Realistic or Modern Moves Like Your Livelihood Depends on It

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[div class=Pic1][/div] [div class=Space][div class=Modename1]Hokori Kyuketsuki[/div] [/div]

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"Hey is that..."

"No way!"

"Kyah! I think he looked this way!"

"He's so handsome, I think I'm gonna faint!"

Ah, those were the sounds. The beautiful squeaking noises of crushes and admirers, of the opposite gender of course. Having all the girls swoon over you like that, even as you simply walked down the street still displaying some of that inevitable little bit of bedhair, it was any guys dream! It was, beyond a doubt, so great that I could get hit by a truck now and not even have to go to another world to be die happy. That is, if it was happening to me.

"Should we turn this corner, Hoki? It'll be less crowded that way." Mr. Handsome himself, Kushi Utsu, flashed me a smile as a pointed towards a certain narrow path in between two houses. The other side run next to the river, but due to poor maintenance the road was a disagrace, making it painful to walk through. On top of that, nobody liked risking falling into the river while carrying a metric ton of books, and as a result, the only people crossing that path nowadays were mostly people who inhabited that street. I sighed.

"Are you sure? It's a hard place to go through. Plus we're surrounded by a bunch of girls who would probably leap to the ground if you dropped some sweat and then would lick it off...and Shinji. I already told you, you don't need to be considerate. Nobody will give me a glance if I'm with you anyway."

"Who says I'm being considerate? Maybe I just want to show off how well I know you, best friend." The wink that followed was his usual sign of having something in his pocket. "Here's another tidbit: I bet you're just underplaying yourself as usual. I bet you'd be super popular if you just tried."

"Do you ever tone down that charm, damm it?"

The two of us continued to walk as if nothing had been spoken, until we passed by that hole and slithered through it, bags in hand and all. By the time we popped out of the narrow alleywey, our uniforms were all wrinkly and dirty. My eyes were immediately set on tapping out the dust and bits of dust that had gotten stuck in those clothes of mine.

"Uwah, the disciplinary comittee is gonna scold us for this for sure. I don't want them to walk up to me during break...maybe I should just turn myself in. What's that noise anyway?"

As I lifted my gaze again, Kushi was pointing towards a little girl on her knees in the middle of the road, bawling her eyes out. Her dad was kneeling right beside her, carefully attempting to stroke her hair while avoiding the cute little bow with a bunny underpin resembling that of the main character of a certain magical girl series that aired in the morning right before kids that age usually had to go to school. "Good Morning Magical Rim-rim-chan!", was it (not that I would know, no, not at all, no interest in that kind of stuff...)?

On the girl's other side was her backpack, complete with a logo of the mascot of that show I most definitely knew nothing about, thus confirming my suspicions. The contents of the bag were poured out from it's slight opening, a picture book, one with kanji for those just beggining to write, and a rather colorful pencilcase which had slipped partially under the blue cloth that covered a certain table. Sat at that table was an elderly woman with wet hair tungled to the back, donning a black robe in spite of the heat. Her rugged arms were crossed and her chin raised up as she looked down on the little crying girl with a frown. It was rather obvious that she played some part in the girl starting to whail like that. She, and perhaps her creepy collection of trinkets, tarot, and round opaque "crystal" ball right at the center of the table.

Yep, this was one situation I didn't want to get involved with.

I'd just need to pass through and ignore the crying girl. Her bawling was rather irritating though, but I would put up with it. I didn't even have to look. Nonetheless, curiosity got me to take just a little peek. There was snot, drool, fur and tears all over the girl's rainbow sweater. Seriously, how much did that kid love bright colors? Wearing a sweater with this heat... Not that it was any of my business. I still didn't want to hit her though, so I would have to go around her now. Just a little moving. Should I ask them to move aside? The path WAS rather narrow. No, how could I talk to them like that when she looked so scared or sad? Ah, don't take pity on her me! She's just some random, unrelated crying little girl who you have nothing to do with, and whose fashion sense is kiddy as hell and whose pants are way too loose, specially in the back where she keeps her phone and earphones, that phone which was falling off right now-

"You were about to drop this." I told the little girl as I attempted to hand over the phone she nearly dropped. Though she seemed to aknowledge my presence, her crying didn't cease. I gave her a nervous smile as her father thanked me and took the phone from my hands, apologizing for the mess. "What's wrong? What happened?"

"'ee cwursed me!.. Pawsies...wet..." It was impossible to understand her. What the heck was I doing? I shouldn't got any more involved. But seeing her like this... "cwursed"? Did she mean cursed? Pawsies... Wet... I looked at her pants again. So loose... and there was that one spot where the fabric seemed a little rougher.

I got up, and pulled a chair next to the blue clothed table.

"So, can you tell my future, old hag? I'm a little worried about this semester. "

What the heck was I doing? I hated this, confronting this creepy lady! I dropped a few coins from my wallet. I heard footsteps behind me. Kushi? What the heck took him so long to come forth? If he had been here from the start, do doubt the situation would have already been handled.

"Old ha- Ah, yes, yes I will tell you your future. But for that insult, you will have a cursed future."

"Oooh, scary. Bet you pulled that act on that little girl too. Iori was her name, right?"

I could hear the father and daughter's confused expressions behind me. It wasn't that hard to figure out, her name tag from the elementary school uniform stuck out from the collar of her sweater if one just looked well enough. Not that I could see the last name anyway. I banged my hand on the table slightly tilted, causing the thing to shake a little. A lot more than expected even. It was probably very fragile, except for the crystal ball which remained mostly in place. I moved a foot into the blue cloth. Yep, it was there.

"Stop that brat, I'll really curse you!" She pointed one of those long fingernails of hers towards me, right at my nose. That smell was somewhat nostalgic.

"So, what's this curse gonna be? What are you going to curse me with? The toothmarked tarot cards? That junk you bought from the archeological museum next town over? Seriously, couldn't you at least have removed the price tags from the shells?" The table tilt had revealed the insides somewhat. Not far from a typical charalatan's literally cheap tricks. "Or maybe you're going to pull some bad future from this painted lamp?"

I quickly reached a hand underneath the blue cloth and pressed the switch, causing the "crystal ball" to light up.

"You brats have no respect. Goes right to show technology is all you ever think about." The hag gritted her teeth.

I grinned a little. I won.

"I don't want to hear that from some greedy, petty old woman. I bet you're just good at looking at the obvious right? I bet you told her how she owns a cat, or like that morning magical girl show. I bet your threat was really personal too. Like threatening to put her back in potty training when she's obviously just stopped wetting the bed. Cheap tricks and empty threats. All to back on girl for ignoring you while she played a game on her phone and some measily yen. Then look at what you spend it in, is that a new fashion trend, glueing fake nails to your fingers?" I scoffed and stood from the chair. My job was done. I won. I turned to the litlte girl and put my hands on my pockets. "Curses, magic...none of it's real. Nothing's gonna happen to you."

The old woman stood up from her chair as well.

"You brat! You insolent... You're dooming a little girl to a life of self-indulgence and laziness, never knowing beyond her mobile devices! That is it! May you really be cursed, your future shall see a time when that recklessness of yours shall catch up with you, and your past shall appear again to haunt you! May that haunting be the downfall of your pride..."

I didn't believe any of it, but I still felt myself subconsciously picking up a faster pace as I walked away hands pocketed, until I heard running behind me. I turned around just in time for a certain little girl to crash into me and wrap her arms around my leg, instantly covering that side of my pants in snot and drool.

"Thank you for for beating that meanie onii-chan! You're really smart." The girl looked up to me and grinned.

"I uh...I.." Wait. Beat? Won? Did I just...

I just totally showed off to this girl and her father, didn't I? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I, no I... Ah, I mean, that guy! Yeah, that guy was the one that told me to say those things. He figured it all out, I was just saying them cause he was helping to calm you down, that's all!" I desperately pointed at Kushi, extending my full arm. Kushi himself seemed confused, as did the girl who dropped her hug. She looked at Kushi. then back at me. Then at Kushi again. Then once more to me. And lastly she nodded.

"Well, I guess that makes sense. Bye-bye, onii-chan!" She waved at me as she rushed to Kushi now.

I nearly dropped to my knees with my sigh. With my leg in that state, there was no way I wouldn't stand out.

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Tag: Ceemuhrie

Spoiler: phone friendly version

"Hey is that..."

"No way!"

"Kyah! I think he looked this way!"

"He's so handsome, I think I'm gonna faint!"

Ah, those were the sounds. The beautiful squeaking noises of crushes and admirers, of the opposite gender of course. Having all the girls swoon over you like that, even as you simply walked down the street still displaying some of that inevitable little bit of bedhair, it was any guys dream! It was, beyond a doubt, so great that I could get hit by a truck now and not even have to go to another world to be die happy. That is, if it was happening to me.

"Should we turn this corner, Hoki? It'll be less crowded that way." Mr. Handsome himself, Kushi Utsu, flashed me a smile as a pointed towards a certain narrow path in between two houses. The other side run next to the river, but due to poor maintenance the road was a disagrace, making it painful to walk through. On top of that, nobody liked risking falling into the river while carrying a metric ton of books, and as a result, the only people crossing that path nowadays were mostly people who inhabited that street. I sighed.

"Are you sure? It's a hard place to go through. Plus we're surrounded by a bunch of girls who would probably leap to the ground if you dropped some sweat and then would lick it off...and Shinji. I already told you, you don't need to be considerate. Nobody will give me a glance if I'm with you anyway."

"Who says I'm being considerate? Maybe I just want to show off how well I know you, best friend." The wink that followed was his usual sign of having something in his pocket. "Here's another tidbit: I bet you're just underplaying yourself as usual. I bet you'd be super popular if you just tried."

"Do you ever tone down that charm, damm it?"

The two of us continued to walk as if nothing had been spoken, until we passed by that hole and slithered through it, bags in hand and all. By the time we popped out of the narrow alleywey, our uniforms were all wrinkly and dirty. My eyes were immediately set on tapping out the dust and bits of dust that had gotten stuck in those clothes of mine.

"Uwah, the disciplinary comittee is gonna scold us for this for sure. I don't want them to walk up to me during break...maybe I should just turn myself in. What's that noise anyway?"

As I lifted my gaze again, Kushi was pointing towards a little girl on her knees in the middle of the road, bawling her eyes out. Her dad was kneeling right beside her, carefully attempting to stroke her hair while avoiding the cute little bow with a bunny underpin resembling that of the main character of a certain magical girl series that aired in the morning right before kids that age usually had to go to school. "Good Morning Magical Rim-rim-chan!", was it (not that I would know, no, not at all, no interest in that kind of stuff...)?

On the girl's other side was her backpack, complete with a logo of the mascot of that show I most definitely knew nothing about, thus confirming my suspicions. The contents of the bag were poured out from it's slight opening, a picture book, one with kanji for those just beggining to write, and a rather colorful pencilcase which had slipped partially under the blue cloth that covered a certain table. Sat at that table was an elderly woman with wet hair tungled to the back, donning a black robe in spite of the heat. Her rugged arms were crossed and her chin raised up as she looked down on the little crying girl with a frown. It was rather obvious that she played some part in the girl starting to whail like that. She, and perhaps her creepy collection of trinkets, tarot, and round opaque "crystal" ball right at the center of the table.

Yep, this was one situation I didn't want to get involved with.

I'd just need to pass through and ignore the crying girl. Her bawling was rather irritating though, but I would put up with it. I didn't even have to look. Nonetheless, curiosity got me to take just a little peek. There was snot, drool, fur and tears all over the girl's rainbow sweater. Seriously, how much did that kid love bright colors? Wearing a sweater with this heat... Not that it was any of my business. I still didn't want to hit her though, so I would have to go around her now. Just a little moving. Should I ask them to move aside? The path WAS rather narrow. No, how could I talk to them like that when she looked so scared or sad? Ah, don't take pity on her me! She's just some random, unrelated crying little girl who you have nothing to do with, and whose fashion sense is kiddy as hell and whose pants are way too loose, specially in the back where she keeps her phone and earphones, that phone which was falling off right now-

"You were about to drop this." I told the little girl as I attempted to hand over the phone she nearly dropped. Though she seemed to aknowledge my presence, her crying didn't cease. I gave her a nervous smile as her father thanked me and took the phone from my hands, apologizing for the mess. "What's wrong? What happened?"

"'ee cwursed me!.. Pawsies...wet..." It was impossible to understand her. What the heck was I doing? I shouldn't got any more involved. But seeing her like this... "cwursed"? Did she mean cursed? Pawsies... Wet... I looked at her pants again. So loose... and there was that one spot where the fabric seemed a little rougher.

I got up, and pulled a chair next to the blue clothed table.

"So, can you tell my future, old hag? I'm a little worried about this semester. "

What the heck was I doing? I hated this, confronting this creepy lady! I dropped a few coins from my wallet. I heard footsteps behind me. Kushi? What the heck took him so long to come forth? If he had been here from the start, do doubt the situation would have already been handled.

"Old ha- Ah, yes, yes I will tell you your future. But for that insult, you will have a cursed future."

"Oooh, scary. Bet you pulled that act on that little girl too. Iori was her name, right?"

I could hear the father and daughter's confused expressions behind me. It wasn't that hard to figure out, her name tag from the elementary school uniform stuck out from the collar of her sweater if one just looked well enough. Not that I could see the last name anyway. I banged my hand on the table slightly tilted, causing the thing to shake a little. A lot more than expected even. It was probably very fragile, except for the crystal ball which remained mostly in place. I moved a foot into the blue cloth. Yep, it was there.

"Stop that brat, I'll really curse you!" She pointed one of those long fingernails of hers towards me, right at my nose. That smell was somewhat nostalgic.

"So, what's this curse gonna be? What are you going to curse me with? The toothmarked tarot cards? That junk you bought from the archeological museum next town over? Seriously, couldn't you at least have removed the price tags from the shells?" The table tilt had revealed the insides somewhat. Not far from a typical charalatan's literally cheap tricks. "Or maybe you're going to pull some bad future from this painted lamp?"

I quickly reached a hand underneath the blue cloth and pressed the switch, causing the "crystal ball" to light up.

"You brats have no respect. Goes right to show technology is all you ever think about." The hag gritted her teeth.

I grinned a little. I won.

"I don't want to hear that from some greedy, petty old woman. I bet you're just good at looking at the obvious right? I bet you told her how she owns a cat, or like that morning magical girl show. I bet your threat was really personal too. Like threatening to put her back in potty training when she's obviously just stopped wetting the bed. Cheap tricks and empty threats. All to back on girl for ignoring you while she played a game on her phone and some measily yen. Then look at what you spend it in, is that a new fashion trend, glueing fake nails to your fingers?" I scoffed and stood from the chair. My job was done. I won. I turned to the litlte girl and put my hands on my pockets. "Curses, magic...none of it's real. Nothing's gonna happen to you."

The old woman stood up from her chair as well.

"You brat! You insolent... You're dooming a little girl to a life of self-indulgence and laziness, never knowing beyond her mobile devices! That is it! May you really be cursed, your future shall see a time when that recklessness of yours shall catch up with you, and your past shall appear again to haunt you! May that haunting be the downfall of your pride..."

I didn't believe any of it, but I still felt myself subconsciously picking up a faster pace as I walked away hands pocketed, until I heard running behind me. I turned around just in time for a certain little girl to crash into me and wrap her arms around my leg, instantly covering that side of my pants in snot and drool.

"Thank you for for beating that meanie onii-chan! You're really smart." The girl looked up to me and grinned.

"I uh...I.." Wait. Beat? Won? Did I just...

I just totally showed off to this girl and her father, didn't I? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I, no I... Ah, I mean, that guy! Yeah, that guy was the one that told me to say those things. He figured it all out, I was just saying them cause he was helping to calm you down, that's all!" I desperately pointed at Kushi, extending my full arm. Kushi himself seemed confused, as did the girl who dropped her hug. She looked at Kushi. then back at me. Then at Kushi again. Then once more to me. And lastly she nodded.

"Well, I guess that makes sense. Bye-bye, onii-chan!" She waved at me as she rushed to Kushi now.

I nearly dropped to my knees with my sigh. With my leg in that state, there was no way I wouldn't stand out.

 

[Ceemuhrie]

Scroll to the bottom of posts to view the Mobile Friendly Version! ​

Akemi Kojima
Morning time ~​

There's something that I want.

Something I dream about all night, spend an entire dream sequence in search of... it starts off, I'm in a dark room, so dark that I can't even see my own hands in front of me. But suddenly, I see a light in the distance. Hastily I move forward -- but wait -- it's getting further -- come back! Ah... and then, just like that, it's gone. My eyes fluttered open, a soft breeze wafting into my room.

"So... cold..." Sleep escaped me and I rose from my warm sheets to get ready for school. But... What was that dream about? Odd. I have it all the time, but I can never remember the details. I always seem to wake up at the same part too. Pah! You fiddle too much with fate and horoscopes, I scolded myself.

I threw on my uniform, fluffing up my hair, tweaking my bangs and layering on a thick amount of moisturizer to hide the tired, dazed morning eyes I was sporting this morning. I felt extra sluggish since it was getting colder, but knew if I returned to bed, I wouldn't be getting back out. Ugh. And on top of that, today, I had to work at my part-time job for a few hours, so I would have to skip after class duties. Hopefully the assisting student would be okay with that. Double ugh.

I skipped downstairs, a sticky note and a jar of jam centered on the table.

"Good morning, Akemi~
Kazuya picked up some tasty-looking jam yesterday.
Be sure to share it with mom.
Also, a package came for you. Left it by the entry way.
See you in a week! Love you to the moon!
- Papa"

​

Grabbing two pieces of toast from the toaster and a bit of jam spread, I made sure to make my way to the backroom of the house, leaving a slice in front of a portrait. My late mother. It'd become somewhat of a ritual; I would make her a bit of toast, same as myself, and tell her goodbye everyday. If I woke up real early, I'd opt to just have a long conversation with her, practice tarot reading, or just ask advice. It just... felt right. Felt like, even for a moment she was still around. Father noticed and would often buy interesting or delicious sounding jams and honeys for me to share with her.

From the note, it seemed that father was away on work business again. He was gone for weeks or days at a time. When mother died, he oted for private practice so that he could make his own schedule, be his own boss. When he was gone, my butler, Kazuya Kage, was there to tend to the house with me and always took care of cleaning up anything left at mother's little shrine. Without him, I'm sure father would have never made it through mom's death. Honestly... I probably wouldn't have either.

As I got to the doorway, a small package sat by the door. Did I order something? Wait -- was it? IT MUST BE! I opened the box, stuffing from the package falling over the floor. A cute, pastel pink vial was nestled in a small cushion, the liquid inside almost sparkling with it was infused with glitter. It certainly looked much better in-person than online, or from Idol Kimmie Karui's last video. Rumored to remove skin impurities and guaranteed to me anyone 'the cutest girl ever' for a small price of convenience store candy? There weren't too many downsides here. At least, not that I could think of. I placed the vial inside my bag, had to head to school and didn't have the time to hide the vial.

"Well, I'm off!~" I said happily, to the echo of an empty home, closing the door.

Living further away than most students, most of the walking distance was done alone and was a silent trip. How boring, I thought. Treading carefully along the path that was deemed a 'shortcut' but was actually a death trap lining the river. And that's where I came across a disheveled, old woman. She was dusting her table off, muttering expletives. Maybe she had some shitty customers earlier? If I don't make eye contact, she won't notice me, right? I began to shuffle along faster, a strained and exaggerating voice calling out.

"The cards speak about you, you know." She pulled out tarot cards. Damn, wasn't fast enough to get away. "Do you wish to see what fate has in store for you?" Well, not really. Fate already dealt its lousy hand to me. I was done with fate.

"Ehhh ~ I'll pass, obaa-san. I'm late for school."

"Oh ~ It'll take but a moment..."

"I really can't... school... you see..."

"Can't you make a minute for this poor, old obaa-san?"

I sigh, approaching the table. Fine, just do what she wants and I'll be able to leave, in peace. Finally. "How about this... I'll read your tarot instead then, so that we can speed things up? I'll only do a three-card and it'll be for your reading. Then I really must go." The old woman seemed baffled, then cackled about the reverse reading.

"Well, then, show me what you've got!"

