eCream• g n a r O Act.3
«B
ath is ready, Miyuki!» «Thanks, Mom, I’m going» I shut the door behind my back and looked sorrowful at the mirror: I had a horrible face! “Who would have thought that...”, I mulled over and dove in the hot water of the tub, feeling instantly better. Cause of my foolishness I had witnessed something that was beyond ‘skipping classes’, or perhaps it was me the one who was naive and who didn’t get what else could happen inside the well-known ‘Room of Requirement’. That image came back on my mind, giving me a chill. I hunched in my arms, feeling suddenly hot: “Asakawa and... Yamato”, I passed a wet hand on my face. Now it was clear why Asakawa had stopped by the gym during the basketball game and vanished after noticing me on the court: she didn’t want to draw my attention or, probably, she didn’t want to draw anyone’s attention but Yamato’s. “Their bodies were... clinging to each other like that”, I blushed to that thought. The little mirror reflected the image of the two kids clung to each other: Asakawa’s panting face tilted on the side, her unbuttoned blouse hanging on her half chest. Despite the half-light, her skin seemed to have her own glow, the strap of her fair bra was ruffled on her shoulder. She was passing a hand through her boyfriend’s hair and was using the other hand to grab on to the table where she was sitting. Her lips were lightly opened and her eyes narrowed while Yamato was pressing his body over hers with passion, his face plunged in the hollow of her neck, and his back and tense muscles could be seen through the red shirt he wore before when he refereed the match. It was an instant, only few seconds, yet I’d been able to distinguish all those details. «What am I doing?! It isn’t good for me to overthink to those two!», I sank under water feeling my head numb. If only it was possible I would have washed away everything that was stuck in my mind. *** 50
51
«Honey, Are you sure you’re ok?», my mother called me. «You’re the one who said that wanted to help us out in the pastry shop», she complained noticing how slow my movements were. «Don’t get upset, I didn’t get much sleep last night», I grumbled. «Ah, no? How come?», she approached me concerned. «You don’t have a fever, do you?» «No, nothing like that, don’t worry», I took a breath smiling by the book, and I heard the door of the shop opening again. «Good morning», I greeted with energy. «Good morning, dear», Asakawa greeted me with indifference. «What an incredible coincidence! You two wound up in the same class, right?», the woman said, then her face suddenly lighted up. «Eriko...» «It’s been a long time!», exclaimed my mother crossing the counter and leaving me puzzled. «Miyuki, don’t you remember? Ritsuko and I attended high school together, we were good friends» In my mind I got back some old memories from when I was little: a huge villa with a wonderful garden, my mother, holding me in her arms, was talking with a girl with very long hair, dark like the night, who was holding the hand of a pretty little girl. I turned to my classmate comparing the two images: «Th-that little girl... it was you?», I asked her surprised, thinking to that happy and smiling little face. «Yep», she narrowed her eyes sitting on a stool in front of the counter. Our mothers had already sat down at a table aside in the room. They looked really excited and in high spirits. «It’s been years since the last time they met, it’s normal», said Rei, as if she read my thoughts. «Yes... of course. They look like they’re back to being kids again», I pandered to her, feeling uncomfortable. The picture of an half naked Rei was still on my mind, I couldn’t look at her in the face without blushing. «What can I get for you?», I said all at once. «I have some very good green tea if you would like to try it», «Very good», she put her elbows on the counter, and then she passed a 52
hand through her silk hair. «I’m curious to taste it», she lift up her eyes on me, staring at me strangely. «I’ll be right back», I got away, feeling my heart beating faster again. Her every move was so soft, so charming: is that possible that I was thinking that she was sexy? “I have to stop!”, I drove away again the image of Asakawa panting and wearing only her bra. I washed my face again and again in the kitchen sink, while I was waiting the water for the tea to boil. When I got back, my mother and Ritsuko were still talking and laughing happily. In the meantime, Sakura, one of the girls who was working for us, came to help at the sweets counter, and all seemed to be going for the best. «There you go», I said a little bit more relaxed, laying the cup and the Chinese teapot in front of Asakawa. «It’ll take a few more minutes and it’ll be ready» «Thanks», she only replied bringing the cup still empty closer to her. «I