Chapter 6
"Matsumoto Rangikuuuuuuuu!", roared a certain petite girl down the 3th floor classrooms corridor.
Luckily, most students are busy chattering and doing stuffs on their own that they did not really paid much attention to the girl. It is a cultural festival preparation, after all, everybody is being busy yet very excited for the event.
Rangiku Matsumoto knew better that Sooner or later she would be yelled upon. She decided it would be better to face her than running around - it is only Hinamori Momo, she won't be mad for too long, she knew her better.
"You calling honey?"
The furious girl stomped her way pass few students, clumsy as she always was, bumped to a tall and built student who appeared to be some school athlete, resulted in her falling unceremoniously to the cold floor. The taller student doesn't seemed to notice that his built has resulted in some small girl falling though. He walked pass her like nothing has happened.
Matsumoto, knowing her own situation, tried her best to control her laugh that is threatening to spill out at any moment. The curly haired girl, cleared her throat, attempting to kill any remaining laughing fit.
"Momo-chan, my little fluffball, do you need any help?"
Picking herself up from the ground, she hurriedly walk up to her.
"Matsumoto Rangiku! Mind telling me what is seriously happening to me?!"
"Why are you asking me?",she feigned innocence.
"Ran-san! You know what I am talking about!", Momo's face is now a mixture of both confusion and rage.
"Seriously? I am only doing some justice to your talent. Am I worth your nagging? NO"
"But... I cannot do it! You know me! Find some way to cancel my application! Its against my will anyway!"
"Gosh, Momo stop yelling so loud~ its because I know you, I know you can do it! I'm positive~ just a few strum here and there on your guitar for 3 min and you are literally done!"
"Rangiku-san, please, its not that simple.. I am performing in front of the whole school population! Me? I cant! Unthinkable.", she shook her head furiously.
"Be confident Hinamori Momo! You are really good, don't think so lowly about yourself~ okay? Maybe you can find yourself after doing this performance or something good gonna happen, you never knew", Rangiku patted the other girl's back, to calm her down and to show her support.
"... I only got a few days to practice...", the petite girl sulked," you and Kira-kun, please be responsible, kay?"
"Of course", the strawberry blonde giggled," Just don't run away during the show hm? Hinamori Momo that I know is not a quitter~"
"I .. Won't, okay?! ... Probably...", she hesitated
"Momo~~~please, you don't want to mess with Tomoko-iinchou, trust me. She's kinda nasty", she half-whispered.
Hinamori Momo giggled at her silly friend. She is just never really able to be mad at her friends, and they knew it. She heaved a long, heavy sigh.
Xxx
Aimless and random guitar plucking and strumming is heard across his room. Hitsugaya Toshiro was in the middle of reading some University-level textbook when the noise came and distract him.
Sliding the balcony door, he silently observe his friend strumming her guitar with some expressionless look in her face.
Hinamori Momo was sitting inside her room, with her guitar set firmly between her arm and lap, strumming aimlessly as her thought wandered off somewhere.
"Oi Hinamori", he called out to her. No response. "Hinamori!" Still no response.
"Oi Hinamori Momo bedwetter!" This time he yelled out loud enough to make her jump a little from her seat.
"Ah! Shiro-chan, did my guitar disturb you?", she finally get up from her desk and chair, put aside her instrument and walk to the balcony, which was open the entire time.
" Yes, you do, since the balcony door is wide open", he replied rather sarcastically,"How many time should I tell you to close the door? You are too defenseless, really. Some thief might enter, you know."
"Only for a little while Shiro-chan~ for some fresh air"
"But you often forget to close it, also stop calling me Shiro-chan, since I'm taller than you now", he smirked.
She blushed a little at his smirk before retorted back,"Then stop call me bedwetter, because I am wetting my bed no more!"
He chuckled a little. "Well.. why do you look so distracted?"
"You mean?"
"Strumming your guitar aimlessly with no expression"
"Do I really look like that? Uwaa.. I dont realize it at all... ", she sheepishly scratch her head.
"As expected of you", he laughed lightly," so, whats wrong?"
Sighing, she replied,"Um.. I don't know where to start... But I guess the whole story is I was tricked to join some talent show by Ran-san and Kira-kun, I don't how know they do it, well thats not the real problem, the problem is I don't know if I can do it.. I mean.. In front of the whole school? I can't..."
"You can pretend illness if you want to quit the show or something similar."
"I know I know.. But I am not going to quit..", she laughed nervously,"Quite weird, huh..."
"I know you won't", he smirked.
"What-?"
