Chapter 2- Cute and Idiot

September 20th, 2023

I used to not dream all that much. Maybe every once in a while I’d get a flicker of something. Memories of sitting in an empty diner, or of an old lady’s promise, but they never overpowered that consistent calming darkness, and I like it that way. That had… started to change when I met Rimi. I’d see her face and hear her laugh every time I went to bed. I can hardly imagine why. She was just someone to pass the time with. I mean, I certainly didn’t think badly of her. Especially when she was willing to give someone like me the time of day. I was content to let her be the only one to invade my precious world of sleep.

And then he showed up.

And I hated him so much.

And if he hadn’t-

“I could… never be friends with a man-”

“Then what about friends with a Yuta?”

-said something so stupid, I wouldn’t have to think about it every night since.

Yuta Mamoya…

Yuta…

“Mina?” I open my eyes, and carefully raise out of bed. Standing in the doorway, my mom smiles at me in her work uniform. “Time to wake up, hun.”

“D-did I sleep in?” I look over at the clock. 5 AM. “Sorry mom.”

“Oh, none of that. I know the importance of a good night's rest.” She giggles. Seeing her happy face is enough to let me relax. “Come eat, ok?” With that, she steps away back into the hall. Once she’s gone, I let my eyes wander over the small room. A small desk has mom’s laptop sitting open on it. I check the doorway before getting out of bed and walking over to it. A chat window shows an exchange with a client satisfied with her design for them. Looking at the preview, it seems like some kind of typhoon graphic logo. I can’t lie, I find it quite appealing as well.

“Good job, mom.” I move my way over to the old wardrobe we’d been gifted from Master Yumi and open it up, retrieving a uniform for the day and setting it on the bed before finally leaving. The sounds of conversation reach all the way down here, and a part of me dreads going any further. Not like I got a choice, though. I walk down the hall, and am gradually welcomed by the sound of unpleasant talk.

“And then what did you do, sly bastard?!” The housemaster twirls her fork, waiting in bated breath for the same response she’s heard a million times by now.

“I told him my name wasn’t Oli, and he looked like a frog meeting god! Ahahaha!” Master Yumi’s eyes are filled with delight as she laughs right along with the new man who entered the house only recently. My eyes narrow as he enters my vision.

“Hun?” I feel my mom bump my side gently, giving me a concerned look. In her hands is a plate of toast and eggs.

“Thanks. I’m ok.” I gently take hold of the plate and try to give a little smile. That seems to assuage her just enough for her to let me move on to the dining room. Walking to the table, I walk past the free seat next to the man and instead take one next to the girl dressed in a black sweater and jeans, currently lost in conflict with a smaller girl.

“Yoruuuu, it can’t possibly be that bad.”

“No! I don’t want eggs!”

“But you love eggs…”

“No I don’t!”

“You’re fighting a losing battle, Rimi.” The girl looks away from the picky eater while I sit, letting me get a good look at her exhausted expression.

“Don’t be meannnn, I’m trying my best here.”

“I believe that. Let me try.” She nervously hands me the fork, and I bring it up to the young girl’s lips. “Yoru. Are you hungry?”

“Y-yes.”

“Cool. This is food.”

“But-”

“Is it not food?”

“I-it is…”

“And you’re hungry?”

“Yes…”

“Then eat.” The little girl stares at the fork, then at me, deep into my unmoving stare, the fork again, and timidly bites.

“...woah! I love eggs!” And like that, she’s feeding herself. Rimi looks at me as if I were some kind of savior.

“Knock it off with that.”

“My herooooo-”

“Knock it offffffff!” All of this, of course, is only barely audible, as the sound of Master Yumi and the man’s conversation grows louder. The hectic atmosphere really only draws one conclusion from my mind.

Too many people live here now.

###

“God, he’s so annoying!”

“Y-yeah?” Rimi jolts at my sudden outburst, but quickly regains composure, giving a little giggle. The walk to school today unfortunately has me already in a bad mood.

“What the hell gives him the right to be so loud so early in the morning? Doesn’t he know people are trying to eat?!”

“I think Miss Yumi may have some responsibility for that.”

“Bull! Just because someone can be loud doesn’t give you the right to be loud too! We all know how to not excite her, but he’s the exception, why?! Especially if he’s her son-in-law!”

“Uhm, Mina-”

“But no, ‘let’s be a pain to everyone when they clearly work harder than I do,’ what a loser! What an ugly, bullish, rude, childish-” I feel a gentle, familiar hand find its way to my head, gently rubbing. My brain turns to mush in an instant. In my state of weakness, she makes her attack.

“Did he do something to you?”

