A/N: Hey guys! Fi here. Sorry for the long update, I was kinda busy with life... And a bit distracted by this amazing manga I keep reading. XD Hahaha. But anyways, here's the next chapter. Thank you for Sakura Idol, tehg2000, Winterabbit, RedSS, and Enilorac Eiram for your support. I'm so happy! XD. Well then, without further ado, hope you like this chapter guys!
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Hatsukoi
(First Love)
An Angel Beats! fanfiction by FiDhysta
Disclaimer: I do not own Angel Beats!
Genre: Romance, Friendship, Drama
Rated: T
Chara: Tachibana Kanade, Nakamura Yuri, Otonashi Yuzuru
Pairing: OtoKana eventually
Warning: Real Life AU, OOC, Cliche, Typo(s)
Don't like it? Feel free to click 'back'
Happy reading
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Summary: Tachibana Kanade is known as the emotionless, cold Angel that notoriously never stays long in a relationship. But does she really deserve all the rumors? All that she needs is a friend. A friend that will unravel her deepest feelings.
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Chapter 7: Developing Feelings
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Study Block B, Stairway
Otonashi checked the list in his hand, carefully reading it while stepping down slowly on the stairs. His other hand nonchalantly touched the handrail beside him without gripping on it properly.
"Let's see... That was a wrap with half of the 2nd grade. Yuri and Naoi will take care of the other half and the 3rd grade, so all that left for us is the 1st grade," he flipped the paper to the next page.
"You shouldn't be reading while walking down the stairs. It's dangerous," the girl beside him warned without even taking a glance at him.
The redhead boy smiled at her concern. "It's fine," he assured. Her frankness automatically reminded him of her old self he used to know before.
"Looks like you didn't change much, I think. Aside that your hair is much longer and that you're a reliable student council president now, you're still that same girl I've known from three years ago," he said, scratching his cheek.
She glanced up at his ashamed face, then looked back down at her feet. They had reached first floor and now they were walking down the hall towards the classrooms.
"Senpai looks so different from before. That's why I didn't recognize you at once," she replied.
Indeed, he had grown much taller now, that her height barely even reached his shoulder. His hair was neatly trimmed, contrasted from his bad-guy image three years ago. Only his warm eyes and smile remained the same as ever.
Senpai looks more mature.
She was only thinking to herself, definitely unable to say it out loud.
"You think so? Is it the bad kind of different?" he asked.
"It's nothing like that."
"Really? Heheh, I take that as a compliment then," he gave her a toothy grin.
That heartfelt smile delivered a warm feeling in her heart. She almost couldn't believe this very guy was the same person as that boy. The boy with a forced smile who hid his broken heart, who sacrificed his hobby for his sister—
Suddenly she remembered the reason of their parting.
"I just remembered... Senpai quit the guitar class because he had to take care of his sister," she swallowed, somewhat feeling uneasy by mentioning the past. But seemed like her curiosity won this time. "Is it fine... for you staying in this boarding school?"
At this, his smile vanished and he casted a vacant gaze. "Ah... Right. She passed away last year. She spent two years in the hospital, but unfortunately we couldn't save her."
Kanade's eyes widened, she realized she had chosen the wrong topic.
"I'm sorry..." she mumbled, lowering her head in shame. But he shook his head understandingly.
"That's why I studied so hard to get a scholarship program to this school. I've decided to become a doctor, and Shinsen Academy has great recommendation for the students to get into well-known public universities. That way... Even if I couldn't save my sister, perhaps I can save more lives in the future," he told her.
She could see the determination in his eyes, and for some reason, she looked away quickly.
"By the way, Tachibana. You don't have to call me senpai anymore, you know, now that we're in the same grade. I heard that you took an accel program, right? You're amazing," he glanced down and smiled at her.
"Eh? But..." she hesitated, but he cut in.
"Just call me Yuzuru. And... Can I call you by your given name, too? I thought about it the first time I found out your name... 'Kanade' means 'to play a tune', right? I like it, it suits you pretty well," he said softly.
