I'm an active writer. There just aren't that many that are actually online.
I'm sure many of you people out there is like that as well. :3 Although you probably won't ever read this. >.>
Inspired by a dream I had on Thursday morning, I could not help but start another story.
Currently, I have 29 stories, including fanfictions, one of which is completed.
I told my friend about how I'd started another story and that it's about "a girl who goes back to her hometown to visit her childhood love interest... yet he doesn't remember her, etc. blah blah blaahhh..."
And she replies with, "That's good! That's really good, Mage-chan!"
And I've only told her the short summary. What's "good"? But I never got to ask that question. =_+
Anyhow, here is the story in question. :3
Don't bother to read it if you can't be bothered, by the way. ==
~oOo~
Title: To the Time When We Knew Each Other
Summary: A girl who lives in Tokyo is now visiting her hometown in hopes of seeing her childhood love interest after 8 years… but no one (although there are exceptions) remembers her, let alone her childhood love interest? And what is her former classmate from Tokyo doing in her hometown??
Kuramaki Sora stepped down from the train and took a long look at the familiar landscape, her long brown hair flowing with the wind. She blinked her light blue eyes as the sun flared against her eyes. Nostalgia flooded into her senses and she was surprised that she still recalled some of her childhood memories.
The most vivid one was of her last day in this town.
It had been almost 8 years since she’d returned, and she was now just turning 18. After she graduated high school, Sora decided to come back to visit her hometown before returning back to Tokyo to start university.
She slowly rolled her travel bag out of the train station and waited for a cab. Meanwhile, she got out her mobile phone. She dialled her mother’s number who was still in Tokyo.
[Moshimoshi?]
‘Kaasan! I’ve arrived safely.’ There was a slight sarcasm in her voice, but it would be impossible to detect through the phone.
[That’s good. Make sure you’ve got everything.]
Sora sweatdropped slightly. I’m not a little kid anymore… ‘Well, I’m heading to the ryokan now, so bye.’
[Okay, say hello to Kousuke-kun for me.]
‘Sure…’ Sora immediately hang up after that, seeing a cab approaching. Just hearing "his" name made Sora excited. Kou-chan… Finally…
I’ll get to see you again!
Sora swiped a curious glance at the ryokan in front of her. It was big, prestigious and 5-star looking. Are you sure this is a ryokan? To her, it seemed more like a Japanese-style 5-star hotel. But then again, that’s not very far from the truth.
It wasn’t far from the train station and was in a good location, so most tourists would come here first... they’d see this first as soon as they step into the town central. It’s even bigger than 8 years ago… it’s grown! It’d doubled in size! Sora complained inwardly. Naturally, this place would attract a lot of customers, but Sora continued down the path after staring at it disapprovingly for a few moments. She trudged down it slowly, appreciating the Sakura that were about to fall.
She finally stopped when she came to a certain ryokan, approximately 150 metres down the road. It was far more smaller than the first 5-star looking ryokan she saw earlier, but it had a nice welcoming feel. There was a souvenir shop on the left side and a café on the right. More shops lined down the street, and there were a couple more small ryokans as well.
Sora smiled excitedly to herself. At least I remember where it is. Sora looked at the nostalgic building in front of her; then again, everything in this town feels nostalgic. The ryokan that’s run by Kou-chan’s family!
After standing there for a while, Sora quickly stepped in to stop passerbys staring at her curiously. She hated getting stared at. Although right now it’s probably run by Kou-chan… maybe… I haven’t contacted them for 8 years, so as far I know Kou-chan may not be here anymore… with that thought, a frown appeared on her face.
‘Welcome, how can I help you, miss?’
Sora quickly stepped out of her trance and looked up to the speaker who was behind the reception. ‘Umm… a room, please,’ she said shortly and simply.
The young woman who was in her mid-20s who’d served Sora smiled warmly in reply then turned to the computer in front of her. ‘Have you booked in advanced?’
‘Yes…’ Sora replied distractedly, looking around the room, hoping to see any familiar faces.
‘Your name please?’ the young woman asked. Sora turned around quickly and read her name tag; Mizunaka Ame.
