Chapter Nine
Living up to your dreams is a scary thing.

"Nee, Mune-chan…" Sitting on a rock, the young girl tugged the hemline of her friend's shirt who was standing beside her.

It was a late afternoon at the park where swarming children run around in circles and some spread dirt from the sandbox. Away from the commotion were the two children watching the others as they were in a world of their own.

The young boy with expressionless face looked at the girl beside him.

"If you want to be something else, what would you rather be?" asks the girl, "If you were not a person, what should you be?"

The young boy replied in a rather soft voice, "… dog…"

"Dog…?" The girl laughed. "Why a dog?" She looked at him, waiting for an answer.

"..." For a moment, he glanced at her without any word.

She nodded as if she understood him. "Is that so? That's really interesting, Mune-chan!" She chuckled.

"..." He continued staring at her.

"Hm? What about me?" she translated what her friend had on mind. Then, she looked up to the clear skies. "Hmmm… let's see… Ah! I want to become an airplane!"

"..."

"Why? That should be obvious." She raised both of her hands and took a deep breath before shouting. "Because I want to fly very high in the sky!"


And, she has experienced how to fly.

"Everyone! I took Kazuyoshi with me." Kenya grins while he stands beside the poor shaking girl. They have just arrived shortly after he fetched Yume from the hallway.

Seated on the ground are Shiraishi, Hitouji, Kintarou and Ishida in a circle with some bento boxes at the center. Shiraishi looks at them with a smile while Ishida gives them a solemn bow as a greeting. Hitouji, sulking at the far end, momentarily turns around to see them but eventually returns to his own world.

Kintarou looks at the newcomers with excitement. With a drool from his mouth, he turns to Shiraishi. "Nee, nee, Shiraishi. Kenya's here. Can I start eating now?"

Shiraishi sighs as he sees the drool on the young, energetic boy's face. "Fine, fine. Don't make too much mess."

"YAY!" The energetic first year grabs his bento box and begins to chomp on rice balls.

Shiraishi turns to Yume and chuckles. "Sorry for that, Kazuyoshi-san. Kin-chan's always like that." He chuckles.

"Right, right." Kenya sits down on the floor. "And Kin-chan's also greedy with food." His eyes wander to their lonely, distant friend facing away from them. "Koharu's not here?"

"Koharu has things to attend to with the Student Council," Shiraishi replies while he glances at Hitouji.

"Hitouji-han has been like that when Koharu-han refused to come with him here," Ishida adds.

"Must've been sad for him," says Kenya.

"Kazuyoshi, please sit down," Shiraishi politely offers.

Ishida takes a glance at Yume who still remains standing. "Kazuyoshi-han, is there anything wrong?"

Her eyes are wide open, glued to the floor. They uncontrollably twitch in horror. Holding the hemline of her black jacket uniform, her hands shake. "F-Flying... mid... I'm... impo- can't... st how... ssible... in air... loatin..." Yume mutters in an undecipherable speech.

Shiraishi looks at her in worry. "Kazuyoshi, are you okay?"

Even Kintarou pauses from his meal and points to her while looking at Shiraishi. "What's wrong with him?" he asks their captain.

"Are you saying something, Kazuyoshi?" Kenya wonders.

Turning around and momentarily departing from his little depressing world, Hitouji raises a brow in curiosity upon seeing the obscure state of the shaking Yume.

She opens her mouth slowly, pauses and then suddenly blurts out, "I don't want to dream of flying anymore!"

Everyone is in silence.

"Huh? Are you alright, Kazuyoshi?"


A few minutes of consoling the traumatized friend, Yume finally calms down. The group is sitting in a circle while they enjoy their lunch altogether.

"Kenya," Shiraishi reprimands his friend, "you can't just drag Kazuyoshi around. It's not like everyone can keep up with you when you run."

Kenya grins. "I'm sorry." He looks at Yume and bows apologetically. "Really sorry, Kazuyoshi. I guess I was too excited."

She looks at him and nods meekly. "Sure." Yume nervously chuckles. "I just got too scared when I saw my feet already off the ground."

"You flew?!" Kintarou exclaims. "Does that mean you can fly? Cool! I want to learn how to fly, too." He looks at her with excitement. "Please teach me!"

"I… wouldn't call that flying, though," she replies.

"Kenya!" The innocent redhead looks at their teammate. "I want to fly, too! Let me fly, too!"

"Kin-chan, don't," Shiraishi tells young boy.

Kintarou pouts. "But, Shiraishi, I want to fly and become a super hero!" He points at Yume. "This guy was able to fly. Why can't I?"

The captain sighs. "You can't, Kin-chan. It's impossible."

Kintarou points to Yume. "But how did he do it? He flew, right?"

Again, Shiraishi sighs. "What am I to do to you?" he mutters to himself. To Kintarou "That wasn't real. Kazuyoshi and Kenya were just joking. They're just having fun."

"Is that even possible, though?" Hitouji asks before putting rice into his mouth. Then, he looks at Yume. "Just how lightweight are you that you were able to float in air just by being dragged at a quick speed?"

Kenya looks up in thought. "Now that you say it…" He looks at her. "How much do you weigh? Why are you light?"

Shiraishi says while laughing, "Just where is our data man when he's needed?"

"Well..." Yume scratches the side of her head. "... I guess, it's because I don't eat much at all."

Ishida looks at her. "You only eat sandwiches during lunch, right?"

"Yes. I don't particularly like cooking."

Shiraishi gasps. "But you should eat properly, Kazuyoshi. You're still growing and you need to eat well to become a healthy adult."

