "I was just saying she's cute, not that I wanted to…dammit, Moog! Trust your tiny little degenerate mind to twist it around. I don't swing the way you do, and you know it."
"Says a girl standing armpit deep in a pit of denial," Mugi snorted. "You're so far back in that closet of yours that you don't even know you're in there. Wait until someone finally opens the door."
Yui did not at all like where this conversation was going. She was annoyed that Mugi had misinterpreted her comments. The girl was cute, nothing more. Mugi's attention needed to be shifted off the subject, now. She decided to play dirty.
"My sexuality is not your main concern at the moment," Yui informed her. "If you're going to ask Ui out, now's the time."
Yui's diversion worked perfectly. Mugi's focus immediately shifted to Ui.
"But I'm not mentally prepared!" she objected, suddenly panicking. "I'm too nervous, Yui. I'll make a fool of myself."
"Don't you dare back out now, you big blonde coward," Yui threatened. "You asked me to make sure you went through with this, and by God, you're gonna. If you don't ask her, I'll embarrass you by asking her for you in front of the others."
She held tightly to Mugi's arm to keep her from bolting. Before Mugi could reply, Ui and her companions had joined them.
"Hey, guys," Ui greeted, gazing at Mugi with a broad smile. "Um, Sis…"
"Ui, over here," Yui said, waving a hand.
"Oh, sorry," Ui blinked, shifting her attention to Yui. "This is our new friend, Azusa Nakano. She just moved here from Tōkyō. She plays guitar, and she wants to join a band. I know you guys are looking for another guitarist, so I figured I'd introduce you."
"[Hello, my name is Hirasawa Yui,]" Yui said in Japanese. "[I'm Ui-san's older sister. I play guitar, too. Please treat me well from now on.]"
Azusa smiled that smile again, and Yui's pulse quickened just a bit.
Wow, she sure does have pretty eyes. So warm.
"I speak English just fine," the younger girl replied with no trace of an accent. "I was born and raised in Cupertino, and I only lived in Japan for a year and a half. But thanks for trying to be considerate. And I have to say, your Japanese is not bad, although your word choice is a bit cutesy. Azusa Nakano, by the way."
She offered her hand, and after a moment Yui took it. As they shook hands, Yui could feel the calluses on Azusa's fingertips.
She's a guitar player, all right. Even so, the rest of her hand's amazingly soft and warm. Wait, what the hell is this? Why should I care what a girl's hand feels like? That's Moog's territory.
"I'm Tsumugi Kotobuki," Mugi added, nodding and smiling at Azusa. "Call me Mugi. Nice to meet you."
She turned to Yui.
"Um, I need to catch up to Mio and Ritsu, so I'm gonna break out," she said apologetically. "See you at practice."
Yui's grip tightened.
"Not so fast, Kotobuki," she growled, jerking her head toward Ui. Shrugging, Mugi gave up any thought of flight.
"Uh…Ui, c-could I t-t-talk to you…um…p-privately for a s-s-second?" she stammered, her voice shaking. Only then did Yui let go of her arm.
"What was that all about?" Azusa asked, as Mugi led Ui off to the side and began what was obviously an awkward conversation.
"The first step to a relationship, probably," Yui replied. "It's been some time coming."
"They're both so nervous," Jun smirked. "Check it out. They're all hemming and hawing."
"No kidding," Yui agreed. "Totally cute, and totally out of character for both of them."
She and Yui looked at each other and giggled. Azusa, however, did not join their laughter. She was looking at Mugi and Ui with a thoughtful expression on her face.
"Two girls together, huh?" It was more of a statement than a question.
"Yeah," Jun said. "Why, does that gross you out or something? If it does, you shouldn't be living in the Bay area, and you definitely shouldn't be attending this particular school."
"I really don't have a problem with it," Azusa said, ignoring the sarcasm. "I went to a private all-girls school in Japan last year. There were girl-girl couples all over the place, and no one batted an eye over it. It was a big change from the States, but I got used to it quickly enough. In fact, it was kind of romantic to see all those girls together. I felt as though I fit right in."
