Chapter 8
“Papa? Mama? Where are you going? Don’t leave me in this darkness. Please…”
“Ne Princess? Princess, wake up.”
Reina felt someone shaking her body furiously. Opening her tired eyes and adjusting to the morning light, she saw Aika’s worried face inches away from hers…
“Arrgh! What the…Aika!”
“Are you alright? You were thrashing and screaming in your sleep. Nightmare?” Aika touched Reina’s forehead for any sign of fever.
Pushing the hand away, Reina groggily sat up and tried to bring her conscious mind back to the present. Her wet pajamas sticking to her body and fevered head did nothing to help calm her down. The nightmares kept haunting her although it has subsided a lot recently.
Aika frowned at the familiar scene in front of her. She tenderly stroked Reina’s hair and softly whispered, “Come on Princess, I hear some blueberry pancakes calling your name.”
Reina let herself be pulled up from the bed and went to the bathroom for a wash; after which she walked to the dining room anticipating a hearty breakfast. Eri grinned cheerfully at her as she helped herself to a piece of the pancake. She seems to be taking yesterday events quite well. Aika poured a cup of tea for her and smiled,
“Here you go, Princess. Your favourites every morning. Specially brought from Fukuoka for you”
Reina beamed as she bites into her breakfast. The taste of home evident with every bite she takes. She remembers her mum making the pancakes whilst Aika would tease her about school. Mum... Reina pushed her plate away much to Eri’s and Aika’s surprise.
“I’m late for school,” Reina frowned and walked out of the dining room.
~~~
A loud roar echoed through the corridor. Reina looked around, relieved that nobody was around to hear the rumblings of her anatomy.
“Hungry?”
Reina let out a short scream at the voice behind her. “When did you appear?”
The voice, a certain flirty bunny to be precise, giggled at the yankii’s reaction and hooked her arm around the yankii.
“While you were spacing out? If I didn’t know any better, I’d thought that you hang around Eri too much”
Reina smiled at the statement. It’s true that she hangs around Eri too much. Every day, in fact, but that’s only because they live together. Though that’s a fact the others are not aware of. Seems like her housemate “dazeness” has rubbed off on her.
“Come on, you little kitty. Let’s have a lunch date. My treat”
Reina shrugged at her foiled attempt to pull away from Sayu. Oh well, a free lunch sounds good anyway, especially when payday seems so far away right now. Reina suddenly remembered she skipped breakfast this morning.
Reina did not expect she could have a lot of things in common with Sayumi, especially for the girls’ taste in fashion and music. She felt strangely at ease talking and joking with Sayu as they walked towards the school cafeteria. In fact, she could not remember the last time she laughed so much. As they approached the cafe, Reina was surprised when she saw Aika sitting and joking with Eri, Ai and Risa.
Risa choked on her lunch when she saw a willing Reina in Sayu’s arm. Ai patted on her girlfriend’s back, trying to ease any discomfort she might have. Eri laughed at Risa reaction, though that died down quickly.
“Reina~ I brought you your bento,” Aika pulled Reina to sit beside her whilst Eri smiled, munching on her sandwiches. Sayu sat beside Eri and pouted at her lost chance to be with Reina. Reina wondered, beneath that laugh, if Eri is really smiling right now.
“Hai I finished my lunch. Going for my class now. See you tomorrow,” Eri stood up, excusing herself to go to class.
“Oh, Eririn?” Sayu looked confusedly at Eri. Eri just waved her hands and walked away, head down.
“Sorry Reina, I owe you a date,” Sayu apologised before chasing after Eri.
~~~
Eri let out a soft sigh. She hoped her behaviour back at the café didn’t cause any attention. She knew she promised to let go but having to see loving gestures that Risa gives to Ai is still hard for her at this moment. She contemplated staying away from Risa for a while but later decides against it as she didn’t want to invite any suspicion from the older girl. She snapped out of her depression when she felt two hands covering her eyes.
“Sayu?”
“Bah, no fun. How did you know it was me?”
