Mizuki POV
I would call myself an ordinary girl. I have normal parents and normal friends. I am totally normal in both studies and sports. However I am called amazing by others.
They always praise me. They always call me an elite. I don't know exactly when did it start but I took it for granted.
Then it happened. The one kid who lives in front of me. I think his name is Akatsuki. We played for some time. And we went to the same school.
But one thing I noticed was that he never praised me. He never told me that I was precious. He showed no interest in me.
It infuriated me. It annoyed me to no end. I wanted him to praise me. No, I wanted to make him praise me.
But in the end, I couldn't. We moved up to middle school. We were in the same class. He had good grades. But he wasn't that athletic. He always grew his hair. His face was always hidden because of his hair.
But he talked to me. I used to talk to him everyday. We both were childhood friends after all. And no one beside me talked to him.
But I noticed our homeroom teacher talks to him as well. Ms. Mary has been with us since elementary school. Is that coincidence? But she always talks to Akatsuki.
But things changed. Akatsuki lost his parents in a car crash. That happened in our second year of middle school. After that, he totally changed. He stopped talking to me. He started slacking off.
We could hear weird noises from his house. He only ever talked to Ms. Mary. I guess she is someone he can rely upon. But why did he stop talking to me?
He could have asked me for help. My parents were more than willing to help him. But he refused all our help. He even refused Ms. Mary.
She asked him to live with them but he didn't. He said that he liked his house. Is he still not over it?
And it has been five years since then. He is still in the same class as me. I sit right behind him. Ms. Mary is still our homeroom teacher. This really is absurd.
On a certain Sunday, I leave for practice. I see that he is standing in front of his window. He seems refreshed. The weather is nice so maybe he is happy.
I leave for my tennis practice. I play tennis since elementary school. And I compete in tournaments as well. I won't say I am too good but I enjoy the game.
After finishing my practice, I come home. But then I saw something. He is wearing his uniform. Did he go to school?
But that's not important. I see him talking to a girl. She has white-ish hair and white skin. Pretty blue eyes and she looks like a foreigner. But why is he talking to her? Moreover he is taking her to his house.
I tried to play it cool. But she unbeknownst to me, I had started glaring at him. Perhaps feeling my glare, he turned around to find me.
He gives a wry smile.
"Ahh…Mizuki, hello."
He greets me and waves his hand. But the girl by his side is staring at me. She has a questioning look. I turn around and enter my house.
What was I doing? Why was I staring at him? It's funny because I myself don't know.
I changed and tried to calm down. But I saw them leaving a little later. He changed his clothes and is now going somewhere with that girl.
He has his cycle with him. Is he going far with that girl? I was standing at the window so he probably saw me and gave me a smile.
What are trying to pull here? After he is out of sight, I head straight to my room.
I lie down on my bed and start thinking. Why was I so upset to see Akatsuki with another girl? It annoyed me.
Whilst thinking I fell asleep. I woke up when my mother came to get me for dinner.
I had dinner and went to my room. I was thinking again. When I was planning on sleeping, I heard a really loud noise.
It was nearby so I rushed down. I saw fire from the window so I thought something was on fire. But when I opened the door, I stopped. Because I see someone lying in front of the door.
I was terrified. But when I looked clearly, it was Akatsuki. He was lying in front of the door, all covered in blood.
The moment I realized it, I rushed to him.
"Akatsuki Akatsuki..wake up." I take his body and start touching him.
He is completely covered in blood. I feel that his body is becoming colder. My pare had rushed out as well. His house is on fire.
The neighbors are trying to put out the fire. But I didn't pay any attention to that.
Because Akatsuki is with me. I have his head lying on my lap.
His face is covered in blood but he isn't in pain. His face looks happy like he is having a good dream. I was lost in thought. So I hadn't noticed that Ms. Mary is here as well.
I see her parents too. But the one I didn't expect to see was that girl. She is here as well and she is just standing there staring at Akatsuki.
What is she thinking? Ms. Mary is by my side, looking after Akatsuki. I held on to Akatsuki. I didn't want to let him go.
When he was taken to the hospital, I was about to go with him. But my father stopped me. My mother and I stayed behind. But that girl probably went to the hospital.
