I don't own K-ON!
Finally, Chapter 8.1! There are two parts so this is the first one :)
I hope you enjoy :)
...WEDNESDAY...
It was one of the worst mornings we had in our lives. Gray skies, cold winds and a steady drizzle that has been falling since 6am greeted us when we woke up. A storm is coming after all, making the atmosphere gloomier than before. Not like we're not having a storm of our own right now. Onee-chan and Nodoka-san's situation is not getting any better and mom didn't help – I can't help but be frustrated. Why can't our parents understand? They should know it well; surely they've fallen in love too.
Onee-chan didn't get out of bed that morning no matter how hard I tried to convince her. She didn't want to go to school, I could understand why so just this once I let her stay at home. Mom and dad knew it was for the best and chose to let her stay at home too. If I knew what would happen later that day I would've stayed home with onee-chan as well…
Manabe Residence
Nodoka was all ready for school and was just fixing her bag that rainy morning while planning what she needs to do that day. Okay. First, I'll talk to Yui, apologize and promise to make things righ – but she might not believe me if I promised anything with everything she said yesterday about believing me and stuff. Hmm…I'll go to the principal first and talk to him about my relationship with Yui again, if he still would not approve…then…I'll resign from the student council. Yeah that's what I'll do, THEN that's time I'll talk to Yui, apologize, tell her the news and promise to make things right. When that's done I'll talk to dad…
"Are you done thinking?" Ryoko said by Nodoka's shoulder interrupting her.
"WHOA! Mom! Don't scare me like that!"
"So Yui-chan thinks of you as a liar huh?"
"I wish you'd stop listening to me if I'm thinking out loud."
"You better be careful dear with that habit of yours. Good thing your dad didn't hear it."
"You're right I'll be careful."
"You're thinking too much again."
"I'm just planning the things I'll do…"
"Ohh~ none of your plans will happen today," Ryoko said confidently.
"What?! How could you say that?"
"Because you're thinking about it too much, you know? In situations like this you should just go for it. Don't think about anything," Ryoko advised.
Nodoka looked at her mom with a raised eyebrow and said, "That's being reckless and stupid mom. Things like this should be carefully planned to have greater chances of success."
"Then want a bet?" asked Ryoko.
"Sure," Nodoka simply said.
"Oh? That's surprising I thought for sure you'd say no."
"You're never going to let this go if I said no anyway." Great…I just said yes again. I have got to do something about my proneness to say yes so easily to people in authority.
"You know me so well!" Ryoko said happily.
"So? What are your terms?"
"Ohh~ such confidence! That's my girl," said Ryoko feeling so proud, "It's simple, just be successful with your plans today. Set backs are fine as long as you complete all…again ALL, your objectives and you should be the one to do all of it with no help from your friends. You can't ask them to do anything no matter how simple, okay?"
"I'll do them mom…I definitely will."
"That's good to hear. When you lose…"
"You mean IF…I lose?"
Ryoko paused and smiled mischievously at Nodoka before saying, "You have to read and finish the book I gave you. And you have to read it where I can see you to make sure you'll really read it."
"WHA - ?!" Nodoka blushed heavily after hearing her mom's condition.
"Because when I saw it hidden in your closet it seems you haven't opened it or even flipped a single page since I gave it to you," Ryoko said pouting.
"That's because I have no reason to read it!" Nodoka said still blushing.
"It's not even that thick and it's an educational book."
"No it's not!"
"I mean, it even has pictures so the instructions are very easy to understand."
Nodoka let out a breath and put a hand on her forehead, feeling a little a headache so early in the morning. "Fine. It's a deal, I won't lose anyway."
"You're bound to trip with that overconfidence of yours Nodoka-chan."
"No I won't. So if I win you'll have to help me change dad's mind. It doesn't have to be about Yui but at least about going to Oxford," Nodoka said looking at her mom with eyes full of determination.
It surprised Ryoko a bit but with a smile and a pat on the her daughter's head she said, "I will do that and more even without having this bet Nodoka-chan."
"R-Really?"
"Of course dear," Ryoko said and hugged her tight. "Things aren't looking good right now but I'm very happy that both of you are still holding on. And now that you've realized you need to take that step forward, things will start to change. So don't hesitate, take that step and keep going. It'll probably get harder though but you can trust that I'll give you all the support I can."
"Mom…," Nodoka hugged Ryoko back – touched by what she said. "Thank you so much."
"Now, let's talk about what to do with your dad later when you get home. For now, you have to go. You're going to be late and you're dad's waiting for you downstairs," Ryoko said with a big smile.
"Oh you're right!" said Nodoka checking her watch.
"You can tell me what your condition is some other time…that is IF you win."
"Oh I will. Anyway, see you later mom," Nodoka gave her mom a kiss on the cheek and ran out of her room.
At the door
Satoru noticed his daughter's enthusiasm when she came down and instantly became suspicious.
"Why do you look so happy?"
"Huh? No reason dad," Nodoka said and looked away, feeling nervous.
"I'm warning you Nodoka if you're planning anything again I'll – "
"You'll what…Satoru?" Ryoko suddenly interrupted her husband and then faced Nodoka. "I think you forgot this," she said handing Nodoka a notebook.
"Oh…thanks mom."
Ryoko then turned her attention back to Satoru, "Now, why are you threatening our daughter, Satoru?"
