Disclaimer: All characters, titles, franchises, etc. are solely copyrighted 1999-2004 to companies such as but is not limited to Toei, TV Asahi, BANDAI, etc. unless stated otherwise. I am not affiliated with any of the companies noted above, nor do I have contact with them. This is solely created for fan enjoyment.


Chained to a Letter
Part 2: Earrings and Onpu


The next day, Kotake was still locked in a prison — and in his own home too. His reason? Not finishing his Japanese homework.

The idea just made him feel like barfing, and he couldn't help it if he wanted to raise his grade in class. He was doing... averagely. Blah. Same. Neutral. Not good or bad. Not super-smart like Rinno Masato and Asuka Momoko or stupid like Yada Masaru was.

Well, Yada wasn't stupid from getting red marks slashed over all the problems on his tests. He just didn't care for school. If he had worked harder, then surely the trumpeter would have been one of the top students in class. But he wasn't.

Kotake was forced by the school education system to read a boring story in which no one really cared about. If they did happen to care about it, they shouldn't. He looked as his bulletin board and minute by minute, he grew annoyed just looking at that picture with Doremi in it. He snatched the photo off and shoved it in his desk drawer. Because of that certain photo, Momoko was now on his case about it. He didn't even want to look at it anymore.

The doorbell rang again. Who could it be this time? Kotake left his work area and headed towards the door. His mother had seemed to know that Kotake was answering the door, so she didn't even bother to look up from her masterpiece in the kitchen.

He swung the door open, and the first thing he saw was purple. It cleared up and out came Segawa Onpu.

"Hello, Kotake-kun!" she sang out cheerfully.

"What's there to be happy about?" muttered Kotake to himself, thinking that Asuka had already told Segawa about the unfortunate incident with the photo that she found.

Oh, that reminded him that if he let Segawa-san into the house, then he had to hide the photo. Kotake made a little note to do that, but then remembered he hid it in his desk drawer. No problem, all he had to do was to not let Segawa touch his desk. Kotake smiled slyly to himself. His plan was perfect.

Segawa poked her head into the house and scanned the room like a predator, as if she were searching for something. Seeing the weirded glance on Kotake's face, she drew back and smiled shyly, faking her embarrassment. Actress thing.

Whatever.

"Spill, Segawa," spat Kotake. "What do you want from me?"

Segawa shrugged. "Well... Momo-chan is crying..."

Kotake immediately felt guilt wash over him. Slapping his forehead, he knew that he shouldn't have been that rude to her. He didn't really like it when people cried, especially when he was the cause of it.

"No, no, no, don't worry," Segawa spoke quickly. "It's not because of you. She lost her earring."

"Ohhhh,"mused Kotake, now understanding the situation. Of course, there was a reason that she should be sad because of that. Doremi once told the class that Momoko's earring was given to her by someone special who had passed away. Still, Kotake never noticed Asuka's earring being loose during her visit. (Well, he probably didn't even notice it at all until Segawa brought up the topic.)

"We think that her earring is in your house from her visit," finished Segawa with a suppressed smile.

"What?" The soccer player found himself aghast. "From the last time I checked, the stud was perfectly tight on her ear. How could it have fallen off?"

"It's... old?" suggested the idol.

Kotake snorted. "Nice one. I did see that Asuka had her earring on when she left my house. Heh, I know for a fact that it's not in my house. How could it get there; by some magical force gone wrong by some witch fiddling around with magic for no reason?"

Segawa turned pale for a second, and gulped. She sighed after a moment of long, dull silence. "Can I just come in and make a quick search?"

"Sure." Kotake swung the door wider, and Segawa entered the middle-class house. Inwardly, he felt proud that a famous pop star was in his house, but he also felt uneasy. What if during her search she found the photo that he had tried to hide from everyone else?

No time to think about it now. Segawa was heading towards Kotake's room.

Not good. If she managed to search his desk, then... oh, the horror! Kotake pulled himself together and began pursuing her.

"Oiiiii!" yelled Kotake, sprinting upstairs to follow her. "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?"

Segawa gave him an awkward stare. "I've already searched the hallway, and Momo-chan said that she was in your room for a while. She hasn't been in any other rooms from what she told me, so the last place to look is in your room."

She opened the door, and went on fours, peeking under Kotake's bed. The violet-haired girl reached for his desk drawers, which Kotake watched in horror from afar. Images of what could happen flashed around his mind, and he was prepared this time. He wasn't caught in surprise like that other time.

As soon as Segawa rummaged from one drawer to the next, she reached for the one with Doremi's photo concealed in it. Kotake, with his quick reflexes, snatched her wrist. Her eyes widened; she wasn't expecting this.

"Kyaa!" cried Segawa, falling back onto the carpeted floor with a thump.

"Hey! Watch the desk!" ordered Kotake just as Segawa shrieked. He forcefully released his strong grip, letting the pop star's hand swing away. Segawa scowled and rubbed her wrist.

