Showered by the Stars

37. Lost memory

I was staring off into space when she suddenly ran past me wearing a swimsuit. It startled me. She bought a swimsuit yesterday? But wouldn’t she be found out?

She’s been gone for a few minutes. I felt uneasy, something might have happened to her. If she wears something so revealing, who knows what might happen?

I hastily went to the beach outside the inn.

I looked for Mizuki. I didn’t see her anywhere. My heart thumped madly. Did something happen? I hope not.

“Oi!!!!!! Harou! Join me!” she shouted. I looked at where it came from. She was in the beach, swimming. She swam that far? No wonder I couldn’t see her.

“No! I’ll just wait here.” I yelled.

“Oi! Come on! It’s so nice here!” she yelled back. I just sat on the shore.

She swam. But she didn’t come up like she should be. It’s been awhile, she hasn’t come up yet. Did she drown? Ah!

“Hayao?!” I shouted. No answer. “Oi! Hayaooo!” Still no answer. “Damn! Mizuki!” I swam towards where I last saw her. Then I saw her. I got her, swam and let her breathe.

“Mizuki! Mizuki! Open your eyes!” I shouted.

“Ah! You’re so loud.” She said.

“Uh?”

“You thought I drowned didn’t you?” she teased.

“Eh?” She was pretending?

She laughed. “You fell for it.”

“Not funny at all. I really thought you drowned.” I said, my heart racing.

“Awww—but I just want you to join me. The beach is really great you know.” She pouted.

“Do you know what I do to those who make a fool out of me?” I said seriously, my face getting near hers. Her lips are an inch away from mine. My heart raced madly even more.

But she will hate me.

I pulled back. I pinched her nose. “Serves you right.”

“What was that about?” she said.

“Shut up!” I looked away, hiding my blush.

“Oi! You’ll go back already?” she said. Ah! I’m already wet. And I also need to cool my face down.

“No. I’m going to swim.” I said.

“Yey!” she exclaimed.

I did swim, only further away from her. She didn’t notice what I was trying to do. She might have just thought I was racing against her. But the truth is, I don’t want to be in the same place as her, I won’t be able to control myself.

It was almost twilight when we went back to the inn to change our clothes. The old lady came by to deliver food.

We ate our dinner rather early then sat outside.

“The moon really looks lovely, right?” she said.

“Uhn!”

“Hey Eri-kun. What if I my mom was Japanese, we live normally like other Japanese and I’m not good at anything other than know normal things? What if I’m not good at sports? What do you think my life will be right now?” she asked, staring at the moon. She dazzled.

The things she said, sounded really sad.

“You said it as is it. Normal. But one thing’s for sure, you won’t be the same Mizuki-chan I came to know if that were to happen.” I said. She’s already great as she is.

“Hmm—but being Mizuki isn’t something I’m really happy about. When I was a child, my classmates used to tease me about being half-blood.” I stayed silent. “My features were really different from the other kids, I took up from my mom. Blonde hair, green eyes, long nose, fair complexion and tall stature, those are what the teachers from my elementary described me once during our English class. But for my classmates, they describe me as the girl who doesn’t fit in. Even if Ran and Kana were with me, things like bullying often happened to me. Ran was called a geek back then but she just ignores them. She said that it’s not wise to succumbed to their teasing. Kana, however wasn’t bullied. She was like our school’s idol even back then. But other girls still spread bad rumors about her. There was this guy from my class once. He’s very popular, I also liked him. He was also one of the reasons why I was bullied. When he left after our elementary graduation, I became depressed. I didn’t have the chance to confess to him. My school was located in Shibuya. I often went to sit on the grass near the bridge. The day he left, I went there. I cried as hard as I could when a hand reached out to me. The boy’s hand was warm. He whispered words to my ear. Because of that, I stopped crying. When I looked up, I saw that he also looked sad and that—oh! You have the same color of eyes and hair he has.” She looked at me, smiling. “How should I put it? Um—maybe it’s kind of fast but I guess it’s the reason why my heart thumped so fast that time. I asked for his name, he wasn’t able to answer me. I tried to repeat it again but someone came to pick him up. After that, I started coming by to the same place again hoping that I’ll see him. But he never showed up. I guess that was our first and last meeting.”

I remained silent. My head was spinning.

“Then during junior high, I started all kinds of sports. At first, it surprised me how fast I was able to pick up. The rumors about the suitors challenge started when Ran, Kana and I made a pact that we have to acknowledge each other’s love interest. Ran and Kana were successful but when it comes to me, I remained guarded. I set up the challenge that whoever beats me passes the first challenge. I was careful not to get beaten though. It went on for awhile until Takeshima appeared. He was the first one to defeat me. He was the first one, I put a half-assed confession to, he was the first one to betray me and also he was the first one I’ve come to hate.” She said, her eyes glinted in anger. “Ah! Sorry! Did I look scary? But,well—you’re the first one to ever skip all those challenges. So now we’re engaged, huh?” She laughed, getting up. “Good night, Eri-kun.” She left.

Everything she told me was so overwhelming. I just found out that she was the girl I met when I spent my Summer once in Shibuya. She described the time when I was scheduled to go back to Hokkaido. And the words I whispered to her. I remember it clearly. I blushed at my own words. No wonder it made her stop crying that time. It was weird. It was—the first words I ever said after losing my parents.

Mizuki, you wanted to see me after that? I’m sorry. I didn’t have the chance to tell you my name. You would have recognized me by now. But, now that we’re in these circumstances, I think I shouldn’t tell you. At least, not yet.