[MACCHAN CREATIONS] Chapter Three: ZUTTO
Title: Zutto
Pairing: Hikaru YaotomeXOC, Yabu KoutaXOC, Takaki YuyaXOC
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, romance, tragedy
Summary: Nishihara Akira is a daughter of the famous Nishihara Tadashi, a business tycoon. Hikaru's father, who was happened to be Akira's butler, died in heart attack. Akira's father trusts Hikaru's father so much and as a promise, he asked Hikaru to live in their mansion, he will continue to go to school but on one condition, he will be Akira's personal butler in exchange of his late father.
Word count: 1, 440
Author’s note: This chapter is made fast. Sorry for minor grammatical errors. I'm tired and there are so many schoolworks. But I'm sure that I'm gonna update soon.♥
PROLOGUE | CHAPTER ONE: The Fateful Meeting | CHAPTER TWO: Doubt |
THREE
Morning came so fast. It is already four in the morning when the maids came inside to assist her in preparing for school. She slowly crawled out from the bed and a maid got her robe. Akira noticed that one of her maids wanted to ask something.
“Is there something wrong, Rina-san?” asked Akira. That particular maid went closer and asked, “Ne...is Yaotome-kun single right now?”
“Rina! That’s rude to Akira-sama!” the others said teasingly. Akira gave a fake smile and said, “I think so. But with his attitude, I think he’s not going to concentrate on such thing.”
“Such thing?” the others said with a grin. There was an awkward silence until someone said, “Akira-sama, you must be...”
“What?” Akira asked.
“Are you starting to like him, too?” the Rina girl asked.
“What are you talking about?” Akira yelled. Her heart started to beat faster as if it was going to explode. The maids said their apology and assisted her on her bath necessities.
Akira sighed as the maids went out of the bathroom. She took off her clothes and her slender, naked body, went in the tub with warm water and flower petals from a certain tropical country. Akira took a deep breath and thought about so many things. Her mind was starting to think only about him, having a déjà vu. After what had happened a night before, she didn’t know how to face him again.
The car was ready. Hikaru was waiting for her and opened the car door for her. Akira hopped in and put her seatbelt. It was Friday, she was going to have a tea ceremony class in a Washitsu inside their own mansion.
As they were walking along the corridors, Akira broke the silence between the two of them, “Ne, it seems like I’m starting to get used in wearing kimono. I mean, it’s been three times that I’ve worn a kimono this week.”
“You’re used to it. Since you are rich,” Hikaru said.
“I’m not!” yelled Akira, “I really hate putting such heavy clothing on me. And it’s really warm and irritating. It’s not comfortable, you know.” Hikaru just gave a smirk and said, “You’re always complaining on nonsense things.”
“I’m not,” said Akira the second time. This time, she was smiling. She thought that the distance between the two of them is getting closer. Right that was her only goal- she wanted to open that cold guy’s heart.
It was Math class. They had a homework which was written in their book. Akira had a problem-she forgot to bring her book for she left it in the study room. Hikaru noticed that everyone except her was getting their books. Hikaru got his and looked at her for the second time.
“Who doesn’t have their book?” the teacher asked.
She was scared because that teacher is notorious. And if such thing happens, it will be the first time in her whole life to be punished by that teacher. She took a deep breath and slowly raised her hand until Hikaru noticed that teacher wasn’t looking at their row so he gave his book to Akira and stood up, saying, “I don’t have mine.”
“Yaotome-kun, I won’t tolerate you just because you are a new student. I will give you a punishment...NOW!” the teacher yelled.
“What should I do then?” Hikaru asked with a cool aura.
“Change into your gym clothes. You are going to run in the whole building for ten times. Then, you are going to do 100 curl-ups then 50 push-ups. And yeah, by the way, wear this,” he said as he put something on his head. A head band, saying, “I love Math even though I’m stupid.”
“What a childish punishment,” Hikaru murmured.
“What are you saying?” the teacher yelled for the second time. Hikaru went outside to change into his gym clothes. The curious students didn’t bother to go further with the lessons. They watched the new student who did everything what the teacher have said. He did everything. After doing the last push-up, he lied down, sweating and tired.
