Alice awoke to a loud crashing noise, causing her doorframe to shake a little, accompanied by a string of muffled curses from down the hallway. The initial adrenaline from being shocked out of her slumber slowly subsided as her hand hazily fumbled around her desk to find her phone.
5:39am, she placed her phone down once more, staring up at her ceiling tinged grey by the not-quite-dawn morning light of late spring.
Groaning slightly she pushed off her bed sheets, groggily dragging herself out of bed. There was no point trying to get back to sleep, she usually got up at 6:30am anyway. Alice stumbled around her carpeted room as her feet searched for her slippers, absentmindedly donning a fluffy pink and white dressing gown as she prepared to leave the comfort of her room. She rubbed her eyes as she opened the door, blinking slightly at the glare of the hallway light.
"Yes, yes that's right. No! Not there over, here! I wanted to take this on carry-on luggage." Came her mother's bright voice from a few doorways down as she spoke in rapid Danish. Alice quietly shuffled her way over to her mother's room, peering around the doorframe. Leonara's room was littered with clothes, shoes, documents, cooking utensils and other gadgets alike; looking very much so as if she had thrown everything on the floor in an unpacking frenzy. Which was the opposite of the task at hand. Her assistant, Alvilda, looked much stressed as she forcefully stowed away clothes into an already quite full bag.
"Morning Mor!" she smiled in Danish, now thoroughly awake from the excitement and bright lights. "Are you already leaving for Europe?" asked Alice, "I thought you told me the plane was leaving tomorrow."
"Oh! Good morning darling!" greeted Leonara, only just noticing her daughter in the doorway. "Yes, I completely forgot I'd promised to attend a Gastronomy convention in Luxemburg!" she explained, her long white hair uncharacteristically messy.
"I told you last week Milady. I also asked you to start packing a few days ago" Commented Alvilda pushing up her glasses in frustration.
"It's so convenient that you're not a last minute packer as well Alvilda! I don't know what I'd do without your help!" cried Alice's mother, blithely ignoring her secretary's snide comment.
"Miss all of your appointments, become lost and develop a bad reputation." Muttered Alvilda under her breath. Alice caught her eye, smiling sympathetically. One of the reasons why she was so careful to be punctual was due to her mother's constant tardiness. Successful parenting through showing the outcomes of a bad example… also quite unintentional.
"I was thinking of coming to Europe over the summer break." Voiced Alice, using the wall to support her back as she crossed her arms to keep warm.
"Europe?! No, no, no that won't do! You must enjoy your youth in Japan with your friends! Go to the beach, meet more beautiful young men! I've already booked a holiday house in Chiba anyway, invite your boyfriend as well." cried her mother
"What? Did you plan things without asking me again!" accused Alice, huffing as her face puffed up.
"Milady, the car is waiting outside, we really need to get going." Reminded Alvilda, dragging two rather large suitcases which were bursting to the seams out the door.
"I've got to dash honey!" said her mother, planting a hasty kiss on her daughter's forehead. She paused, noticing Alice's downcast face. "I'm only a phone call away sweety. Remember, the perfect recipe to life is similar to the perfect dish, nice and simple. If you add to many ingredients or pile the plate too high, it only ends up as a mess!" she told her daughter looking pleased with herself for teaching life lessons with another food analogy.
Alice smiled weakly, "I'll be lonely without you Mor." Leonara sighed, placing a hand on her daughter's cheek.
"Don't be silly, you've got two handsome young men to take care of you!" she grinned cheekily, pinching Alice's cheek before picking up the remaining luggage and making her way out the door.
Alice remained leaning on the wall for a while, hearing voices from outside through the window, alongside the opening and closing of car doors. She stepped across the room to look down from the window, hearing the car motor start, waving goodbye to the vehicle as it drove down the drive way out of sight. She knew it was fickle and childish, but she couldn't help but feel a little lonely.
"She'll be back soon." Assured Ryou's voice from behind. Alice felt herself relax immediately in his presence. The tang of salt, sweat and fish rushed in with the cold draught from the open door. She turned to face her aide, and the closest person she had for a friend, wearing a wide grin.
"I know! I know!" she sang merrily. They had reached a mutual agreement to act as though nothing had ever happened, it was easier to ignore and move on from uncomfortable situations instead of trying to solve the underlying problems. Ryou simply grunted and turned to leave to take a shower. She checked her phone, time to get ready for the day.
