Everyone: Thanks for continuing to read~ (: I'll always be trying my best, and I'm really glad everyone's coming back to read the latest updates!
Note: This next installment is short – more of like a drabble than a story, really. I'm sorry if anyone's dissatisfied with it…
( This is written in the heroine's POV. )
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Six
Harmony: Shiba
Hanegasaki High is a peaceful place when you like to be, and are, alone.
The school buildings, colored a nostalgic sepia by the setting sun, stand before me, but I see no students walking as I look through the windows. No fellow student to judge you by your wealth, or your past, or your appearance.
It's nice. I don't hear anyone whispering rumors and there isn't anyone here to watch me walk by with their criticizing eyes.
I sit down on the dry grass - the sprinklers have yet to water them - and breathe in. It is all mine for the moment: the yellowing blades of grass, the beige-painted Hanegasaki, the pink that clung to the bottom of the sky as night threatened to take over…
Harmony. My silent harmony.
"Shiroi?"
At first, I hear it as the wind. The breeze whispers my name as it blows gently on my cheek.
Then I think, why did the wind sound so gruff…
I feel the bone of a finger tap on my shoulder, and immediately my peace is broken. I turn around quickly, holding my hands in front of me in a bad imitation of a tae-kwon-do pose. "Y-yes?" My eyes are closed in fear, and I don't want to see who it is…
"Heh," the person chuckles - a low, throaty sound that, strangely enough, puts me at ease.
My eyelids rise slightly, for my heart's still pounding, afraid. I see a glimpse of indigo hair and narrow crystal orbs.
Shiba-kun?
I open my eyes to get a better look. His tanned face is a bit too close to mine, and my spinning brain takes a few seconds to breathlessly assess the situation. I'm lying awkwardly on the grass, elbows propped on the dirt and knees weirdly pointing upwards, and he's right on top of me.
But I'm not scared, I realize as I blink up at him. Just…paralyzed.
"Shiba-kun," My voice comes out in a nervous whisper, but I don't move away from him. "What are you doing?"
His answer stuns me even more. "Waiting for you." There's a small smile on his face, one that makes my heart pulse faster. "You don't know how long I've been waiting at the gate. I wanted to walk home with you." Amazingly, there's not a hint of red on his face. He's not embarrassed to be admitting this…
"It's much better here without anyone around, right?" He continues.
I search for the right words to say. Before I could think about it, I murmur, "No one to judge you."
Shiba nods. "It's nice, really. Hey, do you have to get home?"
I don't need to go home. I don't want to go home.
"No." I smile along with him.
"Then let's stay here a little longer…" He leans in for a kiss, and I close my eyes. This time, it's in sweet anticipation. I'm not afraid.
Just as our lips make contact, the sprinklers, in their perfect timing, come on. Making it known that they disapprove of the situation, they hiss as they scold us with their water.
I squeal happily as we slowly get wet, and he chuckles.
But even as beads of water run down my face, he doesn't break the kiss. Even as I feel wetness coming from his cheeks and creeping onto mine, I respond, kissing him back.
Though it's not quiet, it's still harmony.
Our harmony.
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Thanks a zillion for reading~ :)
The heart sign doesn't show up on here (it only comes out as a "3"), but I'll try anyway. :P 333
(Once again, sorry if it took a while for me to update this, or if anyone is dissatisfied.)