"Wah.." I let out a very deep breath as I finally finished the last part of my performance solo.
I didn't think that it would be this hard.. but considering that this choreography was perfectly made, I think it's worth it. I need to polish it up quickly.
A bead of sweat rolled down my skates as I kept on looking down, for my ending pose. Itchy.
After a few seconds I finally looked up to see Ms. Celene, coming closer to me with a towel. Handing it to me when she finally got close.
"That was beyond my expectations.. but maybe you should take a break for a while?" Ms. Celene looked at me with a concerned face and a faint smile.
Oh that's right, I've been practicing for a few hours non-stop now that even Yua has already left.
"I'll be fine. Don't worry." I said, even doing some leg stretching to show her that I'm not tired yet.
But looking at the look on her face, she's very concerned so maybe I'll go home for now. "Actually, maybe I should rest up now. I'll sleep a little earlier."
She gave a warm smile and tapped my shoulder as she walked past, picking up the props that we used which was laying on the floor. I quickly came to help her out.
"Oh no no, don't worry about this," She laughed a little. "You should go home now, quickly, child, if you may." I followed her gaze and looked down, she was looking at my legs. "Cramps."
What does she mean by that?
"Cramps?" I mimicked, pulling my pants up to see if there's something wrong. What does cramps mean again?
I looked back to Ms. Celene when I heard her crack a small, yet genuine laugh again.
"Nevermind it. It will be quite an experience for the first time. Anyway, just go home and rest."
I just smiled at her as I followed her orders, and packed up the things I have on my small bag, leaving the place. She worries like a mother. It feels comforting somehow.
I just got out of the taxi I called and stopped here. I don't know why. To eat I guess.
The clouds are very dark and cloudy. It looks like it's already the middle of the night when actually, the sun's just setting.
Beep
Oh
A taxi gave me a beep while I was crossing the streets, I looked up to see the light that probably just turned red a second ago. I've been too consumed with my own thoughts in my own world.
I quickly ran towards the sidewalk from the middle of the crosswalk where I was standing and entered a nearby convenience store I always go to near my apartment.
I sat down on a chair near the table inside and opened up the ham and cheese sandwich, and chocolate milk I bought.
I'm not sure why but I feel like I've been here long before, based on how the cashier always changes their expression when they see me.
Hmm...
I stood up and finished the whole sandwich and left. I still don't feel tired even after all that practice, even the moon's out up in the sky already. I'll explore around this place a bit.
⁰-⁰
After running for a bit, coming inside store to stores and places around and round, I stopped in front of a lit up restaurant in the middle of a silent, dark street.
As I started walking towards the entrance, the smell of ramen being served and the sound of people inside, talking, laughing and slurping made my tummy grumble.
I entered the place and a tight, yet lively place greeted me. So many people... It's very warm inside too and the air feels damp.
I walked towards a seat right in front of where they seemed to cook the food. Some people greeted me as I went though. Weird. People never greet me, this place's customers are really friendly.
I sat down at an empty seat where no one was sitting beside me.
A few minutes of being alone on my seat passed and I suddenly felt my head being tapped by a finger. I looked up to see a young man, seemingly in his twenties, he has long brown hair tied in a pony tail. He does look very attractive and handsome, I can't deny.
Handsome but too close. He's looking at my face. Too. Close. Also wait, why is his hair out like that when he's cooking back there?
"You..." He said, then pinched and poked my face and cheeks. I just continued on looking back at his face with a confused look, not even trying to stop him since he has big hands, it'd be impossible.
"Ah." He suddenly said, making me flinch a little. Did I just flinch? Anyway what's wrong with him? His ears are red.. is it too hot in here?
"Are you okay?" I asked.
He took off his left hand that he was using to cover his mouth and face down, finally revealing his face again. I feel some shock from his face though. "Hm?"
He looked straight at me, he didn't say anything or did anything. He just stood there to look at me for a minute, not an emotion in his face except his eyes, that was filled with obvious shock.
"Hibiki?" His voice, sounding so concerned, worried and as if we're close, called out to me. It gave me shivers when he called my name for some reason, his voice is deep. Fits his big figure and handsome look.
"Yes." I answered. I don't even want to bother asking a question right now. I just want to eat. I looked back down to choose what to order.
"I- um, what would you like to eat?"
"I'd have th-"
"The usual?" I don't even need to look up to know that he's already smiling, I can hear it. Feels off though. What does he mean the usual?
Curiosity peaked, I said yes. I didn't know it would be this big though... This kind of food is for giants.
