Name: Echizen Nanami (越前七海)
Alias/Nicknames: Nana-chan, Nami-chan, Gei-chan
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Age: 13 yrs. old
Birthday: October 16
Hair: Very light green, usually in a messy bun held up by pens/brushes/chopsticks
Eyes: Red, a girl version of Ryoma's and Nanjiro's
Height: 5'5"
Status: 3rd year junior highschool student, Artist
Quote: "The beauty inside the picture may not be everything but it takes a fairly big part!" "One thing I hate most are arrogant people,"
Family: Echizen Ryoma (younger brother), Echizen Nanjiro (father), Echizen Rinko (mother), Echizen Ryoga (adoptive older brother), Meino Nanako (cousin)
Nanami is the active older sister of Ryoma, though she receives a lot of offers from overseas talent scouts, she still keeps a low profile claiming that she doesn't believe she has enough skill. She is very passionate about art but most people just deem this as arrogance. She used to play tennis with her younger brother as a child but when he left for America. She is currently studying in Seishun Gakuen (Seigaku) and has a high reputation for being a great artist. She is kind-hearted and very oblivious.
Chapter 1:
~Nanami's P.O.V
"Nanami dear, can you walk Ryoma to school today?" mom asked me as you walk to the dining table. "Mom, what kind of question is that?! Of course I'll walk my adorable little brother to school!" I say hugging Ryoma from behind who was apparently starting his breakfast. "I missed you too onee-chan," he says smugly. I smile at him and walk to another chair where bacon and eggs were set. Once both of us finished our breakfast, we walked out of the house. "Bye mom!" me and Ryoma waved, me picking up my giant art suit case and him picking up his tennis bag, going out of the house. Then, out of no where my dad came out and tried to tackle me into a hug which I evaded by hitting him with my big heavy bag. "Bye dad," I say flatly going out of the door. "My, we're making that a daily ritual aren't we," I say in a wondering tone looking into the distance. "Maybe you should take those pens and pencils out of you hair sis, before you did keep your hair in a messy bun but with normal hair accessories," Ryoma suggests cocking an eyebrow. "It's easier this way!" I say grinning at toothy grin at him. He then sighs and before we knew it, we were at school. As we entered the gates, I turned to him and started fixing his collar.
~Ryoma's P.O.V
As we entered the gates of Seishun academy, my older sister turned to me and started fixing my collar. I have to admit, I missed these times…
Flashback
We were about to enter the gates of our school when Nanami turned to me and started fixing me up. It was my first day of school and of course, I was in the same school as onee-chan. "Now Ryoma, don't get into any fights on your first day ok? Don't do anything bad and at leaving time, don't go with any person you don't know ok?" she instructed straightening out my shirt. I nodded my head smiling at her. She kissed my cheek and I started to run to the classroom.
Change scene
I got into a very big fight, but how could I let it go? And at the front of our house, we stopped. "Ryoma… why did you fight them?" she asked not looking at me. "Th-They called you an addict and is obsessed with art. I know you can be a little creepy at times with your puppet things but you're a great sister! How could I let it go that easily?! They had no right! They don't know you!" I yell sort of defending myself… well I was 5 years old, of course I'd do that and try to avoid the means of her scolding me. She sighed, "Exactly, they don't know anything, that's why you shouldn't have gotten angry and fought," she says kneeling down and looking at me. She took out her handkerchief and wiped my face with it. Because of this, I started to cry, she didn't look the least bit angry! She wiped my tears along with the dirt and then started dusting my shirt and straightening it off. I then hug her which she, of course, gave back. "I appreciate you doing things like that for me Ryoma but I would have been more impressed if you have just talked back and not fought. Next time, think things through first ok?" she asks breaking the hug to look me in the eye. I nod still sobbing but then she kisses my forehead making me feel a lot better. "C'mon," she says smiling at me as she stands up and holds my hand again, leading me into our house.
Yeah, I know they were touchy scenes… but what can I do? She was my sister, and that made her special… to me at least. She finished fixing me up and then smiled and went close to my face. "Have a nice day, Ryo-kun," she says still smiling, I would've expected her to kiss my cheek or my nose or something, but she didn't, she must've thought I'd be embarrassed in front of all these people. She walked me to my classroom and went off to hers.
