Point in Time: Self-Reflection
Chapter 36: Annoying
Nodame is annoying.
She's annoying in how she's constantly the loudest person in a crowded room, public or not. People would always stop what they were doing to give her shocked glances, as if unsure as to whether to intervene or run away from second hand embarrassment. She always had to call out to him in those situations, which always made it worse. Screaming 'Senpai!' or loudly declaring him her husband.
Seriously, did she have no shame?
Yes, Nodame was definitely annoying. Especially when she clung to him almost constantly. She was always wrapped around him as if he'd disappear the moment she let go, regardless of where they were or what they were doing. And if she was jealous? Well, he'd learned to breathe through her abnormally strong grip. But it had come close before.
It didn't help that he liked being normal, he preferred being able to walk down the street without wondering what the other people thought of him. He enjoyed blending in, and she was practically the opposite of him in that regard. Even when she was trying, she couldn't blend in for long. She'd say a silly line, or use one of her catchphrases, and that illusion she had cast over them for just a moment would be broken. She was so annoyingly embarrassing sometimes he needed time to recover.
However Nodame was also incredibly charming.
She was charming in how she could turn those strange looks they received into looks of enjoyment, or happiness. Somehow, she'd make those people laugh with her, instead of at her. She made people's days-their lives, better, simply by being a part of them.
And she could turn anyone into her friend! Even Rui, who she'd been madly jealous of for the longest time, she'd befriended. Nodame had made Rui admire her, even after everything they had gone through.
Nodame always knew how to comfort people, just another part of her charm. She knew how to make Kuroki relax, and Mine come out of one of his rare slumps. She'd made Tanya focus and Frank believe more in himself. She somehow always knew what people needed, and no one more than him. Whenever he needed her, truly needed her, she was there. A giant pile of riceballs-which had somehow become a protected snack during his down moments--, and her presence.
She was annoyingly charming in how he just couldn't stay angry with her. It was practically impossible for him to hold onto his irritation for long. One moment he'd be angry, pacing throughout the room, the next he'd be listening to her giggle, or hear the soft sounds of her piano fill the air. Or sometimes, she'd come find him, and she'd say something in such a way that only she could, and it would bring him back to her, forgiving her.
She was annoying in how she knew that she was charming.
She'd tease and prod at him, then sooth everything away just by being herself. She could make him forget that she had made him upset in the first place.
Nodame was annoying, but she was brilliant, and charming, and always so full of life.
She was the most important person in his world, and he would take her embarrassing personality, her annoying tendencies, any day. Because he needed her.
Because he loved her.
A/N: As always, Chiaki is much easier for me to write! I actually wanted to address something in this chapter I forgot to mention in the last. Please read this as it means changes to this story!
Even though I'm telling one shots and writing pieces that are outside of canon, they flow with it, filling in empty spaces, answering any questions we as the fans may have. For the most part, I think I've done that rather well, not changing canon or interrupting in any way...minus one very important thing.
Last year the extra chapter came out for Nodame (one of you even talked to me about it!). I had been pretty irritated by it at the time, resolute in not altering my story to fit this. But I've decided now that I've re-read it a few times, let myself adapt to it, that I can't just leave it out of this and pretend it never existed.
Which means Chapter 14 and 15 have to be taken out of the story.
For those of you who haven't read it, it basically confirms that five years later, due to both of them being busy with their careers they are not living together. He comes over to cook every night, so I'm assuming they live somewhat close? But not together. This means those chapters will be altered to be different one shots, rather than messing up the order of the whole story. But don't worry! I'll be posting 14 and 15 as their own story, as I knew a few of you really liked them. So they'll be out of this, but not gone forever. The good news is I still have a plan for moving in shenanigans for the 'new' canon, which you guys may even like more.
Either the next chapter, or the one after that, I will make the switch, so be on the look out! I'll leave a note for the change at the bottom, just like this one! So you'll really be getting three new chapters at once, rather than just one! Thank you guys for understanding and I hope you're still enjoying this!