III. Precipitando Part 1
Practice match at Track – 5pm
Haruka tapped the planner once with her finger before closing it with a snap and stuffing it back into her bag. She looked up upon hearing the doors to the Crown Game Center opening, and smiled to herself as she watched Usagi whine while being pulled out of the building by her group of friends. The young girl was complaining about wanting to wait a few more minutes, just to see if the cool guy showed up again. Makoto gently hushed her with a promise of sweets and cakes if they could leave to go study before the concert.
Michiru's performance was all anyone in the city could talk about. Her image appeared in every corner convenience store and on large event walls. Haruka didn't understand the appeal of the concert; while she did have an affinity for music by being a piano player herself, she didn't feel the same drive as others to want to see the performance, of which, gave her pause.
It was understandable for the younger crowd to obsess over the newly debuted idol, or for the older generation to rave about the female soloists of their generation, but it seemed everyone, even those of elementary school age, were talking about Michiru Kaioh. It was as if she appeared out of nowhere, and overnight, became the newest obsession.
Haruka picked up the pace of her steps, taking longer strides, to keep up with the small group of friends. "Usagi, you know studying is important." A purple cat perked up a bit from its placement on Usagi's head. Haruka's steps faltered. From their first meeting at the arcade a few days ago, she had heard each of Usagi's friend's voices, but this one seemed to come out of nowhere. From the sudden misstep, Haruka accidentally dropped her school bag to the ground.
Usagi turned at the sound before lighting up. "Oh, let me help you," she said cheerfully rushing over.
Haruka stood up and silently took bag her schoolbag. She stared hard at the purple cat on Usagi's head, more specifically at the mark on its forehead. "That's…an interesting bald spot," Haruka commented.
"Oh, I rescued her from some mean kids! They were picking on her," Usagi explained. "Her name is Luna."
Haruka reached out and lightly scratched Luna underneath her chin. As she moved her hand to try and touch the bald spot, Luna moved from her position on Usagi's head to resting on her shoulder. "She's pretty," Haruka commented, "and appears to be well trained and taken care of. You must be great with animals."
"Really?" Usagi beamed. "I'm not great at anything!" she admitted, before lowering her head. Her cheeks became flushed as she quietly admitted, "well, except for naps and eating."
"And missing study sessions," Usagi's raven haired friend said with a small laugh.
"Rei-chan," she cried.
"Sometimes, it's okay to miss one or two to have fun and pursue other interests," Haruka said, raising a shoulder. "So, when are we going to have our racing match, kitten?"
"Kitten…" Usagi whispered.
"Or rather, would you all like to come see one of my practice matches tonight?" Haruka suggested. "There's nothing better than watching the real thing."
"We would love to come," Minako said brightly.
"We already have plans to go to Kaioh Michiru's concert, remember?" the girl with brown hair pointed out.
"Of course, I remember, Mako-chan," she said with a wave of her hand, "it's not like we can't do both."
"What about studying?" the girl with blue hair asked in a hushed tone.
"Haruka-san is right, Ami-chan," Usagi piped up. "What's missing one study session?"
"You've already missed three this month," Rei snickered.
"Rei-chan, you're not helping," she glowered.
"Another time," Haruka suggested with a chuckle. "I must be going. I hope you all do well." She then reached out and gently placed a hand on Usagi's shoulder, drawing her attention. "Don't study too hard, kitten, or else you may lose your natural shine." Haruka winked before giving the rest of the girls a wave.
Haruka smiled to herself as she heard their hushed whispered as she walked away. Their voices eventually blended in with the wind, becoming whistles. Haruka took in a deep breath, filling her lungs with as much air as she possibly could, before gently breathing out. As soon as she was out of breath, the wind stopped. Everything became silent.
Haruka heard her footsteps echoing as she made her way down the sidewalk. The sounds of car engines and groups of people outside of cafes stilled. Birds chirped mutely, and the rustle of leaves was only indicated by their shadows cast alongside buildings. The sounds of her footsteps were only broken by her breathing, where the wind would pick up and die down in a haunting metronome. As she stepped onto Mugen Academy campus, the sound of a cello broke the silence, jarring in comparison to the tranquil quiet.
"Oh," Haruka cried out, stepping to the side. "Are you okay, Elsa?"
"You must have your head in the clouds if you almost bumped into me," Elsa said with a laugh, "and yet still so swift on your feet," she added.
"I never thought I would bump into you here." Haruka shifted her school bag from one hand to the other. "Are you enrolling here?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No, I'm supporting my friend as she starts here today." Elsa looked around the campus before pausing as she heard cello music waft through the air. She turned her attention to a giant tree standing behind the large building. Elsa motioned for Haruka to follow her. "There she is," she said, stopping underneath the cherry blossom tree.
The cello music immediately stopped as Haruka stepped under the shade of the large tree. She froze when she spotted Michiru, her aquamarine hair flowing gently in the breeze, mimicking ocean waves gentle lapping onto shore.
"Ah, so we meet again," Michiru called out with a gentle smile.
"Oh, you've already met?" Elsa asked, raising an eyebrow. She then half-smiled. "I wouldn't think a musician and a racer would end up crossing paths."
"It's not the same, you're right." Michiru carefully packed away her cello into the giant case that was resting against the trunk of the cherry blossom tree. Her movements were fluid and gentle. "Maybe we bumped into each other for a reason."
"Bump into?" Haruka scoffed. "Is that what you're calling it?"
