What do you think about living plastic model?
Well, not like that.
We are made of plastic, mainly polystyrene, with a side dash of ABS to ensure soft movement. We are mass produced, molded into a runner to be cut off and assembled. We are molded in various color, sold and priced accordingly to the size and complexity of final product.
Our very concept and design are taken from this military science fiction anime franchise called Mobile Suit Gundam, as well as numerous sequel and Alternate Universe Spinoff.
The most attention always been given the humanoid vehicle called "Mobile Suit"
"Adelle, let's go!"
Early in the 21st century, a new breakthrough in technology gave us a new life, literally. Plavsky particle, this specific particle will form a holographic lattice given enough stimuli. Manipulated, Plavsky particle will also, for yet unexplainable reason, move us plastic model as if we're actual machines.
And even fight each other.
From that point onward, a new trend born and grew phenomenally.
Gundam Plastic Model Battle –usually simplified to Gunpla Battle, everyone put their plastic model at stake, and control it using plavsky-made virtual cockpit console.
Millions of gunpla enthusiasts… each have their own story.
This is just one of such story.
Gundam Build Fighters
-Colorful Rhapsody-
Disclaimer:
Bandai-Sunrise own Gundam
I buy mine from them
Chapter 5: Shooting Star
In the end, cake buffet is the way to go, and the guys either don't care or too desperate to suggest anything else. So they went, the cake shop fortunately has large enough table to contain more than four people.
Airi asked "So, how much time it will take to fix everything?"
Tachibana pulled out his notes, reading the details and spelling the layman content resides within "Unicorn's damage wasn't that bad, so even Azuma should be able to fix it himself. Zephyrantes is practically untouched so that can be ignored. Neue Ziel repair should be done in few hours, both of them I mean"
"Really?"
"Yeah, a new coat on the joints should works, no broken pegs and only one part cracked, nothing epoxy and paint can't fix" Tamaki muttered between taking a bite of his food "In fact, I think Meguru-san's unit suffer the most"
"Yeah, I don't think Akatsuki can be so sensitive" Tachibana agreed "It's built so well too, so I wonder why it's so weak in terms of construction"
"To remove the gold coating I have to use acetone" Airi sighed "That's why the plastic is more brittle than usual, and it require frequent repair as result"
"Hmm, I can do something with that" Tachibana grinned "But man, it will take entire night to do that by myself… I wish we can do it together"
"Inappropriate" class rep commented as he returned from the toilet "really bad idea if you ask me"
He winked.
"Well then how about we spend the night at Meguru dojo" Alice proposed "Shishou probably won't mind"
Tamaki leered aside, thinking back, reminding himself what kind of man Airi's father is.
And concluded with one legit response.
"…knowing him, he will kill us if we done so much as looking at the girls wrongly. I really doubt he will allow us to spend the night there" Tamaki snorted, which caused both Airi and Alice to kick his shin.
"Well… I can try to ask my father… besides…" Airi looked aside "So much to talk about"
Tamaki just smiled silently, when class rep and Tachibana repeat their usual perverted antics again, whilst Alice had to play Tsukkomi in Tamaki's place, and Airi can just slump, embarrassed.
Tamaki never thought that he will see something like this again, just teenagers, uncaring of the world, bundling together in a spot sharing what they have in mind.
Aoi… is this… is this the gunpla you left for me?
I don't know but…
I think I began to see it.
I will find it soon.
…
Meanwhile, Yuuki's residence…
The room was dim, even though there's a person inside, hunched over at the edge of the king-sized bed. The person in question was a young, handsome man, none other than Yuuki Tatsuya.
The lights turned on, a girl stood on the doorstep with worried face. "Tatsuya"
Yuuki muttered "…Nanami"
Nanami walked gently, and sat aside him. "What are you doing cuddling in darkness like that? It's unlike you, you know?"
He scoffed and then outright laughs "You look too high of me"
She pouted in response, before delivering a catlike smile and nodded "Whatever"
She yanked a blanket and then…
Snuggle on Tatsuya's back uncaringly.