"I am just teasing you know", Hitsugaya cutting her line, stretching his arms up in the air, he continued,"Because you enjoy singing to people Hinamori, its not weird at all, you are an artist, artist always want to convey his work, every now and then, though not always.. Besides I know you Hinamori Momo, you love challenge and adventure, you have plenty of reasons why you just cannot quit"
Her cheeks has all gone pinkish red by now. "Waaa.. Shiro-chan how can you know me better than myself...", she covered her now warm and red face with her cold hands to somehow help to cover her blushing. "I am searching for some reason as to why I cant quit, but you just blatantly said that.."
"You are just to clueless", he chuckled.
"...but one more thing... What if I gone nervous during the show... "
"What time is your show?"
"Hm.. Afternoon Starting from 2 p.m. But I still yet to know my schedule—"
"I will come to you. Once my shift in the class café is over."
"Ehhh?", dumbfounded and confused.
"I will come to you. At the backstage. Before your show started. You can't do it alone, so I will support you.", this time he jotted down his point clearly.
The petite girl cleared her throat once. Twice. Thrice.
Hinamori is trying real hard to cover the happiness that will make her smile like a silly girl. However, its a futile effort, her giddy expression is very much apparent in her awkward tiptoeing up and down her feet, her twinkling eyes, pinkish cheeks and not to mention her weird mouth movement.
" Thank.. You.. I guess" is the only words she managed to pull out in her state.
"Your welcome", he decided not to tease her.
"Um.. I.. Need to... Practice ... Um.. My song.. Yeah I need to", with that said, she abruptly end their conversation and enter her room in a matter of second.
Hitsugaya Toshiro can only laughed lightly at her. His laugh enhanced his whole facial feature.
Really, how can be someone be so funny and adorable. he thought to himself.
Xxx
It is finally the day of Seireitei High Cultural Festival! The whole school building had been decorated, even to the school entrance gate. It is indeed a very busy and yet would be a very exciting day to remember.
The school base ground was filled with simple stalls mainly for selling foods and snacks, operated by the students. The festival was crowded with not only the school occupants but people from the outside, such as parents, relatives or friends from different social circles,all come to simply enjoy the festival.
The situation was no different to class 3-1, which now decorated and elegantly turned to a café like what they have decided. It is indeed very crowded. Mainly with female populations who came for Hitsugaya Toshirou dressed in Butler costume.
The costume consists of simple white shirt, covered by a jet black waistcoat, accompanied by a black tie which is hidden inside the waistcoat. The lower attire was much simple, black slack, completed with a shiny black leather shoes.
What makes the café ridiculously popular was Kenta's (the leader of the whole café idea) idea of making everyone in charge of serving calling the customer 'Ojou-sama(trans : princess)' and for male customers 'Goshujin-sama(trans : Master)'.
The effect is proved very effective when said by the school most popular male. Handsome, tall with piercing yet beautiful Jade-colored eyes, and that unruly, unusual white hair, a presence that captivated a lot of female population older and younger. Kenta Hito just knew how to use Hitsugaya Toshirou popularity for the class' benefit.
Hinamori Momo was in the other side of the classroom with similar costumes but with a skirt. She was in charge of making the beverages and desserts with several girls and boys. They were not wearing the leather shoes, instead they were wearing usual sneakers, as to facilitate their movement well.
With Hitsugaya attracting the female population. Rangiku on the other hand, attracted the male flocks. She was indeed wearing the same costume as the other girls. However, her exceptional bust size make her stood out very much. Due to her bust that did not fit the uniform very well, she opened the top 2 buttons of her shirt, removed the waistcoat and also tie. Her little 'modification' had lured a lot of male customers.
"Momo-chan, isn't it time for you to go?", Rangiku called to the petite girl as she walk towards the kitchenette.
"Yeah, in another 45 minutes, I should do my rehearsal..", she replied, taking a tray full of foods out.
"Need me to accompany you?"
"Can you escape your work?", she teased.
"Err... It would be kinda hard to sneak out... I guess..."
"You and Shiro-chan should stop bringing in customer then", she teased.
Rolling her eyes in frustration, Matsumoto replied,"I know right! They keep on flirting! That Kenta better treat us some nice expensive meal later! But.. Are you okay going alone?"
"Aww.. Come on Ran-san! Its only a rehearsal, the show won't start until 2 p.m. Besides it Kira-kun is in charge of the back stage , I can always meet him", She convinced her.
"Oh! You're right! There's Kira-kun~ Yosh! Back to work~", she took the tray from the counters and walk away.
Exactly in 45 minutes, Hinamori excused herself and went to the School's auditorium hall where the rehearsal was to be done. The hall was quite occupied with numbers of students, whether its from class 3-3 or from another class.
They had just finished their last rehearsal for the Romeo and Juliet play. Right after their rehearsal, the talent show participants were to do their own rehearsal as well. There were about 8 participants for the show. All of them seems very nervous, and this include Hinamori Momo.
