Again big thanks to kosherbacon, smoku, nuemanproductions and Extremist_Line for feed back and reading it over. Hope the errors are at a minimum. Any feed back will be appreciated.Watercolors
Part 1
- - -
“Hisao!”
Iwanako is kneeling over Hisao as he is clutching onto his chest, he is on the ground on his knees. His gasps for air echo throughout the field, then it is followed by Iwanako calling for help from anyone. Her sense of time slows down as the next scene is seeing Hisao getting loaded up into the ambulance, as the emergency workers are compressing on his chest, to be rushed to the emergency room. She just stands there out in the field, as the snow begins to come down heavier, in a lucid trance. Her mind is struggling to comprehend to what had just happened. What was supposed to be a happy day, just turned into a living nightmare.
- - -
Several weeks have passed, Iwanako leaves the hospital for the last time to see Hisao. She finally makes this hard decision, she couldn't face him anymore as the guilt hits her. She deeply cared for Hisao, but she couldn't bear seeing him in this condition, with all the tubes and machines connected to his body. She felt it would be best to move on away from Hisao.
“Hisao now has a difficult life ahead of him. I can't be a burden to him anymore. I was the one that sent him there. I wish this whole thing had never happened.” she says to herself as she enters her father's car.
'Goodbye Hisao... please forgive me.'
The car leaves the hospital, she sits in her seat, not looking back.
- - -
Class is somewhat normal today for Iwanako, she is in her desk chair looking outside to the snow covered grounds. Staring outside, she is once again reminded of the events of the past, like a broken record in her mind.
“Iwanako...class is almost over.” her friend Hina tells her.
Hina Kato, she is one of Iwanako's best friends since primary school. She has shoulder-cut green hair, wears glasses, and bit shorter than Iwanako, and is a bit on the chubby side. Next to Hina, stands Rika Hisakawa, she is a bit taller than Iwanako, slender frame with long light-red hair that goes down to her back, she towers over Hina. They both look on to Iwanako.
“Earth to Nako...” Rika says with a slightly louder voice.
Iwanako snaps out of her stare and turns to look at her friends.
“Oh sorry... So what are you both planning on doing this afternoon?”
“Nothing much, just probably going to hang out at her place do some homework. You are more than welcome to come with us.”
“Yeah Nako, been a while since all 3 of us just hung out.”
Hina adjusts her glasses as she sees Iwanako take a moment to think over her response. Rika stands there looking on already anticipating her response.
“Not today, I am going to take a walk to the park to clear my head. Maybe next time okay?”
“You need to move on from that, it wasn't your fault that Hisao suffered that heart attack. It just had to happen at that moment, you couldn't have known, heck he didn't even know about it.”
“I know Hina... but ever since that day, other students have been avoiding me. Like I am cursed or something, only you and Rika have stuck by with me.”
“It's what true friends do Nako. We will stick by you all the way to the end.” Rika says with as she sits on the desk.
“Another thing, I have been hearing rumors about me around the school. I am now called 'The Heart-breaker', it probably explains why guys are afraid of me, they think they will end up like Hisao.”
“Don't believe in them. People can be childish about things they don't understand.”
“Trust me Nako, when I find that person or person's who started that. There will be major hell to pay.”
Iwanako gives a small smile to her friends. Moments later, the final bell rings, signaling the end of class. The girls gather their books into their backpacks. Iwanako grabs her winter overcoat and buttons it up.
“Next time I will come over to do some homework or watch a movie. Or this weekend we can go to the mall and do some shopping, we'll figure something out.”
Hina gives Iwanako a hug as she leaves the classroom. She proceeds to walk down the hallway to the exit. Other students look at her, and the few that are near her are keeping their distance from her.
'It is funny, Hina and Rika helped me in writing that note to Hisao. Rika placing it in his book the day before “it” happened. I remember her reaction saying “mission successful” getting all giddy. She reads too many of those romance novels I tell you. Though I sometimes I wish I hadn't wrote that note. None of this would have happened, now I am the outcast of this school.'
As Iwanako nears the exit of the building, she can slightly overhear some student's gossip.
“Is that the girl who nearly killed Nakai?”
“Yeah, he had a heart attack after he talked to her.”
“I heard no guy is approaching her now, many of them are calling her 'The Heart-breaker'.”
“Just leave her be, it was unknown to Nakai that he had a heart condition. It was unfortunate that it had to happen like that. The poor girl it must have been hell for her these last few months.”
