Miki Route 2-6: Tell Me

label en_M6:

    #sfx bell ring
    "Mutou sighs as what hold he had over the class is interrupted by the bell's announcement that lunch time has begun."

    "He leans back on his desk and folds his arms as the students all seem to revive, happily chattering among themselves, some pulling lunchboxes out of their bags while others leave to eat elsewhere."

    "Miki and Suzu have risen up out of their seats as well."

    "Suzu seems ready to head out the door, but Miki catches me staring at them."

    mk "You wanna join us for lunch?"

    hi "Sure, beats staying in here, right?"

    "She laughs and turns around to join Suzu in the hallway."

    #hallway

    hi "So where are we going?"

    "Suzu seems to study me, then, as if she made up her mind, she smiles."

    su "So long as it's not the cafeteria, I'm happy."

    hi "Still don't like crowds, do you?"

    su "Nope."

    mk "Let's go up on the roof then!"

    "Suzu stares at Miki for a second, then shakes her head."

    su "No, these days the roof is pretty crowded as well."

    hi "Yeah, I can think of a few students who'd be up there now."

    "Like Emi. The last thing I want is for Miki to face her rival when she should be trying to relax."

    mk "Oh come on, I'm sure it's not that bad. Besides, it's the roof, there's gotta be plenty of space for the three of us to sit."

    mk "And some sunlight would do ya good."

    su "I don't need you to decide for me what would be good for me. If you insist on taking in sunlight like some plant, then how about we go outside?"

    "Miki groans dramatically and nudges Suzu towards the stairwell."

    mk "Come ooon. The roof's got a much better view since it's up high. It's much closer, too."

    su "I'd really rather not."

    "Suzu glances at me and her lips give only the slightest hint of a smile."

    su "Hisao, what do you think?"

    "Turning away from Miki, Suzu looks at me defiantly, daring me to disagree with her."

    "But with the likelihood of running into Emi, I don't much care for the roof right now, either."

    hi "I think I'm with Suzu on this one. It'll be quieter outside."

    "Miki frowns and crosses her arms. She tries to respond, but ends up raising her arms in surrender."

    mk "Fine, we'll go outside. Happy?"

    su "Ecstatic. Thanks for seeing things my way. How about tomorrow we have lunch on the roof?"

    mk "Nice try, but tomorrow's Saturday and we only have a half day. I'm not stupid, you know."

    su "Yes, I should have known you wouldn't fall for that twice."

    hi "Really?"

    mk "Hey! I didn't fall for it once!"

    mk "Hisao, don't believe her."

    hi "I don't think anyone would be dumb enough to fall for something like that."

    "Suzu opens her mouth to reply, but decides against it, shaking her head. Instead, she nudges Miki and the three of us set off to find a quiet spot outside."

    #School grounds (Probably school gardens 2).

    "As Suzu had predicted, the grounds are a lot quieter than the crowded cafeteria."

    "With so much open space, students are scattered all over the campus grounds, so that despite their number we only pass small groups that have settled down."

    "Suzu has taken charge of our expedition and it is at her insistence that we walk around the school's main building, ending up at a small gate leading to the woods nearby."

    "We are welcomed by the feeling of a cool breeze against our faces and the sounds of birds chirping from the trees above. There isn't another person in sight."

    mk "I see what you're planning, you should've told me you wanted to cut class. If ya had, I wouldn't have brought up the rooftop in the first place."

    su "Yes… I know you would be in favor of ditching class the first chance you get."

    "Miki grins, not even trying to disagree."

    su "Trust me, if I had any such desire you would be the first person I turn to, but that's not why I wanted to come here."

    "As her athletic friend deflates, Suzu instead points at a bench overlooking a well kept garden, hidden away from the rest of the campus behind the impressive building."

    hi "Is that what you had in mind, then?"

    su "Yes, this place will do nicely. How lucky for us to find it, don't you think?"

    hi "Definitely, I didn't even know this place existed."

    "Suzu flashes a little smile and sits down on the bench, inviting us to join her. Miki sits down next to her, while I claim the other end of the bench to myself."

    "Ever since Miki helped me shop, I've been cooking most of my own meals, including lunches."

    "Even though I'm not that good yet, my home made food tastes a lot better than any cafeteria food I've tasted."

    "We all pull boxed lunches out of our bags, but as soon as we open them, the difference is striking."