"…What are you doing?"
"Cuddling"
Tatsuya responded with disbelieving cat stare "… This is inappropriate"
"If you promise to stop moping" she whispered, whilst sensually loosen his collar "I know you all too well, and what make you happy"
Her hand popping out, Vanishing Record appeared right on his face.
Oh yes, damn yes, Nanami knew ALL too well.
There's no way Tatsuya will miss it.
Oh freaking yes.
"…please take care of me then" he gave up to the temptation and raised his hands in defeat.
Another hand popping out, a recordable DVD piece "How about we having a warm-up session first~"
Just what kind of hijink she's planning? Oh well.
"When will you learn to stop to tease me?"
Nanami just smiled warmly and poked his forehead "When you stop being dramatic emo guy"
Jumped off the bed, Nanami refuse to show her current expression. But he knew her as much as she knew him. If one can describe their relationship, it was halfway between childhood friends and arranged fiancée. Well at least in essence, because no matter whom you ask, the only guaranteed answer to Tatsuya's sexuality is "gunpla".
Tatsuya don't give a single damn about what Chairman Mashita and his father talking about behind the scenes. Even if there's a gap in their uncertain relationship, Tatsuya and Nanami always been like this.
If Tatsuya feel down, she will knew, and vice versa.
And at the moment, Nanami is lonely, and desperately need an equal company who didn't treat her like an ojousama, but as a friend would. She never showed it, she never would.
But he knew.
There's no need to fix what isn't broken.
Five minutes later…
On the edge of the couch, he's GRIPPING the arm rest so hard it's guaranteed to leave a mark, oh, poor expensive leather. His eyes, those are on fire.
His blood boil, sparks fly on the widescreen of the home theater set, igniting his passion even more. For each time weapon clash, he jolted even slightly.
It was none other than the cinematic battle between Unicorn Striker and unnamed, heavily modified Akatsuki Gundam. Courtesy of Kanbara high school tournament's round robin footage.
When Unicorn lost the arm, Tatsuya almost lose it.
"Impressive isn't it? So many hidden talents go unnoticed" Nanami laughed "So, what do you think?"
One word left Yuuki's stretched lips "…perfect…"
"Well, then, I don't think you can hold it anymore" she huskily said as her fingers combed Tatsuya's hair back, exposing his slightly wide forehead in the open.
When he opened his eyes again, it was different. He can't hold back the urge, not anymore. Nanami looked at him with sultry eyes "Right?"
He grinned manically.
"[Set Your GP base]"
Indeed, if one wanted to distract a brooding Yuuki Tatsuya, gunpla battle is the answer.
"[Field 5, Dessert. Please, set your gunpla]"
There's tension and there's THIS, this fight is inevitable; Nanami had perfectly arranged it just for him. Deep down, his heart felt somewhat guilty.
But Nanami want him to leave his regret behind, so be it!
"[Sakurai Nanami, Vanishing Record, LET'S GO!]"
"[Yuuki Tatsuya, Zaku Amazing, HERE I COME!]"
Undiluted passion engulfed the arena as Vanishing Record and an infamous crimson Zaku boosted with maximum speed, barely avoiding a crash thanks to intuitive last millisecond dodge by Vanishing Record, which proceed to flip back and fire its enormous beam rifle upside down.
Zaku Amazing was, by any means, not an agile machine. It's fast, true, but its actual agility is hampered by its utterly massive weight compared to normal High grade gunpla. Zaku Amazing was born with principle that even bricks can fly if you put enough rockets behind it.
And yet, it's because the person behind it, the Crimson Comet, the Zaku nonchalantly step aside to dodge the first shot, and second shot, countering with an accurate handgun blast that scratched one of Vanishing Record's thruster binder.
Truly worthy of his name, Yuuki Tatsuya is a world class fighter.
"As expected, your eyes are sharp and merciless, like that of a beast" Nanami winked, "but we're just started!"
