Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Neighbors
The sound of air conditioner filled the dim room. Sunshine was trying its best, peeking beneath the thick curtain to tell the sole person in the room that it's time to start the day. The person, however, didn't even bother to open their eyes, still slumbering in their deep sleep. It didn't last long until...
"BEEP BEEP BEEP! BEEP BEEP BEEP!"
The annoying sound of a digital alarm clock put on the bedside table echoed in the entire room, waking up the person on the bed. Lazily, they stretched their arm to reach for the alarm. Pushing a certain button to stop the awful sound, they peeked through the blanket to read the numbers on the clock.
[It's still seven...]
Still, they took off the blanket that covering them, revealing their body wearing a turquoise pajama. Looking at their figure, that person is a female. The first thing she does after getting up from her bed is to look at herself in the mirror. Judging by her appearance, the female must be in her late teens or early twenties. Her figure is rather skinny, with a small-face feature that her society favors.
"I will get rid of this bed hair later..." She mumbled, staring at her messy medium length brown hair before heading to the washroom.
After washing her face and brushing her teeth, the girl headed to the kitchen. She turned on the electric kettle in the kitchen after putting a fair amount of tap water inside. While waiting for the water to boil, she reached for a bag of plain loaf. Staring at the loaf for a moment, her right hand opened one of her kitchen cabinets then grabbed a jar of peanut spreads.
The girl just finished spreading the peanut butter on her loafs when she heard a clicking sound coming from the electric kettle. Quickly, she took her favorite mug and a bag of black tea, then pouring the boiling water into it. She sat on the small dining table, throwing her gaze around the room. She was living alone in this apartment unit, something that she had been longing since she was in high school. She moved out from her house to live by herself this summer, right after she turned twenty.
Today was Saturday, the best day in the entire week in her opinion. She always loved to spend her time on Saturday morning by relaxing all day.
"A simple cleaning is fine, I guess..." She mumbled while looking around. The girl wondered how she should spend her weekend. Then she smiled, imagining herself to spend her Saturday by reading a book or watch the TV serial she recorded. Delighted, she took a sip of her tea.
A sound of a door opened and closed was heard from outside. It must be the tenant that resides in the next door. Her neighbor was always going out early and come home late, so she never had time to greet them.
"Bleep."
The girl slightly startled by the bleeping sound from somewhere around the room. It must be her cellphone. Sighing, she rose from the chair to search for her phone.
"I think I put it on the sofa last night," The girl breathed while looking at the sofa.
"Oh, here it is!" She exclaimed, grabbing her phone, then swiftly opened the chat application.
[Yuna: Misaki, don't forget the matchmaking party at six!]
Reading the message, Misaki couldn't help but gulped. She just remembered that she should come to a 'matchmaking party' tonight. During her first and second year in the university, it was something that she avoided at all costs. She was planning to avoid it indefinitely, but her friend kept bothering her to try it once, so she decided to try it. Don't get it wrong, she just agreed to it so she could prevent her friend to invite her another time.
Sacrificing one Saturday for a better outcome would not be bad at all.
[Misaki: Okay!]
Misaki let out a lengthy sigh. Yuna said that the other party comes from T University, one of the most prestigious university in the country. She always imagined them as a bunch of cocky nerds. People said that unpopular boys try their best to enroll at that university so they can get a girlfriend. Well, that's sounded ridiculous enough for Misaki.
---
Misaki waved her hand at Yuna and two other girls who were waiting in front of the pub specified for the matchmaking party. Judging by their looks, Misaki was sure that they wore their best outfit for today's event. Already expecting that, Misaki tried her best to wear an appropriate outfit, too. It's not that Misaki wanted to lure the other party's attention, she did it just because she thought it'd be disrespectful for the other girls.
"They're already inside," Yuna said, referring to the guys from T University.
Misaki responded by a single nod.
"Hiroki Numazu from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences," the guy who was sitting in front of Misaki introduced himself. He was smiling, even though Misaki felt that his smile was a little awkward. The girl admitted that Numazu had the best look compared to the three others, but from how awkward his smile was, Misaki knew that he didn't want to be at this non-sense party.
Neither Misaki nor Numazu tried to engage in a chit-chat, resulting in a weird atmosphere between them. Realizing this, Yuna felt that she should interfere.
"Numazu-san, do you play any sport?" Yuna asked Numazu with an ultra-generic question.
"Eh? Yeah, I did basketball during high school," Numazu answered the question shortly.
"Really?! You know, I was basketball club manager during high school! I like boys that can play basketball!" Yuna said in a high tension, excited that she and Numazu shared similarity.
