Realistic or Modern (Heartfelt Lies) Worlds Apart

[Tau]

Stagnation…
A girl free from all expectations, and the boy from whom is expected the world.
Can they remain together even when they come from totally different worlds?
Or will they drift apart until there’s nothing left…?
Follow Cinabu Naro and Daisuke Minamoto as they try to bridge two worlds in the name of love!​

Cinabu wore the widest grin imaginable as she approached the task of cramming as much baked goodies into her backpack as possible. The counter in front of her looked like a warzone of powdered sugar, flour, and other ingredients that’d failed to make it into whatever container they should’ve. Baking wasn’t exactly fun for her, but she’d managed to spend the entirety of yesterday pushing through it thanks to the thought of this hiking trip.

The schoolyear had started off miserably, but there was one star that shone for her out of the darkness. In her darkest moment, someone strong, dependable, and comforting. Cinabu had felt crushes before. Problem was, it was never anything she’d really called love before. But that moment, and ever since then, she was sure! It had to be! There was nothing else like it!

… The only problem was, the two barely knew each other at all! He’d helped in that moment of need, and the two had agreed to maybe-kinda-sorta be boyfriend and girlfriend, but… who was Daisuke Minamoto? He’d been sturdy-looking classmate she thought was cute, and being in the kendo club, he liked swords maybe? That was practically all she knew. But this was the perfect opportunity for that to change! A shared interest in nature they’d happened upon which, Cinabu was certain, would lead to many many more as they talked. She’d make sure it was the best hike ever!

How exciting!

---

Later that morning, Cinabu arrived at the mountain trail entrance, carrying a stuffed backpack that looked ready to topple her over backwards the moment a strong gust blew the wrong way. As if that wasn’t enough, in her hand was something resembling a small boombox. She glanced around, looking for her boyfriend (that still felt crazy to her!), but he seemed to be running a bit late. That was fine, he probably just hit traffic or something!

Blitzkrieg Bob
Ehb

 

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

Minamoto, Daisuke

Daisuke’s morning had started early by jogging around the Minamoto mansion, followed by a shower and a light breakfast, he changed and took a backpack to leave, but while he walked by the main hallway of the mansion, the teenager crossed with an old man with furrowed brows and severe expression, his grandfather.

They have a brief talk while the old man questioned Daisuke about skipping his morning kenjutsu practices to which the teenager attempted to justify himself telling him that he going to the mountains to strengthen his mind and body, although Daisuke was good for lying the old man seemed unconvinced, nevertheless the old man didn’t have time to speak with Daisuke, he just reminded him about his duties as the heir of the Minamoto clan and left him telling him they will continue this talk later.

Daisuke could sigh with relief after he crossed the gates of his mansion, he had lost the first bus and he had to wait for the next, while awaiting at the bus station he thought about why he was doing all this?, why was he assuming such a risk as defying and lying to the grand master of his family?, if he was already lying why didn't he invest this time to sleep a little better?

This sense of uncertainty and risk was all part of this peculiar relationship that he constantly thought about it, but without using words such as ‘girlfriend’, ‘couple’ or ‘love’. Perhaps he continued with this relationship because he actually enjoyed defying his grandfather, because hanging out with a girl made him feel a little more like a common teenager, because they shared a traumatic experience together, because she reminded to his younger self … or maybe it was out of a sense of guilt. All these selfish reasons didn’t make a satisfying justification.

Nevertheless, as he reached the bus stop at the feet of the mountain trail he could understand this peculiar relationship a little better. A petite pink-haired girl was waiting with a backpack that made her look even smaller. Daisuke giggled a little inside the bus while he walked to her. Her family name was Naro, her given name was Cinnabu (he struggled to remember it, becauase he never called her by her given name). He never thought much about her in the first months of the merged school, it was only after they shared a traumatic moment they become closer, almost without noticing Daisuke was hanging out with her on a regular basis.

“Hey there, Naro-san”. He approached her greeting her waving his hand. “Did you wait for long?” He called her by her family name with a polite tone as usual, an almost cold politeness that contrasted with the typical image of a loving couple.

He asked with a gentle tone while extending his arm to take her backpack. “Let me help you with this”. Then looking in the direction of the trail told her. “Ready for the task?” His attitude were still polite, though straightforward and laconic, in Kusatsu it is said it was part of the Minamoto character, but for Daisuke it was slightly different. During his recent life he had become used to thinking in the challenge ahead to avoid thinking about himself or the persons around. This goal-achiever attitude served well for his kenjutsu or his studies, but he wasn't really sure if it helped to his peculiar relationship with Cinnabu.

Tau
Ehb

 

[Tau]

Cinabu breathed a sigh of relief as the familiar tone of voice struck her ears, turning to face him and smiling brightly. "No, not long at all!" she lied. No need to make him feel bad. She noticed his somewhat cold demeanor right away, but she’d come to simply accept that was the way he was. Not ideal, but she was confident she could break any icy shell with enough work.