I had the hag shuffle my deck, my eyes focusing on the desk as she moved the cards all over the place. Once she finished, she finally handed the desk back to which I accepted. The cards came back as follows: Past: Upside down tower, Future: Reverse Wheel of Fortune and Present: ... oh, well that was interesting.

"For the past, you drew The Reversed Tower card; it represents a conflict and resolution, it is up to you to flee a burning building or to continue your steps with your... little odd shop here. If I were you, I'd choose to flee the burning building. The tower card is a card that can eat you alive. For the future, well, that doesn't look too promising either; you've drawn the Reverse Wheel of Fortune. The Present card is one that more for me, but... you seem to be reallllll unlucky, obaa-san! So if you'll excuse me, I have to be leaving now."

"S-scary girl..." The woman stated blankly. What's with the kids today? She flipped the card that was meant for me, and grinned.

I skipped further up the street, now seeing other students belonging to the school walking up. Ah, so glad to be out of that disgusting alleyway. A few folks came to greet me; I heard a few 'good morning Aki-san's', and returned them with greetings and laughs, catching up on recent times and weekend. Idle talk to magazines, fashion shows and the latest 'cute boy reports' and confession letters. Though I was long gone and away from the old hag's crystal ball scam booth, I couldn't help but be concerned. When I placed a card through my own shuffle, for the present, I pulled The Upright Hanged Man. Ominous, potentially foreboding. Making an important decision. And it didn't help that the excitement for the serum was damn near burning a hole in my bag. AH. I should've just skipped today, taken the vial and hoped for the best. Now I had to wait a full school day. How would I survive?

Mom, please be with me today, I prayed, crossing the threshold of the entrance. Too late to back out now, I groaned internally, hearing the chimes and watching the scurry of students enter the gates. Perhaps it was time to have another discussion with father about home-schooling.

Spoiler: Mobile Friendly Version

Akemi Kojima
Morning time ~​

There's something that I want.

Something I dream about all night, spend an entire dream sequence in search of... it starts off, I'm in a dark room, so dark that I can't even see my own hands in front of me. But suddenly, I see a light in the distance. Hastily I move forward -- but wait -- it's getting further -- come back! Ah... and then, just like that, it's gone. My eyes fluttered open, a soft breeze wafting into my room.

"So... cold..." Sleep escaped me and I rose from my warm sheets to get ready for school. But... What was that dream about? Odd. I have it all the time, but I can never remember the details. I always seem to wake up at the same part too. Pah! You fiddle too much with fate and horoscopes, I scolded myself.

I threw on my uniform, fluffing up my hair, tweaking my bangs and layering on a thick amount of moisturizer to hide the tired, dazed morning eyes I was sporting this morning. I felt extra sluggish since it was getting colder, but knew if I returned to bed, I wouldn't be getting back out. Ugh. And on top of that, today, I had to work at my part-time job for a few hours, so I would have to skip after class duties. Hopefully the assisting student would be okay with that. Double ugh.

I skipped downstairs, a sticky note and a jar of jam centered on the table.

"Good morning, Akemi~
Kazuya picked up some tasty-looking jam yesterday.
Be sure to share it with mom.
Also, a package came for you. Left it by the entry way.
See you in a week! Love you to the moon!
- Papa"

​

Grabbing two pieces of toast from the toaster and a bit of jam spread, I made sure to make my way to the backroom of the house, leaving a slice in front of a portrait. My late mother. It'd become somewhat of a ritual; I would make her a bit of toast, same as myself, and tell her goodbye everyday. If I woke up real early, I'd opt to just have a long conversation with her, practice tarot reading, or just ask advice. It just... felt right. Felt like, even for a moment she was still around. Father noticed and would often buy interesting or delicious sounding jams and honeys for me to share with her.

From the note, it seemed that father was away on work business again. He was gone for weeks or days at a time. When mother died, he oted for private practice so that he could make his own schedule, be his own boss. When he was gone, my butler, Kazuya Kage, was there to tend to the house with me and always took care of cleaning up anything left at mother's little shrine. Without him, I'm sure father would have never made it through mom's death. Honestly... I probably wouldn't have either.

As I got to the doorway, a small package sat by the door. Did I order something? Wait -- was it? IT MUST BE! I opened the box, stuffing from the package falling over the floor. A cute, pastel pink vial was nestled in a small cushion, the liquid inside almost sparkling with it was infused with glitter. It certainly looked much better in-person than online, or from Idol Kimmie Karui's last video. Rumored to remove skin impurities and guaranteed to me anyone 'the cutest girl ever' for a small price of convenience store candy? There weren't too many downsides here. At least, not that I could think of. I placed the vial inside my bag, had to head to school and didn't have the time to hide the vial.

"Well, I'm off!~" I said happily, to the echo of an empty home, closing the door.

Living further away than most students, most of the walking distance was done alone and was a silent trip. How boring, I thought. Treading carefully along the path that was deemed a 'shortcut' but was actually a death trap lining the river. And that's where I came across a disheveled, old woman. She was dusting her table off, muttering expletives. Maybe she had some shitty customers earlier? If I don't make eye contact, she won't notice me, right? I began to shuffle along faster, a strained and exaggerating voice calling out.

"The cards speak about you, you know." She pulled out tarot cards. Damn, wasn't fast enough to get away. "Do you wish to see what fate has in store for you?" Well, not really. Fate already dealt its lousy hand to me. I was done with fate.

"Ehhh ~ I'll pass, obaa-san. I'm late for school."

"Oh ~ It'll take but a moment..."

"I really can't... school... you see..."

"Can't you make a minute for this poor, old obaa-san?"

I sigh, approaching the table. Fine, just do what she wants and I'll be able to leave, in peace. Finally. "How about this... I'll read your tarot instead then, so that we can speed things up? I'll only do a three-card and it'll be for your reading. Then I really must go." The old woman seemed baffled, then cackled about the reverse reading.

"Well, then, show me what you've got!"

I had the hag shuffle my deck, my eyes focusing on the desk as she moved the cards all over the place. Once she finished, she finally handed the desk back to which I accepted. The cards came back as follows: Past: Upside down tower, Future: Reverse Wheel of Fortune and Present: ... oh, well that was interesting.

"For the past, you drew The Reversed Tower card; it represents a conflict and resolution, it is up to you to flee a burning building or to continue your steps with your... little odd shop here. If I were you, I'd choose to flee the burning building. The tower card is a card that can eat you alive. For the future, well, that doesn't look too promising either; you've drawn the Reverse Wheel of Fortune. The Present card is one that more for me, but... you seem to be reallllll unlucky, obaa-san! So if you'll excuse me, I have to be leaving now."

"S-scary girl..." The woman stated blankly. What's with the kids today? She flipped the card that was meant for me, and grinned.

I skipped further up the street, now seeing other students belonging to the school walking up. Ah, so glad to be out of that disgusting alleyway. A few folks came to greet me; I heard a few 'good morning Aki-san's', and returned them with greetings and laughs, catching up on recent times and weekend. Idle talk to magazines, fashion shows and the latest 'cute boy reports' and confession letters. Though I was long gone and away from the old hag's crystal ball scam booth, I couldn't help but be concerned. When I placed a card through my own shuffle, for the present, I pulled The Upright Hanged Man. Ominous, potentially foreboding. Making an important decision. And it didn't help that the excitement for the serum was damn near burning a hole in my bag. AH. I should've just skipped today, taken the vial and hoped for the best. Now I had to wait a full school day. How would I survive?

Mom, please be with me today, I prayed, crossing the threshold of the entrance. Too late to back out now, I groaned internally, hearing the chimes and watching the scurry of students enter the gates. Perhaps it was time to have another discussion with father about home-schooling.

 

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[div class=Pic1][/div] [div class=Space][div class=Modename1]Hokori Kyuketsuki[/div] [/div]

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"Oh, right, what class did we have first today? There was going to be some substitution, right? Something about our teacher having to handle a troublesome upcoming transfer student?"

"Yeah. Kuro-sensei had to go to another school to do that appearantly. So our first period got switched to math instead." Kushi declared, making me stop in my tracks with an "eh?". I then proceeded to raise a foot, and swing my leg a perfect 180 degrees along with the rest of my body. I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Ah, sorry Kushi. I just remembered I forgot something at home. I'm sure calculator-sensei won't really mind if I'm just a few minutes late..."

"Of course she will mind. She will be furious. She can stand people whispering about her, and giving her that weird nickname because she calculated that the odds of that improving her relationship with the students is high, but she coming in late will be a surefire way to piss her off. Remember when Hokoji-san came in late and she lectured him down to the milisecond? Plus if you start making a habit out of this skipping classes you'll get flunked you now?"

Time to put on a serious face. I raised mine, feeling my hair shadowing my eyes. It tickled a little, but that was fine. It looked more dramatic that way.

"Kushi, I have two special reasons why I can't come to math class. Could you please understand?"

"Huh? What are you talking about? What could those reasons be, are you alright Hokori?" There was a tone of genuine surprise and worry to his voice. I had to tell him properly.

"The first reason, is that girl is here. The second reason..."

Kushi gulped.

"...is math."

"..."

"..."

"..."


"Kushi, that was so mean of you! You didn't have to do that!" I cried out as I slid open the classroom door. I took my seat on the last but one row, in the middle seat. Normally one would have gone straight for the last row window seat, but that one was actually taken by this red-haired guy (not just slightly red-haired, actually bright red) which seemed to defy gravity in it's expanse and shape. Plus it was a famous seat, making it awful for my personal goals. In front of me sat my best friend Kushi, and right in front of him....that person.

Speak (think?) of the devil, here she appeared. I couldn't help but let out a little growl as I witnessed her walking in. I hoped she didn't notice me. I wish I didn't notice her. Unfortunately, she seemed to make an EFFORT to make herself more noticeable by shouting out some greeting to the entire class. Girls nd guys alike greeted her back, though of course she seemed to get flustered when Kushi did so. If she wasn't her, someone I didn't want to see again, then maybe it wouldn't have been bad, but seeing as that was none other than Akemi Kojima, this getting involved with my best friend like that, and calling so much attention even I would have toruble ignoring her, it was just too much. I found myself burying my head into arms against the desk, feeling as though anywhere would be better to look than in front.

"It's what you get for pulling such ridiculous reasons just to avoid having to see her. Now get a hold of yourself, class should be about to start soon. Calculator-sensei always arrives on the second afterall."

[/div]

[/div]

Tag: Ceemuhrie

Spoiler: phone friendly version

"Oh, right, what class did we have first today? There was going to be some substitution, right? Something about our teacher having to handle a troublesome upcoming transfer student?"

"Yeah. Kuro-sensei had to go to another school to do that appearantly. So our first period got switched to math instead." Kushi declared, making me stop in my tracks with an "eh?". I then proceeded to raise a foot, and swing my leg a perfect 180 degrees along with the rest of my body. I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Ah, sorry Kushi. I just remembered I forgot something at home. I'm sure calculator-sensei won't really mind if I'm just a few minutes late..."

"Of course she will mind. She will be furious. She can stand people whispering about her, and giving her that weird nickname because she calculated that the odds of that improving her relationship with the students is high, but she coming in late will be a surefire way to piss her off. Remember when Hokoji-san came in late and she lectured him down to the milisecond? Plus if you start making a habit out of this skipping classes you'll get flunked you now?"

Time to put on a serious face. I raised mine, feeling my hair shadowing my eyes. It tickled a little, but that was fine. It looked more dramatic that way.

"Kushi, I have two special reasons why I can't come to math class. Could you please understand?"

"Huh? What are you talking about? What could those reasons be, are you alright Hokori?" There was a tone of genuine surprise and worry to his voice. I had to tell him properly.

"The first reason, is that girl is here. The second reason..."

Kushi gulped.

"...is math."

"..."

"..."

"..."


"Kushi, that was so mean of you! You didn't have to do that!" I cried out as I slid open the classroom door. I took my seat on the last but one row, in the middle seat. Normally one would have gone straight for the last row window seat, but that one was actually taken by this red-haired guy (not just slightly red-haired, actually bright red) which seemed to defy gravity in it's expanse and shape. Plus it was a famous seat, making it awful for my personal goals. In front of me sat my best friend Kushi, and right in front of him....that person.

Speak (think?) of the devil, here she appeared. I couldn't help but let out a little growl as I witnessed her walking in. I hoped she didn't notice me. I wish I didn't notice her. Unfortunately, she seemed to make an EFFORT to make herself more noticeable by shouting out some greeting to the entire class. Girls nd guys alike greeted her back, though of course she seemed to get flustered when Kushi did so. If she wasn't her, someone I didn't want to see again, then maybe it wouldn't have been bad, but seeing as that was none other than Akemi Kojima, this getting involved with my best friend like that, and calling so much attention even I would have toruble ignoring her, it was just too much. I found myself burying my head into arms against the desk, feeling as though anywhere would be better to look than in front.

"It's what you get for pulling such ridiculous reasons just to avoid having to see her. Now get a hold of yourself, class should be about to start soon. Calculator-sensei always arrives on the second afterall."

 

[Ceemuhrie]

Scroll to the bottom of posts to view the Mobile Friendly Version! ​

Akemi Kojima
Morning time ~​

“Ne, ne, did you hear? Homeroom is getting replaced by math this morning. Kuro-sensei is taking the day off to handle some rowdy transfer student stuff!”

Crack.

A forced, semi-pained smile crossed my face. Crap. Math? But that meant…

“Ehhhh ~ did you hear a cracking sound, Aki-chan?”

“I-I-I think maybe I stepped on a stick? Ahhhh-hah-hah-ha… Oh, hey. I’ll catch up with you in class. I’m gonna put my shoes away.”


The girl I’d been walking with, Rumi-chan, just a fellow classmate, nodded and scampered off to class. We weren’t particularly close, but it was better than walking alone in the mornings. Pending doom sat on my shoulders and it felt like a literal rock weighing me down as I recalled Rumi and I's conversation. Crap. Not only did I hate math… but… but I wasn’t mentally prepared to see Kushi this early in the day! Uwaaaah, so troublesome!

I rested my forehead against my shoe locker after switching shoes and sighed again, this time for another reason.

Him... Hokori.

Maybe I should’ve skipped today. Was it still too late? How many people actually saw me? How many more absences could I aff -- the final warning bell chimed through the halls. Like it was a divine sign from God I shuffled down the halls to get to class with a quickness. It was too to turn around late now.

“Ohhh ~ haaaai ~ yooo!”


I bounced into the classroom with a natural-looking, but forced grin. I was met with a few smiles, waves and greetings back. Having the attention was nice and all... I was just glad that I made it before sensei! I suddenly saw Kushi smiling, greeting me back, my cheeks flushing slightly.

Doki~!

How in the world was he so handsome this early in the morning, in my least favorite class? I could’ve melted on the spot. He was so dreamy… smart, handsome, friendly, charismatic. The perfect guy. And Hokori sat right behind him, directly in my line of sight if I was ever brave enough to turn around to talk to him. I felt the prickly awkwardness as I reached my seat. Crap. I really wanted to talk to Kushi, for once, at least for more than just a ‘good morning’ greeting, but I felt like Hokori sitting behind him just would put me in an uncomfortable position. We didn’t talk anymore, much less even look at each other, and it was very obvious that maybe that was the best thing for us.

Sigh... Even still…

Whyyyyy are they best friends?!?!

I sat in my seat, peeking inside my bag. Good, the potion was still intact and not a drop spilt! In my imagination, that gloriously pink vial glittered like gold. I grinned to myself, humming softly and then hanging my bag on the hook on the side of my desk. The vial didn’t seem to come with instructions, now that I recalled the box I’d emptied out this morning. Should I Google the reviews and instructions? When should I take it? Do I have to eat first? Gosh, I wish I didn't bring it to school -- the temptation is killing me!

I felt like at any moment, steam could come out of my ears. This was too much thinking and it was too early in the morning! But then, like clockwork, Calculator-sensei entered the room to teach the lesson right... Or dictate math to the class, as I referred to it. Either way, my brain was in for some punishment today as he entered the classroom, right at the chime of the last school bell. Prompt as always. I sighed. Was it lunch time yet?

"Alright," Calculator-sensei projected to the everyone, "I will begin class..."

Spoiler: Mobile FriendlyVersion

Akemi Kojima
Morning time ~​

“Ne, ne, did you hear? Homeroom is getting replaced by math this morning. Kuro-sensei is taking the day off to handle some rowdy transfer student stuff!”

Crack.

A forced, semi-pained smile crossed my face. Crap. Math? But that meant…

“Ehhhh ~ did you hear a cracking sound, Aki-chan?”

“I-I-I think maybe I stepped on a stick? Ahhhh-hah-hah-ha… Oh, hey. I’ll catch up with you in class. I’m gonna put my shoes away.”


The girl I’d been walking with, Rumi-chan, just a fellow classmate, nodded and scampered off to class. We weren’t particularly close, but it was better than walking alone in the mornings. Pending doom sat on my shoulders and it felt like a literal rock weighing me down as I recalled Rumi and I's conversation. Crap. Not only did I hate math… but… but I wasn’t mentally prepared to see Kushi this early in the day! Uwaaaah, so troublesome!

I rested my forehead against my shoe locker after switching shoes and sighed again, this time for another reason.

Him... Hokori.

Maybe I should’ve skipped today. Was it still too late? How many people actually saw me? How many more absences could I aff -- the final warning bell chimed through the halls. Like it was a divine sign from God I shuffled down the halls to get to class with a quickness. It was too to turn around late now.

“Ohhh ~ haaaai ~ yooo!”


I bounced into the classroom with a natural-looking, but forced grin. I was met with a few smiles, waves and greetings back. Having the attention was nice and all... I was just glad that I made it before sensei! I suddenly saw Kushi smiling, greeting me back, my cheeks flushing slightly.

Doki~!

How in the world was he so handsome this early in the morning, in my least favorite class? I could’ve melted on the spot. He was so dreamy… smart, handsome, friendly, charismatic. The perfect guy. And Hokori sat right behind him, directly in my line of sight if I was ever brave enough to turn around to talk to him. I felt the prickly awkwardness as I reached my seat. Crap. I really wanted to talk to Kushi, for once, at least for more than just a ‘good morning’ greeting, but I felt like Hokori sitting behind him just would put me in an uncomfortable position. We didn’t talk anymore, much less even look at each other, and it was very obvious that maybe that was the best thing for us.

Sigh... Even still…

Whyyyyy are they best friends?!?!

I sat in my seat, peeking inside my bag. Good, the potion was still intact and not a drop spilt! In my imagination, that gloriously pink vial glittered like gold. I grinned to myself, humming softly and then hanging my bag on the hook on the side of my desk. The vial didn’t seem to come with instructions, now that I recalled the box I’d emptied out this morning. Should I Google the reviews and instructions? When should I take it? Do I have to eat first? Gosh, I wish I didn't bring it to school -- the temptation is killing me!

I felt like at any moment, steam could come out of my ears. This was too much thinking and it was too early in the morning! But then, like clockwork, Calculator-sensei entered the room to teach the lesson right... Or dictate math to the class, as I referred to it. Either way, my brain was in for some punishment today as he entered the classroom, right at the chime of the last school bell. Prompt as always. I sighed. Was it lunch time yet?

"Alright," Calculator-sensei projected to the everyone, "I will begin class..."

 

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[div class=Pic1][/div] [div class=Space][div class=Modename1]Hokori Kyuketsuki[/div] [/div]

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As expected, the girl's greetings were reciprocated by the class, and a few girls even walked up to her as she headed for her seat. Normally she'd be responding to the girls I would imagine, but since a certain handsome blondie was here sitting in front of me, no doubt she was too flustered to keep up her response time. Heh. She didn't even seem to be able to collect her thoughts enough to take out her books. What was she, the love interest in a romcom? Not that I really cared. But maybe I should go shoo away that little crowd that was forming, otherwise I couldn't see the blackboard, with them surrounding that flustered girl like hyenas.

"Wow, that drink is so pretty! What is it? It seems so sparkly..." Ichiona, a classmate of ours and a big fan of...well, just about everyone with a bit of popularity, commented, throwing a hand over her mouth in surprise. Eh? Was that what was keeping Akemi? Maybe I should stay in my seat instead then. What kind of drink sparkles anyway? I knew it was hot outside, and sunny, but the thing was inside her bag so...

"Oh, this looks like that Idol video I wanted to show you the other day, Hoki. Who was she again, hum..."

"That sellout?"

