Entering Risa’s apartment room, Hikaru took off his shoes. As his right foot entered the premises, Hikaru noticed the inside of her apartment, which is a small, 1K* apartment with wooden flooring. To his left, a sink and a small stove on a crème colored counter. To its side, a small knee height, dark grey colored refrigerator which seems new, and placed above it a plastic dish drainer, filled with assortments of colored dish plates and plastic glasses, as well as a few pairs of cutleries, knifes and chopsticks.
Entering the main apartment room, it was what you would call a ‘girly’ room, with pink colored furniture almost everywhere, except for the white colored wall. The main apartment room with its 5*6 meters size, is quite large for such a small and old apartment building. In the middle of the room, a small, circular coffee table filled with books and an empty ceramic cup is the first thing Hikaru sees when he enters. To the right corner of the room, a pink colored bed with Hello Doggy sheet, complemented with Hello Doggy plushies in many sizes. To the left corners, one is filled with a small, flat tv set connected to a cable, and the other, a pink colored dresser.
“Please, have a sit on the table,” She said as she hurriedly clear the table of any things that might be in the way. “and please, make yourself at home.”
“Alright the, pardon the intrusion.” Hikaru politely makes his way to the coffee table after standing awkwardly by the door, not really knowing what to do after you enter a girl’s room.
Sitting on the hard and cold wooden floor, Hikaru shyly waited and takes a look around the room, and noticed an easel set on the balcony, complete with its empty canvas and a painting palette sitting nearby on a wooden chair, facing towards the city skyline.
“Yuuzaki-san, would you like some cookies with your tea?” Risa’s sudden voice breaks the silence in the room, Hikaru himself a bit surprised as he raised his shoulders in reflex.
“Uh, yes, if you’re fine with it.” Hikaru answers as politely as he can, not wanting to burden someone he just met.
“Oh, that’s wonderful!” Risa cheers, coming out from the kitchen with a small tray, with green tea and some sort of cookies, and puts them on the table. “My mother just sent me these cookies!”
Risa opened the bag, revealing assortments of cute animal shaped cookies. “I bet it will be perfect with the tea!”
As Risa arranges the plating of the cookies and pours the teas in the two cups, Hikaru took the box cover and noticed something eerie. His already pale face turns blue, as he turns the box to let Risa see.
“Um, Minase-san.”
“Yes, what is wrong, Yuuzaki-kun?” Risa lifts her head and stares at Hikaru,all confused.
“These cookies…your mom got them from Daagen-Hasz?” Hikaru’s voice slowly stutters as he said that name.
“Yes, looks like she did.” Risa replies, still not batting an eye towards his complexion. Rather, she sees nothing wrong with that name.
“But these are so pricey! Are you sure we should eat them just with normal tea?” Hikaru exclaimed, his eyes almost bulging out from its sockets.
Risa, now finished pouring the tea, twists her head to the right side and puts a finger on her chin. Her mouth pouting as she wonders the reason for the sudden outburst from the male.
“Hm? But it’s not really expensive? We eat cookies from that brand once a week when I was back home!”
Hikaru’s expression turns stiff after hearing that statement. In his head, a shattering voice can be heard as he shouts.
‘WHAT?’
“Now, now, the tea’s going to be cold, Yuuzaki-kun. Let’s drink while it’s still enjoyable.” Risa spoke, taking a bite from a bunny shaped cookie while taking a sip from the hot tea.
“Oh yeah, right.” Hikaru snaps back to his senses, and takes a sip while hesitating to take a bit from the cookie for a while, before he finally takes a bite, to which he can only express with one sentence.
‘Pure Bliss’.
“Wow, these cookies are amazing!” Hikaru exclaimed, as he chomped down 3 more cookies and takes a big gulp from his tea.
“I’m glad you enjoy it, Yuuzaki-kun. Please, have some more!” Risa rejoiced, as she pours more cookies onto the plate.
Not long after, with the cookie box empty and the tea finished, the two relaxed in the room, enjoying each other’s company as they laugh at the way they drank and ate.
Hikaru lays his head on the coffee table, and faces towards the balcony, noticing the easel once again.
“Oh yeah,” Hikaru spoke, straightening his body and facing the relaxing Risa. “that reminds me, do you like to draw? Can I see your other drawings?”
Risa that was just relaxing, turns red as she hears the question. She then looks away, as if avoiding the question.
“If I tell you,” Risa shyly whispered, her eyes slowly starting to meet his. “will promise not to laugh?”
Hikaru pondered her question. What is there to laugh about?
“I promise.” Hikaru made a cross on his chest, imitating the western way of staying on his word.
“Well, if you promise to.” Risa gulped as she stood, and walks toward her dresser. Pulling the top most container, she pulls out a couple of drawing books, both looking like it has been worn-out from years of use. She hands them to Hikaru, still sitting on the floor.
“These are…my drawing book. Were. I use a new one now, the one you saw earlier this evening.” Risa shyly mumbled, her hands a bit trembling as Hikaru grabs the books.
Hikaru opens the cover, and is blown away by all the pictures.
As he flips through each page, it feels like he himself, had been standing there when the drawing was drawn. In a drawing of a hill, he could feel the warm wind blowing from his sides, and from the drawing of a beach while sunset, he could hear the waves reaching the shore, as his feet is covered in sand.
“Minase-san, these…” Hikaru quiets down, before suddenly exploding in an outburst that surprises the brown haired female.
“THESE ARE INCREDIBLE!” Hikaru shouts, his hands not stopping on a single page for more than 3 seconds. “Each picture is drawn beautifully, it feels like I am there when this was drawn!”
Risa, shocked at Hikaru’s comments, drops a tear and smiles.
“You really think so?” She sobbed, her finger wiping a tear from her right eye.
“Of course I do! Hey, are you planning to go pro someday?” Hikaru asked.
Risa’s attitude turns 180 degrees at his question. Her smile gone, and her complexion turns sour. Her head hangs downwards, as Hikaru questions her sudden silence.
“Minase…-san?”
“I’m sorry, Yuuzaki-kun. Could you leave for the day? I suddenly feel unwell.” Risa uttered, her voice low and dejected.
Not wanting to bother her anymore, Hikaru agrees to it, not really knowing what had happened, but listens to her request anyway.
Showing the dark haired male the way out, she stays silent most of the time without much talk.
“Um, Minase-san.” Hikaru whispered, his voice low as to not bother the other neighbors. “See you in campus tomorrow.”
“Yeah.” Risa answered lowly while she closes the door to her apartment.
Not understanding the situation, Hikaru stayed in front of her closed door for a while, before deciding to go home after looking at the time.
YOU ARE READING
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Romance"To love one another means that you are prepared to be hurt by the other, and to accept them for who they are" -Kajiwara Nao Available in Indonesian and English (Indonesian only available until Chapter 6, because I suck at translating) This is a wor...
