TheNightstriker, she's the tawny haired young man(it's a gender bent series) haha sorry if it's short but I think this chapter will make you happy. Oh and all the K-on cast will be in this story. :D
Chapter III
"I'm glad that Eri-chan has a friend like you." The blue haired young man's head turn to where that soft voice belongs. Not breaking his feet movements, his eyes bored to the girl's amber ones. The smile that she's carrying made the corner of his mouth curved up. He squeezes her hand softly and looks strait to where they are heading. Suddenly his mouth that was earlier formed a smile is now forming a line. His vision fell to the floor they are tracking for quite awhile now. "He and I are the same, that's why I could understand where he is coming from. Why he is like that." He said.
Hearing him say that made her smile fade away. She glanced at him, her amber eyes tight and worried, "Umi-chan…"
He glanced back at her and gave her a reassuring smile, "I'm already over that, don't worry about me."
"I always do, because I love you."
Umi stopped their track, he held both her fragile hand, he rubbed them gently looking at them and then at her worried face, "That's the reason why you don't need to worry anymore." Her heart skipped a beat at the sight in front of her. He is showing her a smile, not a huge smile but a tranquil one and his eyes almost piercing the deepest part of her soul. "I love you too, Kotori. More than anything. You are the one who made me realize what it meant to live." Kotori's face reddened, "Umi-chan.." she hugged him tightly. Umi caressed her head, "I want to help him. I want him to break the wall he built and want him to be truly happy."
"Let's do that, let's help Eri-chan." She mumbled while her head rested in his chest.
Umi nod his head, "Let's go before our class starts" he said then the two continued their track on the empty hallway.
"Nozomi! Nozomi!" The purple haired breaths slowed down realizing who is calling her, she collected herself and remained calm, "I'm sorry I just remembered something." She said and forced a smile for the black haired young man.
"I got worried because it's as if like you can't breathe." Two pair of crimson eyes beamed at her.
"I just got tired I guess.. You know from the transfer and stuff." Nozomi reasoned. The black haired young man pulled her hand and guided her to a chair. "Then sit there, take some rest before you go to the faculty office. You still have.." He checked his wrist watch, "half an hour before 1st period starts" the black haired smiled at her before he returned to the crowed at his back. Nozomi saw a brunet stealing a glance at her. Nozomi's head cocked, her brow furrowed.
"Leave now, Tainaka before I drag you out myself." The black haired said to the brunet. Nozomi saw her bestfriend waving his hand forward signaling the brunet to go out. The brunet just pouted but did not move an inch. "You are so mean, Nico-chan! Let me try out even for a week." The brunet begs to Nico. A giggle escaped from Nozomi's mouth. He's persistent.
An orange haired intervened, "Let him try out, Nico-chan. Rikun is really good and kind" he blurted out. "That's right, that's right!" The brunet exclaimed.
"And, and he will bring ramen every day! Nya!"
"Yeah, yeah!.. Wait, what?" The brunet gawked at the smiling orange haired boy. He is smiling childishly. Nico on the other hand let out a sigh and placed his hand on his face, "If ramen is all you want then ask Mugi for that, Rin." The blonde girl on their side just giggled at them. Nozomi just kept watching their silly banter silently, a smile kept on creeping on her face. This is fun. She becomes aware of the raven haired girl next to the blonde. She noticed that the girl's face looks like a tomato and kept on stealing a glance at the brunet. Nozomi cocked her head once more, "Hmm?"
Nico is still pissed at Ritsu for not wanting to leave the club room, the brunet is chatting with Rin about an upcoming club fest. It's a festival where students advertise their club to the public eye. They show off their talents. The school invites big names in the industry like CEOs, Record dealers, Sport journalists, etc. This is an occasion that gives the students a chance to be known.
Nozomi is silently listening at their small chat while sipping a cup of coffee that the blonde handed to her. One of their talks is about the song they will perform in the said club fest. The two mentioned something about rivalry between HTT and UTX. "Does Kayo-chin enjoys being with UTX?" Rin blurted after Ritsu said he doesn't have a clue on what UTX are planning.
"I guess so, she's pretty happy as far as I can see." Ritsu answered casually.
