Chapter 16 - Sojiro's Beginning
Tsukasa stared at the lecture board blankly, not having the slightest idea what the professor was talking about. Whereas Tsukushi, seated next to him, was furiously taking down every word possible. As the bell rang for the period to end, Professor Baxter put her hands together to get the attention of the class before they filtered out of the lecture theatre. "I would expect everyone of you to be familiar with the Keynesian Model and the other classical models," she said, "I want a paper done on a comparison of these models to be handed up next week." Tsukushi panicked, as this is the first time she had to write a paper in English and wondered how she was going to come up with that write-up.
"Let's go," said Tsukasa impatiently. Tsukushi frowned for she knew Tsukasa was not going to be of much help when it came to studies. "Aren't you the least worried about this?" she said annoyingly as she gathered her books and notes. Tsukasa shrugged and opened her bag for them to be placed in. "Do you know the importance of getting an education?" she asked, incredulous at his nonchalance. "What's the point?" he replied, "We're only going to be here for a year."
Before she could reply, Tsukasa had picked up her bag, threw it over his shoulder and strolled toward the exit. "Wait a minute," she called, running to catch up, "I can carry that myself!" Tsukasa looked over his shoulder and replied, "I'm just doing my job as your boyfriend." Tsukushi stopped in her tracks, her face reddened. Tsukasa smiled and took her hand. "If we don't hurry, we'll be late for English," he said. Tsukushi nodded shyly and followed him meekly out of the lecture theatre.
************
Yuki got out of bed, feeling fresh and renewed. She had a haircut over the weekend and she felt refreshed by it. "It's going to be a brand new week for me," she chirped and hummed a little tune as she head for the bathroom. She had not felt so lighten before, as the past weeks have been awful with her thoughts constantly on Sojiro. It has been three weeks since she had last seen him and she had hoped against hope that he'll look her up again. "I'm going to start afresh again," she thought while brushing her teeth, "I must make it a point not to think of him anymore."
Her friends in school had noted her restlessness and began to worry about her. Yuki did not want them to and thus, made up her mind to start afresh. "Yuki," called her mother, "Will you hurry or you're going to be late for school."
"Coming," Yuki replied and hurried to put on her school uniform. Little did she know, today was a day that's going to change her life forever.
************
Kaede looked through the list of guests as her personal assistant waited patiently by the desk. "Did we leave anyone out?" she asked, scrutinising the page. "I don't think so, Madam," he replied. "Well, then," said Kaede, "Sent out the invitations when the other arrangements have been settled. It's another month to go before the event, so make sure that things go smoothly." He nodded and excused himself with the list. Kaede returned to her computer screen but her thoughts were far away.
************
Akira scanned the school café for Sojiro but he was nowhere to be found. "What's with this guy?!" Akira muttered softly, "He's either late for classes or never bothers to turn up." Just as he was about to exit from the café, Kazuya and Sakurako appeared. "Akira-senpai," exclaimed Sakurako, "How are you?" Akira smiled and replied, "Good. Have you seen Sojiro anywhere?"
"He's in the school garden," replied Kazuya, "Did he not tell you?" Akira shook his head and cursed under his breath, "What's that idiot up to? We're supposed to be the F2!" Akira's face reddened with anger as he thought more of Sojiro's weird ways. "Er...Akira," tapped Kazuya uncertainly on his shoulder, "Are you all right?" Akira growled as the duo retreated, "I'm all right! Wait till I get my hands on Sojiro." As he stomped off, Kazuya and Sakurako looked on with bewilderment.
"I can't believe this guy!" muttered Akira angrily, "Here I am waiting like a stupid idiot for him to turn up for lunch and what does he do?! Goes off to somewhere else without informing me!" Akira's stomping was heard along the school hallway and immediately, every student in the way moved aside to let him through.
************
Sojiro sat on the stairway of the arched bridge and wondered if he should go ahead as planned. "Sojiro!" called Akira angrily giving Sojiro a scare, "What the hell are you doing here?! Have you forgotten that we're supposed to meet in the school café?" Sojiro smiled sheepishly and apologised, "Sorry. Forgot about it."
