I simply want to stay this way together with you... ― Yuki No Hana, Nakashima Mika
xxxxxx
[Rinako]
I wasn't myself once again. But so far, I was still focusing on the path that I was traversing going out of the campus grounds. My partner and I just finished our practice a while back. Until now, I still couldn't believe the fact that that jerk became my partner for the practicum at the dance club.
I didn't know if I was just unlucky when it comes to the things I wanted to happen or if something (maybe even someone) was playing with me and just had the intention of ruining my mind.
But I was really glad and I could somehow talk to Setsuji without the arguing part for the whole duration of our practice together.
Why did I say that I was glad? Think about it. For one and a half weeks, I would be with that guy. I would consider that unlucky on my part. I had a feeling that fate was conniving with God so all of this would happen to me.
This was so much torture for me as each day that these happened would pass by. But I didn't have a choice. Our club adviser already decided on this one. I might as well go with it. Thankfully, my partner had been cooperative so far.
Then all of a sudden, I remembered what happened two days ago with Setsuji. It was the first day of our dance practice for our dance practicum...
I hated that dance practicum, I swear!
xxxxxx
[Flashback]
Setsuji and I had finally arrived at the hidden part of the auditorium where he suggested that we should practice since no other students would go there. It seemed that the place was filled with stories about supernatural and paranormal stuff. But so far, I didn't feel anything weird or scary, for that matter.
That is if there was something about that place that I should feel.
"At least in this place, it's quiet and we could practice here with no other groups to disturb us," Setsuji said and placed his backpack on the sofa that he just dusted. "Why don't you place your bag here?"
Without a word, I did what he said and I took out a CD from my bag soon after.
"Did you bring a CD player that we can use?" I asked without facing him. My attention was fixed on the list of songs on the back of the CD case. I needed to find the right song that we could use for the practice and also for the practicum.
"Yeah."
I just bit my lip as I was thinking of what to do. Seriously, what was going on again?
Now that Setsuji and I were in one place that no people would seem to venture to, I don't know what to feel. Here I was, my heart was starting to beat fast again. Yes, even though we still had a few meters of distance between us, I could still feel that way.
Seriously...
Why was it that I would end up feeling that when it comes to this heck of a guy? I guessed I should be grateful that he was still oblivious to this dilemma I've been dealing with. Perhaps my way of hiding it from Setsuji was different compared to others.
But I won't deny that it was giving me a hard time, though.
"...song are we going to use?"
I got startled when I finally realized that there was another person in this room aside from me. And it so happened that the guy I was thinking about was that person. Talk about embarrassing...
"W-what did you say again?"
No answer came from Setsuji. Instead, he was frowning when he looked at me intently, as if analyzing me.
I couldn't help feeling conscious of that. "W-why are you looking at me like that? I-is there something wrong with my face?"
But the answer that came from him was a bit different from what I was expecting. "Are you alright, Fukuizumi?" he asked concerningly.
It caught me off-guard. I couldn't help looking at Setsuji. For real? This guy was concerned about me?
"What kind of question is that? Do I look like someone who's not okay?" I just went ahead to the table where the radio/CD player that Setsuji brought was placed. But instead of placing the CD into the player as soon as I reached it, I ended up reading the list on the casing once again.
Wait, what song were we going to use for the dance practicum, anyway?
Then something surprised me when I felt someone holding my hand that was holding the CD case from behind me and slightly raising it near my face. I didn't have to turn around for me to know who was behind me at that moment.
My proof? I just need to feel the different beating of my heart. That's it.
"W-what do you think you're doing? You can take this from me without standing there behind me."
But all he did was smile mischievously. Urgh! Was this guy even serious about all this?
"I don't want to. Besides, it's better this way. This is our first step," he replied casually while still looking at the list.
"First step?"
I felt him nod.
Why does this guy have to approach me and place himself behind me? Now here I was, I couldn't even do anything to calm my heart down. I just hoped this guy staying behind me won't even think of teasing me at the moment in case he managed to feel that.
"We're going to be dancing the waltz, in case you're forgetting. So first up, you should be used to physical contact," Setsuji casually said.
"I'm used to physical contact. What I'm not used to is having physical contact with you. Especially the fact that you're possibly planning to harass me again. I just have to make sure."
You know what? I could've laughed at that. I wasn't even sure how I managed to say those words. I could only hope that it was able to conceal the nervousness I was feeling.
