A/N: Hey! Welcome to my first ever Nagi no Asukara fanfiction! I noticed how there isn't much fanfiction of this amazing anime and there are pretty much only one-shot stories. So! I have decided to make a long fanfic of Nagi no Asukura. This will focus mainly on Chisaki and Tsumugu and their relationship as well as the others and starts off a few weeks after the second Ofunehiki! Be warn that the first few chapters will probably be slow so I can steadily introduce the main parts of the story, but there will be plenty of fluff of Chisaki/Tsumugu and other pairings! Please enjoy and review!
Another day passes. And yet another day where she would count every hour, minute, and second until he comes back home from university. Chisaki Hiradaira sighs for the umpteenth time at the dining table as she absentmindedly picked at her food.
"If you're going to just play with your food, might as well go to bed," Isamu Kihara mumbled while chewing slowly on his food. It had been a few days after Isamu had fully recovered and was able to return back to the house, but the household was still as quiet as it had been ever since…he had left. Chisaki stared at her food for a moment before she stood up and brought her plates over to the kitchen sink. There was a pair of eyes full of concern that followed her every movement. Kaname Isaki had noticed her recent small change in behavior and the small depression that she was facing by herself. Secretly, he wished that she would share her problems with him, yet he could not bring himself to ask her about it. If she really needed to voice out her emotions again, she would eventually come to him.
Isamu took a sip of his water and grunted. "You're too impatient, girl. He's going to be back here by the end of the week."
Chisaki nearly toppled over. "W-what? I already know that already! You don't need to remind me."
Chisaki resumed washing her dishes with a very red and flustered face. Isamu closed his eyes and shrugged while Kaname lowered his gaze to his lap.
A few weeks had passed ever since the second Ofunehiki, and a few weeks after that was when Tsumugu Kihara had returned back to his university in the city. Although mostly everyone from Shioshishio had awaken from their five year hibernation and the temperature had decreased dramatically, Tsumugu and his professor still felt that they needed to continue to study the ocean and if the climate would stay stable. Kaname knew that Chisaki loved Tsumugu and vice versa, and he had gotten over his feelings for Chisaki when Sayu proclaimed her feelings for him. However, there was a dull pain in his heart whenever Chisaki would become flustered and embarrassed over Tsumugu. Perhaps it was because he had harbored this love for Chisaki for a long time, and it hurt that she was with someone else besides him. Kaname shook his head. He promised that he would move on and consider Sayu properly, and thinking about his unrequited love for Chisaki would only confuse him further. Besides, he knew deep down inside him that he approved of their relationship.
After Chisaki cleaned her dishes and went to her room and Isamu had gone to sleep, Kaname resigned in his room, which he shared with Tsumugu. Lying on his back, he stared up at the white ceiling and thought back to Tsumugu. He would be back in two days and be staying for a week. From what he had heard from Manaka (who had forced Chisaki to talk to her about her progress with Tsumugu), the two of them never discussed about where their relationship stood now. Manaka had gotten mad at Chisaki for this, but Kaname, being the more patient and understanding of the two, reminded Manaka that Tsumugu had left shortly after his confession to go back to college and that they never got the chance to properly talk.
Kaname smiled fondly. Manaka was still mad with Chisaki, but dropped the subject and began to talk about how "cute" Hikari was during class while he slept. Kaname giggled as he recalled how their sensei called Hikari's name and the young boy nearly fell out of his seat. He turned to his side and looked out the window where the moon shone brightly and illuminated his room.
"Two more days, huh…" Kaname murmured under his breath. He wondered what would have happened if he had stayed with Chisaki and Tsumugu throughout the five years, what would happen if he had been more aggressive with his feelings.
He shook his head. No matter how much I try to think about it, I would get the same results in the end. If it wasn't Hikari, it was always going to be Tsumugu.
Kaname felt a wet sensation run down his cheeks and his nose and he inwardly laughed.
Even though I tell myself this… that Tsumugu and Chisaki are a good match together… it still hurts the same.
In a nearby room, Chisaki was sprawled on her bed as she hugged her pillow.
"Only one more day, two more hours, and fifty-five more seconds until he comes back home." Her eyes fluttered and drooped as Chisaki stifled a yawn.
"Fifty-four…fifty-three…fifty-two…"
~The next day at 10 a.m.~
"Tsumugu! Tsu-mu-gu!"
Tsumugu's professor loudly yelled by his side, hoping to obtain his colleague's attention. Tsumugu's eyes were focused outside the window as he watched the fluffy clouds move ever so slowly in the bright blue sky. It reminded him so much like home as well as the sea and her. He turned his head forward and was surprise to see his professor panting and out of breath.
"What's the matter?"
The professor merely collapsed down on his seat and ruffled his hair.
"I was trying to get your attention for the past five minutes, Tsumugu! I got a new lead on the sea and the climate based on the information the people of Shioshishio had provided!"
The professor turned to Tsumugu for a reaction, but was disappointed to only see a blank and bland gaze.
"What's with you today? I mean, usually you wouldn't be jumping up and expressing excitement from hearing such news, but you also don't usually zone out like that. You're attentive."
Tsumugu shrugged his shoulders and replied, "That is very good news that you got a lead on the case since we still need to understand the cause and lasting effects on the sudden change of increase and then decrease in the weather. It's just that I've got things on my mind."
"Hm?..Ah! I get it! It's that nice girl that lives with you. Ah, er...Hiradaira-san, was it?"
When Tsumugu nodded his head, the professor's smile turned to a huge grin.
"Ahaha! I knew it! I knew when you said nothing is going on between you two, there was something that was going on!" The professor patted Tsumugu's back.
"Thanks. I'm sorry for daydreaming like that. I just miss home and I want to catch up with the others again. I left pretty quick after everything had gotten back to normal."
