Finding Juliet [VERY slow updates]

Act VIII

2 months after the earthquake. We've been training for weeks now, and the ice shows I've signed up to are just around the corner. I have already told the others about it, and they seem to disapprove.

"Aww, so you're leaving us, Yuzu?" Haruki, one of the twins Ken introduced to me last last week, spoke. "We haven't bonded long enough!"

"That's true!" Harumi, the other one, declared and pouted.

Haruki and Harumi are the twins who are training here to be professional pair skaters. They just transferred, and I've seen them perform. They're exceptionally talented despite of young age. They're only 13, and they're quite dedicated to the sport. I'll surely miss them.

I shrugged and laughed at their words. "I know, I know... But I have to do this for the sake of my hometown. I want to help."

"You're so nice, Yuzuzu," Ranmaru said. "You're working so hard. We're only teenagers!"

"Yuzuru," I corrected sarcastically, though I know Maru did it purposely, "And of course. If we don't start now, when are we going to be successful?"

"Words of wisdom." Maru laughed, shaking his head. I'll miss him too.

After that, there was a dead air. No one spoke; we only looked at each other which made everything more awkward.

"Isn't Ken going to say something?" Haruki nudged the gal who was silent since the very beginning. I wonder if she's thinking about something deep.

Ken seemingly returned to the real world when she felt the elbow hit her. She looked at everyone with widened eyes, and we all returned the same gaze.

"Yeah, what was it again?" She asked, making the twins look at each other.

"Uhhh, about our Junior champ leaving the rink for ice shows?" Harumi raised a brow.

"Oh." Ken answered in a low voice, looking down. "Well," She glanced at me for a few seconds before looking away. "Everyone leaves. Nothing is permanent. We all expect him to leave once his home rink is fixed anyway. Leaving earlier wouldn't matter at all, right?"

Her sentences were serious. She had her arms crossed over one another as she deliver her speech. Everyone was quiet. Again.

I broke the silence by having a short chuckle. "She's correct. I.. wasn't planning to stay here until the end of my career anyway."

Ken was really correct. I'm leaving, yes, right after the Ice Rink Sendai is repaired. There was an aftershock that made the situation worsen, simply because it damaged the water pipes below the rink more. The repairing will be extended, but I'm not quite sure that it's enough.

And I'm not quite sure why I'm affected by Ken so much.

Probably because I'm a friend, she's a friend, and I expected her to say a few things that will encourage me to stay. Expecting some things will hurt, after all.

"Let's just go and continue training." Ken suggested, taking her guards off. She headed to the ice first with a straight face.

"What's with her?" snorted Ranmaru, "She hasn't been like that for a while now. I wonder."

"Period?" Harumi chuckled, taking her skate guards as well. "Anyway, let's go. You all know what happens when we don't obey her."

————

Everything went well in my last practice for this week. I'll rest tomorrow the whole day, and then proceed to my first ice show this summer. Coach Syoichiro locked the doors of the rink.

"Alright, good job kids." Coach sighed happily, turning to both me and Ken.

Ken and I always go home at the same time. We train the hardest here, so we go home the latest. She always walks home all by herself.

"We're teenagers." Ken and I said in unison, which made coach laugh.

"You're still my kids. My tiny children," He said, patting our heads at the same time. We didn't mind, he does this to us that often. And it made me miss my dad.

"Now go home and rest. It's been a tough day for you two."

I bowed to coach as we part, and then I looked at Ken who immediately walked away. Chasing her, I gripped my backpack tight.

"Why were you in a bad mood the whole day?" I asked, looking at her.

She didn't look back. "Nothing."

"It's impossible. Problems?"

"I said, it's nothing."

"Will you help me buy some seaweed at the market? Mom's making some miso soup for dinner, and she told me to buy her some seaweed. Oh, and tofu." I changed the topic before Ken hits me with her fist.

Ken stopped walking and finally looked at me. "Don't you already know the way?"

"Well, I rarely go out for groceries to be very honest..." I answered sheepishly.

She rolled her eyes and sighed loudly. "Fine. But be fast. Dad's going to-"

Her sentence was cut midway, as she seemed to have remembered something.

"What?" I asked, "Something wrong?"

"Dad's going to be late tonight. I'm gonna be home alone.. I guess we can shop as long as we can."

Ken gave me a smile, but it wasn't real. It was more like a sad smile; Maybe it's because she's home alone, or maybe it's because of her 'problem.'

I flashed her my most comforting grin before speaking. "Then that's great! You can stay at my house for dinner, and then I'll walk you home after! Come on, let's hurry and buy the ingredients! Left or right?"

I grabbed her wrist and dragged her with me, going to the right side. It's as if I know where we're going.

"We're going to cross the road and turn to the first street in the left, you dummy!" Ken exclaimed, dragging me this time. She smiled a bit and chuckled after frowning, and I was relieved. I'm pretty sure it's real this time.

"I'm glad you finally smiled." I uttered softly, letting the girl lead me.

"I smiled earlier, didn't you see?" She retorted.

"But that wasn't a true one! This time, it's true. I saw the difference, you're a lot cuter when your smile is genuine."

Ken halted and looked back to me. Slowly, redness creeped to her face, up to the tip of her almost hidden ears. Her grip tightened until she threw my hand away before making big strides ahead of me.

"Go buy the tofu and seaweed by yourself."

"Nonono- wait! Ken!" I called and hurriedly ran to her, laughing. Aww, she's embarrassed.

∽☆∽

It's been a while!! I had no muse for the past days... or weeks... and I apologize. I was supposed to add more (I actually did but at the end of the day I erased it lol) And I had a lot of things to do! Anyway, if you noticed, I took Harumi from Maia's name. I love Maia~ I would use Hideo but meh. I still love Alex though. :3 Happy 4th of July to my American readers (if I have one haha!) Hope you'll have/had a blast!