There was food waiting for them when they reached the hilly side of Eitoku
High. As
Tsukushi drew nearer, she spotted Hanazawa Rui lying on the grass, with his violin
beside him. He seemed to be asleep.
It was a cloudy day. A gentle breeze blew across, wild flowers danced in the wind.
"You sure took a long time in coming, I was falling asleep." He spoke, without opening
his eyes.
"No choice, we had to wait for Tsukushi to end class." said Akira.
"Hey, that's what people go to school for, you know – classes." she retorted.
"Yeah, whatever, let's eat, I'm starving!!"
"Eat more, Tsukushi, you need it, said Akira, piling food on her plate. "You've become
awfully thin lately. Not implying that you look awful, of course."
"Have people been bothering you? Especially those girls." asked Akira.
"Yeah, if they did, just tell us!! We'll stand up for you! Mustn't let them think that
without Tsukasa here, they can bully our hardworking virgin. After all, we are the F4."
Soujirou added.
At his mention of Tsukasa, they all quieted, looking at Tsukushi.
"Hey, I am fine! I am Makino Tsukushi, remember? I am the weed that can survive all
storms!" she exclaimed, smiling assuring at the three.
"Besides, I can't always mope around and let you guys worry about me, right?? True, I
may not be ok now, but I will be, just give me time." She said, eating a spoonful of
seafood salad.
"Phew! I am so glad to hear that! Now I can go back to my night life! Come on, ladies!
Nishikado Soujirou is back!!" he declared.
After Doumyouji's departure for New York, the three had been very worried about her,
so they would take her out almost everyday, except when she had to work. They spent a
lot of time with her, not giving her time to brood. Whenever she was working, they
would hang out at the shop to keep her company. Akira and Soujirou generally managed
to annoy her with everything that they did.
Like buying everything in the shop, so that they could take her out. Calling her
hardworking virgin in front of customers. Coercing, or rather intimidating customers to
buy more than they wanted. Flirting with girls, right under her nose. The list goes on and
on. During this time, Hanazawa Rui would either be sleeping in the shop or staring at the
cake that he bought, but not eating it.
Without them by her side, life without Doumyouji would have been unbearable,
especially when she was living alone.
"Earth to Tsukushi!!" Soujirou waved a hand in front of her face.
"Are you so affected by my announcement? Can't stand the idea of me, not being by your
side?" he joked.
Her answer was a slap on his arm, "Smack!"
"Ouch! You wound me with your actions!"
"Asking for more, Soujirou?" she asked threateningly.
As they argued among themselves, Akira turned to Rui, who was silent throughout lunch.
"What's wrong, Rui? You are so quiet today."
He appeared not to hear Akira's question, lost in his own world.
"Ya, thinking something naughty, are you?" teased Soujirou.
Ignoring them, he took out his violin and started playing.
It was not the piece that he usually played.
This one was light-hearted and joyful.
Suddenly, it seemed like the whole place had come alive. Nothing had changed, but there
was a different feel to the air, that wasn't there before. It was like magic.
Hanazawa Rui's magic.
**********************
Akira and Soujirou exchanged a look.
**********************
Tsukushi drew nearer, she spotted Hanazawa Rui lying on the grass, with his violin
beside him. He seemed to be asleep.
It was a cloudy day. A gentle breeze blew across, wild flowers danced in the wind.
"You sure took a long time in coming, I was falling asleep." He spoke, without opening
his eyes.
"No choice, we had to wait for Tsukushi to end class." said Akira.
"Hey, that's what people go to school for, you know – classes." she retorted.
"Yeah, whatever, let's eat, I'm starving!!"
"Eat more, Tsukushi, you need it, said Akira, piling food on her plate. "You've become
awfully thin lately. Not implying that you look awful, of course."
"Have people been bothering you? Especially those girls." asked Akira.
"Yeah, if they did, just tell us!! We'll stand up for you! Mustn't let them think that
without Tsukasa here, they can bully our hardworking virgin. After all, we are the F4."
Soujirou added.
At his mention of Tsukasa, they all quieted, looking at Tsukushi.
"Hey, I am fine! I am Makino Tsukushi, remember? I am the weed that can survive all
storms!" she exclaimed, smiling assuring at the three.
"Besides, I can't always mope around and let you guys worry about me, right?? True, I
may not be ok now, but I will be, just give me time." She said, eating a spoonful of
seafood salad.
"Phew! I am so glad to hear that! Now I can go back to my night life! Come on, ladies!
Nishikado Soujirou is back!!" he declared.
After Doumyouji's departure for New York, the three had been very worried about her,
so they would take her out almost everyday, except when she had to work. They spent a
lot of time with her, not giving her time to brood. Whenever she was working, they
would hang out at the shop to keep her company. Akira and Soujirou generally managed
to annoy her with everything that they did.
Like buying everything in the shop, so that they could take her out. Calling her
hardworking virgin in front of customers. Coercing, or rather intimidating customers to
buy more than they wanted. Flirting with girls, right under her nose. The list goes on and
on. During this time, Hanazawa Rui would either be sleeping in the shop or staring at the
cake that he bought, but not eating it.
Without them by her side, life without Doumyouji would have been unbearable,
especially when she was living alone.
"Earth to Tsukushi!!" Soujirou waved a hand in front of her face.
"Are you so affected by my announcement? Can't stand the idea of me, not being by your
side?" he joked.
Her answer was a slap on his arm, "Smack!"
"Ouch! You wound me with your actions!"
"Asking for more, Soujirou?" she asked threateningly.
As they argued among themselves, Akira turned to Rui, who was silent throughout lunch.
"What's wrong, Rui? You are so quiet today."
He appeared not to hear Akira's question, lost in his own world.
"Ya, thinking something naughty, are you?" teased Soujirou.
Ignoring them, he took out his violin and started playing.
It was not the piece that he usually played.
This one was light-hearted and joyful.
Suddenly, it seemed like the whole place had come alive. Nothing had changed, but there
was a different feel to the air, that wasn't there before. It was like magic.
Hanazawa Rui's magic.
**********************
Akira and Soujirou exchanged a look.
**********************