The Disconsolate Maiden

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The next day...

Homura stared down at her history textbook in class, listening to the teacher as she spewed out more mess about the upcoming prom.

Later that afternoon, she would have to stop by the idol company for her first legitimate interview.

A knot tightening in her stomach, Homura nervously staggered to her feet once the teacher dismissed their students, allowing them to get lunch.

As Homura stumbled past students out into the jam packed hallway, she felt someone roughly tug on her school uniform's sleeve.

"Homura!" Jyushimatsu exclaimed, pulling her off to the side, as students bumped past the two of them, causing Homura to get uncomfortable with how close her body was to the boy's. "I-I need to ask you something."

"It's a little busy here," Homura said, thought she couldn't talk quietly since Jyushimatsu wouldn't hear her over the noise.

"Should we have lunch outside again?" Jyushimatsu asked, already grabbing the girl's hand, pulling her through the halls, going against the traffic of the students, who were headed towards the cafeteria.

Homura smiled a little, adoring each and every little thing the boy did. Yet some sort of guilty conscience continued to eat away at her soul. It was an obvious memory, but she wouldn't allow herself to think of it. Though she knew this memory was true, she didn't want it to be.

"Let's go to the roof!" Jyushimatsu suddenly exclaimed, taking off up the staircase just by the doors that led outside, Homura stumbling behind with him. "Nobody will be there!"

"W-What's so important about people being there or not?" Homura gasped, attempting to catch her breath as she stumbled along with the masculine, athletic boy.

"Nothing special!" Jyushimatsu laughed once they reached the top. His eyes appeared to be sparkling as he turned to look at Homura.

"I-Is this..." Homura bent over, her hands on her knees as she attempted to catch her breath. "are we there?"

"Yes!" Jyushimatsu laughed before he ran towards the edge of the roof where a chain-link fence attempted to prevent students from committing suicide. "Let's sit here!"

Jyushimatsu pat a spot on the roof next to him, literally begging for Homura to come over to him.

Moments later, as the two were thoroughly enjoying their own meals, Jyushimatsu threw a sudden question at Homura. A question she never thought she would hear in her entire life.

Staring up at the sky, Jyushimatsu smiled, then looked down, staring directly into Homura's eyes.

"Will you go to the prom with me?" he asked so innocently, tilting his head a little. "We're just friends, but I've never been, and I don't think you have either! It'll be fun! It's like a party anyways!"

Homura quickly looked away, her cheeks glowing a soft pink as her heart began to pound so hard, she swore it was breaking free from the inside of her rib cage.

"Will you go with me?" Jyushimatsu asked again, laughing a little. Though he always laughed, this sort of laugh was almost nervous.

"I'm sorry..." Homura thought to herself, a certain memory flashing before her eyes as she stared at her bento on the ground. "But I know...it won't work out, so it's okay..."

Homura quickly looked up and smiled, a single tear running down her cheek.

"Yes," she replied as a sudden gust blew between the two teenagers, Homura's braid coming loose from the tie that held it back.

Her hair tumbled over her shoulders as she began to shake, another tear running down her cheek. She prayed Jyushimatsu wouldn't see, because truly, she was happy. She was happy to finally have a friend after having been alone for so many years.

"Thank you..." Homura's voice cracked as she threw herself at Jyushimatsu, hugging the life of him. "Thank you so much, J-Jyushimatsu!"