ACT 23
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Ohgami entered Ayame's office, his head bowed.
"I think you already know why I called you to my office," Ayame said as the young man closed the door behind him.
The young captain nodded. "I believe you saw us."
The vice commander looked intently at him then folded her arms. "Is it you or is it Maria?"
Ohgami was silent and was in deep thought.
Moving over to the side, she sat upon the edge of her desk, all the while looking closely at Ohgami. Even though he did not say a word, the expression on his face was enough to answer her question.
"Whether or not it was you, being captain of the group, you should be aware of your responsibilities. Your decisions might lead people into danger. You know that, don't you?"
"I am . .. aware of it," Ohgami replied in a low voice.
Ayame nodded. "Good. You may go now."
Ohgami remained unmoving. He was confused. "Ayame-san?"
"Do you need anything else, Ohgami-kun?"
Ohgami made as if to ask about his punishment for what had happened, but stopped himself as it seemed that Ayame had other plans for him. "Uh, nothing," he just said.
"If there is someone to love," Ayame said, knowing what was brewing inside the young captain's head, "let it be the whole Flower Division."
Ohgami blinked.
Ayame stood and turned away from him. She closed her eyes. 'I don't want to be cruel to him. I know the pain this is causing him is penalty enough.'
"Ayame-san," Ohgami whispered solemnly.
The vice commander raised her hand to dismiss him.
With one salute, the young captain went out of the office.
There was that heavy feeling inside him as he thought about what she had said. Deep in thought, Ohgami passed by Kanna who, judging by her outfit, was going for a sparring match. Kanna didn't seem to have noticed the young captain at all.
"Where are you going, Kanna?" Ohgami suddenly asked.
"Huh? Oh, Taichou," the redhead said in a startled manner. "I'm going to the gym."
'She seemed somewhat distressed, possibly over something that had happened earlier that day,' Ohgami thought. "At this hour?"
Kanna stopped walking. She looked out the glass window at her side and saw the city lights with the stars high above the dark sky. The redhead sweatdropped. 'Ugh, yeah , it's already evening… What am I doing?'
"Maybe I'll just take the shower," she just she said, trying not to be embarrassed.
"The baths are down below," Ohgami said, blinking.
"Oh, yeah." Kanna sweatdropped. "Thanks for the .. er.. direction."
Ohgami smiled warmly. "Be sure you turn off the lights after you're done."
"Yeah, sure." Kanna beamed at him. But the moment they met each other's eyes, she sensed the sadness in him.
Kanna watched Ohgami as he slowly went to his room.
"I hope he's alright," the redhead whispered to herself.
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'I'm stuck inside a situation that I don't really understand. If falling in love hurts this much, why do I always seem to be doing it? '
Ohgami closed the door of his room. 'Why do I always yearn for her? Why can't I erase her from my mind? Why do I always keep hurting myself? I knew she didn't love me. She loves someone else. . . and I know that.'
The young captain held his head as he sat down on his desk. 'Why do I keep on thinking that someday .. that someday she will be mine?'
"I am a fool!" Ohgami loudly scolded himself. "You are right about that. But this fool keeps on dreaming about you. This fool will always love you no matter who you are and no matter who you love."
'Love . . ." Ohgami thought for a while. 'This is the feeling that made me live and fulfill my duty as your captain. If I cease to love. . . I don't know how I can handle this job. If there is a reason to love, it is to love –'
"-the WHOLE Flower Division." Ohgami could almost hear Ayame's voice, as if she were right beside him. He let out a breath, trying hard to contain what was left of his strength to refrain from crying.
"If there is a reason to love, let it be the whole Flower Division," Ayame's voice repeated.
"The Flower Di-"
"Hey," a familiar male voice called.
Ohgami stopped despairing for a moment. He knew that voice. Could it be...?
"You look so glum. What happened?" A brown-haired man in a white tuxedo tapped Ohgami's shoulders who was sitting on a desk.
Ohgami was a bit startled. "K-Kayama?"
"Hello," Kayama greeted while strumming his white guitar. "So how's your day?"
"When did you- how-?" Ohgami asked perplexed.
"Went to the door. It's open," Kayama said pointing the door. "I was here before you came. I just wanted to check on you."
"Oh."
"So, how's it going, captain?"
There was that wimpy look on Ohgami that Kayama was very familiar with. "Kayama, it's a long story."
Kayama's expression turned sympathetic. "I see."
Looking at the brown haired man Ohgami remembered something important. "Kayama, could you do me a favor?"
Yuiichi Kayama blinked and pointed to himself. "You are asking for my help? Of course you are! That's what I'm here for."
