ACT X
"For never was a story of more woe, than this of Juliet and her Romeo." Iinchou's voice resounded despite being hidden behind the curtain. I then heard everyone whispering and muttering under their breaths, commanding each of us to occupy the stage. Numerous quiet footsteps landed on the wooden floor, and we arranged ourselves according to our characters' importance in the play. Of course, being Romeo, I was expected to be in the middle of everyone.
I felt a light hit on my right arm, and an uncomfortable chill ran down my spine. My eyes directed themselves onto the raven-haired inventor beside me. My heart started to beat hard and fast, that I was afraid that even its faintest beat would be heard by all. I looked away, hoping to at least alleviate the anxiety I was in. However, I did not have the slightest idea why I was feeling that way. I closed my eyes, and breathed slowly and deeply, hoping to relax me a bit. When successful, I opened them again.
The rusty pulleys screeched as they were drawn to open the curtains, thus, revealing the bright, yellow and white spotlights. I almost blinded myself just looking at them. Empty chairs were lined before us, however, at the end of the hall, I saw Naru, holding his hands clasped above his head trying to say, Hold each other's hands!
I held the hand of our literally pig-headed classmate, Tachibana, who was doing the role of Friar Laurence. As I turned to my right, I saw a pale, dainty hand held out to me. I felt myself gasp in surprise. I brought my eyes onto her lavender ones, which showed an expression of wonder in them. Snap out of it, Ruka! I told myself. You're just going to hold hands. What is there for you to be scared about? Slowly, I lifted my arm, delivering my hand towards hers. The distance between them grew shorter that I finally reached it. When I was able to lightly touch her finger, I immediately jerked, startling her.
"What's wrong, Ruka-san?" my strange-looking classmate asked me. I knew he felt me twitch, since he was beside me holding my hand. I exhaled, knowing that I had to calm down. I shook my head vigorously, finding for other ways to keep myself from acting strangely. Now that I've relaxed, I looked upon Imai's hand again. I swiftly brought it into mine, feeling a sudden warmth heat my cheeks. Her hand squirmed a little, making me realize that I have been holding her hand very tightly. I loosened my grip a bit, and her hand ceased to move.
At a certain distance, Naru was then again held his hands high, showing a two-thumbs up, indicating that we should be about to bow. We all counted one to three somewhat silently, and lowered our upper bodies, making a 90-degree bow. As we held on that position for a few moments, Imai's hand in mine, I noticed, was really small. It could barely fill my whole palm. Unconsciously, I started to feel the contour of her slim fingers and the smoothness of her skin. Not only that, I noticed that her hand was unexpectedly warmer than the last time I felt it. I suddenly had the urge to hold it tighter again, which I did, and I noticed that her grip in mine became tighter, too. After three seconds, which seemed like forever to me, we all raised our bodies up, finishing our bow. Naru, on the other hand, clapped wildly at us with a grin wider than ever.
"That was wonderful, everybody! You have done it!" He praised us while applauding unceasingly. "Now, I want you take a long rest because you deserve it."
Knowing that our purpose for that day has ended, I took the first step leaving the wooden stage. However, as I started to proceed, I felt something remain in my right hand. I brought my eyes towards it and there was Imai's small hand, still holding mine. All of a sudden, my heart failed to beat and restarted again, bringing me to panic and to let go of her hand. I saw her look at me with surprise, noticing the obvious anxiety governing my senses. The pores of my skin began to excrete large amounts of sweat and everything around me became clammy. I was not able to move, and I was sure she also observed that. Her lavender orbs were directed to me one last time, and she dashed almost immediately towards the exit. My sight never left her until she finally disappeared towards the orange environment outside. During that moment, I felt time go slower as her long, black hair bounced as she took each rapid step. By the time she finally was out of my sight, my hand started to become warm, and I could still feel the phantom outlines of her fingers and hand. I then started to become dizzy, but I didn't hate it. I don't even know why I was starting to grow fond of this incomprehensible feeling I am now in.
"Hotaru-chan!" I heard a male, yet feminine-like voice call from afar. "Hotaru-chan, where are you?" Naru kept calling her name, but no one dared to give him an answer. Thinking that shouting was a drag, I walked towards the far end of the auditorium where he was situated.
"She went out ahead of us, Naru," I informed him. I saw him produce a big sigh and look at a long, white envelope held in three of his fingers. On the envelope was written in a bold and italicized font, HOTARU IMAI.
"I was supposed to give it to her," he complained as his eyes toured the interior of the structure, hoping that I was wrong saying that Imai has left. "Misaki-sensei told me to give it to her since she was practicing with me. Now, how am I going to do it? I still have to pass by Central Town to buy materials for the play."
