Kaerimichi no Uta ~Going Home Song~
"Onegaishimasu!"
was welcomed by a loud and familiar voice of her friend, as the latter started running towards her. 's quick movement gave the idea that she was unable to control her speed, and was about to shout something to stop her, but , thank goodness, managed to stop running before she could crash into her friend.
", it's so early in the morning–"
"Onegaishimasu, -chan!" held 's hand and looked at her friend with pleading eyes.
curiously asked . "What is it now?"
took by the hand and went towards a small corner near the staircase. "Let's go home together!"
"Mezurashi na [1], . I thought your father was going to—"
"No no no no no. I told my dad that I'll be staying at your house today, after school. So, yeah. Let's walk home together!"
was quiet for a moment. She knew that her friend, , was up to something. She didn't like what she was feeling about it right now.
"What is it now, ? I have basketball practice today, so it will take a while..."
lit up as soon as she heard 's last statement. "So, does that mean I can go home with you? I can wait, you know! The tennis team also has— oops."
sharply turned towards her, "What about the tennis team? Don't tell me..."
"Ah, -chan, chotto..."
**********
"Seriously , why don't you just ask him directly?" asked, in between sipping her drink and wiping the sweat off her forehead. She was on her break from her basketball practice and , as promised, was sitting near the coach's bench waiting for her practice to finish.
"And risk embarrassment? No way!" shook her head. almost choked on her drink upon hearing her friend's response. "As if stalking him isn't embarrassing enough."
"He's not going to find out anyway, since you guys live in the same area!" was now pouting, which thought was both amusing and irritating at the same time.
"And besides," continued, flicking her hair. "We're not following him. See, your houses are across each other, and since I'm going to your house, it is not considered stalking."
"I think you're forgetting that going to my place after my practice is just an excuse to follow him." dropped her towel on the bench and ran back to the court, waving at her friend. As she resumed practicing, a very amused smile started to paint her soft lips.
**********
"Ah, he's here! Pretend that everything's normal." whispered to as they started to walk towards home. A tall, bespectacled young man had started walking towards their direction. His steps were quick, so even though and kept their distance from him, he was able to catch up on them.
"Ah, -san, -san, konnichiwa." The boy greeted.
Both girls looked at him. "Ah, Yagyuu-san."
"This is very rare, -san. You usually go home with your father, if I am not mistaken."
smiled and replied, "Ah, yes. But -chan invited me to her house today."
raised her eyebrow. Invited?! I'll smack you, , for using me as an excuse!
"-chan?" Yagyuu asked. felt herself blushing upon hearing her nickname being said by Yagyuu. Such a voice.
"Ahahaha! It's 's nickname, you see. It's a not-so-fitting nickname, knowing that -chan here has some temper." giggled.
"T-that's not true." managed to say something in order to defend herself.
Yagyuu let out a smile. "That's really nice of you two. You get along really well."
As and Yagyuu continued talking, smiled to herself, unconsciously glancing at the boy walking beside them.
**********
"Did. You. See. That?" said as soon as the two of them reached the household. She could not seem to suppress her giggles as if about to burst from happiness.
"Hai, hai. I saw that. So, are you happy now?" said as she was removing her shoes. It had become a routine for her; hearing her friend ask the same question every time got the chance to talk to a guy she liked.
"Ah... You know what, -chan? I think Yagyuu is the one." removed her shoes as well, and quickly said, ojamashimasu [2] as she began to walk around the house.
"Oh really?"
"I am serious this time, -chan!"
"Oh, so you weren't serious three weeks ago, huh?" She said half-jokingly.
"-chan!"
"Okay, okay, I'll stop." said as she was about to burst from laughing. "What is it that you want me to do now?"
**********
"Eh. So you went home with two pretty girls yesterday afternoon. How greedy." Niou Masaharu teased Yagyuu as they were casually hitting the balls on the court. Yagyuu returned the ball and Niou managed to catch it.
"I'm not greedy. Besides, lives near my place, so it's inevitable."
"But not ."
"Well, she went to 's place."
"I think she likes you."
"Who?"
"."
Yagyuu did not return Niou's hit and went to the bench instead and took a sip of water. Niou smirked. "Do you want me to interpret that action as a response to what I've just said?"
"No."
