Chereads / The Fox Bride / Chapter 3 - The Encounter

Chapter 3 - The Encounter

[H E R]

Two days passed since she had that dream about that person. It was the same scene in the dark shadowy mountain, and she was stoned in place still staring at that man's eyes. And the more she does, the more it seemed real.

Just like the voice who spoke in her dreams, Shizuku always found herself wanting to find out more on who was the person behind those eyes. She was intrigued with how it glowed in the dim light, seemingly staring back at her as if it was preying on her.

Shizuku let out a sigh.

"What might be the reason for the president's heavy sigh?" Yua, the vice president, asked from the side with a sly smile on her face.

Shizuku quickly shook her head, "I'm just tired. Thank you for delivering the files earlier Mitsubarashi-san" she replied and changed the topic.

The blonde girl who had her hair tied into a side braid pouted and jumped on Shizuku's shoulders, "You still call me by my surname! And we've been friends for 2 years!"

A smile crept up on Shizuku's face as the blonde cuddled with her from behind. "I told you, I got used to it" she chuckled, her mind completely wandering off from her weird dreams.

"Just call me Yua!"

"Mitsubarashi-san is fine"

"No!!!! Call me Yua, Shizuku-chan!"pouted the blonde even more and shook the female president's body lightly.

A laugh escaped Shizuku's lips as she started goofing around with Yua who was playfully getting upset with her. Two years before she was president was when she met the bubbly and out going Yua. The blonde girl got lost and Shizuku coincidentally ran late and so they met.

Yua is a naturally kind-hearted and very friendly girl. She was understanding and very open with her thoughts that even someone as aloof as Shizuku opened her heart to her. She is a great listener and a great friend.

Before long, the two settled down and started minding their own businesses which included Shizuku signing approval papers for new club members and Yua staring at her from with her chin on the table.

"You should go back to class Mitsubarashi-san, I can finish this with no problem" she turned and gave a small reassuring smile to the seemingly bored blonde looking at her.

But Yua shook her head in disagreement, "No! I mean I am not much of a help but I don't want to leave you here Shizuku-chan!"she protested.

The ravenette chuckled mildly, "It's President when we're inside the Student Council Room, right?"

"-President. But I still won't leave!" Yua said, puffing her cheeks like a child.

"Okay, suit yourself" Shizuku said and let the blonde keep her company. "Ah how's it going with that crush of yours Yua?" She randomly said as her pen wonderfully danced on the papers where her signature remained.

"W-What?" Yua stuttered, her cheeks flaring up a bit.

The corners of Shizuku's lips curled up as her eyes stayed still on the papers in front of her. "You were talking about a guy the other day; I was wondering if you had some progress yet" she replied.

Yua sunk even more in her sit, "Well he is a bit hard to approach"

The blonde girl's response piqued her interest. Knowing that Yua is usually befriends almost anyone she sees, hearing from the girl herself that a certain someone is a hard to get close to is a rare occurence.

"Mitsubarashi Yua-san is having trouble making friends?" She teased, her tone rising along with one of her brows.

"I just can't approach him with the intent to become friends! I mean I do want to approach him, but I don't know how I should act Shizuku-chan-I mean President!" Said Yua, covering her blushing face from the ravenette smirking in front of her.

"Heh" Shizuku mused, "What's his name?"

"No I don't want to say it!"

"Just tell me"

"No! Absolutely not!"

"Why?"

"Because it's embarrassing that's why!"

Amidst the noise inside the student council room, a knock resounded from the door but the two figures inside were busy with each other and didn't notice. Until the door opened slightly and a masculine voice asked from behind,

"Um, excuse me?"

[H I M]

Another day passed and Yuuji's dreams stayed the same and ever so real. He would always find himself holding his hand out as if to reach that girl he saw, just like how the boy in his dreams did. He knew in himself that he wasn't really the type to get attracted to a girl so simply, and he hasn't even seen her whole face yet.

