[mekakuni] Memories of the Future ch.9
Memories of the Future
chapter 9: #14 radio-cassette player
Disclaimer: I do not own Mekakushi no Kuni.
Pairing: Namiki/Kaichou
Notes: for 30_kisses theme #14 radio-cassette player. School festival part 2.
Archive: lj / ffnet
Words: ~1116
-----
Eri spotted her boyfriend the moment she stepped into the classroom. She bounded over from the doorway, her black, puffy dress billowing out about her. It was a dress similar to what her class had worn the year before, except this time there was more lace. Masahiro bet that Arou would love to see Kanade in a dress like that.
"You look sooo handsome in that!" declared Eri as she straightened Ezawa's outfit. He was decked in flashy jewelry and yet did not look gaudy in it, something that few others could pull off. "You're going to be the best prince ever!" continued Eri. "Your class is smart for choosing you."
Ezawa grabbed Eri's hand, his reply too low for Masahiro to catch, but judging from Eri's pleased expression, it was most likely a compliment about Eri's dress.
When Ezawa leaned in for a kiss, Masahiro smirked and looked away from the couple. He was surrounded by happy couples, it seemed, for there came Arou through the doorway, part of his tattered and bloody outfit dragging behind him. He was immediately greeted by a cheerful Kanade who had just excused herself from the director. She beamed at Arou, though when she caught sight of Eri and Ezawa next to them, a wild blush spread over her face instead. She began twiddling her fingers, her eyes lowered.
Something was obviously on her mind. Too bad Arou didn't look like he knew what the matter was.
Masahiro crossed his arms behind his head and leaned back on his chair, his smirk growing wider.
He, on the other hand, knew exactly what was troubling Kanade. It was quite endearing really, for her to be worried about something that her best friend and her boyfriend would undoubtedly not hold against her. If they were to get furious at anyone, it would certainly not be at Kanade. The scriptwriter was a more likely candidate.
Kanade mumbled something to Arou before rushing off, leaving a troubled Arou behind.
The show was about to start.
-----
An ominous presence lurked behind him, that of one protective boyfriend.
"Sit down," said Masahiro, not at all affected by Arou's mood. "Plenty of seats around. No need to block other people's views."
Arou twitched as he sat down.
"You know what's going on," he stated.
The older boy raised his eyebrows. "And how do you know that?"
"Because of that infuriating smirk on your face that says "I know something that you don't.""
Masahiro touched his face. "Why, I didn't even notice that."
Arou twitched some more.
Really, Arou's reactions were priceless. While Kanade got flustered when teased, Arou got silent and twitchy. Masahiro hadn't even meant to tease with his words--he truly meant them. He dropped his hand from his face.
"Oh, it's nothing to worry about," said Masahiro finally, smirk gone from his face. After all, Arou was honestly concerned about Kanade, and that Masahiro wouldn't begrudge him. "You'll see what the entire fuss is about at the end of the play." He paused, unable to resist the last jab. "Or do you want me to show you now and ruin the surprise?"
He extended his hand to Arou. Arou hadn't seen his conversation with Kanade the last time he touched him, but perhaps this time he would. And oh, what a conversation it was...
Arou's hands remained down. "If you say it's nothing to worry about..." started Arou, his voice trailing off.
He turned away, only letting Masahiro see the back of his head.
"Well, I trust your word for it."
Masahiro let his outstretched hand drop, a sudden, fierce grin spreading across his face, taking himself by surprise. He once again touched his fingers to his face, this time in wonder.
-----
At one point of the play, Masahiro felt someone tap his shoulders.
"Namiki-san?"
"Sensei!" greeted Masahiro, somewhat surprised to see who had approached him.
"Ah, so it really is you. I thought I might have been seeing things," said the homeroom teacher of class 3-4. "How has college been to my top student?"
Masahiro shrugged. "Pretty good. Not too challenging." A bit boring as well, thought Masahiro to himself. He found himself drifting back to Kanade's school a bit too often.
"What are you studying, if I may ask?"
Masahiro hesitated. He hadn't given much thought to his concentration of study before heading off to college. There was nothing that truly fascinated him, but one had to choose a concentration no matter what.
"...business," he replied. Business, a major that would help him in his dealings with Yusuke. It was not a major that Masahiro could say he enjoyed a lot, but at least it was a major that was useful. Masahiro had always done things based on the benefits if not on the enjoyment factor. With success came joy, or so he had believed.
But watching Kanade perform on stage, smiling so brilliantly even when she stumbled over her lines...the audience laughing along with her...heck, he even got the same feeling from watching Arou tend his fields and from Kaichou with all her self-sacrificing...
