私は空を見上げ Chapter 4: Marui's Sunshine

Standard Disclaimer Applies.

Because yes, I was in the mood for another tragedy. Gomen. This one is set far later, after they have all graduated from University and are already working.

-oOo-

You have a smile that matches the sunshine.

Your laughter is like the blue birds song in the summer mornings.

Your enthusiasm surpasses that of an elementary student on his first day of school.

And your heart is as pure as a new born child.

I always thought you were extra ordinary, and so did she. That was why we both loved you like a little kitten. That was a weird comparison, but yes, truly to us you were like family. We never saw you as nuisance, even in your clumsiest hours.

"Car keys."

"E?"

"Give me your car keys."

"Nande?"

"You can't be driving a car on your own, not after this."

"I didn't mean to doze off behind the wheel."

"Even so! Best be thankful you only had scratches, and that no one else was injured."

"How am I going to get to work then?"

"Take the bus, or if I'm around I'll pick you up."

"I'm not a kid."

"Well, you sure act like one."

"Mou!"

"Your car keys are confiscated until further notice."

I was only concern for your safety, and truthfully, it was her idea in the first place. I thought of confiscating your driver's license , not really your car keys, but she said it was better to confiscate your car keys instead. After all, we wouldn't want you to hurt yourself again. Who knows what will happen to you the next time you drive a car a doze off; I'm not taking any chances, not with my best friend.

You were a genius, but at the same time, you were scatter brained. I couldn't believe you left your door wide open after you left for work. I remember how we had to help you buy new stuffs for you house after it was robbed. I mean, I couldn't blame the burglar, you did after all leave the door wide open.

"Marui-kun, arigato for the dishes."

"Aa, it's nothing, next time, will you please make sure you locked your front door before heading off to work?"

You would just make a peace sign and smile at me while scratching your head, and that would usually make me smirk. It's been how may years since middle school, and to me, you haven't seemed to grow up. You were still that cheerful and hyperactive buddy that I had, even if we did go to different schools.

It was funny because each time a see a slice of cake, or a bag of sweets, you never fail to pop into my head. It was scary at times, like you were a ghost of girlfriends past. Then she would always laugh out loud saying, it was very sweet of me to remember my best friend at every corner that I see anything sweet. It must be because it was our sweet tooth that first brought us together—well, that and your constant fan boying over my genius moves. When I look back at it now, I realized, you were like a stalker back then. It was a relief when you met Fuji-kun from Seigaku, at least I had someone to share the lime light with in your vision of fan boying, else, I would have suffered the wrath of your full attention and admiration.

As I sit here waiting for my plane to board, I look at my watch one last time, thinking, if you would even come to see me off. I sighed and unconsciously began rubbing at the wrist band that I was wearing. Because even when I was not playing tennis, I have acquired to habit of wearing my black weighed wrist band, just like back in Rikkai. Nomiko notices the loneliness in my face and gives me a tight embrace.

"I'm sure he wishes you well."

I knew you did, it was just that, we had an argument over those seasoned salted caramel puffs the other day. It was just plain weird to me, how you thought my gesture of appreciation was my final goodbye to you. They were just sweets after all, memorable kind of sweets because that was the first sweet treat we ever shared that kicked off this wonderful friendship that we have all these years. Was I wrong to remember something as special as that about my best friend? Well, you did say you weren't mad at me, and I believe you. However, just thinking that I won't be seeing you for the next two years of my career just makes me sad.

"Eto, I'm going to be sent abroad by the company I'm working for, my contract is for two years."

"E? How about Nomiko-chan?"

"She knows. And we've already talked about it."

"Demo, how can you stay away from her that long? If it were me, I'd probably break down in an instance."

"I told you we've talked about it already, Nomiko understands the situation, after all, she about to get a promotion at work and she's going to be really busy the next few months herself."

"Aren't you going to miss her?"

"I miss her everyday, every second we're not together I miss her."

"Is that why you bought these?"

"What do you mean?"

"It's like you're saying goodbye."

"What are you talking about?"

"You say it like it's okay to be far from the person you love, then, you give your best friend something that is memorable. It's like you're never coming back."

"Stop saying such silly things, of course we'll see each other again, it'll take a while, but we'll definitely see each other again. And we'll hang out like we always do."

"You're only saying that."

I guess that was your way of saying you were going to miss me huh? So I board the plane carrying that wish in my heart, that after two years, I'll board a plane back to Japan, and you and her will be there, welcoming me back, sunshiny smiles on your faces. I would be home.

I wonder what you were doing the day I left Japan. I wonder if you remembered. I was sure Atobe would have given you the day off had you told him that it was the day I was leaving, then, maybe you didn't tell Atobe after all. Maybe, you intentionally did not come, because you still felt about the other day. Maybe it was a bad gesture after all, buying those salted caramel puffs. Maybe I should have bought you a red velvet cake instead, you love those too didn't you?

Everyone looks taller than me here. And everyone was giving me this weird, 'look he's an Asian' stare. Well, I'm going to have to prove them wrong about me then. It was times like this that I miss you, my number one fan. You always managed to make me feel proud about myself and my craft. Nomiko always said, every cheer routine to uplift me, she learned from you.

I remember when I decided to finally propose to Nomiko, you were like a kid jumping up and down almost tearing my shirt off in sheer happiness of what I was planning to do. My wedding would be just amazing with you as my best man.

"I want you to be the best man in my wedding."

"E? Are you proposing to Nomiko-chan?"

"Aa. When she gets the promotion she's been waiting for, I'm going to make that day extra special by proposing to her."

"Sugoi Marui-kun! Sugoi!"

"Oi, oi! Yamero! You're ruining my shirt!"

Even if you refuse to speak to me right now, when I get back to Japan and start to plan the wedding, I'd still have you as my best man. That will never change, no matter how many petty quarrels we have.

"How is he?"

"E? Hmn, he's doing well, still clinging on to that stubborn pride of his, but I can always tell that he misses his best friend very much."

"He still doesn't pick up my calls."

"Give him some more time Bunta, he'll come along, he always does."

"Sou dane."

"When we return to Japan next week, make sure you go see him, iiyo?"

"Aa."

We were going back home. I was going to see you again. I was going to invite you for a parfait marathon in the favourite ice cream parlor we always went to since middle school. We were going to eat that giga parfait like old times. I was going to ask Atobe to give you a day off so we could catch up on our stories. You were going to help me pick a suitable tux for my wedding. And we were going to find a new car for you, so you could begin driving again.

There were so many things that we were going to do, just like old times, because I was coming home.

The flames were blinding, like the sweet rays of the sun. The heat of the surrounding doom was suffocating. As I embrace the heated body of my beloved in my arms, I turn to see her lifeless form scorned by the flames I think to myself, maybe I was not going home to my best friend after all. Maybe those salted caramel puffs were really my last goodbye to you. And maybe through the flames of my last minutes of life, I'll see the blue sky through the window and whisper one last wish for my best friend.

My name is Marui Bunta, and as I look at the sky one last time, I see the sunshine as bright as your smile, and I know, even when I'm gone, you will always find joy and the strength to move forward. You will always be my best friend—Jirou.

-oOo-

This one is in reference to Jirou's chapter from Something I'll Never Know, so if you're confused, better go read that chapter, it'll make so much sense.

It'll take little while before I update this fic again, because I'm going to have to think a couple of times before writing Niou and Yagyuu's chapters since One Sweet Smile is still hanging. And as my regular readers know, I like connecting my fictions with each other. It helps me make reality out of them. LOL.