#endestwords

[endestprana]

Technostar: Palettes

“They’re closing in… the hurdles are there in the horizon of fate… waiting for the chance…”

Riko was humming as she walked her way to the school that morning. She sang along the piano piece her sister gave her before. As she focused her vision up, she caught a glimpse of someone she knew. The girl there was seemingly playing with her phone while she didn’t look at the road she stepped on. Surely, that said girl then unconsciously missed her step and fell with her face met the ground. Groaning soon echoed.

“Yoshiko-chan, are you okay?” worried Riko as she arrived near Yoshiko

“…Ah, Riko? Yeah, I’m fine.” Riko lend her hand “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” Riko helped the girl stood up and they continued together to their class. After a while, Yoshiko noticed that the golden eyes girl was fidgeting a bit

“Huh? What’s up, Riko?” confused Yoshiko

“Ah, it’s nothing important, really. I-I was just curious about why did you ran so fast yesterday, that’s all…” Riko slowly turned to be similar to her older sister

“Yesterday? Ah, that one, huh?  I was helping my aunt with groceries.” Riko took it that Umi was telling her the truth yesterday.  Continuing a bit of their conversation, they then arrived at the class

The class is starting. Riko focused her sight onto the front even though she knew and surely felt the stare she got from the one beside her. “What is Yoshiko-chan doing?” “Is there something on my face?” thoughts kept on popping inside her mind but Riko still tried on focusing herself to the lesson. Well, she was also a bit happy that Yoshiko stared at her, though she didn’t know why.

That was the first trigger…

It was a pure admiration. Riko thought that it must be what defined the feeling she had inside this time. It was different from the affection she had for her parents and sister. It was more ambitious, more greedy, more thirsty, like there’s nothing that could satisfy this certain lack except this one existence. And that existence is none other than the girl who stared at her right now.

The way the blue haired girl helped her yesterday was really cool. She felt like her feet was swept away, unable to stand on her own, as if wanting to be held by that same girl. The warmth she got when her hand was being held by this certain girl surely was something she would gladly enjoy all her life. But…, what is this feeling again?

-----

The school ended. Students ran out from the class, some went to their respective clubs, some went directly to the school gate. Yoshiko? She was neither. There’s something that she felt a little bit today. She didn’t felt it yesterday but she felt it today. Why? She didn’t know. It wasn’t the first time she touched the redhair. But still, the feeling she got when Riko held her hand was something she never felt before. There’s something wrong here. Confused with the emotions unknown to her, she decided to went back home since there’s no use thinking about it in school and asking about it to the redhair is out of question, of course.

The thumping she had yesterday must be a lie. There’s no way she would finally felt what people said as love. Yoshiko, a girl who’s just 16 years old surely was not old enough to feel such complicated feeling like the one described in the book she read just now. Just how could she fell in love with someone she didn’t really know? There’s no way. However, there’s also a love in the first sight?? Hmmmmm… but she didn’t felt it coming at all when they met at the first time. Late-bloom? Might be, but still…

Then an idea came to mind. What about she went out of her way to confirm this feeling of hers? Yoshiko proceed to read the book more thoroughly this time. There, she found an answer. This is it. This is the one that she had to do. Now, all she had to do is to call her cousin…

-----

Maki had finally finished writing down her assignment and her back sure was getting a little bit sore. The tongue was also felt lacking a little bit sweetness. Her thought then went to the refrigerator which contained the tomatoes she bought this afternoon. Humming, Maki went to the kitchen before she was stopped by the ringing of Umi’s phone.

“Umi, your phone is ringing.” Shouted Maki to the girl who took a bath right now

“Who is it?”

“It’s Yoshiko. She called you twice already. Should I answer it for you?”

“Thanks, please do.”

Maki then answered the phone and greeted the girl in Japan “Hello.”

“Hello…, Maki-san? Is Umi-nee there with you?”

“Yes, but she’s still in bath. I don’t think she would finish soon. So, what’s up? Is there anything you wanted to ask her for?”

“Ah, no. Actually, it would be better if I ask you, Maki-san…” Yoshiko sounded a little bit nervous

“Me? Sure. Go ahead.” Firm answer as always

“T-The thing is…, I was reading this one book…” Yoshiko held her breath

“Then…?” Maki waited for the continuation

“W-Well, at first I was confused about the feeling I got whenever I’m with Riko or whenever I’m thinking about her. Then, the book told me that I might be falling in love…” Yoshiko’s beet red

Maki was a little bit shocked but she didn’t let it known by the other side of the call “Continue.”

“S-S-So, it says that I can prove it by giving her something she really loved. It also says if the person happily accept it and I felt that strange feeling again, then that is love.” Yoshiko concluded her explanation

“Okay, so you wanted to ask me about things Riko love, is that right…?”

“Y-Yes…”

“Well, since I trust you being you’re Umi’s cousin I will answer your question.” Yoshiko felt relief at the confirmation she got from Maki “Hmmmmmmm… Well, for starters, Riko loves piano. Maybe not just piano. She also loves viola and classical music. For food, I think she loves sandwich the most. I think that’s all I know…?”

“T-T-That’s more than enough, Maki-san! Thanks for telling me, Maki-san!!” Yoshiko felt so happy

“W-Well, it’s nothing really…” Maki felt a little bit embarrassed since the younger girl thanked her full force “However, remember this, Yoshiko.”

“Yes, what is it, Maki-san?”

“I don’t oppose if you got together with Riko or if you didn’t even have that intention as long as you didn’t make her cry. Remember that, okay? If I got the news that she cried because of you…, well, you’d better avoid that, okay?”

”Yes, Maki-san.” All that Yoshiko could muttered before Maki hung up the phone since she saw that Umi might soon finished her bath. Surely, the girl then showed up from the bath and asked about the conversation Maki had with her cousin. Maki, however, didn’t let Umi know, thinking that it’s a payback for yesterday. Well, it’s also to make things interesting if Umi found out later.

-----

“Now, what should I get for Riko?”

“A keyboard? No way. That’s too expensive. Not that piano is any better in that factor, too.”

“A keychain of piano? Isn’t it too plain?”

“C’mon, Yoshiko. You’re better than this. You must find the right gift for her, something that she would really like or it’ll not work.”

“Without the right present you will never find out whether this feeling is love or not, Yoshiko!!!”

“Wait a moment. Isn’t it strange for me to suddenly give her a present?”

“She might think I’m some kind of weirdo, right?”

“What should I do?”

Yoshiko’s mind is in serious confusion. It was the first time she gave so much thought about someone more than her family. Never before she felt the urge to do things to this extent for her friend. At this point, Yoshiko thought that maybe she didn’t really need to prove it at all… Maybe she was already falling in love with Riko without knowing…

-----

Riko felt it again. The strange pain she got from the time to time. The ache that gradually become frequent. She got it first when she was beginning to get closer with her first adopting father and mother. Well, Riko do knew that she couldn’t make it sounded as if she didn’t know what she’s feeling right now. And if her hunch was right, she might also know the reason and the ‘person’ who made her felt this way. She might already knew since there was no one but that girl. That girl with purple irises. The test that Riko ran finally sowed some result. Now she knew the real reason behind everything that happened before…

It was something that Riko never even wished for all her entire life. She always put it in her prayer that she didn’t need this ‘condition’ of hers. She’ll be just fine without it. But seemed like her fate didn’t want her to be happy that easily even though she did her best at faking her affection for the Nishikino’s. Even though she did her best at starting over again. “Just what is needed to make things not as complicated as this…?” Riko wondered inside her heart…

-----

There was something that almost none of the people in the world knew about Umi. That side of her. That not-so-normal side of her. That. The ability that she realized existed back then. The ability that always help her through so many things back then. Even until now. The ability that’s also owned by her precious one. Now, after so many months went out without a hitch, she felt it again. She felt the ‘sensor’ traced something Umi sure wouldn’t like.

