part 3. as promised there is a selection at the end. I'll give you guys until... let's say Wednesday to decide. no double voting please. the part marked with (*) is unheard by Hisao.
Mi: “Hicchan hurry up!”
God I hate that nickname, it’s like fourth year all over again.
I get something signed at me, it looks important but I have no idea what it means.
Hi: “Yeah yeah com-”
I get knocked to the floor, along with the paperwork I had been carrying. Damn, it’ll take awhile to get this back in order. I look over at the offender, ready to start berating Emi for running again.
Purple eyes, hidden behind a mass of straight... black...
Ha: “I-I’m so sorry Hisao, let me-”
Hi: “Don’t worry miss, my fault for not looking.”
Mi: “Don’t bother our paper boy Ikezawa; he’s doing work right now.”
Ha: “Oh- oh I’m sorry.”
She scurries off in the direction of the library, presumably to go re- no I don’t know what she does outside of class, I just learned her name was Ikezawa and that’s all I have learned about her since I came to this school.
Mi: “Hurry up, we need to get these forms done before tomorrow~!”
Hi: “Yes Misha.”
I clean up the papers on the floor and take the stack back to the student council room where I sit down at my desk. Three weeks have passed since Shizune and Misha found me fairly depressed and wandering the halls. They brought me to this place. A place where I don’t need to think, I just file, do meaningless odd jobs and occasionally screw up.
Mi: “Hicchan, Sicchan wants a fruit juice. I’ll take a melon soda.”
She hands me a couple coins and shoos me out the room. I know the route to the machine well; I’ve walked this path about a hundred times before. When I return, I find noise coming from inside the room. I wait a few seconds and li- representative Satou comes out the door.
Li: “Well then, have a nice day Miss President. Ah, hello there Hisao, getting Shizune’s drinks again?”
Hi: “I can’t actually do paperwork since I’m not an actual member. I try to help when I can though.”
Li: “Well then, have a good night Hisao.”
Hi: “You as well Satou.”
Her face rests into that disappointed look she gets whenever she’s around me. She sighs, and then turns around the corner.
Mi: “Coming in Hicchan?”
Hi: “Uh, yeah.”
She holds the door open for me as I head inside and set the drinks down.
Hi: “What was the rep here for?”
Mi: “Another deadline extension, as usual. Where’s 24b?”
Hi: “24b... that’s the... off-campus trip request form?”
Mi: “Wrong, that’s 26a; 24b is the materials requisition form.”
Three weeks and I haven’t been able to memorize one form name. No wonder I’m not a member.
Mi: “Shizune thinks she left it in the classroom, could you go get it?”
Hi: “Yeah.”
I stroll back out through the door and up to the senior’s floor. Doing work like this may be horrible, but it keeps my mind focused, my life regimented. I open the door and check Shizune’s desk, than Misha’s before finding it on the teacher’s podium. I allow myself a rest and look out the window. The moon is just above the horizon, close enough to touch. I shake my head and turn back, straight into a pair of lips.
A flood of memories rush to the surface, despite my attempts to pen them in. Before I can recover, the girl’s arms wrap around me. I try to wiggle free, but it’s as though she’s putting every bit of strength she has into the act of keeping me still. I focus my eyes on her: purple eyes, black... no not again. This painful piece of history is something that must not repeat. I manage to push her away and regain control over my voice.
Hi: “What the hell are you doing?”
Ha: “I-I don’t want you to keep ignoring me.”
Hi: “I said I before, this is the best way. I’d rather your friendship remains than-”
Ha: “It didn’t. We haven’t... we don’t talk much anymore. We haven’t since...”
Damn it, if they aren’t going to even try to repair it, why did I even bother?
Hi: “Then go and talk to her, NOW.”
Ha: “N-no. It was fine when there were three of us before. Why... why does it have to be different now?”
Hi: “Because, things changed. Nothing is permanent right? That’s what Muto always says.”
Ha: “J-just because they changed, doesn’t mean they can’t change back.”
Hi: “Sorry Hanako, you and Lilly go back to how you were. Just try to avoid the student council room if you can.”
I try to get out the door, but I’m pulled back hard enough that my arm feels like it’s going to come off.
Ha: “If- If you don’t want to... I’ll- I’ll make you come back. I’ll even help you and Lilly if you want, just... please.”
She starts crying into my back. No matter how much I try, how many times I think ‘this will only get worse if you don’t leave’; I turn around and put my arms around her.
(*)
Mi:-So are you going to just let our paperboy go?-
Si:-Yes, as much as I enjoy stealing him from Satou, I do not need anyone who is not completely on my side-
Mi:-That’s kinda mean Sicchan.-
Si:-I prefer to call it mercy. Besides, she will owe me after this.-
(*)
Hi: “Are you done crying now?”
