Summer brought a surprise letter from Tokonosu City's Fujimi Academy, extending an offer for a sports scholarship. The catch? Free dormitories. I thought, why not? A chance to have a room all by myself and a cozy dorm sounded appealing. So, I accepted.
Upon arriving at Fujimi Academy for a tour, I discovered it was like a sprawling maze, a labyrinth of buildings and walkways. The main building towered over the others, playing hide-and-seek with the smaller structures. They even had an observatory – a place for Astronomy students to stargaze or, as I suspected, take a cosmic nap.
Navigating the hallways felt like a quest in itself, and staircases popped up unexpectedly like hidden levels in a game. The gymnasium is so freaking huge it could probably shelter an entire town here.
As I roamed, I couldn't shake the feeling that Fujimi Academy had more mysteries than an episode of a supernatural TV show.
The tour guide brought me out of my musing as she cheerfully pointed out the various aspects of campus life, gesturing towards a group of students engaged in a heated game of soccer. "Here at Fujimi Academy, we believe in a well-rounded experience. Whether it's scoring goals on the field or mastering any field, our students have the freedom to explore their interests."
As we strolled past the recreational areas, the guide continued, "Attendance is quite flexible, and we trust our students to manage their time wisely. After all, a healthy mix of academic pursuits and extracurricular fun is the key to a fulfilling school life."
I couldn't help but smirk. It seemed like Fujimi Academy had a more relaxed approach, a stark contrast to the rigid structure of my previous school.
We continued the tour, and the guide led us to the Kyudo range, a serene spot nestled within the campus. As we approached, the rhythmic twang of bowstrings and the soft thud of arrows hitting targets filled the air.
"Here we have our Kyudo range, where students can hone their archery skills," the guide explained with a proud smile. "Our Kyudo club is quite renowned for producing skilled archers. Perhaps you might find your way to the bullseye here."
I peered at the archers gracefully drawing their bows, the precision in their movements impressive. The prospect of joining the Kyudo team seemed both intriguing and challenging.
Our journey through the campus continued, and soon we reached the Kendo club facilities. The sound of clashing bamboo and shouts of kiai resonated from within.
"Here's our Kendo club, known for its spirited training sessions," the guide explained. "Many students find the way of the sword appealing. Perhaps you'll be drawn to the art of Kendo during your time here."
Peeking inside, I saw the intense sparring matches and the dedication the members put into their training. The prospect of joining the Kendo team stirred my martial spirit, making me consider the possibility of wielding a shinai once again.
As I observed the Kendo club facilities, the thought crossed my mind that Saeko, with her fierce dedication to swordsmanship, would likely appreciate this area. I could imagine her engaging in intense sparring matches and finding solace within the spirited training sessions.
After the tour the guide offered to drive me to the station and I vehemently agreed to the offer, as the guide dropped me off at the station I couldn't help but think of the people I might leave at my old school and somehow missing them already.
After a few hours riding the train. I stepped into our home, a mix of excitement and anticipation bubbling within me. My dad, Ryōshi, occupied the living room, his focus on some paperwork. As I shared the news, his eyes, usually stern, lifted, and a subtle smile touched his face.
"Guess what, Dad? Fujimi Academy offered me a sports scholarship, and they've got top-notch facilities!"
Ryōshi, in his characteristic calm demeanor, responded, "Impressive, Will. Make the most of the opportunity."
The weight of his words resonated with the significance of the change ahead. No more commuting, a boarding school experience, and even some of our club members offered spots. Ryōshi nodded, acknowledging the shift in our lives, a blend of pride and expectation in his stoic gaze.
In a family restaurant surrounded by the familiar faces of my club members, we bid farewell to our graduating members. The atmosphere buzzed with mixed emotions—joyous laughter intertwined with the subtle undertones of melancholy.
Sawa pulled me aside, her eyes reflecting a blend of amusement and sincerity. "Will, you better not forget us alright We're expecting postcards, you hear?"
I grinned, "Postcards, really I know your family's old fashioned but you know we can text right."
Saya embarrassed quickly turned around "I hope you stub your toe somewhere you jerk"
I spent the entire party apologizing to Sawa but in the end she can't resist the Will-esque charm.
