DISTANCE UP CLOSE
Author's note: Thankyou viewers, especially Unique api and shannonjacob21 for your reviews. The following chapter is in the form of POVs, former being Miyu's and the latter being Kanata's. hope you'll find it pleasing. :)
Chapter 2: Déjà vu
Aaaah… it feels so good to be back at this place. I missed it so much.
I am enjoying a bath at the Saionji temple. I needed to relax after undergoing all that anxiety today.
So my parents decided to go right back into character. A week before they say they need to tell me something during dinner time.
"Miyu dear. We need to tell you something." my mom said, acting all cool.
"Nani?" I asked.
Now my dad started to get nervous, "Aa... er... Miyu.."
"Ummm... darling… I'll handle it. Sweety we know you miss Heiomachi, right?" mom asked me.
"Uh..yeah.. But how's it relevant?" I asked.
"So would you like to complete your last year of highschool back there?" she asked me with twinkling eyes.
Now I know they had a reason and they aren't so considerate. There had to be another motive to send me away!
"Sigh... Why are you suggesting this, mom? You planning to send me away, AGAIN?" I asked.
"Yes sweety. We are very sorry but we are needed back in America. We are needed to supervise another mission. Actually your dad is needed and they said I could help train the young astronauts." my mom revealed her motive while clasping my hands, still with those ambitious sparkling eyes.
"So Miyu, what do you think?" papa asked me. As if I had any say in this.
"Sigh… ok. When do I leave? And where do I stay?" I asked.
"In a week! And you'll be staying at the Saionji's again!" my mom exclaimed.
Okay. Okay. I got excited hearing this. I did want to go back. I missed my friends and er... Kanata too…
Over these years I felt so lonely. Sure I had my old friends. But I missed Aya and Nanami chan a lot. And others too. I missed Ruu and Wanya so much that I would have my sessions of silent sobs now and then. And Kanata? What about him? That arrogant idiot! Yeah, he is one! And I missed him…
His absence made me feel weird, like something is missing. I guess he was just my very close friend though I did harbor some feelings, but I was never sure of it being a romantic or a platonic one.
And anyways I'm sure Kanata has no feelings in that way for me. I guess he would have told me otherwise.
I began to blush and became all red.
"Honey, are feeling well? You feel all warm? Are you having a fever?" mom asked me while feeling my temple.
"Yeah mom. I'm fine. So I'm ready to go back there." I smiled.
"Oh! That's great honey!" exclaimed mama and both of them hugged me. "We talked to Hosho san already. Just go on Wednesday. That's the day of our flight. Take the morning train. You'll be there for your second day of school. We already have your uniform stitched."
Great. Just great. So my opinion didn't matter anyway. They never intended to ASK me if I wanted to go or not. Well, these are my parents. I can't expect more.
So my parents were supposed to drop me early in the morning so I could attend school immediately. But guess what? We got late. And when we reached, Kanata had already left for school and I wanted to see him so badly. I hadn't seen him for four years!
Well, ok. I'll go to school in the lunch break. I really wanted to see everyone. There were butterflies in my stomach as I reached the school.
I didn't know if I would be in his class or no. My classroom was 4-1. I crossed my fingers and walked in.
So I was not that lucky, I thought. There was no Kanata there.
Our class teacher sensei Harukashi introduced me to the class. I was so glad Aya chan and Nanami chan were in the same class!
As I was about to begin, heads turned towards the door and I turned too. There was a very handsome guy standing in the doorway. 'Could it be?' I thought and as everything became clearer, as I saw the same chocolate brown eyes looking at me, the same eyes which could spike my BP, I recognized the jerk, the idiot, the sweet caring guy, my best friend Kanata Saionji.
I didn't notice but I started smiling and he just stood and stared. He was shocked I suppose. I didn't know I could do that to him. Good thing I told mom to tell Saionji-sama to keep it a secret from him. Surprise surprise!
"Saionji-kun, please come in and take your seat. You are already five minutes late." the sensei called him and Kanata was normal again. As he came in I saw the other guy behind him. He seemed like a new face.
The new guy smiled at me and went to his place, which was besides Kanata.
Sensei asked for my introductions. "Hello everyone. I'm Kouzuki Miyu. As some of you may know I'm not actually a newcomer here. I had been in this school during middle school. I'm glad to be back here for my last schooling year and also to see all these familiar faces." I introduced myself.
The teacher showed me my place which was behind the new guy and diagonal to Kanata. I was happy he was within audible radius.
I stared at that idiot, waiting for him to turn. I guess he was still busy processing what was happening. Now I got confused. Was he happy that I was here or no?
He finally turned and before I could say something the guy ahead of me turned to look at me and extended his hand.
"Hi. I'm Nakahara Raiden. And you are Kouzuki san, right?" he asked and extended his hand. That's when I saw how cute he looked. I shook his hand and replied a "Yes".
I turned my eyes towards Kanata, he was ignoring me. How dare that jerk?!
But then I thought he probably didn't want to get scolded by our teacher.
So school was finally over. We didn't get any actual time to greet each other since there was no time gap in the teachers leaving and entering the class.
I, however, managed to whisper a "Hi" to him which he responded with a "Hi" too. I couldn't look at him with a clear view since he kept his palm on his cheek every now and then.
So as the final bell rang, my two besties rushed to me with open arms. We had our share of squeals and giggles. Gosh! I really missed these two!
Kanata stood up and walked towards me. I was preparing myself to tease him on his reaction. But no. That couldn't happen.
