Here's chapter two. Hope it meets everyone's expectations. I was quite shocked at what happened during this chapter. Mio especially is always full of surprises. Mugi too for that matter. And why are Korean songs so angsty? This time around, various Korean songs helped me get through this chapter, but the plot is still focused around the Chinese song for which this story is named after. Roughly. No beta for this either. Enjoy and look forward to the next chapter! Reviews are welcomed and give me an idea as to whether people are liking where I'm taking this story. Thank you!
Disclaimer: I don't own K-ON! or the song Never Learn.
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I've realized that love doesn't represent everything
Even with the most sincere heart, it can still be rejected
Place every sad and bitter love in front,
no feelings of remorse, just memories
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"Perhaps it means it's time to stop playing around, don't you think, Ricchan?" A voice came out from the club room's entrance.
Ritsu scrambled up in a panic as she watched Mugi approach her, looking disappointed. She went to the cabinet where the tea sets were and began making tea.
"M-Mugi! How long have you been there? I thought you had gone home with Yui and Azusa." Ritsu said, failing at keeping the anxiety in her voice down.
"I did but I forgot my phone…" Mugi paused and gave Ritsu a piercing gaze. "And then I saw Mio crying as she ran away from the room."
Ritsu flinched and looked away.
"It's got nothing to do with you Mugi." Ritsu said while making her to the club room door. "I'm leav-"
"Please sit down, Ritsu-san."
Ritsu turned around and looked at Mugi in shock. Mugi didn't speak again and went back to preparing the tea. Ritsu sighed and walked back to the desks. When it became apparent that Mugi was not going to speak again, Ritsu rested her head on the table. She could feel a dull pain in her hands and vaguely wondered if she should bandage them. A few minutes passed before Mugi poured tea for Ritsu and herself and then she sat down. Ritsu took a sip of tea.
"Well?" She said. "What is it that you want?"
Mugi merely gave Ritsu a smile before drinking her own tea. She closed her eyes and sighed. Ritsu jumped up and slammed her hands on the desk.
"Mugi! I'm not playing guessing games with you!"
"Neither am I, Ritsu-san."
"Stop doing that! I'm not a stranger!"
"From the way you have been treating Mio-chan, it seems like you are."
"Where are you going with this Mugi?"
"Do you hate Mio-chan?"
Ritsu felt as if she had been hit and she staggered back. She ignored the pain in her chest and thrust her arm out in front of her.
"What? No! I could never hate Mio! She's my best friend!"
"Is that all?" Mugi said while taking another sip of tea.
"What do you mean 'is that all?' What more is there?"
"I don't know. You tell me, Ritsu-san."
"There you go again with that. Stop it!"
"Not until you say how you feel about Mio-chan."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Ritsu said as she shifted uncomfortably. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes. "She's my friend. I feel for her as any friend I've had. That will never change."
"But you want it to change, don't you? You want more than being her 'best friend,' right?"
Ritsu looked away from Mugi and squeezed her eyes shut as she felt her hidden fears come into light. She heard Mugi get up and felt a warm embrace from behind her.
"You don't have to keep it a secret anymore, Ricchan." Mugi said quietly. "It's okay. I know."
Ritsu felt a fresh onset of tears burst from her eyes as she turned around and sobbed heavily in Mugi's arms. Mugi managed to ease them to ground where Ritsu buried her face in her lap as she massaged Ritsu's back. After several minutes passed, Ritsu felt notably lighter. She got up slowly and took the handkerchief Mugi offered to her and cleaned up her face.
"I'm sorry, Mugi." Ritsu managed to choke out.
"For what, Ricchan?" Mugi said, perplexed.
"For yelling at you…and bringing about my feelings like this…you probably have changed your view of me now…" Ritsu's voice trailed off as she continued to clean her face.
"There's nothing to apologize for Ricchan. I'm sure I would have done the same." Mugi gently grabbed Ritsu by her shoulders and had her face her.
Ritsu was surprised to see a bright, yet kind fire lit in Mugi's eyes.
"Loving someone is never something anyone should have to apologize for. You should never have to apologize for your feelings. They are what make you, you know, you." Mugi smiled as she softly whacked Ritsu on the head.
"Hey! What was that for?" Ritsu said, chuckling as she rubbed her head.
"I just thought that in this type of situation Mio-chan would hit you. I wanted to try it." Mugi laughed. "I think I can understand a bit why she hits you so much. It did make me feel a bit better."
"Why you-"
"Ah, no Ricchan! Stop it!"
Ritsu was attempting to grab Mugi into a head lock and Mugi managed to keep away, laughing all the while.
"Hold still Mugi!"
"No I wo-oompf!"
Mugi had tripped at the same moment Ritsu managed to grab her and they both fell onto the ground, with Ritsu on top of Mugi.
"Oww that hurt. Are you okay Mugi?" Ritsu looked down at Mugi with worry as she gently caressed an area on Mugi's head that had a slight bump.
"Yes, I'm okay." Mugi said, giggling. "You're quite scary when you want something, Ricchan."
"Only for the things I love!" Ritsu said proudly. "Next time don't move around so much and you..y-you…Mio?" Ritsu was surprised to see Mio standing at the entrance of the club room.
Her eyes widened when she realized where Mio was looking at and hastily got up.
"This isn't what it looks like!"
Mio had an indescribable look on her face as she continued to stare at Ritsu and Mugi. The two of them slowly approached Mio, each taking care not to cause Mio to run out on them.
"I-it's true Mio-chan. I was just talking to Ricchan and somehow we ended up tripping as she chased me for hitting her and-"
"Mugi was just comforting me—"
"Lying on the floor together is the way someone seeks comfort?" Mio snapped. "I'm a fool to think you were affected by what happened earlier. Playing around with Mugi…It didn't bother you at all, did it?"
"W-wait! It's not like that! All this happened because-"
"Enough! I don't care anymore Ritsu! You obviously don't care about me. Lately all you do is nag and make it seem like I can't do anything by myself."
At this point Ritsu cringed as she recalled the words she had spoken earlier to Mio.
"I'm tired of getting my hopes and dreams shot down by you. Who died and made you the ruler of my life?" Mio's voice started getting louder and louder. "As my best friend, I thought you'd be happy for how I've been growing as a person. I did everything you wanted, even though I was frightened at first. And now that things are going good for me, you act like they're all bad for me? I'm not some toy for your amusement, Ritsu. I'm your best friend. I'm someone who has always been by your side and loved you as you are, the good and bad. But now you've become someone I don't even know. Someone I'm not sure I want to know. And it breaks my heart, Ritsu."
Ritsu heard sniffling and was aghast at the array of tears falling down Mio's face. She tried to think of something to say but when she tried to speak, her voice would not come out. So she merely turned her face to the side and refused to look at Mio. She heard Mio give a little a cry before taking deep breaths to calm herself.
"W-w-when you d-decide whether or not you want to grow up and become honest with me, y-you know where t-t-to find me."
Having said that, Mio ran out of the room, not seeing Mugi catch Ritsu as she fell into shock.