…
Hayama groaned, rubbing his eyes restlessly. Yet another sleepless night. He had been tossing and turning for the past few days, trying to muster the courage and tell Jun his real feelings and explain his entire relationship with Alice was fake. A nagging thought in the back of his mind made him feel a little uneasy about telling Jun before consulting Alice… but then again it wasn't really like he was cheating on her, right? As long as he kept his side of the bargain, i.e. appearing like a couple in front of Kurokiba then there shouldn't be a problem…. He used this as an excuse to ignore the more concerning knowledge that Alice may persuade him not to confess or waver his resolve in loving Jun. He was trying as hard as possible to try not to think about how Alice confused him… which only served to make the first goal even more unobtainable. Why was this such a mess? Part of him wished he never accepted Alice's deal… however his reasoning told him without her meddling nothing would have changed. He'd become greedy. A few months ago he would have been completely content with being Jun's research partner/ helper. Alice had changed him, he was no longer satisfied with their relationship. She showed him real lust and determination, she showed him how loving someone could change rational thinking. It was strange, as if by watching Alice struggle had made his own goal seem more tangible, obtainable. It seriously made no sense. Actually, it seemed like nothing ever made sense whenever Alice was involved.
The blaring tone from his alarm filled his room. Hayama violently stopped the noise, grabbing his phone and turning off the power instead of hitting snooze. Why was he so frustrated? He could feel the anger rising in his chest resulting from his annoyance from being annoyed. He threw off his covers in inexplicable rage, only to feel embarrassed as he got up to neatly make his bed, habit and slight OCD getting the better of him.
Today, I will tell Jun. He decided, repeating the words like a mantra in his head. He seriously couldn't go on living like this any longer.
…
Hayama calmed himself as he watered the plants. If only people were so easy to please. All these humble herbs asked for was nutritious soil, water and sunlight. Humans on the other hand… Hayama rubbed his temples, stay calm, stay calm, stay calm. It was best not to dwell upon the complications associated with a human's 'needs', not if he wanted to be in a collected frame of mind when confessing to Jun.
"CHEF DOUGIMA-SENPAI!" shrieked Jun's voice from bellow. Hayama, raised an eyebrow as he put down the watering can, walking to the edge of the greenhouse to peer below. What was all the commotion about?
"Shiomi-san, you don't have to be so formal I'm not longer your senpai!" laughed Gin Dougima heartily. Jun blushed profusely, pushing up her glasses nervously. Hayama felt his heart sink a little.
"Wh-what are you doing here?" she stammered, fiddling with her sun hat.
"I was asked by the academy to help organise the next event, just thought I'd drop by and say hello." He smiled. Hayama leaned closer to the slightly ajar window, straining slightly to hear their conversation a flight of stairs below.
"Y-yes, but why are you here?" she repeated, rather flustered. Every word, every nervous movement caused the strain in Hayama's chest to tighten.
"Do I need a specific reason to greet an old dorm mate?" chuckled Dougima, apparently entirely used to Jun acting to blatantly embarrassed and love stricken in front of him.
"No! No of course not!" she cried quickly, covering her face feeling ashamed at yet another spontaneous and loud outburst. A ring tone interrupted her nervous laughter.
"I'm sorry, you'll have to excuse me for a moment." Said Dougima apologetically as he pulled out his phone, he turned so his back faced Hayama after seeing Jun's slight nod, "Hello?" he spoke into the receiver.
Hayama slunk in the corner of the green-house, squatting as he held his head in his arms. He always had a sneaking suspicion Jun lit a candle for someone special. He had somehow convinced himself through wishful thinking that he'd managed to fill that empty hole… All previous bravado was completely wiped away with a single expression on Jun's face. She never looked at him like that. Hayama laughed to himself, it was such a joke. He was such a joke.
"Sorry, I need to get going." Apologised Dougima once more.
"No, no, I've already wasted enough of your time already!" cried Jun, frantically waving her hands. Dougima smiled, reaching down to ruffle her hair slightly, to which she turned a violent shade of crimson. Dougima, snatched his hand away awkwardly.
"Sorry! Goodness where are my manners, I got caught up in the old times. It's a little patronising now that we're both adults." He laughed awkwardly, walking backwards towards his parked car. Jun shook her head as if to disagree, still extremely red. "I'll see you around then!" he called as he opened the car door. Jun nodded, waving goodbye in a daze.
Hayama covered his eyes, not wanting to see Jun's love sick expression a second longer. The image was already ingrained into his mind. Who was he kidding anyway? Her heart was never his to take.
Thanks for reading! Sorry for the late update. To be honest I was suffering from a little writer's block, omg it's only the fourth chapter. Authors who manage to write novels absolutely amaze me.
Anyways! 'Mor' is like Mother in Danish… or at least that's what some totally legit translation website informed me. Don't ask what influenced me to include that into my story…. I question myself sometimes.
I've been getting a few reviews asking after the main ship in this story. I really want to be sincere in saying that life isn't as simple as following pairings and nothing is ever definite when it comes to relationships (which is what I'm trying to achieve in my story)... BUT unfortunately that isn't the case and I actually haven't decided the whether this is a Ryou X Alice or Akira X Alice or even a Ryou X Akira hahaha add a little shounen ai (nah, I'm not that confident in my writing haha)
So I apologise once more for my indecision and lack of planning for this story.
We shall all be surprised with the outcome of pairings.