フォックス初の4テイルズ、物語三:猫と狐パート2
The Fox's First 4 Tales; Tale Three: The Cat and the Fox part Two
Love is a sweet tyranny, because the lover endureth his torments willingly. ~Proverb
The story now continues. The following day Naoko told her friends, which you should remember was Kazuko and Hanae, about how Neko-san, a second year student at Otogi High saved her from delinquents.
"Wow that's amazing Naoko!" said Kazuko.
"Hey I think I saw that guy before when I was walking home from school. He's so cute!" exclaimed Hanae.
"How amazing, it's like a fairy tale. Prince Charming goes in and saves his beloved princess." Kazuko commented dreamily.
"It's not like that Kazuko-chan. I mean, I do really like him, but he's way older than me. I don't think it would work out." She admitted.
"Don't be like that Naoko, like they say age is just an illusion." Hanae said.
"Yeah, cause the little baby fox hit a growth spout early." They suddenly heard a girl say scornfully. The turned their heads and saw Kamiko Nori, Kitsune-san's insufferable pompous bully and her posse.
"Hi Nori-chan!" Naoko greeted with false happiness. Kamiko had a mask of false happiness to put on as well.
"I couldn't help but overhear you guys obsessing over that cat looking Saburo Neko. Don't you think he's a little out of your grasp? I mean why would a second year student be interested in a girl who's actually supposed to be in middle school? Unless he's the type that's interested in little girl's like you."
Naoko clenched her fists tightly. She felt close to punching Kamiko in the jaw, but she bottled up all her fury and kept her façade of joy and calmness.
"That's so funny I forgot to laugh." She gritted through her teeth sarcastically. She felt a hand rest on her shoulder.
"Um Naoko I think we should be heading back inside now." Hanae said.
"Oh don't go yet we're having such a great time right Kitsune-chan?" Kamiko said satirically.
"Yeah we are." Naoko lied through her clenched teeth. The toll of the bell rung. The bell literally saved the two, a second more and for sure there'd be a cat fight, or cat and wolf fight.
###
By the time school let out, the gray sky from earlier was darker than before and heavy drops began coming down heavily. Luckily, Naoko remembered that she had a brought an umbrella just in case it rained in the afternoon. After getting her shoes, she fumbled in her backpack looking for her umbrella but soon she realized it was long gone now.
"Huh, I was sure I put it in here." She said to herself. All of the sudden she heard snickering behind her.
"Hey Kitsune-chan, where's you're umbrella?" Kamiko asked with a devious smile. Naoko glared at her and saw that she had an umbrella in her hand. It was midnight blue with white polka dots. Kamiko opened the umbrella and twirled it around. Naoko sneered, her brows furrowed and teeth clenched.
"You know opening an umbrella inside is bad luck right?" she said.
"Look who's talking, hope you have a ride home Kitsune-chan." Kamiko said glibly.
"Hope that pretty uniform of yours doesn't get dirty." insulted one of Kamiko's friends as they headed out. Naoko scurried after them but when she got to the exit, there was no sign of them. She stood in the rain as the clouds' tears came down heavier and loud claps of thunder went off suddenly. She winced. Ever since she was little thunder always scared her. It was nothing but a sound, but like meek little foxes she was frightened stiff. Suddenly she didn't feel the water showering her. Naoko looked up and saw a dark red umbrella under her. She then turned to her left and saw Saburo smiling at her.
"What are you doing standing out in the rain Kitsune-san?" he asked. She scowled.
"Stupid Kamiko and her leeches swiped my umbrella from my backpack." She said with animosity as she recalled.
"Don't let those snobs get the better of you." Saburo advised as he rested his hand gently on her head. Another clap of thunder rippled through the air. Instinctively, Naoko shrunk back from the booming sound, burying her face in Saburo's chest and whimpered in fright.
"Hey what's wrong Kitsune?" he asked. Another boom exploded. She shuddered and whimpered. He grinned.
"Hey it's alright Ki… Naoko-chan, it's just thunder you'll be alright." He said affectionately as he delicately stroked her long dark purple locks. She wiped the small tears from her eyes and looked up at him.
"Good, now c'mon I better get you home, it's cold out here." He said as they began to walk. A few minutes went by silently until he started searching for something in his bag.
"I almost forgot to give you this." Saburo said, revealing a brand new wooden kodachi. She stood for a few moments, utterly surprised.
"F-for me?" she asked shyly, pointing at herself as a streak of pink running across her face.
"Of course; remember I told you I'd handle it so I went out and bought you a new one."
Her blush became redder. "Thanks so much Nekomiya-senpai." She said with a respectful bow. He grinned at her and then gently placed his hand on her head.
"Hey I told you none of that formal crap," he began softly. "Just call me Neko-san or something."
"Sorry about that." She said with a smile.
###
Naoko pulled out the kodachi in her bag and showed it to Ryoko. She then explained that at the time, she wasn't sure if Saburo did that because he liked her, or because he was just giving pity to weak young, not even a freshman girl. Because of that, she never told him how she felt and kept denying her true feelings for him. One day, she finally mustered up some courage to go and tell him.
###
The bell rang, ending the school day. Naoko skipped swiftly and happily. She had finally gained the audacity to go and confess to Saburo Nekomiya. Suddenly she was halted by Kamiko and her friends. She scowled.
"What do you want Baka Hebi-san (stupid snake)?" she question with an embedded insult.
"So where are you going Kitsune-chan?" she asked in return.
"None of your business." She said scornfully.
"Looking for Nekomiya?"
Naoko kept her lips sealed.
"Don't waste your time, he's already got a girl you know." Kamiko taunted. Naoko didn't even bother to retort, she ran off to Otogi High to see if that snake was spitting truth and not venom. When she arrived she was shocked to see Saburo kissing a girl. And to rub salt in the wounds, the girl who was kissing him was her friend Kazuko. She immediately ran home with tears running down her cheeks.
###
She stopped and started crying by the wall of a closed store.
"Are you alright?" she heard someone ask. She looked up and saw the boy she met all those years ago, Ryoshi Morino. She didn't reply. She felt dead and numb.
"I can't force you to speak to me, but I know something's not okay. If it helps at all, I want you to know that things get better. One bad thing can't stop you from being happy later on."
She looked up and smiled. He caught her stare and then bolted frantically.
###
"I'm so sorry Kitsune-san." Ryoko lamented.
"That's why I'm working so hard so you and Ryoshi can be together. I know you like him, which is why I don't want you to deny you're feelings anymore. Or else, the same thing will happen to you. I don't want that happening to anyone else.
