A Munto Fanfiction: Soft Spot © RedWingedAngel002
Disclaimer: Munto; Sora o Miageru Shōjo no Hitomi ni Utsuru Sekai © Kyoto Animation; Yoshiji Kigami and Tomoe Aratani
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Friendship, Hurt-Comfort, and Romance
Summary: [III]: "I may be the class space-cadet, but I'm not stupid."
A/N: Let the drama begin.
Songs: Antidote by: Faith Marie, Headlock by: Imogen Heap, Lullabies by: Yuna, Somebody Else by: The 1975
Japanese Index:
bento: Japanese lunch box
-chan: can be used with either a diminutive or with those who are grown; an indicate of affection (Japanese honorific)
-kun: used by persons of senior status in addressing or referring to those of junior status, or by anyone when addressing or referring to male children or male teenagers (Japanese honorific)
shinkansen: bullet train
omiyage: a gift or souvenir given to friends or coworkers after returning home from a trip.
-san: carries the meaning of "Mr.," "Mrs.," "Miss," etc., but used more extensively in Japanese than its English equivalent (Japanese honorific)
"Talking."
'Thinking.'
Memories/Flashbacks.
Chapter 3: Slip of the Tongue
"Yumemi?" A large hand waved in front of dazed emerald. "Hello, Earth to Yumemi?"
"Eh?" She blinked back present, sheepish at Ichiko's irritated sigh. Some things never change.
"Good morning!" Suzume greeted on her right.
"Yumemi is sleeping with her eyes open!" teased Reina.
She strained a laugh, having to remind herself it was all friendly play—unlike the scornful jeers as a child.
"Hidaka-san, are you all right? Do you want to go to the nurse's office to lie down?" Sachi asked across from her.
All five huddled on a single desk to eat their lunches. The bento her mother prepared with octopus-cut sausage and veggies was barely touched.
"I'm okay," she feigned a smile to ease their worry and stifled a yawn. "Sorry, last weekend really wore me out."
"I can see that. You had that meeting you've been preparing for, right?"
"M-hmm."
"Did you two go?" Reina looked to Ichiko and Suzume.
"Yep!"
"Of course," the tomboy disgruntled by the mere thought of being excluded.
"How was it?"
"Long, tense, and boring," she rocked back on two chair legs. "Honestly, I only understood half of what they were rambling on about."
"Everyone was so tall and pretty!" Suzume continued optimistic, "We got to wear fancy clothes and Munto-san was very cool!"
The girls jumped at the volume of the King's name and scrambled to shush her.
"SHH…!"
"Oops, sorry!" the brunette covered her mouth.
Aside Ichiko and Suzume, the seven witnessed friends on that dreadful Christmas Eve knew of her relationship with Munto.
At first, it was of relief. They saw her whisked off into the sky by a red shadow—and by New Year's prayers she was alive? How? Curiosity then turned to sworn secrecy by her shared truth. Two of their group of ten had changed schools: Masato for graduating up into high school, while Soushi's family wanted a fresh start out of Kyoto. Unfortunately, his home was on the city outskirts of the Admiral's attack and was destroyed.
"…Couldn't even keep his shirt on either," muttered Ichiko under her breath.
"How was it for you, Hidaka-san?"
"Oh! Umm… Pretty on edge, like Ichiko said, but," blonde bangs were pulled behind the shell of a pearl-adorn ear. At this, her chest warmed aflutter, smiling soft, "I'm happy I was able to help Munto, and everyone was very polite."
"All that kiss-up seemed a bit fake."
"He said the same thing," a laugh chimed. "The compliments were nice, though."
"You know, he seemed really nervous," the petite girl tapped her chin in thought. "Didn't he, Ichiko?"
"Nervous?" She stared bewildered at Suzume, and placed herself steady back on the ground. "It looked like he was going to snap any minute! He was so uptight."
Her eight-year-old brother made a similar comment when on their way home: "He doesn't like those old guys very much, does he?"
