July 3, Thursday
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According to studies some scientists whose names Mai forgot, color affects people's moods greatly, only second to the weather.
So why was it that the dull off-white interior walls of the bus made her so giddy? Mai was practically bouncing in her seat despite the depressing color of her surroundings, humming as the scenery went by the window beside her. If she talked to inanimate objects, then people would think she was insane. Surely.
"Oh no, you poor umbrella! You're all wet!"
There you go. Mai shook her umbrella, murmuring assurances as she did. An upperclassman from the same high school as her's looked at her as if she lost it.
The girl noticed nothing of that and continued humming cheerily. She was thinking of how on this day, she wasn't fifteen anymore, and how some stores would allow her to work part-time already. She's still underaged, but sixteen is a better number than fifteen. She could finally earn her own money.
Mai remembered how she celebrated her birthdays before. She was exceptionally selfish when her father was still alive. During any kind of holiday, be it Christmas or New Year or even Showa Day, she would demand a present of some sort from her dad. She was especially bratty when the day of her birth arrived.
When her father died a long time ago, the opposite happened. She would demand nothing from her mother during any holiday. She wouldn't even want anything on her birthday, but her mother would always get her a gift. Mai would humor her, although she felt guilty inside.
On the day Mai's world ended, the day her mother died, she didn't even care anymore. She wouldn't acknowledge her birthday. She would speak nothing of it and denied any kind of gift from her friends, unknowingly hurting them in the process.
Today's an exception, Mai told herself. She was sixteen today and she would allow herself to celebrate being alive until now. To be happy on this day was a pleasure she could allow because it meant that she kept herself breathing despite having no one to rely on.
With that in her mind, she began to imagine what present she would give herself. A toaster? A towel to replace her old one? Maybe a new umbrella?
No, she thought. Those were needs, not wants. If she's going to celebrate, she might as well go for something stupid and nonsensical. Like expensive sushi for dinner, or a trip to the spa.
How about the stranger's name?
Mai glanced at the empty seat beside her and flushed almost immediately. The young man wasn't here yet since the bus was only halfway through her stop and the next one. Though, just thinking about him made her shy and excited and mortified all at the same time. The combination of the three was a strange feeling for her.
She glanced at the clouds outside the window and reddened even more. It wasn't even raining that hard, and yet she wasted money on a bus ticket. She wondered if this was stupid and nonsensical enough.
The gods were testing her, she thought. Maybe they knew that this idea was too stupid and nonsensical. Mai looked at the screen that tracked the bus' route and felt herself get shy and excited and mortified more intensely. Bus number 42 was approaching the first stop and it was taking its sweet time doing so. Or maybe it was just Mai thinking that everything was in slow motion.
Either way, the bus stopped as Mai's heart almost did. Her stomach got heavy once again and her brain decided to join the let's-stop-functioning party. The door opened with a whoosh as her eyes flickered to and fro from there to any other thing. Her timid side became uncharacteristicly dominant and decided for her that keeping her eyes at the ceiling was 'looking natural'.
One, two, three minutes passed and Mai's neck started protesting because of the strain. She gave in, turning once and twice to let go of the cracks in her bones. She proceeded to stare at the window, not the buildings outside it.
A few minutes more and the bus stopped as the operator called twice. With her shoulders hunched low, Mai got off the bus without any legs blocking her way.
Happy birthday to you, stupid and nonsensical girl.
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A/N: The new term in my school starts on Monday, so I might not be able to update as quickly by then. I might, but I'm not sure yet. Just a heads up. Thank you for your continued support! :D
Edit: Fixed 'em. Thanks for pointing those out, archangelBBQ!