"There is not one big cosmic meaning for all; there is only the meaning we each give to our life, an individual meaning, an individual plot, like an individual novel, a book for each person."
-Anais Nin
Seaside Boardwalk
"You've been silent ever since we started walking here. What are you thinking of?", a gentle voice disrupted the lady's moment of silence. For a long time, she felt that her mind had been screaming for unfinished tasks back in the office. Since she was promoted, the one who will fill her place will have to go through transition. No one is available to mentor the newbie aside from her. There are still bills waiting to be paid. The school reunion is around the corner. Having to move to a new place made it more challenging to keep her mind still and not jump from planning how to juggle all at once.
"I'm drowning in this pool of adulthood that I once was excited to jump in", she answered with a tired voice. "Heh~ Don't make it sound as if you're having it worse now. If you're in chaos, how would you even categorize us", Chifuyu gave a wide grin. The lady turned to look at the man walking behind her and saw his natural hair color. "I still haven't gotten used to your black hair. I can say that the sight of your undercut mix with blonde and black strands is the one etched on my memory", she gave a small brief smile and faced front again.
"Thank you for walking with me, Chifuyu", the lady looked at the setting sun. The man smiled as he watched someone he grew admiring become like part of a painting in an art gallery. She was like a beautiful art piece that came to life. The tension he'd been carrying on his shoulder was relieved. "I'd gladly follow you around if you allow me, Azumi", Chifuyu stood his ground preparing for the lady's answer.
Tick!Tock!Tick!Tock
"Peke J!", Chifuyu was shouting as he was not greeted by his cat which was a daily ritual. The blonde looked under his bed and saw an empty space. The cat-keeper's frustration was coming from the fact that he emptied his schedule for the weekend to bring the cat to the veterinarian and back home to bathe it and play with it. He looked at his uniform and sighed. There would be a meeting that was optional to attend since the newbie just wanted to have a get-together to know who was who. The lad guessed that he might also attend the meeting being the vice-captain of the first division. Baji was never fond of such get together so he better suck having to cancel his plan and be a representative of the division. He wore his uniform and went out of the house.
Shrine
Chifuyu saw a bunch of new faces. Peh-yah and Pachin are giving a taste to the newbie what it is to be a starting member of the gang. He just sighed and didn't care since his mind was still stuck with his cat's whereabouts. "Good morning, Chifuyu. Thankfully, you're here to represent the first division. Some of the lads are impatient to see what the high ranking are like", a lilac-head with an undercut like him approached the absent-minded lad. "It's just that I don't feel like kicking their asses now", he sounded lethargic. "Did something happen?", the captain of the second division tilted his head worried. Since he is older, his brother's senses are kicking in. "I can't find my cat this morning and I even made a schedule for today. I have no intention of joining this get-together in the first place", Chifuyu felt like being honest with Mitsuya knowing that he would not be judged. The lilac head gave a slap on his back. "I bet your cat knew you were visiting the vet. They're said to have a good instinct", Mitsuya gave a short laugh and proceeded to push Chifuyu and introduced them to the newbies.
Park
Mitsuya is a silhouette of someone in the park. She was trying to get something on the tree but she wasn't tall enough so she used a stack of broken fruit boxes probably thrown somewhere near. She tip-toed once more and finally grabbed on her goal. The girl wobbled and it alarmed the lilac head so he ran to her side only to stop when he saw that she was able to regain her footing. He stepped back and planned to leave. "Look at you wandering around", she said under her breath. It was soft but the lad was able to hear her since they were the only ones in the park. He turned and saw a black cat. Mitsuya caught a glimpse of a mini-cross hanging on the cat's neck and smiled.
"Sorry. It's my friend's cat", he tried to approach the lady gently so as not to startle her. The lady turned in his direction making the lilac head stop walking. As someone who saw multiple people in his life, it was this time that he felt awe for someone who would spit the image of elegance. Mitsuya found her onyx eyes striking. There was one thing his mind told him. "Looks like a doll", he said his thoughts out loud. The girl stepped back and lowered her face. "I hope it finds its owner", the girl bowed and gently dropped the cat on the ground. She ran away.
Mitsuya sighed. He must have scared her by having to wear a gang uniform and approach her openly.
Rikidai Private High School
The door opened widely. "I have my cat back!", Chifuyu said in a loud voice. "Congratulations", Azumi commented in a bored tone. It's my friend's cat. The raven-head lady wearing her glasses stared at the blonde for a long time. "What?! Are you going to lecture me around to just lock Peke J inside the house?! Cats are supposed to be free", he continued being loud. "We're the only ones here so why do you have to shout", the female student said in a soft voice. "Tch! Said the ogre", Chifuyu sat beside her and opened his notebook. He started reading the girl's notes and used them to answer his homework. "Why don't you just let me copy your answer?", the lad whined. "In that case, I'm just helping you destroy your future", Azumi removed her glasses and looked outside the window.
"About your gang", the girl tried to open. "I'm not leaving that gang. I don't care about you telling my mother how I suck at language class but I won't forgive you if you tell her about it", Chifuyu gave him a death glare. "I'd poke those eyeballs and gauge them out", Azumi said in a cold voice. It was as if she could do it. Chifuyu covered his eyes and started complaining about the early study session. The blonde just continued writing while his female classmate would correct his writing and even his posture. "As my thanks for finding Peke J, I'd visit you at home and hit some bamboo sticks with you. I can't believe you would hide that from your friends. Who knows that they are also fans swinging those sticks", Chifuyu clicked his tongue. Azumi chopped his head and he retaliated by shouting. "Girls are suppose to be physical inferior than men. Don't you read fairy tales? It is your work to protect us", the girl flicked on Chifuyu's forehead. "Huh?! Girls who are strong are welcome in gangs to. I heard that there's a famous gang leader in Kanto that is a female", he said with excitement. "I can't argue with you. You're just sick in the head", Azumi shook her head feeling bad for the blonde's preference.
Chapter end
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Existence Precedes Essence
Fanfiction"The literal meaning of life is whatever you're doing that prevents you from killing yourself." ― Albert Camus "Azumi, what is that sin you are referring to?", Chifuyu toned down. "Just merely existing. Because I happened, people had faced so many m...
