僕たちの日々~OUR DAYS~
written by yanie
Setting, Characters, Episode 1 Part I:
http://yanie02.livejournal.com/86797.html Note: Please, feel free to write all the critics you have in mind after you read this ^_^
Episode 1 Part II
The next day, ten-minutes break between lessons...
Teacher's Room
"And so, sensei, that is our plan for this year!" Hiro-chan said to Yamaguchi-sensei.
Yamaguchi-sensei is a woman in her mid-30s, a divorcee with no child. She is not that pretty but due to her fashionable sense and style, she looks quite attractive and quite popular among the male teachers in this school. She is the guide teacher for our club.
She gazed at Hiro-chan for awhile. And then she gazed at me who is standing next to Hiro-chan.
"Have you really thought this all well?" she asked.
"Yes, of course, we have! Na, Arisa??" Hiro-chan turned to me. I nod and smiled to sensei.
"Alright then, let me ask you... you're going to make a fund-raising effort by making keychains and all, you said? You'll need money for all of the materials, don't you? Where will you get the money from? You actually think your club's members would be willing to pay for the materials expenses?" sensei sharply asked.
And as I thought, Hiro-chan is dumbfounded, he just stuttered and went, "Uhh... that's, well... mmm...". Hhhh.... dame da naa... Hiro-chan, can't you just think of something?
I was going to let him answer, since he's the leader but 30 seconds has passed and he still don't know how to answer sensei's question, so I speak up.
"No problem, sensei! We will borrow from Takako... her monthly pocket money will be enough to cover the materials expenses," I said firmly.
Hiro-chan looked relieved and nod over and over.
"Matsumoto-san ne... Alright, but you have to remember, all of you are third grade students now. There will be tests almost everyday, how would you find time to do all of your plans?? I do not want your studies to be bothered by this. Especially you, Nakai-kun! Lately, your grades are getting worse, right?" sensei asked again.
"Ehh... that... umm, I..." Hiro-chan stuttered again.
I immediately speak up for Hiro-chan, "Nakai-kun will be fine. Kimura-kun, Inagaki-kun and me are in the 3A class, and we catch up pretty fast with the studies. We'll help with the job as much as we can, so Nakai-kun's studies won't be bothered at all. Afterall, Kimura-kun's sister has also joined the club, so she can cover for us when we have tests,".
Yamaguchi-sensei sighed and throw her back to the back of the seat, "Alright then. Just make the budget and plan proposal, give it to me, and after the principal and I signed it, you're free to do it as you wish,"
Hiro-chan look so excited and bow to sensei, "Arigatou gozaimasu!!!"
I bow and thanked sensei too.
~*~
Outside, I scold him, "Mattaku(really)... Hiro-chan, shikkarishinasai yo(get your acttogether will ya)! You're the leader deshou? And yet, I was the one who kept answering everything sensei asked,".
"Shouganai darou.. You know how I was chosen as the leader. It was through janken game. I told you guys I don't really have leadership,"
I sighed, "Sou dakedo(yeah, but)..."
We saw a crowd in front of a big board and everyone are looking up to the board. We saw Takuya, Goro-chan, Shingo and Sae, Takuya's sister, there. We walked towards them to see what's going on.
"Sugoi neee... sasuga oniichan!! You're #2 in the whole school!!!" Sae gripped Takuya's arm excitedly.
"Chikushoo(damn)... niban ka yo(number two)..." Takuya mumbled.
"Nani? Nani?" Hiro-chan asked as we came nearer to them.
I looked up to the board, "Ah! The first test results is up? Oh nooo... Takuya, you're down to number two?!"
Sae asked, "Senpai! What do you mean, "oh no", isn't this great??".
"Dame da yooo... he has to be number one... aaa~~ah, so Takeda-kun got the best grade..." I said as I looked who number one is.
"Sae-chan, don't you know about Takuya's rivalry with Takeda??" Shingo asked.
Goro-chan added, "The last test results in 2nd grade, Takuya was #1 and Takeda was #2,"
"Heeee... oniichan was #1??!"
"Sae-chan, so you really don't know about your own oniichan's reputation in this school?" I asked.
Sae-chan shook her head, "Shiranaaai(I don't know)! Oniichan rarely talk about his school activities at home!"
"Woo~~ Arisa! Look, look, your #11!" Hiro-chan pointed at my name.
