----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey... Tsurumaki here... I'd like to just take this time to thank all of the people that have helped make this fanfic such a success... (Yes, I mean YOU.) You reviews mean a lot and I appreciate every single one. Thank you... And now, on with the Fanfic...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Episode 18: Ride On Shooting Star Part I
Naota: (narrating) When I got home, I found Haruko in bed with my dad...
Naota storms down the hall to his room and slams his door shut.
Kamon: Naota-kun...!
Haruko: Let 'em go... He needs to cool down...
Naota sits in his room, staring vacantly at the wall. His clothes are still damp from the rain that had started only a few minutes after he'd left the beach.
Naota: (thinking) Its all a nightmare... I'll wake up tomorrow and everything will be fine...
Naota: (narrating) But I knew better than that... Its funny how life seems to bring you up just to let you down... I hate it...
The next morning, Haruko wakes up in the top bunk. She'd come in late, well past midnight, and fell into bed. As she sat up, she winced and rubbed her head softly.
Haruko: Oh, oww! Too much fun last night...
Slowly, she climbed down from the top bunk, landing quietly on the floor. Careful to not to wait Naota, she crept out of the room and went downstairs. No one seemed to be awake so she helped herself to some leftover takeout. After a half an hour, she figured Naota had been afforded ample time to sleep and decided to wake up.
She climbed the stairs and peeked through the doorway. To her suprise, his bed was not only empty, but practically untouched. The sheets were still pulled taut over his matress.
Haruko: (confused) Huh...? (thinking) I could have sworn he was here... Then again, i didn't actually SEE him... (shrugging) Eh.
Haruko casually flung open Kamon's bedroom door and poked her head in. He was drooling on his futon, his arms and legs tangled up in his sheets.
Haruko: Yo, Mon-chan!
Kamon: (jolting awake) Wha...wha...?
He lifted his head from the pillow and turned just enough to see her. His eyes were pressed into tiny slits when the light from the doorway hit his face. He winched and squinted for a moment, then finally was able to focus.
Kamon: (cheerfully) Oh, Haruko-san! Good morning!
Haruko: Yeah, yeah, whatever... Have you sen Takkun?
Kamon: He wasn't in his room...?
Haruko: No.
Kamon: (yawning) He probably just went out for a walk or something... You know how he is... He'll be back...
With that, Kamon abruptly closed his eyes and let his head drop back onto the pillow.
Haruko: (closing the door) I wonder where he went...?
Five hours passed and still no sign of Naota. Kamon still wasn't worried, but Haruko wasn't convinced. She'd always been an early riser, so it was unlikely for Naota to get up before her, and even so, he'd never stayed out this long so early...
Haruko: (shrugging) Maybe he's busy with Soldier Girl...
Another six hours passed and Haruko was actually starting to worry. This was really out of character for her. She never worried, especially about other people, so why now?
Haruko: (hesitantly) Maybe I should go look for him... S'not like there's anything to do around here anyway...
In less than a minute, Haruko was on her Vespa wander Mabase. She looked just about everywhere; the beach, the school, the park, the old burned down elementary school, the arcade. Finally, it hit her; the one place she hadn't looked. The bridge. after all, that was where they met, so why wouldn't he be there?
Haruko easily made it to the bridge, and to her relief, there was Naota, leaning over the side. He was carrying his bookback and held his red baseball bat in his right hand. She waited a moment, but he didn't seem to realize that she was there.
Haruko: (suddenly) Hey, Takkun! What's up?!
Her cheery smile quickly faded when he didn't reply, or turn around for that matter. He didn't even move.
Haruko: Takkun...?
Naota: ...
Haruko: (forcing a laugh) Come on Takkun, stop kidding around... (waiting) Ta...?
Naota completely ignored her, instead climbing up onto the bridges guard rail, easily staying balanced.
Haruko: (grinning) Careful... Don't fall off of there...