“Let’s hope the reason is not Riko-chan…”

[endestprana]

Weekend

“Umi, Yoshiko, and Setsuna…”

Sunday morning. A night after Yoshiko visited Tokyo to participate in Comiket. It was still 6 o’clock. There was barely any sleep Yoshiko got after she spent her time helping Setsuna with her costume yesterday. The details that the younger one wanted was something Yoshiko surely appreciated, while on the other hand, making them into reality is a pain in the ass. Stomach grumbling as she remembered she didn’t ate last night, Yoshiko tried to wake up, but to no avail. So, the purple-eyed girl took her phone nearby, three message in her LINE, one name, Riko. “Ah, I forgot to reply…”

Kitchen. A place that Umi really loved in the morning when there’s somebody else beside her and Maki who spend the night at their house. Being almost never got the chance to prepare Maki a fine breakfast since their schedule usually didn’t fare well with each other, she sought replacement from her cousins who visited like Yoshiko. Breakfast, bath, cleaning the house, are normal routines that Umi really loves. They made her felt like a proper housewife. Well, sometimes, seeing Maki getting jealous over Yoshiko and Setsuna because of her treatment to the youngsters also something that she loves, too.

Mirror. The way to her perfect world. Setsuna is a girl who wanted to do things perfectly. Doing things wholeheartedly is one of her strong point. Also, protecting her perfect school idol image. Being an idol who’s so full of mysteries gave her a sense of accomplishment they made her felt that it was something she needed to maintain, thus her fellow school idols never really knew her who’s without ‘costumes’. “Yeah, except Ayumu…”

Yoshiko loves being pampered. Mainly because Umi always doted her in the past, she never got past that tendency. Luckily, her girlfriend is someone who loves pampering her, so it doesn’t really become something she needed to fix at all. Being patted on the head, hugged when she’s sleeping, having someone prepared her breakfast in the morning, these are three main things she loves from people who’s really close to her. However, nowadays, she also enjoyed being pushed onto the wall and kissed by Riko during their ‘plays’.

Umi loves taking care of others. Well, mainly her family, Umi never got tired of helping those close to her. Her reasoning was if her surrounding is happy, then she does, too. Maki was someone that makes this tendency got stronger. In the first two years of them living together, Umi found out that taking care of her girlfriend was really hard. And it didn’t really make her felt hopeless, instead she was riled up and felt that if she managed to do it then her relationship sure would be alike to her and Yoshiko (the clingy is her target, though Maki rarely does that to her).

Setsuna loves being capable. Having two sisters who’s really dependable (Umi) and filled with confidence (Yoshiko) made Setsuna aimed for it. Having the ability to do almost everything is a dream that needed to be true, after all. Thus, every day she would always challenges herself with things she’s not capable of, or doing things she’s not good at (like cooking), so that one day she would be great and capable at it. Ayumu, was the existence that she sought because of her hardworking trait never failed to amaze her. Ayumu is her living example of people who dreamed and did her best, thus surely succeeded in the end.

-----

“Sometimes I wonder why did I managed to be together with a girl like Riko…” randomly by Yoshiko as the three of cousins sat together having breakfast

“She’s the only one who’s appropriate for you, Yoshiko. She’s not being a worrywart because she wanted to make you hate her. It’s because you’re always make her worried.” Almost flatly by the oldest one, Umi

“I also wondered if she was just pitying me and thus took me as girlfriend…?” a little bit stupid by Yoshiko

“No way, Yoshiko-nee!! Riko-san is a great person and she’s a perfect fit for you! I know it because whenever she talked with me, it’s always about you…! She’s always thinking about you!” Setsuna joined in as she’d just finished her glass of juice

“And sometimes it got creepy, Setsuna…” Yoshiko nonchalantly

“Don’t talk like that about Riko, Yoshiko! What’s wrong with her asking about your well-being, anyway?” asked Umi back to the reason behind Yoshiko’s inquiry there

“It’s not like asking about my well-being was bad…, it’s just…, it’s just she…, sometimes she’s just like living in cloud nine and I could never guess what she’s thinking… I was just with her yesterday morning. Both of us were fine and I also already said to her that I might got busy helping Setsuna later on…, but she…, she got mad saying I was neglecting her by not replying her messages…”

“Of course she would be mad. You should’ve treat her more precious than a mere friend, Yoshiko.” Umi lectured the middle-cousin

“But…” protested Yoshiko

“No buts! Now, finish your breakfast and get ready. You’re going to her home this morning, right?”

“Can I bring you along with me, Umi-nee? I’m afraid she would got really angry when I came later…? A little bit frightened Yoshiko

“No. It’s your personal business and Nee-san doesn’t want to be involved in it.” Firmly by Umi

“Then, can I take Setsuna…? You will accompany me, right, Setsuna?” begged the purple eyes

“Okay, I will, Yoshiko-nee!” instant answer by Setsuna

‘No, you’re not Setsuna!” Umi interjected

“Eh? Why, Umi-nee?” discouraged Setsuna

“Let Yoshiko solve her problem alone. If you help her then she’s not going to learn from her mistake, right?” Umi persuaded the youngest

“Hmmmm…, well, if Umi-nee says so…, sorry, Yoshiko-nee…”

“Umi-nee!!” Yoshiko wanted to voice another protest

“No can do, Yoshiko. Now, go to bath.” Said Umi as she finished cleaning the dining table

Yoshiko got up and went ahead to her room, taking her change and forward to bathroom while Setsuna stayed with Umi…

“So, how’s your college, Setsuna?”

“It’s great, Umi-nee! In college, I can adjust my schedule to be always in the same class as Ayumu!” grinning Setsuna

“You’re not troubling her by doing that, right? A little bit worried

“Of course not! We’re soulmates, after all!” wholehearted declaration

“Well, if she’s not then it’s all fine, but you do your study seriously, right? Nee-san had already promised your mom to take care of you and your study or you will get send back home.” Remembrance for Setsuna

“Don’t worry about it, Umi-nee! I always managed to get A, after all!” smiling youngest

“Heh~ that’s great, Setsuna!” Umi patted Setsuna’s head before the oldest remembered about something which Maki forgot before she left to work “So, what time are you going to go to Ayumu’s house today?”

“Hmmmm…, I think around 10…”

“Are you going to bring her here?”

“No, we planned to go watch movies today…”

“Okay. Nee-san will also go out today. Maki forgot her phone and her unfinished document she worked on last night. If you went back home earlier, please be sure to lock the door because Nee-san might be accompanying Maki in the hospital until tomorrow and Yoshiko would likely to spend the night at Riko’s. Can Nee-san depend on you?”