Their everyday morning practice allows him to at least take his mind off that topic which relaxed him. He would clean their clubroom every day and would go as far as cleaning the bathroom near the gymnasium like he does and to distract himself. Soon enough, their morning session just ended after the whole team's diving laps around the whole court.

"Be sure to stretch properly or else your muscles will hurt after that much movement" he pointed out as the members sprawled on the floor one by one and proceeded.

"Yes!" said the members in unison.

Their coach gave him the privilege to deal with the training regime for the team and he did his best to make sure that every second is not wasted. He would text each and every member the solo training they should do at home and would always tell the others to be punctual.

"Practice continues later after classes, do well in your subjects if you don't want me to personally tutor you one by one" Yuuji announced in front of the whole team, with a white towel draped around his neck, he eyed them one by one.

Natsu nodded, "I can manage Kita-san. I think Haru'ere wants to get tutored," said the gray-haired twin.

To which, Haru, growled at. "Oi! I didn't say anything! Damn you Natsu!" He retorted, scared that Yuuji would actually take his twin's words seriously.

Yuuji, being the captain, gave each and every one of them a stern look before breaking out to a smile. "We still have 2 months to prepare, after that we don't have to worry about anything"he said.

Although he didn't say anything special nor encouraging like most of the captains, the whole team of Inariyama had their morale's boosted. Knowing that Yuuji tended to speak facts and not sugarcoated words, setting aside that they're indeed good individually, all of them felt cheered up by Yuuji's words.

"Practice starts at 4 pm sharp, be late and you'll run 10 laps around the school" he said and turned his back along with Matsumoto, hearing the groans from the members he left behind.

Yuuji even heard Suna sigh, "I would take a nap if Kita-san is just joking"

Saito, their coach, laughs resounded inside the gymnasium. "Unfortunately, Kita's dead serious so you guys better come on time" he said.

That was the last Yuuji, and Matsumoto heard as they entered the rear side of the main building just next to the court. "So, we need to get this approved by the president, huh?" Yuuji mumbled, scanning the paper in his hands, and seeing the cost of their whole trip to the Finals.

"Yes. Tatsumi included the new designs of our jerseys and the uniforms" Matsumoto replied as they casually walked through the long hallway of Inariyama.

The captain nodded slowly, "Let's get this done and head back to class Matsumoto-kun" he said and walked a bit faster.

Soon enough, the two reached the front door of the Student Council Room and heard muffled voices from inside, a loud once probably belonging to a female. Yuuji blinked realizing that the previous male president was replaced by a female from the advanced third year class.

"Who's the current president, Matsumoto-kun?" He turned and asked his friend.

"Yamanobe Shizuku from Class 3-2. I don't know much about her, but I heard before that she's highly respected by both the teachers and the students" Matsumoto explained, face remaining stoic as he stood next to him.

Yuuji nodded slowly, quite impressed that a girl is managing the school's student council, which is really hard since the SC is considered to be a dependable aid of the principal. They manage the budgets needed for the club activities, school festivals and fundraisings.

"Quite impressive. Let's meet the esteemed president then" Yuuji knocked slowly but no one from the inside answered. "Should I just go in?" He asked Matsumoto.

The said boy nodded, "We'll be late if we wait for them"

"Okay okay" Yuuji slowly turned the knob and peeked his head inside the small room.

"Excuse me?"

Yuuji's eyes landed on the dark-haired girl sitting behind a small desk,

As soon as their eyes met, the world was stopped in time.

Yuuji's chest ached as if he was robbed of the air itself as soon as he saw those lips on the girl. It wasn't plump, nor too colorful, nor perfectly shaped, but those pair of lips were all he could see in his dreams. He couldn't be mistaken now. It didn't help when the black-haired female pursed her lips, giving him almost all of the proof that she was indeed the girl he always sees in his dreams.

'I must be going mad.' he/she thought