A/N: So I do want to point out that I made some major additions on chapter 1. The whole first chapter was written in 24 hrs as a challenge and I felt dissatisfied with what I put down hence the edited chapter. Doing the edits and chapter 2 took MONTHS, just goes to show how hard it is to brainstorm to the point of insanity.
Also I'm focusing more on Never Meant mainly because what I'm writing down feels more personal than fantastical especially writing parts for Otohiro. He's a very relatable character and I didn't per se like seeing him in Ecchi RomCom scenarios going right/wrong with minor realism and less believable pedestals to hold certain characters on. From what I've seen in the raws I didn't like the path the author's going but I did like the few backstories in the manga which gave more clarity as to why some of the characters act the way they are.
Sidenote: He's pretty cute, not gonna lie. Way cuter than Naruto at least lol.
Anyways I'm rambling again, here's the second chapter. Hope you enjoy it.
-[I]-
When The Sun Sleeps
Acoustic cover by mcestudiors, instrumental cover by Axel XG, original song by Underoath
"Another argument..."
"Another long, mind-straining argument..."
"She always make it seem so personal."
"It's always like that with her."
"It's always the same."
"What's the point...?"
"...With her around."
"..."
"60 reps. Nice."
"Maybe buying that pull-up bar was a good idea after all."
*BAM!*
*SMACK!*
*CRASH!*
A scuffle. Outside at the school walls, two boys were down and out, beaten to a pulp. Scrapes and bruises marred them as their opponent walked away with his hands in his pocket. First attack of the day but not his first rodeo. This was uniform to him when angry, jealous schoolmates decide to "teach" him a lesson. What lesson they're referring to he doesn't know nor does he want to as it was clear since day one that these lessons include violence of all things and so the boy responded in kind.
It was a typical day for Futaba Otohiro.
'Second time this week...' He said in his thoughts as he twisted his wrist a bit. A couple brawls with a few knockouts and these guys still continue to press their petty issues regarding his presence.
Especially around a certain sister of his.
Speaking of which...
"C'mon! Play with me Oto-kun~" The boy unfortunately remembered her attempt on continuing their godforsaken "Playtime". His bipolar encounters with her really pushes his stance on Neiko being mental. Not a full 24 hours has gone by and she starts off enraged in the facade of a smiling girl before going back to her questionable routine.
Dammit all, now he's blushing. The running thoughts of what happened this morning still bothered him. After all who wouldn't be flustered by the fact that a girl of her caliber was clinging on to you while you're sleeping.
In her sleepwear no less.
He needed a cold shower and an espresso after that.
"Dammit..."
"Yeah, yeah I get it Neiko."
"That voice..."
"I'm sorry..."
His heart started to beat faster as his cheeks increased in temperature with each passing palpation. That familiar, comforting voice. He looked up to see two girls on the second floor walking alongside one another near the windows caught his eye and it drew his attention when they started to talk. One had long black hair while the other had shorter pink hair. The former began spewing both nonsensical fiction while intertwining it with smart ideas regarding the school and it's classes. The latter girl on the other hand looked more exhausted with each coming sentence, using "Okay's" and "Sure's" to keep the conversation going.
"I feel sorry for you Maiko..." He could see the pain in her eyes when she massaged her temples. "Then again I have to deal with "Her" everyday y'know."
Soon as they parted ways Otohiro took to entering the busy school entrance with his backpack secured in his shoulder. Once there a serene yet surreal disposition hit him.
It was completely out of the ordinary.
"Hey Futaba! See you at Hasaki-sensei's class!" One guy in gym clothes saluted before running off.
"Uhh... yeah sure. See ya..."
"Morning Futaba-kun! How are you today?" A girl said while walking with her friends.
"I'm... o.k. I guess. Thanks for asking."
His schoolmates greeted him like it was normal. There were no signs of malicious glares nor there was any indication of the students isolating him. It was... weird. For a loner like him to receive some recognition albeit through short greetings. Going from being despised to being an individual minding his own business.
"What's going on..."
He wish he knew. This was all too strange for him. Scratching his head he went inside his classroom, searching through his memories on the new shift of the environment. Was this a prank? Why bother? The last thing they want to do is torment him. Opposite day? Unlikely, considering this morning. If it was like that then those two morons would've just left him alone. He tried to look back at the days that he might've caused a ruckus.
*Tch* 'Everyday's a ruckus with "Her" around.' he thought out cynically before listing the days out, starting from...
"Let's see: January, nothing really happened except maybe...
"Futaba. Please answer the question." His teacher called him out as he continued pondering each and every timestamp of the year.
"Was it February...?"
"Correct. February the 8th, 1905 to be exact was when the Russo-Japanese War started..."
'Huh?'
Unknown to him as he was too busy remembering, he had unconsciously answered his teacher's question correctly. He saw his classmates giving him thumb-ups and looks of approval. The blonde merely sat there dumbstruck as these events began to overwhelm him. Maybe his pinkette friend was right.
