Kimi no Iru Machi Fanfiction

"A town where we began to love each other."

AU / What if – Haruto x Akari

I do not in any way own Kimi no Iru Machi or its characters. I just like the manga a lot and wanted to write some fanfiction based on it.

– Chapter 4: Spectral Memories

Second term has begun, Haruto has transferred back to his old high school. Now the annual school culture festival looms in the distance and preparations for the event are now at full swing.

This semester was to be different to Haruto, because for the first time he would be traveling to and back from school with his girlfriend Akari. One thing that Akari has not tried or even brought up is if she should sit behind Haruto on his bike. She doesn't want to trigger a memory recollection of how Haruto fell when he rode his bike with Yuzuki sitting on the back. This has concerned Akari ever since she started dating him. After all, she is the first girlfriend he has had since his break up with his first love.

As they ride their bikes back home from school, Haruto notices Akari is looking somewhat down.

Haruto: "What's wrong, Akari?"

Akari: "Eh?... no nothing... why do you ask?"

Haruto: "Well I noticed that you were looking somewhat down."

Akari: "No, I'm Okay. Just tired of all the preparations for the culture festival."

Haruto is not convinced, this is not the first time this has occurred. He thought that maybe she is just not too happy about their relationship. Which would be a disaster. Since they started being a couple, they have gone to a few dates. As they ride Haruto thinks, 'Hmm... maybe she is unsatisfied in the quality of dates I have taken her.' As they ride, he thinks of what they can do, 'We have basically just dated around town, maybe taking her to dates in city will be better.' He looks at her again.

Akari: "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Haruto: "Say... would you like to go out for a date?"

Akari stops her bike and then Haruto stops next to her.

Akari: "Wh-why are you asking that so suddenly?"

Haruto: "Well, we have only have gone out a few times and the those times, where around here. I figure... going to eat dinner and catching a movie or something else in Hiroshima city would be good."

Akari smiles and tells him, "Yeah... that would be nice. To head to the city, maybe do some window shopping as well."

Haruto: "Yeah... we can do that."

Akari: "But... right now with the culture festival preparations, I guess we don't have the time. Right?"

Haruto: "Yeah... we are too busy, since I'm helping out with the cooking club and you with our class."

Akari: "Its too bad that we can't be working together in the same vending stall."

Haruto: "Well... since they were low in numbers in the cooking club this year... I just had to help them out."

Akari: "That is one of the qualities that I like about you, Haruto."

Akari pauses what she is going to say next but then, "However, you seem to be a bit too softhearted for your own good."

Haruto: "Eh?... that is a bit harsh."

Akari: "Come on Haruto! You know that the moment someone is in trouble you go full out to help them."

Haruto: "So what... am I just stand idly and not help? Did you say that one one of the qualities that you like about me?"

Akari: "I do like that about you but I'm not saying that... it's just that..."

Akari remembers the fact that at the time that Haruto was interested in Nanami, he was constantly setting his full attention to Yuzuki. To the point that was the reason why Nanami originally rejected him. Meanwhile, Haruto sees Akari all worried, but he just can't understand why. But he doesn't want this, their first argument as a couple to last more than it should.

Haruto: "Okay... I get it."

Akari: "What?"

Haruto: "I will try to examine each situation a bit better from now on. But... when it comes to my family and you... my priority will always be higher. Okay?"

Akari smiles and nods and says, "Okay."

After that, they continue their way back home. Of course, Haruto rides all the way to her house. Before he goes home, they kiss goodnight. On the ride home, Haruto Is still wondering if what Akari told him was the thing that was bothering her. For now, he will just do what he said was going to do.

Final days of the preparations for the school culture festival are here. As usual, the culture festival is one of the events after summer that the entire town attends. After the festival is over, there is the cleanup and the annual school Kouyasai. Although Haruto and Akari have been dating for a while he still wants to make sure they participate. It might be unnecessary to do it since the entire school knows they are a couple. But he still thinks, 'Any time I can make Akari feel good about our relationship is well worth it.'

