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Hiro Kurusu used to dislike going to school.
Of course she understood now that it had been all of her fault. After cheating, lying and betraying all of her friends she had ended up all alone, angry at not her so-called friends, but at herself.
Things had changed though, and now she couldn’t wait to wake up in the mornings. She would hop into the kitchen, dressed in her school uniform, happy as a little bird at the first signs of spring.
Because she knew that once she'd get to school, she would be able to see him again.
Takezo Kurata had changed her. He had taken a step inside her closed heart and had broken the chains that kept the doors locked. He had given her the chance to become herself once more: a girl who loved playing the koto.
She thanked her grandmother for breakfast and emptied her plate as fast as it had been placed on the dinning table. Hiro grabbed her remaining piece of bread, took her school bag from the chair next to her and gave the old woman a kiss on her cheek before wishing her a good day.
Today was going to be another fantastic day!
xXx
“Good morning, Hiro!”
Kouta jumped into his senpai’s arms and hugged like as he did whenever they had morning practise. She was used to the affection from the younger blonde and she had to admit that deep down Kouta gave the best hugs.
She greeted the rest of the club with a soft “good morning” and a bow and got her koto. Chika and the other ex-delinquents had already started to practise their partitions for the next piece while Hozuki was gently tuning hers. Hiro looked around the clubroom some more and her heart sank when she realized that someone was missing.
“Erm… has anyone seen Takezo today by any chance?”
Chika replied without looking up from his strings. “Four-eyes can’t make it today. He said he was sick.”
Whaaaaat?! Hiro felt her cheeks burning. She had been looking forward to seeing today and now… Panic took over her even though she tried her best to hide any traces of it.
“Did… Did he say if he had a cold? Is it just a fever? Is he going to be okay?!”
She felt herself getting hugged again, but this time it wasn’t Kouta.
“Don’t worry about Kurata. I am sure he is just resting.” Hozuki patted the top of her head. “We’ve been working extra time lately so maybe his body was just tired from it all.”
Chika got up from his spot and then got closer to the girls. “I agree with Hozuki. Besides, he didn’t seem too sick to me in his text. Just give him a day or two; I’m sure he’ll be back to his old self in no time!”
Hiro looked down to Chika’s hands. They were carrying a box of strawberry milk.
“Here. For you.”
Is this… is he trying to reassure me?
“Thank you, Chika,” Hiro whispered.
They then went on with practise, or so that’s what Hiro thought. Her mind kept going back to Takezo… She wanted to send him a message to ask him if he was okay but then the thought of waking him up dawned on her. Her partition seemed like it was the biggest obstacle in her life right now and even though she knew that her not being able to practise as usual would bring the others down deep down her heart was elsewhere, and it hurt.
She wanted to see him so much…
xXx
The bell rang and announced the end of the day. The club was meeting again for more practise time but Hiro just couldn’t face the music right now.
I want to see Takezo.
A hand appeared on her shoulder and she almost screamed out for help. Unaware since when Hozuki had found her outside of her classroom, Hiro tried to fight some tears.
“I… Sorry if I’m being noisy but… Senpai… do you… would you want to go see Kurata instead of going to the clubroom?”
Hiro’s heart sank in her chest, as if it hadn’t been at the bottom already. “I---” She didn’t know how to respond to her friend. “I….”
Hozuki’s grabbed Hiro’s hands. “Go. I’ll make up some excuse. I am certain that your presence will make him happy.”
Hiro wanted to cry. She hugged her friend in thanks and ran off towards the school’s exit. She couldn’t believe that after all this time, after everything that had happened to her in her life a guy would make her brain go all mush and all crazy.
She was a lucky girl for being able to feel all of these emotions, for sure!
xXx
Hiro rang the doorbell.
She wanted to run away.
But before she could even turn around she heard someone in the intercom.
“Hello?”
Takezo’s mom.
“Hi ermm.. hello! It’s Hiro, Takezo’s classmate?”
“Ah yes, Hiro! I remember you! I am assuming that you are here to check on Takezo?”
She nodded, and then remembered that she was talking to a microphone and speaker outside the Kurata’s house. “Ermm… yes! I—The club wanted to know how he was doing?”
There was the sound of the gate door unlocking. “Of course, sweetie. Come right on in.”