“Hey you never know, always weird things going on in this world.”
A small tear comes from Iwanako's eye as she exits the building. Thoughts enter her mind as she walks through the campus, a light snow begins to fall.
'Maybe they are right. I am cursed. It amazes me how others treat me, like I am some evil person. Maybe I was meant to be alone, but I know that isn't true. My feelings for Hisao were very real, I wanted someone in my life.'
She passes the front gate of the school and begins to make her way to the park. It is starting to get a bit colder.
'I wish I had brought my white scarf with me today.'
As she nears the park, more thoughts enter her mind.
'I guess I should consider myself lucky in a sense that I have friends like Rika and Hina in my life. The few nights after that fateful day with Hisao, I had nothing but nightmares tormenting me in my sleep. But my friends stayed with me those nights comforting me. I really owe them a lot for preventing me from going insane or killing myself. There are few things we can't control in life, and I have come to terms with that, but it still hurts to this day.'
She enters the park from the south, she notices the large pond looking gloomy as usual with the overcast skies above her. Snow is still falling, it is coming in very light. The park was her place to free her mind, despite the ground completely covered in snow. The scenery is very peaceful, she would often stay until dusk enjoying the quiet the park brings.
'Another quiet day in the park. Just the way I like it.'
She finds a bench nearby, wiping the snow off it, places her backpack on side of her and then takes a seat. Once she was comfortable, she just stares at the park. Thoughts once again enter her mind.
'I have loved coming to this park, ever since I was a little girl. Summer time here was fun, swimming in the pond on a hot day. Enjoying life...'
She then looks up to the overcast skies above her.
'Will I enjoy life again?'
Letting out a sigh, she then scans the entire park around her. There are a few people in the park taking their walks, some kids in the distance playing in the snow. As she continues her scan across the landscape she sees someone in another bench, with her best guess she thinks it is a guy with a drawing pad out. It looks like he is sketching something, judging by his constant looking from the pad and the view in front of him.
'I guess someone likes coming here to get some inspiration. Though I wonder what could he be sketching out here for, nothing really amazing out here.'
Part of her wants to see what he is sketching, another tells her to stay put. But eventually the old saying 'Curiosity killed the cat.' would apply here.
'I don't think he would mind. Just ask politely first and see if he doesn't mind having company.'
She gets up from the bench, grabs her backpack and then starts to head over to the other bench. Once she approaches him, she notices his light-brown hair, partially covering his face. He is wearing a brown leather overcoat, and around his neck is a blue scarf, he is wearing what looks like a blue school uniform under it with brown pants and brown shoes. His face looks a bit younger than she thought it was. Seeing that he hasn't noticed her approach over to his bench, she then quietly speaks.
“Mind if I take a seat here?”
The young man stops, and turns to Iwanako. He has a slightly lost look in his eyes, from being transfixed to his sketch. A few seconds pass, he softly shakes his head.
“Sorry... I was stuck with my sketch here. But sure, feel free to take a seat.” he replies with a smile, his tone is very soft and very calm.
She nods to him and places her backpack to the side of the bench, clears off the snow, then takes a seat. The young man returns to the sketch and continues, as Iwanako looks off to the distance enjoying her day.
'I guess having some company is better than being alone.'
She smiles at the thought.
After some minutes pass, she wants to ask him about what he is sketching, but she doesn't want to interrupt him. She looks at him and sees he has dark brown eyes, they are focused on the sketch at the moment. Suddenly he turns to look at her, she suddenly turns away from him blushing.
“I am sorry, I didn't mean to stare at you. It is just you are so focused on your sketch there. Do you mind me asking what you are sketching?”
The young man places his pencil down and shows her the sketch. On it is the landscape of the park with the city buildings in the back, she is amazed at the level of detail he has placed on it.
“It is for class. I attend at the art school here in town.”
“It looks really great. How long have you been working on this?”
“About 2 hours now, just got the assignment today, it is not due for a few days at least. So I will have time to complete it.”
Iwanako is still amazed, but she once again looks at the young man.
'He looks a little bit young to be attending that school.'
The young man looks at her once more.
“If you don't mind me asking, aren't you a little bit young to be attending that school. Isn't that college level studies there?”
“I get asked that all the time, I am only 16 years old. Just graduated from high school last year, you could say I am considered gifted, but I really just studied hard and passed all the needed exams. Then I was accepted to the art school for this semester.”
