Sir Kragorin delivers another chapter in the romantic adventures of AKB48’s Ace Acchan and Black-hearted Princess Yukirin.

Acchan and Yukirin finally have the talk and Mayuyu learns of what is really going on with Yukirin (Oh Shi…)!

Erm yeah…

(A fictive story based on the characters from the idol group AKB48)

Episode three – The storm

A beautiful day has started. The sun was shining high on the sky and the birds were happily singing in the morning. It was a fine day in every aspect. The tall and always beautiful Yukirin was waking up from a wonderful dream. She never had such relaxing sleep in the past. It was like if she went into a whole different world. But that dream didn’t leave without after effects. There’s a reason why she feels so light and relaxed. She had a dream with no one else than Atsuko Maeda. It felt a bit unusual as Yuki never had a dream with Atsuko. It was also strange that all that Yuki remembers from it is that they had so much fun. Half of them already happened in the real world and Yukirin feels that this might be the right way to go as her heart is telling her what to do from now on. Yuki decided to take a risk and follow her heart which points into one direction, towards the Center…

While Yuki was preparing herself for the day on the other side of the “world” Atsuko was about to wake up. She also felt something special in this morning. She thought that this day will be the most stressful one because of the shooting of the drama but it turns out that she gave it too much thought. Suddenly when this day came Atsuko felt that a bunch of her doubts and fears just left her. Like if there was nothing to worry about anymore. She felt sort of empty yet full of hopes and dreams.

Atsuko did nothing special in the morning and tried not to think about anything. She cleared her mind as she had some very hard scenes to shoot today. She tried to focus on them so her head was full of dialogues from the drama and there was no place for anything else just yet.

…

The day started without any unusual happenings. The staff was preparing for the early shooting for the drama and everyone was doing their job. After a few minutes Yukirin was already in her character’s sailor uniform. It was her scene that was shot first, right before Atsuko’s so she was really excited about it. Her tension was rising as the staff set up the scene. Yuki was all fired up when the shooting finally occurred and it looked that she couldn’t hold herself back. All the personal knew there was something different with her but they remained silent about it as when Yuki jumped into her character her mood suddenly changed like if she became a whole different person.

The shooting went very well and Yuki did not miss any of her lines. It was like a perfect day for her. She felt so light and carefree in the whole time. Just when they finished the morning shots Yuki was transformed back to her previous self with hyper energy levels. She was doing some jokes and this was the time when some of the staff members started to comment on her behavior.

Staff member A: Kashiwagi-san, what is with this high energy early in the morning?

Staff member B: Did something happen?

Yuki was not really sure about how should she answer to these questions so she just looked at them with a perky smile on her face.

Yuki: …

Staff member B: You are acting a bit strange today.

Staff member C: Aren’t you in love by any chance?

This was the question which made our ojousama a little uneasy as she answered in a quick temper just as she used to react every time she was hyped up like this.

Yuki: What? What are you talking about? I am not!

Staff member C: But you look like someone who is with that big smile on your face all morning. 🙂

Staff member D: Isn’t she always like this?

Staff member A: No, not always.

Yuki started to feel the slipping of this situation so she tried to end it before it grows into something big.

Yuki: I am not acting unusual!

Staff member B: Yes you are! Last time we met you were different.

Yuki: No I was not!

Yukirin was reacting as she used to. Every word she says has full of emotions as she’s trying to evade the attacks of the others. Thankfully the director comes in and saves her from the little monsters of curiosity.

Director: Okay everyone, let’s take a short break!

This gave Yuki some breathing time so she went back to the dressing rooms. She checked her phone and her tension started to decrease to the default level. It was a peaceful day and nothing out of the ordinary was happening just yet. Atsuko and Yuki almost never met during the day. There was only one time when there was that famous scene in which they were together. But since there was not too much dialog between the two characters so nothing spectacular happened. Atsuko and Yuki too were nervous but they both stayed in their characters. After this scene they barely had any time to meet or talk, so the rest of the shooting went smoothly and without any significant happenings.

…

It was early afternoon when on the other side of the city Watanabe Mayu and Ota Aika was about to get ready after a TV show has ended. While they were changing and getting ready to go home they started to talk about their plans for the day.

Mayu: Ah, yes. Today is Yukirin’s day of shooting that drama. I might pay a visit to see how well she does in that.

Aika: Are you going alone?

