Disclaimer: Suki dakara Suki isn't mine. It's Clamp's.
When you grow up
By Miyamoto Yui
Chapter 8 – In the rain
There was once a black-haired girl who had such long hair, the tips almost brushed the white tiles of her room like a broom. She was kept inside her room for so long that she didn't know what light felt like and so her skin was very fair, yet almost sickly, but not quite. Yet, she was given the privilege to see the sunlight from the windowsill that she sat by day after day.
What was the young girl waiting for as she waited for days on end like a doll whose forehead lightly touched the glass before her? A letter. From who? She didn't really know, but she had been promised a letter would come to her. How soon? The girl didn't know. It was already years, but she didn't know how much time passed either.
A little boy came into the space of a room, for it had only a bed and a lamp over a set of drawers with a window. The window that served as her own mirror, for she was not allowed to even look at mirrors.
The boy carried a tray in his hands and smiled as he approached his young mistress. "Good morning, I have brought your breakfast, Kolova-sama."
What a strange name for a beautiful Japanese girl of sixteen, isn't it? This also was unknown to her.
The girl nodded her head as she turned her head to the fourteen-year-old boy who held out the breakfast tray for her. "You must eat now."
She had only known what times of the day were because of the window outside and whenever the boy came into her room to tell her it was time to eat.
Kolova didn't go to school, but she was exceptionally bright. Even though he wasn't supposed to, the boy, whose name was Yoshi, read aloud to Kolova at least every other day. He felt that it was cruel of her uncle to keep her in her room, though he didn't know the reason for it.
But one day, when Yoshi had come in, Kolova wasn't at the windowsill waiting for the letter she had been told to receive. Instead, she was on her bed shivering.
Putting down the tray quietly down on the ground, he patted Kolova softly on the shoulder. "What happened, Kolova-sama?"
He put the covers over her, but then, she clung onto him as if she were a bird whose wing had just been stabbed. All he could do was hold her gently and tell her softly, "Shh, shh. It's all right."
But Yoshi was at a loss. No matter how long he had worked there, he couldn't understand why his mistress had suddenly acted this way.
"Too much. Used too much," she whispered to Yoshi.
"Used too much what?" he asked.
Her hands fluttered as she touched her head. But it was all lost and at last, she gave up trying to give a signal that maybe he could have understood.
Yoshi wouldn't leave until he had seen her eat her breakfast and fall asleep. As he took the tray outside, Kolova's uncle came by saying, "I got worried about you."
"Kolova's not feeling well," Yoshi stated.
"Oh, she's never feeling well," the uncle answered.
Yoshi wondered about this as he went to school, even though he was late. But due to Kolova's uncle's influence on the school because of his many monetary donations, Yoshi was never questioned as to why he had been late. Besides, he never abused his privileges and was always responsible.
Yoshi, after being clung by Kolova, had begun to dream of things he never thought of before. He began to dream of her in the rain while-
Ring, ring!
"And just when it was getting good too!" I laughed as I turned my book over and picked up the phone. "Hello?"
"Hello," said the familiar voice of sensei.
"Ah, Sensei!" I looked at the clock. "Isn't it a bit late?"
"And shouldn't you be going to bed?"
I laughed sheepishly. "I just wanted to get through the first chapter of Tomo-kun's new book. I bought it from the bookstore today."
"Hina, have you called the telephone service as I asked you?"
"Yes, but they won't let me change it. It's still under my father's name for some reason."
Asou-sensei sighed into the phone. "I'll try to take care of it when I come home."
"When you come home…" I repeated softly after him.
Wherever that may be for you…
"Yes, when I come home," he firmly said and I didn't know why he had to be so sensitive about it.
"But Asou-sensei? Where is home for you?" I blurted and then I cupped my hand over my mouth for saying such a thing.
There was a silence on the phone.
I looked down to the rugged floor of my room as if he had been there to see my guilt.
"I'm sorry-"
"Nowhere in particular," he finally answered while interrupting me.
"Oh…" I sighed trying to relate to him that we were on the same boat. "It's okay, I don't have a home either. I mean, I have a house for myself, but…but…"
At that moment, I found myself crying with the tears slipping innocently from my eyes. I patted them in shock.