“Yes, Umi-nee!” instant answer

As Umi had already made sure there’s someone who would watch their house today, she went back to her room and prepared her things and also Maki’s for their stay at hospital tonight…

-----

The steps were heavier than usual for Yoshiko. Facing an angry Riko is one thing she never got used to. The older girl is like a pool emotion that’s impossible to predict, and the only time Yoshiko could guess what she’s thinking is when the golden eyes in heat. In about five meters from where she stood, Riko’s house is visible, complete with the daughter who seemed to be fidgeting over the phone in her right hand. “She’s really worried, huh?”

Yoshiko waved her hand as she called out to the girl on the terrace “Riko...”

Surprised, Riko looked down and saw the one she’s completely worried about was there, smiling at her. Didn’t believe what she saw, she asked “Yocchan…?”

Yoshiko nodded

Riko saw the nod, down she went into her house and headed down to open the door and meet her girlfriend. She shouted “Yocchan!!!!” she hugged the younger girl

“Good morning, Riko. I’m sorry I didn’t reply your message last night. I was busy with helping Setsuna I fell asleep in the process. When I woke up, I was in my room with my phone. Seemed like Setsuna carried me to my room…” explanation as simple as needed

“You meanie! I was worried sick about you!”

“C’mon, I said sorry already…”

“Not enough…”

“Eh…, then? What should I do to make up for it?”

“Take me to a date. Also, spend the night with me today.”

“Spend the night, too? Didn’t we just spend the night together at mine two days ago…?”

“If you didn’t want to then I’m not forgiving you!” Riko made her point clear

“Fine, fine… Okay, I will take you to that fishing area I told you before, is that good enough?”

“Of course. Anywhere is fine if I’m with you!!” Riko hugged the younger girl tighter

And Yoshiko would just wondered whether it was her or Riko who’s like a pampered little kid…

-----

The traffic is beginning to make Umi got irritated. If only she was taking train then she might be already arrived at the hospital. Luckily, when she was about to spout some curse words, the traffic light went green and so she smiled as she back on track reaching for Nishikino’s hospital. When she arrived there, Maki was outside near the vending machine, seemingly grumbling about something…

“Maki.”

Surprised Maki “Umi…?” and then her eyes arrived at the source of her problem today “I-I-Is that the document I left at home? Also, my phone?” Relief started to fill her heart

Umi smiled and nodded as she stood there, maybe wanting the red hair to approach her and give her a hug? Well, Maki did the exact Umi wanted it to be. Umi happily hugged her back and pecked a kiss on the younger girl’s forehead “You should’ve listened to me this morning…”

“I’m sorry…” said Maki as she remembered how stubborn she was this morning at refusing Umi’s help in taking care of her documents

“It is fine, Maki. I’m not coming here to scold you. So, will the surgery took longer than you’d expected, after all?”

“I think so… By the way, what’s that luggage? Don’t tell me…?”

“Hehe~ I can’t just leave you here alone, right? Besides, Yoshiko is spending the night at Riko’s tonight, and Setsuna might be bringing Ayumu home, after all. I don’t want to be a third wheel alone for them…” and Maki grinned at that last sentence from Umi

“You said that as if they ever treated you as one before…” Maki pointed out

“Well, I’m avoiding to be one, okay?” Umi countered

“You and your scheme. With this, you have the perfect reasoning to make me didn’t send you home, huh?” Maki hugged the blue haired girl

“Of course. That was the main reason, after all.” Umi smiled at Maki

“Fine, my queen. By the way, the surgery will begin shortly. Let’s go inside, Umi.” Maki released her hug, however... “Umi…?” Maki’s hand was being held by Umi

“Kiss me first.”

“C’mon, don’t play at time like this.”

“I’m not moving before you give me one kiss.”

Didn’t even felt troubled by the request, Maki went out and kissed the older girl even though her surrounding looked at the act. Well, Umi seemed happy and that’s enough for Maki. As for Umi, not long afterwards, she got embarrassed as Maki laughed at her.

-----

In the dressing room, Ayumu was busy putting on the clothes Setsuna picked out for her while the latter was filled with excitement as she couldn’t wait anymore to see Ayumu with her pick. Soon enough, Ayumu is visible in Setsuna’s eyes…

“Ayumu…” Setsuna eyed the girl from head to toe while her sparkling eyes didn’t leave even a spot to miss “You look so beautiful!!”

Setsuna’s frontal praise was something like Ayumu’s weak point. “D-Do you think so…?”

“Of course!” glittering eyes of Setsuna

“T-Then, I will take this one…” Ayumu smiled at Setsuna, which earned a great smile, too, from the latter

After the movie, Setsuna and Ayumu was having parfaits before they went shopping clothes, and thus they arrived at this point. It seemed that after this, both the girls planned to go to Setsuna’s place and take Ayumu to look at the costume Setsuna and Yoshiko worked on last night. From the looks of it, it seemed that Ayumu would spend the night like the other day.

Surely, not even thirty minutes after Setsuna was having thought regarding the matter, Ayumu suggested for her to spend the night together. Well, Ayumu said that she couldn’t leave Setsuna alone watching the house while both of her cousins went out. Setsuna complied happily.

“So, what’s happening to Yoshiko-san this time?” Ayumu asked

“Ayumu, stop calling Yoshiko-nee with –san. If she heard that, she might scold you later, you know?” Warned by the youngest cousin

“Ah, I forgot. Sorry, Secchan. So, is Yoshiko-chan having another fight with Riko-chan?”

“I don’t think so. Yoshiko-nee was busy helping me last night, and when we finished the costume, she fell asleep in my room. I took her back to her room and then told Riko-san that Yoshiko-nee was already asleep. If there’s even a fight, it might be one-sided since Yoshiko-nee felt guilty because she didn’t reply the message.” Setsuna explained

“And Secchan just tricked Yoshiko-chan falling into Riko-chan’s hand, too.” Ayumu teased the black haired girl

“But I was being told by Riko-san to keep it a secret from Yoshiko-nee…?”

“Secchan doesn’t need to be that worried. I’m sure it’ll be fine.” Ayumu assured her soulmate

“Yeah.” Setsuna nodded

-----

Another leisure day of the trio with their partners…

[endestprana]

Technostar

“The everchanging scenery gives this journey a new meaning altogether… A way to find the ‘fate’…”

The hollowed heart. She didn’t need to know just how much hurting had been done to her in the past months. All the bickering and snickering behind her. Everything was coming for the worse. She didn’t do anything. More like, she couldn’t do anything. All that she could do was to sit and still, covered in agony of helplessness. “If only I was born normal…”

Riko never had the nerve to purpose such ideality like “I want to change” or alike. She’s humble. Foolishly good, so great at that. All that she could do was to follow the current. No matter how much hurting she got, all she could do was to accept. Accept everything. After all, it was her fault for being too useless every day.

Looking through the album, she couldn’t even find the whole happiness she once held dearly in her broken heart. “Why do people have to lie to each other?” “If they were never fond of me, why did they chose to adopt me?” “It’s better if they’d just kill me right now…” That night, was the first time Riko thought of something she wanted to do rather than just take them all in. The torture, that is.

The night afterwards, she saw something a bit outrageous. A head was falling off from the ceiling where the big fan was supposed to be located before it also fell down altogether just now. There was never any shock burst from Riko. She was never a girl who’s bad at horror or something alike. She’d just accept them all like they’re normal, including the fact that her father’s head had just been kicked out by her mother. “You are not to tell a single soul about this, understand?” and thus Riko nodded as usual.

