A Second Chance

An acquaintance?

The loud thunder and lightning woke me up. I slowly stretched, squishing my sheets and hugging the pillow. After a minute of stretching I slowly looked towards the window. It was pouring down. The sky looked grey and the clouds looked smudged.

Just like a painting. I slowly reached for my phone to check the time. 7:30!? I barely have time to get ready! I rush to the door and get my toe stubbed. "Ouch!! Ugh! The last thing I need when I'm running late" I say as I open the door.

I run to the kitchen and see a tall man wearing a blue shirt and a black shorts
" Michikatsu!" I yelled, trying to get his attention. He slowly looks up and takes a sip of his coffee. He smiles as he sees me all scared and tense. "Ohayo, sleeping beauty" he says as he runs his hands through his hair. " Office! We're running late. And where the hell were you last night?" I ask as I fix my nightdress and frown at him. He smiles gently and said " Oh dear, you really are overworking and you should stop it. I told you yesterday that today, the boss gave us a day off because of the heavy rains. And about last night.." he stopped the sentence mid-way and his cheeks lit up with a faint blush. I smile at him devilishly. "Aww! Look who's blushing." I say as I walk up to him and pull his cheeks and he reacts quickly by moving my hand from his face. " It's Ame, isn't it?" I ask as I slide a chair towards me, to sit. He smiles wider as soon as he hears her name.

Ame Mike was a pure Swedish beauty. She had light grey eyes that were narrow and tender. Her face was sharp and her nose was well defined. She had a perfect peach complexion and her tall stature adds to her bold appearance. She was once Miss Sweden before she moved to Japan. And let me tell you she was gorgeous. I met her at a party that Michikatsu invited me to. Both of them were pretty good friends since then but now, it's been at least a year since they started dating. "Yeah.. it's her. I asked her to officially be my girlfriend yesterday." He said as he turned his face away and got up to get me some coffee.

" What!? Wow... what did she say?" I asked, jumping out of my seat and rushing towards him. I peeked up from right below his chin making his eyes fixed on mine. I saw a light shine in his eyes- a small sparkle. The answer was obvious. It was that young woman who brought this sparkle in his eyes. Ame. That name. It reminded me of someone. Someone too dear...
_____________________________

I put my coat on and took my hand bag as I got out of my room. Michikatsu was reading the book 'Sita' by Amish. I smiled as I saw the confused look on his face as he tried to wrap Indian mythology around his head.
"Wait..what!? No no no! This can't be happening. Who the heck is Dashrath!? Ahhh it's confusing!" He screams and that was my cue to start laughing. I held my stomach wheezing after laughing so hard. "What? This is all Sakura's fault. Why did she make me read this? Huh!? You cousins drive me crazy"

He said as he slammed the book on his face. I laughed again louder this time and plopped onto the sofa resting my legs on his lap. He slowly took the book away and kept it on the table and looked at me with a smile that I loved to see. But that moment was ruined when I thought about what Niu-san had told me. Did he really come back?

My face dropped and I was staring at the wall which wasn't left unnoticed by Michikatsu. He kept calm and slowly lifted my legs and placed them on the floor and moved close to me. " Hey.. is there something you want to talk about?" He asked with concern, lacing his voice. I looked up at him and raised my eyebrows. "Eh well, Niu told me that Kuroo just came back home" I said as I looked down to my hands. "How did she know?" He asked as he slowly patted my head.

"Michi-kun, you know that he's a really really popular person right?" I asked as I fixed my posture and fixed my eyes on his. " He won't trouble you, don't worry and remember you will always be my chotti behan."( little sister) He says with a reassuring smile and a stiffer posture. But I didn't notice it much because I was stuck on what he just called me. Behan!?(sister)

"Wait.. behan!? How did you learn? I'm so happy!" I squealed as I pulled him into a tight hug. He always knew what to do when I'm down. But I didn't expect him to learn Hindi.
"I'm reading Sita after all, what do you expect?" He said with a smirk. "But anyways, I'll be there for you and that idiot doesn't deserve a goddess like you" he said.
"Aham janami" I said with a sly smirk. His face changed. "I can't understand it! It's Sanskrit right? Tell me!!" He whined. I got up without changing my facial expression.

" Where are you going?" He asked me as he turned to my direction. " To my favourite place " I said as I smiled. He smiled too because he very well knew where I was heading to.
________________________

I entered the shop and the fragrance of tea and coffee made my nose tingle. I took a deep breath to get a stronger scent. I looked at the waitress at the counter and smiled.
" Akira-san, Ohayo! ( Good morning) " she greeted me as I walked closer.
"Ohayo-gozaimasu!" I wished her with a wide smile. I ordered my usual tea and checked my phone while waiting for it. I looked at the light rain in awe. Suddenly I felt a very familiar presence at the door. I turned to see a tall man in a maroon shirt trying to fix his wet and messy hair. I carefully looked at him in an almost creepy manner. Kuroo...?

He lifted his head and I let out a sigh of relief. It wasn't him. I was startled by the waitress calling my name. I walked towards the counter slowly in slight embarrassment. She chuckled and gave me my tea. I paid for it and left with the hot drink in my hand. My hands were warmed. I looked at my hands and smiled as I walked away from the shop back to my apartment. Suddenly I bumped into a tall muscular man and spilled all the hot tea on his black shirt. Why does this have to happen to me!?

I squinted my eyes and slowly looked up at him to see his face blue with worry. " Aki-
I am so sorry. This is my fault. Your drink! Did it burn your hand!? " He asked me before I could say anything. I was shocked by his questions. If anyone has gotten a burn here it's him and he was asking me whether I was alright.

"Oh no no no! It's my fault, I'm too clumsy today. I'm so sorry for hurting you and spoiling your shirt!" I said as I tried to get a view of him. He looks familiar. He still looked worried and scared. " Do I know you?" I asked him out of the blue. " Uhmm I don't know... I might have been the guy who followed you for 10 years in school saying that he loves you" he said as he rubbed his hand behind his neck. A small pink was spread across his face. "Keiji!? Oh my god, you've become so..so- you've changed so much!" I said with surprise written all over my face.

x--------------x

[ I don't know who the artist of the sketch is, but whoever you are- YOU ARE SO FRICKIN AMAZINGGG. Great work :> ]