( obsessed )
( obsessed - having a complete preoccupation with someone or something, to an extent that seems extreme to others. )
summary : Minako always sees the same pretty girl from that T.A girl's school walking home on the same route she does, and the blonde was determined to find out why everyone was so obsessed with her.
There she was again.
Her beautiful raven locks bouncing each time she took a step, and her pale hands gripping her book bag tightly surely was a pretty sight to see everyday after school. Well, for Minako, anyways.
She got to see that beautiful girl nearly everyday after school, she walked on the same route Minako did to get home. The only thing the blonde knew about the girl was her name, and the school she went to.
Rei Hino..That girl… She went to a Catholic school, T.A Private Girls Academy, specifically.
That was it, nothing else. Nobody knew about her life, or where she lived, or even her hobbies. Minako knew who she was, everyone knew who she was, but no one actually knew her. Rei Hino rarely ever said a word, yet for some reason, everyone was obsessed with her.
Maybe it's her looks. Minako thought as she watched Rei walk further down the pavement. Because she is really, really pretty.
Minako watched her flick her long raven hair behind her back, before adjusting her grip on her book bag.
Or maybe it's her hair. The blonde pondered. Her raven hair was dark and shiny, almost like her shoes, but darker and shinier. Whatever it is about her, I hear her being talked about like, everyday.
Not that she was jealous of the girl, no, no, Minako couldn't be jealous of someone she barely knew. Still...she's at the top of the popularity pyramid... Lucky. Minako grumbled in her head.
Something about the girl intrigued her. Minako loved mysteries, and Rei Hino was truly a living one. She was going to find out why everyone loved her, so just leave it up to Minako Aino to go full Sherlock Holmes on her little 'mission.'
The next turn to the right lead her directly home, but she keep on walking. Walking behind Rei Hino, and falling into step with her. Her plan was, well, she was going to follow her home.
"But I'm not gonna like, stalk her." Minako whispered to herself. Hell, I probably won't even remember where her house is after this.
She kept her eyes on her, watching Rei Hino's every move. Okay, that did sound a little stalkerish. But she didn't let that girl out her sight, just incase Rei made an unexpected turn, losing her and failing her very own mission.
The rumors are true...She DOES look good from behind… A little smirk played at Minako's lips, taking a second to stop walking and ogle the girl. Shit...Focus you dumb bitch!
Minako shook her head, straightened her posture, and continued walking.
Twenty minutes, she'd been walking now, without stopping. Minako had really hoped her house was close by, because her legs were starting to give out. They ached from volleyball practice, and walking wasn't doing them any better.
Suddenly, Rei Hino turned right, and was hidden amongst the cherry blossom trees.
Why is she going into a shrine? Minako pondered as she turned right too, peering at a small sign at the bottom of the stairs that said "Hikawa Shrine."
She look up from the sign and...wow. There was lots of stairs. Near the top she could see the back of Rei's head, but as the girl started to walk away, all she could see was stairs. Stupid, fucking, stairs.
Well, being the amazing athlete she was, Minako got ready to sprint up the stairs and show them the real deal. She only made to about the 10th step before feeling like passing out. Eventually, Minako made it to the top, leaning on a tree and breathing heavily, her eyes widened.
She'd lost Rei Hino.
"Fuck. Aw shit!" She cursed, kicking the tree with her foot. "Where did she go?" She growled, looking left and right on the shrine courtyard. She started walking towards the entrance, but a small little thing stood in front of her.
"Ooh, Hey cutie! Would you be interested working here part-time as a shrine maiden?" The balding old man asked, jumping around Minako.
She raised her eyebrow in confusion. "Um, no thanks. Who are you?"
Old man Hino stopped jumping, and took a second to bow. "I am the head of Hikawa Shrine."
Minako nodded looking around the shrine. "Have you seen a really pretty girl with long raven hair, about my age?"
Old man Hino smiled, putting his hands in his pockets. "Well, unless you're talking about my beautiful granddaughter, then I can't help you there cutie."
Granddaughter?
"Is, is she Rei Hino?" Minako asked. "Do you know where she is?"
"Ah, yes, yes, please follow me inside." He started to walk away, and Minako followed reluctantly.
"I'm pretty sure she is in the fire room, you know her, always talking to the fire." Old man Hino playfully rolled his eyes once entering the inside of the shrine.
Minako lifted an eyebrow. "So...She's a shrine maiden?" He nodded, continuing to walk down the hallway.
Minako looked around. Shrine maiden, huh? I wouldn't mind doing that part-time if she's here.
Old man Hino stopped walking and pointed to the end of the hallway. "The fire room is to the left side. See ya later cutie!" He waved, leaving Minako there.
She shuddered. What a creepy perv…
Minako stood in front of the door, straightening her posture. She took a deep breath and wrapped her hand around the cool handle. She could hear the fire crackling even from outside the room.