After a week passed without a hitch about the silent murder, a sick one at that, Riko found herself standing right behind the very mother who hissed her regarding it. She was silent all the time as the sirens were all dreading their surroundings, out in the yard of their house. The polices were eyeing, trying to figure out whether the mother of hers would try to do something funny, or should I say dangerous, before the sound of the shot echoed in the skies.

The sky was dull as usual. “Where would this road leads me to?” Riko was detached as usual. The emptiness inside her was nothing new and thus she would just look at the scenery outside the window of the car. She didn’t felt anything from it. She thought it was boring. Boring as hell. Yes, so did the journey to find her new home, too.

The new mother greeted her with a smile full of alien feeling to Riko. Also the father. There’s also a daughter in this family but she was busy so she rarely came home when the sun is still out. The police who took care of Riko simply said thanks as he handed the new mother an envelope. The new mother said he didn’t need to do that, but the police insisted. Afterwards, the police went back on car, saying final goodbye to Riko and told her to take care of herself. Riko complied like any other day. It’s not like things will be different from how the other family treated her after they knew about her circumstances.

-----

It’s almost been seventeen years since she born on this world. Maki had never been happier. The thought of living her life now as a girl who’s taken, and by a stunning beauty at that, really puts her on an invisible pedestal. Blessed with such great flows of fate, never really had to deal with something troublesome, and now also being loved by the one human she really loved the most, were just outstanding. She loved it all to the core.

She knocked on the door of her house. After a moment passed, she heard a few footsteps reaching her way. When the door was opened, she couldn’t believe her eyes. There, stood someone unknown to her. The girl with golden eyes who stared at her blankly then greeted her. “Welcome home, Maki-nee-san. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Riko. Your new sister.”

“What’s the meaning of this, Mom?!” Maki shouted at her mother who didn’t really flinch at filling the empty glass of her husband

“As Riko said herself, she’s your new sister, Maki. I know you’re really surprised by this sudden news but please calm down and listen to us first, okay?”

“Fine…” Maki mumbled, afraid of the glare she got from her father who sipped the tea as he caressed the head of her supposed to be new sister

“Maki” her mother started “You’re going to leave the house when you finally entered the college, right? Without anyone to dote on and having almost nothing to do at home, Mom find it really hard to enjoy being in the house. Thus, Riko-chan came as solution.”

“Huh?!!” Maki groaned

“Maki!” but her father seemed to do not take that opposition for sure

“But father…!!!?” Maki tried again

“Maki, let me ask you this. What is even the downside of us adopted a daughter? It’s not like we didn’t have the wealth to feed her and you altogether.” And Maki just fell silent at those words

Thus, her supposed to be happy day was dumped by the sudden move of her mother. The sound of Maki fell on the bed was loud enough, though it was intentional. She was furious at both of her parents. Yes, she knew there was nothing wrong with adopting another daughter, a beautiful one at that, but still…, telling her first would make it easier for her to take. Well, not that she minded it, though.

“Wow, Riko-chan, huh?” another voice from Maki’s phone. A conversation has been taking place after Maki finally finished taking a bath and worked her assignments

“Yeah, I will send you her picture later. To be fair, she’s quite cute, you know?”

“It’s fine for her to be cute, as long as you didn’t forget that I’m now your girlfriend, okay?” the mysterious girl on the phone seemed like she’s puffing her chest as she said those words

“Okay, Umi. Good night, then, I’m really tired from all those studies we did today. Love you!” Maki closed her phone after she heard a sound of a kiss from the phone together with a “good night” and “I love you, too”

-----

The first three days were a disaster for Riko. Not much she knew about her new older sister, but from the look of it, that very sister wasn’t quite fond of her. Well, truth to be told, not even herself was fond of herself, too. But, since there was never any downside she would take if she tried to talk to her ‘sister’, Riko tried with no so much response and attention she got. At least, not until the third day where her sister finally opened up to her and accepted her as her new family.

Riko found Maki to be quite intriguing. How her sister would always cut her hand when she tried to cook, how she would always stuttered at the mere mentions of her girlfriend, Riko found it all enigmatic yet relaxing. It was as if she found a way back to the fond feeling she thought she once had in herself. At that, Riko concluded, that it may be a good way for her to start believing in her new family. Just maybe…, maybe…, she would be able to trust again…

The days afterward were filled with more and more laughter. The family of four going out to the villa they had near a private beach. The BBQ they had on the mountain. The trip to a music gallery, which Riko found to be quite, or rather, really interesting. Riko found herself to be really liking this new family. And thus, her life afterwards were such a bliss Riko might even forgot about all the disaster that came her way back then…

After the holidays had been spend and the school terms are going to visit again, her father ought for the sisters to buy the necessities while the parents took care of the documents for the transfer. Riko smiled at the idea of her finally going to school again. After spending her life mostly being in her room, forbidden to leave, it was such a calming melody for her to claim what she had lost in her previous family. In a way, it was also the last chance for her to be together with her sister because tomorrow she’s going to live with her girlfriend together.

“So, Riko-chan, where would you like to go next?” asked Maki as she held the hand of her younger sister and also the bag of the school necessities they got before

“Anywhere is fine as long as I’m with Maki-nee!” Riko with her greatest smile answered

“You’re just too cute, Riko-chan! Well, if I had to choose, how about we go buy that parfait for you? Have you ever ate a parfait?”

“Parfait?”

“Looks like you never did. C’mon, I will choose the tastiest for you!” claimed Maki as she led their way onwards. Riko happily complied

-----

Now they sat at one of the bench together. Riko enjoyed her parfait so much as the sweetness of the strawberry fully entranced her tongue. She might like this fruit from now on. Maki, on the other hand, was busy trying to hold her laughter as she took photos of her sister and posted one on her Instagram, fully captioned “My little sister is too cute it’s too unreal!!” Maki didn’t regret that post one bit. And not so far from where they stayed, a blue haired girl was sitting there while seemingly waiting for someone to come as she looked through her Instagram. Then, the newly posted photo appeared, one from her love. It was the face of her lover’s sister who ate parfait on a bench near a place she knew too well. Surely, as she stood up from where she sat, she saw the two redhead sitting together there. The blue haired girl smiled.

Umi opened her contact as she searched for the number of the person she was waiting for as she headed to the bench where her lover is. She called the person.

“Hello, Yoshiko-chan?”

“Hello, Umi-nee, what’s up? I’m sorry I’m late but I will finish in a moment, so please wait a little longer.” Yoshiko seemingly busy finding the right accessories she wanted the other day

“Ah, no, don’t worry about that, Yoshiko-chan. You can take your time. I just wanted to tell you that I will be waiting at the usual parfait stall.”

“Thanks, Umi-nee. I will go there once I finish here.” Umi closed her phone afterwards as she silently tiptoed nearing the taller redhead “Maki” she called, tapping the girl’s shoulder which earned quite a big scream from the said girl

“U-U-U-U-U-Umi…?!!!!” shocked Maki

Umi smiled at the redhead as she also waved her hand towards the also-surprised another redhead there. The little sister bowed a bit and smile at her. Umi found it really cute, by the way. “I’m sorry, Maki. Let me help you stand.” Umi took Maki’s hand and lift her up

“Why did you do that!? Are you trying to kill me!!?” Maki, a bit pissed at her lover

“Maki, don’t get angry like that. Okay, I’m sorry. I will never do that again, okay?” Umi still held the hand of her lover

“Hmph!” was all Maki muttered, though the hand she didn’t let go, and Riko just silently smiled seeing that

-----

After a few minutes chatting there, a voice called out to Umi from not so far away. The girl with dark blue hair ran as she tried to hold tight the shopping bags she had in her hands. “Sorry I’m late, Umi-nee!!!” said Yoshiko to her cousin, seemingly unaware with the gaze she got from the other two girls.