"Munto, he… He and the United Army don't have very good history. They were the ones who hurt him and his home the year before he came to find me. Last weekend was the first time he's seen them in person since." A wave of understanding washed over. "He's a little bit protective."
"Over protective, more like it."
"Aww, I'm jealous!" Reina squealed, hands clasped. "Just like a Princess and her white knight!"
"Oh, please don't," she groaned in embarrassment, hiding her face.
"Why do they call you that, anyway?"
"Out of respect," she summarized. The title was nice, but she felt undeserving of it. She was not of royal blood.
"Hmm…" All three girls gave suspicious glances. Ichiko simply glared. "So it's not because you two are hooking up, right?"
Eight brown eyes zeroed in and Yumemi blushed beet red to nod in denial. A burst of laughter flew.
"You've really been working hard," a pat came on her left shoulder. The kind acknowledgement was gratefully accepted, for no others knew of her contribution, for better or worse. "Hang in there, Yumemi! Only a few more hours until Golden Week!"
"Fight-o!" Suzume punched the air.
She could not help but smile at their encouragement.
"I'm sorry, what were you saying before?"
"Ah, that's right! Did you want to meet up during the break? It doesn't have to be a study day," Reina's enthusiasm dimmed by mention of her strenuous study program. "I've already got cram school. It's no fair…"
"What day did you have in mind?" She reached for her planner in the desk over. An array of pastel flowers and pink rabbits speckled the cover.
"We were thinking maybe Monday, the second?" Sachi also took hers out to confirm dates.
"There's an Ultra Montaro convention!" Suzume wiggled in excitement.
Right… She had seen the posters throughout town and the train stations. Chikara was hyped about it, too.
"The second? Well…" She bit her lip at the circled box with hearts drawn all around. "Munto and I already have plans. I'm sorry."
"Of course." Ichiko's pointer rotated eyelevel. "Jeez, you're always going around his schedule, Yumemi. He should be taking the initiative once in a while."
She was taken aback by her friend's hostile tone.
"It's been a really busy time for him with organizing last week's ceremony. He's been preparing for months," she explained, not mentioning his other additional political duties from both sides of Heaven and Earth, and then brightened. "But now that it's finished, he's coming here! We—"
"How long is this Montaro thing going on, Suzume?" Ichiko cut her off.
Yumemi gracefully deflated. Being silenced was something she had grown into.
"Only the first week of May, I think?"
"Really? That's too bad," she said, deadpan.
Guilt twisted in her gut like a knife.
"What were you planning to do that day, Hidaka-san?" Noting her withdraw, Sachi reeled her back into the conversation.
"Just a sightseeing trip outside the prefecture…" She decided not to go into detail and changed tangent, "If Monday can't work, what about that Tuesday?"
"Fishing with Pops."
"Cram school," Reina groaned.
"Date day with Kenji."
"I'm free!"
"Wednesday?" she continued, hopeful.
"Volleyball tournament."
"Me and Kazuya are going to have a picnic and watch the cherry blossoms!"
"I'm visiting my grandparents until the fifth," Sachi smiled, apologetic.
"Cram school…!" Reina pulled at twin hair braids and sank into her seat, grumbling, "Ugh, so stupid."
"So then Thursday and Friday won't work either, yeah?" Yumemi calculated with a tap at each day and wilted. Weekends are never enough with their homework load. "I wish you told me earlier…"
"You were stressing out about that meeting, so we thought to ask another time," the tomboy reasoned.
"Well… I'm sure if I switched a few things around, we can—"
"Oh no, Yumemi! Shinkansen tickets are so expensive! Don't do that!" Reina hugged on her left and pulled back, nose to nose. "Wait, you're taking the shinkansen, right?"
"Yeah."
"He better be paying for those."
"My money, my treat," she snapped her planner shut. Her patience was starting to thin at the piling negativity towards her boyfriend. "Would the day after tomorrow work?"
All looked with doubtful faces and they sighed in defeat.