"I am a dummy..."
"Why can't this go away..."
A lone student walked down the hallway caressing her temples with papers in hand. She didn't know what to make of this day. Her morning included small fights for missing clothes because of her brother, preparations for her current school day and the addition of her mother teasing the already tired girl for being friends (or in her mother's view: the girlfriend) of Futaba Otohiro, after which the sister of aforementioned boy bombarded her with many words and sentences that somehow interjects with each passing verbal exhale. Each event were like missiles striking deep within her brain. Hence the headache she's unfortunately cursed with.
A jinxed day for Ninomiya Maiko.
The short haired girl tried her best to ignore the growing pain, putting all her focus on the handful of paperwork she has gripped around her fingertips. It felt as if each step she took upped the ante on the pain scale; damaging her steel-like concentration. Pacing slow she unknowingly made contact with two members of the Student Council, one with long, curly hair and the other with shorter, puffy hair. Both of them waved before greeting their fellow member.
"Good morning Maiko!"
"It's nice to meet you again."
"Aika, Shiori. Good morning to you two as well."
"So how's it going? Besides the whole student council paperwork of course." Shiori said with a slight cheekiness in her tone.
Maiko sighed before responding. "It could be better. I have a really bad headache since this morning and it won't go away."
"You look tired Maiko-san, sound tired too. You want us to deal with the paperwork. We wouldn't mind." Aika said reassuringly.
"It's fine. These papers need to be sent to the P.E. office so it's not that far of a walk."
"Well we're both here with nothing to actually do so we'd like to at least give you some company just before you're done with your delivery."
"That sounds nice. Thank you." The pinkette gave them a warm smile before they walked alongside each other to the schoolyard.
"This is great! I have so much to discuss with you Maiko-san!" Aika cheered out with blatant enthusiasm.
"Huh? About what?"
"Duh! Your boyfriend, Futaba Otohiro-kun."
It was no secret that ever since the school's Lone Wolf and Snow Woman started to hang out with each other in lieu of their less than cordial greetings the entire student body took this sudden union as an official relationship. It became the talk of the century without everybody knowing the true backstory though one could point out their obvious intimacy.
Back to Maiko whose headache just now received an upgrade.
"I never saw it coming but I am proud of you and your new boyfriend Maiko. Not only is he our resident bad boy, he is quite the catch."
*giggle* "He is pretty cute if you look past his Banchou guise. Too think that one of our own in the Student Council would have a boyfriend so suddenly."
"Especially with a guy like Futaba-kun."
"Hey, look at Maiko-san!"
"D'aww she's blushing."
"Fufu~ I would be too if I had a boyfriend."
That was the last straw.
"HE'S..."
But as soon as she started to scream the two girl's ears off a certain quote stopped her words in their tracks.
"I... wouldn't mind being her boyfriend."
This in turn left her in a more flustered state than before.
"You're such a big dummy Otohiro-kun! Saying stuff like that out in the open!"
"Wow. Maiko-san's face is crazy red."
"Uhh. Are you sure you're okay Maiko? You look sick."
"I'M FINE!"
She's technically not fine.
"What're you three doing here?"
A School Counselor walked up to them questioning their current locality. If the pink haired girl remembered correctly he's the one who called Futaba many times to his office regarding the boy's single rebellious act that is detrimental to the school's good image: Him dying his hair. No wonder Otohiro said he was a thorn on his side.
"Ah Sensei! The Vice-Principal told the Student Council that your printer machine is down. So he managed to save and reprint out the document that was supposed to be sent to you." Maiko explained whilst handing out the papers in her hand.
"Oh good. Been waiting for those. I swear even things in the future don't work." He said in a displeased tone of voice.
'Isn't your printer outdated?' The girls sweatdropped at their teacher's criticism on technology. The Ninomiya girl recalled what the Vice-principal said about the old, worn out printer he keeps using. 'Shouldn't the school get him a new one?'
"Regardless you've done your duty well. You can go back to your classes now."
But as soon as they took their leave a group of male students in dampened gym attire; carrying one of their own rushed down the hallway in panic. The person in question limped alongside them, torso bare, his arms fastened around their shoulders with a shirt stained crimson covering his head. They all shouted over one another furthering the chaos.
"Dammit! He's still bleeding!"
"Hey! Get him a towel or something!"
"We're almost there! Just keep his shirt on that gash."
The Counselor immediately walked up to the agitated group.
"What's going on here?!" Two of the boys spoke up for the distressed collect.
"Sensei! It's Futaba! He's got a nasty cut on his forehead!"
While the trio of girls gasped at who the wounded boy is their school superior however was exasperated when he heard the student's name. After all he is dealing with a "delinquent" and when it comes to delinquents there's always got to be a fight.
*sigh* "What did he do this time...?" He questioned the two whilst massaging his head.
"Nothing!"
"What?"
"Nothing! Absolutely nothing! We were all playing rugby out in the field until some guys from the other team jumped Futaba!"
