Kyoto, 10th October. 07.00
I was arrived front of Uryuu nii’s House. Actually. This is our uncle’s hose. Shunsui-Oji.
“Nii-kun, are you okay?” I held his forehead, “Damn! You’re got fever!”
“Yeah. Seems I’ve told you before came here,”
“We went to the Hospital,”
“No,” He held my hand. Prevented me to go.
“Why??”
“I just need you here,”
Then I helped him to lie on the bed.
I compressed his forehead. After He was sleeping, I wanted to make the lunch for him. When I looked at the refrigeration,
“Oh, crap! The food supplied was out?? What does it two mans do all day?? Eating and spending the supplied??”
Then I decided to go to a mini-market near there.
When I was shopping, I’d rather confused about the ‘Kyoto Language’ which meant it different with ‘Tokyo language’ and ‘Niigata language’.
Then I went home by a bus. Fortunately, the halt wasn’t crowded.
I waited there for a moment. Suddenly, a hurried man crashed me.
“Oh! I’m sorry, are you okay??”
“I’m alright,”
Hey, seemed I know you…
I knew this man…
Paint the Love…
[Past story]
Niigata, early spring… 8th June…
5 years ago…
This morning, I’m a new student of this famous school in Niigata. My grandpa who just assigned me to this place. He told me that this place is the good one.
I feel throbbing when I entering the main gate of this building. The situation is so warm. Sunshine, students who wearing school uniform, the school yard. Ah… too much to tell…
“Guys! Today we get a new friend! Come on girls, come in,”
“He… Hello… I’m Aihara Izumi. I came from Sapporo. Nice to meet you,”
“Now Aihara, please sit down near the window. 4th seat, okay??”
She’s my new head class, Ochi-sensei. She is the extremely young sensei that I ever met. She loves jokes, and makes everything become fun and happy.
Now, let’s talking about how we met…
3 months later, I joining painting club. I interested to painting because Grandpa always teaches me how to painting.
“Domo, is it the painting club?”
I don’t know if the club was dismissed. When I opened the door, I just found a man painting seriously. I’d never saw such a people like that. Painting with feeling and idea.
“Oh, welcome to the painting club,” seems, He knows my attendance.
“I’m sorry; I want to join this club. May I??”
“Of course! I’m very glad if you want to joining our club,” He putting the painting tools on a table.
“But, why the club seems vey quiet?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Seemed you’re late. This club always dismiss in Saturday eve and Thursday eve.”
“But, why are you here?”
“I’m just sneaky. I have no interest except painting,”
Then, we both were silent
“Ah, I’m sorry. We haven’t known each other. I am, Shiba, Kaien Shiba. The leader of this club,” He stretched his hand to me.
“I’m Aihara, Izumi Aihara. The new student of 2-F class. You can call me Aiko if your tongue is so troubled to say Aihara,”
“Whoa? Your head class is Ochi-sensei, don’t you?”
“Yes?”
“Oho… so you’re the new student. Ochi-sensei always talking about you if she meets me. ”
“Wow, wonderful…”
“Oh, welcome, Ai…”
“Ah, it’s Aihara,”
“Aihara?”
“Aiko if you feel troubled to say ‘Aihara’,”
“Aiko is too weird…”
He said my name is weird??
“How about Izuko?? Beautiful, isn’t it??”
Whatever…
Then, we had a chitchatting.
“Today, I want to train you all. I hope, you give me the best,”
Suddenly, He said that in my 5th days joining.
“The most beautiful skills can be my vice. Now, let’s do it!”
Then, we had work to be his vice. So many girls wanted to be near him. No doubt, He’s handsome, smart guy with the 3rd rank position in whole school, gentle, and kind to everyone.
Then, unexpectedly, I was chosen.
“Kaien-Senpai, are you done wrong to choose me??”
“No. You’re the most terrible. I’ve to train you by my own self,”
“So, you choose me for the terrible one?”
“Yes. I’ looking for someone to be training,”
I dumbfounded
Aha… He just wanted to trick me. Stupid…
Unfortunately, every time my class was dismissing, I have to come to the painting club. Every single moment, I always trained by him, every single mistake, I always get scolding from him, and… every single feeling, I share with him… that’s the first time I know love…
But, I heard He has a girlfriend. She is from 2-G class with Yamada-sensei as the head class. She’s from ‘tennis club’, and she’s a 5th rank student in this year. Every single day after trained me, He went to his girlfriend’s trained place. He always has a bright face when He wants to go there.
“Your girlfriend, Senpai?”
“Yes! The smartest girl I’ve ever met,” He said that happily.
“Oh, send my greetings to her. I’ll be glad,”
“O-su, my junior!” He pressed my nose.
I often crying alone in that room after Kaien-Senpai have leaving. I’m crying this feeling. Why should I who realize it. I’m regretting in whole days. I love him, but, I long for him…
One day, I see Kaien-Senpai not cheer up as usual. He also doesn’t come to the ‘extra-class’ in three days. I try to ask him, but I can’t. Then, I heard news, that Kaien-Senpai and his girlfriend was break up.
It’s very hurt to see him like this. Depressed. I asked to the ‘real-vice’. Yoshiro-Senpai.
“Senpai, what happened to Kaien-Senpai?”
“Ah, He always likes that if He has a problem. Don’t worry Aiko; He’ll be cheering up after several days later. Daijoubu…”
But, Yoshiro-Senpai was wrong. Kaien-Senpai didn’t goes well after 2 weeks their break up. And, I try to come to his house.
I got his address from Yoshiro-Senpai. And, Obviously, He lives alone. Without family, and friends. It seems from his home.
“Senpai, are you inside??”
I knock the door. Several minutes again, He come out.
“Oh, Izuko, come in. outside there is so cold,”
He invites me to in.
His room is so clean. The book in the cupboard, the little table with futon near the TV. Everything is so arrange.
“Senpai, are you living alone??”
“Yes. As you see,” He’s preparing a sit-pillow for me.
Then, I sit on it, “Senpai, why you look so sad this lately?”
“Oh yeah?? I’m so surprised of your statement! I’m alright!” He always jokes around. As usual…
“But, look at your self in the mirror! Are you okay??!” I scolded him.
“You like her,” His sight becomes droopy.
“What do you mean??”
“She’s a –worry girl-. She’s always scolding me for it, for that, for everything,” I’m silence.
“That’s the way I loved her. She makes my life more meaning. There’s still someone noticed me,” He smile at me.
“So, why you and her were break up??”
“She has another boyfriend. She just attentive that I’m her friend. She cannot attentive me as her boyfriend,” He smiled at me.
“Idiot! Why are you smiling at me!?” I beat his head with my book.
“Oww!! That such a pain, my little junior,” He hold his head.
Then, I end up with scolding him. I’m crying when I’m ‘lecturing’ him.
“Why, Senpai, you broke your life only for this,” my tears…
He just silences.
“I’m sorry Senpai; I didn’t mean to interference your personal business,”
“No, you just opened my eyes. You told me everything I didn’t know. Thank you for helping me,” He holds my fingertip.
I’m trying to not crying. But, the tears keep falling down. I’m just bended my head. I reach him. I sink him in my hug.
I just wanna protect you, Senpai…
