Bitter/Sweet [Prelude]
Bitter/Sweet
Chapter0/?
Reita/Ruki
Rated PG
Takanori makes the mistake of hanging around his old school and Akira takes interest.
Takanori didn’t much like people. Not because he had anything against them personally, but because he knew that in the end, they wouldn’t like him. The few friends he did have while he was in school had quit talking to him once he opened up to them. So he gave up on trying.
-
He had his back against the brick wall, sketchbook in his lap, pencil etching away at the course paper. Soft gray lines formed the silhouette of a girl, her soft curls the only thing covering her anatomy. There were harsh marks on her skin, the lines cut deep into the page from the pressure. She was light, but what seeped from her was darkness. She was him in a way.
A bell rang from inside the building and he looked up, seeing the kids trickle out the door, chatting about their afternoon plans. There were a few familiar faces, but none were what you could consider ‘friends’. Though he had stopped attending classes months ago, for some reason Takanori took comfort in being on the grounds. He was never very social, but being around people his age made him feel more… normal. Something he certainly didn’t feel when at home.
His parents had gotten to the point where they simply ignored him. It was as if his entire existence was null, that he hadn’t even been born. Sometimes, that was his wish. But, he knew his mother was only playing along too keep his father satisfied. He caught her quick glances, her eyes sending out silent apologies and ‘I love you’s.
He had gotten used to it though. It was always in his head that it could be worse. He could be disowned completely, thrown out of his home, left to wander the streets. Apparently, his father thought that giving him the cold shoulder might make him straighten up. It wouldn’t work though. Takanori was Takanori, and nothing was going to change that.
His eyes went back to his drawing and he ran his eraser over a few misplaced lines, swatting the dust away as he went. A shadow fell over him and he looked up, squinting to make out a face. The boy was blonde, around Takanori‘s age, a bit taller, lean, dark eyes, and he was staring right at his sketch.
“Can I help you?” Taka asked, his voice flat.
“Just admiring your work. Who is she?”
Takanori sighed and closed the sketchbook. Why was this kid talking to him?
“It’s me.”
“But, that’s a girl.”
“So? Besides, why does it matter? Do you always annoy random strangers?”
The boy chuckled and shook his head.
“No. Just saw you sitting here and wondered why. Didn’t you used to go here? I think you were in one of my classes last year.”
Takanori slid the book into his bag and stood up, patting the dirt from his clothes.
“I did. And maybe I was. I didn’t really pay attention to the people around me.” He shrugged and started to walk away.
“Wait, you didn’t even tell me your name.”
“Again, why does it matter?”
“I like to put names to faces.”
“For everyone you see?”
“For anyone that interests me.”
Takanori rolled his eyes and waved his hand at the other.
“Well, I’m nothing to be interested in. You’re better off just forgetting me.”
He turned again and walked away, not bothering to look back when he heard the other following him. Takanori didn’t much like people. Not because he had anything against them personally, but because he knew that in the end, they wouldn’t like him. The few friends he did have while he was in school had quit talking to him once he opened up to them. So he gave up on trying. Why fight for something you know is going to fail anyway?
“Why do you hang out around the school if you don’t go?”
Takanori sighed and looked over his shoulder at the blonde. He was walking a few steps behind, keeping a steady pace. His hands were in his pockets and Takanori couldn’t help but notice the toning of the muscles in his arms. He must be an athlete. The boy raised his eyebrows, obviously anticipating an answer.
“You’re a pest.”
“I can be. But really, if you quit school, why would you want to come back?”
Takanori shrugged and reached into his bag, pulling out a cigarette and placing it between his lips, teeth biting down on the filter.
“Fine. Don’t answer. But I’ll warn you, when I’m interested in something, I don’t give up. So you can either do it the easy way or the hard way.”
He finally stopped and turned around, taking the stick from his mouth, scowling at the other.
“You are really are annoying. I’m not that interesting. Never was, never will be. So just drop it and leave me alone.”
“I like your art. That’s interesting.”
“There are plenty of artists out there. Go find another one to toy with.”
The boy smiled and shook his head.
“Nope. I picked you. By the way, I’m Akira.”
Takanori grunted and went to light the cigarette, taking in a deep hit then blowing the smoke right in this Akira’s face. He waved it off and laughed.
“Still no name?”
“If I tell you my name, will you leave me alone?”
“For today.”
“Takanori. It was not a pleasure to meet you and I hope I do not see you again.”
With that, he walked away, leaving Akira standing there with a wide grin playing along his thin lips.
