Phew – spring break has been so busy for me…I hardly had anytime to update the next chapter!!
Their Situation
Chapter 3
The leaves were becoming a brilliant shade of citrus as the days became cooler. The sun rose later and left quicker and every morning, the light would shine off the icy drops on the grass.
"Arima-kun…" Yukino chided, hanging onto her boyfriend's arm. He chuckled and continued to walk forward towards school with her. "It's cold!!" she spoke, almost as if she were whining.
"It's fall now," he responded, a puff of condensed breath lingering in the air after he spoke.
"I wish it were spring or summer!!"
A dark shadow overcame Arima. So we could part and be so far from each other?? "Why…?" he stuttered slowly, trying to suppress the thought.
"So it would be warmer…" Yukino spoke dreamily.
He sighed a quiet breath of relief and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "It will come soon enough…"
The school bell chimed and the two ran onto the campus and up towards their homeroom. Another day, more classes, more homework. It was the endless cycle of a student. The day drifted on, and as usual, Souichiro could barely concentrate on his work. His mind wandered out into space while his eyes were glued outside, watching the leaves fall off.
Their time is up…they're dead, their life forever gone…he thought pessimistically. It will be the same next fall…
"Arima Souichiro! Please do problem #16 on the board," the teacher commanded.
Arima snapped out of his daze. "Hai," he responded, getting up and glancing at the problem.
Yukino looked over to him and stared, feeling the blush rising into her cheeks. She almost expected someone to pass her a napkin and tell her that she was drooling. Arima obediently picked up a piece of chalk and began to map out the math problem on the board.
His strokes are being dragged…as it he was sad…Yukino realized. Remembering his outburst, she wrapped her arms around herself, shivers forming in her spine. How could she have been so blind as to have not noticed his problem?
"Well done, Arima," the teacher commented as he walked back to his seat and sat down. He cocked his head over to her and an awkward contact was born. A small grin was sent to her and she shyly accepted, feeling the blush rise into her cheeks once more.
The day continued and ended with the sun. The horizon was a light shade of crimson, blending with the cerulean sky. After school activities were coming to an end, friends parting for the day. Yukino had just finished painting the sets for the annual school play and was washing her hands. A tune hummed escaped her voice and into her ears, bringing some company to her. Arima had just finished his vigorous kendo session, sweat clinging to every inch of his body. Yukino washed the paintbrushes and threw the smocks into the closet before turning off the lights and heading out the building. Arima took off his gear and wiped his brow with a towel. Taking huge gulps of water, he placed his equipment in his bag and headed out the gym.
The air had turned bitterly cold, and the sky was a dark navy color. Yukino shivered and wrapped a scarf around her neck. Hearing footsteps, she turned around and saw him. "Arima-kun, she called out, running up to him.
He turned around and saw her running towards him. He smiled and welcomed her. "Hallo," he spoke with a funny English accent.
She giggled and slapped him playfully on the arm. "Phew – Arima-kun!! You need to take a shower…badly."
He raised his arm and sniffed. "It's not that bad…"
She pretended to gag. He raised an eyebrow at her before laughing. They then began to walk home in the cold fall night.
"Are going to school in Japan?" Arima asked, breaking the silence.
"Where am I now?" Yukino responded in a confused daze.
"I meant next year," he said, smiling.
"Oh…" her voice trailed off. "I might…"
"You might what?" Arima prodded.
"…study abroad."
The words hit him like a hundred knives, all of them twisting and stabbing his inners. "You are?" he managed to choke out.
"I'm not sure…I've always wanted to see America…" she said. "It was always one of my ideas that I could go to Harvard or Yale…or a respectable college there."
"I see…"
"Ne, we still have 2 semesters together!!" Yukino laughed, trying to cheer him up.
"It's not long enough."
"We can always talk on the phone, and write letters, and see each other over the break…right?" Yukino suggested.
"Hai…"
Suddenly, out of the sky, a tiny flake of snow drifted downwards onto Yukino's nose. She looked at it with curiosity before brushing it off and looking up. "It's snowing…"
Arima looked up with her and looked. Snowflakes began to fall down, small and plentiful. They stuck to the ground, making it into a transparent white. They continued walking, the cold snow sticking to their coats. Soon enough, they reached the fork in the road and parted, without their goodbyes. Somehow, it seemed fitting for the occasion. They each disappeared behind the curtain of snow, their bonds loosened.
I know! I know! That sucked!! But patience is a virtue!! To be continued…*evil laugh* Please r/r!! :D