"Oi, don't call her that. I mean she's an idol, but even cuties like that need to make a living."

I looked around. Suddenly the crowd had their eyes on us. I buried my face into my arms.

"Don't say that, you'll disappoint a lot of girls here. Plus, there is a bare minimum of dignity one should always-"

Calculator-sensei​

At that moment, our teacher, Calculator-sensei, entered. As she announced she'd start class, everyone headed for their seats, while she pulled out three watches. One an old-timey pocket watch, another a fancy modern eletronic watch, and of course her shining from being polished so much wristwatch.

"It took you 1.32 minutes aproximately to be read after I entered. I shall deduct 2 minutes from your break."

Nobody protested. They knew protesting would result in her rambling about statistics and odds of our future behavior being irresponsably molded and all that... and then that time would be deducted from our break as well.



After that, the remaining periods just flew by. Though our classes had broken apart hours ago, some girls were still completely absorbed talking about the sparkly drink.

"Pffft, what's so special about some random drink like that? Do you have any idea, Kushi?"

The boy looked at the ceiling as we walked, clearly trying to remember something.

"Ah, sorry, it's just not coming to me. Something about becoming cuter? Maybe it's some kind of beauty product?"

"Wasn't it a drink though?"

"You're right. Maybe it's something like, to help with diets?"

"Eh, weren't those illegal?"

Just as we entered the caffeteria, Kushi burst out laughing, causing my face to redden.

"Stop that, you're attracting too much attention!"

"I can't help it, now can I? Seriously, where do you even get those types of ideas? Dietary products being illegal..."

"Ah, shut up. Let's just get ourselves some lunch..."

[/div]

[/div]

Tag: Ceemuhrie

Spoiler: phone friendly version

As expected, the girl's greetings were reciprocated by the class, and a few girls even walked up to her as she headed for her seat. Normally she'd be responding to the girls I would imagine, but since a certain handsome blondie was here sitting in front of me, no doubt she was too flustered to keep up her response time. Heh. She didn't even seem to be able to collect her thoughts enough to take out her books. What was she, the love interest in a romcom? Not that I really cared. But maybe I should go shoo away that little crowd that was forming, otherwise I couldn't see the blackboard, with them surrounding that flustered girl like hyenas.

"Wow, that drink is so pretty! What is it? It seems so sparkly..." Ichiona, a classmate of ours and a big fan of...well, just about everyone with a bit of popularity, commented, throwing a hand over her mouth in surprise. Eh? Was that what was keeping Akemi? Maybe I should stay in my seat instead then. What kind of drink sparkles anyway? I knew it was hot outside, and sunny, but the thing was inside her bag so...

"Oh, this looks like that Idol video I wanted to show you the other day, Hoki. Who was she again, hum..."

"That sellout?"

"Oi, don't call her that. I mean she's an idol, but even cuties like that need to make a living."

I looked around. Suddenly the crowd had their eyes on us. I buried my face into my arms.

"Don't say that, you'll disappoint a lot of girls here. Plus, there is a bare minimum of dignity one should always-"

Calculator-sensei​

At that moment, our teacher, Calculator-sensei, entered. As she announced she'd start class, everyone headed for their seats, while she pulled out three watches. One an old-timey pocket watch, another a fancy modern eletronic watch, and of course her shining from being polished so much wristwatch.

"It took you 1.32 minutes aproximately to be read after I entered. I shall deduct 2 minutes from your break."

Nobody protested. They knew protesting would result in her rambling about statistics and odds of our future behavior being irresponsably molded and all that... and then that time would be deducted from our break as well.



After that, the remaining periods just flew by. Though our classes had broken apart hours ago, some girls were still completely absorbed talking about the sparkly drink.

"Pffft, what's so special about some random drink like that? Do you have any idea, Kushi?"

The boy looked at the ceiling as we walked, clearly trying to remember something.

"Ah, sorry, it's just not coming to me. Something about becoming cuter? Maybe it's some kind of beauty product?"

"Wasn't it a drink though?"

"You're right. Maybe it's something like, to help with diets?"

"Eh, weren't those illegal?"

Just as we entered the caffeteria, Kushi burst out laughing, causing my face to redden.

"Stop that, you're attracting too much attention!"

"I can't help it, now can I? Seriously, where do you even get those types of ideas? Dietary products being illegal..."

"Ah, shut up. Let's just get ourselves some lunch..."

 

[Ceemuhrie]

Scroll to the bottom of posts to view the Mobile Friendly Version! ​

Akemi Kojima
Lunch time ~​

Calculator-sensei led the class, not even stopping for questions or a single break from one formula to the next. She used every second, of every minute of the class, draining nearly all the students of their life forces. And still took that two minute penalty. There were a few brainiacs in the classroom, but the majority got lost in the lesson and were too afraid to lose even more break time by asking her to go back over parts of the lesson. So they tried to take the best notes they could... but expected full failure come exam time.

I was one of those students. I suddenly wished there was a potion that would make me a bit smarter.

Or at least smart enough to pass math.

Or a potion that would just eliminate math.

The bells finally chimed for lunch, drawing sighs of relief from the classroom. Sweet, sweet freedom. The same girls that gathered around my desk before class started, gathered around again. Not wanting to risk leaving the vial in my bag, unattended, I quickly shoved it into my pocket without the girls noticing and rose from my seat.

"Ne, ne, ne. Aki-chaaan ~ tell us more about that sparkly drink thing!"

"Wellllllll ~ " I could feel my nose growing from the pre-emptive gloating I was about to do, "I ordered it from Whamazon a couple of weeks ago! I saw the idol Kimmie Karui do a review on her channel and absolutely had to get it. I think it's some kind of detox and diet supplement, talk about a cure all! All I know is that she got so much cuter and her skin started looking even softer! And the reviews say it's only 20 calories and tastes like Pink Lemonade!"

I squealed in joy, the girls around my desk also squealing. I didn't know if they were really excited for me, but what did it matter? Friends? Fans? It was beginning to be the same to me. We left the immediate area, but some of the girl's voices could still be heard at a distance.

"Neee ~ did you hear Hoki-kun earlier?"

"Oh yeah... Talking about Kimmie-chan being a sellout?"

"Yeah -- I wonder why Kushi-kun hangs out with someone so... negative."

"Kushi-kun is so nice and handsome, uwaaahhh..."

"And I heard he likes idols! What do you think, Aki-chan?"

"Ehhhhh?" I feigned ignorance, trying my best to look cute while pretending to look for an answer that seemed simple and not rude -- I couldn't risk looking like the bad guy, here. Obviously. Plus, they might've still be in ear shot range, I couldn't ruin my chances with Kushi, if I ever even got a chance. "I'm sure his heart was in the right place... but I'm not sure he knows how hard idols work to make people happy. Maybe one day, he'll understand all of Kimmie-chan's hard work!"

"Ehhhh -- You're so nice, Aki-chan ~ you can totally be an idol some day!"

I waved my hand in front of my face, modestly. But on the inside, those girls were eating out of the palm of my hand. Damn right, I'm gonna be an idol. The best idol there ever was! And with this potion, my odds were gonna increase 200%. Well... I was hoping. I smiled a bit, titling my head, carrying on the faux modesty.

"I can only hope to be that lucky! I'm just trying to have good skin for now, hahah. Oh -- I brought a bento, so I don't need to buy any lunch today, you guys can go on without me. I was gonna buy some bread, but I'd got to watch my weight... I've gained 4 kilos over the past week from stress eating. Calculater-sensei gives hard homework -- waaah. I think I'm gonna eat in the classroom today and walk around a bit -- you know -- stretch my legs, burn some calories. See you guys later? In gym?"

They nodded, we all dispersed, and I felt a small part of me tingling. I could hear the girls pick up the conversation, saying that I didn't need to diet, or aspiring to have the same level of popularity as me. Some times I wondered if they ever talked about me like they talked about Hoki just now... if what they said was just because I could still hear them. Huh.. friendships were fickle and unreliable. My youth taught me that early and if that's all that friendship amounted to, I didn't want it.

Spoiler: Mobile Friendly Version

Akemi Kojima
Lunch time ~​

Calculator-sensei led the class, not even stopping for questions or a single break from one formula to the next. She used every second, of every minute of the class, draining nearly all the students of their life forces. And still took that two minute penalty. There were a few brainiacs in the classroom, but the majority got lost in the lesson and were too afraid to lose even more break time by asking her to go back over parts of the lesson. So they tried to take the best notes they could... but expected full failure come exam time.

I was one of those students. I suddenly wished there was a potion that would make me a bit smarter.

Or at least smart enough to pass math.

Or a potion that would just eliminate math.

The bells finally chimed for lunch, drawing sighs of relief from the classroom. Sweet, sweet freedom. The same girls that gathered around my desk before class started, gathered around again. Not wanting to risk leaving the vial in my bag, unattended, I quickly shoved it into my pocket without the girls noticing and rose from my seat.

"Ne, ne, ne. Aki-chaaan ~ tell us more about that sparkly drink thing!"

"Wellllllll ~ " I could feel my nose growing from the pre-emptive gloating I was about to do, "I ordered it from Whamazon a couple of weeks ago! I saw the idol Kimmie Karui do a review on her channel and absolutely had to get it. I think it's some kind of detox and diet supplement, talk about a cure all! All I know is that she got so much cuter and her skin started looking even softer! And the reviews say it's only 20 calories and tastes like Pink Lemonade!"

I squealed in joy, the girls around my desk also squealing. I didn't know if they were really excited for me, but what did it matter? Friends? Fans? It was beginning to be the same to me. We left the immediate area, but some of the girl's voices could still be heard at a distance.

"Neee ~ did you hear Hoki-kun earlier?"

"Oh yeah... Talking about Kimmie-chan being a sellout?"

"Yeah -- I wonder why Kushi-kun hangs out with someone so... negative."

"Kushi-kun is so nice and handsome, uwaaahhh..."

"And I heard he likes idols! What do you think, Aki-chan?"

"Ehhhhh?" I feigned ignorance, trying my best to look cute while pretending to look for an answer that seemed simple and not rude -- I couldn't risk looking like the bad guy, here. Obviously. Plus, they might've still be in ear shot range, I couldn't ruin my chances with Kushi, if I ever even got a chance. "I'm sure his heart was in the right place... but I'm not sure he knows how hard idols work to make people happy. Maybe one day, he'll understand all of Kimmie-chan's hard work!"

"Ehhhh -- You're so nice, Aki-chan ~ you can totally be an idol some day!"

I waved my hand in front of my face, modestly. But on the inside, those girls were eating out of the palm of my hand. Damn right, I'm gonna be an idol. The best idol there ever was! And with this potion, my odds were gonna increase 200%. Well... I was hoping. I smiled a bit, titling my head, carrying on the faux modesty.

"I can only hope to be that lucky! I'm just trying to have good skin for now, hahah. Oh -- I brought a bento, so I don't need to buy any lunch today, you guys can go on without me. I was gonna buy some bread, but I'd got to watch my weight... I've gained 4 kilos over the past week from stress eating. Calculater-sensei gives hard homework -- waaah. I think I'm gonna eat in the classroom today and walk around a bit -- you know -- stretch my legs, burn some calories. See you guys later? In gym?"

They nodded, we all dispersed, and I felt a small part of me tingling. I could hear the girls pick up the conversation, saying that I didn't need to diet, or aspiring to have the same level of popularity as me. Some times I wondered if they ever talked about me like they talked about Hoki just now... if what they said was just because I could still hear them. Huh.. friendships were fickle and unreliable. My youth taught me that early and if that's all that friendship amounted to, I didn't want it.

 

[Idea]

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[div class=Pic1][/div] [div class=Space][div class=Modename1]Hokori Kyuketsuki[/div] [/div]

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[div class="img img1"][/div]

The caffeteria was a long, well-lit area, many rows of straight rectangular tables and half-plastic chairs with metal legs surrounding those tables in sets of eight. Despite the modern look, with the square space that ended with a singular large window on the opposite side to the entrance (though the window itself also had an emergency exit by the middle), it's smooth white paint was of a very cheap variety. It had to be considering the foods fights that often took place and the "art" occasionally painted on it, especially after exam season. Fortunately for the cleaning staff, it didn't appear as if those rebels felt "inspired" yesterday.


"So, what's for lunch today?" Our school liked to promote a certain degree of student freedoom in various aspects of our daily school lives. There were choices between extra classes, the usual club choices (with a high degree of freedoom for club creation and activities) and third years even got to pick a class schedule from among several options. Lunches followed a similar logic, with two options every day plus one more for those dieting or sick. Only problem was...

"The menu says it's lasagne and lasagnes classiques, appearantly."

"Eh? What's that? Italian?"

"It means "classic lasagne" in french."

"So they're at it again..." Yep. It was always the same two plates for both options. And they would be served by the respective cooks, too. I sighed and joined the lunch line. In the distance, there was a clear split in the line. On one end of the line there those who were fed up with the second lunch lady's attitude, and took to missis Surewater. She was a lovely foreign old lady, so lovely in fact that despite the fact she was 72 and clearly going senile nobody could bring themselves to even ask her to retire, nor explain just how bad a cook she was. To make things worse, she was a very senstive woman, prone to taking things to heart. Nevertheless, she took deep care for all the students and teachers, often being someone the teachers would come to talk about their troubles with, and rarely going without some small gift of wisdom after every serving. A lot of the times they were pretty much the same, but the poor cook had a hard time even telling salt from sugar nowadays, while in the package.

Those who couldn't handle her cooking anymore would resign to taking the other option, miss job hopper. Well, it's not like she'd need an introduction, because of how the mere mispronounciation of her name would trigger a full blown introduction to miss Flambou, a self-proclaimed famous french chef. It wasn't hard to accept this given the divine taste of her food, but at the same time...

"Whatr arr ryou talkring abrout? Such porrtion will do you justr frine! Shoo shoo!" I might've covered my ears if this wasn't such a usual sight. The woman's attitude was bad enough that despite her obvious talent at cooking, not once had she been able to hold a job at a restaurant, and because of that, she ended up here. With her hurt pride, and Missis Surewater's unexpected competitive side, the student's choice was never between two plates, but between the plates served by the two of them. It was unclear what took more courage: To actually deny the sweet, caring but horribly unskilled missis Surewater's cooking, or to take the abuse with miss job-hopper's divine meals.

"Still, you never cease to amaze me, Kushi. You speak french too?"

"A lot of idols have a french style, of course I'd learn it. You, on the other hand, isn't it about time you start doing something a little more reliable?"

"Oi, oi, I'm quite reliable! Don't you remember this morning? I- Oh, looks like we're up. Which one are you going with today?"

"School budget didn't seem to let miss Flambou experiment this time, since she only made classic Lasagne. Plus I always feel terribly sorry for missis Surewater..."

Kushi ended up taking Surewater's side this time. I followed straight.

"You're a real sweetheart, you know that Kyuketsuki-kun? Despite the name. You always come to me. Here's a little extra-large serving, on the house ok? It's our little secret." The old woman winked at me, forcing me to return a nervous smile. It wasn't like I even wanted a lot of it... I just couldn't say no, not when looking at the ugly paste of semi-grey goo on my plate and seeing the tenderly cared invidually burned areas and the little green flag she planted just for me reading "contains no drugs or poisons of any kind". Just one of the many examples of the poor woman's kindness, the way she remembered how in the beggining, I used to always check my food for traces of anything like it, the way my parents told me to.

I took the plate to a seat and began the process of staring it down until I could convince myself that it was edible enough to swallow.

[/div]

[/div]

Tag: Ceemuhrie

Spoiler: phone friendly version

The caffeteria was a long, well-lit area, many rows of straight rectangular tables and half-plastic chairs with metal legs surrounding those tables in sets of eight. Despite the modern look, with the square space that ended with a singular large window on the opposite side to the entrance (though the window itself also had an emergency exit by the middle), it's smooth white paint was of a very cheap variety. It had to be considering the foods fights that often took place and the "art" occasionally painted on it, especially after exam season. Fortunately for the cleaning staff, it didn't appear as if those rebels felt "inspired" yesterday.


"So, what's for lunch today?" Our school liked to promote a certain degree of student freedoom in various aspects of our daily school lives. There were choices between extra classes, the usual club choices (with a high degree of freedoom for club creation and activities) and third years even got to pick a class schedule from among several options. Lunches followed a similar logic, with two options every day plus one more for those dieting or sick. Only problem was...

"The menu says it's lasagne and lasagnes classiques, appearantly."

"Eh? What's that? Italian?"

"It means "classic lasagne" in french."

"So they're at it again..." Yep. It was always the same two plates for both options. And they would be served by the respective cooks, too. I sighed and joined the lunch line. In the distance, there was a clear split in the line. On one end of the line there those who were fed up with the second lunch lady's attitude, and took to missis Surewater. She was a lovely foreign old lady, so lovely in fact that despite the fact she was 72 and clearly going senile nobody could bring themselves to even ask her to retire, nor explain just how bad a cook she was. To make things worse, she was a very senstive woman, prone to taking things to heart. Nevertheless, she took deep care for all the students and teachers, often being someone the teachers would come to talk about their troubles with, and rarely going without some small gift of wisdom after every serving. A lot of the times they were pretty much the same, but the poor cook had a hard time even telling salt from sugar nowadays, while in the package.

Those who couldn't handle her cooking anymore would resign to taking the other option, miss job hopper. Well, it's not like she'd need an introduction, because of how the mere mispronounciation of her name would trigger a full blown introduction to miss Flambou, a self-proclaimed famous french chef. It wasn't hard to accept this given the divine taste of her food, but at the same time...

"Whatr arr ryou talkring abrout? Such porrtion will do you justr frine! Shoo shoo!" I might've covered my ears if this wasn't such a usual sight. The woman's attitude was bad enough that despite her obvious talent at cooking, not once had she been able to hold a job at a restaurant, and because of that, she ended up here. With her hurt pride, and Missis Surewater's unexpected competitive side, the student's choice was never between two plates, but between the plates served by the two of them. It was unclear what took more courage: To actually deny the sweet, caring but horribly unskilled missis Surewater's cooking, or to take the abuse with miss job-hopper's divine meals.

"Still, you never cease to amaze me, Kushi. You speak french too?"

"A lot of idols have a french style, of course I'd learn it. You, on the other hand, isn't it about time you start doing something a little more reliable?"

"Oi, oi, I'm quite reliable! Don't you remember this morning? I- Oh, looks like we're up. Which one are you going with today?"

"School budget didn't seem to let miss Flambou experiment this time, since she only made classic Lasagne. Plus I always feel terribly sorry for missis Surewater..."

Kushi ended up taking Surewater's side this time. I followed straight.

"You're a real sweetheart, you know that Kyuketsuki-kun? Despite the name. You always come to me. Here's a little extra-large serving, on the house ok? It's our little secret." The old woman winked at me, forcing me to return a nervous smile. It wasn't like I even wanted a lot of it... I just couldn't say no, not when looking at the ugly paste of semi-grey goo on my plate and seeing the tenderly cared invidually burned areas and the little green flag she planted just for me reading "contains no drugs or poisons of any kind". Just one of the many examples of the poor woman's kindness, the way she remembered how in the beggining, I used to always check my food for traces of anything like it, the way my parents told me to.

I took the plate to a seat and began the process of staring it down until I could convince myself that it was edible enough to swallow.

 

[Ceemuhrie]

Scroll to the bottom of posts to view the Mobile Friendly Version! ​

Akemi Kojima
Lunch time ~​

I hummed my way along down the long, student-filled hallways, waving at a few more people and making my way back to the classroom for lunch. I could feel hungry, high school boy eyes watching me as my hair swayed from side to side, the hem of my skirt brushing against my peach-colored thighs. Could hear the whispers and the hushed questions like 'where does she get her hair and facial products?' and 'what kind of diet is she on to be that slender looking?'. I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear for good measure, a soft blush creeping across my glossy cheeks. Play the part, just gotta play the part.

As I continued my walk through, I also saw people sighing about mid-terms, the stricter teachers, after-school activities and... Ah! After schoo! CRAP. That had reminded me -- I had to go to my part-time job today! I totally forgot to mention that to Calculator-sensei to see who I was paired up with for after class clean-up duty. Hopefully that person would let me skip out of duties today...

Doki ~ but wait. W-what if it was Kushi?!

...

...

...

...

...

