14: Hot Springs In Rain
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
Ughhhhh…. I roll over in my futon. KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
What time is it? I rub my eyes. A ray of light shone through the window, illuminating the dust particles in the air. Emerald lay beside me, her hair caressing the soft features of her face. She opened her eyes.
"Mmmmm… morning, Dary," she yawned. KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
"I'll get the door," I said, but Yohane beat me to it. Clad in her pyjamas, Yohane swung the door wide open, letting in a gust of cold air.
"Ah, Yoshiko-chan!" a familiar voice sounded.
"Oh, hey." Yukio stepped in, bundled in a pink scarf and gray overcoat.
"Oh, hi Darren-san!" she called. "I came to-" suddenly her eyes widened. Oh, no! I was still squished in the futon with Emerald!
"D-Darren-san! I'm sorry!" Yukio cried, quickly covering her eyes. "I didn't mean to look!"
Emerald and I looked at each other.
"No, Yukio… it's not what you think it is!" I said, leaping up out of the futon and running over to Yukio. By now, everyone in the cabin was awake. "She was just cold," I said, gently pulling her arms away from her face.
"Ahhhh!" Yukio jumped back, seeing that I was clad only in my boxers. I felt my face go red.
"Uh, I was just hot last night," I stutter.
"Wh-what? So Emerald-san was cold and you were hot? How does that work?" Yukio cried exasperatedly.
"Ah, never mind! So what were you doing here again?" I asked.
"Well, Yoshiko's mother came to pick all of you up," she said. "I came with her to see you guys. Come on, we can grab breakfast together."
We groggily dressed and packed up, tiredly. Not a good idea eating so much candy at like three in the morning. We went over to the dining hall, where they were serving breakfast. I got bread and coffee, and sat down at a table with the others. Outside, the sky was cloudy, and it looked like it would rain. The temperature sure dropped since yesterday, and we were all wearing swaggy jackets and all.
"So, what fun did you guys have yesterday?" Yukio asked.
"Um..." the rest of us looked at each other, smiling.
"Let's just say that stuff happened," You said.
"Of course it was all to Darren, or should I say DARY," Kent remarked bitterly.
"Oh, that's great! Here, Darren-san, would you like some of my coffee? You look so tired," Yukio said softly, handing me her cup.
"Hey! What about me?" You laughed.
"Yeah, stop hitting on Darren, cousin!" Yohane exclaimed. "You don't even offer the coffee to your own cousin?"
"Oh? Heheh, well, you don't look so tired," Yukio replied, all smiles. I took a sip of Yukio's coffee. I could see her lipstick stain on it…. My eyes went wide when I realized that we had indirectly kissed. Yukio's eyes darted to meet mine, and she smiled knowingly. Gulp.
"Yukio-CHAN!" Kent called. "WANT SOME OF MY COFFEE?"
Everyone in the hall just stared at Kent, as he was rising halfway up from his seat, offering his cup to Yukio.
"Ehe… sure, Kent-chan," Yukio laughed, sipping from Kent's cup.
"YES! YUKIO-SENPAI NOTICED ME!" he yelled.
"Seriously? She's not even your senpai!" I said.
"Doesn't matter! Thanks, Yukio-SENPAIIIIII!" Kent smiled, running over and giving Yukio the cringiest hug ever.
OH MY GOSH HE IS SO DESPERATE. Whatever.
We soon finished, and piled onto Mrs. Tsushima's car. As we drove down the mountain, large mists of rain began to pour, blowing this way and that. I huddled in between Yoshiko and Yukio in the back row of the minivan. I reached over and drew a happy face in the condensation on the window.
"Haha, what are you doing, Darren?" Yoshiko chuckled. I shrugged. I sighed. I was having so much fun and all, but it was too much fun. I worried that after this, the rest of the year would just be mundane and monotonous. We finally reached our first stop, Chika's house. When I got off the van, everyone was about to say goodbye to me, but Chika came shouting.
