Guess what? I'm making a new fanfic! This one-shot is dedicated to one of my friends that I've made ever since I posted my first Love Live X Ensemble Stars fanfic. Anyway, please enjoy this story between Hanayo and Makoto.
"You're..." Hanayo's word slowly died, her eyes grew wide when she made eye contact with a young man in front of her. The same young man also bore a surprised look on his face as they both stared at each other for as long as she could remember.
"Hanayo, it's not nice to stare at someone." turning around, the brunette was faced with her mother standing behind, smiling at her.
"Mother... This is..." turning back to the front, their previous staring continued as they stared in silence. He made an attempt to smile but Hanayo knew that he was nervous. It was a smile that she was well accustomed to, long ago. It was as if she has seen that kind of smile from before.
"Come now, Makoto! What are you doing standing there, doing nothing?" a new, unfamiliar woman's voice spoke from behind the young man, surprising both her and the young man before he turned around, revealing a woman in a stylish attire as she approached the front door, standing beside the young man.
"S-Sorry about that, mom..." the young man, named Makoto, finally spoke up after a long silence.
Makoto, she thought, as she replayed the name in her head, repeatedly like a broken record. The name sounded familiar yet, so foreign to her. As if it was a name that has been long forgotten in the past.
"Koizumi, it's been a while." the stylish woman approached her mother as she gave her a hug. Her mother let out a soft chuckle before she returned it back.
"Yes, it has." she replied.
The scene that took place before Hanayo's eyes, left her and the young man froze on their spot, as if they were out of place in their current situation. The two woman noticed the silence in the tense air. Breaking away from each other, they looked over at their own children and laughed. The stylish woman shook her head once they calmed down.
"Oh, come on you two. Has it really been too long that you even forgot your own childhood friend?" she asked, gesturing to one another. It didn't take her long to finally realized who the young man was. Looking back to him, she did find him somewhat familiar. Especially his eyes. His green eyes. He was Yuuki Makoto, her next door neighbour from the past.
Their moment was interrupted when the mothers decided to move their conversations inside where it was more comfortable to talk with. Both of the woman chat among themselves while Hanayo went to the kitchen to prepare some tea and a light snack for the guest. She could hear the giggle and laughter between the women as they joked around.
Hanayo didn't want to drag her time too much in the kitchen as she left the room, bringing along with the tea together with the snacks. Just when the brunette thought she could leave the room, the other woman insisted that she joined them, talking about current lives.
Hanayo was never the type to talk a lot about her life, especially her current situation. However, she didn't want to come off as rude, especially now that she knew that they were her former neighbours, whom she haven't met for a long time. Going along with her request, she stayed with them at the living room, looking as nervous as she had always been.
"Thinking back, how long has it been, since we parted away?" the other woman, whom she identified as Noriko, spoke up. Hanayo's mother took a small sip from her cup before she placed it back to its' saucer.
"It's been 10 years, I think. Or more."
"But I'm really glad, you know? That we get to see each other again. And of course," Noriko glanced at Hanayo, who was paying attention to her own cup on her lap. "To see Hana-chan all grow up too~"
Hearing her nickname mentioned, the brunette raised her head, looking straight into Noriko's eyes and blushed.
"T-Thank you, Noriko-san." she said, bowing her head as she cast her gaze downwards.
"Oh, come on now. No need to be all humble like that. You're reminding me a lot about my son here." Noriko gestured to her own son beside her, who had been silent for a long time as well. Makoto, upon realizing that his mother spoke about him, blushed.
"Mom..."
"But it's true." the woman retorted. The scene between them caused Hanayo's mother to giggle, Hanayo included. The brunette saw him glancing at her and when their eyes met, he immediately looked away, he blush remained as it turned redder.
"Speaking of which, what are you doing as of now, Makoto-kun?" Hanayo's mother asked, saving the boy from further embarrassment.
"O-Oh, um. I'm working as a model at my parent's model agency." he gave her a shy smile, obviously embarrassed to admit that he was a model.
"Wow, a model? That's very impressive~!"
Even Hanayo was impressed. Looking over to the young man, she saw him gave out a nervous laugh but nodded his head, nonetheless. Hanayo recalled back how she once heard that Noriko's family are from the same model agency. It was no wonder he would do the same.
"I'm guessing you're going to walk the same road as your parents, is it?" she asked. However, instead of replying, he just nodded his head. The brunette female noticed they change in his eyes. Although he bore a smile on his face, she could saw something in his eyes that somehow, meant something else.
"Oh, and what about you, Hana-chan?" the sudden question interrupted the brunette's thoughts as she looked over to Noriko as she stared at her.
"Huh?"
"Are you following your mother's footsteps like you always wanted to?" she asked, surprising the brunette by the question. Following her mother's footsteps could only meant one thing.
To be an idol.
She cast her gaze downwards, unable to reply to that particular question. She could saw the confused look on the woman as well as Makoto's faces. She knew it was rude not to reply or answer people's question, but that topic was a sensitive question. Even after 2 years since she graduated from high school, it still had a huge impact on her although she doesn't show it. However, her mother knew.
