Chapter 3. Déjà vu
A/N: You gotta finish what you start…at least that's what I'm telling myself lol. Just for continuity sake, I'm going to keep Soujirou's name spelled with the u at the end even though I know it's spelt differently now.
Standard disclaimers apply.
Soujirou woke up to hear Sano mutter outside, "I thought the hydrochloric acid was too much. But I mean, I guess that's why we're here, right?"
He blinked his blue eyes in confusion, climbed out of his bed, and trudged into the living room. The shared living space was empty, but the TV was on and broadcasting its morning segments. He picked up the remote control on the coffee table and turned the electronic device off.
Can't be paying extra for that electricity now. He thought to himself, wincing as he remembered the last utility bill.
Hearing a sound behind him, Soujiro turned to find Sano making his way to the door.
"Did you do this?" He asked. "You know you're not supposed."
Sano shrugged, "You gotta do what you gotta do. See you later, kid."
The door shut with a soft click, leaving Soujirou standing alone in the living room in his dark blue pajamas. He glanced at the remote control in his hand before carefully placing it back on the coffee table.
"You gotta do what you gotta do, huh?"
Since it was midterms week, the library was buzzing with panicked students who procrastinated until the last minute to start studying.
"You're kidding." Kaoru muttered as a group of students beat her to a study table, claiming it with their water bottles. "How are we ever going to find a spot?"
"It's okay. Megumi's got us." Misao said confidently.
It was true. At the beginning of the semester, Megumi had made a series of study room reservations in the library for all the exams. Being the generous friend she was, she invited both Kaoru and Misao to join her.
After walking around the library twice, Kaoru and Misao finally found the study room Megumi reserved for the day, a small space sandwiched between the escalator and an enormous wall.
"You made it." Megumi looked up from her book, a wry smile on her face.
"I didn't even know this room existed." Kaoru replied, taking out her laptop.
Having just finished her psychology test, Misao was in no mood to study that afternoon. Instead, she leaned back in her chair, watching her friends struggle with their courses with a Cheshire Cat grin. She looked at Megumi, poring over a sociology textbook and seemingly highlighting every other sentence. Then her aquamarine eyes traveled to Kaoru who was smiling idiotically at her laptop.
Misao narrowed her eyes.
Since when is photosynthesis so funny?
She scooted her chair behind Kaoru and peered over her shoulder, her Cheshire Cat grin widening farther as she noticed the message window on her laptop, "Texting your boyfriend and not studying, are we?"
"C'mon, Misao!" Kaoru spun around with a blush, swatting her friend playfully. "We're just friends."
"Wait," With surprising speed, Misao grabbed Kaoru's hand and stared at the charm bracelet on her wrist, the delicate silver links catching the overhead light, "What's this?"
Kaoru was momentarily caught off guard by Misao's tone. Recovering from it, she replied, "Uh, it's my birthday present from Soujirou."
"Oh."
Megumi looked up from her textbook just in time to catch Misao's glance in her direction.
"What's wrong?" Kaoru asked, noticing the change in her friends' expressions
"Nothing." Megumi flipped her long black hair casually over her shoulder, her eyes trained on Misao. "Misao's just jealous. Aoshi never gave her anything as nice."
Misao let go of Kaoru's hand, sticking her tongue out at Megumi, "That's not true!"
"Name one thing Aoshi got for you."
"Well…uh…" Misao stuttered and then, instead of trying to find an answer, she tackled Megumi. "Why you!"
Kaoru laughed, watching Megumi trying to pry the smaller girl off. The scene felt oddly familiar. Kaoru could almost feel her hands grabbing someone else's arms. She blinked and suddenly, she was transported to a different time.
The library room was replaced by a softly lit living room. It was early evening and the sky outside was a dusky orange. The patio window was open, bringing in the sweet scent of jasmine.
Kaoru looked around in confusion.
Where am I?
"It's mine!" A shrill voice sounded, as if answering her question.
She looked down to the mahogany color carpet and saw a younger version of herself. Half of her hair was tied into a neat pigtail with a yellow bow on it, but the other half was free with some plastered to her face and only a few strands still held together by a hairband. Her blue polka-dot dress was covered in wrinkles, but she didn't care. She was too busy wrestling with a small boy on the floor, both trying to grab the last cookie on a platter.
