EDIT: STOP! DON'T TURN BACK! I'VE REVISED YET ANOTHER CHAPTER! I'm sorry to do this again to all you fellow readers but I honestly did not like the way chapter 5 turned out, because I basically pulled it out of my ass(please don't hate me). But again, I promise it's better this time. (~￣▽￣)~
I AM ALIVE. The reason why I've been gone for so long since school started is because of my AP classes. I was totally unprepared for how much work it was going to be. It's been taking a heck of a lot of my time. And now that Thanksgiving break is here, I still can't rest. Because now I have to study for the SAT. Yay...
But if any of you want to read something that's really cool, I was able to type this chapter up within two hours! So please, enjoy!
Another note that I'd like to add is that my beta reader kind of disappeared on me. So if any of you are interested, please message me!
Disclaimer: Free! Iwatobi Swim Club and its characters do not belong to me
Beta: ...
I closed the door behind me. "Tadaima," I greeted. My voice echoed throughout the dark and empty house. My mom had already left for work and my brother still hadn't returned. With a sigh, I dropped my backpack by the door and went to the living room. The wooden boards creaked underneath my weight. I stood before the window, gazing at the last glimmer of light from the setting sun, before drawing the curtains to a close. I then walked around the house, pulling more curtains and flicking on light switches.
When that chore was done with, I grabbed an apron that hung off the back of one of the dining chairs, and proceeded to wrap it around my waist. Every night I was in charge of dinner. Every morning I was in charge of making lunch. Every weekend I was in charge of tidying the house. The tiring cycle continued on. Piled on top of all these chores, was homework, cram school, and now my new responsibility as president. It left my shoulders aching and my eyelids feel like they were burning whenever I shut them. All this work was the very reason why I always found myself falling asleep in unfitting places.
I opened the fridge and looked inside, deciding on what to prepare for dinner. I wasn't in the mood of cooking up anything extravagant, so I decided to prepare a simple niratama over rice. I poured hard, white grains of rice into a metal bowl and ran it under the faucet, filling it halfway. Scrubbing the grains against each other by gently moving my hand around in the bowl, I effectively scraped off the starch. Repeating the steps until the water became clear, I inserted the bowl into the rice cooker, before moving on to the niratama, which was scrambled eggs and chives. It was fairly easy to beat the eggs with a whisk and chop the vegetables. I mixed the ingredients together before pouring it onto a sizzling pan.
Falling into a steady rhythm of scrambling the niratama every few minutes with a pair of chopsticks, I let my thoughts meander until confusion knit my brows together. I recalled what Nanase-san had said to me not that long ago.
"It's like a storm brewing off the coast," he said.
Was he mad at me for some reason? Did he foresee something ominous that was to occur in the future? That one sentence left an unsettling feeling in my gut.
I considered asking Nanase-san tomorrow about what he meant, but I foresaw that his reply would be just as vague. I figured that I would have a better chance by asking Tachibana-kun.
Realizing that I was still cooking and the eggs were beginning to burn, I immediately turned off the stove.
Around eight, I was fresh from the shower and sitting at the desk in my room. I was working on a math problem when I heard the front door open and close downstairs. I looked at my alarm clock, practically glowering. Late again I see. With a sigh, I grabbed a pair of ear buds and plugged them in, wanting to drown out any reminder that he was here.
A soft, almost inaudible knock could be heard at my door. I paused, waiting expectantly yet somewhat reluctantly. The door opened slightly, revealing a tall boy with stylishly cut hair, as black as coal, with a lock tucked behind his left ear. His eyes were dark and alluring, but his smile was timid and friendly. The tie around his neck was loose and his shirt was untucked. It was this very demeanor that drew so many girls in. And it was that smile that irked me so much, that convinced so many people that it was okay to take advantage of him.
"Have sex with me 'cause my boyfriend just dumped me?"
"Sure."
"I'm having troubles at home so kiss me?"
"Okay, why not."
All throughout junior high, I heard people whispering things about him. I saw him and the people around him change. He was too friendly and easygoing. He always put others before himself. And just because he was a bit good looking, the popular kids that everyone adored befriended him. The girls got touchy with him and giggled all the time. The boys always wanted to hang out until late at night.
As the months went by, I increasingly grew more worried. I was afraid that they weren't actually his friends and that maybe he was getting used or blackmailed in some way. So I told our mother about this, who had just started working the night shift. Our dad had left us and ran off with every penny that we had when one of his deals went broke, leaving our family in a huge slump. Okaa-san tried to get involved, telling my brother to think about what he's doing and how it will affect him in the future, but then duty called and she didn't have any more time to continue the subject.
