Chapter 6: Slumber Mornings
"Sugane, we're going drinking tonight."
"But I have to..."
"Come on."
"But..."
"No excuses!"
Sugane would much rather sit at home. He has a test in a few days and he needed to study. Desperately. He spent more time taking care of Hajime, his grades fell slowly and surely. It didn't help that Joe san is dragging him out for a drink. Whatever it was the weekend anyway, it didn't matter if he got a little drunk tonight. Taking out his phone, he downed his third cup of beer as he looked at Hajime's sleeping face.
"Sugane, you have gotten better at drinking."
"Yesh. I ha-hic-have."
"...Right I take that back."
"Wassat? Cant hear y-hic-you..."
And lights out for Sugane. Looking at Sugane plonked on the table, reminded him just how much he has grown from that small boy he saved almost ten years ago.
"You got a smile on your face there Joe"
"Alan, remember how I used to come in here and pick up so many girls?"
"Thinking of finding another girl?"
"No...Not after..."
"Yeah. But you must move on, the world won't wait for you you know?"
"..."
"All you friends, your team, they have moved on and grown up. Only you are left trapped in your past."
"I know Alan. But I just couldn't let go."
"...Why?"
"...Because...No one can replace..."
"Tell her that and maybe she might come back. Now especially that your Gatchaman identity has been revealed right?"
"Hajime...you idiot..."
Sugane's sudden outburst was enough to catch the two adults attention.
"He should confess soon."
"Just leave it to him. He'll figure it out by himself eventually."
"Sugane, aren't the stars pretty tonight?"
"They're the same stars we see every night though."
"Oh come on! Don't be such a spoil sport."
Sighing, Sugane plopped himself down beside her on the edge of the cliff. Looking up, the stars were indeed beautiful, but he has seen them before and knows them all by heart. Pointing upwards, I point out three stars.
"That's Deneb, Altair and Vega. The summer triangle."
"Haha yes it is. But isn't it nicer just to look at them though?"
"I don't get it..."
"Like you read a book again and again, but you know exactly what the story is, every word and phrase. But every time you read it again it just gives you this...shiny feeling you know?"
"...I think I get it."
"Yeah!"
Sugane just sat there looking at the stars, savouring every sight, sound and smell. The wind blew against his face, bringing along the comforting smell of Hajime's shampoo.
"...ne..."
"Su...ne..."
Looking around, Sugane realised things suddenly got darker. Hajime was no longer beside him, the stars has all disappeared. He was all alone on the edge of the cliff.
"Hajime? Where are you!"
"Sugane! Time to wake up!"
"Huh? What?..."
Just a dream. No, rather it was a memory of a time long since passed. Sighing, Sugane picked up his phone, ready to get going.
"..."
His eyes must be deceiving him, a trick of the light he reasons.
"No..."
Joe could barely catch his words.
"What is it Sugane?"
"She moved..."
"What?"
"She really moved!"
Rushing out the door of the bar, Joe quickly tossed some coins and notes before giving chase. It looks like the little miss has woken up at long last. The Gatchannel on his phone, showing her sitting up and smiling. With everyone around her happy that she woke up.
"In retrospect, I should not have brought you drinking Sugane!"
"I guess, well if anything, going out for a drink was also quite refreshing."
If anything, Sugane was glad he went for a drink. Since now he had something to run back for. Still, it was so Hajime to wake up not he very day he wasn't there waiting for her.
"Hajime!"
"..."
The base was empty, rather everyone was present, except Hajime.
"Hajime chan is sleeping with Utsutsu chan tonight~"
OD gave a small wink before gesturing to Paiman.
"Anyway, as I was saying. Tomorrow, a group consisting of Utsutsu, Newbie, Gelsadra and me will be leaving."
"Why must Utsutsu go?"
"A prophecy came in, a while after Hajime woke up. It seems to allude to some sort of disaster, and therefore I have concluded that Utsutsu's presence during the trip is necessary as a precaution."
"Then what about Hajime?"
"That's the thing Sugane. Hajime chan just woke up, we have to keep an eye on her but Utsutsu chan is not going to be here. I have been invited to the Millione show tomorrow too~"
OD looked at Paiman for a second. Nodding, they looked towards Sugane.
"Which is why we have put you in charge of taking care of Hajime chan~"
"Won't she just be resting in her room?"
"Actually she made plans to visit her parents tomorrow and has also shared her desire to return back to school on Monday."
Leader looked slightly uncomfortable with this, but a year with Hajime has probably told him that when Hajime says she wants to do something, she would do so regardless.
"What about Ninomiya san?"
"Ninomiya and I are busy tomorrow Sugane. Just accept it, we already decided."
Joe was licking a lollipop, casually leaning against the wall.
"When did you decide this? You were with me the whole time we were running back."