"Wait, guys! All of you need to come with me!" she yelled.
"What? What's happening?" Kent asked.
"Just come!"
The other kids piled out.
"Mm, we'll find our way home later," Yoshiko said to her mom, and we all waved goodbye.
"What do you need?" You asked Chika.
The rain poured down in buckets, and we were getting drenched.
"We're going to Mari's house! We have a very important meeting. The others are already there! You, your boat?" Chika said quickly, pushing her soaked bangs from her forehead.
"Aye, mam!" You cried, and we ran over to the dock, where her boat was waiting.
"I still don't know what we're doing," I said to her as she screamed from a gust of wind blowing her hair everywhere.
"Wait till we get out of this storm!" she replied. We piled into the boat, and You fired up the engine. We sped towards Mari's island as fast as we could, fighting the thrashing tide.
"Ahhhhh!" We screamed, as the boat rocked sending a wave of water onto the boat, drenching everyone.
"Are you sure this is safe?" Emerald yelled.
"It's okay, I've got this!" You cried from the steering wheel. "I think!"
A thunderclap made us jump. A flash of lightning illuminated the sky.
"This storm is getting really big!" Yukio exclaimed.
"Don't worry! We're almost there!" You called as we drew closer and closer to Mari's home. When we were almost at the dock, a massive wave smashed into the ship.
"Aghhhh! Is everyone okay!?" I yelled. "Wait- You? Where's You?!"
"Hellllp! AAGHHHHHHughghglghgll!" You was thrashing in the choppy waters, pushed off the deck by the waves!
"You!" I leap into the water, plunging myself into a mass of confusion. As water got into my mouth and nose, I scrambled to get a hold of You, who was trying her best to fight the waves from taking her away.
"Darren! I'm coming to help!" Emerald shouted from the boat.
"No! It's too dangerous!" I yell back, taking a mouthful of water. "You! Grab my hand!"
"I'm trying, I'm trying!" You cried, reaching out for me. As I swam closer, she was pulled under the water.
"No!" I go under, squinting my eyes open. You was flailing wildly in a panic.
"I knew this was a bad idea!" Yukio said, watching nervously.
I finally grab onto You's hand.
My lungs felt as if they were going to burst.
With all my strength, I pulled her as hard as I could, swimming for the surface. As I neared the top, I was pulled down again. It was You's thrashing; it was dragging me down. This was just like yesterday, when I was pulling Emerald down. So this is how she felt, except that it was much more serious right then!
Come on. I can't go down like this! There's no way to make it with You latching onto me like this! I decide that there is only one way to make it out alive. She's gonna have to make it out herself. I know You's an expert swimmer, but she's just panicking right now. So I just have to make sure she's calm.
I look down and meet You's terrified eyes, bubbles pouring out of her mouth.
Calm, I mouthed. Calm. Please be calm. Please…
You realized what I was saying, and got a hold of herself. She nodded, and I let go, swimming for the surface with all my might. I couldn't hold my breath for any longer. Not looking back, I kept swimming. I know You will make it! She's the better swimmer!
"Agh!" I break the surface, taking huge gasps of air.
"Darren!" Chika called. "Where's You!"
"Uhhh…" Come on! You, get up! You can do it! "HERE!" I yelled, as You finally popped out of the water, next to me.
"Heh, Darren-chan, you saved my life!" she gasped.
"We're not safe yet! Come on!" We swim for the boat, grabbing onto the hands that pulled us back aboard. You and I fell to the deck, gasping for air.
"Oh, thank goodness you two are safe!" Yukio said concernedly. Kent managed to drive to ship to the dock, Where the other members of Aqours were rushing to help.
"What happened?" Mari cried.
"You fell into the water!" Chika replied.
"Come on, let's get you all inside!"
We were led into the hotel, past the lounge and down a hallway, trailing seawater all over the floor.
"Here! Quickly get warm! We can't afford for you guys to get sick!" Mari ushered us into a room. There were too more doors.