I quickly ate the delicious ramen, the bowl that was just filled to the brim a moment ago was now empty. I looked up, wanting to order another serve when his face showed up, close. In front of me again, but now with a wide smile.
"Good?"
"Good?" Huh? Oh. "Yes. It's yummy, I feel like my tummy's gonna explode but I want another serving."
He laughed a bit after I answered. What's funny about that?
"It's still you I guess. Why'd you cut your hair? Thought you said that it's your lifeline before."
Huh?
Hmm, he's someone from the past... Lifeline?
"I get it, people change. I guess I could believe that you're a boy now." He said with a smile.
His smile is very unique. Cute, like a cat's. "Still smash though." The smile that was on my face, that I just felt suddenly came crashing down to turn into a confused face. "After all these years, I still like you. How weird."
I can't tell his expression at all. It's bitter... Like longing for someone but it's deeper.
He just said that he likes me, that he still likes me. I would pity him and myself, if I could do that. Because I don't think I'd ever like someone like I did Haru again. But like he said, it's been years, he probably doesn't really like me. The me right now. He likes the me from the past, not me. How did people come to like me before? Why do they like him more than me.
"Ah.." A sound got out of my mouth, as I suddenly felt something. My legs, as if it's being torn apart. I can suddenly, just suddenly feel my muscles. Stretched right now.
It's very painful, I don't even know how to describe it. If a normal person would feel this right now, they would probably cry but not me. Since I- "Tsk." I clicked my tongue as I felt the pain from moving my feet, a step.
"Hey are you okay?" The worker from before asked. He hurried to my side and held my hands as support. My hands are shaking... I'm bothering him too much.
"Don't worry about me. You have a job to do."
"Like I care about that." Right after he said that though, an old man called out for someone exactly.
"That's right. You should go back." I turned my head in front of us to look at where the familiar voice came from.
And there stood that one person that goes missing from me for a few weeks. He then showed a provoking smile, intended to this worker.
"Who are you?" Mr. Long hair asked.
"A very close friend." Haruki replied.
"As if." Mr. Long hair said strongly but his face then gave off a bitter defeat as he turned to go back to serve the customers. That was quick...
"Need any help?" Haruki's voice made me look at him again. I didn't even realize that he's actually already the person that was helping me stand up. I just nodded.
I don't want to talk to him much, since what he did last time in front of Xyla's store was a little weird. "Where's your place?" He added.
"Hotel right now... Aren't you going to eat?"
"Well, yeah. But do you want me to leave you to eat or continue being so, very kind as to help you?" What a playful smile he has.. whatever.
"Home."
⁰-⁰
How did I end up in such a situation again? I just got out of the bathroom, in my bathrobe and entered my hotel room's bedroom. And Haruki was there, laying on my bed with that smile again.
"If you want to stay over, then go use the sofa."
He forced me to make him stay over because he 'helped' me. Mind you, the pain from my muscles we're already almost gone half way going back.
"How rude. Is this how you treat your guests?" His face then turned into a frown. Quite an expressive one huh?
"This isn't even my apartment and I've never had guests except Kae-" I stopped myself. I don't really know why but I feel like mentioning Kaede's name is a bad thing, maybe because they don't seem to be on good terms.
"Kaede? Expected much." He got it anyway. He stood up from the bed and approached me that was standing, looking at him near the doorway. "The towel's about to fall."
I quickly looked down and held it with my hands.. but it was completely secured. I looked back at him sharply, Haruki who just passed through the doorway. That should be the look of someone who would be annoyed or angry right?
He laughed a little as I looked at him going in the direction of the living room so I guess I got it right.
I laid down on my bed and hid my whole body except my head under the covers. I don't even wanna bother going to the other side of the room just to wear clothes, since my feet are still feeling very painful even though they have lessened. Is this what Ms. Celene said before? What was it again? Oh yeah cramps. Are these cramps?
Whatever, not important right now. I can endure the pain.
What's important is that person from the Ramen shop and Haruki. That guy seems to know something about my past, it looks like he has met me before. About Haruki, I don't know about him. Still, I remember his words from before.
---"Well maybe.. but you see. I need your help with something."---
Help with what? And why me of all people, I already got stuff in my hands.
I'll make him talk tomorrow, and ask him about everything he knows.
Crash
Also why's he's snooping around the kitchen. If he planned to sneak around, then at least be a bit careful. That sounded like my pan. I bought one because I didn't like what the hotel provided and I only bought one.
Why am I worried over the pan more than my other stuff?