A/N: Sorry for my very late upload minna. But anyway, thank you for all the wonderful reviews everyone! I was like all-Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww when I read your meaningful reviews. (Because when I was the one reading this I was like..why is it freakishly long? -_-) But anyway, I might not be able to update as soon as when I was starting this out (I will still try to update with a chapter say, a week) because of some businesses. So! Rating's raised this time. And you'll probably be shocked as to the reason why. *grins evilly*
CHAPTER 6: LONGING
"Ayase-sensei!" a boy in first-year High-school called out to a long and wavy chestnut-haired woman walking with a female student in the hallway. It was the beginning of another school year. The boy, along with his classmate ran after their teacher as she stopped in her tracks.
"Nani?" she asked, turning to face them. She was Ayase Chihaya, Mizusawa High School's PE Teacher and Karuta Club adviser.
"I-We would like to join the Karuta Club! But we're beginners so..." he started, stuttering as he explained his intention to join. They were at the assembly earlier this morning, and the Karuta Club took their fancy as THE Ayase Chihaya invited everyone to join in the club.
She was the 6th-time Queen of Karuta, endorser of numerous fashion brands of mostly traditional clothing, Make-up, Jewelry, Watches, Hotels, and recently, a spokesperson for the International Karuta Federation.
Chihaya smiled at the boys before she replied. It literally took their breath away.
"Ayase-sensei! We'd like to join as well!" Another boy interrupted, as three more boys went up to them.
"Me too!" Another boy with thick glasses who looked a lot like someone she knew piped in.
"Woi, Atohiro, aren't you in the arts club?" asked another boy to Atohiro.
"So? There's no limit to the clubs you can join as long as you can manage, right? And aren't you in the soccer club too Arizawa?" he countered.
"Ah...Minna, gomen-ne," the female student interjected. Everyone looked at her. She had a short, dark brown hair and light brown eyes. She was a beauty if not for her expressionless face.
"Our Karuta Club is full as of the moment, so.." she explained, but before she could continue, Chihaya cut her off.
"Eika-chan! Daijoubu. We'll find a way!" she smiled brightly at her. Eika can only sigh.
Heeeere we go again. She thought. She was used to her sensei's pushy nature especially when it comes to Karuta. They received more than a hundred applications for the Karuta Club already, and with the original members of about 40, they'll definitely have trouble squeezing in the first-years. That didn't seem to perturb Chihaya though. She was ecstatic whenever people take interest in Karuta, and she often tells them (in a melodramatic voice) how she used to beg people to take notice of Karuta.
"Minna, thank you for taking interest in joining our club. Our room is quite small so we'll just take turns for you to be able to try a match if you have the experience. Visit us after your class for the rest of instructions!" she instructed.
"Hai Sensei!" the boys agreed enthusiastically while blushing.
"Wow...the Karuta Club is reaaally popular, huh?" One student whispered as they watched Chihaya walking and chatting with the glum student.
"I doubt it's because of the sport." said her friend.
"It's only popular because Ayase-sensei is the Club's adviser."
"Uuuugh! What a stressful day. Can you imagine our Karuta Club growing to more than a 100+ members? And the room we used to have can only accommodate less than 20 that we had to use separate classrooms!" she whined loudly at Kanade, as they walked their way to the nearest mall. At 25, Kanade looks prettier with her shoulder-length dark brown hair and sexier body to match. She's now working with Chihaya as Mizusawa High's Literature Teacher.
It was a wonder to her how Chihaya could still teach at an average High-school and be a club advisor with all the schedule none would be able to balance except for her. It had been 8 years since their Karuta club separated ways.
Chihaya, with her unbounded love for Karuta, continued playing, earning her the Queen title 3 years in a row when they were in their senior year, and three years in a row after a two-year hiatus. Her wins gave her a lot of opportunities especially in the world of show business, when scouts discovered she was related to Chitose. When they offered to turn her to a full-time star however, she rejected them citing two reasons: one, she didn't want to steal her sister's dream; and two, she didn't want to neglect hers. They still offered her modelling contracts, which she was happy to accept because of the handsome pay.
She never gave up her on her dream of becoming a Karuta Club advisor though, so with inhuman endurance she managed to study and finish university while juggling modelling, Karuta practices, tournaments AND a boyfriend to boot. At present, the only thing that changed in her list of priorities is her studies, which was now replaced with a full-time work.
"Wow." Kana-chan replied, amazed that their Karuta club, which once upon a time, used to have trouble attaining more than 2 students was now the "star" club. Though obviously, much of the the student's motivation was to see Chihaya.
"I hope my president would be able to handle it without me though. I forgot to tell the new members their assignments." she mused, as she whipped up her cellphone to text Eika about it.