    "Suzu's lunch is organized neatly, while Miki's seems to be a mess, put in her lunchbox with no particular care for appearance. Even my own attempt looks impressive by comparison."

    "A part of me wonders if this is because of her handicap, or because Miki simply doesn't care about the appearance of her food."

    "Judging from how eagerly she digs in, there can't be anything wrong with the taste, at least."

    "Suzu seems a lot less interested in eating than Miki, or me, for that matter."

    su "Hisao, now that you've been here for all of two weeks, what do you think of this place?"

    hi "Well… I guess now that I'm getting used to this place and seeing all these different… people, it feels kind of like I'm back at my old school."

    "Her eyebrow arches as she listens and even Miki pauses to glance at me. Aside from my voice, the only sound is that of rustling leaves and birds on the other side of the fence."

    su "Yes, you'll find that like any school, Yamaku has a lot of '…people'."

    "A coy little smile makes her face light up for a moment, though Miki soon blocks the view."

    mk "Don't worry, I was the same way when I first got here."

    hi "How long have you two been at Yamaku, anyway?"

    mk "I transferred in during my second year, Suzu started in her first."

    mk "At first I worried I'd get stared at, you know, because of this."

    "She waves her bandaged arm with a smile, but I can see a hint of unease in her eyes as she does so. Maybe even after the time she spent here she's still self conscious about drawing attention to her missing hand."

    mk "Come to think of it… I guess a guy like you must get a lot more attention, right?"

    "Suzu snorts, but when Miki looks over at her she quickly turns her attention to her lunch instead."

    hi "What do you mean? I haven't noticed anything."

    mk "Well, you transferred here in the middle of the trimester and you don't look like there's anything wrong with ya."

    mk "With me everyone could say 'oh, missing a hand' and that would be that. With you it'd be a guessing game to find out why you're here."

    su "Hisao Nakai, man of mystery."

    "Miki laughs and nudges Suzu, who smirks."

    hi "Really?"

    mk "You did the same with the guys from the track team, right? You didn't think that people here would try to figure you out the same way?"

    hi "I hadn't really thought about it. Truth be told, I think I've been too busy taking in everything here."

    su "Kind of like going to the circus and forgetting you're one of the clowns, then."

    hi "I don't see myself as a clown, but, yeah I guess that's fair."

    su "Sounds like something a clown might say."

    "Defeated, I continue eating my lunch while the girls laugh. I'd get offended, but I get the idea that Suzu doesn't mean any harm by her jabs."

    su "It was pretty much the same for me, though."

    su "Of course, I didn't transfer in like you two did, so I didn't stand out as much, but I still had plenty of others come up and ask me why I was in Yamaku. Some of them were pretty blunt about it, too."

    "She shoots Miki a look, though her friend has a sudden fixation on the trees nearby."

    hi "How long did that go on for?"

    su "I don't really remember. I fell asleep during a couple of my classes, word must have gotten around or something."

    "Suzu shifts in her seat, picking at her food. I think I understand her unease."

    "Even if it's a medical condition, it's something personal to you. To have people talk about it behind your back feels like an invasion of privacy."

    "It's enough to make me wish she hadn't pointed out the same thing was happening to me."

    su "Let's talk about something else. What do you think of our class? Present company excluded, of course."

    "I give it some thought. I've had plenty of time to get to know my class, but only a couple people stand out to me."

    hi "Shizune seems nice enough. I'm impressed with how seriously she takes her duties as class president."

    su "Yes, she'd run the entire school if the faculty would let her. But I think that kind of ambition will get her far in life."

    "Her gaze rests on Miki for a moment, before shaking off whatever is on her mind and taking another bite."

    "I try to think of other people in class that stood out to me. Certainly Misha qualifies, but Suzu doesn't seem to like her much so there's no point mentioning her."

    hi "The scarred girl in the back, Hanako, I think I could be friends with her if she wasn't so shy."

    "Miki nods as she swallows her last mouthful."

    mk "Yeah, she's always been like that."

    mk "Back when I first got here, I didn't really know anyone yet, so I was looking to make friends with people, ya know?"

    "I do, even if making friends wasn't the first thing on my mind when I got here."

    mk "When you're alone, other loners tend to stand out, so I tried to befriend her. I think I just scared her, though."

    "Somehow I'm a little relieved that it wasn't just me."

    mk "Whenever I tried to talk to her, she'd get this terrified look on her face. I couldn't really deal with that, so I decided to just leave her be."