“It is fine, Yoshiko-chan. By the way, did you get the accessories you wanted?”

“Yes, Umi-nee. By the way, may I ask who are the girls with you?” inquired Yoshiko as she pointed towards Maki and Riko

“Ah, I’m sorry. Let me introduce them, then. This one here is Maki, Nishikino Maki. She’s the girl I talked to you about just the other day. The cute little girl here is Riko. She’s Maki’s little sister. By the way, she’s going to enter the same school as you this Monday.” Umi concluded

Yoshiko bowed her head and greeted the sisters as she took a better one more look at the girl with longer hair than her older sister. The girl named Riko. Yoshiko seemed like she saw something that was strange from how this little sister conducted herself. She didn’t know what it was and delving into something too random at this point would do nothing good to herself, obviously, thus, she took down the idea instead of pursuing it.

-----

Riko thought her eyes were playing tricks on her. The purple irises in front of her which seemed so kind and full of light, it seemed like she knew those light before. However, the answer wasn’t something she could grasp at the moment. Giving up on the idea of asking, Riko opted to just enjoy the afternoon together with the three. After an hour, Umi and Yoshiko went their separate way as the Nishikino sisters went back home, Riko told her older sister she would help her packing for tomorrow. Maki smiled at that.

Tomorrow came faster than Riko expected. She couldn’t hold the tears welling her eyes as she said goodbye to her sister. She hugged her one last time before Maki went ahead to find her plane. After sending her sister off, she went back with her parent home. On the way, however, they stopped at a shop Riko didn’t know. When she asked why, her mother smiled and told her that she would need a phone for herself. Riko could only smiled at the kindness directed at her that moment. That night, Riko fiddled with her phone too much she got a light scolding from her father. Riko smiled at her father and together they went to the dining table where the mother was waiting for them.

That. That was one of the thing she never experienced back then. The warmth. The closeness. She felt it so strange yet joyful. She loved every last bit of it. Her parents, her older sister, she loved them all. They might be already people she’d gladly protect with all her life. People she’d gladly die for. People she’d love all her life. Riko realized that she’d finally found the right piece of her hollowed heart. At least, that was her thought before it wandered to this one girl she met yesterday.

That sense of familiarity. It was as if they had met in the past. However, looking back through and thorough, there was never any encounter she had with that girl. Then why? The feeling of calmness that she felt when the girl smiled fondly at her, even for a moment, was something she couldn’t forget. Not at all. That was really strange. If the emotions she felt there was real, then there might be a chance her mind did some trick on her regarding her past. After all, she didn’t remember half of her childhood. At least nothing connected to her life with her real family. Riko didn’t know why. She tried to recall those memories, but seemed no answer and revelation brought out to her. Well, no use thinking that deep, so Riko chose to focus for what’s ahead of her.

-----

Monday came. The first day of school. Sakura are blooming around the way up to the hall of her beloved school. Otonokizaka. The school where her cousin once attended before she went to America for her college. Yoshiko really loved her school. The aura, the scenery, the people around it, everything. She just couldn’t get enough of the joy she felt towards it. And then, the entrance of her class arrived in vision. “This is it, my high school debut!!!” claimed the bluehead before she realized her friends in the class was being silent suddenly. Shortly, she realized that her teacher was already behind her, wanting to get in. Embarrassed, Yoshiko hurriedly went to her designated seat. As soon as she sat and looked to the front, she caught a glance of the girl from the other day, fidgeting behind the teacher. The teacher then greeted the class before she went to tell the redhead about the seat for her. The said girl then followed the direction and sat just right beside Yoshiko.

It seemed like that girl didn’t realized that they were not only attending the same school, they were also in the same class. But well, the talk would surely happen, Yoshiko thought to herself as the introduction started from the front. She did hers well, Yoshiko mused at her capability. And then, the turn finally arrived at the redhead:

“Hello, nice to meet you all. My name is Nishikino Riko. Let’s get along well.”

[endestprana]

Cage

“The world is cruel and so do I…”

I tried it again… to no avail… I reached out again… to that gleaming light… Quietly I hoped for a change… What I got was none…

In that morning, my eyes woke up as I laid the scenery bare, the usual view of my room. The brightness that came from the side of east signaled the beginning of another day. Another day with you. Again.

Full prepared for school, I leaped through the front door and ran towards the busway, couldn’t help but feeling excited for another meeting with you. The routine. Our routine. Our own thing. Our own supposed-to-be thing.

You smiled at me when I saluted you like usual. That grinning of yours sure is a miracle. You could make me fluttered like a little girl, happy only because a simple smile like that. So precious. So gracious.

“Ahh…, Chika-chan…, why did things had to happen this way…?”

-----

“Today, we’re having a new student here. And guess what, she’s from Tokyo!”

“H-Hi…, my name is Sakurauchi Riko. Nice t-to meet you…!”

I could clearly saw the bursting happiness leaked out from the way you laid your eyes on her. Together with the pain I’ve never felt ever before.

The pain was new. It was weird. It didn’t fade away even after I got your smile like usual. Just what is this pain?

Things went by with you and her surely progressing faster together. Smoothly the Aqours ‘’we’’ found is gradually becoming more and more known to the surroundings. With that you were happy. And so do I. However…, why did ‘that’ pain didn’t disappear along with ‘our’ newfound happiness? I knew nothing at that time…

-----

“Love is like a blooming flower! It’s beautiful!” one of the CM said in that random night. I could only wonder what was that even means? Love? What is that word? What is the meaning of that overused word, really?

Things moved on far. We overcame even the hurdles our seniors didn’t managed to. Our success is definitely going to happen anytime soon. And just when I was about to become happy, at that time…, at that night…, I saw those gleams…

I saw those sparkles… The almost-blinding light, focusing on the existence whom you held your hand with, whom you took outside that night…

“And at that time I realized,,, that what I felt was love…”

-----

Is love even this ugly and kept in sinister?

Is that the true form of love? The form that people deliberately avoided to say?

Because if that’s the case, then I could truly got the true meaning of that mysterious word.

“Love, is a form of emotion, in which you felt your heart is being crushed whenever you saw someone you hold dear was being close to somebody other than yourself.”

Maybe happiness wasn’t included in falling in love, I wonder?

Because if that’s the case then surely I was falling in love in the truest sense…

But, the world is cruel…

-----

“… You-chan…, I think I’ve been falling in love…” you said to me in our usual sleepover

“Eh? With whom?” I desperately wishing for the person to be anyone but me. Because if that person was me, then I have no choice but to kill myself. I just couldn’t take the idea of being the one who hurt you. That kind of existence is just unnecessary for me. And of course, for you too…

You fidgeted for almost a minute. You were almost afraid to say the name, as if you knew that I might leap that exact moment to kill the person who made you fell in love.

