Here is Side Story chapter dedicated for Eli who can't reached for Nozomi in this story...
I Hate Sad Ending for main characters after all :P
The story take place on the day where Honoka and Nozomi plus Umi and Kotori depart to visit Honoka's real mother's grave.
A/N : Reviews reply :
SooHonk : Thank you so much for your support and Yes, it was last chapter, sorry it ends as you encouraged me to keep up the stories, stay tuned for my next story though I don't know when I will write again in front of my graduation thesis :).
K : Thank you as always for your inputs and supports till the end of the stories :).
Lastly, THANK YOU SO MUCH ONCE AGAIN FOR EVERYONE WHO GAVE REVIEWS, FAVORITES, FOLLOWS, AND TIME TO READ MY STORY :)
Enjoy the Side story~~
"Haa…" can be heard from the room where Ayase Eli resides, she sighed many time because she still doesn't understand the meaning of numbers Nozomi gave her. She can only stared at the paper with those numbers written.
"Onee-chan, Dinner is ready…" Arisa entered her sister's room.
"Yeah Arisa, thanks for telling me…" Eli put the paper on her study desk.
"What's that, onee-chan?" Arisa asked Eli about the paper.
"Ah, it's nothing Arisa, Nozomi and I just playing a game of riddle."
"What kind of riddle it is?" Arisa asked full of curiousity
"How about dinner first? I already starving." Eli said while pushing her sister and herself out of the room.
After the dinner, Eli took bath after Arisa, when she returned to the room, Arisa already there reading the numbers Nozomi gave to her, she only sighed.
"Arisa, it's bad habit to reading other people belonging without permission."
"Sorry onee-chan… I'm curious teehee." Arisa said seems doesn't sorry at all.
"You're not sorry at all, aren't you." Eli smiled.
"So, onee-chan… do you already know what this numbers mean?" Arisa asked.
"I'm still nothing…" she sighed.
"I think these numbers are coordinate numbers for GPS." her sister gives opinion about the numbers.
"Eeh?" Eli muttered. How come it's unthinkable before. she sighed internally
"How about you try to input those numbers to GPS on your phone onee-chan?" Arisa give suggestion to her sister.
Eli took her phone and trying inputing the numbers few times since there's no points at number series Nozomi gave her until she found a coordinate inside Tokyo region. The coordinates point at single facility: White Swan Orphanage. This orphanage only around thirty minutes walking distance from Eli's house.
Orphanage? She thinks. What's the connection of this orphanage with Honoka?
"Onee-chan that's quite close distance from here…" Arisa said as she saw the calculated distance.
"Yeah…"
"Want me to accompany you to go there tomorrow?"
"Don't you have appointment with Yukiho tomorrow?" Eli reminded her sister about her appointment.
"Ah! That's right I almost forgot, I asked her to go shopping with me." She said as she remembered her appointment.
"It's okay I will go there alone tomorrow and you should enjoy your date." Eli teased her sister.
"Onee-chan!"
Eli giggled seeing her sister flustered face.
Tomorrow morning 9.54am
Eli who finished seeing her sister off to her date, start preparing herself to go to the orphanage in Nozomi's riddle. Since it's in walking distance, she choose to walk. On the way, she was thinking several hypothesis of connection between Honoka and orphanage. But the most possible hypothesis she take is Honoka was adopted and she found out, but she doubted it because of the almost impossible amount of time she returned to normal even if Nozomi involved in it.
She arrived at the orphanage of her destination, it's quite big orphanage with wide garden, it can be easily mistaken with kindergarten or small school. She went inside without thinking much since the gates are open. Inside the garden she saw many little children with wide range of age playing together, it's like there almost no sadness even though they have no parents.
"Onee-chan, who?" Little girl around 6 years old tugging her sleeve.
"Ah! I definitely not someone suspicious, I only here to sightseeing…" Eli said as she can't think other reason to tell.
"Onee-chan said the one who called themselves not suspicious is suspicious person." the little girl said.
"No, no… I'm really not suspicious person, my name is Ayase Eli." She introduce herself, to reduce the little girl suspicion.
"Ayase Eli? Elichika?" The girl seems know her.
"Yes. I'm from μ's, a local school idol from high school near here." Eli said as she thinks the girl know about her.
Suddenly the girls shouted as she heard μ's.
"EVERYONE! AN ENEMY COME TO ATTACK ONEE-CHAN!"
"EEEHH enemy?" Eli very surprised being called enemy.
