Chapter Text
"Snowflakes began to fall right here in Okinawa.”
☄. *. ⋆ Reki's... POV
I was expecting it to be an average day. The rumours of a new 'exotic' foreigner from America apparently starting at our school was bubbling. It's no different to any other new person, why was everyone so hyper and energetic over it? I guess it was the fact that no one really cares about Okinawa, compared to Tokyo or Osaka or some touristy place enough to move here. "Why move here?" was my initial thought. The fact he was foreign must add to it.
This is besides the point; I was sitting in class while everyone was rattling about this guy. I barely got any sleep, my headache had multiplied by ten million. I couldn't bare to be at school yet its even worse because of this rumour. How cool and attractive could he be anyway?
Like always, I was proven wrong because he walked through the door just as I had asked myself that question.
His blue waves flow down to his cheeks. Deep oceans that hold sparkling sea water that swim through the air. Skin smoother than cream. Glowing with pride. A jaw that could cut through anyone's heart with a clean motion. Right then he'd cut through the hearts of everyone in the classroom.
"Is this class 2C?" His voice sent waves across the classroom. I swear I heard birds chirp to the melodic sounds produced from his lips. Even Mr Adachihara was taken aback, fixing his glasses in a hurried manner.
"Yes Mr Hasegawa! How about you introduce yourself to the class, yes?" Since when did the teacher have to refer to a student so formally? He only nodded though, and didn't really stop to think that was more than a bit weird. Or the fact that his teacher was sweating a waterfall and a half while stuttering up a storm. He just nodded – is he dense?
Then he turned to face the class; seemingly everyone came under his spell. The whole classroom felt slightly more humid than normal. Looking around everyone was enamoured. You couldn't see his eyes as clearly beforehand but they were magical. Filled with dreamy bliss, a graceful aqua. Gleaming delicately at us to sooth all our worries and fears. It was weird. "What was a supermodel doing in our school?" was what everyone was collectively. I suddenly understood what everyone was rattling about. Perfect sense.
"I am Langa Hasegawa." He said.
Now I am sitting next to this man from heaven, as if I was on par with him. I'm not. I think unlike others who are trying to talk to him, flirt with him, befriend him, I'm just ignoring him. This isn't some secret technique compared to what everyone else is doing. I just think he's annoying. Annoyingly perfect.
What's so special about him anyway? Sure he's a contender for the most beautiful man in the whole of Okinawa. But he's must just a very pretty face. He's not that smart or else he'd be in A or B. He's in C, he can't be that smart.
There is nothing interesting about him either. I've been listening in and he just gives surface level answers to everything. It must mean he has no personality or is stuck up like the rest. The fact he's getting along with them proves my point.
I'm desperately trying to reason with myself right now, trying to deflect the light with a mirror in another direction. Langa makes me uncomfortable, for whatever reason. Made me feel sick with this weird conjunction of emotions I just can't label. I really want to ignore that emotion, that feeling. Which means ignoring the root of it. Meaning ignoring Langa Hasegawa.
It's been a month since then. A month. Since Langa Haegawa joined school, it's been in shambles ever since. This Mr. Cool Guy has come into school all, cool! Now he must think he runs the place. I have no say over who runs the place but surely it shouldn't be a 17 year old. Shouldn't it be like the principle?
That doesn't matter to anyone but me apparently because it seems like he's tricked everyone – except me of course. I have to listen to people fawn over him and sing his praises. I have to listen to people ravage at the feet of this guy. Even the teachers suck up to him. My education is at risk here! I've never really cared much but it's still unnerving.
Personally, I can't believe he's still here. In the around two weeks he's been here he: Has been apparently bombarded by different agencies in the area trying to get him to sign a contract. Opened an insta and tiktok that both have over 100k followers. Lot's of brands are jumping on him to get him to advertise and has had multiple articles written about him.
All in a month? It's not like Langa isn't that incredible. He is but he can't be that incredible. In class he just sleeps half the time. If not he keeps looking out the window. It's horrifying since I can feel his eyes burning into me. It makes him even more unsettling. I don't wanna question it though it's fucking scary.
Worst of all is that he doesn't even try to talk to me. Not many people do anymore but if you keep looking at someone surely you'd try to talk to them. I don't want anything to do with him or his circle. It still makes me wonder what they've said about me if he can't look away. I'm content with my rather low social life and occasionally skateboarding. That's all I have and need.
I try to shuffle my way through the cafeteria so I can get into the lunch line. Normally it's long since it's a Friday, I really don't wanna wait as long as I had to last week. It's curry today and surprisingly it's decent so maybe that's why there's so many people.
☄. *. ⋆ Langa's... POV
"You have really nice hair! Is it natural?"
"So where in Canada are you from?"
"Why'd you move to this little island when you live in the states! I mean Canada!"
"You're so handsome you should model!"
"Have you modelled before?"
"You should do modelling!"
"I agree!"
