BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
-TheSilentReader-
CHAPTER 36:
They sat underneath a tree, after Yuuki had placed the mat neatly for them to sit on. Yuuki planned all of this—he selected the best weekend when the park had the least visitors. He also selected the best frigging tree with the best frigging view. Yumi would have spilled everything that Touko liked in a date (she was desperate to spill them all) but he wanted to look and learn whatever Touko would have liked in a date. His plan, however, now made him think otherwise. He desperately wished he should have sought Yumi's advice.
Good thing there were less people in the park. It was as if they were alone. Good thing he knew how to cook. He thought that it would be better if both of them would offer food for each other. Good thing he had this spot secured.
But then, when they were about to eat each other's bento, it seemed that neither of them moved. No—Yuuki could not move. He was so attentive on watching Touko's hands as she opened the black box filled with food, gathered the chopsticks, and picked sweet egg from the neat pile.
"Yuuki?"
"Ha—hai?"
His fingers suddenly felt the grass underneath the cloth he was sitting on. "What?" she asked haughtily. She seemed not amused with his sudden inattentiveness. "You are staring off in space."
What he was looking at was actually not space.
"Eh? W-well, sorry. I was." He heard a sigh, then he nervously grinned at her.
Then he saw her mouth contorted downward, as if thinking very hard. For a moment, he thought that he was so screwed, she'd ditch him fast. But she raised her chopsticks-occupied hand and took the sweet egg near his mouth. "You want me to feed you?" She said in a shy yet numbing, seductive monotone.
Yes!, he wanted to say, even though he doesn't like sweet egg that much.
January
Matsudaira Hospital
There was this moment when he thought nothing but of corny things that a couple does in a date. Yuuki had isn't creative in his imagination to . . . okay, imagine things that should have, or could have happened if everything turned out well between them. It turned out quite fine, (but in a romantic sense, it wasn't) thus he tried very much to appear as if nothing happened. Or rather, the rest of the two seasons never happened—that Yamayurikai play, the epic-fail of a confession, along with the strings of subtle methods which most boys would have called "the moves".
But that was all within the confines of the no-door-no-window room of his imagination. Wishful thinking.
(And he appeared to be so masochistic.) Damn, not good, not good at all. Think of something else, Brain, think of something else. . . .
That was what he thought after he felt himself stared in space, while he tried not to trip backward after his chin bumped on Touko's nose. He even gave that nonchalant jibe. Ah . . . what the hell did I just say?
"Ouch. I'm going to lose this nose if this happens a lot." She said as she raised a brow at Yuuki, and gave him a stare that it was as if her carelessness was his fault. He gave her a haughty comment; she just retaliated with a much more arrogant reply.
He smiled at the thought that they were once again teasing like this. It was like before, back when he was just a fresh, a second year student and she was just a Drama Club member, talking casually while taking a break from the Yamayurikai's Torikaibaya Monogatari. On their dress rehearsals. Siblings both to Yumi.
"What are you goofing at?" She muttered, suddenly annoyed.
He didn't notice that he was smiling.
They had the audacity to lock the atmosphere to themselves and leave Touko's grandfather watching from his seat of his office. He cleared his throat and said, "Fukuzawa-kun, do you have the papers?"
"Ah, yes, Sensei."
Yuuki walked past Touko and took a brief bow at her and proceeded to the doctor's table and handed them with two hands. Then, he asked if he needed anything aside from them; when he received no orders, he proceeded outside and bid Touko and her grandfather goodbye.
"Ah, Oji-chan, what is he doing in the hospital?"
"Volunteering." He looked at her and made a faint smile. "Are you hungry, Touko-chan?"
It was the last question she expected to hear from him.
In the cafeteria, her grandfather and Touko was greeted with respect. They welcomed them and proceeded to the line for their orders. The cakes displayed were recently put and looked delicious, so Touko quickly ordered for herself. Seeing her grandfather, she pointed at a cheesecake with a grin, only to hear her grandfather chortled, "No, you are not going to coerce me to eat those evil things."