    "Suzu sighs dramatically, putting her chopsticks down so she can frown at Miki properly."

    su "First the student council, now Hanako too? How many other people did you turn to before you decided to be my friend, Miki?"

    "Miki grins and wraps her left arm around Suzu's neck, forcing the girl to hold still as she pecks her cheek."

    mk "Just enough for you to start paying attention, my darling."

    "Suzu quickly moves her lunchbox to safety using one hand, while gently pushing Miki's face away with the other."

    su "Could you not do this while we're having lunch? And as always, I'm flattered, but I don't like you that way and I know you don't either."

    "Miki pouts for a moment, and then grins as she releases Suzu from her grip."

    mk "You're no fun, Suzu."

    su "And you're making Hisao uncomfortable, maybe he feels left out?"

    "I choke on my food as I hear those words spoken so casually yet somehow drowning out all the sounds around us. My face reddens and the ensuing coughing fit attracts their attention, as both stare at me."

    "When I've caught my breath, I look up at the two girls in time to see Miki breathe a sigh of relief. Without my coughing, the world around us seems to spring to life again as well."

    su "See what happens if I play along?"

    "Miki chuckles a little, turning to me one more time to make sure I'm alright before she returns to eating the rest of her lunch."

    "Fortunately neither of them appears to realize that it wasn't the choking that turned my face red."

    "A few minutes later Miki is the first to finish her meal."

    hi "Wow, all that running really works up an appetite, doesn't it?"

    "She grins and blushes, quickly putting away her empty lunchbox as if to hide the evidence."

    mk "Yea, it's ridiculous how hungry I can get these days. It gets kinda annoying."

    su "Maybe you should cut back on your training?"

    mk "It's only 'til Sunday, after that I can take it easy for a while."

    su "Why not start now? How much do you think you can improve in these two days?"

    mk "We've been over this, it's all about routine."

    su "Yes, you've said that before. I still don't think it's a good idea for you to train as much as you do."

    su "What if you trip and twist your ankle? Or do something else that keeps you from running on Sunday?"

    mk "That's not gonna happen, and sitting around doing nothing instead of training is just gonna make me nervous."

    "Suzu's tone is different from usual. It takes me a while to figure out what it is that's so different about it."

    "Then I realize that her voice has emotion to it, unlike her regular smartass remarks, a hint of concern that is usually absent."

    "Even though she acts like Miki annoys her sometimes, it's clear to me now that Suzu does really care for her."

    su "Well then, how about we go into town after class today? Hisao, would you like to join us?"

    hi "Where would we go? The Shanghai?"

    su "Sure. How about it, Miki?"

    mk "Nah, I can't have any of the good stuff anyway, it'd be one big temptation for me."

    "Suzu frowns and turns to me instead."

    su "You've been cooking for a while now, haven't you?"

    "I can't say where she's going with this, but the look in her eyes is suspicious."

    hi "Yeah, just simple stuff anyone could make, really. Hardly restaurant quality."

    "She chuckles and flashes me a smile that Miki can't see, as if to thank me for another opportunity."

    su "Is that so? Well. I can imagine you're cooking a lot of the same kind of food then. Maybe us girls could teach you a recipe or two?"

    mk "Us girls? I can barely fry an egg! Don't try to rope me in, I've got my training to worry about."

    su "Yes, I know. In fact, I've known ever since you started inviting yourself to have dinner with me."

    hi "You cook?"

    su "Why does that surprise you? All it takes is a little more planning."

    su "But that brings me to what I'd like to propose: Why don't I teach you two some recipes?"

    mk "What? I like our system. You know, you cook the food, I eat the food. We both do the dishes. It works great like that. Why mess up a good thing?"

    su "Because I'd like to be the freeloader every now and then as well, Miki."

    hi "Actually, I wouldn't mind learning some new recipes. I don't think I'd be able to last very long if I ate the same meals every week."

    "Miki looks surprised by my willingness to join in. I guess she was expecting this to be one of her ploys designed to rope her in, not me."

    "Suzu does seem intent on spending the afternoon with Miki, and is somehow delighted by my response."

    "It's weird that she would want to spend time after class, since so far she's had to return to her room for her scheduled naps."

    "All I can think of is that for some reason she doesn't want Miki to train as much, maybe she's worried?"

    su "Perfect! So Hisao's in, what about you, Miki? You can even pick the dishes you'd like to learn. We'll go into town to pick up the ingredients and have a big feast, just the three of us!"

    su "Well, for as long as I'll be awake, anyway. After that it's just the two of you."