I thought I had already forgotten every-
"Hina? Are you still there?"
"Mm."
"Hina…" he began to say, "are you okay?"
I shook my head…and lied. "I'm fine. I'm just really tired."
Tomo-kun's smile came back to me.
Asou-sensei's constant worrying though he was quiet about it…
"Are you really sure, Hina?" his tone slightly changed.
I knew he was really worried now.
"Yes, really."
"Okay then, just telling you that I will be home in two days."
"I'll be waiting for you then?"
With a little pause, he said, "Yes, please."
But I could feel it. This time, he was the one who didn't want to let go of the phone.
"Well, I better get ready for bed then," I said.
"Hina…" Asou-sensei trailed off.
Doki doki doki.
"Yes, Asou-sensei?" I sat up on my bed and turned to put on my slippers.
"Never mind," he finally said. "I'll just talk to you later. Bye, Hina."
"Bye, Sensei."
I looked at the phone before I put it down. What was that all about?
I shrugged my shoulders and went to the bathroom.
***
As soon as he came home, Asou-sensei was straight and to the point. Yeah, so well, he just outlined everything for me and wouldn't leave until I had changed my phone number with the telephone company. But he had called my father and my father let me know what I needed to know in the process.
It was nice to hear his voice…with some sort of relief in it too…
And that's how life went. I went to school and Asou-sensei kept on having assignments here and there. Though he tried as much as possible to stay near me, he just couldn't sometimes, saying that that was just how his job worked.
All I could do was understand and I did, though it was harder sometimes more than others. The more I said goodbye, the more I became assured that he would come back. His eyes silently told me, or that slight smile he would give when I said that I had made him a cake for the occasion.
He never was too far from me, but far enough.
I never really knew where he was calling from, but he did call since I couldn't call him back. It was the only thing I could ask him to promise me that he was okay.
He kept on 'suggesting' for me to get a cel phone. His way of 'suggesting' was to just give the phone to me with service and everything covered.
"You shouldn't buy that for me," I told him as we walked through a park.
He sighed. "It's the only thing that will make me relieved though."
"I don't mind the phone and I understand, but isn't this kind of extreme?" I blinked at him. "Why would anyone want to hurt me?"
He held my shoulders. "I don't know. That's what I'm trying to find out."
I sighed as I shook my head. "I will not accept that right now."
"Hina, you must listen."
I looked at Asou-sensei and then around me.
Who…who said that?
"Hina…you're getting pale."
"I-I am?" I waved my hand with a smile. "No, I'm not!"
Then, I ran away from Sensei. "I'll see you later! I have to meet Tomo-kun now!"
Sensei just stood there with his hand in the air. I laughed as I saw him look at his hand while shaking his head.
As I walked into the café, I found Tomo-kun's favorite booth, with his laptop. Kitzu-san smiled and left as he saw me approach them.
"Hi!"
Tomo-kun smiled back at me as he closed the laptop. "Hello, Hina-chan."
"I read your book the other day! It's so good!" Mesmerized, I looked at him adoringly. "How do you come up with this stuff?!"
"A little bird told me," he playfully replied
"The voice of inspiration is a bird's chirp?" I gave him a confused look.
He laughed. "It's a manner of expression. That's okay."
I smiled. "But it's so sad though. Your stories always start off sad that way. Like the bear book. The old bear didn't have friends."
"But the little bear made friends with him," he said as he looked directly at me. "Because you made friends with Shirou."
I nodded while blushing a little. "I was just with him."
"Why didn't you bring him with you? I would have loved to see him!"
"I was kind of in a rush."
I swallowed. Hard.
Whatever I had imagined was making me kind of apprehensive at that particular moment.
Tomo-kun just nodded.
At that moment, the waitress came and took our orders. Then she left and I looked back at Tomo-kun. "Doesn't Asou-sensei have any friends?"
Tomo-kun shook his head. He pointed at himself, Kitzu (who was outside of the café), and at me. "Except for us, there's no one else."
"And he won't tell me anything," I sighed.
"It will take time. Don't worry." Then, Tomo-kun glanced at me carefully. "But it will definitely take lots of time."