Mayu: Yes, I am.

Aika: Should I accompany you?

Mayu: Not needed thanks. I know you already have a program for today.

Aika: I can cancel that, no problem.

Mayu: No, really. You don’t have to. You should keep your promise to your mum.

Aika: Are you sure?

Mayu: Yep, I’ll be fine…

Aika: Okay then.

That was the end of their little conversation and soon after they went on separate ways. Mayu had her head full of excitement to see Yukirin’s acting. But before that she had to eat her late lunch as the show was quite long without a lunch break.

…

It was late afternoon when Mayu arrived at the place where today’s final scene of the drama Hanazakari no Kimitachi e 2011 was shot. Around 18:00 hours it was still bright sunlight but dark clouds started to make a formation around the mountains in the far. The meteorologists said that there is a high chance of a storm in about a few hours. The staff of the drama had to work fast as they wanted to shoot the scenes before the rainfall.

Mayu waited until the final shot was over. It was already 19:33 when she checked her phone. The director said “katto” then everyone was about to pack up. The dark clouds are about to close on the city. The storm crawled closer with every minute.

This was the time when Mayu wanted to get close to Yukirin to say hi when she saw Acchan walking towards Yuki. Atsuko and Yuki didn’t have a chance to talk to each other since the beginning of the shooting, so they tried to compensate for it now. Mayu suddenly stopped walking because of some strange feeling inside her heart that started to form. She felt something is not right here.

When Atsuko reached Yukirin, the tall beauty started to sparkle and got a huge smile on her face. Atsuko was a bit embarrassed but she didn’t turn away from Yuki.

Yuki: Finally! I thought we never finish today!

Atsuko: Yeah, me too…

Yuki: I wanted to talk to you the whole day, but we just didn’t have the time.

Atsuko: Well I had a lot’s of scenes today so…

Yuki: I think it’s time for us to talk.

Atsuko: …

Yuki was now sure about the answer. She still had some undecided quarrels inside her head but inside her heart there was no fighting anymore. Atsuko on the other hand was not sure about the end of this upcoming conversation of theirs. She was nervous. Very nervous about the outcome of this event but she did not want to run away. This time Atsuko had enough of her own cowardice and decided to stand up and move forward.

Yuki: Are you free tonight?

Atsuko: Uhm, yes.

Yuki: Wonderful! I’m starving. There’s a restaurant nearby, would you mind joining me?

Atsuko: Well, I guess…

Atsuko started to be a bit hesitant but she did not want to leave Yuki’s side now. “It’s now or never” she thought, so she agreed with the tall beauty. They did a fast paced walk on the street as the restaurant was just a block or so away from the shooting site.

The storm clouds were already above the city and the rain started to pour down on the poor pedestrians but it was still a bit far away from the restaurant. Mayu was following the two girls until they reached their destination. In the front of the door Yuki said something which made Atsuko a little more nervous.

Yuki: Now, here we are! Well, what are you waiting for Acchan?

Atsuko: Eh?

Yuki: Isn’t the man supposed to open the door before the lady?

Atsuko: What?

Atsuko clearly did not understand what is going on right now. Yuki seemed as playful as she used to be but this time she looked serious about his.

Atsuko: Me?

Yuki: Yes.

Atsuko: But I am also a girl.

Atsuko tried to ease the tension on the situation and not jump into the deep waters. However, Yuki was dead serious when she started to point out her reasoning.

Yuki: Not now Atsuko. Look at you! You are still dressed as a man, aka you are one now! 🙂

A big smile was what was sitting on the face of the captain of the Team B. This was the time when Acchan heard a coin fall down inside her head as she realized that she was still wearing the Ashiya Mizuki outfit from the drama. She had her checkered shirt on with blue jeans and with her short haircut she totally looked like a guy. Now that she finally came to her senses she started to blush heavily. Thankfully Mother Nature decided to call in her ace card, the rain which just started to fall. This made the choice easier for Atsuko as she didn’t want to get wet, so she finally grabbed the door handle and pushed it down. When she opened the door she let Yuki go in first.

They were in in no time and Atsuko started to feel as a gentleman which gave her another reason to play chameleon with her cheeks constantly changing their color. They were still red but had a little bit stronger tone now.

Mayu did not enter the building so she had to find some cover. Thankfully there was an awning just in the front of the restaurant and it was also next to a small tree so the little idol could hide in there without getting wet or being seen by Atsuko and Yuki.