Sometimes, Masahiro wondered if perhaps he had gotten things backwards.
"Ah, that suits you very well, Namiki-san," commented the teacher. "You'll succeed at whatever you put your mind to, I'm sure." The teacher glanced at her watch. "I'm afraid I must leave now. It's good to see you doing so well."
Masahiro gave a slight bow, still deep in thought as his previous teacher walked away.
"Business?" questioned Arou from besides him. Masahiro had almost forgotten that he was there. "You've never mentioned it before."
The blond shrugged. "It never came up."
"I'm not sure it suits you."
Masahiro waved his hand, dismissing Arou's concern. "You'll miss Kanade's next part if you don't pay more attention."
There was no need to be so concerned about him, thought Masahiro. He was the older one here, after all.
Arou frowned but didn't comment again, the sudden wild applause of the audience too hard for further conversation.
-----
"Namiki-san! You've got to help us!" pleaded one of the girls from Kanade's class during the intermission.
"What's going on?" asked Masahiro.
"The girl playing the part of fairy godmother hurt herself, so she can't play the part anymore. There's only a few more scenes left!" fretted the girl. She twisted the fabric of her skirt.
"...and so how will I be able to help with that?" asked the blond. He had an inkling of where this was heading, and he didn't like it.
"Well, I heard you practicing with Kanade-chan the other day, so you should know the lines pretty well, right? And you're a fabulous actor. I heard you, so don't deny it! Here, let's get you changing. You can just make up lines on the spot if you forget any," said the girl all in one breath, already pushing him towards the changing room.
Arou laughed quietly. When Masahiro turned to glare at him, Arou just smiled and said, "Have fun."
And so that was how Namiki Masahiro found himself standing on the stage for a high school Cinderella play, dressed in long silk robes and a pair of cellophane wings. He waved his wand around and cleared his throat.
"Cinderella, my magic has long lost its effects. The rest is up to you..."
Flash.
Masahiro blinked.
Flash photography.
Masahiro had a feeling that somewhere in the audience, Arou was enjoying himself a lot. He was probably recording the entire thing too.
He smirked at the thought and brushed his bangs out of his face. There was no better time to stand straight and tall like a model posing for a photo shoot. He wouldn't give Arou the satisfaction of seeing him less than proud of his role. The teasing wouldn't stop then!
-----tbc-----
Next chapter: #10
chapter 9: #14 radio-cassette player
Disclaimer: I do not own Mekakushi no Kuni.
Pairing: Namiki/Kaichou
Notes: for 30_kisses theme #14 radio-cassette player. School festival part 2.
Archive: lj / ffnet
Words: ~1116
-----
Eri spotted her boyfriend the moment she stepped into the classroom. She bounded over from the doorway, her black, puffy dress billowing out about her. It was a dress similar to what her class had worn the year before, except this time there was more lace. Masahiro bet that Arou would love to see Kanade in a dress like that.
"You look sooo handsome in that!" declared Eri as she straightened Ezawa's outfit. He was decked in flashy jewelry and yet did not look gaudy in it, something that few others could pull off. "You're going to be the best prince ever!" continued Eri. "Your class is smart for choosing you."
Ezawa grabbed Eri's hand, his reply too low for Masahiro to catch, but judging from Eri's pleased expression, it was most likely a compliment about Eri's dress.
When Ezawa leaned in for a kiss, Masahiro smirked and looked away from the couple. He was surrounded by happy couples, it seemed, for there came Arou through the doorway, part of his tattered and bloody outfit dragging behind him. He was immediately greeted by a cheerful Kanade who had just excused herself from the director. She beamed at Arou, though when she caught sight of Eri and Ezawa next to them, a wild blush spread over her face instead. She began twiddling her fingers, her eyes lowered.
Something was obviously on her mind. Too bad Arou didn't look like he knew what the matter was.
Masahiro crossed his arms behind his head and leaned back on his chair, his smirk growing wider.
He, on the other hand, knew exactly what was troubling Kanade. It was quite endearing really, for her to be worried about something that her best friend and her boyfriend would undoubtedly not hold against her. If they were to get furious at anyone, it would certainly not be at Kanade. The scriptwriter was a more likely candidate.
Kanade mumbled something to Arou before rushing off, leaving a troubled Arou behind.
The show was about to start.
-----
An ominous presence lurked behind him, that of one protective boyfriend.
"Sit down," said Masahiro, not at all affected by Arou's mood. "Plenty of seats around. No need to block other people's views."
Arou twitched as he sat down.
"You know what's going on," he stated.
The older boy raised his eyebrows. "And how do you know that?"