heard that you have a specialty, is it true?» «Oh, yes. Our orange cream, it’s a secret recipe», I smiled at her. «May I try that, too?» «Of course», I moved to the sweets counter and picked some little filled croissant. «Try this», I sat down in front of her staring at her. «They look good», she took one of them and brought it to her lips. «You should bite it in the middle», I said to her leaning my chin on my hand, curious about her reaction. Asakawa took my advice, bit it in the middle and her eyes opened widely: «It’s... delicious!», she exclaimed full of surprise. «See?», I laughed. «My father learned this recipe in Milan, then he modified it, putting in his personal touch and this is the result» «Do you fill only the croissants with this cream?», she asked biting the second pastry. «No, actually», I pointed her out the showcase where cannoli, cream puffs and cakes were showing off. «Though, this little croissants are my favorites» 53
«I have to congratulate with you mother, they’re delicious» «I’m glad you like them. I did them this morning», I smiled at her again. «You this these?», she was astonished. «Well, yes... Cooking is my passion» «Really?» she lowered her eyes, pouring some tea in the cup. «I was just wondering what kind of hobbies you had», she lift her eyes again giving me a suspicious look. «What do you mean?» At that point Asakawa opened her purse and picked my mirror: «This is yours, right?» «Oh, er... I...», I stuttered like a fool, realizing I was discovered. «I saw you using it a few days ago in our class between periods», she slid it on the counter. I remained in silence staring at her, while she was drinking her tea like nothing happened. «Rei, honey, we have to go», Mrs. Ritsuko came close smiling at me. «Miyuki-chan, I’m so glad you and my daughter are getting along. Now that Eriko and I meet again, it would be nice to spend some time together like we used to», she winked. My mother, beside her old friend, looked happier than she’d been for a long time. «Sure», I forced a smile while the two women were saying goodbye and Asakawa was finishing her tea. I gazed at the mirror again. «Hey», my beautiful classmate called me again reaching my ear. «Next time you would like to watch what I’m doing with Yamato why don’t you ask? I’ll try to get you a front row seat, this way you wouldn’t risk to break your neck climbing like a chimp on those old seats behind the warehouse», she ended irreverent. I glanced down and didn’t have the courage to answer back. I was so ashamed of myself that I would’ve liked to disappear into thin air. «See you very soon, dear», I heard Mrs. Ritsuko, and in that moment only I found the courage to lift my head up. Asakawa’s ruthless eyes were waiting for me: 54
55
«Thanks for everything, I’ll see you at school... Miyuki», she concluded with a disturbing smirk on her lips. I stayed still with cold sweat running over my brow. The image of Asakawa from the day before run through my head again and it took the place of the one I had in front of me in that moment. I shouldn’t have peeked, I knew that well, but the damage was done by then. *** «Let’s have lunch together, Miyuki-chan! It’s a beautiful sunny day!», Yukino stretched standing up. «I’m sorry, but this time I’ll pass», I answered while gathering my things on the desk and grabbing my bag. Asakawa had already left the classroom. «May I know where are you going in such a hurry?» «I’ll explain later!», I said good-bye to Yukino slaloming between the desks. My classmates looked at me with curiously, but I didn’t care. After I got out of the class, I made it just in time to see Asakawa taking the stairs. “I have to move fast!”, I chased after her. She seemed in a hurry and maybe she didn’t notice me chasing her. «Hey, Asakawa, wait!», I called her, but she didn’t reply. «Damn!», I swore and started running faster for all the flight of stairs till I arrived at the flat roof of the building. Once I opened the door I gaped: I could see the entire institute from up there and I felt as if I could touch the beautiful light blue sky above my head. «Can you tell me what do you want from me?» I recognize the class rep’s voice, though I wasn’t able to get where it came from, then I looked up to the turret and finally I saw her: she looked like a teaser angel who was enjoying herself behind my back. “You idiot, what are you doing?”, I shook my head going to the stepladder. «Very well, I guess you’re not afraid of heights», she mocked me staring with her usual impudent smile. «No, I’m not.», I panted sitting next to her. «I brought you something» «For me?», she wondered. 56
