Dear Diary,
I want his scent all over me. Hug me, cuddle me, do anything you like, Furayu. I want you. Only you. I need his body all over mine.
I have to get rid of anything or anyone that comes near me and Furayu.
My one true love. I can't stop looking at him. Just seeing him makes me feel anxious.
I can't stand any girls getting any attention from him. It pisses me off. Everything about her.
I'll protect you. Keep you safe. Make sure you're always loved.
My Furayu.
Yours truly, XXXXXXX
Nada High School.
The most prestigious high school in Tokyo. Famous for its extremely difficult entrance exams and consistently retaining high academic achievements, attending the school meant someone had a pathway to a good university.
Furayu Kisuke was among these prestigious students, tall, dark haired teen and blue eyes that shone like the moonlight. Sixteen years old and filled with many talents, he was, on the surface, like a regular student at Nada high.
Beside him walked a young, beautiful girl whose eyes were partly hidden underneath her fringe. Ren Kuchiki, a friend he had since middle school. Her beauty differed from the flashy girls of modern trends. She was reserved, dressed modestly yet her understated style was so alluring. Her bangs covered part of her face, only allowing those close to her to truly see her proper expressions.
Nada High had made a historic change, a new admission policy. Now allowing females to attend the school. This transition had many challenges, bullying and harassment were rampant in its first year.
The change made it possible for Ren and Furayu to study with each other again.
The two made their way to check their class assignments.
"Furayu, we're in the same class!" Ren's voice lit up in excitement
"Yeah, I see that."
The innocence in her smile was blinding. Even though one of her eyes was covered by her hair,
She's so… cute for her little reactions.
Furayu's perception of himself was clouded by self-esteem issues. Burdens of childhood hanging over him. But in moments like this, Ren's kind and sweet gestures help his confidence.
Heading towards class, Furayu thought to himself.
I need to find a decent seat or else I'm gonna have to sit next to some weirdo.
As he walked through the corridor, he noticed Ren stickling a little closer than usual, trembling slightly.
"You're shaking, Ren you okay?" Furayu asked, his tone filled with concern.
"Too many people…sorry." Ren apologetically said, slowly shifting some distance between them.
He noticed her shifting away from him.
"It's okay, I was just worried you might have been nervous." Furayu admitted. "Anyways, let's go find some good seats."
The two made their way into class and found two seats at the back. Luckily the class size was smaller than usual this year. Meaning there were empty seats sat on either side of them. It seemed everyone had already arrived.
"ATTENTION PLEASE!" The homeroom teacher called out, snapping the room's attention to the front. "My name is Ms Suzuki and I'd like to introduce our new student."
A gush of murmurs swept the class as the students speculated on what the newcomer might be, someone famous? Someone talented? Or would it be nobody?
"Stop standing out there like an idiot and introduce yourself!" Ms Suzuki urged with a sly grin on her face.
Furayu, who had been resting his head on the desk, lifted his gaze ever so slightly to get a glimpse. Yet the striking blonde girl who strode so confidently into the room. Moving as though she's modelling and on a runway, exuding a soft beauty that was impossible to miss.
In an instant, most of the male students had their eyes trained on her, fully captivated by her flair and beauty.
Her long blonde hair, the short skirt revealing enough legs that both guys and girls would ogle. Her shirt tight, tight enough to reveal the curves on her body. The flat stomach, the snatched waist and wide hips. Her figure so alluring, her outgoing personality drew people in.
"HALLO EVERYONE! MY NAME'S NATSUMI SAKI!" She declared with a dramatic peace sign, her voice carrying the tone of an idol in a sold out crowd.
Furayu and Ren exchanged glances at one another, slightly taken aback by Natsumi's atmosphere. She had stolen the spotlight fully.
"Erm…. thank you for that." Ms Suzuki said, confused, thrown off completely by Natsumi. "Could you please, uh, find a seat?"
"Yes, Miss!" Natusmi chirped, throwing a salute playfully before scanning around for a spot to sit.
Furayu, noticing she was getting way too much attention. He didn't want this new girl to sit next to him. Laying his head back down on the desk, hoping to get some rest. The past few nights he'd stayed awake late reading manga and he needed to recharge.
But just as he was zoning out to dreamland. He heard a voice ring out near him.
"D'YA MIND IF I SIT HERE?"
Furayu blinked himself awake, confused. Natsumi had chosen the seat right next to Ren. There were plenty of empty seats, and some of those empty seats were closer to those students who were really popular. Why there?
"U-uh okay…" Ren stammered out.
Natsumi smiled and tilted her head out of bewilderment, but she still kept her smile bright and welcoming to Ren.
