The play left a heavy feeling on Amaya's shoulders.
And even as she returned home instead of returning to the Classroom, she couldn't shake that uncomfortable air that had overcome her. It sat like a miasma around her, reminding her constantly that there was something very wrong.
Was that something particularly wrong, actually her? Was it her fault?
Or was it something else?
She felt like she was going around in circles, constantly searching for an answer that wasn't there to begin with.
It left her feeling disconnected, discontent with the whole situation.
And by the end of her patience that afternoon, Amaya had decided she never was going to find that answer.
She secluded herself in the gardens of her home in naught but shorts, tank top and boots, rearranging the bland, rectangular gardens rimming the half acre property so that the garden beds themselves wove slanting and skewed throughout the property like the weaving of a trail between forest trees. Her feathered ball of clingy affection had abandoned his hand-built aviary to instead bury himself securely into the haywire hair atop Amaya's head, chirping and clicking away as Amaya shifted bucket after bucket of dry soil across the front yard.
It was quiet. Nobody had come home yet and there was no sight of Karma anywhere.
Just Amaya, the infernal furballs running havoc inside, and her brain-skewed ball of feathers.
Though it wasn't to last.
It was Amaya had finished shifting the last bucket worth of soil to build up the garden bed surrounding Koko's aviary that she realized she was not alone at home.
A stray form clad in the typical Kunugigaoka middle school uniform was standing at the front gate of the property, seeming hesitant in setting foot past the gate. And only when Amaya straightened up to cast a cursive glance over her work in progress did she actually realize who it was.
A surprisingly awkward-looking Asano Gakushuu, who appeared to be looking around cautiously in case somebody was about to jump out and hurl him to the ground.
Undoubtedly Karma, if the small remark the male had sent her earlier in the day was anything to go by.
'Have you got some kind of business with me, Asano-san?' Amaya decided to call out to the awkward male as she began to rim the garden beds with the leftover rocks from her aviary-building expedition, earning his prompt attention with the sudden turn of his head. 'Or Karma, maybe?'
Amaya almost scoffed at the immediate frown that crossed the male's face at the mention of Karma.
'No, actually. I'm here to speak with you.' Asano answered, though he definitely made no move to step past her front gate.
Amaya guessed it was due to the last exchange Asano and Karma had when the former had refused her demands to leave.
At least it looked like he'd learned his lesson.
'Is it going to take long?' The albino asked as she paused mid-stride with her current, large rock. 'I was kind of hoping to finish this before my kids get home.'
'No. It won't.' Asano responded, and beyond the brief glint of curiosity that he'd adopted in response to her remark, he didn't voice any confusion. 'You don't have to drop what you're doing.'
How oddly complying of him.
Well, she wasn't going to complain at this point.
'Fine by me.' Amaya dismissed as she tossed her rock over to her new garden bed.

YOU ARE READING
Marionette
FanfictionEver at odds with the people around her, Katsuragi Amaya has only three people who she feels a close connection to. Her siblings, Reiko and Yuta, and her best and worst friend, Akabane Karma. A friend whom she feels sees her no different from anyone...