“Your perfume gave you away”
Sayu grinned and linked her hand with Eri’s. The two girls slowly walked down the corridor whilst enjoying the afternoon sun. Eri saw a few girls (and guys) doing a double take when they passed by Sayu. Eri chuckled. Despite her reputation as a notorious flirt, Sayu has never seriously dated anyone before. Eri knew her friend well enough that Sayu is a staunch romanticist at heart.
“So what’s wrong?” Eri turned to Sayu, surprised at the younger girl’s question. The speaker, however, continued looking ahead ignoring the longing glances from the faceless strangers and the confused look from the turtle.
“What do you mean?” Eri looked away, knowing full well what Sayu meant.
“I’m your best friend, don’t you think I notice?” Sayu stopped, their linked hands also preventing Eri from walking any further. Sayu cupped Eri’s cheek with her free hand as if preparing for any tears from her best friend. “Besides, I know that you don’t have any more class this afternoon.”
“Sayu…”
Pinching the turtle’s cheek, Sayu grinned, “Now now dear, since you are free, I know of this new teashop near the train station. And you can tell me everything there.”
~~~
She could sense the hostile air as she entered the house. Eri tiptoed cautiously into the kitchen, where she found Reina and Aika facing off with each other. Not again, she sighed. The two supposed best friends seems complete opposite of Sayumi and her. In fact, these two girls seem to fighting like cats and dogs since meeting the night before.
“Drop it. It was just a dream” Reina scowled.
“About what?” Aika doesn’t seem like she’s backing down.
“Miki” Reina replied defiantly; Aika looked up in shocked at her friend’s answer.
Eri saw the change in expressions on both girls’ face at the mention of the name. Who is Miki? Is she the cause of the estrangement between the best friends?
“What about the sleeping pills?” Aika shot back. Eri let out a loud gasp at this.
The bitter atmosphere quieted a little when Reina and Aika finally realized Eri was also in the house. Eri swore she could cut the tension with knife. Seeing she’s not getting response from her best friend, Aika softened and grasped the older girl’s hands firmly.
“I’m begging you Princess, talk to me. Please? Don’t keep shutting me off like the last of one year”
“I don’t need to talk to anyone about anything and can you stop with the Princess thing? We’re too old to play that game anymore” Reina pulled her hands from Aika. She wanted to stop this interrogation already and just forget about everything. The hollow feeling in her stomach is pulling her down, leaving her breathless and threatening to swallow her whole. She could feel Aika’s stare boring through the wall that she’s learnt to put up over the year.
“How did it become like this?” Aika asked at the girl she once knew.
Reina threw a passive glance at Aika; her eyes betraying the emotions she’s desperately trying to hide.
“You weren’t like this before. After she left…you totally changed”
“Don’t blame this on her,” Reina growled at her childhood friend,
Aika reached out to Reina. Reina has kept everything inside her for too long, even locking Aika out from her heart.
“Talk to me Reina” The last plea, barely a whisper.
An awkward silence hangs over the air. Eri watched the drama in front of her feeling not knowing what to expect. She felt like an intruder to the two friends’ shared world. A world she can never get into.
Just Another Bedtime Story by Badsaints
Started by Badsaints, Sep 13 2009 09:03 AM
22 replies to this topic
#22
Badsaints
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- Kouhai
-
- 175 posts
5th gen member
Posted 18 October 2009 - 05:08 PM
Chapter 9
Reina took out her organiser from her drawer. She flipped through the pages, finally stopping when she found the two pieces she was looking for. She saw her parents smiled at her, bringing a sad smile to her face. Lightly tracing the other picture, the memories came flooding back. The three girls beamed at her, reliving the happier times. She frowned at the girl in the middle, wondering if that younger her knew of the stupid decision that she was about to make then. Standing on either side are the two special girls in her life. Reina sighed, frustrated with the her now.
She admitted that she has been harsh with her best friend nowadays, but being around her is hard. Clutching her chest with her free hand, she held back the emotions residing inside her.
“Why did you come for me?”
~~~
Slowly chewing on her expensive steak, she concentrated on finishing her dinner as quick as she dared to without compromising on her etiquettes. She knew the two people sitting in front of her right now are a stickler for rules.
“How are your studies?” A question that caused her to flinch every single time, especially when it came from her father.