Rin's mouth curved into a smile, "that's good to hear, nya." Nozomi rested her chin on the palm of her right arm that its elbow is laying on a desk in front of her. Her eyes got fixated to where the two guys are at the mention of another name that she does not even know. Her mouth also curved into a smile seeing Rin's happy expression. Her gazed turned to where the other three are, she found Nico and Mio arranging some papers then she found Tsumugi cleaning some tea cups. Suddenly a phone rang. it's coming from where Rin and Ritsu are. She watched as Ritsu pull out a phone in his pocket, the brunet eyes narrowed and his lips pressed together as he stared at his phone's screen. Then his phone reached his ear, "What do you want now, Eriha?" he asked with a coarse tone. Nozomi's body trembles in fear instantly, not because of Ritsu's rudeness but because of once again hearing that name.
"Okay, I'll be there in a minute." Ritsu then tug his phone back in his pocket. He apologizes to everyone before leaving the club room.
"That guy is worst out of them all, his friends doesn't even like talking to him." Nico said while still arranging some papers. His eyes are fixated on the papers in front of him, his mouth kept in a line. The club room fell silent, no one uttered a word. Nozomi wanted to ask what Nico meant but shrug the thought because for her right now there is more important things to do, she swiftly stood up, "I'll be going now too, see you later." She said and went out.
"Oi, Nozomi!" Nico tried to halt her sudden action but Nozomi already went outside the club room. "What's with her? Not even waiting for me to finish, I could have taken her to the faculty office. She still has plenty of time. Geez.." Nico frowned.
Tsumugi giggled, "She doesn't want to bother you I guess."
"Nozomi-chan looks like a very understanding person, nya!" Rin added.
"Nozomi never been a bother to me.. geez…"
"Does she know where the faculty office located?" The raven haired girl abruptly asked.
Nico gasped, "Crap!"
Nozomi secretly followed Ritsu, at first she hesitated thinking it is a bad idea but her feet did not stop tailing the brunet. Of course she wanted to know, wanted to confirm who this Eriha is. Her heart pounds on every step she took, the hallway is almost empty because of first period but she did not even notice the absence of students, all her eyes could see is the back of the brunet and all her mind could think of is the spitting image of that boy. She could never forget those blond locks he had, his two pair of azure orbs that pierces her heart and his smile. Yes.. That smile, the smile that made her heart falters.
Ritsu then stopped in front of a particular classroom. Nozomi looked up to check, 2 – A written on the plank. She gulped waiting on what will happen, hiding in a corner so she wouldn't be seen. Her hands quiver in tense. The pounding in her heart goes faster and faster every minute, her eyes are fixated on one direction, the door in front of Ritsu. Why does it bother her anyway? It's been so long, she moved on. Does she? Does she really? It's eating her thoughts.
The pounding in her heart seize as a dark violet haired young man descends from the door that got her eyes busy. E-chan is what the brunet called him. He had beautiful emerald eyes. She felt relief, all the anxiety she was carrying awhile back got released in an instant. It's not him, a corner of her mouth lifted, she took a step back but did not realize she accidentally bumped at something or someone?
"What are you doing here, Rikun?" The dark violet haired young man asked the brunet. His eyes squinting studying the brunet in front of him. Ritsu scratched the back of his head and faked a smile, "I'm looking for Eri, he said to meet here."
"The president is still not here. By the way, do you even eat, Rikun? You look skinny." The violet haired asked still studying the brunet. "Darling is right, poor Maki. I bet she can feel your bones when she hugs you." A brown curly haired female butt in, she quickly clings herself to the violet haired young man. She gave Ritsu a teasing grin.
"Ugh! Don't make fun of my manly body, Anju!" Ritsu groaned.
"Wahh?!, Erena! Rikun is scary!" She hid behind the back of the violet haired, her tongue stuck out while looking at Ritsu. Ritsu greeted his teeth and about to smack Anju's forehead, "How's your 'Join HTT' mission?" The young man between them interjected. "Are you successful?" he asked giving Ritsu a smirk. Ritsu's face sullen and his body weaken, he let out a long sigh, "Still pitch black." He replied with a weak tone. The girl at Erena's back giggled, "Just join UTX. Stubborn, Rikun." She said.