Children who heard her shout immediately surround Eli. Seeing there's no escape route, Eli trying to calm them down.
"STATE YOUR BUSINESS COMING HERE, ENEMY!" The little girl yelled at Eli.
"eeh… calm down everyone, I'm not here to do something bad…" Eli tried to calmed them down but ended in failure.
"DO YOU NOT SATISFIED DOING MEAN THINGS TO ONEE-CHAN!" other kids with appearance 9 years old girl shouted at her.
"Mean things?" Eli muttered in question. Also who is this Onee-chan you speak about!
"YOU'RE A HORIBBLE PERSON NOT EVEN REMEMBER DOING MEAN THINGS!" this time boy's voice shouted at her.
When I do something horrible to someone?, as long as I remember I only oppressive to everyone μ's before I finally joined them. She think
"You guys what are you doing to stranger?" New voice can be heard from the direction of main building and walking toward them.
"Onee-chan, an enemy came here to attack you!" a boy said in awe.
"We will definitely protect you from the enemy, Onee-chan!" another boy didn't want to lose. Erena take a good look at who they surrounded and sighed.
"She's not an enemy, she's onee-chan's friend okay… now everyone, return to play in the garden." The one these kids called Onee-chan told them to return to their activities.
"No way she's not enemy, she was the one of those people who made you cried whole night!" the little girl that tugging Eli's sleeve before shouted.
"We heard you crying, Onee-chan" the other kids starting background yelling. She flustered at what those kids yelling and threaten them if they not stopped,
"Don't say that out loud! Now return playing or I will spank all of you one by one."
"Kyaaa Onee-chan spanking is really hurt!" everyone dispersed.
Seeing those kids already dispersed she finally approach Eli who seems shocked by those children action.
"Ayase-san, are you alright?" She asked.
She snapped Eli who in deep thought thinking what kind of mean things she do until so all of them hostile to her. In front of Eli already stand someone tall with violet hair, pale green eyes, and a mole under her left eyes. Someone from μ's rival group, A-Rise, Toudou Erena.
"Toudou-san, why are you here?" Eli surprised by the one who standing in front of her.
"It's my home, you know…" Erena gives straight answer.
"EHH!" Eli more surprised than before.
"Why are you came here Ayase-san? Your family or relatives need children?" Erena asked the question for anyone who have reasons to come to orphanage.
"No, it's not that, it's more personal reason." Eli answered her.
"I see, why don't we talk inside?" Erena said as she point to the main building.
Eli looks at her surrounding, every pairs of eyes still watching her attitude, as if she entered snake's den, every snakes eyed on their prey.
"That's would be good idea." Eli start sweating.
How can these children already have stares of a killer! She screamed at her mind
"Follow me then…" Erena guiding her to the main building.
"Sorry for intruding." Eli said before entering the building.
"Just make yourselves home. Why don't you sit there? I'll make you some tea." Erena said as she pointed to the sofa at the lobby.
"Thank you." Eli said as she made way to sit at the sofa.
Not long Erena already returned with a cup of tea.
"Sorry for children's behavior before…" Erena said as she put the tea in the tables before sitting in front of Eli.
"It's okay… I'm just surprised how children here love you so much…" Eli shaken in fear.
"hehe, thank you…" Erena giggled.
"Then Ayase-san… What kind of personal 'reason' bring you to orphanage?" Erena suddenly became serious.
"Just call me Eli, Toudou-san…"
"Then you can also call me Erena, Eli-san."
"Okay…"
"Can you take a look at this?" Eli took out the piece of paper and give it to Erena.
"numbers? This is coordinates of this orphanage." Erena said as she read the numbers in the paper Eli gave to her.
"Exactly."
"That still doesn't answer my question."
"Three days ago, our center Honoka, suddenly became like someone different and seems depressed by something…" Eli started her story.
"Someone like Kousaka-san could be depressed, that's quite new to hear." Erena giggled.
"Yesterday, she suddenly became hyperactive more than usual, when I asked Nozomi, she said she was told to kept it secret but she leaving me with those numbers, saying that's was the only clue leading to Honoka's problem."
"I see." Erena suddenly stopped her giggling.
"Since I wasn't sure about it, I came here hoping to get something more concrete."
"Curious one aren't you, Eli-san… It's not good you know, prying on someone's problem. Don't you think it's very rude to make speculations about someone problems, especially someone who close to you?" Erena said in sarcastic tone.
Eli quite shocked that Erena said same things as Nozomi,
"You're right… maybe I'm bit desperate…" Eli lowered her head.
