Episode 8: Hatsukoi

[Hayate]

Power of Love

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~ Episode 8: Hatsukoi (First Love) ~[/u]

Act 1: A Small Crush

Thursday morning. In the Sakurai household, a loud beeping sound intermittently blares from an alarm clock. Upon coming into contact with a soft palm, the sound ceases. Emiri Sakurai, after slamming her alarm’s snooze button, pushes the sheets off of her, sits up in her bed, stretches her arms towards the ceiling, and lets out a yawn powerful enough to wake the dead. Shifting the weight of her legs to the side, she rises to her feet and walks towards the window. She proceeds to push back the curtains, the sun’s rays shining down on her upon doing so, and push open the window, letting in the gentle morning breeze. “Ahhh… What a beautiful morning… The sky’s so blue today…”, the at-ease Emiri says to herself. Ready to welcome the new day with open arms, the redhead wastes no time preparing for school.

Roughly 25 minutes later, perky Emiri descends the stairs wearing her Spring-version seifuku and walks into the kitchen… “…Hmm?”

…where her little sister Ayumu is seen preparing a pair of bento boxes. “Oh!” Noticing Emiri walk in, Ayumu flashes a cheerful grin. “Ohayou, Emi-nee!”

Seeing Ayumu in the kitchen before her had taken Emiri by surprise. She was typically so lethargic on school mornings. “O-Ohayou, Ayu-chan… You actually woke yourself up today?”

“Mm-hmm! I’m not completely helpless, y’know!”

“Uh-huh… And I see you’re making lunch for two.”, Emiri states, noticing the second bento. “Who’s the other bento for?”

Hearing Emiri’s query, Ayumu’s face flushes a little. “Uh… A classmate.”

“…Is that so…?”

“H-Hai! Hehehe… Um, h-hey, aren’t you gonna be late for school?”

“…Aren’t you?”

“S-Stop that!”, a flustered Ayumu blurts out. Upon wrapping up the two bentos, Ayumu stuffs them into her school bag and dashes out the front door like a flash. “Ittekimasu!”

“…Hmm… Oh!” Glancing at the clock on the kitchen wall, Emiri comes to the shocking realization that Ayumu was right: she was running late as of now. “Oh, crap! I’d better book it!” The frantic redhead dashes out the door…but returns shortly when she realizes she had forgotten her own bento on the kitchen counter. “Whew! Almost forgot this!” Once again, Emiri sprints out the door, calling out “Ittekimasu, obaachan!” as she left.

A short time later, Emiri would bolt into Sapporo Station, gasping for breath. “Hah… Hah… H-Huh?” Near the machine where she would purchase her train ticket, she’s surprised to see Kyosuke with his school bag propped over his shoulder. “K-Kyosuke!” Walking forward, Emiri approaches her friend to greet him. “Hey, Kyo. What are you doing here?”

“I’m…not really sure, to be honest.”, replies Kyosuke. Rubbing the back of his head, his vision shifts upward towards the station ceiling. “I just…felt like waiting for you.”

“!!!” Kyosuke’s reason for waiting had admittedly made Emiri a little embarrassed. She shakes it off, but there still remained a faint trace of her awkwardness. “Awww… You’ve become a big softy, haven’t you, Kyosuke?”

“…Don’t make me regret doing this, Emiri.”

“Hehehe. I actually feel kinda guilty now. If I’d known you were waiting for me, I’d have come sooner.”

“It’s…no big deal. Just get your ticket so we can go.”

Later that morning, the two are on their final approach to the entrance of Sapporo South High’s courtyard. From the opposite side of the entrance, they notice Rudy and Chiaki walking their way. “Oh! Rudy! Chiaki!” Noticing them, Emiri motions a vigorous hand wave.

“Oh! Hey, Emi!”, Chiaki calls back, motioning a wave in return.

“Ara-ara…”, Rudy starts with a sly smirk. “Kyo-kun and Emi-chan walking to school together again? Hehe.”

“Don’t get any ideas, Rudy.”, snaps Kyosuke.