"That's what I wanted!" Zaku Amazing unleashed its anti-armor physical rifle, which while not as large as it's appear, is rather heavy, and with sufficiently firepower to make it worth.
Antitank grade shell passed over the smaller gunpla's head, with a whining sonic boom heard moments later. The shell smashed the hill and caused it to collapse.
Nanami shot her rifle three times at seemingly random direction, however, the attack actually collapsed the cliff Zaku standing on, and its massive weight did the rest.
From the thick cloud of dust however, Zaku Amazing burst out, each of its hand holding a Anti-MS Cleavers, their edge burning as brightly as Tatsuya's fighting spirit.
"RAGE ON! GUNPLAAAA!"
"It's time to dance to the tune of death and destruction! Tatsuya!"
Only against enemy like this his soul feels completely free, not bound by gravity.
When his heart and body burn and shine like the core of a star.
...
"How was it?" Alice eagerly asked.
"He's considering it, so let's split on our way for a moment" Airi smiled "I'll send e-mail if the answer is definite"
Both of them waved their hands.
"Sure thing" class rep pointed thumbs "If it's not allowed, might as well crash on Azuma's place"
"HEY!" the aforementioned teen complained "I never said you can"
Class rep made a mock chest slap gesture for Tamaki's overreaction "Oh c'mon don't be so stingy"
"Fine then, but don't mention about the girls, alright?"
"Why? Your mother will be angry?" Tachibana wiggled his eyebrow.
Tamaki leered "No, she'll dance a jig"
The other boys laughed, which made Tamaki's frown grew more visible. They continue on their way back to Azuma residence, still. Tamaki don't actually have problem with them spending a night or two.
"You never brought your girlfriend home?"
"No, SHE brought me to her home. A lot"
Class rep coughed while Tachibana mocked a whipping sound.
"We're here" Tamaki said "I'm home"
"Welcome home" his mother greeted him cheerfully, she blinked and then smile even brighter "I see you brought some company"
"My classmates" Tamaki nodded.
"M-m-m-my name is Tachibana Hiromu, please excuse us for intruding"
"Hirai Kojima, I'm also class representative of class 2-4"
"I'm Tama's mother, I'm apologize if he constantly bother you two with his whim"
WAT doesn't even began to describe the irony, at least, Tamaki think so.
"That's not true at all" Class rep waved his hand politely "Azuma is a model student with remarkable grades and teachers' favorite, he just need to be friendlier sometimes"
Tamaki read that as 'a freaky loner that has nothing to do but studying and is a slave to the teachers', and accept that as a fact, even if it rustled his jimmies.
"Oh, and Tamaki, I just heard it now… did you really won the second place the tournament organized in your school?"
Tamaki raised his eyebrow "Yes?" he actually expect his mother to ridicule him, or at least indifferent to it.
"Well then, carry that title with pride" the youthful mother pumped her fist "Because those people you fought also tried their hardest to win"
Oh so perfectly in character, he sardonically thought. Then again, she was right. If he doesn't proud of that as a achievement, then it's the same as insulting everyone else who participated.
"I know" he smiled.
Entering the room, Tachibana scrambled directly on the bed. Specifically, under it.
"What the fuck are you doing?"
The geek hushed and grinned perversely "Customary deed is customary"
"My porn is secured, I'm not stupid" Tamaki deadpanned.
He doesn't even know if his secret collection can be considered porn, to be fair.
Class rep meanwhile had his attention dead set on Tamaki's collection of gunpla, courtesy of Aoi's gift. Most of them are the so called Master Grade, set at 1/100 scale and posses much more complexity than High Grade kits often used for gunpla battle.
"Do you build them by yourself?" he asked.
"No, they're all parting gifts" Tamaki told him "From the same guy who made Exia"
"I see"
Class rep didn't continue perhaps he can read Tamaki's subtle change of mood.
"Either way, they're built so well" Tachibana commented "I can tell those a bit rushed, but otherwise done perfectly according to the book"
"There is a guide BOOK?" Tamaki asked.
Cue awkward silence.