"It's good you're okay with it, because this place is crawling with same-sex couples," Jun said absently, missing Azusa's implication. "Actually, it's probably far worse than your school in Japan. My cousins over there go to a girls' school, and tell me while girl-girl relationships aren't exactly hidden, they're still kept low-key. Here at Cherry Ridge, though, it's flaunted. Especially the white girls – they're all over each other. I'd guess at least half of them, and about three-quarters of the Japanese girls, are either gay, bi, or LUGs. Mostly LUGs. The Indian, Chinese, and Korean girls, not so much."
"LUGs?" Azusa repeated, puzzled.
"'Lesbian Until Graduation.'" Jun explained. "Girls' school situational sexuality. No boys available? Get yourself a girlfriend instead."
"Yeah, there were a ton of those in Japan," Azusa remembered.
"Would you ever date a girl?" Yui blurted out. She regretted it almost as soon as she said it.
What the hell am I thinking? That sounded like a proposition. If this girl had asked me that, I'd say "no." I think. Wait, why am I not sure of that all of a sudden?
Azusa turned to look at her, and there was the tiniest flicker in her eyes. Yui, normally not the most observant of people, caught it nonetheless, but wasn't sure what to make of it.
God, those eyes of hers. Why am I so drawn to them? To her?
"It would really depend on the girl," Azusa answered, her eyes never leaving Yui's. "If I felt strongly enough about her, then yes, I would date her. In fact, I'd stop at nothing to win her heart."
"Not me," Jun proudly announced. "I, Jun Suzuki, am as straight as Stevens Creek Boulevard, and the boys in this town had better watch out."
"Don't listen to her, Azusa," Yui joked, thankful that Jun had given her an excuse to break eye contact. "She's all talk. She can't get any guy to give her the time of day."
"Look who's talking, cherry," Jun retorted. "And who would date a doofus like you, anyway? All you do is eat, laze around, and play your guitar. Bo-ring."
"Says the jazz band's new bassist, who can't put her own instrument down," Yui smirked. "Unlike you, I don't need a relationship to make me happy. I'm fine with my life just the way it is, thanks. So stop worrying about me and start looking for that boyfriend you're always bragging you're going to get."
"…don't need a relationship…" Heh. Why do my words sound so unconvincing all of a sudden?
"Gimme a break," Jun grumbled. "A girl doesn't have a lot of options when she's cooped up here at CRPA, or as I refer to it, the Cherry Removal Prevention Asylum. Three hundred students in the Upper Division, and they've all got the plumbing on the inside, so what's a straight girl to do? And off campus, things aren't any better. The guys who hang out at the beach, the pool, and the malls are mostly dirtbags. And none of my older brother's friends will have anything to do with me."
"That's probably because they can sense your desperation," Yui shot back. She stole a look at Azusa and saw the younger girl was amused by her comment. She wasn't sure why that made her happy, but it did.
Jun, caught momentarily speechless, appeared to be searching for a crushing reply. Yui, tired of bantering with her and wanting to talk with Azusa, decided not to give her the chance.
"I'm always glad to meet a fellow guitarist," Yui said, turning to the shorter girl. "Ui says you're looking for a band. Have you ever played in one before?"
"My junior high school in Japan had what they called a keion-bu," Azusa replied. "A 'light music club.' It was basically a loose collection of rock bands, and I played lead guitar in one of them. We performed at school a bunch of times. I've been playing since fourth grade. I was in a band when I was in junior high in Cupertino, before I went to Japan, but we mostly just messed around, and we never actually performed."
"Wow, you must be really good," Jun exclaimed.
"That's a matter of opinion," Azusa replied. She smiled at Yui again, and suddenly Yui's mouth felt dry.
Every time I look into her eyes, I feel so…weird. In a very good way. Why, dammit? I'm not supposed to feel like this when I look at a girl!
"As Ui said, we're looking for a guitarist," she managed to say, successfully keeping her voice from trembling. "We were looking for someone to play lead, but we'll consider anyone with experience at this point. If you can sing, that's a bonus, but we've got that part pretty well covered already."