"So, what do you think?" Niou asked. He watched as Yagyuu returned from the court and bounced the ball before serving.
"That's nice, but I already like someone else."
**********
"Ah, Yagyuu-san. Are?" waved and was soon surprised upon seeing that Yagyuu was not alone.
"Yo!" Niou Masaharu greeted at and . Both girls waved at him, and , surprised that things weren't going on as planned, whispered to her friend. "There's four of us!"
replied. "Doesn't matter to me."
made a face, realizing that did not really care. "Ah, anou, Yagyuu-san, Niou-san. I would like to ask if you're busy...?"
"Not really, why?" Niou replied before Yagyuu could even say something.
"Well, ah. -chan is going to cook something for snacks, and I want to know if it's... okay..."
"Well, practice is over, and I'm hungry anyway. So, where?" Niou happily replied.
**********
"That was really unexpected!" muttered as she watch carefully cut the castella [3] and put them on each plate.
"That's fine. At least Yagyuu-san won't feel embarrassed if he's the only guy here." replied nonchalantly.
started taking out the ice from the tray and nodded. "I guess so. And it wouldn't look to obvious that I'm targeting him, right?"
"We'll you're pretty obvious, . I am sure Niou-san already got the message."
"You think so?"
"I know so."
**********
"Well, well, it seems that you are in a very tight situation, my friend." Niou teased as both him and Yagyuu are sitting at the living room of the household. The two girls went to the kitchen to get something to eat, leaving both boys waiting.
"You should keep quiet as they might hear you." Yagyuu instead replied.
"Okay then. But seriously, you're in a pinch, buddy. Not only that you're running out of time, but your situation is very... uhm, I don't know. Difficult."
"I'll try to figure out things, Niou." Yagyuu concluded and remained silent until and returned with their food.
**********
"Well then guys, I'll see you in school tomorrow. Niou-san, you can hitch a ride with us if you don't mind." waved at both and Yagyuu as Niou was about to step in to the car. Niou gave a polite bow at 's father before the both of them went inside the car. A minute after and the automobile was out of sight. and Yagyuu remained standing in front of 's gate.
"That was a delicious snack, -san. Thank you." Yagyuu commented.
"Thank you. I am glad that you enjoyed it." replied.
"Yes. I did."
There was a short pause before Yagyuu and decided to say something.
"Ah–"
"Ah–"
"Yes?"
"No, you can go first." replied.
"No, your turn."
"No, that's alright."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Yagyuu cleared his throat before saying something. "You see... I've noticed that you've been reading Dostoevsky's [4] book for a while now. If you don't mind, maybe you're also interested in reading Tolstoy's [5] as well."
"Uh. Okay…"
"So, well. I'll give you the book tomorrow during the break. No, wait. Do you mind waiting here? I'll pick it up and bring it here."
"Sure, Yagyuu-san. That would be nice."
"Okay. I'll be back in a couple of minutes."
Yagyuu quickly returned and with him is an almost-new copy of Anna Karenina [6]. He handed it to . "It's a long read, but it's worth the time."
flipped through the pages, and then made a thudding noise by closed the book abruptly. She then gave Yagyuu a contented smile. "Thank you."
**********
"You. Are. Not. Going. To. Believe. This!" squealed as soon as she saw reading on her table during lunch. She took the nearest seat and sat near .
". Can't you see that I'm busy reading?"
replied, without glancing at her friend. She knew that something was going on and she did not want to be bothered by her friend's escapade especially since she was in the middle of a very good part of the book.
"Yes, I know that. But you're a girl, too, so you can multi-task. Hence, you can listen to me while you're reading."
replied matter-of-factly.
"So what are you up to this time?" asked.
"Well. Remember that me and my dad brought Niou-san home, right?"
"Uhuh."
"Well, so I managed to gather some information from Niou, and I found out that Yagyuu-san likes someone else..." A hint of sadness started to creep on 's voice.
"Oh. Wait. You did what?! Have you no shame, ?! Your father was in the car." put down the book and scolded her friend.
"Oh, my dad's used to my actions anyway. But anyway, as I was saying. Yagyuu likes a certain girl in our school, and Niou told me that I have no match to that girl."
"Wow, Niou-san is very blunt about these things."