“Good,” she hoped her answer is safe enough to appease her parents.
“That’s good. Your office will be ready for you once you graduate,” Her father began talking of the expansion of the business and how she is going to take over the rein of the corporation.
A waiter came to take away her plate. She sighed inwardly in relief. Excusing herself to go to the ladies, she hoped to escape any further conversations, if they can be called same. The occasional dinner with her parents has always been a stressful event; for it is that time of the month that she is reminded of her obligations as a daughter. Not that she hated them; she just wished for once that her parents would care enough to ask about her well-being and her wants instead.
She glared at her pathetic reflection; the mirror mocking her presence. Resigning to the fact that she has to return to her parents soon, she twitched her face to present a happy face, only to fail miserably. She took out her phone, gazing into the image of the girl standing next to her, a smile came naturally to her, knowing that this girl will always make things right.
“Risa…”
~~~
“Reina-channnn~ let’s go on a date~”
“Don’t wanna”
“We can go shopping, and then a romantic dinner, and then attend the Night Boys concert, and then I can walk you go home, hand-in ha~”
“Are you even listening to me?” Reina stared at Sayu, more amused than pissed, “Wait, did you just say the Night Boys?”
“Yup,” Sayu beamed, pleased that she got Reina’s attention.
“That’s so cool! I thought their tickets are like, sold out?”
“Well, I know this somebody who knows this somebody who in turn knows this somebody…Anyway I got two tickets. How about it? Tomorrow’s the concert.”
Reina deliberated a little, she did have a massive fangirl crush on the band which she told Sayumi the other day, but she’s a little apprehensive about going on a date with the devilish bunny, even if it is a friendly one.
The inner Sayumi cheered when Reina finally nodded, feeling victorious that her plan is working, and knowing that she is one step closer to Reina.
~~~
Reina checked the time on her mobile phone before slipping same into her pocket. She hoped Sayu will not interpret her earliness as enthusiasm. Seeing that she has ten minutes before the appointed time, she decided to send a text message to Abe-san, thanking her for allowing the time-off from work. Barely sending the message, she saw a pink bunny hopping to where she is standing.
“Reina-channnn~ you’re here. Let’s go honey,” Sayu quickly claimed Reina’s hand causing the younger girl to cringe a little at the overfriendliness.
“Where are we heading to now?” Reina wondered aloud.
“It’s a surprise,” Sayu grinned at Reina. Suddenly, Reina doesn’t so sure about this date after all.
The two girls soon arrive in front of a quaint restaurant hidden in an alleyway. Reina gaped at the charming eatery, appreciating the old-world cute layout being an interior designer student that she is. She wondered how a treasure like this could remain hidden. Sayu greeted the owners affectionately and pulled Reina to a corner booth.
“We haven’t really talked to each other much. So today I want us to talk a lot,” Sayu cupped her face with both hands and gaze at Reina.
“Cool place, you seem familiar with this place,” Reina looked around her, feasting on the sight.
“But of course, it belongs to my boyfriend” Sayu giggled at the awed Reina. She was glad that Reina liked the place.
“Your boyfriend?” Reina quickly turned to look at Sayu, shocked at what Sayu just uttered. She never heard of Sayu having a boyfriend for as long as she knew the girl.
“Here he comes. Why, thank you, you handsome you,” Sayu winked at the man who just delivered their lunch. Reina resisted the urge to drop her jaw. Did Sayu just flirt with the old man? He’s old enough to be her grandfather!
“Hey cutie, today’s specials only for you girls. You must be the one and only Ms Tanaka Reina. I’ve heard so much about you,” the old man smiled at Reina. Okay, now Reina is really confused. She looked questioningly at Sayu who couldn’t stop laughing.
“Stop teasing them, dear. I apologise for my husband’s playfulness, Ms Tanaka.” An elderly lady soon joined the crowd.
“Hmmm~ way to spoil the fun grandma,” Sayu sulked with her arms crossed, the twinkle in her eyes saying otherwise.
It took some time for Reina to realise what just happened. She quickly got off her chair and bowed to the two owners, remembering her manners to introduce herself properly.