Iwanako is shocked to learn about this, this young man, younger than she is; is attending college.
“I am sorry, I didn't properly introduce myself. My name is Iwanako Kurosawa.”
“Takumi Nakano, it is a pleasure to meet you Iwanako. So Iwanako, are you a student also?”
“Yes. I am still in high school. Graduating this year, I hope. I am amazed though that you are attending college at a young age, didn't you worry about friends or socializing in general?”
“I-I didn't have many friends in school. I was very quiet to mostly everyone around me, just doing my school work.” he said with a slight sad tone.
“I am sorry to hear that.”
“No worries.” he replies with a smile.
The snow begins to start falling a bit heavier now.
“I guess mother nature is telling me to pack it up for today.”
Takumi closes his drawing pad and places it into his backpack. Then he looks to Iwanako.
“There is a small café nearby here, want to get some hot tea or cocoa? My treat.”
Iwanako blushes slightly, she thinks it wouldn't be a bad idea, considering she is feeling a bit more chilly for not bringing her scarf today.
“Sure. Lead the way.”
Both of them get up from the bench and start their way to the café. She notices he is slightly taller than she is, though Rika would be a bit taller than he is. Suddenly she has a weird feeling, she is feeling happy for once.
'I just met Takumi, and I am feeling happy once again. Maybe things might look right, he is kinda cute.'
Then suddenly memories of Hisao fill her mind, she suddenly is feeling like she is betraying him somehow.
'The guilt is back, but why, I made the decision to move on a while back. Is this to remind me that I am cursed or something. Should this develop anymore, will I give Takumi a heart attack if I confess my love for him? That would confirm 'The Heart-breaker' rumor.'
Continuing to argue with herself, they both arrive to the café. Takumi turns to Iwanako to see her deep in a thought.
“Iwanako?”
She suddenly snaps out of it.
“We are here.” he replies with a smile on his face.
He then opens the door and leads Iwanako in. Once inside they find a small booth to sit in, the waitress comes over and asks them what would they like.
“I would like a hot cocoa. And I am not sure what she wants.”
“The same please.”
The waitress smiles to them both and heads back to the counter.
“So Iwanako any plans after graduation?”
She looks at him, unsure on what to say, she really hasn't put much though on what she wanted to, mostly since the incident with Hisao occupying her mind.
“Not really. Still looking around the several colleges and universities around here. But I will soon, can't keep pushing it off anymore than I would like to.”
Takumi lets out a small chuckle.
“Well that is good to hear. I hear some students take a year off before entering college after they graduate high school.”
“I won't be one of those. My father is adamant about that. He is willing to pay fully for anything I choose, the only condition is I stick with it and make it into a career.”
“Sounds like you have good parents then.”
“How about your parents?”
Takumi looks to the window and lightly sighs.
“I lost my parents to a car accident when I was only an infant. But I am sure they would be proud of me now if they were here.”
Iwanako covers her mouth in shock, she felt very bad about asking that.
“I am so sorry to hear that.”
Takumi shrugs it off, turns to her and gives a smile.
“Again no worries Iwanako, my grandparents on my mothers side raised me. Now I live on my own here in town to attend the art school. My apartment isn't far from here, not a bad location. It is close to the park and the art school.”
The waitress finally arrives with the drinks. Iwanako picks up her mug and takes a few sips, she then looks at Takumi.
“I don't mean to be nosy, but how is that, living on your own?”
“It isn't bad, just a place to go to after school, or when the weather is bad. Though there are times it does get lonely there, it is one of the reasons why I started to come over to the park. Have interaction with some human life.” he says it with a chuckle, then takes a sip of from his mug.
Iwanako nods her head, she then looks outside seeing the snow coming down a bit more heavy.
“Looks like I may have to head home soon if the weather starts to get bad, before it gets dark. My father can get a bit paranoid if I am out in bad weather.”
“I think most fathers are that way with their daughters.”
“Yeah... but he tends to be on the extreme end. He was adamant on not letting me date for the longest time. Finally a compromise was made, if should I happen to find a date, he must meet my father for what he says 'for interrogation purposes'.”
Takumi lets out a laugh.
“I can only imagine, poor guy is in a chair tied down, bright lamp over him, hooked up to some polygraph machine. And your father asking him some very personal questions.”
Iwanako lets out a laugh, but she has a thought about it.
'With my father, I wouldn't it put it past him.'