Anju earned a sharp gaze from the brunet making the brown curly haired jump in fear, "You know why I can't. So don't ask pip-squeak." He said to her. Anju's face contorted, "WHO ARE YOU CALLING PIP-SQUEAK?!" She yelled. "Wow, my ears aches." Ritsu said while rubbing his earlobes. It made Anju's brow knitted, a vein popped out on her neck. The violet haired at their side rolled his eyes. He then patted his girlfriend's head, "That's enough, Anju. You too, Rikun." He said.
Anju's purple eyes bored to Erena's beautiful emerald orbs, she clings to the violet haired once more after singing his name, "Erena ~"
"Tsk." Is all Ritsu's comment, he kept on glaring at the two lovey-dovey couple. He let out another sigh and peeked at the back of the two couple, "Maki's not here yet?"
"She stayed at the music room saying she will not attend 1st period because she'll gonna finish her compositions for the upcoming Regional tournament." Anju answered.
"I see, I'll just drop by her after 1st period. See yah ~" He said then walk away from the two heading to his class.
"Oi! What about the president?" Erena shouted.
Ritsu looked back but did not stop walking, "Just gonna text him." He waved his phone at his friend then turned back his gaze to his primary path.
"Isn't that, Rikun?"
The couple turned their gaze at the opposite side where Ritsu is heading. They found a navy haired young man, wearing an inquisitive look on his face. "He's asking for the president." Erena answered the familiar man in front of him. "Good morning, Umi-chan. You're almost late." Anju greeted cheerfully.
Umi gave her a gentle smile, "Good morning, Anju. I dropped Kotori at her classroom and had a chat with Principal Minami on the way." Then he looked at Erena's, "I see… That's good they're fixing things."
"Fixing things?" Erena's brow rose.
"Let's go inside, the teacher's already here." Umi said when he saw their teacher closing in on them. The couple just followed and went back to their seats.
"Hey, Nicochi! Wait! I said wait!"
"I won't wait"
"*sigh* I said I'm sorry."
Nico found Nozomi fidgeting in a corner, when he tried to approach her Nozomi stepped back and she accidentally bumped to Nico. Nozomi turned to look at who she bumped into and found a furious Nico glaring at her. He was really angry at her for suddenly leaving. Now finding her at the 4th floor lost as he thought. He grabbed her hand and drags her down the stairs to the faculty. "What are you even doing in the 4th floor? The faculty is on the 2nd." Nico barked, not looking at her but only looking to where he is heading. "Good thing that you only wonder in this building, what if I did not found you here? Heck! This frigging school have 10 buildings.." He continued his sermon. Nozomi just rolled her eyes.
The two finally reached the faculty office, Nico let go of Nozomi's hand and took a peek inside while Nozomi stood still at his back. Her attention got distracted by the swaying Sakura trees. Sugoi, she steps closer to the windows to see them more clearly that's when someone bumped at her right side. She steps back to her left from the recoil. Her vision is toward the floor and she saw some scattered papers. "I'm sorry... I'm not paying attention to where I walk." She heard someone say. As she finally got a hold of herself and start to look up, she saw this tawny haired young man kept on bowing his head up and down and saying sorry to her. Nozomi quickly waved her hand and told the man that it's okay and it's not entirely his fault. She got mesmerized by the view outside, she explained. Nozomi then smiled at the young man, the young man's face turned crimson and avoided eye contact with her. Nozomi found it cute and helped him gather the papers that he dropped.
"I just took a split second away from you and now you're having a mess with this Kousaka boy?" The two that are squatting down picking up papers looked up to find a black haired that's glaring at them. "Nico-senpai, Good morning." The tawny young man greeted, giving the black haired a childlike smile. Nico raised an eyebrow at the tawny lad's greeting, "Who said you can call me by my first name, Kousaka?" he asked with a harsh voice. The tawny lad released a chuckle, "You're really friendly, Nico-senpai." He said before standing up. A muscle in Nico's jaw twitched but before he could say something, Nozomi burst out laughing, the two boys looked straight at her. "He is, right?" she said. Nozomi stood straight and fixed herself, "I'm Toujou Nozomi, what's your name?" she held out her hand to the tawny young lad, also giving him a smile. The tawny young man's face reddened again, he took Nozomi's hand, soft, "Ko— Kousaka." He stammered, "Kousaka Honoka, A first year." Nozomi giggled, "Nice meeting you, Kousaka-kun." She said. "Likewise, Toujou-senpai." Honoka gave Nozomi a wide smile.
