She's my childhood friend-turned-ice princess.
Kise Nimura. 18 years old, third year high school. Blonde hair. Brown eyes. Normal face. Normal build. Normal height. Everything is quite normal about me. I don't know why I see myself that way, but I've always told myself that I was normal.
I might have seemed like a normal boy when I was ten, I come from a royal blood of Russians, though I'm one-half, as my mother was Russian. I don't always speak Japanese, so I've always had a fellow part-Russian friend to translate everything I said to Japanese.
Bad thing was, she transferred to an all-girls school, leaving me in mine, so I was forced to learn Japanese for five years until I became fluent at it. I started talking normally to the people of the country.
I started my third year in a normal way. It was the first time I did, so I was kinda off with my pace. I was living alone in my apartment, and it was my first time experiencing such a thing. I finished every single preparation, and was ready to go out. I exited the room and locked the door, but realized that I was in sync in action with someone else. I faced the person, which had blonde wavy hair tied into a ponytail, and light blue eyes. She was wearing an unfamiliar winter uniform, so I couldn't make out what school she attended. But her face told me everything.
"E-E-Erichika...?!" I stuttered as I raised a finger. "Can that possibly be you...?!" My finger was shaking, but I kept them pointed at her.
"Eh?" Eli sounded, and looked at me. "Wait... K-Kise?! Is that you?!"
"Onee-chan, who is that?" a little girl, tugging on the hem of Eli's skirt, spoke from behind her.
"I don't know, Arisa, but this is where you go ahead first," Eli signaled, and the little girl, who seemed like her sister, nodded and went on her way past me. When she was out of sight, our conversation finally started.
"It's been a long time, Erichi-"
"Don't call me that anymore," Erichika ordered. "I'm not your same old childhood translator, Kise. We've separated ways long time ago, so why not forget about it?"
"Eri- I mean, Eli," I called. "Wait, I just wanted to greet you-"
"Then the feeling's mutual," Erichika cut me off again. "Good morning, Kise. Now, will you move out of my way? I've got student council work to do." She walked past me, and her aura was terrifying that I eventually had to move out of her way. Her glance was prim and proper, but it was cold. Everything in motion was perfection, like she was a full-time role model. I knew she would grow up like this, but it wasn't what I would expect.
This wasn't the Ayase Eli I've always known.
I've always had time to go on my way to school, but it took me a long time to actually move. I jogged my way to school... which was found on the same path as Eli walks. As the fact follows, it seemed like I was following her until her school, Otonokizaka. That was when Eli finally confronted me.
"For how long are you going to follow me? Aren't you supposed to stay in that foreign school?" Eli shouted.
"... I don't study in that school anymore," I argued. "I just happened to attend a school near yours, so it just so happened that I had to follow your path. Do you have a problem with it?"
"... If that was all, then I have no more arguments with it," she concluded the misunderstanding and walked on without the light going green. A car was about to hit her when...
"Wait, Eli!" I called, and before she was about to get hit, I got hold of her arm and pulled her off the road. The car sped by, which surprised Eli greatly. She stumbled and ended up in my arms.
We stayed silent for a while, and no one talked, nor moved. We just stayed there, unaware of each other's condition. That is, before Eli pushed herself away from me.
"Why did you have to save me?" she coldly asked, dusting her clothes after.
"Well, shouldn't I?!" I argued once again, my head filled with anger. "Eli, your life was on the line! If no one had come forward, then you would've died! Did you see that speeding car?! Eli, why are you so naïve?!"
My fury was finished when I finally saw Eli's reaction. She seemed unfazed by everything.
"Then, if you want my thanks, it's yours," she plainly stated. "I owe you my life." And there she was, attempting to walk away from me yet again. But this time did I gather the courage to stop her.
"And you just throw your life sway, just like that?!" I confronted. "Just for how long are you going to keep this up?!"
She turned around and slapped me across the face. With my words, I expected that kind of reaction, but it kind of hurt more than what I was expecting.
"Until you stop annoying the living hell out of me," Eli answered with a breathy voice. It was so unusual of her to sound like that, but then I heard sniffing. I faced her and saw that she was crying. "I know I was too naïve to throw my life away, but do not call my evasiveness as an act. I have a valid reason for all this, and that reason is none of your business. Now, for one last time, if you'll excuse me." She wiped her flowing tears and jogged her way to school, now that the light was green.