"Gomen-ne, Chi-chan. If there's something you still need to do we can always look some other time..." Kanade apologized, knowing her friend might just want to rest especially since free Saturdays are unusually rare for Chihaya.
"Nonsense Kana-chan! It's for your wedding with Tsukue-kun! How can you postpone looking for a dress?!" she exclaimed indignantly as the shorter girl blushed.
After 7 long years of being together with Tsutomu, he finally proposed to Kanade on the eve of her birthday last year. Chihaya was the first one to hear of the news as Kanade called her that same night. She was very much thrilled for her friend, and she couldn't help but be jealous of the two for their rock-solid relationship.
"But I don't really want to trouble you." she said meekly, as they entered the shopping mall.
"You're not troubling me at all. And besides! It's rare that we get to see each other." Chihaya replied. Ever since they parted ways for college, there were less and less occasions that they'd been together. Tsukue-kun became a research analyst for a big firm after college. He grew a bit taller too, and was now closer to Chihaya's height. He continued to play Karuta, managing to play in the semi-finals for the Eastern Qualifiers against Sudo-san.
Nishida meanwhile pursued culinary for college, and he got a job as an assistant cook at a cruise ship when he graduated. Tsukuba became a mangaka, a job his brothers admired because they get free updates of their favorite mangas. Sumire started working at a hospital as a nurse and though she wouldn't admit, everyone had the notion she chose the career because of Taichi, who had been studying medicine in London for 8 years, and is now working as a heart surgeon.
"That's true. But I can't believe I'm getting married..." she blushed, as she reminisced how Tsukue-kun popped the question after she accidentally discovered the plot beforehand when he carelessly left his bag open at the car. Tsutomu thought she was about to reject him when she didn't give any reaction, but a passionate kiss and a resounding yes made him forget about everything.
"Ayiie¬! You both should thank me you know, if I hadn't pestered the both of you to join the club, you wouldn't be able to meet each other!" Chihaya teased, as they went in a bridal shop.
"Haha! Yah, it was funny how you dogged us both to join." she responded, as she laughed at the memory.
Chihaya was too desperate to scout her then during their first year, as she was when she dragged Tsutomu who had held on to his desk to stop her but to no avail. They were their team's weakest link at first, but at the end of their High School journey and beyond, they became one of the finest Karuta players in Japan. They have so much to thank her for.
They were looking at the bridal magazines for ideas a few minutes later when Chihaya's phone rang.
"Arata?" she said as she answered her phone.
"Chihaya, I'll be gone for a week to Osaka. I have another project. I'll go later tonight." he informed, as sounds of a busy kitchen came from the other line.
"Again? I thought they'll give you 2 days rest before that?" she pouted, as he remembered him asking her out tomorrow for a picnic at the beach as he was free before his trip to Osaka.
"I know it's too sudden. But there'd be plenty of setbacks to the project if I don't go." He said a matter-of-factly.
Arata studied engineering in Toudai when he transferred to Tokyo a few years back, and he and Chihaya had been dating ever since. It wasn't smooth sailing though, because during their 3rd year as a couple, Chihaya's mother suffered a stroke, causing a strain on her family's finances. Chihaya had to work lots of part-time jobs, and it was during this time that she lost contact with most of her friends. Arata had been preparing for the board exams then, so they drifted off from one another. The only reason why they got back was because they continued to play Karuta, and after about two years, they got back again.
Arata now works as an engineer in one of the biggest engineering firms in the country. It had several projects in Japan's provinces, making him run all over the country. It was a miracle how he could still juggle his work and his Meijin career.
"I can cancel it, if you want," Arata said after a while when Chihaya kept quiet. She was obviously upset. Tomorrow was their anniversary as a couple, and she was really excited about it, having bought all the food they'll need for the day at the beach. Both of them had been very busy with their careers the past few years, and it's rare that they get a chance to be together on their anniversary.
"Don't! It's alright. I wouldn't want you to." she lied hastily. She knew how important the job is for Arata. His father had an accident a few months back, and his therapy saps quite a huge amount of his income that he jumps readily at the prospect of a new project.
If only he could at least remember... a greeting will be enough really... she thought sadly.
"Alright, thanks, and gomen ne Chihaya. I love you." He replied.
"H-hai. Take care, I love you too." With that, the line went dead.
So he really forgot huh... She thought bitterly.
"Is he leaving again?" Kana-chan asked, as she studied the bridesmaid gown in front of her, interrupting her thoughts.
"Yeah. He'll be gone again for a project in Osaka. Ever since he transferred to that company he's gone most of the time we barely get to see each other." she whined.
