Runaway

Picking vegetables, analyzing data, buying ingredients for juice, choosing sports equipment, these were the few things we did together in the past.

He just left me.

No more phone calls, no more emails. No more visits to my house.

He was never there when I visited him.

Maybe he got tired of me?

I thought about it. I was usually a calm person, but my heart just couldn't settle down.

I’d always liked him; I enjoyed his company. I liked the way he spoke, his voice, the weird manner in which his brain worked, the interesting comments he always had, and even the drinks he made.

I never did give up on him. The feelings I had for him were just too strong.

~

“Class, this is , she’s a transfer student, so please treat her well!” the form teacher of 3-11 announced.

The girl bowed slightly, “Yorushiku,” she said coolly.

Inui Sadaharu blinked as he heard the familiar name, a name that he had not said or heard for five years. She looked different - longer hair, and a more matured face. But one thing hadn’t changed: the calm expression she always wore. Inui found it peaceful to look at even after so many years.

In the past…

Inui was confused. He still couldn’t figure out why Renji left. He was frustrated knowing that he couldn’t do anything to get him back. He felt helpless for having not enough strength, not enough heart to cope with the loss.

His mind knew that he would get over it somehow, and he would work even harder to beat Renji when they met again. He just didn’t know when and how.

“Sadaharu! -chan’s looking for you!” his mother shouted, and in minutes, a girl came running into his room.

looked around. The room was in a mess; it was filled with pieces and pieces of paper. “Yanagi Renji…” she read the name that appeared countless times on those notes. Inui looked up at her, feeling the same helplessness again… until she smiled. It was a very soft and peaceful smile.

She didn’t say a word. She felt his sadness. She knelt down to pick up his notes and stacked them up, placing them on his desk.

He found himself staring at her smile and her actions. They were calming and he started to feel more refreshed.

“Sadaharu! Let’s get ingredients for juice!” An evil glint surfaced in her eyes. Inui was taken aback for a moment, then lightened up. The girl knew how to cheer him up.

On their way to the supermarket, Inui told about Renji.

~

The class was now filled with excitement over the new transfer student.

As walked towards her seat, she caught sight of a tall, bespectacled boy sitting at the back of the classroom. It wasn’t difficult to spot Inui with his height. A wave of sadness and remorse struck her. She had so many questions to ask. And why was her heart beating so hard, just like back then?

In the past…

Inui stared intently at the figures on his computer screen, analyzing his chances of winning the unofficial match the next day. He mouthed a few words.

sat on Inui’s bed, hugging her knees, giggling at Inui thinking aloud, and also at the numbers reflected on his glasses. She thought he was cute despite his peculiar behavior. It was interesting just observing him.

Inui looked away from the screen, his lips curled upwards as he saw her. ’s soft giggles had escalated to fits of unrestrained laughter. He headed towards the bed and sat at the edge of it. With a flick of his fingers, he hit ’s forehead.

“Am I that funny?” the boy arched an eyebrow, looking at questioningly. fell onto the bed and lay there. “No,” she replied between chuckles, “it’s just… you’re funny to look at!”

Inui shrugged, the corners of his lips curving upwards yet again. He extended a hand, and received it. As their hands touched, Inui gripped hers firmly and pulled her up.

A jolt passed through Inui’s fingers to her own, zipping straight to her heart. Her heartbeat accelerated.

Inui stood up, and the girl followed suit. He brought her downstairs, all the while never letting go of her hand.

~

The recess bell rang. Inui remained in his seat, and left the classroom.

They did not make eye contact.

Inui analyzed the situation. The odds of ignoring him were high. But then again, being such a thoughtful girl, she would have forgiven him. In fact, she may not have even been angry in the first place.

Inui wanted to apologize for his disappearance, but somehow he just couldn’t get his feet moving. Should I look for her? What should I say when I approach her? Will she forgive me? Does she hate me? These questions surfaced in Inui’s mind. He pressed his forehead tightly with his right palm. He was having a headache.

There isn’t anything that can’t be calculated with data! Did he not know well enough? He should be able to calculate how the girl would react.

Ah… Wait…

Now he remembered. He remembered his reason for disappearing…

In the past…

 “Sadaharu, do you like this?” Inui turned his sight to who was holding a light blue wristband. The boy pushed up his glasses, considering them.

Before he could answer, the girl ran towards him. “We’ll know once you try it!” she said cheerily. She took his right hand and fitted the wristband on.

She held onto his hand for a little longer… and Inui saw her gentle and slightly red face.

Inui wondered about ’s actions, and also about his nervousness. He couldn’t explain it.

His free hand moved of its own accord, lightly squeezing ’s warm soft hand. He felt different; this feeling was indescribable. It was like he lost all his ability to analyze, all he could see was ’s slightly surprised expression, which quickly changed to that of blissful joy, as she smiled that peaceful smile of hers.

He returned the smile.

Inui still couldn’t give up on data though. This unfamiliar mood made him feel uncomfortable all of the sudden.

He jerked his hand back, rejecting ’s touch.

He left, leaving the girl all on her own.

He decided he would stop all forms of contact with her.

~

As the memories came back to Inui, he felt something tugging at his heart. It hurt.

He had run away from his feelings.

Which was more important? Data or ?

Meeting again made him think. Forced him to think.

…

He arrived at a conclusion.

and data cannot be compared.  Things of the heart and things of the mind were different. He loved , he knew. His heart knew.

No more denying, no more uncertainty. His mind was clear. He considered his options. He only had one thing to do now. Look for her, that’s what his data told him.

~

stood looking serenely over the vegetable field. They didn’t have this in their old school. Sadaharu had one at his house though, a smaller one with fresher vegetables. A pained smile surfaced.

All the thoughts that rushed to her brain from seeing Inui again, they made her feel like crying and her eyes were already red from holding the tears in.

She felt a presence behind her and then, a hug; a warm breath against her neck. She took a deep breath and let go. A teardrop fell from her right eye.

“I’m sorry, ,” the familiar voice said. A finger brushed across her face, wiping away the tear.

More tears fell.

“Hey!” Inui shouted, surprised at her tears.

“Explain yourself, you idiot!” turned to face him. She was fed up with these emotions.

He held her face gently.

“I love you, .” He pulled her close and she wrapped her hands around his neck.

“And I love you too, Sadaharu.”

 

Don’t ever disappear like that again.

Don’t leave me alone like that again.

Don’t ever run away like that again.

Promise me we’ll face any problems together.

//Summer. 11^th Nov ’07.

 Edited by Elenniel