Disclaimer: I do not own Super GALS! in any way…If I did, I would have made a second installment on it. The ending was rather…uhm…found to be wanting.
Flack: (types noisily on his laptop, whistling a happy tune)
Well, you don't see this everyday. A 3 foot purple dragon sitting on the floor with a computer on his lap and a dish of Pocky by his side…(shake head)
Flack: The insinuation is killing me…(yawns and goes back to typing) -o-
Neh, anyway, for the enjoyment of any reader that would have reached this far…
Chapter 2.
-
Chapter 2
Yuuya sat alone during recess time, faraway from the kids that were playing on the grounds. He stared at his apple that was the only food for recess his mother gave him.
It was first day of school and nobody had even dared to come near him to say hi or hello. He'd expect that even at least one of them would offer a sign of friendship.
But there was no one…not even Rei Otohata.
Lunch came later, and Yuuya had to find the school canteen all by himself. No one was willing to help him out. And when he did get in line and got his share of food, he found himself a table far, faraway from the chattering kids and teenagers that intermingled with them.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Rei in the midst of rowdy girls and boys alike, most of them talking about his personal preferences. Rei simply answered every question with hidden rancor, and after eating, had left immediately.
Yuuya just sighed a bit and swirled his mashed potato into spirally peaks with his chopstick.
From what he'd seen, this was…by far, the most strenuous day he had in his entire life.
-
(Afternoon bell ring)
Yuuya leaned impassively by the entrance of the school gate, waiting for (or rather hoping that) Rei to come out. He absolutely doesn't know how to get home, it was his first time in Shibuya, and his first time had him dragged on arm by Rei.
"Hey kid…"
Yuuya's heartbeat raised a notch upon hearing the tone of the voice. Slowly turning around, he set eyes on a very, very large bully. Never mind his cohorts, they were small compared to the gargantuan kid.
"You're new here, aren'tcha?"
Yuuya backed a bit, casting his arm in front of him, panic flashing in the features of his face. The bully leered closer, grinning maniacally.
"Listen, kid. Around here, kids like you pay me your allowance…err…protection…you know that stuff…" He grinned, showing a set of crooked, yellowish teeth.
Yuuya felt his throat turning dry, sweating heavily. Unbeknownst, he tripped over a stone and fell on his backside.
The bully came close and clutched Yuuya's collar, bringing him up to view. Yuuya almost lost all color when he realized his foot wasn't touching the ground.
"Maybe you need to be taught what protection means around here, huh?" He laughed as his companions guffawed the same. The bully had taken him on both legs and was about to shake him down for all his remaining money.
Yuuya's vision blackened from too much fear and nervousness. He grew slack and weakened, and hitching a breath, fainted on the spot.
"Leave him…" A familiar voice menaced.
-
The setting sun irritated his sleep.
Yuuya shook up from his rest. He was a bit surprised at seeing his vision jog up and down, the wind slowly blowing on his head, and a wonderful scent prickle his nose.
He was a bit surprised when he realized that he was piggy back-riding on Rei, who wore both of their backpacks in front of him so he could carry Yuuya to their neighborhood.
Rei had sensed the movement behind and stopped walking.
"You awake?" Of course, he is…
Yuuya gently lowered himself from Rei and took his backpack to lug it for himself. Rei just slid his own on his back once more and resumed walking the long walk.
"Wait…" Yuuya squeaked a bit, surprised at his voice.
Rei halted, waiting for what Yuuya wanted to say.
"Did…did you save me from those bullies?"
Turning back, he stared at him without malice. "Those bullies won't be nearing you anymore, I made sure of that."
With that, he resumed walking once more.
"Thank you…"
Rei stopped walking, as if there was something he'd just realize.
"Thank you, Rei…"
Rei looked back at Yuuya, who for the first time, had smiled.
Yuuya was standing, the sun playing in his eyes. His smile, so gentle and innocent formed a play of sorts in his face.
The words stroke a chord in Rei's heart. Something in those words had struck him deep. It was like a missing piece of his puzzle, a wonder on how the words stuck together with each other in perfect harmony and melody.
Rei threw all of those foolish thoughts behind, grunted a bit, and resumed walking once more.
Yuuya just chortled a bit, and ran up to Rei's side, holding on to one of Rei's arms.
