[NwP Fic] Modern Courtship
Title: Modern Courtship
Author: walkwithheroes
Fandom: Nobuta wo Produce
Claim: Kusano Akira and Kotani 'Nobuta' Nobuko
Prompt: Blue Set: 04 - Overcompensation
Type: Fanfic
Rating: light PG
Warnings/Spoilers: No spoilers.
Disclaimer: I do not own Nobuta wo Produce or the characters of Akira and Nobuta.
Summary: Akira's long distance wooing of Nobuta is anything but normal.
Now that they are no longer in the same city, Shuji sends her emails and letters full of advice and memories and hopes. Akira never sends her emails or letters.
No, he prefers text messaging. A hundred text messages a day. Some are meaningful and others are just excuses to send her something. She receives everything from: I miss Nobuta and Shuji's no fun. to Where's my milk? and of course, Konkon.
Nobuta never replies to Akira's text messages with anything other than: I'm sorry. or I don't know. And of course, Just use Nobuta Power.
After four months, the text messages become more unusual.
Nobuta's in the middle of homework, when she receives the text message, I want to watch Nobuta during lunch. I'm not happy. There's no milk and Shuji's not playing with me. I want Nobuta.
For the next two weeks, Nobuta finds I want Nobuta in her inbox every hour. She emails Shuji about it, asking what's wrong with Akira. Shuji, simply sends back: What isn't wrong with him?
Shuji, Nobuta decides, is useless in this type of situation. So, she asks all the other girls in class about Akira's countless messages. Surprisingly, it's Aoi who fills Nobuta in on Akira's problem.
“It sounds like the idiot is trying to ask you out.”
Nobuta is sure the entire school hears her reply of “Eh?”
Mariko emails Shuji and a day later Akira's text messages stop all together. Nobuta puts her cell phone in a box under her bed; she buys a bright orange one to replace it.
*
A month and a half later, it's Shuji who sends Nobuta an usual email:
Akira's gone. He's not with you, is he? Do you think you're being followed . . . if so, that's him.
-Shuji
Mariko thinks they should call Akira's father or the police. She's outnumbered, as both Shuji and Nobuta think they should leave adults out of it. As Shuji tells them over the phone:
“He'll come back soon enough. Just like a stray cat. You feed it once and it keeps coming back.”
*
Five days after the phone conversation with Shuji, a strange noise begins to come from under Nobuta's bed. As quickly as she can, Nobuta has the box from under the bed opened and her old cell phone in her hands. Feeling slightly unsure and more than a little nervous, she reads the new text message:
You said you'd be alright without Shuji and Akira. But, what if I'm not alright without you?
The following Sunday, Nobuta receives a dozen flowers every two hours. Mariko thinks it's romantic; Nobuta wonders if it isn't a waste of money.
“I'm sure he's sitting in a hotel room somewhere, trying to figure out what it is he wants to tell you.” Mariko guesses.
In his newest email, Shuji gives his two cents: “He's an idiot.”
Nobuta wonders why Akira just doesn't sure Nobuta Power to gain the strength he must be lacking.
*
A package arrives the next day for Nobuta. Inside, she finds a baseball glove and a note: 'Nobuta Power.'
Smiling softly to herself, Nobuta takes her new glove and makes her way to the park where she and Akira once played catch.
*
Upon arriving at the park, Nobuta spots Akira. He's standing in the middle the grass, a bike beside him. In his hands in a baseball, which he throws to Nobuta.
“I wanted to be romantic, because I've never been like that before.” Akira states simply. His smile is lopsided, and his eyes are burning into Nobuta's face. “I didn't like it. But, I wanted to see you. I wanted to try and get you to smile.”
Nobuta smiles for him. It's a little awkward and it's still a bit strange looking, but it is a smile. Akira returns the action, as Nobuta tosses the baseball back to him.
