IT BLOSSOMS, hatori sohma [Fruits Basket]

Chapter Sixty One

The memory of Hatori's abrupt push echoed in Ryu's mind, refusing to be ignored. At first, she tried to brush it aside, but the more she attempted to dismiss it, the stronger its presence became.

The scene played over and over in her thoughts, the image of Hatori backing away from her, his eyes avoiding hers, seared into her mind. The lingering emotions only grew stronger as she pushed them down, their intensity growing by the minute.

Ryu's anger mounted, but it wasn't directed at Hatori. Instead, it was aimed at herself, for allowing the situation to bother her so deeply. She questioned why this moment had affected her so much when, by all accounts, she and Hatori were just close friends. She would often rely on him in difficult times, but there was no romance or any hint of anything beyond friendship between them.

Ryu attempted to convince herself that her feelings towards Hatori were purely platonic. She repeated the thought over and over, trying to force herself to believe it. Yet, deep down, she felt a sharp pang in her chest, and for a brief moment, she could have sworn she heard Dragon's voice whisper, "Keep telling yourself that."

Despite the turmoil of emotions within her, Ryu was stubbornly determined to suppress them. While she couldn't completely silence the whisper or the nagging feelings in the back of her mind, she found some semblance of peace and quiet by keeping them at bay. For now, that was enough to quell the noise and the memories that threatened to consume her.

During the remaining days of summer, Ryu made a decisive move to shape the course of her life. The tumultuous, guilt-ridden thoughts about Himawari were placed aside for now, a decision that might have been ill-advised in hindsight. But for now, Ryu needed to prioritize her own emotional and mental well-being, giving herself space to breathe and find some peace within the chaos.

One summer day, while Himawari was away at Shigure's house, Ryu found herself alone. Conscious of Shigure's recent efforts to avoid her, she chose not to visit, although the hurt and confusion over his behavior weighed heavily on her. Understanding Shigure's complex nature, Ryu knew that a straightforward conversation seemed elusive in their friendship, making it difficult for them to talk it out.

Ryu refused to succumb to her loneliness and decided to venture into town with the intention of diverting her thoughts. Her first destination was the local bookstore, hoping to immerse herself in the comfort of books and forget about her troubles, if only temporarily.

It didn't take long for Ryu to stumble upon a small bookstore called Shiraki Books. The humble establishment appealed to her taste, its simplicity echoing her own affinity for quieter, less extravagant settings.

With a soft smile, Ryu stepped into the bookstore, the bell on the door announcing her arrival. The interior was warm and inviting, crammed with rows and rows of books. The scent of old paper and ink filled the air, creating a welcoming ambiance that instantly soothed her racing thoughts.

Ryu found herself so engrossed in her thoughts and exploration of the bookstore that she didn't notice the employee approaching her until she felt a soft tap on her shoulder. Startled, she almost screamed, and the employee, equally surprised, also startled in response. However, once Ryu turned around, she released the breath she was holding, a mixture of relief and embarrassment evident in her expression.

The employee apologized, bowing her head, but Ryu dismissed it with a wave of her hand. "It's alright," she assured her. "I was kind of lost in my own thoughts."

The employee chuckled and replied, "No worries, we have quite a few customers who get lost in their thoughts here. Anyway, I just wanted to ask if you're looking for something specific."

"Actually, I'm just browsing," Ryu responded, a small smile on her face. "But I do have a soft spot for some good mystery novels. Got any recommendations?"

The employee, it turned out, was just helping out at her parents' bookstore during the summer and admitted that she might not be the most knowledgeable about the books, but she tried her best to assist. Together, they perused the selection of mystery novels, chatting casually as they discussed various titles.

As Ryu settled down with her books, the conversation with the employee continued, leading them to discover a shared connection in a small town like Kaibara. It turned out that Mayuko Shiraki, the employee, was Kyo's high school teacher. Small world.

Ryu asked about Kyo's school days, and it was no surprise to hear that he excelled academically. However, the revelation that he had an abundance of friends came as a pleasant shock to her. This information filled her heart with happiness, as she recognized how important those friendships were for her brother's well-being.

"I'm happy to hear that," Ryu mused aloud, her voice soft. "I knew he had some friends, but I didn't realize it was such a large number. It warms my heart to know that he has a strong support system around him."

Mayuko smiled and nodded in agreement. "Yes, he's quite popular among his peers. He has a group of close friends that he spends a lot of time with, and I often see them hanging out and getting into trouble together."

Time seemed to slip past while Ryu and Mayuko continued their conversation, the hours flying by with ease and the evening slowly approaching. But eventually, Ryu realized it was time for her to go. Remembering that she needed to run some errands, she reluctantly decided to bid her new acquaintance farewell.

"I should probably get going," Ryu said, standing up and gathering her things. "I've got a few errands to run before it gets too late."

"Of course," Mayuko replied, understanding the need for Ryu to leave. "It was great chatting with you. Feel free to come by anytime."

Ryu smiled warmly at the invitation. "I'll definitely come by again. It was lovely meeting you, and I'd love to chat more."

As Ryu prepared to leave the bookstore, she shot one last farewell smile to Mayuko before stepping out into the evening air, the bookstore door closing behind her with a gentle click.

With her errand list in mind, Ryu made her way to the supermarket, preparing to stock up on essentials for dinner. The summer evening air was pleasant on her skin, and she found herself looking forward to a peaceful night at home.

As Ryu strolled towards the supermarket, she suddenly noticed a male figure who appeared lost. Even from a distance, she felt compelled to check if he needed help. As she approached and tapped his shoulder, he slowly turned around and she froze, recognition and surprise in her eyes.