…
The bedroom was dim, once again. Only Nanami's and Tatsuya's voice followed by the gentle stroke and scratch on plastic objects was heard.
Yuuki Tatsuya wasn't exactly the one comfortable with physical contact, not in the slightest. And he's always came either as politely suave or batshit insane person, dominate every scene he's in.
But he's still human, and sometimes he's fragile enough that every slightest bit of emotional support is not only appreciated but needed.
"I think I helped, I think it will be okay if he can push his limit, even if it ends in defeat but…"
He put the newly repaired Vanishing Record on the working table, its small size only highlighter with the ever menacing Zaku Amazing stood on its side.
"…Why so sentimental, it's not like you at all, Tatsuya" Nanami said gently as she lean on his chair
"… I don't know" He closed his eyes "Perhaps he reminded me too much of my past self… I wonder what I should do to amend this…"
"Hmm… I don't know, try again?"
"Try again?"
"Try again"
Yuuki closed his eyes, and memories of the past began to bombard him. His debut, his first defeat, the amount of defeat until he grasped his victory, the defeat after victory, and the streak of victories that cement his current name as world class gunpla battler…
It's a long, grueling saga that can fill an entire novel on its own.
Tooru…
"Try again" he said, "I'll try"
"That's the Tatsuya I know" Nanami held his cheek gently "Yana-san will be proud… now come to me, I'll heal your body and soul~"
"SHINING PILLOW!"
Nanami's obvious (and completely useless) attempt at stoking his hormone out earned her a face full of expensive pillow instead, courtesy of completely revived Tatsuya. As for when he got that pillow with him, it made her confused too.
But all that's matter is that his confident, charming smile returned.
All that's matter is that Tatsuya become himself once again.
"Gee, I wonder what you guys are doing in a time like this"
The door open, revealing a young boy roughly 2-3 years younger than them. His natural red hair was messy and thick, like a blazing inferno, and his eyes are razor sharp and borderline cocky. The fact that he's wearing a neat, white uniform signature of PPSE employee made him look older and mature than he is actually.
"Your old man had returned, Nanami. He had his tail set on fire when he didn't find you anywhere at home"
"Papa huh? Sure thing, I'll be home soon" Nanami pointed two thumbs in response "Thank you for the awesome battle, Tatsuya"
She blew an air kiss, which Tatsuya ignore completely. Instead he just nodded and delivered a proper goodbye "Be safe on your way, Nanami"
"Oi, oi are you two ignoring me again? Bastards" The red haired boy grumbled "And you have a gunpla battle without me? How come?"
The older teen laughed and pat the boy's shoulder gently "Now that you're back to Japan, we'll have all the time we can use"
The boy snarked "Yeah yeah and then you'll be busy with your schoolwork and all the pesky business training, that's rich of you, Yuuki"
"Stop complaining" Nanami dragged the boy with her, waving all the way "See you later, Tatsuya"
Out of the room, Nanami released the boy "Good god, you're a freaking mood killer"
He chuckled "Being this desperate to seduce a guy, where's your pride, woman?" He shoved another PPSE jacket to her hands, zipping his bag again afterwards.
"If it's for Tatsuya, I can bear to lose anything" she said "What is pride if I can't see the person I love happy?"
"Now you're just being whiny" the boy frowned "Be confident, it'll pay off"
"Thank you, Reiji"
~333~
"I see"
"I suppose it was considered improper" Airi said neutrally "From a logical standpoint, wasn't familiar with Azuma-kun's friends as proper"
"So what do you think?"
"Huh?"
"If it's only Azuma… what do you think, Airi"
"Shishou?" Alice feels like her feet was on fire, the tension is killing her.
"Father know him as well as I did"
"Azuma is one unpredictable boy; no one knows what he thinks sometimes…" Mr. Meguru said.