She opened the door. It didn't make any sound, thankfully. She looked over, Rei Hino was sitting cross legged in the middle of the room, listening to the dying embers of the fire with her back facing Minako. Her eyes were closed and focused.
She snapped them open, watching the fire die out.
"Good afternoon, Aino." She said, dropping her hands from where it was in a 'praying' hand gesture. She still hadn't turned around to face the other girl yet.
Minako blushed, she wasn't sure if it was out of embarrassment that Rei knew she was there, or if she was blushing because Rei Hino knew her name. "Uh, hi…" she said slowly, raising her hand to wave.
You dumbass, she can't see you. Minako dropped her hand. "How do you know my name?"
Rei got up and stretched her legs, turning to face Minako with her arms crossed. "Well, you're the volleyball captain at Juuban High School right? I've also heard you're friends with Usagi Tsukino, she comes by here often." She smirked.
Oh man, she was blushing so hard right now. Here Minako was, talking to Rei Hino, and looking like a complete idiot while doing so.
Minako tried to play it off cool, but the room was so hot and humid she could help but lose focus on what she was saying. Stay safe and change subjects.
"Can we go into a different room? Like it's just really hot in here and…" She nervously looked up at Rei.
The raven nodded and left the room, trusting the blonde girl to tag along.
"Wow, you have a bedroom here?" Minako asked, peering into Rei's room. It was quite bland actually, a beige room with just a bed and some bookshelves. Only a few pictures on the wall, a closet maybe? Not sure, but the room was kinda small.
"Obviously." Rei rolled her eyes and sat on the edge of her bed. "Where else am I meant to sleep?"
Still looking around, Minako faced Rei, confusion on her face. "Wait, so you live here?"
Rei stared at the blonde, acting like it was the most obvious thing ever. Eventually she answered. "Yes. I do live in a shrine, if you couldn't tell from the homely interior."
Minako didn't know how to reply to that, so she just nodded. "Where are your parents?"
Rei's hands slowly clenched into fists to stop them from trembling. It was a subtle action, but Minako could catch it. "It's...That's none of your business." She growled, staring at the floor.
Fuck.
"I-I'm so sorry! I-I didn't know, honest!" Minako stammered, apologizing immediately.
Rei crossed her arms. "Whatever, why are you here anyways? Did someone ask you to stalk me?"
Minako's face turned red. "Hey! I came here on my own will!"
The other girl gave the blonde a sideways look, staring at her weirdly. "Bullshit. I don't get visitors." She spat.
I never knew she was this bad-tempered. Scary. Minako thought. She raised an eyebrow. "I...thought you had a lot of friends, since you're pretty popular at school. You, you do have friends, right?"
"You should really shut up, I wouldn't call them my friends. They know nothing about me and I don't intend to tell them either." The muscle in Rei's jaw clenched, it was visible to Minako.
It took a minute for the blonde to process this, but when she did, she gave Rei a look. "I know better than to pity you, I know it'll only make you mad." Minako's lips threatened to twitch up in a grin.
Rei looked down at her hands, fidgeting with them, but she let out a small smile. "Hm."
Minako sat down next to Rei. "You're kinda cool." The blonde then blushed slightly. "And a bit intimidating…"
"I get that a lot."
"...But, I like you."
"You're annoying." Rei huffed. "But you're kinda cool too, I guess. You walk on the same route I do after school, right?"
Minako's eyebrows shot up. "You..actually acknowledged my existence?"
All this time? I mean, it wasn't that much of a shock, but Minako couldn't help but feel her heart rate increase. Maybe she was just a fangirl.
Rei looked at her weirdly. "What the hell goes on in your weird brain?"
Minako put her finger on her lips for a second, thinking. "Hmm, volleyball, music, pop idols, manga, boys...girls…"
"Girls, huh?" Rei raised her eyebrow, crossing her arms.
Minako played with a lock of her blonde hair nervously. "Yeah...You're okay..with that...right?" She asked hesitantly.
The other girl could sense that Minako was anxious, so she let out a small smile. "Couldn't care less."
The words themselves seemed a bit harsh, but coming from Rei, well, they were expected.
Minako exhaled out of relief. "Thanks. You took it better than my mom did."
Rei looked up at the clock, then back at Minako. "It's...a bit late. Shouldn't you be heading home?"
The blonde flushed a grabbed her bag. "Right." She said, getting up. "You're nice to talk to. I was kinda afraid of approaching you at first, cause like I thought with you being all popular and stuff, you wouldn't talk to me. But honestly, you're awesome person." She flashed a grin.
Rei couldn't help but smile. "Come here anytime you want. It's nice to have company."
Before Minako left, she give Rei a small peck on the cheek, and then heading for the door. Once she was outside, she put her hand to her head, grinning like crazy.
She'd kissed Rei Hino.