Hinamori was the last to enter the stage, the pressure was even more nerve-wrecking! She could not even meet Kira, for he was busy managing the back-stage preparation with his team.
After the dance team ended their performance, Hinamori took her guitar and enter the stage. She played her piece well and wondered if she can do the same in the real show with people watching.
After the last rehearsal was done, all talent show participants were again reprimanded by Tomoko that they had to be there at 2 sharp, before they were dismissed.
Xxx
Upon returning to the classroom, Hinamori Momo was welcomed with a bone-crushing hug from none other than Matsumoto.
"Momo-chan~~ how is it going? Aww! I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you! But I'm free at 2! My shift is done! So let's go together!", not realizing that she was suffocating the girl.
"Matsumoto!", roared a voice from the other side of the room.
"Oh hey Hitsugaya-kun!"
"Release Hinamori, don't you see that she is suffocating?"
It was only a question, but when he said it, it sounded very intimidating that Matsumoto immediately release her hug before she knew it.
"Aww Taichou... Its only a hug... Right...?", she nervously replied
Hitsugaya did not replied back, instead he continued his work.
"Tch!", the annoyed taller girl clicked her tongue,"He should stop being so over-protective to you! You always got some wrong idea!"
"No I don't!", she retorted back,"He was protecting me as if protecting his little sister..."
"Eish! You thick girl!", Matsumoto pinched her friend's cheek, "You should learn to distance yourself from him! Don't keep on denying!"
"But..."
"Don't but me please"
"By the way, I'm always curious.. why are you calling shiro-chan 'Taichou'?"
"Isn't the title fit him? That icy cold Hitsugaya bastard", she purposely raised the volume of her voice as to let certain someone heard her.
"Rangiku-san..."
Xxx
Finally its the show time! Hinamori Momo and Matsumoto Rangiku had already inside the Auditorium hall as it was scheduled. A lot of audiences slowly gathered together into the hall. Class 3-3 sure did their advertising part well, as people kept on coming and filling the hall.
Rangiku was sitting in the front row now, for she was not allowed to linger inside the waiting room. The leader is sure a very strict one. She had no choice but to leave her friend after a couple of encouraging and supportive words. Hope it could help.
Xxx
"Kenta! My shift is done!", roared a certain white turf.
"Calm down Hitsugaya-kun", the leader laughed nervously,"Kurosawa-kun has not returned from his club duty yet, we are short on people, so pretty please Hitsugaya-kun?"
Sighing, Hitsugaya took his cell phone, pressing some number and pressed the phone to his ear.
"Hinamori, your performance, has it started ?"
After a few exchange of words, he finally said," I will come. I promise." With that said, he end up the call and put his phone back.
"I will take Kurosawa's shift for another 30min. After that, I'm going."
"... I will make sure to get Kurosawa-kun here by that time...", he timidly replied.
"You better be."
In 30 minutes, without any dilly-dally chit-chat, Hitsugaya Toshirou excused himself and walk out of the rowdy classroom. He hurriedly walk his past many visitors before a certain someone stop his track.
"Hitsu-kun!", a female voice called out to him.
"Fumina.", as he turned his head around.
"Um..um.. I have finished my duty today... Um.. How about.. We walk around the school together?", she lowered her head, in a shy manner, as she asked her boyfriend.
Hitsugaya, however, not paying much attention, looking at his watch with his eyebrows scrunched.
"I'm sorry Fumina. I gotta go to the hall"
With that said, he turned his back around and continue his track, leaving his girlfriend standing incredulous.
"Eee.. What happen?", she raised her voice as he slowly drifted away from her position.
"Hinamori needs me!", he simply answered her without looking back.
"Hitsugaya-kunnnn?!"
Xxx
In the backstage.
A certain petite girl was fiddling with her fingers and mumbling incoherent words by herself. Momo's nervousness had reached its peak where she doesn't even recognize people hustling back and forth busily. Even Kira-kun could not spare a mere time to console her, as he was drown in his duty.
"I can do this!", was the word she repeatedly mumbled over.
She was not dressing up like the other contestants, she showed up with her regular uniform. Because of this, Matsumoto reprimanded her for her carefree attitude. With not much time left,despite her trail of protests, Rangiku pulled Momo's hair into a high ponytail, and giving her light make-up, enhancing her natural beauty and putting in red lipgloss as a final touch giving her a overall image of a lively and beautiful girl. With that done, Rangiku left her to join the other audience.
It had been roughly 50 minutes since the show started, the play had already ended with a good response from the audience. The talent show was going on right on and it was already the 4th contestant performing. As her turn draws near, she tried to calm her nerves but to no avail. She was deep in her concentration that she didn't realize that someone is creating a ruckus at the backstage.