"Oh, yes, thank you!" she said, accepting his offer by wrapping the heavy backpack around his arm. Once the full weight had been transferred, it was even more astounding how such a tiny girl had been holding it up. In fact, from the way she was smiling at Daisuke’s offer, maybe its very purpose had always been for him to carry.

"I am now!" Cinabu answered with a giggle. As they proceeded on their peaceful nature walk, not even three steps in, Cinabu raised up the boombox in her arms. "Soooo, I thought we could maybe spice up our hike with a little karaoke! Do you like singing? If not, I can always just sing for you~!"

Blitzkrieg Bob
Ehb

 

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

Minamoto, Daisuke

Daisuke took Cinnabu's backpack and noticed that it was heavier than it appeared. In fact, it was even heavier than his own backpack, causing him to take a step to the side as he struggled to balance the weight of both backpacks.

"Wow, this backpack is really heavy," he remarked, attempting to sound playful. However, charisma wasn't his strong suit, and he realized that he couldn't be as spontaneous with others as he was with Cinnabu.

As they entered the mountain trail, Daisuke couldn't help but admire the beautiful landscape. He found solace in the serene surroundings, and he had never thought about bringing a boombox. Yet, there was Cinnabu, asking if he wanted to sing. Daisuke smiled.

"Yes, let's sing together! "You like one ok rock?!" he replied, his voice slightly louder than usual. He enjoyed singing karaoke, though he usually couldn't do it, but his smile quickly faded. Clearing his throat, he returned to his usual calm expression. He was happy to do karaoke, but he wanted to maintain his composure and keep his guard up, as he didn't feel comfortable letting it down completely or telling other people about his music tastes.

Tau

 

[Tau]

"OooOOooo, good choice!" Cinabu giggled. "I think I have a few songs in here..." She started to scroll through the songlist on the screen, but paused as she noticed her date suddenly grow more stern. Was he feeling guilty about smiling? That didn't make a lick of sense to her, but she had trouble seeing it any other way.

"Ahem, yes! Okay! Here we go!" she sprung back, not one to sour the lighthearted fun of karaoke with her uncomfortable musings. As the song began and Cinabu started to sing, it became apparent just how into it she got. The way her face animated through each syllable, and her expressions matched each verse, it was almost like watching an actress run through a script. At least, until the song changed and she became a bit more self-aware.

"O-oh sorry, I'm hogging the microphone, aren't I...? Here!" She held it up to Daisuke's lips as she carried the boombox beside him, glancing up into his eyes with eager anticipation.

Blitzkrieg Bob

 

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

Minamoto, Daisuke

Daisuke and tilted his head enjoying the music of his favorite band, but mostly enjoying the energy and spontaneity of Cinnabu, he grinned a little while looking at her with the corner of his eye, but this time it was less obvious than before. He didn't mind listening to her in silence while she sang, Daisuke didn’t know why and didn’t want to find it out either, he just liked it.

“Ehhh”.

Daisuke crossed sights with Cinnabu while she offered a little more of the microphone, Daisuke leaned to the microphone a little and started to sing, though he knew the lyrics very well at first his voice was panned and without any trace of the energy that characterized Cinnabu, but as the song advanced he couldn’t avoid raising his out of tone voice and even raising a fist while the intensity of the song grew as well. As the song finished with a guitar solo he looked at Cinnabu with a little smile feeling his performance was inadequate compared to her’s he said while scratching the back of his head.

“He he he, sorry, singing it’s not my thing”.

A few seconds of silence followed the end of the song when Daisuke noticed that by leaning towards the microphone his face was very close to Cinnabu’s. Normally those two didn’t share this closeness. At the same time a strong wind hit the mountains waving their hair, with a few hair locks out of place, Cinnabu looked prettier than before. Daisuke's face expressed his mixed feelings, his surprise by rediscovering Cinnabu's beauty, his need to do something he didn't know what it was, but also his reluctance about releasing his grip on himself, nevertheless, he moved his lips trying to say something, but he couldn’t think in any words except…

“Heh”.

He felt he had the chance for doing (much) more, but that chance was probably gone now.

Tau

 

[Tau]

Cinabu watched fondly as her boyfriend rocked out on her little karaoke machine. As far as she was concerned, it was basically professional-grade stuff! Maybe that was a bit of bias speaking, but she knew for certain Daisuke was better than her dad, at the very least (not that that was saying much).

"Pfft, not your thing!" Cinabu quietly repeated the statement in lighthearted mockery. "If you’re having fun, then you’re doing great! But you didn’t sound bad, either," she winked.

Cinabu felt the nice cool breeze toss her hair about, and she took a nice deep breath. It took her a moment to notice what Daisuke had evidently noticed much quicker: the two were in the perfect position! The position. Eyes close by; lips so delightfully close to striking distance. This was a wonderful opportunity to break unbroken ice and seal their new relationship… to make it real!

Cinabu closed her eyes as the breeze gently shifted her hair. That was couple-speak for "kiss me," or at least she was pretty sure that’s what it meant. Clear and concise. She awaited the magic touch as her heart beat quicker and quicker, anticipation nearly causing her to quiver. And then…

"Heh"

Heh…?

