Chapter 2: Parasol

What makes a man…a man? Is it from his excellent physique and his wealth? Is it from his wonderful courting techniques that move the girls he courts? Tradition explains that a manly man is based from the characteristics aforementioned. Most of the youthful feminine population digs these kinds of men from around the world. It has been a common knowledge that a manly man is strong and pleasing to the feminine population. A manly man must resist all attacks physically and mentally. A manly man is also the type who goes to the gym everyday to build up his strength and shape up his blazing courage. Most of all, a manly man is able to tell everything he has been concealing in the shadows for the past time periods of his life: the most important manly factor—something Kagami's admirer has among the aforementioned elements of manliness.

The rain seemed to show no signs of stopping. The torrent would continue for at least until the end of the week according to the weatherman. Kagami didn't need to worry about fitting her three friends under her umbrella. Tsukasa was very eager to try out her new raincoat (wait, a raincoat…in high school?). Miyuki forgot the fact that she had an umbrella with her the entire time. So who's the odd one out?

"You're the last person I want to share my umbrella with." Kagami said.

"Hmm…you should be sharing your umbrella with a boy." Konata replied.

"Let me guess, another anime reference."

"I guess it doesn't happen much in real life."

"Not exactly…I have a friend back at middle school. She used to share her umbrella with every boy at campus."

"Aha! A flag has been triggered! She must be lucky…"

"Really…?"

"Unlike SOME of us…"

"And just who are you referring to?"

"Ho, ho, ho…somebody's jea…jea…jea—"

"Okay, stop! Don't say it!"

"Unbelievable, quick reaction time…I'm impressed, Kagamin."

"Is that supposed to be some sort of compliment?"

Upon boarding the train home, they were temporarily shielded against the torrent. Of course, they will have to walk the distance under the torrent again. The view of the houses and electric posts ran past them along the way. The train was traveling so fast, the rain was nearly invisible but splattered on everything below it. Drops of rain flooded the glass windows. It was cold outside and it was colder inside the train.

"Cold…!" Konata: the first one to complain about the climate, shivered.

"I think you'll stay warm if you breathe into your hands, rub them against each other, and into your arms." Miyuki suggested.

"As long as I stay warm, I'll do anything."

Kagami just thought of a great idea. "Say, I know a more effective way."

…and Konata fell for it: "Really…?"

"But you have to promise to not ask for my homework—"

"Oh, sorry I don't know those hard Nippon words."

"Screw you…"

Kagami tries to have fun as much as she can for she doesn't have a clue when the next of those love letters will strike again. Forgetting the issue was out of the choices list. If she wanted to put an end to something, she had to do it herself.

The agreed time was still three days away—plenty of time to think of what to say to him. The place was far from here: Tokyo Tower. It seemed that the necessary ingredients have gathered in one place to create one big fuss. Well, that's what she thought. She could have the entire 72 hours to think of what to say to him in relation to the incident yesterday. But she doesn't have 72 years to wait for an answer from him when she would answer him. In the event that Kagami refused to go, the issue would prolong itself until it has been put to rest by proper action.

So…what did happen yesterday anyway?

It didn't rain yesterday but the gray clouds looming over the horizon served as a prospect. The sun never did shine on that day—just heavy rainclouds waiting for the go signal by nature. Konata had to go ahead of her because nobody would look after her cousin Yutaka who is sick at bed. Tsukasa took too long a time to freshen up before going home. Miyuki also had to go ahead of her because of the load of homework plus the deadline of papers in the student council. Kagami was left waiting only for her sister to "emerge victoriously from battle"

"That Tsukasa…she's taking too long."

Suddenly, she was approached by a tall shadow behind.

"Hiiragi Kagami, I presume?"

"Yes?"

When she turned around, both eyes met for very long. What approached her wasn't only a shadowy figure. He was a teenaged boy at his senior year; as tall as herhad wavy hair, eyes that match Kagami's, and on his hand were…

"I handpicked these flowers myself." He said; giving two white roses, thorn-free, to Kagami. "They're very lovely because I tended them myself—as lovely as…uh…right; roses of the world."

"Um…are you from this school too?"

"Oh I totally forgot to introduce myself. I'm a senior here—Hajime Takashi."

"I…uh…don't know what to say."