Naota slowly turns his head just enough to make eye contact. Haruko's slightly taken aback by his appearance. He looks like he hasn't slept in days. Dark circles surround his eyes, which are half closed. As for his hair and clothes, mess was an understatement. His hair was standing up in every direction and may have even been damp (she didn't want to guess why). And those looked like the same clothes he was wearing the day before... He hadn't even bothered to change.
After a few seconds, he turned away, looking aout over the river.
Haruko: What's wrong?
Naota: ...
Knowing full well that he'd heard her, Haruko decided to ask him again, anyway.
Haruko: What's wrong?
Naota barely even waited until after she had finished repeating herself.
Naota: Nothing...
She knew that was a lie. That must be his way of letting everyone know that something IS wrong; saying that nothing was wrong. Haruko smiled to herself and decided to go for broke. Annoying him usually snapped him out of it long enough for her to get a real answer.
Haruko: What's wrong?
Naota glared at her over his shoulder. His once warm blue eyes now resembled ice, barren and cold. It didn't even seem like the same Naota.
Naota: (coldly) What dou you care...?
Haruko: What's wrong?
Naota: Leave me alone...
She knew what was wrong. There was no denying it. She kicked herself for not guessing the obvious. It was right in front of her the whole time, though the actually ordeal was a blur. Maybe she just didn't want to face it...
Haruko: (slowly) Takkun...
Naota: ...
Haruko: About what happened last night...
Naota:
Haruko: Sometimes adults do really weird things...
Naota: (correcting) ...Really STUPID things...
Haruko tried to fake a smile, but it wasn't working. Instead, she just lowered her head a bit.
Haruko: (thinking) Okay, I deserved that one...
She glanced up, but he still had his back to her.
Naota: ...
Haruko: (solemnly) I'm sorry...
Naota: Why...?
Haruko: (surprised) What?
Naota: Why are YOU sorry...? You didn't used to be...
Haruko: ...
Naota: Whatever... I don't care...
Haruko: Don't say that... You know you don't mean it...
Naota: How would you know what I mean...?
Haruko: ...
Naota: What are you doing here anyway...?
Haruko: Looking for you...
Naota: What for?
Haruko: You weren't at home this morning...
Naota: (cynically) Its easier to wake up when you don't have a hangover.
Ouch. That hit hard. Haruko guessed that he'd seen the empty bottles of sake they'd left behind last night. Pushing her luck, she decided try from another angle.
Haruko: So... What are you doing...?
Naota: ...
Haruko: ...
Naota: Why are you still here...? I said, "Leave me alone."
Haruko: Takkun, come on, don't be like that...
Naota: Just go away...
Haruko was beginning to get a little frustrated. She felt helpless and cornered, which were two emotions she wasn't used to experiencing. She had to do somehting, and fast.
Haruko: Ta...
Naota: Stop.
Haruko: If you'll just let me...!
Naota: Just...
Haruko: ...Explain...!
Naota: (flatly) Go away...
Haruko: Listen to me!
Naota: Are you deaf...? I said leave me alone.
Haruko: Shut up and give me a chance...!
Naota's head shot around, his icy eyes even more cold than before. He had an almost wild look about him.
Naota: I gave you a chance!
Haruko: (shocked) Wha...?
Naota: From the moment you walked back through my door, you'd had another chance! How many second chances is it gonna take for you to get it right...?!
Haruko: Hey...!
Naota: (turning away) But you just pissed it all away like the screw up you are...!
Haruko: (beginning) Takkun, that's not fair!
Naota: (grumbling) Life's not fair...
Haruko: ...
Naota: I don't even know why you're here...
Haruko: (looking away) I told you... I was looking for you...
Naota: Well you found me...
Haruko: Takkun...
Naota: Now get lost... and STAY lost...
That was it for Haruko. She'd had more than enough. She jumped off of her Vespa and rushed over to the boy, snatching him up roughly by the collar. She jerked him around and then pulled him close to her face. her eyes burned golden and hot with anger.