When the two girls found a table they just sat down. Unintentionally but they managed to find the closest table to the window which made their espionage easier for Mayu. When Atsuko and Yuki ordered the food they started to talk while they were waiting for it to arrive.

Yuki: So how was your day? I know you had lots of scenes today.

Yuki talked with the same big smile which gave her this innocent angelic look. Atsuko started to feel effected by the tall beauty’s charm once again but this time she managed to “stay alive” inside.

Atsuko: Um… it was tiring… but I had fun.

Yuki’s eyes started to shine for no apparent reason as the conversation proceeded forward. She really wanted to make Acchan a bit more comfortable before she planned to launch her final assault on the girl sitting before her.

Yuki: That’s good to hear. I had a fun time too acting as someone else. But you are still better than me. *Sigh* Oh well…

Yuki was a bit different from her usual self. She was surprisingly lightheaded this day and even she did not know the real reason behind it. However Yuki did not gave it too much thought as she was occupied with something else.

Atsuko: You were good too…

Yuki: Thank you, but I don’t think I will ever reach your level.

This was the time when their food arrived and they finally had a chance to fill their belly. The dinner went on without any major happenings. Except for that Mayu was watching them eating from outside. The raining started to get stronger and the air was getting colder because of the increased level of humidity.

It didn’t take much time for the little duo to finish their meal so they could concentrate on other things than the feast. When everything was set and ready to go Yuki started the conversation once again.

Yuki: I wanted to tell you something today, Atsuko. And I am happy that we could manage a meeting like this.

Atsuko: Yes?

Atsuko was about to lose to her own feelings again but when she remembered the last meeting with TakaMina she could harvest some courage from that experience. She now pays her full attention to Yukirin and waits for the judgment to come. Yuki wasn’t trying to lengthen the situation so she just started to confess.

Yuki: Since our last meeting I thought about you a lot.

Atsuko: Yes?

Atsuko was still in waiting mode. She knew that there’s no running away this time. She was listening to every word Yukirin was saying.

Yuki: I had to reanalyze my situation and recalculate everything inside my head. I had to clear my mind and just as my fortune teller said the answer came from somewhere else than I thought.

Atsuko’s heart started to beat faster with every flap of Yukirin’s lips. She couldn’t stay calm but nobody can blame her right now. This is a very important moment of her life. As Atsuko was about to find out what Yukirin was thinking or feeling about her, on the other side of the window Mayu tried to figure out what are those two talking about.

Back in the inside Yuki paused a little, and then looked deep into Acchan’s eyes. This was the time when Atsuko felt a swirling vortex pulling her inside a wormhole of thoughts and feelings.

Yuki: I think I know now what is going on inside my heart.

Atsuko: …

Atsuko grew speechless as she had too many things going on in her head right now. Yuki proceeded and started to say the words Atsuko was waiting for.

Yuki: I think… I like you… more than a simple friend…

Atsuko: Eh?

Yuki: I think… I love you too, Acchan.

It was finally out. The truth has been revealed. Yuki finally said the words that were originated from the bottom of her heart.

Yuki: I don’t know how this will work out but… I love you!

Atsuko: Yukiriso…

Atsuko couldn’t say anything as her vision got blurred fast. Her tears started to fall but she still didn’t realize the true meaning of these words. She just felt… relieved. Even more than when she regained her first place on the senbatsu election.

It was done… Atsuko’s tears started to fall down rapidly, and they imitated the rain outside where Mayu was fighting the elements to stay alive and trying to lip read Yuki. She couldn’t figure out a single word but she had a bad feeling about this situation. This whole thing was just wrong for her from the beginning and she did not know why.

Meanwhile inside the restaurant Yuki tried to comfort Atsuko a little bit to make the girl regain some of her self-control.

Yuki: Don’t cry! Laugh!

Yuki said laugh, but she was also starting to cry. It is a common thing between the girls in this group as they are quite used to laugh and cry together whatever happens. But now the story of theirs has shifted into the way it wasn’t expected. Yuki found her words being ineffective in calming down Atsuko so she decided to take action this time. She reached out and touched Atsuko’s hand. Atsuko suddenly returned to her senses as she unexpectedly felt a warm touch on her hands. It was Yuki holding her hand and using this contact to calm Acchan’s heart. It was kind of working as Atsuko’s tears started to run out and all that remained was the sparkling shine in her eyes. This was the time when they both started to laugh together a little.

