Their Memories of Fukinara High (Foundations of Friendship)
Chapter 14 – Distress in the firefly
Hello once again, I'm so so so ecstatic that I'm finally able to write stories again! This chapter may be slightly long not because of the story but the foreword and afterword. But it is important to always know what the author is thinking you know?
Talk to you later, now bringing you the long-awaited new series of "Their memories of Fukinara High"… "Foundations of Friendship"
Thank you for waiting for so long.
"Yo, Hotaru," Aki smiled when Hotaru came into the kitchen one day. "You are really early from school today, aren't you?" Hotaru didn't reply as usual. But he walked over to the cupboard, took out a frying pan, and started whacking his head with it. "HOTARU!" Akira ran forward to stop him, in his frantic, accidentally tripped over.
When Yuya came in a few seconds later, she saw Hotaru and Aki sprawled on the floor, fighting for the frying pan. "I didn't see anything unusual or childish," she muttered before going to her room.
"Shinrei, I'm worried for Hotaru." Aki told Shinrei while setting out the table.
"Ha! About time," Shinrei chuckled as he placed the plates of food on the table mats. "Aren't you a little slow for that?"
If Aki could roll his eyes, he would. "I mean, he's acting weird today. He came home, grabbed the frying pan and whacked his head with it."
"Oooh, now I didn't know his absent-mindedness goes to such far extents… Okay okay, I get your point!" Shinrei exclaimed, grinning as Aki turned in his direction for the longest time. "I'll go call him down for dinner and we'll ask him what's the matter okay?"
"There's no use," Aki shrugged. "He wouldn't budge out of the room now. Locked himself up."
Yuya was leaning against the wall outside the kitchen. Softly, she climbed up the stairs to where her orange-haired tenant stayed.
"Hotaru-kun, can you open up the door please?" Yuya knocked on the door gently. "It's me, Yuya-san." There was no answer. "If you don't open in 5 seconds, I'll call the contractor to install air-conditioners and paint your room BLUE!" She used her last resort, kicking the door at the same time.
Almost immediately, the door opened. Hotaru nodded at Yuya, and his eyes betrayed his casual action.
"You look horrible," Yuya commented as she slipped into the room before Hotaru could close the door on her again. "Come, let's go for dinner!"
"Go away and leave me alone."
"What happened?" She asked concernedly while he plopped himself against the balcony door.
"Nothing."
"Right, use that to fool Shinrei, but you can't use that against m-" He didn't reply her, but he gave her a look that told her not to continue her interrogation. "Well… alright," She sighed. "If I can't be that much of a confidant then do you want someone else you can talk to? Like Akizu-"
"Get out."
"But-" and she this time was greeted with a glare so deathly she almost fled from the room. She caught her breath and calmed herself down at the same time.
"Yuya-san, did you go and talk to Hotaru?" Shinrei inquired as he saw the stunned blonde with her green eyes wide open. With a nod as the reply, he continued. "He won't come for dinner?"
"Shinrei-kun," Said she slowly. "Did… anything happen between Hotaru-kun and Akizuki-san today?"
Shinrei pondered for a moment. "I didn't hear of anything much. But now that you've mentioned it, Akizuki wasn't much of herself after lunch break and they didn't talk much. What's wrong?"
"Strange," she muttered to herself. "Is it okay if you can help me ask around for the details?" Meeting Shinrei's quizzical look, she added, "It could be the reason to why Hotaru-kun is so dejected?"
The light-haired teenager nodded, and having decided that Hotaru need some time to cool down alone, Yuya and Shinrei headed down for dinner.
"Yuya-san!" Shinrei cried as he ran to catch up with her.
"Ahh!! Good morning Shinrei-kun!" Rurumi exclaimed, nudging Miko to follow suit.
"Good… good…. Good morning Shinrei-kun!" Miko exclaimed, blushing to the roots of her hair.
Yuya would have been amused to see Miko in such a fluster, but the idea of Shinrei looking for her was very suspicious, because not many people (including Rurumi and Miko) knew that Shinrei's her tenant.
Shinrei smiled warmly at Yuya's friends, who gushed back in reply. Then Shinrei looked at Yuya urgently. "Yuya-san, I need to talk to you abou-"
"Rurumi and Miko-san, why don't you go back to class first? I'll join you after that!"
"Suspicious!" Rurumi glanced at Yuya doubtfully.
"Erm… it's about the DJ Benitora," Shinrei added. "You know, the one who confesses to Yuya? He's in the middle of doing something really stupid in declaration of his love to Yuya-san. I'm the closest person in the situation then to rush to Yuya-san."
Thank you Shinrei-kun. She looked at him thankfully as her friends went off, and he winked back.
"Okay, I found out what happened between Hotaru and Akizuki-san. But I'm warning you, it'll shock you." Yuya nodded, prompting him to continue. Shinrei took a deep breath. "Akizuki-san confessed to Hotaru about her feelings."
Silence.
"I… You…. She… I mean… Isn't it great? Apart from the initial… shock?" She gestured frantically to compensate the inability to talk properly.