When they were at their table, she asked about the hospital, methodically leading the conversation to her plan to inform her Oji-sama of her plans for medical school. He welcomed the conversation with a smile, kept on asking her of her studies and of a girl called Fukuzawa Yumi. She talked with ease, not only because her grandfather had been thoroughly attentive of her plans for her future but because of the cheesecake that she was enjoying.
Yet, she knew that the moment she felt Yuuki coming into the cafeteria was the time Oji-sama talked about him.
"Yuuki-kun! Here."
"Good afternoon, Sensei, Touko-san."
As soon as he was looking for a place to sit in, Yuuki heard the doctor's voice and was jolted when he saw that Touko was there with him. Of course, she was with him. What was he thinking?! He proceeded to their table with ease of an ant when attacked with insecticide—almost unsure of where to go because it was relying more on smell. He thanked that the floor was dry for him not to slide recklessly to the floor; he thank his legs for not shaking; he thanked for his shoelaces for not being untied . . . wait, why was he so concerned about getting tripped?
"Sensei, Touko-san, thank you, but I don't mind being at a different table—"
Touko's grandfather disregarded his excuses,"Really, now, Yukichi? Do not think that this bothers me. You know how I enjoy your company."
"Yukichi?"
"I got that from Suguru-kun." "You know, he talks so much about you, Yuuki-kun."
"He's been so kind."
"I wouldn't say that to someone who caused Suguru-nii the bruises on his face."
"It was a playful thing between very . . . uhm, good friends, and I really respect him as my sempai . . . ah . . ."
"No need for explanations! You know how vexing seniors are sometimes. Well, I am going to leave you two then. You must have so many things to talk about."
Wait. Wait. Wait! Crap. Good thing he hadn't eaten his food—he would probably vomit them after that ditcihng. Whether it was intentional or not, it was for the doctor alone to know. He was cut from his thoughts when Touko suddenly broke the silence. The background noise—the clanking of utensils and plates and the occational laughter other tables—increased its volume percieved by Yuuki's ears.
"So," Touko started rather quietly.
"So," Yuuki followed by being equally speechless.
"So, you are staring off to space."
"Eh?" That familiar line. Shit, that frigging daydream before he bumped his nose on her forehead that time at the doctor's office. Why was this getting weirder and weirder? He became nervous because he was caught up with the idea that the stupid, far-from-reality daydream was finally happening now—at such unexpected moment. He suddenly forgot to breathe.
(He felt like so inexperienced. Well, which he was.)
Yet all he noticed was Touko's unamused stare. That bored stare. No. No no no no no . . .
"You want me to feed you?" She suddenly asked.
"What?" His throat suddenly was dry that his natural deep voice glitched several octaves higher.
She smirked, "I was joking, to know if you're listening or not." She took a small fork from her plate, cut a piece of her cheesecake, and put it to her mouth. "Turns out you're not."
She chuckled.
Oh, Christ. The normality. Normality. Keep calm and carry on . . .
He tried to change the subject. "Don't you know that Yumi's been studying all night these past few days?"
"I noticed," she said, surprised by the sudden topic. They always talk about her Onee-sama months ago when they were still just talking but she felt like this was so new it shocked her too much. "When she concentrates on her work, she gets too carried away."
Yuuki smiled, "Yeah, you know how she got carried away . . . she usually ends up in the sick bay."
This elicited a laugh from both of them. Nice. This is nice. Just laughing. Screw that weird daydream, this is much better, Yuuki thought as he stabbed his fork on ropes of spaghetti and shoved it to his mouth. He was still smiling as he tried to chew the pasta.
Touko's cheesecake was still had three-fourths to be consumed.
"Do you want iced tea?" She asked.
"Uh, yeah. Sure. Ah, thanks." But then, he suddenly stood up and grabbed a paper napkin to wipe his mouth—"I mean, I'll get it, I'll get it."
Touko's hand suddenly shot up, which made Yuuki stop his fingers from wiping his sauce-smeared lips, and stood up too. "No, I'll get it. I asked you. All you have to do is to say yes or no."
But she walked away from the table before Yuuki could insist further. She went to the counter to order two glasses of iced tea, paid them, and placed two tall, tea-filled glasses with plastic straws on a tray to be carried all the way to the table.