She opened her eyes again, feeling a slight redness on her cheeks at the discomfort of what seemed to be a soft rejection. Was the timing not right? Was he waiting until they made it to a special spot?

"I-Is something funny…?" Cinabu had meant to ask it with a casual and curious attitude, but it’d come out more confrontational than she’d intended. He must not have understood her signals! That was it. Calm down, Cinabu!


Blitzkrieg Bob

 

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

Daisuke smiled slightly after Cinnabu praised his singing skills, that brief and apparently meaningless exchange of words had kept their relationship going on, but then that breeze that would have helped another relationship to fly higher, for them it was a wind that threatened to crumble their weak relationship.

Cinnabu was the example of a cute and naive person in the school and Daisuke couldn’t avoid feeling at fault after hearing her with a harsh and confrontational attitude. Daisuke felt he should do something to compensate her, but it was an issue, Daisuke is Minamoto. He grew up learning that he has to react with harshness to harshness.

“I wasn’t mocking you if that’s what you mean”

Replied the boy with a cold tone that he reserved for strangers, the same tone he used to talk to Cinnabu before they got the confidence enough to hang out together. It seemed the warm notes of before had frozen into his usual and even harsh indifference that he used to avoid being vulnerable. The worst part, it was a situation that was becoming more usual in their recent encounters.

“Be careful, if we are about to reach the peak, the terrain is uneven”.

His words might imply he wanted to protect a person very close to him, but his voice told otherwise, the fact he didn’t mind seeing her when he spoke to her might confirm the distance he felt or perhaps it was a half-hearted attempt to amend the things with her.

Like a couple at the brink of divorce, unable to understand each other, it seemed a relationship without love and passion living out the routine and manners. The wind hit them again, this time it wasn’t a gentle breeze, but a cold wind that suited a relationship that maybe was becoming colder and colder by the minute.

Tau

 

[Tau]

Cinabu pouted a bit. She’d received the response she wanted in one sense, but not the other. Words without the heart. She’d rather have Daisuke say all the wrong words with the right heart. Call her fat and ugly in some magic way that somehow turned it into an "I love you!" Was that even possible? If it was, evidently not for him.

"O-oh… okay, well… if you weren’t, then…?" she trailed off, hoping he’d take the initiative in explaining. Instead she got a warning about the path. She appreciated him looking out for her safety, but not with the emotional engagement of a hired bodyguard.

This may have appeared somewhat dire, but Cinabu wasn’t one to give up on a good time so easily, especially when a relationship she cared about was on the line! According to her favorite (and only) book on marriage romantic advice, a cold attitude needed to be faced head on! Bold and direct! She could do that, probably.

Bounding a few steps ahead, she turned on her heels and pointed a finger dramatically at Daisuke. "You, sir… definitely have something on your mind!" she declared the obvious. "Are you worried about your future? Some money troubles? You know, it might help to have someone to confide in!" Cinabu not-so-subtly hinted.

Blitzkrieg Bob

 

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

Minamoto, Daisuke

Daisuke looked at Cinnabu her dramatical approach to him confused a little to the boy, there were a couple of seconds of silence between them, Daisuke recognised Cinnabu’s question was honest and in good spirit, but he preferred simply to avoid the question by replying with another question: “... then?”

However, it seemed Cinnabu was undeterred, as she asked again this time more directly and dramatically, he saw Cinnabu as someone energetic and funny, almost with a naive charm, he enjoyed spent time with her, but by the same reason, he didn’t see her as someone trustworthy to tell his problems and even less to ask her for help to solve them (not to mention he believe asking for help was recognising his own weakness).

Daisuke smiled a little. He patted her head, almost like you do with a puppy, while telling her: “There’s nothing to worry about, Naro”. He turned his head again to continue advancing, but even himself felt his reaction was a meager answer to the effort Cinnabu was investing in her help offer. Out of politeness rather than love he added. “Once we reach the peak of the mountain we can see the valley and river that passes through Kusatsu”. His smile was sincere, his words were not.

This issue led Daisuke to think in the development of this relationship, Daisuke has consistently avoided picking a nickname for Cinnabu, he didn’t call her ‘sweetie’, ‘honey’ or none of the nicknames that young couples used, not to mention he still called her by her family name and now he was rejecting her attempts to get closer and helping him. He felt a little disgusted with himself as he started to feel he was merely using Cinnabu. He was well aware that his grandfather and his family would ever accept a girl of humble origins and soft temper as his couple. Perhaps he should open up his heart to tell Cinnabu the truth.

While he was focused on this internal conflict he didn’t notice the terrain, then as the packs on his back were uneven (and Cinnabu’s was pretty heavier than his) he staggered -which could tell about his inner nervousness- and he fell on one of his knees. He shut his eyes for a second, his knee hitting the rocky ground hurt him a little, but it was nothing serious nor dangerous, as it was a very safe mountain trail and not the kind that is surrounded by cliffs. “I’m ok, I’m ok”. He said while standing up again and cleaning his jeans with his hand.

Tau