"He managed to hold him off but one of those guys pushed him down and kicked his head in! With cleats!"
Aika and Shiori could only gape in utter shock at the merciless display done to the troubled boy. Never had they before seen violence being committed within school grounds, especially an act so gory. An event beyond alien to the two girls.
"Poor Futaba-kun..."
"How could this have happen?"
Between the present Student Council members in shock it was Maiko who was the most horrified. She personally witnessed the remorseless bullying done to Otohiro; though a small annoyance from her point of view it never went to this brutal extent. The pinkette clearly didn't see the full magnitude of the dark actions carried out by students from a revered education institute onto a boy who was minding his own business.
"Otohiro-kun..." Maiko whispered out with her hands covering her mouth.
'Has it gone this far...?'
Otohiro sighed through the process of antibacterial cleansing being done against his scalp. He figured that at this point with all the arguments and fights he has to endure the blonde would be accessible to some sort of hemorrhage like this one but he didn't knew when or where. Looking back to the game he played: Rugby, it was one of the few occurrences where he was contributing to a team albeit a temporary one but what stood out was that he was picked first by the assigned team captain. Soon after, he and his new comrades were in bit of a dilemma...
"Alright so... Did anyone pick up what sensei said about the rules and positions?"
"Yeah... about that."
"Errrr..."
"Mmmm..."
"Well..."
"No."
"Figures."
Well he couldn't blame them considering how unique the game is. Nevertheless the team captain gave a brief summary about rugby's synopsis on who goes where, what to do when they get there and why. Thus the game begins ten minutes after the teacher left them to their own devices. The crashing waves of tackling teenage boys were followed up with a flock of runners joining in and a descending lemon shaped ball.
All of this was done in a spam of 80 minutes.
By the end of the game finalized by a last second try Otohiro was greeted by a parade of praises and victory shouts followed up by him undertaking playful tousling complete with hand exchanges and friendly grapples as per the respect they were all giving him. The same uncanny atmosphere from this morning. At that point he was on edge. Becoming wary at their positivity considering how it all worked out in the past.
At least that's what his doubts says.
"Alright and we're done. This is what: second time this month? You have finally learned to be a bit more careful around your classmates now, have you Futaba-kun?" A pale, white-haired women said jokingly as she finished wrapping the roller bandage around his head.
"Cut me some slack Senkawa-sensei..."
The nurse, Senkawa Shizuka merely shook her head at his exhausted response. "I am, I am. It's just that you've became a regular here since your first year of secondary school. Though this is the first time you came not just with bruises but with lacerations and a minor concussion too?"
"Hence why I need a break." The blonde then laid down on the nursing bed to quell his dizziness.
"Half-naked though?"
"Sensei..."
"Fine... I'll leave you alone. For now anyways."
'Of freaking course...' Otohiro bluntly said in his head before drifting off to his only safe space: sleep. As soon as he did hostile voices arrived and mercilessly did they reminded him the school's dark themes.
"Hey! Fuck off Futaba!"
"What's your problem?!"
"I said fuck off you fucking monkey!"
'Another one.'
'Another group of irrelevant horndogs.'
'Going for the same damn prize.'
"You... knocked out Masaki..."
"And the rest of you morons are next if you don't leave me alone."
"Wh-Who do you think you fucking are?!"
"No-one so go away."
"After what you did to Masaki?! There's no way I'm leaving until I kick your damn head in!"
'Lucky hit...'
'It's fair we do the same.'
'Say... a few more times.'
'It is fair considering they've outnumbered you.'
"Stop! Stop! I'm sorry! I won't ever..."
*WHACK!*
*WHACK!*
*SPLAT!*
*pant* *pant* "Fuck... you... fucking dumbass..."
'Dammit!'
'Everything's fucked!'
'If only these bastards weren't stupid...'
'If only we weren't a part of this wretched cycle...'
'It's their fault!'
'It's her fault!'
'It's...!'
"Hey Futaba. Are you-Futaba!"
"..."
"Guys! Come here!"
"..."
"What happened?!"
"..."
"Crap! He's bleeding really bad!"
"..."
"Get him up! And tie his shirt on where the cut is! Hurry!"
"..."
"Stay with us Futaba. You're gonna be alright."
'Huh...?'
'Are they serious...?'
'Is this really happening...?
'...'
*Later*
Maiko was worried.
Why wouldn't she be, given the violent account that happened recently. It was illusory yet vivid. From the blood to his immobile position and what she heard regarding his injuries. The pink haired girl was no stranger to bullies, she even thought of herself as one considering all the jokes and teases she committed but the volatility directed towards what she and many others deduced as a nobody...
She still couldn't wrap her head around it.
Fortunately or unfortunately depending who's viewpoint it is, the girl was sent to the infirmary when signs of her growing ailment came into fruition. As soon as it did she felt weaker and was pelted by fits of sneezing, face reddening and of course a spree of stinging headaches. With any luck she may visit Otohiro and see how he is holding up. As friends of course! Nothing more.
