Disclaimer: I don't own School Days or its respective content and creators. I only my OC.
School Days: A New Life
Episode 4 – Feelings Between Us – Part 1
That night even as I try to close my eyes and sleep I feel restless and for a while I do nothing as I contemplate all the events and random thoughts in my head.
Makoto and Katsura becoming a couple and then there first date… Sekai kissing Makoto… and even then there's all the other girls of the series. I know I've met only some of them, but I know there's more of them out there…
I reach for my phone on the nightstand and flipped it open. Seeing that smile on Sekai's face; to know that the real Sekai was probably at home sitting around in one of her depressed states it was hard to even imagine, but I knew that about her from my time playing the game.
Her family life was not the most ideal. (An understatement given the interconnected family tree of this universe) But I knew underneath that shell was a girl who just wanted to feel free, to feel loved by someone at her side…
I knew she liked Makoto…
"Aaaaah…. What is wrong with me?" I groaned to myself as I threw the covers over my head. Sticking my head out I looked back at the wallpaper one last time. From my memory I knew Sekai was indeed in one of her moods because of what she did.
I know she's feeling guilty, but even deep below she probably felt jealous. And so I took a first step I could never undo… I called her. I had gotten her number from when she asked for my help in setting up that lunch between the four of us. We exchanged numbers and set it all up.
I found the number and called. I waited nervously as I heard the call tone ring on the other line with only hope that she would pick up the phone… Please, Sekai…
(Saionji Apartment – Sekai's Room)
In her room, Sekai was indeed in one of her depressed moods. She knew kissing Makoto was wrong, but even so…
She knew she couldn't compete with Katsura so at the very least she wanted just one kiss… was that really too much to ask? Maybe not in the moment, but know she was wracked with guilt.
But she again justified it; "I was just teasing him… Yeah, it was just to tease him is all…Ahaha…Hah… Makoto…"
She truly couldn't stop thinking about that moment. What was mostly seconds felt like an eternity to her in those seconds. She remembered feeling her lips just afterwards, but even then there was no joy, only sadness and pain…
It was when she was sitting there she had gotten a text from Kotonoha:
"We went on a date! The two of us went to Sakakino-chou, and we stopped by at Sakakino Hills for a while. I was really surprised to see how busy it was there."
And now seeing this happy re-telling form Katsura… only added more guilt to her conscience for what she did.
"Haah…" Sekai exhaled as her despondent feeling persisted, but just a few moments after she put her phone on the table it ringed. She checked the number and to her surprise it was… Trystan?
She went to take the phone, but hesitated once more like before wondering if this was even worth it. She had only known Trystan for a just a few days, and sure they seemed to become fast friends because of them helping Katsura and Makoto, but still…
Just as her counterpart she finally made up her mind and answered the phone as she brought it to her ear, "Cal… Hello?"
"Aah, Sekai… is that you?" Trystan asked.
"Yeah, did you need something?" She inquired trying to return to a normal state of emotion.
"Oh um… I was just calling to say 'Hey' is all. You seemed to be a little down when were at Pure Burger." Trystan answered.
"Oh? Oh no, I'm fine just little tired is all." Sekai tried to make an excuse to hide her current feelings.
"Well that's good… I guess I worried for nothing then. Although I guess since I have your attention…" Trystan seem to fall off.
"Yeah, what is it?" Sekai inquired again.
"Do you… want to have lunch together?" Trystan asked.
"You mean with Makoto and Kotonoha? No, we should just let them do their thing right now. IF we keep butting in they'll get nowhere." Sekai answered.
"N-no… I meant… do you want to have lunch with me?" Trystan dropped.
"Eh? You mean just us two?" Sekai was surprised by the request.
"I -I mean I know this sounds sudden and all, but like you said we should probably let them have some alone time… besides you still haven't given me that whole tour like you promised the other day." Trystan said trying to make the conversation less awkward.
"W-well…" Sekai said with a bit of a sullen voice.
"I mean I also understand if you just want to hang out with your friends; I mean I'm still just a stranger to you and so…" But Trystan didn't get to finish as Sekai stopped him.
"N-no! I mean… s-sure I guess we could have lunch sure. And give you that tour I promised!" Sekai stopped Trystan and tried to salvage the moment.
"Oh well uh… I guess it's okay. Just wanted to ask was all, see you tomorrow!" Trystan said with what seemed to be an upbeat voice.
"Yeah, see you tomorrow." Sekai replied in kind as they both hung up. But after both got into bed and laid their heads back they thought to themselves almost in unison despite being miles apart…
"What am I doing?"
