Forward Momentum (rei ryugazaki love story) Chapter Nine
(1) Future Star from Beyond the Boundary
watch?v=t14NQJWyzLk&index=1&list=LLNEtaxg19V6J_8abFwNTTGQ
Hitomi's POV
"Mackerel!? Really, Haru!?" Nagisa complains. I smile. I'm in the middle, Nagisa on my right side and Rei on my left. Mako and Haru are across from us. I sip the hot water that Makoto made.
"Do you feel any better, Hitomi?" Haru asks.
"Mmm. Yes. I feel a tad better." Nagisa feels my forehead,
"You're still a bit warm." Nagisa looks so sad.
"Nagisa, don't look so sad." I smile. Maybe I shouldn't have told him that I wanted to end my life.
"And by the way, Nagisa, what's wrong with mackerel?"
"Eh, heh heh. Uh, I just realized something. Look at Hitomi." Everyone looks at me. "Last I checked, you had your hair in a ponytail."
"I did?" I reach behind my head and I can't feel the ponytail anymore. My hair has fallen straight now. "I did."
"This is the first time we actually seen you without your hair being up. Looks nice." Makoto says. I start to blush.
"Hee, hee." I start feeling tired. I look at Rei, who has a blush himself. 'I don't think he'll mind.' I lean on him, I can feel him tensing a bit.
Rei's POV
I feel weight on my right side and it's Hitomi leaning on me.
"Uh, Hitomi?"
"This is okay, right?" She whispers.
"Uh...of, of course." Her hand rests on mine. I start to smile.
"If we sleep here, seems like Rei is gonna have a hard time trying to get comfortable." Haru says.
"It's okay. I don't mind as long as she's comfortable." I look at her and she's sound asleep. "Thank goodness, she's asleep."
"Good, now that she's asleep, how about you tell us how you feel about her?" Nagisa asks.
Hitomi's POV
"Good, now that she's asleep, how about you tell us how you feel about her?" Nagisa asks Rei.
"Do you have to ask me this now!?" My eyes are closed and I'm slowing down my breathing.
"Yeah, you're right."
"Plus, she could be awake and pretend to be sleeping." Haru points out.
'Shit! Shit! Shit!'
"I'll tell you one thing though." Rei says, eyes still closed, so I can't see everyone's faces.
Rei's POV
"I don't think Hitomi had real friends. The way that Yuuto was treating her earlier, it wasn't right. That would have to be the full reason why she said why she wants to be known as Hitomi and not sister of the Skating Captain."
"Yeah, she did say that when we first met." Nagisa adds. Makoto looks at Hitomi,
"She doesn't have to feel like that now. She has us. And, when she was coming to, she was calling for you, Rei."
"She was?"
"Honestly, I can see you two be more than friends."
"Then, I need to apologize to you."
"Huh?"
"When Hitomi was taking care of you, I got jealous. The way she got close."
"Rei, you're in love." Haru says. I twitch my body.
"Love?" I look at Hitomi, still sleeping, "I guess...we'll take it one day at a time.
Hitomi's POV
Zzz...
I start to stir from my sleep. I wake up slowly, feeling much better. My head is on my arms, leaning on the table, still covered by the blanket. I look around and everyone is asleep by the kotatsu. I look to my left and Rei is sleeping next to me, laying down on the floor. I look outside, and it looks like the rain must have stopped while we were sleeping. I lay down with the blanket under me next to Rei and he stirs from his sleep.
"Rei?" He opens his eyes.
"Hey, Hitomi. When did you get up?"
"Just now. What time is it?" I look at my cell and it says 5:30pm. I also notice five missed calls from Yuuto. I turn away and shove my cell back in my short's pocket and I stand, "I should be going."
"Wait, Hitomi!" I feel my wrist being pulled by Rei. I look back,
"Rei..." He stands up, still holding me.
"No more."
"Huh?"
"No more running away." My eyes widen. "You're a lonely person. You can't hide that anymore. When Nagisa and I came this morning, we saw Kenji here in town." My body starts to shake in fear. "He's your brother, he doesn't even know where your friend lives? And he told us that somebody used to hurt you in the past. That boy...was Yuuto." I start to get upset with Rei. I try to break free from his grip.
"It's- No! That's not-"
"Proof was in front of us from earlier. The way he was talking to you - that's not support! That's not cheering for you!" My world is now silent.
"Rei..." He's right. I look away from his face. His hand slides down from my wrist to my hand. I look at our hands. Thump, thump. I look at his face again.
"Come on."
We walk back to the arcade.
"Rei?"
"Get back on that dancing platform. Don't run away this time." I shake. The two kids finish their songs and they leave the platform. Their parents are petting their heads and praising them. I smile. "You see, now that's the support I'm talking about." I see Rei, smiling. I look back at the platform. I breath in and out slowly. This feeling of confidence...determination. I put my hands on the back of my head to...oh, yeah. I don't have my ponytail. Difference. I bounce on the platform. "Just be yourself, Hitomi." Rei says. "Make it beautiful!" He smiles.