Ohgami blinked again, he was utterly surprised.
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Next day.
Sumire decided to go shopping. She needed to avoid that redhead for now, just for this day. She was passing by the terrace when she saw Yuri in front of the main entrance, talking to someone.
'What's this?' Sumire thought as she listened in on their conversation.
"Ah, excuse me," said the stranger with a deep voice that instantly marked him out as a man. And although she couldn't identify his accent, he was most definitely not from around there. Indeed, even from that distance, Sumire could see that he was too tall to be Japanese.
"Uh…" Yuri said, faltering. Sumire could sense that the secretarial girl was blushing. "Wha-what is it?"
The stranger smiled as he stepped forward. "I'm looking for Miss Tsubaki Takamura. Is she around here?"
'What a stunning young man,' Sumire thought when she got a better view of him.
"Ah, what is it? Ah, yes... do you need a cup of tea?" Yuri suggested without thinking.
"Ah, thank you." The young man sweatdropped. "I'm here for Miss Tsubaki," he repeated.
"Ts-tsubaki?" Yuri was a bit confused. "Ah, oh, yes. . .You are going to buy a bromide? Come, come. Let me show you the way."
"Ah, no. I am in a hurry," he said politely. "I just need to talk to her for a moment regarding an important matter."
Yuri seemed to calm down a bit. "May I inquire for your name, sir?"
"My name is Keith David."
"Keith David?"
"Keith David?" Sumire thought for a while. 'Where on earth have I heard that name before? I'm sure it's familiar…'
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Later on that day along the quarters.
"What's that?" Iris asked as she noticed a piece of paper inserted underneath Sakura's door.
"What?" Sakura said in a confused manner not realizing what Iris was talking about.
"There, down there. Look. Iris thinks it's a piece of paper."
Sakura finally caught sight of what Iris was pointing at. She knelt down to get the paper.
"It's-"
"A letter," Iris said curiously.
"Huh?" Sakura looked at the envelope. It appeared to be the same kind that she received on the past opening night.
'It's from him again.'
"Oooh… what does it say?" Iris insisted.
Sakura opened the letter with her eyes closed. It must be from him. That guy named K.
"Sakura, it's a love letter."
She was right.
The raven-haired girl opened up her eyes and began to read the letter.
What does it say now?
- - - - - - - - -
Dearest Sakura,
- - - - - - - - -
'"Dearest"? He didn't start the first letter off like that,' Sakura thought.
- - - - - - - - -
I know it was awkward of me to give this to you in an informal way. Now you know that I really like you. But please don't be afraid of me. I'd like to meet you someday.
K
- - - - - - - - -
Sakura's eyes widened. "What?"
"What what?" a voice interrupted from behind. It was Sumire and she looked like she had just come from a shopping spree.
"What should I do?" Sakura asked, still holding the letter.
Sumire grabbed the letter and read it herself. After that, she gave it back to the raven-haired woman, looking as is she had decided on something. "Why not take the chance? He seemed to be a nice guy. Just a little mysterious, though."
Sakura's head was full of questions. "How did you know?"
Sumire raised an eyebrow. "I know things better than you do. That's how."
'But what about Maria-san?' The thought loom immediately in Sakura's mind. "I don't think--"
"Ay, Sakura-san, it's not bad to have a fling or two. Besides it's just a fan who just wants to make out with you."
"But-"
Sumire held up a hand right in front of Sakura's face, stopping the young woman before she could finish. "I know how you feel about Maria-san. And that's why you should try to turn this into an opportunity."
"An opportunity?" Sakura repeated as Iris blinked in innocence.
"Yes, yes, that's right." Sumire nodded as she stepped closer to Sakura. "This is an oppurtunity to-"
Sakura blushed when Sumire leaned over her. "What?"
"To make her jealous."
"To make Maria-san jealous?" Sakura was shocked at the thought. "Why do I have to do that?"
Sumire sighed. "You really don't know anything, do you?"
Now it was Sakura's turn to raise an eyebrow.
"Ne, Sakura-san, in this way you can see how much she really loves you," Sumire said in a serious voice.
"How much she loves me?"
Sumire nodded with a confident smile.
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A/N:
About Keith David:
Liz: Sounds familiar to me, too. Isn't there a real life actor named Keith David? Or am I just thinking of actor, David Keith? confused
Dillian: I don't know who David Keith is either. XD (I just invented the name LOL)
Liz: I just checked and it lists two actors named Keith David. Whaddya know?
Dillian: Ack. LOL. XD what a coincidence!