Should I leave? No way will he want to see him if he doesn’t feel well… I should go… but I want to see him!! The internal struggle was real and it scared Hiro to no end. But the door was open now and Takezo’s mom was expecting. What would happened if she would just ditch? Would his mom think that she’s a crazy teenager who loves to prank sick people?
Hiro took a deep breath and walked to the door. She knocked twice, super softly, almost wishing that Mrs. Kurata wouldn’t have heard her. But the door opened and there she was, the mother of the guy she loved.
“Good day to you, Hiro! I hope Takezo didn’t worry you too much, dear.”
“O-of course not!” She sounded like a pre-teen boy going through puberty voice change. “H-how is he?”
Mrs. Kurata offered to take Hiro’s jacket while she changed into a pair of guest slippers. “It’s just a small fever… the poor boy never takes a day off even when he feels sick, but as a mother I just couldn’t take the risk this time.”
Hiro looked around the house. It was the same as it had been the last time she was here. Everything seemed so peaceful and calm; a way a household should feel like when you have a caring family. There were pictures of Takezo and his younger brother all over the place, which made Hiro blush. The both of them were so adorable as kids!
“He’s been working so hard with the club,” Hiro spoke unintentionally as her eyes were glued to a small frame of Takezo in his first day of school. “I’m glad you told him to rest. If there’s anyone in the club who deserves a resting day it has to be him!”
Takezo’s mom didn’t reply right away. A warming smile appeared on her lips; a happy smile that reminded Hiro of Takezo’s. Her heart skipped yet another beat.
“If you’d like, you can bring him a fresh glass of water and some fruits. I was just about to head upstairs myself.”
O-M-Geeeeeee! Could she really??? “Oh… ermm… sure!”
Hiro waited for the tray by the stairs and then headed upstairs slowly. When she reached Takezo’s bedroom door she softly knocked three… no… four times before she realized he was most likely asleep and so… in she went.
The inside of the room was dark and quiet. A clock ticking was the only sound Hiro’s ears could register. She advanced towards the bed as slowly as she walked up the stairs, not wanting to disturb his sleep.
Oh woooow… Takezo wasn’t wearing his glasses and his facial expression showed that he had been resting properly, which was a good sign, Hiro guessed. He didn’t seem to be sweating or having trouble breathing and that alone reassured the teen who gently placed the tray on a small table by the bed.
What should I dooooooo??? Hiro’s eyes couldn’t let go of Takezo. She wanted to place her hand on his forehead just to make sure his temperature but then she was afraid she would wake him up. She wanted to be there for him, to take good care of him like he had taken good care of her when things were not so good. It scared her to no end what would happened if she were to lose him.
She loved him so much.
He was different from all the guys she had ever met. He brought her comfort, warmth and the reassurance she needed to go on with her day.
“You know,” she whispered as she placed the tip of her fingers on top of his right hand. “Not seeing you today sucked. I was really hoping you would show up with your smile like you do every day and just be… you. I really wish you’d wake up right now and tell me that you are okay and that you are sorry for making me feel like an idiot but that’s not what you need to do right now, is it?”
She took a moment to catch her breath. “These past few months have been the greatest of my life, all because of you. I don’t want to lose you because you have a fever. I need you here with me because I—”
Hiro heard footsteps in the hallway and had to stop herself. Wiping the single tear from her right eye she sighed, and then chuckled to herself.
“You are making me do crazy things, Takezo Kurata. Please take care of yourself and get back to your old self. I—the club needs you.”
She closed her eyes, wishing that she should stay by his side forever but decided to turn around and leave the room. Just as she opened the door…
“Kurusu…”
She turned around as fast as she could and looked at the bed. Shit. Had he been awake all that time??! Had he understood what she had said??? Oh no… everything was over!!!
But nothing except some breathing. And that annoying clock.
She ran out the door and down the stairs, her cheeks burning and tears wanting to flow out of her tear ducts like a waterfall.
Hiro thanked Mrs. Kurata, grabbed her jacket and shoes and got out the door in record time. Her heart pounded in her chest so hard it felt like it wanted out.
She had done it, though. She had been able to go see him, make sure he was okay and he was.
Hiro was happy. Hiro was in love.
Hiro loved Takezo Kurata.
How would it feel like the next time she would see him, though?
That was a problem for tomorrow’s Hiro.