A mild heat seeped into her cheeks, and she couldn't bring herself to look up at him as she answered.
"If you say so... Please do as you like."
Satisfied, he nodded. "Okay then, Kanade," he said with a broad smile.
Her heart stirred, and she held her folder closer to ease the tickling in her chest.
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Main Dining Hall, Foodcourt
Yuri was scanning through the menu, considering what she should have for lunch. She finally decided on omurice and started to stand in line when someone patted her shoulder.
"Yo, Yurippe. Already made your choice?" Hinata greeted, taking the place behind her in the line.
"Yeah. What will you have today, Hinata-kun?"
He thought for a moment. "I think I'll go with niku udon. I really need some mood booster now," he heaved a big sigh as if his soul was also blown out through his mouth.
She raised a brow. "What happened? You didn't do something idiot that embarrassed you again, did you?" she folded her arms in a judging manner. "I still remember how you humiliated yourself when you shouted in class 'there's a huge two-legged bamboo shoot walking across the fields' back in middle school."
"Like hell I did! That was your crazy dare in the first place because I lost the bet!" he spat in embarrassment, while Yuri stifled a giggle.
He then scratched his head lazily. "It's about the cultural festival. My class wanted to form a band that will put on a show at the gym, and I'm so excited about it. We agreed the members will be Takamatsu, Matsushita-godan, Fujimaki, and me. But we're lacking vocalist and rhythm guitarist," he explained.
"Can't you leave that position open and let one of you sing?"
"Nope. Takamatsu is good at keyboard, Matsushita-godan at drums, Fujimaki at bass, and I'd say I'm okay with lead guitar. But none of us can sing, let alone at stage. Besides, we still need a rhythm guitar to complete the formation."
"Is there any other guy in your class who can do that?"
Hinata exhaled tiredly. "That's the root of the problem," he rolled his eyes, "Otonashi is the only one left in our class who is good with guitar, I heard he took guitar classes before. He also has the looks to be the star at stage, but sadly he refused right away."
Yuri spun her head in interest. "Oh, so he turned you down? No wonder you look so devastated," she giggled.
"IT'S NOT SOMETHING LIKE THAT!" he yelled indignantly, and Yuri laughed out loud.
"Hmm... I might say he's just a little nervous to be the center of attention," she murmured, ignoring Hinata's sullen glare. "Hey, why don't you ask him one more time?" she suggested.
"We asked several times already, and he rejected all of it. What's the difference?" he groaned.
She winked. "This time, ask him when Kanade-chan is around. I think he only needs a little push."
Hinata just raised a brow at her, completely couldn't grasp her point.
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Main Dining Hall Interior
"Kanade-chan! Sorry to make you wait!" the plum-haired girl approached her waiting friend, placing her tray on the table.
Kanade shook her head. "It's fine. I was about to start eating," she said with a little smile.
"I asked more people to join us today. The more, the merrier, right?" Yuri said after taking a seat across from her.
Kanade tipped her head to the side. She was about to ask but soon a loud voice answered her unspoken question.
"Yurippe, I brought him! Found him waiting in another line, so I dragged him here," Hinata walked towards their table, a confused Otonashi in tow. Yuri glared at his unnecessary remark.
Otonashi's face brightened as he noticed the silver-haired girl, then setting down his tray next to hers.
"Yo, Kanade. Let's have lunch together today," he greeted, followed by a nod from the said girl. She then turned to the other boy questioningly.
"Ah, I believe you haven't properly met this one. This is Hinata Hideki-kun, one of my buddies from middle school. He's an idiot so please bear with him. A kind-type idiot, though, so no worries," Yuri gestured at the boy sitting next to her.
"Nice to meet you, Kanade-cha—hey, wait! That's not how you should introduce your friend!" he paused his greeting to Kanade midway and protested to the smirking girl beside him.