"I'm sorry." Yume bows down.

"Why don't you just buy something in the canteen?" Kenya asks.

"Well…" she smiles sheepishly as she scratches the back of her head.

Kenya gazes at her. "If you'd like, I'll spare an extra bento for you, Kazuyoshi. After all, I bring two extra bento meals every day."

The whole group looks at him, surprised at his sudden generosity towards the newcomer. They gasp upon the words the boy has just uttered.

Even Yume is shocked. "Uhmm... thanks for the hospitality. But I think you don't have to go that far, Oshirtari-san. That's a bit too much."

"Ah, but..." Kenya looks away while he scratches his head. "I caused you trouble, anyway, so I don't mind at all."

"Kenya, you say that, but..." Hitouji grins. "... didn't you say three meals aren't even enough for you?"

Kenya's face heat up. "I said that, but...!"

Ishida looks at the male's meal. Only half of the bento has been eaten. "Kenya-han, you haven't finished your first meal yet," he remarks.

"Yes, yes! Kenya's acting odd today," Kintarou adds.

Kenya gasps. "I'm not!" he protests.

Shiraishi smiles. "I think it's fine. After all, Kenya seems to be feeling better than yesterday. It's a really good thing." He looks at Yume. "Thanks, Kazuyoshi, for helping our friend out. We're really grateful."

She shakes her head. "No. It was my pleasure."


The second day for the special exams has already ended. Yume leaves with a bag on her shoulder and phone on her other hand.

A photo appears on the phone after clicking on a small envelope icon at the bottom right of the screen. It is yet another picture of Marui, making a v-sign with his fingers. His greedy cheeks are puffed up while a cupcake with a bite is shown on his other hand. A message captions the image, "I'm having fun. I wish we could hang out sometime again."

Her face lightens up and she laughs. Scrolling through their previous conversations, there are a lot of pictures that Marui sends her daily. "This guy's made me into his personal blog," she tells herself. "Well, not that I cared anyway."

Strolling away from the building, she types into her phone, "Right? I wanna go out sometime again." And then, she clicks 'Send.'

"Oi! Kazuyoshi!" a voice calls her from a distance.

She stops and turns to see the speed star running towards her. "Oh. Oshitari-san?" she says with a smile.

Kenya reaches her with a grin on his face. "Let's go home together, Kazuyoshi."

Yume nods. "Sure." Then, they head to the gate.

"You sure do walk slowly, Kazuyoshi," Kenya comments as he watches every step of his shorter friend.

Kenya is walking ahead while Yume keeps on her own pace.

"You just happen to walk too fast." She looks at him and observes the distance between them.

He chuckles. Then, stops. "What does it feel like?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know… what does it feel like to walk slowly? To not be in a rush?"

"Calming." She pauses and suddenly laughs. "If you'd like to know, why don't you try it?"

He grunts. "I don't walk slowly. I am always on the fast lane."

"Then, you wouldn't understand."

"What's that?!" he exclaims. "What are you being so mysterious for?!"

She laughs. "Nothing. And I'm not being mysterious, just so you know."

"What the-"

"Yuki-sama!" A girl swiftly approaches them, squealing in delight.

Yume turns around to see a girl she met the previous day. Kenya's eyes open wide in shock. Fumiko grasps her arm and clings onto it. Looking at the eyes of Yume, she pouts. "Nee, Yuki-sama, did you miss me?"

"Uhm…" Yume scratches her head. "Who are you again?"

For a second, Fumiko's expression goes blank in disbelief. Her face turns into a forced smile. "Wh-What are you talking about, Yuki-sama? We're already lovers, right?" She tilts her head.

"Oi, Kazuyoshi…" Kenya whispers into Yume's ear with a tone of irritation, "... what's the meaning of this?"

Yume glances at the clinging girl then to Kenya. "Actually, you see… I don't know." She points at Fumiko. "I don't even really remember this girl."

Fumiko gasps in shock and releases her arm. She places her hand on the chest and announces, "I am Shizuoka Fumiko! Queen of Shitenhouji Chuu." Fumiko points to Yume. "And you, Yuki-sama, are my one and only King!"

"Ahhh…" Yume looks at the air for a while. "... Queen-san." She scratches the back of her head. "I'm really sorry. I completely forgot about you."

"You don't just forget a Queen!" Fumiko protests. "Especially for someone like you, my King!"

"Oh. Sorry, but I refuse your offer. I'm not interested." Yume politely bows. "Then, we'll be heading off." She looks at Kenya. "Let's go, Oshitari-san. The sky will get dark soon."

They begin to walk away from Fumiko, who has been rejected yet again by the same person and now at a loss for words. Yume proceeds as if nothing has happened while her friend keeps glancing at the frozen figure of the woman behind them.

"You know Shizuoka-san?" Kenya whispers to her ear.

"Well… I kinda bumped into her yesterday. And then, she just began acting very weird. Saying 'I love you' and stuff," Yume replies and sighs. "It's kinda annoying but I just thought to myself that it's some kind of prank. Apparently, the joke's not over yet." She glances at him. "What about it?"

"You see, Kazuyoshi…" he scratches his head. "She was the one I sent a love letter to."

They halt.

Yume suddenly bursts out laughing. "Are you for real?!"

~ Chapter End ~

A/N: Ooohhh... a super late update. *kneels and bows down to the ground* I'm really sorry for being late! I was so fed up with college life *ugh* Anyways, here's another update from yours truly. Please leave a review. Anything's appreciated. Bye~