Haruko: NOW, LOOK HERE! I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE!
Naota: (struggling) Leave me alone, Haruko!
Haruko: I WON'T "LEAVE YOU ALONE!"
Naota: (with renew anger) WHY NOT?! THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE BEST AT, RIGHT?!
Haruko froze. She never in ten years would have expected that. She understood that she probably had it coming, but that didn't help to quell the immense shot of pain it sent through her. She wasn't sure what hurt more; the fact that he'd said it or the fact that she knew it was true.
Haruko: (lossening her grip) Takkun, you're a kid! There are a lot of things you don't understand!
Naota: Don't talk to me about what I do and don't understand! I understand plenty!
Haruko: (challengingly) Oh, yeah?!
Naota: (defiantly) Yeah!
Haruko: What do you undersatnd, Takkun?! Huh?! Answer me that?! What could you possibly understand?!
Naota: Enough to know that I can't trust anyone!
Haruko: What are you talking about?!
Naota: You could have at least told me! Warned me! Somehting!
Haruko: ...!
Naota: (continuing) But you just sat there and watched...! You knew they were setting me up...! you knew she was a fake!
Haruko: So, you know...?
Naota: You just let it happen... You let me get hurt...
Haruko: Takkun... I...!
Naota: You didn't care...
Haruko: (firmly) That's not true.
Naota: You didn't care at all...!
Haruko: I DID CARE! IS STILL DO!
Naota: NO YOU DON'T! YOU NEVER DID!
Haruko: SHUT UP!
Naota: YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO CARE!
Haruko: STOP BEING SUCH A NAIVE LITTLE BRAT!
The moment those words left her mouth, Naota's eyes flared up with a different anger, one that resembled rage. Clenching his teeth, harshly, Naota jerked backwards, swinging the bat he'd been holding close to Haruko's face. She ducked away in a delayed reaction.
Haruko: (taking another step back) WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING!
Naota: (growling) Just leave me alone...
Haruko: NO!
Haruko made another move toward him, but he drove her a few steps back with another swing.
Naota: (glaring) ...
Haruko: TAKKUN, GET A GRIP!
Naota: ...
Haruko drew her guitar from its resting spot on her back and got ready to defend herself.
Haruko: YOU WANNA PLAY ROUGH, THEN LET'S PLAY ROUGH!
Naota attacked first, swinging his bat wildly. Haruko dodged to the side and smacked it away. Naota recoiled and swung again, and again. He wasn't about to give up. What could be driving him like this? He'd never been like this before.
Naota made a vertical strike, missing miserably. Haruko took full advantage of this. She charged straight at him, clotheslining him with the necks of her guitar, forcing him onto his back. Naota gagged and fell. Quickly, she straddled his chest and pinned him under her guitar, using her weight to keep him from crawling away.
Naota: LET ME GO, YOU FREAK!
Haruko: NO!
Naota: LEAVE ME ALONE!
Haruko: I WON'T!
Naota: I HATE YOU!
Haruko loosened her baring on the boy, then let him go altogether. Slowly she stood and backed away. There was nothing she could say to that one. He had every reason in the world to hate him.
She'd moved in, seduced him and his father, shaking Naota's whole world down to rubble, then left him behind. Then, in the blink of an eye, she returned, only to do it all over again. She really couldn't blame him, no matter how much she wanted to.
Haruko: (refering to the Rickenbacker strapped to the back of her Vespa) You forgot you're guitar...
Naota: I don't want it, anymore...
Naota sluggishly stood and turned away. He may have lost the battle, but he'd won the war. Or had he...? Without saying anything, he began to walk away, leaving Haruko at the bridge.
Haruko: (not looking at him) So you're just gonna run away? Is that it?!
Naota: (pausing) That's right...
Haruko: That's pretty cowardly, Takkun...
