Chapter 2 - Another you

Only now did the person dare to come out from behind the tree. "Chiaki ..." she spoke softly. He couldn't hear her anymore, nor should he hear her. She had been watching him the whole time, he should never hear a word about it.
The unknown person slowly approached the tombstone and looked at it. He looked almost like everyone else here in the cemetery. Two little angels adorned the sides of the stone, they blew the fanfares. It must have been a peaceful journey to heaven for the young mother. Another tear rolled to the ground unconsciously.Why am I crying now?, the person asked himself and slowly walked back the way.Maybe ... because I know what it is like to be lonely ...Trapped in these thoughts, she slowly walked on along the little path. More and more leaves fell, there was a rustling. She had even spotted a little squirrel when she had followed him earlier.And yet she couldn't let go of how devastated the young man had been. She lived next door to him and went to the same class as him. He was a playboy, popular with all girls and never missed a chance to flirt. His smile was enchanting, it was hardly surprising that he fell for so many. Inwardly, she had to admit that it was hardly any different with her. She found more and more pleasure in the blue-haired man, but still tried to keep her distance from him. But now that she had got to know his other self, she seemed to be able to assess him better. He wasn't the man he was playing. He was also fragile and vulnerable. He had even cried, was desperate. Suddenly she felt so sorry for Chiaki. There was nothing she could do for him.He would definitely not allow it anyway ..., she assured herself. Sighing softly, she stepped onto the main street of the small town. It was an otherwise sleepy place, but there was an unbelievably lively hustle and bustle on the street.She had seldom seen that much. Chiaki must be somewhere among them too, he would attract attention. But only where?
She unconsciously kept an eye out for him, slowly trotting down the street. She glanced at every little café.Nothing, she realized more and more often. Where had he buried himself? He wasn't going to see his father just yet, she knew her neighbor so well. He hated his father, referred to him much more simply as his father, and certainly wouldn't want to spend a minute too much with him. Would it be any different today? Today, on the apparent day of his mother's death? He had never spoken to her about it before.Well, what should I care about his life ...?
Sighing, she sat down on a bench and looked up at the sky. The sun kept beating down on people incessantly. Someone who didn't have a hat was likely to get sunstroke, as so many had already caught sunburn.She crossed her arms behind her neck and leaned back. Slowly she really gave it up to find the young man today. It really seemed as if it had been swallowed by the earth. Where could he be? It wasn't bearable after all.
In the next instant, her heart almost stopped. There he was.Chiaki!, she shouted happily and jumped from her seat. Suddenly, however, her little world broke up again when she saw Yashiro. She ran straight into the blue-haired man's arms. Instead of Marron she called for him, hugged him stormily.
"I've been looking for you!" And with that she wrapped her arms around his neck. Her smile was in love, the look spoke volumes.
But instead of answering a word or giving her a look, he freed himself from this grip. It was freezing cold, a shiver ran down Marron's spine. Chiaki really had to be a good actor. From one emotionality to the next without noticing a break.What was going on inside him? Why did he do that to the young woman? She was his fiancée, it was known that he had separated from her, it was said. But Yashiro didn't seem to care, she insisted that he marry her.
"Leave me in peace," the young man's mouth said numbly, then he just walked away. He tucked his hands in his trouser pockets, his eyes fixed on the floor. He was weak and helpless, even if he refused to admit it. “And my father,” with these words he turned back to her, “you can tell him that I'll show up tonight, he doesn't always have to send you up!” And with that he went on undeterred. The looks of the other people resting on him didn't seem to bother him.
"But Chiaki ..." The tears rolled down the young woman's cheeks. She was devastated. She hardly knew who this man was that she loved. Had loved. He got further and further away from her.If he had another girlfriend, all he had to do was tell her.Why are you so mean to me? She was about to collapse with tears, her knees had gone weak when she felt two strong arms holding her. There he was again, the secretary Chiaki's father - Kagura. He was always there when something was wrong with her. Or was he just looking for Chiaki to bring him home again?
But instead of watching the spectacle further, Marron decided to follow the young man. No matter where he went, she would be by his side. He should know that he wasn't alone. And she knew best what she was talking about. After all, it was Chiaki who was always by her side when she felt lonely, when she needed someone to hold her hand. At least once this warm feeling should fill him too.
She had lost him again in the great square. "Chiaki ..." she sighed softly and let herself fall on the edge of the fountain.She couldn't do anything right, not even stalk someone. She wanted to be guided by her feelings, but she hardly knew what she really felt for the boy. She loved him, yes, but his constant quirks made it difficult for her to love him. Sometimes she even hated him for it.
"Where are you ...?" She was about to look up at the sky when two hazel brown eyes appear in front of her field of vision. A smile immediately graced her lips, at least she knew exactly who they belonged to.
“Who are you looking for, Marron?” With that, Chiaki sat down next to her. He had recovered. He knew that there was no point in grieving, that it was pointless if he buried himself somewhere and kept eating the frustration. He did this by the hour, but quickly tried to dismantle everything. He didn't want a weak point where you could easily hit him. He was strong, he wanted to be aloof and everything should leave him cold."I was looking for you," she admitted quietly and looked at him. If you looked closely, you could even see the thin traces of his tears. Everything else had disappeared from his face, however, even his aura seemed to be completely different again. Couldn't he tell her the recipe for being like that?
"That honors me now," he even grinned a little silly again. "You don't need it. I'm always near you"
"If that were true ... you were just gone this morning and then nowhere to be found"
"Marron ... it's the weekend and I am not accountable to you ... there are things that are none of your business" With these words he gently tapped the tip of her nose and got up again. Still, it touched him that she had worried about him. "But ... how do you know that I've been missing since this morning? Did you make breakfast?"
"If you want to know exactly, yes!"So she got up too. It was one of those moments when she could only slap Chiaki. She had really worried about him, especially when she saw how much he was suffering. And he just pulled it all still ridiculous. That just wasn't fair of him. "But forget it! "and with that she started to leave.
She didn't get far, hardly a step, because by then he had already grasped her wrist. Pulled her closer again. There it was that beautiful smile again. It would surely melt ice. Why couldn't she be angry with him anymore?[i]Why… is my heart beating like that?
"Sorry Marron ... I didn't want you to worry ... I'll put a note in your mailbox next time, okay?" He didn't grin, he continued to smile. He seemed serious. The brunette didn't even know what was happening to her. Suddenly everything was so different. The world around them seemed to stand still, there was only the two of them.