Once again Haruto and Akari are riding their bikes back home. The daylight hours have become shorter since the fall season has begun. As they travel, they decide to stop at the convenience store. Even if they will be eating dinner at their respective homes, they still feel like getting a snack after being at school all day. Together they choose to get red bean bun and a bottle of tea to drink. Outside, Haruto splits the generously sized bun and gives half to Akari. As they eat their snack and drink from their bottle of tea. Akari starts a conversation with Haruto.

Akari: "So how close is the cooking club from getting everything done?"

Haruto: "We are close, we still need to get a few more ingredients to finish the menu items that we are going to offer."

Akari: "What is the club's menu?"

"We are doing snacks and desserts, it was Kanzaki's idea." Haruto takes a slip of tea and then hands the bottle to Akari, "Its a first for me since I never really cooked anything like that."

Akari: "Are you going to be busy all day or are you going have time to look at the other activities?"

Haruto: "I do plan to visit our class' haunted house... also I want to go visit the other booths and classrooms."

Akari: "ehhhh..."

Haruto: "Of course... I want to do that with you, Akari."

Akari: "Ah... okay... lets plan to take our break at the same time so we can look at the rest of the festival together."

Haruto: "Sounds like a plan."

"Here..." Akari hands the bottle of tea to Haruto, "finish the rest of the tea."

As they about to resume their return home, Takashi shows up in his regular clothes at the convenience store.

Takashi: "Yo!"

Akari turns to Takashi and greets him, "Yo!"

Takashi asks, "You two haven't gone home yet?"

Akari: "Baaaa-ka..." *(Idiooo-t...)

Haruto: "Does it look like we have?"

Both Akari and Haruto obviously point out that they are still in their school uniforms. Takashi is a bit hurt by them.

Takashi: "Hey... you don't have to give me that kind of attitude. I'm simply just asking."

Haruto: "Sorry about that."

Takashi: "Anyway... say... why do you two still ride both your bikes"

Huruto: "Huh?"

Takashi: "Well... would it be better if Akari just..."

Akari who is standing behind Haruto, immediately starts to get the attention of Takashi by throwing some hand gestures. She is motioning for him to stop.

Takashi: "Huh? … what the hell is wrong with you?"

Haruto turns to Akari, at that moment Akari stops what she was doing and basically tries to change her arm movements.

Akari with a slight blush says, "What? … I'm just trying to stretch my arms out a bit."

Takashi: "That is not what you were doing a second ago... you were motioning for me to stop."

Haruto: "Stop what?"

Takashi: "Yeah... what is it... Akari?"

Akari: "aaaahhh... say I'm tired... we should get going Haruto."

Takashi: "No...no...no. Why were you motioning to stop?"

Nervously Akari looks at Takashi and then looks at Haruto before looking down to the ground. For Haruto, its rare to see Akari behave like this. So he does what he thinks is best.

Haruto: "It's fine... if Akari doesn't want to tell us I'm not going to force her."

Takashi: "But..."

Haruto gives a stern look at Takashi, "Takashi..."

Takashi rubs his head with his left hand, "Ahhh... fine. Still this is really weird."

Takashi: "I need to buy something for my mother, see you two later."

Haruto: "Later."

Both Akari and Haruto then leave on their bikes. While they ride Haruto glances over to Akari who is still a bit uncomfortable with what just occurred.

The reason why Akari was trying to stop from Takashi from talking was that she realized what he was going to say. That they should go to school together on Haruto's bike. But that will mean that Akari would have to sit on the cargo rack on the back of his bike. The same way Yuzuki did when she lived with Haruto's family. She wants to avoid this since she is afraid that this will cause Haruto to think about Yuzuki. Although she is okay with him not completely forgetting the memory of his first love and keep it somewhere in his heart. She is still nervous about him starting to think about her in a way that might rekindle his romantic feelings towards Yuzuki. Its only been just a bit over five months since their breakup and only been about four months since she and Haruto starting dating. Akari doesn't want to be a just a rebound relationship. She wants to make sure that she will be the one that will be with him for the rest of his life. That is how much she has come to love him.

