Tireen
is back with another chapter! As always it is very short and I hope
that everyone will forgive me for this because I promise that I will
update sooner!
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD! READ ON YOUR OWN RISK!
Hatsumi is your average college student: part time job, little sister to take care of, favorite class that takes away ALL of free time... Is there anything missing to make her life complete? The answer is: Ryoki!
The Long Lost Friend
Hatsumi walked in to her Art History classroom. She had a serious talk with Akane the night before and still couldn't recover from the stuff she found out about her "not-so-little" sister. She knew that Akane liked attention from guys, but could never imagine that in order to get it she will go as far as sleeping around! Turned out that Akane didn't even remembered who MIGHT have gotten her pregnant! They ended up talking way past midnight, with Hatsumi forcing herself not to yell at her little sister. Surprisingly enough, they didn't get into fight and even were able to figure out some stuff. Akane willingly decided not to sleep or DATE around anymore and Hatsumi promised that she would give her sister more attention so that the later won't feel so lonely.
She found her usual sit in the classroom, still unable to take her mind of Akane. Even Ryoki problem didn't seem as terrible anymore when Akane was concerned. Hatsumi was so buried in her thoughts that she didn't even notice her friend Subaru Yagi calling her.
"Hey, Hatsumi? Haaaaaaaaatsumi…? Earth to Hatsumi? Heeeello?" She finally noticed him after he waved his hand in front of her face.
"Oh, hi, Subaru. What's up?"
"Dun' know… You just seemed so spaced out, haven't seen you like this in a while. Is everything all right?" His genuine concern was reflected in his eyes.
"Oh… Everything is great, Subaru! What about you, how are you?" Seeing her friend made her feel a little bit better, especially when it was Subaru, "otaku boy", as some people called him. They knew each other since their junior high school days, and now even went to the same college, except Subaru was getting a degree in computer animation and commercial photography, when Hatsumi was getting a degree in metal jewelry making. Since Hatsumi remembered him, he would always watch his favorite anime, Gundam, make models and then talk about it nonstop. Other people were making fun of him, but she thought his obsession was quite cute and never gave a second thought about becoming friends with him. Now they even lived in the same apartment complex, but being as busy as she was, Hatsumi never got chance to come over and hang out.
"Well… I'm doing great but I have a favor to ask of you!"
"Sure! What is it?" Her bad mood magically disappeared as it always happened when one of her friends happen to ask her of something.
"See… I have an assignment for my Commercial Photo class… and I need a model… It's going to be a fashion shot, so nothing like nudity or anything!" He started waving his hands in front of her face, in attempt to reassure her that nothing inappropriate would be involved. "And I thought that you would be just perfect for it! And it wouldn't take long either, since I know how busy you are right now preparing for the student show and stuff… and I was hoping to put one of my pictures in the show too…"
As always Hatsumi found herself unable to say no to a friend when he needed her help. And being a model for a little bit seemed like fun; after all she DID want to become a model at one point of her life, back when she was in 5th grade.
"Sure I will do it! Just set up the time!"
"Um… how about tomorrow, after all of our classes are over? You can come over to my apartment, I'm sure Ryo won't be home, and I can set up everything."
"Sounds like a plan to me! Hey! Now I have something to look forward to!"
With those words, Hatsumi took out her sketchbook and started doodling some jewelry designs, as she always did in all of her classes. Strangely enough, drawing in this class helped her concentrate, maybe because it was Art History class, and she WAS doing art after all.
"Nice drawings." Someone said almost in her year.
"Thanks." Hatsumi replied without even looking up.
"You always have been such a good artist, Hatsumi. As long as I remember you, you were always drawing…" The same voice continued talking.
"Rem…member me..? Huh?" What is he talking about? How does he know me…? She thought and finally looked up.
Her eyes met with a pair of gorgeous brown eyes, which belonged to a person sitting on her left. Beautiful brown hair, cascading almost down the shoulders framed a very handsome face. Very handsome face in its turn was attached to a very handsome body of a very fine male specimen. And this very fine male specimen caused Hatsumi eyes' expression change from confusion, to recognition, hurt and something else, that no one was able to describe.
"A… Azusa…?" Hatsumi whispered very quietly.
"Yes Hatsumi. I'm back…" He replied almost as quietly as she had.
Hatsumi couldn't say anything; she just stared at him without even blinking. Then she slowly got up and took a step toward him. Still without saying a word, she hugged him, wrapping her hands around his neck and pressing tight with her body.
"Azusa…" She whispered.
Suddenly, Hatsumi showed him away from her, looked right in his eyes, and…
SLAAAAAP! The loud slap echoed in now completely quiet classroom, and if any of the participants of this strange exchange would actually looked around, they would have noticed that everyone's eyes were on them.
"HOW could you to that to ME! I was so worried about you! Why did you just disappear without telling anything to me?" Hatsumi was yelling now, ignoring the tears that appeared in her eyes. "I worried so much… you were everything to me… and you just left me without even saying goodbye…" Then she slowly lowered her body on to the chair and let her tears flow.
Everyday, since the beginning of the semester, as she walked in to her first period World Literature class, Hatsumi was looking for the familiar eyes of the guy who was sitting at the desk next to her. She noticed him right away; his sad, yet beautiful, eyes, his smile less face, and finally his gorgeous figure. It puzzled her, why someone as handsome and cute as he is, would not be talking to anyone, smile and laugh, and even flirt with girls as all the other guys did. No, he was a mystery, and Hatsumi wanted to find the reason that took away the smile from his face.
However, she was shy, really shy for that matter. She could never bring herself to start talking to him, regardless of how much she promised herself to do it THIS time. THIS time never came, and Hatsumi spent yet another first period trying to persuade herself to finally do it. Of course it could be easier if Azusa, that was his name, would show at least some kind of interest toward her, or any other people in general. But he never did… and it also left Hatsumi feeling sad for some reason…
Then one day everything changed. He smiled at her! Just like that! Without being asked or anything! His smile seemed as the most beautiful in the whole world and it gave Hatsumi the courage to finally attempt to talk to him.
What do you think? WHY is Hatsumi THAT mad at Azusa..? What past did they share? And of course, will she be able to model for Subaru? Stay tuned for the next chapter!
Tireen
