Hello everyone! Here I am with another fanfic and this time is under Chihayafuru. I glimpsed at this manga years ago curious about the karuta and Chihaya/Arata tandem. Honestly, no offense to anyone, it was not interesting for me. But fast forward to a few years, I saw the infamous video clip of Taichi and Chihaya with the line "Do you think I am made of stone?" I fell hard because I thought it was so realistic, relatable, and heartbreakingly beautiful. Then I decided to go and look at it again. To my surprise, it seems the manga is going to end soon.
The end games are not yet decided, but I wanted to write a Taichihaya fic before everything concludes. Why I don't know if my ship is going to sail, but I want to write it while my mood is still high. If things come to the worst, I might not be able to start so and I don't want that. Sorry had to put a long intro. Now it is on with the show. Lmao.
"Chapter One: Inside Urayetsu, are Feelings Fading at Omni Jingu?"
There was a deafening silence in the Urayesu room as everyone's breathe is stuck on their throats. The Queen challenger, Ayase Chihaya's forehead has sweat dripping continuously from it. The maiden's heart was pounding as it tries to keep up with the energy exerted earlier. Her eyes are starting to feel heavy, maybe it's the lack of oxygen that is making her dizzy. Should she fall on the usual slump and have a short power nap to get re-energized? In a few seconds, more the voice of the Shinobu Wakamiya pulled her out of reverie. "Thank You for the game." The brunette muttered while the taller girl looked up to the person across her.
Is this happening? After all, these years has she finally done it? The long-haired female answered back with a bow. "Thank you for the game." She felt exhausted and could not pull her head back up. Opening her mouth to take in a lot of air, in one gulp she managed to fill her lungs. Slowly Chihaya raised her head and managed to have direct eye contact with Shinobu.
"I will get you next year." The shorter lady managed to say. Then the brunette smirked. "It has been interesting and fun." Having said those words the former queen stood up and headed to her dressing room. It has been a long day, five matches are no joke. But they made it and the following tournament she will be more than ready.
Chihaya remained sitting mouth open in shock. The reality of the situation has not yet reached her comprehension. She won by 1 card, the challenger defeated the queen by just one card. Was it a stroke of luck? Or is it the fates deciding that her time has come? Ayase Chihaya is now the karuta Queen. Her dream came true, but she somehow felt empty. Is it because of the fatigue her mind and body are blank? Or is it the euphoria giving her a natural high?
Her vision shifted to an area where her beloved friends, mentors, and family were seated. Her breath hitched for a second time as her heart erratically beat faster. In with her line of sight, the person she had been wanting to see was still here. His big doe shaped eyes met her tired ones. He smiled meekly and managed to speak softly "Congratulations.". Due to the silence in the room, the new queen with her outstanding hearing could decipher it correctly.
The connection was enough for her adrenalin to pump once again. The lady managed to pull herself up and walked in the boy's direction. Her voice could not come out of her lips but inside the player's head was a single name being called out repeatedly. "Taichi, Taichi, Taichi,…" For some reason as her tired body trekked towards him. Tears are beginning to form in her eyes. He is here. He had always been here. She never failed to feel his presence. Thank goodness he is here.
The audience shifted to move out of her way. The queen match winner is heading towards her friends. She was a few steps away from him and out of force of habit, the lady wanted to lunge at the boy. But before she could fully fall into his arms, he managed to catch her by the elbows. The man in question managed to keep her balance. In effect, she was kneeling in front of him about three steps away. "No Chihaya." His gentle masculine voice resounded. "I should not be the one holding you."
Chihaya blinked after hearing his statement. What does he mean by that? They have always held each other in happiness and sorrow. Now was a big moment for her, of course, she wants to share it with him. He was the boy who worked hard with her the past two years. Is it because they drifted apart this year? "I am happy for you." The former club president confessed in a low voice only her sensitive ears could hear. "But we have to keep distance."
Chihaya still could not find her voice. She wanted to argue that what he is saying is nonsense. Why do they need to keep their distance? The new queen felt the man's grip withdraw from her elbows. Despite the body part being covered by her kimono, his touch was warm. She suddenly felt cold the minute he pulled back. "You should rest and eat some chocolates now." Then the man looked at her mother and signal a nod. After the gesture, the elder lady pulled her closer for an embrace.
Mrs. Ayase congratulated her daughter tears streaming down her face. The high school student returned the embrace. She was also thankful that her mother is there. She had always been supportive of her karuta quests. Now that Chihaya managed to become queen, the next goal is to get to a college. The second is another challenge knowing the queen's difficulty with her studies. But if the first goal was achieved, maybe the next one would be achieved too. "Let's head to the dressing room." The matriarch ordered and pulled her daughter towards the direction of the room. Their club adviser assisted her together with Sumire. They kept saying things like she need to rest and prepare for the award ceremony later.