“It’s hard not to, Kyosuke, considering you’ve walked to school together everyday for the past three months. And let’s not forget the momentous kiss you two almost shared at the Cultural Festival last week--”

“Argh! Would you shut up already!? Jeez!” Frustrated by Rudy’s comments, Kyosuke turns and walks towards the school, leaving his friends behind.

As a result of this, Rudy earns Emiri’s and Chiaki’s angry glares. “…What!?”

“Mou, Rudy…you really gotta work on your people skills.”

Hours later still, Kyosuke and his friends meet in their usual lunch circle on the school’s rooftop. Opening their bentos in unison, the group exclaims “Itadakimasu!”

Picking up her chopsticks, Misuzu addresses Emiri. “So, Emiri, you were saying earlier how the behavior in your sister’s changed recently?”

“Hmm? Is something the matter with Ayu-chan, Emi?”, Chiaki asks, her mouth already full of rice. “She’s not sick, is she?”

“No, no, it’s nothing like that. She’s just been acting…weird.”

“Weird how?”

“Hmm… How do I put this? …She seems to be in more of a good mood than usual. It’s kinda creepy, to tell you the truth. And just this morning, she was preparing two bentos.”

“Tell me, Emiri…”, interjects Rudy. “Does Ayu seem more distant lately?”

“Now that you mention it, yeah. She barely teases me anymore.”

“And whenever you question this new behavior of hers, does she get flustered?”

“Yeah! When I asked her who the second bento was for, she hesitated!”

“Hehehe… Well then, I think the answer’s obvious.” Eating the last bit of rice from his lunch, Rudy sets his bento and chopsticks down. “…Little Ayu’s fallen in love!”

Hearing this allegation, Emiri nearly chokes on her food. Before speaking, she quickly downs some of her juice. “N-Nan desu de!?”

“Think about it. The recent uplift in her cheerfulness, distancing herself from others, making lunch for two… It all adds up. Ayumu’s finally taken an interest in boys!”

Emiri blinks several times at Rudy’s explanation. It was a little difficult to accept. “Nah, that can’t be. It’s impossible. I don’t even think Ayumu fully understands the concept of love.”

“Is it that unfeasible? Ayumu IS getting to be that age. She doesn’t fully understand love because she’s just now beginning to discover that feeling. And she’ll only understand it faster with the help of a loving sister.”

“…”

The remainder of the school day would go by in the blink of an eye, but to Emiri, it seemed like an eternity. Throughout the remaining hours, she couldn’t help but ponder on Rudy’s words: Had her sister Ayumu truly fallen in love? If so, in what way could she help? Why hadn’t Ayumu come to her openly? And why were these kinds of troubling thoughts going through her head? It was just a harmless crush.

As Kyosuke and Emiri walk towards Souen Station, Kyosuke keeps his hands pocketed. As he walks, he lets out a long sigh of frustration. “Man… I can’t believe how much homework Kozue-sensei gave us today. It’s gonna take us all night to finish!”, he groans.

“…”

“…Hey. Are you listening?”

“H-Huh?” Snapped out of her blank-faced daze, Emiri looks up at Kyosuke. “Oh. Sorry, Kyosuke, you say something?”

“What’s up with you? You’ve been quiet since lunch.”

“Nan demo nai. It’s just…Ayumu…”

“You’re still sweating over that? So what the little brat’s got a crush? Is that really such a big deal?”

“…Well…there’s only one way to find out.” Taking Kyosuke firmly by the hand, Emiri pulls him towards the station. “Come on! We’re stopping by my sister’s school!”

“W-What!? Right now!?”

Kyosuke’s complaints and objections would fall on deaf ears, however, as Emiri pulls him all the way back to Sapporo Station in Kita-ku and, from there, onto the Nanboku Line to Hiragishi Station in Toyohira-ku. Upon their arrival, a grainy voice addresses the passengers through the train’s intercom. “Hiragishi Station! Hiragishi Station! Please be sure to take all of your personal belongings with you as you exit the train! Thank you for riding with the Sapporo Municipal Subway! Next stop is Minami-Hiragishi Station!”

As Kyosuke and Emiri exit the train station, Kyosuke emits a powerful aura of irritation. “Well…we’re here.”, the perturbed lad starts. “Now what?”

