Yuuki Uchida I : A Different Side

The homeroom teacher asked everyone in the classroom, "The elections for the student council will start this February. Is someone interested in running for president?"

I looked around the classroom, no one was raising their hand. Then, out of nowhere, Yuuki raised her hand and said, "Sensei! I'll run for president."

The homeroom teacher smiled and said, "Okay, Uchida-san. I'll fill you in the details about it and do your best at the elections."

Yuuki replied, "I will."

After the bell rang, a guy outside the classroom asked.

"Is Uchida-san here?"

Yuuki replied, "I'm right here."

The guy entered the classroom with two girls beside him and approached Yuuki.

He introduced, "I'm Masa Obara from Class 2-C. I'm also running for president."

Yuuki replied, "I'm Yuuki Uchida. Nice to meet you, Obara-Kun."

Obara-Kun proposed something to Yuuki, "Uchida-san, please forfeit on running as the president of the student council."

Yuuki didn't quite understand what he said and asked, "What?"

Obara-Kun clarified, "I think you didn't hear me at first but I want you to forfeit on becoming the president of the student council."

Yuuki denied it, "I'm gonna passed on that one."

One of the girls spoke, "How dare you decline Obara-Sama's offer?"

Sama? Is he some kind of prince?

The other girl spoke, "Everyone that Obara-Sama asked, they all forfeit before even the election started. Only Obara-Sama can make this school great again."

Yuuki replied, "I'm sorry but I declined your offer. I'll run for the presidency and there's nothing you can do about it. Please, excuse me for a bit. I need to go to the faculty room," as she leaves the classroom.

Obara-Kun mumbled, "You'll pay for this, Uchida-san."

—

It's the first Sunday of February. I went to the hospital for an annual monthly check-up.

Dr. Minoru said, "Your health is fine at the moment but keep an eye on it."

I stand up, about to leave the room, and replied, "I understand. I'll be going back now."

Dr. Minoru stopped me, "Wait a minute."

I responded, "What's wrong?"

Dr. Minoru asked, "Can you run an errand for me?"

I asked for the details, "Where do I go?"

Dr. Minoru handed a receipt to me and said, "I need you to go to Akihabara today. It's a new console that I pre-ordered last December. Can you get it for me?"

I replied, "Fine, I'll do it."

Dr. Minoru smiled, "Thanks, Tanahashi."

I left the hospital and took the train to Akihabara to get the console that he pre-ordered.

I arrived at Akihabara and went to the store that the receipt says.

There's a long line outside of the store. I queue, with the rest of the line, and waited for my turn to get the new console. The person in front of me is wearing a jacket and a beanie on their head.

I asked the person in front of me, "Is this the queue for the new console?"

The person turns around. It's a girl with glasses who quietly said, "Yes. It's for the new console."

I said, "Than—" but I stopped myself and realized who's the person in front of me.

"Yuuki?!"

"Shin?!"

...

"Ehhh?!"

"Ehhh?!"

I asked, "What are you doing here, Yuuki?"

Yuuki replied, "No, no. What are you doing here, Shin?"

I answered her, "I was here because Dr. Minoru asked for a favor."

Yuuki answered, "I'm here for the new console," but she instantly covers her mouth, realizing that she shouldn't have said it.

Then, she got serious suddenly and said, "After this, let's go somewhere private."

She turned around before even I can say something to her. I just waited and queued in line, and in a while, it's my turn to get it. I gave the receipt, and they gave me the console immediately and left the store. I looked around and I can't see Yuuki anywhere. The store doors suddenly opened, and she appeared but she has stuff with her. 

Yuuki asked, "Where should we talk?"

I replied, "Up to you."

Yuuki ordered, "I know a place, follow me."

Just like what she said, I followed her to a place that I didn't even know where.

As soon as I follow her, the more it gets weirder. Around us right now is all love hotels. What are we doing here? Then, I saw two of our classmates. I spoke, "Yuuki, those two are—" but she drags me to the entrance of one of those love hotels to hide. Yuuki warned, "Stay for a bit here, I don't want them to find out about me."

What? I'm more confused than before.

She peeks if the area is clear and she goes out and said, "Let's go." After a bit, we arrived and entered a cafe that is hidden in the depths of Akihabara. We sat down and talked.

"Yuuki, what's this about?"

...

She's not answering.

"Yuuki?"

She said something but it was so quiet that I didn't hear it.

"Come again?"