«That’s right», I pulled out from my bag two bento boxes. «Here there are some fried rice balls and here... there are some sweets», I winked at her showing cannoli, mini fruit cakes, and the usual little croissant filled with orange cream. «What’s the meaning of this?», she looked serious at me analyzing my expression. «You see... this is my way to apologize to you», I lowered my head feeling my face going on fire again. «Apologize?», she said picking a fried rice ball. «Yes, I shouldn’t have peeked. I don’t know what’s gotten into me, usually I’m not that curious, but... all that stories about the Room of Requirement induced me to do something stupid. I’m sorry and... I won’t tell anyone», I bowed even more my head squeezing my hands on my knees. Asakawa didn’t reply, she just bit the rice ball: «It really is good», she narrowed her eyes. «I also brought the tea», I pulled the thermos out of my bag. «You’re equipped», she let a giggle slip. «Well, our mothers are friends since high school and... it would be nice if we got along, don’t you think?» «We can try», she answered with nonchalance and sipped the tea. «Good», I sighed with relief. «But... You shouldn’t do such things at school, it’s risky! If someone catches you...» «A-ah... Miyuki, don’t spoil everything telling me what I must or mustn’t do», she glared at me. «No, sure, it’s just that... I’m worried about you, that’s all», I glance down again in resignation. «That’s none of your business», she answered back eating another fried rice ball. «You’re right, but...», «You know what? You talk too much for my taste», she stuck a cannoli filled with cream in my mouth shutting me up. «Now, that’s better», she burst out laughing. «Asakawa, you...», I griped. 57
«Call me Rei», she stared at me with her blue eyes. «We’re childhood friends... after all, aren’t we?», she ended stretching out her arms in another mocking smile. «You’re impossible», I grumbled red in the face, and I ate the cannoli ignoring her. It was in that moment that I felt her warm hand laying down on my cheek. I turned to her surprised: she was looking at me in a way completely different from the usual, now. «You’re really such a child», she said in a breath, then she caressed me until she touched lightly my lips. «Look how you got dirty», she cleaned me with the tip of her finger. «A-Asakawa...», I stuttered feeling my heart beating like crazy in my chest. «You can call me Rei, I’ve already told you», she put her finger in her mouth. «It’s a pity to waste a cream so tasty», she concluded narrowing her eyes leaving me shocked. *** «Miyuki-chan, I’m so thrilled!», Yukino threw her arms round my neck in high spirits. «So, you’re going to play as guard side by side with the captain?» «Hey, what a passion!», I got back from the assault. «Since when are you interested in basketball?», «Since my best friend became the second striker of the girls’ basketball team!», she laughed hugging me even more tightly. «This way you’ll choke me!», I complained. Yukino offered to go with me to the gym while the other classmates were organizing to cheer us from the bleachers. «Good morning, I can see you’re in a great mood», Fujiwara came to us. «Captain», I bowed a little followed closely by my friend. «Well then, I’ll... go on the bleachers, and...», muttered Yukino staring us. It was odd seeing her so excited, in front of Yamato she’d always shown she didn’t liked basketball. 58
59
«Oh, yes, be sure to cheer on! We really need it today», smiled Fujiwara going closer to her. «I’m way too calm knowing that you’re on the bleachers, you’re always so passionate», she took Yukino’s hands between hers making her face become bright red. «Ah... yeah, well... captain... I could never miss one of your games», she replied with dreaming eyes, leaving me wordless. «We have to go, now, Yukino-san. See you later», Fujiwara kindly said good-bye to her, and let her hands go. «Ca-Captain... do you remember my name? But, how...», my friend stuttered again staring at her. «Of course I remember you name, it’s hard to forget a girl so kind and pretty», Fujiwara smiled and Yukino went totally haywire. «Come, Miyuki-chan» «Yes», I nodded and went near my classmate’s ear for a moment. «You liar! You could’ve told me you had a thing for the Iroku’s panther», I mocked her. «You should think not to make a poor showing!», she poked my arm and stuck out her tongue. I caught up with the captain and entered the girls’ locker room, where the team was getting changed. «Miyuki-san, make it quick, we have to do the warm-up», Fujiwara kindly said to me before going out of the room. «Hey, it seems you endeared yourself to the captain, uh?», started off one of the girls. «what does it feel to access to the official matches without even attending to practices?», she provoked me. «Anamura, let her be», stepped in the girl with whom I had played the game a few weeks before. «If the coach chose her, he will have had his reasons», she took my side. I had took into account the reactions of the girls that were destined to be the reserves, perhaps in their place I would have been mad too. However, I didn’t want to join the basketball club to end the gossips, therefore I got changed ignoring all the chit-chat and run on the court where the captain and Yamato were waiting for me. 60