“Now we head to Ayumu’s school: Hokkaido International.”, replies Emiri. “It’s this way. Come on.”

As the two traverse the Hiragishi community of Toyohira-ku, Kyosuke couldn’t help but ponder on Emiri’s impulsive actions. Did the fact that Ayumu had a crush on a boy really bother her that greatly? What would she do upon discovering that was indeed the case? Would she support her sister? Or would she come between Ayumu and her crush? “…” A short few minutes later, the two come within range of Hokkaido International School, where a large group of students – middle school to high school – is seen dispersing. “Looks like school’s let out here too.”, Kyosuke says, stating the obvious.

“Hmm… I don’t see Ayumu anywhere. Let’s check the nearby soccer field.”

Indeed, just a few yards to the school’s east was a small soccer field, on which several Hokkaido International students are seen playing. “…Huh? Hey, Emiri, look.” In the distance, Kyosuke spots a bundle of bright pink hair sitting in the tall grass, watching the soccer game.

“Ah! Ayu-chan--!”

“Wait! If you approach her now, she might get scared off. If that happens, you might never get the answer you want. Let’s just…observe for now.”

“…‘Kay.”

On the soccer field, a boy with purple hair is seen rushing up the field, guiding the ball with his feet. Weaving effortlessly between the members of the opposing team, the boy reels his foot back and kicks the ball vigorously. It whizzes through the air and harshly comes into contact with the net. The goalie never saw it coming. The boy’s fellow team members all cheer, chanting the boy’s name: “Ryuta! Ryuta! Ryuta!” The opposing team, accepting defeat honorably, meagerly shares in the other team’s jubilation and takes its leave. Finally, the boy Ryuta was left alone to gather his belongings…

…which Ayumu takes as a sort of signal. A smile on her face and a bento in her hand, the pink-haired girl rises to her feet and is about to walk over to Ryuta… “…!!!” …when, all of a sudden, a gaggle of schoolgirls barrages Ryuta, some of them holding bentos of their own. “…Of course…” A discouraging sight, but not very surprising. Someone as famous as Ryuta is, he must have girls approach him all the time. “…Well…so much for that…” Defeated, Ayumu turns to her rear and is about to depart for home when she sees a familiar face standing at the top of the grassy hill. “E-Emi-nee!?”

After seeing a depressing scene like the one she just witnessed, Emiri was unsure of what she should say first. She simply showed a sympathetic smile and says, “…Hey, Ayu.”

An hour later, the three-person group consisting of Kyosuke, Emiri, and Ayumu relocates to the kitchen in the Sakurai household. Emiri sits across from Ayumu at the table while Kyosuke leans against a wall with his arms crossed. On top of the table was the bento Ayumu had made that morning, now cold. As she awkwardly fidgeted with her hands, Ayumu was the first to break the silence. “…His name’s Ryuta Sasaki. He’s in his second year of middle school, and as you’ve already seen, he’s the star of Hokkaido International School’s junior soccer team.”, she explains.

“And you…have a crush on him?”, Emiri asks, eager for an answer.

Ayumu could feel her face becoming warm. “…Mm-hmm.”

“I see. So do you two know each other? Or have you just admired him from afar?”

“Well, we don’t really know each other personally. I’ve only known about him through the school newspaper and announcements about the school sports teams. I didn’t really think much of him before. …But…a few days ago…”

“Hey! That’s my bento!”

“Hahaha! Awww… Does ‘Chibi Ayu’ want her bento back?”

“Quick! Pass it here! Hahaha!”

“This isn’t funny! Give it back!”

“You want it? Come an’ get it!”

“Grrrr…”

“OI!!! Give the girl back her bento or else!”

“Or else what!?”

“Or else I’ll be practicing my soccer kick on your head!”

“…”

“…Here you go.”

“Uh… A-Arigatou.”

“No problem. See ya ‘round.”

“…”

After hearing the story, Kyosuke couldn’t help but chuckle. “It’s like something straight out of a storybook.”

“Hey! Don’t laugh, Kyosuke!”, scolds Emiri. “…So he’s the one you made the second bento for, huh?”

