Chapter 15 [Elementary Days (pt. 12)]

Things got pretty awkward after that incident. Emiko's panic-stricken parents came at the perfect time and picked up their daughter. She didn't know what happened after that but seeing Mayumi not attend school for a while, the angel eventually asked her other friends.

"Hey, what happened with Mayumi after I left that day?"

Immediately, the brown haired girl put on a sour expression.

"Dunno...probably off to move."

Before the investigation furthered deeper, the little Chibana ran off faster than the wind. Emiko then turned to Kazuo.

"Kazuo?"

"...*sigh* Mayumi's moving in two days."

"Two days? So fast?"

"Yeah, she told us not to tell you but...I just can't win against you," he sighed.

Kazuo took a quick glance, expecting at least a form of blush on his crush's cheeks. Unluckily for him, Emiko didn't hear a single word. Not that she would even have the time to do so, this girl is too busy with chaos. She continued,

"So...blackie head is really leaving?"

"Mhm. Wish it was all a dream, a lie, but this drama is certainly real-"

"Stop."

"...Emiko?"

"Stop it."

"What are you talking about?"

...

"Emiko?"

"Stop talking. There's-"

CRASH

"E-Emiko? A-a-are you okay-"

Red. Red drops spread across the floor. Lying on that same ground, with no consciousness, was-

-2 days later-

"Mayumi! We have to get going!"

"Just a little longer, mom!"

'I told them I'll be moving in 2 days, so they should be coming to greet me off, right? I mean, even after I dropped the bomb, we were friends for so many years that...they wouldn't just ditch me for keeping this a secret...right?'

But the more she thought, the more she began to doubt herself. Suddenly, the image of that night reappeared. Emiko looked confused (but she left early, so the girl didn't have to bear the burden longer), Kazuo gave an 'Are you kidding?' face, when Sachie...it was the first time Mayumi saw such an...expression from her closest friend. Sure, they didn't get along as much as they did with Emiko or Kazuo, but nobody understand these two more than each other.

'Of course they would be mad. Of course they would ditch me. If only I told them earlier, we would've made up by now and...I wouldn't be waiting here pathetically.'

"...nevermind mom. Let's just go."

"Huh? But I thought you were waiting for your friends? Oh, and look-"

"They won't be coming."

"Who won't be coming, you crud?"

Surprised by the familiar voice, Mayumi turned around to see quite a nostalgic face.

"E-Emiko?"

It was her. That angel who connected the four together. She was too bright, too bright for the moving friend to even look up.

"Mayumi."

Emiko raised her hand.

'Oh, I'm going to get slapped-'

Poof. Unexpectedly for the "victim," Mayumi's face was completely fine. On the contrary, that warm-hearted hand just patted her shoulder.

"Why did you tell them you'll be moving, but not me? Do you know how stressed I was when I realized that you were going to move in 2 days?"

"I-I'm sorry!"

She bowed her head not only because of guilt, but because of how relieved she was, hearing that her favorite friend was worried for her.

"For real, Mayumi," Kazuo groaned, "tell us when you feel terrible or get worrysome immediately, okay? I don't need three friends who keep their pain deep inside and burst out randomly. You understand?"

"As if we care about your opinion, gramps," Sachie snarked.

While Kazuo was dramatically showing his agony, with Emiko nearby to comfort him, Sachie and Mayumi broke into a stare contest.

...

"Sachie..."

The said-named girl walked closer-

SLAP

Time stopped for a second.

"HEY! What are you doing, Sachie? I thought we forgave her already-"

"Hush, Kazuo," Emiko softly spoke. "This is a matter between them."

As the brunette took in a deep breath, she shouted,

"I USED TO HAVE A CRUSH ON KAZUO!"

'Huh?' The three thought.

"S-Sachie?"

"Now it's your turn, Ego Queen."

"W-What are you talking about-"

"Ugh, stop acting dumb. I told the whole neighborhood my secret, though I'm certain you girls already knew. Or had a hint about it."

'Well...she's not wrong,' both Mayumi and Emiko mused.

Meanwhile, Kazuo was completely startled by the sudden information.

'She, she liked me?'

Back to the conversation, the Ego Queen took in a deep breath. She too, shouted as loud as she could.

"I REALLY REALLY DON'T WANT TO MOVE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO MAKE MY PARENTS SAD! I'LL MISS YOU ALL!"

After her glorious speech, she exhaled softly and there were small applauses in the neighborhood here and there. Some even replied, "We'll miss you too!"

"See? Easy, and don't you feel MUCH better now?"

Mayumi realized she did feel less pressured from herself. Of course, the regrets and pain didn't subside completely, but her heart and mind was now more...liberal.

"Yeah...thank you guys..."

"Obviously, who are we? Your besties for life, like duh!"

"Heh, yeah..."

"Mayumi! Are you ready to go now?"

Just as her friends were about to hug her compassionately, Mayumi surprised them with,

"NOPE! Got more things to do, mom!"

Slowly, but surely, a sneaky grin replaced her once, remorseful smile.

