On the Outskirts of Minazuki

Part 1

Minazuki was the small town I was born and raised. A town with a beautiful view during springtime, with its falling cherry blossom petals down the ground and the noises resounding from the train station. The rails transported the passengers with their respective luggage into the big city Hirameki; one of the routes the trains went by.

Aside from the calming sound of railways and the fallen petals of cherry blossom adorning the streets, another point of interest was the array of lush trees growing alongside the rails. A good safe distance in-between so we could watch the rails without worry underneath its canopy. We used to stare at it when we're still kids. You didn't hear 'us' wrong. Both of us were silly girls back then.

We'd like to chat nearby the railway tracks while munching our Taiyaki. It was a fish-shaped crispy snack with fillings like sweet red-bean, mung bean, cheese or even sweet and sour chicken in it. A small stand near the station sold it, the Uncle running it was really nice; he often sold us the stuff cheap. She loved the sweet red bean, while I didn't have any complaints with any of them. Everything seems to taste delicious if I could eat together with her.

My name's Minami Kozue, I attend a middle school in Hirameki city and I was also classmates with her, Kitahara Shizuku. We're also neighbors in seating. Hers was right beside the window on the back row, just like the main character in Anime and Manga. I often teased her about it. I sat on her right, glancing at her beautiful face, painted against the morning sun. The luster of her waist-length black hair gave out an unforgettable scene as I couldn't help but focus my gaze. Thank goodness she was too dense to even notice me gazing if not, I'd like to find a hole and crawl inside.

Every day, from Mondays to Saturdays, I went to school with Shii-chan, aboard the train from Minazuki, which had stops every fifteen minutes. For a transit station, the rate of activity could be said quite terrific. As a result, the commerce in this humble town developed rather well.

I wasn't sure how this town was still quite small and peaceful despite the rate of trains moving. Maybe it's the Government's decision to not let this place develop into a metropolis like Hirameki city. I guess it could be a good thing since it's the tranquil feeling when I was away from the train station and traversed the nature within this town, which made me love this place so much. Making it another metropolis would be really sad, as those places might be taken away bit by bit, but surely.

This way, I also could enjoy the fresh, invigorating air I inhale each time I walked outside from home towards the train station. Those trees me and Shii-chan sat together would still be there too.

Today was Saturday, the school's only in for half-day, unlike the usual where we'd get stuck until evening. On our way to school, I met up with Shii-chan, who seem to be yawning, in front of the station's entrance. Her uniform was neatly worn, although she didn't seem to have time doing her hair. Couldn't help it since it's really long.

The words of 'good morning' naturally came out when we met, with the usual wave of the hand as each others' figures came on sight. Noticing how naturally we did this in unison, although Shii-chan had a hint of lethargy, the heat started to rise up my face—I covered my face with my bag so Shii-chan couldn't see my stupid expression.

"Ko...chan?" she made a cute head-tilt with droopy eyes, which, coupled with her beautiful appearance, made her seem like a princess out of fairy-tale.

I didn't notice, Shii-chan's staring at my sides—my embarrassing expression's out in her full view! It made me so flustered I nearly jumped. Maybe if there's a lot of people presently gathered, I'd look really stupid just now—thank goodness it's still relatively quiet.

"No..it's nothing really, ahahaha..." my words went to a dumb stutter, Shii-chan gave me a strange look like she's suspicious of me before she lightly brushed it off and pulled me by the hand.

"Hooooaaahhh....come on, the train's coming." letting out her yawns in the open and stretching her other hand, she dragged me towards the station.

"Un..." I awkwardly matched my pace with her.

It's true I did admire her every since childhood, but my heart never thumped this hard before. What the heck? Was it due to the dream I had last night? Where me and her...

"Ko-chan...I want you so much..." I shook my head left and right, trying to disperse of such thought. Thank goodness Shii-chan were fast asleep beside me.

We might be the best of friends but to think I fantasized such thing in my dream—there must be something wrong with me.

Xxx

Back then, we arrived around seven o'clock, boarding one of the trains arriving right after we ordered the ticket. The trip from Minazuki to Hirameki city took about half-an-hour. It wasn't that far of destination via railways, especially since we took the express train, student fare. School started around 8 AM and it happened to be right in front of the station we'd be dropping in. It wouldn't be hard to notice if I took note of the uniform-wearing girls going out.

The train very rarely had problems, fortunately. When we arrived, usually we had a bit of a leeway before class.

Sometimes, when we woke up rather late with no time for breakfast, we could just eat in the cafeteria or the shop beside the train station. The shop had a pretty fulfilling meal and it's also appropriate for a middle schooler's allowance. My parents often gave me an extra just for emergency purposes. For Shii-chan herself, I heard from her, she was working part-time in such age already. She's also a black-belt in martial arts so her parents didn't need to worry.

Arriving at the Hirameki station around seven-thirty, there's a bit of time before school starts. I woke up early enough for breakfast, but Kitahara didn't seem like she had eaten anything, so I accompanied her to the food shop. For a middle-schooler girl, she sure did eat really fast, not to mention her portions were also formidable. Though it kinda filled me with jealousy on how she still kept in shape and it seems her extra fat went to her chest?