Tsumugu's professor raised his eyebrows and made an 'o' with his mouth. He then smiled and snapped his fingers.
"Tsumugu, you've been working hard ever since you returned back to the city. I think you deserve a well earned break from your studies."
In a rare show of emotion, Tsumugu widened his eyes and exclaimed, "But professor! I can't possibly take an early vacation. We still got so much research left and I don't want to risk making our sponsors drop out on us."
"It's not even that early! Only a day and I bet that Hiradaira-san is waiting for you as well."
Tsumugu closed his mouth and blushed lightly as the professor chuckled with amusement.
"Now, go on and get packing. Don't worry about the project or anything related!"
Tsumugu, deciding to take the offer, bowed his head, murmured a thanks, and hastily left the room. The professor leaned back in his chair and smiled.
I never seen so much emotion ever rise from him! Hiradaira-san must be a factor in that. He's a well-behaved and discipline young man, so I'm sure that she will be delighted to see him early!
Meanwhile in Tsumugu's room, he began to pack some of his clothes and his study material in his duffle bag as soon as he arrived. He had left some clothes back at home, so he didn't really need to bring too much clothes with him. Tsumugu lived in a small apartment in the city near his college, at least close enough for walking distance. He honestly didn't really like the city; it felt too cramp and the air wasn't as fresh as the air back at home.
As he locked up his apartment door and walked towards the elevator, he had a ghost of a smile on his face.
If I catch the noon train, I could arrive at Shioshishio by two.
He secretly hoped that she would be home by then.
Hikari Sakishima angrily kicked a rock as he stormed all over town.
"Stupid Manaka! I didn't mean to knock her drink all over her notebook! She didn't have to make a huge deal about it and then have Miuna get involved and lecture me! This irritates me!" Hikari, after becoming exhausted from fuming and spouting out angry nonsense, sat down at a bus bench and relaxed.
"Maybe I shouldn't have ran away and skip class. I know for a fact that Akari is going to yell at me too...ugh! Why do women have to be so infuriating!"
As Hikari continued to debate and talk to himself, a bus slowly came to a stop and let off a low creak. A few people left the bus and gave Hikari a confused and curious look, but one person stopped directly in front of him. Noticing a shadow cowering over him, Hikari stopped talking to himself and glared up at the person blocking the sun.
"What do you want?!" He barked before he gasped.
Tsumugu, with his bag slung over his shoulder, met Hikari's surprise/annoyed glare with a cool and leveled gaze.
"I'm glad to see you haven't lost your spirit, even after a month I've been gone."
Hikari, finally regaining his composure, smiled widely and cried, "Welcome back! Why are you back a day early? Never mind that, you missed out on a bunch of things!"
Before he could continue, Hikari closed his mouth as he watched Tsumugu lean forward and give him a stern look.
"And may I ask why are you not at school? It's only one forty-five."
Hikari laughed nervously and directed his gaze to the sea.
"Well, uh...did you know that Chisaki is almost done with her training? Maybe we should go- ow!"
Tsumugu whacked Hikari lightly on the forehead with his knuckles.
"B-a-k-a. Don't try to change the subject. Even though we're friends, I'm still going to tell Akari-san about this."
Tsumugu breathed out and began to walk towards Akari's house. Hikari, left behind, rubbed his forehead and shouted, "Oi! You just got back and you're already pissing me off! Hey!"
Hikari ran up to Tsumugu and walked comfortably next to him. Next, came silence. Hikari rolled his shoulders back and tucked his hands into his pant's pockets.
"You still speak as much as a pole, Tsumugu." Hikari smirked.
"And you still pop off like a firecracker, Hikari." Tsumugu shot back without missing a heartbeat.
"Shut up!"
And that was pretty much how their conversation went as they trekked towards the house. It was full of insults and arguments at the same time contained some lighthearted and comfortable small talk.
At one point of their conversation, Tsumugu asked, "So how are you and Mukaido? Any progress?"
Hikari, at once, became a blubbering mess as he tried to find his voice again.
"What the hell? Why are you asking that from out of the blue?!" Tsumugu stopped walking and shifted his eyes to the sea.
"I don't know. I guess because I was wondering about me and Chisaki."
"Huh? You and Chisaki haven't moved forward yet? You need to grow some balls and do something about it!" Hikari turned around and glared up at Tsumugu with a smug and pursed grin.
Ever so slightly annoyed, Tsumugu replied, "Says the one who's been childhood friends with the girl he likes and hasn't moved their relationship either."
As they approached the house, Akira suddenly burst through the front door, screaming with delight.
"Tsu! Tsu!" He yelled as he tackled into the surprise Tsumugu and knocked him down. Hikari stood there, speechless, as his sister and the mother of Akira, Akari, appeared in the front door.
"Aw geez! I'm so sorry, Tsumugu-kun! I look away for a second and then he's outside running!"
Akari appears next to the two on the ground and plucked the young boy off of Tsumugu.
"No problem, Akari-san. It's nice to see you again."
"Weren't you suppose to come tomorrow? If I had known, I would have called Chisaki and tell her to change out of her nurse outfit."
At the sound of this, Tsumugu felt his blood turn cold. He kept his emotionless composure as he asked, "Chisaki is coming right now?"
Akari, slightly confused, nodded her head.
"Mh. Yeah, I told her that I made some extra food and she was more than welcomed to take some home after she was done with her training so she didn't have to cook tonight. Well, aren't you lucky! You get to see Chisaki in her nurse uniform!"
Akira, in Akari's arms, shouts out, "Chii! Chii!"
Hikari grinned and poked at Tsumugu's side.
"Ehehe! In a few minutes, Chisaki is going to be here in her hot nurse outfit!"
Tsumugu frowned and said, "I've seen her once before in it."
"Pft, yeah! But this one is more...revealing and will get your blood pumping!"
Akari moved next to Hikari and slammed her fist down on his head.