“What an idiot commoner,” a male student yelled which made everyone laughed.
Akira was really worried that time. After what he did, Akira, together with Yabu, went closer and asked, “Are you okay?”
“What do you think I’ll say? Of course, not,” Hikaru said as he stood up and went to the locker room to have a shower and change back into his school uniform.
While waiting, Akira was really worried. She was sitting in the rooftop with Yabu alone. Yabu noticed her worried face and said, “Hikaru was so great, ne~”
“Eh?”
“It’s been my first time to see him act that way,” Yabu said, “Not to mention he did it for you.”
“W-What do you mean?” asked the worried Akira.
“I think he has taken a liking to you,” Yabu said.
“Eh? T-That’s impossible,” Akira said. Deeply, she was happy because what Hikaru did was so manly. It’s been the first time that someone protected her that way. But she didn’t want to assume that Hikaru likes her. That would be the most impossible thing ever-that’s what she thinks.
Thinking about that, she didn’t notice what Yabu have said, “Ah~ I think I’m going to have my rival then.”
“Eh?” Akira said.
“Hmm? Nothing,” Yabu smiled.
Yabu didn’t admit it for once. He had taken a liking on Akira, too because despite of being rich, she acts like a normal girl. And she was the only one who opened up on him, a poor student. But it is one-sided-Akira only treated him as her best friend. No more, no less.
Yabu didn’t admit it not because he’s scared of being beaten by Akira’s engagement partner, Takaki Yuya. But he is scared to be dumped and to have a broken friendship. He is already happy watching her smiling naturally and cutely.
Hikaru went to the rooftop a little bit late. Akira went closer and said, “I’m really sorry. I didn’t expect you to do that and-”
“It’s okay,” Hikaru said, “So...what did the teacher said to the given homework?”
“It’s great. I didn’t expect that you were good in Math,” Akira smiled.
“Hikaru’s my rival on academics. He’s really good,” Yabu smiled.
“Oh,” Akira said, “So I guess I can have two tutors now, right?”
Yabu said, “Of course.” Hikaru didn’t say anything and sat down.
After school, Akira was already having her tea ceremony class. As her personal tutor teaches her, she’s starting to get sleepy. Her feet were already numb because of having such position for more than 2 hours.
Her father won’t be at home for two months because of a business trip. So she was so happy about it. The tea ceremony ended afterwards. Akira stood up and said, “Thank goodness.”
Hikaru followed her outside and asked, “Where are you going, Akira-sama?”
Akira sighed and said, “Would you stop calling me such?”
“Eh? But that’s a rule we need to follow,” he replied.
“Look, we’re already friends. So don’t call me such, okay?” Akira said.
“Okay...Akira....san,” Hikaru said. Akira burst out into laughter and said, “You’re so funny, ne~”
“Why?” Hikaru asked.
“Hmm? I won’t tell,” Akira said.
“Tch. Whatever,” Hikaru said.
They have sat in the bench in the garden of the mansion. Akira was starting to get sleepy for she didn’t have any sleep a night before. She rubbed her eyes and suddenly opened a topic to Hikaru.
“Ne,” she started. He looked at her and asked, “What is it?”
“About last night,” Akira said.
Hikaru, leaning on the wooden bench, didn’t want to open that topic. It is because he didn’t want to think about her all the time. He’s running away from such confusion and conflict. He was thinking about what she has said that night.
“You are not alone, okay?”
Those words from Akira’s lips...were words he didn’t want to remember. But his heart wanted to.
“Oh...that...”
Those were the only words he has said. He was about to say something until he felt something heavy on his shoulder. It was Akira, having a peaceful sleep. Hikaru looked at her...particularly her lips. He was starting to stare at her for a long time until he came back to reality and asked himself, “What am I doing?”
Hikaru felt it...the sleeping Akira held his hands and mumbled in her sleep, “Let’s stay...like this...for...a while...”
That night, he let Akira sleep on his shoulder. For some reason, he wanted her. He wanted her to be with him. Maybe, Akira felt the same way, too.