"Wait- is this… a HOT SPRING?" Kent shouted.
"Yes! Hurry!"
"But… but…" I stuttered.
"Oh yeah! Boys on the right!" Mari called.
"NO! You should have just rushed in with the girls since we were in such a panic!" Kent shouted as we went into the onsen and stripped.
"Ahhhhhhhh…It's super hot," I said, feeling the adrenaline leaving my body. "Man, that was so frightening. We almost died."
"I know, man. We were all scared s***less," Kent replied. "What the heck are we even doing here, anyway?"
"I dunno. Some sort of meeting? Whatever it-"
"SHHHHHHHH! Listen!" Kent whispered. We heard giggling sounds from the bath next to us, which was divided by a wooden fence. A wooden covering blocked out the rain, but the sides were opened, revealing a view of the ocean and the lush foliage of the island.
"Y-yeah! He was so strong, when I looked in his eyes, I just got all my strength and felt so… calm! Heeheehee!" It was You's voice.
Kent and I scrambled to the fence, putting our ears to it.
"Wow… he's not like that to me! He almost drowned me yesterday!" Emerald said. "He's not strong! And besides, he's a creepo too! You know what? He saw my chest yesterday!"
Gulp. Why was she telling everyone?
"Wow, but you can't blame him! Yours look so great, Emerald-san!" Hanamaru's voice sounded.
Guulllllpppp. Kent and I looked at each other with wide eyes.
"Hey! Yours look pretty nice, too!"
"Not really, zura…"
"Well I think they do."
UNGGGGHHHHHHHHHH. Kent and I were both blushing profusely. It was super awkward.
"Hey, why do they only talk about you?" Kent whispered.
"Oh yeah, how was your night hike with Kent?" You asked.
"Well… he was pretty cool," Yoshiko replied. "He wasn't scared at all… I kept acting like I wasn't, because I'm a fallen angel, but deep inside I was kinda scared… I guess he really gave me confidence!"
"Aww, really? I know, right? I feel like Kent is actually a nice and reliable guy, even though he seems more weird than Darren," Yukio said. "Like I had a wonderful time when he came over to my house. He showed me how to play all these video games and everything, when I didn't get it he was always so patient and helpful!"
Kent was sweating like mad.
Wait, WHAT? They actually have feelings other than disgust for Kent? How can that be?
"Ah, Riko-chan, how's Howard?" Kanan voiced.
"Oh, well, he's charming as always… He really liked my birthday gift, and bought me flowers in return… I told him I couldn't accept it, since it was his birthday and all, but he insisted… They were nice flowers, too… sakura for my name, Sakurauchi. But they were plastic. Haha, still very sweet, though," Riko replied nervously.
Oh, man. "That's cheap," I whispered to Kent. "One day, I'm gonna make her a real gift of real sakura flowers, and make a hair wreath or something that'll take her breath away." I was getting all fired up.
"Ok, whatever!" Kent replied.
"Anyway, have you two… done anything?" Dia asked.
"Wh-what?" Riko stuttered.
Gulp.
"You must have! Tell me! Come on!" Mari teased.
"Nothing! We never did anything but hug!" Riko replied.
"Come on, tell the truth! Or else…" Mari said creepily. We heard the splashing of water. "That's a shapely body you got there… did you show Howard?
At this, Kent and I got so excited we couldn't help but try to scale the fence. I don't know what the hell I was thinking.
"Tell, me, Riko-chan! I'm coming for you!..."
"We didn't- we KYAAAAAHHHHHH!"
At Riko's squeal, Kent and I instantly lost our grip and fell splashing down back into our pool.
SPLASH!
"So, how much did you hear, creepos?" Chika asked, arms crossed. The other girls stood around us in the lobby. Kent and I were seated on lofty chairs, both of us with tissues stuffed up our nostrils. We were all nice and warm, and a few tourists were secretly taking pictures of us (They were probably Love Live fans, due to their Aqours tracksuits and towels).