«There she is, my favorite girl», exclaimed the boy hugging me vigorously. My face went on fire instantly. «Ryo, cut it out!», Fujiwara rebuked him, while she was warming up on the free throws. «Actually, I wouldn’t unleash your fans and... your girlfriend’s anger», I turned to the bleachers noticing the large crowd. Rei was among them somewhere, for sure. «Oh, honestly, I already told you. You don’t need to worry about her», he said with nonchalance. «Why are you being like this?», I rebuked peeved. «She could get jealous» Yamato and Fujiwara looked at me both staggered. «Uhm, I... I meant that any girl would be jealous of her boyfriend», I lowered immediately my head feeling out of line. «How many times I have to tell you? You don’t know Rei», replied Yamato, a pained expression appeared on his face. «She’s different from the other girls, and I assure you that she would never be jealous for something like this», he ruffled my hair with his hand. Next to us, Fujiwara had started the free throws again, but she looked nervous. However, once the game started, the captain was attentive and focused again. Our opponents weren’t bad, but we established a great understanding with each other, this allowed us to rule on the court without too many problems. From the bleachers was coming the cheer of our school and at each point they burst out in screams. Fujiwara was unstoppable, she was wriggling away from the opponents with her usual grace, planning the game in a natural and effective way, she didn’t have the least flaw. I was enchanted by her, I followed her in her play and from time to time I took some initiatives that she supported. The match ended with a score of 76-54. At the end of the game there was a pitch invasion, everybody was thrilled and I turned towards the bleachers by instinct looking for someone: “I wonder if Rei watched the game”, I thought feeling my heartbeat going faster. In that very instant I could cross her eyes: she was standing in the third row. «There she is!», I raised my hand in her direction smiling at 61
her, she smiled back at me, but it was just for a moment cause her expression quickly changed. «You’re my ace!», I felt myself lifted by Yamato’s arms, he started to vault me like I was a dancer. «Awesome! You’re simply awesome», he put me back down. I was dazed, my head was spinning and I didn’t have the time to dodge when the handsome captain of the male team kissed me on the forehead in front of everyone. I looked at him shocked: “What did he just do? I’m screwed”, I thought feeling overwhelmed by cold sweat, while I was imagining Rei and his crowd of fans claiming my scalp. «Hey, Ryo, are you insane?», Fujiwara shoved him away grabbing me from an arm. «Pull yourself together», she scolded him and motioned to me to go away. I didn’t hear Yamato’s reply, but he looked annoyed by his friend’s intervention, too. “What a ridiculous situation...”, I took a breath while my teammate were rejoicing at our victory. I turned back to the bleachers, but Rei wasn’t there anymore. “She’ll be mad”, I thought while heading for the locker room. Maybe Yamato hadn’t realized that his attitude could’ve hurt her and put me in a bad light. «Damn, I don’t want to have a fight with her because of that idiot», I said in a low voice going out of the shower. «Who’re you mad at?», the captain stopped me. «Uh, no, nothing... I was just talking to myself», I avoided her going quickly to get dressed. Fujiwara didn’t take her eyes off of me the whole time, I was sure she wanted to talk to me. At last, we were the only two girls left in the locker room. «We are the last stragglers», I tried to play down with a joke. «Yeah», she slowly came closer to me. «We’re going to have a party tonight. We’re going to a club nearby, will you come with us?», «Thank you but I can’t. I have a test tomorrow, so...» 62