"Desperate for what? Proving that you can answer the riddle from Nozomi-san, do you think she will proud of you even though she was the one providing the clue?" Erena yelled at her with angry tone.
Erena's word stabbed deep to Eli's heart. She knows, she still not giving up Nozomi even though she said she will backed out, she still hoping her confession to be failure so she can snatched her back. The jealousy she felt toward Honoka, was strong enough to blinded her to see the true purpose behind Nozomi's riddle(though Nozomi really gave it for Eli to pull her own conclusion.), until Erena slapped it to her.
"I'm sorry Erena-san… thank you for opening my eyes." She lifted her head and smiled but there a single trail of water come from her left eye.
"It's our job after all to guide lost child…" Erena leaning forward wiping her tear.
"If you have any other problems you can always talk to me…" Erena proudly declared.
Eli drink her tea to calmed herself down.
"Thank you Erena-san, then I will take your offer immediately… Can I ask some pointers in romance?"
"ro-ro-romance!?" Erena stuttered.
"Yes."
"What kind of pointers you need?" Erena asked as she can't take the words she said before.
"What should I do if the one I had crush on loves other person?" Eli asked with sad smile on her face.
Erena fell silent upon hearing Eli's problem.
"Erena-san?" Eli snapped her from her silence.
"...I don't know…" Erena lowered her head.
"So we're on the same boat…" Eli said as she saw Erena's reaction.
Erena only able to put depressed face.
"It's hurt very much, when you confessing only to find they already have someone they love." Erena said.
"Yeah…"
"But I can't be selfish with them anymore…" Erena took deep breath before she continue,
"Do you know the biggest reason A-Rise exist Eli-san?"
"To become the best?" Eli took a random guess. Erena shook her head,
"To promote me, so I can meet my parents who threw me away."
"So they knew that you're living here?" Erena nodded.
"Because they knew, A-rise was born. But even with A-Rise winning the first love live! Event, no one come here to met me claiming to be my parents." Her tears finally spilled.
Eli fell silent this time.
"Tsubasa said we need to be more famous than before. But we were stopped by you all." Erena look at distance, remembering when they lost to μ's, her two friends cried as they muttered "We're sorry" many many times to her. Erena tried to be strong that time, she finally broke to tears after arriving at her room.
So that's why those children outside was so angry at us.
"I'm really sorry…" Eli apologized as she can't think another words.
"Don't be Eli-san… I heard μ's created to stopped Otonokizaka from closure right?" Eli nodded at Erena's remark.
"Too be honest, after that I don't have much faith that my parents are still around, But Tsubasa and Anju still not given up to help me..." Erena tried to smile.
"I see."
"They gave their all, for a sake of someone who can't even do anything to repay them." Erena broke to tear again.
"That's why I can't be more selfish with them anymore…"
"I see…" This time Eli leaning forward toward Erena to wiped her tears.
"Erena-san, you're much more mature than me… Even though they called me cool or mature, I'm just a child inside."
"When I confessed to Nozomi and got rejected because she love someone else, I still pushing myself to her. When I realized the one she loves also love her, the first thing I wish, hoping that they're never get chance to confess. Horrible ain't I…" Eli said with wry smile.
"We're just humans after all Eli-san… but do you know there's this kind of saying If you really love someone, If they happy even not with you, you will still happy for them." Erena smiled.
"I know, but it still hurt so much… thinking that we can't be together." Eli put sad smile.
"Then Eli-san, are you free after this?" Erena suddenly asked.
"I'm free…" Eli answered.
"How about we going for a date?" Erena suggested something that unexpected.
"Date!?" Eli surprised in disbelieve of what she just heard.
"Yeah a date." Erena confirmed her, while Eli tried to calm down,
"Well, alright… rather than feeling our time with grieves let's have fun." Eli accepted.
"That's the spirit. I let the director know first that I'm leaving and prepare myself first." Erena said as she stand up.
"Okay." Eli smiled.
Erena leave her alone in the lobby, she suddenly felt the glares once again, she saw many children already watching her from outside of glass door with scary expression. She tried so hard to ignore them, since they also kind enough not to came anywhere near her. From their perspectives outside its looks like she made Erena crying, because they can't see her also spilling some tears through their conversation.
Not long Erena return to lobby with fully gear up for a date. Eli saw her appearance and captivated for few seconds before averted her eyes from the member of rival group.
