Having Met The Real Thing
Cast:
Cure Blossom, Hanasaki Tsubomi - age 18
Ban Kenji - Tsubomi's friend - age 18
May, 2014
"Oh?"
The sensation of reaching for a book on a high shelf and accidentally touching another person's hand. Tsubomi is even more surprised when she sees who it is.
"Kenji?"
"Tsubomi..." Kenji responds, blushing. "Fancy meeting you here."
There is a part of Kenji's mind that stubbornly insists that this is a flag, a random event that could and should lead to romance. He refuses to consider it. When they were still in middle school, he and Tsubomi already dated and broke up.
"Kenji?"
He has no choice but to admit it. "Sorry, I missed what you just said."
"You weren't listening!" She is even more beautiful when she frowns. "I asked if you changed your mind about taking college entrance exams! Last time we talked, you said you were going to devote yourself to getting published."
"Oh. Yeah, it has been a while, hasn't it? I changed my mind- well, more like I had my mind changed- months and months ago."
"You had your mind changed?" Tsubomi raises an eyebrow. "Would you care to explain that odd little expression?"
"I met the real thing, Tsubomi. I met the kind of genius who gets published right out of high school. I thought that I might be that kind of person myself, until I ran into her at Summer'ket. Without even a warning, she showed me what real talent looks like, how badly I've been fooling myself."
"That's... Please don't tell me you've given up!"
Kenji smiles. "No, I haven't. I'm still going to chase that dream, but I need to improve myself first. I need to experience more of the world and really broaden my horizons if I'm going to stand a chance. I figure college is a good way to do that."
Tsubomi has fallen silent, covering her mouth with both hands.
"No good?" Kenji asks.
She shakes her head. "I was thinking you sounded really cool just now."