«It’s because of Ryo, isn’t it?», she interrupted me making me move backwards. When my back touched the wall behind me, Fujiwara laid her hand down on my head. «Is there something between you two?», she asked me narrowing her eyes. «No way, what’re you saying?», I freaked. «He’s with Asakawa» «What does that have to do with it?», she carefully scrutinized me. «You could still be interested in him». Suddenly I got it. The way she stepped in before, the intimacy with which she talked to him, her attitude towards him... «Fujiwara-san, could it be that... you like him?» came out from my mouth without thinking. Fujiwara goggled and with my big surprise she burst out laughing. «Me? In love with Ryo?», she bend down on me laying an hand on my cheek. «You’re off track... Miyuki», she looked intensely at me and touched lightly my lips making me jolt. «O-Off track?», I repeated shocked, while Senpai’s face was coming dangerously closer to mine. «A-Ah, yikes! Yukino-san is waiting for me!», I slipped away from that awkward situation. «See you soon, captain!», I picked my stuff in a hurry and got out from the locker room running. “What did that mean?”, I lengthened my stride feeling like I couldn’t breathe. “Was she trying to give me some trouble? Did she want to teach me a lesson? Or...”, I felt my cheeks warming up. “Her eyes were so deep... it seemed like they wanted to swallow me”, I sighed slackening my pace. «Here you are, finally! May I know what took you so long?», Yukino came towards me and looked behind me. «But... where’s the captain?», «The captain is busy, come on!», I carted her away grasping her from an arm and feeling even worse. It would’ve been nice going to celebrate with everyone that night. I could’ve invited Yukino and could’ve asked to Asakawa if she would’ve like join us. We could’ve had fun all together. But sadly, things had gotten complicated without even realizing it: there really was so much confusion inside and around me. *** 63
64
That night I couldn’t sleep at all, Fujiwara and Rei’s faces tormented me the whole time. I was feeling strange more than ever and I couldn’t figure out why. I carried all that burden up to the next afternoon till, during the cleaning duty, I found the courage to talk about it to my dear and eccentric friend, Yukino: «Is that what really happened?», she exclaimed falling back on the chair. «No way!», she grumbled. «I told you, maybe I misunderstood», I repeated leaning on the scrubbing brush. That day was our turn to clean the classroom. «Why didn’t you tell me right away?» «I was going to, but... I was too shocked yesterday. I had to assimilate that», I sighed. «It sure is an odd situation, uh? Yamato made a pass on you and the class rep caught you in the act. And to end with a bang Fujiwara-senpai tried to kiss you... How could you be so irresistible?», she grumbled. «Yukino-chan, please, this is not really the case to make fun of me!», I got angry. «Oh, come on! How could you not be happy about this? In your place I would jump for joy» «But you can’t event stand Yamato!», I replied offended. «What does it have to do with that? To the public eye he’s really cool, plus... captain Fujiwara!», that dreaming expression appeared on her face again, the same I saw when the captain took her hands. «Look, if you’re going to get somewhere with her, you have to tell me, got it?», she grabbed me from the shoulders. «Cut it out! It was just for a moment», I felt my cheeks going on fire again. «Rather, I have to change the water», I move away with the bucket to the bathroom on the first floor. “What is everybody thinking of?” I grumbled. By then it was certain that even talking with Yukino wouldn’t lead me to nothing. “I should talk with Rei...” I sighed thinking at the expression I saw on her face when Yamato hugged me. “I wonder if she’s still here in the institute”, I emptied the bucket and refilled it with clean water. Suddenly I heard some voices co65
ming from the boys’ bathroom: they were laughing and talking in secret. “They must be from another second class”, I thought, not caring much of them. I took the bucket and went out of the girls’ bathroom to came back to the classroom. «So, you fell for the newcomer, Miyuki Ikeda? Nice mess, buddy!» I stopped on the doorstep of the bathroom: they were talking about me. «I’m not sure if it’s better to break up with your girlfriend for her, you know?», I heard another boy talking. “There’s three of them but... which one of them fell for me? I... have a bad feeling”, I clenched my hand on my chest. «I don’t know what to say... It just happened! When I’m near her... I just don’t know what’s what anymore!», I recognized Yamato’s voice. “No way!”, I drew back with a wince. “Maybe I should go”, I stepped back. «I think you’re doing something stupid. That girl doesn’t look like Asakawa to me, trust me, you’ll end up not getting any for a very long time!», the other guy laughed. I blocked myself, stunned. «Shingo’s right! You’ll end up regretting it. Where do you find another girl who’s so easy? Plus, she’s smoking hot», replied the other one. «Anyway, if you decide to dump her to lure the naive little virgin, let me know so I’ll take care of your girlfriend!» I heard them bursting out in a laugh again. I didn’t even listen to Ryo’s reply, I was mad, way too mad. «You should be ashamed of yourself!», I exclaimed walking into their bathroom like a fury. I hurled the water bucket on the three boys, who were gaped; after that I turned around and grabbed a scrubbing brush, I rid it of his head and I pointed it toward them. Yamato was in an indescribable state, but when the boys pounced on me he immediately pulled himself together and tried to stop his friends, probably he was concerned that they could hurt me. Such a dreamer. 66