Naota: (icily) Well, I learned from the best...
And so he left. As he walked, he wasn't sure exactly how he felt. He'd expected to be happy having triumphed over her, having finally defeated her. But instead, he felt... empty. He convinced himself he didn't care. What did he care how she felt? She didn't care about him. She'd never learn. She was just selfish and immature. Who needs friends like that?
Naota lost track of time. When he finally stopped walking, he stood at the very line that divided Mabase from the rest of the world.... the city limits. Sure, he'd crossed them once with HER, but this time, it was just him. And he wasn't coming back.
Why would he? There was nothing here for him. He could care less if the whole town went up in flames. He turned his now foggy blue eyes to the sky. It was almost sundown. He should get some sleep.
Carelessly, he picked a random spt beside the road and dropped his bookbag. He'd stay here for the night. The city limits would be there when he woke up. He wasn't in any hurry. No one would come for him. None of them had cared in the first place.
Naota: Good ridense...
---------------------
RIDE ON SHOOTING STAR
ORANGE no SLIDE utsusu sora
SPONGE no PRIDE burasakete
SPIDER
kike totta sono yokan wa
kakusanakuta tte ii n da
iro no tsuita yume mitai na
Ride on Shooting Star
kokoro no koe de sandanjû no yô ni
utai tsutzuketa
GRUNGE no HAMSTER otona bite
REVENGE no LOBSTER hiki tsurete
SNIPER
fuchi totta sono sekai ni
nani ga mieru tte iu n da
nerau mae ni sawaritai na
Ride on Shooting Star
kimi o sagashite kindanshôjô ch
uso o tsuita
Ride on Shooting Star
kokoro no koe de sandanjû no yô ni
utai tsutzuketa
---------------------
Haruko: That's it? That's ALL?! I don't even know what to call this?! What can you call something like this...?! What...? There's more...? Oh, okay... then... Next on Fooly Cooly: Episode 19: Ride on Shooting Star II!
Hey... Tsurumaki here... I'd like to just take this time to thank all of the people that have helped make this fanfic such a success... (Yes, I mean YOU.) You reviews mean a lot and I appreciate every single one. Thank you... And now, on with the Fanfic...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Episode 18: Ride On Shooting Star Part I
Naota: (narrating) When I got home, I found Haruko in bed with my dad...
Naota storms down the hall to his room and slams his door shut.
Kamon: Naota-kun...!
Haruko: Let 'em go... He needs to cool down...
Naota sits in his room, staring vacantly at the wall. His clothes are still damp from the rain that had started only a few minutes after he'd left the beach.
Naota: (thinking) Its all a nightmare... I'll wake up tomorrow and everything will be fine...
Naota: (narrating) But I knew better than that... Its funny how life seems to bring you up just to let you down... I hate it...
The next morning, Haruko wakes up in the top bunk. She'd come in late, well past midnight, and fell into bed. As she sat up, she winced and rubbed her head softly.
Haruko: Oh, oww! Too much fun last night...
Slowly, she climbed down from the top bunk, landing quietly on the floor. Careful to not to wait Naota, she crept out of the room and went downstairs. No one seemed to be awake so she helped herself to some leftover takeout. After a half an hour, she figured Naota had been afforded ample time to sleep and decided to wake up.
She climbed the stairs and peeked through the doorway. To her suprise, his bed was not only empty, but practically untouched. The sheets were still pulled taut over his matress.
Haruko: (confused) Huh...? (thinking) I could have sworn he was here... Then again, i didn't actually SEE him... (shrugging) Eh.
Haruko casually flung open Kamon's bedroom door and poked her head in. He was drooling on his futon, his arms and legs tangled up in his sheets.
Haruko: Yo, Mon-chan!
Kamon: (jolting awake) Wha...wha...?
He lifted his head from the pillow and turned just enough to see her. His eyes were pressed into tiny slits when the light from the doorway hit his face. He winched and squinted for a moment, then finally was able to focus.