~
Next chapter
Chapter0/?
Reita/Ruki
Rated PG
Takanori makes the mistake of hanging around his old school and Akira takes interest.
Takanori didn’t much like people. Not because he had anything against them personally, but because he knew that in the end, they wouldn’t like him. The few friends he did have while he was in school had quit talking to him once he opened up to them. So he gave up on trying.
-
He had his back against the brick wall, sketchbook in his lap, pencil etching away at the course paper. Soft gray lines formed the silhouette of a girl, her soft curls the only thing covering her anatomy. There were harsh marks on her skin, the lines cut deep into the page from the pressure. She was light, but what seeped from her was darkness. She was him in a way.
A bell rang from inside the building and he looked up, seeing the kids trickle out the door, chatting about their afternoon plans. There were a few familiar faces, but none were what you could consider ‘friends’. Though he had stopped attending classes months ago, for some reason Takanori took comfort in being on the grounds. He was never very social, but being around people his age made him feel more… normal. Something he certainly didn’t feel when at home.
His parents had gotten to the point where they simply ignored him. It was as if his entire existence was null, that he hadn’t even been born. Sometimes, that was his wish. But, he knew his mother was only playing along too keep his father satisfied. He caught her quick glances, her eyes sending out silent apologies and ‘I love you’s.
He had gotten used to it though. It was always in his head that it could be worse. He could be disowned completely, thrown out of his home, left to wander the streets. Apparently, his father thought that giving him the cold shoulder might make him straighten up. It wouldn’t work though. Takanori was Takanori, and nothing was going to change that.
His eyes went back to his drawing and he ran his eraser over a few misplaced lines, swatting the dust away as he went. A shadow fell over him and he looked up, squinting to make out a face. The boy was blonde, around Takanori‘s age, a bit taller, lean, dark eyes, and he was staring right at his sketch.
“Can I help you?” Taka asked, his voice flat.
“Just admiring your work. Who is she?”
Takanori sighed and closed the sketchbook. Why was this kid talking to him?
“It’s me.”
“But, that’s a girl.”
“So? Besides, why does it matter? Do you always annoy random strangers?”
The boy chuckled and shook his head.
“No. Just saw you sitting here and wondered why. Didn’t you used to go here? I think you were in one of my classes last year.”
Takanori slid the book into his bag and stood up, patting the dirt from his clothes.
“I did. And maybe I was. I didn’t really pay attention to the people around me.” He shrugged and started to walk away.
“Wait, you didn’t even tell me your name.”
“Again, why does it matter?”
“I like to put names to faces.”
“For everyone you see?”
“For anyone that interests me.”
Takanori rolled his eyes and waved his hand at the other.
“Well, I’m nothing to be interested in. You’re better off just forgetting me.”
He turned again and walked away, not bothering to look back when he heard the other following him. Takanori didn’t much like people. Not because he had anything against them personally, but because he knew that in the end, they wouldn’t like him. The few friends he did have while he was in school had quit talking to him once he opened up to them. So he gave up on trying. Why fight for something you know is going to fail anyway?
“Why do you hang out around the school if you don’t go?”
Takanori sighed and looked over his shoulder at the blonde. He was walking a few steps behind, keeping a steady pace. His hands were in his pockets and Takanori couldn’t help but notice the toning of the muscles in his arms. He must be an athlete. The boy raised his eyebrows, obviously anticipating an answer.
“You’re a pest.”
“I can be. But really, if you quit school, why would you want to come back?”
Takanori shrugged and reached into his bag, pulling out a cigarette and placing it between his lips, teeth biting down on the filter.
“Fine. Don’t answer. But I’ll warn you, when I’m interested in something, I don’t give up. So you can either do it the easy way or the hard way.”
He finally stopped and turned around, taking the stick from his mouth, scowling at the other.
“You are really are annoying. I’m not that interesting. Never was, never will be. So just drop it and leave me alone.”
“I like your art. That’s interesting.”
“There are plenty of artists out there. Go find another one to toy with.”
The boy smiled and shook his head.
“Nope. I picked you. By the way, I’m Akira.”
Takanori grunted and went to light the cigarette, taking in a deep hit then blowing the smoke right in this Akira’s face. He waved it off and laughed.
“Still no name?”
“If I tell you my name, will you leave me alone?”
“For today.”
“Takanori. It was not a pleasure to meet you and I hope I do not see you again.”
With that, he walked away, leaving Akira standing there with a wide grin playing along his thin lips.
~
Next chapter