"Well, my daughter decided not to, anymore. For certain reasons." her mother answered for her. Hanayo turned to the side, facing her mother. She gave her daughter a knowing smile, which the brunette was glad that she had a very understanding mother. "But she's a makeup artist in the moment."
"A makeup artist?" Noriko asked, a little bit surprised. Hanayo could only nodded her head to confirm the statement.
"Y-Yes, I am. I've learned if from someone who is well accustomed to it. But, I'm still searching for people to hire me."
Noriko still had a surprised look on her face before suddenly, she beamed at her. Slamming her hands over the coffee table, she leaned closer to the brunette, the smile never faltered even once.
"Well, then that's a good news! We currently in need for a makeup artist over at where my son works." she said, surprising everyone in the room, especially the brunette female as it was more directed to her than anyone else.
"Isn't that right, Makoto?" she glanced at her son.
"Yeah, I think we do..." he said, recalling back his memories before he nodded his head.
"R-Really?" Hanayo was half surprised and half excited. She had been searching for a job for as long as she remembered.
"My, that really is a good news~ Aren't you happy to know that, Hanayo?" Hanayo's mother cheered, happy for her daughter. She was, deep down.
"B-But..." the brunette spoke up. Doubt could be seen written on her face. "Is it...really okay? I-I mean, to take me in...? Don't you need to i-interview me first or...test my skill?"
Then there was silence. Noriko sat down back at her seat, placing her index finger on her chin in a thinking manner.
"Well, that's true. That is how we picked and hired new staff every now and then..." she said, still thinking over the situation. Hanayo let out an inward sigh. Although she was glad of the offer, she wanted it to be under her own effort.
"But that doesn't matter~" Noriko chimed.
"Huh?" everyone said in unison. Hanayo was even more surprised than the others. Noriko, on the other hand, shrugged her shoulders as she took a sip from her tea.
"I mean, you're Koizumi's daughter. Not being biased or anything, but I know you'll do a great job~" she gestured to both the brunette and her own mother, smiling at them.
"B-B-But-" she tried to reason with the older woman but her words failed her as the older woman refused to listen to her.
"Oh my, look at the time. I'm so sorry dear, but I have an appointment soon and we need to go now, unfortunately." Noriko quickly finished her tea in a one quick sip, still managed to look ladylike and proper before placing down the cup and its' saucer on the coffee table.
"Well, that's too bad. But I'm sure you can come by, every now and then." Hanayo's mother said as she stood up.
"But of course." Noriko also stood up as both of them went outside to the front yard, leaving behind their children as they talked among themselves. Silence came back in the room as it envelopes around the brunette and the young man. It was an awkward situation but Hanayo was too caught up with her own thoughts that she didn't realized what was happening.
"S-Sorry about that..." Makoto suddenly spoke up, surprising the brunette.
"W-Why are you apologizing?" she asked, nervous by his sudden change of behaviour. Makoto scratched the back of his neck as he cast his gaze away from the brunette, blushing as it was given by his red cheeks.
"Well, about my mom that is. She tends to follow her own head rather than thinking logically." he explained, smiling at her. Suddenly he looked around cautiously, before he faced the brunette again. "Don't tell her that..."
His action made her giggled slightly and she could see the young man looked more relaxed than he was previously as he laughed along. Deep down, she felt the same too. Somehow, laughing made her more relaxed and her tensed body slowly faded away.
"Anyway, it's nice meeting you again, Hanayo-chan." he smiled, this time she could see how genuine his smile looked. His smile unconsciously made her smile as well.
"O-Oh, right. I could say the same, Yuuki-san." she bowed down.
"Hahaha, you don't need to be all formal with me. In fact, I feel more at ease if you just call me normally." he said. There was a short silence before he suddenly had a panicked look on his face, quickly looking away to avoid the brunette from seeing his blush. "Well, that is, IF you're comfortable with it. I-I won't force you."
Suddenly, even the brunette herself turned nervous. She cast her gaze downwards before she cast it up, looking at the young man.
"T-Then, what about...'Makoto-san'?" she suggested. Immediately, she received a surprised look from him. That was until, he let out a laugh.
"Well, that works too~" he grinned. Hanayo couldn't help but smiled. It was certainly a weird experience. They just recently met and yet, she somehow felt a bit at ease knowing him. Was it because he was her former neighbour and a childhood friend? Or was it because she could relate herself to him? All and all, she was happy and glad to finally met him again.
Both of them finally left the living room as she led the way out for the young man. The moment they stepped out of the house, Noriko immediately teased her own son, asking whether he was taking his time flirting with the brunette, causing both of the young adults to blush with Makoto lightly warned his mother to tone down the teasing. The scene caused the brunette and her mother to laugh.
Once they drove off, Hanayo could feel herself motivated. For a brand new day, and a brand new life. Where will it led her from there, she could only pray that it will be better than before.
At least, so that she could move on from the past.
So yeah, you guessed it. Another fanfic story to write. I know, I know. I have something else to write as well, especially the main one. You haven't read it? Then what are you doing here for? Go check that one! Just kidding. Anyway, hoped you liked it. Leave a review or a comment on what do you think of it. For now, I'll see you in the next chapter...one day~!