"Sorry for waiting Eli-san, I'm ready to go…"
"Y-yeah let's go… but I'm kinda scared to go out from here." Eli eyes directed to the children outside.
"As long you're with me you will be fine." Erena assured her.
"Before we go, take this…" Erena gave her a pair of glasses.
"Glasses?"
"Yeah, for some disguise, don't you think it will bad if someone saw us together like this?"
"You're right." Eli put the glasses on.
Erena giggled "You looks more mature with those glasses on, Eli-san."
Eli face became hot when Erena praised her.
"Let's go" Erena hugged Eli's left arm and guide her outside the building, walking toward bunch of kids that ready to kill her.
"Onee-chan, where are you going with this lady?"
"Onee-chan will go to a date with this lady… you guys be a good kids or Onee-chan will spank you." Erena said with wide smile that doesn't reach her eyes.
"Y-y-yes Onee-chan…" The children back out after hearing Erena's threat.
"That's good… I'm going everyone…"
"Have a safe trip Onee-chan…"
When other kids distracted Erena, Little girl appeared at Eli's right hidden from Erena tugging Eli's sleeve. When Eli facing at her, she show 'If you made her cry again we will kill you' face and her thumb made gesture of slitting neck. Eli flinch a bit seeing these kids extreme love toward Erena. After they walk quite distance away from the orphanage,
"Where are we going?" Eli finally asked her.
"Then let's go to shopping mall." Erena start dragging Eli again.
"Yes, yes…" Eli resigned to be lead by Erena.
When arrived at the shopping mall, they started browsing for clothes and accessories, doing windows shopping. Eli absorbed in accompanying Erena until she forget who also doing shopping today. Until she heard her own sister,
"Yukiho! Let's go there! This shop has many cute accessories…" Arisa shouted as she leading her girlfriend to sightseeing in same accessories shop that Eli and Erena browsing.
How I could forget Arisa also in the shopping mall! She screamed inside her mind.
"Erena-san it seems we need to move from here…" Eli tried to urge Erena to leave.
"Why?" Erena asked the reason.
"My sister is here…"
"My, my, is it very bad if we met her?"
"I don't want to ruin their date." Erena giggled at Eli and said,
"Then shall we move on?"
"Let's go" Eli grabbed Erena hand and leading her out of the shop in hurry, but her sister's girlfriend saw them leaving the shop,
"Eli-san?" she muttered.
"What's wrong Yukiho?" Arisa asked,
"Maybe it just my imagination, but I saw just Eli-san leaving from this shop." Yukiho answered.
"Onee-chan? Is her business in orphanage already done?" Arisa tilted her head.
"Orphanage?" Yukiho reacted at the word orphanage.
"It's nothing Yukiho…" Arisa tried to calmed her lover.
"Arisa, what do you mean by orphanage? Why she went there?" Yukiho started to barrage her with questions.
"I don't know the details but, apparently Nozomi-san leaving her with coordinate numbers that point to an orphanage." Arisa answered Yukiho.
"I must talk to her Arisa, It's important!" Yukiho grabbed her hand and tried to run after Eli, but there's resistance from Arisa from being pulled, Yukiho look back.
"Why? Is it more important than our date?" Arisa said with sad face, her tears also already threatening to spilled.
"Maybe its more important right now, for onee-chan's sake..." Yukiho lowered her head.
"Who is more important to you Yukiho, me or Honoka-san?" Arisa already started crying.
"You both are important to me! But it's delicate matter for onee-chan!" Yukiho almost shouted, she lean forward toward Arisa's ear and muttered in low voice so others than Arisa couldn't hear it,
"Onee-chan is not my real sister…"
"eeh..?" Arisa could not process what she just heard.
Yukiho put her index finger in front of Arisa mouth before she started screaming.
"That's why I need to meet with Eli-san... Also please keep it secret okay, for me..." Yukiho said as move her hands to wiped Arisa's tear, Arisa nodded in understanding.
"I understand let's search for her. You still remember her appearance?" Arisa asked since she didn't saw her sister figure.
"She was wearing dark green blouse without her usual ponytail. Also there's someone else with her." Yukiho started described the features.
"Someone else?" Arisa tilted her head.
"I don't know who, I only catch a glimpse of long violet hair." Yukiho described someone who run together with Eli.
"Nozomi-san?" Arisa took a guess.
"That's not gonna possible, their height are different. Anyways let's catch up with them." Yukiho quickly denied it because she knows there's no way Nozomi would be here.
"Uhm!"
