Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Hot Gimmick, I'm just borrowing characters.
Unexpected Love Chapter 6- Twist of Fate
"Wow, I can't believe you're actually here. It's been three days, I just figured you were going to abandon me," Subaru said in greeting as he saw Hatsumi's shape materialize in front of him. "I thought you were spending all your time with Ryoki."
"Nice to see you too, Subaru," she said back, dropping down next to him and pulling out her lunch box.
"Really, Hatsumi, I like the guy, but it's like you don't even have friends anymore. We miss you. I miss you."
"Well, I'm sorry, Ryoki chose me as his personal guide for the school, and I have a responsibility towards his well-being here," she said with a defensive tone. "And plus, it's not as if I would actually want to spend my time with him, he's far too much of a jerk for my liking. Half the time I can't even find him through the crowds of females that seem to gather every time he sets foot outside of his classroom."
"So the slave driver didn't want your company today?" Subaru asked. Hatsumi jerked, and then covered up the movement by arranging herself on the lawn. 'How did he? Never mind, he couldn't know, there's no way, but still, that was too close to the truth for my liking,' Hatsumi thought to herself. "You know what, Subaru, there's actually something I have to do right now, sorry, I just remembered. I know you haven't seen much of me today, but I have to run," she said, while gathering her things in her arms. "I'll see you later."
"But Hatsumi!" Subaru said, jumping up to follow her.
"No, really, I wouldn't want to take away your time for lunch, I'll just catch up to you in class later, ok?"
"Yeah, okay," Subaru said as he watched her figure fade into the distance. "I just don't know you these days."
Hatsumi ran out of the school and down the busy street block. Her eyes were blurred by something. Tears. She didn't realize she had been so affected by what Subaru had said. 'If only you knew what I have been through in the past week, you would be more understanding of my situation. But I can't tell you, can I? You'll never be okay with it.' She continued down the street, not knowing where she was headed, until it suddenly came to her. 'I'm going to the garden, it's the only place I can think things through.' She stopped at a corner at a newsstand and got a bottle of water.
"You okay lady?" the man there asked.
"Yes, I'm fine, thanks for asking," Hatsumi replied. She took her water and continued down the street, now calm and collected. 'I should really be getting back to school, but I don't want to go back, I don't want to ever go back, not if Ryoki's there.'
Hatsumi arrived at the garden entrance and jumped the gate, landing on her feet. She dropped her backpack on the ground and removed the book she was currently reading: The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan. One of her friends had convinced her to give the series a try, so she was doing just that. Hatsumi was drawn to the gazebo, her place of sanctity. She curled up on the bench and opened her book, losing the world around her.
"What are you doing here?" a loud voice in front of her said, startling her and breaking her from her reverie.
"What—who? Oh—oh sorry, I didn't—I didn't mean—," Hatsumi started, in defense of herself.
"Did you know you're trespassing on private property and that I can have you arrested?" the voice continued.
"I'm sorry, yes, I did know that, but I also thought that this place had been abandoned," she answered. The person speaking came towards her, and into the gazebo, revealing himself.
'Oh my God, it's Asuza,' she thought, startled now beyond belief. The semi-sleep state of reading had now completely worn off.
"Hey, don't I know you?" Asuza said. "You're Hatsumi, right? Your family lives in the apartment on the corner of 5th Street and 1st Ave.? We went to elementary school together?"
"Yeah, I can't believe you remember all that, I always thought you didn't know anything about me."
"When I was younger I had a huge crush on you, but I didn't think you knew I existed. Ah, to be that age again," he said, reminiscing.
"I, I guess that I always thought you were too popular to even—well, I didn't even know you moved in here, when did that happen?" Hatsumi said, changing the subject.
"I moved in about a year ago, after my modeling career really took off, we had enough money to live here. It's a really nice property, but I really never get a chance to see it, I'm hardly ever at home."
"Oh. Well you're missing a lot, it's a beautiful garden, I haven't seen the house, but this gazebo is where I come to when I need to cool off."
"I'm sorry," he said, feeling awkward. "Do you mind if I sit down?"
"Sure, it's your gazebo, after all," she said with a laugh, she slid over to make room.
Asuza sat down next to her and propped his feet up on the bench across from him. "So, umm, if you don't mind my asking, how long have you been coming here? I mean, you're still trespassing, and I know that's not something you would really do... How did you find this place?" he asked, his curiosity getting the best of him.
"I—um—well—whenever my parents would start fighting and I couldn't take it anymore, I would leave the house and walk around at night," Hatsumi said in explanation.
"You mean to tell me you would walk around by yourself? Out in the streets of New York? You're a little crazier than I originally thought."
"No, no, it's not like that. I would walk around, but then I found this place. It became something like my 'safe haven' of sorts. I felt like as long as I was here, I was safe. I guess I really can't be coming here anymore, though, if someone bought the property," Hatsumi said sadly.
"Well, like I said, I don't really come here much. You can still come, and this way it won't be trespassing. I don't mind," Asuza said, streching out his long arms and legs like a cat, and then standing.
"You mean I can stay here?" Hatsumi jumped up, thrilled. "You really don't mind?"
"Yes," he said, laughing, "you can stay here for as long as you like. Tell you what, if things get really bad, and if it gets cold outside, just come around front, I'll set you up in one of the guest rooms, ok?"
"Thank you, I can't tell you how much this means, I just didn't—well when I heard you, I thought you were—I guess it doesn't matter anymore. Thank you!" She ran over to him and gave him a huge hug, wrapping her arms around him and squeezing him tight. Asuza was surprised at first, but then his arms came around her also.
"I never asked," he said, "but aren't you supposed to be in school right now? It's the middle of 7th period."
Hatsumi dropped her arms, but was still pinned against him by his. "Yeah, I suppose I should go, I already skipped out on my 6th period, no need to miss 7th, too."
She tilted her head back, looking into his eyes. 'Haven't I always dreamed of being this close to him, to be able to gaze into his eyes?' Hatsumi sighed. "Wait a minute," she said. "Aren't you supposed to be in school too?"
"Okay," he said with a smile, "you caught me, but I was supposed to be at a shoot today, it got canceled and I decided to just stay at home. You aren't going to tattle on me, are you?" He had a twinkle in his eye.
"No, I suppose not," Hatsumi said, feeling more at ease. 'Wow, can I actually get used to being around someone as popular and cool as Asuza Odagiri?' she thought to herself. 'He seems like such a softy when he's not surrounded by his personal fan club. I wonder if he actually did like me when I was little.'
"Well, I suppose you'll want a ride to school for doing me this favor," Asuza said, interrupting her thoughts.
"Huh? What favor?"
"You're not going to tell them I'm here, remember?"
"Oh, yeah, that, sorry. My lips are sealed."
Asuza smiled at her, perusing her face with his eyes. He still hadn't let go of her, and she wasn't squirming yet, so she must not mind. 'I think I'm in need of a new play-thing,' he thought to himself.
"Well, you should—um—could you possibly let go of me?" Hatsumi said.
Asuza cleared his throat, "There, sorry, I—uh—forgot."
Hatsumi grabbed her book and walked out of the gazebo, waiting for him to follow.
"My car's around front, follow me."
Hatsumi followed as Asuza led the way. She still couldn't believe this strange twist of fate. 'Just when I think things have hit rock bottom, my life turns for the better.'
Asuza had a strange grin on his face, walking ahead of Hatsumi. 'Yes, she'll do just fine, I think. She's just perfect.'