"Forget it, it can't be helped. It's not going to work out this vacation. Let's just share our omiyage when we get back!" She stretched her arm high, "Mmm! Only a month in, and I'm already exhausted. At least we can we can rest a little from exams."
"So you say," Reina placed her chin on the butt of her palm. "Boo…"
There was a gap of silence. The seconds dragged, and Yumemi desperately tried to find a resolution to please everyone. She twisted her blue uniform dress beneath bouncing knees.
"You guys can still go together. Takashi-kun and the others want to go too, right?" She did not want them to cancel their plans on her behalf. "It's okay, I'll make sure to bring souvenirs for everyone."
"Aww, you're so sweet!" Reina hugged her again, enthusiastic, "We'll take lots and lots of pictures so you'll practically be there with us! Please do, too!"
"M-hmm!"
"Shall we invite him to come next time? We've never got to properly meet in person, after all," Sachi suggested, mulberry-brown eyes warm. She was always mature and collected.
"If that works with his schedule…" Pink chopsticks nudged at her lunch. She decided she was finished with her meal and closed the lacquer box shut. "That would be nice. Thanks."
"No problem," dark shoulder-length whips were brushed into place. "It would be kind of fun to meet someone like him."
There came a flock of girlish giggles. Yumemi was confused. Was it because he was a Heavenly Being?
"Why? Because he's loaded?" Ichiko rolled her eyes. *1
"Well, yeah?" Reina stated in a matter-of-fact manor. "And smart."
"And handsome!" Suzume cheered.
"Wha—? Suzume! You have a boyfriend!" Ichiko reproached.
"What? It's true? He's nice to look at. So is Kazuya," the brunette turned to her. "Right, Yumemi?"
"Y-Yeah," she gave a cautions nod and something firm clenched her stomach, unlike the guilt from before.
Suzume was merely being innocent in her honesty. However, this fact did not only apply to Suzume.
"It's pretty much like meeting a celebrity. It'd be really cool!" Reina gushed. "But of course, that isn't the only reason. He's obviously a gentleman to catch Yumemi's eye!"
The tension in her shoulders continued to coil and the fun praise swirled cloy in her mind.
"That's what I'm afraid of. That he's not."
Anxiety snuffed, shifting curious, she asked for clarity:
"What do you mean?"
There was an uncertain glance between the three listeners.
"Umm, Ichi—"
"Yumemi, you've known that Red Guy for how long before you started dating?"
"Well—"
"A week, maybe? You can't really judge someone right in that amount time. There's probably a lot about his past that you don't know about."
She was quiet in her thoughts, unable to deny false without revealing their deepest secret. The creeping anxiousness returned tenfold. Downcast emeralds stared at the squirming hands in her lap, nails tweezing the left middle pad out of nervous habit from two summers ago.
"Plus, he's part of the top dogs. It's easy to control and manipulate people for his own gain. And one of those people can be you. Don't let him take advantage of your kindness."
At the corner of her eye, Sachi mouthed silent warnings.
"He would never hurt me, Ichiko. I trust him," she reassured. Her smile was not as confident as before, self-conscious due to the growing whispers. "Give him a chance, okay? I know he can be intimidating, but he's very sweet once you get to know him."
"Uh-huh. That's what they say until you've got bruises, crawling back for more."
"Ichiko!"
"What?" she growled at Sachi as she stood. "She needs to see what's going on! She's been going there practically every day for weeks! Skipping work and cram school when third year only just started! You're worried, too, right?"
"Uhh…"
Her accusations pierced when unable to get the backup she desired.
"I told you he was bad news, Yumemi! Ever since the beginning! It's obvious he's isolating you from us. That's domestic violence 101! He's going to suck you dry until there's nothing left and then leave. Just like before. Like some kind of parasite—!"
Her reverie blurred as if watercolor, harsh words triggering one of many haunting memories, which were not her own:
"You think you are hot stuff, kid? Wasting such precious Akuto for your worthless life. Nothing but a freaking parasite!" The knife gleamed bright as he struggled against the bruising hold. "Good riddance. This country is destined to fall because of you."