"Seriously, harass you? Fukuizumi, if you're not feeling any pity for my face, I do. It's better that I should do something to save my handsome face from your brutality." He was even shaking his head and finally took the CD case from my hand.
I didn't know if I should be laughing or irritated because of what he said. But since he wasn't doing anything disturbing to me, I might as well let him be... for now.
And for me to do that, I could only think of a certain something at the moment. "Can I talk to you properly?"
Setsuji faced me with a frown. "Huh? What kind of question is that? It's like you're saying I'm crazy."
"Are you not?" I shook my head. Here goes this guy again. He had the habit of changing the topic. "But that's not what I meant. We need to do something to make this work. And I shouldn't be the one who needs to do something for that to happen."
"You mean..."
I sighed in hopes of calming my erratically beating heart. This annoying heart! Does it have to beat this fast? "Why don't we spare each other from all the fights we've been having every time our paths would cross. This might be just a club activity to most of you but this is important for me as our grades in our other subjects are also involved in this." I sighed after that. "How about... we come up with a temporary truce? Just until this dance practicum ends..."
After saying that, I noticed Setsuji suddenly becoming quiet along with the change of expression on his face. It looked like he was thinking about my suggestion. While he was doing that, I couldn't help secretly observing this guy. Even though he was serious or playing around, his charisma was still there.
Here we go again...
Okay, fine. I admitted that this jerk could be charismatic. But it would be for the best if I was the only one who knew that.
"You have a point. But why temporary?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Because that's what I want. There's nothing wrong with that, right?"
"Why can't you make it a long-term?"
Huh? Long-term? Seriously? "That would only happen if you finally fixed that loose screw in your mind and you finally decide to stop annoying me every day." Soon after, I retrieved the CD case from Setsuji.
This was just great. He didn't even place the CD into the player. I could only sigh at that.
"Well, you know my day won't be complete without teasing you."
I looked at him incredulously. And he had to give me that kind of reason? With that smug smile on his face? Seriously, he wasn't cute at all.
"You're one hopeless case, you know that?" I guessed I won't be able to talk to him properly. I only had one simple wish, he couldn't even do it.
I heard Setsuji laugh but I didn't switch my attention to him anymore. It was better than I did that so he won't know my whole system was completely affected by that simple laugh of his.
Oh, dear! It seemed that my mind was the one that has a loose screw with all the stuff I was thinking about at the moment.
"Come on, I was just kidding." I heard his footsteps, indicating that he was approaching me. "I'm still in my right mind, okay? In case you're already doubting that part. And I know how much you push yourself just so you could get a good grade. But I want you to remember that grades aren't the only basis of intelligence and skills of a person." He sighed soon after.
That was when I realized that he was behind me again. Why was it that he liked to place himself there? It was like that, every time. Even in our other subjects where he was my classmate.
"Okay. Let's have a temporary truce."
What he said had made me speechless. Was this guy for real? He agreed to what I wanted to happen?
I shook my head inconspicuously. What was going on with you, Fukuizumi Rinako? "You're serious?"
Setsuji frowned and looked at me incredulously. "Can't you even trust me? Now that I'm saying things seriously, you won't even believe it."
"You only act serious once in a while. And it wasn't even towards me so how I would know if you're serious at this point?"
"I'm serious. For the sake of making this practicum work for the two of us, I'm willing to have a truce with you even if it's temporary. Satisfied?"
His expression was serious. No traces of anything that would indicate he was joking or kidding around. Well, I might as well go with this. This doesn't happen often, you know.
I held out my hand in front of him. "It's a deal then?"
He looked at my hand for a few moments before taking it. I tried my best not to show any reaction when I felt a sudden tingling sensation that coursed itself through my veins the moment our palms touched like that.
"Deal."
My heart beats unlike before when I'm with you... ― Ni Tan Phan Dao (A Tale Of Thousand Stars), Gun Napat
xxxxxx
[Rinako]
AND THAT was the start. But to be honest, I didn't know how would I be able to bear this kind of set-up that I have with Setsuji. It seemed like it was a bad idea for me to propose a temporary truce. I was a bit perplexed about Setsuji's sudden change of treatment to me.
And now, I didn't know exactly what to feel because of that
Wait a minute. Why was I paying attention to that? I already got what I wanted to happen, right?
