Autumn Days

It was a warm, sunny day. Leaves on the trees were beginning to turn brown and fall away to their end. The green tint of the grass was being invaded by yellow. The breeze was slowly getting colder.

Someone stood in the yellowing field. Her sunny-shaded blonde hair was flowing with the cooling breeze.

In front of her were two grave stones. One was visibly larger than the other.

In between the two stones was a bouquet of flowers.

The girl began to cry. A pedal falls off of one of the flowers.

Behind the girl was a large, sprawling mansion.

.

"What happened to you? Where were you yesterday? Did you get lost in the park again?"

"I just spent the day at the park. I haven't gotten lost in it since I was a kid."

Taiki looked like she was about to she was about to explode. I guess she didn't appreciate me not showing up to school, and then ghosting her all day.

"Look, if something happened, just know that I always have your back. He would say the same thing."

"Are you just repeating what he said then?"

"Shut up, nerd."

"Moron."

"Ghoster."

"GLASSES!"

The last line didn't come from Taiki, but from a familiar princess-type voice behind me.

"Oh hey, Princess."

"Don't call me Princess, Glasses."

"Don't call me Glasses, Princess."

"Princess and Glasses, huh? THAT'S SOOO CUTE!"

I was now ready to explode.

"What are you implying? We're not like that."

"I did sit in his lap, so that might count for something."

"More like kneeling on- WHY WOULD YOU BRING THAT UP?!"

The damage was done. Taiki showed the face of an evil scientist.

As she turned around to go to her first class for the day, Taiki made one last remark.

"You guys look really good together. Hige, don't screw things up. Hige's nameless new friend?"

"Name's Nozomu."

"Don't abandon him."

Taiki walked off to class before I could ask what she meant about me screwing things up, even though I already knew the answer.

I turned to the princess to find her looking flustered.

"So it looks like Princess does have some feelings after all?"

"Shu- shu- SHUT UP, GLASSES!"

.

Taiki entered the school bathroom and walked to a mirror.

She smiles into the mirror. She looks perfectly fine.

So what's this new feeling that she has?

.

The end of the day couldn't come fast enough. I had loads of classwork all day, and an additional mountain of homework was assigned to be completed tomorrow. On top of all that, a certain princess spent all of lunch telling Taiki and I about this teacher with a beak for a nose. I was ready to knock out the homework then jump into the comfort of my bed.

A week-long investigation of the incident with Jaku determined that I didn't threaten him, so I was allowed to ride the bus again.

I boarded the bus, expecting a tirade from Jaku.

He didn't ride the bus that afternoon.

The ride went smoothly. I didn't really talk to anyone, so I was able to focus on getting my work done.

I got off the bus and went to open my front door.

When I opened the door, I dropped my keys. I was shocked and confused.

My mom and my sister were playing a board game at the dining table. There was also a third person there.

A head with long blonde hair turned towards me, and my eyes locked with her blue gaze.

This was going to be a long night.

.

Jaku knocked on the door, and a rather tall man answered.

"Hello, sir. I'm here to take-"

"Cut the crap. You hear for my daughter, right? You look like you overdid the steroids, but whatever. She can do whatever she wants."

The man left, and someone else appeared.

A tall, slender girl with long brunette hair and gray eyes walked out the door.

"Hey, your dad thinks I do steroids. This is all natural. You know that, right?"

"Dunno. You kinda look like you do. You're 16 and your body looks like it's 24."

"Well, it's all natural. I'm not lying."

"Fine then. So where are we going?"

"There's this new ice cream shop. I was thinking milkshakes?"

"Sounds like a plan."

Jaku and the brunette girl got into his car.

"So you do have a car. Why were you talking about riding the bus last week then?"

"I had to confront someone."

The air turned into pure intensity.

"Was it Higeki?"

"Yeah."

"DAMN IT, JAKU! He's going to think I'm going after him. I told you to avoid him."

"I've gotta do what I've gotta do."

The brunette girl slid down into her seat.

To her, things were starting to seem like middle school all over again.