Could I afford to call out? How much did the cafe actually need me today?

My mind wandered a completely different direction now. Me and Kushi... Kushi and I... alone, in the classroom. No distractions. No Hoki... A fated confession. The warm, Autumn sunset lining the windows, soft embarrassed gasps and love confessions. I began to forget myself in the daydream... in all actuality, I've never said more than 30 words to Kushi. And all those words were 'good morning' and 'take care'.

OOF.

My face bumped into a pair of stiff, oddly plump, elevated breasts. I blinked once, then twice. Then slowly looked up, waiting to meet my fate...

"C-c-c-Calculator-sense! W-w-what a coincidence, ah-heh-heh... I was just looking for you..."

Her face didn't budge an inch, aside from the bulging, pulsing temple on the corner of her brow and the irritated crook of her mouth. "Akemi Kojima-chan... you have 120 seconds to explain yourself..."

Two minutes!?! That's it!? Ah! "A-ah-ah, you see! I was trying to figure out who I had class duties with -- my part-time job needs me--"

I was quickly cut off by another teacher approaching. The gym teacher... Jimu-sensei. He rushed up, watering can in hand. I saw this taking a turn for the worst.

"Gah... Calculator-sensei, I need someone to take care of the garden duty. The student that was supposed to take care of it got sick and went home and all my students are off at lunch... so I have no one who will do... it..." He peered around Calculator-sensei and looked right at me. No. ohhhh, no no no no no, my brain screamed internally. I was already trying to get rid of my existing duties. And he was trying to pile on more! "Ohhhh? You look like you're not busy. Kojima-chan, right? Here's the pail. Ganbante~!"

Crack.

I tried to fight the irritation, for the sake of not causing pre-mature stress lines and wrinkles. But today was just testing my patience! It's fine. It's cool. Don't sweat it. "Neeee ~ Calculator-senseiiii ~" I started softly, offering an over the top smile.

"Your time is up, Akemi Kojima-chan. Also, your partner for after class duties is Hokori Kyuketsukoi-kun." She balled her hand into a fist -- the most human gesture I'd ever seen her show. "Fight-o."

Crack.

"What bad luck..." I sighed as I now stood outside the lines of flower boxes, watering them. My stomach growled a bit, thinking about the uneaten bento... I sighed again as I glanced up idly into the window above.

Spoiler: Mobile Friendly Version

Akemi Kojima
Lunch time ~​

I hummed my way along down the long, student-filled hallways, waving at a few more people and making my way back to the classroom for lunch. I could feel hungry, high school boy eyes watching me as my hair swayed from side to side, the hem of my skirt brushing against my peach-colored thighs. Could hear the whispers and the hushed questions like 'where does she get her hair and facial products?' and 'what kind of diet is she on to be that slender looking?'. I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear for good measure, a soft blush creeping across my glossy cheeks. Play the part, just gotta play the part.

As I continued my walk through, I also saw people sighing about mid-terms, the stricter teachers, after-school activities and... Ah! After schoo! CRAP. That had reminded me -- I had to go to my part-time job today! I totally forgot to mention that to Calculator-sensei to see who I was paired up with for after class clean-up duty. Hopefully that person would let me skip out of duties today...

Doki ~ but wait. W-what if it was Kushi?!

...

...

...

...

...

Could I afford to call out? How much did the cafe actually need me today?

My mind wandered a completely different direction now. Me and Kushi... Kushi and I... alone, in the classroom. No distractions. No Hoki... A fated confession. The warm, Autumn sunset lining the windows, soft embarrassed gasps and love confessions. I began to forget myself in the daydream... in all actuality, I've never said more than 30 words to Kushi. And all those words were 'good morning' and 'take care'.

OOF.

My face bumped into a pair of stiff, oddly plump, elevated breasts. I blinked once, then twice. Then slowly looked up, waiting to meet my fate...

"C-c-c-Calculator-sense! W-w-what a coincidence, ah-heh-heh... I was just looking for you..."

Her face didn't budge an inch, aside from the bulging, pulsing temple on the corner of her brow and the irritated crook of her mouth. "Akemi Kojima-chan... you have 120 seconds to explain yourself..."

Two minutes!?! That's it!? Ah! "A-ah-ah, you see! I was trying to figure out who I had class duties with -- my part-time job needs me--"

I was quickly cut off by another teacher approaching. The gym teacher... Jimu-sensei. He rushed up, watering can in hand. I saw this taking a turn for the worst.

"Gah... Calculator-sensei, I need someone to take care of the garden duty. The student that was supposed to take care of it got sick and went home and all my students are off at lunch... so I have no one who will do... it..." He peered around Calculator-sensei and looked right at me. No. ohhhh, no no no no no, my brain screamed internally. I was already trying to get rid of my existing duties. And he was trying to pile on more! "Ohhhh? You look like you're not busy. Kojima-chan, right? Here's the pail. Ganbante~!"

Crack.

I tried to fight the irritation, for the sake of not causing pre-mature stress lines and wrinkles. But today was just testing my patience! It's fine. It's cool. Don't sweat it. "Neeee ~ Calculator-senseiiii ~" I started softly, offering an over the top smile.

"Your time is up, Akemi Kojima-chan. Also, your partner for after class duties is Hokori Kyuketsukoi-kun." She balled her hand into a fist -- the most human gesture I'd ever seen her show. "Fight-o."

Crack.

"What bad luck..." I sighed as I now stood outside the lines of flower boxes, watering them. My stomach growled a bit, thinking about the uneaten bento... I sighed again as I glanced up idly into the window above.

 

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[div class=Pic1][/div] [div class=Space][div class=Modename1]Hokori Kyuketsuki[/div] [/div]

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"Ow ow ow..." I grappled with my stomach having left a whole third of the plate uneaten this time. Not even the little jello desert could spare my tastebuds from whatever was supposed to pass as meat there. Surely I couldn't be faulted for questioning whether those growls had something to do with what that old hag said this morning. If this was that curse of hers, then maybe I had understimated her capabilities. If nothing else, her capacity to make me feel like crap was double my innitial assumptions.

It was some pretty bad timing too. Kushi was the one that was most familiar with the whole place and what was sociably appropriate to do in situations like, well, every situation. It wasn't like I was completely clueless either, of course. It was just easier to rely on him than to fret over what I did or did not know. I could totally handle myself even if Kushi wasn't able to help me.

And so I convinced myself that I absolutely couldn't afford to go get his help. It would be like admitting I needed him or something, which was obviously nonsense. Let him go and woo over that idol's daily horoscope thingie or whatever, I would find my own way of dealing with the nausea and pain making my stomach turn like a washing machine. Honestly, what an odd bunch this school was. No wonder I ended up here.

"Guess that place should do. If I recall, the guy on duty didn't show up today, so they should still be asking around about the replacement. Nobody will even know I was there." And thus I made my way to the flower garden. It was located in the back of the school, on the dirt path between the school and the three legendary cherry trees. Legend was that if you confessed underneath the first to bloom among them, your love would last forever. If you confessed on the last to bloom, your love would instead be met we ominous ruin. It was a very dramatic tale, and as such everyone loved it, in particular the photography and newspaper clubs. Maybe I should join the newspaper club. They seemed easy enough to get, always searching for a scoop, and our school was just bursting with scoops and whacky stories and people. It was rather tiring, so it was probably a goldmine to those people. "And they just keep coming too. It's a miracle we don't have the usual problems, like drugs and stuff..."

[/div]

[/div]

Tag: Ceemuhrie

Spoiler: phone friendly version

"Ow ow ow..." I grappled with my stomach having left a whole third of the plate uneaten this time. Not even the little jello desert could spare my tastebuds from whatever was supposed to pass as meat there. Surely I couldn't be faulted for questioning whether those growls had something to do with what that old hag said this morning. If this was that curse of hers, then maybe I had understimated her capabilities. If nothing else, her capacity to make me feel like crap was double my innitial assumptions.

It was some pretty bad timing too. Kushi was the one that was most familiar with the whole place and what was sociably appropriate to do in situations like, well, every situation. It wasn't like I was completely clueless either, of course. It was just easier to rely on him than to fret over what I did or did not know. I could totally handle myself even if Kushi wasn't able to help me.

And so I convinced myself that I absolutely couldn't afford to go get his help. It would be like admitting I needed him or something, which was obviously nonsense. Let him go and woo over that idol's daily horoscope thingie or whatever, I would find my own way of dealing with the nausea and pain making my stomach turn like a washing machine. Honestly, what an odd bunch this school was. No wonder I ended up here.

"Guess that place should do. If I recall, the guy on duty didn't show up today, so they should still be asking around about the replacement. Nobody will even know I was there." And thus I made my way to the flower garden. It was located in the back of the school, on the dirt path between the school and the three legendary cherry trees. Legend was that if you confessed underneath the first to bloom among them, your love would last forever. If you confessed on the last to bloom, your love would instead be met we ominous ruin. It was a very dramatic tale, and as such everyone loved it, in particular the photography and newspaper clubs. Maybe I should join the newspaper club. They seemed easy enough to get, always searching for a scoop, and our school was just bursting with scoops and whacky stories and people. It was rather tiring, so it was probably a goldmine to those people. "And they just keep coming too. It's a miracle we don't have the usual problems, like drugs and stuff..."

 

[Ceemuhrie]

Scroll to the bottom of posts to view the Mobile Friendly Version! ​

Akemi Kojima
Lunch time ~​

The wind brushed by gently, stirring the cherry blossom petals about the school grounds, some of the petals landing in my hair as well. It was almost beautiful enough to distract me from the fact that I got conned into doing someone else's flower watering duties. Almost. It wasn't a secret, the "Legend of the Cherry Blossoms"... and I'd received a few confessions in my time at the school. But it was never the confession I wanted.

I sighed for a minute at the memory and brushed the petals off. It was weird, remembering that for a minute. I continued to make my way down the line of flower beds, careful to portion and evenly distribute the water so I wouldn't have to run to the faucet, refill the pail and trudge all the way back. This was a hassle enough.

My stomach grumbled again as I was nearing the end of the line with the flower beds. Yahoo -- finally! I felt like there was no end to these flowers. And there seemed to still be some time to eat my lunch. Double yahoo! I wiggled happily in my spot. That bento was so mine. I could practically already taste that yummy, fluffy omelette... ~

My mood began to pick up as I suddenly remembered the small, sparkling vial in my pocket. I remembered wondering in class if I should eat before the drink. So... Should I take it after lunch? Maybe right after school on the way to my part time job? My mind flashed back to the video -- Kimmie's skin was basically glowing and she mentioned dropping 5 kilos that same week! Wonder how that worked... wonder if it was like a detox cleanse...

"Hmm, it'd be troublesome if I took it and something bad were to happen... but what's the worst that could happen? Not sure I wanna get sick... so taking it on an empty stomach is not the route I wanna go. Should I do it in the bathroom? I wonder... Are there any side effects?"

I finished watering the last bit of plants, the watering can now completely empty. Perfect! Now it was time for lunch. I was so busy mindlessly rambling about the mystery potion in my pocket when I happened to look up and saw the one and only Hoki. To make matters even more awkward, it was direct eye contact, too. And I'd been talking about this vial like it was some kind of hard drug -- good God, if it wasn't already awkward enough, the watering can clattered from my hands and hit my foot.

I shook my foot wildly to try to forget the sudden pain. Today was not my day.

"Uwaaaahhhh ~ Hoki-kun! W-w-w-who sneaks up on people f-from a window?!?" Making up distractions were a good way to start talking to your old best friend, right? Right?

Spoiler: Mobile Friendly Version

Akemi Kojima
Lunch time ~​

The wind brushed by gently, stirring the cherry blossom petals about the school grounds, some of the petals landing in my hair as well. It was almost beautiful enough to distract me from the fact that I got conned into doing someone else's flower watering duties. Almost. It wasn't a secret, the "Legend of the Cherry Blossoms"... and I'd received a few confessions in my time at the school. But it was never the confession I wanted.

I sighed for a minute at the memory and brushed the petals off. It was weird, remembering that for a minute. I continued to make my way down the line of flower beds, careful to portion and evenly distribute the water so I wouldn't have to run to the faucet, refill the pail and trudge all the way back. This was a hassle enough.

My stomach grumbled again as I was nearing the end of the line with the flower beds. Yahoo -- finally! I felt like there was no end to these flowers. And there seemed to still be some time to eat my lunch. Double yahoo! I wiggled happily in my spot. That bento was so mine. I could practically already taste that yummy, fluffy omelette... ~

My mood began to pick up as I suddenly remembered the small, sparkling vial in my pocket. I remembered wondering in class if I should eat before the drink. So... Should I take it after lunch? Maybe right after school on the way to my part time job? My mind flashed back to the video -- Kimmie's skin was basically glowing and she mentioned dropping 5 kilos that same week! Wonder how that worked... wonder if it was like a detox cleanse...

"Hmm, it'd be troublesome if I took it and something bad were to happen... but what's the worst that could happen? Not sure I wanna get sick... so taking it on an empty stomach is not the route I wanna go. Should I do it in the bathroom? I wonder... Are there any side effects?"

I finished watering the last bit of plants, the watering can now completely empty. Perfect! Now it was time for lunch. I was so busy mindlessly rambling about the mystery potion in my pocket when I happened to look up and saw the one and only Hoki. To make matters even more awkward, it was direct eye contact, too. And I'd been talking about this vial like it was some kind of hard drug -- good God, if it wasn't already awkward enough, the watering can clattered from my hands and hit my foot.

I shook my foot wildly to try to forget the sudden pain. Today was not my day.

"Uwaaaahhhh ~ Hoki-kun! W-w-w-who sneaks up on people f-from a window?!?" Making up distractions were a good way to start talking to your old best friend, right? Right?

 

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border:4px double hotpink;
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I almost puked at the sheer irony of the universe in presenting me with the words I'd just heard right after what I said. Well, to be fair, the fact I was already trying to keep my lunch in to begin with probably had more to do with it than anything else. Nonetheless, the words were just as worrisome, as I knew the person that pronounced them: Akemi Kojima. Something bad happening? Being sick? Taking it in the bathroom? Whatever it was it sounded dangerous. She should be talking to the school nurse right? Then I remembered that thing the girls were talking with her about earlier today. If it was indeed the case that it was that that she was talking about, could this be in fact some sort of drug?

Fortunately, it seemed as though Akemi was still indecise about taking the drug or not. Ah, how did she even come in possession fot that? I knew she was a little weird and reckless, but she wasn't the kind of girl to get involved with drugs! Obviously, someone had pushed her into it. But who? How? Did some wretched perverted teacher do it?... Wait, she did mention something about that sellout idol... I swallowed. It didn't matter. What mattered was that now wasn't yet too late, I could still save her from doing this.

Before I could reach her though, the girl seemed to hurt herself. My stomach seemed to stettle down for a moment despite the horrible taste of what I had to swallow as I rushed to see her foot. I breathed a sigh of relief as I realized what had fallen on her foot was merely a cheap school watering can that wouldn't be able to squish an ant, much less seriosuly hurt someone's foot. Now, ignoring her question, and back to the main point of what I had to do here with her.

"What do you think you're doing, Ak- Kojima-san. I thought more highly of you, you know. I wanted to anyway, to think you'd steep so low. What would the girls say if they saw you? Wouldn't they be hearbroken to know you're taking something like that? Do you really think it'll solve your problems if you just march along some idol girl's sponsored advertisement? Jeez, you and Kushi both... I don't get this obsession of yours. You need to stop being so naive, stop believing in those fairy tales. Life's problems can't just be snapped away." I reached a hand to her and looked sternly into her eyes, still ignoring her innitial complaint. "Now, give me the drugs. I'll throw them away and pretend I didn't see anything. If you need to vent some steam, I'm sure you can go talk to your friends about how much of a killjoy I am."

[/div]

[/div]

Tag: Ceemuhrie

Spoiler: phone friendly version

I almost puked at the sheer irony of the universe in presenting me with the words I'd just heard right after what I said. Well, to be fair, the fact I was already trying to keep my lunch in to begin with probably had more to do with it than anything else. Nonetheless, the words were just as worrisome, as I knew the person that pronounced them: Akemi Kojima. Something bad happening? Being sick? Taking it in the bathroom? Whatever it was it sounded dangerous. She should be talking to the school nurse right? Then I remembered that thing the girls were talking with her about earlier today. If it was indeed the case that it was that that she was talking about, could this be in fact some sort of drug?

Fortunately, it seemed as though Akemi was still indecise about taking the drug or not. Ah, how did she even come in possession fot that? I knew she was a little weird and reckless, but she wasn't the kind of girl to get involved with drugs! Obviously, someone had pushed her into it. But who? How? Did some wretched perverted teacher do it?... Wait, she did mention something about that sellout idol... I swallowed. It didn't matter. What mattered was that now wasn't yet too late, I could still save her from doing this.

Before I could reach her though, the girl seemed to hurt herself. My stomach seemed to stettle down for a moment despite the horrible taste of what I had to swallow as I rushed to see her foot. I breathed a sigh of relief as I realized what had fallen on her foot was merely a cheap school watering can that wouldn't be able to squish an ant, much less seriosuly hurt someone's foot. Now, ignoring her question, and back to the main point of what I had to do here with her.

"What do you think you're doing, Ak- Kojima-san. I thought more highly of you, you know. I wanted to anyway, to think you'd steep so low. What would the girls say if they saw you? Wouldn't they be hearbroken to know you're taking something like that? Do you really think it'll solve your problems if you just march along some idol girl's sponsored advertisement? Jeez, you and Kushi both... I don't get this obsession of yours. You need to stop being so naive, stop believing in those fairy tales. Life's problems can't just be snapped away." I reached a hand to her and looked sternly into her eyes, still ignoring her innitial complaint. "Now, give me the drugs. I'll throw them away and pretend I didn't see anything. If you need to vent some steam, I'm sure you can go talk to your friends about how much of a killjoy I am."

 

[Ceemuhrie]

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Akemi Kojima
Lunch time ~​

Kojima-san.

It took a moment to register that that was me. Hoki was calling me that.

What was this weird tingle of pain I felt? I'd absently called out to Hoki as I always had -- first name, shortened of course, friendly honorifics. Just like when we were younger. With how things were between us... Was that wrong to do now? And his response to me had been cold and distant. Although, it had almost seemed like he fought instinct and he had to steer himself in that direction. It made me feel a bit... sad, to be honest.

I mean... I knew we hadn't talked in a while, since he had just up and left. Without a word, a phone call nor a good-bye. There was an ever-growing rift in our friendship (well, at this point I'd only call it an acquaintance). Hell, who was I kidding? That coward couldn't even look at me. And now... not only was he addressing me in such a way but... I looked at him, my gaze never leaving his in those short, almost timeless moments... but...

NOW HE WAS ACCUSING ME OF DRUGS ?!? Snap. Did he want to die!? Was he stamping his deathwish?!

I smacked Hoki's hand away, instictively at his accusation. Defensively.

It took me a moment to register that, too. The echo of the slap brought me back into focus.

I haven't gotten that flustered, not publicly, in a while. But Hoki was bringing an entirely different side out of me right now. He always seemed to be able to do that, even when we were kids. A flood of emotions began to unravel within me; how dare he leave me, years ago, and then the first thing he says to me -- our first interaction in ages -- are drug accusations? Well... maybe what I was muttering about before was the root of it all. BUT STILL. How could he think so low of me?

This wasn't the Hoki I knew. The Hoki that I...

My cheeks were red, tears were starting to form... but I continued to stare him down, my chest tightening. No. I wouldn't cry. I was bigger than that. Less angry, I began to feel empowered. The equivalent of how one feels when they are playing Shogi -- and winning. I wouldn't back down, not even if he climbed out that window and got onto his knees into a dogeza and begged me for forgiveness! I used the sleeve of my uniform to rub the corners of my eyes and my nose.

"It's a detox drink, Baka-san. I just wanted to lose a few pounds and get brighter skin. I can't believe you'd think so low of me to accuse me of drugs." I picked up the watering can, pouting fiercly. My cheeks tingled, but I felt like I was on a roll here. I was, wasn't I? I was gonna show that Hoki who was boss.

"Calculator-sensei told me that you and I have class duties today -- I was going to stay and help--" I wasn't. "Even though my part-time job needs me." It probably didn't. "But your... accusations just now... you..." I tried to rack my brain for the words, my glance turned toward the ground, staring holes into the dirt path I stood on before turning and leaving. "You... you really hurt my feelings, Kyuketsuki-kun..."

