Running After You

#16: When I Saw You

School Backyard
She's almost perfect....

to the point that you wouldn't want to be with her because all you would feel is envy and jealousy.

I understand~ the feeling that you want to destroy her for her to feel the same pain.

Children were intimidated by her.

She never had anyone to walk home with.

One, because she was always fetched.

Two, because she would just feel so out of place seeing everyone already grouped.

"That person in the story, was she able to make some friends?", Horito asked.

"She did. Thanks to the rabbit that led her to the hole", Mio smiled.

"Like the one in the Alice in the wonderland?", Horito hummed.

She was tasked to feed the school's rabbits. One hopped out of the cage. A lone rabbit running alone would be an easy target. That's why she did her best to catch it.

She ended up in a pool of paint. She was apologetic for ruining such great art. The paint was mixed with different colors. A normal person would see it as a mess. For these were just colors randomly and meaninglessly splashed around.

But then... She said.

"I see the ocean".

School yard

Erina and Ai walked around and saw some upperclassmen playing with a rabbit. "Are they allowing rabbits now?", Ai tilted her head.

"Who knows? I think she's the veterenarian's son. I often see him if I need to ran erands for my aunt", Erina recognized. "How weird. A man holding a fluffy thing", Ai chuckled. "Come to think of it. Mio and I also met because of a rabbit", Erina remembered. "I didn't know about that. I actually thought she made you drink some kind of potion", Ai tilted her head. Ai and Erina were in a different class during the first year of Middle school.

"How?", Ai never asked about the gloomy looking friend she has. "One if the bunny in the school escaped. She helped me look for it", Erina informed.

School Backyard

"I see, she helped her out of pity", Horito nodded.

Mio flustered. "How can you say that?!", she was mad. Horito was startled how much she was affected with a character's story. "Well, I understand how she can be kind and nice... Or something like that. But then, what I hear in your story is that... Maybe she helped her all because she had seen all the times that person was alone. Maybe she helped her just to fill in the void of pitying other people. And... She doesn't want to see herself as a bastard just like those children who ignored the other girl", Horito shrugged. "Maybe, a way to keep her self-righteousness?", Horito hit the spot. Mio didn't mention any more words and just walked away.

"Wait-", he tried to stop her.

"Kazuma, time to talk about sport's fest", Fushimi passed by. "Secretary, give me a break", Horito sighed. Fushimi is part of the school Council and surprisingly ended as the secretary. "You're part of the committee or would you like us to cut your club's budget?", Fushimi crossed his arms. He still has that aura around him. Horito gave up. "I wish next year's secretary will be more cute and more importantly... A girl!", Horito whined.

"You were talking with someone", Fushimi peeked and saw Mio walking away. "It's the girl who turned me down", Horito informed. Fushimi was a bit shock and just kept walking with Horito behind him. "How does it feel?", Fushimi asked. "Huh?! Are you trying to rub some salt on my wound? Remembering is more excruciating that the actual one", Horito slammed his head on the wall.

"Someone once told me that she knew how it felt to be rejected. It was real. The pain I saw in her eyes were real", Fushimi remembered Erina. Horito stopped whining. "It is... Its really painful but... I think its more painful if I didn't say anything at all. Being dumped is one thing but not being able to say what you truly felt is a different kind of thing", Horito said with a smile on his face. Fushimi pushed his head to be burrowed on the wall. "Ouch!!!", Horito shouted. "You really have your way of making me feel jealous", Fushimi smiled.

Road
After class

Mio didn't attend art club and decided to go straight home.

3 years ago,

Mio found the rabbit on the bushes and handed it to Erina. The blonde was about to burst into tears but she didn't. It seems that she still doesn't want a  complete stranger to feast on her tears.

"Hey, why are you always alone? It's not that you're weird like me", Mio asked.

"You're weird?", Erina couldn't see any signs.

"You saw my paintings. It's really disgusting and it's all mess. My classmates makes fun of it", Mio lookes away.

"I don't think that wanting to splash all the colors in a painting is a mess. I really wanted to see a more colorful room but all I get is a shade of black and white", Erina informed.

Mio's heart sank. It couldn't be any worse.

"Why were you chasing this rabbit?", Mio asked.

"The bunn.. Rabbit. If its all alone, it might die. If she catches it...its neck will get slit off", Erina's eyes widened as if seeing the rabbit as dead.

Mio though that she's one of those with extreme imagination. "But then, it's already safe. Thanks to you", Erina's eyes were bright and real.

"If I hadn't walk with you in this road, I wonder if...things would change", Mio clenched her fist. In the other side of the road, she saw Hana wearing casual clothes. She waited for the signal and ran towards her.

Ramen House

"Welcome, Mikami. Time for your shift?", the manager greeted.

Mio caught up and saw Mikami is already wearing an apron. She started serving.

"Mikami", Mio called her name. The raven head fliched and nearly dropped the bowl. She was able to hold on. She ignored her and moved around. Mio didn't also say anything afterwards.

"Would you like to order our ramen?", the manager smiled. Mio nodded. "Would it be okay if I will have sometime with Mikami?", Mio asked.

The manager smiled as if he knew something about the case of Mikami. There weren't much of customer this time. The manager stood in front of the lady. "I don't think Mikami-san is in the mood of talking. You're a friend from school?", manager asked. "I guess so. I don't think what she thinks of us... But... She's our friend's friend", Mio explained. "That's a complicated way of saying it", the manager laughed. "My friend is really worried of her. To ease her worry, I just want to ask if... she's doing well", Mio drank the water and watched Hana serve the customers. "Mikami-san might punch me if I say this. I'm her mother's friend as well. She begged me if she could work here to earn money. She wanted to re-apply to her previous prestigious school. She said she doesn't care about the diploma. I guess I already know why she's trying her best", manager narrated.

"I think she wanted to be with tha friend of yours. She's been overworking even if I already promised her that I will be supporting her", manager sighed.

"How much does she wanted to see that person?", manager added.

Mio feels like going home and sulking.

"I'm ashamed", she said then dropped the payment on the table.

"I'll go home", she gave Mikami a final glance.

You were just trying to save your self righteousness.

Chapter end.