Kamon: (cheerfully) Oh, Haruko-san! Good morning!
Haruko: Yeah, yeah, whatever... Have you sen Takkun?
Kamon: He wasn't in his room...?
Haruko: No.
Kamon: (yawning) He probably just went out for a walk or something... You know how he is... He'll be back...
With that, Kamon abruptly closed his eyes and let his head drop back onto the pillow.
Haruko: (closing the door) I wonder where he went...?
Five hours passed and still no sign of Naota. Kamon still wasn't worried, but Haruko wasn't convinced. She'd always been an early riser, so it was unlikely for Naota to get up before her, and even so, he'd never stayed out this long so early...
Haruko: (shrugging) Maybe he's busy with Soldier Girl...
Another six hours passed and Haruko was actually starting to worry. This was really out of character for her. She never worried, especially about other people, so why now?
Haruko: (hesitantly) Maybe I should go look for him... S'not like there's anything to do around here anyway...
In less than a minute, Haruko was on her Vespa wander Mabase. She looked just about everywhere; the beach, the school, the park, the old burned down elementary school, the arcade. Finally, it hit her; the one place she hadn't looked. The bridge. after all, that was where they met, so why wouldn't he be there?
Haruko easily made it to the bridge, and to her relief, there was Naota, leaning over the side. He was carrying his bookback and held his red baseball bat in his right hand. She waited a moment, but he didn't seem to realize that she was there.
Haruko: (suddenly) Hey, Takkun! What's up?!
Her cheery smile quickly faded when he didn't reply, or turn around for that matter. He didn't even move.
Haruko: Takkun...?
Naota: ...
Haruko: (forcing a laugh) Come on Takkun, stop kidding around... (waiting) Ta...?
Naota completely ignored her, instead climbing up onto the bridges guard rail, easily staying balanced.
Haruko: (grinning) Careful... Don't fall off of there...
Naota slowly turns his head just enough to make eye contact. Haruko's slightly taken aback by his appearance. He looks like he hasn't slept in days. Dark circles surround his eyes, which are half closed. As for his hair and clothes, mess was an understatement. His hair was standing up in every direction and may have even been damp (she didn't want to guess why). And those looked like the same clothes he was wearing the day before... He hadn't even bothered to change.
After a few seconds, he turned away, looking aout over the river.
Haruko: What's wrong?
Naota: ...
Knowing full well that he'd heard her, Haruko decided to ask him again, anyway.
Haruko: What's wrong?
Naota barely even waited until after she had finished repeating herself.
Naota: Nothing...
She knew that was a lie. That must be his way of letting everyone know that something IS wrong; saying that nothing was wrong. Haruko smiled to herself and decided to go for broke. Annoying him usually snapped him out of it long enough for her to get a real answer.
Haruko: What's wrong?
Naota glared at her over his shoulder. His once warm blue eyes now resembled ice, barren and cold. It didn't even seem like the same Naota.
Naota: (coldly) What dou you care...?
Haruko: What's wrong?
Naota: Leave me alone...
She knew what was wrong. There was no denying it. She kicked herself for not guessing the obvious. It was right in front of her the whole time, though the actually ordeal was a blur. Maybe she just didn't want to face it...
Haruko: (slowly) Takkun...
Naota: ...
Haruko: About what happened last night...
Naota:
Haruko: Sometimes adults do really weird things...
Naota: (correcting) ...Really STUPID things...
Haruko tried to fake a smile, but it wasn't working. Instead, she just lowered her head a bit.
Haruko: (thinking) Okay, I deserved that one...
She glanced up, but he still had his back to her.
Naota: ...
Haruko: (solemnly) I'm sorry...
Naota: Why...?
Haruko: (surprised) What?
Naota: Why are YOU sorry...? You didn't used to be...
Haruko: ...
Naota: Whatever... I don't care...