Fortunately, I wasn’t the one whom you fell in love with. How happy I was inside. And that very happiness soon crumbled to pieces when that damn TV straightened the misconception I had all this time…

“Love, is a feeling that always makes you live like in a fleeting dream, always being happy, always wanted to be close to your beloved one…”

And thus marked the start of my broken tale…

----

“Say, Mari-chan, have you ever fallen in love?” in that big room of that certain blonde senior I asked

“Hoo~ what’s this, You? It’s unusual for you to ask me about something private like this…! What happened?” always with her exciting personality

“W-Well, I was just curious… So, have you?” once again requested an answer

“I have.” Straight

“Really? With whom? Is that person someone I know? A man?  A woman?” Curiosity leads my words

“No, I won’t tell you anything regarding the person. What you want to know was whether I have fallen in love or not, just that, right?” verification

“Fine, then.” Surrendered, mainly because there was never any reason for me to further the conversation in our free time talking about things I didn’t really want to know

Mari-chan then smiled at me and she started sipped the tea served in front of us. She hummed along the BGM she set earlier, playing with her other hand, which sometimes poke softly at my cheek, earning a little huff, of course.

“So, is it about Chikacchi?” suddenly Mari-chan asked

“Wha--? Eh? What do you mean by that, Mari-chan?” genuinely clueless

Mari-chan then took both of my hands and looked at my eyes. That look was something so rare for this senior. Mari-chan’s image was that one senior who did things as her wish, not some kind of people who would suddenly being serious like now.

“E—E-E-Eeeeeeh…? What’s this, Mari-chan?” tried to break free

“You’ve been hurting, right?” she didn’t let me look at anything but her eyes

“Wha? No, I’m not. What’s wrong with you!?” a little bit angry by the sudden accusation

“Don’t play dumb, You. I know you well, you’re not the type who would ask a random question without real meaning.” She let go of my right hand, only to swiftly went for my right cheek with that very hand and said “You’ve been anxious whether Riko fell in love with Chikacchi too or not, right?”

And all that I could managed to do by that statement was to try to breath. She saw through me. She saw through my mask that I’ve been using to fool almost everyone around me. Seeing that there was no reason anymore for me to put on façade, I conceded and re-ask… “Does she fall in love with Chika-chan?”

-----

“Why? Are you still not giving up your first love, You? It’s unlike you.”

“Of course not.”

“Wow~ So honest.”

“So, answer me!”

“Okay, then. Yes, she is. Riko is falling in love with Chikacchi. I heard about it from herself that night.”

“So, it’s true then…”

“What would you do, then, You? Will you really go to that ‘extend’ for this matter?”

“Of course. It’s you who taught me to do it our way, right?”

“It’s true…, but it might not really help, you know?”

“It’s fine. I’m sure it will. Because you are the one who told me about it.”

-----

I reached those beloved cheeks of yours once again. The feeling of joy I got from them was just too addicting. I smiled at you and bring my lips closer to your forehead, giving you the final courage you’ll need to do your job. Your final job. The final task to finish the things which bind you all this time. To destroy the chain which constricted you away from me.

That bloody day was really exciting. You, hands basked in dark red, almost full of them, stood alone on the beach in front of your most beloved one’s place. You look at that inn you really loved all this time with so much sadness that soon fell in tears from your eyes.

And then that fallen angel wannabe showed up from the house beside the inn. That girl’s head must be filled with so much anger that time. After finding out that her girlfriend was being slaughtered so cruelly without so much as an explanation. The girl gripped the knife she took from the stomach of her beloved one, heading to the beach where the killer of her precious was.

The lie was sure useful. That pianist sure is giving me hell with always making you feeling blue. She always make you feeling left out. She made you almost lose your smile. And with that one lie I said to you, finally she would left this world. A girl like her, a useless mongrel like her, would have been better to never stepped into this town from the very first time.

I looked from not so far away from the place you tried to prevent your beloved one from being killed by the fallen angel. Well, you didn’t managed to since unusually that girl’s luck was high that night. She stabbed the knife and took it in almost less than one second, only to repeat the process again and again. You ran as fast as you could to reach your beloved one but you couldn’t. Ah, the world sure is cruel, with you being in desperation like that the world was giving that fallen angel the chance to run at you to stab you, too.

Well, she didn’t managed to, of course. There will be no meaning for this gun of mine if it’s not used to protect you, right? My You… Now you will finally be mine…

[endestprana]

Hexagrid

“Basking in shadows…”

You’ll never believe me even if I presented all the proofs you need to prove my innocence… Not that it will make things better just because I did manage to do so… I know I’m in the wrong…, but it doesn’t mean you got the right to hurt me on and on…

If by letting things went by would make you happy then I don’t mind… But those smiles never showed any sign of it… It only showed how black your soul was all along…

Goodbye for now… Or for Ever…

The letter was delivered to her at about 12.00, just when she was finally went home from her university. At first she was confused to see the name of the sender. “Why did she chose to send her a mail like this if she could just emailed her?” And soon, her question was answered in the not so good way.

“She blocked me!?” “Just because of me angry at her!?” “How could she do that!!?” “Fine, if that’s what you want!”

Riko almost crushed the letter along with the phone in her dominant hand which caused her to lose the appetite she had for the sandwich rolls in the plastic bag she brought home. What is wrong with that girl?! She knew she wasn’t what people would define as normal, but still…, it hurts to be treated like this…!

“She’s the one who’s in the wrong!” “Why did she think she had the right to do this to me!!” “How dare you, Yocchan!!!” “Tomorrow I’ll make you pay!!”

The plan was already been formulated. All she had to do tomorrow is to visit the university her junior was in and confronted her no matter what. When she found her, she would make that magenta eyes pay for all the frustration she felt today. At least, that was Riko’s plan yesterday before she realized just how much effort the junior took to make her understand just how hurt she was all this time…

“Transferred?” surprised Riko when one of the collage she knew there answer her question “To where? Do you know anything about it?”

All Riko got from the collage was “I’m sorry”. For once, Riko knew that this time she might have already done something really irreversible. But at what point did she crossed the line? As far as she knew there was never such a case existed. “So why?”

-----

“This is a rather unusual welcome I got here, Umi-nee…” Yoshiko voiced her opinion as she held her swollen left cheek

“I know you’re hurting but doing it this far is not a way to solve the problems between you two…” The older girl held softly the cheek of the younger one

“…But I just don’t know anymore… I don’t think I can take any more than this…”

“Giving up so suddenly…?

“Well, I know it’s not like me but…”

“Ah, it’s getting nowhere with you in this sorry state. Let’s just put your belonging first. We’ll talk when Maki’s home.” Umi led the younger girl to her new room

“Thanks, Umi-nee… By the way, where did Maki-nee went to? Hospital?”

“No, she’ in her parents’ house. They told her to visit for a while now.”

“Aha…, and Setsuna-chan? I haven’t seen her today? Is she out, too?”

“She’s out with Ayumu-chan. I don’t know the destination, though…”

“You sound just like the mother of all those three, Umi-nee…”

“I’m not that old enough to be called like that, Yoshiko-chan! C’mon, finish your task and head to bath.”

Yoshiko send a smile as she headed to the front door again to bring the rest of her things inside her room. As she reached the place, the door was opened from the outside.

“Whoa!! Yoshiko-chan! How have you been? Long time no see…” it was Setsuna there, trying to help the older girl stood out after being surprised and fell on her butt

“Ugh…,, Setsuna, long time no see… Where’s Ayumu? I heard you were with her went out today?”