"But I trust him" he continued "Just like I trust your late brother in law"
"Father… I"
"That foolish man loved your sister way too much to consider a little girl like you as replacement, in the end, he remained loyal…" Mr. Meguru stood "Tell Azuma its okay to spend the night, I'll take responsibility"
"THANK YOU, SHISHOU!" Alice yelled and bowed, before dancing merrily "YAAY, I CAN LEARN A LOT NOW!"
"PUT THAT SPIRIT INTO STUDYING AND MARTIAL ARTS AS WELL, IMAI!"
"OOOTSU!"
"[So that's how it's happened]" Airi paraphrased at the phone "[Tou-san allowed the guys to come]"
Tamaki laughed "…I pity Tachibana and Class Rep Hirai…"
"[Huh?]"
Keeping his emotion in check, he replied "Been there done that, too long and too boring to explain"
After a brief silence, she continued "[I don't mind hearing it…]"
Why is Airi trying to make it even more awkward? Normally a girl shouldn't even suddenly call like that, an e-mail should suffice.
But thinking again, suddenly spending the night at a girl's place is highly unusual. He was surprised Mr. Meguru allows it at all.
"I'll tell them both, let's talk again later"
"[…Okay]"
*BEEP*
When Tamaki turned, both Tachibana and class rep is grinning.
With infallible synchronization, they chorused "It's fun time. And the color is pink"
Tamaki snarled, piling several books "While you're ogling the chicks I'll finish my homework and laugh at your foolishness"
Crossed his arms and pouted, the geek complained.
"Man! Don't be such a killjoy!"
"Well, we never actually work together on our homework" Class rep smiled "Wouldn't doing it together actually more fun and probably easier?"
"Well can't argue with logic" Tachibana sighed "Seriously I wonder how long since the last time I walked around so much"
"Never?"
"Screw you Kyoji"
And so, after asking their parents for permission cryptically, Tamaki and the gang stormed out at the direction of Meguru dojo, which is actually part of Meguru residence.
"We're here" Tamaki said, smiling "Bite your lips, this is going to be rough"
"Huh?"
For convenience, Kojima explained "There's a lot of convention and routine to follow when we're inside dojo, such as not using footwear up to and including socks because dojo floor is considered sacred ground"
Tachibana muttered "Oh right you used to practice Karate I remember"
Tamaki nodded "Just be polite, that should be enough… for now"
"You being cryptic don't help at all, Kaworu!" Tachibana yelled
Both Tamaki and Kojima tilted their head in confusion "Who?"
"Nevermind" non-mecha geeks are totally boring sometimes.
Mr. Meguru open the door, his expression is neutral and unreadable "So you had come"
"Good evening" Tamaki nodded "Please excuse us for intruding"
"Get inside, the girls already there"
"Good evening"
Tachibana wasn't eager that he's actually had to sit formally. His foot already aching from so much walking left and right. He was rather unfit for a teenager, and realized that diet program will be hell to endure.
Meanwhile, the other boys keep themselves neat, somehow.
"Normally, I would scorn such a ridiculous idea. Spending a night together with the opposite sex just for the sake of toys; sounds like a half-assed reasoning"
But of course.
"However…I've seen it myself, I have no doubt about your fighting spirit" he said "I don't know in the slightest about this hobby, but I have this friend who like the same thing… he said the elements of gunpla battle comprised of a fighter and a builder"
"Show me that spirit, your spirit as a builder"
Tachibana grinned, being stoked with a challenge like this? Tonight will be interesting.
Tachibana, Tamaki and Airi piled their toolboxes together. While both Kojima and Alice has their own toolset, it would be superfluous compared to the equipment the other three had provided.
"Let's start with Akatsuki first, Meguru-chan?" Tachibana said.
The purple gunpla already stripped to its bare parts, neatly piled on top of a cutting mat.
"The joints are all fine, but the main frame is weakened as side effect of acetone usage, what do you think?"
And that's when the entire table exploded into discussion spree, though mostly an exchange of information between Tachibana and Airi, who are the most experienced builders in the spot.
"So the coating-"
"-Pla plates welded inside-"
"What about changing the type of paint?"
After spending at least half an hour, the result is out and written on several notes. The group split and work on their share of job and barring few words and question, they work silently.