"Why are you so angry? I'm just telling the truth," she replied nonchalantly, causing more groans came from the poor boy.
Kanade blinked at the scene before her eyes. What a unique friendship they shared there.
"Quite lively here, don't you think?" Otonashi chuckled from beside her. She glanced up at him and nodded.
"Uhm. But this is nice," she replied. She then scooped her Mapo tofu and began to eat calmly.
Otonashi shuddered just by a single glance at her food. "Mapo tofu...? Are you okay with just eating that? That looks too spicy without rice," he commented.
She swallowed and answered, "not at all. It's delicious," before putting another spoonful into her mouth.
He gulped, wondering whether her tongue had gone numb for being able to eat such spicy food leisurely.
"Oh yeah, Kanade-chan, Hitomi and I discussed about our class' event for cultural festival while you were out this morning. She suggested a ramen food stall, what do you think?"
"Food stall? Fine by me. I'll get the application form for us," she agreed, "but we won't be able to help them serving at the stall, Yuri. We'll have so much to do on D-day as student council."
Now that Yuri had steered the topic into the right way, Hinata got his chance to act.
"Speaking of which, Otonashi! Why don't you think about it once more? Please join our band as representatives of class 2-A!" he pleaded, clasping both of his hands in front of his face.
Kanade looked up from her dish. "Your class is forming a band?" she asked him.
"Yeah! Naoi already has our application form. We're still lacking a vocalist and rhythm guitarist though... This guy here has all the criteria, but sadly he's too shy to join us," Hinata answered, nodding towards Otonashi who casted him a bored look.
"That again? I've told you, you got the wrong idea about me. I can't pla—"
"Yuzuru is very good at playing guitar," Kanade interrupted out of the blue. The shocked Otonashi whipped his head at her direction, his eyes went round in disbelief.
Hinata beamed at her intervention. "I know, right? See, Otonashi! Just join us already!"
Otonashi was about to lose his cool. "No, no, that's not true! I certainly can't sing—"
"Yuzuru has a really great voice, actually," Kanade interrupted again, causing the said boy to fluster.
"Kanade! Why did you say that?" he chided, while she just tilted her head confusedly.
"'Why'...? You did sing pretty well back at the music school, I remember that quite clearly," she answered in a matter-of-fact tone.
"That's not the problem, you know..." he groaned, rubbing his face tiredly. "Why should I be put on vocal and rhythm guitar position?"
"Because a vocalist will get more impact if he's also on guitar!" Hinata answered easily. "C'mon, man, do it for your class! Pretty please, with cherry on top?"
Otonashi rolled his eyes. "I'm allergic to cherries," he then started to hesitate. "Look, even if I want to join, I really can't. Just like Kanade said, I also have many things to do as student council."
Hinata caught his point and hung his head in defeat. He was about to give up when Kanade suddenly spoke.
"I can help you with that."
All wide eyes were now on her. "I'll take care of your task, so don't worry about it. You should take part in your class' performance," she added.
Otonashi stared at her, astonished. For a second he caught a small hint of twinkle in her big, cat-like innocent eyes.
He sighed. "You just wanna see me on stage, don't you..." he murmured.
He turned towards Hinata, and let out a final sigh. "Okay, then! I'm in," he gave up.
Hinata was ecstatic. He grabbed Otonashi's hand and thanked him over and over again, while the latter frantically wriggling out from his grip.
"But are you really okay with this? You're already loaded with responsibilities as the president, you know," Otonashi asked Kanade in concern.
"I'll help with her share, no sweat. And don't forget she has Naoi-kun as her right hand. That boy would certainly do anything just to see you on stage. You just focus on the band," Yuri engaged. He threw her an 'are-you-serious' look, which she replied with a confident smile, using her thumb and pointer to form an 'OK' sign.
He finally slouched in his seat. "Fine then. But don't blame me if I mess with the harmony."
Hinata cheerily glanced at Yuri who glanced back at him. They exchanged the thumbs up silently.
