Tales of Anything

Rikkai Dai

Mara-chan 

-Excerpt 1- 

She didn’t have time to deal with this.  

Every day as she walked home after a student council meeting, she saw him leaning against the wall that turned into her street. He was always wearing the Rikkai Dai tennis uniform and chewing bubblegum, and he always seemed to be waiting for her, because right when she turned the corner and saw him, his violet orbs shifted lazily and locked on her almost in expectation.  

She didn’t like it.  

So she ignored him and pretended to look through her bag, or pulled out her cell phone and randomly pressed buttons to appear engaged and unavailable. And so far, it worked. He didn’t try to talk to her, and as soon as she turned the next corner, she dashed for her house like a madman was chasing her. And in a way she was, because all he ever did was watch her like a stalker, sort of.  

She didn’t have time for this.  

After a while she got accustomed to seeing his red hair and yellow outfit supporting himself on the wall as if he had nothing better to do, and she got used to flipping out her phone like it was her last lifeline. Which it was. And after a while she began to wonder if he was really there waiting for her, or if there was another reason. But she would never find out because she would never talk to him and that was a pity, but oh well, she didn’t have time for it.  

And every day she saw him standing at the same place, gazing at her like a sphinx, without fail. It was like a routine, a habit. A bad one, she reminded herself.  

It was a lovely Friday evening when she walked home after a late meeting, and she was hardly surprised when she turned the corner and there was no red hair or bubblegum in her vision. What did surprise her was the faint pang of disappointment, and she immediately felt horrified at her unnoticed attachment towards the Stalker. When did she begin to look forward to their run-ins?   

So deep in her thoughts was she that she didn’t notice her footsteps being echoed until a pleasantly cocky voice spoke.  

“Want to go out with me?”  

She whirled around and realized she’d been tricked. Her eyes narrowed, “No. Why?”  

He shrugged. “Because I like you.” 

Her eyebrows shot up even as her heart beat faster. “Okay, thanks. But we don’t know each other.”  

“I know you. We go to the same school. We’re in the same year.”  

She began to slowly walk away. “Then I don’t know you. For all I know, you could be a crazy stalker. So goodbye.” Quickly turning around she added, “I have a phone, so don’t follow me.”  

“I already know you have a phone,” he called amusedly. “If I’m a stalker then I know all about you, and I know where you live. So why don’t we talk here, -san?”  

She stopped, turned back and glared at him. “What do you want from me? Money? A special item that only I have? Hook you up with a friend? Do you want a girlfriend? Because let me tell you, I’m a horrible girlfriend. You know that my current boyfriend is my laptop? Yeah. That means I don’t have time for this, or for you, or for the rest of the male population. I’m going home and I’m sorry, but can you just forget about me and find some other girl who will give a—” 

“-san.” He stepped toward her but she ignored him completely.  

“No. That is my answer. No. I’m tired of everyone telling me I need a boyfriend because I don’t need one. I don’t need romance, I don’t need a boyfriend, and I don’t need to get bothered by you standing here every time I go home. This is the—” 

“-san.” His voice was closer but she didn’t care.  

“—for crying out loud don’t try to talk me into anything because I will cry like a brat. And oh this feels so good! I have never talked like a hysterical person before in my stressful life and you know, it actually makes me feel—”  

He kissed her on the lips, hands grasping her shoulders firmly so she didn’t move away. Of course, that wasn’t necessary because she was too shocked to move. Nevertheless, he didn’t lessen his grip one bit until he was pulling back and she was still frozen like a statue.  

After a moment of silence, she blinked and stepped away.  

“Okay. I don’t know you and you just kissed me.”  

“We can get to know each other.”  

She shook her head, still dazed and moving back. “I don’t have time for this. Thank you, but I really don’t—where’s your gum?”  

He glanced back over his shoulder, where he spit it out during her rambling, and when he turned back she was several yards away and still running.  

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he called to her back, grinning.  

She didn’t bother to respond because she knew they would meet here tomorrow.  