Kanade felt sorry for her friend. She already lost count of her friend's numerous butchered dates due to their hectic schedules. But she knew that even though Chihaya was busy, she really makes an effort to give time for Arata. There were times that she had to miss karuta practices, or modelling gigs, and sometimes even tournaments, because that was the only time he's free. The lad on the other hand, though he may be sweet whenever he wants too, can be a total douche sometimes, recalling an incident where Chihaya waited 3 hours for him on a date, cancelling it the last minute because he still had work to do.
"Chi-chan, you're already at a marrying age. When do you plan to settle down with Arata-san?" She asked, as they examined the souvenirs.
"Ugh, stop that Kana-chan. You sound like my mother." she pouted, embarrassed. Almost all of their friends are at that stage already, but she knew for a fact that she wasn't ready for so many reasons.
"But it's true!" she said, smiling.
"I can't... afford to think of that. At least until...mom recovers." Chihaya replied.
Chihaya's mom suffered a heart attack during Chihaya's 4th Queen Match. It was a very depressing period for her, having lost the title and being forced to work to support both her studies and their household's finances. Though her mother had recovered from the attack, she still had several health concerns, like her spiking glycemic levels that caused her some organ failures. Though Chihaya and Chitose's work as a model pays handsomely, most of it goes to their mother's hospitalization, making it somewhat impossible for her to think of settling down; especially now that Chitose got married and Chihaya was the only one financing her mother's needs.
"I understand, Chi-chan. But please don't forget that you deserve to be happy too. And a relationship is founded on communication and trust. If you keep on spending time apart, there's a greater chance it might happen again..." Kanade muttered softly to her, referring to two's fall-out a few years back.
Back then, Chihaya thought her relationship was over. The increasing work load and pressure, not to mention her utter depression, took its toll on their relationship. But what Chihaya refused to admit even to this day, was that there was also another reason...
"I know." she mused, as she reminisced her trying times, only to remember the last time she ever saw him again.
"Say, Chi-chan. Have you heard from Kaichou?" Kana-chan asked nervously, interrupting her thoughts. Chihaya detected worry in her voice, and though she wondered why, she answered tentatively,
"Uhm.. No. I greeted him last week on his birthday, but like last year's and the year before that, I never got a reply." She hasn't heard from Taichi for 3 years now. He'd been communicating with their friends, but he never replied to any of her messages. She couldn't blame him though.
He's still mad at me... Chihaya thought miserably, remembering the last time Taichi spent came back in Japan. Her mom had been in the hospital for months during that time, and Taichi, who was on vacation, took care of her. He'd been her pillar of strength especially when her relationship with Arata drifted, but one misunderstanding ruined all that...
"Tsutomu sent him an invitation yesterday through email, and he actually replied." she said quietly, looking at her hands that were resting at her lap. Chihaya's heart skipped a beat for some reason, hoping that his reply would be good news.
"Really? What did he say? Is he coming?" she asked excitedly, suddenly taking Kanade's hands into hers.
"Yes." Kanade replied, and although it was only about a split second, Chihaya saw her panic.
"That bastard! He replies to Tsukue-kun but not to me! I'll strangle him when he comes back!" she exclaimed, ignoring her friend's peculiar reactions. She's missed him all this time, but she never told anyone about it.
"Chi-chan, he's coming for the wedding. But... I think there may have been another reason why he's going back to Japan." Kanade replied pensively, refusing to look at her. Chihaya felt nervous at that.
"What's that? What did he say?" Chihaya asked, worry crossing her face.
"He's...he's engaged as well, Chi-chan. He's coming over with his fiancée." Kanade answered quietly, her words drifting in the air.
And with that, all her excitement sank... along with her heart.
"Leaving so soon?" the girl with the wavy black hair and fair complexion asked to the tall and pale lad who was dressing on the side of the bed. She was naked under the sheets after a hot and steamy session with him at his place that afternoon. She was supposed to go on shopping, but she chose to visit him instead.
"I need to leave for work." he said gruffly, as he buttons his shirt. He's been having these visits from her quite frequently the past few months, and although he knows it was wrong, there were times that his needs were just too strong.
"That project in Osaka? Want me to come along?" She said, as Arata picked up her discarded clothes on the floor.
"No." he replied coldly, as he gave it to the girl. She reached out for the clothes, but she yanked his hands the last minute, causing him to fall on to of her.
"Really? Your bed get cold without me warming it for you." she coyed as she shifted positions so she now laid on top of him while kissing his neck. He groaned.
"Shinobu..."
A/N: Hu? Ha? Wha-? Okay, that was retarded. XD Sooooo. Arata the cheaty-cheat, Chihaya and Taichi's misunderstanding, And... Taichi's engagement?! So many things to look forward for. I hope you're excited as much as I am. =) *winkswinks* Please review! Thank you sooooooo much! ^^