Chihaya absentmindedly followed their instructions. But as the distance between her and Taichi grew, the queen felt her lungs constricting. Even if she tried to breathe more, her chest continued to hurt. The lady looked back to see the boy she approached earlier intently watching the Meijin match. Then she recalled earlier that the medical doctor aspirant sent a message to Arata. He contacted him but did not bother to reach out to her. Walking towards the dressing room memories began to flood her head.
After the confession, the boy tried to act that nothing has changed. It was her who was awkward during those times. Then the impossible seemed to have occurred. Taichi Mashima fell to second place at the school rankings. He decided to leave the club despite her desperate begging not to go. With a heavy heart, she had to accept his decision. The summer when they were supposed to win the Nationals again with everyone did not come true. At least he came, though a bit late. She could not demand much of him, so she just took what she can.
They no longer take the train together going in and out of school. She could barely spend time with him since he had cram school. While she had other things to do. During the holidays part of her wanted to spend Christmas with him. She felt envious of the friends and couples her eyes caught while walking home alone. Then the New Year came, due to the busy schedule of the third year's none of them came to the temple with her. Fortunately, the junior karuta club members came. Together they went to the temple and prayed. And as she was thinking of what to ask each close friend, thinking of him her mind went blank. Chihaya honestly did not know what she would ask of him. But her heart was grieving and missing him but she could not find the courage to say it.
Winning the major qualifiers with him was bliss. She was so relieved that they got to play together once more. The Meijin qualifier ended later than the Queen's. She cried in happiness after he won one match with the "Chiha" card. But her heart broke as he lost the third match. He could not play beside her to Omni Jingu. Having that thought made her cry bitter tears. Taichi who has always been trying so hard, in the end, did not achieve his goal. To cheer him up, she joined their friends in surprising him with a special futon. Their intended surprise was busted and worst Mrs. Pressure saw them all together. As he walked with them home, she unintentionally heard the conversation between him and Kanade.
Inside the dressing room, Chihaya kneeled on the floor with a thud. It earned a gasp from the woman assisting her. "Chihaya dear are you alright?" her mother managed to ask. She barely had any strength left. From sitting position, she leaned to her side to lie on the floor. Is she alright? Tears began to flow out of her eyes. Were those of happiness because she won? Or is it a relief that all the stress is gone? The new queen closed her eyes and tried to calm her breathing. She could still hear a lot and it is starting to develop a headache. But she could not decipher which hurts more. The random sounds her sensitive ears are picking up or the resounding memory in her head. The phrases "It is gradually fading away.." and "But we have to keep distance." have instantly become her least favorite sentences.
"This can't be happening.." The new queen thought to herself. Why is that man here if he only wants to keep his distance? Or is he not here for her? The Mejin challenger is their common friend. And the current Meijin was somehow a mentor to him. Is he here for them and not her? The thought of it made her chest constrict again, she let out a cough and her body shivered. "Why are you crying Chihaya?" The soft voice of her mother reached her ears.
Why was she crying? Because her whole being hurts. If there was such a thing about the soul being stabbed, this is probably it. "Taichi, why?" In her mind, the lady asks again. She just wanted things back to normal. If time can only be turned back where she can walk by his side without the tension. What can she give to sit beside him once more? Will she ever have carefree conversations with him again? Is there a chance she can hold and feel his warmth even just for a few seconds? Chihaya's fists balled with extreme pressure it was beginning to hurt her palms. Her club adviser, the empress took her hand and unclasped it. "Relax Chihaya-chan. Loosen up it is all okay now." The educator encourages. "You need to release the tension and rest properly."
She could feel them loosening her kimono. Then Sumire carefully placed cooling pads on her forehead and neck. The junior spoke encouraging words about how awesome she played. That the whole club is proud of her and the Misuzawa Karuta club has another achievement under their belt.
The Misuzawa Karuta club, the organization she forcibly built with him. He had let go of the team for a while now. That is why she had no choice but to watch him from afar. The lady would take glimpses of him as the doctor to be studied in the library. She would steal a glance whenever he leans across the window opposite her classroom. Her eyes would always search for him as she walks the school's hallways. Chihaya's body will automatically react to the sound of his voice. Even before when she was busy preparing for the final match, a piece of her yearned for him. And now that things are supposed to conclude, she assumed things will fall into place.
Unfortunately, Chihaya Ayase learned something today that every happiness can have an equivalent sadness due to the choices you make. The consequences are nonreversible and if you want to challenge the tides, then extra strength is needed to overcome it. And yet this has no guarantee that things will be in her favor anymore. Because unlike before Taichi Mashima is no longer interested in staying beside her. He was getting ready to fully move forward on his own. Just like every time he left to fight his own battles and leave her wondering, the intensity of the pain is doubled now. And all she could do is ask in frustration. "Why Taichi?"
Maybe it really is impossible to get close to the person who broke your heart.
Author's note: Feel free to tell me your thoughts thanks