"I only sing at when I'm forced to at knifepoint," Azusa said ruefully. "Yes, I'm that bad at it. As far as guitar, I prefer lead to rhythm, but I'm not choosy. I just want to be in a band, one with potential. Besides, Ui said you're a really good guitarist. I figure maybe I might learn a thing or two from you."
Yui's heart sank. She didn't have the nerve to tell Azusa she was really a vocalist who'd only been playing guitar for a year, and that she'd only picked up the guitar because HTT needed a guitarist. She'd turned out to have a knack for it, becoming a decent rhythm guitarist through fanatical practice, but she was far from the finished article. She wasn't sure what Ui had been telling Azusa, but she had a feeling Ui had oversold her ability, as usual.
On the other hand, the band needed an experienced player like Azusa, whether or not she respected Yui's playing skills. And if Azusa wound up joining the band, Yui would be able to get to know her better.
Why is that suddenly so important to me?
"You want to come to practice tonight for a try-out?" she offered. "It's at Mugi's house in Silver Creek. We'll start after school, as soon as we can all get together."
"Shouldn't you ask the other members first?" Azusa asked.
"Nah, they won't care," was Yui's rejoinder. "We've been looking for someone, after all."
"I'd like very much to sit in with you guys," Azusa told her. "I live in Silver Creek myself, so it's convenient. I'm curious to hear how good your band is. I especially want to hear you play."
She looked at Yui expectantly, but Yui simply shrugged.
"I'm nothing special," she said, trying to sound casual. "Why else would we be looking for another guitarist? Anyway, you want a ride to practice? I have to drive over from the Rose Garden area anyway, so it's no trouble."
Azusa looked at Yui for a long moment. Under the steady gaze of the younger girl, the wonderful and confusing feelings Yui had been fighting throughout their conversation flooded through her with a vengeance, and this time she was powerless to stop them.
"I'd like that very much," Azusa said softly, her eyes locked onto Yui's. Yui couldn't fight off the tremors this time.
I don't want to look, but I can't help but look. I don't want to touch, but I so want to touch. My God, what's happening to me?
Jun, who had been watching their exchange without speaking, finally broke in.
"You just made a big mistake, Azusa," she said with a touch of sarcasm, "Yui's a homicidal maniac when she drives. Anyway, sorry for interrupting your deep philosophical discussion, but they're coming back."
She meant Mugi and Ui, who had finished their own conversation and were returning to the group. Jun began to badger them for details of what they had been talking about, but it was obvious the two considered it private business and weren't about to spill any information.
Mugi, normally cool and collected, was blushing as furiously as Ui. But they both had goofy grins on their faces, and Yui knew that meant Ui had accepted Mugi's offer of a date. Even so, Yui sensed she needed to come to their rescue before Jun totally embarrassed them in front of Azusa.
"Hey, Moog, I was talking to Azusa about the band," she said. "I invited her to come to practice tonight."
"If that's okay," Azusa added anxiously. "I don't want to overstep my bounds."
"No, that's great!" Mugi exclaimed. "Ritsu and Mio won't mind, either."
"I'll be there, then," Azusa said. "Yui agreed to give me a ride."
She looked at Yui, her dark eyes glowing with gratitude. Yui smiled weakly at her.
Yes, I did offer you a ride. You, the girl who pretty much destroys me every time she looks at me. I ought to have my head examined.
"Okay," Mugi replied. "Just come on over as soon as you can."
8/26/2008, 3:34 pm
Student Parking Lot, Cherry Ridge Preparatory Academy
Yui sat in the driver's seat of the Fiesta, waiting for Ui, who had had to stop by the guidance office before leaving campus. Normally, Yui would be chomping at the bit to leave. Today, however, she didn't mind the delay, because it gave her time to think.
That in itself was a first. Normally, she wasn't the introspective type. But her mind was racing, and she wasn't sure why her emotions were all over the place all of a sudden. It wasn't usual for her. She was supposedly the carefree one among her friends, the one things didn't get to.