"Stupid! ...And why are you here? You're suppose to be at school, you slacker!"
"Shut up, Stupid Akari! Stop acting like Mom already! You're Miuna's and Akira's, not mine!"
The two siblings fight as Tsumugu quietly excused himself and sneaked inside of the house. He walked throughout the spacious house before settling in the living room. He sighed and went to lie down onto the floor. The sun shined brightly through the screen door and blinded him slightly to the point where he had to cover his eyes with his forearm.
"I really want to see you. Hurry up and come already."
"Chii-chan! You should really stay over Hii-kun's house today! I want to tell you how he spilled milk all over my notes that I had worked on really hard! Pleeeease?" Manaka Mukaido whined to Chisaki as they walked.
"As much as I want to gossip and catch up with you, I have to go home early. Not only do I have to take care of Grandpa, but I need to prepare the house when Tsumugu comes home. I'm really sorry, Manaka."
"Chii-chan~"
Not too far from them was Miuna Shiotome, her best friend, Sayu Hisamuna, and Kaname.
"Man, Chisaki-san worries too much for Tsumugu-san! It must be hard!" Sayu complained as she observed.
"I guess, but it must be a nice thing to look forward to..." Miuna smiled. "Plus it's fun watching Chisaki-san getting all flustered over Tsumugu-san like that."
"Geez, you guys! Stop it already." Chisaki blushed and glared at the three younger girls.
"But Chii-chan! I think you should wear your new nurse outfit tomorrow. You get to show off how far your legs and chest have grown over the past five years! Tsumugu-kun will definitely be surprise!"
Chisaki's mouth dropped open with disbelieve. "No way! I miss my old outfit. I don't know why they had to shorten the skirt and make me wear one size down my usual size..."
Desperately, Chisaki tries to lower her skirt, but since it was attached to the upper portion of her outfit, it put further strain on the cloth near her chest. Kaname smiled with sympathy and shook his head.
"Come on, Manaka. Stop bullying her like that."
"But I wasn't!"
Miuna and Sayu laughed as Manaka clutched onto Kaname's sleeve and complained some more to him.
After some small talk and a few more minutes, Miuna's house eventually came into view.
"Wait. Do you hear that?" Sayu raised her hand and signaled the others to stop talking.
Kaname smiled and opened his mouth, but Manaka's hands stopped him from saying anything.
"Sssshh! I think that's Hii-kun and Akari-san!" Manaka exclaimed happily and began to prance faster to the house.
"Wait, Manaka! It sounds like they're in one of their fights again. Hikari is for sure going to lash out at Manaka."
Chisaki called Manaka a few more times before deciding to run after her. Kaname, Miuna, and Sayu shared a worried and hesitant look before they followed Chisaki.
As they approached, they began to hear the conversation between the two siblings.
"You're such an octopus head! If you continue to cut class like that, you're going to be ten years behind instead of just five years!"
"It was just one time! One. Time! And it was because Miuna kept nagging me for something that Manaka- Manaka?! Why are you here?"
"Stop, Hii-kun! How many times have I told you to stop being mean to girls?" Hikari, completely bewildered, stood there as Manaka appeared next to him.
"Huh? Wait a minute! Why is everyone here now?!" Hikari barked as the rest of the crew sheepishly caught up. Chisaki was utterly out of breath while Sayu and Miuna were flustered. Kaname chuckled and replied, "Well, we ran into Chisaki on the way back from school and decided to accompany her."
Manaka nodded and distinctly noticed Akira. She perked up and joyfully said, "Hello there, Akira-kun! How are you today?"
Akira became aware of himself and tightened his grip onto Akari's shirt. He buried his face into the crook of her neck as she laughed at her young child's actions.
"...Want down!" He tugged at his mother's shirt. Akari sighed, but obliged to his order and placed him down on the ground. Akira stared up at Manaka for one more second until he darted inside of the house.
"Whoa, amazing! That kid is fast at running." Hikari mused, clearly impressed.
Blinded by embarrassment from encountering Manaka, Akira ran, not even knowing where he was going. In his little mind, all he cared about was to hide away from Manaka. As soon as he stepped foot into the living room, he tripped on something hard. He would have fell on the floor if it wasn't for Tsumugu, who was conveniently there to cushion Akira's fall.
Tsumugu sat up at the sudden weight on his stomach and nearly tipped the dining table over. Akira scrambled off of Tsumugu, frightened by his sudden actions.
Tsumugu's dark eyes scanned the room for a second before realizing that he was neither at his apartment nor home and that he was in Hikari's living room. Second, he noticed the scared child by his side and confirmed that the boy was about to cry.
"Akira? What's wrong," Tsumugu reached towards Akira and patted his head. "Actually, the real question is how long have I've been asleep."
"Namaka and Miu and her friends are here," Akira sniffed.
"I see." Tsumugu nodded his head and stretched his arms out. "I need to change before Chisaki comes. Also, I doubt the others would like to see me in such a lousy state." Tsumugu wore a plain dark blue v-neck shirt with a white undershirt. It was slightly wrinkled after he had taken a nap and from Akira's fall.
Tsumugu rubbed his shaggy hair and grabbed his duffle bag near Akira. "Excuse me. I'm just going to change my shirt to something else real quick."
He tugged at his shirt and undershirt and pulled it over his head while Akira watched, curious.
"Chii. Chii." Like a parrot, Akira chanted out his nickname for Chisaki. Faced away from Akira, Tsumugu replied, "Mh. Yeah, she's going to be here soon. Don't worry."
"Chii! Chii," Akira continued more persistently. Tsumugu whirled around and opened his mouth to ensure the toddler that she was indeed coming when he suddenly found himself looking at a pair of bright blue eyes that resembled the sea.
"Chii," Akira repeated one more time before he got up and ran out of the room. Chisaki stood near the entrance of the living room, clearly shocked as well as flushed to see Tsumugu in the middle of the living room, sitting there and half naked.