The party continued, a lively send-off filled with shared memories and well-wishes. As the night unfolded, Sawa and I walked through the quiet streets, the echoes of our footsteps sound throughout the street. The moonlight spilled through the gaps between buildings, casting a gentle glow on our path.
"So, Will," Sawa began, her tone a mix of curiosity and playfulness, "What's the big city got that our small town doesn't?"
I chuckled, "Well, for starters, there are a bunch of malls there and plus I got a free room in their dorms. But you know what it doesn't have?"
Sawa raised an eyebrow, "Enlighten me, Will."
I grinned, "It doesn't have the charm of a certain Kyudo prodigy who can make even the bullseyes jealous."
Sawa playfully nudged my shoulder, "Smooth Will. I'll hold you to those postcards, Will."
"As I said we can text and call I'm not sending you a postcard" as I teased her
She kicked me in the shin and quickly left me groveling on the ground but I can hear her whispering to herself. "You better you insensitive jerk"
As we approached the shrine, a gentle breeze whispered through the torii gates, and the soft rustling leaves bore witness to the unspoken moments between us.
Sawa looked ahead, her gaze fixed on the sacred grounds, "Well, Will, this is where we say goodbye."
"Yeah," I replied, matching her contemplative tone, "But hey, the world's not as big as it seems. Who knows, I might visit you just to get some archery tips"
Sawa nodded, a hint of melancholy in her eyes, "True. Just promise me you won't forget about the small town girl who showed you how Kyudo is really done."
I smirked, "Small town girl? Sawa, you're anything but small. You're the shining star of this town."
Sawa rolled her eyes, "Don't get too sappy on me, Will."
We reached the shrine's entrance, Sawa then paused, and for a fleeting second, a vulnerability shimmered in her eyes. Then, with a playful grin, she stepped forward, "Well, Will, take care of yourself. And don't embarrass yourself there, alright."
I mirrored her grin, "Deal. And remember, if you ever need a city guide, just drop me a message."
As we exchanged final words, I stood there waving goodbye to her but suddenly she turned around and kissed me at cheek
"Don't take this the wrong way, it's just a good luck kiss" she then sprinted to her door. As I stood there in a daze I noticed that her neck was blushing and I heard the door closed.
As I was thinking what that kiss actually meant, an arrow suddenly lodged itself near my foot. Cold sweat started to form as I picked up the arrow and a letter is attached to it.
I then unraveled the letter and the words "Stay away from my daughter" were etched in it. As I hear another arrow flies in the air.
I then ran towards the exit while shouting "It's not my fault!!".
As I was running away, the distant sounds of Sawa scolding her dad reached my ears. It seemed my departure had sparked a lively father-daughter conversation. Chuckling to myself, thinking that he got what he deserved. I couldn't help but appreciate the unique charm of the Okita family dynamic.
After making sure I don't get sniped by Legolas I quickly went to the park to drink my sorrows away with some vending machine cola.
Approaching the bench in order to sit down, I noticed Saya, the familiar pink-haired girl, looking quite upset. "Hey, Saya, what's going on? Why the tears?" I asked, taking a seat beside her.
She doesn't respond for a few minutes. Concern etched across my face, I placed a hand on Saya's shoulder. "Seriously, what happened? You can talk to me."
She looked down trying to form some words but quickly closed her mouth.
"I mean your home is literally a couple prefectures away from here" looking at her suitcase seeming packed to the brim as I see a dress popping out.
Understanding her reluctance, I changed the subject, looking around. "Well, I guess this is goodbye then. You take care, alright?"
As I slowly walked away, a gentle tug on my sleeve halted my steps. Turning around, I saw Saya on the ground, tears silently streaming down her face. The air felt heavy with the weight of unspoken emotions, and I couldn't help but crouch down beside her, offering a comforting presence in the face of impending distance.
After a few minutes of quiet sobbing and a wet sleeve, I finally decided to gently approach her.
"So, what brings you all the way here, Saya? Does your dad know you're here?" I inquired, cautiously reaching out to offer a tissue.
"No... I ran away," she confessed, avoiding eye contact. I handed her the tissue, and she accepted it with a small nod.
Seated on the bench, she wiped away her tears before continuing, "Ever since back then, I've never had a shred of normalcy." I quietly listened, noticing her clenched fists and the subtle tremor in her voice.