I gulped and tilted my head. "What are you talking about?"
He shook his head. "I shouldn't tell you about it just yet."
"Tell me," I softly asked.
Anything to know you better, Sensei…
"On one case…" then he stopped and stared again. "There was a girl. She was just like you, Hina. Very full of life, pretty, and very kind."
I blushed. "Th-thank you…"
But I never thought of myself that way. I was always small and made fun of for being so short…
"But what did Sensei do?"
"Shiro had to take care of her."
"Just like any other job?" I asked him.
He nodded and ended with. "They were really good friends, but he…"
Tomo-kun searched for the words as I looked for him.
Such a great storyteller!
"His assignment ended earlier than he thought. She left with no trace as to why."
I nodded and sighed. "Oh my…"
Tomo-kun gave me a thoughtful look. "Just be careful, Hina."
I questioned, "Why?"
"Because sometimes you shouldn't know what's left unsaid."
I looked at him for a moment wondering why he had said that to me…
Then, there was a soft pound at the window. I had not even noticed that it had begun to rain hard.
I bowed my head at Tomo-kun. "I guess that's my cue to go?"
He nodded his head at the window and at me.
"But wasn't there something you wanted to tell me?"
Tomo-kun shook his head with a smile. "No…I found out it wasn't the right time to."
I nodded my head. "Okay then. Bye, Tomo-kun!"
"Bye, Hina-chan!"
Quickly, I ran out with Asou-sensei at the doorway nodding his head at Kitzu-san.
"I thought you went back to your room?" I asked as I looked up at him.
"I…" he cleared his throat as he held out his umbrella. "I remembered that you didn't have one."
I laughed while looking at him. "Thank you."
While he looked straight at ahead, I glanced up to his profile before me with a soft smile on my face.
You're such a funny person, Sensei…
But you are always so kind.
I can't imagine why couldn't anyone else see through your coldness…
And so, we walked to my house together in the pouring rain…
I sang inside of my head.
"Even though rain is like tears from the sky,
Today, today…
In the rain, in the rain,
Sensei was so kind."
---
Author's note: So adorable…
When you grow up
By Miyamoto Yui
Chapter 8 – In the rain
There was once a black-haired girl who had such long hair, the tips almost brushed the white tiles of her room like a broom. She was kept inside her room for so long that she didn't know what light felt like and so her skin was very fair, yet almost sickly, but not quite. Yet, she was given the privilege to see the sunlight from the windowsill that she sat by day after day.
What was the young girl waiting for as she waited for days on end like a doll whose forehead lightly touched the glass before her? A letter. From who? She didn't really know, but she had been promised a letter would come to her. How soon? The girl didn't know. It was already years, but she didn't know how much time passed either.
A little boy came into the space of a room, for it had only a bed and a lamp over a set of drawers with a window. The window that served as her own mirror, for she was not allowed to even look at mirrors.
The boy carried a tray in his hands and smiled as he approached his young mistress. "Good morning, I have brought your breakfast, Kolova-sama."
What a strange name for a beautiful Japanese girl of sixteen, isn't it? This also was unknown to her.
The girl nodded her head as she turned her head to the fourteen-year-old boy who held out the breakfast tray for her. "You must eat now."
She had only known what times of the day were because of the window outside and whenever the boy came into her room to tell her it was time to eat.
Kolova didn't go to school, but she was exceptionally bright. Even though he wasn't supposed to, the boy, whose name was Yoshi, read aloud to Kolova at least every other day. He felt that it was cruel of her uncle to keep her in her room, though he didn't know the reason for it.
But one day, when Yoshi had come in, Kolova wasn't at the windowsill waiting for the letter she had been told to receive. Instead, she was on her bed shivering.
Putting down the tray quietly down on the ground, he patted Kolova softly on the shoulder. "What happened, Kolova-sama?"
He put the covers over her, but then, she clung onto him as if she were a bird whose wing had just been stabbed. All he could do was hold her gently and tell her softly, "Shh, shh. It's all right."
But Yoshi was at a loss. No matter how long he had worked there, he couldn't understand why his mistress had suddenly acted this way.