"Chisaki. I..." Tsumugu started, but trailed off when he noticed her outfit. He began to turn pink and averted his gaze down. "G-gomen."
Chisaki shook her head awkwardly and hastily said, "It's fine! You got nothing to apologize for. Uh, er..."
Looking up again, Tsumugu offered her a small smile and murmured, "I'm back."
She felt tears well up in her eyes, but she wiped them away and shakily mumbled back, "Welcome back."
She leaned against the entrance frame and observed Tsumugu. He had definitely grown a bit more from the last time she had saw him. His hair was a bit longer, the ends at the side of his head were somewhat curly, and his body had changed from when they were fourteen. Despite the fact that she had seen him shirtless a few times over the past five years due to either swim unit or when he took a shower and walked around the house with only a towel around his waist, she never had time to full admire him. His chest and stomach were lean and tanned from all the time he spent outside at the sea, and his arms were robust, probably from all those times he hauled up fish with his grandpa.
"What's up," Tsumugu asked after a few minutes had passed by without either of them saying anything.
"N-nothing!"
Chisaki turned away from him, trying hard to get rid of the blush that had formed onto her pale face. She wished that the world would stop right now so she could recollect herself and her thoughts, which had gone astray. However, the world didn't stop for Akira as he stepped behind Chisaki and readied his hands.
"Kancho!"
He stuck his fingers up Chisaki's butt, catching her off guard, and she yelped as though she had just gotten stabbed by a knife. She lost her footing and began to fall forward.
Tsumugu shot up, his adrenaline pumping through his veins.
"Chisaki!" He yelled out.
Hikari and Akari stopped arguing as they heard a woman's scream nearby.
"Hey...wasn't that Chisaki's?!"
"Huh? But why would- hey! Wait, Hikari," Akari yelled after her brother as he pushed past her and ran towards the house.
Hikari bursted through the front door and screamed Chisaki's name like a madman.
Dammit! Nothing better have happened to her...what if there's some asshole robbing the house right now and they found Chisaki? Shit, when I get my hands on that punk...
Hikari clenched his teeth and cursed inwardly.
"Hikari! Hold on for a moment," Kaname called out to his childhood friend. He grabbed Hikari's wrist and forced him to crouch down. "Calm down. We need to be quiet."
Hikari scrunched his face and spat out, "Why do we have to be quiet?"
Kaname shushed Hikari and it was then that Hikari realized how serious his friend was.
"Listen. I just saw Akira running away from the dining area. I think that's where Chisaki is because he looked pretty frightened."
Hikari clenched his teeth in anger and forced himself to continue to listen to Kaname.
"Come on. Let's go. But we have to quieter because you most probably attracted the attention from the citizens in Shioshishio by now."
Hikari grumbled in annoyance, but agreed with Kaname. Kaname nodded his head once and signaled Hikari to follow him. They traveled to the kitchen in silence, listening for any noises, especially from Chisaki.
"Where are the others," Hikari asked Kaname as they approached the hall leading to the dining room.
"As soon as you stormed inside the house, Akira came wailing out. He told us that he was at the dining room, but that was pretty much all the information Akari could get out of him. I told everyone to stay outside. Miuna and Sayu went down to the station to notify the police."
Hikari grunted in response and nearly fell over from his crouched position at the sound of a feminine squeak. Kaname stopped abruptly by the side of the entrance to the dining room and held up his hand to tell Hikari to keep quiet.
"W-w-w-what are you doing," came Chisaki's distressed voice. Kaname pressed his teeth together and peeked over the corner. He felt all the cells in his body freeze and his vision blur at the sight before him. He whipped his head back and placed his hand over his mouth in order to stop him from yelling.
"Hey! What's happening," Hikari whispered harshly, clearly irritated. Kaname remained silent, trying to contain the unfamiliar emotion building up in him. All he saw was a shirtless man on top of Chisaki, and her face. Especially her face. The flustered, shock, and terrified face of hers that he thought she should never express.
"O-ow! Stop!"
Hikari's eyes turned dark and he wanted to just run in there and save Chisaki from whatever was hurting her, but as he glanced towards Kaname, he felt himself shrunk back. Kaname's usual calm and soft blue eyes were piercing, like ice, and Hikari, for once in his life, felt terror towards his friend.
"K-Kanam-" Hikari started off, but his mouth became glue shut as Kaname stood up and ran into the dining room.
"You bastard!" Kaname hissed as he tackled the man off of a surprise Chisaki. "Kaname!" Hikari ditched any last effort of trying to stay hidden and ran to his male childhood friend. Hikari threw in a couple of punches at the man's face, who blocked it off with his forearm, as Kaname rolled off and went to the kitchen, which was connected to the room. Instinct led him as he grabbed a stray glass of orange juice and hurried back to the room. At this point, Chisaki was crying hysterically while Hikari and the man tussled.
"Take this," Kaname slammed the glass onto the man's arms, the glass shards cutting his right hand, but cut deep into the man's forearms. The man let off a pained cry, and at that point, Chisaki was at a loss of words. Hikari kicked the man's arms and forced him to kneel down onto the floor in pain and exhaustion. Satisfied, Hikari placed a foot onto his back and pressed down, making the man lay on the floor like a rug.
"That's what you get, bastard, for trying to hurt Chisaki! You perverted old man! You're almost as bad as Uroko-sama! Makes me want to throw up now..." Hikari sharply turned to Chisaki and asked, "Are you okay, Chisaki?"
Kaname was already by her side, trying to get her to look at him, but she slapped his hand away.
"I...I told you guys to stop! It's Tsumugu! You guys hurt Tsumugu!"
Hikari, thoroughly confused, stared blankly at Chisaki and then to the man. He instantly recognized his old friend's hair and body structure and instantly stumbled backwards.
