A/N: First story! Zetsuen no Tempest is one of the very few series that tempted me to test my writing skills. The story picks up right where the manga left off (vol.10, extra ch 6). Have fun!
Business pulse had fallen to a subtle low as it was drawing close to late midnight. Grating sounds of chairs and tables being adjusted back to their positions were the last to come from the restaurant's premises. Lights began to go out one after the other, only a selected few would stay on so the remaining personnel could finish up their closing assignments.
"Those guys..." Hauling a sour mood Hakaze tottered wearily out of the restaurant, finding what little comfort she could in the thought she was finally calling it a day. "Just doing whatever they want without caring how I feel." She growled lowly.
It was supposed to have been a night like all the others; Survive through a shift at the family restaurant, hopefully not having to deal with a cranky customer by the end of the day, get home, get cleaned, then drop dead on the bed. Preparing dinner at home was something she would be too drained to even think about, let alone she did not get along too well with the kitchen to begin with. Glimpses of cookery disaster would even visit Hakaze in her dreams, every single time slapping her awake in a sweaty turmoil. She was already grateful she could have a full meal for free after her shift at the restaurant, together with the rest of her co-workers.
This was also a good chance to unwind with some friendly talk, that is, provided that the discussion didn't suddenly jump to boyfriends. It was enough embarrassing asking her female co-workers for advice on the matter, and the verdict, being that the man she loves doesn't return her feelings; It was the sad bottom line that would always, without fail, set her in a mood decorated with all colors of dismay.
Her decision to leave her home village and separate herself from the Kusaribe clan was an unavoidable part of her adaption to the new world, where no magic existed, as well a test to herself, to see if she can live as a normal girl. Still, that was the life she had chosen and she did not regret any of it. As long as she made ends meet and had a few friends to talk to, she could manage.
However, tonight an awkward surprise had been in store for the princess. As if fate had manipulated events so her life in secrecy came to an end, Mahiro and Yoshino were suddenly standing before her at the restaurant. Top to bottom Hakaze had been showered in cold disbelief. This was a bad joke like no other, to find out the once revered Mage of Genesis was now working as a waitress at some grill restaurant. To make matters worse, Mahiro had notified about everyone to gather at the place. The mental stress from having to endure such degradation had pushed Hakaze to her limits.
But at last, everyone was gone, her shift was done, she was going home. Her night was finally over, or so she thought.
To each, their own tale, ch.1
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The empty suburban streets had been serenely veiled by the late night sky, only a light breeze, making the fallen tree leaves rustle faintly on the tiled pavement would try to give life to the otherwise sleeping neighborhood. Yet it was not that peaceful mid-night scenery that mattered to Hakaze, who had cast away every trace of thought from her mind. Ever since walking that crossroad, a quiet smile had settled on her lips. The princess had enclosed herself within a single sentiment, a yearning she had been trying to convince herself that would never come. All she had ever wanted now reflected in the warmth of the hand that was gently holding hers.
No one could blame her though. He had turned her down no few times in the past, yet this was the very first time the demure boy had taken a step forward with an affectionate intention of his own. Part of himself could not help but relate to what Samon and Mahiro meant when they would call him a bad person. The brown haired boy faced straight again, smiling in self-aware concern at the characterization everyone gave him.
"Um..." He began timidly, "Am I holding your hand.. too tight?"
The princess flinched at the awkward pop of her bubble.
Sanguine eyes slowly moved about to meet with his childish worry. However, upon closer inspection on Yoshino's apologetic, yet still cute face, the princess frowned in knowingly suspicion. There was just something about that expression she was too familiar with, and it was for no good cause either. "Too tight?", she hummed inquisitively, her attention eventually drawn downwards. Unconsciously as it may have been, Hakaze had been holding Yoshino's hand with a forgotten excitement that made him sweat in voiceless discomfort.
"Hmph!" She apathetically grumbled out of her fluster, expelling eyes to the other side instead.
Of course, that was the face he would always make when he wanted to let her know she was doing something wrong. What's worse is that he actually asked if he was the one holding her too tight. Squinted shut, still, her eye almost twitched at this villainous kindness.
"Don't worry Yoshino" Hakaze put a condenscending tint in her tone, the price for daring have complaints from her love, "I don't think you're confident enough to hold a hand too tight anyway."
"That was harsh, Hakaze-san.." Yoshino meekly objected with a smile, his eyes those of a little child's that had been wronged.