Eli and Erena went quite far from the shop where she saw Yukiho and Arisa, they stopped at near fountain surrounded by benches hoping they not seen and followed them.
"Are we lost them yet?" Erena asked while panting.
"Looks like they not even following us…" Eli checking her surrounding.
"I see, how about we take that empty seat." Erena said while pointing an empty bench near the fountain in open area of the shopping mall.
"Do you want something to drink?" Eli said as she saw a vending machine nearby.
"Grape soda would be nice…" Erena opened her purse "Here's the money."
Eli received it and went to the vending machine. She put the money and buy two cans of grape soda.
"Here…" Eli gave one of the can to Erena. "Thank you Eli-san."
Eli take a seat before both opened their grape soda and drink them.
"I'm sorry, I forgot my sister have plan to go here with a friend." Eli Apologized.
"Don't be Eli-san, it's fun anyway to do a secret date. It's like we have forbidden date because of two rival that fell in love."
Erena only joking around but Eli took it seriously and her face became hot.
"I-I see…" Eli looks down to her tights, hoping that Erena doesn't saw her face.
"Kayo-chin, this crepes is very delicious~."
"R-rin-chan, your voice are too loud."
Why those two also here! She suddenly looks up and released voiceless screamed once again.
"Eli-san we're gonna run again?" Erena said as she looked at Eli's expression also because she also knew those voices.
"Yeah, I'm sorry our date became like this…"
"Its fun in its own way Eli-san, let's go before they saw us." Erena and Eli finished their drink immediately, threw the cans at nearby trash bin and running once again.
"Eli-chan…" Hanayo muttered as she saw her senior silhouette, running away from them.
"Eli-chan? Where is she?" Rin who heard Hanayo muttered Eli's name, looking around searching for Eli.
"No never mind Rin-chan, I must be mistaken with someone else." Hanayo tried to deny it.
Rin immediately looking at Hanayo's line of sight before she return her gaze to Rin and saw 2 peoples running hand in hand and one of them are blonde.
"Eli-chan spotted! C'mon Kayo-chin lets finished the crepes and follow them."
"Eh you can't Rin-chan, we should not disturbed Eli-chan." Hanayo tried to stopped Rin.
Rin quickly stuffed the crepes to her mouth and grabbed Hanayo's hand and running through the crowd to chase Eli.
"Somebody save me!" Hanayo screamed.
"Did we lost them?"
"It seems so…"
"If we met another acquaintances, let's just leave from here." Eli suddenly declared.
"Why we leaving, isn't it fun doing something like this once in a while." Erena tried to calm her down.
Eli only smiled,
"You really like thriller Erena-san." Erena only replied her with giggle.
"How about we hide at the game center?" Erena said as she saw the game center corner near them.
"That's nice idea but my intuition said we will meet another acquaintances there." Eli sighed.
"Then let's see who will we meet there…" Erena pulled her again.
"It can't be helped if you are the one wanted to go…" Eli smiled.
"Let's go…"
They made way to the game center, inside there's many type of arcade games, crane games with various plushies reward, many other games. There's a crowd gathering at Dancing game, shouting the name of Maki and Nico as they played the dance game. They both hiding in the other side of crane games box seeing them from afar.
"See what I mean…" Eli sighed.
"There's really one inside the game center." Erena chuckled.
"Looks like Nico sightseeing with her family and Maki accompanied them." Eli said as she saw Nico's sisters and her mother sitting in the bench near the where the crowd gather around.
"Background dancer." An innocent voice can be heard from behind them.
Eli who surprised, turned around and look down. There's exist younger male version of Nico.
"Kotarou-kun, what are you doing here?" Eli asked.
"Onee-sama, dancing..." He said innocently while pointing to her sister.
"Kotarou-kun, I give you this, but don't tell you sister I'm here." Eli said as she gave Kotarou a candy from her bag.
"Understand…" Kotarou nodded, and take the candy from Eli and ate it before returning to where his family waiting.
"Eli-san it is not good to bribe a child you know…" Erena tried to scold her.
"Just this once…" Eli smiled.
Nico, who already finished dancing with Maki resting at bench near the dance games.
"Kotarou, from where are you?" Nico asked her little brother who missing before.
"Sightseeing…"
"What if you lost your way and can't return here!" Nico suddenly shouted.
"Nico-chan, don't be so hard at him, he looks scared now." Maki patting his head to calmed him down.
"Sorry Kotarou… I don't know what to do if I lose you..." Nico also patting her brother's head.