"But...! I-we thought that he was a stranger breaking into the house and was about to-um..." Hikari's mouth opened and closed, almost like a fish's, trying desperately to defend his actions.
"Chisaki, we didn't...you know we would never harm Tsumugu on purpose..."
"Shut up! Just go away, you two!" She angrily lashed out at them, like a whip, and scrambled towards Tsumugu. "Oh my god...Tsumugu, please. Please be okay!" Chisaki knelt down to Tsumugu and turned him onto his back. Hikari bit his lip and turned his head away in shame. Tsumugu's lip was busted, probably by Hikari, while the upper part of his chest was bruised and had became purple in some areas. His forearms were torn and cut up, blood running down his arms and seeping into the carpet.
Barely audible, Kaname muttered under his breath, "Chisaki...what have I done..."
A few seconds later, there was chaos. Hikari wasn't sure what happened first, but all he remembered was Manaka's panicked and sorrowful screaming, Akari's bewildered and angry voice, Akira crying, and then Miuna and Sayu arriving and shouting above all the noise that they called for a doctor. Furious at himself and by what he had done and guilt eating him up, Hikari scampered out of the house, despite Manaka and Miuna crying out his name and Akari calling him back and demanding for him to man up and accept his mistake. Kaname stayed affixed to his spot, his gaze unwavering, even when Sayu and Manaka tried to calm him down and tell him everything was fine.
"Okay, everyone! Calm down! We need to relax and focus on Tsumugu-kun right now. Forget my hotheaded stupid brother. We need to take care of Tsumugu-kun as well as we can until the doctor comes," Akari ordered out to everyone. "Chisaki-chan, please take care of him to the best of your ability while I ask Kaname-kun some questions. Excuse us." She gently pulled Kaname out of the room and left everyone to follow her orders.
"Chii-chan..." Manaka placed a reassuring hand onto Chisaki's shoulder and settled down next to her. Miuna and Sayu exchanged a look before they decided it was better for them to gather supplies for Chisaki and leave the two best friends alone.
Chisaki wiped the tears from her eyes and clutched onto Manaka's hand from her shoulder and brought it down. The two of them shared a moment of silence together, but it was more than just silent for the two friends. Chisaki could feel the support and love radiating from Manaka and it truly touched her heart how she was able to have such a good friend for her here. Without saying another word, Chisaki released Manaka's hand and began to tend to Tsumugu's wounds.
"Manaka, can you get me a wet rag and then some cotton balls and bandages from Miuna-chan? Those items should serve as a temporary bandage to stop the blood," Chisaki asked Manaka. Manaka nodded her head and instantly went off to find the items she listed off. Chisaki smiled as she watched Manaka run around the kitchen in search of a rag; Manaka's determined and restless face made her laugh a little. She glanced down to Tsumugu and felt her smile fade a little.
"Tsumugu...I didn't mean to get angry at Hikari and Kaname, but they didn't have to do that..." she caressed some of his hair away from his shut eyes and placed her hand onto his cheek. "What's with you boys and your need to fight everything you see?" She mused to herself.
Manaka soon returned with both a wet rag and the two younger girls. "Here you go!" She handed Chisaki the rag and the first aid kit Miuna brought.
"Sorry we don't have anything better than that," Miuna mumbled in embarrassment.
"Don't worry. This is actually more than enough. Thank you, Miuna-chan," Chisaki thanked her. Manaka shooed Sayu and Miuna away from Chisaki and repositioned them so they were behind Chisaki.
Chisaki grasped Tsumugu's forearms and gently placed them onto pillows so they were levitated from the floor. She grabbed the wet rag and gently dabbed it onto his wounds to wipe off the excess blood. Tsumugu cringed at times in pain, and Manaka noted how Chisaki would stop and wait for a few seconds until he would relax.
She's such a good nurse, almost like a mom! You go, Chii-chan!
Miuna stared at Manaka with confusion as Manaka nodded and smiled to herself.
Next, Chisaki grabbed some cotton balls and placed them onto the wounds. She made extra careful that the cotton balls wouldn't move before she reached over to the first aid kit and took out some big bandages. She tore off the wrappers and wrapped it around his arm until the cottons ball weren't visible anymore. After her work was finish, Chisaki leaned back and collapsed onto Manaka's lap.
"Chii-chan!" Manaka yelled out worriedly. She grabbed onto Chisaki's hand and held it in between her hands.
"I'm fine. It's just that I'm exhausted right now." Chisaki sighed. Manaka visibly relaxed and with a grin, added, "But Chii-chan! You're a really good nurse! You fixed up Tsumugu-kun in no time and he looks tons better now!"
"Stop it, Manaka. It's not that amazing, really. I bet Sensei could have done better than me at this."
"Nuh-uh! I'm being serious! She was amazing, right Miuna-chan? Sayu-chan?"
The two bystanders perked up as they hear their names and felt pressured under Manaka's encouraging stare and Chisaki's disbelieve one.
Miuna was the first to speak. "Yeah, Chisaki-san. You were really great! It looks as though a professional did it." Sayu nodded her head. "I think Tsumugu-san will be feeling a lot better under your care."
Beyond that conversation, it was quiet. Everyone had fallen into its comfortable grasp and took the time to think about what had happened and what to do next. Chisaki sat up from Manaka's lap and stared at the sliding door. The sea was quite visible from Akari's backyard, its surface sparkling under the bright orange sun as it set. It calmed down Chisaki and led her to think about the most random and trivial things, like how was her parents and Grandpa were doing, what she should cook for tomorrow, and her progress as a nurse. After everyone from Shioshishio had waken up from their hibernation, her parents were both sadden but understanding that she had wanted to stay on the surface with Tsumugu and Grandpa. Chisaki remembered the frown that was etched onto her father's face, but the reassuring smile he gave her and the teary eyes of her mother but how the corner of her eyes slightly wrinkled as she smiled kindly at her as well.