"Because of that infuriating smirk on your face that says "I know something that you don't.""
Masahiro touched his face. "Why, I didn't even notice that."
Arou twitched some more.
Really, Arou's reactions were priceless. While Kanade got flustered when teased, Arou got silent and twitchy. Masahiro hadn't even meant to tease with his words--he truly meant them. He dropped his hand from his face.
"Oh, it's nothing to worry about," said Masahiro finally, smirk gone from his face. After all, Arou was honestly concerned about Kanade, and that Masahiro wouldn't begrudge him. "You'll see what the entire fuss is about at the end of the play." He paused, unable to resist the last jab. "Or do you want me to show you now and ruin the surprise?"
He extended his hand to Arou. Arou hadn't seen his conversation with Kanade the last time he touched him, but perhaps this time he would. And oh, what a conversation it was...
Arou's hands remained down. "If you say it's nothing to worry about..." started Arou, his voice trailing off.
He turned away, only letting Masahiro see the back of his head.
"Well, I trust your word for it."
Masahiro let his outstretched hand drop, a sudden, fierce grin spreading across his face, taking himself by surprise. He once again touched his fingers to his face, this time in wonder.
-----
At one point of the play, Masahiro felt someone tap his shoulders.
"Namiki-san?"
"Sensei!" greeted Masahiro, somewhat surprised to see who had approached him.
"Ah, so it really is you. I thought I might have been seeing things," said the homeroom teacher of class 3-4. "How has college been to my top student?"
Masahiro shrugged. "Pretty good. Not too challenging." A bit boring as well, thought Masahiro to himself. He found himself drifting back to Kanade's school a bit too often.
"What are you studying, if I may ask?"
Masahiro hesitated. He hadn't given much thought to his concentration of study before heading off to college. There was nothing that truly fascinated him, but one had to choose a concentration no matter what.
"...business," he replied. Business, a major that would help him in his dealings with Yusuke. It was not a major that Masahiro could say he enjoyed a lot, but at least it was a major that was useful. Masahiro had always done things based on the benefits if not on the enjoyment factor. With success came joy, or so he had believed.
But watching Kanade perform on stage, smiling so brilliantly even when she stumbled over her lines...the audience laughing along with her...heck, he even got the same feeling from watching Arou tend his fields and from Kaichou with all her self-sacrificing...
Sometimes, Masahiro wondered if perhaps he had gotten things backwards.
"Ah, that suits you very well, Namiki-san," commented the teacher. "You'll succeed at whatever you put your mind to, I'm sure." The teacher glanced at her watch. "I'm afraid I must leave now. It's good to see you doing so well."
Masahiro gave a slight bow, still deep in thought as his previous teacher walked away.
"Business?" questioned Arou from besides him. Masahiro had almost forgotten that he was there. "You've never mentioned it before."
The blond shrugged. "It never came up."
"I'm not sure it suits you."
Masahiro waved his hand, dismissing Arou's concern. "You'll miss Kanade's next part if you don't pay more attention."
There was no need to be so concerned about him, thought Masahiro. He was the older one here, after all.
Arou frowned but didn't comment again, the sudden wild applause of the audience too hard for further conversation.
-----
"Namiki-san! You've got to help us!" pleaded one of the girls from Kanade's class during the intermission.
"What's going on?" asked Masahiro.
"The girl playing the part of fairy godmother hurt herself, so she can't play the part anymore. There's only a few more scenes left!" fretted the girl. She twisted the fabric of her skirt.
"...and so how will I be able to help with that?" asked the blond. He had an inkling of where this was heading, and he didn't like it.
"Well, I heard you practicing with Kanade-chan the other day, so you should know the lines pretty well, right? And you're a fabulous actor. I heard you, so don't deny it! Here, let's get you changing. You can just make up lines on the spot if you forget any," said the girl all in one breath, already pushing him towards the changing room.
Arou laughed quietly. When Masahiro turned to glare at him, Arou just smiled and said, "Have fun."
And so that was how Namiki Masahiro found himself standing on the stage for a high school Cinderella play, dressed in long silk robes and a pair of cellophane wings. He waved his wand around and cleared his throat.
"Cinderella, my magic has long lost its effects. The rest is up to you..."
Flash.
Masahiro blinked.
Flash photography.
Masahiro had a feeling that somewhere in the audience, Arou was enjoying himself a lot. He was probably recording the entire thing too.
He smirked at the thought and brushed his bangs out of his face. There was no better time to stand straight and tall like a model posing for a photo shoot. He wouldn't give Arou the satisfaction of seeing him less than proud of his role. The teasing wouldn't stop then!
-----tbc-----
Next chapter: #10