[The Next Day]
In class the next day, I filed up and greeted my bottom desk neighbors, "Morning."
"M-morning/Morning" Makoto and Sekai replied respectively.
"You guys alright?" I ask still knowing what had happened already. I really do need to get used to that feeling.
"N-nothing…" Makoto said in a gloomy tone. I can see in his eyes that he was upset, and I know at the same time he was hesitant. The kiss from Sekai really did put him down the path to potentially falling for her.
Maybe that had been Sekai's plan all along; to plant a little seed in Makoto's head and maybe, just maybe he'd eventually look her way. And in some routes… that ended not so happily ever after.
Finally taking my seat, I tried to take my mind off of things, but ever my sensitive ears picked up on my friend's "whispers", "Hey, Sekai…"
"What is it?" She asked.
"…" Makoto went silent then I guess not having the confidence to say it immediately.
"What's wrong? You've suddenly gone all quiet." Sekai pointed out.
"About what happened yesterday… at the station… You kissed me, didn't you?" Makoto brought up the event at the station platform.
Trying to act like I couldn't hear this was so tempting to not act shocked, but I didn't want to give myself away so I distracted myself by fiddling with my journal acting like I was writing, but doing my best to listen to both of them.
"Ahaha… well, about that…" Sekai nervously replied with a small chuckle.
"Yeah…" Makoto waited for her reply.
"What's with that serious face? Oh, I get it. I know what you're thinking. You've got this mental image of 'forbidden love', like on those sappy variety shows, don't you?" Sekai tried to deflect from what Makoto obviously was thinking of, but I feared this only exacerbated things.
"Eh?" Makoto seemed stumped.
"Listen, you've got the wrong idea." Sekai said.
"The wrong idea?" Makoto parroted.
"You think that I like you, don't you? Well, yeah, I do. As a friend… but it's like I'm thinking of making you my boyfriend or anything." Sekai's attempt at convincing him I feared only made him think more of the issue at hand.
"Sekai…" Makoto couldn't help but be speechless.
"Well, you and Katsura-san seemed to be getting along so well that I just felt like teasing you a little, I couldn't help it." Sekai said with a small blush on her face thinking back to that moment.
Yeah, just keep telling yourself that girlfriend; that'll eventually catch up to you.
"Teasing… me?" Makoto still seemed surprised, yet he was also confused just as much as he was the other night.
"Yeah! I'm sorry. Did I surprise you?" Sekai asked.
"Y-yeah." Makoto answered.
"Don't worry, I'm not thinking of doing anything funny like taking you away from Katsura-san. You just go ahead and play nice with her." Sekai said. The more she continued to talk it was as if she was just trying to lay out her plan but also somehow justify it in her own head.
I mean that was the third time she promised she wasn't trying to do anything to take him away from his current girlfriend, but I knew above all she desperately wanted that…
"O-okay…" Makoto's unsureness remained. It was at this point I knew the secrets were over and that listening in might not be as intruding into their earlier conversation would've been if I tried. I still have to proceed carefully.
"Speaking of which, it seems your date went well didn't it?" Sekai steadily changed the topic.
"Oh, what's this I hear about a date? You two already getting lovey-dovey after just a day or two? How naughty…" I teased.
"N-no… it's nothing like that. We just visited Sakakino Hills and Sakakino-chou. There were a bunch of shops she wanted to see, but it was so busy we weren't able to buy much of anything. But I guess if you both know…" Makoto stuttered trying to explain how the date went.
"Katsura sent me an e-mail." Sekai answered.
"I'm just the guy who listens to everything is how I did." I replied.
"Well I…" Makoto tried to go further but Sekai interrupted him.
"Then you'll be okay without us joining you from now, won't you?" Sekai inquired.
"Eh?" But Makoto again seemed hesitant.
"But if you ever make her cry, I promise neither or us will go easy on you." Sekai teasingly threatened.
"She's right; that girl's practically like an uncut diamond. You better treasure her and treat her right." I joined in the teasing threats with one of my own.
"Sekai…" Makoto ended, but that was when Yamamoto came in and everyone began filing towards their seats.
While I was off paying attention to the lecture. I looked down and even though I couldn't see his face I knew Makoto was thinking about that kiss. I knew I should've done something to stop or just confronted Sekai about her feelings, but I guess in a way even I'm hesitating now on what to do.
I know in this very moment either he thinks he likes Sekai, suspects Sekai would never like him or he's unsure… Hah, for once I just wish I could read minds.
But the day moves on and the lunch bell rings, students file out for their one hour of freedom as they head out to eat.