Michiru giggled into her palm as she walked over, joining the two at the edge of the shadows cast from the tree. "I'll bet you can hear a voice in the wind," she commented, "from how fast you move," she quickly added.
"You're an odd one," Haruka commented. "So, what do you want from me?" she asked.
Michiru raised an eyebrow before clasping her hands together, holding them against her thighs. "You sure are direct."
"This is the second time I've bumped into you in a matter of days. Are you really able to say it is a coincidence?"
"I find you interesting," Michiru said with a smile. "Would you model for me?"
"Michiru is a fantastic painter," Elsa commented. "Some of her work has been commissioned to be in an exhibit here in the city soon."
"I'll pass. I don't care much for that sort of thing," Haruka answered. She greeted Elsa once more before turning on her heel. Michiru quickly caught up to her, placing a gentle hand on Haruka's wrist, pulling her to a stop. Haruka felt a spark the moment their hands touched as the scent of an ocean breeze filled her nostrils. Haruka quickly pulled her hand away, turning to see the confused look on Michiru's face. "Oh, I don't really like to be touched."
"Noted," Michiru said, blinking once. "As a thank you for helping me the other night, I wanted to give you these tickets to my concert tonight." She held out two thin pieces of cardstock. "I would like to see you again, without bumping into each other."
"Why?" Haruka questioned.
Michiru giggled. "I already told you, I find you interesting."
"Thank you for the gesture, but I actually have a practice match I have to get to," Haruka answered.
"Are you sure it's not another night?" Michiru continued to hold the tickets out to her.
"Positive." Haruka nodded.
Michiru took a step forward and placed the tickets in Haruka's hand. "Keep them," Michiru said, raising a shoulder. "Just in case."
Just in case.
Those words kept repeating in Haruka's mind as she stared at the 'Track Closed for Maintenance – Will Reopen Tomorrow" sign on the entrance doors to the Suzuka International Racing Course, as Ayaka typed into her electronic personal assistant. "I knew you weren't paying attention when I told you about this the other day. It's a good thing I came out here."
Haruka slowly shook her head, turning away from the door. "You didn't tell me the track would be closed," she said quietly.
"Yes, I did," Ayaka insisted. She tapped a finger onto the screen of the device one more time before finally looking up. "I even had you write it down. Check your planner."
Haruka reached into her bag and pulled out her leather-bound planner, quickly flipping to the marked page. Two slim pieces of paper fluttered to the ground. Ayaka quickly snatched them up off the ground. Haruka felt her stomach beginning to churn when she spotted the entry for the day. Two lines were scribbled out and in its place was written: track closed – practice match tomorrow.
"This is my handwriting," she muttered.
"Exactly!"
"But…I don't remember any of this," Haruka said. "It said something different this morning," she insisted.
"This morning? Ayaka repeated. "I told you after you and Kaioh Michiru introduced yourselves at the donor party."
"The party?" Haruka repeated.
"Yes; the one we were at a few days ago where you complained about being there every thirty minutes." Ayaka raised an eyebrow. "You're acting really strange, today."
Haruka ignored the comment as she placed her planner back into her bag. "Well, we made the trip all of the way out here for nothing."
Ayaka turned the pieces of paper over in her hand, reading the printed words. She then gasped, her eyes widening. "Not according to these! These are tickets to Michiru's concert tonight." She quickly pulled up a program on her electronic device. "The venue is only about ten to fifteen minutes away from here."
Haruka made a sound of discomfort. "This is not exactly how I want to spend my night." She reached out and flicked the tickets in Ayaka's hand.
"You always keep a spare suit here when you have to appear at an event after a practice or race," Ayaka pointed out. "Let's just go and have some fun."
"Fun?" she repeated.
"You remember what fun is, right?" Ayaka half-smiled.
"Racing is fun," Haruka answered. "Winning is fun. It's an escape."
"An escape from what?" she asked. Haruka let a long breath out through her nose. "Part of the reason why I agreed to be your agent is because I could see the pure passion and hunger you have for racing, but it also felt like you are trying to leave something behind," Ayaka said gently. "Or, you are desperate so that no one else…nothing else…can catch up to you."
"I don't remember you being a therapist as a side job, Ayaka-san."
"No, but I did briefly contemplate becoming a psychologist," she commented before lightly poking Haruka in her left bicep. "And don't think I didn't notice you trying to change the subject. Let's just for one night, go to a concert and enjoy ourselves. You seem to be alone all the time. Being with other people and socializing may do you some good."
"That's what you always say, and look how it ends up?" Haruka then pointed in between the two of them. "It's just you and me like it always has been."
"Well then, maybe we'll get luck tonight," Ayaka sighed, handing Haruka one of the tickets.
"We?" Haruka smirked. "You know I need some drinks in me first."
Ayaka rolled her eyes before pushing Haruka towards the front doors. She lowered her head so that her hair would cover her face to hide her reddening cheeks. "Go and get dressed. These two tickets and backstage passes are itching to be used."
"Backstage passes?" Haruka repeated, looking down at the cardstock in her hand.
"Yeah, they double as backstage passes." Ayaka pointed out. "Where did you get these anyway? These tickets are difficult to come by."
Haruka glanced down at the ticket for a moment more before placing it into a side pocket of her bag. "I got them from…an acquaintance."
"Well, this acquaintance must really like you. I hear Michiru never lets anyone backstage."