"Here."
"I'll pay you later for the tea." He said meekly.
"Well . . . okay."
"Okay." He chuckled again. What the hell am I getting nervous about?
"So," She said, then she sipped a little from her glass.
"So," He repeated, and then sipped a little from his glass.
"Come on, give a topic." They both blurted at the same time.
They snickered again. When they finally calm down, Touko asked, "Why is this so awkward? Did we talk like this before? Are our conversations this . . . empty?"
"No. We usually talk about Yumi." He said, as he twirled his fork for another bite of spaghetti.
(He was so warm whenever he talked about his sister.)
She felt brave as she voiced her thoughts. "We are her fans; that's for sure."
That produced a feigned disgusted face from him, just after he shoved another helping of the pasta from his fork. His cheeks bloated as he tried to maintain the disgusted expression. Then, he turned serious after he swallowed the contents of his mouth.
"Well, I remembered we usually talked about acting."
"That was because of the Torikaebaya Monogatari, right?" She said, but not after she noticed the sauce at the left side of his mouth.
(Okay. That was very conspicuous. Better leave that be. He'll wipe that later. No, soon. He must have felt that sticking onto his skin, right?)
But he kept on talking. "Yeah, you're a good Minister of the Left back then. Wait, were you the Minister of the Left?"
"I was. It's my first male character! I treasure that experience." She shifted as she tried to ignore that red smear. But her eyes just kept on drifting on that same spot repeatedly. But still, he did not notice. Or was that because she was trying not to notice that's why he didn't?
(Why are you not wiping that?)
"Yeah, you were a beautiful!"
(Crap. His tongue should be sliced off, minced and be fed to dogs for being so careless right now. No, he said that too many times before. He didn't learn.)
Background noise suddenly becoming loud. Their mouths suddenly were unable to produce words. They were staring at each other's eyes with shock and . . . shock. And perhaps, embarrassment. But neither seemed to get off the atmosphere.
Nope. As usual, Touko was the first to recover. Or rather, was the first to get irritated. "You—you have sauce near your mouth."
(Like all mushy, romantic things, this felt like something from a shoujo (or even a yaoi) manga; she won't be surprised if balloons of bunnies and flowers and sparkles would sprout around them.)
"Ah." He wiped his mouth with a table napkin.
She was glad that it was not like some sort of a spoof where the guy couldn't just get the damn sauce off him that the girl had no other choice but to do it herself. Thank God, for Yuuki is as coordinated as any sensible, sophisticated man.
(But was that also not bad?)
No, she admitted to herself.
She continued, "A-And you're a good female. There's something other than the talent of a person copying every move of his sister, or was it entirely just your talent? You were really like Yumi-sama."
Yuuki got a hang of the current talk once more. "I don't know . . . but I'm not her."
"True that."
Then, he turned to check his wristwatch. It was about time for him to go.
"Five minutes before my break ends. I'll eat this faster now, if you don't mind . . . this's still half uneaten." He wolfed a large roll of pasta and chewed faster without choking. She could even hear the slurps he was making just to buy time. Then, when he couldn't handle too much of the bolus that stuck his esophagus, he grabbed his iced tea and took a large slurp from a narrow straw.
It was funny watching him, but all Touko could say was, "Yeah."
One large gulped sounded so crisp from him. "You're not gonna eat your cheesecake?"
"I'll finish it. Wait, why'd you—?"
"You're not eating, that's why." Then, he dug into finishing his pasta.
Who would have thought. . . nice try, but food won't stop time from ticking.
It was brief, but more so when he felt as if they just sat on the table alone for five seconds. It was fast—everything was rapidly moving, while the rest of the world seemed to halt. Fine, he actually enjoyed talking to her, but that was all. Break time's over, time to proceed to the reason Yuuki came in this hospital in the first place.
It's better to savor these little times with her. It's all he could ask.
January
Rose Mansion
"Hey, Touko."
"What?"
"You're really . . . I don't know. There's something in the way you walk. There's this . . . flight."
"Really? I haven't noticed."