It has to be the eyes. I could get lost in Azusa's eyes…No! I shouldn't be feeling this way! Four years at a girls-only school, from seventh grade until now, and not even a flicker of a crush on any girl. That means I'm straight, dammit! This is just a hormonal thing. It's gotta be a fluke!
But she hadn't been attracted to guys, either, at least up until this point. Even though she was a student at an all-girls school, she still had dealings with plenty of boys. But none had been worthy of even a passing glance. Of course, maybe she just hadn't met the right boy yet.
It was all very frustrating. Just this morning, she'd told herself there wasn't anything missing from her life, and that she was quite satisfied with playing guitar, surrounded by friends she valued. She'd been smug about not having to deal with the relationship drama the others were facing.
In the space of 15 minutes, Azusa had blown that comfortable little fantasy into a million pieces. Now, it was as if she'd discovered a gaping hole in her universe, one that only someone like Azusa could fit into.
Azusa, whose beautiful eyes had caused the explosion of feelings inside her. Azusa, whose lips looked good enough to taste. Azusa, whose body looked like it would fit against Yui's just right…
No! There is no way I could be attracted to another girl. Not this strongly, and especially not a girl I only just met. No way!
What am I saying? All I can think about is Azusa. Those eyes…they're my weakness.
Oh, God, this can't be happening…
Overwhelmed by the frustration, she pounded the steering wheel repeatedly, hot tears spilling down her cheeks, until it hurt too much to continue. Then she slumped over the battered wheel for what seemed a very long time, until the tears finally ended.
The sound of the Fiesta's rear door opening wrenched her back to reality. She hurriedly wiped her face on her sleeve as Ui tossed her backpack into the back seat, then jumped in front to ride shotgun.
"Sorry, it took longer than I thought it would," she apologized. "The guidance counselor had some questions, and…hey, Sis, are you okay? You look like you've been crying."
Ui's face was filled with concern.
"No, I'm okay," Yui replied, her distracted expression suggesting otherwise. "I had a mood swing just now. I think I must be PMSing. Where's Jun?"
"Jazz band practice, remember? Her brother's picking her up later."
"Oh, yeah," Yui remembered, shaking her head as if to blow away cobwebs. "You're right, Ui. I really am out of it."
"Yes, you are," Ui replied seriously. "You never have PMS mood swings, Yui. Besides, you're not due for a couple weeks. I'm your sister, remember? You can't fake these things with me. We're not leaving this parking lot until you tell me what's going on."
She reached over and pulled the keys from the ignition before Yui could stop her. Yui looked at her in astonishment, then her shoulders sagged in resignation.
I would have gone to her anyway. I always do. Might as well be now.
"Hey, Ui, when did you first figure out you were gay?" she asked abruptly.
Ui's eyebrows flew upward in surprise.
"What's with this all of a sudden?" she asked.
"Call it hypothetical interest for now," Yui said, trying to sound casual. "We've never really talked about it. When you came out, you told me you were gay, and I was cool with it, end of story. There was no point dwelling on how it happened the time. But now I'm curious."
"There wasn't a single event," Ui mused. "I just always knew I was into girls and not boys. That doesn't mean I didn't struggle with it, but it didn't all happen all at once. Everyone's different, though. I know one gay girl who thought she was straight until she fell in love with another girl."
Yui groaned inwardly. That last piece of information definitely didn't help.
"Ui, I need to talk to you about something," she said carefully. "It's not something I can even share with Moog, not yet anyway. You have to promise not to tell anybody. Not Moog, and especially not Mom and Dad. Okay?"
"Okay," Ui said. She looked at Yui speculatively.
"It's…it's about Azusa," Yui began.
"I thought so," Ui grinned. "I thought I saw sparks flying between you two. I was sure I wasn't seeing things. She really caught your eye, didn't she? Somehow, I knew she would."
"I'm really struggling with this, Ui," Yui complained. "Don't make fun of me." The tears she thought she'd cried out began again.
