A/N: Annyeonghaseyo ("Hello" in Korean)! I'm back! Miss me? Probably not. It's summer again so I'll be active and writing. If you do not know me, hi! By the way guys, I'm working on TWO Spirited Away fanfictions this summer so check out the other one if you'd like (: I'm so happy to be writing for you guys again!よろしくおねがいします(Yoroshiku onegaishimasu which means "Please take care of me" or "Nice to meet you" roughly).
Oh and I will be using Japanese phrases so you can get a feel of being in a Japanese-speaking environment and to also learn a bit for fun? Why not? You learn better when you're having fun (: Some phrases you can tell from context so I probably won't bother to translate unless you ask.
Disclaimer: I sadly do not own Spirited Away ):
Chapter 1
"…I'll take the silent treatment off your hands unbeaten
I'll take the easy sequence
Less people, more freedom…"
Silent Treatment by The Joy Formidable
Third POV
Chihiro has waited eight years for Haku and when she returned to Japan, she made a vow to forget the Spirit World. In her quest to do so, she tore down anything that reminded her of Haku. She ripped apart her drawings, her journal, and went out to buy new paint for her room which was a nice combination of opaque white, teal blue, and emerald-green. She forcefully pushed the Spirit World and most importantly, Haku out of her mind, and buried it deep inside her subconscious.
Eventually, she started opening up and becoming more of a social butterfly. She befriended many people, became more involved, and became popular and well-liked by everyone. Every girl envied her, every guy wanted her by his side. She was beautiful with her curtain of silky brown hair which she started wearing down and in different hairstyles rather than in her usual ponytail. With her beauty, came her intelligence. She was the top student and scored high on every exam. She was very outspoken even if the world was against her, and if she did talk, her voice was filled with warmth. She was a bookworm that was one thing she never changed about herself. It was rare to see her without a book. Many teachers and students were surprised by this sudden change but pleased to see her finally growing out of those myths and fairy tales.
A few months later, on a nice summer day, a new student was enrolled. Chihiro was reading her back window seat. It provided the best light and she was hidden.
"Class president," Ueno-sensei nodded towards Watanabe Fuyumi.
"Kiritsu. Rei." The class soon followed and bowed along with Fuyumi and Ueno-sensei, greeting each other good morning.
"Hai, suwatte kudasai." the students fell back into their seats and Chihiro resumed her reading. "Today we have a new student. Please come in."
Chihiro was still engrossed in the words to bother looking up until the new student spoke.
"Hajimemashite! Ishikawa desu. I'm from the countryside transferred because of my father's promotion. Douzo yoroshiku."
Chihiro studied him with her gray eyes. Black hair with tints of green and unforgettable emerald eyes. Could this be? No it couldn't. She dismissed the thought. She surveyed the room and she saw that every female student could not take their eyes off him and every male student was scoffing about how they were better. She ignored them and picked up from where she left off. Her heart was beating a bit fast for her to concentrate and her mind was full of questions that desperately needed answers.
"You can sit next to Ogino-san. Please stand up so that our new student knows who you are." Ueno-sensei's voice pierced Chihiro's worries. A fluster Chihiro stood up abruptly. "You may go to your seat now, Ishikawa-san."
His innocent, pure eyes smiled at Chihiro. He quietly settled into his new seat while Chihiro sneaked a quick glance. It couldn't be. No. It can't. If he was able to, he would have done so sooner. Chihiro's mind was now troubled. A rarity. Since she had forcefully made herself forget about the Spirit World, she never cared much about anything which led to no troubles. She was an extremely laid-back person.
\(^.^)/
For the rest of the morning Chihiro was so distracted by the new student. She wanted answers to her questions. When the little chime went off for lunch she immediately turned to face him, but he was already facing her.
"Hello. My name is Ishikawa Kohaku. Nice to meet you." Holy crud. It is him. Chihiro almost teared up from joy. Then angered follow.
"I know that. I was paying attention." She snapped at him.
"You've been reading that book the entire time but you haven't flipped the page since I came." He replied warmly. Chihiro blushed at his observation. Has he been watching her?
"Well I really like these quotes. Very inspirational. Can't stop going over them," she poorly used as an excuse.
"Ah I see. Well I'm going to get lunch. Do you have your own or would you like to come down and grab lunch with me?"
"No thanks I have my own," she politely declined. Okay. She didn't but she wasn't going anywhere with him.
"Oh well then would you like to meet me downstairs?"
"Uh— "
"CHIHIROOOOOOO!" Her friend interrupted her mid-rejection. "Let's get lunch together!"
"Oh I have my own today, Fuyumi."
"Wait. You actually got up early enough to make your own today? Is this the Ogino Chihiro I know? Are you sure you're Chihiro today?"
"Yes. Just go with Ishikawa-san. He was going down to but you can help him out." Chihiro gestured at Ishikawa and Fuyumi was more than happy. The blush on her face said everything.
"Hello! I'm Watanabe. Let's go." She linked arms with him and they exited the classroom before Haku could reject. Chihiro let out a sigh of relief. She quickly pulled out her phone.