Haruko: Don't say that... You know you don't mean it...
Naota: How would you know what I mean...?
Haruko: ...
Naota: What are you doing here anyway...?
Haruko: Looking for you...
Naota: What for?
Haruko: You weren't at home this morning...
Naota: (cynically) Its easier to wake up when you don't have a hangover.
Ouch. That hit hard. Haruko guessed that he'd seen the empty bottles of sake they'd left behind last night. Pushing her luck, she decided try from another angle.
Haruko: So... What are you doing...?
Naota: ...
Haruko: ...
Naota: Why are you still here...? I said, "Leave me alone."
Haruko: Takkun, come on, don't be like that...
Naota: Just go away...
Haruko was beginning to get a little frustrated. She felt helpless and cornered, which were two emotions she wasn't used to experiencing. She had to do somehting, and fast.
Haruko: Ta...
Naota: Stop.
Haruko: If you'll just let me...!
Naota: Just...
Haruko: ...Explain...!
Naota: (flatly) Go away...
Haruko: Listen to me!
Naota: Are you deaf...? I said leave me alone.
Haruko: Shut up and give me a chance...!
Naota's head shot around, his icy eyes even more cold than before. He had an almost wild look about him.
Naota: I gave you a chance!
Haruko: (shocked) Wha...?
Naota: From the moment you walked back through my door, you'd had another chance! How many second chances is it gonna take for you to get it right...?!
Haruko: Hey...!
Naota: (turning away) But you just pissed it all away like the screw up you are...!
Haruko: (beginning) Takkun, that's not fair!
Naota: (grumbling) Life's not fair...
Haruko: ...
Naota: I don't even know why you're here...
Haruko: (looking away) I told you... I was looking for you...
Naota: Well you found me...
Haruko: Takkun...
Naota: Now get lost... and STAY lost...
That was it for Haruko. She'd had more than enough. She jumped off of her Vespa and rushed over to the boy, snatching him up roughly by the collar. She jerked him around and then pulled him close to her face. her eyes burned golden and hot with anger.
Haruko: NOW, LOOK HERE! I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE!
Naota: (struggling) Leave me alone, Haruko!
Haruko: I WON'T "LEAVE YOU ALONE!"
Naota: (with renew anger) WHY NOT?! THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE BEST AT, RIGHT?!
Haruko froze. She never in ten years would have expected that. She understood that she probably had it coming, but that didn't help to quell the immense shot of pain it sent through her. She wasn't sure what hurt more; the fact that he'd said it or the fact that she knew it was true.
Haruko: (lossening her grip) Takkun, you're a kid! There are a lot of things you don't understand!
Naota: Don't talk to me about what I do and don't understand! I understand plenty!
Haruko: (challengingly) Oh, yeah?!
Naota: (defiantly) Yeah!
Haruko: What do you undersatnd, Takkun?! Huh?! Answer me that?! What could you possibly understand?!
Naota: Enough to know that I can't trust anyone!
Haruko: What are you talking about?!
Naota: You could have at least told me! Warned me! Somehting!
Haruko: ...!
Naota: (continuing) But you just sat there and watched...! You knew they were setting me up...! you knew she was a fake!
Haruko: So, you know...?
Naota: You just let it happen... You let me get hurt...
Haruko: Takkun... I...!
Naota: You didn't care...
Haruko: (firmly) That's not true.
Naota: You didn't care at all...!
Haruko: I DID CARE! IS STILL DO!
Naota: NO YOU DON'T! YOU NEVER DID!
Haruko: SHUT UP!
Naota: YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO CARE!
Haruko: STOP BEING SUCH A NAIVE LITTLE BRAT!
The moment those words left her mouth, Naota's eyes flared up with a different anger, one that resembled rage. Clenching his teeth, harshly, Naota jerked backwards, swinging the bat he'd been holding close to Haruko's face. She ducked away in a delayed reaction.
