"𝗕𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲, 𝗜'𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀."
Throughout her entire life, Iwakura Chihaya remained by Itadori Yuji's side. Despite being complete opposites, they had maintained a deep friendship for many years. As they entered high...
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"Well done," the competition's director stated as he offered me a certificate of recognition for her outstanding performance. She inclined her head before grabbing the paper and standing beside the director, who was in front of local photographers to shoot a photograph. In the corner of her pupils, she could sense the simultaneous clapping of the audience, striking their palms together and creating a loud echo in the stadium. Among the audience, there stood the ones who had given her life — her parents.
Awakening to a loud, swirling vibration above her bed, Chihaya silenced her handphone. She softly let out a heavy breath as she nestled on a fluffy pad, closing her eyes again. Following her usual routine, she pondered her future, singeing her brows in anticipation of what the outcome might be. Her body seemed to weigh down as if transparent weights were pressing down against her and anchoring her body to the cement.
The lids underneath her eyes were drooping from her skin. Her Sapphire hair was frizzy and tangled, floating through the thin air. She grunted softly after realising that her tiredness was eradicating her consciousness, so Chihaya hauled her arms and legs with great effort and mosey towards the bathroom.
Entering her bathroom, she stumbled upon her mirror and looked at the reflection of her face. "Yikes," she spoke as she tapped her face gently while she shifted her head in different directions, examining a small, red bump on her chin.
In Chihaya's head, she was particular that her poor sleeping habits were taking over her body. Having readied herself for school, Chihaya emerged from her bedroom clad in her school uniform, bag in hand. She cast a glance to the left and right with a fervent desire to stay out of sight following a heated argument with her parents over spending time with the pink-haired boy the previous night.
"Chihaya," the deep timbre of her father's voice echoed through the second-floor hallway.
With sapphire hair cascading down her shoulders, Chihaya held her breath for a fleeting moment. She rotated her head, lips twitching in anticipation. "Yes?" she responded, a subtle tension lingering in the air.
"Are you leaving?" her father's query hung in the space between them.
Chihaya nodded, her eyes deliberately avoiding a direct gaze.
"Did you manage to have breakfast? There's a loaf of bread on the table. Grab it before you go. Leaving with an empty stomach is not good for your health," her father's advice carried a paternal concern.
A pause settled, and then her father spoke, addressing the palpable strain with his wife. "I know your mother has been rather strict lately. I apologise for her aggression. She's been through a lot, working tirelessly all day. I hope you can understand her situation," he explained, his voice carrying the weight of unspoken burdens.
"I get where Mom's coming from, but it's just confusing why hanging out with Yuji is such a big deal. He's parentless, but why does that matter? Grandpa did a good job raising him. And it's not the first time, Dad. Even if it's not Yuji, Mom always finds a reason to talk negatively about my friends," Chihaya remarked, her frustration visible on her face.
Chihaya's father hesitated, swallowing her words. Closing his eyes, he gulped a visible eagerness to respond. "Just understand your mother, okay? I don't want to escalate this conversation further," he concluded, retreating downstairs and leaving Chihaya adrift in a sea of unanswered questions.
—
While walking through the streets of Sendai City, Chihaya trudged along, her eyes fixed on the ground. A heavy feeling lingered, her father's apparent disregard for her emotions casting a shadow on her thoughts. Weren't parents supposed to lend an ear to their children? The recurring pattern of being ignored when she opened up left her questioning this fundamental expectation.
Suddenly, an intense force teased the back of her head, and her shoulder felt an unexpected pressure, rooting her feet to the concrete ground. "W-What?" her eyes flickered, nervously scanning her surroundings.
To her surprise, Chihaya found herself face to face with an enormous figure sooner than she expected. A momentary pause in her breath and a thundering heartbeat accompanied her wide-eyed astonishment. The hairs on her skin stood on end, and she was too stunned to utter a word as if she had just encountered a terrifying, unknown creature.
"POMPOMPURIN!" Chihaya exclaimed in unison with an indistinct voice, their eyes fixed on a round cream-coloured golden retriever dog. This quirky canine was adorned with long ears, dotted eyes, a brown beret atop its head, and double U-shaped lips with a small dot in the centre — a statue crafted from clay.
Chihaya's eyes lit up momentarily, but she quickly retracted her excitement, realising she had perhaps embarrassed herself. Straightening her posture, a faint redness on her cheeks, she glanced around and began to pull away.
"Excuse me, Miss," a friendly voice called out from the crowd, expressing appreciation for her speech.
Chihaya took a deep breath, turning to face the person she had caught the attention of. In front of her eyes, there stood a young man, quite pale and seemingly in need of direction. Dark circles under his eyes hinted at a potentially long day, and his tousled raven hair added a touch of disarray. Yet, it was his tired, sodalite eyes that drew Chihaya's focus.
"Hey, do you know where Tsutsujigaoka Park is?" The young man's question hung in the air.
"Tsutsujigaoka Park..? You can take the Senseki Line from Sendai Station and hop off at Tsutsujigaoka Station. Keep walking straight, and you'll find the park," Chihaya replied, offering practical guidance.
"So, that means... I'm on the opposite side!?" The young man's exclamation carried a hint of panic. "I should've asked Mister Ijichi for a ride! I should've seen this coming."
"If only I hadn't been so overconfident, I wouldn't be in this mess!" He continued to mumble, his thumb absentmindedly massaging his palms. "Ugh, you dumb, stupid, ridiculous," he scolded himself, the frustration evident in his voice.
"Mister Gojo's probably not going to send me to Africa!" he whimpered, the absurdity of his anxiety emerging.
"Uh..."
Reality suddenly reclaimed the boy with sodalite eyes. Caught in a moment of confusion, he stared at the blue-haired girl, his face now flushed with embarrassment. "I'm sorry!" he blurted out after realising the awkwardness of his previous outburst. A loud rumbling noise erupted from his stomach, intensifying his flustered state.
Chihaya reached into her school bag, pulling out a loaf of bread to offer. "Here," she said, placing it in his hand.
"It's not much, but I hope it helps," she added with a smile, nodding before walking past him.
"W-Wait!" he shouted. "Can I ask what's your name?"
"My name?"
He nodded.
"Chihaya," she introduced herself.
"Chihaya," the boy repeated.
Their conversation was interrupted by a buzzing phone. The young man hastily retrieved his device, answered the call, and was met with screams on the other end. Sweating profusely, he apologised to Chihaya before swiftly running away while holding the phone to his ear.
—
Merry Christmas! Apologies for the delayed update. I caught the flu but won't let it hinder my progress. Thanks for your support on the book, and I wish you a joyful holiday! 🎅🎄
