(no subject)

[burningbow]

Who: Miyume and Mirai.
Where: Around the city.
When: Saturday April 22nd, 6pm onwards.
What: Things.

Mirai had contrived to be the first at their usual spot. He sat in one of the benches, regally and in the middle, legs-crossed, holding onto his mobile phone. On it was a picture of Miyume as she had been in the park, looking up at him with the most coy smile. He flicked to the next photograph with a quick thumb and nearly drew himself back to delete it.

As far as he was concerned, it was only a bit of fun. They weren't going to last. He had an understanding, and was sure she did too, that it was safer to be alone. Was it she wished him peace, or had realised that a little kindness would help? He did not want her asking him for his feelings. He worried he did not love her enough or in the right way to deserve consideration. Was he convincing himself he had found the right person? If he was with the right person, his hands wouldn't be stiff with fright nor his face thoughtful.

There was no sign of Miyume and certainly a few girls had paid him attention as they had left their dorm. One had stayed to keep him company and complained about a "gaijin". Here he had listened and pretended to care, because far be it from one such as he to turn away their company.

Comments

[phantomcloud]

It was almost time for her date and Miyume had yet to stop seething from her encounter with Taue. As brief as it had been, it'd still been enough to rip the scab off a wound that was finally just starting to heal. What was it about her that made people automatically think she was some sort of mental incompetent in need of protection or salvation? Her body was weak, not her mind.

As long as people kept making that assumption, Miyume would pull their heartstrings until they danced to the tune she wanted. It wasn't like she had any other real talents or abilities going for her these days. And more often than not, it was the only way she could maintain even an illusion of control over her life.

Miyume quickly got dressed. While she looked nice enough, she didn't put quite the same care into her appearance as she had been for her dates lately. Hopefully, it would turn out not to have been a mistake for to slack a bit in this area. She hurried out to their meeting place, as much as she could hurry anywhere these days.

The sight of Mirai talking to another girl didn't bother Miyume. At least, not as much as people would surely tell her she should be if they'd known in the first place. She regarded the girl with mild curiosity before turning her full attention to Mirai.

"Hello, Mirai-kun," she greeted kindly. No one would be able to tell from her sweet tone that not even five minutes ago, her mind had been full of nothing but darkness.

[burningbow]

"You really did say that?" Mirai was saying to the girl. "Truly, you're a brave girl."

He glanced up as Miyume came over to them, and he did not wait to explain to this girl why she was approaching. He extended an arm to take all the space he needed - making it clear it was his domain and that she was welcome. In the silence of them all sitting together, there was enough time for him to watch Miyume with a good eye, appraising the way which she had dressed herself.

She was far more slovenly than he did remember her. Not because of carelessness but not because of sloth either.

"Are you feeling all right?" he asked Miyume simply.

[phantomcloud]

Miyume sat down beside Mirai in the offered space, offering him a grateful smile. Rather than tense up at the presence of the other girl, she seemed content to just be at Mirai's side. A little of the residual tension she had been holding inside began to dissipate. Unconsciously, she leaned toward Mirai just a fraction but not so much to be invasive or convey possession. All she wanted was to simply stay close to him.

"I've been better," she admitted, tucking a lock of her hair behind one ear as she turned to face him slightly. "I ran into Taue-senpai during my errand at Junes. It went badly. For him, anyway."

Beyond initial acknowledgment and a polite greeting and smile, the other girl may have well been an extra on a movie set for all the attention she got from Miyume that moment.

[burningbow]

Mirai seemed neither convinced nor a fool. He read through the lines and went on behaving as though it were no problem - he thought most people would have something to say about his relationship with her. He shrugged and turned his attention to her, looking remarkably nice and kind as she sat down beside him - and he did not seem to remember the other girl at his side.

"Oh no," he sighed in disdain. "He's trying to warn you or something."

He stood up. The girl stood up. There was no mistaking the secretive glance they both gave each other. She laughed like some highborn princess and Mirai smiled at it like he was in on some secret. He took his attention from Miyume for just a short moment. "Excuse me, Ojou-chan. But Hazama-san and I - we're going to have to finish this conversation in private. I'm sure you understand. I'll look forward to seeing you at my next practice, then."

He offered a hand to help Miyume off the bench, then seemed to guide them away from the dorms entirely.

[phantomcloud]

Miyume took Mirai's hand and let him lead her away from bench and the dorms. She stayed quiet, wondering briefly what she'd walked in on. She contemplated asking but her emotions were much too raw for her ask about such things. Miyume didn't trust herself not to say something she might regret. She bowed her head as they walked.

"Where did you want to go tonight?"

[burningbow]

"I will take you to see a film," he said. "I forgot, because somebody was... distracting me." His eyes seemed to glimmer as though she knew exactly what he meant. "I hate forgetting important things."

He then squeezed her hand affectionately and ignored the possibility of going to the cinema entirely. "We could just go to the park again. Of course we could see a film or something - or do something else entirely. What do you want?"

[phantomcloud]

She relaxed a bit more at his words, squeezing his hand back. Her grip was a little weaker than usual so she made up for it by gently urging him to stop walking for a moment. When he did, she slid her arms around his waist, pressing close against him. Then she gave him a rather deep, passionate kiss on the spot, either forgetting or simply not caring who might see them.