"Sorry, Onee-sama…" Kotarou also apologized after hearing her sister also apologizing.
Nico noticed something different at Kotarou.
"Kotarou from where you got that candy?" Nico asked
"Blondie Background dancer." Kotarou innocently answered the question.
"blond— Eli?" Kotarou nodded and then pointing to where Eli and Erena is hiding.
From there, Eli and Erena immediately run after hearing "Blondie Background Dancer", Nico and Maki only catch a glimpse Eli and someone running together from game center.
"Eli wait!" Nico shouted but her blonde friend not even showing a sign she will stop.
"Mama, I'm leaving, there is emergency! Let's go Maki-chan." Maki nodded.
"Have a safe trip you two…" Mrs. Yazawa waved at them.
Nico and Maki started running to chase Eli, whose on the run with someone.
"You're definitely the one blamed for this…" Erena panting hard since the chased quite close so its hard to shake them off.
"I'm sorry…" Eli apologized while panting.
"If you're sorry then buy me another grape soda."
"I will, after we get out of this mess."
"Then it's a promise." Erena smiled at Eli.
"Eeh." Eli also smiled.
"Anju, how many more you wanted to buy?" Erena and Eli heard familiar name got called nearby and turn toward the voice. They saw reddish brown haired girl, Yuki Anju paired with light brown haired girl, Kira Tsubasa. Both of them carry many bags with different colors from different boutiques around the shopping mall.
"Until my credit card hit the limit." The reddish brown haired replied.
"Eeh! Isn't Your credit card unlimited!" The light brown disbelieved the remark her girlfriend made.
"There's still many shops that we not entered yet." Anju still not satisfied with all the bags they both carry.
"If Erena see this, we will be lectured for who knows how long…" Tsubasa sighed.
"It's fine, it's impossible for her to be here today." Anju said with confidence.
Erena palmed her face seeing her best friend throwing money around and the other one cannot even stopped her.
"Sorry Eli-san looks like we can't hide from this one…" Erena said in irritated voice.
"I understand…" Eli only smiled.
Erena approaching her best friends from behind.
"Kira-san, Yuki-san, may I have your autograph?" Erena said with polite monotonous tone.
Chills suddenly emerged at their spine, hearing very polite voice from 'should be a fan'.
"Anjuuu… You said it's impossible for her to be here!" Tsubasa panicked hearing Erena's voice
"I also don't understand! She never went out here expect there's needs for orphanage and you know she just went here last week!" Anju also panicked.
"Ohooo… Now A-Rise members are arrogant peoples that not care for their 'fan'?" Erena smiled.
"Run, RUN Tsubasa!" They both immediately run from Erena.
After the two are nowhere to be seen, Eli approached Erena who standing still in her spot.
"You not gonna chase them?" Eli asked.
"There's no need to after chase them, this should stopped Anju from overshopping." Erena sighed "I can lecture them tomorrow anyway." Erena smiled.
"I see…"
Suddenly stomach's rumble can be heard from Eli. Her face immediately became red.
"I'm sorry…" Eli blushed.
"There's nothing wrong, you know…" Erena laughed "It's already quite late for lunch because we are running around from your collagues."
"How 'bout the family restaurant on ground floor?" Eli suggested.
"Sounds like a plan." Erena replied.
They quickly made their way to the ground floor while looking out for their groups of pursuer. Arriving at the restaurant without meeting with any of them, they picking the most secluded table that can hide them, so they can eat with ease. After that they ordered what they wanted for the meal,
"Erena-san can I ask some questions?" Eli started the conversation.
"As long it's not about my romance life, fine I guess." Erena give her okay.
"That's not it, of course." Eli smiled. "What are you will do after you're graduated?"
"I'm will continue my studies in X women college since I got recommendation for free tuition." Erena give quick answer,
"It's coincidence, X women college happened to be my first choice." Eli said with enthusiasm.
"Why are you choosing that one?" Erena asked.
"It's good college if I say, also it's near Otonokizaka high, since my sister will enrolled there after I graduated." Eli answered the reason.
"Can't let her live alone?" Erena asked.
"Yeah…"
"You're a good sister Eli-san…" Erena praised Eli.
"Thank you…" Eli blushed.
Their meal finally arrived, and both of them continue their talk while eating.
"By the way Eli-san, you're ex-student council president, why are you not getting in by recommendation?" Erena asked because she not heard Eli's name among the competitors for recommendation.