“He-... he… n-well, no, not really.” I let out a breath containing all my hatred. She’s too powerful…

“He doesn’t seem that bad to me. Maybe you should talk to him?”

“Y-you would say that. Aren’t you dating his son?”

“Wehehehe~” Her face goes red as she laughs like a dummy. The conversation dies there as we continue our walk in silence, her eventually taking her hand off my head. The feeling of the fall breeze blowing against me puts a calmness in my heart. I close my eyes, letting my mind drift off to anywhere but that man, or school, or whatever that black-haired prick has planned to make my day miserable. Visions of cooking, cleaning, helping Master Yumi, the couch, his face, his… resistance… and-

“Yuta… Yuta… I… I love you.”

The memory pops up in my brain, and once it’s there, it doesn’t budge. My body heats up. God, I… really said that. He said it back. Ugh, what the hell do I do?! I’m happy, right? Am I happy about it?! I-I think so, but wait, no! She looks so happy with him, I can’t just tear that up! I mean, every time I look at her, all I WANT is to see her happy. What’s my issue? Am I stupid???

“Rimiiiii! Minaaaa!” The sound of the voice behind me affirms that, no, I’m not, as real stupid is currently on its way. I turn my head to watch as a boy tries to skid to a stop next to me, only to fall on his face. “Owww…”

“Good morning Take!” Rimi gives him a warm welcome as he stands himself up.

“Dumbass.” I follow up after her.

“Ok, ok, none of that please.” He sighs, wincing as he touches his nose. “You two alright?”

“We’re good, and you?”

“Ehehe, fantastic! I was up all night scheming, concocting, and I must say, I’ve come up with quite the plan!” My eyes widen. A plan? Right… about Yuta, I bet. Could he actually have an idea?

“Yeah. What did you come up with?”

“We need to make a plan.” He spoke with absolute confidence.

The whole world felt like it responded with pure silence.

“... wha-”

“You’re right, Take!”

“Rimiiiiii, you get it!” The two share a fist bump, their faces filled with something I can imagine only those two could understand.

“I… ok.” In the end, It’s my own fault for expecting much.

###

The feeling like I don't exactly belong has still yet to fade from the air. Everyone I pass seems to be doing their best to not acknowledge me. It's not unpleasant, honestly. Compared to always having to tell people to leave me alone, I'd go so far as to call this an improvement. I just wish it wasn't so tense. It's making my skin feel off.

As the bell for lunch rings over the intercom, that tenseness finds a new origin. I can already see him outside the classroom door, pulling it to the side, flashing me an unpleasant smile. A part of me is amazed that he can still have the confidence to try the same thing every single day. The other part of me is exhausted of this, and that part is what takes control of my face.

“Scaryyy~.” My glare doesn't do much to assuage his advance, or his creepy voice.

“I'm not having lunch with you, Miura.” It’s routine at this point. I’d say nothing if my mouth didn’t feel pre-programmed.

“Why not, Ryuga? It'll be fun, I promise.”

“Please leave me alone.” I stand up, grabbing my folder and books.

“Ooo, no sass? You haven't been very fun lately, it's making me sad, Ryuga-”

“Miura, really. Leave me alone.”

“If I say no?” I feel my tongue forming words, but they never verbalize. Instead, I quietly move around him, till I feel a hand on my shoulder, refusing to leave even when I try to move it. “C'mon, your boy isn’t here, and nobody here really wants anything to do with you. Why not hang out with someone who does~?” All the anger burning up in my core comes out through my careful hand, brushing his off.

“Goodbye Miura.” I don’t look back, but I can feel his stare as I turn into the hall, leaving him far behind me. Whatever. I don’t need any of you. Your stares, your words, your emotions, as real or fake as they are. If that makes me alone, then so be it.

“Minaaaaa!” Standing on the staircase up, I see Rimi waving at me with a smile, the dumbass Take flashing me something like a peace sign and a grin.

“You don’t need to wait here, you’re inviting trouble.” I grumble, feeling a smile on my face.

“Nah nah, can’t say that when you’re smiling.”

“Yeah?” I feel my face contort.

“Jeez…” He doesn’t seem bothered. How sad. The amusement returns the smile to my face

“Cmooooooon, no bullying.” Rimi’s arms find their way around my neck, and my gaze darts elsewhere.

“... ok.”

“Hehe, good girl.” Good girl? Who says that? What’s wrong with her? Why’s she so warm?

“Oiiii, hurry up you two.”

“Waittt!” Rimi calls after him, before moving to take my hand.

“D-don’t pull on me!” She seems unbothered by my words, leading me along up the steps. My hand lightly squeezes to match hers.