"Too much. Used too much," she whispered to Yoshi.
"Used too much what?" he asked.
Her hands fluttered as she touched her head. But it was all lost and at last, she gave up trying to give a signal that maybe he could have understood.
Yoshi wouldn't leave until he had seen her eat her breakfast and fall asleep. As he took the tray outside, Kolova's uncle came by saying, "I got worried about you."
"Kolova's not feeling well," Yoshi stated.
"Oh, she's never feeling well," the uncle answered.
Yoshi wondered about this as he went to school, even though he was late. But due to Kolova's uncle's influence on the school because of his many monetary donations, Yoshi was never questioned as to why he had been late. Besides, he never abused his privileges and was always responsible.
Yoshi, after being clung by Kolova, had begun to dream of things he never thought of before. He began to dream of her in the rain while-
Ring, ring!
"And just when it was getting good too!" I laughed as I turned my book over and picked up the phone. "Hello?"
"Hello," said the familiar voice of sensei.
"Ah, Sensei!" I looked at the clock. "Isn't it a bit late?"
"And shouldn't you be going to bed?"
I laughed sheepishly. "I just wanted to get through the first chapter of Tomo-kun's new book. I bought it from the bookstore today."
"Hina, have you called the telephone service as I asked you?"
"Yes, but they won't let me change it. It's still under my father's name for some reason."
Asou-sensei sighed into the phone. "I'll try to take care of it when I come home."
"When you come home…" I repeated softly after him.
Wherever that may be for you…
"Yes, when I come home," he firmly said and I didn't know why he had to be so sensitive about it.
"But Asou-sensei? Where is home for you?" I blurted and then I cupped my hand over my mouth for saying such a thing.
There was a silence on the phone.
I looked down to the rugged floor of my room as if he had been there to see my guilt.
"I'm sorry-"
"Nowhere in particular," he finally answered while interrupting me.
"Oh…" I sighed trying to relate to him that we were on the same boat. "It's okay, I don't have a home either. I mean, I have a house for myself, but…but…"
At that moment, I found myself crying with the tears slipping innocently from my eyes. I patted them in shock.
I thought I had already forgotten every-
"Hina? Are you still there?"
"Mm."
"Hina…" he began to say, "are you okay?"
I shook my head…and lied. "I'm fine. I'm just really tired."
Tomo-kun's smile came back to me.
Asou-sensei's constant worrying though he was quiet about it…
"Are you really sure, Hina?" his tone slightly changed.
I knew he was really worried now.
"Yes, really."
"Okay then, just telling you that I will be home in two days."
"I'll be waiting for you then?"
With a little pause, he said, "Yes, please."
But I could feel it. This time, he was the one who didn't want to let go of the phone.
"Well, I better get ready for bed then," I said.
"Hina…" Asou-sensei trailed off.
Doki doki doki.
"Yes, Asou-sensei?" I sat up on my bed and turned to put on my slippers.
"Never mind," he finally said. "I'll just talk to you later. Bye, Hina."
"Bye, Sensei."
I looked at the phone before I put it down. What was that all about?
I shrugged my shoulders and went to the bathroom.
***
As soon as he came home, Asou-sensei was straight and to the point. Yeah, so well, he just outlined everything for me and wouldn't leave until I had changed my phone number with the telephone company. But he had called my father and my father let me know what I needed to know in the process.
It was nice to hear his voice…with some sort of relief in it too…
And that's how life went. I went to school and Asou-sensei kept on having assignments here and there. Though he tried as much as possible to stay near me, he just couldn't sometimes, saying that that was just how his job worked.
All I could do was understand and I did, though it was harder sometimes more than others. The more I said goodbye, the more I became assured that he would come back. His eyes silently told me, or that slight smile he would give when I said that I had made him a cake for the occasion.
He never was too far from me, but far enough.
I never really knew where he was calling from, but he did call since I couldn't call him back. It was the only thing I could ask him to promise me that he was okay.
He kept on 'suggesting' for me to get a cel phone. His way of 'suggesting' was to just give the phone to me with service and everything covered.
"You shouldn't buy that for me," I told him as we walked through a park.
He sighed. "It's the only thing that will make me relieved though."