“Ayucchi went back home today. We’ve spent too much time together nowadays and her parents were complaining because I hog her all to myself…” Setsuna smiled brightly

“Wow…” Yoshiko didn’t even know the way to respond to the talk of the younger one whom she thought was still the old Setsuna who would always cling to either her or Umi for protection in their younger days

“Anyways, are you staying the night here, Yoshiko-chan?” curious-looking Setsuna paid a glance at the cover near the door

“… More or less…?” should she explained her situation to the younger one? Well, Yoshiko thought not necessary

“With Riko-chan?” another innocent question from Setsuna

“… No, she’s busy with her projects in university…” lying nonchalantly

“Well, suit yourself. I will take a bath first, we will talk again later, Yoshiko-chan!” Setsuna waved her hand as she went straight to her room

“This is going to be a tough day if Umi-nee told Setsuna about me and Lily…” thought Yoshiko as she went to the living room. Maybe a refreshment is needed, after all.

----

[endestprana]

For

“Moments…”

Content smiles. An occurrence that I always loved whenever I spent my times with you. Sharing our times together, bickering and complimenting altogether, sharing our thoughts and giving advices among ourselves, a truly sign of our status as childhood friends. We trusted each other, we’re trusting as if we’re related by blood. When you said that you’ll become a famous idol in the future, I never doubted you, much like how you never questioned me when I said I will join your club while maintaining my status as the member of swimming club. And now, all the things that happened in the past finally bear the fruit…

The sunset still lingers as the wind chime give a pleasant feeling for the pair in the living room, together eating the watermelon while enjoying themselves with the scenery from the near beach. The view of the orange water slowly make the pair of sapphire feel a little bit sleepy, maybe they’re too content with the familiar feelings of it. The rubies, however, still look full of energy as they enjoy the described feelings.

Surrounded by the color she loved the most, You-chan slowly fell asleep as Chika hugged the girl, smiling beautifully, telling the former she’ll wake her up when it’s time for them to have dinner. With that had been said, Chika slowly moved the head of the girl onto her laps, she patted it gently, she also held the right hand of the girl, squeezed it not too tight, giving reassurance for the now-looks-so-happy girl. The smile on Chika’s face got brighter as she started to enjoy the sound of the waves while looking at the cute not-so-little girl whom she loved so much. A bliss in the corner of the world, she named it as she sang the lullaby that her girl loved so much, sending delight which getting brighter now on the said girl’s face.

Let your worries go… Let your anger go… Cause I’m here with you…

I’ll be your happiness… I’ll be your reason… Don’t cry I’m here with you…

Dream for a better ending… Strive for a complete happiness… Believe and you can do it!

---

The darkness quietly engulfed her surroundings. Chika has already carried You-chan to the sofa as she herself prepared the food for their dinner. She hummed happily, her hands moved better than before as now she’s as good as a chef in the restaurant, a result of her training in the past two years. While You-chan was busy collecting medals in the past and Chika herself left the idol business, the latter was really worried that her partner might be disappointed in her who couldn’t stand the loneliness in the industry. However, one powerful look was all it took for You-chan to clear those awry feeling away, as if those glare told the crying Chika that she’ll never abandon her for something so petty like that.

Chika wondered about her future, she wanted to do something for her partner. She didn’t want You-chan to do all the works while Chika herself lazing around the house doing nothing but sleeping. Driven strongly by her feeling, an idea came to mind. A really simple idea. “Why don’t I learn cooking again?” thought the orange-head. And soon as the idea came to mind, she went back to Uchiura, saying excuses she needed to help in the inn while her objective was simply to embrace a side she never thought she needed. “A Chika who could cook for You?” Hmmmmmmm…, it might be not that bad of an idea, after all.

[endestprana]

Hexagrid: Second

“Roundtable…”

The mood was kind of off. The shocked expression of the youngest directed at the magenta eyes. The oldest one who chose to let the questioning being answered by the girl in guilt. And also the’ just arrived’ redhead who’s really confused with how could this happened just when she was about to enjoy her meal.

“Mmm…. U-Umi.., care to explain?” Maki tried to understand the situation better

“Ask that one over there… I’m not answering anything. Yoshiko’s the one who did this.” Flatly

“B-But you’re the one who started this, I’m sure..” Maki got a death glare from the bluehead “F-Fine, then. So, what this is all about, Yoshiko-chan?”

“Ehm… I transferred to university Setsuna in just this afternoon.” Yoshiko answered

“Ah…, wait, what!? What happened!? Why so sudden…!?” surprised Maki

“She got into a fight with Riko-chan.” Setsuna joined in

“Huh? Yoshiko-chan and Riko-chan?!! Fighting?! Am I hearing things?” truly shocked to hear such unbelievable news

“W-Well…” Yoshiko could only nodded afterwards

Maki then don the same shocked face Setsuna did earlier. For things to escalate this way, there must be mre than this. “So, why you even chose to transfer just because of your fight with Riko-chan?”

“…And she would just being silent again…” Setsuna closed the conversation with Umi patting the head of the poor magenta eyes

“Maki, Setsuna-chan, it’s enough. We’ll leave it for later. For now, let’s eat.”

----

Yoshiko retreated to her room after successfully avoiding the questioning eyes she got from Setsuna while they ate. However, things won’t just went the way she want because her younger cousin wasn’t the type who would give up that easily. Soon enough, the thing Yoshiko really afraid of did happened. Setsuna knocked her door. “There’s just no escaping Setsuna, huh…”

“Come on in…”

“Yoshiko-chan…” worried Setsuna

“…It’s more complicated than you think it is, Setsuna…”

“But it’s not a good reason for you to not tell me anything, Yoshiko-chan!”

“…”

“C’mon, Yoshiko-chan. It hurts to see you like this…” the younger one pointed out just how spiritless the face of the older one looked

“…Fine. The thing is…

----

Meanwhile, in another room…

“… But remember, I won’t help you that much. You have to do this by yourself, okay? I’m counting on you.” Umi was talking on the phone “Okay, see you later.”

“Who’s that,, Riko-chan?” Maki went in after she took a bath

“Yes… I think I need to at least tell her that Yoshiko-chan is here. Seems like even my aunt wasn’t giving her much info. Maybe Yoshiko-chan told her mom to never told Riko-chan about her transfer?”

“It might be… Just how can those two got into a fight like this, I wonder…? And I know certain someone know the reason but chose not speak about it…” Maki’s eyes playfully telling Umi that she knew the older one must’ve known why

“Even if I knew, it’s not for us to meddle in, okay?”

“Yes, mom”

“As if I want a daughter so silly like you! C’mon, just come here already!” Umi patted the right side of their bed. Maki happily complied

----

Tomorrow morning, Saturday, 9 a.m.

Ayumu arrived at the front hall of Setsuna’s place (more like Maki’s). Today, she promised Setsuna to spend the night binge watching the latest Love Live Blu-Ray together. However, when she laid eyes to the gate, there, she saw someone who looked rather familiar shouting at the door phone, seemingly fighting with somebody in the house.

Out of instinct, Ayumu hid herself as she saw the fight went on. Not long afterwards, the mysterious girl seemed like she surrendered and turned her way back. There, she finally recognized that girl. It was Riko. But why? Better find out!

