Update: January 22nd, 2013.
I don't own GALS!
A Wishful Blossom
Chapter Ten - Doves
By: Screaming Siopao
"Yo! Aya!" a female voice from behind me called out. I was currently on my way to the first day of the fall term. I looked back and found Satsuki walking alongside Rie. "Wait up!" she called out, speeding up her pace. I stopped to let the two gals catch up to me.
"Hey guys," I happily greeted. I hadn't seen these two all summer long. We sometimes ran into each other on the way to school, seeing as our homes were from the same general area. I remembered the day in the previous spring term when Satsuki and Rie went ahead of me to try and get Rei Otohata to notice them. That was also the same day that Rei stuck up for me when I tripped on some guy's skateboard. It seemed so far back. I laughed internally at the nostalgic memory. "What's up?"
"Just totally dreading going back to school!" Satsuki complained. "Vacation seemed so short. My summer was so fun!"
"I'm sure it wasn't as fun as Aya's vacation," Rie chimed. "With her lovey dovey relationship with Otohata!" I smiled meekly and looked down at the ground.
"Ah, well yes, it was quite fun, but he and I didn't even hang out that much," I lied. Rei and I spent almost every day together this summer. I know it's kind of sad to say, but I was with him more than I was with Ran and Miyuu.
"Mou," Satsuki complained as she put her hands behind the back of her head as she walked. "I can't believe you got Otohata," she sighed. Rie hit her softly on the back of her head.
"What Satsuki meant to say was, out of all the girls in the entire city of Tokyo… no, out of the entire country of Japan, Aya Hoshino—the male loathing gal— was the one to get the great prince, Rei Otohata," Rie stated, her index finger pointed up into the air.
"Yeah, totally,"the blonde gal agreed. "Who knew? The whole city knows about you guys."
"W- What? Really?" I asked, surprised.
"Duh! Check this out!" Rie pulled out a "Gyaru" magazine from her bag and opened it to the main article. She practically shoved the page into my face. As soon as I saw the image, I blushed.
It was a picture that paparazzi took from my visit with Rei to his luxurious hotel and beach resort. I remembered there were plenty of photographers there, because of the high number of celebrity and pop identities that often checked into Yamada Suites. In the photo, Rei and I were cozily seated on the sand. I still had my white hat on in the picture, so it must have been way before the incident. The main headline accompanying the photo was, "Rei Otohata— star pitcher & Shibuya prince— finally in a relationship!?"
"I can't believe you guys went on vacation together!" Satsuki said, obviously envious. "If we weren't friends, Aya, I would so totally loathe you."
"Don't listen to her, Aya," Rie rolled her eyes. "She's just messing around." We stopped walking, realizing that we had already reached the front gates of Hounan High. We all sighed in unison.
"Back to hitting the books," I said. We all walked onward reluctantly.
What did this term of my high school career have in store for me this time? In the back of my mind, I was a bit scared to find out.
o0o0o0o
"Mouu, that was terrible!" Ran exclaimed as soon as our last class ended. "School is so lame! I can't believe we still have Naka-Sen, even during our last year."
"Oh, Ran, Miyuu doesn't think that it was that bad." Miyuu then turned to me and smiled. "Ne, Aya?"
"It was actually fun," I said while packing my books away. I always liked the second term of the year because of autumn. Falling leaves seemed almost as peaceful to me than falling sakura petals. Who said fall couldn't be the start of new beginnings?
I looked out into the front courtyard of the school. I saw the cherry blossom tree that Rei and I had held our first real conversation back in early April, during the first term of our second year. Of course, at that time of the year, the sakura had just begun to bloom. Now, at September, I could see that the green leaves were beginning to thin out. I felt quite nostalgic at the moment. I couldn't believe that we were about halfway through our second years already.
"Hello! Earth to Aya!" Ran shouted into my ear in the midst of my thoughts.
"Eh?" I blinked. "What is it?"
"I said Miyuu and I were going to head to Shibuya for some noodles! Wanna come with?" she asked.
"I'm totally broke right now," I lied. I really just wanted to go home and stay with my mom, who had a rare day off today. Ever since the incident with Hiro during the summer, I didn't like leaving her at home to be alone. Lately, she'd been feeling pretty depressed and I wanted to be by her side.
"Ah, we understand," Miyuu said. "Next time, then!"
"Of course," I smiled.
"Alright!" Ran said, pumping her fist into the air. "There's a contest for who can eat the most bowls in under ten minutes. Let's go Miyuu!"
I laughed, and just like that, Miyuu was dragged out of the room by the passionate red-head. Same old Ran.
I reached into my desk to grab my math notebook. There was a pretty tough assignment tonight. I sighed. I guess I'd be stuck inside all night.
In my desk, my hand grazed over a loose piece of paper that I hadn't recalled being there this morning. I pulled it out and unfolded it— this definitely was not my handwriting.
