She's Mine

Stubborness

Why so hardheaded?

~

It's been two days since the last incident and exactly 3 months before the Carnival and Shuka told Anchan she won't talk to her if Anchan won't tell the director that she won't do the flip. And indeed, both of them didn't talk to the other. It's a matter of pride for Anchan, whereas it's a matter of dignity for Shuka. Anchan said she'd do the flip, just like what Chika did. She thought it would be easy, that was her greatest mistake, underestimating the flip her beloved Chika practiced many times over. She knew she was bound to have bruises here and there because honestly, even Chika had a lot before she mastered it. Heck, even Mari in the anime, sprained an ankle trying to perfect it. But she's gonna do it, because she said so and she never goes back on her word.
Shuka, on the other hand, is just genuinely worried. She knew Anchan would try just as hard as Chika did, she even prepared herself for this but she didn't expect it to be this painful. Shuka already considered Anchan as her other half, what hurts Anchan hurts her as well. But noooo, Anchan just had to do the flip cause she wants to.
"Tch, stupid Anju" Shuka muttered as she was laying down on her bed. It was a Thursday morning and Shuka was supposed to go to practice but she decided not to. Not when they decided that today, Anchan would be practicing with them already. They're gonna connect Anchan's timing of the flip with their singing or whatever thing they decided to do. All Shuka knows is that, she can't take watching it. If she was there, she'd definitely smack the heck out of Anchan and tell her how much of an idiot she is for making her worry.
"Stupid Anju, stupid Anju, stupid Anju! Aaahhhh!!!" Shuka kept on repeating it, burying her face on her pillow to prevent the scream from escaping.

~

Meanwhile, with Anchan and the others, they were preparing for the start of their practice already when Hina noticed Shuka's absence
"Shuka-chan is still not here" She said and Hina could've sworn she heard Anchan snort
"Get ready, we're starting with or without her" Anchan's reply was sharper than Hina thought it would be that it made her shudder. Aiai just patted her shoulder reassuringly before saying
"Pretty sure they had a fight again. Don't worry about it okay?" Hina smiled at Aiai and Aiai returned it.

~

Shuka had no desire to move whatsoever, that is, until her siblings nagged her to just go and make up with Anchan. Shuka couldn't take all nagging so she decided to go to practice anyway even though she's already an hour late. So she got dressed and went there anyway.
But when she got there, it was such a bad timing. The moment Shuka stepped foot in the studio, it was the moment where Anchan was about to do the flip too. Shuka held on to her stomach when Anchan was about to go for it.
"...." everyone in the room was silent, Shuka fixed her eyes on the girl who was about to do it, before Anchan made the run, she noticed Shuka and made eye contact with her. Shuka immediately noticed this and tightened her hands together before giving a nod. Anchan, however, gave Shuka a sharp look that seemed to say "Watch me" before running.
Silence filled the room, everyone fixated their eyes on Anchan who just did the first cartwheel successfully, but then that silence got covered by a loud thud! And as if by reflex, Shuka ran towards the girl who caused the loud "thud"
"Anju!" She shouted and immediately ran to Anchan's side.
Anchan was laying face flat on the floor, she wasn't able to land on that backflip.
"Anju! Are you okay?!" Shuka who was genuinely worried helped Anchan sit down but as soon as Anchan was seated on the floor, she immediately pulled her arm back.
"What? Are you here to tell me that you told me so?! Are you here to slap it in my face that you're right?! Well?! Shuka?!" Anchan blurted out. And for the second time, a loud pang was heard by everyone in the room as Shuka, eyes filled with tears, slapped Anju again and immediately went out of the room leaving everyone and a dumbfounded Anju.
The rest of Aqours gathered around their leader to help her up, Hina was about to go after Shuka if it weren't for Asami who stopped her.
"Let's take a break for now" Arisha broke the silence and everyone nodded
"Anchan, rest for a while. We'll get your elbows treated" Arisha added and Anchan just sat down when Hina came in front of her
"Why did you say all those?" She asked, gripping the sides of her jogging pants as she did so but Anchan remained quiet and bit her lower lip
"Shuka...was genuinely worried about you and you just..." Hina paused
"When we were hanging out yesterday, she told me how worried she is about you. She even told me that if she could take your place and do the jump itself to prevent you from hurting yourself, she would. And you just...." Hina curled her hands and looked down. Anchan just stood up and patted Hina's shoulder before going out.

~

A/N: Will be ending this book after it's 25th chapter so that means 3 more chapters to go :)) thanks to everyone who read and followed this book since the first chapter, all my gratitude goes to all of you :))