"You've truly grown, Chisaki. Makes me feel bittersweet when I remember that I have missed the most important years of your life," her mother told her before she left to go back to the surface. Chisaki turned around and replied, "Even though I've changed appearances, Mom, I'm still the same Chisaki from five years ago. Don't worry."
Yet, as she stared at Tsumugu and studied how every time his tan, toned chest rose up, he would scrunch up his face, just slightly, and how her heartbeat quickened when her eyes passed up from his chest to his peaceful and mature face, she knew that she had lied to her mother. The Chisaki from five years ago was fourteen, had loved Hikari, envied Manaka but loved her like a sister, felt safe and comfortable around the tranquil Kaname, and worried about how she was "too big." Now, she was nineteen, on her way to becoming a nurse, experienced high school and the rest of her teenage years without her three friends, and practically lived an entirely different life from everyone she had grown accustom to in her home under the sea. However, most of all she had become closer to Tsumugu, someone on the surface, and had fallen for him. Hard. Of course, she wouldn't allow him to have the satisfaction of her saying that outloud, but it was true. Back then a few weeks ago and even now, she wondered how, in the span of five years, had Tsumugu captured her heart.
She thought of Hikari and how him and Tsumugu were complete opposites. Hikari was hotheaded and reckless; Tsumugu was level-headed and cautious. Hikari was prone to speak out his mind, was loud and demanding, but Tsumugu was calm, took his time to think things out, and good at analyzing. Chisaki's mind drifted over to Kaname.
Five years had pass for her, yet it was fresh in her mind. His confession to her. Kaname wasn't a bad guy, in her opinion. He was attractive, well-mannered, respectful, and he was always there to hear her out. She wondered why she never noticed his feelings for her and why she never felt any romance towards him. It still confused her to this day. When it came out that her and Tsumugu were unofficially going out (Manaka spread the news to everyone), Kaname merely gave her a small smile and said, "Congrats, Chisaki. I'm glad." She noticed there was a tint of sadness and longing in his voice, but he didn't look or acted broken or too hung up about it. Then again, Chisaki thought, she wasn't good at figuring out other people's emotions and thoughts. Heck, she can't even figure out her own feelings until Tsumugu had to literally say it for her to accept.
"Chii-chan! Hello, are you there?"
Chisaki snapped out of her thought bubble and stared at Manaka. She was standing up now and was looking at Chisaki with curiosity etched onto her face. "Hey, hey. Akari-san said that the doctor came and wanted to see Tsumugu-kun and you."
"O-oh, really? Okay," Chisaki recomposed herself.
This is no time to reminisce about my life right now!
"Ah, Hiradaira-kun! I should have expected to see you here once I heard that Sakishima-san summoned me to her house. How are you," the doctor greeted Chisaki as he walked in.
"Sensei, hello. There was just a...miscommunication and Tsumu- Kihara-kun had gotten hurt pretty badly. Er, sorry for the sloppy work, Sensei. I did the best I could have done." Chisaki bowed her head modestly.
"Nonsense! You fixed him up quite nicely. Kihara-san, was it? He's the boy of that old fisherman, hm?" The doctor placed his medical box on the ground next to Tsumugu and looked at him thoughtfully.
"Hmm... in fact, I don't think there was any need of my services, Sakishima-san. Hiradaira-kun done a good job here, but that's to be expected under my supervision," the doctor chuckled. It was then that Chisaki noticed Akari standing by the door, holding Akira's hand in her hand and Kaname standing next to her. He was staring off away from the room, instead looking down the hall, but Chisaki felt as though he was avoiding making eye contact with her.
"Also, be sure to ice that hand for a couple of days and to put the antibiotics I prescribed to you, Isaki-san," the doctor reminded him as he left the room.
Huh? Kaname hurt himself?
Chisaki watched as Kaname showed the doctor an empty smile and said a small, "I understand," before he returned to his solemn stare.
"Goodbye, everyone! Hiradaira-kun, just do everything that I've taught you and that boy should be okay!"
Chisaki waved goodbye as her sensei walked off, accompanied by Akari as she showed him the way out. Miuna shuffled her feet and awkwardly said after a small pause, "Um, Chisaki-san. Mom told me that Sayama-san can drive you and Tsumugu over to your home. It's nearly seven, and Mom said that your grandpa might be getting worried about you two."
"Oh, is that so? I would appreciate that. Thank you, Miuna-chan."
Manaka, Sayu, Miuna, and Chisaki helped carry Tsumugu carefully over to the awaiting Shun Sayama and his signature work pickup truck.
"Whoa, whoa! What the heck happened with Tsumugu? I heard from Boss that he had gotten in a fight, but I didn't think it'd be that bad! Here, let me take care of the rest," Shun exclaimed excitedly. He took Tsumugu from the four struggling girls and easily carried him into the back of the pickup truck.
"Ehehe! Nice nurse outfit, Hira-" A fist collided into Shun's head and nearly made him bite down on his tongue.
"Hey! Go back to work and stop ogling at what's not yours," Akari scolded. "Yeah, yeah. Got ya," Shun waved off a dismissing hand and lazily climbed into the driver's seat.
"Seriously, what was I thinking when I agreed to look over his perverted butt," Akari rubbed her forehead. "Chisaki-chan, don't worry about anything with the boys. I've calmed down Kaname and I just heard Hikari storming back from his little "vacation" away from home. I'll take care of the two of them for today."
Chisaki bowed her head down to about her waist. "Thank you, Akari-san, for being so considerate and for taking care of us today." Akari laughed a bit. "Please, I've been having to take care of that stupid brother of mine since I was about his age. I've gotten somewhat use of it."