“It’s a pleasure to meet a girl as pretty as you, Ms Tanaka. Everything is on the house. Please enjoy your meal,” Mr Michishige bowed and kissed the back of Reina’s hand. Reina caught a small wink from him. Now she knows where Sayu get her lessons from.
Fed and filled, Sayu and Reina thanked the owners for their hospitality before continuing on their date. Reina rubbed her belly in contentment, musing,
“That was unexpected. You seem quite close to your grandparents”
Sayu just shrugged, “Yeah, they took care of me after my parents passed on.”
“What happened to your parents, erm that is if you don’t mind sharing” Reina asked timidly, afraid if she has crossed the line.
“My parents were working for the Kamei’s company. On one of the overseas business trip, a circuit failure caused their plane to nosedive into the ocean. They couldn’t find any survivors. Eri lost her father in that incident too, didn’t she tell you? Her mum now takes over the company and is now in New York. That’s why Eri is living alone in Japan. That girl wouldn’t stay with me when I asked her to. Strange that she hasn’t invited me to her place, though that can be arranged.” Sayu smirked at the plan forming in her brain.
Reina shook her head. There are so many things she didn’t know about her housemate. It was probably her happy-go-lucky attitude that gave Reina the impression that the girl didn’t have any problem. Reina muttered her apologies for the tragedy.
“It’s okay. That was a long time ago. Both of us were only 3 years old then. Guess the reason I don’t miss them as much as I should is because I don’t have much memories of them.” Reina began to see Sayu in a new light, amazed by how strong she is. She began to understand why Eri treats Sayu as her best friend despite her cheeky nature.
The girls stopped walking before the traffic junction. Reina grinned, “So where to now?”
“Now we go window shopping, then we’ll have a blast at the concert!” Sayu replied excitedly, happy that Reina is finally enjoying the date.
Reina chuckled at Sayu’s enthusiasm. She is having a good time with Sayu, more than she’ll ever admit to the cheeky devil. And she was surprised that she is looking forward to what’s in store for the rest of the day.
~~~
“Ai-chan, are you okay?” Risa looked worriedly at Ai.
“I’m okay, just tired” Ai smiled at her girlfriend.
“We can go home if you want,” Risa couldn’t finish her sentence when she felt Ai’s lips on hers. She instinctively returned the kiss, breaking off only when the need for air arises.
“I want to spend more time with you, Risa” Ai looked longingly at Risa. Risa nodded though she saw something else in her girl’s eyes.
“So you haven’t tell me about your dinner with your parents,” Risa pulled Ai to street bench at the edge of the park. Ai pretended to observed the crowd and murmured,
“It was okay, just the usual” Risa sensed there is more than what Ai is letting on, but decided not to press on the issue. She will let Ai move at her own pace. She felt Ai’s head leaning on her shoulder and she absently stroked her girl’s hair.
“USO!”
Ai stood up, startled by her girlfriend’s outburst. Following the direction that Risa is pointing, Ai saw two familiar figures walking hand-in-hand, talking enthusiastically, across the road. Well, it was more of the raven-haired doing the talking whilst the shorter one just laughed.
Ai watched in amusement, “Well this is definitely interesting.”
Meanwhile, the girls in question were too engrossed in their conversations to notice their personal life being zoomed in.
Reina took out her organiser from her drawer. She flipped through the pages, finally stopping when she found the two pieces she was looking for. She saw her parents smiled at her, bringing a sad smile to her face. Lightly tracing the other picture, the memories came flooding back. The three girls beamed at her, reliving the happier times. She frowned at the girl in the middle, wondering if that younger her knew of the stupid decision that she was about to make then. Standing on either side are the two special girls in her life. Reina sighed, frustrated with the her now.
She admitted that she has been harsh with her best friend nowadays, but being around her is hard. Clutching her chest with her free hand, she held back the emotions residing inside her.
“Why did you come for me?”
~~~
Slowly chewing on her expensive steak, she concentrated on finishing her dinner as quick as she dared to without compromising on her etiquettes. She knew the two people sitting in front of her right now are a stickler for rules.
“How are your studies?” A question that caused her to flinch every single time, especially when it came from her father.
