Chapter 1
Sora was not happy.
He was not thrilled that his little sister has grown up. He was her brother and she was his sister. He was her only family. She was supposed to listen to him. She was supposed to love him the most. She was supposed to follow the script in his head. He was not pleased with her decision.
He glanced at her and turned away showcasing his objection.
A giggle followed.
His eye brow twitched in annoyance. She was doing this purposely. That was the only explanation he could draw of the situation.
"Why are you laughing?" he asked.
Another giggle.
Another twitch.
She was testing him. That bratty little –
"Oni-chan is angry, it's really funny… oh wait, no… it's not that – he's upset…" she teased.
"Orihime, it's not funny. I am really upset with your decision." He turned around to face her.
She gave him a small smile and folded another garment.
His eyes fell on the big suit case on the bed; he glared at the thing as she kept on folding the clothes and packing them.
The pink T-shirt – He bought it for her.
The lavender kimono – He gave it to her.
The green tunic – He gifted it on her 18th birthday.
The yellow sundress – His fiancé and he had selected it for Orihime.
The short skirt? Wait what…?
He scowled at his sister. What the hell? When did she get such a short skirt? It shows off her legs… There'll be guys out there…staring at her…in such revealing clothes…
Take deep breaths, he told himself. It's not her fault.
"I'll ask my boss if I can transfer there." He informed her.
She dropped the checked shirt from her hands and eyed him in disbelief… Her oni-chan – in one word – was – impossible!
"You're being ridiculous, Sora-nii…" she argued. "You don't trust me."
"It's not that – Orihime… I am your big brother; I am supposed to protect you…"
"Protect me from what? Education?"
He sat on the bed and sighed. "I have to know that you're okay and safe… Nagoya is too far…"
"It's not even a day away, oni-chan… you're being unreasonable. I've worked hard for this scholarship and you know that…"
"Yeah… I know…"
That's right; she had studied so hard her entire senior year to get a scholarship. Nagoya University just happened to select her. It wasn't her fault. She is 18 – an adult – like him, she is growing up and he just has to deal with it.
He gave her a sad smile "I guess, I am just being emotional since you're going to leave tomorrow…"
She picked her shirt from the ground and walked to kneel in front of Sora. She laid her head on his lap and closed her eyes.
That was all, the Inoue siblings needed. The silence was enough, the air around them was sure emotional – but it was alright. They were going to be alright.
He stroked her hair. Her long, beautiful Auburn hair. He loved her hair. He loved that she grows it out for him. He smiled at the thought. "I'm going to miss you, Hime."
She fisted the shirt in her hands and shut her eyes, tightly as a tear escaped. She choked back a sob and said "Me too, Oni-chan…"
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Ichigo was not surprised when he received the letter from Nagoya University. He deserved to be accepted of course, he had worked so hard. He always believed he deserves the best because he has earned it.
His family's reaction to the letter – did not surprise him, either. They did what they normally do when he gave them good news. Their reactions were expected and same old.
He was not surprised when Chad called him to inform that he got in too.
Chad was smart, he knew. And Nagoya University had finest Art classes.
What was good enough was the one-hour distance between the university and his home. He'd finally get to move out of the house. Though it would be sad not seeing his mother daily – but he can deal with that.
He gets the best because he deserves it.
It is a fact and it doesn't surprise him.
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It was the Orientation day when their eyes met each other's for not more than five seconds.
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She remembers it because those were the most blazing and intense eyes she has ever seen and she was sure she would never be able to meet his eye for more than a few seconds.
Orihime doesn't know his name.
She just knows – he has orange hair and amber eyes.
She did not try to find him the next day.
Neither did she try a week later or a month after that.
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While boiling the water for the tea, she thinks about his eyes.
Vaguely, she wonders if she'd ever meet him.
This happens for exactly thirteen seconds – once, every week. But things go back to normal as soon as her roommate Tatsuki-chan distracts her.