"What's wrong with you?" asked Akira resignedly, "You've been really weird these past weeks." Sojiro made no reply and Akira prompted further, "Something cropped up at home? You haven't been partying as much now." Taking a seat next to him, Akira sighed loudly. Sojiro's mind was on the decision he's about to make. "You want to talk about it," coaxed Akira, "I might be able to help."
"Akira," said Sojiro finally, "I'm going to stop playing the field." Akira blinked with disbelief. "You're kidding!?" he exclaimed. Sojiro shook his head. "I've thought about it," said Sojiro, "We're no longer kids and it's about time we take some responsibilities. After all, we're heirs to our fathers' empire." Akira was dumbfounded. He had not expected this to be coming from Sojiro. "Are you having a fever today?" asked an incredulous Akira, placing his hand on Sojiro's forehead.
Sojiro removed his hand and replied, "I envy Tsukasa. He's able to have his love and his inheritance. He fought for his happiness..." Akira listened in silence. "Akira," said Sojiro, "I want to do the same and be happy. I don't want to have my life arranged - it's meaningless. You know what I mean?"
"I know," agreed Akira, "But you know what it means to do that, don't you? You could lose everything..." Sojiro nodded. "But for my happiness," he replied, "It's worth it." Sojiro's affirmative tone set Akira thinking. He had never seen his buddy in the play field so serious and determined. "I guess so," replied Akira finally, "It's about time we grew up. Rui has and so has Tsukasa."
Both remained deep in thought. In a not-too-far distance, students were piling back into their classrooms and lecture theatres for their afternoon sessions.
************
Yuki reported to work after school as usual at the dango shop. Her day in school was probably one of the best she had, compared to the previous weeks and she was ready to start her day in the shop. "I'm here," announced Yuki, entering the shop. Her lady boss smiled at her and replied, "You're early today, Yuki."
"I thought you might need an extra hand earlier today," she replied, smiling. "Well, I definitely welcome that extra hand," the lady boss answered, "Could you take care of things here while I run and get some errands done?" Yuki nodded. Disappearing to the back of the shop, Yuki changed and reappeared at the counter.
She had not counted on a busy day at the dango shop but somehow there seem to be more customers than usual today. Before she knew it, the four hours of work has ended. "Wow!" she exclaimed, "Time sure flies when one's busy!" After locking up and clearing the counter, she brought the accounts to the back for her lady boss.
"Thank you, Yuki," said her lady boss. "Don't mention it," replied Yuki, "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave." Her lady boss nodded. Yuki changed and make her way out the dango shop.
"Hi," greeted a male voice, "Can I take you out for a drink?" Yuki spun around and there in front of her was Sojiro. She was speechless. This was the guy who had filled her thoughts every day for the past few weeks, this was the guy whom she thought she would never see again, this was the guy whom she had completely put out of her mind today and he's standing there asking if she would like to join him for a drink.
"What...what are you doing here?" stammered Yuki, her mind completely disoriented. Sojiro smiled and replied, "I wanted to see you and that's why I'm here." Yuki wondered if she's heard wrongly. "Huh?" she replied. "I want to see you," repeated Sojiro. Yuki's heart skipped a beat but she allowed her brain to rule and glared at Sojiro. Anger seem to have taken control of her as she burst out, "Who do you think you are?! Coming as and when you like! I'm not at your beck and call, you know!"
Yuki clenched her fists as tears welled up in her eyes. Sojiro was taken aback by her sudden outburst - a pent-up sadness and anger that had build up over past weeks. Both remained rooted, staring at each other. "I must have caused this," thought Sojiro as he looked at the petite black-haired girl, "She had shorten her hair..."
"I'm sorry. I did not know," said Sojiro finally, walking up to her, "I don't mean to hurt you." Yuki retreated back. Sojiro caught hold of her hand and grasped it gently but firmly before she decide to take off. "I need to think things over the past weeks," he continued. Yuki looked hard at the ground and her mind remained clouded. Sojiro took a deep breath. "Yuki," he said sincerely, "Can I see you on a permanent basis?"