Haruko: (taking another step back) WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING!
Naota: (growling) Just leave me alone...
Haruko: NO!
Haruko made another move toward him, but he drove her a few steps back with another swing.
Naota: (glaring) ...
Haruko: TAKKUN, GET A GRIP!
Naota: ...
Haruko drew her guitar from its resting spot on her back and got ready to defend herself.
Haruko: YOU WANNA PLAY ROUGH, THEN LET'S PLAY ROUGH!
Naota attacked first, swinging his bat wildly. Haruko dodged to the side and smacked it away. Naota recoiled and swung again, and again. He wasn't about to give up. What could be driving him like this? He'd never been like this before.
Naota made a vertical strike, missing miserably. Haruko took full advantage of this. She charged straight at him, clotheslining him with the necks of her guitar, forcing him onto his back. Naota gagged and fell. Quickly, she straddled his chest and pinned him under her guitar, using her weight to keep him from crawling away.
Naota: LET ME GO, YOU FREAK!
Haruko: NO!
Naota: LEAVE ME ALONE!
Haruko: I WON'T!
Naota: I HATE YOU!
Haruko loosened her baring on the boy, then let him go altogether. Slowly she stood and backed away. There was nothing she could say to that one. He had every reason in the world to hate him.
She'd moved in, seduced him and his father, shaking Naota's whole world down to rubble, then left him behind. Then, in the blink of an eye, she returned, only to do it all over again. She really couldn't blame him, no matter how much she wanted to.
Haruko: (refering to the Rickenbacker strapped to the back of her Vespa) You forgot you're guitar...
Naota: I don't want it, anymore...
Naota sluggishly stood and turned away. He may have lost the battle, but he'd won the war. Or had he...? Without saying anything, he began to walk away, leaving Haruko at the bridge.
Haruko: (not looking at him) So you're just gonna run away? Is that it?!
Naota: (pausing) That's right...
Haruko: That's pretty cowardly, Takkun...
Naota: (icily) Well, I learned from the best...
And so he left. As he walked, he wasn't sure exactly how he felt. He'd expected to be happy having triumphed over her, having finally defeated her. But instead, he felt... empty. He convinced himself he didn't care. What did he care how she felt? She didn't care about him. She'd never learn. She was just selfish and immature. Who needs friends like that?
Naota lost track of time. When he finally stopped walking, he stood at the very line that divided Mabase from the rest of the world.... the city limits. Sure, he'd crossed them once with HER, but this time, it was just him. And he wasn't coming back.
Why would he? There was nothing here for him. He could care less if the whole town went up in flames. He turned his now foggy blue eyes to the sky. It was almost sundown. He should get some sleep.
Carelessly, he picked a random spt beside the road and dropped his bookbag. He'd stay here for the night. The city limits would be there when he woke up. He wasn't in any hurry. No one would come for him. None of them had cared in the first place.
Naota: Good ridense...
---------------------
RIDE ON SHOOTING STAR
ORANGE no SLIDE utsusu sora
SPONGE no PRIDE burasakete
SPIDER
kike totta sono yokan wa
kakusanakuta tte ii n da
iro no tsuita yume mitai na
Ride on Shooting Star
kokoro no koe de sandanjû no yô ni
utai tsutzuketa
GRUNGE no HAMSTER otona bite
REVENGE no LOBSTER hiki tsurete
SNIPER
fuchi totta sono sekai ni
nani ga mieru tte iu n da
nerau mae ni sawaritai na
Ride on Shooting Star
kimi o sagashite kindanshôjô ch
uso o tsuita
Ride on Shooting Star
kokoro no koe de sandanjû no yô ni
utai tsutzuketa
---------------------
Haruko: That's it? That's ALL?! I don't even know what to call this?! What can you call something like this...?! What...? There's more...? Oh, okay... then... Next on Fooly Cooly: Episode 19: Ride on Shooting Star II!