As they come to the split of the road where Akari's house is located. Akari speaks up.

Akari: "Say... I will just go on my own from here."

Haruto: "Are you sure?"

Akari: "Yes."

Haruto is still somewhat bothered, all the times they have gone home together from school since they started dating. He has always accompanied Akari to the front of her house. Tonight... she doesn't want to.

Haruto: "What is wrong, Akari?"

Akari: "Eh?...no...nothing at all..."

Akari is startled at his questioning.

Haruto: "Liar, ever since we met Takashi at the convenience store, you have been behaving somewhat strange."

Akari while looking down to the ground, "I told you, its nothing. Just drop it, okay?"

Haruto is still not convinced. There is definitely something bothering her.

Haruto: "Akari... you know you can talk to me about anything, right?"

Akari looks up to Haruto as he continues, "We have been able to do this since we became friends long ago. So why are you resisting now when something is clearly bothering you?"

Akari finally opens up about her doubts, "Its just that... I figured what Takashi was going to say...and that made me somewhat troubled."

Haruto: "If you don't tell me what then I'm not going to be able to help you. So what do you think he was going to say?"

Akari: "aaaaah... it's... mmm..."

Akari looks down while trembling, "...he was going to say that we should just use one bike to travel to school. That I should just ride with you."

Haruto just doesn't understand why this would cause Akari to be so troubled, "Why is that so troubling?"

Akari looks up to Haruto in disbelief, "Huh?"

Haruto: "Are you somehow ashamed to be seen with be riding on my bike?"

Akari: "No... that is not it!"

Haruto: "Then what? Tell me!"

Akari is reluctant to tell him due to her fears, "..."

Haruto: "So... that is what I mean to you now... are you so bored with our relationship that you now are ashamed to be with me?"

Akari quietly almost whispering, "...no..."

They stand there for a few moments in silence. Haruto annoyed at Akari's reluctance and Akari troubled by her fear. Finally, Haruto finally speaks as he starts to leave.

Haruto: "Fine... then tomorrow I will go by myself to school."

Akari: "Eh?... wait..."

Haruto: "Then what? … Are you going to tell me why you are being so closed off?" … "Because right now, I get the feeling that you are holding back something."

Akari:..., "I... just can't..."

Haruto: "Well... then... I'm leaving."

Haruto starts to ride off towards his house leaving Akari there.

He thinks, 'Just is what is wrong with her? Why can she just tell me?'

As she stands there she starts to tear up. She rides her bike home and quickly enters her house entrance, tosses her shoes haphazardly at the entrance. Akari's mom hearing the commotion comes out from the kitchen to see what is going on.

Akari's mom: "Akari-chan?"

She sees Akari just run to her room and close the door. Then she says to herself as she puts Akari's shoes into her slot in the shoe cabinet, "Oh dear... Akari-chan... what happened?"

In Akari's room, she flops down on her bed, and starts crying. She tells herself, "Why couldn't I just tell him?..." uhhh... "now..." hic... "he must hate me..." waa... "why...?"

Akari continues to cry, hugging her pillow making sure that her mouth is covered by it so it can mute her crying. She doesn't want to worry her parents. Her tears continue to run down her cheeks and soak her pillow.

As it turns out, it seems that the spectral memories of Yuzuki Eba have haunted Akari. She didn't anticipate this to happen. She always thought that Haruto would be the one to be affected. That's how much of an impact that Tokyo long dark blue haired girl has left in this town.

End of Chapter 4

A/N :

~ Thank you for reading, please if you wish post a review or PM me.

~ Any comments, suggestions and constructive criticism is appreciated.