Tsukasa stared at the lecture board blankly, not having the slightest idea what the professor was talking about. Whereas Tsukushi, seated next to him, was furiously taking down every word possible. As the bell rang for the period to end, Professor Baxter put her hands together to get the attention of the class before they filtered out of the lecture theatre. "I would expect everyone of you to be familiar with the Keynesian Model and the other classical models," she said, "I want a paper done on a comparison of these models to be handed up next week." Tsukushi panicked, as this is the first time she had to write a paper in English and wondered how she was going to come up with that write-up.
"Let's go," said Tsukasa impatiently. Tsukushi frowned for she knew Tsukasa was not going to be of much help when it came to studies. "Aren't you the least worried about this?" she said annoyingly as she gathered her books and notes. Tsukasa shrugged and opened her bag for them to be placed in. "Do you know the importance of getting an education?" she asked, incredulous at his nonchalance. "What's the point?" he replied, "We're only going to be here for a year."
Before she could reply, Tsukasa had picked up her bag, threw it over his shoulder and strolled toward the exit. "Wait a minute," she called, running to catch up, "I can carry that myself!" Tsukasa looked over his shoulder and replied, "I'm just doing my job as your boyfriend." Tsukushi stopped in her tracks, her face reddened. Tsukasa smiled and took her hand. "If we don't hurry, we'll be late for English," he said. Tsukushi nodded shyly and followed him meekly out of the lecture theatre.
************
Yuki got out of bed, feeling fresh and renewed. She had a haircut over the weekend and she felt refreshed by it. "It's going to be a brand new week for me," she chirped and hummed a little tune as she head for the bathroom. She had not felt so lighten before, as the past weeks have been awful with her thoughts constantly on Sojiro. It has been three weeks since she had last seen him and she had hoped against hope that he'll look her up again. "I'm going to start afresh again," she thought while brushing her teeth, "I must make it a point not to think of him anymore."
Her friends in school had noted her restlessness and began to worry about her. Yuki did not want them to and thus, made up her mind to start afresh. "Yuki," called her mother, "Will you hurry or you're going to be late for school."
"Coming," Yuki replied and hurried to put on her school uniform. Little did she know, today was a day that's going to change her life forever.
************
Kaede looked through the list of guests as her personal assistant waited patiently by the desk. "Did we leave anyone out?" she asked, scrutinising the page. "I don't think so, Madam," he replied. "Well, then," said Kaede, "Sent out the invitations when the other arrangements have been settled. It's another month to go before the event, so make sure that things go smoothly." He nodded and excused himself with the list. Kaede returned to her computer screen but her thoughts were far away.
************
Akira scanned the school café for Sojiro but he was nowhere to be found. "What's with this guy?!" Akira muttered softly, "He's either late for classes or never bothers to turn up." Just as he was about to exit from the café, Kazuya and Sakurako appeared. "Akira-senpai," exclaimed Sakurako, "How are you?" Akira smiled and replied, "Good. Have you seen Sojiro anywhere?"
"He's in the school garden," replied Kazuya, "Did he not tell you?" Akira shook his head and cursed under his breath, "What's that idiot up to? We're supposed to be the F2!" Akira's face reddened with anger as he thought more of Sojiro's weird ways. "Er...Akira," tapped Kazuya uncertainly on his shoulder, "Are you all right?" Akira growled as the duo retreated, "I'm all right! Wait till I get my hands on Sojiro." As he stomped off, Kazuya and Sakurako looked on with bewilderment.
"I can't believe this guy!" muttered Akira angrily, "Here I am waiting like a stupid idiot for him to turn up for lunch and what does he do?! Goes off to somewhere else without informing me!" Akira's stomping was heard along the school hallway and immediately, every student in the way moved aside to let him through.
************
Sojiro sat on the stairway of the arched bridge and wondered if he should go ahead as planned. "Sojiro!" called Akira angrily giving Sojiro a scare, "What the hell are you doing here?! Have you forgotten that we're supposed to meet in the school café?" Sojiro smiled sheepishly and apologised, "Sorry. Forgot about it."
