HYM 7
Misao sat wide eyed at Soujiro as he went through the equations
effortlessly in her text. He looked up at her and smiled, causing Misao to
blush and look away.
"Did you understand how I solved this last one?" Soujiro asks Misao.
"Hai" She answers dreamily. She couldn't stop her heart from pounding
around him. For a brief moment, she wondered if he noticed.
"Okay...ano....how about you try number seven?" Soujiro says in a serious
tone.
"Hai." Misao answers, too engrossed with being near him to comprehend what
he had asked.
"Makimachi? Do you still not understand?" Soujiro asks, bringing Misao back
to reality.
Misao stared at Soujiro so intensely, one would think he was a lab specimen
in her experiment. She had no idea what he was talking about. A wave of
embarrassment washes over her as she comes to the realization that they had
been studying for over an hour and she had daydreamed her way through it.
"Ano........gomen nasai Soujiro-san. I don't seem to be getting it." Misao
says apologetically. She knew it was a lie. But she hoped that if she said
it in a sincere and helpless tone he would buy it.
Soujiro smiles and pats her head. "Daijoubu. I have to get going. I have
something to do tonight. Demo....I am pretty much free for the rest of the
week, if you want to study more?" Soujiro offers.
Misao nodds. She was grateful that he didn't seem to doubt her excuse. It
also bothered her a little. "He must think I am completely stupid."
"What was that?" Soujiro questions.
"Aah......nothing....hehe....just talking to myself." Misao says, waving her
hands around and turning bright red.
"You're funny." Soujiro states as he packs up his books.
"Ano.....arigato....I think." Misao says hesistantly.
"So tomorrow? Same time and place?" He asks as he slings his bag over his
shoulder.
"Hai" Misao answers. She watches as Soujiro walks towards the library exit.
"I am going to study with Soujiro again." She whispers to herself happily.
She felt she had to convince herself that her study dates with Soujiro were
real. "Baka.....you aren't that bad!" Misao lectures herself reasurringly.
She gathers her books and walks out of the library, heading towards the
locker that she shares with Kaoru.
"Makimachi-san?"
"Megumi-san?" Misao says shocked. She couldn't believe that Megumi would
bother to speak to her. It was no secret the Megumi hated her for some odd
reason. Misao believed it was her lack of money that caused such bitter
feeling between them. She heard from Kaoru once, that Megumi had tried to
have the student council due away with scholarships. Misao thanked the
heavens that the Board of education had overruled her.
"Makimachi. How have you been?" Megumi asks sweetly.
"Ano........fine." Misao answers. She was starting to wonder if she was
swept up in an alternate reality loop. A loop where everyone who was nasty
to her or people that had never noticed her before....were suddenly her best
friends.
"Look Mackimachi. I know that we have gotten off to a rocky start in our
relationship. But I want to due away with the bad blood between us." Megumi
says as she helps Misao put her books in her locker.
Misao stares at Megumi suspiciously. She leans against her locker and folds
her arms. "Are you serious?"
"Very. You are a friend of Shinomori-san's, ne?"
"That is hard to say. I guess it depends on his mood." Misao answers
truthfully.
"Well now, you see? We have something in common." Megumi states matter of
factly.
Misao nodds in response and turns to close her locker. "I have to get going
now." She says, walking away from Megumi.
"Matte." Megumi calls after.
Misao turns around and Megumi runs up to her.
"I am having another party....well....more of the student council has rented
out 'The Verve' ". Megumi starts.
"The Verve? Not the club that cost two hundred dollars to get into?"Misao
asks in disbelief.
"Hai. Daijoubu....it is going to be free tonight. Since you are pretty good
friends with Shinomori, I am sure he would be delighted if you would
attend." Megumi says.
"Why would he care? Iie....I think I better stay home and get some of my
homework out of the way." Misao says, declining her offer.
"What a shame. Shinomori will be very upset." Megumi says in mock
disappointment.
"I am sure he will find something to keep him occupied." Misao answers,
turning to leave again.
"And Soujiro-san will be even more upset." Megumi adds.
"Soujiro-san?" Misao asks, stopping in her tracks.
"Hai. He is going to be there tonight." Megumi says.
"I see. Ano.......what time?" Misao asks softly.
Megumi smiles triumphantly, "8pm".
"I guess I'll see you at 8". Misao says defeatingly.
-5pm-
"You mean she didn't invite you?" Misao asks in disbelief.
'Iie. I guess I am not as accepted as I thought." Kaoru says sadly.
