mottainai | h. sakura

一

an: this book follows both manga and anime. contains major manga spoilers. read with discretion.

The word mottainai or もったいない is a phrase that can be used for any occasion. The word is mostly used to express regret over waste; like food that was barely touched. Or too much of something that they can't digest. It is also more commonly used as a way to say "it's not you, it's me" type of rejection to someone. Moreover, the word mottainai can also be used in the event that someone is too good for you.  

A girl named Haruna Tachibana always loved the wind chimes at the very entrance of Tonpu Market Street in the town of Makochi. It's pleasant tinkling sounds reminds her of ephemeral fairy bells, creating a positive energy along with the gentle breeze. Among the many stalls that sells various snacks, trinkets and local cuisine dishes, her most favorite is the Cafe Pothos - a dine in restaurant where she and her older sister Kotoha are currently employed. Though only a part time employee, Haruna loves to drop by for every chance she gets. And by every chance she means everyday.

A girl named Haruna Tachibana is a girl with light pink hair with a length that cascades down to her waist and pink colored gentle eyes. On school, summer and winter breaks, she likes to paint her nails with light blue. Although she is quiet, she tries to convey all the words she wants to say through facial expressions. When she is happy, she has a beaming expression; when she is sad, she has a frown on her lips.; when she is hungry, she stares at the food she wants to eat. Only the ones who are very close to her know of her facial expression language.

Only two schools are situated within the town of Makochi - one is an all boy high school, Furin High School or more known as Furin High. The students of the male dominant institution formed a local group, calling themselves as Bofurin and with a single objective - protect the town from harm. While they all collectively wear the same gakuran jacket, the uniform is inconsistent as each individual styles their pants and inner shirt according to their preference.

And the other school is Sacred Heart High School - an all girl Catholic school that was founded in France. The students of the female dominant institution all can speak English; some girls can opt to learn a third language, choosing either French or Mandarin. All the girls wear the same plain button down blouse and blue and green checkered pleated skirt.

The school doesn't start until tomorrow, hence why Haruna is lounging around in one of the private rooms above Cafe Pothos. Clad in an oversized orange sweater with black and white striped long socks; currently reading about honey badgers and how they can survive even the most venomous venom of snake bites. Whatever book is handed to her, she is quick to read and absorb it's text; to say that Haruna is book smart would be an understatement. She is also made aware of a nickname a lot of her fellow schoolmates call her by. As embarrassing as it is, she pretends she does not know of it.

Three knocks on the door pried her attention away from the book, tilting her head to look at Kotoha, her older sister.

"Do you want to run some errands with me, Haruna?" The older girl asks, in which Haruna responds by smiling. A clear indication that she would love to.

"Great!" Kotoha beams, entering inside the room Haruna is in, crouching down in front of her. "While I'll head to the supermarket, go to a fruit shop and purchase strawberries and cherries." She adds, handing to her a few printed paper bills. Haruna takes them by her hand and places it safely inside the pocket of her sweater.

"I'll be heading out now." Kotoha says, standing back up and straightening her legs. "I'll go meet you downstairs later on!" With that, she turns around and leaves the room. Left to Haruna's devices, the younger girl also stands up from her spot, closes the book she is reading then hurriedly jogs out of the room and down the stairs. 

. . . . . . . . . . ♡

"Oh my! It's you, Haruna!" Beamed an early middle aged woman with very short cropped hair, her red lip shining under the warm rays of the sun. "Is there anything I can get you? All the fruits here are fresh since they had just been delivered today." She adds.

Mrs Shirasu is an early middle aged woman who own a fruit stall by the end of the market place. Her thirty year old something son can be seen walking around with an apron, stacking up the fruits neatly. As he spots Haruna, he gives her a smile, raises his hand and waves hello to her; in which Haruna greets him back by smiling at him.

"Strawberries have once again become popular because it's the spring season again." Mrs Shirasu spoke, resting her hands on top of her hips. "Though I've got avocado's, lemon's and lime's too." Mrs Shirasu went on. But as her eyes turned to look at Haruna, she could see that the fifteen year old girl is already looking at the clear packs of strawberries and cherries, fruits that had just been delivered to them earlier.

Mrs Shirasu lets out a small sigh through her nostrils, slowly shaking her head. Inside her mind, she is reminded of a conversation she had with Kotoha. "Alright." She spoke, causing Haruna to divert her attention back to her. "Strawberries and cherries is it? Go and take how many you want."

With that, Haruna took as much as the money Kotoha had given her to suffice.

Through with her purchase of the fruits, Haruna smiles at both Mrs Shirasu and her son before leaving the stall, one hand holding onto a white colored plastic. Mrs Shirasu had even shared some of her umeboshi rice balls to her, claiming that she had made so much for dinner last night and promised to give both Tachibana sisters if either of them dropped by to her stall. Pleased, Haruna leaves the store smiling with her eyes closed.

"Good morning, Haruna!"

"Hi Haruna!"

"Good luck on your first day to Sacred Heart!"

To every person that passed her by and greeted her, she would give them a smile and nod her head a little towards them. Despite everyone knowing of her name and face, she isn't used to the attention nor being the center of attention. Hence why she is forever grateful to Kotoha and her older brother to divert it away from her.

She wasn't made for the crowd but the crowd loves her.

The rays of the sun slowly begins to feel a little hot, hence why Haruna is picking up her pace a little, wanting to go home and even indulge on the rice balls Mrs Shirasu shared with Kotoha. However, just as she is inching closer to Cafe Pothos, her tracks slowly come to a halt, noticing that a few distance from her is a crowd of people, few of which wore the Furin High School uniform. What were doing here? She has no clue.

Just as she was about to make a sharp turn to the right and enter the cafe via it's back door, she notices a boy leaping from the ground, clad in the all boy's school's uniform.

"You delinquents are trying to play the hero now? If all ya gotta do is win in a fight, then even I can do that, easy!" He shouts, one leg stretched out as if he was aiming to kick someone. "It's so damn cool!" He shouts once more, confirming her suspicion that he did kicked someone in the face, their hand letting go of the knife they held. Just as he landed coolly on the ground, Haruna's eyes widened at the sight.

A girl named Haruna Tachibana always loved the wind chimes at the very entrance of Tonpu Market Street in the town of Makochi. It's pleasant tinkling sounds reminds her of ephemeral fairy bells, creating a positive energy along with the gentle breeze. From where she stood, she believes she could hear the soothing tinkling pitch, dancing along with the light wind; for the first time, her heart races over a boy.