I stood there as people stared at me like I was an alien. I ran across the street from too much embarrassment, and headed straight for my school. Good thing I was not late for school, because it would've been more trouble if other people saw me. I entered my classroom and sat on the only vacant seat in the back row.
I hung my bag on the hook on the side of my table. I then got myself ready for the first subject...
... Though I didn't get to learn many things. My brain was in another place, probably thinking about Eli. All my head said was Eli. It brought me great embarrassment, because I got scolded for not listening in class.
This was also the situation these past few days. I never got Eli off my head. I mean, she's changed so drastically. That free girl I've always known is now a trapped bird forced not to mess up.
What happened to the Erichika I've always know when we were children? Before, she was this gentle, carefree, and very warm girl to be with. We used to play together as if no one can separate us. We used to comfort each other when we had some issues with family. We also used to go as far as taking baths together. That was how close we were as childhood friends.
I carried my bag and walked with my feet on autopilot. I never realized that I wasn't looking where I was headed when I bumped into someone. We both fell into the ground, and her things were scattered all over the sidewalk.
"I'm so sorry!" I reacted immediately. "I wasn't focused on where I was walking." I then stood up and picked some of her books for her. When I got all of them, I first lent a hand helped her stand up. She took my hand and stood up, dusting her clothes right after. I took a good look at her and realized that she was...
"Onee-chan's childhood friend?" Arisa asked.
"Eli's little sister, Arisa..." I called. "I remember you from when your sister and I were friends."
"You do?" Arisa suddenly wondered.
"Why of course," I answered. "You were the most cheerful one whenever we played tag or hide-and-seek."
"... I'm afraid I don't remember," Arisa said sadly. "Can you tell me more? Should I treat you a drink?"
"I'd love to," I agreed and nodded, but added, "but I think the drinks should be on me. You're still new to Japan, right?"
"Awww, I wanted to get a touch on the machine..." Arisa pouted.
"Okay," I laughed, "but I choose what you press."
"Agreed!" Arisa nodded, smiled, and ran to the park, where the machine was nearest. I put the money in and told Arisa what I want. She also pressed hers, and we ended up contented with each other's results. We sat on the bench beside it and opened the cans we were holding before sipping on them. I looked at Arisa and saw that she was smiling while having a drink.
"You look like your sister, Arisa," I informed, tearing my gaze off her and looked at the sky.
"I do?" Arisa questioned.
"Of course you do." I looked at Arisa and pat her head. I honestly wanted to tell her the situation between me and Eli, but I didn't want to depress her in anyway, so I made something up. "... You know what? I wanna tell you a story. It's about an ice princess."
"Oooh, tell me, tell me!" Arisa pleaded, clutching my sleeve. "What about this ice princess?"
"This princess is beautiful; in fact, she's the most beautiful in her country," I started. "She was graceful, formal, and she always looks like royalty wherever she goes. But she's cold towards the people she meets, and avoids every conversation they start with her.
"This princess knows of a certain prince, since they are both of royal blood. They got along as children, but now the princess avoids even the prince she always knew, because of reasons she couldn't tell. We don't know the reason up until now, but she might be hiding something from the prince.
"The prince tries to get the princess' attention by chasing her everywhere she goes, and even saved her from danger, but the princess didn't give the prince acknowledgement in the end. 'What should I do?' the prince asks himself, but seems like he has no idea, since he did almost everything. He almost thought that he should just let it slip by and find another girl to love, but the thought of the ice princess intrigued him.
"And that's the end of my story," I concluded, but felt guilty when I ended the story with my own thoughts.
"Oooh, great story, but... there's a problem with the prince," Arisa commented.
"Wh-what might that be?" I asked her in the hopes of getting information. Not that I'm expecting much from a middle school student.
"The prince should be a more determined if he wants the princess to fall in love with him... or at least, get along with him. He should never give up on something or someone he wants; don't you agree? I mean, he gave up too easily just because the princess wanted him to go away."
That's when it hit me. I gave up way too easily. If I wanted to know the reason Eli was pushing me away, I should never give up on finding it.
"Oh, what a great explanation," I commented. "You're good at analyzing people."
"Ha ha, it's one thing I learned from Onee-chan," she informed. "That I should never give up on something I want to achieve. Like my dream to become an idol. A school idol."
"Wh-what's a school idol?" I stuttered, practically clueless on the subject.
"An idol formed inside a school," she said. "Even Otonokizaka, the school Onee-chan attends, has one! They're amazing."
