School Girls' Stories - Year 1

Chapter 48 – White Day – Part 1


Yuki gazed out at the river, enjoying the feel of the cool waters splashing upward. In just a few more weeks it would be the season for swimming again, and she had been counting the days away. Spring meant many things this year that it never meant before. Spring meant Mrs. Chenbaro and Mr. Tennison’s wedding, granted not something that Yuki wanted to celebrate, but it would give her a chance to dress up and bring Shinwa along with her.

Spring also meant Shai’s baby, perhaps only a couple of weeks after they start their second year of high school. Yuki wondered if she would be going back to school in the beginning of the second year. In her seventh month she was having a harder time fitting into the school uniforms, and she was not allowed to wear anything over her uniform. Despite Fuji’s courage in sticking up for her that day, the swell of Shai’s stomach had given her away, though no one accused the teacher of impregnating her. Many started to just assume that Shai was different than she let on.

The tennis team now knew why she had quit, and the three remaining girls had thrown a baby shower for Shai, giving her many gifts and telling her how excited they were to have her back on the tennis team in the spring once she gave birth. Shai said it probably would not be that soon, but the girls were too happy for her.

Shai still received snickers and dirty looks in the hallway, and there were the few who were blatantly rude about it, but she was doing what she wanted to do. She was going to keep the child, and the smile she held painted on her face.

“Sorry I’m late,” Shinwa said breathlessly, running up to stand beside Yuki on the bridge overlooking the river. He leaned over, gave Yuki a quick kiss on the cheek, and then leaned over the railing along with her. “Shoushin called me, still asking me if I would rejoin the band.”

“You miss it, don’t you?” Yuki asked. “I’ve seen you perform, even though it was only on recordings, and you looked like you loved what you were doing.”

Shinwa nodded, a nostalgic look passing over his face. “I love it,” he admitted honestly. “It was great being on stage and having men and women screaming for you, to feed them their beat. My voice carried them to a different level, but of course that could have been the many drugs they were on as well.”

“I will miss you when you go,” Yuki said sadly.

“I didn’t say I was going to go and join the band again,” Shinwa denied.

Yuki gave him a wide smile. “But you want to,” she said. “How can you not want to?”

Shinwa sighed. Fuji’s face kept coming into his mind, her anger at him for lying to himself and Yuki. She may have forgiven him, she may even be cordial now, but she still held a small amount of distrust. Amatsu treated Shinwa as if he never saw him, and every time they met up Amatsu would do his best not to be in the vicinity of Shinwa. Shinwa could not blame him. Amatsu did not hate Shinwa; he just could not look him in the eyes. Amatsu knew Shinwa was not lying, but it did not mean he would forgive him.

“There’s a lot of things I did as a singer I don’t want to go back to,” Shinwa said. His gaze linked with the river and he looked out solemnly. “Except smoking cigarettes,” he joked, “I do miss that.”

Yuki let out a laugh and leaned back against the bridge next to him. “Okay,” Yuki smiled, “how about starting a small local band that just plays at small clubs? You would still get to sing.”

Shinwa nearly laughed, but had to stifle it. He did not want to make Yuki feel bad at the idea, but he could hardly put himself on a small stage with some unknowns now that he was known. “I think it best I just stay away from that lifestyle.”

“Was it that bad?”

“Fuji never told you, did she?” Shinwa asked. He turned himself away from the river so he faced the bridge pavement itself. Lovers walked down the sidewalks, while groups of girls gossiped about what they were going to do that evening for fun. Sometimes he wondered what his life would have been like if he had not joined a band and ruined his life and brain with drugs, alcohol, and Kyouteki.

“Told me what?” Yuki asked, looking up at him with her sweet smile and innocent eyes. For someone who had seen so much abuse from someone she had grown up next to she still had that innocent look in her eyes, much the same way Shai did. Shinwa had to glance away from her so as to not see the look.

“Yuki,” Shinwa started, not knowing exactly how to tell her what he wanted to say. He watched the sun begin to set behind the horizon, remembering the small package in his pocket. He decided to go with that approach instead. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small chain with a charm on it with the head of the princess from one of Yuki’s favorite video games. He handed it over to her and smiled. “I thought you would want to put that on your cell phone,” he explained. “Besides, it’s my turn to give you something.”

“I love it!” Yuki cried, ignoring thanking him and gripping her cell phone so she could hook it on. She looked at the cell phone with the head charm hanging off it. “It’s neat!” she cried. “Stellar!”

Shinwa laughed. “It’s no big deal,” he told her.

“Yes it is,” Yuki said, nearly jumping up and down with her joy. “You can not buy this in stores. You can only find it on the internet or in London. Did you go all of the way to London to buy this for me?” she joked. Shinwa only smiled at her. “Thank you, Shinwa, I appreciate it.”

Darkness began to surround them and the night was coming. Shinwa was debating inviting her back to his apartment. He lived alone in the small town, preferring to be alone. He also wanted Yuki to come back there with him, but thanks to Fuji’s anger, and then her forgiveness, he was beginning to feel as if he were lying to Yuki.

“Yuki-“ he began, trying one more time to say what was in his head. Once again, he was interrupted by the sound of Yuki’s cell phone ringing. “Do you want to answer that?” he asked.

Yuki glanced down at the cell phone, not sure if she wanted to answer it or not. It was Shai, and she could not think of anything important Shai would have to say while Yuki was in the middle of an almost date. However, Shai was supposed to be having dinner with Amatsu, Fuji, Mr. Taiikuka, and Kyoei, so why would she be calling her?

“I should,” she admitted. She lifted the cell phone up to her ear and listened to what Shai had to say. She nearly dropped the phone when the conversation was over. “I will be right there!” she yelled. Yuki turned to Shinwa, reaching out of his hand and gripping him along as she began to run.

“What’s wrong?” he shouted to her, surprised that a girl who played video games and ate sweets all day could run at the speed she was accomplishing.

“Kago attacked Fuji and Amatsu went after him!” Yuki yelled. “Fuji’s been hurt, and Amatsu still isn’t back!”