"Now then… Sekai, Cal." Makoto called to us.
"Hmn? What is it?" Sekai inquired.
"About lunch… Katsura and I are going to the cafeteria to buy something, so you two go on ahead." Makoto explained.
"What are you talking about? We're not going." She simply answered.
"Listen dude, you and Katsura need to et by yourselves. You can't have us babysitting you the whole time. Besides uh…" Goddamn it, the moment of truth and I can't even get it out.
"I-It'd feel weird if it was just suddenly the two of us." Makoto said.
"It's not weird. That's what going out with someone means. You have to make an effort to do something together without others to distract you." Sekai explained.
"Really?" He asked.
"Really." She parroted confidently.
"But…" Sekai stopped his pleas.
"Stop saying 'but'! Come on, Katsura-san is waiting for you! Go, go! Cal and I are going to head on to the cafeteria." Sekai replied.
"But I still think you two should come too." Makoto insisted. Guess this is the way we're doing things.
"Dude, what are you on about…" I tried to answer but Makoto beat me to it.
"Just come please!" Makoto begged.
"No! We told you already, we can't come anymore!" Sekai gave her own desperate plea.
"But if you guys don't come, I won't know what to talk about." Makoto then went and took Sekai's hand practically dragging her along. Well, that puts a wrench in things.
"Kyah! There you go again! Stop pulling me like that! Cal, help me!" Sekai turned to me with pleading eyes.
"Why me…?" I thought to myself as eventually we both had no choice but to babysit him again and we went up to the roof with Makoto where we greeted Katsura once again but she seemed happy to see us however.
"Time to eat!" Sekai said grace excitedly.
"Let's eat." Kotonoha said softly.
"Let's eat." I replied in kind as I opened by bento to find a row of homemade rice balls I helped make this morning.
"Mmf…" However Makoto stuffing his face, broke this cycle of saying grace as he stuffed his face.
"Ah, you didn't even say grace." Sekai complains.
"Like it matters." Makoto complained back.
"It does." She chastised.
"Fwouay… ehs eet." Makoto said grace with a full mouth.
"Good." Sekai now seemed content as all of us began eating away at our own lunches.
"Sheesh, your lunch looks tasty as normal." Makoto complimented Sekai's cooking, but as looked I could see Kotonoha's frown. I knew that Sekai being up here would distract him from Kotonoha, but maybe this was still salvageable. I just hope what comes from his mouth isn't as bad.
"Well actually, my mom helped me make it today." Sekai corrected him. "If anything, Cal's rice balls looked delicious."
"If you guys want I can share. I think me and my Mom made too many. It's a BBQ pork filling, see?" I showed them the inside of my own. I then passed all of them a rice ball and watched bite into them.
"Aah, it's warm and tasty." Makoto said with his mouth full.
"Oi, oi…. Don't talk with your mouth full. But he's right these are good. The BBQ is much tangier though, but that makes it better with the rice." Sekai replied.
"Yeah, BBQ is much milder in Japan. But this is very good. I guess it's more American-style BBQ sauce?" Kotonoha asked.
"Yeah, my mom actually let's lemons and onions simmer in the sauce for a while whenever she makes BBQ. It really does make it tangier, but that's what makes it perfect to me and other Americans I guess." I said.
"Sekai, those look good. Did you make them?" I asked.
"In that case, let's try Sekai's… omelette." Makoto then took one of Sekai's sandwiches.
"Ah!" Sekai screamed in anger.
"Finders keepers. Mmm, it's delicious." Makoto complimented.
"Sheesh… you're hopeless. Just look at the kind of guy he is, Katsura-san. A thief." Sekai pointed out.
"Ufufu…" Kotonoha merely chuckled at the sight enjoying the time she had with her new friends.
"Oh shut up, I'm going to wat some more." With that Makoto continued to eat his own sandwich he got from the cafeteria.
"Ah, Itou-kun…" Kotonoha spoke up.
"Yeah?" Makoto answered.
"Please have some of mine." Kotonoha offered Makoto what seemed to be a club sandwich. "It's a club sandwich, I bought from the bakery in front of the station, but it's made daily with all-natural yeast and it's very tasty."
Aaaah, Kotonoha… if only you were dating a diet-conscious man. But I fear such an explanation goes over her pig-headed brain.
"Eh… In that case, I'll help myself." Makoto then went to take a bite, but as he ate he saw that Sekai was looking back at him and I turned as he looked in our general direction.
"What?" He asked Sekai.
"Nothing. I just noticed you both seemed to be getting along well." Sekai pointed out.
