17x24 AU mykr; 11

[ 11. ]

When Maya doubted herself, her practice session in archery range becoming longer.

As she’s in archery range, be it early mornings or late afternoons, no soul will bother her. No one will dare to break her concentration. For each and every shot, Maya will only look at the target and focusing on her attention to the strength she put on her arrow and her own calculation in mind.

.

One arrow.

.


This morning, Maya left early from home without having her breakfast. The brunette tried to speak casually to Claudine like how she usually do. However, Maya opted to leave as early as possible before Claudine becoming suspicious of her behavior. Maya might have been thinking too much but there’s this … nagging feeling that somewhat Claudine /knows/ if something is wrong about her.

Just like when Claudine approached her last night.

.

More arrows.

.

More shots.

.

More-

.

“--Tendou-san.”

A voice broke her silence, the arrow that she was sure to hit the point blank easily strayed from its calculated path, littering the ground.

Hoshimi Junna, her homeroom teacher, the infamous mathematic teacher, the archery club advisor - stood right behind Maya. Her arms folded, those jade green eyes hidden beneath her full-rimmed glasses were not amused. The last time Maya recalled Junna-sensei caught her while she’s on her trance was also there by the archery range.

“I know archery can relieve stress but after seeing your performance after a while, I become concerned.”

“... How long have you been here, Sensei?” Maya asked.

“Half an hour, maybe?” Junna directed Maya’s attention to the teacher’s wristwatch. “It’s already past evening, Tendou-san.”

Maya’s response is nowhere close to surprise. There’s a part of herself who doesn’t want to go home - just to keep flying more arrows until her heart is satisfied, like that one time when she’s practicing late for upcoming competition.

That time when Claudine has yet to come back to Japan, Junna has been the one keeping an eye on Maya. The bespectacled teacher made sure that the model student like Maya is able to have her own space, for example, to use archery range until late. Maya knew she could ask Junna-sensei to allow her to be there for a little longer, but-

“Your guardian will be worried if you come home late.” Junna reprimanded her. “You have a guardian now, right?”

“I do.” Maya nodded. “Still, I-”

“Are you avoiding your guardian for some reason?”

Maya snapped her attention to the teacher - it is as if everything has been obvious. Maya has tried her best to hide her emotion, why people easily grow to notice? Nana and Hikari were the same earlier about her being gloomy or something.

“I can understand the feeling that you want to keep everything to yourself but you’re already tired to do so.” said the byzantium-haired teacher. “Mind if I borrow your bow for a bit?”




‘Do you think Maya-chan hates me?’ - is a question Claudine asked to Kaoruko that evening.

Today is yet another overtime schedule again for the office, when Claudine’s boss’ fiance, Hanayagi Kaoruko suddenly came by to deliver Futaba dinner. As Claudine needed to wait first before Futaba is finished with meetings and assessment before finalizing their report for the day, the blonde seated together with Kaoruko in the break room.

The question earlier just came out naturally from Claudine after they talked a bit about the past … and about Maya.

The Little Tendou Maya whom Claudine had left for years, enough for their connection to be severed by the threads of time. Maya and Claudine managed to patch things up and ‘start anew’ - yet, Claudine felt something is missing.

“Do you remember that time when I asked to Maya-chan whether she liked you, Kuro-han? She never hates you.”

“Kaoruko, Maya is 17 right now. It was when she’s 10.”

“Mou, Kuro-han. Even 17-year-old girl won’t lie if they dislike something.”

“But she’s-”

“Argh, Kuro-han! You worry to much! Just, just have fun with her? Like, if you want her to smile and have fun, go somewhere fun with her or ask about things that she wanted?”

Claudine blinked at that. It never occurs in her 24-year-old mind that she could “go somewhere” to have fun. Did she work too much after arriving back in Tokyo? Claudine faintly remembered how carefree her life back then in Paris.

Will Maya like it if they go somewhere for a change of pace, though?

“Where’s ‘somewhere fun’, Kaoruko?”

“Were you thinking of going to a pub or something? Maya-chan is underage.”

“N-No I didn’t think of clubs!” Claudine lied.

Kaoruko let out an exasperated sigh. “How about an amusement park?”