Out of all the things I could've said... of all the things I wanted to say... I said 'it hurt my feelings?'... how ...honest of me.

Spoiler: Mobile Friendly Version

Akemi Kojima
Lunch time ~​

Kojima-san.

It took a moment to register that that was me. Hoki was calling me that.

What was this weird tingle of pain I felt? I'd absently called out to Hoki as I always had -- first name, shortened of course, friendly honorifics. Just like when we were younger. With how things were between us... Was that wrong to do now? And his response to me had been cold and distant. Althought, it had almost seemed like he fought instinct and he had to steer himself in that direction. It made me feel a bit... sad, to be honest.

I mean... I knew we hadn't talked in a while, since he had just up and left. Without a word, a phone call nor a good-bye. There was an ever-growing rift in our friendship (well, at this point I'd only call it an aquaintance). Hell, who was I kidding? That coward couldn't even look at me. And now... not only was he addressing me in such a way but... I looked at him, my gaze never leaving his in those short, almost timeless moments... but...

NOW HE WAS ACCUSING ME OF DRUGS ?!? Snap. Did he want to die!? Was he stamping his deathwish?!

I smacked Hoki's hand away, instictively at his accusation. Defensively.

It took me a moment to register that, too. The echo of the slap brought me back into focus.

I haven't gotten that flustered, not publicly, in a while. But Hoki was bringing an entirely different side out of me right now. He always seemed to be able to do that, even when we were kids. A flood of emotions began to unravel within me; how dare he leave me, years ago, and then the first thing he says to me -- our first interaction in ages -- are drug accusations? Well... maybe what I was muttering about before was the root of it all. BUT STILL. How could he think so low of me?

This wasn't the Hoki I knew. The Hoki that I...

My cheeks were red, tears were starting to form... but I continued to stare him down, my chest tightening. No. I wouldn't cry. I was bigger than that. Less angry, I began to feel empowered. The equivalent of how one feels when they are playing Shogi -- and winning. I wouldn't back down, not even if he climbed out that window and got onto his knees into a dogeza and begged me for forgiveness! I used the sleeve of my uniform to rub the corners of my eyes and my nose.

"It's a detox drink, Baka-san. I just wanted to lose a few pounds and get brighter skin. I can't believe you'd think so low of me to accuse me of drugs." I picked up the watering can, pouting fiercly. My cheeks tingled, but I felt like I was on a roll here. I was, wasn't I? I was gonna show that Hoki who was boss.

"Calculator-sensei told me that you and I have class duties today -- I was going to stay and help--" I wasn't. "Even though my part-time job needs me." It probably didn't. "But your... accusations just now... you..." I tried to rack my brain for the words, my glance turned toward the ground, staring holes into the dirt path I stood on before turning and leaving. "You... you really hurt my feelings, Kyuketsuki-kun..."

Out of all the things I could've said... of all the things I wanted to say... I said 'it hurt my feelings?'... how ...honest of me.

 

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It wasn't a surprise. It was nothing I didn't see coming a mile away. I mean of course it wasn't, we weren't that close. Even if we once had been, that was long since lost. And yet, I still felt it all. It was like living reality in slow motion. I felt the air pushing against my hand and slipping through my fingers, I felt the first touch of the middle of her fingers pressing against my palm, pressuring and pushing aback my helpless hands that offered no resistance, the moment the back of her hand completely covered my palm and reached my wrist, the moment my hand twisted as if trying to reach something long lost but feeling the palm fill only with new air.

I couldn't help but clench my teeth and stare down at her with frown eyebrows and sharpened eyes. What was her deal?! Why was she like this?! I was only trying to help her! She pushed my hand away, she called me stupid! Me, stupid! She called me...

...She pushed my hand away...

...She wanted me to go away...

"Baka-san, you say? Baka-san... Ah, that's right! I'm a real idiot! I'm an idiot for thinking for a moment that you'd have enough sense to think about what you are doing. Isn't that detox crap just another name for some dangerous product? It's basiclaly the same as a drug. Or what, are you gonna tell me it's magic or something? Do you really think that's going to make Kushi fall for you, eh? Cheating out some crap, you love-manic plank board..."

Even as I said those words, I wanted to stop. I didn't want to growl at her. I wanted to sit down and apologize. By my body felt stiff. My teeth, my fists wouldn't stop clenching. I couldn't help yelling, I couldn't help myself from ramming a fist sideways against the wall. My hand hurt now, but my chest hurt more. My head felt dizzy too... Ah, this hurt so much I wanted to die. Being dead would probably feel better right now...

Aki left... She said we had class duty today together? She said I hurt her feelings. She said I hurt her feelings! Ah, I hated it, I hated it! Why did I have to be so stu- No, I said the right things. But it was at the wrong time. Ah, why did the universe have to have this bad timing? Why did hurting her have to feel so bad? If only I could have been smoother about this, if only there wasn't this distance between us... I realized, I could still close the gap. It wasn't too late, even if my chest hurt, my stomach hurt, my hands hurt, even if I felt like taking one more step would make me drop down dead, I could still reach her and....

"BLEEEEEGH BLEEEGH" Ah, too late. She was gone now. The moment was lost, so I dropped on my knees on top of my own puke.

Well, it was probably for the best anyway. It would have been super awkward to see each other in the classroom for duty, even if this hadn't happened....

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Tag: Ceemuhrie

Spoiler: phone friendly version

It wasn't a surprise. It was nothing I didn't see coming a mile away. I mean of course it wasn't, we weren't that close. Even if we once had been, that was long since lost. And yet, I still felt it all. It was like living reality in slow motion. I felt the air pushing against my hand and slipping through my fingers, I felt the first touch of the middle of her fingers pressing against my palm, pressuring and pushing aback my helpless hands that offered no resistance, the moment the back of her hand completely covered my palm and reached my wrist, the moment my hand twisted as if trying to reach something long lost but feeling the palm fill only with new air.

I couldn't help but clench my teeth and stare down at her with frown eyebrows and sharpened eyes. What was her deal?! Why was she like this?! I was only trying to help her! She pushed my hand away, she called me stupid! Me, stupid! She called me...

...She pushed my hand away...

...She wanted me to go away...

"Baka-san, you say? Baka-san... Ah, that's right! I'm a real idiot! I'm an idiot for thinking for a moment that you'd have enough sense to think about what you are doing. Isn't that detox crap just another name for some dangerous product? It's basiclaly the same as a drug. Or what, are you gonna tell me it's magic or something? Do you really think that's going to make Kushi fall for you, eh? Cheating out some crap, you love-manic plank board..."

Even as I said those words, I wanted to stop. I didn't want to growl at her. I wanted to sit down and apologize. By my body felt stiff. My teeth, my fists wouldn't stop clenching. I couldn't help yelling, I couldn't help myself from ramming a fist sideways against the wall. My hand hurt now, but my chest hurt more. My head felt dizzy too... Ah, this hurt so much I wanted to die. Being dead would probably feel better right now...

Aki left... She said we had class duty today together? She said I hurt her feelings. She said I hurt her feelings! Ah, I hated it, I hated it! Why did I have to be so stu- No, I said the right things. But it was at the wrong time. Ah, why did the universe have to have this bad timing? Why did hurting her have to feel so bad? If only I could have been smoother about this, if only there wasn't this distance between us... I realized, I could still close the gap. It wasn't too late, even if my chest hurt, my stomach hurt, my hands hurt, even if I felt like taking one more step would make me drop down dead, I could still reach her and....

"BLEEEEEGH BLEEEGH" Ah, too late. She was gone now. The moment was lost, so I dropped on my knees on top of my own puke.

Well, it was probably for the best anyway. It would have been super awkward to see each other in the classroom for duty, even if this hadn't happened....

 

[Ceemuhrie]

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Akemi Kojima
Lunch time ~​

I'd entered the building and stormed off down the halls, sniffling and fighting back tears that I didn't -- wouldn't -- let Hoki see. Not yet... He didn't deserve to see that side yet. Not with how he was acting. Not with how things were between us right now. Would it ever get better, part of me wondered. Was there any fixing of this? I could turn around now... but what would I say? Sorry for slapping your hand away? Sorry for leaving you with the impression that I was doing hard drugs? Sorry you were trying to be concerned for a harmless detox because I'm idol obsessed? Sorry for calling you 'baka-san'?

I leaned against a nearby wall; how had I accumulated so many things to apologize for in such a short amount of time? I suddenly felt overwhelmed and incredibly ridiculous. I felt even more upset leaving things like this versus how things were before this stupid incident. And now... all I could do was wonder. Why... Yeah, I had provoked him, driven him to his anger. But why... why did he have to be so mean to me just now?

Through blurry eyes and puffy cheeks, I faintly made out Kushi's figure coming down the hallway and all the hairs on the back of my neck stood up -- no! He couldn't see me like this either. I scrambled and rubbed my face hastily but as he got closer my heart pounded like a drum. It was an entirely different pounding than when I saw him in the morning, or passing by club activities. I felt a tremor of terror coursing through my veins with each heartbeat.

"Do you really think that's gonna make Kushi fall for you, eh?"

My chest tightened. I tried to ignore the echo of Hoki's words from earlier. Tried to drown it out.

"Cheating out some crap, you love-manic plank board..."

No, no... I... I just...

I needed to go. I had to get out of there. Now. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes, ready to overflow any second. As a last minute effort to hide, I pulled the watering pail in front of my face and ran past Kushi, several tears dripping down my cheeks, completely avoiding eye contact and not even speaking. Just darting down the hall back to class where it was safe and I could be alone. I ran so fast I don't think he noticed and, even if he did, I'd be long gone anyways.

There were a few minutes left of lunch when I got to my seat, but suddenly, I didn't feel hungry. All day the 'detox potion' had been burning a hole in my pocket, feeding my excitement. But now it felt like a burden. I didn't even know if I wanted to take it. I sighed and, to distract myself, grabbed the attendance book and began some of the class duties -- that way it didn't seem like I was slacking off. This could possibly be the way to work my way up to an apology. Even if I wasn't going to be staying after school. Especially not now.

After school ~

The last hour of class dragged on, painfully so. If I didn't care about my grade in this class, I would have fallen asleep. However, this was a class I was regrettably falling behind in. So I had to make sure to stay awake. Sigh. I was sighing an awful lot today.

Finally the afternoon bell chimed, signaling the release of hundred of bored, exhausted students. Everyone dispersed with a quickness -- some to their after school activities. Some to student council. I rose from my seat, saying good-bye to a few classmates and began to head out... I wonder if Hoki would see the note I left for him. Well, I did leave it on the attendance book for him. I sighed heavily -- it wasn't anything near and apology, if anything, it probably wouldn't make anything any better. But I was still mad! Maybe I'd try again later... maybe.

Exiting the school gates I wandered down to make my way to the train station for a small shift at the cafe tonight...

I did the attendance book and the class notes. You should be able to take care of the trash and cleaning the chalk board. I'm leaving the rest up to you.
-- Kojima-san

Spoiler: Mobile Friendly Version

Akemi Kojima
Lunch time ~​

I'd entered the building and stormed off down the halls, sniffling and fighting back tears that I didn't -- wouldn't -- let Hoki see. Not yet... He didn't deserve to see that side yet. Not with how he was acting. Not with how things were between us right now. Would it ever get better, part of me wondered. Was there any fixing of this? I could turn around now... but what would I say? Sorry for slapping your hand away? Sorry for leaving you with the impression that I was doing hard drugs? Sorry you were trying to be concerned for a harmless detox because I'm idol obsessed? Sorry for calling you 'baka-san'?

I leaned against a nearby wall; how had I accumulated so many things to apologize for in such a short amount of time? I suddenly felt overwhelmed and incredibly ridiculous. I felt even more upset leaving things like this versus how things were before this stupid incident. And now... all I could do was wonder. Why... Yeah, I had provoked him, driven him to his anger. But why... why did he have to be so mean to me just now?

Through blurry eyes and puffy cheeks, I faintly made out Kushi's figure coming down the hallway and all the hairs on the back of my neck stood up -- no! He couldn't see me like this either. I scrambled and rubbed my face hastily but as he got closer my heart pounded like a drum. It was an entirely different pounding than when I saw him in the morning, or passing by club activities. I felt a tremor of terror coursing through my veins with each heartbeat.

"Do you really think that's gonna make Kushi fall for you, eh?"

My chest tightened. I tried to ignore the echo of Hoki's words from earlier. Tried to drown it out.

"Cheating out some crap, you love-manic plank board..."

No, no... I... I just...

I needed to go. I had to get out of there. Now. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes, ready to overflow any second. As a last minute effort to hide, I pulled the watering pail in front of my face and ran past Kushi, several tears dripping down my cheeks, completely avoiding eye contact and not even speaking. Just darting down the hall back to class where it was safe and I could be alone. I ran so fast I don't think he noticed and, even if he did, I'd be long gone anyways.

There were a few minutes left of lunch when I got to my seat, but suddenly, I didn't feel hungry. All day the 'detox potion' had been burning a hole in my pocket, feeding my excitement. But now it felt like a burden. I didn't even know if I wanted to take it. I sighed and, to distract myself, grabbed the attendance book and began some of the class duties -- that way it didn't seem like I was slacking off. This could possibly be the way to work my way up to an apology. Even if I wasn't going to be staying after school. Especially not now.

After school ~

The last hour of class dragged on, painfully so. If I didn't care about my grade in this class, I would have fallen asleep. However, this was a class I was regrettably falling behind in. So I had to make sure to stay awake. Sigh. I was sighing an awful lot today.

Finally the afternoon bell chimed, signaling the release of hundred of bored, exhausted students. Everyone dispersed with a quickness -- some to their after school activities. Some to student council. I rose from my seat, saying good-bye to a few classmates and began to head out... I wonder if Hoki would see the note I left for him. Well, I did leave it on the attendance book for him. I sighed heavily -- it wasn't anything near and apology, if anything, it probably wouldn't make anything any better. But I was still mad! Maybe I'd try again later... maybe.

Exiting the school gates I wandered down to make my way to the train station for a small shift at the cafe tonight...

I did the attendance book and the class notes. You should be able to take care of the trash and cleaning the chalk board. I'm leaving the rest up to you.
-- Kojima-san

 

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"Oi, Hoki! Are you alright? Did something happen?" Kushi helped me up, or stay up, already knowing the answer to his question. I shook my head nonetheless.

"I guess kindness and generosity don't really matter to my stomach..." Or may they did, given the timing. Ah, that barfing, it would make things so much more awkward! To imagine that things being even more awkward that then already were...no, I couldn't even phantom how it would look like. Then again, even if I was in the wrong, this was not my fault. I turned to Kushi. "Well, I guess this is it for class duty... Can't exactly stay for classes, much less-"

"Hoki, I know you can handle this much. I mean, as your best friend I would cover for you but...this time, we need you to stay. I don't think Kojima-chan can do it today."

You...you really hurt my feelings, Kyuketsuki-kun

"What...what might you mean by that?" I averted my gaze.

"You have something to do with this? She looked terrible Hoki! Didn't you guys used to know each other?"

"How did you-"

"Don't you dare skip on duty today. You owe her to do her share at least."

My mouth opened to reply, but it lacked the words to back it up. I had never seen Kushi this mad before. Maybe...and this was just an improbably hypothesis...maybe I did go too far, and owed her an apology, maybe I really had been dumb and mean and all those things...Maybe I was too harsh earlier. I mean I called her names, like a plank board and love manic, which I mean were true but regardless you know... It wasn't appropriate. Maybe. Perhaps. Before I could say anything, I fet myself getting pulled up a little more and heard Kushi sigh.

"C'mon, let's get you cleaned up. We have classes to attend."



"Idiot...how the hell am I supposed to make up for what I did if you still do your half of the work?" I clenched the note Aki left me in my fist. Despite everything that happened, she still showed me this kindness. I cleaned up some of the sweat that had formed right under my eyes and slid open the classroom door: I needed to go apologize, immediately. It was only as I ran that I realized that I didn't actually know where Aki went torwards. Fortunately for me, since people were still leaving, I was able to find some of her friends and ask. She was appearantly headed for the train station, to get to her part time job in a cafe. For the briefest of moments the image of Aki in a maid uniform brought a little blush to my face, but I soon was brought back to reality by a shake of the head and took off running to the station myself. Hopefully I would make it before she entered, but even if I failed, I wanted to at least bow before the train would depart if nothing else.

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Tag: Ceemuhrie

Spoiler: phone friendly version

"Oi, Hoki! Are you alright? Did something happen?" Kushi helped me up, or stay up, already knowing the answer to his question. I shook my head nonetheless.

"I guess kindness and generosity don't really matter to my stomach..." Or may they did, given the timing. Ah, that barfing, it would make things so much more awkward! To imagine that things being even more awkward that then already were...no, I couldn't even phantom how it would look like. Then again, even if I was in the wrong, this was not my fault. I turned to Kushi. "Well, I guess this is it for class duty... Can't exactly stay for classes, much less-"

"Hoki, I know you can handle this much. I mean, as your best friend I would cover for you but...this time, we need you to stay. I don't think Kojima-chan can do it today."

You...you really hurt my feelings, Kyuketsuki-kun

"What...what might you mean by that?" I averted my gaze.

"You have something to do with this? She looked terrible Hoki! Didn't you guys used to know each other?"

"How did you-"

"Don't you dare skip on duty today. You owe her to do her share at least."

My mouth opened to reply, but it lacked the words to back it up. I had never seen Kushi this mad before. Maybe...and this was just an improbably hypothesis...maybe I did go too far, and owed her an apology, maybe I really had been dumb and mean and all those things...Maybe I was too harsh earlier. I mean I called her names, like a plank board and love manic, which I mean were true but regardless you know... It wasn't appropriate. Maybe. Perhaps. Before I could say anything, I fet myself getting pulled up a little more and heard Kushi sigh.

"C'mon, let's get you cleaned up. We have classes to attend."



"Idiot...how the hell am I supposed to make up for what I did if you still do your half of the work?" I clenched the note Aki left me in my fist. Despite everything that happened, she still showed me this kindness. I cleaned up some of the sweat that had formed right under my eyes and slid open the classroom door: I needed to go apologize, immediately. It was only as I ran that I realized that I didn't actually know where Aki went torwards. Fortunately for me, since people were still leaving, I was able to find some of her friends and ask. She was appearantly headed for the train station, to get to her part time job in a cafe. For the briefest of moments the image of Aki in a maid uniform brought a little blush to my face, but I soon was brought back to reality by a shake of the head and took off running to the station myself. Hopefully I would make it before she entered, but even if I failed, I wanted to at least bow before the train would depart if nothing else.

 

[Ceemuhrie]

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Akemi Kojima
After school ~​

"Do you really think that's gonna make Kushi fall for you, eh?"

Well, what the hell did Hoki know, anyways? Stupid, stupid, stupid. What did I even care for? Normally I wouldn’t even think twice about what anyone said — why was Hoki and exception to that? I stormed off the school grounds, now unsure if I could even go to work in this state.

Part of me wanted to bundle up at home, with a pint of ice cream, lazing about under the kotatsu and just cry. Cry until all the anger and all the sadness was gone, cry until I was numb. Cry until I couldn’t physically cry anymore and then what would Hoki do? Because I couldn’t cry anymore — I’d be all cried out and that would be that and I would win! Ehhh, but that would be a lot of crying... I stopped and looked to the sky for a moment. I could see a few cloud begin creeping across the sky — strange, the forecast for today said sunny, didn’t it? Shaking my head I continued on. I’d keep crying an option if I skipped work, for sure. No one would be home anyways, well, except the butler, Kazuya-san.

Now... The other part of me... I sighed, remembering the small little note I left Hoki in the classroom. The other part of me was trying, but I just wasn't good at this. There was so much distance and that little rumble from earlier had me feeling less than enthusiastic about everything. Especially where our friendship stood. I did know for certain that I was feeling less willing to patch up our burning bridges. Why couldn’t I have just been complacent and talked about the detox like normal? Why did I have to pick a fight? Why did he have to yell at me?

But I... Maybe I was the one that was stupid.