"Well… I guess we do don't we?" Makoto agreed, but he still sounded unsure.
"Ah… yes, we do." Kotonoha seemed a little flustered, but she got through it.
"Uwah… maybe me and Cal should leave you lovebirds and give you some alone time? ~" Sekai teased.
"S-shut up… and stop reacting to every little thing like that." Makoto said a bit irritated.
"Alright, alright calm down you two." I jumped in.
"Oh that's right!" Sekai brought back their attention.
"Yes?" Kotonoha inquired.
"Yesterday's date! You both went to Sakakino Hills, right? How did it go?" Sekai asked about the details. Sure she heard from Makoto, but she wanted to hear it from Katsura's point of view.
"I already told you…" Makoto tried to speak, but Sekai stopped him.
"No, I want to hear it from Katsura, knowing you; you probably made stuff up." Sekai countered.
"Eh?!" Makoto said a bit ruffled by her rebuff of him.
"Well Sakakino Hills in in Sakakino-chou, right?" Sekai asked.
"Well yeah, that's why it's called 'Sakakino' Hills." Makoto pointed out the obvious.
"Aw, sheesh… stop finding fault with everything I say. Anyhow, Sakakino-chou isn't too far from where I live. Maybe it's because it's so close, but 've never actually been there." Sekai said with a bit of melancholy to her voice.
"Really?" Kotonoha seemed surprised.
"Going by Oohara Walker, it seems like an interesting place. So, how was it?" Sekai inquired.
"Interesting, you say? Well, there were these ridiculously huge buildings." Makoto pointed out.
"Sounds like a place where it's got hotels and special places to see, am I right? Even cities in America have places like that. Is some kind of large square like in New York?" I asked curious myself.
"Well… not that big. But it seemed like it had a lot of big buildings. I did see a hotel or two I guess. But I do know they've got some places for shopping malls and arcades. You know game centers." Makoto replied.
"Wow, games. That sounds fun." Sekai replied with a smile.
"I didn't think you liked things like that Sekai. Do you?" I asked.
"Yeah. Hey, I really like those big ones in arcades… what are they called again? You know, ones where you pick up a huge gun and go, 'Bang! Bang!" I replied feeling nostalgic from their talk of arcades.
"Oh, that's an arcade rail-shooter. Those are pretty popular in America. You can't go in one and not find one. Although, I saw a really cool one where you're a samurai going in to face some kind of evil demon and instead of a gun you use and sword and you have block attacks." I explained.
"Ooh, that sounds like so much fun!" Sekai seemed to be getting pretty excited.
"Uh… wouldn't a girl normally stick to UFO catchers or sticker photos?" Makoto pointed out our rather excited conversation.
"I don't care. I always drag Nanami and Setsuna and the others into playing them with me." Sekai replied.
"How courageous of you…" Makoto let on.
"Hey, Cal next time your available you're coming with us." Sekai said; no more like demanded.
"Eh, I don't get a say?" I said with a sigh.
"No!" Sekai declared.
"Well… I personally don't mind games like that either." Makoto somewhat agreed. "Next time we're together I think we should all go."
"Sure. Now, when should we go…" But then Sekai forgot one other person, "Wait, what about you Katsura-san?"
"Ah… I don't really like games…" Kotonoha frowned as she replied. But I had this feeling she wanted nothing more than to play, but I guess it was never her thing.
"Really?" Makoto asked.
"Yes…" Kotonoha replied sadly.
"I guess there's no helping it. Let's go with just the three of us." Makoto said bluntly.
"Eh?" Kotonoha immediately sounded upset.
"You idiot…" Sekai said under her breath with some anger.
"You stupid moron…" I joined in the ridicule as I held the back of my head in my hands just trying imagine how dense this kid was.
"W-what?" Makoto said suddenly feeling assaulted on all sides.
"Don't leave your girlfriend, just to go to some arcade." Sekai berated him.
"That's just… augh… that's just wrong dude. And right in front of her too?" I added.
"What're you guys talking about? You were all for the idea just now…" Makoto grumbled.
"Shut up…" Sekai said.
"Sheesh…" I groaned. But behind Makoto Kotonoha still felt a bit slighted by her boyfriend's candid reply of just leaving her behind.
"What about you, Katsura? What did you think of Sakakino Hills?" Sekai turned her attention back to the girl in question.
"There was a very large book center… with lots of books." She answered with the one thing she probably enjoyed more than anything: Literature.
"Wow, I see. You really love books, don't you Katsura?" Sekai asked.
"There was a book shop?" Makoto asked.