Noriko looked back at the screen of the PSP she was holding and put her earphones back to resume into her game. Aikira had been kind enough to lend it to her, and had given it to her care for two days straight. It was an interesting diversion for Noriko, who had been known to engross only to three things: Buddhist statues, Shimako, and Yuiri. For a moment clicks of buttons were heard from her, but then, clicks became hard pushes, as if Noriko's fingers had been violently harrassing the thing. Yuiri, who was washing the teacups for the upcoming meeting, was momentarily curious of the sudden change of mood. Her stoic face sported a tiny increment in the rise of lips very briefly. Nana smiled as she dried the cups with a towel.
"Die. Just die already! This piece of metal scrap won't even eat bullets. Gobble them, you stupid—!"
Noriko couldn't concentrate in the game because Touko was walking back and forth, her right hand on her skirt pocket again. It must be twitching out of nervousness.
She finally removed both earphones from her dainty ears and turned the PSP off to put it in its case. "It's really off for me. What happened to you this weekend?"
Touko answered immediately. "Nothing."
"Really."
"Really."
"Okay. That's what you said."
It's not about the weekend—it was part of that. It was something else—something related to the upcoming meeting.
As if on cue, the Biscuit door opened and the three current Roses, Yumi, Yoshino and Shimako, entered with their own versions of Gokigenyou; Shimako's voice was lyrical and serene but every syllable was pronounced clearly, Yoshino's was girly but stiff, while Yumi said it in sing-song voice. The younger sisters greeted back, and the youngest two walked to them to get the Roses' bookbags and coats (they insisted that they'd arrange them at themselves, but was overruled by Nana and Yuiri), and then went back to the counter near the sink for the prepared tea.
"Nana, please sit down with the Touko and Noriko."
Nana looked at Yuiri, then the latter nodded. Yuiri then continued pouring hot Earl Grey tea in seven porcelain cups. When everyone was served and seated, Yuiri snatched descretely the Secretary's notebook from Noriko's side of the table and pulled a mechanical pencil from her bookbag.
It was time for her to assume that task.
"Noriko, Nana-chan, Touko-chan. The time for the elections for the next Roses is commencing in three weeks time." Shimako started the meeting without any looping introductions.
"It is your prerogative to run or not, and we won't ask anything from you." Yoshino said. "It would be a matter of your own choice, whether to stay serving the council and the students. Nana," she faced her petite soeur for her full attention. "I think I, and so were the other Roses, taught you everything we know, and you are exemplary in your performance. But you are still a first year, and I want you to think it through."
"I already have." Nana looked back at her with equal confidence and fierceness. "I understand. I'll run."
That was fast, Yoshino thought. "Then, as your onee-sama, I will guide you where it counts."
"Thank you, Rosa Foetida."
It was the formality during these meetings that still surprised Yuiri. Suddenly, there was a flare of aura surrounding Yumi-sama, Yoshino-sama, and Shimako-sama, which was usually subdued outside of council meetings. It made everyone say the Roses' title with more confidence and imminence.
Rosa Gigantea was next to speak: "Noriko?"
Noriko turned to speak, "This is my plan since the beginning. I am to run for Rosa Gigantea." This was rewarded with a full smile from Shimako. "I know the drill." She said as she blasted a large grin back to her onee-sama.
It was a long time before Touko heard Yumi's voice. Everyone was expecting a long speech from her. Rosa Chinensis was unmoving on her seat, and the other two Roses did not bother to warn her about her cue. Touko began to worry, but she was stopped when Rosa Chinensis' gaze met hers. It made her sit down once more. It made her calm.
Rosa Chinensis never disappoint. Well then, a long speech it was.
Rosa Chinensis said, "I love the Rose Mansion. I cherish every memory of me with the Old Girls: Sei-sama, Eriko-sama, Youko-sama, Rei-sama, and Sachiko-sama, in this very room. I decided to run because of their trust in me. I decided to run because I carry a responsibility and am happy to have taken it. But Yamayurikai is more than just the Rose Mansion, but the whole high school division. Of all the current Roses, I had the shortest time of service in the council, but in time, I see what I should do the moment I became Rosa Chinensis en bouton petite soeur. Such a long title for a person so little back then. Touko?"