And this time, Rei didn't push him away.
-
Present Day
"Are you all done, Rei?" Yuuya peeked from his side of the locker, waiting for Rei to retrieve his books from his own.
"Just a minute." Rei took what he need and slammed the locker shut, the sound resonating in the hallway.
Yuuya smiled, squinting his eyes. Clutching at his books, he walked side by side with Rei.
It had been almost four years, since that fateful day they had moved to Shibuya. Rei Otohata was the first person he met that made him calm around others. He'd outgrown his phobia of people around him, and had proven that on more than one occasion.
Second Year High School
"So Rei, what do you think?" Yuuya went up to Rei's room, startling the other boy from his reverie of reading a book.
"Yuuya, how many times…" Rei stopped, eyes a bit wider than normal upon seeing Yuuya.
"Do you like my new hairstyle?" Yuuya grinned, pointing at his shock of blonde hair that had been cropped to all sides. Rei felt a small smile creep upon the corners of his lips, but had tugged it down to his usual scowl.
"I dunno, it kinda makes you look like a girl…" Rei went back to reading the book The Catcher in the Rye.
Yuuya went teary-eyed at the comment and stood by the stoic boy's side, making himself look pathetic.
"I'm hurt, Rei. I'm totally devastated! Coming from you, it really placed me in a shock…" He sobbed pathetically, streams flowing from his face.
Don't be such an ass, Yuuya…Rei sighed and rested his head on one arm, bringing his book down, smiling inwardly.
"I like it…" He stared at the blonde once more.
Yuuya broke from his somber mode and his eyes sparkled with delight.
"I think that suits you much better than that normal mop of hair you always wore."
"Thanks, Rei!" Yuuya grinned foolishly. "I told the hairstylist that I needed something that told people I'm outgoing and adventurous." He hugged the boy from the back and buried his nose on Rei's head.
After which followed a mock fight between friends for the whole afternoon.
End flashback
"Rei!"
Both sweatdropped at the eager shout that they had heard.
"Yuuya!"
And with this followed a rush of feet, which obviously belonged to a throng of girls.
"Guess we have to do this, huh?" Yuuya sighed, slouching in effect.
"Never mind." Rei replied simply, and both faced the mob of girls that had tailed them even inside their school.
"Rei! Can we have your autograph! Rei, can you sign my bag! Rei, what's your favorite color! Yuuya, we want your autograph too! Sign me! Sign me! Me! ME!"
Afternoon, Downtown Cafe-
Yuuya munched happily at the plate of chocolate cake and iced tea that he ordered for himself. Rei calmly read another book as he sipped once in a while on his cola.
"Hey, what's that you're reading?" Yuuya mouthed out, chocolate flecking his mouth.
Rei shifted the cover of the book to let Yuuya view the title. Arabian nights, silly…
"Isn't that the collection of stories that lasted a thousand nights by some Arabian princess?" Yuuya finished his cake and chugged down on his iced tea.
"Yeah, and this book doesn't even cover half of a thousand nights, so I pretty doubt this is the whole version." Rei went back to reading the book.
Yuuya sighed at the end of their conversation and called for the waitress to pay for their afternoon snack.
-
"So…where are we going now, Rei?" Yuuya asked the other, as both walked silently in the wide alley.
"Home…where else? We still have a test tomorrow…" Rei answered.
"HAHA! MY BAG!" A high voice erupted behind them as Rei felt a strong tug pull his bag away from his shoulder.
What the…this is the third time I'll be losing my bag! Damn magazine article…
As both turned around, the girl also felt awkward when she realized whom it was.
"Wait…are you…Rei Otohata? The one in the magazine?" She asked, pointing at him.
"The one and only!" Yuuya answered for the now-irritated Rei. "And you are?"
"I'm Ran Kotobuki! The Super GAL of Shibuya!"
"…" Both sweatdropped. Super…GAL?
"And this bag must be mine! If I have it, all the girls will envy me!" She tugged furiously amidst the sweatdrop of Yuuya and Ran's other companion, and Ran's maniac laughing.
"Ran…you have to understand Rei. That's the third bag he lost from girls like you…" Yuuya tried to explain meekly.
"Fine." Rei finally spoke up.
"Huh?" Yuuya looked at him.
"How much money you have in there?" Rei asked Ran.