"What nerve. Inviting me and not you! I'm just not going to go!" Misao
states matter of factly.
"Misao-chan, don't deprive yourself of a good time on my account." Kaoru
lectures.
"Demo..."
"I mean it. This could be a very big night for you. Soujiro will be there,
ne? So, you wouldn't want some girl coming along and stealing him from
you?" Kaoru asks.
"Kaoru-san......he is not mine. So how can anyone steal him from me?" Misao
asks.
"Misao-chan......you have no self-esteem."
"Duh!"
"Oh yeah. I was meaning to ask you. What are you going to wear tonight?"
Kaoru asks.
"Shimatta. I never thought about it. I don't know. OhmygodwhatamIgoingtodo?"
Misao cries out.
"Calm down, Misao-chan. You can borrow something of mine. I will bring a few
things over...give me twenty minutes. ja" Kaoru says as she disconnects
from Misao.
Misao smiles, wondering what she would ever do if Kaoru wasn't around.
-7pm-
"Are you sure about this? Misao asks uncertainly.
"You look great." Kaoru says. "Not to brag or anything but I do great work."
"But the skirt is so short." Misao moans.
"Well to catch a bear you have to lure him with honey, ne?" Kaoru states.
"Eh?" Misao asks, thinking that Kaoru has lost another marble.
"Nevermind. You look great. I will have our driver drop you off and come
back for you at ....ano.....12? If you end up getting a ride with Soujiro,
call and I tell him not to come." Kaoru says hurriedly.
"And you are positive that this skirt isn't too..."
"It's fine! Now go!" Kaoru says in an annoyed tone.
"Hai hai." Misao says, afraid of what might happen to her if she didn't. "I
will call you tomorrow."
"Have fun" Kaoru calls after her.
"Arigato" Misao calls back to her before getting into the car.
The ride to the club was nervewrecking for Misao. She didn't feel
comfortable in the miniskirt at all. She wondered why she had agreed to go
this club. But an image of Soujiro popped into her head. She smiled. Seeing
his face in her mind was reassurance enough for her. The car pulled up at
the Verve. There was a group of girls lingering around the entrance, clad in
flashy blouses and short skirts. Shorter skirts than Misao's, she noted.
"Here goes nothing." Misao says, taking in a deep breath. She steps out of
the car and walks carefully up the stairs. "I hate these shoes." She
griped. The heels were too high for her small frame. With every step, she
felt as if she were standing on an escalator. After several minutes of
struggling with her shoes, she finally made it inside. The music blasted
from every direction, in deafening tones. Misao covered her ears, unprepared
for the attack on her eardrums. She closed her eyes to collect herself and
felt a pressure on her arm. When she opened them, Soujiro was standing in
front of her.
"Makimachi? I didn't know you were coming tonight." He says with a grin.
"Hai. Megumi-san invited me." Misao explains breathlessy. She was very aware
of his hand on her arm.
"You shouls have let me know. I would have picked you up. Come on.....we are
sitting over here." He says, leading her to a table. She notices from a
distance that there are five other people sittng at the table. There is a
strange familiarity with one in particular. "I know I have seen that
silhouette before." She says in a whisper.
"Nani?" Soujiro asks at her question.
"Nothing." Misao says with a smile as they continue to push past people. Her
smile fade, however, when she identifies the figure she had recognized from
across the room.
"Shinomori?" She cries out. And sitting next to him were Sano, Shiro and two
girls she recognized from school.
"Makimachi?" Aoshi replies in shock. "What on earth are you doing here?"
"Megumi-san invited her, Aoshi." Soujiro answers.
"Naze?" Aoshi asks in confusion.
Misao throws him an annoyed look. So she didn't belong there. It was still
rude to point it out so bluntly. She sits in the chair next to Soujiro,
which earns an cold glare from Aoshi. Misao just smiled, making a mental vow
to ignore his antics. She turned her attention towards the dancefloor. There
were people dancing everywhere, from every corner. The Verve was very
popular for playing American and European songs. Tonight was no exception.
Misao watched the pool of hyperness that was the dance crowd. She envied how
loose and unaware they were of the trials and tribulations that make up the
lives of the less fortunate.
"You aren't very talkative tonight." Aoshi points out.
"I don't have much to say......especially to someone like you!" She says
harshly.
"Someone like me? I suppose that my well bred mannerisms and refined stature
may intimidate you. But don't hold back your silly conversions on my
account." Aoshi says arrogantly.