"Yes, Onee-sama?"
"Are you ready to face everyone again, to be in front of everyone, to be judged based on what they see on the surface?"
"I am prepared to prove them wrong."
Yuiri thought of the reason of an unusual answer from Touko-sama. What should she prove wrong? For her Touko-sama was perfect—her maturity, her unswerving insight and—
"Yes, to prove them wrong."
Yuiri thought, what happened that made the Red sisters say that?
When the meeting finished, Touko sought after her onee-sama, who was silently sitting on her usual chair. She was reading a Go magazine. When Touko sat next to her, she closed her magazine and suddenly glomped her little sister. Touko knew what to do: she sat still, trying hard not to squeel. It seemed that Yumi-sama did this to remind herself of someone? Probably, it was Sei-sama, who she grumbled playfully about.
Touko sat still, while Yumi played with her pigtails. "I miss my pigtails," says the person who was now wearing her hair down to midshoulders.
"Then, why did you stop wearing them?"
"So that I'd look more of an Onee-sama to you, Touko-chan!" She grinned. "And you like my hair down, right?"
Still, Touko did not even give a squeel. "You're no fun," Yumi sighed. "Well, do you have extra ribbons? You can do my hair for me."
It was an opportuny never ever (like, ever) to be wasted.
She was combing her onee-sama's chesnut hair, as the latter sat on a chair sighing with pleasure. There was no one in the room and with that, so she started to talk. "Do you think I'll win?"
Yumi closed her eyes as her little sister combed her lush brown tresses. "Have you submitted your application?"
"Well . . .not yet."
"What do you think is the basis of winning this election?"
"Popularity."
Yumi's eyes suddenly opened. At the moment Touko answered her question, she was immediately realized the reason Touko was suddenly expressive on voicing her thoughts—the elections bothered her. "Oh."
"You won by popularity, Onee-sama."
Yumi had been such an idiot. She should have not assumed that everything was fine because Touko was acting like it. She should have asked . . . or prod . . . or meddle. Touko would always welcome that.
Suddenly, Yumi's gait began to turn serious. "Honestly, I don't know what to say to you. I couldn't say that I taught well, because you seem to know everything. You're very good; you don't even need to be taught. " Yumi admitted. "A year ago, when you came back to the mansion with my rosary on your neck, you assumed your duties without any difficulty. I was so proud of you. But I thought to myself then, that I should have been like you. I couldn't even do the things you've been doing back when I was new in the mansion."
Touko knew that already. She heard that many times from Yumi, but somehow, she doubted a little if she was really doing fine. "But, Onee-sama, you're perfect."
"Eh?" Yumi exclaimed.
The comb stopped massaging her head. The fingers that were dug deep into Yumi's hair had stopped moving. Touko said in a bleak whisper, "I don't know, Onee-sama. I don't know if they see me the way you do."
Touko was worried that her reputation of being Yumi's little sister was getting back to her again. Back at the time Sachiko-sama and Yumi-sama had a fall-out during the rainy spring a year ago, she was perceived to be the cause of it. Yumi had denied that; she showed that Touko had nothing to do with it. Yet, when Touko attempted to race for the Rose's position last year, everyone thought that it was her grudge to Sachiko-sama's petite soeur. Everyone thought that she was the villain.
Until Yumi made Touko her petite soeur. The change of hearts about her wasn't quick, but it gradually happened.
Yumi was silent for a moment, her hands resting on her chin, as if she had an invisible goatee. It was so amusing that Touko tried not to laugh. Then, Yumi said, in an unnatural, deep tone, "You just try your best. You show them that you are worthy of their votes. People see that you've changed. People appreciate you more than you know. I say that because they tell me.
"Besides, you have Noriko-chan and Nana-chan as your teammates. It matters that the public see you as an indestructible team. Yeah, that's it!"
She jumped off her chair and faced Touko with bright, shining eyes and a toothy grin. She held out her hands to grab Touko's shoulders as if to shake her. She exclaimed, "You just do what you always do. Don't forget those who helped you to be here, and keep them. One last thing: just do it." And she gave a thumbs up.