“Ri-Riko-chan…?” timidly

“Yes? Ah, Ayumu-chan… Visiting Setsuna-chan?” act coolly as if she wasn’t being seen earlier

“Yes… By the way, are you here to visit Umi-nee?”

“Ah, no… I was here to visit Yocchan…” how would she played this, Riko thought to herself

“Yoshiko-chan? Is she here?”

“Yes…, but she didn’t want to let me in…” Ayumu was shocked with the revelation

“Huh? Eh? Am I hearing things?”

“No, you’re not Ayumu-chan. We’re in a fight right now and she doesn’t want to let me apologize…”

“Ehhhhhhh…!? Yoshiko-chan deliberately chose to prolong her fight with Riko-chan? I can’t believe it… There must be something wrong….!! Let me help you, Riko-chan!” and Riko could only stood there, wordlessly

Ayumu rang the bell this time. After a while, finally the magenta eyes answered from the other side.

“Who is it?” Yoshiko, wary of the certain brunette

“It,s me, Ayumu…”

“Ah, Ayumu-chan…! Long time no see!!” and as Yoshiko said those words, another voice also could be heard

“Ayumu? Is that Ayucchi??! Let me open the gate, then!!” Setsuna, as fast as she could, she leapt throught the hallway as she went outside and greeted her best friend.

“Ayucchi!!!! I missed you!! Did you bring the Blu-Ray?” Setsuna asked the question after she hugged the golden eyes

“We just met yesterday, Secchan…” Ayumu held the girl tight in her arms before releasing herself from the hug “Yes, I brought it.”

“Oh! Thank you!! Now, let’s go to my room!!” cheerfully, mainly because Setsuna spent a rather long time without meeting her soulmate

“Okay…, but before that…” Ayumu then pointed at the corner of the gate. There, the brunette was standing looked so nervous. Maybe she thought Setsuna knew the whole story from her girlfriend?

“Ahh…, I get it. Okay…” Setsuna didn’t showed any sign of whether she hated that Riko was there or not. But Riko thought that as long as she could face to face with Yoshiko today, everything would be fine

Yoshiko seemed like she already went back to her late breakfast, as Setsuna said to Ayumu. So without further ado, the three of them went ahead into the house. The thing is, Umi has already left to work, together with Maki early that morning. Without the older ones to hold back when things went awry, Setsuna could only hope she and Ayumu could managed to hold on just fine…

----

[endestprana]

Libra

“What I saw from all of those angers were your sadness..., nothing less..., nothing more...”

A stand. You claimed you’ve overcome everything, the hardest part of life, pursuing something you wouldn’t even dare to dream of ever getting your hand on. You shouted at the end of the world “Why did things have to turn out this way!?” and of course there will be no answer given back. You knew but you kept on doing that. You repeated and repeated it. All you had inside that hollow heart of yours was nothing more than sorrow. No trace of happiness left.

I saw the future of yours as if I was watching a drama in the TV. So many unneeded scenes involved in your progression towards the end. “Why would you need to try to throw away your life if in the next moment you would instead beg for salvation?” “Don’t you think that was a move of hypocrite?”

You tried for another path. You pushed forward this time, avoiding falling in despair and moved on. Moved so fast that you instead forgot how to love. You forgot how to care, how to relate. You forgot about how to be a ‘human’. You gained something in turn for losing something. Something important. Really really important.

And things fell. Everything’s crumbled. You headed aimlessly towards your end. You slowly lose all feeling inside your heart. Your broken heart. Your shattered heart. Not even a smile from the goddess could save you anymore. Because all that you want that time was an end. End of everything. And thus, you got what you wanted. “Let me end this stupid life of mine!!!”

However, seemed like things weren’t so easy for you. All white was everything that your eyes showed when you finally opened them. “Where am I?” thought yourself, seemingly trying to figure out what had just happened right after you threw yourself from such a tall building before. There, after what looked like an eternity, you saw a brick of light. You quickly focused your sight onto that small orb. Slowly it turned into a gate. And someone came out from that very gate...

“Is this what you want?”

“I don’t need another chance!”

“But...”

“No buts! It’s always the same!! I will always make the same mistake over and over again, hurting you more and more...! I can’t take it anymore, Riko!!”

“Yoshiko-chan...”

“And I don’t even have the power to snap at that name anymore... Hah~ What a letdown...” Yoshiko smiled emotionlessly at her earlier remark

“So... would you rather never meet me at all...?” the tears were there, Riko knew but she couldn’t help it

“...”

“I never blamed you for things that happened before, Yoshiko-chan...”

“... It didn’t make things any better Riko... The guilt will never be washed away that easily...”

“THEN, Then what should I do, Yoshiko-chan!!!? Should I just kill myself like what you did!? WILL IT SOLVE OUR PROBLEM!!! WILL US BE HAPPY!!? WILL YOU!? WILL I!!!!?”

“...Riko...”

“ANSWER ME, YOSHIKO-CHAN!!!!”

The exhausted legs gave up and Riko surely fell on her knees. Her heart was filled with so much sadness she didn’t even have any energy to repel the hands that quickly reached to her, avoiding her face to meet the floor.

“It’s not our fate to be together, Riko...”

“I’m hearing things!!”

“You can’t deny it anymore, Riko. I tried everything... We..., tried everything...”

“No, we’re not! We haven’t try everything, Yoshiko-chan!!! There must be a way out there for us!!!”

“Riko... please understand...”

“Why would I listen to such a hollow words from a woman who gave up so unsightly like you!!!?”

“Riko..., don’t make this more difficult...”

“... Maybe it’s like what you’ve said, Yoshiko-chan. Maybe it’s just we’re not meant to be with each other. It was stupid of us to be struggling like this. It was stupid of me to be hoping for a miracle one-sidedly...”

“Riko...”

“It must be better for us to go our separate way...”

Riko said the words as she held the red string connecting both of her and Yoshiko. She shed her last teardrop, and cut the string, losing the wings on her back in the process. It was time for another reset...

--------

In the corner of the class, the girl was still looking at the last page from her book. Her face was still on the previous expression, mad. “Why would things turned out this way?!” And as she was still indulged herself on the book, another girl came through the door heading towards her...

“Ayumu..., what are you doing there...?” the black-haired girl asked the sitting golden eyes

‘Ah, Secchan... No, I was just reading this book. The ending was just too sad. And vexing, too.”

“It’s so like you to be mad over a book. What story this time?”

“A romance that never met a happy ending...”

Setsuna went her way and finally seat herself beside the golden eyes, patting her hand on the latter head, telling her that it’s just a story in a book. Ayumu still looked dissatisfied but Setsuna just smiled towards the visible frustration on her friend’s face.

“Secchan...”

“Yes...?”

“Will you keep your promise...?”

“Hmmm..., which one?”

“The one that you would make this world overflowing with love...”

“Ah, that one. Of course, Ayumu. Besides, I was the one who dragged you into this school idol business, after all. I promise I will never let you down, Ayumu! But you must also fulfill your promise with me, okay?”

“Hehehe~ Don’t worry! I will make this world full of smiles, enough that there will be no sadness anymore.”

“That’s my Ayumu...!” Setsuna smiled brightly

The two hearts were still on the tip of the iceberg. None to their knowledge about the thorny road they must took on their trip to fulfill their dreams. But somewhere in their hearts, they knew..., they knew that if they’re together they will surely reach that place. ‘That place’, the pinnacle of school idol...