    "Miki rubs her bandaged stump nervously and turns to her friend, who maintains an innocent smile."

    "The way Suzu describes it, it could be fun. And to be honest, I wouldn't mind spending some time with Miki that doesn't involve watching her run laps."

    hi "How about it?"

    "Miki averts her gaze, torn between the prospect of spending her afternoon having fun with her friends; and sticking to her rigorous training regime like she had intended. Her silence only draws us in as we await her reply."

    "Finally, her shoulders slump."

    mk "I'll pass, sorry guys."

    su "What? Why?"

    mk "I told ya, it wouldn't feel right for me to just skip out on practice like that."

    mk "And besides, you shouldn't skip your naps either, right?"

    "Suzu scoffs and puts her lunch away, despite the fact she only ate half."

    su "This isn't about me, Miki. I'm not the one who's been obsessed with winning on Sunday. You need some time away from that track."

    su "Anyway, it's not skipping out, it's allowing your body to rest so you'll be fit for the track meet. If anything, it's a better alternative than running again."

    "She smiles again, as she dangles the carrot in front of her friend. But Miki doesn't fall for it."

    "Instead, she only seems to tense up."

    mk "Sorry,  but I'll be the judge of that. Like you said, I don't need you to decide that for me."

    "Suzu frowns, I think she didn't expect Miki to resist."

    su "You're not exactly objective here, you know."

    mk "I know how much my body can handle, I don't need you to butt in and pretend you're the expert when you've never run a lap in your life."

    mk "If you did run, you'd know that a runner knows better than anyone just how far they can take it. I've been running three times a day and I feel just fine!"

    hi "{i}Three times?{/i} Is that really a good idea, even for you?"

    "Suzu is every bit as surprised as I am. Even though the two are neighbors, it doesn't look like she had any more idea than I did."

    "As I study her expression, she looks at me with concern. I shake my head to let her know I didn't know either. She gives a small nod and turns to Miki again."

    su "I don't need to have run in order to know about running, can't you see that this obsession you have with winning isn't healthy?"

    su "I'm asking you, as a friend, please take it easy on yourself."

    mk "That's weird."

    mk "You've known me for over a year now and I've been running all this time. It's not like I haven't trained like this before. Why the sudden change of heart?"

    su "Just because I didn't speak up, doesn't mean I was okay with it."

    mk "Well in any case I don't need your approval to run. Not back then, and I don't need it now, either."

    mk "And my point isn't about you being okay with my training, but that I know my limits and didn't get hurt. Not even once."

    "Miki turns to me, looking for support."

    mk "Hisao, please tell her. You've been out there with me every time, have I ever pushed myself too hard? Or come close to injury?"

    "For a few seconds I freeze, put on the spot and unable to speak or even think. Then, as my faculties return, I try to think of an answer that can settle their dispute."

    hi "Well…"

    "Both girls focus their attention on me, eager to find out what I have to say. It all but makes me try to be as diplomatic as I can."

    hi "It's true that you haven't gotten hurt-{w=0.1}{nw}"

    mk "See?"

    "Suzu looks at me with disapproval. I know that she's trying to look out for her friend, but lying would only make things worse."

    "Still, maybe I can help smooth things over this way."

    hi "But… There have been some times where you were really pushing yourself hard. To be honest, so hard that I considered trying to stop you somehow."

    "Miki's eyes widen, enough for me to feel as if I'm betraying her, that she expected me to have her back in this discussion."

    hi "Looking back on it, I don't think you were out of control or anything like that. It's just that you seemed to do a lot better on the track when you were in a good mood."

    su "A good mood?"

    mk "How do you figure that, Hisao?"

    hi "Every time you managed to finish in under a minute, you were relaxed before you started. But when you were stressed out and running more frantically, your results were worse."

    "Miki pauses as she considers my hypothesis, providing a contrast to Suzu, who seems more persistent about having her way."

    su "In any case, even if you haven't gotten hurt, that's no guarantee it won't happen in the future."

    mk "You're still going on about that? I don't buy it."

    mk "All those times I went to train, you never once worried about me getting hurt, why start now?"

    mk "What's going on with you?"

    su "Nothing. Forget I said anything."

    "It's the first time I've seen her unable to convince Miki to go along with her idea. From her expression, Suzu isn't used to this either."

    "I glance up at Miki, as she stands up to get a better look at her friend."

    mk "What aren't you telling me?"