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Study Blocks—Inner Garden
A tall boy was walking lazily, his face all crumpled. His uniform looked a bit dishevelled with his tie hung loose around his neck, his blazer unbuttoned, and his shirt wasn't tucked inside his pants.
"Geez, those guys really could make my head spins like crazy. Just showing off their skills and playing random songs won't take us anywhere—we really should decide which song we'll play at stage in the first place. When will they stop the randomness, for Heaven's sake?" he brushed his ginger hair with his fingers.
The lack of caffeine supply made him suddenly crave for some Key Coffee. He recalled there's a nearest vending machine in the building, so he turned towards the connecting corridor. Fate must be making fun at him today that as soon as he took the first step on the marble floor, he slipped and fell flat on the hard surface.
"Oooww, that hurts! What the hell—" he rubbed his aching butt as he squinted at the particular spot where his stepped on, and indeed, there was spill of water on the floor.
He groaned at his misfortune.
"To think that someone spilt their drink here and I took one out of 10.000 probability of stepping right on it... How lucky I am," he grumbled sarcastically.
He looked around, there was no one in sight. He pulled himself to the side and leaned on a nearby marble column, ignoring his initial plan to buy his favorite coffee. The pain in his butt just made him too lazy to stand.
I guess just sitting here and enjoying the breeze is enough to calm my nerves.
He pulled out his phone and started to scroll down through his playlist, looking for any song suitable to be played with his band.
This one is too hard. This one is too slow. This one is instrumental. This one is boyband song—wait, why do I have this song in the first place?!
He frowned as he couldn't find anything useful. On the contrary, the more he browsed into his playlist, the more he got irritated.
"Yuzuru?"
The grumpy boy looked up at his caller, and magically his bad mood dissipated at once as a certain silver-haired girl came into his sight.
"Shouldn't you be practicing at the gym?" the girl asked again.
He scratched his head. "Yeah, I was there. I was a bit stressed so I took a stroll around the school. I'm just starting to cool down here," he answered.
Her emotionless eyes softened a bit. "Must be tiring... I'll go somewhere and let you relax by yourself, then," she started to turn her heels.
"Wait! Don't go," he exclaimed quickly, and soon he was embarrassed by his own outburst. "Err, I mean... I don't mind with you being here," he corrected.
She halted, then turned her feet back in his direction. "Oh."
The silence was too awkward so he decided to ask her. "Um... Where have you been, Kanade?" he tried to calm his sudden nervousness.
"I just finished weeding the flowerbed," she replied.
Yuzuru smiled. "Oh, right. You like to tend the garden in your free time," he said. He remembered her passion in gardening, which he found as another cute side of her.
Kanade nodded, then walked closer to him. He moved a little to the side, giving some space for her to sit down beside him—until he remembered something crucial.
"Kanade, careful! That spot is—"
"Ah!"
Too late, she already slipped on that very same spot and fell forward into his arms.
"—slippery..." he finished under his breath. He mentally slapped himself at his late warning.
He was subsequently aware of their position at the moment. Her small body flushed against his chest, his arms securely wrapped around her. He blushed, this was his first time being this close with her. However, he felt something was off with her being still... Too still.
He braved himself glancing down at her face, and his shyness instantly vanished.
Her face was pale, and there was a distant gaze in her wide eyes—as if she was staring far away, at nowhere.
It almost looks like her soul is not inside her body.
He hesitantly patted her shoulder. "Kanade...? Are you hurt somewhere?" he asked worriedly.
She flinched at the light touch, and instinctively pushed him away. "Don't!" she shrieked.
Her sudden move shocked him, but what he saw next even pained him more.
"No... Please... Don't touch me anymore..." she curled up, her trembling arms covering her face.
Yuzuru's heart stung at the sight, his mind automatically brought him back to the memory three years ago when she rejected him.
Do you hate me so much to the point that I disgust you...?