So Eli's aware of this "idol" group? Because if she wasn't, she wouldn't have to tell Arisa about it.
"So what does these school idols do?" I asked.
"Oh, I can tell you lots about them!" Arisa burst out, suddenly showing sheer interest in the conversation. "First of all, idols are-"
"Arisa," someone called, "so this is where you are."
"Oh, Onee-chan!" Arisa turned her back to look at her sister, and I looked after her. Arisa ran towards Eli and gave her hug. "Kise-nii was taking great care of me! And he told me about canned drinks! I can tell the differences between them now!"
"Oh, was he?" Eli said, caressing Arisa's hair. "Now, let's go home." She took hold of Arisa's hand and headed towards their apartment. Before leaving, she gave me a cold gaze.
Seriously, what's her problem with me?
From that day, I went to school in a surprisingly and mysteriously good mood. Nothing ruined my day, nor did anything boost it. I was eager to learn new things, and was pretty more outgoing that the first day. In the end, I made a lot of friends, and got near-perfect grades. Yet my movements and thoughts remained normal.
One night in my apartment while I was rewriting my lecture, someone knocked on my door. I stopped what I was doing and approached the door to see who it was. I opened the door and saw Eli standing before it. She was her uniform, but without the outer polo.
"Good evening... Eli," I agreed quite reluctantly, because it felt awkward to talk to her.
"Let's get to business," she ignored me and brought what looked like present. It was a small box gift-wrapped and with a ribbon on top. She reached it out to me. "Here."
"What could... this be..?" I asked as I reluctantly received the gift.
"A treaty of peace," she answered. "I want to apologize for my cold attitude. I realized that I was acting coldly in front of my childhood friend. So... I want to say... sorry..."
I was speechless, because I for one wouldn't expect Eli to actually apologize first, much less give me a gift for compensation. She was cute while muttering her apology. Too cute that it was unbearable not to laugh. So I practically chuckled.
"Sorry..!" I apologized myself. "It's just too funny to watch. Oh Kami-sama! Thank you that I got to see Erichika like this..."
"I want to end this immediately! So am I forgiven or not?!" Eli confronted, blushing uncontrollably. "I-It's not like I wanted to do this. I just felt like you wouldn't forgive me if I didn't do so any longer. And don't call me that anymore! I thought I told you that already!"
"Still, you did it, right?" My laughter faded, and I wiped my tears of joy. "I can forgive you anytime. After all, you're a childhood friend, right? I wanted to tell you this before, but you were never just a translator to me."
"I know. It's just... I... never mind that. I'm going back inside," Eli said embarrassed, and walked back inside, but I didn't want her to go. I thought of something that just might interest her. For example,
"What do you know about school idols?" I asked.
"Huh?" Eli sounded.
"What do you know about school idols?" I repeated. "I want to know more about these, since I'm quite new to the name."
"Have Arisa explain everything," Eli answered coldly and continued walking, but I pushed the idea.
"You know a lot about them, right?" I confirmed. "I believe you were the one who told Arisa about them, right? I bet you were the one who informed her about your school's group."
"... So Arisa told you, huh..." Eli gave in. "Fine. Just this once." She leaned on the metal railing and looked up at the night sky. "As offensive as this may be to them, these idols are amateurs. To me, at the very least. All they do is dance, sing, and act cute in front of their audience. What's the point in it?"
"I don't know about you, but you seem to have taken an interest in these idols," I commented. "If these idols are so inferior to you, wouldn't you be like, ignoring them like you always do?"
"I am ignoring them, but since my school has one, it's hard not to notice. They're the talk of the school, and they serve the same purpose as I: to save the school."
"From what?"
"The school is to close down if the number of students they receive next year is too low. Of course, the student council wants to save the school, but the chairwoman wouldn't let us. But she let that idol group do it, since it doesn't involve anything like the purpose of saving the school according to her. What's so special about these girls? These idols? I don't get how they'll save the school. They aren't even professional in dancing alone. Why are they doing this, despite sheer inexperience? I don't get it."
"... I see. So these idols serve as celebrities in show business, and therefore can attract people to something. But isn't there something beyond their reason why they want to become idols? Like, they did this because they enjoy it? And you do know practice makes perfect, right? It applied to you in many aspects. Ballet, academics, everything. So do you have the right to criticize them, despite going through everything the same path they're walking?"
