This is another split chapter. I'm editing and looking over some parts of the second half, to make sure their are no plot conflictions.
Now children, say "Hi" to Noriko!
This is the last time that I will say this. From now on, it will apply to every chapter: I DO NOT OWN AZUMANGA!
Trivia - Chapter 4
Noriko's message still lingered on Nyamo's mind as she drove to school. Just what I needed, an unwanted trip down memory lane...
All of the freshmen swimmers lined up around the pool. Coach Matsushita instructed them to watch and study the diving styles of the school's finest swimmers. Each swimmer varied in age, but a majority were seniors. After about five dived in, "she" was next.
Noriko Akamori was rumored to be one of if not, the best swimmer on the team. The coaches called her "Ningyo", a quite fitting name. For as a junior, her skill almost rivaled that of entry-level college swimmers.
Noriko's had a true swimmer's body; long, fit and graceful and one could tell that she was sure of herself just by watching how she moved. Her presence was powerful. Each step she took demanded your attention and nothing less; and attention she received. Everyone's eyes were fixed on her as she walked onto the diving board. Bouncing the board a bit, she assumed "proper form" and dived smoothly into the pool.
The seemingly effortless dive rendered Nyamo speechless. After seeing something like that, her mind was blank. There was simply nothing she could say, to describe what she had just seen.
After watching the rest of the swimmers, Coach Matsushita split the freshmen into groups, and assigned a" swimming coach" to each one. Coincidentally, Nyamo's group got Noriko.
"No, no. Like this" Noriko directed the "misguided" freshmen, demonstrating a "perfect" backstroke and putting a certain emphasis on the leg motion.
Nyamo tried her best, yet according to Noriko she was still "struggling".
"You're motion is still awkward Kurosawa!" she chimed. After watching the girl for a few minutes, and getting aggravated, Noriko floated up behind her. "Alright, Look" she started, securing her hands onto the freshmen's abdomen. Nyamo's face instantly flushed pink, arousing giggles from some of her pool mates.
"Now lean back slowly" Noriko instructed. As Nyamo leaned back, Noriko's hands gently slid up Nyamo's side before eventually clasping her hands.
Nyamo was now floating straight on her back. She looked up at the green-eyed girl, who beamed back down at her. "Good, now kick!"
Looking at Noriko's face put Nyamo at ease. She soon, according to Noriko, "perfected" the kicking motion.
"Great Job!" Noriko smiled, causing Nyamo to blush even harder.
The freshmen thanked their swimming coaches before running off to the locker rooms.
"Hey, Kurosawa!" Noriko called
Nyamo looked up "Huh?"
"C'mere a sec"
Nyamo came at once to Noriko's request. The junior was sitting at the pool side with both feet playing in the water "I was thinking..." she started.
"Mm"
"I was thinking, if you wanted some more lessons after school, I'll be happy to give you some..."
How awesome! Nyamo thought before giving her response, "Sure". How could she refuse? The best swimmer in the school was offering her one-on-one coaching.
"See you at two then?"
"Yeah" Nyamo smiled before running back to the locker rooms to catch up with her classmates.
Noriko laughed to herself before sliding into the crystal blue water. Nyamo was just too naïve...
That's how things started. The first lesson became a second, and a second led to a third. Until eventually they met everyday after school. Excessive touching, and mild flirtation made each lesson more intimate. Noriko was weaving Nyamo into her web.
For weeks Noriko mindfully spun this twisted web of hers. Saying all the right things, touching Nyamo in the right places at the right times. The gullible freshman couldn't see past the masquerade of "love". Nyamo was falling head over heels with the senior's guise, and that was exactly what Noriko wanted. She had Nyamo bound; mentally and emotionally. Just like the others...
Nyamo entered to school. Taking her normal route to the teacher's lounge, which was usually clear; she was surprised to see a long line of students lined up in the hallway. From the looks of it, the line was stemming from the Nurse's office. What the hell is this?
"Good morning Ms.Kurosawa" a few students bowed as she walked past them. Nyamo continued walking, but it was only a matter of seconds before she turned to ask one of them what was going on:
"Well, the new nurse, Ms.Akimori, called us down to redo our physicals" a pimply-faced boy told her.
"Do you have any idea why?"
The boy shrugged "Naw, I dunno. Something about having an 'up-to-date record'..."
"Thanks Kato"
Nyamo started walking again, quickening her pace as she passed the entrance of the Nurses office. Whatever Noriko was up to, that was her business.
The very moment she passed the door, it slid open. A male student stepped out and there she was behind him.
"Good Morning Miss Kurosawa" the student bowed before hurrying off to his homeroom
Nyamo turned around to acknowledge him, but instead made unintended eye contact with Noriko.
"G—Good morning Mina-- Ms. Kurosawa" Noriko said in a low, almost monotonous tone.