"If you say so." Misao says, turning to face Soujiro. He opened his mouth as
if to ask her something and quickly closed it. She was hoping he was going
to ask her to dance but it was too much to hope for. Especially after their
last encounter on the dancefloor.
"Makimachi, I will be right back." Soujiro says, getting up and walking
towards the dancefloor.
"Hai." Misao calls after him. Now that is a first. He has decided to
dance....but instead of taking me he is taking himself.
"Did you really think he would ask you to dance aftre the last time?"
Aoshi's voice cut through her thoughts.
Misao frowned. Was Shinomori reading her mind? She shrugged the thought away
and tried to find where Soujiro had gone. She had lost him in the crowd when
her mind decided to analyze the situation.
"Looking for Soujiro, Makimachi? Can you be more desperate?" Aoshi asks
evily.
"Iie. To be desperate would be to settle for someone like you." Misao says
annoyed by his comments.
Aoshi raises an eyebrow at Misao and gives her a wicked grin, "Honto? If
that is true, can you answer me a question?"
"Nani?"
"If being with me is considered 'desperate' to you. Than Soujiro must feel
the same about you, ne?"
"What do you mean?"Misao questions.
"Well, I just assumed that if you were such a catch than why is it that
Soujiro is dancing with that girl?" Aoshi asks deviously.
"Nani?" Misao blurts out. "Where?"
"There" Aoshi says pointing out to the dancefloor.
Misao'e eyes track his finger towards Soujiro.
There he was.
Dancing
Dancing with another girl.
Their bodies pressed closely into one another.
Misao felt her heart shatter in that moment. She cursed Aoshi for showing
her this and cursed Soujiro for not recognizing her feeligs for him. "Who is
she?" Misao asked softly.
"She is the reason we are all here. The former President of the Student
Council, Ex-Head Cheerleader and former valedictorian of the senior class,
Yumi Komagata." Aoshi states.
"Komagata, Yumi " Misao repeats, "Why haven't I heard of someone so
important?"
"She won a modeling contract three days before our highschool graduation.
The contract was for a year and would require her to move to the United
States."
"Sugoi " Misao says in awe. Looking at the girl fully, she could see why
she was chosen to go to America as a model. She was the prettiest girl that
Misao had ever seen. With black, silky hair done up in an elegant bun. And
cheeks which held a rosy tint to them.And then their were her lips. Lips
which were full and pouty. Definitely kissable. She looked as if she had
just stepped out of a fashion magazine. Misao wondered how she could compete
with her. "So how does she know Soujiro?"
"Oh. I knew I left something out. She is Soujiro's ex-girlfriend." Aoshi
says matter of factly.
"Ex-girlfriend?" Misao repeats in disbelief. That girl used to date her
Soujiro? What am I saying? He isn't mine! Misao corrects herself. What am I
going to do?
"So Makimachi.....what were you saying about being desperate?" Aoshi
provokes.
"Leave me alone! You don't understand anything!" Misao snaps. She jumps up
suddenly and walks away from the table, leaving behind a baffled Aoshi.
Misao makes her way towards the bar. She was confused. Emotions were raging
around inside her body. A mixture of anger and depression threatening to
cloud her mind. How much time would go by before she decided to do something
drastic? Like throwing herself at him and begging him not to go back with
Yumi. "I have got to get a grip." She says, smacking her hand on her
forehead. "Maybe a drink would help.....ano....excuse me...can I have a coke
please?"
"Hai. One coke coming right up." The bartender says. A few seconds later,
Misao had one filled to the rim and completely flat cola.
"Arigato" She says, paying him for the drink. She takes a sip amd frowns.
"No matter how great the establishment is, they will always have flat coke."
Misao says to herself.
"Makimachi-san, you made it." Megumi says suddenly.
"Hai" Misao answers. She notices that Megumi is wearing a black evening
gown that flows down past her ankle. She wondered if she knew where she was?
Everyone else were outfits similar to the one she was wearing, so Megumi
seemed a bit overdressed. It felt nice to be the one that fit in for once.
Even so, Misao doubted that anyone would mind what Megumi was wearing, since
she made a paper bag look fashionable.
"So, have you mingled any?" Megumi asks.
"Not really."
"Come, we need to fix that. There are so many people for you to meet."
Megumi says.
"Hai." Misao says, reaching for her drink. Megumi pulls her hand away and
smiles.
"You should leave your drink here." Megumi suggests.
"Naze?" Misao asks suspiciously.
"No reason. I just wouldn't take the chance of spilling it on anyone.