"Yeah… Of course! But… her plan kind of foiled 'cause the idiot allowed the guys in our class to read her confessional letter."
"What?!" Yuya grimaced, wondering how she would feel if her love-letter was read to the whole class by Kyo's classmates. Erasing the image of a bunch of seniors sniggering off her mind, she asked. "So she found out, and they aren't talking to each other?"
"Akizuki-san, wait up!" One of Shinrei's classmates Gintaro called from the end of the walkway. The black-haired girl walked away solemnly from him as fast as possible. "Akizuki-san, it's a misunderstanding! Hotaru didn't want us to read the letter, but we insisted on reading it! Akizuki-" and Gintaro presently stopped and as Akizuki Hotaru spun around, Yuya and Shinrei couldn't help but overhear her (they were only 5 steps from each other).
"Gintaro. Stop," She said through gritted teeth, ignoring the formalities. "Trying to talk for Hotaru anymore, you haven't even answered for your own nosiness. If you continue to pester me I'll make it my objective to make your life miserable before I graduate." She then walked off with an annoyed face, but the face brightened immediately when she saw Yuya and Shinrei. And then, realizing that they heard what she told Gintaro, she grinned sheepishly. "Sorry for horrible scene just now, I'm just not in a good mood, and I got to go for lessons now. See you later!" After receiving Yuya's and Shinrei's nods, stunned. She strode off, her face resuming the stoic and irritated look.
"That is one champion," Shinrei commented. "To be able to change her facial expressions so easily."
"Ah, Gintaro-kun is gone, darn, I thought I could ask him something, but never mind." Yuya shrugged and bade Shinrei goodbye, thanking him for the newly acquired information.
Rurumi jumped on Yuya the minute she walked into the classroom. "Since when are YOU and Shinrei-kun on such good terms?"
"What do you mean?"
"I know you are acquaintances with him when you introduced him to us, but how close are you two anyway?"
"Oh," answered Yuya, a little amused. "Through Benitora?"
The answer seems to satisfy Rurumi slightly. "Just… Don't hurt Miko-chan okay?" Rurumi lowered her eyes and sighed. "It's bad enough that Akizuki Hotaru got Hotaru curled in her finger. Just hope that Shinrei doesn't get taken away."
Rurumi and Miko are cousins, and Miko being the shyer of the two, is constantly taken care of by Rurumi. However, Yuya was indignant about what she said. But she swallowed her annoyance and asked, "Oh yes, I heard some announcement from the public announcement system just now. What is it about?"
"Oh, it's just some administrative announcement for our school fair."
Yuya nodded happily. "I hope we'll be able to do better in our sales compared to last year."
What they are referring to is the annual school fair, held on the last day of the school term, before they enjoy their winter holidays. It is usually one of the biggest events of the year, and every class in this period is given a chance to set up their own enterprise for the day.
"I agree with you," said Rurumi. "Thanks to our new recipe, we can sell Takoyaki balls once again!"
"I wonder what is Shinrei-kun's class doing?" Miko, who just joined them, wondered aloud.
"They are doing some Martian pin ball game." Rurumi waved casually. "In fact, Hotaru's going to be their mascot."
Yuya chortled. The idea of Hotaru being involved in any sense was funny enough. He never mentioned anything about it though. I guess he must've been upset about the incident. And that Shinrei must've forgotten to tell Aki-kun and I. She sat, alone in her thoughts. I must figure out what's wrong with Hotaru-kun. She mused, already not paying attention to Rurumi and Miko.
Yuya was very determined to find out the reason behind Hotaru's nonsense. She just couldn't bear it anymore. In the week itself, he had been shutting himself up the minute he reached home. Everyone were annoyed and worried. But there was really nothing to do about it.
As if things weren't bad enough, word was spilled out within the school about Hotaru and Shinrei being successors of Ryuyousei.
"How would anyone find out about it?" She wondered aloud as she finally caught up with Bontenmaru over lunch. The climate changed for the better today, therefore many students decide to eat outside the school buildings before it starts snowing.
"Perhaps that person is one of them pawns from the Ryuyousei, and seeing that Ryu is dead, decided to blab about the people inside the triad." Said Bontenmaru as he took a huge swig from the carton of apple juice (no alcoholic drinks in school, remember?)
"Has anyone mentioned your name?"
To that Bontenmaru roared in laughter. "Nope, most likely because they thought I head an organization myself!" Yuya pursed her lips. She didn't know if that's considered a good thing. "Anyway," Bontenmaru continued as he crushed the juice carton. "How's Shinrei and Hotaru facing the sudden… popularity?"
"Hotaru-kun is in pretty bad shape," Yuya replied. "But we can't blame him, after Akizuki-san and now this…" Bontenmaru nodded to signify he heard about everything. She continued. "Shinrei-kun's pretty positive about it, except the fact that everyone knows he's Hotaru-kun's half-brother. But thanks to the new fact, there haven't been any girls after him."