A girl, a very pretty girl with very dark brown hair and violet eyes, came up and grabbed his arm and all I could hear her speak was something about a very important student council meeting and about being late.
I could see Kanata a bit disturbed and he nodded. But before letting her drag him, he spoke out, "We need to talk. I'll call you once I'm done. Don't wait for me, it'll take time."
I nodded and smiled back. Still the ever so popular Kanata Saionji.
"Who is she?" I asked the girls.
"She's Takeda Misaki. She joined at the beginning of highschool. She's pretty rich and popular. And everyone knows she's onto Kanata." Aya spoke.
"Yeah. But Saionji-kun cares two hoots about her. He treats her like every other girl. Yet she's so persistent." Nanami continued.
'Hmmm… another fan girl like Chris chan. But I guess she can't be as dangerous as her.' I thought.
"She hasn't been as violent as Chris chan used to be. Thank God!" said Nanami as if reading my mind.
"And I'm really glad Chris-chan and Nozumu-kun got together. Who would've thought, eh?" Aya spoke.
"Ah yes. Now Miyu doesn't need to worry about competing for Saionji-kun with a friend, neh Miyu?" Nanami teased me.
Aya, too, started, scribbling in her notebook, probably having another idea for a play from the current scenario.
"Hey! Nothing like that! Kanata's my friend. And I don't think harbors any such feelings for me." I replied with a slight blush. But I was angry too! They never give up teasing me.
"I doubt that. After you left he seemed a bit different." Nanami said.
"As in?" I asked.
"Well, he seemed to get too lost in thought now and then. And he even spaced out in class more than once." Aya chan explained
That doesn't seem like Kanata. I know.
"He probably was missing Ruu and Wanya." I told them.
"Maybe…" they shrugged it off.
So they asked me where I would be living and we made shopping plans and all. Basic teen stuff. They told me about Chris-chan and Nozumu-kun and other gossips. And I headed home. I wonder if he'll figure out I'm staying at his place.
I reached the temple and Ojisan greeted me. He suggested I have a bath and it seemed like a good idea.
So I am enjoying my bath. My cell phone battery was dead and I put it to charge in my room. Good that I won't be disturbed during my relaxing time.
I got out of the tub to get soap and began scrubbing my legs while leaning my head at the back.
Wait, I hear some noise. I turned and saw the open door and someone, no wait, KANATA standing there. All still and half naked. Wait, this seems similar. I'm having some sort of a déjà vu moment.
This is no time to think about that! I'm naked and this idiot is staring at me like I'm some alien!
~~~~~~~0~~~~~~~
So I'm climbing up the stairs to my house. What a day today was!
Never did I think that Miyu would come back. Not that I was upset about it. Let's just say I am surprised, um.. er.. a good kind of surprised I suppose.
Ahem. I was pretty surprised when I first saw her, I must admit. She looked so... so... umm... matured! But yet the same. Sigh…
Plus, she was seated close to me. I didn't know how to react so I preferred not turning back, trying to calm down. And when I did, she was shaking hands with that new guy Nakahara. Hmpf.
Well, she was busy so I decided not to disturb her. I could feel her staring at me but I tried not to look at her. And I saw that Nakahara taking glances of her again and again. I should warn Miyu about him. She has to be sweet with everyone, right?! Stupid girl.
We didn't get time to talk in between lectures, but she did manage to say a "Hi" to me which I responded back with another "Hi".
As school got over I went to talk to her. She looked at me with those same bright green eyes after her typical girly hello with Konishi and Tenchi. But then this Takeda came and grabbed my arm. Damn it.
She told me that I had to attend that stupid student council meeting and we were already late. I told Miyu that we would talk later and that I would call her.
I took her hand off me. I hate such clingy girls. But I guess she meant no harm and I shouldn't channel my frustrations towards her. She was just thinking in my interest.
Why do girls have to be so nosy? Takeda asked all about Miyu and how I knew her and all. Probably she required another topic for gossip. I just told her our parents were family friends and skipped the part of us living together.
After I left I tried calling Miyu on her cell phone but I couldn't reach her. As I reached the top, I saw Oyaji sweeping the entrance. "Tadaima!" I called out.
"Okaeri, Kanata." Oyaji welcomed me. He asked me if anything interesting happened. From his smirk I could make out he knew Miyu was coming back. I just ignored him and headed to the bathroom. This summer is so hot.
On my way I removed my shirt and opened the bathroom door.
Huh, what? Is that Miyu?! She's in our tub, scrubbing her... er... legs. And she's….
She's staring back at me. This seems so familiar. Déjà vu?
Suddenly she gave out a shrill scream and I now realize that I had been staring for too long. Damn it, Kanata!
~~~~~0~~~~~
Miyu let out a shrill scream which alerted Kanata of the flying soap bar coming in his direction. He was quick enough to dodge it by exiting and closing the bathroom door.
"BAKA OYAJI! NOT AGAIN?!"
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKK! I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS! NOT AGAIN?!"
~~~~~0~~~~~
A/N: I really hope this POV version was reader friendly. Don't worry, hopefully I won't have these in the future chapters. Now please be a darling and review! ;)
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NEXT ON "Distance up close"
"Yes. Now go and apologize."
"Aah Miyu-chi! You have bloomed over the years. You look beautiful!"
"They even came together today. Do you suppose they live together?"
"Glad to meet you all. I'm Kouzuki Miyu. All of you are from my class, right?"