User:Genda Koujirou/Fanfiction contest/01 01

First contest, finalist number one!

Summary: Amemiya Taiyou has been afraid of breaking his heart, of getting his heart broken, and he's afraid of ruining the friendship between him and Sorano Aoi beyond repair. He whispers to her, "I love you," but does she love him back? A small story unraveled in the dark rain.

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“Hey, Taiyou-kun, do you like anyone?” Amemiya Taiyou felt the blood rush up to his cheeks, immediately coloring them pink against his pale skin. His mouth gaped open,  “W-What’s with that question, Aoi-san?” he stammered, trying to avoid contact with the cheerful manager who offered to walk him home, seeing that they both go home the same way. She’ll never find out whom I like because… “Just curious~” Aoi giggled, and looked up at the bright sun in the azure hued sky, “You just seem like the popular type—you know, the one that always receives love letters in their lockers. I’m curious to know whether people like those like anyone,” the oranges, and reds of the sunset tinted her navy blue hair to a slight purple, though the affects of the sunset’s colors only made Taiyou’s hair a stronger and even more striking orange. Taiyou gave her a small weary smile, “You don’t know how right you are about that—it’s really difficult trying to empty out my shoe locker without getting caught,” causing Aoi to laugh at the comment. “O-O-Oi, it really~ is difficult! Try for yourself being Ms. Popular, and having to clear out love letters every morning,” “Eh~ is that so?” Aoi’s smile then turned into a playful frown, “H-hey are you trying to avoid the question?” “Yes, and I succeeded in that, didn’t I?” Taiyou grinned from ear to ear. “So well, do you?” Taiyou felt his heart thump and beat faster than ever—except it wasn’t one that would have hurt if he had over exhausted himself before, it was… “I do like someone,” he said finally. “But she… probably doesn’t like me back,” “I’m pretty sure that girl would be able to fall for you! You’ve got the looks, you’re lovely, and you’re really kind…” Aoi’s voice trailed off, as she realized Taiyou was now staring at her, his dark blue eyes nearly the size of dinner plates, and his face was a near bright tomato red. “D-Did I say something wrong?” “… No. Y-You didn’t… um, thank you,” Taiyou turned away to hide his reddened face from Aoi’s glance. It was usual for him to receive that kind of compliment- whether it be face to face, or through a love letter stuffed in his locker—but… I guess this is because I really like her. “Oh. My house is this way, so uh…” Aoi smiled, and began to walk off into the distance, leaving Taiyou standing by himself, watching her go like he always did. He wished for her to be his, he wanted to be able to hold her in his arms, walk hand in hand with her—though his wish was extremely selfish. But he had always been selfish- wanting his heart disease to be gone just to live his life playing soccer—though there were many patients who still remained in the hospital who wished the same thing… like Tsurugi Yuuichi who was anticipating the day that he could walk again. She was beautiful, and her presence had brought pure air and sunlight into times when he had felt like he was trapped in dark, airless box. Her unwavering smile made him want to smile with her too. Every time Taiyou saw her, a small voice echoed through his head, telling him to tell her “I love you,” but was he prepared for it? For the pain of the rejection, for what toll it could take on their present friendship? He knew that Aoi wouldn’t reciprocate his feelings for her. She would like him, but not in the same that he liked her. Taiyou knew that despite her staying at the sidelines, watching out for everyone’s back, and cheering for them, Aoi only looked at Tenma. And with that thought, Taiyou couldn’t help but feel jealously and envy stirring in his heart, slowly boiling and twisting his heart painfully. ~ The next day, Taiyou swore that he had the worst of luck then. It had begun to rain heavily shortly after he had walked half the distance to Raimon, and now he was stuck under the bus stop area, his hair and clothes nearly soaked completely. “Taiyou-kun?” a soft voice called to him. Taiyou paused half way through squeezing the water out of his school blazer, and glanced up to find Aoi smiling at him, though the shadow of her umbrella nearly concealed half her face. Taiyou’s mouth opened slightly, though the words did not come out. “Were you on your way to Raimon, Taiyou-kun? Ah, that’s just brilliant, since I just went over to a store to get them some drinks!” she exclaimed, her voice ringing through his ears like a sweet melody. Aoi then perked up, and nearly dropped her umbrella as she rushed over to the shade with Taiyou, “God, you’re soaking wet. We’d better get over to Raimon and get you dry before you catch a cold,” Aoi grabbed Taiyou’s hand, pulling him with her into the rain, under the umbrella. “Thank you, Aoi-san,” and at that moment, Taiyou wasn’t sure how exactly did it happen. He entwined his fingers with hers, and slanted his head as he leaned down to kiss her. He felt her soft lips against his, tasting like sweet candy coated in a glaze of caramel, the handmade chocolate given on Valentine’s day, and the flowers blooming in the early spring. He no longer felt like he was trapped in a palace of rain—the world around him was the azure sky, with the sun shining down brightly on them. He moved to cup her warm cheeks with his cold hand, though he held slight restraint, as deep down inside, he knew how she would have reacted had he held her anywhere else. And when he pulled away for a moment’s breath, Taiyou whispered the words he could never have imagined to whisper into her ear, “I love you,” before he dived back to give her kisses. Aoi soon lost her grasp on the umbrella, letting it fall down on the sidewalk as the rain began to fall upon them, soaking them to the brim. But Taiyou didn’t care whether he was going to get completely drenched or get sick the next day—he couldn’t care less on whether people stopped to stare at the boy and girl kissing in the rain. Soon Taiyou broke away slowly, though his lips still throbbed for more kisses, Aoi was left standing shocked and surprised, her fingers moving to touch her lips. “T-Taiyou-kun…” she said softly, though the tone in her voice held some disbelief at the event that just occurred. “That was a nice kiss,” she giggled uneasily, but Taiyou remained unfazed. He closed his eyes, knowing she was going to say next, but his grasp on Aoi’s hand was still firm and tight. “I’m… really… sorry,” Those were the words whispered softly by Aoi after a short silence of listening to rain pitter-patter against the hard, cement pavement. They were words that cut Taiyou like a blade of a knife. His eyes at that moment blinked open, his eyes now staring straight into Aoi’s now clear eyes, lined with tears. “… But I can’t…” and her fingers slowly slipped away from Taiyou’s. Another moment of silence passed them, when Taiyou finally opened his mouth slightly, mumbling, “You can go on first to Raimon. I’ll catch up... later,” and he wasn’t sure whether Aoi had heard him or had just acted on instinct, but she had quickly picked up her umbrella, and sped off, passing him without a word. A raindrop streamed down Taiyou’s face like a tear—though he was pretty sure he was crying, if not for the heavy rain. He felt his heart shatter in a million of tiny shards—and remembered when Shindou told him that he was afraid of breaking his body beyond repair—this too, was beyond repair. If Taiyou turned up tomorrow with a smile or a cold at Raimon, he knew things wouldn’t be the same between him and Aoi. Sure it would slowly mend itself with time, but there would always be this one strand that couldn’t be tied back and glued back. A new heart wouldn’t fix anything. His feelings wouldn’t change in the slightest. And Taiyou stood there silently, engulfed in the rain, his eyes no longer able to find the Sun anymore.

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(A/N: Thank you for taking your time to reach to the end!)