"Hitsugaya-kun, you are not allowed to enter here!"
"Give me 5 minutes! I need to talk to somebody.", with such commanding tone and piercing eyes, he somehow managed to get the students who were previously blocking his way to unconsciously open their path.
Luckily, the leader was not present in that backstage right now. Else, it would turn out nasty.
"O..okay.. 5 minutes is your time! But if iinchou suddenly come up, you should leave!"
"I get it.", he nonchalantly replied, whilst his eyes traveled all around searching for his friend.
Bingo. He found her.
Wasting no time, Hitsugaya approached the still mumbling girl, he called out, "Hinamori!"
"Hai!", she suddenly stood up,"I will go to the stage now!"
"Oi! Its me! Hinamori!"
"Ah, Shiro-chan! You startled me!"
"I am not startling anybody, you are just too nervous.", he decided to let go the 'shiro-chan' for now.
"I know right...", she laughed nervously,"... But I must do it! I'm not quitting... Maybe.. Err... Isn't the people a bit too much? What if they hate m-"
Her blabber had been cut short by a pair of strong arms engulfing her whole being into a hug.
"S-s-shiro-chan...?" Her face has turned bright red.
"Calm down, Momo. You are not going to fail. You just need to do it per usual when you do it for me. " he said it calmly without releasing the hug.
Hinamori's memory traveled back to when she always said that she liked her Mom's hug the best. It was gentle and warm. Able to calm her whole fear with her Motherly scent. Even through a very rough time.
It seems that Shiro-chan remembered that she always liked hug.
" I.. Suddenly miss Okaa-san(trans : Mom) ... Your hug... Is similar to her.. Warm...", she finally calmed down and with her both arms, she hug him back.
The time seemed to stop for a while as they continue to embrace each other in silence and satisfaction.
Then suddenly, Hinamori pulled herself out of his arm, not noticing his surprised and rather displeased look. "Thank you Hitsugaya-kun! It really helps a lot"
Sighing, he simply replied," You are welcome, I will go now."
"Okay, I'm good now, I think its almost my turn now, see you later, Shiro-chan!"
With that said, he turned around and find his way out and joined the other audience. He silently smiled to
himself knowing that he can be a help to her.
Xxx
"And here to our last participants, Hinamori Momo of class 3-1! Give her a big round of applause!", the MC enthusiastically called out her name from the stage.
Hinamori Momo appeared with a tiny steps, and welcomed with a lively cheers from the audience, she could instantly recognize Rangiku's voice amidst the noise, yelling her name at the top of her lungs. Its really did give her courage.
Thank you Rangiku-san
Hinamori sat down in a chair, that had been prepared for her, setting her guitar in her lap and started strumming her song.
I am happy that I'm by your side
I dream because I am by your side
I can smile because I am by your side
I pray again that you will be my person
Her soft and lovely sound enchanted all the audience... However, she never noticed because her eyes is only fixed to the one that she loves so much.
Thank you
For being by my side
Because you're by my side
It's so warm
Their eyes finally meet..
Because you're by my side
I am able to have strength
Just looking at you
Makes tears come
If you see my heart
And feel my true heart
If you see my heart
And find your way to me
I want to give you all of my heart
If you can stay by my side forever
Even if we get exhausted in this world
Let's always stay by each other's side
Never let go of my hand
I want to use my last love
For you
I would be so happy
If my last destiny was you
Her song ended with an endless cheering and applause. Hinamori never expected that, and stand dumbfounded for a while before bowing her body profusely. At last, she smiled real wide, showing her pearly white teeth, thanking the audience for loving her song. She could see Rangiku wiping her tears of joy, Kira-kun yelling and clapping happily from the backstage and Hitsugaya smiling at her. Its really a day to remember!
Ne.. Shiro-chan.. My song is all about you.. It would be nice if you are indeed my last destiny...
Xxx
An update after a year? Really? Okay guys I sincerely apologize especially to the readers who liked my story :(
Rather than saying busy, i would say that a lot was going on in my life, its a really tough days for me, i realized that it is indeed the darkest period of my life. But dont worry, im okay now, its not over yet hahaha, but i will be fine. Yeah i prayed a lot too. I thank God Jesus for giving me strength and hope everyday.
In all honesty, i do think of get rid of this story after re-reading it, yea, that cringe feeling lmao. But i think that it would be disrespectful to you guys who liked this story and waiting for an update. And the end of the day, no matter how cringe and childish it was, the mastermind of the tale is still me. So I decided to continue and update as often as I can.
Thank you for putting up with me! Hope you enjoy this long-ass chapter!
Disclaimer : I don't own bleach or All with you song and lyrics by Taeyeon!
Love you guys! xoxo