"I'm never known as Saya... it's always Takagi this, Takagi that. I'm sick and tired of it," she admitted, frustration evident in her posture.
"None of them are ever home; they're always busy with work. We're never in the same room together," she confessed, a hint of loneliness in her eyes. I nodded understandingly, realizing the weight of her isolation.
"I just want a normal life, like the time we went to the farm. In all honesty, it was one of the happiest days of my life," she continued, a wistful smile briefly crossing her face. I could see the longing for simplicity and connection.
"At least there, I wasn't known as the Takagi heiress or whatever achievements my parents would shove in my face. God there such a bitch" she expressed, frustration and resentment evident in her words.
"Saya, I understand you're feeling frustrated, but you shouldn't talk bad about your parents," I advised gently, my tone reflecting a mix of understanding and concern.
"But it's just frustrating, Will. Everyone is talking about how fabulous their life must be," she expressed, a tinge of bitterness in her voice.
"Everything had to be just perfect – the house, the lawn, the parties, and most of all, their daughter," she continued, her frustration palpable. I could see the strain on her face.
"It was positively suffocating. They wanted to know where I was and what I was doing, the leash they kept me on," she added, a sense of confinement conveyed in her words.
As she poured out her feelings, I could sense the weight on her shoulders. I decided to sit beside her on the bench, offering a silent form of support.
"Saya, running away might not be the solution. It's important to communicate with your parents, let them know how you feel," I suggested, trying to provide a perspective that balanced her frustration.
She sighed, wiping away a stray tear. "I've tried, Will, but they're always too busy for me. It's like I'm invisible in that big mansion of ours. I just wanted to feel normal, even if it's for a little while."
I could feel the weight of the words as I opened up about my own struggles. Saya, usually poised and confident, looked at me with a mix of surprise and understanding.
"I may not be the best person to talk to you about this since my dad is always guarding your dad," she began to say, a hint of apology in her tone.
I stopped her, offering a small, understanding smile. "It's fine, you know. For the longest time, I actually hated my old man."
Her eyes widened, realizing the depth of my revelation, especially considering the close relationship she knew I had with my father.
"I mean, think about it. He keeps leaving my sick mother and me in the states, doesn't even return for a while, and always stays in for a day with us before he goes back to Japan."
As the words lingered in the evening air, there was a shared acknowledgment that, sometimes, even those closest to us could be the source of our deepest frustrations.
Saya listened intently as I continued, sharing the emotional complexities of my relationship with my father.
"But my mom kept telling me that he loves me more than anything in the world," I added, a trace of bitterness in my voice.
"Then, at her deathbed, he arrived. He just stood there broken. Hell, I even cursed him so many times. I probably called him every possible name in the book."
I paused, the memories vivid in my mind. "He never said anything, just knelt there, quiet and defeated. My stoic dad was just gone, and all I saw was a wounded animal."
The air between us carried the weight of shared pain, connecting two souls who had experienced the ache of fractured family ties.
"After that, he took a 1-year break from guarding your dad to spend time with me" I continued, a mix of memories and emotions surfacing. I couldn't help but smile faintly at the recollection.
"He really tried, he really did," I added, my gaze drifting to the distant horizon. "He still had nightmares during that time, always apologizing and trying to make up for lost moments."
Saya listened intently, her eyes reflecting a mix of empathy and understanding. The evening air carried a subtle breeze as we continued our conversation on the bench."I guess parents, no matter how stoic they seem, are just human. They stumble, make mistakes, but deep down, they care," I mused, staring at the evening sky.
Saya nodded in agreement, her gaze following mine to the sky. "Yeah, you're right. It's just hard sometimes, you know? Feeling like you're drowning in expectations."
In an attempt to lighten the mood, I began listing my friends, mentioning Sawa and Saeko. However, as I continued, I noticed Saya's thoughtful expression deepening.
"You know, there's Sawa, Saeko, and... oh, there's Riri and Ruu too," I said, trying to inject some cheerfulness.
Saya raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk forming on her lips. "Are these all your friends, Will?"
I chuckled nervously, realizing the trend in my list. "Well, there's also Shizue, but she's more like a colleague."
Saya leaned back on the porch railing, an amused glint in her eyes. "Seems like your social circle is quite diverse."