But Mr. Meguru can see it now.
Their eyes, they possessed the same kind of eyes as they did during the tournament.
"Spare knife point?"
"Here"
"Need more sandpaper?"
They're all engrossed in their work, savoring every moment and challenge they encounter. What's more, even though they're all immersed in their share, there's an invisible string that connected them all together.
"I hate goddamn cement"
"Hahahaha, careful with that Azuma"
Seconds, minutes, and finally, two hours had passed.
"Complete!"
"Done here"
"Finished"
The now repaired parts returned to the same cutting mat, now it's all completed, just waiting for the implements to cure.
"Let me see" Tachibana said, looking at each and every part with unbridled attention "…Azuma, you screwed with the fins again didn't you?"
"I fixed it" Tamaki said in defense "How the hell can you find that?"
"Builder's soul" Tachibana said with a straight face, the rest of the teenagers are laughing.
"Let's begin to assemble it again"
For that job, they left it to Airi and Alice; the boys immediately work on Neue Ziel, which doesn't need that much modification but rather grave amount of maintenance. On the upside, there are no permanently broken parts, their work is secured.
The building spree ended with dealing with Nobel's weakness.
Namely, the weak torso.
"You see? Nobel Gundam has rather weak waist, and a single blow of moderate power would end the battle right and there"
"I see" Alice nodded.
"Your decision to lighten the hair is correct, thought, so let's go fix the torso first-"
…
It's close to midnight, and everyone already sleep like dead people, well, at least Tachibana and Class rep did.
Tamaki still sat behind the small table cross-legged, with rather dim desk lamp and inanimate gunplas being his only companion, he's this close to completing his homework, and leaving them unfinished often made him completely paranoid and can't sleep at all.
"Alright, that's it" he smiled, closing his book and neatly organize them into a pile "You two should rest as well"
Funny, this probably the first time he talked to his gunpla. He wondered if he should be happy or sad that there's still part of him left from his childhood times.
His gunpla box comprised of two levels, with much larger 1/100 Exia Avalanche lies on the bottom, the upper space can hold two High grade gunpla securely, if only because foam balls poured inside. Unicorn and Zephyrantes lies side by side half buried with foam balls, their face was blank, but he could imagine that if they can express, they probably glad they're safe.
"Azuma-kun, are you asleep already?"
He can see the silhouette of a female behind the paper door, and knew that voice well, too well for his comfort. In fact, he wanted to run and jump into the futon, pretending to fall asleep already.
"I'm still awake" he slid the door aside, and Airi was there, dressed in traditional Yukata "How about you"
"…I can't sleep" she said, rather bluntly too. It was crystal clear that she had too many things convoluting her brain.
Oh well, might as well jump in to the pit too.
"Want to share?"
They sat on the balcony, with their only source of light being three quarter moon on the clear sky.
"I still wonder about what happened today" Airi began "Did Azuma-kun plan it from the beginning?"
"I don't, it came to me after watching your match the day before… I saw everything, how you gunpla move, its movement are identical to your own moves during kendo and iaijutsu training" he said nonchalantly "This, despite Imai saying you've been absent from going to the dojo… I figure it wasn't because you don't like the way of the swords anymore, but you invested too much into gunpla, so much that you didn't have time for anything else"
"And suddenly, I remember what kind of man your father is, I still don't know why you're so adamant to train yourself in the art of gunpla building and battling, but as someone who dwell in the world of martial arts where your fist do all the talk, I figure that your father MIGHT understand that you're serious about this…"
Airi remember it all.
Every single moment they spend together.
The reason why Airi loved him, and why it hurts her so much.
He's always watching her from a far.
He always remember, every single second they spend together. He never forgets anything, and never overlooks the detail.
Despite his vastly inferior reflex, Tamaki is able to read each and every single move Airi did, because day after day, he watched her train herself in the way of samurai. The way she held the blade, the way she swing it, all translated to gunpla move, and Tamaki knew it all.