"Weren't you #15 last time?? Omedetou!!" Goro-chan congratulated me.
"Goro-chan wa?"
"8-ban," he said.
"Aahh... ii nee(that's good)..." I said.
"I wonder where my name is..." Hiro-chan looking at the board.
Shingo hit his head, "Of course your name is not here!! Your name is usually at the far right of the board darou!! Come here!" I dragged him to the right and showed him the list.
As Hiro-chan saw his name, he laughed, "Ahh.... #152...
yokattaaaa..... I'm not the last!!".
"What do you mean yokatta?? There are only 155 people in 3rd grade! Study harder will ya!"
Shingo scold him.
"Don't act so big! How bout yourself??"
"Me? 55-ban... for a 3C student, I've surpassed some of the B students, y'know!" Shingo said proudly.
"Hey look, Takeda! Ichiban da ze(you're #1 y'know)!!"
We heard a voice from the opposite direction. It's Takeda Shinji-kun and his 2 friends coming to our direction. His friend was just telling Takeda-kun about it, and Takeda-kun glanced at the board for a second and then he gazed at Takuya sharply. Then, he smiled cynically to Takuya.
As he reached Takuya, he said, "Warui na(sorry), Kimura! Seem like I'm #1 this time. Next time, be more serious about it, okay? I don't feel like winning, when you're not being serious," he tapped Takuya's shoulder. Takeda-kun walked away with his friends.
Takuya gritted his teeth and mumbled, "Ano yaro(that jerk)...."
"Kakkooiiii......." Sae-chan said as she gazed at Takeda-kun from afar.
"Oyy, Sae!" Takuya scold her.
"Ah, sorry!" Sae apologized.
The bell rings indicating the next class is starting.
"Let's get back to class," Goro-chan said.
As I was about to go with the boys, I see Sae-chan bringing a pile of books.
"Ah, Sae-chan, what's with the books?" I asked her.
"Oh, sensei told me to return this to the library,"
"Here, let me help you!" I picked up half of the pile.
"Ehh, but senpai's class?"
"It's okay, I was just from the teacher's room, the next class' teacher is not coming today, so the substitute will definitely be coming late, c'mon!" I smiled to her.
"Arigatou, senpai!!" Sae smiled widely.
As we walked to the library, she asked me, "Senpai, so oniichan has this rivalry with Takeda-senpai??"
"Aaah... sou dayo. Since the first grade, Takuya and Takeda-kun are the most popular boys in our classyear. They both have the looks, brain, athletic skills and popularity,"
"Sugooiii~~"
"First of all, Takuya and Takeda-kun always get many love letters in their lockers everyday,"
"Yappariii...."
"In our 3A class, #1 and #2 best grades were always changing between those two only,"
"Hee..."
"Also, their athletic skills are superb! They both are not basketball club's members, but when there's a tournament, they were always asked to join the school's team! Sugoi desho?? Only Takuya and Takeda-kun has that kind of privileges!"
"Hwaa.... I didn't know!! Sugoii!! Is there anything that Takeda-senpai losing to oniichan or vice versa??"
"Losing? Mmm... well, actually... Takeda-kun is also from the richest family in our school. His father is the PTA(Parent-Teacher Association) Chief. I guess... that's the one thing Takuya doesn't has... Ah! Gomen, Sae-chan! I'm not saying that your family---"
Sae-chan shook her head, "Ii no!! Waa... so Takeda-senpai is a young master from a wealthy family! He's so perfect, ne!!!" she turned to me.
"Eheh... but, from body posture, I guess Takeda-kun is kind of short for boys..."
Sae-chan giggled, "Short ne.... but I think he's kakkoii!"
"Sae-chan, is Takeda-kun your type??" I asked.
She nod firmly, "Un!! Very my type!!!"
"Haha, be careful! He's your oniichan's enemy!" I giggled.
Suddenly I remember one more thing, "Ah, sou da. Takeda-kun is also the leader of the school magazine club. I heard he has a great leadership! That club is known as the most popular and active club in our school,"
"Hee... hontou?? So, why didn't oniichan be the leader of our photography club?"
"Ah, are ne(that's)... Takuya said he doesn't has confidence to be a leader, and so we decided the leader with janken..."
Sae-chan giggled, "Janken??"