A ginger smile crossed my soft, peachy features. All this because of a “magic potion”. Magic, indeed. I patted the pocket of my skirt, feeling the vial in my between my fingers and stopped dead in my tracks and decided to take it out. There were a lot less students out and about now, so I might as well take a peek at the goods once more. The bright pink liquid was still as lustrous as this morning but warm from being in my pocket for hours; glittering like gold and similar in texture to pink lemonade, I was tempted to drink it now. God, I really wished it were magic. A potion to fix all my problems, but that was silly right? You can’t just buy magic potions on Whamazon.

But what if you could?

I laughed a bit and began to imagine a ridiculous scene: magic potions to lose weight and clear your skin, different kinds, even some to find love, to gain popularity. I shook the vial around. If only, I thought. Who cares what Hoki said. I’d rather be a love-manic than a single, lonely fool forever. I knew that much. I looked at the vial in hand again, a small hope burning in my chest that whatever liquid was inside that tube had some kind of magic to remedy me of my doubts.

After all, what was the harm in wanting to believe in a bit of magic? Even just for a little?

Spoiler: Mobile Friendly Version

Akemi Kojima
After school ~​

"Do you really think that's gonna make Kushi fall for you, eh?"

Well, what the hell did Hoki know, anyways? Stupid, stupid, stupid. What did I even care for? Normally I wouldn’t even think twice about what anyone said — why was Hoki and exception to that? I stormed off the school grounds, now unsure if I could even go to work in this state.

Part of me wanted to bundle up at home, with a pint of ice cream, lazing about under the kotatsu and just cry. Cry until all the anger and all the sadness was gone, cry until I was numb. Cry until I couldn’t physically cry anymore and then what would Hoki do? Because I couldn’t cry anymore — I’d be all cried out and that would be that and I would win! Ehhh, but that would be a lot of crying... I stopped and looked to the sky for a moment. I could see a few cloud begin creeping across the sky — strange, the forecast for today said sunny, didn’t it? Shaking my head I continued on. I’d keep crying an option if I skipped work, for sure. No one would be home anyways, well, except the butler, Kazuya-san.

Now... The other part of me... I sighed, remembering the small little note I left Hoki in the classroom. The other part of me was trying, but I just wasn't good at this. There was so much distance and that little rumble from earlier had me feeling less than enthusiastic about everything. Especially where our friendship stood. I did know for certain that I was feeling less willing to patch up our burning bridges. Why couldn’t I have just been complacent and talked about the detox like normal? Why did I have to pick a fight? Why did he have to yell at me?

But I... Maybe I was the one that was stupid.

A ginger smile crossed my soft, peachy features. All this because of a “magic potion”. Magic, indeed. I patted the pocket of my skirt, feeling the vial in my between my fingers and stopped dead in my tracks and decided to take it out. There were a lot less students out and about now, so I might as well take a peek at the goods once more. The bright pink liquid was still as lustrous as this morning but warm from being in my pocket for hours; glittering like gold and similar in texture to pink lemonade, I was tempted to drink it now. God, I really wished it were magic. A potion to fix all my problems, but that was silly right? You can’t just buy magic potions on Whamazon.

But what if you could?

I laughed a bit and began to imagine a ridiculous scene: magic potions to lose weight and clear your skin, different kinds, even some to find love, to gain popularity. I shook the vial around. If only, I thought. Who cares what Hoki said. I’d rather be a love-manic than a single, lonely fool forever. I knew that much. I looked at the vial in hand again, a small hope burning in my chest that whatever liquid was inside that tube had some kind of magic to remedy me of my doubts.

After all, what was the harm in wanting to believe in a bit of magic? Even just for a little?

 

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I rushed over to where she was, nearly to the station. The clouds above were starting to gather, and here I was sprinting amidst the first drops as if racing them. All throughout, the words that I wanted to say to her went through my head. "Please don't cry" ?That's something a boyfriend would say. "Let me explain" ? I didn't have any bad intentions, and I made no crime, her hurt feelings were not something that would go away by explaining myself. Should I lie, tell her everything she would want to hear, none of the truth of my own feelings? No. It would only hurt the both of us later. I couldn't even tell her I wouldn't let her go again. All I could tell her was how I really felt, what I really needed to say was "I'm sorry".

"AKI-CHAN!! Ak- I...."

"I-I... I..." Why wouldn't the words escape my mouth. What was holding back my tongue? Aah, damm, what did I come here to say anyway? What were my true feelings about this situation? If I didn't put them out there now, she would turn right back around and hop on the first train that showed up. I would have come all this way for nothing. Was that much of an idiot? I couldn't permit it. Say it out loud, what you came to say, Hokori Kyuketsuki! "I'M SORRY! I'm sorry for everything! I'm sorry that you ended up feeling so bad, that you felt like I was meddling with your business and scolding you for no reason, that you thought I was coming after you, that . I was only, I was only trying to help. I didn't mean for you to be hurt... I just didn't want you to be hurt. I didn't want to see you get tricked by those delusions, by some random online sellout trying to push something dangerous onto you. Maybe it's not drugs, but you know those detox things aren't magic, right? There isn't a spell in them that wil mke you pretty, you'll just end up hurt. I didn't want to see you betrayed like that... So please, forgive me! There's no need to be angry like this!"

Silently the rain intensified. Drops grew to buckets and the visbility of our surroundings grew blurrier and blurrier. The drops fell upon us, almost creating an aura upon Aki, and I imagined around myself as well, as I waited for her reply. Everything in my body felt so heavy, so tense. A-ah, tomorrow I would have a cold, wouldn't I?

But somehow, I couldn't care less about being sick right now.

[/div]

[/div]

Tag: Ceemuhrie

Spoiler: phone friendly version

I rushed over to where she was, nearly to the station. The clouds above were starting to gather, and here I was sprinting amidst the first drops as if racing them. All throughout, the words that I wanted to say to her went through my head. "Please don't cry" ?That's something a boyfriend would say. "Let me explain" ? I didn't have any bad intentions, and I made no crime, her hurt feelings were not something that would go away by explaining myself. Should I lie, tell her everything she would want to hear, none of the truth of my own feelings? No. It would only hurt the both of us later. I couldn't even tell her I wouldn't let her go again. All I could tell her was how I really felt, what I really needed to say was "I'm sorry".

"AKI-CHAN!! Ak- I...."

"I-I... I..." Why wouldn't the words escape my mouth. What was holding back my tongue? Aah, damm, what did I come here to say anyway? What were my true feelings about this situation? If I didn't put them out there now, she would turn right back around and hop on the first train that showed up. I would have come all this way for nothing. Was that much of an idiot? I couldn't permit it. Say it out loud, what you came to say, Hokori Kyuketsuki! "I'M SORRY! I'm sorry for everything! I'm sorry that you ended up feeling so bad, that you felt like I was meddling with your business and scolding you for no reason, that you thought I was coming after you, that . I was only, I was only trying to help. I didn't mean for you to be hurt... I just didn't want you to be hurt. I didn't want to see you get tricked by those delusions, by some random online sellout trying to push something dangerous onto you. Maybe it's not drugs, but you know those detox things aren't magic, right? There isn't a spell in them that wil mke you pretty, you'll just end up hurt. I didn't want to see you betrayed like that... So please, forgive me! There's no need to be angry like this!"

Silently the rain intensified. Drops grew to buckets and the visbility of our surroundings grew blurrier and blurrier. The drops fell upon us, almost creating an aura upon Aki, and I imagined around myself as well, as I waited for her reply. Everything in my body felt so heavy, so tense. A-ah, tomorrow I would have a cold, wouldn't I?

But somehow, I couldn't care less about being sick right now.

 

[Ceemuhrie]

Scroll to the bottom of posts to view the Mobile Friendly Version! ​

Akemi Kojima
After school ~​

I felt a single raindrop on my cheek; soft, cold and wet. I looked up to the sky, the clouds looming even more ominously than before and another raindrop slid down my cheek. The forecast was for sunny skies, so I didn't even think about bringing an umbrella today. Just my luck, ugh. I better hurry, I thought, almost quickening my step. Then suddenly, I heard a familiar voice call my name and I whipped around with a quickness, watching Hoki panting a few feet away, collecting his breath.

He stood still for a moment and all of time seemed like it stood still too. Was he searching for his words? Why wasn't he saying anything? I watched the huffing of his chest, the twitch of his lips -- the rainfall became heavier but it was so silent that I felt like it wasn't really happening. He ran... all the way... here. He ran here... for... me? 'Why? Why did you come running all this way, you idiot?!' I wanted to shout back.

"I'm sorry!"

DOKI~

My heart felt like a hammer against my rib cage, my stomach flipped in knots all the way up to the back of my throat. He was... sorry? Instinctively, I stepped toward him. Hoki's apology rung like TV static in my ears, that familiar, long, sharp, piercing white noise. Immediately my brain went back to our childhoods, back to when he left and never said anything. I felt a sense of closure coming. A sudden wave of relief warmed me to the core -- all those years... and finally he was saying sorry. Could we finally become friends again? Make up for lost time? I clenched my fist close to my chest, but what should I say back? Ah -- I should apologize too.

But that apology Hoki offered suddenly went down the drain.

He was apologizing for something entirely different than what I was expecting... or even wanting. He was apologizing for meddling in my business, apologizing for feeling like I was being tricked by idols and falling into the delusion that this 'potion' would make me prettier. What did he even know!? What the ever-loving frack did he EVEN KNOW !? Haaaah, so Hoki thought I was being tricked, did he? Thought I was being deceived, hm? I felt my skin prickle and clenched my teeth.

"What do you know?" I growled, my voice low and trembling. The sound of the rain almost drowning me out. "You... you're SO smart, but you... you have NO IDEA how I feel! You have no idea what I would give to be prettier, or smarter, or thinner -- you have NO idea what it's like -- what I'm like. What I would do to make life easier. Baka! You're just as much an idiot now as you were during lunch!" It could've been the rain or it could've been my tears, but none of it mattered. My face felt wet and hot, what was I saying? How did this argument get to this point?

I looked up, Hoki was so blurry in my vision that I had no clue what kind of expression he'd be making right now. I rubbed my face hastily, hiccuping and sobbing, the small pink vial slipping from my hand falling to the ground with a soft clink, and rolling until it hit Hoki's foot. "So what if it seems bogus, or unrealistic?! It's magic and that's the point. I-if you were me, you'd hesitate, too. You'd be afraid of 'what if it's all just a lie?' Well... if it's so fake, why don't you drink it then? You... you jerk!"

Spoiler: Mobile Friendly Version

Akemi Kojima
After school ~​

​

I felt a single raindrop on my cheek; soft, cold and wet. I looked up to the sky, the clouds looming even more ominously than before and another raindrop slid down my cheek. The forecast was for sunny skies, so I didn't even think about bringing an umbrella today. Just my luck, ugh. I better hurry, I thought, almost quickening my step. Then suddenly, I heard a familiar voice call my name and I whipped around with a quickness, watching Hoki panting a few feet away, collecting his breath.

He stood still for a moment and all of time seemed like it stood still too. Was he searching for his words? Why wasn't he saying anything? I watched the huffing of his chest, the twitch of his lips -- the rainfall became heavier but it was so silent that I felt like it wasn't really happening. He ran... all the way... here. He ran here... for... me? 'Why? Why did you come running all this way, you idiot?!' I wanted to shout back.

"I'm sorry!"

DOKI~

My heart felt like a hammer against my rib cage, my stomach flipped in knots all the way up to the back of my throat. He was... sorry? Instinctively, I stepped toward him. Hoki's apology rung like TV static in my ears, that familiar, long, sharp, piercing white noise. Immediately my brain went back to our childhoods, back to when he left and never said anything. I felt a sense of closure coming. A sudden wave of relief warmed me to the core -- all those years... and finally he was saying sorry. Could we finally become friends again? Make up for lost time? I clenched my fist close to my chest, but what should I say back? Ah -- I should apologize too.

But that apology Hoki offered suddenly went down the drain.

He was apologizing for something entirely different than what I was expecting... or even wanting. He was apologizing for meddling in my business, apologizing for feeling like I was being tricked by idols and falling into the delusion that this 'potion' would make me prettier. What did he even know!? What the ever-loving frack did he EVEN KNOW !? Haaaah, so Hoki thought I was being tricked, did he? Thought I was being deceived, hm? I felt my skin prickle and clenched my teeth.

"What do you know?" I growled, my voice low and trembling. The sound of the rain almost drowning me out. "You... you're SO smart, but you... you have NO IDEA how I feel! You have no idea what I would give to be prettier, or smarter, or thinner -- you have NO idea what it's like -- what I'm like. What I would do to make life easier. Baka! You're just as much an idiot now as you were during lunch!" It could've been the rain or it could've been my tears, but none of it mattered. My face felt wet and hot, what was I saying? How did this argument get to this point?

I looked up, Hoki was so blurry in my vision that I had no clue what kind of expression he'd be making right now. I rubbed my face hastily, hiccuping and sobbing, the small pink vial slipping from my hand falling to the ground with a soft clink, and rolling until it hit Hoki's foot. "So what if it seems bogus, or unrealistic?! It's magic and that's the point. I-if you were me, you'd hesitate, too. You'd be afraid of 'what if it's all just a lie?' Well... if it's so fake, why don't you drink it then? You... you jerk!"​

​

​

 

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[/div] [div class=Space][div class=Modename1]Hokori Kyuketsuki[/div] [/div]

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Eh? Where did this come from all of the sudden? Why was she yelling at me, calling me an idiot again? I had come all the way here just to apologize, and THIS is how she treated me?! After I chased after her with rain starting to pour? After I risked getting sick and getting called out on the fact I ended up skipping class duty anyway? All so that I could apologize to some ungrateful wench! All to be insulted, my heartfelt apologies cast aside as if they didn't take every ounce of willpower I had on me.

To top it all off, she even claimed it was actually magic. So, yeah, she was being deceived. Just like that kid early that morning, she was just as naive as that kid, and being tricked by someone as devilish as that old lady of the hocus bogus fortune telling. NOW I was mad. I looked down at that sparkling pink vial at my feet. The rain dropped all over it, but despite having fallen pretty hard the glass was not even scratched. My mind blanked, just for a moment, as I looked at it, staring it down. I had never seen anything like it, but that was besides the point. I'd probably get fall sick and have my body damaged by it, but that was besides the point. The only thing that mattered now was showing her the dangers of that thing, so that could finally realize that I was right and she should avoid those shady things.

I bent down, picked it up, removed the cap. With one swift swallow, I gulped the whole thing down.

A moment passed.

Then another.

And yet one more. I smirked.

"See, nothing hap-"

A cloud of pink smoke covered me in an instant with a big "poof" sound, like some sort of cutesy thunder. Between my hands and coughs and the pouring rain, the cloud dissipated quickly, but felt felt a little off. For starters my angle of vision was a tad lower than a moment ago. The way my hair clinged on my face was lessened, seemingly transfered to the part that now covered my whole neck's back. My clothes also felt more spread out and clingy as if the rain had expanded them not shrunk them.

​

"What was tha-" I couldn't bring myself to finish that sentence. Was that my voice?! Why did it sound so...cute and girly? It was like a squeak toy crossbread with a top rate piano. My gaze was immediately drawn down, with two suddenly there small mountains catching my eye. My now thin, delicate hands shook intensely as they carefully approached the mounds and gave them a gentle push. Yep, they were indeed attached to my body.

There was only one last test. This time, my worries were such that even if my mind hesitated my body did not. I jammed my hand like a slap between my legs, and there a feeling of emptiness inside. Probably reflecting the emptiness of the space I just hit outside...

WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?!

No way, this couldn't be happening. Did that ...potion...do this? No, that couldn't be. That would be magic wouldn't it? Wait, I couldn't afford to think like that. This didn't make any sense. Maybe there was some kind of experimental drug there? What kind of drug could even do this? Well, at leats it proved my point, right? But it totally looked like magic. Maybe it was magic...No, wait, of course it wasn´t! Otherwise, all those things I said before.... I looked at Aki, but my gaze immediately turned away again. I couldn't...I just couldn't...

Before I knew it I had turned 180 degrees and started raining. My hair barely flew back with the running so glued it was to my face due to being soaking wet, despite how much longer it was now. I just wanted to go home, I couldn't face her right now. Maybe mom or dad would know a way to fix this! They always seemed to have a way with things, ever since I was little so surely...



"Hokori? Oh, could it be you're his girlfriend?"

"Mom..." She didn't recognize? Why? Even though I looked a bit different, possibly, why couldn't she tell I was her son! C'mon mom, you know me, you raised me, you should know that I needed you now more than ever!

"Ah, you're so cute, the way you call me "mom" already. Seriously that boy though, being late and even leaving his girl soaking in the rain. I'll have to scold him properly later."

I almost dropped everything I was holding. This...it couldn't be right... Didn't this mean I...wait, maybe if I...

"Mom, look!" I took out my wallet, and showed it to her. It even had my ID card inside. If I did this, surely-

"And he dropped his wallet too? Now, he is really in for the scolding of his life. Thank you so much for returning his things dear. I'm happy he found someone as nice as you. I'd let you in, but we'll be having some important guests over today, so I can't have more guests around the house, but just stay put, I'll get you a towel so you can at least dry your head and I'll lend you an umbrella so you an go home. Maybe this will give you an excuse to come over sometime, eh?"

My mom winked at me, to a stranger to her, thus sealing the deal. I was...no longer welcome at my own home. My eyes felt stingy, my visiona little blurry.

I ran.



Where could I go? I had no idea. The rain wasn't stopping either. I had to go somewhere, somewhere I wouldn't be so easily spotted. Oh, right! That place might work! That place besides the river, where pratically nobody ever went. I rushed over to the place, passing through the narrow passage from that morning, but my foot slipped. An old, rugged hand caught me midfall, and was it not for the surprising grip of that hand whose false nails came flying off, I would probably be "swimming" by now. Yet, when I looked, I saw a familiar face.

"You brats, always rushing everything. Are you alright?" The women from that morning inquired.

May you really be cursed, your future shall see a time when that recklessness of yours shall catch up with you, and your past shall appear again to haunt you! May that haunting be the downfall of your pride..."

"AAAAAAH! Let go of me!"

I freed myself from her grasp, and leaving her very stunned behind me, I ran away even more. And more. And more. Until I ended up at the one place where maybe I could show my face. Though, it might also be the one place that would welcome that face the least.

I stood there, right in front of Aki's house, soaking in the rain.

[/div]

[/div]

Tag: Ceemuhrie

Spoiler: phone friendly version

Eh? Where did this come from all of the sudden? Why was she yelling at me, calling me an idiot again? I had come all the way here just to apologize, and THIS is how she treated me?! After I chased after her with rain starting to pour? After I risked getting sick and getting called out on the fact I ended up skipping class duty anyway? All so that I could apologize to some ungrateful wench! All to be insulted, my heartfelt apologies cast aside as if they didn't take every ounce of willpower I had on me.

To top it all off, she even claimed it was actually magic. So, yeah, she was being deceived. Just like that kid early that morning, she was just as naive as that kid, and being tricked by someone as devilish as that old lady of the hocus bogus fortune telling. NOW I was mad. I looked down at that sparkling pink vial at my feet. The rain dropped all over it, but despite having fallen pretty hard the glass was not even scratched. My mind blanked, just for a moment, as I looked at it, staring it down. I had never seen anything like it, but that was besides the point. I'd probably get fall sick and have my body damaged by it, but that was besides the point. The only thing that mattered now was showing her the dangers of that thing, so that could finally realize that I was right and she should avoid those shady things.

I bent down, picked it up, removed the cap. With one swift swallow, I gulped the whole thing down.

A moment passed.

Then another.

And yet one more. I smirked.

"See, nothing hap-"

A cloud of pink smoke covered me in an instant with a big "poof" sound, like some sort of cutesy thunder. Between my hands and coughs and the pouring rain, the cloud dissipated quickly, but felt felt a little off. For starters my angle of vision was a tad lower than a moment ago. The way my hair clinged on my face was lessened, seemingly transfered to the part that now covered my whole neck's back. My clothes also felt more spread out and clingy as if the rain had expanded them not shrunk them.

​

"What was tha-" I couldn't bring myself to finish that sentence. Was that my voice?! Why did it sound so...cute and girly? It was like a squeak toy crossbread with a top rate piano. My gaze was immediately drawn down, with two suddenly there small mountains catching my eye. My now thin, delicate hands shook intensely as they carefully approached the mounds and gave them a gentle push. Yep, they were indeed attached to my body.