Nothing beyond intimate.
"Hello? Senkawa-sensei? Are you there?" Maiko knocked lightly before opening the infirmary door. She saw the school nurse spinning around on her chair, limbs extended and completely bored out of her mind.
"You spin me right round, baby~! Right round~! Like a record, baby~! Right round round round~!"
"Sensei?" The nurse hearing the pinkette's voice by the door stopped her self-entertaining notions with her feet planting itself on the stainless white tiles to put the twisting mechanics of her chair into a screeching halt.
"Ah! Ninomiya-chan! About time you come here."
"Ehh? Why'd you say?"
"Easy: You're sick right?"
"Y-Yeah, How did-" Before she got the chance to question her Shizuka enthusiastically fist pumped.
"Yes! Another one with no misdiagnoses! I'm on a roll honey!"
"Sensei..."
"Right. Your illness." The white haired woman went over to her desk and threw a pair of surgical masks from the drawer. "Here. Put these on for the time being. I'm gonna go out and get something for you and our sleepy, little friend over there. So do me a solid and try not to make too much noise okay~?" Before leaving the student council member to her own devices the white haired nurse gave a suggestive wink which left her puzzled on what she meant. As soon as she put her mask on a familiar male voice expressed his ill humour though in a sarcastic sense.
"She's a card isn't she?" The girl turned around to see her blonde friend sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Card? I don't know about that. If anything, she's random." Maiko huffed out in amusement. Otohiro merely shook his head before turning his attention to her, the surgical mask raised a question in his head.
"Are you okay though Ninomiya? Didn't mean to eavesdrop but..."
"Dummy. I should be asking you that." The pinkette cut him off as she walked over to him; eyes fixated on the bandage wrapped around his head. Combing his hair aside she lightly grazed the red-stained wrappings and immediately felt sympathy for the concussed boy. She then asked him a question, one that needed a prompt answer. "Does it still hurt?'
"A little... yeah."
"Good." Maiko then raised her hand and karate chopped his recovering cranium.
*THWACK!*
"Ow! Hey! What was that for?!"
"That's for worrying me to death you big dummy!" She said giving him a stern yet perturbed expression before a more gentle disposition became it's replacement. "And for not telling me..."
"Huh? Tell you what?"
"The bullying." His eyes widened when he heard that. "And how bad it is..."
"Oh... that..." She then rubbed his head with both hands expressing her regret in regards to her hitting him where it hurts.
"Was it always like this?"
"Yeah... Ever since middle school, with that whole toxic brother/sister comparison schpiel. Then Neiko started to grow bolder with her attempts to seduce me and it wasn't long before somebody wants a fight."
"People do call you a Bancho." Maiko pointed out to which Otohiro snorted in amusement.
"Bancho? Well they're only half right." His head lowered before speaking. "The difference is that I don't have a gang with me let alone like-minded people. I'm all alone."
"And what am I? Chopped liver?"
The boy's head raised after hearing her question in a mockingly offended tone. His wine colored eyes met with her scrutinizing golden pupils. Though he can't see it, the young man could tell she had an amused smirk underneath the medical veil.
"Yeah."
*thud*
"Shut up."
Playful punches are fun.
"Seriously though..." His arms wrapped around her waist as he laid his head near her neck. "I should be grateful that you're here with me; that you actually care ."
"You should..." She replied enveloping him the same way he did. "You're not alone anymore, dummy."
"Hmm..." The boy hummed in agreement. Joy superseding his doubts. All of the uncertainty, hesitation and disgust were now just background noise. Solace in a uncomfortable position.
Just like last time.
"Uhhh Futuba-kun, Ninomiya-chan... I don't mean to disturb your little time together but shouldn't you that AWAY from public spaces...?" Shizuka said awkwardly with medical utilities in hand. The two embracing each other were surprised when they heard the nurse's voice. Too busy to not even realize that they weren't the only ones here and that the older women was watching. "By the way Futaba-kun, I managed to grab some clean clothes for you. Now you can at least be decent in front of your girlfriend here."
"Eh?"
'Clothes?' Looking past the sour face Otohiro was making and down to his fit torso she eventually registered the fact that he is in fact.
Naked.
"KYAAA!"
*SMACK*
"OW!"
*Later*
"Well... wasn't that exciting?"
Despite her best to lighten the mood and overlook the past couple of minutes Shizuka failed miserably as the moody atmosphere surrounding Otohiro and Maiko was still palpable as Japan's thickest fog day. In addition to the new bandages applied to the now fully clothed blonde, he was also sporting a glowing hand mark complete with a bitter look on his face. The one responsible for the reactionary slap stood there still beside him but with hands covering her scarlet stricken face. Her shame had reached new levels as a few key sentences echo all throughout the crevices of her mind.
'I can't believe it! I hugged a boy! A boy! A NAKED BOY! IN FRONT OF SOMEONE! I can't believe it!'
Despite previously being shirtless she took the boy's bare form as nudity so it didn't help the girl with her embarrassment.