~Nanami's P.O.V
After dropping Ryoma off at his classroom I head off to mine where I met my friend Natsuki Shiori. We were both in class 3-6 and was both in the art club, and of course, we knew each other… all too well. We laugh and talk together about random things, and from time to time, tease her about a certain… guy, unaware that someone was actually looking at me from across the room.
~Fuji's P.O.V
There she was, Echizen Nanami, my classmate since 1st year… and my long admired crush. Well, despite being charismatic in front of everyone else, I was a complete coward when it came to her, even before. She must think weirdly of me by now… since every time she'd approach me before I was stammer and sometimes avoid her. I remember one of the art club's art galleries, I visited because my friend Matsumoto Chiyoko, one of the members of the art club, invited me to come, and there my secret admiration was exposed to her as she found me looking at works that were only made by Nanami. I looked enviously (but didn't show) at those guys who are in the art club, I wish I had that much freedom to talk to Nanami so casually… and perhaps even call her Nana-chan…. "Alright class, you'll be grouped by pairs in this assignment," Professor Kusaka, our biology teacher announced holding a box. All of us got a piece of paper from it and looked at it. Apparently, the class had 34 students and divided by 2 it was 17, so he made 2 of each number and we're suppose to find the person with the same number as us. "Hi Fuji-kun what's your number?!" several girls asked me but all of them had different numbers than I. Soon, Professor Kusaka started telling those who are already paired up to sit down. I sighed this is harder than I thought. "Hey Fuji-kun! What's your number?" an unexpected voice asked me. I looked up only to see the one and only Echizen Nanami smiling at me. "I-I… I-I-I…" I stammered and I felt like a complete idiot now. He took my hand, which made me blush, and looked at the paper. She looked up and grinned that beautiful toothy grin of hers. "Looks like we're partners!" she says but then, those words seem to burn me. No, I can't afford to look like a complete idiot in front of her! No way! "Looks like your partners eh Echizen, Fuji," Professor Kusaka smiled listing us down on his clip board. I didn't get the chance to protest because Nanami already pulled me to a table. "I noticed you got a little freaked out by me," she whispered to me while Professor Kusaka explained that we'd be working for 2 MONTHS and what the project was about. I looked at her surprised, but she returned it with a smile. "Don't be, I know I can be weird at times but it's not too late for us to be friends!" she smiles at me holing her hand out for me to shake, and so I did. Somehow, I don't feel so scared anymore… maybe I can make through this for 2 months without exposing myself to her. I then rummage my bag for a pen… but can't find one… damn! How stupid of me! "Something wrong Fuji-kun?" Nanami asked from behind me looking over my shoulder, making me blush again. "U-Uh… I seemed to have forgotten my pen at home…" I say smiling nervously with my back faced to her. I then turned and found her removing one of the pens from her hair and handing it to me. "Here, you can use mine, but make sure to return it tomorrow or later this afternoon," she says smiling as I took the pen. I examined it and noticed it had the same aroma her hair had, making me blush once again. And so, we began with our project and just by looking at the elaborate plans, it was bound to last 2 months. The rest of the day, me and Nanami stuck together and we got know a little about each other, but of course, we also talked a lot about the project, until club activities. Today, we found a freshman named Echizen Ryoma, must be Nanami's younger brother or something. Right now, there seemed to be a commotion over there with Arai. Arai proposed a match but Echizen's rackets were gone, and he seemed to be… a little upset. "The thing is sempai… one of those rackets… were given to me by my sister," he says in a serious tone before looking up at Arai. "Those rackets were hand chosen by her despite the fact she doesn't even play tennis," Echizen continued but then Arai smirked. "Oh, so your big sister's little boy!" Arai mocked but then Echizen smirked back. "Sempai, let's play," he says looking at Arai. "Hm… I want to see more of this," I say putting my fingers on my chin. "I knew you were going to say that…" Eiji said from behind me. The game ended and Echizen had won despite his racket but then, Nanami came along with the rest of the art club. She then hit Echizen's head with her harisen. "Oww… I win a game then you hit me on the head?" Echizen asked Nanami annoyed. "Was it that hard to keep out of trouble on your first day?" she asked sighing at her brother, handing him his tennis bag which surprised Arai a bit. She took out a much damaged red racket and sighed. "Looks like you busted your birthday gift…" she says looking at Ryoma who had his head down. "Well, no bother; I'll just get you a replacement maybe… Saturday?" she asks leaning down at her brother. Suddenly, his head shot up, his surprised eyes shown. "Y-You don't have to, it was―" we all knew that he was about to point to Arai but then Nanami hugged him. "I want to, period," she says pulling away. She then stands up and turns to Arai. "Arai-kun, thanks for taking care of my cocky brother, make sure not to go too hard on him," Nanami smiles at him before walking out of the court.