"Yes, it's next to the CD shop." Kotonoha pointed out.
"Ah, really?" Makoto seemed surprised.
"We rushed past it because there was a CD you wanted." Kotonoha replied.
"Haha, I didn't even realize." Makoto chuckled.
"Idiot/Greedy." Sekai and I replied in unison respectively.
"W-what?! There was a new release that I wanted that just came out." Makoto tried to defend himself.
"Idiot, idiot, idiot…" Sekai repeated as she had her head in her hands.
"Dude, I know some guys have likes, but to ignore your girl's wants just for a CD… that's low man." I criticized.
"Shut up!" Makoto hurled to defend himself.
"Well, putting that failure aside…" Sekai replied with a bit more determination in her visage.
"Failure?" Makoto repeated to himself.
"Try not to repeat the today." Sekai iterated.
"Uuuuh…" Makoto scrunched up knowing Sekai had a point.
"What are you two planning today?" Sekai inquired.
"What do you mean?" Makoto seemed confused at Sekai's request.
"Are you going home together, or maybe stop off somewhere?" Sekai asked.
"O-oh right, well then… do you want to go home together?" Makoto asked Kotonoha.
She smiled and replied, "Ah… I have a student rep meeting today, so…"
"Then I'll wait until your meeting is over, like yesterday." Makoto pointed out.
"Well, because I broke curfew yesterday, my father told me to come home early today…" Kotonoha informed him.
"You must have strict parents to have a curfew in your house, Katsura." Sekai pointed out.
"My mother isn't like that really, but my father…" Kotonoha tried to play it down.
"I see. It's just me and my Mom, so I don't know what it's like to have a strict dad. Still, it sounds tough." Sekai said with a bit of gloom, probably thinking of her own childhood. "W-well, I guess there's nothing we can do about it today."
"Yeah.." Kotonoha sighs.
"Do you have student rep meetings every day?" Sekai asks.
"Not every day… but the implementation committee will be busy until the school festival." Kotonoha says.
"Festival?" I inquire. I knew all about what occurred on those few days, but I guess it never hurts to get specifics.
"Yeah, we have a two day festival at the school where all the classes and clubs put on themed events and entertain visitors from students to people from the city. We then have large bonfire at night on the second day as a way to end it all. There's even a folk dance." Sekai explained.
"Yeah, just as Sekai said." Kotonoha confirmed.
"Setsuna was telling me all about ow tough it is to be on the committee." Sekai replied.
"So… I'm sorry." Kotonoha apologized.
"Oh come on, there's no need to be apologetic. Right, Makoto?" Sekai elbowed Makoto in the gut.
"Yeah, Sekai's right. When it's a better time for you, let's go somewhere together again." Makoto offered.
"Okay." Kotonoha agreed and seemed pretty happy with herself.
"U-um…" Kotonoha seemed to want to say something.
"Yeah?" Makoto asked
"No… it's nothing…" Kotonoha apologized.
"Katsura-san?" However just as Sekai called to her friend, the bell to 5-minute bell rang.
"Ah, it's that time already, huh?" I sighed as I closed up my container and put it back on my bag.
"Yeah, let's head back to class." Makoto replied.
"Yes, you're right." Kotonoha replied in kind.
"…" Sekai seemed quiet. But I did if anything it was probably because she could see that Kotonoha and Makoto seemed to be happy around each other, and that she didn't seem to take up Makoto's time.
Back in English class, I could once again hear the passing of notebooks, but try as I may to clear it out my memory raced. I knew now they were making a big fuss about Makoto seemingly ignoring Katsura, but in his interpretation it's either the kiss or the date.
But even so, I could do nothing as I heard their books pass back and forth. All I could remind myself about was how much closer I was to where paths diverged. From here on out things would have to change fore better or worse.
The only problem still is…
"What do I do?"
AN#1 – Well here's the first part to my School Days remake in this fourth episode, Feelings Between Us – Part 1, Trystan knows that things are about to come to a head, but even now he's still unsure about what he can do to change things.
He knows for know there's only two paths, but that ends with how Makoto acts. Will Trystan have to take the first step instead or will Trystan be forced to only react when events happen?
What will happen now… Stay tuned!
AN#2 – I hope you guys are enjoying this rewrite. So please don't forget to leave reviews and also follow and favorite as well too!
Here's a challenge for you guys: A virtual cookie to any one who can tell me in their review which routes my title is made from. (This also includes mid-game routes as well; not just end game ones too.)
AN#3 – Remember I wouldn't be here without you guys! Remember to Favorite, Follow and Review! :)