A Forgotten Story =?
DAY 2 - [Shine Sun Sakae - Hospital]
[Yamadacho – Tenmangu shrine]
"Why are you still here?" A man suddenly asked her, averting her brown eyes to that direction. It was the same manga reading sports guy wearing a white collar shirt this time around. Pretending that she didn't notice, she continued to stare at the wooden plank cards in front of her. So many people have written their wishes, she wonders if all of this can be granted in one go? Holding her own wooden Ema, she decides to keep it instead. The man was still persistent, not moving from his position. "The festivals over. Unless you weren't listening, the teachers told all the students to go home."
"It's already dark. Come on, I'll take you home." Akie muttered, allowing silence to be answered with action as she decides to face him. When she faced him, she expected him to be watching her, not looking up while leaning on the shrine's torii. She wondered if the PRO was trying to advance on her, but decided not to ask about it. I mean, her fangirling classmates told her that he was the aloof type, not wanting to get attached on anything.
"Sure. Thanks." She said which she really meant it. Recently, Nagoya citizens were warned not to go alone at night. Crime rates have slightly gone above the norm. So, she was thankful that he was going with her tonight. Walking beside him, they began to walk across the streets. But by passing one shop, her stomach grumbled a bit with the scent of the food. The man seemed to have noticed and went to approach the shop. "Uh. You don't need to do that."
"Nonsense. What type of gentleman am I? Here." He smiled, buying one caramel apple to give her. Glistening yellow, she hesitantly held the stick of the apple. "Just make sure you brush your teeth. Man. You girls seem to like sweets a lot."
"Thanks~!" She smiled, but wondered why the teen looked away from her. Maybe he was embarrassed, not used to people then? Oh well, she'll fix that. "I'll pay you back later."
"Huh?" The man looked at her with a surprised expression. The girl bit on her apple and held the man's arm as she walked. The man stumbled at first, but caught up with the pace. The entire trip was silent, hearing only the sounds of their footsteps. When they were in front of her apartment, she let go of his arm and went inside.
"Thanks again for walking with me." She bowed and watched the man bowed back.
"I should also thank you for keeping me company." He mentioned before walking away, making her confused for a bit. Watching him before he disappears from sight, she wondered if he'll be okay. 'Wait-! Why should I worry for him? Of course, he'll be okay… Right?'
Good morning.
"!" She opened her eyes to see the window wide open, allowing light to enter her room. It was just dawn when she was awoken. The air-conditioning unit is off and the curtains which were supposedly indigo were replaced with cool blue. Looking at the source of the sound which woke her up, the brunette spots her doctor coming from the door and bringing in a tray of food. Apple, a bowl of rice and a fish serving is placed on her lap. "It's breakfast time?"
"Yes. Dearie. You overslept." Otome chuckled, going to check the windows exterior as her patient hold her chopsticks. Looking out, the doctor notices a black smoke being emitted from far away. The roads are deserted and not a single being in sight. A hint of orange can be seen by the horizon. "Okay… Maybe you overslept just a tiny bit. Hehehe."
"You have a twisted sense of time Otome-san." The lady comments, watching the doctor look back at her. Watching the doctor move her head from side to side, Otome gave her a shaky answer that reminded her so much of a certain adventurous boyfriend. "What type of answer is that? Tell me."
"It's up to you to decipher~" Otome hums as she brings something out of her bag. Bringing out a glass container holding opaque white liquid, the doctor asked her patient. "Do you want some milk?"
"Uh… You're the school nurse' assistant?" A man asked, making her look up from the papers. It was the PRO again, but he looked a bit pale. The girl stood up, a frown on her face as she went and placed her hand on his forehead. "I don't have a fever. Just got a mild case of stomach ache. That's all."
"Mild enough to bring you here in the infirmary I see. Though, you got sick from what?" She crosses her arms, looking at him thoughtfully. Both of them stared at each other – a curious gaze and a poker face. It's the beginning of their final year here in this high school and he gets sick in the first community service. Asking him to lie down on the nurse's bed, the brunette places the papers in order. Akie just sits there, muttering something. She had to ask him to repeat what he said so she can get the medicine for him and he did (but with a half-hesitant and half-choppy sentences.)
