Chapter 4: Transition
Flashback- a few months before graduation
"Hmm Hm Hm...do do dooo hmmm"
Chad looks up from his assignment at the girl currently humming across the table. A small smile tilts his lips. "Ahem," he clears his throat to gain her attention, but not before he has fully basked in her peaceful singing.
"Oh!" She turns her head to me cheeks heating up until a light pink flushes them both. "Gomen Sado-kun! I got lead astray on my journey and somehow singing was the only cure"
"Boredom will do that to you" he replies.
At this Orihime puts both hands in front of her and shakes them vigorously in his direction. Her head follows, moving at crazy speeds, along with her hands. "N-no. I would never be bored around you Sado-kun. I just finished my work and I get so spacey between assignments, so I tried to be patient while you finished and well… That happened hehe"
"Mmm"
"But we are almost done, no? With school? I can hardly believe this is one of our last study sessions," her expressive eyes shift to the side, turning reflective.
"Yeah"
"We'll be adults soon though. Maybe I will finally evolve just like my future self portrait for art class." She exclaims happily.
Chad remembers Tatsuki mentioning the.. eccentric future self project from their first year. Didn't it include a robo-hime with cannons coming from her breasts? At the thought of breasts Chad turns his thoughts back to more pressing, and not to mention more sane and gentlemanly, thoughts.
"Have you decided what you will do after graduation Sado-kun?"
"I'm not particularly good at anything"
"Nonsense! You are so strong, and calm, and kind… I bet you could be a tactician or a policeman!" Orihime gushes.
"Hmmm"
"No? Hmmm… i've got nothing. Heh heh," a cute laugh erupts from her as she runs out of ideas to give him. I'm going to miss her wild thoughts, and funny commentary.
Not wanting to seem oafish he decides to open up to Orihime. They have grown closer throughout the years since they discovered they had gained powers from Ichigo's overwhelming reiatsu. They have gone to battle together and with that their position as friends has been cemented.
"Sado-kun?"
"I think I want to become a professional boxer," he replies.
"Really! Ooooh that would be so cool Sado-kun. You have those big arms and shoulders. I bet you could K.O. anyone who stepped into the ring, like this. POW!"
At this loud exclamation Orihime demonstrates a roundhouse punch that leaves her small frame spinning wildly. Chad watched. Even if she was a tiny slip of a thing he wondered how much force she applied to spin that much. But soon he becomes fascinated by the swish of her school skirt spinning like a top. Suddenly he catches a glimpse of pale skin that was cut off enticingly by white thigh high stockings. Look away. Turning his head slightly he waits for her to finish her turn.
"Uhh Ooh" Inoue's small voice squeaks before… THUD. Chad quickly turns to witness the results of Orihime's spectacular tumble. A clear result of dizziness, if her slowly swaying hand struggling to grasp the stationary table is any inclination.
"You okay, Orihime?"
"Unnh!"
"..."
"Ne…. Sado-kun, could you help me to a chair hehe?"
"Mmm." With that he stands and reaches down to the wayward princess. She thrusts a tiny hand up towards Chad, and he can't help but feel warm when his large callused palm grasps hers.
"Up you go" he says, lifting her easily and gently placing her on the cushion closest to her.
"Silly me. I guess boxing isn't for me. I should stick to medical school. Hehe"
"Oh yeah. I guess no one knows about that yet…. It's still up in the air for… uh reasons. But I truly want to help bring new life into the world safely." She murmurs, watching the expressions that minutely play behind his bangs. He always speaks his mind through his face, even without a sound.
Orihime suddenly reaches behind her head with a laugh, embarrassed by the impressed expression coming from her friend. He watches her embarrassment and finds her gesture strangely reminiscent of Ichigo. Well that would make sense. His signature move performed by the girl with a crush on him. He quickly brings his attention back to the current topic.
"What did you mean?" he asks softly, sensing her hesitation at the slipup.
"Well I-I actually got a scholarship that would cover the expense of studying to be an obstetrician."
"That's great Orihime!"
At this excited exclamation by her reserved friend, Orihime looks directly into Chad's eyes, and beams at him. "Heheh it is! I'm so happy about it… but the location makes me scared."
"Where?" Chad is confused about why the location could divert her excitement from such an opportunity.
"The scholarship is for Tokyo University. I would have to move out there for four years and a then year long intern process to become a specialist…"
Karakura Town to Tokyo. No wonder she is nervous.
"That is far. Ishida is attending the doctor program there, as well."
"Ehh?"
"Uryu. He decided after the war that he respected medicine and wants to be a doctor."
"That's so cool …"
"But?" he conjoles.
After waiting a minute Chad begins to wonder if she is not going to voice her true fears. But she looks up and meets his eyes. Hazel strikes dark brown.
"Truthfully Sado-kun. I am scared to leave Karakura Town as things stand….with everyone…"
Chad watched her lower here previously bold stare when she said "Everyone." Leading him to believe she means one crucial person.
"You should tell him."
"Tell what to whom? Sado-kun?"