He catches the ball with his gloveless hand and drops it a moment later. Shaking his hand in pain, he stays smiling. “Ow.” The pain is gone when he realizes that Nobuta is still smiling at him. “Shuji and Akira is great. Nobuta, Shuji, and Akira is better. But, I wanted Nobuta and Akira.”
Nobuta nods understandingly. “Akira loves Nobuta.”
“Nobuta . . .”
“Nobuta missed Akira.”
Feeling his smile growing wider by the second, Akira takes a chance. “More than she missed Shuji?” Her only response is to stay smiling at him. Thinking that a smile is good enough, Akira decides to take it as a victory. “I am . . . always trying to get closer to you.” Akira states calmly, sadly.
“I am . . .” Nobuta pauses, not totally sure what to say or how to say it. She takes a chance and begins moving toward Akira. “I am . . . always trying to. . .” she stops speaking when she finds herself mere inches from Akira. “To catch up.”
Akira nods knowingly. He reaches out and puts his cold hands on the sides of her pretty face. “You've caught up.”
“Her lips tug half-way up into an awkward smile. “You're close. We're. . .”
Nobuta never finishes her thought, for it is at that moment that Akira choses to kiss her forehead. The blushes raising up in both their cheeks, they stare at one another for what seems like forever.
Finally, Akira presses his lips to Nobuta's.
Akira's hands find their place on Nobuta's hips. Nobuta's hands find their way to the back of Akira's neck. They move closer to one another, letting their bodies become intertwined with one another.
Minutes, or perhaps weeks later, Mariko and Shuji find them still intertwined together.
Nodding in approval, Mariko looks to Shuji, “Finally.”
Looking like an embarrassed older brother, Shuji momentarily turns away from his first love. “Shouldn't we get them to, uh. . . untangle themselves?”
Looking from Akira and Nobuta to Shuji, Mariko simply shrugs. “Give them another moment.”
Breaking apart from Nobuta, Akira stares into her eyes for a long moment, before wrapping his arms around her. He pulls her close into a hug and gently whispers, “Nobuta, I love you.”
Her reply is a smile - real and warm and perfect.
Author: walkwithheroes
Fandom: Nobuta wo Produce
Claim: Kusano Akira and Kotani 'Nobuta' Nobuko
Prompt: Blue Set: 04 - Overcompensation
Type: Fanfic
Rating: light PG
Warnings/Spoilers: No spoilers.
Disclaimer: I do not own Nobuta wo Produce or the characters of Akira and Nobuta.
Summary: Akira's long distance wooing of Nobuta is anything but normal.
Now that they are no longer in the same city, Shuji sends her emails and letters full of advice and memories and hopes. Akira never sends her emails or letters.
No, he prefers text messaging. A hundred text messages a day. Some are meaningful and others are just excuses to send her something. She receives everything from: I miss Nobuta and Shuji's no fun. to Where's my milk? and of course, Konkon.
Nobuta never replies to Akira's text messages with anything other than: I'm sorry. or I don't know. And of course, Just use Nobuta Power.
After four months, the text messages become more unusual.
Nobuta's in the middle of homework, when she receives the text message, I want to watch Nobuta during lunch. I'm not happy. There's no milk and Shuji's not playing with me. I want Nobuta.
For the next two weeks, Nobuta finds I want Nobuta in her inbox every hour. She emails Shuji about it, asking what's wrong with Akira. Shuji, simply sends back: What isn't wrong with him?
Shuji, Nobuta decides, is useless in this type of situation. So, she asks all the other girls in class about Akira's countless messages. Surprisingly, it's Aoi who fills Nobuta in on Akira's problem.
“It sounds like the idiot is trying to ask you out.”
Nobuta is sure the entire school hears her reply of “Eh?”
Mariko emails Shuji and a day later Akira's text messages stop all together. Nobuta puts her cell phone in a box under her bed; she buys a bright orange one to replace it.
*
A month and a half later, it's Shuji who sends Nobuta an usual email:
Akira's gone. He's not with you, is he? Do you think you're being followed . . . if so, that's him.