‘It’s Kuramaki Sora,’ Sora replied, flashing a quick smile across her face so that she didn’t seem to be too rude… before turning back to looking around the room attentively.
‘Thank you. Are there any new changes to your booking?’ Ame inquired
‘Um… no…’ Sora replied, frowning thoughtfully, turning back to her.
‘Thank you very much. Here is the key to your room,’ Ame said, placing the key onto the bench. Sora reached out and grabs it. ‘You are in room 105.’
Sora hesitated. This would be the time when normal customers are supposed to walk away to your room… but there was something she needed to ask.
Fortunately, the receptionist noticed her hesitation. ‘Is there anything else you need, Kuramaki-san?’ she asked with her friendliness – that is natural to be for a receptionist.
‘Ohh, um…’ Sora began shyly. I’ll… make it vague… ‘I was just wondering…’
‘Is there a problem?’ a semi-deep voice piped up from behind Sora, to her right. She froze. The voice wasn’t unfriendly, or unwelcoming at any rate, but she hates talking to strangers. Sora casually slid to the left and turned around look at the speaker. Her eyes nearly popped out when she saw him.
Light brown hair that seemed to refuse to stay down no matter how much hair gel he uses… and green eyes. He has casual friendly look and he was wearing a suit; showing his superiority in the matter. He looked familiar, but it had already been 8 years and Sora knew that there would be many changes.
‘Manager,’ Ame said as she recognised him.
Manager? Could it be? Sora wondered. But she didn’t say anything unless she got it wrong and ends up embarrassing herself.
‘So, is something wrong, miss?’ the newcomer smiled at her gently.
Sora blushed. ‘I… was just going to ask if the Touno family is still running this ryokan…’ she said quietly.
‘Eh?’ the two workers let out at the same time.
Sora blinked. Did I ask something wrong? ‘No?’ she wondered with a frown.
‘No, they are, but… no one should really know this,’ the man said, looking surprised.
‘Eh? Why?’ Sora asked with concern.
‘The last head of the family was changed. To be simple, the family’s lastname changed so it’s the “Hirakawa family” that’s running the ryokan right now,’ he explained. He then put his hand out, ‘My big brother is the current head of the family and the owner while I’m the current manager of this Hanairo ryokan, Hirakawa Kousuke.’
Sora froze and all she could do was stare speechlessly at him.
‘If you have any problems, you can contact me,’ he continued with a “standard-customer-welcoming” smile. Kousuke reached into his suit’s inner pocket and got out a name card. ‘Here’s my contact number…’ Kousuke began. He stopped when he saw the dazed look on Sora’s face. ‘…Umm?’
Sora debated intensely to herself whether she should just jump on him and announce her happiness or give him her name first. Even though they were extremely close 8 years ago, a lot of time has passed. Sora took a breath of air to calm herself down and took the name card from him. She smiled, ‘My name i-.’
‘Kuramaki? Is that you?’
Sora stopped mid-sentence when someone called out her name. She turned to her right where a guy around her age had just entered. He had a average built, layered black hair and dark green eyes. Her jaws might have dropped to the ground except that she was trying to not lose face in front of Kousuke. ‘…Mi… yano-kun?’ Sora wondered quietly, blinking. She was surprised that she could still recognise him. ‘Are you here for a holiday as well?’ she asked warily. Miyano Taichi was her middle school classmate, and was one of her good friends. She was happy to meet him, of course. But meeting him at the same as meeting Kousuke is not something that she would be too happy over.
‘What are you saying? I live here!’ Taichi replied cheerily, oblivious to her unsatisfactory.
‘…’ That sentence caused Sora to become even more speechless. ‘Hah?’ she wondered lamely. ‘You… live here?’ she echoed him uncertainly.
Kousuke turned to Taichi. ‘Taichi, what is it? Did you need to see me?’ he asked casually.
This revelation might have caused Sora to go brain-dead, but she didn’t. She stood there, calmly observing what was happening in front of her with some interest.
‘Eh? I was just going to invite you over and stuff,’ Taichi replied casually before turning back to Sora. ‘Kuramaki, you here for a holiday?’ Sora nodded cautiously. ‘Really?’ Taichi asked, his face shining. ‘Come over to the café next door sometimes! My family runs it!’
