~~~ Tsakamura Mei's POV ~~~
Today's a weekend. Sunday. The only day when I have no training. But of course, something had to distract me and pull me out of my bed at eight a.m., just so I can bring my cousin the documents he forgot to bring to his new school. Samezuka academy, a private school and a swimming powerhouse. The ridiculous fact is, he joined that school six months ago! And that airhead still hasn't brought his documents in. Is that legal?
Here I am, in front of the gate of Samezuka, waiting for a miracle to struck upon me. How do I get in? Past me walk dozens of boys, boys, more boys. All of them give me weirded-out looks. Guess I'll just wait for Shinji to arrive. But what if he's already inside? Then I'll be standing here like an idiot. Can I ask anyone for help? There's a guard..
"But they're all boys! I haven't spoken properly to boys! Ever! Maybe it's all because I'm single? But finding a boyfriend means wasting time.. I don't have time to waste! I'm a gymnast! And I need to defeat Kimori Kyoko no matter what!" I blurted out loud without realizing that.
"Uh, sorry? Did you just say Kyoko?" A feminine voice rings from behind. A GIRL?
I violently spin on my heel and face a redhead with bright, golden eyes. "I did." I fold my arms.
"Um, are you waiting for someone?" She pries, slightly tilting her head to the side. I nod.
"My cousin was supposed to bring his documents today but forgot them at home. So I was rung up early in the morning to bring them here for him." I explain and glance down at a file full of papers.
"Oh, I can walk you into school. Who's your cousin?" The redhead asks.
"You can? Thank goodness!" I enthuse and link my arm with hers. "My cousin's name is Tsakamura Shinji."
"Ah, Tsakamura. I know him. He's a second year student." The girl muses. "Mind introducing herself?" She asks.
Crap. I forgot completely. "Right, I'm Tsakamura Mei."
"Mikoshiba Mei." As she says that, smiles grow on our faces and we give each other a playful looks.
"That's a very nice name you've got there, Mikoshiba."
"So have you." She winks and walks me past the guard into the lobby.
"Where can I find my hammerhead of a relative?" I wonder, looking around the enormous space.
"The practice is about to begin, so by the pool, I believe." Mei informs.
I nod and ask for the direction of the poolhouse, but she says that it'll be easier to simply pass the documents to the principal. So we head for his office.
Once we exit we're already engaged in a talk. And I ask straight if she's the only girl in this school. I know it's stupid, but I need to ask that!
"No, there are a couple more, including my roommate."
"Roommate?" My eyes glister. "I've always wanted to have one! Heck yeah we'd be best friends for sure!"
"Well, it wasn't that smooth for us in the beginning." Mei rolls her eyes and chuckles.
"Oh so you were given a bitchy one?" I cock an inky brow.
"I.. Erm.. Well.." She stutters. I don't understand what's wrong.
"Are you trying to say that you were the bitch of the two of you? There's no way. Not someone like you!" I object.
She waves her hand. "People change and sometimes learning something important about a person you hate makes you see who they really are."
"Agreed, but sometimes it's an opposite. Good people you learn something awful about become the most unwanted to deal with and despicable." I fire back. "Like one girl I know from the center I train in. Just came to Japan and goes like 'I've done that in Australia, I know how to do that, let's move on to serious training'. Aaaagh so annoying! Rude and impertinent and arrogant!!" I exclaim, kicking the air in front of me.
"Is it bad for her to want to carry on with her own regimen?" Mei asks. "But yeah, she should consider the rest of the section has probably gone through lighter training than her own. She shouldn't have complained about it."
"Exactly!" I blurt out, grabbing the redhead by shoulders. "You're a wise girl, Mikoshiba-chan!" I murmur, nuzzling my cheek to hers. She winces, looking somewhat alarmed. Once I drift away her face returns to an ease and she smiles faintly.
"We could make good friends." She muses as we proceed through the long corridor. How big is this school?! "Want me to lead you to the exit? I still have a couple of minutes before I'm too late for the practice." She says.
"Oh, you're going to be late because of me? I still want to see Shinji though. He deserves a good, heartily punch in the face for having woken me up on weekend. It's the only day I'm free of gymnastic training!" I whine and hang my had, shoveling my legs towards the lobby again.
"Gymnastics? So that's how you know Kimori Kyoko?" Mei asks, cocking a brow. "I just realized that now, so she's that girl you told me about?"
" Yes, duh. We're in the same section." I clarify. She gasps enthusiastically.
"She's an acquaintance of a friend of mine. We got along quite easily."
"Are you kidding? That bitch is a shame of our sport! And besides, once she reveals her true colours, she becomes a violent psycho."
"Kimori Kyoko? I wouldn't believe that in thousand of years." Mikoshiba Mei states, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Feed me to the sharks if I'm lying." I retorted. "You just haven't seen her during the practices. She might think she's something special since she's the youth champion under eighteen in Australia, but it means absolutely nothing here and she should realize that!"
"I.. don't think she's a type to boast that."
"We should agree at least that nobody is what they seem to be. Everyone wears different mask in front of every person, so just because she befriends you doesn't mean that she's an angel." I proclaim and sit down, having already forgotten about Shinji's punishment.
Mei flinches, the expression of her face becomes uneasy and she sinks into the seat, wordlessly.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
She shakes her head. "You're right, Tsakamura, but.. I cannot imagine a bad side of her."
"You first need to try to imagine your own. That's the way of understanding. There's no way there had been no particular one you were rude to because of a reason."
~~~ Mikoshiba Mei's POV ~~~
With the aforementioned statement of Tsakamura Mei, all of the memories of Aoi and I's arguments and meaningless fights swim through my mind. All those times I'd pick on her, be mean to her, do something unspeakable to her. It was unfair and undeserved, but I carried on childishly, without seeing the reality in front of my eyes. The girl I used to bully has become a dear friend, because I finally took the time to look through her.
When I think of this, it's my birthday soon. Kyoko is going to be there, so what if I made the two meet there? I'm sure they'll realize their own mistakes eventually and will later laugh together at the hurts of the past. I used to be like that too.. I would know.
"I like your way of thinking, Tsakamura Mei." I declare as I stand up.
"Well, I like you, but you're wrong." She raises her chin haughtily and pins her eyes to the wall on the side, not to meet my gaze.
"Maybe I am." I shrug. "Mind attending my birthday party? It's themed Gold, so wear gold, okay?" I wink.
She smirks. "A part of me had guessed that you're a sunbeam. Gold's without a doubt your colour." She tells me and stands up too. "Thanks, I'll be there." She then leaves me her number and we part our ways.