"Was your mother some angel? How are your looks so breathtaking?"
And almost a billion more unexpected compliments are shoved up my ass. I was expecting a quiet introduction to the class, to blend in like I did in Montreal but things are different here. Everyone seems to genuinely care about my presence. It's insane.
I would have never expected this treatment. I never have gotten this treatment. How could this be real? I go to another country - another continent - and suddenly I'm being treated like some war hero. I've been bombarded most of break and lunch. It's overwhelming in the worst way ever.
I was able to find a few people I liked talking to. They seem nice, though I'd much rather befriend someone more like me. Not someone nice. Someone like me.
"Hi guys!" I walk over to my new found group. They are all smiling at me, I feel more welcomed than I thought I'd ever feel here. "Hey! I'm still amazed at your Japanese skill! I wish I was that profound in another language." Hanamaki says the first part in English and then some more incoherent words before giving up. "Why are they trying so hard for me?" is all I could think. The effort they put in for me is admirable. I laugh lightly, attempting to make Hanamaki not feel too bad. After all, I can barely read or write. There's nothing to admire here!
We chat amongst ourselves. Amaji kept asking me about Canada. All that did was make me more homesick. I don’t miss Canada but I miss the places I loved. The mountains, my room, the park near the house dad used to take me to after practice. How beautiful the sky looked clouded in grey and the floor coated in heavy snow. My eyes miss drowning in the fulfilment of seeing those things. Everything else can be left there.
Manji, Amaji's twin, kept staring at me, it's kind of scary. Mabane kept telling me he'll help me with whatever and every two minutes a new group of people (or returning) would come by and talk to me. It may sound nice but I was contemplating things I should not say out loud. All the socialising I've had to do in the last 3 hours, and I have 3 more left. Honestly I haven’t spoken this much in months. I let out a small breath to myself. If I sigh too loud someone will start asking me if I'm sick again. At some point I’m going to have to try to figure out how I’m going to minimise all this attention. Then he walked by:
There's nothing really significant really. Maybe it was how distant he was from everyone else, or the fact his hair seemed to be fighting for its life. I could barely catch his eyes but the faint auburn I caught was redundant. It's like his body was hiding from itself. Why couldn't I look away? I must be projecting onto him. I had to stop thinking for a while.
The boy I've learned to be called Reki shuffles round the crowd in the cafeteria and leaves in a hurry. I wonder where he's going? I'd follow him. Ask more about him. Inside me was a curiosity that couldn't be set aside. But I have a barrier blocking me.
"Hey Langa, why do you keep staring at the door?" Mabane snaps me out of my thoughts. I try to smile at him. Good or not I can't tell because everyone around me falls into the same silence whenever I move. The air tightens and I swear I'm going to choke.
"Oh... Can I ask a question?" Mabane's eyes seem to light up at the question – like he's been waiting for it. "Yes Langa! What is it?" I stared into space trying to think of a way to word it.
"Do you think Reki would want to talk to me?"
☄. *. ⋆
It’s terrifying how fast time can go. How quickly the days piled up into weeks that somehow became a month. Everything’s gone so quickly.
Since I moved to Okinawa people have really acknowledged my presence. A completely foreign concept. Though I’m starting to get accustomed to the smiles and strings of people talking to me.
What’s new is the account Mabane made for me, that he convinced me would be ‘the best decision you’ll ever make.’ I know now that it definitely wasn’t because I’m just getting more attention. Attention that's draining all the energy I have. I’m starting to crave the days back in Canada when I’d go days saying anything. I must be too comfortable in misery.
Walking into the cafeteria, I peer around to look for the guy I sit next to, Reki. Normally he’s here on Fridays. I’ve been watching out for him everywhere I go. Trying to catch a blip in his routine I can fit my way into. Just one conversation should be enough to settle the stirring I have whenever my eyes back on to him.
I’m lucky. I did find a blip like a shimmering light in the form of a gap in the line. Right behind Reki. "This is my chance," I whisper excitedly. I'm digging my nails into my palm to contain all the energy surging through me. To think I have a chance to talk to him. Now all I have to do is speak to him before someone speaks to me. Since through all this thinking i realised i cant just ask or word my curiosity. Mostly since i know its unfounded and strange. Could it be feeling of seeing someone who reminds you of yourself? Is that what’s eating me away? Confirming what I feel is the only goal, I can hopefully talk to him and the curiosity will disappear.
Whilst thinking through this I realise people are looking at me so I got to act fast. I can't think of what to say? Looking around, I see a sign that says... rice and hard curry? Or is it spicy? Maybe I can ask him. My body shakes a bit at the thought of it, he looks so relaxed right now I don't want to disrupt his harmonious state. The whole point of this was to talk to Reki, so I can't let this chance go to waste. I'm sorry Reki.
"Hey, Reki? What does that say?" Reki turns to look at me blankly, sighing slightly but jumping into a smile. He’s smiling but I can already tell this is a mistake.