"Ugh I didn't hear what you said, but I'll take it as a yes! THANK YOU!" She yelped in excitement, sitting down without hesitation.
Furayu quietly sighed, resigning himself to the situation. He felt the incoming storm towards Ren, sitting next to a loud, outgoing girl was bound to cause problems for her. Sure enough, he soon noticed some girls staring at her in a spiteful way.
"That's really shit." He muttered under his breath. "Those girls keep giving you weird stares."
Turning to Ren, asking her opinion "What should I do?"
"I think you shouldn't be so weary about it. I'll be fine. Okay?" Ren thoughtfully replied.
Furayu thought over her words. Then an idea lit up in his head.
"Ren, I have an idea…" He calmly and confidently stated. "What if you befriend Natsumi? Make it look like you're a genuine friend."
Meanwhile, somewhere else, Natsumi was consumed in her thoughts.
"I can't believe he's here." She muttered. "I have to find a way to bring up the promise. He can't forget."
Dusk settled, school finished. The hustle of the after school rush, kids rushing home or to the shops. While Natsumi, walked alone down a quiet alleyway. A panic gnawing at her.
Did Furayu remember the promise? Does he even care anymore?
Questions swirled in her mind, the tangling memories of long summer days sitting down, watching. Days that felt endless, filled with warmth and dreams.
She looked down at the ring on her finger. Is it a symbol of their union? Or a worthless promise between kids?
Her mind drifting constantly back to that one singular memory.
Furayu taking her hand, putting a ring her finger.
"Saki, will you be my bride when we grow up? Will you be mine for the rest of my life?"
She had smiled through her shy blush. "Furayu… Of course. I'd love to spend the rest of my life with you."
Meanwhile, in a dim room. Furayu sat in silence. The only piece of colour in the room was a dull space. A small ring resting on top of his dusty cupboard.
Out of arm's reach.
Yet impossible to forget.
Sighing heavily, muttering to himself.
"If only she could reappear again." Staring at the ceiling, imagining a future where she reappeared.
"What if I hadn't proposed…" He murmured. His heart felt empty, it felt like nothing could replace the love and compassion that girl had given him when he was so young.
Night fell, the moon illuminated the dark sky.
"Do you think she'd like to play animal crossing with me!?" Ren Kuchiki's voice screeched through the phone.
Furayu sighed, laying back on his bed.
"Don't think about all that when you haven't even spoken a word to her." His tone light but teasing. "You need to actually speak to the girl to be friends with them."
Ren's smile faltered, but she listened. Deep down in her mind, she knew he was right. She had to speak to her to even be friends with her.
"Ren, listen," Furayu went on. "I'm sure you two can be friends. But it'll take some time for you to form a proper relationship with her. Natsumi's outgoing, you're very reserved. That's not necessarily a bad thing, it just means you'll have to meet her halfway."
Ren nodded to herself, still confused on how to make them hold a conversation with each other.
"Just… be careful." Furayu added "Her popularity, upsetting her might get ugly"
Ren bit her lip. "Okay just need to be careful right?"
He thought for a moment
"Start with some small talk. Ask for any hobbies. Just keep it simple."
Ren inhaled slowly, steadying her nerves.
"Alright, I just need to take that leap of actually talking to her"
The sharp sound of a key turning in a lock echoed through her house. A man's voice followed, his tone drunken.
"Ren. Get down here. NOW!"
Her voice squeaked at his screams.
"I've got to go. See you in school" She ended the call abruptly, but her tone trembled as she spoke.
Furayu frowned. The anxiety in her voice had been so evident in her voice. He told himself it wasn't his place to intrude in someone else's personal life.
Ren shoved her phone into her pocket. But before she could react properly, her bedroom door slammed open.
Yuta kuchiki, her dad, filled the doorway, the smell of liquor hung in the air.
"Ren. Kuchiki." He growled. "You bear my name, yet you don't obey me?"
She shrank back, heart thundering.
"Talking to another person while I'm calling you?" His voice rose with each word, his jaw clenched with anger.
"This only leaves me one choice…"
Her desperate pleas were swallowed by the sickening violence.
The next morning, Furayu sat in his usual seat, eyes drifting to the empty chair where Ren should have been sat. He let out a long breath, the end of last night's conversation replaying in his mind.
That fear in her voice. Is it why she's not here potentially?
The unease clawed at him. He decided that after school, he'd visit Ren, just to make sure she was okay.
Maybe he could ask Natsumi to come along.
Use it for a way for the two to properly start speaking to each other. Offering Ren the support might need.