"Are you done with formalities?" said the now irritated Nico at their side glaring at the two's sudden closeness. Nozomi handed the papers she picked up to Honoka. He thanked her again for the help. "Since it's done you can run along now, Kousaka. That shitty president might get angry at you if you're not around." Nico blurted.
Honoka let out a chuckle again from Nico's choice of words, "Seitokaichou just went to his class. I'm taking these to Haruto-sensei then to my class." He said then bid his farewell to the two before he finally left. Nozomi swiftly closed in to Nico's face, giving Nico a hard look, "Why are you being so mean to these kids, Nicochi?" Nico turned away from her gaze, "Wha— What are you talking about?"
"Tainaka and now this Kousaka? They look kind but you are being mean to them." She raised an eyebrow at him. Nico kept on avoiding Nozomi's stares. "Toujou-san?" Save by the bell for Nico, the teacher who is supposed to take care of Nozomi's introduction finally came out of the faculty room. The teacher explained to Nozomi some rules then asked her to come with her. Nozomi nodded politely, Nozomi gave Nico a sharp look before finally leaving with the teacher. Nico faked a smile and waved at his best friend.
"Why isn't he answering his phone? … I should have lunch with her first then."
After 1st period ended, Ritsu immediately heads to the music room where a particular red haired is practicing. The Music room is next to the building he was in, he took the stairs heading to the second floor and took the bridge that connects the building he was in to the building where the music rooms are located. That specific building has rooms that are sound proof. All the practice rooms for music purposes and music classes are there except for clubs. The clubs are scattered around the 10 buildings, mostly they are located on each buildings' 1st floor.
"Knock knock" Ritsu playfully mumbled as he entered the particular room he was heading for. A red haired sitting in a piano chair reading some music notes in her hands turned her gaze at the brunet. "Ritsu" she uttered with a blank expression. Ritsu smiled at her then approached the red haired. He rested his arm on the black piano "let's have lunch?" he asked. She nodded and closed the piano cover. Before she got up she asked Ritsu if Yazawa Nico finally let him join HTT.
"Wow! Maki-chan is concerned about me?" Ritsu grinned mischievously. A flush crept up her face, "Baka!" she almost shouted, the red haired got up and left Ritsu, Ritsu burst out laughing and eventually followed his fiancée. Even though they don't have feelings for each other, they do care because they are childhood friends. Both decided that they will not break the engagement unless one of them found someone that they cherish.
"Maki-chan, if you keep being cold and unfriendly. How can you find your prince?" Ritsu teased.
"What about you? You have so many friends yet you haven't found that special girl." Maki asked with her unwavering cold expression.
"I- I'm picky!"
Maki raised a brow and grinned at him, "Ohhh? That's a new excuse."
"Ack?! I- I'll find her, you just wait!" Ritsu pouted. Ritsu did not notice that there is someone in front of him, the next thing they knew is hearing someone screaming "Kyaaah!" in the hallway. "I'm really sorry, Akiyama-san. Are you alright?" The girl then looked up. She found a concerned Ritsu looking down at her and a red head unconcerned standing beside him. Ritsu helped the raven haired to stand up to her feet.
"Ta- Tainaka-kun, A- Arigatou" Ritsu's heart skipped a beat, Moe, his gaze got fixated at the girl's shy action. The girl's face in front of him is dyed in pink but because she ducked her head, her hair covered her eyes showing only her flushed cheeks. Ritsu found it cute. "Nah, it's nothing. It's my fault anyway." Ritsu smiled at her while scratching the back of his head, a flush starts to crept on his cheeks. The two just stood there silently, Ritsu looking at her and her looking at Ritsu's shoes.
Maki made a coughing noise to break the silence, "Let's go, Ritsu before we missed lunch hour." Maki promptly walked away from the scene. Ritsu did not want to leave but he had to. He quickly said goodbye to Mio and followed Maki.