"What's wrong with you?" asked Akira resignedly, "You've been really weird these past weeks." Sojiro made no reply and Akira prompted further, "Something cropped up at home? You haven't been partying as much now." Taking a seat next to him, Akira sighed loudly. Sojiro's mind was on the decision he's about to make. "You want to talk about it," coaxed Akira, "I might be able to help."
"Akira," said Sojiro finally, "I'm going to stop playing the field." Akira blinked with disbelief. "You're kidding!?" he exclaimed. Sojiro shook his head. "I've thought about it," said Sojiro, "We're no longer kids and it's about time we take some responsibilities. After all, we're heirs to our fathers' empire." Akira was dumbfounded. He had not expected this to be coming from Sojiro. "Are you having a fever today?" asked an incredulous Akira, placing his hand on Sojiro's forehead.
Sojiro removed his hand and replied, "I envy Tsukasa. He's able to have his love and his inheritance. He fought for his happiness..." Akira listened in silence. "Akira," said Sojiro, "I want to do the same and be happy. I don't want to have my life arranged - it's meaningless. You know what I mean?"
"I know," agreed Akira, "But you know what it means to do that, don't you? You could lose everything..." Sojiro nodded. "But for my happiness," he replied, "It's worth it." Sojiro's affirmative tone set Akira thinking. He had never seen his buddy in the play field so serious and determined. "I guess so," replied Akira finally, "It's about time we grew up. Rui has and so has Tsukasa."
Both remained deep in thought. In a not-too-far distance, students were piling back into their classrooms and lecture theatres for their afternoon sessions.
************
Yuki reported to work after school as usual at the dango shop. Her day in school was probably one of the best she had, compared to the previous weeks and she was ready to start her day in the shop. "I'm here," announced Yuki, entering the shop. Her lady boss smiled at her and replied, "You're early today, Yuki."
"I thought you might need an extra hand earlier today," she replied, smiling. "Well, I definitely welcome that extra hand," the lady boss answered, "Could you take care of things here while I run and get some errands done?" Yuki nodded. Disappearing to the back of the shop, Yuki changed and reappeared at the counter.
She had not counted on a busy day at the dango shop but somehow there seem to be more customers than usual today. Before she knew it, the four hours of work has ended. "Wow!" she exclaimed, "Time sure flies when one's busy!" After locking up and clearing the counter, she brought the accounts to the back for her lady boss.
"Thank you, Yuki," said her lady boss. "Don't mention it," replied Yuki, "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave." Her lady boss nodded. Yuki changed and make her way out the dango shop.
"Hi," greeted a male voice, "Can I take you out for a drink?" Yuki spun around and there in front of her was Sojiro. She was speechless. This was the guy who had filled her thoughts every day for the past few weeks, this was the guy whom she thought she would never see again, this was the guy whom she had completely put out of her mind today and he's standing there asking if she would like to join him for a drink.
"What...what are you doing here?" stammered Yuki, her mind completely disoriented. Sojiro smiled and replied, "I wanted to see you and that's why I'm here." Yuki wondered if she's heard wrongly. "Huh?" she replied. "I want to see you," repeated Sojiro. Yuki's heart skipped a beat but she allowed her brain to rule and glared at Sojiro. Anger seem to have taken control of her as she burst out, "Who do you think you are?! Coming as and when you like! I'm not at your beck and call, you know!"
Yuki clenched her fists as tears welled up in her eyes. Sojiro was taken aback by her sudden outburst - a pent-up sadness and anger that had build up over past weeks. Both remained rooted, staring at each other. "I must have caused this," thought Sojiro as he looked at the petite black-haired girl, "She had shorten her hair..."
"I'm sorry. I did not know," said Sojiro finally, walking up to her, "I don't mean to hurt you." Yuki retreated back. Sojiro caught hold of her hand and grasped it gently but firmly before she decide to take off. "I need to think things over the past weeks," he continued. Yuki looked hard at the ground and her mind remained clouded. Sojiro took a deep breath. "Yuki," he said sincerely, "Can I see you on a permanent basis?"