"Yeah, diversity is the spice of life, right?" I grinned, Unaware of Saya's subtle jealousy, I continued chatting about everyday things. As the conversation flowed, I noticed her leaning on me, a gesture reminiscent of a cat marking its territory.
"Will, you have quite the interesting life," she remarked, her tone casual, but her actions betraying a hint of possessiveness.
"Yeah, I guess it keeps things lively," I responded, not catching the undertones in her words.
Saya sighed contentedly, her head resting against my shoulder. "Lively, indeed. You're surrounded by quite the assortment of characters."
Little did I know, her playful demeanor concealed a subtle competition for my attention.
Saya looked up at me, a mixture of surprise and realization on her face. "Well, you rarely visit me and stuff." She sighed, fingers idly tracing patterns on her skirt. "Also, I love the gifts that you sent me, but I would love to see you too, you know."
She hesitated, then mumbled something under her breath. "It's unfair."
I leaned in, genuinely curious. "Did you say something, Saya?"
Saya, after a moment of contemplation, composed herself and said, "But you should probably expect me to visit you more this time."
I couldn't help but smirk. "Well, you kinda caught me in a bad time. I'm moving to another prefecture for high school; they gave me a sports scholarship for it."
Her eyes widened. "Wait, where are you going? Also, what city?"
"It's in Tokonosu City."
"Ah, Fujimi Academy."
"Yeah, how did you know?"
"My parents were planning to make me join that school since a lot of influential people's children join there." She shifted her gaze to the side. "It's just a tad too prestigious for my taste."
"Wait, really? I thought it was just a fancy-looking school. I guess the space observatory was a red flag, huh?"
With a playful grin, Saya looked up at me and said, "Well, I guess I'm enrolling there too. See you in a few years, senpai."
Feeling the warmth rush to my cheeks, I awkwardly hid my face, hoping Saya wouldn't notice the blushing mess that I was. Meanwhile, the conversation continued in a lighthearted tone.
The echo of our banter lingered in the air as Saya playfully dismissed my jest. With a suitcase in hand, I guided her through the familiar halls of my home, each step weaving the fabric of our shared history. As we reached the guest room, the door swung open, revealing a haven for the tired traveler.
"Your dad probably had someone tail you here. I mean, you're still a politician's daughter, you know," I remarked, placing her suitcase down.
"Well, I'll help you settle in at my humble home since you looked tired," I offered.
"Thanks, Will. You really are my knight in shining armor," she chuckled, the weariness of the journey momentarily lifted.
"Even though I was fired from my knight job, replaced by your boyfriend, so I'm currently unemployed," I joked.
"Boyfriend?! The only one I consider is yo—never mind. You're just misunderstanding. I have never dated anyone," she clarified, a hint of blush tinting her cheeks.
"Not even that Komuro guy you kept bragging about?" I teased.
"Not really. I met someone more cool and reliable than him," she admitted with a sly grin.
"Who could possibly steal this fiery princess's heart?" I played along.
"Idiot," she whispered, feigning irritation before walking away.
"Saya, you're going the wrong way," I called after her, amused by her playful antics. She blushed and moved beside me, holding my sleeve.
"Lead the way, commoner," she declared with a smile.
"Aye aye, princess," I responded, and together, we continued to walk our way home.
As we stepped into the familiar warmth of home, I guided Saya to the guest room, a haven awaiting her after the journey. The door swung open, revealing the simplicity and comfort of the space.
My dad was in the living room, engrossed in a phone call. As his gaze shifted to us, a warm smile graced his face.
"Don't worry, Souichiro. Your daughter is safe and sound. Yes, yes, she just arrived," he reassured the unseen caller. We left him to conclude the conversation and busied ourselves with arranging Saya's belongings in the guest room.
In the comforting glow of the living room, Saya and I settled on the couch, the soft hum of a movie playing in the background. The ambient light from the screen flickered, casting a gentle warmth over us.
As scenes unfolded on the TV, our chatter melded with the narrative, creating a seamless blend of shared moments. Saya, nestled against the cushions, occasionally let out a soft giggle or commented on the storyline.
The movie's gentle rhythm and Saya's quiet laughter created a serene atmospher
e, and as the credits rolled, I noticed Saya had drifted into a peaceful slumber. Smiling, I carefully adjusted the blanket around her and decided to let her rest.
The room settled into silence, as the remnants of movie night lingering in the air.