And the day after that. And the days and weeks after that.  

Maybe I have a little bit time.  

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Hyoutei - Atobe Keigo

Mara-chan

-Excerpt 2-

He was here again. She knew because of the feminine giggles and squeals coming from the library entrance, which she would have glared at if he wasn’t standing right in front of her blocking her view. She also knew because of the expensive cologne and unique scent that wafted from his person, but she wasn’t about to pay him any more attention that that.  

So she settled with glaring at her novel, which she had been immersed in before Hyoutei’s King made his presence known.  

If this was what his life was like, being surrounded by constant giggling, then it was no wonder he strutted about the school like a peacock in all its colorful glory. She took a moment to pity him, and then shook her head, knowing it was his problem and not hers.  

But it was her problem. Ever since he began coming into the school library and interrupting her quiet life, his reputation became a stifling part of her load of problems.  

Honestly, she didn’t know why he bothered coming into this library. He didn’t even read or check out any books, and on more than one occasion she glanced up only to catch his eye. It became painfully obvious that the reason why he came was not because of the books, but because of the only girl who read books early in the morning.  

At first she was flattered. What girl wouldn’t be? But that feeling quickly vanished after three days of knowing gazes, smirks, and non-stop giggling. She didn’t know who was more annoyed, the librarian or herself. Right now it looked like the latter was winning.  

His elegant hands came down to rest on her table as he leaned towards her, scent growing stronger. “Ore-sama knows you’re not reading, so why don’t you look up already?” 

She put down her book politely and looked up at him. His face was close, but she wasn’t about to be distracted.  

He smirked and began smoothly, “It has come to Ore-sama’s attention that your intelligence and beauty, as well as your above average performance in…”  

She tuned out about then because she already had a good idea of where he was going. This was a similar speech she heard last year when he’d spotted the girl’s tennis captain going to the courts for practice. What she was paying attention to was the way his hair fell gracefully in his eloquent eyes, and his artistic nose and the shape of his lips, and the beauty mark under his right eye. He certainly was handsome, almost beautiful, and she wondered if it was the main reason so many people fell under his trance and followed his words obediently.  

“…would please Ore-sama if you accepted this offer and became his girlfriend.”  

She knew exactly how to react as his beautiful speech winded down and he looked at her expectantly. She smiled dreamily at him, grabbing his offered hand.  

“Oh, Atobe-san. I’d love to be your girlfriend! It’s been my dream ever since I first set eyes on you!”  

The librarian coughed to hide her amusement as she batted her eyes up at him, much like his fan girls did every passing moment of the day. 

His eyes flickered in surprise, almost uncertainty and she resisted the urge to laugh. This was it. Now he would withdraw his hand with utmost regret, and she would pretend it was like the end of the world and beg him to change his mind, and he would apologize because although he wouldn’t admit it, he hadn’t expected her to give in so quickly, thus making him lose interest. And she would be free from his radar forever and he would walk out of her life and never visit this library again.  

But much to her surprise, he didn’t withdraw his hand. Nor did he move anywhere towards the door. Instead he gazed carefully at her, and she looked back innocently, ignoring the rising panic fluttering in her throat. Any minute now, any second now, his hand and his apologize— 

Then something registered in his eyes and he slowly smiled. She stopped breathing.  

He tightened his grip on her hands before he released her, and relief pounded through her system, preparing for the apology that came next. 

“Will you join me for dinner tonight?” 

“But I love you!” she said immediately. Then her eyes widened like saucers and she backtracked, “No! I mean, wait—what? But you—”  

He was smirking at her, like a satisfied cat that caught its prey and she was too stunned to explode at him. “Ore-sama will pick you up at six. Dress up, okay?” He patted her head like a child and she came to her senses as he walked away. 

“I won’t! I don’t love—Atobe, that wasn’t fair!”  

He returned mockingly, “Ore-sama’s girlfriend shouldn’t yell in the library.”  

“I’m not yelling. I’m not your girlfriend. I’m not going—”  

“Ore-sama will see you tonight.”  