Still, what Hakaze had just said wasn't that far off the mark. To start things off, he was the one who told her he might get lost in the dark, so at the very least he had to hold her hand firmly like she did. Or at least that's how Yoshino arrived to logically, and rather obliviously, interpret a situation like this. Free of the thought Yoshino rolled an eye towards Hakaze, who was putting on a pout so forced that made him wear a sorry frown out of sympathy. It was almost endearing how the princess could not get angry at him even when she tried. Hakaze's features finally began to soften as she felt Yoshino's hand respond to hers.
"You haven't changed at all either". He assured with a wistful smile, "You still are a strong person".
Her lips curled at the welcomingly received remark, "You are right οn that." She was elated, much more elated than she let out to be. How much she had needed to hear those words after all this time they've been apart, only she knew. He was not going to get away with compliments though, in an instant Hakaze was pointing a stern eye at him, "You know, I really did need a lot of strength to keep myself from smacking you guys tonight."
Though her sudden point earned Yoshino an unprepared face to put pressure on, his initial respectful silence didn't as much give out that he had incurred Hakaze's wrath. Curiously enough, Yoshino seemed to lower his head in smiling defeat, "I'm thankful you didn't do so".
That was the foremost honest response that came to mind. He didn't even try to apologize nor he attempted to take advantage of her soft spot for him and throw out an excuse. In Yoshino's objective judgement she had every right to strangle them in boiling water for the embarrassment they had caused her. She had been working hard all by herself to make a living and they all just waltzed in for their amusement. Even though Yoshino personally believed such a job did not suit the princess, it was still her job, and inconsiderable trifling like that was beyond unnecessary.
Hakaze couldn't help but fix her eyes wide on Yoshino, more than staggered by the modest standpoint. "Well, it's no use crying over spilled milk." She dimissed the subject with a deep bat of her eyelashes. Yoshino on the other hand immediately denied the very concept of contentment from touching his character.
"But.. It was hard on you, Hakaze-san.." Muttering the words almost too low made it apparent that his conscience sat all but well with Hakaze's leniency.
Yoshino felt a shy bump on his shoulder, enough to shake his uncompromising crestfallen gaze. Τhe princess was actually clinging onto him, rather expressionless and absent-minded. A detail as tiny as that would probably go unnoticed by the rest of the group, but Hakaze was aware that Yoshino had been trying to keep damage to a minimum while inside the restaurant. Even when she would reluctantly come to the table to take their orders, fully prepared that Mahiro would do and say stuff that disturbed her, Yoshino would always try to tone down the tension as much as possible.
"I know you had nothing to do with what happened.." Faint red texture stealthed itself across Hakaze's cheeks as she murmured the words, becoming more evident as she spared a conscious eye at him. "Don't let it get to your head though!", even so she had a pride to uphold, "I'm still mad about.. it.."
Hakaze had frozen in her steps, a foreboding gust of wind swaying long red locks adrift "When.. did we.."
The way back home, that had always seemed like an endless road now appeared to last but a moment. The two were already standing in front of Hakaze's home. Faster than she could anticipate, the princess felt a knot in her chest.
"I was relieved today, you know..." Yoshino exhaled with a glad smile as he studied Hakaze's plain apartment, almost as if it was a spectacle to be proud for. "When Samon-san said you had gone to live by yourself, I was really worried."
It was odd. A feeling akin to melancholy began to swell up inside the princess, but why was it surfacing now of all times? Sure, she did have the blues every now and then but she guessed it was only natural. She could not use magic anymore, she was far away from her home village, she had to work for a damn rent, she...
"...yeah..." She relinquished, eyes dejecting upon conceding the unvarnished truth. The things she wanted to get off her chest had just been piling up inside, she was a mess. But more than anything she...
"I was afraid you might be lonely, Hakaze-san."
That ripple had reached just too deep in Hakaze's sea of silence. Yoshino could only catch a glimpse of Hakaze's slender figure sneak under his nose. His full weight budged backwards when Hakaze's joined his. Velvet soft lips kneaded his own, a bitter complaint was being passed on.
"Saying I love you isn't hard at all.. But saying I'm lonely.. Wouldn't that make me a weak person?"
An unforgiving tear made its way down on her cheek.
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~TBC maybe?
I hope you had fun reading! Reviews are welcome!