I could talk to that crazy jerk Setsuji properly now. He wasn't teasing me. And he wasn't doing anything to ruin my day.
And to think only two days had passed since that truce...
This was just great!
But why was it that it still felt like there was something wrong with me? I was just only thinking about the concern and care that he was showing to me since the start of that truce right now, and here was my heart beating crazily again. And it seemed that my heart would always react like that whenever that Setsuji would be the issue.
Why was it that my mind would always be in a frenzy when it comes to that irritating jerk?
And heck! Since when was the time that my mind was in peace whenever that guy was involved? I even said that I didn't want to be paired with him. But Tachibana-sensei already said it, I couldn't do anything about it. Rules were rules so I had no other choice but to abide.
I yawned all of a sudden. What the heck? Don't tell me I'd end up in bed without eating dinner once I would reach home later?
All I did after thinking about that was sigh. It looked like I won't ever get tired of doing this, especially since I couldn't say my mind would be at peace with all this thinking.
I continued walking, this time I chose to speed it up. I just felt enthusiastic to walk faster. My mind was functioning a little better with that when it comes to thinking logical things.
But the one thing that was frustrating for me, was why was it that I would always end up thinking about that jerk? Please, stop that, okay? It was enough that he would constantly disturb and annoy me at school. I didn't want to think of him, even more, when I was supposed to have peace of mind whenever I would walk to go back home.
"Return to your original focus, Rinako!"
Great! Now I looked like a fool here. Or maybe I already looked like a crazy person just by talking to myself here.
Then all of a sudden, I felt something like a hand just grab my left arm and pulled me hard. I wasn't able to comprehend the situation after I felt that. What soon registered in my mind was the arm wrapped around me and a hand at the back of my head and my eyes were closed while my face was buried in the chest of the one who pulled me like that.
That wasn't all.
Even my heart seemed to be in a race when it comes to beating along with the heartbeat of the guy who was embracing me at the moment. He was breathing hard, too, as if he just ran to get me and--
Now, wait just a freaking minute!
He? As in a guy?
'Idiot! He had a hard chest, right? And should I add the smell of the person hugging you right now?'
Wait a minute! I needed to calm down. Focus. Maybe it would be easy for me to know who it was, right?
But how?
"Would you find another place to display your affections instead of doing it in the middle of the road?" an unfamiliar voice said. Along with that, I heard something that seemed to come from a motorcycle.
And heck! What did he say? We were displaying affection?
"Hey, idiot! Maybe you should be scolding yourself. The road is wide and yet you decided to drive your rotten motorcycle by the sidewalk. The next time I'll see that bike of yours and you'd yell to us, I'll make sure it would end up in the junk shop!"
Woah, I couldn't believe this guy for shouting those things. And I was right, a guy was the one who pulled me away from that motorcycle.
Not just any guy, though.
It was a very, very, very familiar guy.
No wonder my heart was beating this fast again and I could hear it. I guessed it was a good thing that his voice was that loud so I think he won't be able to hear my heart beating that fast. If he did, I would be dead.
The last thing I heard before I decided to look at the guy who was holding me at the moment was the screeching sound of a motorcycle leaving that place. I slowly distanced my face from his chest before looking up. Only God knew how I was trying to control myself not to let out a loud gasp the moment I saw that guy's face.
Of all people, does it have to be Setsuji?
Setsuji looked at me almost immediately and it was too late for me to look away. Our gazes met. He was breathing slightly heavy as if he was still catching his breath. But I won't deny that certain something that I've seen in his eyes.
He was worried... for me.
"Are you okay? Were you hurt?"
Even his tone of voice was laced with the same emotion, along with concern. With the way he was expressing his worries, he was acting as if I got cornered by some gangsters and was almost hurt because of them.
Wait... Maybe I used a really bad example for that. But that was the closest one I could think of.
"I'm alright. Thank you." I could've granted him a smile for that but heck, no!
That was because... I couldn't.
How was I supposed to smile at this person when I could feel my cheeks were starting to get hotter by the minute even though I don't want to? I thought he was also forgetting the fact that...
"Ah... Mitsuta..." I started, venturing.
"Hmm?"
Breathe in... Breathe out... You could do it, Rinako.
"Umm... C-could you please... let me go now? From what I can see, you're taking advantage of the fact that we're in a truce right now so you're also taking the opportunity to embrace me like this."