"We were discussing it on the NOTE's, while you were trying not to trip over another dumpster in the alleyway in your drunken state of mind. Next time don't drink so much."
The group giggled at this. Sighing, he nodded and went back to his room. His head was pounding and hurting from all the beers he had, he would not try to to drink so much next time. Taking a shower, he was so tired, he mindlessly walked towards the bed and fell asleep.
"Hey Sugane, do you have a girlfriend?"
Hajime was stuffing her face with a cheeseburger, yet her words were perfectly clear...sort of.
"No. Why?"
"Hmm just asking. I always see you with the three girls, I was just wondering if you had a thing for one of them. Unless...Don't tell me you're going for all three!?"
"Of course not what are you thinking!"
"Heh! The pretty boy is quite daring isn't he Hajime chan? Maybe we should bash his face in? It would make him look a lot cooler don't you think Hajime chan?"
"Katze san keep quiet~"
Every now and then Berg Katze would interrupt them. Sugane didn't know if it was because Hajime let him or if he somehow broke through. He suspects a combination of the two.
"Anyway, those three are just my friends."
"They seem to have a thing for you though. Hmm this burger is better than usual..."
"..."
As always, she digresses a lot. Maybe he should take this as a chance to...change topic.
"So how is your third year?"
"Fumu...its going quite well! I'm failing the languages as usual!"
"Thats not something to be proud of seriously! How are you going to graduate to university at this rate?"
Banter like this, was no longer an everyday occurrence, though from time to time they get into some kind of light argument. Hajime enjoys these times, Sugane feels warm.
Suagne woke up soon after, stars light up his eyes.
"Sugane, you shouldn't sleep on the ground. Now your shirt is all dirty, look you got dirt in your hair."
Looking to his left, Hajime was lying on his arm, lying close beside him. Jumping up in shock, he took a few breaths to recollect his thoughts. They were on the cliff. He must have fallen asleep after finishing his food.
"You say that, but weren't you doing the same just now?"
Stretching, yawning. Something must have woke him up, he just couldn't remember.
"We have a message from JJ"
"Oh?"
"And also a distress signal from Sugayan~"
"You seem awfully happy about this..."
"Haha well we get to travel after all. Rui will be getting us in a few minutes~"
Odd reasoning but whatever.
Holding out her hand, Sugane took it and pulled himself up.
"Still, it seems that the world is getting more dangerous than safer. I wonder if what we are going makes any difference at all."
"Of course it does. Also Sugane...how long are you going to hold my hand?"
"S-Sorry!"
They sat there, awkwardly. Well he did, she was happily sitting by the cliff edge, humming her 'Hero' tune as the team called it. Again she seemed to be in high spirits, more so than usual.
"Sorry I'm late."
"Oh not at all Rui~"
"Hello, its been a while hasn't it?"
"Hello Sugane sempai. It indeed has been huh?"
Teleporting, the three of them headed for the lands where the blu wings reside. First, they have to deal with some red CROWDS.
"..gane..."
Darkness. He couldn't see anything.
"Sugane..."
Something is moving. Shaking. Stirring.
"Sugane."
Light. Orange light from a table lamp, illuminating an otherwise dark room. In his arms was a girl, raven long hair and a quirky aura about her. Her eyes, though showing signs of weariness, was shining with mischief. Her name, Ichinose Hajime.
"Sugane, I see you are awake."
"Hajime...you...you're really awake."
"Hehehe...I have finally returned...to claim...my HAMMOCK!"
"...What?"
Looking around, he realised he was in her room, sleeping in her hammock, with her inside with him. A hammock was never designed for space, leaving Sugane's and Hajime's body in full direct contact with each other. Warm, she was warm, the warmest she has been in a very long time. Snapping out of it, Sugane tried to get out of the hammock, it overturned and threw him head first onto the floor and dragging her along with him.
"Ouch...Sugane, you should be more careful."
"Hajime, is it really you."
"...yes. I am back."
Pulling him into a close embrace, she buried her face in his chest. She could hear the beating of his heart, quickening, and finally slowing down. He put his arms around her and pulled her close to whisper in her ear.
"Welcome back."
"Everyone, welcome Hajime home!"
Paiman and the team walked into her room with the Gatchannel in OD's hands. Opening the door, they walked in.
"Sugane...you."
Joe was stifling a laugh, Sugane was getting redder by the minute.
"Sorry for the intrusion Hajime chan~" OD said before promptly pushing the team out and closing the door.
Ohh look, so lovely looking (LOL)
IKR?
I wonder if they were together?
I wonder what they are doing in the room now?
Kyaa!Getting steamy maybe? (LOL)
Aww and I wanted Tachibana for myself...
Hajime mai WAIFUUUUUU
Shut up you otaku
now now guys lets be civil
Yeah guys
hahaha lolz