-Shuji
Mariko thinks they should call Akira's father or the police. She's outnumbered, as both Shuji and Nobuta think they should leave adults out of it. As Shuji tells them over the phone:
“He'll come back soon enough. Just like a stray cat. You feed it once and it keeps coming back.”
*
Five days after the phone conversation with Shuji, a strange noise begins to come from under Nobuta's bed. As quickly as she can, Nobuta has the box from under the bed opened and her old cell phone in her hands. Feeling slightly unsure and more than a little nervous, she reads the new text message:
You said you'd be alright without Shuji and Akira. But, what if I'm not alright without you?
The following Sunday, Nobuta receives a dozen flowers every two hours. Mariko thinks it's romantic; Nobuta wonders if it isn't a waste of money.
“I'm sure he's sitting in a hotel room somewhere, trying to figure out what it is he wants to tell you.” Mariko guesses.
In his newest email, Shuji gives his two cents: “He's an idiot.”
Nobuta wonders why Akira just doesn't sure Nobuta Power to gain the strength he must be lacking.
*
A package arrives the next day for Nobuta. Inside, she finds a baseball glove and a note: 'Nobuta Power.'
Smiling softly to herself, Nobuta takes her new glove and makes her way to the park where she and Akira once played catch.
*
Upon arriving at the park, Nobuta spots Akira. He's standing in the middle the grass, a bike beside him. In his hands in a baseball, which he throws to Nobuta.
“I wanted to be romantic, because I've never been like that before.” Akira states simply. His smile is lopsided, and his eyes are burning into Nobuta's face. “I didn't like it. But, I wanted to see you. I wanted to try and get you to smile.”
Nobuta smiles for him. It's a little awkward and it's still a bit strange looking, but it is a smile. Akira returns the action, as Nobuta tosses the baseball back to him.
He catches the ball with his gloveless hand and drops it a moment later. Shaking his hand in pain, he stays smiling. “Ow.” The pain is gone when he realizes that Nobuta is still smiling at him. “Shuji and Akira is great. Nobuta, Shuji, and Akira is better. But, I wanted Nobuta and Akira.”
Nobuta nods understandingly. “Akira loves Nobuta.”
“Nobuta . . .”
“Nobuta missed Akira.”
Feeling his smile growing wider by the second, Akira takes a chance. “More than she missed Shuji?” Her only response is to stay smiling at him. Thinking that a smile is good enough, Akira decides to take it as a victory. “I am . . . always trying to get closer to you.” Akira states calmly, sadly.
“I am . . .” Nobuta pauses, not totally sure what to say or how to say it. She takes a chance and begins moving toward Akira. “I am . . . always trying to. . .” she stops speaking when she finds herself mere inches from Akira. “To catch up.”
Akira nods knowingly. He reaches out and puts his cold hands on the sides of her pretty face. “You've caught up.”
“Her lips tug half-way up into an awkward smile. “You're close. We're. . .”
Nobuta never finishes her thought, for it is at that moment that Akira choses to kiss her forehead. The blushes raising up in both their cheeks, they stare at one another for what seems like forever.
Finally, Akira presses his lips to Nobuta's.
Akira's hands find their place on Nobuta's hips. Nobuta's hands find their way to the back of Akira's neck. They move closer to one another, letting their bodies become intertwined with one another.
Minutes, or perhaps weeks later, Mariko and Shuji find them still intertwined together.
Nodding in approval, Mariko looks to Shuji, “Finally.”
Looking like an embarrassed older brother, Shuji momentarily turns away from his first love. “Shouldn't we get them to, uh. . . untangle themselves?”
Looking from Akira and Nobuta to Shuji, Mariko simply shrugs. “Give them another moment.”
Breaking apart from Nobuta, Akira stares into her eyes for a long moment, before wrapping his arms around her. He pulls her close into a hug and gently whispers, “Nobuta, I love you.”
Her reply is a smile - real and warm and perfect.