When I calmed down, I looked myself in the mirror. My eyes are swollen red. Was I crying?
"Mizuki…" My mother called for me.
"Coming." I wipe my tears off and go to my mother.
But when my mother saw me, she just took me and made me sit beside her.
"I know that you are worried. But don't worry, he will be fine." (Mom)
"Why do you think that I am worried?"
"You can fool yourself but you can not fool me. Look at your eyes. They are swollen red from crying." (Mom)
She wipes my tears.
"I know that you are worried about Akatsuki. But he won't die so easily. He has gone worse things than you know." (Mom)
"What do you mean?"
Worse than that..what could be worse than being burnt?
"When their family moved here, he was only one. And he fell from the second floor after that. At one, he fell from the second floor." (Mom)
"What!! How is he alive?"
"That's why I told you. He has seen worse things than this. That boy was always prone to danger. I don't know if he followed danger or danger followed him but he always found himself in danger. And yet he survived through all of them."
So he has been through something like that.
"Besides, when his parents were alive, he told us, "When our kids become older, let's get them married." And we said yes." (Mom)
"Mom…why did you say that?"
"I mean, you two were almost inseparable. So we made that promise. But now his parents are gone. And Mary's father is trying to marry him into their family." (Mom)
"I heard that he proposed to Ms. Mary but he was shot down."
"Maybe Mary is hesitant. After all, she has been with both of you since you two were born. But I think she would be a good wife. Unlike you." (Mom)
"Why did you say that I can't be a good wife?"
"Because you aren't honest. You just have to be honest. Don't push him away. Be with him when he needs you." (Mom)
Mom hugged me and started to gently rub my head. Ahh..this is so calming. And I feel that the cloud in my mind has disappeared.
"You know, when your dad is upset, I always comfort him like this. But don't tell your dad."
I can't understand her. She is sticking out her tongue like a naughty kid but she told me something incredible.
"So dad is also like this."
"Every man is. But they just won't admit it. If you want to comfort him, just embrace him. And he will be very happy. If a man loves you, then he will always accept your advances." (Mom)
"What are you teaching your own daughter?"
"Just in case. After all, you will be pampering Akatsuki later. Be quick or he might be stolen." (Mom)
"Ughhh…." I groan all dejected.
For better or for worse, that guy is popular. I mean, he is just a gloomy guy and yet the girls all fawn over him. I don't think anyone has made a move yet but he is popular.
Many girls have asked me about him. Because I am his childhood friend. Ask him directly.
"I think, I will try."
"That's my girl. Now go get him." (Mom)
My mom can be very pushy at times like this. But I have to try or this feeling won't disappear.
The next day, I go to school. Everyone is present. But my front is empty. Because Akatsuki isn't here.
And everything happened normally. The new girl introduced herself. Her name is Selena. And her seat is right next to Akatsuki.
Just like that, the school ended. I packed my things and left. But then I noticed, all the girls are leaving.
Why? Most of them stay in the classroom and gossip.
"Hey, why are you guys leaving?"
I ask the girls as we climb down the stairs.
"We stayed before because Akatsuki was there. But now he's not. So we better leave."
One of them answered but the reason was Akatsuki. It's strange.
"Why?"
"Ohh..you don't know…Akatsuki never told you. Akatsuki is like a guardian angel for us. Most of the boys harassed us after school. But Akatsuki being there protected us. So we stayed at the class. But now that he isn't, the boys will hit on us. So we all left."
I didn't know. Such a thing behind my back. Is that the reason why Akatsuki is so popular with girls?
I climbed down the stairs and stood in front of the shoe locker. I want to ask Ms. Mary about Akatsuki.
And she came with that Selena girl. They are both talking to each other.
I call Ms. Mary. She stopped and looked at me. And that Selena girl stopped too.
"Mary, I have something to ask you."
"What is it?" (Mary)
"How is he?"
"Still in coma. He is out of danger. But I will visit him after I drop her home." (Mary)
"Drop her home? Is she living with you?"
"Yeah. She is in a home stay." (Mary)
"I will go to visit him too. So call me when you go."
That's all I wanted to let her know.