There was only one last test. This time, my worries were such that even if my mind hesitated my body did not. I jammed my hand like a slap between my legs, and there a feeling of emptiness inside. Probably reflecting the emptiness of the space I just hit outside...

WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?!

No way, this couldn't be happening. Did that ...potion...do this? No, that couldn't be. That would be magic wouldn't it? Wait, I couldn't afford to think like that. This didn't make any sense. Maybe there was some kind of experimental drug there? What kind of drug could even do this? Well, at leats it proved my point, right? But it totally looked like magic. Maybe it was magic...No, wait, of course it wasn´t! Otherwise, all those things I said before.... I looked at Aki, but my gaze immediately turned away again. I couldn't...I just couldn't...

Before I knew it I had turned 180 degrees and started raining. My hair barely flew back with the running so glued it was to my face due to being soaking wet, despite how much longer it was now. I just wanted to go home, I couldn't face her right now. Maybe mom or dad would know a way to fix this! They always seemed to have a way with things, ever since I was little so surely...



"Hokori? Oh, could it be you're his girlfriend?"

"Mom..." She didn't recognize? Why? Even though I looked a bit different, possibly, why couldn't she tell I was her son! C'mon mom, you know me, you raised me, you should know that I needed you now more than ever!

"Ah, you're so cute, the way you call me "mom" already. Seriously that boy though, being late and even leaving his girl soaking in the rain. I'll have to scold him properly later."

I almost dropped everything I was holding. This...it couldn't be right... Didn't this mean I...wait, maybe if I...

"Mom, look!" I took out my wallet, and showed it to her. It even had my ID card inside. If I did this, surely-

"And he dropped his wallet too? Now, he is really in for the scolding of his life. Thank you so much for returning his things dear. I'm happy he found someone as nice as you. I'd let you in, but we'll be having some important guests over today, so I can't have more guests around the house, but just stay put, I'll get you a towel so you can at least dry your head and I'll lend you an umbrella so you an go home. Maybe this will give you an excuse to come over sometime, eh?"

My mom winked at me, to a stranger to her, thus sealing the deal. I was...no longer welcome at my own home. My eyes felt stingy, my visiona little blurry.

I ran.



Where could I go? I had no idea. The rain wasn't stopping either. I had to go somewhere, somewhere I wouldn't be so easily spotted. Oh, right! That place might work! That place besides the river, where pratically nobody ever went. I rushed over to the place, passing through the narrow passage from that morning, but my foot slipped. An old, rugged hand caught me midfall, and was it not for the surprising grip of that hand whose false nails came flying off, I would probably be "swimming" by now. Yet, when I looked, I saw a familiar face.

"You brats, always rushing everything. Are you alright?" The women from that morning inquired.

May you really be cursed, your future shall see a time when that recklessness of yours shall catch up with you, and your past shall appear again to haunt you! May that haunting be the downfall of your pride..."

"AAAAAAH! Let go of me!"

I freed myself from her grasp, and leaving her very stunned behind me, I ran away even more. And more. And more. Until I ended up at the one place where maybe I could show my face. Though, it might also be the one place that would welcome that face the least.

I stood there, right in front of Aki's house, soaking in the rain.

 

[Ceemuhrie]

Scroll to the bottom of posts to view the Mobile Friendly Version! ​

Akemi Kojima
After school ~​

As I rubbed my eyes, I watched Hoki bend and pick up the vial. Wait... What was he doing? I could feel the water around us slowing down, I could suddenly feel every rain drop on my skin. I felt less cold. Felt my heart quickening. My body was moving too slow. He removed the cork and brought the vial to his lips. My hand reached up in protest, but I was too far away to stop him. I wanted to shout 'give it back', but found no voice.

Just like that, the liquid was gone. He... he drank it. HE TOTALLY DRANK IT. That damn Hoki drank my potion! That idiot! That... that... jerk! AH! I couldn't believe him!

Mere moments faded into what felt like hours. I saw the beginning of his smirk. I clenched my teeth and fists. He'd won. Hoki had absoltely won. Of course magic wasn't real, but I had wanted it to be. But he just had to be right, didn't he? His pride wouldn't let him just suck it up and be wrong for once, right?!

I cursed him in my brain, cursed him in my heart and wished that, for once, magic was real. Wish that magic could be on my side. But... Like people always say... 'Be careful what you wish for.' There's a reason that's a superstitious phrase. Just as there are caution labels because people are dumb enough to misuse a product, there were superstitions and phrases that were meant to forewarn when karma was ready to eat a human being alive. And Hoki was no exception to the rule.

If the universe could've spoken, it would have said to Hoki: 'Hello, karma, you fine f_cking beast. How the heck are you?'

And then something like the sound of popping thunder and a puff of smoke clouded the area. The cloud was almost too similiar to cotton candy and dissipated as the rain carried on. Soon, an unfamiliar, high-pitched voice met my ears. Finally, the cloud was completely gone.

"What was tha--"

A voice that was none too familiar. And a face and body none too familiar either...

Where... where Hoki stood... where... Hoki stood... there was a girl. There was a girl... where Hoki stood... Girl... Where Hoki... stood a girl... a girl... Hoki... My brain snapped. Nothing made sense. I tried to put it into sensical order. One: there was a girl standing where Hoki stood. A girl. Two: IT WAS A GIRL WEARING HOKI'S UNIFORM. Three: Was this girl... a Hoki, with boobs? This long-haired, cute girl, with boobs, seemingly karate chopping/cupping her crotch... replaced... Hoki? AH! NOTHING MADE SENSE.

Before I could say anything, she was gone. Darted off as fast as her legs would carry her... And my legs had already moved me into the train, headed for my part-time job and trying to steer me back into reality.

~Working at the Cafe ~

Today was little brother, big brother day. Once a week, we dress up for 'fan favorites' and our customers would choose from a list of fandoms... and obsessions. It included things like Pretty Girl Magical Warriors, Neko-Cafe, and everything in between for an otaku's dream. The normal work week consisted of maid uniforms and serving tea and cake to customers. Usually, I was really in the spirit, and 'little brother, older brother' was my favorite fandom to play. But after what happened earlier... I sighed, heavily.

"Aki-onee, are you okay today?"

"Risa-oneee... He... he..."

"He? Aki-onee, do you finally have a boyfriend?"

There was a heavy stigma in the cafe when my co-worker Risa said what she had aloud. I saw some customers had tried to nonchalantly listen in on the conversation. I had quite a few fans in the cafe too -- and none would be too entertained with me having a boyfriend... a boy... I felt my eyes water and I hugged Risa as hard as I could, tears flying out of my eyes like waterworks.

"He... Risa-onee... he... hic... he has BOOBS, Risa-onee... waaaahh~"

"Oi, oi, calm down, calm down. Maybe you should leave a bit early tonight."

"They're BIG boobs, oneee-saaan~"

"Oi, oi, go home already. You're probably already burning a fever from coming in after being in the rain, you reckless girl."

~ Evening, at home ~

Needless to say, I got sent home earlier than planned, as no one knew why I was so distressed. My boss was kinda enough however, to give me a pat on the head, an umbrella and some spare clothes to change into on the way home. But I reflected long and hard on the train ride back, what do I tell them? How do I apologize for not working my full shift? Sighhhhh ~

This was literally all the potion's fault. Logically, how does a diet drink even do something like that? For a minute, I remembered the idol's words on the video: It will make you the cutest girl ever ~ ne!... I thought that was... just a play on words? I looked up, coming down my street, a silhouette of a girl standing in front of my house. Crap. I wasn't dreaming, I wasn't fever-ridden delirious.

"N-ne... H-Hoki-kun... is that... really you...?" I stammered, trying to find my courage, "W-what're you doing here?"

Spoiler: Mobile Friendly Version

Akemi Kojima
After school ~​

As I rubbed my eyes, I watched Hoki bend and pick up the vial. Wait... What was he doing? I could feel the water around us slowing down, I could suddenly feel every rain drop on my skin. I felt less cold. Felt my heart quickening. My body was moving too slow. He removed the cork and brought the vial to his lips. My hand reached up in protest, but I was too far away to stop him. I wanted to shout 'give it back', but found no voice.

Just like that, the liquid was gone. He... he drank it. HE TOTALLY DRANK IT. That damn Hoki drank my potion! That idiot! That... that... jerk! AH! I couldn't believe him!

Mere moments faded into what felt like hours. I saw the beginning of his smirk. I clenched my teeth and fists. He'd won. Hoki had absoltely won. Of course magic wasn't real, but I had wanted it to be. But he just had to be right, didn't he? His pride wouldn't let him just suck it up and be wrong for once, right?!

I cursed him in my brain, cursed him in my heart and wished that, for once, magic was real. Wish that magic could be on my side. But... Like people always say... 'Be careful what you wish for.' There's a reason that's a superstitious phrase. Just as there are caution labels because people are dumb enough to misuse a product, there were superstitions and phrases that were meant to forewarn when karma was ready to eat a human being alive. And Hoki was no exception to the rule.

If the universe could've spoken, it would have said to Hoki: 'Hello, karma, you fine f_cking beast. How the heck are you?'

And then something like the sound of popping thunder and a puff of smoke clouded the area. The cloud was almost too similiar to cotton candy and dissipated as the rain carried on. Soon, an unfamiliar, high-pitched voice met my ears. Finally, the cloud was completely gone.

"What was tha--"

A voice that was none too familiar. And a face and body none too familiar either...

Where... where Hoki stood... where... Hoki stood... there was a girl. There was a girl... where Hoki stood... Girl... Where Hoki... stood a girl... a girl... Hoki... My brain snapped. Nothing made sense. I tried to put it into sensical order. One: there was a girl standing where Hoki stood. A girl. Two: IT WAS A GIRL WEARING HOKI'S UNIFORM. Three: Was this girl... a Hoki, with boobs? This long-haired, cute girl, with boobs, seemingly karate chopping/cupping her crotch... replaced... Hoki? AH! NOTHING MADE SENSE.

Before I could say anything, she was gone. Darted off as fast as her legs would carry her... And my legs had already moved me into the train, headed for my part-time job and trying to steer me back into reality.

~Working at the Cafe ~

Today was little brother, big brother day. Once a week, we dress up for 'fan favorites' and our customers would choose from a list of fandoms... and obsessions. It included things like Pretty Girl Magical Warriors, Neko-Cafe, and everything in between for an otaku's dream. The normal work week consisted of maid uniforms and serving tea and cake to customers. Usually, I was really in the spirit, and 'little brother, older brother' was my favorite fandom to play. But after what happened earlier... I sighed, heavily.

"Aki-onee, are you okay today?"

"Risa-oneee... He... he..."

"He? Aki-onee, do you finally have a boyfriend?"

There was a heavy stigma in the cafe when my co-worker Risa said what she had aloud. I saw some customers had tried to nonchalantly listen in on the conversation. I had quite a few fans in the cafe too -- and none would be too entertained with me having a boyfriend... a boy... I felt my eyes water and I hugged Risa as hard as I could, tears flying out of my eyes like waterworks.

"He... Risa-onee... he... hic... he has BOOBS, Risa-onee... waaaahh~"

"Oi, oi, calm down, calm down. Maybe you should leave a bit early tonight."

"They're BIG boobs, oneee-saaan~"

"Oi, oi, go home already. You're probably already burning a fever from coming in after being in the rain, you reckless girl."

~ Evening, at home ~

Needless to say, I got sent home earlier than planned, as no one knew why I was so distressed. My boss was kinda enough however, to give me a pat on the head, an umbrella and some spare clothes to change into on the way home. But I reflected long and hard on the train ride back, what do I tell them? How do I apologize for not working my full shift? Sighhhhh ~

This was literally all the potion's fault. Logically, how does a diet drink even do something like that? For a minute, I remembered the idol's words on the video: It will make you the cutest girl ever ~ ne!... I thought that was... just a play on words? I looked up, coming down my street, a silhouette of a girl standing in front of my house. Crap. I wasn't dreaming, I wasn't fever-ridden delirious.

"N-ne... H-Hoki-kun... is that... really you...?" I stammered, trying to find my courage, "W-what're you doing here?"​

​

​

​

 

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Here I was. At the last place that I would want to be in. Talking to the person I least deserved to. Part of me almost begged that she wouldn't recognize me. But of course...she did. Ha...ha...

"Did you know? You're just about the only one who'll even ask that right now. Even mom... Hey Aki-chan..." I showed myself the palms of my hands by keeping my gaze down towards them. My hands hesitated between staying open or closing, all the while the tears mixed with the rain falling front my hair, making me wonder whether Aki could even tell that it wasn't all just the rain. "This is a lie, right? This is a dream right? I mean, there's no way this could be real. There's no way magic could be real. That I could be wrong about that... I can't go finish my duties like this. I can't get a job like this. I can't go to school like this. I can't walk to school and banter with Kushi like this... I can't go home like this. I can't show my face there like this. There isn't anywhere I can go like this.... Hey Aki-chan..."

The rain only seemed to get heavier by the moment. My kept shaking too. I felt about to give. How did it turn out like this? I couldn't let them see me like this. But now this was the way I would have to live. I didn't even look up at that moment. I just made dash, one swift rush to hug her irrespective of the rain or the consequences.

"Hey Aki-chan..." There was barely any strength in my voice. The words seemed more and more like a dying squeak toy. Our clothes seemed to stick together with how soaking wet mine were, but I didn't care enough, I just wanted to embrace her right now and have my face over her shoulder so she wouldn't see eye sweat rolling down my face. "Everything's going to be alright, right? Everything... it's all going to be fine, right?"

......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
-Flashback- (6 years ago)

"I didn't get hurt ok? I totally didn't! I could never loose to some meanies who make fun of Aki!" I bawled out while hugging the Aki in question. My face was beyond embarassing, covered in tears and snot that I desperately tried holding back so it wouldn't get on Aki's shirt. Her butler had to fetch some band aid and tissues.

-Flashback Over-
......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Crap, did I HAVE to remember that? I was making that kind of embarassing thing again, wasn't I? Even though me and her weren't even really friends anymore... I couldn't burden her this much. I wished she wasn't the only person I could minimally rely on at this point. I pulled my snot, and moved away from her, quickly covering my eyes with my now oversized sleeve. I fell to the ground on my butt, half on purpose, and pulled away the tears.

"Yeah...it's alright. Sorry about that, I didn't mean to startle you. Hey, can I come in? Just until...until the rain stops."

I forced a smile, trying my damnest to look as calm as possible.

[/div]

[/div]

Tag: Ceemuhrie

Spoiler: phone friendly version

​

Here I was. At the last place that I would want to be in. Talking to the person I least deserved to. Part of me almost begged that she wouldn't recognize me. But of course...she did. Ha...ha...

"Did you know? You're just about the only one who'll even ask that right now. Even mom... Hey Aki-chan..." I showed myself the palms of my hands by keeping my gaze down towards them. My hands hesitated between staying open or closing, all the while the tears mixed with the rain falling front my hair, making me wonder whether Aki could even tell that it wasn't all just the rain. "This is a lie, right? This is a dream right? I mean, there's no way this could be real. There's no way magic could be real. That I could be wrong about that... I can't go finish my duties like this. I can't get a job like this. I can't go to school like this. I can't walk to school and banter with Kushi like this... I can't go home like this. I can't show my face there like this. There isn't anywhere I can go like this.... Hey Aki-chan..."

The rain only seemed to get heavier by the moment. My kept shaking too. I felt about to give. How did it turn out like this? I couldn't let them see me like this. But now this was the way I would have to live. I didn't even look up at that moment. I just made dash, one swift rush to hug her irrespective of the rain or the consequences.

"Hey Aki-chan..." There was barely any strength in my voice. The words seemed more and more like a dying squeak toy. Our clothes seemed to stick together with how soaking wet mine were, but I didn't care enough, I just wanted to embrace her right now and have my face over her shoulder so she wouldn't see eye sweat rolling down my face. "Everything's going to be alright, right? Everything... it's all going to be fine, right?"

......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
-Flashback- (6 years ago)

"I didn't get hurt ok? I totally didn't! I could never loose to some meanies who make fun of Aki!" I bawled out while hugging the Aki in question. My face was beyond embarassing, covered in tears and snot that I desperately tried holding back so it wouldn't get on Aki's shirt. Her butler had to fetch some band aid and tissues.

-Flashback Over-
......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Crap, did I HAVE to remember that? I was making that kind of embarassing thing again, wasn't I? Even though me and her weren't even really friends anymore... I couldn't burden her this much. I wished she wasn't the only person I could minimally rely on at this point. I pulled my snot, and moved away from her, quickly covering my eyes with my now oversized sleeve. I fell to the ground on my butt, half on purpose, and pulled away the tears.

"Yeah...it's alright. Sorry about that, I didn't mean to startle you. Hey, can I come in? Just until...until the rain stops."

I forced a smile, trying my damnest to look as calm as possible.

 

[Ceemuhrie]

Scroll to the bottom of posts to view the Mobile Friendly Version! ​

Akemi Kojima
After school, at home ~​

This desperate, sobbing, shaking... frail, crying girl... was this really Hoki? His hair, his voice, his face, his body... it was all different now. But I know what I had seen, there was no question about it. Despite the appearance of who he was now... I know what I saw at the train station. I saw Hoki, as a man, drink the potion, I know I saw that. I know I saw the cloud of smoke and I know I saw a girl replace where he stood.

But I was the only one who saw.

Who would believe us if we told them otherwise?

I glanced up again, Hoki's new voice cutting through the sound of the rain. Trembling, breaking... and it suddenly occurred to me. I've never known that side of Hoki. Not since we were kids, but back in the day, crying for children was normal. Hoki had long since outgrown tears. The Hoki I knew was calculated, serious and no-nonsense. The Hoki I knew was proud. The Hoki I knew... was now a woman. Even his own mother didn't know who he was.

Given the situation... hearing the soft pleading and the broken sentences, there was no doubt in my mind that Hoki was giving up. His pride had shattered - demolished, even. Just like I had wished it would be. Immediately, I felt the regret of my words from earlier, I felt the regret of my wishes -- I didn't mean for this to happen. Yeah, I wanted him to learn, to be sorry... but... not like this. Not... like this. How could I help him? How could I convince him this was going to be okay? I didn't even know if it would...

The rain felt heavier by the second, the water sliding off the borrowed umbrella I'd had, protecting me from the torrent of the elements, but not the impact of Hoki's now female body roughly pressed against mine. Doki. I noticed I was taller than him in this form. As kids, I always joked about being taller than him when I grew up; we both knew it'd never happen. Never say never, I suppose. Hoki always wanted to be bigger, he always wanted to protect me. Doki. What was this lingering pain of nostalgia doing here at a time like this?

Although I couldn't see what expression he was making... I could feel his girlish body sobbing, trembling, shivering from the cold. If he didn't want to show me his face, then... I was okay with that. Let him be sad, by God, let him get all his pain out. I would support him this time. The moment I went to wrap my arms around Hoki... I was taken aback when he pulled away from me, I shuffled back a bit to regain my balance as he subjected that small female form back into the rain.

"Yeah...it's alright. Sorry about that, I didn't mean to startle you. Hey, can I come in? Just until...until the rain stops."

"Just... until... the rain stops?" I heard myself whisper.

Idiot, I wanted to say. I was so used to calling him an idiot, that of course that was my first go-to statement. You're going to get sick like that, I wanted to also add. The last option was 'How could I leave a girl out here?' Admittedly, I did want to say that, too, but given the fragile situation, decided that this was most likely the worst thing I could say right now... I fought the urge to cry after feeling him crying against me, and then just pushing me off, trying to be that strong, proud Hoki I knew.

"Just... until... the rain stops?" I heard myself whisper again, my eyes burning holes in the ground.

I felt a sudden, rumbling heat in my chest thinking about his pride. When the rain stops... where would he go? Pimp his newfound boobs out for a place to stay? Did he think me so cruel that I wouldn't give him shelter when his own mother wouldn't even take him in? So what if we weren't the closest of friends now? That idiot.