"FAKE!" it read in large, red ink. I wondered what it meant, and who could have placed it in my desk. I didn't think too much of it, and thoughtlessly tossed it into the waste bin. I shook the strange message out of my head and began to walk down the hall, which was almost empty, save for a few gals.
Before I reached the staircase, I felt a warm touch on my waist. I blushed. This could only be Rei Otohata. I turned around to find his glorious face before mine.
"D-Don't sneak up on me like that!" I softly hit his shoulder, but he just smiled. "There's no PDA allowed in school," I reminded him, while looking around to see if anyone caught us in the act. Luckily, no one had been paying attention to us.
"You're so quaint," he laughed. I sighed. Same old Rei. "Anyway," he continued, "I have to stay after for another meeting today. We're planning for the Culture Festival in November!"
"Ah, that sounds fun. Good luck with that, then."
"Are you headed home already?" he asked, hands in his pockets.
"Yeah, Mom's home today and she'll be lonely if I'm not there." I looked down. "She's still having a hard time since Hiro isn't around anymore."
"Tch. She's better off without that scumbag anyway," Rei said. "But I get it. Just be safe, okay?"
"Of course," I smiled. I turned around and began walking down the staircase, but Rei took my wrist, while his other hand was still in his pocket. I looked back and Rei had a slight blush on his cheek. I wondered what he was up to. "R-Rei?"
"Uh," he blurted softly. "I… I got you something." He nervously pulled a small pink box out from his pocket. He slowly opened it, fidgeting in the process, revealing a silver necklace with a small, dove pendant on it. My eyes widened.
"What's this for?" I asked, baffled. It wasn't my birthday, nor one of our anniversary dates.
"I, uh, meant to give it to you during the summer," he said, scratching the back of his head. "But I guess I was too scared. A lot of things were happening at the time, you know. I didn't know if you'd like it or not, but I thought it would suit you. I mean, I think you'd look cute with it on. Not that you already don't look cute all the time, er, well, I guess I could return it if you don't—" I interrupted his babbling speech with a giggle that involuntarily escaped my lips. An unconfident Rei Otohata just seemed all too funny to me. "Hey, what's so funny?" he asked with a childish pout.
"Nothing, nothing." I shook my head. "I like it, Rei. It's adorable." And it really was.
"Really? I could put it on for you, if you'd like."
"Sure." I turned around and pulled all of my hair to the right side. I felt myself blush as Rei fastened the necklace on me.
Then, he put his arms around my shoulders. My heart skipped a beat.
"R- Rei?"
"Aya. Promise me you'll be more careful," he whispered suddenly.
"What? Why? I'll be fine—"
"Just, please, promise me." There was a pause. I didn't know what was up with this guy right now. His serious side always managed to confuse me. Nevertheless, I complied with his request.
"I promise, Rei."
o0o0o0o
I walked past an empty park with Rei on my mind. I wondered why he was being so serious. I touched the dove pendant that rested in between my clavicles. He can be so kind, I thought. The autumn air surrounded me. It was warm and crisp, unlike the previously humid and scorching summer heat.
I walked in solitude, but why did I feel as if I was being watched?
I heard footsteps behind me. I slowed my pace, but heard the steady footsteps still carrying on. I stopped my tracks, turned around, and saw no one.
Was I hearing things?
I continued onwards. I was probably just imagining it. Or maybe it was just the rustle of the leaves.
A few moments later, I heard footsteps again. There was more than one pair. There had to have been at least three. I stopped my tracks and looked back once more. No one.
I quickened my pace. I was starting to have a really strange feeling. I just wanted to make it home okay. The promise I had made to Rei earlier played in my mind. I promised him that I'd be more careful. No more getting into trouble for me...
"Aya-san!" a loud, booming voice suddenly made me jump.
"Ah!" I said, turning around, only to find Yuuya Asou, Rei's best friend some distance away. "Oh, Asou-kun! It's been a while." He ran the rest of the way to me and caught his breath. How long had he been trying to reach me? Maybe he was the one whose footsteps I'd been hearing.
"Yeah," he agreed. "I haven't seen you since the Sakura Festival in the spring! Rei's always hogging you," the corn-headed boy laughed, and I joined him.
"Well what brings you here now, Asou-kun?" I curiously asked.
"Ehh, well," he nervously said. "Mami sent me. She would have gone to you personally, but she's at tennis practice right now. I'm on an assignment, I guess!" I was confused for the second time that day.
"Eh? What for?"
"Well, Aya-san," he slowly began. I could tell he was having a hard time with his words. "Mami... she saw something this afternoon, during lunch break."
"Really? I was in the cafeteria with Ran and Miyuu."
"Yeah," he said. "Mami was on the way to the cafeteria as well, but was running a bit late. She passed by your classroom and saw it was empty, save for some suspicious-looking girls."