She hides her face and said, "Don't tell anyone about this...Please."

I replied, "I won't but as long as you explain it to me."

She smiled for a bit but her stomach roared. Must be hungry, I said, "We should order something." She hid her face out of embarrassment and just nodded at me. We ordered food and start eating it. 

After we ate, I asked, "Can you explain it to me now?" She replied, "I think I couldn't explain it to you clearly until I show it to you." I asked again, "Show it to me?" She stood up and said, "Let's go to my place, then you'll see what I'm talking about."

We left the cafe and on the way to the station, to Yuuki's house. In a span of an hour, we arrived at her house. She gets the keys out of her purse to open the door.

I asked, "Are your parents always busy?"

She replied, "Yeah. Both of them are on a business trip right now."

"I see."

We entered the house and like back then, no one is at the home.

"Follow me, Shin."

I followed her, just like what she said.

We're in front of her room. She opened the door but the lights aren't on and it was dark. I entered the room while it was dark and she turned on the lights and...

"Yuuki...what is this?"

She mumbled, "Welcome...to my room, Shin."

The room is filled with a lot of stuff. I looked to the left, and there was a shelf filled with anime figurines, mangas, and novels. Then, there's a display case, filled with figurines. A big television, with numerous video game consoles underneath it, from classic consoles to new ones. And besides, the television is another shelf but this time, it's filled with video games.

 On the other end of the room is a large desk with a gaming computer on it, with three monitors. I looked at the right side, and I see a bed, and the pillows are anime characters.

Am I still in Akihabara? What is this? 

I'm just speechless at what I'm seeing right now.

Yuuki asked, "Uhmmm...Shin, is something wrong?"

I replied, "Oh, there's nothing wrong. I...just didn't expect it."

Yuuki exits the room, "I'll get us something to drink, you stay here," and closes the door.

I looked around and looked at the manga that she has on the shelf. It's all different, from rom-com to action and mystery. I saw a manga that caught my eye. I took it from the shelf and I looked at the cover and it's a topless boy. I look at the back of the cover and it's a yaoi manga.

Yuuki opened the door and she saw me holding it. She immediately puts down the drinks and grab the manga out of my hands and said, "It's not what you think, Shin!" I replied, "I know, I know. Let's sit down."

We both sat down and Yuuki suddenly spoke, "I think I need to start explaining myself."

I just nodded at her.

She started explaining, "Since a kid, I've been engaged with anime and manga."

I stopped her and said, "That's not what I'm trying to find out."

She asked, "What do you mean?"

I replied, "I meant, a while ago, you pulled me into the entrance of a love hotel, just to hide from our classmates."

Yuuki reacted, "Ahh..."

Then, she started explaining again, "When I was a kid, I wasn't hiding it from everyone and I thought it would be fine but I got bullied as a kid. I have to change schools and hide it from everyone else."

"Do the others know about this?"

"No. Only you, Shin."

"I see."

"Will you not tell anyone about this?"

"Don't worry about it, I won't tell anyone about it."

"Promise?" as she holds her pinky out.

"Promise," as I held out my pinky to make a pinky promise with her.

I looked at the time and said, "It's about time I go home."

She stands up, "I'll accompany you, Shin."

I was about to refuse her offer but it would be rude to refuse. We exited the house and were on the way to the station.

"But before that, there's a place I want to show you."

"What is it?"

"You'll see."

I followed her and it was a big bridge. She spoke, "When I was a kid, I often hide under this bridge and cry when the kids at my school bullied me."

I see, this is the place where she hides her tears from everyone else.

We cross the bridge and she stopped for a bit and looked at the lovely sunset in the distance.

Her eyes are glowing with excitement, "It's pretty."

I followed, "This bridge has a great view of the sun."

She replied, "I know right."

We stared at the sunset while crossing the bridge.

"Hey, Shin!"

"What is it?"

She placed her fingers in front of her lips while smiling and said, "Everything that happened today, is our little secret, okay?"

I smiled back at her, "I know."

Everything has a side of theirs that no one wants to know.

Her secret is our little secret.

And this little secret of ours, I'll protect it no matter what.

Because I want to keep seeing that smile of hers.

And her smile is the brightest that I have seen.

And I wish to protect that of hers smile forever.

...

No...I want to protect that smile.

...

However, tomorrow has other plans.

...

It's already tomorrow.

I entered the school and there were a lot of students in front of the bulletin board. I tried to get a peek of what's happening and...What?! What the hell is this?!