He was about to swallow the bitter lump in his throat. However, he noticed there's something odd with the way she cowered in fear. From her previous distant gaze, to her eyes that were now tightly shut. Then realization hit him. She didn't afraid of what's before her eyes—it seemed as if she was frightened by something—or maybe someone—else she probably saw inside her mind.
He cautiously grabbed her wrists, pulling them away from her face. She freaked out.
"No, let me go—"
"Kanade, calm down," he soothed, but she tried to squirm out of his grasp in panic.
"Kanade! Look at me!" he yelled. She startled, then opened her eyes, finally regaining her senses. "It's me," he said softly.
Her gaze slowly made its way to his concerned face. "Yuzuru..." she whispered shakily, as if trying to convince herself rather than to call him. "You are... Yuzuru..."
Seeing her golden eyes were on the verge of tears, he pulled her small frame into his arms again, running his fingers through her silky hair that reached her waist.
"Yeah," he sighed, "it's me. It's just me," he breathed in her sweet scent, caressing her back gently to soothe her.
She didn't repulse him this time. To his surprise, her trembling subsided and finally he felt her hands weakly gripped his blazer covering his back.
There were so many questions running in his head, but he just shrugged it away for now. This time, he only wanted to keep this girl in his embrace, wordlessly assuring her that he was there, to let her know that she was safe in his arms.
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Gymnasium
Balancing the cardboard boxes in her hands, Yuri walked carefully towards the storeroom. Once inside, she put the boxes down and stacked them on top of other cardboards she already put beside the shelf on the far left side. Satisfied with her work, she huffed and exited the room.
She's only three steps away from the storeroom and was barely stretching her arms when Naoi approached her, another smaller box in his arms.
"Nakamura-san! You're free, aren't you? Please help to hang this banner above the stage. I have another errands to take care of," he asked in a rush.
"What? I'm just finished with my work!" she protested, but Naoi ignored her and handed it over into her arms.
"I promise it will be done in no time, it's only a simple task, anyway. You just have to hang it there," he pointed at the ceiling above the stage, and Yuri's mouth hung open.
"'Simple task' my ass! That's definitely not the kind of task you can ask to a girl! How can you call yourself a man?!" she protested.
Naoi simply shrugged. "I'm not calling myself a man, I am vice-president. You could also call me god if you want," he grinned—or rather, in Yuri's perspective—smirked.
"Yeah, yeah, you're god—goddamn annoying. Take this box back!" grumbled Yuri, shoving her arms in his direction.
"If you're that unwilling, I'll treat you some sweets later."
"Do you think you can bribe me with some cheap treats?! Hey, do it yourself!" she fumed, but the boy was already turning away.
"Thank you for your help," he leisurely waved his hand and walked towards the gym's entrance.
"I'M NOT HELPING YOU! HOLD IT, YOU UNRESPONSIBLE VICE-PRES!"
Realizing her complaints were useless, she sighed and grudgingly carried the box up to the stage.
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"Just a bit mooore..." she groaned from her gritted teeth, stretching up her arm as high as she could to reach the hook on the far high wall, just a couple of meters away from the ceiling. Tiptoeing on a stool didn't help much despite her height.
Damn, this is why he shouldn't ask a girl to do this kind of work!
She was about to give up when another stool was placed beside hers. Her peripheral vision caught presence of a tall guy who then took the banner from her outstretched hand.
"Let me do it for you. You just have to hang it on that hook, right?" her savior said, surprising her.
"Otonashi-kun!"
The boy smiled, tiptoeing a bit and put the banner on the hook effortlessly. He hopped down then dragged his stool to the spot under the next hook.
"This is a man's job, actually. At least you need a ladder to reach the hooks, but I don't think you'll be comfortable enough climbing a ladder in a skirt," he chuckled.
Yuri's face flushed in annoyance. "Save that for our stupid, honorable vice-president," she then looked up at him curiously. "By the way, why are you here, Otonashi-kun? Don't you have a meeting with your band?"