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Maybe it's due to her exercise habits as compared to me who just jog sometimes, gym class, while the majority of it was just strolling through the nature in Minazuki. I really should try mountain-climbing sometime.

"You didn't order some, Ko-chan?" Shii-chan asked after she finished with her order; her blinding luster of white teeth remind me of a toothpaste commercial.

"I had my breakfast." I replied, "I'm afraid I'd gain weight if I didn't restrain my appetite. My weight during these few months really scared the heck outta me, I outright changed my diet, swapping the extras of meat and rice for some veggies. My parents were worried for a while since I was still growing, no need to restrain your meals—though I didn't exactly wanna look like a bear either!"

"I don't see anything wrong with it? It's been a while since we last ate here. Come on, it's my treat." the blinding smile of hers widened even more as she nudged my shoulders with her elbows. Her line of sight fixed deeply on me and her face kept on getting closer, I could feel her breath, especially of the toothpaste she uses.

"Uhhh...." I could only push her face aside while averting my sight away. It didn't seem to make her back down—she kept pulling my hands, nagging me to eat together.

"Look, Ko-chan. We already wasted five minutes because of you. Just hurry up and eat. I don't wanna start without you." with an irritating, smug smile, she leaned against her seat without a care...

"Shii-chan...you..." with utmost reluctance, I sat across hers. Didn't she know I already had my breakfast? Even if it's just some regular toast with eggs plus milk since I had to prepare my own breakfast, which I wasn't accustomed of since my Mom woke up late.

Yeah I knew it's kind of a childish excuse—but I couldn't help it, my Mom's cooking was just so good—I wasted a good time for her to wake up and I..uh, got too hungry somehow.

"Haven't I said it? My treat. You just sit down and enjoy the meal." with her scanning the menu with covers made out of bamboo layering, with calligraphy words written in up-down direction--she gave me a meaningful smile.

I had a bad feeling 'bout this.

"That's not the problem, Shii-chan, I just.." I really wish to say to her, I was on a diet, but words couldn't seem to come out, especially when her gaze felt like she truly desired me or so. That's how Shii-chan was, from my childhood days I've been led around to many different places, it was so tiring at times. At the very least, following her around brought vibrant colors to my life.

...as I was lost in my thought for a bit, Shii-chan was...

"Owner! Two portions of Ramen, Super Ultra Jumbo size!" she nonchalantly smacked the table and waved her hands right towards the Uncle behind the stand, who seem busy with all the cooking. Due to the bit of commotion she caused, several people turned their eyes to us and I really want to hide my face right now..but she already did so much for me I couldn't bear to pull 'i don't know her' stunt anymore.

The middle-aged man had his cloth bandana tied up and wore the apron with the same up-down caligraphy as in the menu. He simply gave us a thumbs-up, though the big smile he gave us brought about an ominous feeling.

Wait a minute, did she just--

"Eeeeehhh?" I was too slow to catch up, I dug my own grave by shouting loudly inside the store when what just happened finally registered. The sheer shock of it made me totally forgot my sense of shame.

Super Ultra Jumbo size? Your head! It's impossible for an ordinary middle-schooler girl to even finish this! Just looking at the vast amount of noodles on the bowl delivered to us already made my stomach unpleasant.

"No buts. I don't want our schoolmates to call you 'Minami the skin-and-bones' again. Recently you're so sickly thin, it deeply saddened me, you know."

Huh? Skin-and-bones? I myself felt like I got a bit fatter compared to the past—I was too scared to actually step on the scales though..but, seriously. Why did I have to undergo such torture of eating only to satisfy you, Shii-chan? I didn't know you're this much of a sadist!

"You're so cruel." I could only say it curtly, turning my face away with a 'hmph'. With two bowls of giant-sized ramen bowls in front of me, plus the filled to brim glass of water and huge water pitchers—hmm, I'd better drink a bit.

Meanwhile, this shameless vixen just calmly smiled like she didn't do any bit of wrong!

"I just felt like teasing my lovely Ko-chan," she said it in a flirtatious tone; rubbing my nose with her shapely fingers.

"Hmph..." my face was so red right now. Did she just say 'my lovely Ko-chan'? Read the atmosphere, Shii-chan. We're in public place. To outright say that I was your possession, how shameless could you get!

"Say, 'ahnnnn'."

"Stop i—hmm?"

Outside my guard, there's a spoon filled with ramen in my mouth. Hey, this was quite delicious! Though, it nearly choked me since it was so sudden.

Still, the taste rekindled my hunger. The rich taste of spice and the tender texture of the noodles, not to mention, the meat and the vegetables! Ahh. I was sent to heaven.

"Hehehe...you look so silly, Ko-chan."

"I...it's all your fault, Shii-chan!"

"One more time. Ahnnn."

"No more! I don't want to...I swear, you..."

Our silly antics continued; we seem to be lost in our world the entire time, by the time it was over—we were late to class.

In the end, I was surprised that I actually ate a half of it.

Meanwhile, Shii-chan ate everything, including the remaining half of my portion.

This girl...