Hearing those words suddenly blocked all my senses. My heart was the only organ I felt functioning. Everything around me went black, but an image emerged slowly as echoes of my heart beating drummed in the background. Lilac orbs, a small nose, thin pink lips, bright white skin, and glimmering ebony hair painted the dark canvass of my temporary blindness. Immediately, something was placed in my hand, and my consciousness returned. I brought my eyes onto the light object trapped in my somewhat cold hand. It was the envelope which Naru was holding before. He has now given it to me.
"Why are you giving it to me?" I asked him with a tint of annoyance and surprise in my voice.
"What?" He said with obvious confusion written on his face. "You told me that you wanted to give Hotaru-chan the letter yourself."
"I did?" I sounded so foolish asking that. "I don't remember volunteering to do it. Are you sure that you're not just having auditory hallucinations?"
"No," he replied with sureness. "I saw, with my two eyes, you saying, 'If it's not a bother to you, I can give it to her.' I even thanked you for it and gave the letter to you. I think you're the one who is having problems with attention, Ruka-kun."
He articulated his words with such certainty that I believed that he was not lying. My mind then started to roam far, pondering why the heck I would just volunteer doing such dragging errands out of the blue. However, I brought myself back to reality, and seeing Naru's eyes filled with hope, I now consciously agreed to give it to Imai.
"Thank you, Ruka-kun!" He said joyfully while clapping his hands. "I know that I could count on you. I'll leave the letter into your hands." Now, starting to turn his back towards me, he added, "I'll be going then. I still have a lot of things to do. Adieu!"
Finally leaving me, I brought my eyes onto the plain white envelope with Imai's name on it. I then started to wonder what was inside the envelope. However, since it was none of my business, I didn't mind it anymore. I took my leave, proceeding to the dormitory.
-0-
I found myself in front of Imai's wooden door, thinking of my purpose of arrival. With the envelope on my left hand, I raised my right, and was about to strike the surface of the door with my knuckles. However, as the skin of my hand almost reached the door, I hesitated almost immediately. An image of Imai suddenly flashed in front of my eyes. My heart started to drum heavily on the walls of my chest. I then started to wonder, What the heck am I hesitating for? I'm just going to give her the letter, right? It's just that!
I curled my fingers and brought my knuckles near the door again. But, for some unknown I started to whisper under my breath, "Hi, Imai. It's me, Nogi... Of course, you know me. That was stupid of me to mention my name. But, I don't want you to call me stupid." Hearing myself whispering such foolish things, I scratched my head in irritation and slapped my right cheek. What am I so worked up for? I'm just going to give her the letter. That's all! As I was about to attempt to knock again, the door suddenly opened, making me jerk in surprise.
"Is there something you want, Nogi?" Imai's head slipped from the open door. "If you are going to stay like that, talking to yourself, for another second, I'm really going to give in to the temptation of humiliating you in public again."
"I-Imai," I stuttered, still feeling shocked. "Hi. How did you know that I was here the whole time?"
"Have you forgotten who I am?" She said with an egotistic air enter her being. "I'm the famous teenage inventor, Hotaru Imai, who does everything to protect her lair from thieves, spies, and even idiots like you, by installing my self-made security camera on my door. Now, everything has been explained, what are you doing here? You're wasting my time. I still have a lot to do."
I breathed deeply, trying to compose myself after hearing such pestering words from her. After calming myself down, I showed her the envelope, and I saw her eyes grow in surprise. "Naru wanted me to give this to you since he's got to go somewhere and is unable to give this to you."
Her eyes drooped sadly, as she continued to look at the envelope. I noticed that she seemed disappointed. She sighed deeply and took the object from my hand. "Oh, this. Thanks."
I expected that she was going to close the door, like she always does when I come passing by her room. However, at that moment, she didn't. Her lavender orbs stared blankly on that white envelope she held in her hand. I was still anticipating her to get back to her senses, insult me, and slam the door in my face. But, it never happened. She still there, standing, deep in thought, and not moving. After a few moments, she started to tremble, and I was beginning to get worried. What is in that envelope, that even before she has not yet been able to open it, makes her uneasy? Finding the courage to speak, I asked,
"Imai? Is there something bothering you?"
Her senses came back as evidenced by her gasping when I asked her. She looked at me, with her eyes wide open, but she dared not to speak. I looked at the now crumpled envelope in her hand, and I knew everything I wanted to know was inside it. I brought my right hand up and aimed towards that thing that has been disturbing Imai.
