9 - Rin is Always Flat


Sometimes she wondered… how far she could go before she would stop and return.

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The story began when she was in her second year of high school. She was in the track club before she injured herself and couldn't participate in the competition—which from other's point of view, wasting her talent.

She didn't think she was, though. Sure, she couldn't run again. But it didn't mean her life was over, right? There were still many places to visit, many things to experience, or foods to taste.

If the other members could hear her thought, maybe they would accuse her as an ungrateful brat. Well, maybe she was. But she liked to think of herself as someone who was above that. There were some fun in running, feeling the wind on her skin, and adrenaline pumping. But why she had to compete just to have fun?

She didn't have to.

She realized that; after she injured herself, and some of her friends just took off with their own business, while the others left looked at her with pity.

As if she needed them.

She switched to the drama club in her third year. She didn't know how this club would work for her, she just badly needed new environment after all the things she was going through the year before.

Of course, since she joined them when she was senior, she couldn't actually feel belonged even after she entered. However Rin thought it was the best decision she had made that year.

Since she could meet Nico and Umi thanks to her relation with the drama club.

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She didn't actually meet them when she was still in high school though.

They had graduated when she joined. But one year after she graduated from high school, the drama club held a reunion for its former members. She was busy doing menial, part-time jobs, after failed to pass university's entrance exam, when she got the invitation.

At first, she didn't really want to go, considering she didn't really have friends in there. But Honoka, her friend and boss at work, pushed her to.

"You know, maybe now you could actually feel belonged in there," she said optimistically. "Reunion has the charm to make people forget about the bad past, sucky present, just to enjoy the time."

Rin didn't really believe that. But she went in the end.

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When she was still in the drama club, she had known about Umi for a while. The blue haired senior was famous. She enchanted everyone who watched her on stage. She was the prince of their high school, so to speak.

Some of her fans even compared her to "Aikawa Ryo", the charming Takarazuka Prince, and the new rising star at the time.

But she hadn't heard of Nico. The smaller girl was not known to the entire of humanity, contrary to what she liked to say about herself. It was no wonder Rin just accidentally found her in the corner of the restaurant they'd had rented for this event and not part in the center of party.

Her first impression about her-actually-two-years senior was confusion.

"You are in my year? How could I never see you until now?"

And Nico glared at her within a heartbeat. "I'm your senior."

"What? There's no way you are older than me."

Nico shoved her driver license to her face as she said that.

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The birds of the same feather flock together. Rin never thought deeply about how true this statement was, until that time. She and Nico didn't have any friends in the drama club. They both never felt belonged in there either.

That was why they'd got to be comfortable with each other lest they wanted to spend the time awkwardly alone in the room full of people.

"Why you joined this club, Senpai?" Rin opened the conversation as she watched the people around them talking to each other.

"Just because," Nico replied after drinking her beer, she was old enough to order alcohol. Although in event like this, even Rin could get one without anyone questioning (Nico actually had to show her ID before the waiter agreed to bring her order though). "You never really thought about a reason when you were still a hot-blooded teenager, weren't you? Just following the flow, just because my friends wanted to, just because the senior I admired in there." She waved her hand carelessly in the air.

"You didn't seem to have any friend or senior you liked, though," Rin insensitively said. But Nico laughed at that. The raven haired girl didn't seem to take any offense from what she said.

"And you? Why did you? I know for a fact you didn't join this club when you were a first year," she shot back at her after her laugh subsided.

"I wanted different atmosphere," Rin shrugged. "It didn't have to be the drama club."

"Is that so," said the other girl.

Their conversation ended at that, and Rin felt it was fine. If the situation were different, or if she was talking with anyone else, she would almost undoubtedly feel uncomfortable. But with Nico, she somehow felt it was okay.

One hour passed as they sat quietly in the corner when Nico suddenly bolted out of the room. Rin, confused at first, obeying her instinct to follow the other girl.

"Ahh… I really can't stand the place," she said when Rin caught up. The raven haired girl stood outside the store, leaned on the wall as she mused with her hair which she tied into low twin tails.

"Why?"

"Too many people I didn't know. Or forgot."

Rin hummed as she too leaned back on the wall. They stood there for a while before Nico started to speak again. "You know, I actually had some sort of grudge against the drama club."

"Because you never got any important roles?"

She raised an eyebrow at her. "Now you mention it… that could be one of the reasons."

Rin grinned.

"But it was not only about that. Maybe you don't know this. But when I first entered the school, there wasn't any drama club," she continued. "We were the first gen."

"Is that why the legend I've heard only about the Blue Haired Prince?"

"You are talking about Umi? Sure, that girl was really popular back then," Nico scoffed. "I didn't know how many times we made her playing the prince role just so we could make sure there were audiences to watch us."

"You were close to Sonoda-senpai?" Rin looked at her senior in surprise.

"Hmm… we are friends, if that's what you are asking."

"Why weren't you with her?" asked Rin curiously.