Tatsuki is not her classmate. No, Orihime is perusing Bachelors in Arts – Literature being her major while Tatsuki-chan in Bachelors in Science – Physics being her major.
After moving out of their hostel, they decided to rent an apartment. Sora-nii-chan threw a tantrum but settled after he talked to Tatsuki.
Both the girls don't eat lunches together. Neither does their timings clash.
They have jobs as waitresses in different diners. They both see each other at home at 9 o'clock in the evening. They have dinner together.
Orihime cooks on even days of the week and Tatsuki cooks on odd days of the week.
Some nights are very long – they don't sleep until 2 am in the morning because of the assignments.
Sometimes, they try to help each other with studies.
Some nights they just talk.
Orihime thinks Tatsuki-chan is one of her closest friend. Maybe in future, they can be like those 'best-friends' they show in movies.
For now, everything is fine. Everything follows the plan. Everything runs according to the routine.
So she doesn't complaint. She doesn't change anything.
No that it matters because she likes to follow her routine.
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It was the Orientation day when their eyes met each other's for not more than five seconds.
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He remembers it because she looked away so fast like he was some viral disease. It was border-line amusing.
He doesn't doubt his looks. He has been complimented way too much. Puberty did do wonders is what his father had said.
But it was weird because he knew women would stare at him like he was some piece of meat but the way that girl looked away… it was strange, it was new.
Ichigo doesn't know her name.
He just knows that – She has auburn colored hair and is the most good-looking girl he has seen in a while.
He doesn't ponder about it much though.
After all relationships is a waste of time. He doesn't have time for it. He's got his business course to finish. He's got Masters to complete. May be after that he might settle if his mom and dad find a girl for him.
He doesn't think much about love.
It's all a waste of time.
And he doesn't like to waste his time.
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It had been four months, six days since the orientation day.
Not that she's counting, but she still thinks about his eyes.
He compares the girls who flirt with him to the auburn haired girl. None of them are good-looking enough. He doesn't settle for the second best thing.
He wants the best because he deserves it.
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It is six months later, when they accidently sit beside each other.
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She follows her routine. After the third lecture, she has lunch break. She eats alone in the cafeteria. Professor Kuchiki had asked them to read 20 novels and review them. The list of the books was also given.
She was currently on her 11th novel – A Jane Austen classic – Pride and Prejudice.
She was almost halfway through. She decided to read it during the break while having her lunch. The book is interesting, she has some arguments, though – and she has a rough idea how she wants to write it. She is so into the book, she doesn't look at the person she sits beside.
No. She has no time for small talk and introductions. The person can think she is rude and gladly leave for all she cares. She has no time to look at the person as well.
The said person hides his amusement and doesn't bother her. He just watches her.
He realizes – she is more beautiful when she wears her hair up and chews her French fries –oh-so-slowly. He notices she doesn't dip it in the tomato sauce.
He decides he likes the color of her lips. He is confused what shade of pink it is. But he's not in hurry.
When he looks away, he sees Chad is sitting with that prick Ishida on the third table from the entrance. He mentally notes to stay away from the table to avoid another annoying argument with his roommate Ishida Uryu.
He sees a girl joining them. She has medium length spiky violet-blackish hair. He remembers Ishida saying she is from the Dojo club. He is glad because none of them look at him.
He mentally counts that he and the beautiful girl are sitting five benches away from his friends. He needs to remember it because it's a good spot.
The table is in the corner where no fan girls can see him.
It also looks like he can observe the girl sitting next to him.
He watches her again – she scowls and scrunches her small nose, her tongue briefly touches her index finger and she turns the page. He presses his fingers to his lips when she suddenly gasps and the French fry is held in the air for 10 seconds.
Her expressions amuse him. And he enjoys it silently until he finishes his fish sticks. He wonders if she actually noticed him at all.
When he gets up, he purposely coughs and stands on the same spot for three seconds to gauge a reaction out of the girl.
She is so frustrating… he thinks, when she doesn't even bat an eyelash his way.