I went with my gut, thrusting myself forward and dropping the umbrella as I toppled into him for a tight embrace. Screw it, I'd risk getting a little sick. He needed something good to happen today. Hoki needed me. Best friends or not. Man or woman. He needed me. "You idiot," I cried softly, this time meaning it as an endearment and not an insult, squeezing him harder, "This house is just as much yours as it is mine, or did you already forget all those summer sleepovers?" I sniffled against his body, so soft and so feminine. Part of me felt... oddly enough, a bit unfulfilled. I didn't expect to be hugging a girl Hoki. Not in this lifetime.

I took his hand, God, it was so small, and led Hoki inside, the foyer was well-lit and significantly warmer than outside. Water fell from our clothes and hair, dripping to the floor. To the left was a shoe rack, completely empty. Seemed no one was home -- which was odd. Father was out of town, but Kazuya, the butler, should have at least been there. Well, if anything, it'd just make things easier. To the right of the entrance were empty slippers for the house, and towels. So that meant Kazuya had been here, but most likely ran out for errands.

"Y-you should grab a towel," I stammered, letting go of his hand. Her hand. "You're a lot more soaked than I am. We should probably take baths and then... maybe, erm... talk about... this." Unintentionally, I pointed to Hoki's chest, as if he wasn't already aware of his new set of mountains. "It's... okay if you don't want to talk about it now, and you can stay here while we figure things out."

Spoiler: Mobile Friendly Version

Akemi Kojima
After school, at home ~​

​

This desperate, sobbing, shaking... frail, crying girl... was this really Hoki? His hair, his voice, his face, his body... it was all different now. But I know what I had seen, there was no question about it. Despite the appearance of who he was now... I know what I saw at the train station. I saw Hoki, as a man, drink the potion, I know I saw that. I know I saw the cloud of smoke and I know I saw a girl replace where he stood.

But I was the only one who saw.

Who would believe us if we told them otherwise?

I glanced up again, Hoki's new voice cutting through the sound of the rain. Trembling, breaking... and it suddenly occurred to me. I've never known that side of Hoki. Not since we were kids, but back in the day, crying for children was normal. Hoki had long since outgrown tears. The Hoki I knew was calculated, serious and no-nonsense. The Hoki I knew was proud. The Hoki I knew... was now a woman. Even his own mother didn't know who he was.

Given the situation... hearing the soft pleading and the broken sentences, there was no doubt in my mind that Hoki was giving up. His pride had shattered - demolished, even. Just like I had wished it would be. Immediately, I felt the regret of my words from earlier, I felt the regret of my wishes -- I didn't mean for this to happen. Yeah, I wanted him to learn, to be sorry... but... not like this. Not... like this. How could I help him? How could I convince him this was going to be okay? I didn't even know if it would...

The rain felt heavier by the second, the water sliding off the borrowed umbrella I'd had, protecting me from the torrent of the elements, but not the impact of Hoki's now female body roughly pressed against mine. Doki. I noticed I was taller than him in this form. As kids, I always joked about being taller than him when I grew up; we both knew it'd never happen. Never say never, I suppose. Hoki always wanted to be bigger, he always wanted to protect me. Doki. What was this lingering pain of nostalgia doing here at a time like this?

Although I couldn't see what expression he was making... I could feel his girlish body sobbing, trembling, shivering from the cold. If he didn't want to show me his face, then... I was okay with that. Let him be sad, by God, let him get all his pain out. I would support him this time. The moment I went to wrap my arms around Hoki... I was taken aback when he pulled away from me, I shuffled back a bit to regain my balance as he subjected that small female form back into the rain.

"Yeah...it's alright. Sorry about that, I didn't mean to startle you. Hey, can I come in? Just until...until the rain stops."

"Just... until... the rain stops?" I heard myself whisper.

Idiot, I wanted to say. I was so used to calling him an idiot, that of course that was my first go-to statement. You're going to get sick like that, I wanted to also add. The last option was 'How could I leave a girl out here?' Admittedly, I did want to say that, too, but given the fragile situation, decided that this was most likely the worst thing I could say right now... I fought the urge to cry after feeling him crying against me, and then just pushing me off, trying to be that strong, proud Hoki I knew.

"Just... until... the rain stops?" I heard myself whisper again, my eyes burning holes in the ground.

I felt a sudden, rumbling heat in my chest thinking about his pride. When the rain stops... where would he go? Pimp his newfound boobs out for a place to stay? Did he think me so cruel that I wouldn't give him shelter when his own mother wouldn't even take him in? So what if we weren't the closest of friends now? That idiot.

I went with my gut, thrusting myself forward and dropping the umbrella as I toppled into him for a tight embrace. Screw it, I'd risk getting a little sick. He needed something good to happen today. Hoki needed me. Best friends or not. Man or woman. He needed me. "You idiot," I cried softly, this time meaning it as an endearment and not an insult, squeezing him harder, "This house is just as much yours as it is mine, or did you already forget all those summer sleepovers?" I sniffled against his body, so soft and so feminine. Part of me felt... oddly enough, a bit unfulfilled. I didn't expect to be hugging a girl Hoki. Not in this lifetime.

I took his hand, God, it was so small, and led Hoki inside, the foyer was well-lit and significantly warmer than outside. Water fell from our clothes and hair, dripping to the floor. To the left was a shoe rack, completely empty. Seemed no one was home -- which was odd. Father was out of town, but Kazuya, the butler, should have at least been there. Well, if anything, it'd just make things easier. To the right of the entrance were empty slippers for the house, and towels. So that meant Kazuya had been here, but most likely ran out for errands.

"Y-you should grab a towel," I stammered, letting go of his hand. Her hand. "You're a lot more soaked than I am. We should probably take baths and then... maybe, erm... talk about... this." Unintentionally, I pointed to Hoki's chest, as if he wasn't already aware of his new set of mountains. "It's... okay if you don't want to talk about it now, and you can stay here while we figure things out."​

​

 

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"Just...until... the rain stops?" Aki inquired.

"Mhhm." I nodded.

"Just...until...the rain stops?"

I nodded again.

Suddenly, I felt her embrace again, but this time, she was the one doing it to me. I raised my arms weekly half skeptical of what I was experiencing, but wholeheartedly thankful she'd care so much despite everything. It took all my strength to keep myself from crying when she did this, but I couldn't help but still shed another couple tears when she warmly called me an idiot and reminded me of the old days as she offered her house for me to stay. Seriously, what did I ever do to deserve a friend like her? It was like cheating, unfair as this ordeal of mine might be to begin with.

"Oshamashimasu." I said, as in the old days whenever I went into her house. Of course, I as a properly educated person I always did this for any house, but...something was nostalgic, almost special about saying it there. I bowed and, as promised, we went inside. It turned out that, fortunately or unfortunately, Aki's butler wasn't presently home. Aki offered a towel. I just went over there and took one, sighing. I barely heard the thing about baths, with so many other thoughts on my mind. I couldn't keep imposing on her forever. I would have to seriously think and figure out what I'd do from now on.

"Thank you, Aki-chan. For everything. Sorry about causing a bit of a scene back there, you even got yourself wet over me." I gulped. It was a super long shot, but I'd be an idiot not to at least try asking this. "So, Aki-chan, about your hum..."detox". It wouldn't happen that it came with any... "cure" or "antidote" or anything, would it?"

TThough of course, I already knew the answer. I sighed. I should've just taken y own advice. I should have simply not meddled where I wasn't supposed to. Especially when it came to Aki. Still, what if something bad had happened to her? Such a thought brought me a little joy: Maybe I had managed to save her from an even worse fate than the one I was suffering? That sounded nice. Hoki, the heroic sacrifice....maybe not that nice after all. Now that the heroic part was done after all, it was time for the sacrifice. The thought kept creeping on me, like a spider at the back of my head. What was I gonna do from now on? I found myself looking around me, at the paitings and furtinture in Aki's house, as if they would give me the answers I sought.

"Nomatter how many years pass, it's always so impressive Aki-chan. Your parents are really rich, aren't they? It can't have been easy, making this kind of money. Must have been a lot of work. If I worked a bit, maybe I could make something for myself. More than just collecting trash, maybe I could do something with it. Like hum... oh, maybe a fishing pole? And I could fish and become a successful fisherman....fisherwoman...I guess...."

Suddenly I didn't feel quite as motivated, but I tried keeping my spirits up. I couldn't let Aki-chan see my pathetic side, after all!

[/div]

[/div]

Tag: Ceemuhrie

Spoiler: phone friendly version

"Just...until... the rain stops?" Aki inquired.

"Mhhm." I nodded.

"Just...until...the rain stops?"

I nodded again.

Suddenly, I felt her embrace again, but this time, she was the one doing it to me. I raised my arms weekly half skeptical of what I was experiencing, but wholeheartedly thankful she'd care so much despite everything. It took all my strength to keep myself from crying when she did this, but I couldn't help but still shed another couple tears when she warmly called me an idiot and reminded me of the old days as she offered her house for me to stay. Seriously, what did I ever do to deserve a friend like her? It was like cheating, unfair as this ordeal of mine might be to begin with.

"Oshamashimasu." I said, as in the old days whenever I went into her house. Of course, I as a properly educated person I always did this for any house, but...something was nostalgic, almost special about saying it there. I bowed and, as promised, we went inside. It turned out that, fortunately or unfortunately, Aki's butler wasn't presently home. Aki offered a towel. I just went over there and took one, sighing. I barely heard the thing about baths, with so many other thoughts on my mind. I couldn't keep imposing on her forever. I would have to seriously think and figure out what I'd do from now on.

"Thank you, Aki-chan. For everything. Sorry about causing a bit of a scene back there, you even got yourself wet over me." I gulped. It was a super long shot, but I'd be an idiot not to at least try asking this. "So, Aki-chan, about your hum..."detox". It wouldn't happen that it came with any... "cure" or "antidote" or anything, would it?"

TThough of course, I already knew the answer. I sighed. I should've just taken y own advice. I should have simply not meddled where I wasn't supposed to. Especially when it came to Aki. Still, what if something bad had happened to her? Such a thought brought me a little joy: Maybe I had managed to save her from an even worse fate than the one I was suffering? That sounded nice. Hoki, the heroic sacrifice....maybe not that nice after all. Now that the heroic part was done after all, it was time for the sacrifice. The thought kept creeping on me, like a spider at the back of my head. What was I gonna do from now on? I found myself looking around me, at the paitings and furtinture in Aki's house, as if they would give me the answers I sought.

"Nomatter how many years pass, it's always so impressive Aki-chan. Your parents are really rich, aren't they? It can't have been easy, making this kind of money. Must have been a lot of work. If I worked a bit, maybe I could make something for myself. More than just collecting trash, maybe I could do something with it. Like hum... oh, maybe a fishing pole? And I could fish and become a successful fisherman....fisherwoman...I guess...."

Suddenly I didn't feel quite as motivated, but I tried keeping my spirits up. I couldn't let Aki-chan see my pathetic side, after all!

 

[Ceemuhrie]

Scroll to the bottom of posts to view the Mobile Friendly Version! ​

Akemi Kojima
Night time~​

I felt a bit dejected, shaking my head at her inquiry of an antidote. The only thing in that box were packing peanuts. There wasn't even a receipt or mail back address on the package. That should've been a sign. Sigh. An antidote... That would solve all the problems, now wouldn't it? But, like it was some monitored, unfair twist of fate, they were just products of Murphy's Law.

If it was too good to be true, it probably was.

I grabbed a towel for myself, patting the water from my hair and body, resting it on my shoulders and then ringing out the pleats of my skirt and watching the water fall onto the tiled entrance floor. She rambled on about getting a job, as a fisherwoman. Fisher. Woman. I zoned out a bit, wondering what that might be like. Day in and day out, fishing and selling to the market. Harsh, cold and wet labor. That was not the way for Hoki... a teenage girl to live life. She kept speaking, but I couldn't focus on her words.

It suddenly started hitting me a lot harder now. At the train station we were several feet away and Hoki had run away so fast that I was almost unaware of what had happened. Then outside, earlier, we were in the clouded darkness, surrounded by pouring rain. The solo steet and porch lamps barely giving us light. But here in the foyer, under the warm lights, mere steps away... Hoki... he was a she.

I stepped forward, taking a strand of her hair in my right hand. Long, silky and sleek to the touch... my fingers getting lost in the volume of her luscious locks. The first confirmation for me that this was real. The vibrant pink color and the sparkle of her lost-looking, violet eyes... this was so... real. My left hand wandered up, reaching for her cheek when I snapped out of my trance and pulled my hands back, glancing a way and hiding part of my embarrassed face behind my towel. What the hell was that? What was I doing? I am so creepy right now.

Well, I guess it was time to address some elephants in the room.

"I don't want to be the damper here," I interjected slowly, minding my words, "B-but... We need to preemptively form a plan. My dad, as you've already know, definitely has the money to house us, and there are tons of rooms here so it's not like we're pressed for space. I can figure out a way to convince him -- Kazuya-san might be a bit more difficult to convince. But I'm sure we can make it happen. But we need to figure out our short term goals: getting you back into school would be the first. It's fine if you want to get a career. But school is important, too. We need to make up a story of who you are, how you got here... you're... you're gonna even need a new identity. You're... in image, not Hoki anymore. At the worst case, we need to operate off the fact that... that you may be a woman... forever."

Spoiler: Mobile Friendly Version

Akemi Kojima
Night time~​

I felt a bit dejected, shaking my head at her inquiry of an antidote. The only thing in that box were packing peanuts. There wasn't even a receipt or mail back address on the package. That should've been a sign. Sigh. An antidote... That would solve all the problems, now wouldn't it? But, like it was some monitored, unfair twist of fate, they were just products of Murphy's Law.

If it was too good to be true, it probably was.

I grabbed a towel for myself, patting the water from my hair and body, resting it on my shoulders and then ringing out the pleats of my skirt and watching the water fall onto the tiled entrance floor. She rambled on about getting a job, as a fisherwoman. Fisher. Woman. I zoned out a bit, wondering what that might be like. Day in and day out, fishing and selling to the market. Harsh, cold and wet labor. That was not the way for Hoki... a teenage girl to live life. She kept speaking, but I couldn't focus on her words.

It suddenly started hitting me a lot harder now. At the train station we were several feet away and Hoki had run away so fast that I was almost unaware of what had happened. Then outside, earlier, we were in the clouded darkness, surrounded by pouring rain. The solo steet and porch lamps barely giving us light. But here in the foyer, under the warm lights, mere steps away... Hoki... he was a she.

I stepped forward, taking a strand of her hair in my right hand. Long, silky and sleek to the touch... my fingers getting lost in the volume of her luscious locks. The first confirmation for me that this was real. The vibrant pink color and the sparkle of her lost-looking, violet eyes... this was so... real. My left hand wandered up, reaching for her cheek when I snapped out of my trance and pulled my hands back, glancing a way and hiding part of my embarrassed face behind my towel. What the hell was that? What was I doing? I am so creepy right now.

Well, I guess it was time to address some elephants in the room.

"I don't want to be the damper here," I interjected slowly, minding my words, "B-but... We need to preemptively form a plan. My dad, as you've already know, definitely has the money to house us, and there are tons of rooms here so it's not like we're pressed for space. I can figure out a way to convince him -- Kazuya-san might be a bit more difficult to convince. But I'm sure we can make it happen. But we need to figure out our short term goals: getting you back into school would be the first. It's fine if you want to get a career. But school is important, too. We need to make up a story of who you are, how you got here... you're... you're gonna even need a new identity. You're... in image, not Hoki anymore. At the worst case, we need to operate off the fact that... that you may be a woman... forever."

 

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Yeah....I guess she wouldn't have it. I already knew as much, but it was so disappointing to hear even so. It was like one candle lit at the very end of a gigantic dark room, providing just enough light to see the exit, but being sniffed away by those cruel air currents. Still, even if that candle was gone, I could always find a new one to light up at some point. And until then, I could rely on the self-phone light. It wasn't quite the same. It wasn't as genuine or as bright, but it would stick with me so long as I made sure to keep the energy up. That's right, I needed to keep my spirits up. For Aki's sake if nothing-

Aki suddenly approached me. Her eyes were looking right at me, but it was like they were looking right through me, like me and the house had become invisible and her gaze was merely contemplating the universe. She got close, really close. I raised my hands in front of me unconsciously as I tried to process what was happening. She reached a hand and grabbed my new hair.

"A-a-a-a-aki-ch-chan wha-wha-what a-are you you d-d-doing?" She didn't seem to here me though. She was enamored with my hair, stroking it like a cat's fur, sliding her fingers across it like a hairdresser or a tailor judging linen. I found myself shivering as droplets of water fell on my shirt and back from the hair being messed with, but shook even more as she suddenly grabbed my cheek. It was more sensitive than I expected. I couldn't help my body screaming, in fact enfiminate voice I still couldn't accept having: "A-AKI?!"

This seemed to snap her back to her own mind, and she quickly pulled away. Rather adorably she attempted to hide behind the towel, like a little kid who thinks the curtains make them undetectable. I fought back the urge to chuckle for the first time since the big incident this afternoon, but was nonetheless about to ask her if she wanted to play the peak-a-boo, when that was cut short by her return to the topic of my future needs. Frankly what she was suggesting, it seemed insane- convince her father of what happened, trick everyone in school, have me live with her until I could fend for myself again. And yet, insane as such an endeavor might be, I couldn't deny with that father of hers it was at least somewhat plausible. which was frustrating enough on it's own, but it was even moreso with the weight of having to rely on Aki like this. And with that bombshell at the end....A woman forever huh? I looked down at the ground.

"Staying a girl forever huh... Now that would be a pickle. Just thinking of everything I ever was, and the people who cared about me, my parents, Kushi... I guess they'd be in a real shock when they found out. Maybe I could even see a different side of Kushi, haha..." I forcefully laughed a little bit. Then I sniffed, and bowed to Aki. That's right...she was the only one I could still rely on. And she was right. About it all. "I guess, I guess I am in your care. Even if I don't deserve it."

Not that I deserved what happened to me anyway, but still, this was pathetic of me.

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Tag: Ceemuhrie

Spoiler: phone friendly version

Yeah....I guess she wouldn't have it. I already knew as much, but it was so disappointing to hear even so. It was like one candle lit at the very end of a gigantic dark room, providing just enough light to see the exit, but being sniffed away by those cruel air currents. Still, even if that candle was gone, I could always find a new one to light up at some point. And until then, I could rely on the self-phone light. It wasn't quite the same. It wasn't as genuine or as bright, but it would stick with me so long as I made sure to keep the energy up. That's right, I needed to keep my spirits up. For Aki's sake if nothing-

Aki suddenly approached me. Her eyes were looking right at me, but it was like they were looking right through me, like me and the house had become invisible and her gaze was merely contemplating the universe. She got close, really close. I raised my hands in front of me unconsciously as I tried to process what was happening. She reached a hand and grabbed my new hair.

"A-a-a-a-aki-ch-chan wha-wha-what a-are you you d-d-doing?" She didn't seem to here me though. She was enamored with my hair, stroking it like a cat's fur, sliding her fingers across it like a hairdresser or a tailor judging linen. I found myself shivering as droplets of water fell on my shirt and back from the hair being messed with, but shook even more as she suddenly grabbed my cheek. It was more sensitive than I expected. I couldn't help my body screaming, in fact enfiminate voice I still couldn't accept having: "A-AKI?!"

This seemed to snap her back to her own mind, and she quickly pulled away. Rather adorably she attempted to hide behind the towel, like a little kid who thinks the curtains make them undetectable. I fought back the urge to chuckle for the first time since the big incident this afternoon, but was nonetheless about to ask her if she wanted to play the peak-a-boo, when that was cut short by her return to the topic of my future needs. Frankly what she was suggesting, it seemed insane- convince her father of what happened, trick everyone in school, have me live with her until I could fend for myself again. And yet, insane as such an endeavor might be, I couldn't deny with that father of hers it was at least somewhat plausible. which was frustrating enough on it's own, but it was even moreso with the weight of having to rely on Aki like this. And with that bombshell at the end....A woman forever huh? I looked down at the ground.

"Staying a girl forever huh... Now that would be a pickle. Just thinking of everything I ever was, and the people who cared about me, my parents, Kushi... I guess they'd be in a real shock when they found out. Maybe I could even see a different side of Kushi, haha..." I forcefully laughed a little bit. Then I sniffed, and bowed to Aki. That's right...she was the only one I could still rely on. And she was right. About it all. "I guess, I guess I am in your care. Even if I don't deserve it."

Not that I deserved what happened to me anyway, but still, this was pathetic of me.