"Yeah... and Hiro-chan won it,"
Sae-chan laughed and looked up, "Sou kaa.... a~aaa, I should've joined the magazine club, nee..."
"Chotto~ Sae-chan, are you going to betray our club and your oniichan??"
"Ahah... just kidding~" she laughed.
I laughed too.
=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=
As I reached 3D class, I called him out, "Yoh, Tsuyopon!".
"Ooo... Shingo! Ah gomen, gomen! I have another promise today, can't go home with you. Jya na!" he said in a hurry and left me behind.
"Ha? Since when Tsuyopon has other friends?" I mumbled, "Shouganai na(oh well)..."
I walked towards 3A class to look for Arisa. From the window, I saw her writing something on a sheet of paper. Oh! She's still here! Yosh... ---oh? She's talking to someone sitting in front of her? Ah, Goro-chan ka...
I saw Arisa and Goro-chan are talking to each other and they laughed together. Ottotto--? What's this nice atmosphere between them? Masaka(could it be).... ?
Stop it, Shingo! How pathetic of you feeling jealous everytime Arisa is simply talking to another guy! Shame on you!!
I went inside, "Ossu!!"
"Oo... Shingo, its very unusual for you to come here!" Goro-chan said.
"Hee... what's going on?" Arisa asked.
"Nothing, just thinking... maybe you want to go home together?"
"Ehh?? Where's Tsuyopon?" she asked.
"I don't know, he said he has promise with someone," I sit on one of the chair near them.
"Oooo??? Could it be... a girlfriend?" Arisa grinned.
I widened my eyes, "Woo~ I didn't think of that! Masaka??"
"Tsuyopon should've told us, huh," Goro-chan added, smiling.
"What are you two doing??" I asked.
Arisa sighed, "Hhh... making the budget list for our club's activities... Hiro-chan has baito, so I asked Goro-chan to help me out,"
"Aa, sou da!! Who's turn is it today, for the daily photographs?" I asked them.
"Takuya and Takako..." Goro-chan answered.
"Ee...? Those two again?? But yesterday---"
"Hiro-chan and Takako came here after the bell rings, Hiro-chan told us we shld decide who should take pictures today, but before we get to do the janken, Takuya and Takako already volunteered themselves," I told him.
"Heee... that's odd..." I said.
"What's odd? Those two has always been like that, deshou??" Arisa said while erasing numbers on the paper.
"What do you mean like that?"
Arisa rolled her eyes, "You knoow... like "that"..."
Goro-chan and me still doesn't has a clue what she's talking about. We wrinkled our forehead.
She sighed, paused for five seconds while staring at us back and forth, and said,
"They like each other,"
"Eeee???" Goro-chan and me reacted in unison.
"Takuya and Takako?? Takako and Takuya??" I repeated the question.
"No way! Those two has no kind of romance vibe at all between each other!" Goro-chan added.
"They just hasn't realized it yet, deshouu? Or just trying to hide their feelings... They had been like that since 2nd grade," Arisa said while pressing the calculator buttons.
"Seriously??" I still don't believe it.
"You know... it's the kind of feeling like "Eh? What's this feelings?", "Maybe... I've start seeing her as a woman?", "I fallen in love with him?", "No way! no... we've been friends forever!", "it seem like she likes me too? is it just my feeling??", "Oh no... I think I've really fallen for him!", "But no, no... if we're together what will our other friends says?", "It'll be complicated, if we're together, and then break up, we cannot be friends anymore,", "And then we cannot hangout with the others anymore!", "Doushiyou??!", "...its better if we stay friends..."........ Right??" Arisa glanced at us in turn.
"Uwa... fukuzatsu(complicated)..." I said.
Goro-chan grinned, "You mean just like what the two of you have?"
Both Arisa and my eyes widened, "What are you saying??? We're not like that!!" we said in unison.
He chuckled, "Hai, haai.... gomen na, Arisa... I have to go... O-sakiii(sorry for leaving b4 u)~~!" Goro-chan lifted up his bag, stood up and left the classroom.
"Un! Arigato ne, Goro-chan! Bye-bye!" Arisa waved to his direction, then she turned to me, "Chotto matte ne... mou chotto(just a bit more)..." she's back focusing on the paper.
