Kanade's feet dangled over the edge of the porch at her grandmother's house, her kid brother Toshiro was in high spirits after celebrating his 10th birthday. He was even more excited since his older sister came home to see him after months of being away. Kikuyu, their grandmother, sat with her two grandchildren enjoying the heat this summer had to offer. Supplying the shaved ice and the watermelon, she watched them chow down on the refreshments glistening in the sunlight.
Without taking another bite of the frozen treat, a chill came over Kanade's body. Letting out a small sneeze once, and then another one a second later. Was someone talking about her without her knowledge?
Kikuyu laughed, blessing her granddaughter's little outburst. She eyed Kanade's short hair, swishing back and forth as she dealt with Shiro's antics. Remembering the day Kanade came home spouting nonsense about how she needed to cut her hair in order to attend and afford highschool. Kikuyu noticed the change in the way she dressed, no more skirts or dresses, just plain t-shirts and shorts. The old woman smiled to herself, she'll be sure to change that before Kanade went back to the city that day.
Tooru and Yuujirou sat in one of the restaurant booths, both accompanied with a soda and small fry. Relieved from the summer heat, they were grateful, but still on the hunt for some good-looking girls to spend the day with.
"We can't find any comforting type girls or any with big boobs…" Tooru said, picking up his drink. "Although I'm sure you'd rather see a certain someone's anyways." Slyly Tooru took a sip, his statement nonchalantly slipping out.
"I never said it would be easy," Yuujirou shrugged his shoulders. Raising an eyebrow at Tooru's last remark, in retaliation with his own words of wit he said, "I want to see her as much as you want to see comforting Sakamoto-sama."
Picking up his own soda and taking a sip through the straw, Yuujirou heard Tooru gag on the fry he had just begun to swallow.
"Y-Yuujirou you—!"
"Hi ladies!" Two voices interrupted the banter going on between the two princesses.
A silence passed between Tooru and Yuujirou as they glanced at each other with a confusing expression on their faces. Sizing up the two guys who just approached them, one with brown hair parted down the side and the other with black hair parted straight down the middle.
"Are you two alone?" One of the guys asked.
"It's just the two of us too," the other guy explained.
"We were just talking about going bowling; want to come with us?" The brown-haired guy asked with an overly friendly tone.
"Or we could go to karaoke," the black-haired guy suggested.
"Idiot, that'll be after bowling" said the brown-haired guy, correcting his friend.
Unable to control his annoyance any longer, Yuujirou placed his hands on the table and hoisted himself up.
"Are you blind?!" He shouted. "We're guys! What're you guys doing hitting on us?!"
"Yuujirou! Calm down!" Tooru raised his voice, standing up as well to join his friend.
"Guys?! You tricked us, looking like girls!" The brown-haired guy said, trying to defend himself.
"You're the ones who got it mixed up!" Annoyance turned into anger, Yuujirou began to yell at the two ignorant guys.
"What are you talking about?!" The black-haired guy defensively started to get into Yuujirou's face.
"Yuujirou forget them!" Tooru clamored, desperately pulling Yuujirou away from the quarrel that he was starting. "Come on Yuujirou let's get out of here!" Leading them both down the stairs, Tooru watched Yuujirou hold up his fist shaking it at the two guys right before they disappeared down the stairs.
"Last stop before Tokyo Station. I repeat, last stop before Tokyo Station."
Her long journey was finally coming to an end, a two hour bus ride was really killer on her back. Kanade sighed in relief as she watched the bus station come into view at the end of the block as the vehicle turned the corner. A bittersweet smile played on her lips, it felt good to be back in Tokyo, but watching the tears well up in the corner of her brother's eyes left a lasting impression on her.
As the bus approached closer to the station, her mind wandered to her two friends waiting back at the dorm wondering how they spent their few days apart. She laughed to herself, recalling the exasperated look Yuujirou had plastered on his face before she left. The heat was certainly not his friend, but strangely enough his amber eyes that captivated her gaze said otherwise. Not to mention the flutter of his long lashes and the pleasing smile he usually had when they conversated.
Wait what?
Getting caught up in her own daydream, Kanade shook her head trying to brush away all the thoughts she had just had. She could feel the burning sensation creep upon her cheeks, the moment she started thinking, she couldn't stop herself. Recalling their the moment in the big bath, the firm grip of his arm riding low around her waist, fingertips pressing against her bare back as he closed their personal space… cozy.
Kanade slapped her hands against her cheeks, trying to maintain the sanity she had and knock the illicit memories out of her mind. Any minute the bus would be pulling up to the station, her cheeks still heavily dusted with a pink hue. Disregarding that fact, she was just glad no one was there to meet her.