"I'm not, I'm just telling her not to plan anything again."
"Oh really? Then what was it that you were about to say you'll do if ever you catch Nodoka-chan seeing Yui-chan again?"
"Nothing, I was just about to say that she'd be grounded."
"Is she still not grounded? I mean, she can't go out, you confiscated her phone, you keep an eye on her every waking moment of your life, sending her to Oxford…also you already said she's grounded when you caught her for the first time."
"Ryoko, I'm doing this for her own good. She needs discipline."
"No…you're doing this for your self, because you're too scared of what people might say about you if they find out that Nodoka-chan's – "
"I'm her dad! I know what's best for her and you can't tell me what to do with my daughter Ryoko!" Satoru suddenly shouted at his wife, which he immediately regretted after seeing Ryoko's expression a few seconds later.
He had never seen it before in his life, he never expected his wife could have a very menacing aura and it scared him. He felt chills went down his spine and it wasn't because of the cold weather, it's because of how his wife was looking at him with murderer-like eyes. Nodoka didn't felt as frightened but was still surprised, I've never seen mom be this scary when mad before.
"Did you…just raise your voice at me Satoru?"
The man gulped and was already too scared to answer. He tried to hide it but the sweat that rolled down on the side of his face gave it away.
"Why? I mean, I'm just right here and I can hear you loud and clear."
"S-Sorr – "
"Now, let me warn you this time, Satoru," Ryoko walked towards her husband keeping her glare at him and stopping just a foot away from him. "I understand that as a parent you need to be strict in disciplining Nodoka-chan. But if you ever…go too far than what's necessary, I assure you your life will never be the same."
Satoru easily believed it and kept frozen on his spot – already forgotten about his anger.
"You can't tell me what I can't do because she's my daughter too; I'm her mother and I bet my life I know better than you when it comes to what's best for her. Why do think there's the saying 'Mother knows best'? We may be married for more than 10 years but don't think you already know everything about me. There are still things I don't tell and show you because I don't have any reason to so it's best if you don't give me one if you still value the life you're living right now, you got it?"
She can't possibly…, Satoru just nodded and didn't say anything anymore.
"You two should get going," Ryoko said changing back to her old self. "Nodoka-chan bring a bigger umbrella. There's a storm coming."
"I understand. We'll be off then," Nodoka said and went out with her dad as if nothing happened.
I feel like this day is going to be a long one…, Ryoko thought to herself before going to the kitchen.
Sakura High
Nodoka walked along the hallway feeling very determined to get her plans into action. Talking to the principal is her main objective of the day and she will immediately head to his office after putting her bag in the classroom. The chances of him approving is very low so resigning is my only option but I still want to give it a try. I have to do this for Yui…and to win the bet. Not that the bet is important I just don't want to read that book also this is mostly for Yui. Speaking of bet, mom was really something earlier. That's the first time I saw that side of her. She said there are things she hadn't told and showed dad before? I wonder what those are.
Class 3-2
The president entered the room and was greeted by a friend, "Good morning Nodoka."
"Mio, good morning," Nodoka greeted then immediately looked for Yui in the room.
"She's absent today," Mio said knowing her friend.
"EH?!"said Nodoka catching everyone's attention in the room making her feel embarrassed. She cleared her throat and continued talking to Mio, "She's absent?" The bet!
"Yeah Ui-chan told us earlier," Mio said sadly.
"Is she sick?" Nodoka asked worriedly.
"Not really…"
"Oh, I see…," Well I can't blame her if she chose not to go to school today, it's my fault after all. *sigh* I guess I already lost the bet since the condition is complete my objectives without the help of my friends. I don't want to read that book!
"How are you doing Nodoka?" Mio asked.
"Me? Well I'm not totally fine but I'm better than yesterday," said Nodoka with a smile.
"That's good to hear, you do look better."
"Thanks. I realized that all of these are my fault and I can't believe I let things get worse. I let Yui do all the understanding and I guess she was at her limit yesterday. That's why I want to make it up to her."
"If you need help with anything just let us know, okay Nodoka?"
"Thank you Mio. You and the others have been a great a help for both of us but right now I think I must do some things on my own."
"I understand," Mio said with a smile feeling proud of her friend.
"Anyway, I still need to go to the principal's office. See you later Mio," Nodoka said and exited the room. That's right, whether I lost or not I still need to do this. I'll figure out what to do about the book later.
"The principal's office?...Is she…," Mio smiled at what she assumed Nodoka plans to do.
Principal's office
"He went to Kyoto."
"What?!" Nodoka was shocked to learn that the principal is not around. "When will he be back?"
"Next week," the secretary answered.
Nodoka walked back to the classroom feeling down and defeated. She didn't achieve anything and she didn't like it. I can't believe mom's right about this. She wanted to see Yui so bad and talk to her and stopping midway she came up with an idea. Maybe…maybe if I could go to her house right now I –
"Manabe-san? Homeroom's about to start, let's go?"
Nodoka was startled and turned around to see it was their teacher, "Sawako-sensei…O-okay…"
And from that, Nodoka hated herself even more for, once again, saying 'yes' to something she didn't want to do.
To be continued...
I hope you enjoyed that :) I never thought I could write a story with ten and more chapters - this is the first one :P
Feel free to review, comment or whatever :P
On to the next chapter :)