Welcome to the Azumanga Daioh Drabble Headquarters! This is a place for me to dump any random oneshots I might want to. Becuase I have a billion of these things.
A single, fleeting cloud marred the otherwise perfect sky.
"C-Coach?"
The swimming pool echoed her voice, hungrily eating it up and then spitting it out again. The gentle lapping of the water against the sides became a mantra.
"No closer… No closer…"
"Yeah."
Well-used runners stopped on the tiles. Splashes of water wet the sides.
"Stay away… stay away…"
"I-it's not true… right?"
Their eyes couldn't meet. Her eyes would never be the same again. And still, the pool lap, lap, lapped against its constriction, waves rolling gently on the surface.
"I'm sorry, Kagura."
The gentle rolling was broken. A sharp splash resounded around the two, spitting water in the air, and then down, down, just like her spirits. Ripples grew outwards, taunting her, as if to say,
"You can't get rid of us that easily. Weak. Weak…"
"Kagura?"
For once there was no answer but the waves of the pool. Such a serene picture could not capture the tumult in her soul.
"Don't touch me."
And there it was, The biting tone that both of them feared.
"Always the same… always the same…"
"I'm sorry, Kagura, I had no choic-"
"No choice, huh?"
If it weren't for the rhythmic splashing of the pool, the silence would have been so heavy, it might have crushed her under its weight.
"I didn't want to let you die."
"Oh. How noble of you."
It was unusual that a student should speak so to a teacher, especially as Kagura did to her coach. In the silence, a heart was shattered.
"Co- Miss Kurosawa…"
The sun peeked over the school, shadows etched into the surface of the tiles they stood on. The rays of light illuminated the student's face. Cold, hard, just like ice.
"Please, Kagura, listen to me."
Two hands held her shoulders tight, like a vice, constricting her like the water. Lap, lap, lap.
"Kagura, I know exactly how you feel right now. I didn't want this for me either. But I wasn't about to let you die. I could never live with myself."
The ripples died down into stillness. Neither of them even dared to breathe, for fear of destroying that stillness.
"How long will you live for?"
"I don't know." The hands released their hold, and a drop of water landed on her runners. "I don't know."
Two eyes were hidden from her coach's view, shielded by shadows and her dark, unruly hair. In the light of the sunset, she looked like what she was.
"I can't even look at you the same anymore."
The coach could feel her eyes prickling. If it were raining, perhaps that would have suited the mood better…
"…"
"How can I look at myself now? I'll see myself and… I'll just see a monster."
A bird chirped in agreement, or consolation. A slight breeze pulled her hair away from her face, and Minamo could see there was more than coldness in her eyes.
"If it's any consolation, you don't cast a reflection anymore."
The pool water looked up in agreement, clear and taunting.
"No reflection… Only water…"
Shadows lengthened, hiding their faces even more. The shorter one tensed.
"I'm leaving."
But those tanned legs, those unchanging legs, didn't move, and the runners didn't take a step. Minamo came closer, closer, as one would to a sleeping lion.
"I'm sorry…"
Kagura said nothing, letting the silence drape over them like a thick blanket. The sun was slowly deciding to vacate the premises, little sparkling rays of golden spraying out from behind the building.
"Do I have to drink blood?"
"I guess so."
"Oh."
Muscular arms flexed and tensed under the darkened skin.
"I'm going to outlive everyone."
"…"
"Sakaki, Tomo, even Chiyo…"
"…"
"And I'll still be the same when they're old and grey."
"I'm-"
"It's not fair!"
The pole vibrated with the strength of the athlete's punch. Minamo was shocked into silence.
"It's not fair…"
No words could be said, even as the sun slowly disappeared and the stars came out.
That's a wrap! An angsty, confusifying wrap! Hope you enjoyed it somewhat. Do look forward to future installations of this pitiful drabble selection.
See you later!