"Anyways Ninomiya-chan even though you have flu-like symptoms you definitely do not have influenza. Instead you have a bad case of hay fever so I'm gonna let you go home and you're going to take a day or two off just so you can ease the impact a bit with some rest and medicine. Also Futaba-kun I'm gonna give you the day off as well and if you can please escort Ninomiya-chan to her home for her sake at least." The nurse said after giving the two their absence and leave papers.
"Hai sensei..." Otohiro said in a monotone manner. The two left, still in dire, emotional straits as Shizuka closed her eyes and crossed her arms in defeat.
'Geez... that was... abnormal to say the least. Wonder what's gonna happen next?' Sure enough a rapid pattern of frantic footsteps can be heard within the woman's hearing range, answering the question in Shizuka's mind. Suddenly the door was forced open by a certain black hair girl, visibly hysterical.
*SLAM!*
"OTO-KUN!"
'Should've known...'
"Futuba-kun?"
"Ninomiya."
"Let us never speak of this. Ever."
"Agreed."
His response indicated a robotic demeanour still active even after leaving the school premises. There was really not much to talk about as Otohiro was busy calming his embittered thoughts and Maiko trying her hardest to bring under control the shyness occupying her emotions. Looking back to the infirmary Otohiro did rescind his opportunity to wear a shirt after his was completely ruined by the copious amount of blood he spilled.
'I guess it's my fault for not acknowledging Senkawa-sensei... And it's also my fault for not telling Maiko that I'm shirtless... Hope that slap makes us even. Hmmm...' Otohiro grumbled in acceptance while caressing the fading mark on his cheek. Breaking his train of thoughts was a thud he heard from behind. Turning around he saw Maiko leaning against a random wooden fence. The long way back home began to take a toll on the afflicted girl.
"Ninomiya?!" He ran to her with haste as worry took control.
"I'm... fine..." She said through the pain.
"Doesn't look like it."
"Says you... We're almost there... so don't worry..." The girl stood up despite her exhaustion. "I can still walk home..."
"Fat chance." Without warning or thought he lifted her up placing one arm under her legs and the other on her back. It's as if she hasn't had enough embarrassment in her lifetime, this happens.
"F-F-F-Otohiro-kun! What're you doing?!"
"Giving you a break! Now shut up and let me do all the work!"
She wanted to scream. She wanted to tell him how humiliating it is having the boy bridal carry her home while adding a few more Dummy's just to be sure.
But she couldn't. Her fatigue got the best of her.
Laying her head near his she let him have this victory unaware that the boy's heart started to race. And it's not because of the extra labour he's burdening himself with.
'She said my name...'
*Later*
Finally arriving to the Ninomiya household Otohiro laid the now asleep Maiko down gently while entering the building with permission granted by the aforementioned girl. Using her key to bypass the locked door he took a small peek inside and saw no-one.
"Looks like her parents aren't here yet." The boy said to himself before picking his friend up from the concrete ground. "Up we go."
Entering in Otohiro put both school bags aside before exploring to find the right bedroom to place the girl in. He took notice on how nice the house is. There wasn't really anything thatcan be considered excessive and it had a serene quality to it. A few minutes passed and he managed to find Maiko's room.
"It would help if you're awake you know." He said to the sleeping girl in his arms. Carefully putting her down on the soft bed he wrapped her in with the blankets that were set aside. Seeing her sleep even under harsh symptoms instinctively made him stroke her face with his fingers, palms and knuckles.
"You're difficult... But a blessing at the same time. How did you manage pull that off I wonder?"
He then left her to sleep peacefully, closing the door behind him without making too much noise. Though there is one issue the boy has to deal with.
'What now?'
He's sure as hell he doesn't want go back home but he couldn't just stay here and do nothing. Going to the living room he decided he should do what he always does best: Chores. From vacuuming to dusting to rearranging and to the dishes he bided his time, thinking of something else to do aside from doing household errands. Rummaging through his wallet post chore completion he saw inside the collected winnings from his curry dish idol fiasco thing from Whole N' Organic. It was then he had an idea.
'Maybe they have something for Maiko.' Taking his chances the blonde left the Ninomiya household and ventured off to find the grocery shop. Putting all of his trust to his memories he navigated through every street, passing through every block without delay. Minutes flew by, measured by the wandering clouds obscuring the sun and sky.
"There!" Otohiro said in relief once he saw the store's sign. Going past it's automatic doors, the boy pulled out his phone and typed away whatever answers the internet can provide for treating hay fever. Once done he grabbed a random and began shopping. Starting with an array of fruits and vegetables he went deeper into the store to grab some protein such as chicken and eggs while also taking in a few ingredients to make some tea. After filling the basket with all the necessities he needed the boy immediately went to a nearby register occupied by a familiar face.
"Futaba-kun!" She greeted him with a smile on her face.
"You... You're the announcer... From the cooking challenge." The boy said in surprise.
"Yup!" The woman gave him a salute before introducing herself. "Konno Ichika, current manager of Whole N' Organic!"