A few minutes pass, they both finish their drinks. Takumi asks for the bill from the waitress. Placing some money on the table to cover the bill and a tip. He looks to Iwanako then looks outside, the sky is darker and the snow is starting to come down a bit more.
“I think it would be good idea to start to head home.”
Iwanako actually didn't want this day to end, for once she is happy, and actually liked Takumi's company. But she realized her father would kill her if she gets home too late, especially with the weather conditions now.
“I guess you are right.”
“If you want Iwanako, I can walk you home to make sure you are safe.”
She blushes at him, she then looks at him and there is a slight blush on him as well.
“I-I would like that.”
They both get up and exit the café, with Iwanako leading the way. As they walk for several minutes, Iwanako starts to have thoughts about Takumi.
'He is pretty mature for his age. I have a feeling it is his upbringing. I do find him very interesting, who knows this may be the change I need in my life. Hope we can become friends.'
After several minutes of walking, they arrive near her neighborhood. Takumi looks around at the snow covered houses.
“This is a nice area.”
“Yeah my family have been living here for as long as I can remember. My friends live nearby also, it is a nice neighborhood. Everyone knows everyone around here.”
Takumi looks up to the overcast sky.
“Snow is coming down really heavy now.”
“If it gets really bad, I could ask my father if he could give you a ride home, or you could wait it out at my place.”
“Nah... That is okay. I have walked in much worse conditions than this. I will just need to be more careful on my way home.”
After sometime passes they both arrive to Iwanako's house, the lights are on inside in her home signaling her parents are there, and probably with dinner ready soon.
“I guess there is where I take my leave. It was nice meeting you Iwanako.”
Iwanako had a slight blush on her face.
“It is nice meeting you Takumi.”
“I will be at the park again tomorrow at the same time as today, if you wish to come by. I will be at the same bench probably sketching.”
“Hold on a second.”
She pulls out a pen and a tears off a piece of paper she had in her pocket. She writes down her cell phone number on it.
“Call me if you want to meet anywhere else, or if the weather gets bad so we don't get stuck out in it.”
“Okay, will do. Have yourself a great evening Iwanako.”
Iwanako has a worried look on her face, Takumi takes notice as he looks at her.
“Call me or text to make sure you make it to your place okay tonight, please?” she said with a little worry and with a slight blush on her cheeks.
“I will. I promise.”
Takumi nods to her and starts his way for his apartment. The snow continues to come down very heavy, she says out in front of her house as she sees Takumi out in the distance, then finally leaving her field of view. She then turns to her home and enters it.
After greeting her mother and father, she heads upstairs to her room. Placing her backpack and overcoat down on the computer chair, she then gets dressed into casual clothes. Then she grabs her cell phone and places it in her pocket and heads downstairs for dinner.
“The weather is bad out there tonight. Expecting another half-meter of snow. Possibly the same conditions tomorrow. Good thing you got home before it got worse.” her father said watching the TV in the living room.
“Yeah.”
She gets her plate of food and heads back up to her room. As she walks up the stairs her phone starts to ring, quickly she rushes to her room and closes the door. Pulling the cell phone out of her pocket, the number is a new number to her phone. She answers it.
“Takumi?”
“Hi Iwanako, just calling you to say that I made it okay like I promised. The wind started to pickup a bit, so I hurried to my place.”
Iwanako breaths a sigh of relief.
“That is good to hear. I wanted to say thank you for today. I really enjoyed your company.”
“Same here., It is nice to meet someone, I hope to see you again if you don't mind. If the weather doesn't clear up by tomorrow, where would like to meet?”
“The café...” she pauses and thinks for a moment “or your place.”
A gulp his heard from the other end. Iwanako laughs in her mind.
“My place... I guess it is only fair. Since you took me to your place. Well stay warm and have yourself a great evening.”
“You too Takumi. Hope to see you tomorrow.”
After hanging up, Iwanako's face was blushing in a deep red, her heart is racing. The last time she felt this way was with Hisao. She reminded her self not to rush things, and to let things go at it's own pace. If something blossoms from this, she is not going to ruin it.
“I have to tell Rika and Hina!” suddenly her tone changes, ”... or maybe not. I will let them know in time, I need to make sure my feelings are serious for him. It might be just wishful thinking of meeting someone after Hisao. I don't want to set myself up to a failure, also I have to consider his feelings. He has lived alone most of his life, he might just want to be friends for now.”