Especially, since you are so close to gaining acceptance. The first
impression is the most crucial. You wouldn't want to ruin it by splashing
soda on some of the most popular people in school, now would you?" Megumi
asks slyly.
"I-I guess not." Misao says, sounding unsure.
"Daijoubu. I am sure the bartender here will watch it, ne? Megumi asks the
bartender.
"Of course." He replies.
"Arigato." Megumi says, blowing him a kiss and dragging Misao off.
-Focus-
Misao being dragged off by Megumi.
Her drink sitting on the bar counter.
A hand reaching toward her drink and pouring something into it.
-Meanwhile-
"Makimachi, Misao meet a good friend of mine Yuukyuzan, Anji." Megumi says.
"Konnichiwa." Anji says politely, bowing to Misao.
"Hajimemashite Yuukyuzan-san." Misao says, bowing.
"Anji here is going to escort you around." Megumi says as she hurries away
from them.
Misao panics, "Demo.....you said you would!?!? Oy? Megumi-san?"
"It appears that we have been set up, ne?" Anji says with a wink.
"It looks that way." Misao says, blushing.
"Megumi can be a sneak when she wants to be. I bet she set this up from the
beginning." Anji concludes. Misao noticed that he didn't have the ego that
the rest of Megumi's friends had. She wondered what he saw in her.
"Megumi-san can be very.......persuasive." Misao adds.
"I say, let's have fun despite her." Anji says as his arm to her.
"Dance? Ano..." Misao hesitates. She didn't want a repeat of last time.
"Daijoubu. I am a horrible dancer. So, you have nothing to worry about."
Anji says reasurringly.
Misao smiles and follows his lead.
After twenty minutes of bopping around, Misao was dying of thirst. She
returned to the bar to find her drink still there.
"I took the liberty of adding ice." The bartender says.
"Arigato gozaimasu" Misao says as she gulps the drink down greedily. She
places the glass back on the counter and thatnks the bartender again.
"Yoshi. Now to find Soujiro." She says determinedly. She walks through the
crowd of people, trying to locate him but finds it has turned suddenly warm
inside the club.
"Who turned up the heat in here?" Misao wondered. She wiped the sweat from
her forehead and was taken back by how fast the crowd had doubled in size.
What is going on. Her head pounded with the music and her legs felt as if
they would give out at any moment. She needed air. She searched around for
the exit, but the swarm of people seemed to pour through every corner.
Megumi's face suddenly came into view. She was saying something that Misao
couldn't make out. She strained to hear her but found that her senses were
not her own. The last thing she saw before she blacked out was the spinnng
light on the club ceiling. And then darkness.
Misao stirred at the sound of the phone ringing. She stretched an
unconscious hand toward the receiver and picked ip up. "Moshi Moshi"
"Who is this?" A girl asks.
"Ano....Watashi Makimachi, Misao. And this is?"
"So it is true." The voice on the other end says, "I can't wait to tell
everyone."
"Yurusu? Eh? Tell everyone what?" Misao asks, eyes still closed.
"That you spent the night with a man in a hotel."
"NANI!?!?!?" Misao asks, jumping up. She was now fully awake and surveying
her surroundings desperately.
"Well, I have to go and tell everyone what type of girl you are!" The girl
at the other end states.
"Matte..."
*Click*
Misao slowly hangs up the phone and wraps the sheet around her naked body.
She slides off the bed but freezes at what she notices on the sheets. Blood.
"Oh my god." Misao cries out, "What happened?" She wraps her arms around
herself and sinks to the floor. Her eyes mist with soon to be she tears. Her
body shocked into numbness. "I had sex with someone." Misa says. "How could
I have done this?" She asks heself outloud. "No....I have to pull myself
together." She says, slowly rising from her feet. She goes to the shower and
turns the water on high. She scrubs for the better part of an hour before
deciding she was clean enough to leave the room. Finding her clothers tossed
shamelessly beside the bed, she dressed. She hated putting on the mini skirt
after what she believed had happened. But she had no other choice. She
searched around for her purse and shoes, finding them both near the door.
Beside the chair there was a table with a note scribbled on it. She picked
up the note and nearly passed out when she read it.
-Makimachi,
Last night was incredible. I never knew you could be so wild.