The rush of spiked emotion and pulse gave her a moment of vertigo. Her back straightened, determination blooming. There came a point—
"Don't call him that!" The whole class tapered silent by her outburst. Their eyes felt hot on her neck, in spotlight view. "Please. There was a reason—"
"And? There's always a reason. Who says he won't do it again?" She refused to stand down.
A long pause set.
"Look, I'm only trying to protect you," she whispered. The fire behind her brown gaze softened.
It was so easy for Ichiko to say she wanted. …Unlike her. She still struggled with baby steps.
"He's not isolating me. You and Suzume have been there. My family, too. It's safe. I-I don't understand why this is a problem?" She swallowed the lump in her throat, thinking of their childhood days before her pink umbrella. "Didn't you want to see what it was like up there?"
"Yeah. Well, it's not all dazzling as I hoped it'd be," she admitted, bitter.
Anger flickering hot aflame, she stood to give herself even height.
"There was a war—!"
"And look how that went! We got our city freaking remodeled thanks to that old geezer!"
Shock burst cold in her chest, icing her heated courage. Shaken, she looked down at floor. Her heart galloped with dying adrenaline.
The deafening silence was broken by their on looking classmates.
She should not be surprised. She had heard the same opinion all around. They had the right to be upset. But to have a loved one feel the same, knowing the sensitivity of the topic, was…
"Munto, you are looking quite pathetic for a King of the Heavens," the Admiral sneered, bribing her friends' capture as mere pawns for his own gain. She was torn on whom to choose, an emotional tug-of-war between obligation and heart. "Do you truly believe after all this time your naïve methods would return the Akuto cycle to normal?! You are a fool!"
…Gntarl went after the Girl of Destiny to bring clarity to their Heavenly war, for the new wave of Akuto she had brought also brought confusion and a lust for power, with genocide as the result. The thousands of innocent people who died that day were because of her. It was her fault.
"I'm trying my best to make things right," glassy eyes upturned with brimming tears, voice wobbling, "Can't you see I'm trying?"
Ichiko made a strangled sound of remorse. If she were a cat, her ears would have been flattened with her tucked chin.
"Yumemi, dammit. I'm sorry, okay? You're just… so blinded by love and this…" She waved her hand when searching for the proper word. "This savior complex he's given you. It's hard to watch. You've got so much on your plate with all these responsibilities now that it's stressing me out. There's no way I'm saying this is your fau—"
"You are a cursed child, Munto, because you carry the blood of your parents, who predicted the Akuto cycle. You swallowed their life!" The Elders' voices bit cold despite his recent mourning, "And now, not only your own land, but the entire Heavens are in danger because of—"
"It's not his, either!" she screeched and her foot stomped in frustration.
During one of her difficult panic attacks, her father said that anger was initiated to gain back control from a violation of power. She refused to have another push the blame onto Munto when it was not his to burden. Always, he shouldered the responsibility without complaint. *2
Taken aback, Ichiko put her hands up in surrender.
"Okay, okay. It's no one's fault. Alright?" She circled around a gaping Suzume and took her by the arm to pull them towards the sliding door. "Look, you're tired. You've had a long week—hell, a long month. Let's go on to the nurse's and—"
She squirmed out of reach in disgust.
"I may be the class space-cadet, but I'm not stupid," she hissed venom. Gasps were heard all around. "I thought you were supposed to support me."
"I-I…!" Her anger roared back to life, shouting, "I'm not calling you stupid—!"
"Ichiko…" Suzume tugged on her sleeve as mediator. "Let's stop."
"Aren't any of you going to say something?" Her gaze skirt across the girls' pale faces and threw her hands up in the air, exclaiming, "Jeez, forget it! I'm only trying to help, but it looks like I'm the bad guy! Arg! I'm going."
"Ichiko, wait…!" Suzume ran after the tomboy.