"Don't fret, Kagami-san. I anticipated you'll be in shock after this. Please take the rest of the day to realize what my true intentions are."

"You must have the wrong person. These flowers must be for somebody else. I'm only a junior and you're…"

"Age doesn't matter to me. They're only numbers which divide our society."

"Takashi-senpai, I…really, you must be mistaking these roses for somebody else. I never have been approached like this before."

"There's no doubt in my heart, Kagami-san. I 'admire' you for who you are…your looks, your smarts, your friends…these are some things that I don't have since the beginning of time."

Kagami went from explaining to speechless.

"I may be an upperclassman and I should be mingling with my own kind. But that's what divides the society today. Superior people pick on weak people to show what they're capable of. Please give me this chance to be with you for at least a matter of time. I will await your decision in the future, Kagami-san. Either way, I will respect your decision."

Hajime walked out of the school grounds and out into the open road. Kagami was left aghast with two pure white roses in her hands. Just as soon as Hajime left, Tsukasa came.

"I'm sorry onee-san. The comfort room ran out of toilet paper and I had to cry out for help. Good thing Kuroi-sensei was around when it happened. It's kind of embarrassing though. Ah, did Kona-chan and Yuki-chan go on ahead of us?"

"Yeah…"

"I was going to return the manga I borrowed from Kona-chan afterwards."

"Yeah…"

"Onee-san, that wasn't a question. Are you okay?"

"Yeah…"

"Ah, onee-san, we have to hurry! I have to watch 7:00 pm rerun of the final episode!"

"Yeah…"

It was a short, sweet scene; just one of the short, sweet scenes of the purpose-driven life. However, that short and sweet scene served as a prologue to the next set of unpredictable events that will happen particularly to Kagami. Her admirer proved a fraction of his manliness; and he was ready to prove it further in the future.

It had only been a day after the incident. It was unimaginable that a few minutes of confession by a stranger could have a 24-hour effect on her. Not that it was against her will but everything moved very sudden. It's as if the world rotated and revolved twice faster than the original. Somehow the torrential rain was trying to say something to Kagami. When she and her sister got off the correct station and opened up her umbrella, the rain splattered on the surface of the parasol. Along the way, they came across a beautiful flower shop with blossoming flowers on display. Kagami looked at the white roses that were identical to the ones she received from Hajime. She wondered if he lied about the flowers being handpicked from his garden.

Kagami insisted on walking home but Tsukasa was too amazed to even move a step; looking at the pretty petals.

"They're beautiful! Let's buy some for mom and dad."

"For what occasion…?"

"Nothing, I just want to make them happy."

Upon the word "happy", Kagami realized something very important—so very important it could change of how she thought about not the flowers but the guy who gave it to her.

"(What if…his intention was only to make me happy? No, I must be delusional. Nobody has ever done that before. But a possibility is a possibility.)" Kagami said. "Tsukasa, let's go."

"Aw…five more minutes…"

"Okay then…too bad you'll miss the rerun."

"Ah, onee-san…!"

It could be a leeway that what had happened yesterday was nothing more but an act of joy and not an act of love. Kagami's hopes flickered like the friction action in a lighter.

As soon as they've arrived home, Kagami wanted nothing more but to rest up before studying. Walking in cold weather made her beat; and she didn't change clothes upon arrival. Looking at two white roses in a tall vase on top of her desk, she thought about various kinds of stuff just to keep the lovey-dovey situation off her mind for the moment. Surely it could've been an act of kindness for her part instead of an act of romantic circumstance. Then again, there is probability that she could be wrong. It was only a possibility, not actuality itself. There was only one way to find out—and that only way was the road to Tokyo Tower.

"(Okay, I'll go to Tokyo Tower on Sunday. Then I'll end this misconception once and for all.)"

Meanwhile at Miyuki's place, somebody came in for a visit.

"Oh hello, you're just in time. She just came home from school." The ever-joyful Yukari Takara greeted.

As this somebody helped himself in, a need to surprise Miyuki was unnecessary. She came to him. So who's this somebody?

"It's been a while, Miyuki. You've grown to be quite a lady."

"It has been a couple of years, hasn't it Cousin Hajime?"

"Long years…but this year it's going to be exciting."

"Why do you say so?"

"I may have found at school my destiny."

TO BE CONTINUED