In the far distance, they heard a girl screaming "Shinrei-senpai!" Bontenmaru and Yuya turned out and saw, with amusement, a year one student running after Shinrei, who stopped.
"Shinrei-senpai ("senior"), I've something for you." She pulled out from her bag a pink envelope. "Is it okay if you can go home and read it? It's about my feelings. And I don't care if you're the son of a gangster! I still love you!" She flushed as she said the last sentence.
"Thank you very much," Shinrei smiled warmly. "I'm sure I'll read it."
Shinrei-kun, the ever perfect prince in the girls' eyes. Yuya mused. The Year 1 student was so flustered with Shinrei's warmth that she failed to notice his eyebrows twitching with irritation. It's not that Shinrei's a horrible person behind an idol-like mask, but if one were to encounter incidents when girls pounce on him from nowhere confessing their love, then Shinrei couldn't be much blamed, especially for such superficial confessions.
"Yo Shinrei!" Bontenmaru yelled over the hedge. "Come join us for lunch!"
Shinrei then bade goodbye to the still blushing junior and made his way towards them, looking grateful. "Hey Bontenmaru, thanks for the help back there." Then he saw Yuya. "Oh… hi Yuya-san."
What's with the sudden awkwardness? She thought, but said nothing.
"I thought everyone knows that you're a gangster's son," Yuya greeted back nonchalantly, biting into her croissant. "Why do we see such a scene still?"
"Beats me. She believes love crosses all boundaries." Shinrei scoffed as he set out his lunchbox, same as Yuya's, of course. He stared at the food for a while, and turned to Yuya. "Yuya-san, I don't know if I should tell you this but…" he didn't know how to continue.
"But you love Yuya compared to the other kittens chasing after you?" Bontenmaru joked as he opened another carton of apple juice.
"No! Not me, it's my brother."
Silence.
"Well… it could be hear-say, you know." Shinrei muttered, unable to put it in right words.
"Of course it's hear-say, but what makes you think that?" Yuya questioned, beside herself in surprise and bemusement.
"Oh, it's not just me. It's going around the school that as Hotaru rejected Akizuki-san, the next girl they could think of is you, since you are closer to him than the other girls." Shinrei explained.
Yuya frowned. It sounds preposterous. "Maybe Hotaru just doesn't like anyone at all."
"Akizuki Hotaru is angry with him, everyone now knows that he's Ryu's son and now rumors reveal that he's in love with this little girl," Bontenmary laughed pointing at Yuya. "It's pretty funny actually, that poor fella."
"Hey, who are you calling little girl, you giant?" Yuya yelled in mock anger, throwing her apple at the large man.
Shinrei wondered when were Bontenmaru and Yuya even on talking terms, but decided not to poke his nose any more further into the business. Having a horde of girls after you everyday isn't an easy task too. He thought gloomily, fingering the pink scented envelope.
Erm… I'm mere hours away from my last paper but I found out if I were to upload after my exams it'll be too late to upload (my exams are in the afternoon) So you'll hear me cheering about my exams in the next chapter.
Changed the name of the second series from 'This is my friend, right?' to 'Foundations of Friendship'. It looks less… odd now.
Actually it's rather rude in Japan to call them by their first names. So instead of 'Yuya-san' Shinrei should call her 'Omoda-san' or 'Shiina-san'. But I decided to still use their first names because it's gonna be one big confusion if Yuya calls Kyo and Kyoshiro 'Mibu-senpai'
Kyo, Kyoshiro: You called me?
You get my point. So I'll just let them remain calling them each other by their first names. The suffixes '-senpai', '-san', '-chan' will be left at the characters' own discretion to use.
Sasuke: Like I'll just call everyone without using suffixes.
Yukimura: Except for Yuya nee-san.
Sasuke: SHUT UP YUKIMURA!
(sigh) Moving on.
Name Roll!
HotIceRed: Of course there must be a huge funeral! He's a big man! XD but well, it's amazing the police didn't try to apprehend them. But then again, it's 500 plus people they're trying to capture here…
Kookie-Chan: My pleasure in writing for readers like you
Hikari Mibu: (pat head) He's fine. He now just needs a little more… fine-tuning.
BASH: Thank you very much for the criticism. I'll watch my tense. Which is why I'm rereading my whole story and looking for mistakes again.
But I'll like to pinpoint that though everyone says Hotaru is absent-minded, doesn't talk a lot. Actually… he DOES talk a lot. If you were to read Volume 13, he actually talks a lot. Like, he chides Chinmei for taking action without consultation, and when he fought with Bontenmaru, he actually describes his moves and a lot more explanation. So he does talk a lot, but I guess it depends on how you can capture his attention. So yeah. Hotaru will remain 'talkative' (is he that talkative in my story????)
Imzuok: ahhh I replied your review already. But I'll reiterate it again. Yes unfortunately 'Their Memories' will be a KyoshiroxYuya pairing. XD there, the verdict has been set (ever since 'KISS Me!' started XD) and no, the two parts originate 'cause "Their Memories" was too large a story to swallow. XD
Okay, back to my Chemistry studying and see you next chapter!