"You're the manager?!"
"Darn right I am! But enough about me. What brings you back here Futaba-kun?"
"Oh... You know my friend Ninomiya right?" She nodded. "Well let's just say she's a bit under the weather so I'm buying a little something something for her. Just to make her feel better."
"Awww, that's so sweet of you~!" The compliment made the boy scratch his blushing cheek.
"Though I do have a bit of a conundrum."
"What is it?"
"Medicine. Ninomiya has a bad case of hay fever therefore she needs remedial help but what to get for her I really don't-"
"Aah! Say no more Futaba-kun!" Ichika abruptly interrupted him. She then pulled out her phone and in a blur of poking and scrolling down the illuminate screen she dialed a close friend.
"Hello? Katsurako? Yeah I need some advice regarding allergy medicine, any ideas?" Adjusting her glasses Ichika took a pen and notepad out to jot down what she heard over the phone. "Hmhmm. Okay. Awesome, thanks Katsurako. We'll talk again later. Bye." Putting her phone away she ripped the written page off the notepad and gave it to the boy. "Here Futaba-kun. There's a pharmacy just down the road, you'll find what you need there."
"Thank you Konno-san. Without this-"
"No need to thank me. I'm always glad to help. Now let me help you with your groceries here." The atypical scene of audible beeps and plastic bags being filled up begins. Otohiro readied his wallet for the eventual totaling of his grocery shopping. He cringed a bit when he saw the overall amount before sighing in reluctance.
"Well that put a dent in my pockets." He said in somewhat low spirits to which Ichika gave him a rather opportunistic thought.
"You know... We do have a job opening for Whole N' Organic's café. If you want I can give you application for it."
"Really?!" The woman smiled when she saw his bright response.
"Yup!" She then gave him the form filled with the standards of an application paper such as questions in regards to personal information, general information, education history and job experiences. "Just fill it up and give it to me whenever you have the time."
"Th-Thank you! I-" A sole finger shushed him in his verbal tracks.
"I told you, you don't need to thank me." The manager then handed him the now scanned and paid materials prior to shooing him away. "Now go on! Go get that medicine for your friend. It's gonna rain soon."
"H-Hai!" Taking the paper and bags Otohiro dashed out of the shop doors with renowned vigor. The bespectacled girl leaned down on the end of the conveyor belt and watched the boy leave with a smile on her face.
"He's so lucky to have you Ninomiya-chan." Ichika's joyful face transformed into a commiserate loom as she called to mind the mood Otohiro had prior to coming here. "All of that anger and dejection... Repressed within the confines of his isolated heart. Had you not be there for him... "
...
It goes without saying that Life is difficult for everyone; everyone has bad days. Everyone has trouble in their life. Those quotes detail Maiko's present set of circumstances perfectly. Not only is her allergen-based symptoms still existent and palpable, her physical state however is nearly diminished. Leaving the poor girl still weak and prone to coughing/sneezing fits and occasional headaches.
Though that was not the end of it.
A string of barely audible sounds kept her up. It only grew louder and louder to the point where she couldn't even sleep.
'It's already bad enough that I have to deal with this stupid allergy crap...'
Using what remaining supply of energy she has left in her body the girl moved the blanket aside and arose from the bed. What stopped her from going downstairs was her uniform drenched in sweat. Maiko inwardly shivered, out of disgust and notwithstanding the noise down below she picked out her less than casual sleeping attire alongside a random towel and fresh pair of undergarments before going to the bathroom for a quick shower. Starting from rinsing away the sweat to the use of soap and shampoo after which she grabbed her towel, dried herself off of any soap residue prior to applying body care essentials.
Now removed of sweat and sticky clothes in spite of her ailments the pink haired girl went downstairs to see who or what is making that racket. Every step she descends to the living room made her more aware of what noises she's currently hearing. Instead of a jumbled discord of noise, it was voices.
Voices she's all too familiar with.
"Ahhh~ Your soup is absolutely incredible!"
"T-Thank you."
"You can taste everything here!"
"I try to get the best for this dish."
"It's actually better than what I can whip up!"
"It's not THAT great..."
"I concur!"
"Mom?! Futaba-kun?!"
Right in front of her sitting in the couches holding a bowl of soup chatting away was her friend and mother. There was a certain amiable environment emanating between the two that was not lost on the shocked girl. Both Otohiro and her mother turned to see her standing there in front of the staircase.
"Mai-chan! Glad to see you up and about!"
"Hey..." the boy meekly greeted. Quite the opposite to the household's matriarch enthusiasm.
"What's going on here?" The girl questioned.
"We were just here; getting the chance to know each other."
"What she said."
"And I have to say: it's been so far great having you around! Especially since you bought all of these expensive things to make my daughter feel a little bit better!"