"Ichiko!" Sachi reached out and huffed akimbo once they were no longer in sight. Worried eyes turned to her, pleading, "Sorry about that. I'll go talk to her."
Yumemi sighed. She should have kept her mouth shut.
"She's only worried about you, you know? Try not to overthink about it too much."
"I know," a whisper rasped, and she stiffly sat back down.
That still did not mean it hurt any less. All she wanted was for those she cared about to care for each other.
"Are you all right?" Reina ask with a look of concern.
"I'm going to wash my face." She was out of her seat before a reply. Her throat ached.
When she turned the corner, she overheard one of the boys ask Reina what caused 'Hidaka of all people to get pissed off.' She politely told him to butt out.
The quiver at her chin had her walk faster.
Thankfully alone when entering the restroom, she did not cry as expected; but found herself mentally escaping, almost out-of-body when watching the sink water gush on until her hands were pruned by the wetness. Shaking herself at the recognizable signs, she splashed her face and rubbed her neck to stimulate—not disconnect, as tempting as it was. Habits were difficult to change. *3
"No daydreaming. Keep it together," she encouraged herself, and fingered through her hair to something presentable. A painful jolt caused her to hiss and recoil. Under blonde bangs, a pimple crowned beneath normally clear skin. Pink lips frowned at the sight. "Eww, gross. Really?"
She groaned into her palms. This was not her day. A headache began to throb at her temple.
Ichiko was right, she was tired and maybe even a little stressed, but she was fulfilled. It was like studying multiple late nights for a test and receiving the well-earned score. This was important to her. And now that satisfaction felt like led in her stomach.
Turning the faucet off, she reined in her wits by counting the remaining classes, which consisted of math, English, and social studies. She was looking forward to her creative writing club; it had been more than a fortnight since her last attendance. There were a few more hours to push through.
The girl squared back her shoulders in remembrance of Munto's advice and held her head high.
It was only the two of them returning home. Suzume hummed cheerfully to fill the silence.
Ichiko avoided her the rest of the day. Granted, Sachi initiated apologies at the entrance gates before they all left the school grounds, but it felt forced with the group as an audience.
"Hey, I know I messed up. I shouldn't have blown up like that. Sorry…" However, she did not apologize on what was said about Munto. "Let's just forget that happened, yeah?"
"I'm sorry, too," she kept her answers clipped and quiet. It was for the better. "Please enjoy your Golden Week."
"Heh, you too! Well, umm…" Ichiko rubbed the back of her pixie cut, gaze astray. "You guys go on ahead, I've got to shop for dinner tonight. I-I'll call you later!"
"Alright…" Her waist bowed low in formality and she turned to leave, with Suzume skipping in toe.
"Hey, don't worry too much, Yumemi, everything will be all right!" Her smaller hand grabbed hers as they paused between forked roads. "She cares. We both do. It's just a bit of an adjustment, since it's not the three of us anymore."
Yet, Suzume had been with Kazuya for over two years and there was no issue, aside spamming gushy phone texts.
"Mmm…" She softly thumbed their connection, hesitant when asking, "Is it for you, Suzume?"
"Hmm?"
"An adjustment," she winced.
"Well yeah, a little. But that's normal, I guess? Ichiko may not fully understand, since she hasn't had a boyfriend or girlfriend yet."
"Oh?"
Ichiko was attracted to girls? She never realized. Quickly, surprise came with acceptance. Rui had the same preference.
"I like Munto-san. He may be a bit grumpy, but he's got a good heart. I can tell. He's a lot like Kazuya in that way, and he loves you so much! Who can deny?"
"For those that know," Yumemi laughed, seeing nothing but truth.
"Yeah! Let's have fun on our break! We deserve it!" She dived in for a hug and nuzzled under her chin. "Love you lots, Yumemi. Take pictures! I want to see!"
"M-hmm!" She gave her a heartfelt squeeze, thankful for such warm compassion. It was needed. "You too!"