Deep inside, Touko laughed at Yumi's excellent version of Nike's slogan. She then mocked a sigh, "You suck at giving advice."
"I know. Because I hace a trustworthy little sister who already knows the answer by herself. I cannot give a sound advice to those who know what to do." She said, without giving up the thumbs up and the toothy grin.
"So, my hairdo please? Wait," Yumi sat on her chair once more. "Could you make my pigtails like yours? You know, like an electrical drill or something."
"Your hair isn't long enough for that." Touko chuckled. "And it wouldn't look good, too. Imagine two short hair drills on your head. It's ugly, really."
Yumi snorted. "Nah, you just don't want anyone wearing your hairstyle."
January
Student Council HQ, Hanadera Academy for Boys
On the other side of the hill, the topic was the same for the high school boys of Hanadera. While Yuuki had been explaining, that on the next months he would be much more absent from any student council activities, he would still try to oversee the meetings. Although, the matter of who were to continue their duties after the election was done was still unknown. Yuuki's term won't end until graduation, and if the next President was not in the current student council members, then things would get stuffy in the room. Two generations of presidents—the current one should teach the next leader. For Yuuki, it would be just better if Shoutarou continued the legacy (he had improved immensely ever since he joined) but he still wouldn't know. Maybe, after graduation, Shou-kun would go back to his ways. The second year is capricious like that.
He observed that Shoutarou was quiet as he talked. Then , he attempted, "Your thoughts, Yano-kun?"
That grin again, "It can't be helped, so I guess I'll nominate myself. Can a person nominate himself in the general assembly?"
"Yes. As your mentor, do you want me to endorse you?" He asked.
"No." Shoutarou said quickly.
"Then you are on your own."
"Thanks."
It wasn't that he did not want Fukuzawa-sempai's help, it's just that Yano Shoutarou wanted to campaign with only his name and credentials to back him up. Not because he was Yuuki's apprentice. Fukuzawa-sama had greatly surpassed even his mentor—Kashiwagi-sama—and he was afraid that he was not enough to receive such high position because he couldn't match his senior.
Because he was a former delinquent. He was just "coerced" by Fukuzawa-san to join him in the student council as his "help". And it was because he lost in a fistfight with him. Thank God the students don't know that. Thank God the teachers didn't either. It would be a great dent to his badass reputation. But, would that help him win?
Fukuzawa-sama didn't hesitate when he asked that he didn't need his help. Even though he had done so many things to remove himself from the student council and even to denounce him as his official apprentice, Fukuzawa-sama did not even lost his patience.
He was beginning to be soft.
The next day was the start of the application for the next batch of student council officers, but in the meeting, it was never mentioned. Yano was already finished filling up the application form. Joining a political party was not required for a student to run; therefore, anyone could sign up for any position. Yano wanted to be president. But he required more than a speech for the open forum and the debate, he wanted something that would make the students remember his name. He already thought of a set of manifesto, just like Yuuki-sama had done before. He already planned the strategies for his campaign. Yet, there was something missing.
"Need help?"
He looked up, and he was looking at Yuuki, whose hair was in disarray and gray uniform half-opened.
Yano said, "No."
A couple of minutes later, his senior asked again, "Need help?"
The kouhai rejected his offer.
After ten minutes of silence, Yuuki asked once more. "Need help?"
"Fine."
"Okay. What's the prob?"
The bleached-haired boy handed his sempai a folder containing torn papers from a notebook of rough plans for the campain, a handwritten manifesto, and a bloody speech. He checked them one by one with a blank face, while Yano was jittering because he was trying to look for any sign or reaction from his sempai.
"Well? What d'ya think?"
"Your manifesto has vision. You balance your policies with independence and fair control. Somehow, this appears that the students could enjoy school life and at the same time, abide with rules and discipline. It's nice, actually. Did you feel to change things back when you're still freshman?"
And freshman meaning his pre-council days.
He answered truthfully, "Yep."