Misaki chuckled for a bit when she heard Yuna's response. As her high school friend, Misaki knew that Yuna was indeed the basketball manager, but seeing boys playing basketball? It was impossible since their high school was an all-girls school.
"Misaki was in the Literature Club in high school. That's why she's enrolled in the School of Letters know. It kinds of suit her image, right?" Yuna continued by bringing Misaki to the conversation.
"...A-ah! Yes," Misaki responded, surprised that Yuna suddenly mentioned her.
"She was once the winner of a short story contest held by the municipality!" Yuna bragged about her friend from high school.
"You shouldn't say something embarrassing like that, Yuna..." Misaki covered her face, embarrassed when someone mentioned any of her achievements.
"I think... that's outstanding, Shimizu-sa—Sora?!" Numazu suddenly gagged at his own words and calling someone's name.
"...Hiroki?" A female voice called out Numazu's given name. Misaki turned back to see the person behind her.
A tall and slender girl caught Misaki's gaze. She was sporting a short, shaggy cut that seemed to be a bit messy. Her straight eyebrows and long eyelashes makes her facial features incredibly stunning. Even though the outfit she wore was only a simple cream colored banded-collar shirt and a white pants with a brown sling-bag, those couldn't tone down her attractiveness.
"S-Sora! What are you doing here?!" Numazu said in a loud voice, couldn't manage his nervousness. Surprised by Numazu's voice, Misaki turned at Numazu.
Looking at Numazu's expression, Misaki immediately knew that the guy in front of her was holding a special feeling for this girl.
"I have dinner with my brother," The girl, whom Numazu called as 'Sora' answered lightly. Her tone was flat, and she kept her stoic expression, contrasting the awkward expression that plastered on Numazu's face.
"Katagiri, you often come here? We should eat here with the others sometimes!" Another guy said to Sora, grinning his teeth widely.
"Okay, but I don't think you should say that in front of them," Sora said while looking at Misaki, realizing what kind of gathering her friends had. The other girls giggled when they heard Sora's words, causing the guy to feel embarrassed.
"Well then, see you later," The girl excused herself.
[What a good-looking girl...]
Unconsciously, Misaki recalled that woman's name in her mind.
[Sora Katagiri.]
Misaki took a glance at Numazu, who was becoming more awkward than before. This guy must feel uneasy for being caught to be in this kind of party with someone he likes. While Katagiri... seems didn't even mind it from the way she talked earlier.
[What a poor guy...]
"Is that girl is also from T University?" One of the girl asked.
"Yeah, she's also one of us! The smartest in our year, right Hiro?" The other guy explained, nudging Numazu with his arm.
"Y-yes..." Numazu responded.
"Anyway, why should we talk about her? All of you are waaaaaay cuter than her, anyway!" The farthest guy from Misaki's seat complained.
The complaint was responded by cheers from the girls, except Misaki, who kept looking and pitying Numazu in silence.
Misaki sneakily took a glance at the table where Katagiri sat with a slightly older man wearing a suit. It looks like they were engaged in a serious conversation, judging from Katagiri's expression. Then Misaki turned her gaze again to Numazu.
"...Want to go outside?" Misaki asked. Numazu's eyes widened when he heard the sudden invitation.
"Okay," Numazu accepted the invitation.
---
Standing outside the pub, both Misaki and Numazu still didn't say a single word. Anything that Misaki heard from Numazu was repeating sighs.
"... Honestly, I didn't want to go," Misaki finally initiated the conversation.
"So, you're the same as me?" Numazu smiled, seems to be a bit relieved.
"Mmm... well, I'm not in love with anyone. So... maybe it's a little different," Misaki said, indirectly referring to Numazu's crush.
Hearing Misaki's words, Numazu widened his eyes.
"Y-you can tell?!" Numazu stuttered in his own words, shocked that his crush at Katagiri was already exposed. Embarrassed, Numazu turned his gaze down, looking at the asphalt road.
"...She's pretty, even in just a simple attire. You certainly have good eyes," Misaki continued while trying to reminisce about Katagiri's face.
"Sora is more than that..." Numazu responded. A bitter smile appeared on his lips. Sympathize with the guy in front of her, Misaki let out a faint smile.
"Should we go to somewhere else?" Misaki threw another invitation, "I want to eat something cheap right now,".
Misaki and Numazu headed to a family restaurant after excusing themselves from the others. During their way, Misaki felt that her cellphone vibrated, so she checked it.
[Yuna: Do your best! Tell me about it tomorrow!]
"...What the hell..." Misaki mumbled. Yuna must think Misaki was interested in Numazu.
"...Is something matter?" Numazu asked innocently. Unlike before, he looked more comfortable now.