Maiko tilted her head as she saw in the corner of her eye a few things on the dining table. Discarded shopping bags with its contents outside. Even with a stuffy nose she can point out the smell of meat and greens coming from the metallic pot, a cache of spices she hasn't seen before laid near the spice rack and a variety of medicine designed to minimize the effects caused by allergens. She glanced at the boy responsible for buying all of those things cover his face with his hand to hide a growing blush.
"I feel like I have to. Given her condition and all." He said softly.
"All the more reasons to not dislike you! Though I am rather sad that you removed that blonde hair of yours. It was so pretty when I first saw it!"
'What...' This was news to the younger Ninomiya girl. It could be her brain still processing everything that she is seeing or the shifting frequencies of her awake, dwindling consciousness. Either way the boy's hair had, in fact changed colors. This is her first time seeing him with his natural black hair and it left her speechless. 'How did I not see that...?' Perplexity changed into interest as Maiko's eyes suddenly dropped into a half-lidded gaze and a curled finger rested beneath her lips. 'So this is what you look like with black hair.'
"I didn't want to come off looking like a thug so I got rid of it." He said while scratching his hair, the blush not leaving his face.
"Hmm... That's fine! It just goes to show that you have style and personality!"
"T-Thanks..." 'Jeez... First Ichika, then Katsurako-san and now Maiko's kaa-chan. Just how many more compliments am I gonna get?' Otohiro's sardonic thoughts were followed up by a ray of orange light hitting his eyes. Looking outside through the window he saw daylight fading away in the form of a darkening sunset enclosed between drifting rain clouds. A mesmerizing sight to see but a forlorn one as well.
"Goodness! Look how late it is!" The Ninomiya mother gasped in surprise.
'Ten past seven. We've been talking for hours.' Otohiro said to himself while glancing at his half dead cellphone. After getting up from the couch the black haired boy then bowed with utmost respect. "Sorry for coming out brash but I have to leave. It was a pleasure to meet and have a talk with you."
"Oh No no no! The pleasure is all mine Otohiro-kun! Please come visit whenever you're nearby!"
"I will Kaa-chan..."
'OTOHIRO-KUN?! KAA-CHAN?! WHAAA-'
"Maiko?" Said girl sputtered out erratic, incoherent words and phrases given how quick the surprises are. With the friendly conversation to the medicinal inventory to the boy's back in black hair it was not the end of it as she felt her head touch the warm fabric of Otohiro's shirt. His heartbeat racing and his face displaying a mellow look combined with a bright blush. "I'm glad you're alright." His arms wrapped around her again. "You scared the crap outta me when I saw you fall over. Hopefully that'll be the last time, yeah?"
She didn't know what to do. Everything was going a million miles per hour except for her. How he said her name so casually while embracing her it's...
"I-I-I'll... try... Otohiro-kun..." The boy let go and presented her with his rare, appreciative smile. Something that still gets to Maiko; leaving her a flustered mess. Breaking the touching scene however was her mother who let out a blissful sigh before saying.
"How adorable~."
Shame became Maiko's only emotion and it wasn't just her. Otohiro fighting through his fluster and asserting his gentleman idiosyncrasies managed to briefly curtail the estranged atmosphere by begrudgingly letting the girl go from their embrace following with initiating the ritsurei, bowing while standing sign of respect.
"I'm sorry! I have to go now! Enjoy the rest of your evening!" He said before running off.
"Bye-bye Otohiro-kun! You be careful now!" The Ninomiya matriarch shouted out from the open door. She then let out another sigh. This one however was more of a satisfactory sigh than a blissful one.
"Hah~! That was a fun evening! Wouldn't you agree Mai-chan?"
No response. The pinkette is slowly taking everything into account. It was hectic to say the least. Hectic to the point that she's stuck in this statue-like stupor. Not reacting to what her mother is saying nor the afflictions that are still there. Processing and rebooting her brain found a way to formulate a lucid rumination.
'He's so sweet...' Not counting the latest or earlier discomfiture she brought to mind all the obstacles Otohiro went through for her sake. It didn't look easy when he bridal carried her home, forage for allergy treatments, cook a fantastic meal; all the while looking presentable in front of her family even when he decided to firmly insinuate his rebellious attitude towards his sister and the people around her.
It didn't matter. He did this for her. "The Useless Little Brother" himself. A title he and many others have come to accept but for the pink haired girl it was oxymoronic. If there's anything useless about Otohiro Futaba then she clearly hasn't seen it yet.
This was upsetting.
A kind, hardworking, devoted young man pushed aside so harshly. Treated little more like a pest. Because of breaking one little, harmless rule. Because of not being academically gifted.
Because of...
"Mai-chan...? Are you alright?" Her mother's worried voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She showed concern when seeing her daughter's face full of sadness and pity. A full minute has passed and Maiko finally said something in reply.
"Mom... Can I ask a favor from you?"
Another day, another series of odd occurrences. As soon as he stepped into school grounds he was showered by voices of concern and shock regarding mostly around his current condition and the sudden return of his original hair color. Though Otohiro tried to defuse the panic around him the volume of the student's voices became too much for him to handle. It took all but the mere sound of the school bell ringing for the crowd to finally disperse giving the overwhelmed boy room to breathe. He reassured everyone that he'll answer all of their long awaited questions in due time.