"What an absurd reasoning. Doing something because you enjoy it won't get you anywhere. I do what I want because it's a must. I went through ballet because I want to honor my family. Isn't it a better reason than joy?"
"No, it isn't. Sure, it's family honor that brought you to dancing, but I've never seen you dancing with a long face. You always seem to enjoy dancing ballet. Wouldn't that be the same level as what school idols do? In fact, if you teach them your style of dancing, wouldn't they be professionals, and save you off trouble in pleading for permission? Heck, if you merge with them, that group will surely succeed in saving your school. How about it?"
"..." Eli, staring at me, was speechless. Her eyes were wide.
"Think about it... cute and clever Erichika," I said before greeting her a good night and entering my apartment room.
I got to study hard last night and the following weeks that I actually perfected the finals. All of us were surprised when we heard that I did. Some were jealous, some asked me to tutor them, some were amazed, some were happy for me. That was probably the best time I've ever had in school.
I spent the next day like normal, but the thing I was waiting for the most was the outcome of Eli's decision. I decided to pass by her school to see how the open house was doing. Out of the blue, I heard music.
I checked what it was and saw nine girls wearing red fancy clothes and performing on a field. The only one I recognized in the group was Eli. She was dancing with passion and singing beautifully. I was amazed by her performance, and I realized that she was a school idol already.
I smiled to this, because I already saw through her decision. She caught me looking at her, and she smiled at me. She was sweating, but she was happy. It was all that I wanted that day. I've always saw her with that kind of potential.
That afternoon, someone knocked on my door, and I opened it to see Eli. She hugged me on sight; so tight that I couldn't just push myself so easily.
"Thank you," she said. "You helped me through decision-making in just one night. This is why I like you."
"Eh?" I sounded. Those words were new to my ears, especially coming from Eli. "Eli?"
"I've learned a lesson, just from joining that group," she informed me. "I shouldn't lock myself from something I want to do. And that I should be honest with my feelings. That's why I'm telling this to you. I like you. No, I love you."
"What? What have you been eating lately?" I teased with a straight face.
"My attitude has nothing to do with food," Eli argued. "These are my true feelings. I love you, I won't deny that."
"... I love you, too..." I muttered, probably out of surprise. "But you do know idols shouldn't have romantic acquaintances, right?"
"Of course," she confirmed. "We can't be in a relationship, because of this idol thing I'm in now. That is at least, for now. I'll graduate in half a year, and then we'll be together."
"You're pushing the idea too far, Eli," I argued. "But I'll be waiting for you to come back. I mean, if you're still single that time."
"As long as you're single as well, I promise I'll be back," Eli assured. "But in the meanwhile, let's continue our friendship?"
"Sure. Anything for you, Erichika," I agreed. "Oh, I wanna talk to Arisa later. Tell her to pass by my door later, okay?"
"Okay. Ja, I'll be going back to my room. Good day... Kisecchi," she greeted smiling before running back.
It seemed like I forgot something important, because it felt like the first time I've heard her say my nickname. But I smiled and mentally thanked Eli, because I have a new story to tell Arisa. A continuation of the story about the ice princess.
The ice princess who melted in the hands of her prince through music.
Arisa did pass by my room, as I've told Eli to do so.
"Pardon my intrusion," Arisa said as she removed her shoes and entered my room. "So, Kise-nii. Onee-chan told me to come here. What did you need me for?"
"Well, Arisa-chan," I started, "You still remember the story I told you the other day, right?"
"Ummm... Yes, I do remember," Arisa said. "It's about the ice princess, right?"
"I've thought about the perfect ending to it," I told her. "Here's how it goes, for a recap."
I then told her the full story.
"... The princess avoided the prince for a certain period of time, until a certain time. The princess though of giving up on running away from the prince and approached him instead. She offered an apology, and revealed to the prince of what she was avoiding from him: a problem she has been shouldering for quite a while. The prince comforted her and told her exactly what to do to brush away that burden.
"The next day, the princess did what the prince told her to do, and got what she wanted. She ran to the prince and decided to make up with him. They became a married couple and lived happily ever after.
"The end," I concluded, with a teacher-like smile on my face. I looked at Arisa and was surprised to see her so dissatisfied. "Wh-What's wrong?"
"That... was just a story between you and Onee-chan, isn't it?" Arisa asked, her voice emitting a dark accent.
"Ho-How did you know..?" I asked back as I backed away from her.
"I knew it! I'm telling Onee-chan!" Arisa threatened, and ran out of my room back to hers.