"Well, I am kind of used to it since we're on the same class. So yes. I decided to stop following Yagyuu around and look for someone else."
removed her glasses and let out a chuckle. "Wow, that was fast. It's been only a couple of days since you started going crazy over him, and now...?"
"Hai, hai. Spare me all the sermons, -chan. So yeah. You can go home alone now." smiled.
"Heck, I do go home alone in the first place." smiled and resumed reading.
**********
What did I say to awhile ago? This is what asked herself as soon as she stepped outside the campus after her basketball practice. She saw a very familiar guy standing outside as if waiting for someone.
"Yagyuu...san?"
Yagyuu Hiroshi looked back upon hearing and smiled. "Ah, konnichiwa."
"School and practice are over, why are you still standing there?" She inquired.
"Oh. I think it is because I have been used to walking home with you and -san, so I decided to wait here." Yagyuu calmly said.
"Oh. I... see. That's nice." replied. "Well then, shall we?"
The two started walking quietly on their way home. Neither one of them spoke, thus, making the atmosphere between them really heavy. Yagyuu was the first one to break the silence.
"Have you started reading the book, -san?"
"Oh, yeah. But I'm not yet halfway through it. It is indeed a very long book. Not to mention that the emotions in it are really heavy." She replied.
"That is true. I think that's one of the characteristics of Russian novels; very emotionally depressing." Yagyuu said.
"I agree with you on that. Do you like Russian novels?"
"I think they are okay. But I like mystery novels the most. And you?"
"Ah, well. I read whatever I can my hands on, but I still like Japanese authors the best. Love your own, as what the saying goes." She chuckled.
They stopped when a train passed by, and again, an uncomfortable silence settled in. This time around, it was who talked first.
"Anou sa..."
"Yes?"
"I've heard from that you like someone else. Well... Niou-san told her." She said.
"Niou?"
"Well, I think you're not blind or dense, but in any case, liked you a lot. Liked, because after what Niou told her what you feel, she decided not to go on with her feelings."
"I see." Is all what Yagyuu replied.
"Yes. So. Yes. I don't know why I am telling you this, and I know that what felt for you is just sheer admiration, or at least that's what I think. But I want to know what is it with that you don't like. Or why don't you like her?"
"-san." Yagyuu said.
"Yes?"
"I don't hate -san. But this is just how it is. I don't see her as a girlfriend or anything."
"Oh."
"And whatever Niou had said to -san, that is true. I like someone else."
"I see. I understand." replied.
"I hope you will also say the same thing once you learn about everything." Yagyuu said. stopped from her tracks and looked at Yagyuu questioningly. "Eh?"
Yagyuu turned around and noticed that stopped from walking. He took her hand and tugged her gently. "Why are you standing there? Let's go." was still thinking what Yagyuu had said that she failed to realize that the both of them were already standing across 's home.
"Oh. Okay. What did you just say earlier, Yagyuu-san?" said as soon as she noticed that Yagyuu was about to leave. Yagyuu went back and walked towards her.
"I said that I hope that you will also say the same thing once you learn about everything. I mean, apart from what Niou had just said to -san."
"Okay, then. Is there something that I need to know in order to understand what is going on?" asked. Wow, for a smart guy, he surely knows how to confuse someone, she told herself.
"I haven't answered your question earlier, haven't I?"
was silent for a second. "Oh, yes. About why you don't like , or something. You kind of gave it, but I am not sure."
"Yes. I didn't give you my answer."
"Okay. So what is your answer?" said.
Yagyuu went closer and put his hand above her head. "It's because of this."
"Eh?"
Yagyuu smiled softly and instead of answering 's questioning looks, he bade his goodbye and said, "I'll see you in school tomorrow. Oh, I'll walk home with you again, if you don't mind." was left standing in front of her house looking more confused than ever.
What does he mean by 'it's because of this'? asked herself. She thought for a moment and then her eyes widened as soon as she finally got what the boy meant.
"M-me?!"
##########
July 28, 2007
Written by: Megane-ko
Edited by: linchpin
[1] This is rare of you
[2] Sorry for intruding
[3] Kasutera, or Sponge Cake
[4] Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881) is a Russian writer. Among the books that he wrote are Crime and Punishment, The Idiot, et al.
[5] Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) is a Russian writer. Among his famous works are Anna Karenina and War and Peace.
[6] Anna Karenina is a book written by Leo Tolstoy.