Leading Yuujirou from the fast food restaurant to the back side of the neighboring bus station, Tooru stopped in front of a cement wall to lean upon as he breathed heavily.
"What's up with you? Picking a fight over something so trivial isn't like you." Catching his breath, Tooru frowned trying to figure out the thought process of his friend. "I know we're idolized like girls all the time, so shouldn't you be used to it by now?"
"I just wanted to have some fun, until those guys interrupted me…" Yuujirou mumbled, his face showing a more than just displeased look.
Tooru's eyes softened, he clearly saw something else that was eating at him. "Well, what are we going to do? Keep picking up girls?" Tooru asked. "Or to the movies? What about the arcade?"
"Hey Tooru… are you trying to pick me up?"
"W-What?"
Earning a slight laugh from Yuujirou, he said "let's go back."
"... But what about celebrating your birthday?"
Yuujirou shrugged his shoulders, "I think I want you to listen to my story instead."
Yuujirou's line of sight was focused on the bus stop of Tokyo station across the street, watching the hustle and bustle of the passerbyers as they went about their daily lives. Tooru could do nothing but watch his friend stare off into the distance, he swallowed the concerning lump in his throat. Today was the day he'd finally learn why Yuujirou put up a certain wall between him and well, almost everybody.
With each passing moment, Yuujirou's mood soured. He didn't want to return to the unbearably hot dorms, he didn't want to be mistaken for a girl again, he also didn't want to make Tooru, his friend, worry either. He let out a sigh and shook his head, he was ready to turn around and leave but the revving of an engine approaching made Yujirou's ears perk up. Pulling him out of his stupor, he witnessed a bus pull up to the last stop right before Tokyo Station to let off a passenger. When the bus was ready to pull away, he watched as the bus driver gave a small wave and drove off to the main platform of the station.
He couldn't believe his eyes.
With her duffel bag in hand and the other on the metal rail, Kanade stepped off the bus and onto the pavement. The moment she stepped off the bus, she was welcomed by a heat wave that Tokyo was famously known for during the summer. Luckily for her the bus casted a shadow over Kanade's average stature, allowing the sun to block overhead. Even though she could feel a difference in degrees, her cheeks still were flustered over a certain amber eyed someone. Not forgetting to express her gratitude, she waved to the bus driver before the engine revved once again and off he went to the platform.
Blinded by the sun, Kanade lifted her forearm to block the ray of sunlight that caught her eyes. Squinting immediately, her eyes adjusted to the obnoxious glimmer of sunlight, looking to her next destination that was across the street, her eyes widened, mouth slightly agape.
"No way…"
"That isn't Kanade, is it?" Tooru stared at the girl across the street.
Yuujirou was just as surprised as him, "there's no doubt… that's definitely her."
The boys' stares lingered for a moment, Yuujirou felt the palms of his hands beginning to sweat, why was he so nervous to face her? Not that the innuendos about her all day helped either… all he knew was, she looked lovely today.
Kudos to grandma.
A simple ivory sundress adorned her figure, nothing over the top, nothing too dramatic, and certainly nothing designed by Natashou-senpai either. Even so, it still caught the eyes of other passerbyers as she crossed the street. As she approached closer, he turned his attention to Tooru who greeted her with a wave in the distance.
"Long time no see, Tooru! Yuujirou!" Kanade called out, her smile beaming while closing the distance between them.
She watched Yuujirou's attention switch from Tooru, to her. Instantly, her smile faded, she felt her throat run dry. He seemed pleased to see her, but then she also saw another conflicting emotion straying that same attention away. His eyes were different before she left, full of life, charm, and some sort of satisfaction now that it was summer vacation. But now...
Kanade stared straight back at him, her eyebrows were knitted together.
"Yuujirou, is there something wrong?"
A/N: Hi everyone! Just wanted to check in on how you are doing. As a lot of us are facing the pandemic (myself included), I wanted to wish everyone good health and safety. This chapter should have been uploaded a week ago, sorry to make everyone wait. While I have been in quarantine for a few weeks now, I've been trying to pre-write as many chapters as I can. As possibly a lot of you, I was laid off from my part-time job. However, a week ago I got an offer for one in a nursing facility with 9 active cases, and I decided to accept. Meaning this non consistent schedule will remain non consistent (-_-;) But please do expect another chapter uploading this month! Since I posted this current one quite late.
Anyways, special thanks to one of my readers, for the idea about Kanade sneezing far off in the distance. (I didn't know if you wanted your username showcased or anything. If you do, PM and I'll change this haha)
Take it easy!
