3 - Irritating

The third time I saw you
you were an irritating girl

That cloudy day had begun badly and ended worse.
Or he could have described it in such a fashion if it hadn't been just five in the afternoon. He still had the rest of the evening to face..
With every passing hour, his misfortunes' list had grown.
To begin with, he had only half-slept during the night.
He had repeatedly dreamed of her. She, the punisher of his rest, the princess of his onirical subconscious. The girl had taken the title by force, but he had gifted her with it mostly because she looked noble. Still, 'princess' was an apt name: he wanted to kiss her more than he wanted to kill her, even if she stole his sleep.

When he had gathered enough energy to get out of bed in the morning, he had stared sideways at the nightstand. The alarm had rung two times without him hearing it, making him half an hour late. Desperate, he had prepared just coffee for breakfast. Obviously he hadn't grabbed correctly the cup's handle and the coffee had spilled on his new shirt. He had resorted to his favourite change of clothes – classic green jacket, grey pants and black turtleneck – all the while cursing in every language known to him.
During the bus trip – how he wanted a motorbike – a braking had sent him head-on against a woman, exactly on her very impressive pair of- He had gotten slapped in the face. He had never felt so ashamed in all his life.
Running towards the university – under the rain – he hadn't noticed a hole in the sidewalk and his shoe had ended on it. He had hit the ground with his knee, but his ankle hadn't followed the movement and he had sprained it. His pants, naturally, hadn't survived clean.
He had arrived late to class. Entering the room, all the eyes had focused on him, along with those of his inflexible professor of Chemistry. Before that Mamoru hadn't managed to get noticed among the other students, so Kuroki-san's first impression of him was that of a limping and shaggy straggler.

Mamoru had never believed in luck, but in that day… Yes, he could change his mind.
He sighed.
At least his leg wasn't limping anymore.
Everything happened because he hadn't slept well that night.
It was her fault.
Sometimes he felt like a frightened and needy child in front of that girl.
He detested himself for it. He wanted answers from her and in his dreams he was so desperate for them that he begged to heard just another word.
But she stayed mute, her face hidden behind the pale shadow of the moon. She seemed lonely and in need of comfort.
Find the Silver crystal for me.
Save me.
The last was a request he had made up. That's how he read her sadness, a condition that seemed always more visible in the mist of confusion that was his own imagination.
Please.
The echo of her voice sounded more soft and familiar with every passing month.
It left him with a sense of defeat. He wasn't able to help her or himself.
He would have loved to climb the tower from which she called him. They could have sat near each other, sharing their torments and solitude, in search of sympathy.
Pathetic.
Hadn't he decided to be strong? He had nobody to rely on, he would never have someone to support him. He had chosen to refuse the help of people forced to take care of him because of their jobs.
If he started feeling sorry for himself now, how would things turn out for him?
He had projects for his future, little steps to take. He had managed to get an apartment and he was learning to cook. He had begun classes at university; he had a purpose, sought with persistence. He wanted a motorbike and a car too.
Trivial things? Maybe they wouldn't fulfill his life, but he didn't care.
He had made a friend. Motoki Futurahata was pleasant to be around. Maybe Motoki had taken him under his wing for kindness, but he didn't hold it over his head. Mamoru enjoyed spending time with him and in two months he had started to feel a semblance of affection.
Everything was fine. He was a normal person, even if he had never been able to fit in a family.

He looked ahead and nearly smiled.
There, on the side of the opposite street, stood an emblem of normality. Odango Otama was spying on a dead alley.
Turning, she threw a glance to a huge sign on a nearby building.
He understood: she was searching for a fortune teller. The day before a chiromancy shop had opened on the street, in open competition with the Master of Juuban, an old man that declared himself able to tell people's future by looking at their hands.
Only girls like Odango believed in such nonsense.
Probably she had questions about a guy. Oh, when will I find a boyfriend?
He tripped.
Turning around, he saw a raised tile protuding from the pavement, in the very middle of it.
He had a bad feeling and he started to walk away.
Must run home. Inside his own house, at least, he wouldn't have a public to witness his disgraces…
Tonk!
A shoe used his head as a stepping stone for the ground.
It was a girl's shoe, black.
He grabbed it and crushed it in his hand.
No, not this too!
He marched straight towards the guilty victim of his fury. Odango had the misfortune to be the only living damage that had happened to him during the day, so…
He grit his teeth and drew the shoe in front of her, like a sword. "You hurt me, Odango Atama!"
She rose in all her miserable height. "Why can't you ever say anything different to me?"
She was the one always throwing things at his head! "If you don't learn to control your manners, you won't ever find a boyfriend!"
Odango Atama started shivering, red in the face.
He had hit a nerve, and he didn't regret it.
She took back her shoe. "Thanks a lot!"
Exasperating girl!
He turned around and went his own way. He heard some mutterings behind him and he had to use all his willpower not to go back and answer.
He was an adult, he couldn't behave like a kid!
To blow off the steam, he left.

That night his princess came back to him.
She reached out for him. They were distant, but he felt nonetheless a caress on his cheek.
The following day he woke up rested, his leg once again healthy.
The morning coffee tasted better, intense and warm.
Sipping the liquid, Mamoru stared out of his window.
The sun was back and high in the sky.
He smiled and prepared himself for a new day at university.

3 - Irritating - END

Author's notes: this episode is base on episode 2 of the Classic series.
I enjoyed writing it: I am finally describing more vivid reactions of Mamoru to Usagi.
Next episode will focus on the moment of the episode 3, and I already know the title: 'Funny'.
It will be a pleasure to hear your thoughts.

ellephedre

P.S. - This is a translation from the italian language. If you find errors in English, please let me know :)