Good one, Rinako!
Seriously! I almost stuttered because of that.
And as if scalded, Setsuji released me from his hold almost immediately. I sighed in relief inwardly after that and instinctively, I looked somewhere that wasn't anywhere near him. Until my eyes landed on a certain large and lush tree standing on a cliff near the sea.
Weird... Why was it that I could feel something different about that tree?
"I'm sorry," Setsuji started that immediately disrupting my concentration as I was staring at the tree on the cliff.
I stared at him because of that.
"I didn't mean anything bad when I did that. I guess it's just..."
I think I knew what reason this guy would tell me. "Protective instincts... right?"
Setsuji instantaneously faced me, as if he wasn't expecting the words I just said.
"What? Am I wrong?" I asked casually even though my heart at the moment was acting stubborn. I was seriously surprised by myself. How could I act casually when it comes to this guy even though my mind was seriously in pieces?
Setsuji shook his head after that and smiled. I almost gaped at the sight of that smile. After seeing that, I guess I could finally conclude who among the Mitsuta twins had the most beautiful smile.
I stared at my wrist when I noticed that I wasn't wearing a watch. Oh, great! What time was it already?
"Umm... What's the time indicated on your wristwatch?" I asked when I didn't have any option. I haven't bought a new phone for my supposed second option.
Since Setsuji was near me, I was sure that he was wearing a wristwatch since I could see it. So I opted to ask him about the time.
But this jerk didn't even dare answer my question and ignored me. But then, that was just my assumption. That was because after a few moments, I felt two hands suddenly placed on my shoulders from behind and that jerk started pushing me.
Honestly, what kind of craziness was this guy thinking again for him to do this?
"It's time for us to find an ice cream stand since I want to eat something cold."
"But why do you have to bring me along, huh? You can eat ice cream without dragging me."
"Stop complaining, will you? It would be my treat so you should be grateful."
What did he say? He was joking, right?
"Hey! Just because I suggested that truce doesn't mean you have any right to drag me anywhere you want. And will you please be gentle when you hold my shoulders and push me? I could punch you if you hold my shoulders even tighter. You're seriously taking advantage of the situation, huh?"
But instead of intimidating the guy, he just laughed at me. It was a heartfelt laugh, one that sent my heart soaring high.
"I was only seizing chances like this, Rinako-chan. Besides, didn't they say that 'Grab the chance while it lasts? I'm just doing that. I guess there's nothing wrong with that, right?"
When I looked at the jerk's face who was still holding my shoulders and pushing me, I didn't want to admit that I froze inwardly. The look I was expecting to see on Setsuji's face was something analogous to that of a smug one. But as I looked at him at that simple moment, that wasn't what I saw there.
It was a look that was something close to that of childish--innocent, heartfelt, and full of life. His smile was one of the contributing factors for me to see that.
That and the endearment he used to me...
"...Rinako-chan..."
Seriously... Why was it that there wasn't a day that my heart won't act this way? I hated this!
"I just wish it's alright for me to wish that this truce won't end..."
I frowned when I heard that. I had this feeling that he wasn't intending for me to hear what he said.
But that was the real issue. He wasn't intending for me to hear it. But I remembered something that my mother said about some words that were not meant to be heard but then you still heard them, albeit unintentionally.
My mother said to me that those words--the words that weren't intended to be heard of by someone--were usually the words that came from the bottom of the heart of the one who said them.
If that was the case, then...
My eyes widened when I thought of its possible meaning.
Don't tell me...?
I secretly removed whatever thoughts suddenly appeared in my ever hyperactive mind. There was no way whatever I was thinking could happen. And besides, it was impossible.
Impossible.
What kind of torture was this? Now even my heart was insanely pounding faster inside my chest because of that equally insane thought.
Just great! This was just the second day of practice. What was I supposed to do? If I had to tolerate this guy for one and a half weeks, that means... I still had 8 more days to endure.
You got to be kidding me...
Eight days... then adding the day of the dance practicum would make it nine days. I would have to endure this torture for that while longer because of being with this guy. This was stressful!
But okay. Nine days... I had to put up with that. Besides, I already survived two days of that kind of "torture".
But to be honest, if I had known at the moment that a lot would happen in eleven days which was the duration of that heck of a truce that would surely change the course of my life, I wished I should have suggested that.
Argh!
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