“Good,” she hoped her answer is safe enough to appease her parents.
“That’s good. Your office will be ready for you once you graduate,” Her father began talking of the expansion of the business and how she is going to take over the rein of the corporation.
A waiter came to take away her plate. She sighed inwardly in relief. Excusing herself to go to the ladies, she hoped to escape any further conversations, if they can be called same. The occasional dinner with her parents has always been a stressful event; for it is that time of the month that she is reminded of her obligations as a daughter. Not that she hated them; she just wished for once that her parents would care enough to ask about her well-being and her wants instead.
She glared at her pathetic reflection; the mirror mocking her presence. Resigning to the fact that she has to return to her parents soon, she twitched her face to present a happy face, only to fail miserably. She took out her phone, gazing into the image of the girl standing next to her, a smile came naturally to her, knowing that this girl will always make things right.
“Risa…”
~~~
“Reina-channnn~ let’s go on a date~”
“Don’t wanna”
“We can go shopping, and then a romantic dinner, and then attend the Night Boys concert, and then I can walk you go home, hand-in ha~”
“Are you even listening to me?” Reina stared at Sayu, more amused than pissed, “Wait, did you just say the Night Boys?”
“Yup,” Sayu beamed, pleased that she got Reina’s attention.
“That’s so cool! I thought their tickets are like, sold out?”
“Well, I know this somebody who knows this somebody who in turn knows this somebody…Anyway I got two tickets. How about it? Tomorrow’s the concert.”
Reina deliberated a little, she did have a massive fangirl crush on the band which she told Sayumi the other day, but she’s a little apprehensive about going on a date with the devilish bunny, even if it is a friendly one.
The inner Sayumi cheered when Reina finally nodded, feeling victorious that her plan is working, and knowing that she is one step closer to Reina.
~~~
Reina checked the time on her mobile phone before slipping same into her pocket. She hoped Sayu will not interpret her earliness as enthusiasm. Seeing that she has ten minutes before the appointed time, she decided to send a text message to Abe-san, thanking her for allowing the time-off from work. Barely sending the message, she saw a pink bunny hopping to where she is standing.
“Reina-channnn~ you’re here. Let’s go honey,” Sayu quickly claimed Reina’s hand causing the younger girl to cringe a little at the overfriendliness.
“Where are we heading to now?” Reina wondered aloud.
“It’s a surprise,” Sayu grinned at Reina. Suddenly, Reina doesn’t so sure about this date after all.
The two girls soon arrive in front of a quaint restaurant hidden in an alleyway. Reina gaped at the charming eatery, appreciating the old-world cute layout being an interior designer student that she is. She wondered how a treasure like this could remain hidden. Sayu greeted the owners affectionately and pulled Reina to a corner booth.
“We haven’t really talked to each other much. So today I want us to talk a lot,” Sayu cupped her face with both hands and gaze at Reina.
“Cool place, you seem familiar with this place,” Reina looked around her, feasting on the sight.
“But of course, it belongs to my boyfriend” Sayu giggled at the awed Reina. She was glad that Reina liked the place.
“Your boyfriend?” Reina quickly turned to look at Sayu, shocked at what Sayu just uttered. She never heard of Sayu having a boyfriend for as long as she knew the girl.
“Here he comes. Why, thank you, you handsome you,” Sayu winked at the man who just delivered their lunch. Reina resisted the urge to drop her jaw. Did Sayu just flirt with the old man? He’s old enough to be her grandfather!
“Hey cutie, today’s specials only for you girls. You must be the one and only Ms Tanaka Reina. I’ve heard so much about you,” the old man smiled at Reina. Okay, now Reina is really confused. She looked questioningly at Sayu who couldn’t stop laughing.
“Stop teasing them, dear. I apologise for my husband’s playfulness, Ms Tanaka.” An elderly lady soon joined the crowd.
“Hmmm~ way to spoil the fun grandma,” Sayu sulked with her arms crossed, the twinkle in her eyes saying otherwise.
It took some time for Reina to realise what just happened. She quickly got off her chair and bowed to the two owners, remembering her manners to introduce herself properly.