"Ichigo. You don't want to leave without closure from your feelings right?"
"EEEEHHEHH" she shrieks shrilly.
"Sado-kun! Where do you get these ideas. I-I am just scared to move away alone"
"No"
"I-it's true!"
"Orihime"
"Yes?"
"You live alone now, same as me. You take care of yourself very well. The distance alone is not the problem."
At this light reproach, Orihime bows her head. If Sado-kun knows everyone does. I should take this opportunity to speak about my fears.
"You're right, Sado-Kun. I do not want to leave with things unsettled… but I fear that the fact that things has remained unsettled after all this time says a lot….. And I just haven't been listening to it."
"Mmm"
" If you know, and everyone else teases about it, then the only one who doesn't know my feelings is k-Kurosaki-kun. That must mean something."
"Hmmm"
"Right? He must have guessed. But why not mention it? I know Kurosaki-kun is a good friend, and he wouldn't want to make me feel bad or break up our group of friends. So he must have chosen not to see it instead. But I am so scared to say something up front."
Chad makes no sound. Orihime may be known to ramble but he recognizes this as her truly opening up to him, and he will not squander her trust in this moment.
" Should I tell him this now? I've held it so long that I don't see how I could ever confess at this point… it would just be a burden to Kurosaki-kun. Especially if he finds out I chose to stay here and hope…. Instead of taking a scholarship for school."
"Shouldn't I tell him? These feelings are so heavy on my chest, and I keep hearing a ticking clock tick-tick-ticking in my head with graduation approaching. And I can't help thinking that I am running out of time to… to be noticed. Ne? Sado-kun? What would you do in my position?"
After hearing her confession, Chad can only gaze in awe at the amount of turmoil held within the small girl. Her crush must have truly delved into the love sphere throughout the years for her to feel so torn on moving on or not. And that is the issue here. She wants to confess and be able to move forward…. Or move on, but her self-consciousness has made her feel like Ichigo will take her feelings as a burden and not reciprocate. Her question to him echoes in the air as he tries to find something to say. Heh, Funny the silent one has to reassure the talkative one with words.
" I think that you should take your fears out of the question"
"Huh? What do you mean Sado-kun?"
"I mean that you have earned a prestigious honor, take it. Let it lead you to your goals and future."
" You're right..."
"But. You also must decide if you want to tell Ichigo about your feelings or bury them for good. It's not healthy for you to hold them in, and let your fears build." With those wordy sentences said, Chad falls back into his comfortable silent state. Hoping she takes his advice, even if he is a hypocrite.
The silence continues on until Orihime slowly raises her head, "Wow Sado-kun. I never knew you were the king of pep talks!" Chirps a restored Orihime.
"Not really"
"Yes really. I have a lot to think about the Kurosaki-kun situation but I know what I want to do after school"
A dark eyebrow lifts, shooting deeper into his shaggy brown bangs. Orihime giggles as she watches that thick caterpillar nestle into his curly head hair.
"I'm going to Tokyo U!"
"Mmm"
"Let's celebrate Sado-kun! I have some leftover goodie from Boss-san at the bakery, we can share them with tea!"
"Okay"
Orihime shoots to her bag, pulling out a surprisingly large bag of baked goods from the interior. Chad's long legs lead him to the kitchen to prepare the tea for their "celebration." Though it kinda feels as if she just wanted an excuse to have a tea party. Sigh. That's okay, I'm glad I could help her in some small way. He is taken out of his inner thoughts when he hears her bubbly voice again.
"Which would you like Sado-kun?"
You, his internal voice demands but he scolds himself silently and simply responds, "surprise me."
Once the tea is ready he brings two cups and plates to the Kotatsu where their abandoned homework rests. Orihime spies him looking at their assignment and smiles widely. "Don't worry Sado-kun. I won't abandon you to the incomplete homework bandits. I will help you complete all the rest. It's the least I can do since you helped me with my problems."
"That's a relief," he sighs, relieved.
"Heheheh. I'm at your service!" After ensuring that Chad's plate was piled high with pastries, Orihime begins to sip her tea and munch on her own pile with gusto.
Chad watches in fascination as the snacks are ravenously devoured, taking note of her small pout when she begins to run low. He stealthily sneaks one of his larger buns onto her plate and is rewarded with a radiant smile.
Though the rest of the evening is full of Orihime's funny commentary and homework, Chad couldn't escape the echoing question from earlier. 'What would you do if you were in my position Sado-kun?' I am in your position Orihime. I love a girl. My best-friend's girl in all but title. I too face the dilemma of not confessing for fear of breaking the friend group…
Looking over at Orihime as she prepares to leave in order to catch the next episode of Laugh Hour, Chad's resolve hardens. I want to give her time to tell Ichigo her feelings. If she does I will confess in order to move on. If she doesn't I will wait for her to be ready to hear it. With that Chad waves to the auburn headed girl leaving his home.
Authors Notes:
Hey all,
I've been away for a while... so much going on. I hope you enjoyed the chapter!