She stared after him in disbelief, cheeks flushed in frustration and something else she didn’t want to name. The librarian was still chuckling and she shot her a dark glare.

 “He’s got you,” remarked the librarian. “That boy’s a sharp one.” 

She groaned and slumped in her seat, staring at her forgotten novel. The hotness in her cheeks didn’t go away, no matter how much she willed it, and she knew the intelligent, handsome jerk had seen straight through her.  

“I know.”

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Fudomine - Kamio Akira

Ayu

Akira watched his friend from his spot on the floor; his eyes never left her body. The way she moved as she taught the choreography to the rest of the dancers was just so captivating. Even if it were just as simple as stepping to the side, the young redhead could barely suppress the claps that his hands were begging to do.  

“So on five and six,” the girl spoke, facing the other teens, “make sure you bring your arms out like this. Don’t move on three and four!” The 17-year-old stopped and gave a small smile, “But you’re all doing really well, so keep it up.” 

Rather than holding back his applause, Akira had to fight back a silly grin. He always found her so cute when she wasn’t reprimanding anyone for a misdemeanor.  

“Kamio!” 

Like now. 

The former speed demon of Fudoumine flinched, a fearful expression on his face. 

“Come help me with this part. I think it’d be easier to teach if we could show them the two separate parts.”  

The redhead quickly jumped to his feet. Although he was more than happy to be an observer, Akira literally jumped at the chance to dance with the young dancer. He could help her. He could be near her. But most importantly, he could show off in front of her. The woman’s attention was almost always divided amongst the other, less experienced dancers and never on Akira unless he was dancing with her.  

So what other way to portray his amazing self by dancing on par, if not better, than the teacher? It was almost guaranteed that she would fall for him!  

…That plan made more sense in his head, Akira thought. 

“From which part, ?”  

sent him an irritated look, “I just told you: from the breakdown to the end of the couple sequence.” 

Akira put a hand to his chin, “Who’s going behind?”  

“…Akira,” the petite girl began slowly, knocking the speedster’s forehead as if it were a door, “I’m a girl. The couple part includes touching that region. Why on earth would I let you be the backup at that part if that happens in the choreography?” 

It took a moment for Akira to register what she had said. Why was the rest of the class laughing their heads off while tapped her foot? What on earth could she be talking about? What was different about a girl being the lead during the couple section when the backup touches… 

Oh. 

He looked down at his chest, then at hers. A blush swept across Akira’s cheeks as he spluttered various apologies and excuses. Mentally, he kicked himself. Way to make a fool of himself, he criticized.  

“Hey, senpai,” one of the males in the back snickered, “you suck at making passes.” 

“That wasn’t a pass!” Akira retorted before getting into position. nodded her head at a young woman sitting by the boombox; the music blasted from the speakers and echoed in the mirror-filled room. Akira’s “idol” began to bob her head, counting the eight beats continuously, even making small movements to the dance that they weren’t supposed to be practicing.  

Again, Akira held back a silly grin. She was just… so cute! 

“Five, six,” she suddenly yelled, getting into the right pose. Akira copied her. 

“Seven, eight!” 

The two of them moved in perfect unison. Right, left, up, down. Jump, crouch, shimmy. Pop. 

moved behind Akira in time with the beat, placing her hands on his chest from her spot behind him. If Akira could see behind his mass of red hair, he would have noticed the matching color of blush splayed across his fellow dancer’s face as she moved her hands around his chest, even if it were only for about five seconds.  

The section, and entire class, was over soon enough. Akira didn’t even bother fighting anymore as he let a grin break out onto his face.  

“Good job today, Kamio.”  She was smiling as she spoke. Funny how nicer she was when she wasn’t teaching.  

“Thanks, you too.” 

An awkward silence.  

“Do you wanna—” 

“Grab a bite to eat? Sure.” 

Akira laughed in relief. At least their perfect combination didn’t end in the dance studio.

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Anything Themes

December 13th to 23rd, 2008