“Tch! A lot of good it did me in the end!”, Ayumu suddenly snaps. “No matter what I do, I can’t get Ryuta-senpai to notice me!”

“How about getting your bento stolen again? It worked wonders the first time. Hehehe…”, Kyosuke teases under his breath.

“Kyosuke!”

At the other end of the table, Ayumu lowers her head in embarrassment and lets out a sigh of despair. “Maybe I should just give up…”

“Out of the question!”

“H-Huh?”

Rising to her feet, Emiri balls her hands into fists and looks down at Ayumu. “You can’t give up now, Ayu-chan! This guy’s your first love! If you pass this up, you’ll never get another chance like it!”

Kyosuke wasn’t so convinced, however. “That’s certainly a switch, Emiri. The way you were acting today, I’d have assumed Ayumu falling in love didn’t sit right with you.”

“It’s true, Ayu-chan falling in love did disturb me a little. I didn’t think she was ready. But she seems to really like this guy, and she shouldn’t give it all up just ‘cause she’s hit an emotional snag. …Listen, Ayu-chan. A first love comes only once in a lifetime. I’m not gonna let you throw in the towel so easily. I promise I’ll do everything I can to make sure this guy likes you back! Okay?”

“…Emi-nee…” Ayumu was touched by her sister’s willingness to help – so touched, in fact, that she was on the verge of tears. “…Okay!”

“…Uh-huh… Well, you two have fun with that, ‘kay? I’m going home.” Pegging this as a bonding between girls, Kyosuke makes his way towards the front door…

…but his path is suddenly cut off by Emiri. “Oh, no, you don’t! You’ve done nothing but make my sister feel like crap! So either you help out too, or I promise that the rest of your school year won’t be enjoyable!”, the redhead threatens.

“What do you expect me to do?”

“Oh, don’t you worry. I have the perfect job for you. Hehehe…”

Emiri had an unrivaled talent for making Kyosuke nervous; now was no different. “…I really hate it when you do that, Emiri…”

~Hatsukoi: End of Act 1~

Act 2: Playing the Matchmaker

Relocating to the house’s east deck, Emiri sits on the deck’s wooden paneling while Kyosuke and Ayumu stand across from each other on the grass. “Okay, Ayu-chan!”, spouts Emiri excitedly. “The first step to getting Ryuta to notice you is to get used to conveying your feelings to him. So pretend Kyosuke here is Ryuta and tell him how you feel.”

The thought of using Kyosuke as a practice dummy made Ayumu feel uncomfortable. “I dunno…”, the 13-year-old murmurs.

The thought of being a practice dummy made Kyosuke feel even more so. ‘…This is beyond stupid…’, grumbles Kyosuke in his mind.

“Just be confident, Ayu-chan, and go for it!”

“…Okay…” Swallowing the lump in her throat, Ayumu gazes up at Kyosuke’s face, envisioning Ryuta. “…R-Ryuta-s-senpai… I…I… Ohhhh… I can’t do it! Kyosuke’s face is scary!”

A vein pops on Kyosuke’s forehead at the girl’s remark. “Scary!?”

“Ugh… Okay, maybe you need a demonstration. Sit down, Ayumu, and I’ll show you how it’s done.” As Ayumu follows Emiri’s instructions to seat herself, Emiri takes her place across from Kyosuke. Assuming the role of the ‘lovestruck schoolgirl’, she clasps her hands together and gazes intently into Kyosuke’s eyes. “…Kyosuke?”, she whispers in a calm, tender tone.

“Uh…y-yeah, Emiri?”

“I… I love you! I’ve always loved you!”

Hearing these words, even though they were just part of an act, causes Kyosuke’s face to flush. “…U-Uh…”

“Ever since I first laid eyes on you, I’ve been madly in love with you!”

“…E-Emiri…I think you’ve m-made your point…”

All of a sudden, Emiri starts to slowly approach Kyosuke. “I’m not the prettiest girl in the world…or the smartest…but all I want is to make you happy!”

“W-Whoa!” Her sudden approach catches Kyosuke off guard, causing him to fall back onto the grass.

“…There! You see, Ayu-chan? It’s easy!”