Before she start writing, she pushed back strands of her long hair to the back of her ear. But some of the strands fell back to her cheek. I really like it when she do that, very feminine. She look really serious calculating all the numbers. I also like to see this view... this serious face of hers. She's so beautiful... she's just... perfect. Just looking at her like this, makes my heart beats faster.
I... love... her...
Hhh... I can't believe it took me years to realize my own feelings. If only I confessed my feelings for her earlier, before she met Katsu... Her heart might only be mine right now.
"Nani yo(what is it)??!" she asked.
I felt like just waking up, "Huh?!"
"Stop looking at me like that..." she looked down, looking embarrassed.
I really didn't realize I kept gazing at her while my mind floated away.
"Ah, gomen..." I apologized.
"What Goro-chan said bothers you?" she asked.
"Huh?? Ahhh... no, not that..."
"Then, what were you thinking looking at me like that??"
I paused for a few seconds, searching for a logical answer other than 'betsuni(nothing)'... but I can only think of, "Kirei da naa... to omotte... (was just thinking, you're so beautiful)"
Baka! Shingo! What are you saying??!?
Arisa widened her eyes and I can see her face flushed a bit, but before she can say anything, I just laughed and stood up, "Ahahaha... just kidding! Jya, kaerou(let's go home)! Finished?".
Seem like she still don't know what to say and just nod, "Um..." and she started putting in her stuff to her bag.
"Alright then... I'll wait for you at the gate, okay?" I went outside.
Good job, Shingo! Now, it has really turned awkward for us, coz of what I said. Damn!
~*~
After a few minutes passed as we walk together, we were both trying our best to come up with fun topics to talk about, so the situation is not awkward anymore, for us.
"You did!!"
"I didn't!!"
"You did!"
"I really didn't!" Arisa laughed.
"You totally did! You---!!"
"Are??" she interrupted me as she looked at a certain direction, "Isn't that Tsuyopon?"
"Where?" I swept my gaze towards the direction Arisa is looking at.
"Eh...? ...Rena-chan?"
"What??"
I found them... it's really Tsuyopon and Rena standing next to each other.
They were right in front of the game center, playing the UFO Catcher machine. Seem like Tsuyopon is trying to catch the doll. From afar, I can see clearly both Rena's hands are holding Tsuyopon's arm and she look excited.
He said he had promise with someone. So it's with Rena???
Oy, oy, oy.... what does this mean?
I immediately walk towards them and Arisa followed me from behind.
"Hey! What are you guys doing here??"
As they turned around and found me, "Oniichan!", "Shingo!" both of them look startled a bit, and then they made up a smile.
"Ahhh... I coincidentally met Tsuyopon here!" Rena said.
"Yeah, yeah... when I was just passing here, I saw Rena-chan," Tsuyopon added.
I wrinkled my forehead, "Tsuyopon... this road is the exact opposite of the direction to your house..."
Tsuyopon looked a bit nervous and answered, "Ahh... dakara! I was thinking of going to this game center from the start! hehe..."
"And the promise you said to me, before? With whom, is it?" I asked.
"Oh, that... well, that's---" Tsuyopon is starting to sweat. This is definitely suspicious!
Arisa sighed, "Mou ii yo... Tsuyopon, you're really bad at this, you better just tell Shingo the truth," she fold her arms.
Tsuyopon and Rena are looking down, and then they looked at each other hesitantly.
"Uhh... well, actually..." Tsuyopon start to speak up.
Rena grabbed Tsuyopon's wrist and stared at him, so he stopped talking.
With a calm face, she said to Arisa and me, "Actually, it's nothing... really, nothing!" she smiled.
I moved a step ahead, "Oy, Rena..."
"Aaah! Tsuyopon! It's Friday today! You stay over at our house every Friday deshou? C'mon, let's go home with us!" Rena pulled his wrist and dragged him to our house's direction.
"Eee??! But I don't bring any clothes," Tsuyopon said.
"Daijooobu~! Oniichan can lend you some clothes!" she kept dragging him further from us.
I didn't say anything and I just followed them. Rena is walking next to Tsuyopon, Arisa and me are walking about 5 metres behind them. Seem like Rena is scolding Tsuyopon about something.
"Yappari... dekicchatteru no kana... ano futari... (I guess... they ARE together already...)" Arisa muttered.
"Oyy! Keep your scary thoughts to yourself!" I glared at her.