I then decided to take this matter into my own hands. I took the train back to the city to look for him. When I got off the train, there was really no need to call him and find out where he was. I found him hanging out in front of the Main District Train Station. He was sitting on one of the concrete benches at the center of the group. They were laughing, chatting, and sharing a cigarette.
"Yamato," I called out.
His head immediately perked up and searched around before making eye contact with me. He smile and got up, approaching me with such ease. Nothing resembling fright or nervousness ever crossed his face. His footsteps were languid, smile calm.
"What are you doing here," he asked. At first I thought he was asking out of fear for my safety but noe that I think about it, it seemed more like annoyance.
"I was wondering when you would be home. It's already seven o'clock and-"
"Go home Kaori." I realized his smile was gone.
"But it's getting late. If these guys are making you do things that you don't want to do then-"
"I said go home."
"Not until you tell me what's going on!" I paused. "Not until you tell me why they're forcing you to stay out so late," I added more quietly.
He sighed. "This is not the place for you to be meddling. Go home before mom gets mad at you." He began to walk away.
My brows furrowed. "Mad at me? If anything, Okaa-san is mad at you! And disappointed! You know how mom feels right now! She's under a lot of stress and she doesn't need you to be hanging out with these-"
He then turned around and rushed toward me so quickly that I gasped. He invaded my space, towering over me.
"Kaori," he began with such venom in his voice that it made me shiver, "don't you dare say a word about my friends. Don't you dare tell me how to live my life. If I want to sleep around, then I'll sleep around. If you say I'm too young, hah! Who are you to judge? Just stay the hell out of my business."
I was shocked into silence. He had never spoken to me in such a way before. Yamato was supposed to always be nice, caring, warm. He was nothing like this cold monster. I then did the only thing that I could think of that would save me in emergency situations. I pulled out my phone.
"What are you doing," he demanded.
"I'm calling the police."
"What?!"
"I'm calling the police because you're not coming home! Then they'll arrest you and you can sleep in jail instead for all I care!"
Yamato grabbed onto my phone, and I pulled back.
"Let go!" we both shouted.
He then used his one free hand and shoved me to the ground. The sound of plastic and metal snapping cause me to snap on the inside as well.
Angry tears blurring my vision. "You're just like Tou-san!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.
The door was opened slightly ajar, enabling me to partially see his face.
"Tadaima, Kaori."
I nodded to him. "Okaeri, Yamato." I then turned back to my desk, staring intently at nothing, only wishing that he would go away.
"Thanks for dinner," he began, "I brought some croquettes home. Do you want one?"
"No thank you," I replied distantly.
"Mm. Alright then."
The door then closed and I finally released the sigh I did not know that I had been holding in. Too long, I thought, this has been going on for too long.
I was able to get a few hours of sleep before I heard the front door open and close yet again. Shoving my feet into slippers and glancing at the clock, I quietly walked out of my room and down the steps.
"Okaeri," I greeted the woman at the door. She had a scarf wrapped around her neck, bags under her eyes, and graying hair. Looking at her, one could get the sense that she was beautiful when she was young, but time had take its toll, leaving her as a mere shadow of her former self.
"Tadaima, Kaori-chan," she replied tiredly. "Did Yamato come home tonight?"
I nodded. "I made niratama."
"Is that so?"
She wriggled her feet into a pair of slippers and shuffled over to the kitchen, placing her purse on the counter. The scent of cooking had dissipated and the place was quiet. My mother had seated herself at the table while I pulled out various bowls from the fridge to heat in the microwave.
We shared small talk. Okaa-san asked how my day was, and I told her of the tests I had, my duties as president, effectively leaving out the fact that I routinely slept during class or hung out with a guy I hardly knew after school. Then I asked her how her day was. She informed me that the first bus had arrived five minutes late, causing her to almost miss the train. She complained about her boss and complimented the younger coworkers on how respectful and polite they were to her. All along the way I bobbed my head, listening attentively, acting as the perfect daughter should. Once I set the meal down in front of her, she dismissed me, telling me to get some rest. I nodded, not bothering to put up a fight.
The minute I woke up, I was basically running on auto-pilot. Breakfast and a strong brew of tea. Leave the house, lock the door. Walk along the shoreline, greet the neighbors. School. Sleep during class, try not to get caught by the teachers. Lunch, library. School ends. Grab my bag and catch the train to cram school. Go home. Eat. Sleep. Repeat. Every passing day left me numb. It was repetitive and dull–
"Kaori-san!"
–except the occasional strange antic.
I was suddenly pulled out of my library chair, my hands flying out of my pockets. What the?
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Chocogirl24
Fantuckingfastic
steam. milk
akagami hime chan