"It's nice that you think that way. Everyone's get all grumpy and rebellious when their leashes were too tight." Yuuki commented absent-mindedly.
"How about the speech."
Yuuki draw hear him and point his index finger on portions of the paper as he interjected: "I can't read it properly with all your scratches and random additions here and there. You know what to say but ideas come to you from all directions. You know, it's like you thought there's something always missing in every sentence, that you need to add more. Think it like this: it's better to put your speech in outline or bullet form so that you'll know what to say. You talk spontaneously, Yano-kun, and a memorized speech doesn't suit you. And you tend to quip witty side-comments, so it'd be weird when you blow your prepared speech or get stuck because of that."
Long thought. "Ah. And the campaign plans?"
"This is perfect." Yuuki said as he scanned the papers. "All you need are people to do them. You have names in mind?"
"I don't think they'd be willing to participate in the campaign."
"Did you ask them?"
"Not yet."
"Then, ask them soon. How about the campaign budget for your posters? It's what you need."
"It's not a problem." Money is seldom a problem when you're in Hanadera.
"Then, you should look for people who'd work for you before the campaign starts. The Modern Dance Club should give you their support since it'll be the first time a member could be part of the council." Yuuki looked at his kouhai as he gave Yano's folder back to its owner. "You need my help?"
"No."
"Okay. Well then, good luck the elections."
Just like that, Yuuki left the council room, probably to study again for his next college exams. He was very busy studying at the library but he always found time to sneak in meetings. Anyway, the lower years were the ones preparing the list of agenda for every assembly so that the seniors could devote more time in their college prep and job applications.
It was one of Yano's tasks, which he had been doing more than a half of a year with Fukuzawa-sama.
Somehow, his work had been diminished to half. All he needed to do was to scout for helpers.
He always rejected Fukuzawa-sempai's help but, somehow, he thanked his meddling.
A week later in January
On the way to Matsudaira Hospital
She came again to the hospital for her weekly visit. She went to the station two hours earlier than she usually did, and brought a thermos of hot chocolate and a lunchbox of prepared sandwhiches. She could point it out; she was definitely looking forward in going to the hospital. Finally, his father was convinced that she would be going to medical school. They no longer doubt her.
It made her giddy. She had kissed his father so many times on both cheeks until they became beet red from too much attention, while her mother was laughing at the sudden cheerful antics of her daughter. It took a long time to convince them that this is what she wanted, and she became more determined to follow what she intended to do ever since. Becoming engrossed of a life of a doctor in her grandfather's hospital was one way to do it.
But even how early she was on going to the private bus station, the seats were almost filled with people. She looked for an empty spot, and found one two seats from the back. The seat on the aisle was vacant. She hurried to it and sat. Then she poured out a long sigh of comfort.
She felt a buzzing sensation, but she thought that it's because of too much excitement.
As the bus sped away, she noticed that person next to her was talking on his cellphone. She tried not to overhear what he was saying until the man said, "Yeah, Yumi. I'm already at the bus. I know. No, I won't. Okay, Nee-san. Bye."
She looked to the person's direction. He was wearing a baseball cap, a varsity jacket, and black jeans. On his lap was a backpack. Why didn't she notice it soon? "Yuuki-san?"
She expected him to face her abuptly at her with surprise. He wasn't. "Hi, Touko-san." He smiled warmly, then put his phone back to a pocket of his backpack. Then, they sat in silence, both of them facing scene beyond the clear window.
After a while, Yuuki could just not stay quiet. "I was talking to Yumi."
She stared at him and she couldn't decide whether to agree or to act ignorant about it. Yet, she decided for: "Really?"
"Yeah."
But this time, Yuuki opened the conversation once more.
"So," he said.
"So," she said.
It is a vicious cycle.
TO BE CONTINUED
A/N: Thank you for reading this chapter. It seems that I am getting a hang of this little fluffy thing going on with Touko and Yuuki. Also, it seems that I am not yet divulging on Touko's petite soeur. Argh, that will be tough, but I think I'll get through this thing. Just wait and see! Ah, please review!
Until then: Goodbye, sayonara, paalam, babu. XD