"Fuyumi, it's Chihiro. Ditch him. And I actually don't have a lunch so do you mind getting me some udon? I'll pay you back."
"Doooooooushite? He's hot!"
"Please? For me?"
"I sense some sort of past between you two." She let out a depleted sigh. "You better tell me the whole story when I get back."
"Thank you. You're the best!"
"Yea I know. See you later." They both hung up simultaneously. Chihiro released a tired sigh. This was too much for her mind to compute.
How? Why now, too? Just when I finally pushed it all out it hits me all over again. Chihiro needed to talk to him. She didn't really want to yet she really wanted to.
\(^.^)/
"Watanabe-san?" Haku looked around and did not see Chihiro's friend in sight. He didn't mind. He saw Chihiro and even talked to her. He was already happy. Why she wasn't was the real question. He hurried down to the cafeteria and got his lunch. On his way back he spotted Masako carrying two lunch bowls.
"Ah Watanabe-san. Daijobu desu ka?" Masako found it strange he didn't whine about ditching him or even question it.
"Daijobu desu! Where are you going?" She flashed him an innocent smile to reassure him.
"Back to the classroom. At least let me help you." He effortlessly took one of the bowl and held one bowl in each of his hands.
"Doesn't it hurt? Are you sure it's stable?"
"Yes. I'm fine. I've carried a lot heavier and a lot more with just my hands." Fuyumi was amazed and blushing a bit that he offered to help. He was strong, adorable, and so kind. He was real. She had no idea what peeved Chihiro off about him since there was obviously nothing.
They both reached the classroom to find Chihiro at her desk reading. No surprise. Fuyumi came over and set down Chihiro's lunch for her and Chihiro gave her the money without looking up.
"Hello Chihiro. Where did you lunch go?" Haku sounded a little hurt that she lied.
"Ah don't bother her. She's reading so she's stuck in her own little world."
"Oh I see."
Chihiro put her bookmark back into her book, closed her book, and put it back into her bag. She then started to walk away with her udon in hand. She glanced back slightly, her eyes silently telling Fuyumi to follow.
"Guess we're going outside. Jaa ne Ishikawa-san!" Haku handed back her bowl and she bowed to show her thanks. Fuyumi followed Chihiro out of the classroom as Haku's green eyes followed them. He really wanted to talk to her. He stared down at his lunch with disgust.
"Human food is so unsavory." He muttered to himself.
\(^.^)/
"Chihiro, where are we going?" Chihiro did not answer. "Uhm…Chihiro?" No reply. Just silent walking. Fuyumi did not speak again until they arrived at their destination.
Chihiro settled herself in the corner. They were up on the roof.
"Ah. I can finally breathe again." A tear rolled down her face. Fuyumi quickly ran over to her friend. She had never witnessed Chihiro crying before. She had always put up a strong face.
"Chi...what's wrong?"
"You want the story? Here's the story. We were both young, or at least I was. I believed in him for so long but I knew he'd never come back. Why would he show up now? If he could have, why didn't he sooner? I've waited so long in heartache and regret."
"Were you guys friends or something? Before you moved here? Chihiro, you guys were young. It's not like he could have driven a car over here."
"He lives around here. Well not in the town, but in the outskirts sort of."
"Well then he's a jerk. Who wouldn't come and visit you?"
Chihiro thought she sounded a little selfish, honestly. How could she expect him to cross over that easily? He couldn't even pass the border. How did he pass the border? She had all these questions but no answer…yet.
"Yea." She started slurping up the udon noodles in silence. Fuyumi began digging into her omuraisu.
"You know, we need some guys for the club this year since most of the senpai have graduated. I think Ishikawa-san would be perfect."
"We're not that desperate for male members," Chihiro chuckled a bit. They disposed of their empty bowls downstairs and hurried back down to class.
As Chihiro entered the classroom she saw a horde of girls crowding her desk and Haku's. She had to admit, she was jealous. She picked up a few of random textbooks and notebooks and slammed them down on the desk in front of hers. The sudden noise disrupted the girls.
"Sorry. Just wanted my seat back." She blinked her eyes innocently.
"Ah. Thank you Chihiro. That was suffocating."
"I just wanted them out of my seat," she muttered.
"May we talk after school? We can catch up." Chihiro bit her lip and hesitantly nodded her head. "Great."
Chihiro had a lot to say. Question was, did she have the courage to share them?
Translations:
"Kiritsu. Rei"= Stand. Bow. A general classroom greeting (and how the end class at the end of the day)
"Hai. Suwatte kudasai."= Alright. Now please be seated.
"Hajimemashite….douzo yoroshiku." = A basic self-introduction in Japanese
"Doushite" = Why
Udon = noodles
Omuraisu = Omelette (Omelet USA Version) rice
"Daijobu desu ka." = Are you alright?
"Jaa ne" = See you later
A/N: So what do you think? There's going to be more, don't worry. Haku's story is coming up next and their little talk. I will have that up by tomorrow. Not like I have anything to do over the summer.
Review please~
~fandomnerd12