"Hey, wait! Wait, Maki. Slow down." Ritsu huffed, Maki did not do what he said until they reached the cafeteria, that's the only time Maki stopped her track. "Mou, what's got into you?" Ritsu said while catching his breath. Maki's brow furrowed, her mouth set in a hard line, "Don't get too close with that girl again." Is all Maki said before she steps inside the cafeteria. Ritsu cocked his head and raised a brow, "Huh? I don't get it."
Nozomi's 1st period classes were finally over and decided to head back to the HTT club room to invite Nico for lunch. When she got there though, she found that the room is empty. Nozomi searched for her phone in her pocket but then she realized that she left it on her bag. So she immediately exited the club room to go to her classroom where she left her bag. When Nozomi opened the door to go out of the room, the color drained out of her face.
A handsome blond with azure eyes is standing still at the entrance of the club room. His eyes bored at her emerald ones, she knew that he is studying her, her now trembling body. His expression is cold as ice, without batting his eye lashes, without breaking the line in his mouth. He did not utter a single word. After studying her for quite awhile he turned his gaze at her back, turning from side to side as if like searching for someone. His gaze turn back to Nozomi's frozen figure. Terror overtook her face.
The blond's forehead furrowed, he leaned closer to her. Nozomi jerked back noticing the blond's face closeness to her's. The blond smirked at her, "I thought you froze to death." Nozomi quickly covered her mouth with her hand, her whole face turned crimson. He starts to open his mouth to say another word but got interrupted when his phone suddenly vibrated on his pocket. He pulled it out and Nozomi saw him reading something on it. He closed it and tucked it back in his pocket. He gazed at the purple head once more with his cold stares before turning away and heading out.
She gazed at his back confused on what just happened. "He did not recognize me?" And it all sank in, Nozomi covered her eyes with a hand as tears starts to ran down her cheeks, "Ah.. Yeah... It's not the ugly Nozomi he knew, it's not the ugly Nozomi he felt sorry for. Who would remember someone like her… Right, Erichi?"
Ritsu headed to the student council office as per what he and Eriha agreed upon. "So what is it that you want?" he asked as he entered the room. There he found a blond sitting in his usual chair and a tawny haired arranging some files. Ritsu jammed his hands in his front pockets, he looked away from the blond, his eyes wonder in the direction of the shelf beside the other door of the room. Clearly he does not want to make eye contact. He is still pissed at him for what happened that early morning. Now he wanted to talk, for what? "Just go on with it so I could leave early, Maki is waiting for me at the lobby." He said to the blond.
"I want some relationship advice." Ritsu almost cough hearing the blond say that. He cocked his head and raises a brow, "What are you talking about?" he asked now looking straight at the blond. The tawny young man beside the blond just kept on arranging the files in the table. The blond then put down his pen and closed the notebook in front of him. He did not break his blank expression as he looked at the brunet, "I need your help."
Ritsu released his hands from his pocket and grab a sit. He sat across from the blond. His shoulder rested at the back of the chair where the back of the chair is in front of him then rested his chin at his shoulder. "Wow, the president needs my help." He grinned.
The blond lowered his head, "I'm sorry for earlier." He said. However, Ritsu did not want his apology. Ritsu wanted to understand why he is like that because he was his friend. He let out a sigh of defeat, "Okay I'll help you. What's this about anyway?" The blond raises up his head and a smile crept up his lips. Ritsu almost chuckled but he felt relief, like giving a candy to a baby.
"I'm meeting someone tonight, I need to impress her."
"Impress? Aren't you the one who have more experience when it comes to girls?" Ritsu said giving Eri a confused look.
The blond hung his head again and fondled with his fingers, "They are the ones who confess to me, this one is different, I'm the one who needs to show her that I like her."
Ritsu slammed his hands on the table, "SERIOUSLY?! YOU HAVE SOMEONE YOU LIKE?!" Ritsu almost shouted. His eyes went wide and his jaw dropped. The tawny lad chuckled at their conversation.