"No!" She clasped her hands, with the envelope, near her chest, hoping that I won't do anything to it. I started to wonder, Why is she trying to keep it from me? Is she hiding something? I wanted to know. However, a thought then came into my mind, Why do I even care? She's Imai, right? Those words endlessly echoed inside my mind, and I hated it. It seemed that those words were telling me something I don't want to know. But, I had know clue of what it was. I placed my hands in the pockets of my pants, making it obvious to her that I gave up knowing what she didn't want me to know. Still feeling a bit of frustration, however, I still turned my back, heading towards my room.
As I was about to take my first step, I smelled an unusual odor which I only encounter whenever I was with Natsume and people were annoying him. I tried to recall it, since I was not able to experience it anymore. I remembered the moments whenever I smelled that odor. An image of Sakura's burning hair then appeared before me. My heart started to beat in an unimaginable speed. Smoke. That's it. I smelled smoke. I placed my eyes back to Imai's still open door, and saw black wisps fuming out of her room. Without any second thought, I dashed in her bedroom, into the kitchen, and saw something burning inside her oven. I luckily found a fire extinguisher placed a few feet from her stove and used it to completely quench the fire. Feeling relief after that somewhat heroic deed, I dropped on my knees and breathed deeply to allay the panic I just felt.
"Thank you," I heard that familiar monotonous voice speak to me. "You saved me."
An indescribable feeling then overcame me, leading me to tread towards her and embrace her. I felt her small and frail body squirm so that I will lose hold of her. She kept telling me to get away from her, but it just made me hold her tighter. Various thoughts entered my mind: she, being engulfed in the flames; and I, feeling angry at myself if I was not there to save her. The beating of my heart then began to become irregular. For a few seconds, it would beat in an intense speed, then slow down so slowly that I couldn't even feel if it was still beating. However, feeling her warm body on my trembling one, I calmed down, knowing that she was safe.
"N-Nogi," she tried to push me away, but was not able to do so. "You're hurting me." Her voice somewhat cracked because of breathlessness.
"You're such an idiot!" I shouted at her, not loosing my hold on her. I never planned to. "Why the heck would you put a kitchen inside your room when you don't even cook?" I was out of control, tears started to form from my eyes. I was not able to control them. I sometimes hated being me. I felt so weak crying like that.
"What were you trying to do? Kill yourself?" I continued to shout at her. "I know I have always wanted you to disappear in my life, but I didn't mean it this way! You're such an idiot! An idiot! If you really want to die, then you should ask me to kill you instead!"
I started to feel faint, making me loosen my hold on her. Tears started to flow more, and I was already gasping for air. I wanted to stop my tears from flowing, but I wasn't able to. I hated myself. Why can't I compose myself like Natsume does? This is the reason why Sakura never loved me like she did with Natsume. I'm such a weakling. I'm such a baby. I'm a total loser.
A tingling sensation then radiated on my back, and I felt myself being pulled nearer by Imai. She hid her face on my chest, and I started to calm down. I felt her breaths flowing on my body, warming me up. I tightened my hold on her again, wanting this incomprehensible feeling I was in. Miraculously, my tears stopped flowing, and I found myself not wanting to let go.
"But, even if you tell me that you want me to kill you, I won't," I said to her placing my forehead on her fragrant ebony crown. "You're all I have left. Please, don't leave me."
I didn't like what I said, but I meant it. For some reason, even though I have always loathed her, I have grown attached to her. It seemed that I wanted her presence, despite the fact that I always wanted her to evaporate from my life. But, these past weeks we have been together, made me realize something I have just known, she has always been by my side. She has always been there for me, even if I never asked her to be. This person I have always hated for the past five years, has become my cornerstone, my support, my strength.
"The person you love is not the one who makes you feel weak, but rather, the person who makes you stronger." Sakura's words suddenly resounded in my head. Suddenly, everything has become clearer to me. I looked at the small girl that fitted perfectly in my arms. I didn't want to believe it. I didn't want to believe the feelings I now have for her. I tried to get rid of the thought, thinking I was just out of my mind. However, as my aquamarine orbs continued to adhere on her, my heart told my brain that all that I am thinking now was true. I like Imai. No, I love Imai. I don't know when it happened, or how it came to be. I don't know the reason why, but, I love Hotaru Imai.
"Umph!" I groaned when I felt a sudden dull pain pierce on my abdomen. I lost hold of Imai and saw her showing her bony fist to me.
"I'm thankful that you saved my life and my kitchen, but I don't want to hear such crazy words like 'death' from you," she said while adducting and abducting her fingers. "For your information, I was not trying to kill myself. Who, in the right mind, would kill himself by burning the whole dormitory and bring with him all the occupants here?"
"Then, why was something burning in your oven?" I asked while trying to alleviate the pain on my stomach by massaging it.
She shut her mouth and turned away from me. I was about to force her to answer my question, but she immediately replied, "I was baking a cake for my brother. He's coming to the academy to visit me."