"You ate two already, busu!" The boy, barely four, enunciated carefully.
"Say that again, Yahiko!" Kaoru blurted out before her mind registered the words.
"Kaoru? Kaoru!" She heard Misao say. The younger version of herself with the small boy faded away and she found herself back in the library, staring at her concerned roommates.
"Are you okay?" Misao walked over with a worried expression.
"What? Oh I'm fine." Kaoru blinked slowly, her mind trying to process what just happened. "It's nothing."
"Who's Yahiko?" Megumi eyed her.
"Did I say that out loud?" Kaoru shook her head. "I honestly don't know. It came out of nowhere."
Before either Megumi or Misao could reply, she gathered her things and stuffed them into her backpack.
"I need to head to class, so I'll see you two later?"
"Wait." Misao took a deep breath and plastered a smile on her face. "Kaoru, have you tried the new Munistyle highlighter?"
"What? No…" Kaoru blinked, confused by how fast her friend's expression went from one filled with concern to one beaming with happiness.
"You should really try it." Misao shoved a box of highlighters to her. "It has plastic guards on either side of the tip, so your highlights will never be uneven!"
Kaoru stared at the box in her hand, "Uh thanks, Misao. I'll definitely use it."
"Megumi uses it for all her studying and she loves it! Muniball highlighter, you should give it a try today!"
"Okay." Kaoru moved toward the door with her backpack slung over one shoulder. "I'd love to stay and hear more about this amazing highlighter, but I really gotta run. See you later!"
"Bye!" Misao waved, watching Kaoru disappear down the hall.
"You had to do that?" Megumi rolled her eyes, throwing her highlighter on the table. "Seriously?"
Misao replied with a challenge in her voice, "You were the one using it."
Megumi shut her textbook in response.
Kaoru didn't intend to visit the bar, but she found herself walking down the familiar path after her class that afternoon.
"Hello?" She pushed the door open, the hinges creaking slightly as she stepped inside. Glasses clinked softly as Soujirou wiped them down with practiced ease.
"You seem to come a lot when we're closed." Soujirou teased.
"Then maybe you should lock the door?" Kaoru returned his smile and sat down.
"Another Aquatic Dream?"
"Sure." Kaoru stared at the brown countertop. The color reminded her of something–or someone–but she couldn't place it.
"How's your day?" Soujirou asked, rummaging the cabinets for the ingredients he needed. Receiving no reply, he turned his head to find Kaoru staring intently at the bar countertop. He set down the butterfly pea flower tea and reached over to Kaoru, waving his hand in front of her face.
"Hello? Earth to Kaoru."
"What?" Kaoru blinked. "Oh sorry. Did you say something?"
"Nothing." Soujirou smiled, turning back to the tea. "You seem distracted, that's all."
"A little." Kaoru said ruefully. "I had this weird déjà vu moment today, but it felt so real, and I guess I'm still trying to process what happened."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I saw this younger version of me, maybe six? And I was fighting with a boy for the last cookie and even though that was all I saw, somehow I know I didn't end up with that cookie. And that kid called me a busu. I don't even know what it means, but for some reason, I was so mad when he said that."
"Yahiko." Soujirou muttered under his breath.
Kaoru's eyes widened, "That name! How do you know it?"
"Well…" Soujirou gave the Boston Shaker one last toss in the air and made a show of pouring the liquid into a glass. "I heard it from Sano."
"Megumi told Sano?"
"Words travel fast around here." Soujirou handed the drink to her, and with a smile hovering on his lips, he added. "Especially when you're the main character."
Kaoru stared at him, unsure of what he meant.
At that moment, a group of girls flocked into the bar, their giggling breaking the stillness.
"You did not just say that!" One shrieked.
Soujirou chuckled, "Looks like we are open now."
A/N: Okay I'll admit, I'm being lazy with this one because I'm basically taking the plot of a classic movie and modifying it slightly for this fanfic *awkward smile* If you already know what movie this is, please don't give it away ;) Oh and yes, I know SouKao is not the most popular pairing ever, but I just finished a canon pairing fanfic not too long ago (or too long ago? time is a relative concept lol), so I am rewarding myself with a pairing of my choice XD
R&R!
Date published: 2/16/2025 3:05am EST