"'Kaaay~!" Her wave was enthusiastic. "See you!"
Once Suzume's radiant sunshine disappeared, her thoughts spun, buzzing like a beehive—a looming cloud overhead. Yumemi may have been eldest of their pod of three, but Ichiko always took on the big sister role to protect them. Yet, her protection had gone too far, bitter tasting.
She was too upset to go home, knowing herself to be unnecessarily snappy at Chikara if so, and it was too late to go to Munto's without notice. She could not even call him to ask. Letters were their means of communication, magical parchment able to teleport to and from her mailbox.
Instead of heading to the bridge she often visited once was, replaced by a towering claw talon from Gntarl's ship, she went to the Kino River. The water lapped pink and evening joggers bobbed by. She took a seat and leaned back to view the Magical lands, which she considered her second home.
Restless hands picked the grass as she brooded over Ichiko's accusations:
"Don't let him take advantage of your kindness. He's going to suck you dry until there's nothing left and then leave. Just like before."
She understood Ichiko's concern; for certain it was all good intention. They have been friends for a decade. However, her firecracker passion had stomped over her own boiling feelings, giving her no say in the fray—like she could even say them when given the chance, the words turned to dry ash on her lips—to then be chided and passively pushed away, as if a child when deemed upset… It rubbed her the wrong way.
If she spoke her feelings aloud, it ended in regret. If she did not speak up, it ended in regret. How messed up was that?
All she wanted was to protect her two most cherished friends, but what if it was she who was the problem? Was she to blame? Was she really being blinded by love?
Munto originally came to her for help, for her power, to save what he considered precious during the Akuto crisis: his home and people. Now that was over and everyone was safe, he welcomed her with open arms for love and protection, and likewise with her.
He believed in her before she even believed in herself.
They certainly had chemistry—literally, at nuclear levels. There was nothing suspicious about what they had, aside maybe their secret of being together to the public eye and of course sharing one another's memories. She knew him, saw into his heart, inside out. He had been through so much pain and hardships in his nineteen years and wanted someone to connect and open to trust with. She wanted to be that someone. He would never use her.
…Right?
"Don't be silly. Of course not."
There was a clatter and ruckus of hurried footsteps, which brought her back present. Yumemi turned to the sound and saw a group of high schoolers cobbling on a huddled peer. Alarmed, she stumbled up and ran to the fight down the hillside.
"Hey!" she cried. "What are you doing? Stop it!"
Upon closer proximity, a phone camera veered onto her.
"Oh, is the foreigner going to help you out?" A girl with a high ponytail sneered. "And in middle school? How sad!"
She skidded hesitant. It was three against one, but her determination rose once more. She had won against Gntarl, who was three times her size! There was nothing to fear.
"I'm not a foreigner. Leave him alone!"
"A halfie, then. What are you going to do about it, Blondie?" *4
Her verbal defense gave the victim time to uncurl and they locked eyes, green with brown.
"Hazuki-kun?"
"Hidaka?"
"So you two know each other!" The tallest boy snagged him by the hair and forced him to look at her. "This your girlfriend, Kumamoto?"
"Doesn't matt—"
"You need to stop, now. I'll call the police," she had the number dialed and showed the screen. All she had to do was press a button. "I mean it!"
Slowly, they begrudgingly submitted with various insults trailed behind them.
"Tsk. Let's go."
"See you around, Kumamoto," one spat at his feet.
Once safe, she walked over. Her loafers scraped against the dirt as she sat down on her heels to join him.
"Why are you helping me?" Hazuki muttered.
"Because I know what it's like to be cornered," his stance shied from her piercing gaze. "You think I'd run away?"
He said nothing. She pulled out her handkerchief and offered it to him.
"Here, use this. Your nose is bleeding."
"Ah," his hand flew to gingerly touch the dripping red. "Shoot."
Her instance pressed, nudging it to him in a form of compassion. Even with the unforgivable Admiral, she offered mercy.