Mayu on the outside was shocked by the happenings in the inside. She had to reanalyze the pictures that were flowing into her brain. She saw them only as a slideshow but actually it happened quite fast.

Yuki was holding Acchan’s hands and with the angelic smile on her face and soft voice she said something which made Acchan feel like if she was dreaming.

Yuki: Korekara yoroshiku ne… 🙂

These words were like “please take care of me from now on…” to Atsuko who felt like if she slipped into another dimension. This can’t be her reality or can it? She was full of questions but also she was full of answers too. Yukirin loves her. It wasn’t just a one sided thing after all. But isn’t this too good to be true?

It was Yuki again who broke the awkwardness of the scene and told Acchan about the strong need for eating some dessert.

Atsuko: Ice cream again?

Yuki: Um… how about a huge fruit sundae? I haven’t eaten one for a very long time.

Atsuko: Sounds good…

Yuki: Okay, Sundae it is then.

This was the part when the two girls started to relax a little. When the sweet chocolate/fruit wonder arrived it got all the attention it could get from the two young girls. The scene instantly turned into a tasting festival. Nothing bitter this time! Only the sweet pleasure and the girls didn’t even try to hold themselves back.

As they were licking their spoons they realized that they have the shape of heart. It started to look like a date real fast but Atsuko was not worried about this anymore. She was sure about her feeling just as Yuki, who did not give too much thought about it either and just enjoyed the sweet little mountain of pleasure on the table.

On the other side of the window, on the colder and much less pleasant side was Mayu who was so confused about the situation. She had some clue about what was going on and she felt a sudden pain in her heart.

Mayu: A date?

Mayu’s heart started to hurt so much she could stay there any longer. She felt that what she saw was the betrayal of her best friend. Or is Yukirin more than a simple friend to her? Mayu’s feelings were swirling inside her heart when she couldn’t take it anymore and started to run towards the city. She had no umbrella with her so her clothes started to get wet real fast. It was not long before the whole girl was running like a sodden mouse. Like a little grey mouse trying to find some cover in the unfriendly weather.

Mayu: Why? Yukirin… Why did you do this? Why?

Mayu was running home crying. She didn’t thought about that her precious Yukirin will ever betray her. This time it seems that the worst thing has happened to her. Mayu always feared this bad day to come as she didn’t want to be left alone by Yuki.

“Why? Why does it hurt so much? Is this called Love? Does the Love hurt this much? I don’t know. I just feel, that I’ve became a little bug in the heavy rain trying to find a shelter. But I can’t. There’s no shelter for me from this suffering. I feel as if my very heart was torn out from my chest.”

Mayu’s thoughts were hard just as her heart. The rain is heavy and cold and that makes the little girl suffer even more. She trips a few times while rushing through the empty streets.

One time she hurts her hand. A centimeter long cut on her palm is starting to bleed. It makes the scenario even more dramatic as she tries to stop the bleeding. She takes out her handkerchief and covers the wound. It doesn’t do much since it is all wet. At least she can stop the bleeding with it. When she fixes her hand she starts to run again. She is even more desperate now to run away from this painful and dark world.

Her eyes are all red and the girl’s clothes are like a wet sponge when she finally reaches her home. She literally falls into the house through the door and collapses right after it.

Nobody is home tonight. Mayu is all alone with her broken heart and her mind is about to crack. All she sees is darkness and suffering. Pain is the only feeling she feels now.

It takes a few minutes for her to calm down enough to take a bath. For a few minutes she is just standing in the shower naked and not feeling to do anything. She is just staring into the nothingness. Just a spontaneous reflex reaction to turn the water on. She doesn’t feel the heat of the warm water. She is totally senseless. She is now… broken and lost inside.

What went wrong? Where did she make a mistake? Was that it when she started to feel more towards her friend? Was that it when she realized that this gone too far yet did nothing to stop it? Or was it when she tried but couldn’t confess her feelings to Yuki?

All that she can thing about is… the past… She feels that she lost her future and her present is in pieces…

…

After the shower Mayu turns off her phone and puts it on the table next to her bed when she is about to sleep. No sweet dreams for this little idol, not anymore… She cries herself into her sleep. Her tears are bitter and cold… She feels like she’s been abandoned…

~

To be continued…

~

Kragorin