«Head!», I hit the first one. «Stomach!», I hit the second one. I rotated the stick and repeated the same inverted blows so fast that none of them had the time to realize it: they both miserably fall down on the ground in pain. «Miyuki...», Yamato looked at me terrified, all dripping. «I already told you that basketball isn’t my sport», I said with resolution coming closer to him. «It’s not what you think...», he became serious. «I’m not talking behind Rei’s back», «No, uh? It’s weird, cause it seems right the opposite», I hit one of his friend’s leg again, the one who had tried to clumsily get up and assault me from behind. In that moment, a friendly voice came to my rescue behind me. «What the hell is happening here?!», Yukino was worried seeing the scene. «Stay back, I’m not finished yet!», I cried out and gave a blow to Yamato between his ribs, making him reel. «Rei knows it!», he screamed, leaving me in disbelief. «Don’t you ever talk with Yukino about your stuff?», he slowly came forward, till I laid the stick on his throat. «You’re the one who listened our private conversation», he got angry. «But... don’t you care about how these two wretches talk about your girlfriend?», I lowered the stick. «Do you think Rei’s interested in what my friends says about her? », he shrugged. «You’re pathetic», I said feeling my eyes bathed in tears by anger. I threw the stick on the floor and ran away. Yukino beckoned me several times, but I didn’t listened to her. I ran up the stairs leaping the steps two at a time and I literally flied to the roof, hoping to find her: «You’re here!», I cried out in tears seeing Rei lying on the floor with her arms and the schoolbag under her head. «Miyuki?», she was worried seeing me like that. «What happened?», she stood up on her elbows staring at me. 67
68
«Those stupid friends of your boyfriend... they were with him into the boys’ bathroom and... they were talking about you! Yamato says you know it, is that true?», I burst out clenching my skirt with my hands. Rei went back to looking at me with her usual expression. «So what?», she gazed me stoic. «Why are you always sticking your nose in other people’s business?», she scolded me. «I can’t believe you’re ok with it! Just as I heard their gossips, so other people may have heard them too, you know? Don’t you care about the rumors about yourself spreading in the school?», I yelled at her. «No, I don’t. Now stop fussing!», she concluded lying down on the ground. «I can’t. I can’t stand these things», I sat near her. «I... threw a bucket full of water at them and then I beat them up!», I came clean getting back her attentions. «What have you done?!», she widened her eyes and burst into a laugh. «You’re crazy!» «Stop laughing like that!», I got angry and at that point Rei reached out her hand toward me, pulling me by the tie and making me fall down onto her. «Now, like a good girl, cut it out», she said in a musical voice. «If those stupid boys got excited hearing the stories of Ryo showing off his erotic exploit, I don’t care about that. He can do and say what he want... it’s just sex, after all, isn’t it?» she looked at me ambiguously. «Just... sex?», I repeated shocked. Asakawa Rei’s hands loosen up my uniform’s tie, and got through my hair: «Are you really saying you’ve never done something like this? », she looked at me amused, while nailing me down with her amazing blue eyes. «Er, I... » «So... are you a naive kid?», she pulled me gently. «A-Asakawa», I babbled like a frightened child. I was shocked by her confidence while keeping me tight. «Now, stop...», I closed my eyes trying to resist, but when I opened them back I hadn’t the chance to run away anymore. 69
«It’ll feel good, I promise», she smiled with a mix of lust and tenderness, before reaching my face and touching lightly my lips with a kiss. I trembled on that touch and my heart started throbbing so much that left me breathless. «Calm down...», she whispered unclosing her mouth over mine, enclosing my hips with her hands and confusing me with her warm and sweet taste. I knew she was dangerous, I got that since the first time I saw her… So, why did I end up in that situation? ***
70
71
Orange Cream di Scarlett Bell
with drawings by Aeryn Sun
English translation by Sakura21 from micettescans.blogfree.net
TO BE CONTINUED...
All rights reserved to the author. Every reproduction prohibited. Please support the project by reading the chapters on the blog and by subscribing to the facebook page.
www.orangecreamyurimanganovel.blogspot.it
72