"No," he denied the yellow cloth and used his uniform sleeve instead. "I'm not your charity case."
Yumemi's frustration weighed from the day's events, huffing, and closed her school bag with the zipper running quick.
"You surviving third year all right?" he started.
"It's fine," she answered simply, not giving detail. "High school going okay?"
"Doing just great," he said sarcastically. "A word of advice, don't let the bullies get to you."
"I'm sorry," her empathy swelled, but she kept herself in check. Yearning emeralds looked over to where she sat prior, wanting to return and away from the uncomfortable conversation.
"Yeah, well, that's how it is," he adjusted his seating and leaned against the wall. "Just like those as well."
"Like what?"
"Those things," he pointed out to the diamond-shaped island. "Can you believe we've got people spying at us above our heads? It's creepy. Wait, are they people? They obviously aren't human."
"I don't think they're spying. They are living their lives," she said. "Like how we are here."
"Well, it's not right," his tone suggested his word was final, and he crossed his arms, indifferent.
"Why?" She barely contained her irritation. "Why is it not right?"
"Haven't you heard the news? December's attack happened because they were after some girl from our city. The Girl of Destiny, was it?" Unbeknownst to him, he was speaking to the same savior. "I guess they got what they wanted, because they decided to stay, after all they've done. I wouldn't be surprised if they start colonizing us. They've got the advantage."
Yumemi seethed because he was partially right, that was Heaven's past history.
"Plus, there's that King of theirs. He's practically on every channel with all those interviews. You know, I think he's—"
No, she had enough of their opinions of him for one day. Hazuki's and Ichiko's, and everyone else's!
"Alright!" She clapped and hefted herself up. "It's getting late. I need to get home."
"Wha—?" he choked, flabbergasted. "I'm just making small-talk! Can't you stay?"
"…"
"Gods, are you still giving me the silent treatment?" he turned the blame. "That was last year."
"Yeah! You know why!" She was allowing herself to be riled up, and found that this time, fleeing was wise. "I don't have to explain myself. It's not like you'll listen, anyway."
His tug stopped her from leaving.
"Hey, I'm sorry," he said, brown eyes pleading while on his knees. "I didn't mean to upset you, Yumemi-chan."
She looked down at him by the bridge of her nose, making her displeasure apparent.
"I mean, Hidaka," he stood, not yet letting her go. "Sorry, for what I did back then. I was a jerk."
"Yeah," her wrist tugged away from his grasp and she widened their distance. "You were."
"Wow, thanks." A beat struck. "You know, you've changed. You're not that quiet little rabbit anymore."
It was a compliment. So, why did it feel like an insult?
"I guess your boyfriend is treating you well, huh?" he grimaced. "Kind of funny, he has the same name as—"
"Yeah, he is." She did not care anymore if he believed her or not. She knew what she believed in. "Goodbye, Hazuki-kun. I hope things get better for you. I really do."
"Yeah… You too."
A/N: What's this? Yumemi's got some history with a boy? We'll have to see! Again, drama!
Hopefully the message came across clear: Ichiko isn't technically wrong. There's a lot of truth in her worries if you boil it down, it's just a matter of presentation. ^_^;
—Ari [6.18.21]
*1: Based on Ichiko's praise of Kazuya in episode five, which reflections towards Munto: Japanese dub: "He's the only child of a rich family, he's handsome, he's strong, and he's smart." English: "He's cute, he can fight, and he's smart. Plus, his parents are absolutely loaded."
*2: This fic will connect with Castles in the Sky, Growing Pains, and Read Between the Lines. The mention of Shigeru coaching Yumemi with her (reflected) anger is referenced to chapter three of Castles.
*3: This is my own take, but I believe Yumemi has trauma due to her memory exchange with Munto. A form of PTSD can be dissociation. Granted, she does daydream even before crossing space-time, but this spacy behavior is heightened after the time skip.
*4: Halfie or 'hāfu' refers to a person who has one ethnic Japanese parent and one non-ethnic Japanese parent.