"...Maybe it will sound conceited, My parents said I should go for entrance exam, because they say they still could pay my tuition and they say I should give chance for them who not as lucky as me." Eli reluctantly tell her
"I see…" Erena smiled.
"Are you also have another reason choosing that college, Erena-san?" Eli asked.
"same as you Eli-san, so I can return to orphanage anytime to help there." Erena replied.
"Harasho…"
"How about Nozomi-san?" Erena suddenly asked.
"Nozomi, huh…" Eli sighed.
"her first choice was Z college at Osaka." Eli continued.
"That's quite Elite University she choose..." Erena surprised.
"She said she's already accepted there." Eli said.
"Why she choose somewhere far?" Erena asked again.
"She never told me anything but from her personality I know, she meant to avoid the one she fell love with if she failed to confess." Eli put sad face.
"That's quite extreme measure she took there…" Erena said.
"Yeah, she is always like that." Eli said,
"Looks like you fell in love with troublesome person Eli-san."
"Yeah…" they both fell silent.
"Then how about you Erena-san? Who's the one you choose between those two." Eli changed the subject.
"I thought I already said anything expect romance…" Erena frowned.
"Sorry going with the flow, because you asked about Nozomi." Eli winked at her.
Erena smiled "It's alright I'll make it an exception."
"The one I like was Anju…" Erena give straight answer.
"Why Yuki-san?" Eli asked.
"Because she was the most stubborn person I ever met." Erena said with smile.
Erena started telling Eli how the first she met with Anju, how she fell in love with her, how she caused disputes Anju with her parents ended with her running from home and live in the orphanage with her for a while.
"That's quite story you have there Erena-san…" Eli said in disbelieve.
"Most people would not believe if they heard it though…" Erena sighed.
"If its other people who told me that I'm pretty sure to shrugged it off." Eli smiled. "Then how she agreed to return home?"
"Her parents came to the orphanage personally to pick up Anju and they said they wanted to adopt me as their child." Erena continued her story.
"And you declining their offers I assume?" Eli asked.
"Yeah, it just doesn't felt right to me back then. They fiercely opposed Anju befriend with me, suddenly change their mind and wanted to adopt me. That's quite creep me out, But instead of calling me arrogant, her mother suddenly hugged me, that maybe the first time I fell a motherly hug from someone." Erena put somehow happy smile. "After that, Anju return home with her parents."
"The next day, a construction company came to our orphanage on short notice and it became as you see this morning." Erena continued.
"Harasho…" Eli muttered.
"It's unbelieveable right?" Erena smiled.
"That's rich people for you…"
Erena giggled at Eli.
"The real reason they wanted to adopt me quite something..."
"What is that?" Eli asked curiously.
"Back on the middle school Anju got many private tutors, even with that she never even make it to top 50, but when she on the run, she managed to enter top 5 when she only studies with me. So they want me to supervising Anju..., Also to restricted her from what she just do today..." Erena sighed.
Eli giggles,
"That's true, That's must be supervised strictly." Eli remembering when they met with Anju and Tsubasa brought many bags.
"Even without me, she should be able to manage herself by now…" Erena sighed again.
"Maybe she feel lonely without you, when you all splitting after graduated?"
"No way, Anju and Tsubasa also will enter same university as us…"
"Initially, her parents willing to pay my tuition for study at T university, but since I can't take advantage their kindness, I declined their offer once again. And they forced Anju to study there too." Erena said.
"Her parents really give you full trust to supervise their daughter." Eli smiled.
"Maybe because of that, in her eyes, I'm nothing more than a big sister who caring for her little sister. So she ended up choosing Tsubasa over me." Erena put sad face.
"At least, she's not cruel enough to forsaken you…"
"Yeah…" Erena tried to smile.
After sometime of silence, Eli watching their surrounding.
"Looks like we should move from here…" Eli said after looking around the restaurant.
"Our pursuer?" Erena asked the reason they should move.
"No… but this restaurant quite crowded, and we also already finished eating." Erena looks around the restaurant and it's quite packed.
"Considerate as always Eli-san… Let's go."
They both stand up and move toward the cashier to pay for their lunchs.
"Where we going now Erena-san?"
"Let's browse some shops more before leaving, let's hope we not met anyone we knew again."
"Sounds nice."
Eli and Erena returned to the shop where they almost met with Yukiho and Arisa, looking around if its safe and start their second windows shopping sessions. During this second windows shopping, many feeling twirling around inside Eli, she felt something different feeling for Erena after hearing many things about her, she knew it is the same feeling she feels for Nozomi, but on the other side, she felt guilty if she using Erena as impingement for her unfulfilled feeling for Nozomi.