[burningbow]

Mirai was one of those men who grew the more attention he got, where anything positive would make them extremely pleasing. The world generally found him as such, and only a few who knew what the truth was saw his evil grin and malevolence on the outside. He began ponderously to return the affection and began thinking about where his love was. He had a little shiver running down the length of his spine, as if he was searching for it, afraid of it - or both.

When their mouths came apart and they had a chance to step back and breathe, she would see he looked totally unconcerned about anyone else. He looked decidedly pleased by her forwardness.

"... Wow."

[phantomcloud]

Miyume stepped back, lowering herself back onto her heels. Simply standing tiptoe was a dangerous feat for her nowadays; she could injure herself very easily without realizing it. Still, she lingered in a close hug, just resting her head against his chest a moment. His heart sounded like it was racing just as quickly as her own.

Three small words surfaced in her mind but she kept them to herself. As much of a romantic as Miyume was, even she knew better than to dwell on that issue this early in a relationship. For all his apparent suave and skill at seduction, Mirai seemed surprisingly clumsy when it came to matters of the heart. Or maybe it just seemed that way to her after being with Ayana for so long. Despite her young age, Miyume had already experienced a strong, close bond most people didn't get to enjoy until they were much older than she.

She pulled back, gave him a gentle, happy smile, and took his hand again.

"What kind of films do you like to watch, Mirai?"

[burningbow]

Miyume would have a glimpse of a slight frown on Mirai's face about this question. "Biopics," he said, before he tightened the grip of his hand to hers and looked like he wanted to share his love about film.

"Documentaries, really," he said, lying. But he seemed pleased by this attention-shifting question and rubbed her hand. He could feel his heart beating a little faster, increasing not because of the lie but the situation. "Those sorts of things."

But what he really enjoyed was science-fiction and fantasy. The imaginative, escapist sort of worlds that were only thought of as appropriate for childhood.

[phantomcloud]

"I like fantasy and allegorical films. Romantic comedies can be fun, too, with the right person. But I don't watch much in the way of film. I've always been more of an avid reader. Again, mostly fantasy and allegorical fiction. I like shoujo manga, too, if it's done really well with a strong, likable heroine and engaging story."

She looked somewhat embarrassed by her admission that she liked shoujo manga. She was a fifteen year old girl. It was completely normal for a girl her age to enjoy them. But after everything she'd been through in the past few years, the things she worried about on a daily basis, the bleak futures for herself she'd been forced to accept, it felt strange confessing to something so normal. It made her feel very young and vulnerable, especially in the company of a sophisticated, older boy like Mirai.

"Do you read manga or watch anime at all, Mirai?"

[burningbow]

Mirai felt his mind tense up. He knew she would certainly sense it, and that she would catch him lying. Perhaps he ought to say something. Or he could be quiet and he kept his dignity. They walked for some time without him answering, and for a while he seemed quite unaware that she existed as he pondered the issue.

"No. You should read proper books; manga and anime are wastes of money," he said vehemently. He looked ready to spit on the ground. But it wasn't a lie to say he wanted her to perceive they were things he enjoyed.

[phantomcloud]

That took Miyume by surprise. She wasn't upset though part of her wondered if she should be. She stayed quiet as they walked, expression thoughtful. She rubbed his hand absently, while she tried to pinpoint precisely why that response struck her as so strange. It wasn't just the words themselves. If he was himself, he never would have phrased something like that.

"Did someone tell you that, Mirai?" she asked, in a soft concerned voice. He seemed so nervous tonight. It worried her.

Sometime later...

[burningbow]

That evening, Mirai took them to a different quiet area of the park. The lush grass was simply a little sunburned. He was fairly sure the sun would be out tomorrow too. Now he stood under a grand tree looking over a small river with water that was still and dark. The opposite bank was lined with a topiary that seemed to run all around the side till it went out of sight. Mirai brought Miyume a little closer and squeezed her hand a little tighter while he stared down into the water. Then he looked at her trying to seem fun and interesting.

"You can give it to me here if you want it," he said capriciously, recalling what she had mentioned at their early meeting.

Re: Sometime later...

[phantomcloud]

The spot they'd found was gorgeous. Between their beautiful surroundings and the wonderful boy she was holding hands with at the moment, Miyume's heart was full nearly to the point of bursting. Her smile was joyful and radiant as she watched the water. When he pulled her close, she leaned against him quite happily. Moments didn't get much more perfect than this for Hazama Miyume. She wanted to capture it forever so she could always come back to this time to remind herself that life could be still be beautiful.

Then Mirai reminded her of the special something she'd brought with her today so she could start doing just that. Without a word, she reluctantly let go of his hand to begin rummaging through her purse. After a moment, she pulled out the digital camera Ayana had given her to document her life at Chitoku Academy with. So far it hadn't gotten much, if any use, aside from taking pictures of her dorm room and the hallway beyond it. With everything that had happened since coming here, Miyume simply hadn't had the time or energy to wander around campus taking pictures for Ayana.