She sits down in her computer chair after moving her backpack to the floor and hanging up her overcoat. Storing his phone number to her cell phone, she proceeds to eat dinner and having more thoughts.
'I should consider myself lucky in this life, I have both my parents, who love me very much. I have great friends who cared for me at my lowest point in my life. Where he had only his grandparents, having almost no friends, worked hard, and got accepted to an art school at age of 16!'
She continues to eat as more thoughts race in her mind.
'Why do I feel guilty then? I need to move on, I am sure Hisao knows about this. But I couldn't face him to say it to him. I would have caused another heart attack for all I know.'
“I have to at least let Hina know. She is quiet when it comes to these things.”
Finishing her dinner, she picks up the cell phone and speed dials Hina.
“Hi Iwanako.”
“Hina is Rika with you?”
“No, I left for home early because the weather was starting to get bad. Is there something wrong?”
“No. But I need you to make a promise to me, what I am about to tell you, you can't let anyone know about it please.”
“Okay, I promise.”
“I met a boy today.”
You could hear Hina's jaw drop to the floor on the phone, or it would seem to be. Iwanako is starting to have second thoughts about telling Hina.
“OhmygoshIdidn'tknowyoufoundaguy...WHO IS HE!?”
“Calm down Hina, breath...”
“It-its just I am so happy for you.”
“Please don't let Rika know, you know she is a loudspeaker with things like this. I will let her know soon, but I need to make sure these feelings I have, are the real deal.”
“I understand what you mean Iwanako. Don't worry my lips are sealed. But tell me everything about him!”
For the next half-hour or so she tells Hina everything about Takumi.
“Oh wow. I think he would be a keeper. Are you planning on seeing him tomorrow?”
“Yes, either at the park, or the café, or....”
“Or?”
“His place.”
Once again Hina's jaw drops to the floor over the phone.
“Aren't you rushing that part too fast there?”
“There is really no other place to go if the weather is bad. Can't really bring him here to my place without my father freaking out.”
The thought of the “interrogation” crosses her mind.
“Come to my place then, I would love to meet him. By the way, does he have a cousin?”
“I will think about it, and I don't know all about his family yet. But it is starting to get late, I need to start on this homework then shower.”
“Okay Iwanako, and again my lips are sealed about this.”
“Thank you Hina. Good night.”
After hanging up with Hina, she pulls out her homework from her backpack and gets started. About half an hour passes, her mother knocks on the door and comes in. She just finishes her homework as she turns to face her mother,
“Hi Mom.”
“You look a bit happier tonight. Something good happen today?” she says as she shuts the door behind her. Then she takes a seat on her bed.
“You could say something like that.”
Iwanako was unsure to let her mother know about Takumi.
“Mom. Can I tell you something, but can you promise me that you can't tell Dad, at least not yet?”
“It depends dear, is it something serious.”
Her mother has a worried look on her face.
“I met a boy today, and I am really starting to like him. I want to be friends with him, and maybe a bit more.”
Her mother breaths a sigh of relief.
“Well tell me about him. He must have left a nice impression on you.”
Several minutes pass as Iwanako describes Takumi to her mother.
“I am glad you are thinking this through my dear. I truly hope your feelings for him are real, and his are the same with you. He sounds like a nice boy for his age, I am sure he will be a great friend to you, and hopefully with time might blossom into something else.”
“Thanks mom, I will let dad know about it, if it starts to become serious.”
Her mother nods with a smile.
“Are you planning on seeing him anytime soon?”
“Tomorrow at the park, if the weather is good.”
Her mother stands up from her bed and hugs Iwanako.
“I am happy for you. I leave you this advice, be yourself and just go with what your heart says. Then you will know it is right.”
“Thanks Mom.”
“It is getting late, and don't worry, this will be between us okay.”
Iwanako nods to her mother as she exits her room with her dinner plate. Standing up and stretching her body, she gets ready to take a shower. After her shower, she starts to get ready for bed. Brushing her hair for the night, she then sets her alarm to wake her up for school tomorrow.
'Hope the weather will be nice tomorrow.'
She shuts off all the lights to her room and she slips into her bed. As she lies there she starts to think about Takumi.
'Rest well Takumi, I am really looking forward to seeing you tomorrow. I hope to be your friend.'
Soon she is drifting off to a deep sleep. For the first time in a long while, she is sleeping soundly. The snow continues to fall through out the night.
(end of part 1)
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