There is something
to be said for younger women. Your innocence didn't hinder you
at all. I hope we can
do it again sometime.
ja
-Soujiro
Misao felt the tears before they hit her cheeks. Soujiro, the one boy she
had always thought different from the rest, had taken her innocence. And
treated it like a joke. Misao felt dirty and ashamed. Any doubt that she was
overreacting to nothing had been pushed out of her mind and replaced by the
unspeakable truth in front of her. She crumbled the note in her hand and
rushed out of the room. She knew she had to go home and change since she was
already late. She ran faster than she ever thought was possible. She passed
many hotels and realized that she was in the red light district. Everyone
who came here, came for sex. She knew it, as did everyone else who watched
the countless number of men and geisha pass through.
Misao reached her house and rushed up the stairs. Luckily, Jiya was going to
be out catering a birthday luncheon all day, so she didn't have to worry
about bumping into him. She had enough to deal with today. She quickly
slipped into her uniform and grabbed her bag. Within ten minutes, she was
out the door headed toward school.
-Ten Minutes Later-
Misao rounded the final corner towards Eitoku Gakuen. Reaching the gate,
she saw most of the students standing in front of the flag pole. "I am not
in the mood for this today." She says, believing it is the school anthem
they are pledging. It wasn't until she got closer that she noticed what it
was everyone was staring at. It was a blown up picture of her, naked and
asleep in the hotel room she had just left. She screamed as everyone
starting poking and grabbing at her.
"It isn't true. I didn't....I mean I couldn't..." Misao cried out.
"You couldn't what?" Megumi says, walking up to her with a group of girls.
"Megumi-san.......Watashi...."
Before Misao can finish, Megumi takes back her hand ans slaps her. The
intensity of the blow causes her to fall back and lose her balance. She hits
the ground hard as people surround her.
"You may want to get an HIV test and a pregnancy test." Megumi says in a
disgusted tone. "I knew this would happen. You mongrels are aloud to attend
school with us and look what you do! You filthy rat!"
"She is such a tramp." Another student mutters.
"Way to go Makimachi" She hears Sano say from the back.
The students begin throwing dirt on her and pulling at her hair. She screams
for someone to help her. "STOP.....LEAVE ME ALONE!" They just kick her and
throw more dirt at her. She keeps fighting them , even though she realizes
that she has no chance to defeat them all. They were very persistent. They
start throwing their books at her and kicking her harder and harder until
she cries out from the pain. Unable to take the pain any more, she decides
to surrender.....to give up her struggling when she hears a voice roar
through the crowd.
"MATTE. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!?" Aoshi yells as he places himseld in
between Misao and the mob.
"Shinomori-san? You don't understand!" Megumi starts.
"What is there to understand?" Aoshi questions angrily.
"This girl deserves what she gets. She is the biggest slut!" Megumi
explains.
"Slut?" Aoshi repeats, eyes narrowing. His fury was evident and Megumi knew
that she had to act fast.
"Shinomori.....Look" Megumi says, pointing to the picture of Misao.
Aoshi looks in the direction Megumi points and freezes. He stands motionless
as he stares at the picture. The crowd stands with him in deafening
silence. Misao can hear her heart pounding heavily in her chest. She doesn't
dare move, for fear of what Aoshi might do. All she can do is sit and wait.
After a small eternity, Aoshi turns his away from the picture. He looks at
Misao with cold, detached eyes. His face was grim and frightening. He stared
right through her, as if not believing she was the same person in the
picture hanging high above their school.
Misao took a deep breath, "Shinomori...."
"Don't!" Aoshi says coldly. Without another word he walks away from her,
moving stiffly through the crowd.
"SHINOMORI..... MATTE. DON'T TURN YOU BACK ON ME...ONEGAI. YOU HAVE TO
BELIEVE ME." Her voice echoes through the silence. Aoshi never looks back,
as he walks inside the University entrance.
Megumi smiles at her with a satisfied look. "What are you going to do now,
Makimachi-san? Run? Hide? Drop out of school?"
Misao looks away from her piercing glare. "Naze?" She asks softly.
"Because you are nothing! You think that you can just waltz into this school
and have the F4 swooning all over you! I don't think so. You are nothing but
trash. And trash should stay where it belongs! Now.....if I were you i would
get a good head start. I have a feeling you are going to need it. Hazing
anyone?" Megumi says to the crowd as she hurries to catch up with Aoshi.
Misao is left facing down the entire highschool section of Eitoku Gakuen.
What am I going to do? She wondered. But the answer was evident. She would
run. Run from the horrible nightmare she had awakened to. Run from the lynch
mob which had her convicted before a trial was permitted. Run from the pain
of having one boy she thought she loved betray her and another who had
always prevented her from being hazed ignore her plea for help. She would
run, but the question still remained. How far could she go before they
caught up with her.
TBC