‘I see…’ Sora replied. I was thinking that it must be new… Too many things have changed since 8 years ago…
‘Is it your first time here? Do you need a tour guide?’ Taichi asked excitedly, walking over to it was easier to talk, especially when Sora showed no signs of moving from that spot.
‘It’s not my first time here but I would appreciate a guide…’ Sora replied thoughtfully. A realisation hit her once Taichi stopped in front of her. If this guy is here then I can’t talk to Kou-chan!
‘Well then, Kuramaki-san, seeing that you’re Taichi’s friend, I’ll give you some special service!’ Kousuke piped up, quite cheerfully.
Sora turned to him, mostly disappointed. So… he doesn’t recognise me? Sora then felt a sudden fear in her heart when she came up with another possibility. Maybe he’s… forgotten about me?
She ended up gaping. Sora wanted to ask if Kousuke remembers her. But then that would be quite pointless. If he actually remembers me, he should’ve said hello by now after hearing my last name… Plus, if he can’t remember me, then what would be the point of seeing him? ...it must mean that he’s forgotten about our promise as well, right?
The emotions she was feeling were clearly showing on her face.
‘Kuramaki-san? Is something wrong?’ Kousuke asked with concern.
This sentence almost triggered her to punch him in the face. ‘No, don’t worry about it, Ko… To… H…Hirakawa-san.’
‘I see…’ Kousuke replied, not looking totally convinced. ‘I’ll take your bag to your room for you,’ he offered kindly. ‘Then how about we jump over to the Miyano’s? You haven’t had anything to eat yet since arriving, correct?’ he suggested.
Sora nodded, ‘Alright, thank you… but,’ she began.
‘Yes?’ Kousuke wondered.
‘I’ll carry my bag to my room myself and you two can go wait in the café,’ Sora explained, smoothly grabbing the bag from him. If it was just any stranger I wouldn’t have the nerve to reject his offer, but since it’s Kou-chan, I do. …Even if he doesn’t remember me. Sora then quickly walked off.
Kousuke stared after her speechlessly before turning to Taichi. ‘Is she always like that?’
‘Hmm… yeah. She’s very independent. Never let herself owe anyone anything either.’
‘I see…’ Kousuke commented, hiding a small smile…
Sora stepped out of the Hanairo ryokan and turned right without hesitation. She didn’t like people waiting for her. She preferred waiting for other people more. Sora had put all of her luggage in the room and put together a carry bag with the necessarily carry-around essentials. She now put her room key inside as she continued walking. She stopped as she reached the entrance and pushed the door open. Sora was hit with a cool breeze as she did so. The café had an indoor section as well as an outdoor one; she didn’t see anyone outside so she deduced that Kousuke and Taichi must be in the indoor section.
There were little round white tables spread out in the dining area and the glass walls were decorated with orange and yellow stickers. She smiled as praise for the décor.
She saw the two sitting at a table in the far right corner and she proceeded to hurry over. Just mentioned earlier, she hate making people wait for her.
Kousuke and Taichi sat in the cool air-conned air of the Miyanos’ café. Kousuke frowned thoughtfully. Sora reactions in the ryokan were quite strange. He wondered if he said anything wrong. ‘Kuramaki-san, she…’ Kousuke began to Taichi, knowing that he knew her much better than he does.
‘Hm? What about her?’ Taichi wondered. Then he narrowed his eyes suspiciously, ‘…don’t tell me you’re interested?’
‘Eh? N…’ Kousuke was about to naturally deny the question but Taichi didn’t even let him continue.
‘Dude, that won’t be easy. She rejected every single person that confessed to her,’ Taichi interrupted him knowledgably. Then, blushing slightly, he added quietly, looking away, ‘Plus, I…’ He swallowed before continuing, ‘…towards Kuramaki, I…’
‘Sorry for the wait…’ Sora said, half-skipping up to their table. She smiled at the two of them casually then sat down. She’d already settled down her feelings long ago and is now into full “pretend to be happy” mode. ‘Just give me anything you recommend,’ Sora said to Taichi. ‘I think our tastes are pretty similar, according to past experiences.’