I feel the movement that indicates yes.
Hi: “Do you really want me to be with Lilly?”
Side to side this time.
Hi: “You want me to be with you?”
Another yes.
Hi: “So, what about Lilly? Are you two going to fight again?”
Ha: “M-maybe.”
It’s muffled in my shirt, but I can still hear it.
Hi: ”No one leaves this time, okay? No one ignores anyone?”
Ha: “Hmhmmm.”
We walk back to my room, despite my suggestions otherwise. She’s almost in complete shutdown mode and I don’t feel right leaving someone like that to their own devices. Once inside she lets go and slowly walks over to the bed like a zombie. I start getting out a second bed when I feel my shirt being tugged.
Hi: “What?”
She points to me, to her and then the bed.
Hi: “You want me to sleep with you?”
She moves her head to confirm.
Hi: “Sorry, I’m not going to do that after you’ve just been crying. Until this is sorted out, nothing happens.”
She moves her hands from the back of my shirt to my arm and tugs again.
Hi: “I said not until everything with the two of you is sorted out.”
The next tug is strong enough to pull me off balance; I just manage to right myself before I collide with her.
Hi: “What’s wrong with you?”
Ha: “I’m sorry.”
Before I can respond I’m knocked flat on m bed with Hanako pinning me down.
Ha: “I-I want to– j-just once, before you...”
She moves in for another kiss. Wait, this isn’t... she can’t actually be thinking of- I ‘m not going to let her do that, not to herself, and certainly not to me!
Hi: “G-get off!”
I push her off me and onto the floor.
Ha: “I-I guess that only she’s good enough for-”
Hi: “Hanako forgive me, but SHUT UP!”
The outburst caused her to curl up into a little ball, which I hope is out of instinct.
Hi: “Ugh, I’m not going to hurt you. I just want a couple answers.”
She opens up, only a little though.
Hi: “No crying and you can’t lie.”
She opens a little more, enough that I can just see her face.
Hi: “First question: why... that?”
Ha: “Because no one else will ever want to with me again after you and Lilly are together.”
Hi: “Second question: why do you think I’ll go out with Lilly?”
Ha: “You two are both... kind people. P-people like that should be together.”
Hi: “That all?”
Ha: “You- you two look... nice together, like you belong together.”
Hi: “I’m sure there are people who think the same about us, or just about any two people for that matter.”
Ha: “You’ll be happier with her...”
Hi: “Ugh, why are you being like this?”
Ha: “B-because, I only have two friends and I can’t... I haven’t done anything to repay either of you.”
Hi: “We didn’t become friends with you because we wanted you do stuff for us.”
Ha: “I know, but I just feel bad about it.”
Hi: “Want me to walk you back?”
Ha: “N-no, I’ll be fine on my own. Th-thank you.”
She bows before she hurries into the hall. I fall back onto my bed and straighten out the night’s events in my head. Can’t believe all that came from trying to get ... one...
Hi: “Crap!”
I leap out of bed throw on a jacket before heading back to my classroom. I can’t believe I forgot that form back there. Shizune’s going to give my head to the soccer team for this. Luckily they don’t lock any of the classrooms in here. Before I can get inside, I notice a figure sitting or possibly sleeping in front of the door.
Hi: “Uh, wake up please, I need to get inside.”
Li: “Is that you Hisao?”
Hi: “Lilly?! What the- what are you doing here?”
Li: “Hanako asked me to get something for her. I didn’t realize the door would be-”
Hi: “Can you at least think of a better lie?”
I open the door effortlessly and walk in.
Li: “I didn’t realize that Muto didn’t-”
Hi: “What are the chances I can get the truth?”
I check the floor near where Hanako jumped on me, no form. Not that I could see it too well anyways, it’s as dark as a cave in here.
Li: “Why would you-”
Hi: “Hanako said you two don’t talk anymore.”
Li: “When did you two...”
Hi: “Just a few minutes ago, she was pretty upset before she calmed down.”
Li: “I am sorry Hisao. I did not expect to be held up for so long, nor did I expect she would still be here.”
Hi: “Expect?”
Li: “I asked Miss Hakamichi to send you here so that we could talk.”
Hi: “Why?”
Li: “I had hoped we would be able to resolve this now that time has passed.”
Hi: “You’re not going to try and do what Hanako did right?”
Li: “What did-?”
Hi: “Well, she kissed me in here without consent, and then she might’ve been trying to uh... force herself on me.”
Li: “H-Hanako did? I had no idea she was that distraught.”
Hi: “That’s a light way to put it.”
I keep checking the floor, all the while making sure to keep at least one desk between the two of us.