"Um, not much," I replied nonchalantly.
"Tell me everything you heard," Chika ordered. Kent and I had planned for this. We looked at each other, nodded, and said in unison: "KYYAAHHHHHH!" mimicking Riko's scream.
"Uggggghhhhhh!" Riko groaned, burying her face in her hands.
"Oh yeah, thanks for saving me, Darren-chan. Thanks a lot," You said sweetly. "Need me to replace your nose plug?"
"No, it's fine," I said.
"Iyyaaaaaa, tell meeeeee! What did you hear?" Chika whined.
"Guys, are we gonna sit here and question the guys all day? It's getting dark already," Ruby remarked. "I don't think it really matters what they heard."
"Yes it does! It's sooo important!" Emerald said.
"ANYWAYS, what was the meeting supposed to be about?" I blurt.
"Sigh. Okay, so basically, it's Love Live."
"What? You guys are actually going to be in Love Live?"
"Well, not as of this moment. This year, they're doing something different- all music cannot be recorded. Which means, we're screwed. We don't have live music!" Chika exclaimed.
"What? So what are you guys gonna do?"
"That's the problem! Tell me, Darren, what instruments do you play?"
"Well… I used to play piano, like everyone else at my school, when I was young… I also tried out some drums and I play flute in band. I suck at guitar, even though I've tried that too," I replied.
"Oh really? Maybe you could help us," Dia said sternly. "We need dedicated musicians, and we need them now. The qualifiers are soon, and we don't even have a band!"
"I can play the drums!" Emerald announced.
"I can play the bass!" Kent said.
"I can play the guitar!" Yukio added.
"What? Seriously?" You exclaimed. "How do all of you guys know how to play instruments?
"What do you think we are, non-nerds?" I asked.
"Yeah! Like, most people from our town play an instrument," Emerald agreed.
"DUDE! Same here!" Kent joined.
"Oh, I just learned the guitar by myself," Yukio said placidly.
"Well, what marvelous fortune. I knew you were all useful people," Dia said.
"Dia-CHAN, What about Darren? He seems to know many instruments, but isn't super good at any of them," Riko said.
"Well… well, he said he could play piano? We need a pianist. And you need to sing, Riko. So? We use Darren. How are your teaching skills?" Dia said.
"Ahh-hem. Uh… well… I guess I could help him out a bit," Riko said unsurely.
"Great! From now on, you're gonna tutor Darren. Got it?"
"O-okay," Riko replied.
"Alright! You guys better start practicing our music. We don't have much time!"
This was so sudden. We have to form a band to play for Love Live? THE Love Live? And I'm just a random foreigner. This is scary.
"Where are we going to rehearse though?" Kent pondered.
"Well, we could use the music room. They have a keyboard and drum set there. I don't think our school ever uses it, since so little people go there, zura," Hanamaru said.
"That's great! And Darren can go to Riko-chan's house for private lessons, right?" Chika asked.
"Y-of course!" Riko said, flustered.
"Gosh Riko, you're in such a wreck today! You're not the one who was saved by Darren today," You teased.
"Okay! It's settled! We got an Aqours band!" Kanan announced.
"Shiny! Let's all stay here for tonight. We're gonna have to wait out that storm!" Mari said.
We all got paired and went to our hotel rooms. Sadly, I was with Kent again, since we were the only guys.
"Ahhhhhh…" I flopped on my clean white hotel bed. "Really? A band?"
"Yeah, man. I'm not even that good at the bass. Well, at least you get lessons with Riko. So much bonding time."
I rolled over in my bed, and looked outside. The rain had stopped, and the town lights sparkled orange on the other side of the water. The window was streaked with beautiful droplets of rain. I went over and opened the door, breathing in the cold, crisp air that smelled of fresh plants and the sea.
"Close the door, will you? It's darn cold!" Kent said.
"Hey, don't worry about it. I'm pretty sure, being in a band this year, we'll have plenty of time to bond with everyone."
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