"Eli-san… are you alright?"
"Ah, sorry Erena-san… I'm spaced out."
Erena putting sour face seeing Eli spaced out. "Do you thinking about Nozomi-san?"
"No… it's something different…" Her eyes swimming around when answering that.
"Liar… I'm going home…" Erena turned around and walk away from Eli before started running and cut through the crowd.
"…" Eli silently trying to reach her but failure.
It can't be ended like this! She clenched her fist and chase after Erena. Eli followed Erena cutting through the crowd with ease, she avoiding the crowd as if she dancing on the stage, trying to be faster as possible so she not lost sight of Erena. At front gate she lost sight of Erena.
I lost sight of her… What I should do now… Eli clenched her hands once more.
"My, Ayase-san what are you doing out here?" Someone greeted her.
"Kira-san… Yuki-san…" Eli called the name of couple that greet her.
"Yuki-san, do you happened to know where Erena-san went if she troubled?" Eli straightly asked about Erena.
"Erena? She only have two place to go… but let's hope she's on the park near the orphanage. It's almost impossible for strangers to enter the other one…" Anju said.
"Thank you Yuki-san, see you later!" Eli run again with full speed.
"So that's why Erena was in the shopping mall today." Anju sighed. "She got company today, that's why she was here today…" Anju sighed again.
"Hopes it turns well for Erena too… and hopes she forget about today by tomorrow..." both of them sighed, knowing what will happened to them if they met Erena.
Eli running through the street toward orphanage, near the orphanage there's small park, she saw it when they walked to shopping mall. Arriving at the park, it's already empty of human. She searching her surrounding, a figure of human can be seen at one of the swing. She decided to approach it.
"Erena-san…" Eli called, Erena seems surprised Eli knew that she's here,
"Why are you here Eli-san?" Erena asked.
"To meet you." Eli answered her question.
"Why you want to meet me?" Erena asked again.
"To fulfill our promise…" Eli said as she gave Erena a can of grape soda. "I owe you this." Eli said with big smile.
Erena finally looked up to Eli.
"I'm really sorry for doing something despicable…" Eli finally apologized after Erena stare directed at her, followed with a bow.
"You're not doing anything wrong, it's not like we dating or anything…" Erena tried to deny Eli's apology.
"Then why are you angry when I thinking someone else?" Eli asked.
"I…" Eli cut Erena's word before she can finished it,
"Erena-san, I like you… We barely know each other but I like you." Eli confessed to her.
"!" Erena's train of thought can't follow the words Eli just said.
"But I don't want to hear you answer now… because I know you will reject me." Eli continued.
"Why are you so sure that I will reject you right now?" Erena asked with irritated voice.
"Because there's no way I can replace your old love with just few hours hang out." Eli said as she put sad face.
"Why are you like me, is not it the same as you?"
"Yeah… That's why I'm pretty sure you will reject me…"
"…" Erena fell silent at Eli's words.
"I don't wish you just become a replacement for Nozomi." Eli finally said her true feeling.
"Why are we thinking the same thing…" Erena sighed but relieved smile still painted at her face.
"Maybe we really meant for each other…" Eli tried to lighten the mood.
"What is that, so lame…" Erena giggled.
"You maybe right…" They both laughed.
"Sorry Eli-san, I can't return your feeling right now." Erena finally said her rejection.
"We can start as friends first, after all we got four years ahead of us to know about each other more." Eli said with smiled.
Erena stand from the swing she sit on and kissed Eli on the cheek.
"Proof for our friendship." She whispered.
Eli's face immediately became red.
"How cute…" Erena teased her.
"Erena-san!" Eli said in flustered face.
After things calmed down,
"Erena-san, How about we exchange numbers?" Eli took out her phone.
Erena also took out her phone, "Here Eli-san."
After exchanging numbers,
"Sorry Eli-san ,it seems I should return to orphanage to help cook dinner."
"Want me to accompany you back?" Eli offered herself.
"No need Eli-san, its practically next door after all." Erena declined.
"I see… Can we hang out again in near future?" Eli asked.
"Just mail me then." Erena said as she show her phone.
"Till we meet again later..." Erena waved as walked away from Eli.
"Bye…" Eli waved back at her.
On the way back home, Eli skipping out of happiness, but little she know, what kind of ambush waiting for her at home.
This is the end of the Side story :)
Thank you very much for reading :D