His fingers close into a fists and clench. Why is he pissed if she's not giving him attention?
He growls inwardly and leaves.
When he turns back to look at her – she sees him and he fights back an urge to smirk. Her eyes widened and she looks away in three seconds, turns back to her book.
She kills his mood, just like that – by looking away. He has this crazy itch to check if something is wrong with his face.
He calls it the 'Book versus Me' incident.
He looks dejected when the scoreboard in his mind reads Book: 1; Me: 0.
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They sit on the same table from the day after the incident. She doesn't talk to him. She doesn't even look at him.
The scoreboard now says – Book: 15; Me: 0.
But HEY! There is some progress alright? She always waits for him to finish his meal and bows to him when she leaves. He merely nods at her.
The gesture makes him think 'Hn, maybe she's not rude – just shy.'
He likes the silence between them though; she is really different from other girls. Maybe that is the reason why he thinks about her now and then.
It is really brief though, really.
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While sitting in the Business law lecture, a part of his brain wonders what her name is. The same part also thinks if she is mute. And this surprises him because it is out of norm.
Heh. So this is what when they say college changes your routine.
He accepts her as a part of his routine.
He justifies himself by giving a simple reason that he is just curious about her. He denies harboring a crush on her.
In the past month, he knows that she smiles and her eyes have this spark when the menu involves Red bean paste. She always carries some kind of huge book in her satchel. Every third day, he'd find a blue colored ink smudge on her cheek – it makes him want to smile and wipe it off. But he doesn't.
He thinks those smudges enhance her beauty.
He likes how her dressing sense doesn't emphasize on her figure. Her clothes do not stick to her body. She doesn't wear anything to show off her long legs – she prefers jeans and a loose T-shirt.
His brain registers this as an analytic report on the girl who he is curious about.
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When she turned around after she heard the person growl, she was taken aback to find that 'intense-eye-guy' was the one sitting beside her. She turned around quickly so he couldn't see her flustered face.
Her breathing came out as a gasp and she couldn't go back to reading till the next 10 minutes.
How could she not notice him? His hair was a give-away! She could have at least subconsciously looked at him.
That still doesn't explain why her words didn't seem to come out around him, hence, she would never try to converse or look at him.
From corner of her eyes she could see him eating his lunch. She wants to say 'Mister, too much junk is not good for health. You have to stop eating such oily foods.' But she doesn't. It's not her place.
She can say he likes order. He neatly places his bag between them, there is always a pen on top of a notebook on the left of his tray and to its right he keeps his cell phone. While eating, he doesn't do anything else.
Since she is polite, before leaving she bows to him.
She has learnt he particularly likes to wear dark colored T-shirts which are either long sleeved or has number 15 printed on it. He is probably 6 or 6'2" in height. She likes it. She thinks he reeks of raw handsomeness. She likes his jaw line and nose. It's not too long. He has good features. It certainly explains his fan base in the campus. His lips are usually settled into a frown, she deems maybe he's in some trouble. Later, she realizes maybe it's a part of his looks.
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Even after a month sitting beside each other, she does not – cannot look at him. She does not say 'konnichiwa! How was your day?' nor she questions why the hell he is still sitting next to her.
It is like a silent agreement they've accepted.
She doesn't own the table, after all. Anyone can sit there if they want to.
She does not ponder upon the fact that they don't know each other's name.
Everything follows the routine.
She should not try to break it by unnecessarily asking his name. It might give him the wrong idea.
Oh – she found out that Tatsuki-chan has a crush on someone.
When she arrives at her job later in the evening, her mind gloats about college love and she thinks it's really romantic.
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~0~
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note. *releases a very-long-sigh*
So here is the little progress. Don't think too much into it, this part is just necessary for their character and story development.
Let me tell u it is disappointing to deliver a intense start and come up with this chapter(that too, a month later). Low-Blow. m(_ _)m
But as i said - it's necessary.
Thank you. :)