"You didn't have to pull my wrist out of its socket," she whined, slightly glaring at him.

He found himself embarrassed by his extreme actions. Segawa probably thought he was weird now; all she did was look in a drawer. Maybe she thought he had some very, um, graphic magazines in that drawer. "Um... sorry... how about I look in this drawer?"

"Okay." Segawa tried to peek over Kotake's shoulder, but he pushed her away.

Unfortunately, he pushed her away not before she saw a familiar photo of a pink odango poking out from the stack of papers. Acting as if it were nothing, Segawa turned her attention away from the drawer. Why would Kotake have a photo of Doremi? It was too confusiing for words. A bright gleam called her attention away from her thoughts, and she saw a tiny orange ball, dancing in the sunlight, in Kotake's waste basket.

"Ah! Found it!" her voice rang out, leaping into a crouch as she reached for a handkerchief.

"Come off it, Segawa. My trash can's got nothing but papers. What did you think there was in there, gum?"

"You can never be too careful," was Segawa's calm reply as she pushed apart the papers for the earring. She pulled out the earring and after shining it with her handkerchief, she placed it in her pocket. Then, she suddenly stopped.

"Eh? What's this? Your soft personality is as gentle as the spring breeze —"

"AAAAAHHHHH!" screamed Kotake, grabbing the crumpled paper ball away from Segawa's hands.

"Wait! I see Momo-chan's handwriting on there!" Segawa started, trying to reach for the ball. Suddenly, her smile flipped into a sneaky smirk. This was not good.

"Ohhh! So that's why you had that photo of Doremi-chan!"

"Segawa," grumbled Kotake, seething in the same anger he had reserved for Momoko. In his rage he had forgotten that Segawa was in the midst of reaching for the paper ball.

"Bingo!" Segawa snatched the paper ball away from Kotake, using the small distraction she had set up for him. Lucky shot; she was a professional actress.

Asuka and Segawa: 2. Kotake: zilch. Zero. Zip. None. At this rate, Kotake would feel more of a loser than he was the day before. The poor boy was about to protest, but it was too late; Segawa finished uncrinkling and reading it. Her amethyst eyes lightened a little bit as she nodded at every single word.

"So the rumors are true," she told herself as she smoothed the paper out on the desk.

"Oh, please don't start,"moaned Kotake, before Segawa let out all the "him plus Doremi equals love" business.

"I suppose Momo-chan gave you the lookout on the rumor thing already,"said Segawa smiling, delicately streching out her arm to pat Kotake on the shoulder.

"Tell me about it." Kotake rubbed his left temple.

"This letter isn't creative enough, though,"stated Segawa, selecting a pencil from Kotake's pencil supply and scribbling her little creation in there. "You need to be more convincing or else Doremi-chan will believe this is a joke."

"Hey! What are you doing?" cried the soccer player, watching the purple pop star write in her entry.

"Adding some spice into some sugar." Segawa flipped a wink after her calm response. In a few seconds, she was done and handed it to Kotake. "There!"

"Please accept my love for you or else I'll die?" Kotake read out loud in disbelief, furrowing his dark eyebrows. His eyes narrowed at Segawa. "How is that convincing?"

Segawa raised her hand. "You're not being serious enough and letting her know how much she really means to you. You're just flattering her with itty-bitty sweet nonsense, and flattering isn't love."

Kotake was not totally won over by Segawa's explanation. "Been watching too many soap operas?"

Segawa looked away, slightly embarrassed. "No..."

She quickly regained her sanity and waved her hand dismissively. "I don't need to watch them. I've been in a lot of them."

The boy tossed the wrinkled sheet of paper aside and pulled out his book again. "I don't need to steal lines from cheesy teenage girl shows to write."

Segawa frowned, and then shrugged. "Suit yourself. I'm only trying to help."

Kotake slammed his book down onto his chestnut desk. Turning to Segawa, he shot the girl a deep glare. "Well, you've helped enough for today. Why don't you help me again by taking a hike?"

"Whatever." Within a few seconds, Segawa left the Kotake residence.

The letter made its way into the trash can again.


Dearest Doremi,

You remind me of a tulip I saw at the garden in the park before Kimura accidentally trampled over it. Its petals are really pretty, and the color of it looks like the same shade of your hair and your eyes.

Your name is just exquisite. Harukaze Doremi; just perfect for you. Your soft personality is as gentle as the spring breeze, and your voice is as musical as your name. All the spring beauties envy you whenever you stand in their presence.

Doremi-chan, you don't know how much you mean to me. How can I go on without telling the person I deeply care for about how I really feel? I'm surprised that I haven't shattered like a mirror yet. Every night and day I suffer from the pain of being pushed away from the warmth of your kindness. My true feelings towards you are too deep to fathom. I can't survive without you. Please accept my love for you or else I'll die.