"Well, it's not a present, exactly. It's not actually mine but I wanted to take some pictures of you, maybe us together, if you don't mind," she said shyly. "Memories are great but I like pictures, too. I have pages saved for you in my photo album."

Miyume also wanted a pictures of Mirai and the two of them together for her nightstand but she wasn't quite ready to mention that out loud just yet.

Re: Sometime later...

[burningbow]

Mirai shifted on the spot and glanced at Miyume. He did not certainly look as interested in having his photo taken here, but he was careful not to say anything that could end his peaceful situation, or the warm way she had been treating him lately. But because of the paranoia she was taking photos to fit him in some compartment he could barely smile. He was almost able to look as if he had a smile going ear to ear - but dropped it rather quickly. Because thinking about his father after their nice talk earlier had put the need for comfort in his mind.

There was certainly no doubt having his photograph taken had not been his first solution to that problem. He squeezed her hand and waited for his image to be captured, though. He thought it was rather normal girlfriends did this sort of thing.

"... Sure," he said, eying the murky river that seemed so comforting. His voice was encouraging but had an edge of boredom to it.

Re: Sometime later...

[phantomcloud]

Ever sensitive to the moods of others, it was glaringly obvious to Miyume that Mirai didn't share her enthusiasm for this endeavor. She had enough personal experience with fear and anxiety to be able to recognize it in others, especially when it came to someone she cared this much about.

Though he'd told her she could take his picture, Miyume hesitated. Something about this didn't feel right to her. The desperate, calculating, selfish part of her heart insisted that she take the picture before it was too late. But not everything Miyume shared with the world were total lies. Her expression softened and she tucked the camera back in her purse.

The picture wouldn't hold the same meaning if only one of them wanted it, Miyume thought.

"Nevermind. It can wait. Would you like to sit with me for a while, instead?"

She squeezed his hand with as much gentle reassurance and affection as she could muster.

Re: Sometime later...

[burningbow]

Mirai shook her loose and sunk downwards - in a reluctant way - and then gave a great sigh. He was leaning back and forced to keep his hands spread and his balance even. He felt Miyume's gaze looking over him, and he shut his eyes. Perhaps that was why he sat straight, with his legs apart and offering her quite a nice space to sit.

"Thank you." He stopped himself. He was not too sure why he was apologising - he didn't want his photo taken at this time. There was no control in it, nor had he been given time to make himself look good.

Re: Sometime later...

[phantomcloud]

"You're welcome," Miyume replied with a tender smile.

She sat down in the offered space and leaned back ever so slightly to indicate that he had permission to hold her close if he wished. She closed her eyes and let herself relax.

Re: Sometime later...

[burningbow]

It was a very welcome invite. Mirai leaned towards her and rested his cold hands over her sleeves. Her arms and hands were warm, and everything about her was very enjoyable. She sat by him unworried and unconcerned, while he circled and drew her in as he came fairly close.

He stared curiously around. The flowers filled the air with the smell of spring - which he wiped off his nose a moment. Then he wrapped around with his arms and pinned hers in, pressing them to her chest.

"This is very typical," he said. "I feel like a normal guy."

Re: Sometime later...

[phantomcloud]

Miyume smiled, quite happy to be caught. She leaned back more fully into the embrace. After a moment, she opened her eyes.

"I think I know the feeling," she murmured, idly watching the water. "I feel normal, too. Is that a bad thing?"

It didn't seem to be a bad thing to her at all, an oasis of reality in a world that had become far too surreal in a short period of time.

Re: Sometime later...

[burningbow]

Mirai leaned in closer, running his right hand up and down her arm and patting it smoothly. A sense of something being wrong was at the back of his mind, and he didn't know if it would change his relationship with her. He looked around at everything he could think of - the river, the tree, the hedgerows - and didn't ask.

To her question, he said soothingly, "It isn't, if you are bothered in the first place. But if you're not going to get the approval for it, why try?"

Re: Sometime later...

[phantomcloud]

"Self-approval holds value, doesn't it?"

His touch was comforting and very reassuring. She felt safe and warm in a way she couldn't begin to understand, much less explain. Why did she always feel so comfortable with him? It didn't make sense but she was, weirdness and all.

She could understand where he was going with the talk about approval and how it related to her. She acted in a way she thought people would approve of or love. For a moment, she wondered what would happen if she let the curtain fall and stopped acting? Was there a real Hazama Miyume left anymore? If there was, Miyume had lost sight of her long ago.

Re: Sometime later...

[burningbow]

Both hands came downward. They rested across her stomach, where his fingers patted from time to time and the tenseness seemed to go out his body as they stayed together. He had to admit he was feeling good, but all the same he had to admit it was possibly nonsense when he realised he felt totally unconcerned; about what society felt was normal and how it believed he carried on with the girls at his club.

That one was true.

"... Probably," he said. "What do you ask for?"

Re: Sometime later...

[phantomcloud]

"From society or from you?"

It was spoken in a gentle, quiet tone that was little more more than a murmur. She was curious, though, and she felt that anything she could learn about his thoughts and views on things would increase the chance of this relationship surviving through the obstacles that lay ahead. The form didn't matter so much as long as he stayed by her side.