~Nanami's P.O.V
After walking out of the courts, we went back to the art studios. "Ne (hey), Nana-chan," Shiori called me. I looked back at her and asked, "Yes?" She looked down and started to blush. "Um… wh-what do you think of… Kikumaru-kun…?" she asked shyly and a smirk tugged on my lips. "I think… you two are a perfect match!" I smiled at her before running away, knowing that she would most likely chase after me. "Nana-chan!!!" she yelled blushing, doing as I thought. We reached the art studios and started cleaning up, we did leave it there before going to the courts. After cleaning, we reached the gates and separated. She walked home while I stayed near the gates; I can't just let Ryoma walk home by himself on his first day! "Echizen-san?" a familiar masculine voice called. I looked up, only to see the one and only Fuji Syusuke. I'm just glad that he didn't see me as a freak anymore. "Hi Fuji-kun!" I smile at him. "So, when are we going to start with our project?" I ask him. "Hmmm… maybe this Saturday? I mean, you and your brother are going to buy a new racket right? Maybe we can buy ingredients then," he suggest then I smile taking out my planner and putting that on Saturday. "Ne… Echizen-san," Fuji said looking at me. "Why don't we play a game?" he asks smiling at me. "What kind of game?" I ask cocking an eyebrow. "A game where we can know more about each other," he says, and then I eye him suspiciously. "I-I mean… since we are gonna be partners for a long time, we ought to know what the other likes and what the other dislikes…" he trails off, probably a little embarrassed. I then giggle, "Alright then, how about thumb wrestling? Whoever wins gets to ask the other whatever he/she wants," I thought taking his hand. Suddenly, his cheeks became pink, was he sick or something? "Are you ok?" I ask placing my hand on his forehead, then he shook his head and took hold of my hand. "N-No! It's ok, let's play," he says and so we did, 1st round: he wins. Question: "What's your favorite color?" I laughed at his childish question, but non the less, I answered, "Red." Next round: I win. Question: "Do you have any siblings?" Now it was his turn to laugh, "Two in fact, and Yumiko-nee-chan and Yuuta," he answers. Next round: he wins. "When is your birthday Echizen-san?" "October 16" Next round: I win. "Mahhh, you're very strong Echizen-san," Fuji says smiling at me. I was about to answer but, "Onee-chan!"
~Ryoma's P.O.V
Horio, the others and I finally finished cleaning up, and as I was on my way to the gates, I saw a brunette guy holding hands with my sister. I scrunched my eyebrows as I watched this touching scene, looks like they were laughing together, ugh, how oblivious can my sister get? This guy is obviously chancing with her. "Onee-chan!" I call to her. She looks back at me and waved, still holding the guys hand. I got closer and when I was right in front of them, I eyed my sister annoyed; she didn't seem to get it. "Oh Ryoma, this is Fuji Syusuke, my classmate and your sempai, he's in the tennis club too," she introduced me to him, maybe not noticing that they were still holding hands. I got a little pissed and pulled their hands apart and took my sister's. "Pleased to meet you sempai," I say plainly before pulling Nanami along with me. "Uh… I'll see you tomorrow Fuji-kun!" she waves at him and he waves back. "Ne, Ryoma, stop pulling my arm it hurts!" she complains and so I let go. We walked silently back home. "You shouldn't be flirting with guys you know," I say before we step into our house's gates. "I wasn't flirting with him! We were just getting to know each other since we're gonna be partners for a project," she says staring at me in disbelief. She then places her hand on my shoulder made lifted my head so I would look directly at her eyes. "I know your concerned but I'm not stupid enough to get screwed by just any boy, ok?" I nodded my head and we both go inside the house.
~Fuji's P.O.V
I could tell that the younger Echizen doesn't like me very much, oh well, after they left, I walked home myself. "I'm home!" I call entering the house. "Oh, Syusuke," Yumiko-nee-chan greeted me. "I borrowed your pen on the last minute, I'm sorry," she apologized. "Oh, it's ok Yumiko-nee," I say suddenly remembering Nanami's pen. When I got to my room, I looked at the pen and noticed it still had the aroma of her hair, it must've been in there for a long time. I smiled, "I can't wait for Saturday," I thought.