“Wow…”

As the grass gently pricks his fingers, Kyosuke silently grits his teeth. ‘This girl gets into character way too much…’

After rehearsal, the group goes back inside, where Emiri assists Ayumu in preparing another bento for Ryuta. “You know what they say! The quickest way to a guy’s heart is through his stomach! Hahaha!”

“…Hey, Emi-nee? Are you sure this is gonna work?”

“Of course I’m sure!” Upon putting the finishing touches on the bento, Emiri covers it up and wraps it in a thin decorative cloth. “All done! …Now listen up, Ayu-chan. Tomorrow after school, go up to Ryuta on the soccer field, give him the bento, and ask him out.”

“…But…what if--?”

“No what if’s! It’ll be fine! You just gotta have confidence!”

“…Hmph! Gotcha!”

“There ya go! There’s the trademark Ayu-chan grin I love!”

“Hehehe…”

In no time at all, 18 hours would pass, and Kyosuke’s usual circle of friends would meet on the school roof for lunch the following day. “You were right, Rudy!”, Emiri exclaims as she picks up her chopsticks. “Ayumu does have a crush on a boy!”

“Heh. Well, you know me. I’m an expert when it comes to matters of the heart.”, replies Rudy, rather full of himself at the moment.

“Oh, yeah? If you’re such an expert, why don’t you have a girlfriend yet?”, Chiaki jokes with a laugh.

“I merely bide my time with members of the fairer gender.”

“In other words, you get shot down at every attempt.”, Kyosuke comments, joining in the humor.

“…”

“Well, Ayumu’s a nice girl. I hope it all works out for her in the end.”, says Misuzu to Emiri as she positions herself to chow down.

“Yeah… Watashi mo…”

Later that afternoon, after dismissal from school, Kyosuke and Emiri await Ayumu’s arrival at Hiragishi Station. Emiri taps her foot on the floor in heavy anxiety. “…”

“…Nervous?”, Kyosuke suddenly asks.

“Huh!? …Oh. Yeah. I just hope my advice was enough. If it doesn’t go well, I’m afraid Ayu-chan may end up hating me.”

“Ayumu’s your sister. What reason would she have for hating you? Besides, if it doesn’t go well, it isn’t your fault. You did what every big sister does when their kid sister needs help. …You did good, Emiri.”

“…Thanks, Kyosuke.” At that moment, the glass double doors of the station swing open, and Ayumu enters. “Oh! Here she comes!”

As Ayumu approaches Emiri, she hangs her head low so her eyes were covered by her hair, and she exudes a dense aura of hopelessness.

“…Oh, no… Ayu-chan, don’t tell me…”

“…”

“…U-Um, Ryuta-senpai?”

“Yeah? …Hmm? Oh, it’s ‘bento girl’.”

“Hehehe… Yeah, that’s me…”

“You needed something?”

“Um… Well… You see, I w-wanted to…”

“Wanted to what?”

“I, uh…”

“HEY, SASAKI! LET’S GET GOIN’!”

“Hai, hai! Sorry, ‘bento girl’. I gotta get going now. See ya later.”

“C-Chotto matte! …Awww…”

“…That’s what happened.”, Ayumu concludes, still hiding her forlorn eyes under her hair.

“Oh, Ayu-chan…” Emiri truly wanted to console her sister some more, but she didn’t know what to say at this point.

“I’m sorry, Emi-nee. I just…couldn’t do it. I can’t.”

Kyosuke had heard enough. All this depressive talk was starting to make him depressed. “…Hey, Ayumu.”

“Huh? What?”

“Is Ryuta still at the soccer field?”

“I think so. I overheard him and his friends talking about practicing a little longer today.”

“…Alright then.” Just then, Kyosuke picks up the bento and grabs Ayumu by the wrist. “Let’s go.”

“H-Huh!? Go where!?” Without saying a word, Kyosuke pulls Ayumu out of the station by her arm and towards the soccer field. “Aah! Let go, Kyosuke! You’re hurting my wrist!”

“Hey, Kyo! What the hell are you doing!?”, Emiri barks in anger. “Where are you taking her!?”