“It’s a pleasure to meet a girl as pretty as you, Ms Tanaka. Everything is on the house. Please enjoy your meal,” Mr Michishige bowed and kissed the back of Reina’s hand. Reina caught a small wink from him. Now she knows where Sayu get her lessons from.
Fed and filled, Sayu and Reina thanked the owners for their hospitality before continuing on their date. Reina rubbed her belly in contentment, musing,
“That was unexpected. You seem quite close to your grandparents”
Sayu just shrugged, “Yeah, they took care of me after my parents passed on.”
“What happened to your parents, erm that is if you don’t mind sharing” Reina asked timidly, afraid if she has crossed the line.
“My parents were working for the Kamei’s company. On one of the overseas business trip, a circuit failure caused their plane to nosedive into the ocean. They couldn’t find any survivors. Eri lost her father in that incident too, didn’t she tell you? Her mum now takes over the company and is now in New York. That’s why Eri is living alone in Japan. That girl wouldn’t stay with me when I asked her to. Strange that she hasn’t invited me to her place, though that can be arranged.” Sayu smirked at the plan forming in her brain.
Reina shook her head. There are so many things she didn’t know about her housemate. It was probably her happy-go-lucky attitude that gave Reina the impression that the girl didn’t have any problem. Reina muttered her apologies for the tragedy.
“It’s okay. That was a long time ago. Both of us were only 3 years old then. Guess the reason I don’t miss them as much as I should is because I don’t have much memories of them.” Reina began to see Sayu in a new light, amazed by how strong she is. She began to understand why Eri treats Sayu as her best friend despite her cheeky nature.
The girls stopped walking before the traffic junction. Reina grinned, “So where to now?”
“Now we go window shopping, then we’ll have a blast at the concert!” Sayu replied excitedly, happy that Reina is finally enjoying the date.
Reina chuckled at Sayu’s enthusiasm. She is having a good time with Sayu, more than she’ll ever admit to the cheeky devil. And she was surprised that she is looking forward to what’s in store for the rest of the day.
~~~
“Ai-chan, are you okay?” Risa looked worriedly at Ai.
“I’m okay, just tired” Ai smiled at her girlfriend.
“We can go home if you want,” Risa couldn’t finish her sentence when she felt Ai’s lips on hers. She instinctively returned the kiss, breaking off only when the need for air arises.
“I want to spend more time with you, Risa” Ai looked longingly at Risa. Risa nodded though she saw something else in her girl’s eyes.
“So you haven’t tell me about your dinner with your parents,” Risa pulled Ai to street bench at the edge of the park. Ai pretended to observed the crowd and murmured,
“It was okay, just the usual” Risa sensed there is more than what Ai is letting on, but decided not to press on the issue. She will let Ai move at her own pace. She felt Ai’s head leaning on her shoulder and she absently stroked her girl’s hair.
“USO!”
Ai stood up, startled by her girlfriend’s outburst. Following the direction that Risa is pointing, Ai saw two familiar figures walking hand-in-hand, talking enthusiastically, across the road. Well, it was more of the raven-haired doing the talking whilst the shorter one just laughed.
Ai watched in amusement, “Well this is definitely interesting.”
Meanwhile, the girls in question were too engrossed in their conversations to notice their personal life being zoomed in.
#23
Paladar
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- Kouhai
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- 387 posts
3rd gen member
Posted 18 October 2009 - 06:22 PM
Not so much comment on your thread... Guess I'll have to delurk once again 
So, you finally went for some Reina/Sayu love, huh? Or maybe you'll get some TanaKame later...?
Anyway still a great story. You really thought about the characters' life, but is it me or they all had a pretty rough childhood??
And will Ai and Risa follow the two others and report them to Eri? (and Aika, who will probably go and kill Shige for stealing Reina 
)
Can't wait for the next chapter
So, you finally went for some Reina/Sayu love, huh? Or maybe you'll get some TanaKame later...?
Anyway still a great story. You really thought about the characters' life, but is it me or they all had a pretty rough childhood??
And will Ai and Risa follow the two others and report them to Eri? (and Aika, who will probably go and kill Shige for stealing Reina )Can't wait for the next chapter
Breaking them is a crime!
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