"I don't mind the phone and I understand, but isn't this kind of extreme?" I blinked at him. "Why would anyone want to hurt me?"
He held my shoulders. "I don't know. That's what I'm trying to find out."
I sighed as I shook my head. "I will not accept that right now."
"Hina, you must listen."
I looked at Asou-sensei and then around me.
Who…who said that?
"Hina…you're getting pale."
"I-I am?" I waved my hand with a smile. "No, I'm not!"
Then, I ran away from Sensei. "I'll see you later! I have to meet Tomo-kun now!"
Sensei just stood there with his hand in the air. I laughed as I saw him look at his hand while shaking his head.
As I walked into the café, I found Tomo-kun's favorite booth, with his laptop. Kitzu-san smiled and left as he saw me approach them.
"Hi!"
Tomo-kun smiled back at me as he closed the laptop. "Hello, Hina-chan."
"I read your book the other day! It's so good!" Mesmerized, I looked at him adoringly. "How do you come up with this stuff?!"
"A little bird told me," he playfully replied
"The voice of inspiration is a bird's chirp?" I gave him a confused look.
He laughed. "It's a manner of expression. That's okay."
I smiled. "But it's so sad though. Your stories always start off sad that way. Like the bear book. The old bear didn't have friends."
"But the little bear made friends with him," he said as he looked directly at me. "Because you made friends with Shirou."
I nodded while blushing a little. "I was just with him."
"Why didn't you bring him with you? I would have loved to see him!"
"I was kind of in a rush."
I swallowed. Hard.
Whatever I had imagined was making me kind of apprehensive at that particular moment.
Tomo-kun just nodded.
At that moment, the waitress came and took our orders. Then she left and I looked back at Tomo-kun. "Doesn't Asou-sensei have any friends?"
Tomo-kun shook his head. He pointed at himself, Kitzu (who was outside of the café), and at me. "Except for us, there's no one else."
"And he won't tell me anything," I sighed.
"It will take time. Don't worry." Then, Tomo-kun glanced at me carefully. "But it will definitely take lots of time."
I gulped and tilted my head. "What are you talking about?"
He shook his head. "I shouldn't tell you about it just yet."
"Tell me," I softly asked.
Anything to know you better, Sensei…
"On one case…" then he stopped and stared again. "There was a girl. She was just like you, Hina. Very full of life, pretty, and very kind."
I blushed. "Th-thank you…"
But I never thought of myself that way. I was always small and made fun of for being so short…
"But what did Sensei do?"
"Shiro had to take care of her."
"Just like any other job?" I asked him.
He nodded and ended with. "They were really good friends, but he…"
Tomo-kun searched for the words as I looked for him.
Such a great storyteller!
"His assignment ended earlier than he thought. She left with no trace as to why."
I nodded and sighed. "Oh my…"
Tomo-kun gave me a thoughtful look. "Just be careful, Hina."
I questioned, "Why?"
"Because sometimes you shouldn't know what's left unsaid."
I looked at him for a moment wondering why he had said that to me…
Then, there was a soft pound at the window. I had not even noticed that it had begun to rain hard.
I bowed my head at Tomo-kun. "I guess that's my cue to go?"
He nodded his head at the window and at me.
"But wasn't there something you wanted to tell me?"
Tomo-kun shook his head with a smile. "No…I found out it wasn't the right time to."
I nodded my head. "Okay then. Bye, Tomo-kun!"
"Bye, Hina-chan!"
Quickly, I ran out with Asou-sensei at the doorway nodding his head at Kitzu-san.
"I thought you went back to your room?" I asked as I looked up at him.
"I…" he cleared his throat as he held out his umbrella. "I remembered that you didn't have one."
I laughed while looking at him. "Thank you."
While he looked straight at ahead, I glanced up to his profile before me with a soft smile on my face.
You're such a funny person, Sensei…
But you are always so kind.
I can't imagine why couldn't anyone else see through your coldness…
And so, we walked to my house together in the pouring rain…
I sang inside of my head.
"Even though rain is like tears from the sky,
Today, today…
In the rain, in the rain,
Sensei was so kind."
---
Author's note: So adorable…