Ui looked at her, momentarily astonished. Then, just as Yui had for Mugi that morning, she wrapped her arms around her older sister and simply held her until the sobbing ended.
"I talked to her for, what? Fifteen minutes," Yui sniffled, slowly regaining control. "Just looking at her gave me feelings I've never had before. It's not supposed to be that way for me, Ui. Until about a half hour ago, I was straight. Now I don't know what the hell's going on."
"Well, this is new," Ui sighed, letting go of Yui and leaning back in her seat. "Usually you're the one telling me to go with my feelings and not to overthink things, and now it's the other way around. What's the big deal? Does the idea you might have a crush on her disgust you or something?"
"No," Yui said in a small voice, avoiding eye contact with her sister. "It makes me feel really good. Every time she looked at me my knees wobbled, and it was all I could do not to stare right back at her. It didn't seem the least bit gross. And that's what's confusing, and scary. What do I do, Ui? What are Mom and Dad going to say?"
"Don't worry about Mom and Dad," Ui advised. "They've been totally cool with me. As far as what to do, it's easier to embrace your feelings than to deny them. Just be yourself, Sis, and go with the flow like you always do."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Yui objected, her frustration rising again. "I'm supposed to say, 'Hey, I have the hots for this girl. Guess I'm gay'? And then ask her out, and trip merrily along to girlfriend land?"
"I didn't mean it quite like that," Ui said quickly, moving to forestall another round of tears. "I meant acknowledge that your feelings for her are legit, then just let things happen. Stop worrying about concepts like straight or gay. Just focus on her."
"Suppose I do that," Yui argued. "How would I know she's even interested? Ah, what am I saying? There's no way she is. She just admires me because I play guitar in a rock band."
"I saw the way she was looking at you," Ui insisted. "That wasn't just admiration. She was totally digging you, and she didn't seem nearly as conflicted about it as you. My gaydar tells me she definitely likes girls."
"Are you absolutely sure?" Yui frowned.
"Not without asking her, no," Ui admitted. "You want me to?"
"No," Yui said. She didn't tell Ui that she'd made a similar offer to Mugi just that morning. "I need to fight this battle on my own. Oh, God, and it's going to start tonight. I promised to give her a ride to band practice."
"Do you want to see her again?" Ui asked.
"Yes, more than anything," Yui answered, her head hung and her voice almost inaudible.
"Okay, then," Ui declared. "Let's get this crate moving. We'll stop by McDonalds. My treat. A snack always makes my big Sis feel better."
"You don't have to do that," Yui protested.
"It's all I can do," Ui replied with a smile. "Mugi went with me to the guidance office, and she told me about how you helped her when she got nervous. I'm going on a date with her now because of you. You know how long I've liked her. Thanks."
For the first time since parting ways with Azusa, Yui smiled. As she drove down the access road to the school entrance, she thought about Ui's words of a few minutes earlier.
Just be yourself, Sis, and go with the flow like you always do.
At the moment, it seemed as good advice as any.
A/N:
− Musician74, my beta reader, has once again auto-tuned my written voice in her usual superb manner. Writers sometimes forget that their editors, or lack of same, can make or break them. I have not. Domo arigato, Beta-onēsama.
− The fictional Cherry Ridge Preparatory Academy's senior high campus is based on (and located at the street address of) the Upper Division campus of The Harker School, an existing private school in San Jose. Real-life Harker is coed, while the fictional CRPA is girls-only.
− Stevens Creek Boulevard is a major east-west thoroughfare in western and central San Jose and Cupertino. It is one of the longest straight-line stretches of major surface road in the area. Hence Jun's use of it as a metaphor.
− Rose Garden and Silver Creek are actual subdivisions in San Jose. Kids from both neighborhoods are, um, affluent, although the real money is in Silver Creek. They're definitely the type to attend expensive private schools and have their own cars. In this story, Yui, Ui, and Jun live in Rose Garden, and Mio, Ritsu, and Azusa live in Silver Creek.
Thanks for reading this chapter! Please help me become a better writer by posting a signed, constructive review. (Anonymous reviews are disabled.)