Hi: “So, what were you planning?”
Li: “I only wished to talk. I have no intention of attempting what Hanako did.”
Hi: “Thanks, I guess.”
She sits down in an empty chair; I decide to sit on the other side of the desk.
Li: “Are you going to go back to Hanako?”
Hi: “No, not right now at the least.”
Li: “Why not?
Hi: “Because this whole thing between the three of us isn’t resolved.”
Li: “I have no intention of-”
Hi: “Lilly, please don’t try to be polite right now. Isn’t that how this whole mess exploded?”
Li: “What would you prefer then?”
Hi: “Just the truth please. And try to keep the emotions contained a bit. My heart probably took a beating from Hanako.”
Li: “Alright then. Which would you prefer to hear first?”
Hi: “How uh bad is it. I mean um...”
Li: “Some time ago I had a dream where I was in a wedding dress and you were-”
Please don’t say it, please don’t say-
Li: “-the groom.”
Why can’t it ever be simple?
Hi: “Any chance it wasn’t me?”
Li: “No, in the dream I Became Lilly Nakai.”
I let my head drop onto the table, it made a dull thud and I assume there was pain accompanying it.
Li: “Is something wrong with that?”
Hi: “No. I was just hoping you just had a crush on me. It wasn’t just the wedding was it?”
Li: “No, My dream included the entire day... Including the night.”
Hi: “Any chance the was a one time-”
Li: “Multiple times, the most recent time I had that dream was yesterday.”
Hi: “Heh, too bad polygamy isn’t an option.”
Li: “I can’t believe you-”
Hi: “I’m kidding. But I don’t know if there’s a way to solve this.”
Li: “The only way is to choose; myself or Hanako, that is the only way.”
Hi: “Can you give me some time at least?”
Li: “Of course. I do not wish to pressure you into making a hasty decision and I do not believe Hanako does either.”
Hi: “Thanks Lilly. I’ll try not to hurt either of your feelings.”
Li: “Someone will be hurt either way. Just concern yourself with your own feelings for now. It would be much worse if you ended up injuring all of us.”
Hi: “I guess so.”
Li: “Can you make your decision in one week?”
Hi: “One week? Weren’t you trying to not pressure me?”
Li: “The longer it takes, the more anxious we will be and the higher our hopes may rise. And the farther we will fall when...”
Hi: “I get it.”
I stand up to leave and Lilly mirrors my action after taking hold of her cane.
Li: “May I ask one more selfish thing of you?”
Hi: “What is it?”
Li: “May I stand on the same ground as Hanako before you decide?”
Hi: “Er I guess so, but I don’t-”
My mouth stops as slender fingers rest themselves on my face, searching for the correct spots to hold on. I can’t see her face move closer, but I can feel it. Several scents mixed together, her breath, and eventually her lips against mine. It’s different than the one Hanako gave me before; that was rushed, filled with emotion, she was pressed against me as hard as she could. Come to think of it, it’s different from any time Hanako kissed me. This is... gentler, softer and there’s this feeling that I’m being drawn in. My tongue slips over my lips and she pulls away a little.
Li: “Hisao did you-?”
Hi: “Hanako and I did this... before.”
She resumes but this time she takes the initiative. After some time we separate and finally catch our breaths.
Li: “Thank you Hisao. That was... very...”
Hi: “-Yeah, have you-?”
Li: “No, that was my first. Just like it was for Hanako. You... lived up to your reputation.”
She bows slightly before leaving me in the classroom. As the door closes I feel my legs give out and I fall back into the chair. My hands slowly move to my heart, it’s pounding like a drum. I guess I’ll have to see if the nurse is in before I head back.
(One week later)
I wake up and check my calendar. The red x’s inform me that this is the day. I’ve thought about this every free moment I’ve had for the last week.
*Knock knock*
DM: “Nakai? Are you decent?”
Other than my hair being a mess, I pass a quick self-inspection.
Hi: “What is it?”
DM: “I’m delivering a message to you. It was left last night.”
Open the door and the dorm mother hands me the sealed note before leaving. I close the door before opening it.
Hisao, we know that you are making a difficult decision today so we are attempting to make it easier on you. We will be waiting for you in two different rooms: Lilly will be waiting in the Tea room and Hanako will be waiting in room 305. We will support you no matter who you choose. As long as you choose that will be enough for us.
Love
Lilly & Hanako
I guess they did this so I wouldn’t have to watch the other one if she cries. I suppose it is better this way. I slowly go through my morning routine: shower, clothes, pills, the whole time constantly reassuring myself that I have made my choice. It’s noon now, I shouldn’t keep them waiting any longer.
[ ] Tea room
[ ] Room 305
