Running After You

#10: The Thorns In Our Hearts

You don't want to get another star, right?

Who said stars wouldn't be so hot?

Didn't you learn it at school? The reason why it shines is because od the burns its been experiencing.

Eh~ You're done screaming. I want to hear more.

"It's morning!", the alarm clock activated.

Erina woke up and went outside. She saw Rei and Hana walking on the street. Erina saw Hana's swollen face. "Sorry for intruding early in the morning", Rei waved his hand. Erina opened the gate and allowed the two of them to enter.

Erina prepared breakfast and the two silently waited for her. "Why did you bring me here?", Hana shot a glare. "If I would bring you to my house, mother will really panic", Rei slightly chuckled. Erina served some eggs and toasted bread. She also have milk and juice box for them to choose from. When was the last time that Hana was able to have a proper breakfast? She feels like breaking down.

"Are you here because you don't want your mother's beans again?", Erina looked at Rei. "I just happened to see Mikami in..", Rei stopped. "We were both hungry from exercising that's why we looked for some place to eat", Rei lied. Erina knew he was lying but just nodded. "I don't actually know if the salt was just alright. Its a good thing I didn't burn it", Erina sighed. "You improved since the last time", Rei tasted it. Hana looked around. "You live alone?", she asked while munching on her food. "It's been a while since the house had been empty", Erina answered.

Her alarm clock went wild again. "I guessed it's broken", Erina ran upstairs to turn it off. She came back.

"You're still using a grandmother alarm clock", Rei asked. "Just to wake me up", Erina answered. "I see. It's a waste if you're going to wake up from a good dream", Hana commented. "I don't usually have good dreams", Erina suddenly opened. The mood turned heavy. "Like you have nightmares and the like?", Hana interviewed. Rei's face turned bitter and Erina sae ir. "Yeah. But it's something I'm no longer scared of", Erina smiled. "Is there a way how to outgrow nightmares?", Hana asked. "I don't know but...".

Sometimes, the reason we aren't scared of some nightmare is because we have come to realized that no matter how scary it is, they are just bad dreams. And if it's just a bad dream, you can wake up from it.

Next days...
Pet Shop

" Fireworks?", Erina repeated while placing food in the hamster's bowl. "You're free for the festival, right?", Ai asked. "I guess so but... Don't you have anyone else to spend it with?", Erina looked at the poster held by Ai. "Like who?", Mio joined the conversation. "I heard that the Arts Club is going to do something interesting in the festival", Erina recalled. "Ah.. That's-", Mio looked away. "Also, Ai. Don't you also have some kind of training after the festival? You're leaving the same night, right? Why don't you spend it with them as well?", Erina gave a smile. The two felt tight in their chest.

"Those guys doesn't really need me there. I can just meet them afterwards", Ai awkwardly laughed. "I can't go watch the fireworks. I have some task to do here as well", Erina slightly made her voice louder but still in a polite way.

The two went out with heavy hearts.

"So, you're going to have Horito-senpai as your date?", Ai elbowed Mio. The girl just sighed and elbowed her back. "Just this time, I think we should be giving her some space as well", Mio looked at the road ahead of them. "How much space do we have to give?", Ai clenched her fist.

Cafe Shop

"Fireworks?", Nami tilted her head. "Oh, it's that time of year already?", Nami chuckled. "Would you like to watch it with me?", Fushimi invited. "Thanks for inviting me, Fushimi-kun. All my other friends are just going to make me jealous about them going out with their boyfriends", Nami pouted. Fushimi slightly smiled. "Don't get me wrong. I won't use you for revenge or something like that", Nami shook her head and felt embarrassed with the thought.

"By the way, Fushimi-kun, you've been stuck with me ever since that incident. I know that you're thankful but you don't have to stick with me. I don't want your admirers to get you wrong", Nami stirred her coffee. "Just let them be", Fushimi looked outside and saw a familiar figure. She's walking so aimlessly.

She stopped and saw a cat on the street. The blonde pulled some loaf bread from her paper bag and gave it to them. She suddenly laughed when kittens appeared as well. "You'll lose something for yourself if you give it all", Fushimi commented. "Huh?", Nami was puzzled with the statement. "When you care too much with the attention people will give you, you'll lose something for yourself", he went back to the topic.

Street

Erina saw the poster of the fireworks and just gave a weak smile.

"Shut up!!!", she heard a loud shout. She tried to look for the direction of the voice but a bus passed in the direction. She thought it would be impolite to pry into someone else's business so she left already.

On the other side, Yoro grabbed his daughter's arm violently. "If you don't go home, I'm going to burn all your things!", Yoro scolded. All the people are staring at them. "Who do you think is still paying for your tuition in school?!", Yoro dragged her until they reached their house.

Mikami's Residence

"Clean this mess. My boss will come to check on me", Yoro instructed. Hana clenched her fist and started to fix the area. There are so many shattered glasses all around. She picked on and wounded herself. For the record, she's been cleaning the same mess for over a year since her mother died. His father wasn't that as rough before. He does shout and scream whenever he wanted to. He didn't always hit Hana because her mother would often receive the iron hand.

After sometime, she heard loud sounds outside. Finally, it was a little peaceful in their place. His father is acting gentle since his boss is there to discuss some work related issues. Hana stayed in her room. She opened the door and saw the fireworks. "I wonder if she went watching with those two idiots", Hana thought of Erina.

Are you in the festival?
-Hana

I'm at home. I guess there's too many people this time.
-Erina

That's rare. Didn't those two invite you?
-Hana

They did. I just don't want to go.
-Erina

Are you watching the fireworks?
-Hana

There were no reply. Hana thought she was busy looking at the sky.

"She's so lucky. She doesn't have to get stuck in the house because she fears for her life. She just don't want crowded places", Hana sighed and leaned on the wall.

I bet they're like jumping jellyfish.
-Erina.

Hana laughed at her message. They continued to exchange mails.

So bad you weren't invited by Fushimi-senpai.
-Hana

That's impossible.
-Erina

You might have the chance to confess during that time. Isn't that romantic?
-Hana

You read too much manga.
-Erina.

By the way, what are you doing thise summer?
-Hana

Helping out with the pet shop.
-Erina

Oh, right. Aren't you going to visit some place, like that?
-Hana

Ai and Mio was planning to go to the beach. Would you also want to come?
-Erina

What?! I'm not part of the group. Plus, that giant really don't like me.
-Hana

They like you. Ai is just like that.
-Erina.

Is it really okay for me to spend time with you?
-Hana

Yes, why not? It's fun when you're with us.
-Erina

I'm different from you in different ways.
-Hana

Then, I want to see how different we are
-Erina.

"In a lot of ways", Hana sighed.

Chapter end.