Taichi nodded before he yelled some orders to the kitchen.
Sora took a sip of the glass of water that was already on the table. She wasn’t finding this situation that comfortable. But she was glad she at least got to see Kousuke again. Her feelings for him may have dimmed slightly during the past 8 years of non-communication, but she still loves him nonetheless.
She smiled as she began reminiscing her younger days in this town.
[‘Kou-chan! Wait for me!’ Sora called, desperately running after the older boy.
Touno Kousuke, 9-year-old, stopped in his tracks and turned around to look at the person who’d called his name. ‘Sora?’ …There could be no one else. Not that many people call him by that name. He blinked in confusion. ‘What are you doing here?’ he asked curiously.
8-year-old Kuramaki Sora quickly skidded to a stop in front of him. ‘Kou-chan, where are you going?’ she asked, frowning.
‘…’ After looking taken aback for a short while, Kousuke gave her a warm smile, ‘I’m just taking a walk. Want to come with me, Sora?’
Sora’s face lit up brightly. ‘Uhn! Definitely!’ she exclaimed as she jumped onto his back.
‘Woah!’ Kousuke let go of a shout, caught by surprised. Then he laughed at her hopelessness, ‘Sora, be careful.’
‘…Sorry…’ she apologised, letting go of him.
‘No, it’s alright... I’ll never get mad at you, no matter what happens. And even if I do, I’ll definitely forgive you,’ he said idly as he continued walking in the direction he was going towards earlier.
‘Kou-chan!’ Sora exclaimed. Kousuke turned around since she called his name and didn’t say anything else. He saw tears brimming in her eyes.
Kousuke freaked out a little. ‘Sora!?’
‘I love you!’ she yelled, jumping on him once again, throwing her arms around his neck.
‘…’ Kousuke blushed and replied quietly, ‘…I love you too, Sora.’]
Kou-chan has always been a gentle person. He’s kind and was never mean to anybody… of course, he may have changed over the past 8 years, I’d considered that. But… he forgetting about me is a possibility that I’d intentionally pushed to the bottom of my thoughts. It was the last thing that I wanted to happen.
‘So Kuramaki, of all places, why did you come to Kazeichi for a holiday?’ Taichi wondered curiously. Then he quickly added, ‘I mean, this town is great and all and is sort of famous, yeah, but you came here straight after graduating high school, right?’
‘I… have been here before, as I’d said earlier… I really like it here, so…’ Sora replied reluctantly. Now, for some reason, she didn’t want Kousuke to remember her. At least they’d have to be somewhere private. As she thought about Kousuke again, the sadness she felt clearly showed on her face. She blinked her eyes furiously to stop the tears that were threatening to fall any minute.
‘I see,’ Taichi responded, nodding up and down solemnly. ‘Now, another question. Why did you decided to stay at Hanairo ryokan, of all places?’ he asked, a cheeky looking grin on his face. Kousuke frowned in irritation.
‘Why? I…’ Sora trailed off. She can’t really say that it was because of Kousuke.
‘Yes, plus, how did you know about the Touno family?’ Kousuke asked, making it sound like it was just any normal question.
‘…’ Sora didn’t know what to say. ‘…my parents…’ she began slowly. ‘…came to this town when the Touno family were still running the ryokan,’ she finished. It wasn’t a lie.
‘I see. It hasn’t been that long ago, after all,’ Kousuke muttered. Sora caught a small hint of sadness in his voice. She quickly peered up to see a worried looking Taichi and a silent Kousuke.
Now she was very worried. She had never seen Kousuke being sad before. …but we were still kids then. There weren’t many things that could’ve made us sad… especially more so because Kazeichi is a happy and peaceful town. She smiled wistfully at the last thought.
Suddenly, Taichi began exclaiming out loud cheerily, ‘Ah! Our food is here!’
Sora looked up quickly.
Anddd... I think I moved things along a little too fast... it should go slowly... and as time goes along, the characters develop and more flashbacks happens, etc....
Of course, the above version still needs more editing. My writing is weird and hard to use in a touching story, that's all. ><
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