"Eh? I don't have much, I'm not that rich…" Ran gazed at him apprehensively.
With a simple twist of positions, Rei had bought the other girl in a compromising situation, which earned a simple gasp and intake of breath from Yuuya.
What was that? Does Yuuya like this girl? Rei looked from the corner of his eye, viewing Yuuya's surprised reaction before setting his attention back at Ran.
"I may give this bag to you, but you have to go on a date with me. You may not be all looks, but I'll just have to work with it." Rei said haughtily.
Surprising Rei and Yuuya, Ran jumped back; escaping Rei and getting his bag successively.
"For your information, I don't intend on going on a date with such an air-headed person like you! Peh!" Ran stuck out her tongue before running away, Rei's bag on hand.
"She's…" Yuuya mouthed, sweatdropping. Rei just took out his wallet and looked at it, sighing in relief that the contents are still there.
"Let's just walk…" Rei shuffled his hands into his pocket. Yuuya followed silently.
-
"I…I'll ask the supply manager to give you a new bag tomorrow…" Yuuya spoke softly.
"Don't worry. I'll handle it first thing when we return to school…" Rei replied, a hint of irritation in his voice.
Yuuya opened his mouth to speak some more, but hearing the hint of annoyance in Rei's voice, managed to close his mouth.
Rei had felt the silence. Knowing Yuuya ever since childhood, he'd felt that the blonde had something he wanted to say, but was afraid to voice it out.
"Returning to the old days are we?" Rei turned his head around, stopping in his tracks.
"Huh?" Yuuya looked up. I knew it; you're still you…Yuuya…
"I thought we agreed that nothing should be left hidden between us? Or have you forgotten our promise?" Rei brought his pinkie in effect to what he said.
Yuuya gazed at his own pinkie, memories flooding back…
Summer before the start of high school
Both boys were resting under the sakura tree that both had shared to like. It was near the park and provided a wonderful view of the city ahead.
"Hey, Rei! I have an idea!" Yuuya sat up from lying down, gazing at the other boy intently.
"What is it this time?" Rei looked wearily under one eye.
"Let's make a promise to never hide anything between us ever!" Yuuya bought his pinkie out, waiting for Rei's.
"That's stupid, you know that. We…oh, hey!" Rei protested when Yuuya bought his hand out underneath his head and forced it in his pinkie.
"There! You promised to! Now we're best friends!" Yuuya laughed and fell on the soft grass once more, growing silent.
Rei looked on his side to see Yuuya drifting to sleep again. Well, that was fast…
Best friends…
End flashback
"Nothing's wrong with me, Rei!" Yuuya griped.
"Oh, really? Then, why was it that you earlier paled when you saw with that girl earlier?" Rei challenged him.
"Uh?" The force in his voice or the hidden glint he saw in Rei's eyes took Yuuya aback, either way he stuttered.
"Well?" You better have a good answer, Yuuya…
"You like her?" Yuuya looked away.
Rei stopped. What? Me like her? Why, Yuuya, do you?
"No." Rei crossed his arms. "I only took her on if she wanted the date to see if she was like the rest of those mindless girls I don't know about."
"Really?" Yuuya shook up, color returning.
Rei grunted in the positive, walking the distance once more.
Yuuya…what are you trying to get at?
Yuuya walked up to his side, a smile playing in his face, as he hummed a happy tune from the recent anime' show he watched.
Rei just stole discreet glances at him, apprehensive of Yuuya.
-
People might see a few similarities (heck, it is similar!) with the episode concerning the first time Rei and Yuuya met the Super GALS. Of course, I don't go for bashing girls' that-are-normally-attached-to-the boys (especially Aya-chan).
Aya is sweet, although she likes sticking with Rei, I'd have to change that…Miyu is fine, she can have Yamato for all I care…and Ran…weeeeeeell, my first impression of her was that she is such a tomboy, parading her muscles and reputation all over Shibuya…and being over-protective of her friends AND her pride.
But…no. No girl bashing in here.
Flack you got that? (eyes the purple dragon menacingly)
Flack: (sweatdrops and presses the delete button in his laptop a few times.)
I just realized how pathetic my life is. Heck, when I wrote "Forever Promise", I was thinking my life was also pathetic. And people loved it! I hope it works the second time around here. (looks into the setting sun)