Day after day, Tamaki always followed her whim, a model boyfriend that fulfills all of her desire. Airi choose when and where they will go on a date, Airi choose when they'll be together and when they'll be together, even the one who decide whether the relationship will continue or not was Airi, and she ended it.
But that's about it
Airi never knew much about Tamaki himself, and that's why she never feels their relationship would progress.
He never shows much about his own life; introduce his parents, his hobby, and his friends –not that he have any-.
Tamaki always have that wall surround him, keeping people around him away at certain distance. He never show them what he wanted, always going with the flow. It was like Tamaki lack the desire to enjoy his personal life.
Airi wanted to know more, but she's too afraid to ask. She was too afraid of losing him.
And then… things went out of control, and Airi still can't bear to be honest to him, and break their relationship.
But now, he's different.
He has Tachibana and Hirai as his friends; he has a new hobby in form of Gunpla, Tamaki show different kinds of emotion depending on his mood.
His eyes, it was filled with a newfound spirit. It's small yet warm and comfortable, like a newly lit candle.
The Tamaki she knew as her ex-boyfriend had changed, and just in a single day, her desire to know more about him had been fulfilled.
It was like a dream, pure undiluted fantasy came into reality. But Airi is uncertain whether to treat it as a sweet dream, or a nightmare.
And she was afraid, afraid that she will fall for him once again.
"Azuma-kun… thank you"
"No need to" he said almost purely on reflex.
"No, I'm really thankful" Airi said, looking at his eyes intently "I was too afraid to talk with my parents, I was too afraid that they won't understand, but then you came… and everything changed for the better"
"…indeed, sometimes it's hard to say what you want, afraid of what kind of misunderstanding will come…" he said "But in the end, there's only what if and speculation. And I think… if you want to do something, just do it and never look back with regrets"
She blinked, just for a moment then, he look so tired, so sad, and vulnerable.
She resisted the temptation to comfort him, and instead choosing for distraction "Do you even have something you regret, Azuma-kun?"
"What are you talking about?" he scoffed "Of course I have"
"It's just that… Azuma-kun always been calm and collected" she chuckled "It was like… you can endure anything no matter what"
"That is what I regret" he said sincerely "Back then… I always thought: if I will lost something eventually, don't get attached to it so it will not be painful if the time has come"
Oh…
So that's why he's so calm about the breakup…
She resisted the urge to cry, again, the paranoia that she's unwanted and nothing but a burden came to her like a boomerang.
"However I realize that I was wrong" his smile disappeared as he looked at her "You don't know how much something valuable to you until you lost it… and by not being attached to anything, I lost everything for real. Gone, never come back. That precious feeling, all the happy memories, nothing left but hollowness"
Why is he looking at her like that? What did he want to imply with such gentle, sad eyes?
Airi's heart work faster than normally, blood pumped into the smallest of arteries on her skin; caused it to get redder by seconds. And of course, her face made it even more obvious.
The small part of her wonder if he still has feelings to her, but the other part is even more afraid… what if he do, what if he don't. Airi still unable to sort out her current feelings about him…
She was happy… because if he's being honest just now… he used to see Airi as someone precious, disregard whether he still have that same mindset or not anymore. But it's all too confusing, she need to break this romantic mood immediately somehow.
"Azuma-kun, look, a shooting star!" she shouted while pointing upwards.
His expression say it all, total incredulousness. This is Tokyo, and without a black out it's almost impossible to see the star.
Oh well, might as well go out with a bang.
"Shooting star huh?" he muttered, looked at the sky.
And laughed.
Laughed hard enough before he realized he might disturb people inside the house as well as the neighbors, this made Airi so confused she had to jump backward.
"I've found it… your last message, Aoi!" he declared, for the first time since she met him, Meguru is able to see his unrestrained smile "Thank you, Meguru-san!"
Nanami you whore, get away from My Tatsuya! D=
Joking, the journey still long and full of twist and turns, ridiculously bad fiction has no brakes!
Read and Review! See ya next chapter.