Hey there! Installment three! No warnings this time around.


TWO

Nagisa and Rin both cried this morning when I said goodbye. I almost found it funny, since they won't know the difference between having me there in Iwatobi and having me in Tokyo anyway.

I talked to my parents this morning, too. They're also with the consensus that I'm making a big mistake. But they realized they couldn't stop me when I asked them seriously what I was supposed to do about the house. Surprise: they're holding onto it in case I 'don't fit in in Tokyo.'

I didn't mention a word of it to Makoto's family.

I know I should have… but I just… couldn't. I couldn't do it. It would have been too painful. They also probably won't notice the difference.

Or at least I pray they won't notice.

I pray the gnawing ache in my chest will fade as I get farther from there.


I'll admit it; Tokyo is intimidating. The city could swallow Iwatobi countless times. It's crowded, loud, fast-paced, and a total sensory overload, to put it lightly.

Why did Makoto want to come here? That's all I can think as I hop off the train and instantly into the madness. People are moving… just constantly moving, moving, moving all around me, and every single one of them walks quickly and directly, a perfect plan in mind. They don't hover, spinning around in confusion and looking every which way, like I am.

I should have gotten a map. I should have done a little more research. But all I focused on in preparation for this was trying to get into the university. Applications, essays, preparing my entire portfolio… It was the hardest thing I've ever done, to be quite honest.

I try and ask a couple people around me for directions, but no one even spares me a glance. They're all too busy, and after being ignored the third time, a familiar ache builds up in my chest and my face grows hot, my hands shake. I have to duck into an alcove beside a building and catch my breath.

I've never been good with crowds. Usually… Usually I would just grab onto Makoto's hand or the end of his shirt and let him guide me through.

That was before.

For a second I feel like I've been hit by a train. I lost the important person in my life… and now I've abandoned everything else familiar too? What was I thinking?

Oh god. Oh god, oh god.

"Excuse me, are you alright?"

A soft voice startles me, and I spin, focusing on a tall guy, clad in all black with a shock of bright green hair.

"Uh-um yeah, I'm… actually, can you tell me how to get to Todai?" I mutter clumsily, and he smiles lopsidedly at me in all my shaky, sweaty glory.

"Yeah! It's just three blocks that way!" he gestures. "Do you want me to…"

"It's alright, thanks!" I interrupt, immediately pushing away from the wall and heading the direction he pointed. I think he calls something after me, but I don't hear him, my ears are ringing. The sooner I get to my dorm the better.


"Name please?" a bubbly, colorfully dressed girl with pink pigtails looks up at me from behind the desk inside the dormitory lobby, green eyes blinking eagerly at me…

Green eyes…

Her smile begins to fade. "Ahem, what is your name?"

"Oh. Ah... Nanase… Haruka…" I murmur.

"And your major?"

"Um... I'm just taking some art classes."

She shrugs and passes over a key ring and a shiny blue brochure that reads "Welcome!" in chunky white letters and features pictures of people who look unnaturally happy. "You'll be in room 412A, Nanase-san. That's on the left side of the hall, fourth floor."

I nod with a thanks, and turn to leave, repeating the number over in my head so I don't forget it. I head for the elevator, but stop and duck into the stairwell when I find it's packed with people. It's a good thing I only have the one suitcase.

The room is easy enough to find. There's a currently blank dry erase board hung on the outside, which I hope means my roommate is yet to show up. The door clicks and swings open with no effort, that is, until it collides with something enormous on the other side, and a deep voice cries, "Ouch!"

"I'm sorry," I murmur, puzzled, and the door is pried from my hands, opening fully.

I look up at the tall guy in front of me and am met with familiar blue-green eyes and a scowl.

I gasp. "Y-Yama…zaki?!"


Yeah, so here is another installment! :) Sorry it's so short!