He just hooked the next part of the banner and was moving on to the last hook. "Oh, that. Yeah, it was done. We only discussed on which song we should choose."
"So? Have you guys decided?"
Otonashi hopped down from his stool then shrugged. "We're still running in circles. Each of us has different preferences, so we have yet to reach an agreement," he ruffled his hair tiredly, "still a long way to go, I think."
Yuri cupped her chin. "The cultural festival is due in the next month. We don't have much time... Should we ask Kanade-chan for some advice? Ah, no. She's more into classical, though she knows a lot about music... Then Hisako-san, perhaps?"
The boy turned his head at the mention of the former. Noticing his change of expression, she raised an eyebrow at him. "What's wrong?"
He glanced around uncertainly. He was reluctant at first, but then decided to give it a go.
"Uhm... you know, actually there's something I want to ask you. About Kanade," he finally looked straight at her curious eyes.
"Is something wrong with her?" she couldn't help but felt a bit worried.
He scratched his cheek. "Truth is... She was acting weird in my arms yesterday, and I was worried."
Yuri gaped at him.
"Oh my. You've already gone that far?"
He flustered. "T-that's not it! We fell, that's all! It was an accident!" he panted, then back to serious tone after feeling his heart had calmed down. "Then... She's suddenly frightened, as if I pushed on the wrong button. I might be wrong but it seemed like she was reminded of something terrible."
She didn't give a reply. Of course she could figure out what happened, obviously that triggered Kanade's trauma. Unfortunately she couldn't tell him about her past—she didn't have the right to easily share other person's privacy, no matter how much he wanted to know.
Besides, I don't think Kanade-chan wants HIM, of other people, to find out about her past in the first place.
"I wanted to ask her, but I decided not to. I think it's better if I ask you instead. You're the one closest to her, after all," he said again.
Yuri closed her eyes. "Sorry to disappoint you, but I also can't tell you anything other than that you made a good decision by not questioning her. It wouldn't get her any better," she uttered.
His shoulders drooped a little.
"I see. I know that's not something good, and I'm concerned about her. She calmed down right away, but still—"
"Wait. You were able to calm her down?" she interrupted. He threw her a confused look.
"Well, yeah. Why?"
Yuri frowned. "Now that's new... Usually when she's in that state, she even doesn't want me to touch her," she said in deep thought.
Come to think of it... This is Otonashi-kun we're talking about. He may plays a tremendous role in her life, thus it's entirely possible for him being the one who will save her.
She looked straight into his eyes. "Otonashi-kun, what I can say right now is that Kanade-chan isn't really as tough as how she looks. If you care about her, then show her unconditionally. Don't just act sweet out of curiosity then stop halfway, or you would only hurt her," she warned him.
"Uh... Sure..." he was astonished by her sincerity that he commented, "you really care for her, huh..."
She was a bit startled, then gazed down at her feet solemnly.
"Of course. She trusts me to the point that she's willing to share her story with me, so I just want her to be happy. She has been carrying the burden all by herself, and that's precisely why I want to save her. I don't want her to carry those memories forever," she uttered earnestly.
"I believe she will find the right person who will set her free from despair. If they're already tied together by the Red String of Fate, then it's my role to make sure the string isn't tangled," she grinned, lifting her pinkie playfully.
Otonashi was stunned by her words. "Red String..."
He rubbed his ginger hair, giggling lightly. "You're really something, you know that?" he patted on her head, throwing a heartily smile that made his burgundy eyes squint. "Kanade must be feeling so lucky to have you, who think so much about her, as her best friend."
Her heart skipped a beat before starting to race inside her chest.
Eh...?
"Yosh, work is done. Let's get these stools back to the storeroom," he took the stools on both hands and leaped down from the stage.
Instead of following him, Yuri was still glued at her spot, wide-eyed. She felt warmth seeped into her cheeks, and she touched them bemusedly.
Eh? Eh? What's happening to me?!"
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To be Continued