“Didn’t you say you like this guy, Ayumu!? Isn’t that what you said yesterday!?”

“Y-Yeah, but--!”

“‘But’ nothing! It’s like Emiri told you! You have to have confidence in yourself! Even when your heart’s beating so fast that you feel like it’s gonna explode, you can’t back down!”

“…Kyosuke…”

Mere minutes later, the trio returns to the soccer field, where Ryuta and his friends are seen practicing. Kyosuke turns to face Ayumu and hands to her the bento she made for Ryuta. “Here. Go up to him, give him this, and tell him straight out how you feel. And if you chicken out again, we’ll just keep on trying until you get it right.”

“…” Hesitatingly, Ayumu takes the bento and looks down towards the soccer field. Practice had at last ended, and Ryuta was standing by himself. “…Hmph! Okay!” Little by little, she descends the hill and approaches Ryuta once more. “Uh…Ryuta-senpai?”

“Hmm?” As he picks up his school bag, Ryuta turns to face Ayumu at his rear. “Oh. Hey, ‘bento girl’. What’s up?”

“…M-My name is Ayumu Sakurai. And I…wanted to give you this.” With a courteous bow, Ayumu presents the bento to Ryuta.”

“Oh, wow. Thanks, that’s really nice of you. …But why are you giving me this all of a sudden?”

Ayumu’s heart skips a beat at Ryuta’s sudden query. “W-Well…you see, the thing is…”

In anticipation, Kyosuke and Emiri await the moment of truth at the top of the hill.”

“…Ryuta-senpai… I know a guy like you probably doesn’t think much of a girl like me, if at all, but I…I really, really like you!”

“!!!”

“Will you…g-go out…with me, Ryuta-senpai?”

“…Ayumu-chan…”

The entire area is suddenly blanketed by a stifling silence as Ayumu eagerly waits for a reply. “…”

Just then… “…How’s tomorrow sound?”

“Huh?” Rising from her bow, Ayumu looks up at Ryuta to make sure she heard him right. “W-What’d you say?”

“I’m free all day tomorrow. You wanna catch a movie?”

At long last, Ayumu’s heartbeat decreases in tempo and her eyes light up. “S-Sure! I’d love to!”

Emiri was just as thrilled as her sister. “Yatta!!! Way to go, Ayu-chan!!!” So thrilled, in fact, that she jumped up and wrapped her arms around Kyosuke. “Hahaha!!!”

“H-Hey! Get off of me, dammit!”

On the train ride back to Kita-ku, Ayumu, exhausted by the day’s events, falls fast asleep in Emiri’s lap. The smile on her face is maintained even in her fatigued state.

As she slept, Emiri gently caresses her head with her hand. “Hehehe. I guess this means she’s gonna go back to teasing me.”

“Meh. Sisters. What can ya do?”, Kyosuke nonchalantly rejoinders.

“You really surprised me with that speech you gave Ayu-chan earlier. I didn’t think you were capable of such passionate words.”

“…It’s no big deal.”

“…Yeah. You’re probably right.”

Kyosuke simply sits there, gazing out the window towards the sunset, but jerks back when he feels something soft touch his cheek. To his surprise, Emiri had kissed him. “W-What was that for?”

“What’s the matter? ‘No big deal’, right?”

“…Honestly, girl, I have no clue what goes on in your head half the time…”

“Hahaha!”

Unshaken by the ruckus going on before her, Ayumu sleeps soundly. “…Ryuta…”

~Hatsukoi: End of Act 2~

~Power of Love: End of Episode 8~

~ Power of Love: Next Episode ~

Chiaki: Aah! Kyosuke, save me!

Kyosuke: Gah! What the hell’s gotten into you, Chiaki!?

Chiaki: Didn’t you hear!? Sapporo South High is…haunted!!!

Emiri: Haunted!?

Rudy: Haunted?!?

Misuzu: HAUNTED?!?!?

Kyosuke: …You’re joking, right?

Yuzu: Next time on Power of Love! Episode 9, “Onryou (Apparition)”!

All: GHOSTS!

Kyosuke: SHUT UP ALREADY!!![/font][/size][/color]