I thought of digging my own grave, but Eli would just drag me back to earth and kill me again. I imagined that would happen the moment I heard Eli shout, "Kisecchi!"
"Crap!" I cursed and tried my best to run away from the apartment. But as soon as I was down the stairs, Eli already busted out of her door.
"How dare you tell such things to Arisa?!" she shouted and ran as fast as a beast. I realized that she had a much better athletic prowess than me. She soon lunged at me, and we fell down the stairs, and tumbled on the dry ground. I was under her grasp, and... her... you know... were pressing against my back. I blushed badly, but I tried not to get any thoughts about that and stayed still.
Eli stood up, dusted her hands and grabbed me by my collar before dragging me up the stairs. I cried out sound of pain, but Eli would just ignore it and continue dragging me until we were in her room. She then tossed me to the side of her bed.
She them started the murder by raining so many questions at me, like, "Why would you tell Arisa of our relationship?!", "Why did you give the story a setting which gives people the wrong idea?!", "Did you even give the story some thought?! It's too cliché!"
She kept raining me with questions which slowly became irrelevant with the problem at hand, but I somehow enjoyed it. I ended up smiling to it.
"Oi, are you even listening?!" Eli scolded and leaned forward to be face-to-face with me. I suddenly had an idea, but I had to be careful not to show anyone what i was supposed to do.
"Hey..." I called out. "Arisa's not here, right? No one else is here, right..?"
Eli looked around and faced me once again, still with an angry look on her face. "No one is here! That's why I'm always free to shout at you like-"
"Good," I said, and wrapped my hands around her nape. I pulled her in, and we kissed. Eli had no time to scream, because her lips were already in touch with mine.
"Th-This is..!" Eli stuttered when she saw a certain object I was holding.
"Come on, Erichika," I persisted. "This is professionally made in Russia, so I was confident you'd accept right away. It also cost me an arm and a leg, you know."
"I-I know that much!" Eli argued. "I know what much, but... We haven't even graduated from high school, you know! You of all people should be aware that you're dating a school idol. Are you even prepared to face the responsibility after people find out we went to the extreme?"
"Think of it as a post-graduation gift," I offered, smiling my most encouraging smile.
"Why exactly would you do this in the first place?"
"Because you're too famous already! Men a slowly getting attracted to you! I... don't want them to make you turn your head away from me!"
"But... Isn't an aquamarine ring too obvious for a post-graduation gift?" Eli doubted, but her hands were already itching to receive the gift.
"I assure you, that's okay," I insisted. "The graduation is a few days from now. Love Live already ended, and it should soon end."
"... Funny how you're now the one pushing the idea of us dating," Eli pointed out, a frown on her face.
I sighed seconds after and muttered, "Then... I guess my proposal is still a no-no... It's best to throw this precious ring away. Or maybe give it to that other woman..."
"Stop!" Eli shouted, and reached for my wrist. "I-I'll... I'll accept that gift of yours. Geez, you're so stubborn..." She held out her hand and waited for the ring to be worn.
I picked the ring out of its box and pushed it through Eli's right ring finger. The color fit Eli's eyes- the reason I bought that ring from Russia itself.
"Now that's settled, the story of the ice princess ends perfectly as I imagined," I announced proudly.
"S-So all this was... to make that made-up story true to life...?!" Eli threateningly muttered.
Scared enough from her dark aura, I said, "Oh, right! The ending lacked something, so it's not fully taken from the story itself." I laughed nervously as Eli's dark aura weakened.
"Eh? Something was lacking?" Eli asked.
"This," I answered and pulled her to a kiss. My lips met with hers, and I felt Eli weaken. The kiss itself lasted for a few seconds before I broke the connection myself.
"Wha..?" Eli unconsciously sounded.
"A happily ever after means you gotta kiss! Now it's from the book!" I announced, laughing vigorously.
"You..." Eli threatened, holding up a ready-to-punch fist. "Come here so that I can kill you!"
"That is if you catch me!" I teased as I started running away from her. I was reassured that she would chase me, too. We ended up in the middle of the road, chasing each other as the sun set in front of us.
Ah, what a clichéd ending for a comical story, when it's supposed to be a romantic fairy tale. Oh, well. It's been one hell of a comedic journey down the road of love, so...
And besides, it's Eli. A strict but carefree girl. A proper but child-like girl. A cold personality, but there's her hot, passionate love to melt it away every time.