"Milk. I drank expired milk." Akie answered. She just continuous to stare at him. The smoothest of men in the classroom as well as idol of her classmates drank expired milk. "Hey… Say something."
"You got sick... From expired milk." She stared at him blankly, Akie just looked away. She must be laughing at him right now, considering that he drank something he shouldn't. It was a dare by his classmates, he had to do it. Hearing her sigh, the sound of the door slid wide open made Akie look just in time to see her halfway leaving.
"Where are you going?" Akie asked out before she could leave. The girl turned back to stare at him, he held a mix surprised and curious face.
"Are you worried for me?" She asked with a pleasant smile, noticing that the man mumble incoherent words. "Don't worry. I'm just getting you some antibiotics for your food poisoning. I'll be heading to the storage so stay there okay?"
"Sure..." Akie was already looking away, definitely from shame. The girl nodded a little and left. The sounds of clanking could be heard from the outside, allowing the teen's shoulder to relax and lie back down on bed.
"Dearie?" Otome asked, waving her hand in front of the brunette. The patient's long brown locks flow down her chests, looking at the air as if in a trance. The doctor was a bit worried whether her patient lapses in and out of reality, knowing her condition. Surprisingly, the only symptoms shown by the patient was the sudden fevers, vomiting and quick fatigue. Placing the milk on the table, Otome snaps her fingers in front of the brunette this time.
"Ah. Sorry about that, just remembered something from my past." She smiled as if tasting bittersweet chocolate, the doctor just frowned. Scratching her head, the brunette laughed it off and continued. "Thank you for the offer but I will pass since I'd rather not have milk until I get out of the hospital."
"I see. How unfortunate. I heard from my female colleagues that milk enhances height." Otome giggled. Unwittingly, both ladies seem to accept the hidden conditions posed by the other. No prying, pushing or forcing, secrets are meant to be kept as secrets unless the owner is willing.
[Fukuoka Tower]
"…" Otome stood quietly in front of the tower, her eyes trying to find something of significance. While staring at the bench, she felt a presence running towards her at top speed. So fast that it certainly wasn't human. Turning her head, she saw her assailant twist and jump up with both legs raised as if to kick her. She had a couple of seconds to respond before she gets hit, but a smile lit up her face with a certain thought. 'A dropkick huh?'
Moving one step back, she moved her right leg closer to the incoming assailant and swiftly held both feet and tugged it. Tugging it downward still not on the ground though, the doctor twisted the foot, making the assailant spin and land on the ground using a supporting arm. Alas, the doctor didn't forgive the attacker easily. Grabbing hold on the free arm, she raised it up the person's back while her other hand continued to hold both feet. "Good job Hinako. You are really getting a hang of wrestling aren't you?"
"Yeah… But not enough to defeat an ex-sumo wrestler practitioner. What a bummer…" Hinako sighed, letting herself lie down on the pavement as the jubilant doctor let go of her. Sitting up, Hinako looks up at Hinako. "I will defeat you someday."
"Of course Honey. It'd look weird if a physic user can't defeat a magic user." Otome ridiculed her fuming friend. Holding her hand out, she helped Hinako up her feet. While the dancer dusted her hands and satin robe. Otome sensed another guest within the vicinity. "Ah! Makoto. What are you doing in a place like this?"
"Making sure you guys don't make any trouble." Makoto smiled earnestly, already recognizing the futility of her efforts as the trouble was already executed. Walking up to them, Makoto ordered. "Don't do anything funny or weird to the civilians. Am I understood?"
"You got it, Makoto-san~!" Hinako brings out her fan and tossed it to the now-surprised blue head. Winking, Hinako walked off. Makoto stared at the fan, puzzled of the inner meaning of giving the item to her. Otome laughed the second time, having forgotten her initial dilemma temporarily.
"Maybe she wanted you to 'cool' off, Makoto~" Otome joked with a giggle popping out of her mouth due to her crud joke. Makoto shook her head in disbelief, these two will be the death of her professionalism.