"SO...Sachie and I already yelled out our secrets...don't you think you two should do the same? Emiko? Kazuo?"

...

"I agree! It's not fair for only half of the friend group to tell their secrets, right?"

...

Emiko quietly inhaled, then screamed,

"I GOT MY PERIOD! THAT'S WHY I FAINTED AT MAYUMI'S HOUSE AND SCHOOL! IT'S ALSO THE REASON FOR MY CHOCO CRAVINGS! AND MY RECENT, SNARKY ATTITUDE WHICH I HOPE I HID WELL!"

...

With the pressure of having the join the challenge, Kazuo hastily shrieked,

"I-I-I HAVE A CRUSH ON EMIKO!"

...

"Hold up, what the heck?"

...

"Kazuo...we know you like Emiko but...gosh, right here, right now?"

The once confident boy swiftly transformed into a shy, timid youngster.

"Kazuo."

"E-Emiko-"

The beautiful girl hugged her confessor.

"I'm sorry, but I still only think of you as a friend. I am shocked to think that you still like me from 1st grade...but it was quite obvious."

"So does that mean..."

"No, I can't return your feelings. But I certainly wish we can stay as friends."

"...okay."

"Well, that's definitely awkward, but Emiko? What do you mean by period?"

"Oh, my menstruation cycle just began. I was informed of that when I went to the hospital after school from my...fainting! They said it's uncommon but since I'm 10, it's okay."

(A/N: I'm sorry, I'm not a doctor so this isn't really accurate but according to google, ages 10-15 or 8-14 is considered OK for a girl to get her period.)

"...don't really understand but okay!"

Her three friends replied.

Eventually, Mayumi had to say goodbye and off she went. But they knew they'll meet again. Because though nobody can predict the future, fate always have something in store for everyone.

-After 10 minutes of stupidly staying on the road-

"Anyways, where is Mayumi moving too?" Emiko asked.

"Hm? She said Hyogo, I think. Why?"

"Nah, just curious...wait, what did you say again?"

"The I think-"

"No, before that."

"That Mayumi's moving to Hyogo?"

...

CRASH

"E-Emiko!"

"Oh no, she FAINTED AGAIN! WHAT SHOULD WE DO!"

While her precious friends were freaking out, this girl who 'fainted' was jealously thinking,

'Hyogo? Kita? The Miya Twins? Ginjima? ...Mayumi, you lucky *****! I WANT TO SEE THEM TOO! THIS IS SO NOT FAIR!'

-3 years later-

"Uniform, check."

"Hair, check."

"Gorgeousness, check."

"So are we ready, beauty?"

"For the 420th time, I'm NOT a beauty!"

"Puh-lease, stop complaining you grinch. At least I'm not calling you ugly anymore."

"Oh my freaking gosh, just shut up and let's go to school."

As the two began walking down the street, Kazuo asked,

"Why are we going to different school again?"

"Because I'm a genius, when you're just dumb as an ogre."

"Pfft, I'm also strong like one."

Emiko just rolled her eyes.

'It's been three years, already. Can't believe how so many things have changed. All of us are now attending middle school. Mayumi Enatsu to Yako Jr.-the Miya twins will attend there in future, Kazuo to Nagamushi Jr.-Koshi Sugawara will attend there in future, I enrolled into Shiratorizawa Jr. -as I requested for in the survey (ch.2), when Sachie's going to Dosho's Jr. -Sakusa + Komori will attend here in future.'

Yes, Dosho's Jr. is located in Tokyo, Japan. Not Miyagi. It was truly a shock, 2 years after Mayumi's move to Hyogo, Sachie had to move to Tokyo. Her parents, though messed up, loved their daughter dearly and with the threat of her cousin involved, they knew immediately how things could gravely go down. So the Chibana family moved to Tokyo in hopes of safety.

Though the moving was dreadfully heartbreaking, the two friends knew it was best for Sachie so they let her go. Moreover, the quadrio were all told of getting their first phone once the attend middle school, so they could all keep in touch!

Back to the present, the duo stopped in front of their incoming pathway. The road that separates their future.

"Bye, M&M!"

"Bye Kitkat!"

"Try not to die!'

"Try not to stay dumb!"

"F*** YOU!"

"HAHAHA, B****, YOU HAVE NO CHANCE!"

After the two "politely" gave their farewells, Emiko was hastily thinking of her new middle school.

'Can't believe it! I'm actually attending THE Shiratorizawa Junior High! Alrighty then, try your best you ************ fate! To bring me down, if you can! MWAHAHAHAHAHA!'

-Elementary Days -

-Next arc (Middle School Chaos)-

(A/N: Hello dear readers, as you all know by now, life has been keeping me busy. I've been able to keep up with things but currently, I'm not able to do so. So this is why...I'm unfortunately bringing this book to a HIATUS. Don't worry, I'm not going to drop this fanfic! If I wanted to, I would've done so on that April Fools Chapter. I'm not sure when I may return but I plan to come back on August 26th. Thank you for your persistency!)