Noriko was still somewhat fit; her jet black hair was in a ponytail, like how it often was in high school. The cold bitch hasn't changed much, has she? Nyamo thought, standing there for a moment. How she wished she could just walk away, but it wouldn't look good in front of the students, who by now, were looking at her for a response.
"Good Morning" Nyamo stiffened, clutching her bag with a fierce grip
Their eyes were locked in an intense, yet cold gaze. Confusion and curiosity swept over the students in the hallway, as all of emotional tension between the two women had affected them as well.
Noriko kissed Nyamo on the forehead, "How's my little cutie?"...
The situation became too uncomfortable for Noriko. "Well" She coughed, abruptly breaking eye contact and walking back into her office. Nyamo immediately turned around and headed for the teacher's lounge.
Nyamo pleaded with her eyes, brushing a few strands of hair away from Noriko's face...
Sliding the door open, Nyamo was greeted by the teachers present. To her surprise, Yukari had already arrived. Her friend was apparently scowling, furiously writing on a piece of paper.
That's a first. Nyamo sat down at her desk, before letting out a deep sigh. Yukari's head snapped up. "Do you mind?" she spat
"Whoa! You're actually doing work! Maybe I should visit the temple today"
"Well, Well! Isn't somebody a funny-fuck this morning!"
Nyamo rolled her eyes and began to slowly unpack several books from her bag.
Yukari looked at her best friend for a moment; her current facial expression wasn't one Yukari had seen often. She slid her chair close to Nyamo, "It's Noriko isn't it?" she said in a low, almost inaudible voice.
"I wish I could stay" Noriko sighed "But my dad insists that my mom and I move to Aomori with him"
Nyamo's head sunk into Noriko's neck; a single tear streamed down her face.
"...Yeah" Nyamo admitted, looking down at her books. How does she know these things?
Yukari slid her chair back to her desk. "Hm"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Yukari shook her head.
"You're beautiful, you know that?" Noriko whispered softly, lifting Nyamo's chin so that they could look into each other's eyes
Nyamo blew her whistle, bringing the game to a close "Great work today guys"
The sweaty, heaving students hurriedly shuffled to the locker rooms; chatting with each other along the way.
Noriko entered the gym. Doors slamming shut behind her, she approached Nyamo who was busy picking up stray balls from the floor.
Nyamo heard the footsteps but assuming it was one of the students, she decided not to look up. Reaching for the last ball on the floor, Nyamo's eyes met a set of feet; she stood up straight to see Noriko.
"Minamo" Noriko said plainly
Nyamo tossed a few balls into the cart, "Yes"
The nurse looked down and laced her fingers nervously, something Nyamo had never seen her do before. Her tone of voice was shockingly soft as well. "I-I don't want you to think-" Noriko sighed, "I don't want you to think that I'm working here to get close to you again-"
Nyamo shook her head. Noriko actually trying to be sincere? What is she on? "Excuse me?" the gym teacher asked.
"I know that my employment here was sudden" Noriko began to pace slowly " But I don't want you to think that I took this job to come back into your life again", She stopped to look into Nyamo's perplexed face.
"Look, Noriko", saying her very name almost choked Nyamo "I really don't give a shit." If there was ever a time that Nyamo bluntly said what was on her mind, it was now. Even Noriko was taken aback by the gym teacher's forwardness. Yukari would have been proud.
Noriko' s began to snicker, her tone of voice changing immediately "Would ya look at that? Now I always thought that you were soft, but I see you've managed to grow some--"
"Are you done?" Nyamo snapped
Noriko cast a sharp glare, turned around and stomped out of the gym.
Nyamo waited for the doors to slam shut before hurling one of the balls at the gym wall in anger. "Damn it" she pressed her hands on her face
"Um... Ms. Kurosawa?" a voice asked with concern "Are you okay?"
Nyamo looked up "I'm fine Rina, thank you"
The young girl was unconvinced, but it wasn't her place to pry into the teacher's private affairs. She smiled slightly and left the gym.
Nyamo had always tried her best not to bring her personal problems to her job, but Noriko was seriously rocking her boat. She sat down on the floor, clenching her hair in her fists. That bitch...
"I'll always love you, no matter what" Noriko said softly, planting a soft kiss on Nyamo's lips.
A/N: So that's who Noriko is. Do you like her? I don't, and I hope you don't either.
If the flashbacks don't make sense to you, it is because they are bits and pieces of events that happened over the course of Nyamo/Noriko's former "relationship". They didn't happen in sequence, but if you interpret them that way, it's alright.
Definitions for the words with " " (asterisks) next to them:
Funny Fuck- A sarcastic person; Someone who normally doesn't crack jokes, but at the right moment busts out with a sarcastic joke or comment.
Ningyo - Japanese for "Mermaid" or literally "Fish person"So tell me what you think, whatcha really, really, really think! (sorry, had a spicegirls flashback...I hated those bitches...)
R&R is what I'm trying to say!