    "Suzu stares at the ground, her fingers digging into her school bag. I don't want to be a part of this conversation and try to listen for the sounds from the woods, but all I hear is their voices."

    su "Just drop it, alright?"

    mk "You wouldn't make such a big deal over nothing, now tell me why you're really bent on keeping me from training."

    su "I told you! I don't-{w=0.1}{nw}"

    #interruption

    mk "Stop. What's the real reason?"

    "Now that they're silent, the only sound is that of Suzu's fingers scraping against the fabric of her bag."

    su "How many times have you raced against Emi?"

    "Her voice is unusually soft, lacking even a hint of confidence. She sounds anxious, in a way I didn't expect from someone who usually enjoys having a sense of control over her friend."

    "Miki's lips tighten, as her eyes narrow at her friend."

    mk "More than I cared to count. What's your point?"

    "It's an empty question. By now we all know what Suzu's point is."

    "Miki has never beaten Emi before."

    "She's training as if her life depends on winning, but she's never beaten Emi before."

    "What happens if she doesn't win?"

    "It's a question Suzu doesn't know the answer to, I don't know it either. I don't think even Miki herself knows the answer to that."

    "If she does, she refuses to think about that happening to her."

    "But Suzu is different."

    "Looking at her now, it's easy to see that question has been on her mind."

    "Was that why she tried all those other things first? To avoid having to tell her closest friend that she's not sure she'll win?"

    mk "Well?"

    hi "Miki…"

    mk "Don't. I need to hear her say it. I need her to tell me the truth for once."

    su "I…"

    "Miki crosses her arms, unsuccessfully trying to look as if she isn't hoping that somehow she's wrong."

    su "I know you've been working really hard, but so has she."

    su "I want you to win, I want to see you get first place in each race, and I even want to hear you boast once it's all over."

    "Miki winces. Just having this conversation must be hard on both of them. It makes me feel even more like I'm only intruding on their conversation."

    hi "If you want, I'll give you two some privacy. Lunch break is almost over anyway."

    "I push myself up off the bench, but Miki shakes her head."

    mk "Stay."

    su "It's not because of you, Hisao."

    "Am I a neutral party in this? Something keeping them for them to hold on to as they work their way through a conversation neither really wants –but both need- to have?"

    mk "Say it, Suzu."

    "Miki's voice is starting to falter."

    "Their eyes stare blankly at the ground beneath their feet. What little strength they have left is retained by not looking each other in the eye. The silence is oppressive and I find myself wanting someone, anyone, to break it."

    su "I'm worried about you…"

    su "You're training so much now, I think you might be placing too much stock in all this, Miki."

    "Miki winces, visibly disappointed. She's still trying to maintain her composure, but the mask is showing more and more cracks."

    mk "Why would you worry about that? I'm going to win, so there's nothing to worry about."

    "Suzu slowly shakes her head, but she might as well have punched Miki in the stomach."

    mk "I'm going to win, Suzu, so why would you worry?"

    "Her voice is pleading now, begging for Suzu to say something, anything, else than the words she's dreading."

    "Suzu squeezes her eyes shut and takes a deep breath. The breeze that seemed gentle and cool when we first sat down now makes her shiver."

    "She steels herself, preparing to say the one thing she rather wouldn't."

    su "Because I don't think you'll win."

    "She finally looks up at Miki, waiting for the inevitable response."

    "It's finally been said. The truth is out, the truth she needed."

    "The truth she never wanted."

    "Suzu keeps her eyes averted from her friend, gripping her bag so tightly that her knuckles turn white."

    "Miki looks like she just had the wind knocked out of her, but when she notices my stare she puts on a brave face."

    mk "Do you agree with her?"

    hi "I don't, I wouldn't have the past week on the track with you otherwise."

    "Her lips curl into a smile but her expression is one of insecurity. Having my support doesn't seem to weigh up against her best friend's doubts, no matter how much either of us would like it to be different."

    mk "So you think I'll win?"

    hi "Well, I've never seen you and Emi race, I don't know how-"

    "Before I can finish my sentence, she swings her bag over her shoulder, turning away from me."

    "I hoped she would appreciate my honesty, but it's clearly not what she wanted to hear."

    mk "…Whatever, I'm outta here."

    "With that she leaves the two of us sitting on the bench."

    "The chatter of birds and distant laughter of other students going about their lives as if nothing happened is deafening."

    #Fade to black

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