The Disconsolate Maiden

Chapter Three

Pulling her school skirt down a little so it brushed the top of her knee socks, Homura stood up as straight as she could, smiling at herself in her bathroom mirror. Obviously, her smile wasn't genuine, but, it could be mistaken as one.

Tying off her braid after having fixed it one last time, Homura swung it over her shoulder, as she looked at the clock on her wall.

"6:45..." Homura thought, anxiety beginning to build up inside of her. It was as if a rock were trying to climb all the way up from her stomach into her throat, yet it kept falling, and falling, and falling. "I'll be at school early today, that's a fact..."

Grabbing her school bag, Homura let out a long depressive sigh as she walked out of her bathroom and into her bedroom.

"I'll be back later," Homura said, still smiling as she bowed her head at a photo of a girl on her nightstand. "I'll make you proud today. I promise. I'm only still trying because of you, you know."

Homura then exited her room, making her way down the hallway.

"I don't know if I'll be able to do this today..." Homura thought to herself, clenching her school bag more tightly. "What if...What if I embarrass myself...I just...I know I'll be making the teacher happy to be here so early today, but still..."

"Are you sure you want to be leaving this early, dear?" Homura's mother asked, her voice sounding like she was finally fully awake. "It might rain today. Do you have an umbrella? Please be safe. Look out for cars when you cross the street, too. Things are always starting to pick up at this time in the morning."

"I'll be fine," Homura said steadily, not showing any signs of the emotions she felt at that moment.

Bowing slightly, Homura muttered a silent prayer, finding the slightest bit of peace, knowing her mother seemed to be feeling less ill that morning.

"I'm leaving now," Homura said, hugging her mother's frail body as gently as she could from behind.

Mrs. Kanojo shakily lifted one of her bony hands and rested it on her daughter's arms which were still wrapped around her. Closing her eyes, she made soft humming sound for "alright".

"Do you need help with anything before I leave?" Homura asked, pulling away from her mother.

Mrs. Kanojo shook her head, smiling softly in gratitude, even though Homura couldn't see her face.

"You're one of the kindest daughters I've ever had, Homura," she said, chuckling weakly. "No, I think I'll be fine today, to answer your question. I have a bit more energy than usual, so I might watch the television for a bit."

"If that's the case," Homura said, already sitting by the back door, slipping on her school shoes. "I'll see you later. I love you, Mother."

"I love you too, darling," Homura's mother replied as she feebly waved goodbye to her daughter.

Closing the door behind her, Homura let out another quiet sigh before she took off running down the sidewalk.

She wasn't the least bit athletic, so it was more of a jog, but still. Her eagerness to get to school that day was incredible.

"I need to prove that I can be an idol one day too," Homura thought to herself, her dream immediately coming back to her.

Homura stopped dead in her tracks, not realizing she had just passed the road that led to the beach.

She could hear seagulls off in the distance, screeching in unison.

"Would it be wrong if I just went to the beach...for a few minutes...?" Homura thought to herself, taking a few steady steps backwards.

Accidentally, having no idea there were people behind her, Homura ran right into what felt like a person- a boy at that.

"Watch it!" the boy spat.

Frightened, Homura jerked around, only to find that, not only had she just run into a very tall, strong looking boy, there were also five others with him who looked exactly the same.

Her lips went pale, her bottom lip quivering a little. She was much more scared than she was embarrassed.

"I'm so sorry!" Homura cried out, bowing so low that her hands touched passed her knees.

"Hey," the boy she had run into said, resting his hand on her head. "You're cute so I'll let you go this time."

"Osomatsu don't flirt with girls you don't know," one of the others said, sighing out of embarrassment. "Especially since she has the same school uniform as Totoko does."

"T-Totoko?" Homura stammered, turning bright red, for Osomatsu was still resting his hand on her head, causing her to continue bowing.

"Oh?" Osomatsu said, laughing a little. "You know her?"

"Y-Yes!" Homura exclaimed. "A-And I really need to g-get going now...I-I'm sorry for running into you! I was...listening to the s-seagulls..."

"Seagulls?!" another one of the brothers exclaimed, beginning to laugh as he hugged the brother beside him. "Nii-san I told you we were near the beach!"

"Jyushimatsu..." the one the boy was clinging to mumbled. "can you get off of me...? You're heavy..?"

Osomatsu let go of Homura's head and turned around, rubbing under his nose, slightly confused.

"What?" Osomatsu asked.

Homura took this as her chance to get away.

Tightening her grip even more on her school bag, she took off down the sidewalk, making her way towards her school. Silently, she prayed she would never ever run into those boys again.