When will that be? Who knows? Not even the boy himself knows.
For now the Futaba brother is going to spend the rest of his break at the rooftop, lying down and listening to his selected playlist of varying songs and albums. This was the only thing normal for him. Isolated from the outside world; where no-one can disturb him. Taking every single second into account, paying no mind to the organized chaos below him. By the time one of the tracks came to an end he heard the door open alongside a girl's voice.
"There you are."
Lifting himself off from the ground he saw Ninomiya Maiko standing there at the side of the door. This wouldn't be strange considering how often the two meet up but what sets this meeting apart from all the others is the girl's sudden change in appearance. In place of her natural pink hair was the night-like shade of black. Every hair strain on the girl's head that was once pink turned; not one follicle was exempt from dyeing. This was unexpected, so unexpected that the boy's shock somehow intertwined with instinctual enthrallment.
How does that work? Who knows?
'Pretty...'
"So this is your little nest huh? It looks surprisingly comfortable."
Aforementioned boy is still staring.
"Man, you can see the entire town from up here!"
Still staring.
"Could go without the sun though."
Staring.
"Hey. Are you listening? Hello?" The boy returned from his dazed expression by the sound of two fingers snapping in front of him.
"Ah sorry!"
"Jeez dude, what was that about?"
"It's just that..." He's trying his best to not sound stupid.
"Hmmm?"
"Well... Your hair.. *thwack* Ow! Hey!" And he failed miserably as the girl karate chopped him once again.
"Really? You sat there looking like a complete dunce just because I dyed my hair?"
"Ahhh..." His answer was all she needed to hear. Shaking her head the girl's hand patted him gently before talking.
"You're not only one who can change styles Otohiro-kun."
"Ah yeah." A sudden realization when he heard his name. "Wait, you-"
"Said your name?" She hummed in response. "I mean we are on a first name basis now are we?"
"Uhh... Yeah... but."
"There is but and I'm gonna tell you right now!" Yanking his tie to assert her coming stance the now black haired girl flashed him a warning smile before saying the following words. "You are only allowed to say my first name when we're both alone. Outside of that you can only say my surname and nothing else. Is that understood Otohiro-kun?"
"H-Hai... Maiko..." Giving him another sweet smile (another wave of face flushing and rapid heartbeats) she let go of his tie before sitting down next to him. She also plucked out one of his earbuds and listened in to the song of his choice. The bubbly electronic beats, soft piano chords and seldom guitar notes fills her with a sense of nostalgic serenity.
"I love this song."
"Same. Never pictured you listening to this song."
"Well I grew up listening to songs like these. It's been decade since I first heard it and it's still on my playlist. What about you?"
"It's just one of those songs where it hits you in a weird way. You think about the good and bad times; wondering how it came to this, to today." His head went up to the cloudless sky. "Maybe things could've been different. Maybe the choices I made weren't the only ones. Just maybe..." An unexpected yawn interrupted his train of verbal thought.
"Tired?" She said to which he responded with a hum and a nod. "Take a load off then Otohiro-kun. You deserve it."
"Mmm... Thanks... Maiko..."
Watching him close his eyes without any objections, the words seemingly tired was a huge understatement. Can't blame him after all. Considering yesterday with the excessive but beneficial shopping/walking/cooking/humiliation and today, handling the newfound popularity with the best of his oratory abilities as a horde of new admirers who were in a state of worry and excitement comically overwhelmed him. Seeing his hand open the girl lightly touched it with her own meanwhile placing her head right above his shoulder.
"You're beating a dead horse Otohiro-kun." Their fingers entwined together. "Don't dwell on it too much you dummy."
Unbeknownst to the duo a group of female students watched their interactions with each other from the door's sole window pane. They expressed their delight in a quiet tone so they won't get caught in the action.
"So cute~!"
"They look so perfect together~!"
"Ooh! I've got to take a picture of this!"
"What's going on?"
Turning around the three girls saw Neiko with a curious look on her face. She was going to have her typical "Love-Love Time" with Otohiro knowing that the roof is his personal getaway. However these girls were here first which was bizarre and hampering to the activity she enjoys to a great extent.
"President! President! You have to see this! It's the cutest sight you're ever gonna see!" The Futaba sister blinked. She was no stranger to cute things and enjoyed watching such a phenomenon. Moving past the trio Neiko took a peek of what's outside that brought their attention. And what she saw soured her attitude. Interest shifted into anger and envy as she continued looking at her little brother and best friend comfortably resting.
"Isn't it adorable President?!"
"Get out..."
"What-"
"I. Said. Get. Out." The sight and sound of Neiko's restrained fury scared them away leaving the Student Council President by herself with the two cozy people in front of her. They were in for a rude awakening. More importantly she's going to have a talk with her dearest little brother.
A long, LONG talk.