"Don't you see where she is?" Nico asked back. "She was—is popular. There's no way the other will leave her alone even if she wanted to. And I don't really enjoy being with them."

Nico buried her face in the collar of her jacket. "Anyway, I said there wasn't any drama club before, right? It was actually formed by two almost disbanded clubs joined together. Idol Research Club, the one I was actually from, and Movie Research Club."

"Huh? Then how could it become a drama club?"

"Because the seniors—my seniors, the third years when I was first year—graduated. I was the only one left from the originally Idol Research Club, while there were still three second year—become third year—members from Movie Research Club.

"And since they were seniors, I couldn't really do anything when they changed the club to a drama club even though the official name was technically still Idol and Movie Research Club."

Nico looked at Rin and grinned. "Well, to be honest, I like acting too."

"So you admit you were angry because you didn't get any good part?" Rin snickered back.

"I've said it could be, right?" Nico laughed and stood upright. "It's cold… Let's get back inside," she said as she put her hands together in attempt to keep them warm.

Rin nodded and followed the other girl. "Hey, if you were that upset, why did you come to this meet-up? Until this late even?"

"To rescue my dear junior," Nico dramatically said as she pushed the door open.

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Rin didn't know Nico meant Umi when she said 'my dear junior', but now that she thought about it, maybe she should have guessed it. Who else Nico said she was friends with in the drama club, except Umi?

"Thank you, Nico," the supposedly prince from their high school smiled awkwardly at the raven haired girl. "They haven't changed at all." She rubbed the back of her neck in attempt to ease herself.

"That's why I said you didn't have to come," Nico sighed slightly.

"But it's not polite to reject an invitation without proper reason," said Umi.

"You are hopeless." Nico sighed.

"Well, I assume you didn't get to meet her?" Umi changed the topic. "Considering the girl you are with now is a bit too young to be your senior."

Nico humph-ed. "The invitation was from Drama Club. Maybe she thought it was a mistake or something since she never joined that."

Umi eyed the youngest girl again. "So… this is…?"

Nico glanced to the side, realizing Rin was still there beside her. "Huh… and I thought you had gone home."

"You chased me out now, Senpai? After what we did together, I thought you are my ally," Rin dramatically said. "I'm hurt."

Nico rolled her eyes before facing Umi again. "This is Hoshizora Rin. She was our junior but-never-met-cause-she-joined-late in the drama club."

Umi raised her eyebrows at the way Nico introduced her. "I see. I'm Sonoda Umi. Nice to meet you." She bowed slightly to the other girl.

"Nice to meet you too, Sonoda-senpai! I know about you though!" Rin spoke up. "Your performance as prince is a legend in the club! I watched the recording of your performance!"

"I… see," Umi uncomfortably said while Nico cackled beside her.

"Good for you, Umi. Your fan here is pretty tame compared to others," Nico was still laughing as she said that. "Oh! Maybe we could ask her for it? What do you think? She is somewhat okay, right?"

Umi frowned. "I don't know. But if you think she is okay, I won't disagree."

Rin looked at both of them in confusion. She settled for Nico after the older girl turned to look at her again.

"Well, Rin, do you want to be our roommate?"

Nico asked her with a grin that was so bright it could easily blinded her.

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Rin took her bicycle and ride.

It was summer. The cicadas were crying noisily. It was hot. But she won't stop until the end of the world. Or maybe she would compromise and just go until the end of Japan.

She stopped before both points.

Her bicycle was broken. She could fix it. If only she brought the tools to do so.

She threw the bicycle and went back home by train.

She then called Nico to say yes, she accept their offer. She packed her things and called moving service. They would come tomorrow to help her transport them. She wondered whether she would miss her home.

After all, this was the place where she grew up.

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Rin wondered… how far she could go before she would stop and looked back again.

But… maybe it was okay.

As long as she could learn from what she left behind without regretting anything, she could take a look back from time to time. After all, if the past could somewhat give you comfort, it was a blessing in itself.

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Extra

I'll just say this, Rin. You can't be with Maki in this fic. That is just not possible.

Rin: Huh? What? Why?

There's no connection between you.

Rin: Then just make it nya.

No can do! It will ruin the premise! Don't forget that you have crush on Kotori! Not Maki or anyone else!

Rin: Why are you getting so worked up…

I'm not. Anyway, RinMaki isn't possible.

Rin: You just don't want to write it, right?

Don't open my card!

Rin: Sigh. Just admit that you are not a DD.

Huh? What is DD? Daredemo suki? Well, I'm Nico-oshi if you asked me that.

Rin: Nope. Docchidemo suki. You are not a shipper of every possible pairs in LL!

like I said, don't open my card!


A/N: i've decided the pairings. but well... it doesnt really matter. i wont write they kiss, go on a date or something related to romance. this is a story where nothing really happen after all. and actually, umi isn't the only one who is going to be forever alone, because now i think about it, the other flat trio most likely have the same fate (read: i will end this story before they date someone).

thanks for the reviews and i haven't watch sunshine (cause i'm still traumatized by cinderella girls aka idolm ster sequel).