-0-
Subaru Imai, 23 years old, is Hotaru Imai's older brother who is a graduate of the same institution we are in, Alice Academy. He was ranked a special star when he graduated, a former member of the student council, like Natsume, and has an awesome alice which was the healing alice. He was a prominent figure in his time, and he, along with classmate Shuichi Sakurano, were adored by the female populace of the said school. He is confident, produces a cold aura, and is silent, just like his sister. And today, he is going to visit his younger sister after five long years of separation.
"Well, I think it's great that he's visiting you," I said smiling because I knew how excited she was to see her brother.
"No, it's not great!" She almost shouted as she stomped on the floor towards her bed. She sat down, hiding her face in her hands. "I know that he's coming back to check on me if I am excelling as much as he is. On his first year of high school, he was already a special star student, and was a consistent first honor student along with Sakurano-senpai. While I still remain as a three-star, and I can't even surpass Iinchou's average. Furthermore, I'm not a member of the student council. I'm a total failure. He is going to say cold and mean words to me again like he always did. I don't want him to come."
Startled to see her fragile side again, I smiled to myself, knowing that I now had a chance to comfort her in return. My feet somewhat silently brought themselves towards her, and I placed myself on her right to sit. She no longer continued to talk, and she never changed her position. I knew that she was deep in her thoughts. She was helpless, and it was obvious. She just did not want to state it. Of course, this is the Hotaru Imai we are talking about. Showing weakness is a crime to her. But, for some reason, she shows a lot of that to me. I know, however, there is no special meaning behind it.
"What are you still doing here?" She asked, still hiding her face behind her hands. "You have served your purpose here. I have no need of you anymore."
"I just want to ask," I started to speak, while looking at the pitiful, burnt coal cake inside the oven. "If you didn't want him to come, why didn't you tell him? Or rather, if his visiting really annoys you, why still bother to make a cake for him?"
Silence dominated the room. Not a sound was heard from the both of us. We just remained silent, waiting for the moment one of us will be able to speak. However, since I was the one who asked the question, it was she was expected to utter the first word. But, the battle of complete silence went on longer than I thought. I was about to give up when she finally replied.
"I am confused myself," she chuckled as she said those words, and removed her hands from her face. "Even though I don't want him to come, I still want him to come. I know it sounds stupid and incomprehensible, but that's how I feel. And being a younger sister and all, I wanted to give Nii-chan something, even if it is impossible to do. I just want to see the smile I haven't seen for the past five years."
A smile crept on her face, looking more brighter while talking about her brother. It's a pity that I don't know how it feels to have a sibling to take care of, or to look up to. Her mouth never stopped uttering words of obvious happiness, but they all became inaudible to me, for I was in awe looking at Imai overwhelmed with love for her him. Her blank eyes looked that they were brought to life. Her smile was wider than I have ever seen before. Just observing her made my heart at ease, and my body warm up. I have became aware of her more. Her mere playing of her hair, the flutter of her thin eyelashes, the movement of her lips, were all under my attention. This is what love is supposed to be like, right?
Suddenly, we both heard two knocks strike on her door. We remained silent, assuring that what we heard was true. Again, two knocks were made, and we were sure that someone was at the door.
"I'll get that for you," I volunteered. "Maybe it's Sakura. She may have heard the ruckus here. We could ask help from her for the clean up."
I brought myself back on my feet and approached the door. A couple of knocks were heard again before I reached for the doorknob. However, for a second, I felt discomfort and uneasiness engulf my being. For a moment, I was hesitant to open the door. I didn't know why, but I had a feeling that something nerve-racking may happen. But, even so, I settled to conquer my feeling of indecision, and face the person who was asking for me to open the door. My right hand trembled as I placed it on the cold knob. I turned it, and opened the door.
It revealed, then, Subaru Imai.
Finally, I have uploaded the latest chapter. I'm really sorry for the late update, you guys. I'm so busy with school work and amateur voice acting activities that I can't find sufficient time to work with the story. But, don't worry. I'm doing my best to complete this and give you the best reading experience ever!
As usual, I would like to thank the following for reviewing the previous chapter: mHyne, Sakura Keiko, nickanimega02, LunarPeltLuvsU, muzikchic4eva and KidTantei. I greatly appreciate your reviews.
Oh, mHyne asked me if Kimi Ni Todoke has a beautiful story. My answer is, totally. 100%. It made me remember how it is to fall in love again without even being involved in a relationship. It is the ultimate high school life story. It involves both friendship and love. I recommend you to read the manga, and watch the anime.
Anyway, please continue reading and reviewing my manga. Thanks for everything, guys. Bye!