The blond's brows snapped together, "It's an arrange marriage." He said. "ah.. ohhh.." Ritsu slack back at his chair again. The excitement he was having a moment ago swiftly disappear. He knew that Eriha never fell in loved before or even liked a girl before, yes he is dating different girls but he never liked anyone of them in a romantic way. Actually Ritsu wanted him to fall in love, maybe he thought that he will change a bit, he will be more true to himself. Umi once told Ritsu that the Eriha they are seeing right now is not the real Eriha, Ritsu is not smart but he understood what Umi said. Ritsu wanted to meet the real Eriha, he knew someone like him, his fiancé. Maki also hides the real her, he wanted Maki to fall in love so she will destroy the wall she built. When they were kids Maki was a lively person only when her dad left them for someone else that Maki changed. Ritsu thought that something similar happened to Eriha, the reason why sometimes he understands where he is coming from. It's just that, Maki is open to Ritsu and Eriha is not. He gets annoyed when he always kept to himself it's as if Eriha does not consider them as his friends. That's why he was happy, when Eriha needs his help. Among the five of them, Ritsu is the one who values their friendship most.
"What do you think Vice-Pres?" Ritsu turned his gaze to the tawny young man beside Eriha. The tawny young man's eyes went wide, "Eh? Why me?" He rubbed his forehead, "I don't know anything about romantic relationships, Ritsu-senpai. Hehe" Ritsu stood up from his seat, "I thought you and that scary girl are dating." He said eyeing the tawny haired. The tawny haired placed his hand in his mouth, he chuckled, "We're not. It's just an arrange marriage too but I told my father that I don't like the idea of marrying someone you don't even know. He let me decide on my own."
"You're lucky, Honoka." The blond on his side abruptly said.
"Ehh?"
"Eri is right, if I am the one who told my father the things you said, he will probably disown me." Ritsu said looking down the floor, with a mirthless laugh. Honoka threaded a hand through his hair, "But it's not that I don't want to make my father proud, I know he also wanted the best for me like you guys. Like your family wanted the best for you. That's why I went to this school. I know it's a reckless decision but I think it's the one that I could work with." The corners of his mouth turned up, "To make him proud while I'm still me."
"Honoka.." Eriha gaped at him.
Ritsu gave a half-smile, "No wonder she assigned you the Vice-Pres even if you're just a 1st year." He said. Honoka's cheeks turned red. Ritsu slammed his hands on the table once more, "Okay! Let's help Eri catch his prey!" he exclaimed having a wide grin in his face. Honoka chuckled while Eriha smacked his forehead and let out a long sigh. "Maybe I asked the wrong person.." The blond haired mumbled.
Maki is waiting for Ritsu at the lobby, her mother invited Ritsu to have dinner with them. She thinks of Ritsu as her own son even though the two are still not married. To kill time, Maki just played with her phone.
"Ugh.. I need to wait here with the spoiled brat." Maki's gaze went to the person who spoke. Her jaw clenched as her mind starts to recognize who the person across her was. Her forehead creased but instead of saying anything she just avoided his peering crimson eyes.
"Hmp! What now? Acting all goody goody?" Again she did not retorted, she promised Ritsu to avoid having an argument with this particular young man in front of her. Ritsu always caught them bickering at one another whenever they cross path. Ritsu told her that it's becoming unhealthy for her. She continued playing with her cell phone. She did not realize that the man across her is now standing besides her peeking at her phone. "Rhythm game?" she pulled away as she realized that he's inches away from her. She tensed her shoulder, her face flushed, "Wha— What are you doing?!"
The man that is now a feet away from her rubbed the back of his neck and turned his head away from her, "I'm sorry, I just got curious on what keeps you bottled up." His cheeks are showing a bit of pink.
"It does not concern you so please stay away." She demanded.
"As you say, Princess." The young man distanced himself from the red haired.
"Maki-chan, sorry I'm late. I helped Eri on some things. Oh, you're here too Nico-chan?" The brunet who suddenly rammed in on the scene said. "Let's go, Ritsu." Maki grab the brunet's shoulder and drag him exiting the lobby area.
"Hmm? Isn't that the Tainaka boy?" a purple haired butt in.
"You're late, let's go."
"What's with your temper? You're always angry when that kid is around."
"Nothing.. let's just go, you have a date with your father, right?"
The purple haired nodded in agreement, "Let's go." The two exited the lobby area.
To be continued ~