Chisaki cracked a smile and wished everyone goodbye as she climbed into the passenger seat. Manaka bid her farewell and demanded for Chisaki to allow her to visit tomorrow while Sayu and Miuna simply wished her well and that they would be coming with Manaka after school to check.
"Bye bye!"
"Chii-chan, bye!"
"See you tomorrow!"
As the car drove away, Chisaki heard many byes and see you later, but one voice rang out louder than the others.
"Please don't blame the boys!"
Chisaki stuck her head out the window and was surprise to find Akari flashing her a smile.
"Boys will be boys!"
Akari's figure and the other three became smaller and smaller as the car sped down the road until she couldn't see them anymore.
"Come on, now. Face the front, Hiradaira-chan!" Shun teased her.
"Oh, shut up," Chisaki playfully said back.
For the duration of the ride to the house, it was full of lighthearted conversations that ranged from how was school, what was it like at Shioshishio, and if that nurse outfit was permanent (obviously asked by Shun). It kept Chisaki's mind away from Tsumugu for a bit until Shun had to shake Chisaki away from her daydream and tell her that they arrived at the house.
"Thank you, Sayama-kun," Chisaki bowed her head after Shun had taken Tsumugu into his room and laid him down comfortably.
"No problem! All you got to do to thank me for my services is cook me one of your Shioshishio dishes one day!"
With one last grin, Shun waved off Chisaki and drove his car out.
Chisaki lingered in the front of the house for a moment, recapping on the day's events. She couldn't believe so much had happened. Yesterday she was counting the days and hours to when Tsumugu would return back home and she could honestly say that those ten minutes when she had been delightfully surprised to see him made her feel so lightheaded. And now that she had time to think, she didn't really blame the two boys for being mistaken at the situation.
After Akira had "kancho" her, she literally leaped forward and lost her footing. She screamed in fear because it was naturally the first thing that came in her mind. She distinctly recalled Tsumugu shouting her name and the next thing she knew, his body had cushioned her fall. He wrapped his arms around her and allowed his back to hit the ground, and they tumbled around until she was safely on her back with Tsumugu practically straddling her. His arms were on both sides of her head and his head was hung low as he exhaled unevenly.
"Are you okay," was the first thing he said after he caught his breath.
"Y-yeah..." Chisaki then realized their position and stammered out, "W-w-w-what are you doing?!"
"Oh..." Tsumugu muttered under his head as he tried to get off of her. His hand accidentally pressed down on her hair and she winced in pain. "O-ow! Stop!"
Chisaki breathed out and pushed some loose hair behind her ear.
"I even forgot to pick up the food from Akari-san...Now what am I suppose to make tonight?" She complained to herself. Chisaki opened up the door and entered the house while dragging her feet in defeat.
That was when she heard some noises from the kitchen.
"Huh? Is that you, Grandpa," Chisaki called out. There was no response, only some noises of plates being moved around. "Grandpa, what are you-" And then the sound of china hitting the floor and something that sounded like a body made Chisaki's blood cold.
"Grandpa!"
She rushed over to the kitchen and expected to see her elderly Grandpa on the ground. Instead, Tsumugu was cradling his arm as he clenched his teeth in pain.
"Tsumugu! Oh my god," she knelt down to Tsumugu and held his shoulders. "What are you doing? You're injured right now, you shouldn't be moving!"
She helped him stand up and led him back to his room slowly while holding up his weight. She delicately assisted and ordered him to lay down on his bed, but he refused and instead chose to sit up.
"I'm fine," he firmly stated to her.
"What are you talking about; no, you're not! You just woke up after being beaten up senselessly by Hikari and Kaname. And trust me, I know that Hikari doesn't throw out light punches."
"It's fine."
"Stop it! It's not okay!"
"Don't worry."
Each of Tsumugu's stubborn and quick response quickly lead to Chisaki's breaking point. She desperately tried to convince him to rest, but he refused to and kept repeating that it was fine.
"Stop! You don't understand how much they hurt you!"
Tsumugu physically tensed up and lowered his gaze down.
"Chisaki...you..." he started off, and he said her name as though she was a child and he was going to lecture her about how she was wrong for stealing candy from another kid.
Having enough of Tsumugu's halfhearted response, she broke.
"Stop it! Just stop!"
Tsumugu paused and stiffened at her raised voice. She stood directly in front of him and forced herself to calm down a bit before she continued.
"Why…why do you keep trying to say it's okay when it's not! I get it that Kaname and Hikari didn't mean it, but it doesn't make things fine or okay."
"Chisaki, that's not-"
"Shut up! Yeah, it is. You're trying to defend them because you know that I would get mad at them. It's not fair for you to keep protecting them from their actions. I don't care if it was accidental or intentional because it's the same results in the end. Why won't you understand?"
He gave her a cautious and hesitant glance, unsure on how to respond. Chisaki felt conflicted and confused as well; why was she so incline on blaming Hikari and Kaname? Wasn't it only a moment ago she was fretting over Tsumugu? Then why was she yelling at him now? She shook her head, tears nearly forcing themselves to fall out. She felt frustrated by all the questions swarming in her head, questions that made her torment herself.
"You always take the blame...taking it upon yourself. Like that time when you harbored Manaka's feelings when you knew that she really loved Hikari! That's not heroic, it's just spineless. It's..."
It's just like me.
She gasped and stepped back. Her subconscious just arose from the back of her mind and finally spoken out the truth.
Tsumugu is just like you and how you tried to keep your feelings in all by yourself about Hikari. Even now, you're trying hard to lock up your inner feelings. Her subconscious seemingly sneered at her.
"No...that's not it," Chisaki muttered.