Arisa giggled, "Scary thoughts?? Won't you be happy if your bestfriend becomes your sister's boyfriend??"
"Not at all!"
"Hee?? Why!? Tsuyopon is a good guy, desho..." she said.
"Rena is only 14! I won't let her date anyone yet!"
Arisa laughed, "You sound like a father!"
"Afterall... afterall..."
"Afterall what?"
"I feel weird about it... I dunno..."
"About your bestfriend and your sister dating each other?"
"Mou... stop it, let's end this topic..."
=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=
Earlier today...
As I entered the family restaurant, I immediately saw her.
"Ah, Rena-chan!!" I waved to her.
"Tsuyopon, kocchi, kocchi(here)!"
"Sorry to make you wait," I said while sitting on the chair.
"Yokatta.... you saw my note on your locker?" she asked.
"Yeah, a bit surprised! I thought someone finally wrote me a love letter!"
She laughed.
The waitress came, "May I take your order?"
"Uhh... cheese hamburger and coke, please," I ordered.
"Alright," the waitress left.
"Sorry to disappoint you, ne!" she smiled.
"Huh? What?"
"Sorry that it's not a love letter,"
"Ahah, don't mind that, just kidding!" I chuckled, "So what do you want to talk about with me?"
Rena-chan pulled out a piece of paper from her bag and showed it to me.
I take a look at the paper, it is some kind of school promo flyer.
"Tokyo Ballet High School?" I read the biggest letters.
Rena-chan smiled widely and nod firmly, "Un! It's a flyer abt scholarship to this school..."
"Ahh... right! Rena-chan, you are currently going to a ballet course every weekend huh?"
"I took the scholarship test and yesterday... sensei told me I passed the test!!!" Rena-chan announced to me excitedly.
"No way!! Seriously??? Rena-chan sugoooiii!"
"Deshouuu??! I also can't believe it!"
"Ee... but Rena-chan, does this mean you have to move to Tokyo?"
"Unnn... mmm... sou," she nod slowly.
"Where are you gonna live?"
"Oh, the school has affiliated dorms, and they're cheap... my aunt would be able to afford the rent,"
"Have you talked about this with your aunt?"
"No... last night, she worked overtime till late at night,"
"How about Shingo?"
Rena-chan's expression changed, "Uhm... that's the problem..."
"Eh?"
"Oniichan once told me, he already told his form teacher already that he will enter a university here in Yokohama... his sensei even already registered his name for the entrance exam in another 3 months.... There's no way oniichan can move together with me to Tokyo, so..."
"So? Are you still going to Tokyo?"
Rena-chan lifted her face and stared at me sharply, "Of course!! This is my dream. The ballet world is my dream! It is what I am most capable of, in life!"
"Sou kaaa.... Shingo will be so sad, naa...."
"Sou dayo... that's the reason why I couldn't bring myself to tell oniichan about this... But, Tsuyopon! You can!"
"E, ore(me)??!"
I'm surprised.
"Onegai(please)!" she put together her hands and begged me, "This is my only request ever to you in life! Please talk to oniichan about this,"
"Why me?"
"You're his bestfriend!"
"Do you think just because I'm his bestfriend, he'll agree to what I said?"
"As his bestfriend, you'd definitely have a way to make him understand and he will definitely listen to your opinion, deshouu??"
"Are you sure...?? Why don't you ask Arisa instead? She's good at talking,"
"Dame... Arisa-neechan is stern... Oh, don't get this wrong, I like her alot, but she has this stern side of her, so I think she will side oniichan on this... she won't think that for me going to Tokyo is a good idea... she'll oppose it,"
"Really? Arisa?"
"I know her, trust me. But I know YOU will support me and my dream!! That's why I come to you! Am I right? Tsuyopon yasashii kara(coz you're kind),"
"Eheh...me?? Well... it's true that I'll support your dream.... but,
I dunno... abt talking to Shingo... I'm really not good at this..."
"Pleeeasssee??? I don't know who else I should turn to! My aunt always comes late lately, and I need either her or oniichan to sign the confirmation letter soon, the limit time is next week,"
"Well... I'll try.. but I don't think he'd listen to me..."
"Daijoubu! He'll listen to you! Ganbatte! ne?" I almost can see fire on her eyes. She must have made up her mind about going to Tokyo.
TO BE CONTINUED