'His smile. His smile is real. So... I'll be real too!' After sticking in quarter and picking the level, I pick my song. 'I love this song.' I look back at Rei and he smiles.
Nagisa's POV
After waking up, we all notice that Rei and Hito-kun left.
"The rain stopped, but where's Rei and Hitomi?" Mako asks. I thought back about earlier.
"I think I know."
Mako, Haru and I return to the arcade that Hito-kun fled from earlier.
"Why would they be here?" Haru asks.
"Hitomi lost her cool here when Yuuto was kind of shouting at her. She wasn't really given the cheers and support she deserved when she was dancing." I explain. (1) Loud music is playing.
"What's that?" Haru asks.
"Hey, Future Star!" Mako says. We head to the DDR and our eyes surprise us. It's Hitomi dancing to Future Star. The way she moves is so graceful and beautiful. Even some of the other customers watch her dance.
Rei's POV
The chorus starts playing and Hitomi is dancing beautifully. She's not so stiff this time versus when she last danced. She's expressing her real self. Her form is so flawless.
"Rei!" I turn and it's Nagisa, Makoto and Haru.
"How did you find us?" I ask.
"Nagisa told us about earlier today. He brought the suggestion to try here because you were gonna make her be herself and to show true support from all of us." Haru explains. He closes his eyes, smiles and looks at the dancing Hitomi. "Like myself, she is using freestyle. Her dancing freestyle, is her being free."
Hitomi's POV
I make it to the last bit of the song, I turn my head and I notice not just Rei, but Nagisa, Makoto and Haru. I start to feel panic,
"Don't stop, Hito-kun! Keep going!"
'Nagisa.'
"You can do it, Hitomi!"
'Makoto.'
"Dance freely and dance with your heart."
'Haru.'
"Show us your heart, Hitomi and show us that you can dance for the people that love you and to be happy." Rei nods and I nod back, continuing to dance freely.
'Rei. This feeling. So much happiness. So many strong vibes and positive love. My friends.' I spin for the finale, 'And Rei, the boy that brought me out of living in lies. I don't need to be lonely anymore. Mako, Haru, Nagisa, Rei. My friends. And Rei...I get now why my heart goes thump, thump now.' As I pose the final move and look in Rei's eyes, 'I'm in love with Rei.' Nagisa bounces.
"Wow! That was awesome, Hito-kun! And the way she made her finale!"
"Just imagine how much she practiced so she can keep her balance." Makoto says. I smile, jumping off the platform. Nagisa goes and hugs me really tightly.
"Na-Na-Nagisa!? I can't breathe!" Mako, Haru who is getting pulled in the hug fest and Rei all join in the hug. "You guys! What's gotten into all of you!?" They all start laughing, well except Haru. "Hello!? What's wrong with all of you!?"
After all of that confusion, everyone heads home, while Rei walks me home.
"Rei? Thanks a lot for today For showing me true support."
"I think you deserve that at least, Hitomi." We continue walking when two kids start skating really fast towards us.
"Watch out!" I push Rei in the alleyway to avoid getting run over. "Sorry dudes!" As the kids skate away.
"Heh, heh, heh. I remember those times I would skate with Kenji and Kenichi this late at night." I look up to Rei. His eyes are sparkling. His back against the wall. My chest on his. This awkward position.
"Hitomi, I..." Rei's cheeks turn pink. I stand on my tiptoes, close my eyes and kiss Rei on the lips.
Rei's POV
Hitomi stands on her tiptoes, closes her eyes and kisses me on the lips. My eyes widen. Her lips are so soft. I thought love was illogical, but now; this kiss.
Hitomi's POV
I break the kiss, landing back on my feet. I open my eyes. Rei flushes pink now. I just realize what I have done. I back away from Rei,
"I-I'm sorry!" I run away from Rei and go straight home. I finally make it; I catch my breath before I step inside.
"Hitomi!" The front door swings open and Shion and Yumi bounce on me, landing on the ground. They start crying.
"Where were you!? We missed you, big sister!" Shion cries.
"Calm down, you two!" Mom and Dad come outside and pick up Yumi and Shion.
"Welcome home, Hitomi." My Dad says. Mom looks around.
"Uh, where's Rei, dear?"
"Uh, he went home. He lives on the other side of town and to get there is by train and it was the last stop for the night."
"Ooh, okay. At least you're home safe."
We walk inside, Kenji's door and Kenichi's door are both shut. They are probably out or sleeping. I go to my room and shut the door behind me. I place my fingers on my lips. I smile. My first kiss. I look at the ceiling.
"Rei."
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