Hang in there, fruits basket is coming, I swear :)
Chapter Five: Nagisa
Tomoya's POV
Well that was strange. I walked along the same path I had travelled up hours previously, hands in my pockets and my thoughts in the air. It was late evening now; the sun had set a little while ago. Roya had shown me an average movie, but the movie wasn't the strange part. It was the fact I just spent an entire afternoon with a complete stranger and she was still just as much a stranger to me now as before. We hadn't said much at all, other than sarcastic short comments, or deciding what to do. It was foreign to me, since generally girls had a tendency to open up to me on a whim. But Roya wouldn't even tell me where she was from. I guess it was an ego blow, and that's why I was so motivated to go back the next day, to try and get her to answer a question; even if it was only asking what her favorite color was, it would be something.
And even though we didn't seem to get along that well, and we hardly talked, I still felt that in some odd way, she found the uncomfortable silence enjoyable. She was just so different from everyone I knew, it somewhat fascinated me. But it was more than that, the feeling that she was familiar, that I knew her, plagued my consciousness. Where had I seen those green eyes before?
"HEY PUNK!" Akio ambushed me from behind the counter, "WHERE'VE YOU BEEN ALL THIS TIME?! DON'T GO RUNNIN' OFF LIKE THAT WITH NO WARNING, YA HEAR ME? YOU GOT SANAE ALL WORRIED AND STUFF!"
"I left a note, you realize," I was used to his outbursts, "and watcha calling me a punk for, old man?"
"ARGHH! Just for that you have to face the ULTIMATE PUNISHMENT OF DOOM!" he held out a tray of weird disproportionate pastries, "EAT IT ALL!" He commanded, then burst into satanic laughter.
"You know, Sanae won't like-" I started when a voice behind me cut me off,
"So that's what you think of my bread? That it's the ultimate punishment of doom? I see how it is!" Sanae took off out the front door sobbing and Akio glared at me before shoving his mouth full of pastries and running after her screaming, "NOOOOO! I RUFFFFF YUURRR REEEED!"
I shook my head, then continued up the stairs to the guest room I was staying in. Akio and Sanae were putting me up for a while, until I decided I wanted to move out, hopefully on my own.
I laid back on my futon yawning. I wondered what Roya was doing about now… I had this sense that once I got to know where she was from, it would somehow help me. I had no idea how, or why this would be the case, but still. Spending time with her, even though it was awkward, gave me unexplainable hope. It was kind of new for me, since I've thought my life was somewhat pointless, giving up on studying and usually just sort of going with the flow. I hadn't even considered that I needed help, but I guess I always subconsciously needed it. The world was a cold place, constantly changing and hardly ever for the good.
There was a timid knock on the door, "Okazaki? Can I come in?" It was Nagisa. I smiled, "sure," and the door slid open, revealing her in her Dango pajamas. She sat by my table and hugged her knees close to her.
"I was just wondering if you're feeling okay. You didn't seem too happy today." I saw her blush as she focused her eyes on the patterns on her pants.
"I'm fine. I had a lot on my mind I guess. Don't worry about it," I passed her concerns off as lightly as I knew how.
"Oh… Okay, well I guess then you should know I finished the script today," she smiled and looked up at me.
"That's wonderful! Can I read it?"
"Well, I would say yes, but I want all of us to read it tomorrow during our drama meeting," she looked genuinely apologetic and I nodded, "Yeah that sounds better, you're right." I paused a second before adding, "Well since you took your bath already, I guess I'd better take mine."
"Okay, goodnight then," we both stood and as I walked towards the door she piped up again, "Okazaki?" I turned around, "Mm? What is it?"
"I just… I just wanted to say that I know whatever is on your mind is your business, but whatever it is, I hope you're okay."
"Don't worry about me, Nagisa," I opened the door, "I'll be fine. You should get some rest, you don't want to get sick again."
"I'm sorry, you're right," she took a step towards me and bowed a little, "I'll see you tomorrow then." I nodded and she slipped past me and into her room, as I walked by and to the bathroom.
As I stripped down and sunk into the hot water, I sighed. Nagisa was always worrying over me, it was sweet of her, but sometimes felt a little invasive. I was helping her out re-establishing the drama club and we finally got approval. Now we worked on the play every day, little by little it was coming along. I didn't mind since I was only running lights, and it made me happy to see her glowing in happiness as she made plans for what we needed to do in order to get ready. When she talked about it, her usual aura of self consciousness disappeared and confidence shone through.
I would never admit it, but I was very attached to Nagisa. It started out small, but the more she was by my side, the more it was difficult to imagine being without her. Even when confronted with this new girl Roya, the strangest girl in the world I was positive, I couldn't get Nagisa out of the corner of my mind. I always wanted to help people, but helping Nagisa was a particular passion of mine. I just wanted her to be happy.
But because of that fact, I hid my feelings as best I could. She could never know, because I… I was just a delinquent. What sort of future could I give her? I would make it on my own, but I didn't want to disappoint her. The way I was living now, I was nothing but disappointment.
Actually, Roya helped me appreciate Nagisa even more. Nagisa was much more open, and warm welcoming. She was the type of girl who lit up a room just by being in it. I smiled as I thought of her, the way she smiled, and the way she always considered everyone's feelings above her own.
If only… But no, I pushed the thought away from me. She would never be mine, it was best that way. For both of us.