Chapter 2: The mysterious boy
The next day at school during lunch, Sakuno hurried to the rooftop. She was really excited to meet this Martian friend. When she got to the rooftop she was hoping to meet the person, but there was no one to be found except for the sunlight and the clear blue sky roaring above her.
She frowned. Maybe I'll try again tomorrow. . .yeah, that is what I will do.
Not giving up she left the roof, not forgetting to leave a note for the Martian. I will keep on coming until you show up, during lunch and after school!
What Sakuno didn't know was that the mysterious boy who called himself a Martian, got into an accident when he tried to stop a fight between his best friends and other tennis player from a different school. He was to be hospitalized for few days in a cast.
Keeping her word, Sakuno went everyday to check if the Martian will show up at the rooftop.
Still no luck. As days went by, a week has passed and still no Martian. It makes Sakuno wonder if he doesn't want to meet or don't want anyone to know who he is. He didn't even reply to any of her notes. Whatever the reason was, Sakuno wasn't happy at the thought of being alone again.
Giving up hope of waiting, she was determined not to show up at the rooftop anymore. Looking outside of her classroom window, she sighed. Although she was determined not to go but somewhere deep down she wanted too.
During lunch, Sakuno left Tomo-chan again and away from the crying cheers from the girls around the tennis court. She didn't want to be there, she didn't know anyone so she slowly crept away from Tomo-Chan to roam around the school ground.
She didn't really have any specific place that she wanted to go too, except for the rooftop. It kept on calling for her. She paused and look toward the sun ray shining on her, reflecting on her beautiful face.
I guess that is the only place I want to be right now. With that thought, she headed to the rooftop, not really expecting for anything or to see anyone there. To her surprise, the Martian she has been waiting for was standing there in front of her.
He was caught by surprised when Sakuno opened the door to the rooftop. He was trying to place the brick back on its wall when she came.
He was nothing like Sakuno thought he would be. He was a Martian with his arm in a cast and wearing a white cap.
"It's you!" He whispered. It came out as a whispered but Sakuno heard it very clearly. Sakuno replied with a nod.
"You're the one that place letters here." It was more of a statement then a question. He took a few steps toward her.
Without hesitation, she handed him the note she had been holding onto but noticed he flinched and step a little back from her. She looked at him confused, then looked down.
A cockroach? Near them she saw a big cockroach. Is he afraid of a cockroach? Sakuno looked up to find the Martian guy now no longer standing but leaning against the fence far away from the cockroach, with the cap hiding his face.
"Sorry, it disturb me when I see a cockroach, they are Martians worst enemies."
Sakuno was a little disappointed in this Martian friend, he was nothing like she imagined. He was different, a Martian that is afraid of a cockroach.
But then again, no one is perfect. Their meeting was awkward somehow, there was only silence between them. Yes, he was different then what she had imagine but then. . .She smiled, I can see his loneliness.
The next day, Sakuno saw him again at the rooftop. However, it was different than yesterday. He was leaning up against the fence with his eyes closed as he listened to the music. His tranquil face looked so peaceful but also with a hint of sadness and loneliness, as if he was the last person on Earth.
It was then that Sakuno finally understood why he was a Martian. Because Martians who live outside of Earth, would be lonely. Sakuno walked up and sat next to him.
The boy opened his eyes to find the girl he was secretly sending note back, sat down next to him and looking at him with questionable look as she reached out her lunch box to him.
"You want me to try some?" She nodded her head.
He looked at the lunch box. It was very simple, nothing like Japanese food. Rice and roast beef? Without a second thought he took a bite of it. It was very good, it was definitely different since he has been growing up eating Japanese food. How can a simple rice and roast beef can taste this wonderful?
"It's very good." He gave Sakuno a smiled, which also reflected on her face. For the rest of the afternoon they enjoyed each other companies.
They met up with each other everyday at lunch, sometimes it was unexpectedly. Every time they're together, they barely made any conversation but it was all right with Sakuno. She can't talk after all, so silence fitted her just fine.
"Ne, why don't you ever talk?" He looked at her. Embarrassed, Sakuno teared her eyes away from his golden eyes. "You don't like to talk?" Ryoma waited for a reply, but since he didn't receive any kind of noises from her, he continued on. "It probably doesn't matter either way. I like the silence. I think silence is a wonderful sound."
Sakuno frown because to her silence is a torture. Nothing is great about silence, not able to speak or make any sound is the worst thing to have.
"Ne, since we're friends, what is your name?" Ryoma asked.
Eh? My name... taken back Sakuno wasn't sure how to reply to his question. Not able to speak freely really bothered Sakuno. Letting him know that she is mute might cause their friendship. She didn't want that to happen.
Will he leave if he knows I'm mute? No, she didn't want to be alone again.
"I'm Ryoma Echizen."
Sakuno hesitated but then took out a paper and a pencil. She wrote down the name that she thought it would be more suitable. She handed him the note after she finished.
"Saku Ryuusaki?" The boy said out loud. Ryuusaki. . .ah! Ryoma looked at Sakuno, "Coach Ryuusaki is related to you?"
At a mention of her grandmother's name made Sakuno frown and once again memories of her grandmother came rushing through her mind. Sakuno sad expression was enough to answer to his question, he noticed the change in the atmosphere and curse at himself for mentioning the coach. "Gomen. She was a great coach."
Sakuno brush her sadness aside and try to smile, assuring Ryoma that she is all right.
Ryoma felt bad for even mentioning the coach, of course Ryuusaki-san has to be related to her. "Ne, have you heard of a story about Lucky Star? To Martians, there is no difference between life and death, because the people who leave this world will fly to that place." Ryoma made a unique form of a star with his hands, using his fingers that weren't cover by the cast, he held them toward the sky.
Puzzled of what that kind of form he made with his two hands, Sakuno looked at Ryoma with a puzzled look.
Ryoma smirk. "You don't understand? This is a hand gesture that only Martians know. Here..." Ryoma reached out for her hands and taught Sakuno how to make a star that only Martians know how to do. Ryoma held her hand toward the sky.
"This is a place where Martians call it a Star. I call it the lucky star. The people who have left this world will live there, I'm sure that is where your obaa-san is right now."
Sakuno stared at her hands.
"She knows that you don't like to talk, so every night, she will hang in the sky, always flashing and smiling while talking to you. As long as you and the people of Lucky Star loved each other and miss each other then they will always live inside here." Ryoma pointed to her heart.
Sakuno's tears began to fall, little by little.
"Ne, your obaa-san will not be happy to see you cry," Ryoma hand reached for her face, trying to wipe her tears away, "She wants you to be happy."
Sakuno got startled by his warm touch but then relaxed to the warm feeling she developed.
He was right, obaasan would not be happy if she see me cry. For her, I will be happy. Sakuno stopped crying and wiped her remaining tears away. She smiled sheepishly.
Ryoma took his hand away and smirk. He went back to stare at the sky.
Sakuno continued to sit by him and watched Ryoma leaned his head back and closed his eyes.
With a calm and serene expression on her face, Sakuno thought to herself. . .Obaa-san, don't worry about me. I'm all right now, I promise I will take good care of myself and will always be happy, so onegai, leave this world with no worries.