The Mundane Girl

​Chiyoko's POV

​[Monday, February 12. 1992]

​My name is Chiyoko Dilara Watanabe, and I am just your normal, average teenage girl. Some might even say I'm quite fortunate, since I basically live what one would call a normal yet rich life. I have a mother who loves me, a father who cherishes me, and an aunt figure who nurtures me.

​And of course, I can't forget the most important one of all: my quirky but lovely little sister. Deep down, I wish she was my actual sister. But unfortunately, she is not. Regardless, though, she will always be my sibling, no matter what.

​I live quite a mundane life. I go to school, return home to my parents, visit Aunt Miyuki and Naoki-chan, come back home to do my homework, help Shizuka-chan and the rest of the girls with their maid duties, and then I go to sleep.

​I do this practically every day. My own little routine. But for some reason, it always feels like something is missing; and each time I feel this way, there is a sharp stinging sensation in my chest.

​I sat in my classroom looking out the window as I wondered just how beautiful Tokyo was. I wish I could go there someday. In front of me sat Mayumi, with dark brown curled bangs and light brown eyes.

​On my right sat Kumiko, with the Shibuya casual hairstyle and her mossy green eyes. It seems that in this school, a lot of girls keep up with trends, and these two were no exception. They wore colored contacts, and if that is not what it means to keep up with trends, then I don't know what is.

​“Only one day and a few hours left, Kumi-chan. Are you excited?”

​“More or less, but he's probably gonna be busy with practice, so I'm not really expecting him to remember a silly day like that.”

​“Oh please, I've seen you two, you know. I've witnessed firsthand just how much he adores you. He'd never forget.”

​“I guess so.” Kumiko blushed a little as she cleared her throat, while Mayumi glared at her with mischievous eyes and a smile that curled her lips in amusement.

​“Stop looking at me like that. It's creepy.”

​“Hehehehe…”

​“What about you?”

​“Me? Well, my goofy Makoto and I will be goin’ full-on karaoke style.”

​“Oh, well, that's bold of you, too.”

​“There's nothin’ bold about it at all, though. If it were up to me, we'd be going to an L-Hotel.”

​“You what?! Have you lost your mind?!”

​“I'm jokin’; I'd never do that. I have to remain pure for my Makoto after all, hehe…”

​They were both talking about the long-awaited day that most teenage girls find exciting. I also would find it exciting, if only the boys of this school did not treat me like I was some sort of perfect, flawless person. None of them expected me to be fond of anime and games.

​They interpreted what type of person I was based on how I looked, which made me feel like I should detach myself from all of them. But what did that bring me? A heart that is full, but also slightly empty at the same time.

​It was full because I had all the platonic love I could ask for, from classmates to family. The only thing that made it feel slightly empty was… the absence of romantic love.

​Mayumi turned to me as she murmured, “Hey, Watanabe-chan, are you excited about V-Day, too?”

​I stared in her direction as I lifted my chin. “Not especially. Why?”

​“What do you mean, why? It's Valentine's Day, for crying out loud. Don't you wanna spend the day with the one you love?”

​“I don't have anyone like that. Besides, even if I had that person, he'd just get fed up with the amount of unwanted attention I get just for being alive. Do you not remember last year?”

​“Oh yeah, the chocolate fiasco. That was pretty funny, though, hahaha…”

​“It was not,” I said, while looking out the window again.

​“That day was pretty crazy, huh? I mean, who gets chocolates from almost every boy in the entire school? That was pretty absurd,” Kumiko chatted while crossing her arms.

​“You jealous?”

​“What? Of course not. Why would I be? It's not like I like the attention or anything.”

​“Red alert, red alert! We've got a Tsundere on the premises.”

​“I'm not a Tsundere, you airhead.”

​“How mean... I feel… so violated.”

​“Why!”

​“Forget it. The damage has already been done.”

​Kumiko ignored Mayumi's drama as she spoke to me again. “So does this mean that you won't celebrate Valentine’s?”

​“Well, I can always just give obligatory chocolates…” I paused while my chest began to feel heavy. “Like last year.”

​“Why not take one of the boys as your partner, though?”

​“None of them make my heart flutter. That is why. I want to be with someone who sees me for who I am: a normal girl who just wants to be loved. Not as some perfect rich girl.”

​“I guess that makes sense.” Kumiko held her chin as her eyes wandered.

​“Well don't you worry, Watanabe-chan. You'll find someone someday. I'm sure of it.”

​“Thank you, Kumiko-chan. I hope that you're right.”

*****

​[Wednesday, February 14. 16:26 PM]

​After going through a very long day of seeing people give each other chocolates; and couples sharing them almost everywhere I went, I could finally go home—who knew my school had so many couples?

​Since the day was almost over, I decided to go to the Takahashi residence. My father's car dropped me off near their gate as I got off and said goodbye to the family's chauffeur, Tanaka-san.

​Then I strolled into the yard as I closed the gate behind me. I walked to the door and knocked. It opened as a very specific, cheeky, smiling wonder greeted me.

​“Onee-chan, you're here!” Naoki-chan said as she hugged me tightly. Then she sniffed me. “You smell nice. Were you meeting with a boy before you came here?”

​“Of course not!” I blurted, as a flustered look appeared squarely on my visage.

​“Well, that's disappointing. I wanted to see you being carried like a princess by a handsome young man.”

​“You know, sometimes I wonder just how an eight-year-old knows about stuff like this.”

​“Simple: because of you, Onee-chan.”

​I pinched her nose as I glared at her with mock indignation. “Do not even dare blame this on me, you little liar.”

​“He-he-he…”

​I revealed the small chocolate bar I was hiding and handed it to her. “Here, take this. Happy Valentine's Day, little Naoki.”

​“Thank you so much! I love chocolate.”

​“You say that about everything.”

​“No, I don't; and even if I do, which I don't, it's perfectly healthy to like food.”

​“Whatever you say, little sister,” I teased as I patted her head. “What do you want to do today?”

​“Let's watch anime!”

​I laughed politely. “Okay, then let us go forth to the world of animation.”

​“Yeah!” Naoki-chan chirped loudly as she raised both her arms over her head. Her lips parted in a joyful grin. 

"Yeah! Hehehehe..."

I imitated her while we entered the house and headed for the living room. We sat down on the couch as Aunt Miyuki entered the room. “Well, look who's here.”

​“Hello, Aunt Miyuki.” I stood up and bowed my head.

​“At ease, soldier… heh heh heh…”

​These two are basically the same person but from different generations. Comforting, but also weird, I thought to myself while laughing awkwardly. 

For someone whose eyes were so cold and intimidating, she was quite friendly and nice. Her blue eyes shone like the beautiful sky, which completed a face that looked more like it had been manufactured.

​“How's your mother doing?”

​“She's been doing well. I heard her saying she hasn't talked to you in a while.”

​“Well, she's not wrong. It really has been a while. I'll go call her right now. See you kiddos in a bit.”

​I nodded while also bowing at the same time. Meanwhile, Naoki-chan just stayed glued to the TV as the first season of The Prince of The Two Kingdoms played its seventh episode.

​A warm smile found itself on my profile as I hugged her while whispering, “There's a roachy on your leg.”

​Naoki froze; then her head lowered to her leg and she saw the roach. She jumped up as it flew away while I fell on my back. “Onee-chan, you know I hate roaches!”

​“That's why I warned you.”

​“Uh-huh.” She looked at the TV, completely ignoring me. “Look. Lyrien just gave Martha a kiss on the cheek. How romantic.”

​“Now I know where you get it from. I really am the cause.”

[To be Continued...]