"What's that got to do with me?" I wished Yuuya would stop beating around the bush.
"They slipped something into your desk," he finally admitted. My eyes widened. I remembered the red-inked note that I carelessly tossed away.
"FAKE!" it read. I initially thought of it as nothing. I still kind of thought of it as an immature and meaningless prank, but I appreciated Mami and Yuuya's thoughtfulness.
"Mami tried to reprimand them, but they got away. In the end, she never found out who they were," he sighed. "So I'm here to walk you home!"
"Ehh?" I gasped in surprise. "Really, Asou-kun, I'll be okay!" Then, I remembered the faint, mysterious footsteps following me earlier. I also remembered the promise I made to Rei to be more careful. "But, ah... I guess you can do that, then. Just for today, though!"
"I would have to, even if you didn't want me to," Yuuya nervously laughed." Mami insisted, so I pretty much have to, no matter what." I laughed, as we headed towards home.
"You're a good boyfriend," I said. He smiled.
"How's Rei treating the school's smartest girl?" he asked. I blushed slightly, embarrassed by the question.
"Ah, just fine, he's really different from what I had first thought," I admitted. "Honestly, Asou-kun..." I whispered to him, leaning towards his ear. "I thought you were too good to be his friend." He genuinely laughed.
"I guess I should be flattered," Yuuya joked. I laughed, too.
"But I know now," I continued. "Rei is a good-hearted person, who sometimes has a hard time expressing how he feels. I guess we're a bit alike in that way, ne?"
"I guess so, huh?" he smiled.
"Ne, Asou-kun," I said, suddenly. "Don't tell Rei, okay? About those strange girls."
"Why's that?"
"Rei will worry," I stated. It seems as if all Rei did lately was worry about me. I had gotten into far too many troublesome situations.
"Sou ka," Yuuya answered. "I understand, Aya-san. I won't tell," he said with a wink, sealing his lips shut with an invisible zipper. I knew that I could count on Yuuya.
o0o0o0o
"Mom, I'm home," I announced, walking in through the door.
"Ah," she said, peering her head from the kitchen. I could smell the scent of chocolate cake in the oven. Mom liked to bake when she needed cheering up. "Okaeri, Aya."
"You alright?" I asked, setting my bag down on the table.
"Of course," she smiled. I could tell that it was a sad, broken smile. She was trying to cover up her loneliness, but I could see right through her. By the look of her eyes, I could tell she had been crying earlier. She noticed that I was staring, so mom quickly went to the oven to check on the cake.
"Almost done," she chimed, peering in through the glass door. There was silence. I wanted to ask her something. Something that Hiro had mentioned, but I never found the time to question her about it before.
"Ne, mom," I blurted nonchalantly. "Who was the doctor... that Hiro was speaking about?"
"Eh?" she suddenly dropped the bag of icing in her hands. I could tell that the inquiry had surprised her. "W- What doctor?"
"Mom, you know. The doctor who was the cause of the fight; the cause of... you and Hiro splitting up," I said. I knew I was being a bit too straightforward, but I had to know.
"Ah..." she plopped herself down on a chair across from me. She had surrendered. "He's just... this great man, Aya. Doctor Kyou Hamasaki is his name. He's our hospital's head cardiologist."
"I see, heart doctor," I said, genuinely interested. "What is he to you?"
"Just a friend, Aya, believe me," she admitted. It was true, I could tell. "But one day, Hiro saw us in a room together and claimed that Dr. Hamasaki and I were too close. I told him it was nothing, but then he came back the next week and saw us working together again," she sadly explained. "I never knew Hiro would such an envious and violent person."
"Mom, it's okay." I felt bad for bringing this up, now. My mother was crying again.
"I'm just so lonely, Aya. I miss having someone. I loved your father so much, but I can't help feeling so old and alone without him," she sobbed. "I rushed into the relationship with Hiro, and I paid the price. I won't do that to us ever again, okay?"
"I just want you to be happy," I told her. She wiped her tears from her feminine face, which resembled mine all too much.
"I'm happy with you," she smiled. I gave a reassuring smile back and squeezed her hand.
I touched my pendant. The dove- a symbol of peace and purity; a symbol of hope.
I had always been independent, even when I was a kid. I only slept in the same bed with my mother for a total of three times during my life.
That night, being the most recent, I snuggled in with her for the first time in years, comforting her to sleep with stories and laughter. I'd do anything to keep her smiling.
I also slept with her once during pre-school, because of a nightmare that forced me to lay in between her and my father underneath the sheets. I remember dad's words that night: Don't worry, princess, I'll protect you.
The next time I laid in that bed, however, it was just me and mom, the day that dad left our world for good.
A Wishful Blossom
Chapter Ten - Doves: End.