"They got an entirely wrong idea," Misaki scoffed while putting her cellphone back to her purse.
"Haha... Sorry," Numazu apologized, knowing that he also had a part in the misunderstanding.
That night, both of them talked about many things while accompanied by a cheap pizza and free-flow soft drinks. They talked about how they loathe "matchmaking party" and why they joined that day. Also, although a bit embarrassed about it, Numazu told Misaki about his longtime crush on Katagiri and how the girl remained clueless about Numazu's feeling.
Numazu mentioned about how strange it was to have a woman heard his feeling to Katagiri. The only female friend that Numazu has is only Katagiri, after all.
"...But you're fine looking and smart. There's no way someone like you isn't popular with girls," Misaki admitted while looking at Numazu. Yes, he's certainly a handsome young adult. Hearing Misaki, Numazu let out a bitter laugh.
During her way home, Misaki couldn't stop herself to think about Numazu's crush on Katagiri. She never heard a man who's deeply in love with one girl for such a long time. All of her friends said that the woman in a relationship is always the one who preserves it. Trying their best so the man will not go to someone else. Or maybe this Numazu only wanted to win Katagiri's heart, then dump her? Misaki couldn't say for sure, since she never been in love with someone, let alone having a relationship.
"Loving someone since childhood sounds stupid..." She mumbled while walking through the alley on her way home.
---
Misaki arrived at her apartment building. It was already past midnight, so the lobby felt quieter than usual. She pushed the elevator button, then wait for it. A middle-aged man and his wife entered the lobby and stood near her.
"You're coming home late, Shimizu-chan?" The wife greeted her.
"Yeah, I had dinner with friends," Misaki responded. Her lips curved into a smile.
"It's great to be young, right dear?" The husband said, looking at his wife lovingly.
"I think both of you are also great," The younger woman said, teasing the lovey-dovey couple.
"Oh, dear! You will make him full of himself if you said that," The wife said as she pushed her husband softly.
The elevator door opened, and the three of them entered. After pushing their respective floor buttons, Misaki pushed the close door button.
"Wait!" A female voice accompanied by the sound of footsteps was echoing in the lobby. Misaki quickly push the open door button.
"...Thanks!" The tall and slender figure Misaki had seen earlier said while catching her breath and entering the elevator.
[Katagiri-san?]
"Katagiri-chan, you came home late again! I told you many times that you should take a rest sometimes!" The wife stroked Katagiri's shoulder while scolding the tall girl.
"I had dinner with my brother, but he got drunk. So I sent him to the hotel he's staying at," Katagiri laughed awkwardly, telling the reason she came home late.
[She's laughing.]
"You should take care of yourself," The husband said, agreeing with his wife.
"I know, I know. I'll stay at home tomorrow," Katagiri responded.
The elevator door opened on the third floor. The couple walked out, then waved their hand at the two people inside.
"Good night, Shimizu-chan, Katagiri-chan," The wife said with a wide smile on her face.
Silence filled inside the elevator. Misaki didn't say any words since they never formally introduced themselves to each other. When the elevator stopped at fifth floor, Misaki at once stepped out and hurried through the corridor to reach her apartment unit.
Misaki was searching for her key when a sound of footsteps came nearer. Curious, she turned around to see the source of the footsteps sound.
The sound stopped exactly when Misaki looked at her left. Katagiri was standing, looking at Misaki with her unit key in her right hand. Misaki's eyes widened, shocked that her neighbor was the person on topic when she talked with Numazu earlier.
"...Good evening...?" Misaki greeted her neighbor awkwardly.
"Good evening. Hmm..? Are you the one who sat in front of Hiroki today?" Katagiri asked, tilting her head. Misaki surprised that Katagiri remembered her face.
"Err... yeah," Misaki answered.
"Ah, so we're neighbor? What a coincidence," The taller girl said.
"Y-yeah, what a coincidence! ... W-well, since we're neighbors, I think we should properly introduce ourselves, right?" Misaki stuttered.
"I-I'm Misaki Shimizu. Nice to meet you," Misaki introduced herself while slightly bowing to her neighbor.
"I'm Sora Katagiri. It's a pleasure to meet you, Shimizu-san," Katagiri replied.
The taller girl peeked at her wristwatch.
"Oh, it's already this late. Well then, good night," Katagiri excused herself while entering her room. Misaki caught a glimpse of a smile from the stoic woman.
"Badump. Badump. Badump."
Misaki stood in front of her apartment's front door. She definitely could hear the pounding sound. She was alone in the corridor, so she must have had realized whose heartbeat it was.
"Weird..." Misaki said to herself in a soft mumble.