But it's true. If it's not Hikari and Kaname you're blaming, then it's yourself for allowing Tsumugu to get hurt. You need someone to blame. If you hadn't made it such a big deal about slipping, then Kaname and Hikari wouldn't have gotten the wrong idea. If perhaps you had continued to love Hikari, then things wouldn't have gotten complicated between the four of you and Tsumugu. If you had loved Kaname, then things would have been better. Didn't you say it yourself? You can't be the only one happy, right? But, if you look at how things are, isn't that just an empty lie? You're the only one happy while Hikari and Manaka haven't moved at all in their relationship and Kaname is still hurting. You're truly a selfish person, wanting things to never change yet you want a new life on the surface with Tsumugu...
"That's not it! Make it stop, please..."
"Chisaki!"
Like the front of a storm, Tsumugu's ashen eyes searched Chisaki's cobalt ones, hoping to bring her out of her thoughts. She was clutching the sides of her head in agony, until Tsumugu literally had to shake her out of it.
"Look at me," he demanded from her. Her gaze stayed fixated at her feet, her tears streaming down her cheeks and onto the soft carpet. When she didn't make any movement, Tsumugu sighed and brought his right hand down under her chin and gently tilted it upwards so she was forced to look at him. Next, he pulled her hands away from her head and set it down to her sides, and as carefully as he could, wrapped his arms around her back and held her close.
"T-Tsumugu..." she mumbled, and started to resist against him.
"Please don't try to run away from me again," he murmured against her hair. Chisaki could feel his breath against her neck, and it sent shivers up her spine.
No, not this again. Please...
"I'm sorry, Chisaki. I understand that you were concerned about me and I shouldn't have dismissed it off like that," he started. Tsumugu rested his chin onto the crook of her neck and continued. "I believe that Hikari and Kaname weren't the ones to be blamed for hurting me, nor should you ever blame yourself." He tightened his hold onto her and brought their bodies even closer. "You're so strong, Chisaki. So strong, and fierce. One moment you're calm like the shore, and the next you're creating tidal waves. Don't you ever try to hide your feelings from me or the others again. Why can't you understand that I want to learn everything about you? What makes you mad, sad, happy, excited...all of those emotions. I want to know these things so next time we can avoid these kind of situations where you are tormenting yourself. It takes time for everyone to find happiness, but you stopping yourself from being happy won't help the others out."
His words were soothing and instantly calmed her down. She allowed him to talk, and he allowed her time to soak it all in. She snaked her arms from under his grasp and wrapped it around his back. She rested her left ear onto his chest and listened to his slow heartbeat. Why the heck was she even freaking about? Maybe she didn't want Tsumugu to end up like her, someone who was indecisive.
One minute, two, and then three minutes passed by until Chisaki giggled against Tsumugu.
"What's up," he asked casually.
"Nothing. It's just that I realized how much of an idiot I was just now."
"Yep."
She pulled away from him and playfully pushed him square in the chest, at least enough to make him fall onto his bed.
"You're not even going to try to deny it?"
Tsumugu cocked his eyebrow and replied evenly, "Why would I do that when it's true?"
She wiped her tears away with her sleeve and laughed. "What the heck is with that response?"
"Because, when I think about it, I fell in love with your personality and habits." He nonchalantly shrugged.
Chisaki immediately stopped laughing and felt her whole face light up like a Christmas light.
"W-w-what? Um, er..." she failed to think of a snarky comeback and fell into a stuttering mess.
"All of it. I observed you for five years and learned many things about you that I like and dislike. For example, you like to contradict yourself a lot. To deny yourself. You say that I'm spineless for harboring Manaka's feelings when I knew that she loved Hikari, yet you did the exact same when you claimed you loved Hikari but actually loved me."
"Huh? Hey, don't turn my words around...!"
"Before you decide on something, you hesitant and think that only the worse can happen. You're probably the complete opposite of the phrase Carpe Diem."
"I don't want to hear that coming from the guy who always likes to think things out..."
"However, if you're an idiot, then I'm stupid. I've spent five years sorting out my feelings for you and then practically allowed both of us to be in a whirlpool of pain. If I confessed five years ago, then maybe I could have saved you from all the pain you went through."
Tsumugu's voice was robotic and straightforward that Chisaki nearly missed out the true meaning behind his words if she didn't observe his face. Although he was able to deprive emotion from his voice and put up a poker face, Chisaki knew better. She learned that every time his bottom lip was raised slightly up, he was upset. Every time he squinted his eyes, he was either focused or serious about something. And what she thought gave the most indication of his feelings were his eyes. They were burning with regret, anger, passion, and affection.
"There's no way to undo it all," she managed to whisper out. She sat down next to him and held his hand, to his great amazement. "But there is time to regain time we lost and continue forward, right?"
Tsumugu's eyes visibly softened and he squeezed her hand. "Can I hold you?" He blurted out, like he did a few weeks ago, the day before the Ofunehiki. Chisaki, amused and touched, nodded her head in silence and allowed Tsumugu to pull him and her down onto his bed, underneath the shining full moon.
In her mind, there were many things she worried about, like Kaname, Hikari, and Manaka, but right now, it was as though Tsumugu turned a switch off in her head that allowed her to focus on his steady heartbeat and warm body.
It could all wait for tomorrow.
A/N: Well, well, well! That was really long, haha. I gotta say, it's super fun to write about these characters, at the same time difficult to try to stay in character since they all have so many personalities, especially Chisaki. Summer break is literally around the corner, so expect this to update somewhat regularly, and I'll try to make each chapter long and worthwhile for ya'll to read :). I know my grammar isn't the best thing in the world and sometimes I word things pretty awkwardly, but please stick by for the ride! The next chapter is already getting planned out, so look out for the next installment. Leave a review, it will be greatly appreciated, and let's sail the Tsumugu/Chisaki ship!
On the next part: Chisaki and Tsumugu try to go further in their relationship, however, things start to rile up again in Shioshishio and Oshiooshi. Hikari and Kaname are overwhelmed with guilt from yesterday, while Manaka, Sayu, and Miuna have their own little problems.