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Member
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 21
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Ai no Nishi (Love's Diary)
Well, it's a funny love story that's written in a non-formal way. There is some profanity and perverted scenes (somewhat adult content) but otherwise it's ok. I'd suggest 16+ for read. Note- I will use both Pingying and Romanji for writing Chinese and Japanese names, respectively. Chinese names will be written in Pingying, and Japanese names in Romanji. The story will be continued depending on how many people look at each part- (PART ONE)
Opening:
爱的日記
(愛の日記- Ai no Nishi)
Book 1- Peach Blossom Bloom
“覚えなさい、 私はいつの日かまた会う。 それは約束である。”
“それから私はいつの日か私達が互いを見つけることを望む!”
“Remember, I’ll see you again someday. It’s a promise.”
“Then I hope someday we find each other!”
Episode One- Akasaka House, Open-Air Bath and Chinese Boy Included!
It was a cold, brisk spring day in Beijing. The peach blossoms in the political and economic hub of the Eastern world were blooming a delicate pink, and their leaves hailed into the road below. A small boy and girl were walking along the park lane. They were no older than seven, yet if they were judged by conversation alone, some might mistake them for lovers.
“You know, Xinji… I hope to see you someday again,” a small girl said to him.
”What? Why? Again? Are you going somewhere?” a young boy replied.
”You know, I’m moving to Japan. My parents have found a new job there.”
”You’re leaving Beijing?”
”Yes. And you.”
”I hope to see you again someday, then.”
”Yes, of course. Here, have this.”
The small girl took off a scarlet hair-tie and tore it in half.
“Whenever we meet again, you’ll know.”
She gave the other half to the small boy.
“Remember, I’ll see you again someday. It’s a promise.”
”Then I hope someday we find each other!”
”I have to go now. My parents are here to take me to the airport.”
“Bye!”
Not quite. A few years later, I moved to Japan as well, Xinji thought. By now, I’ve almost completely forgotten who she was. Do I even know her face? Well, I think I remember her name… no wait, I don’t. I think it was M, then Y… no wait… yeah, I don’t remember that either. A loud voice interrupted his dream.
“Wake up!”
”Uh…”
”Wake up, Xinji! You’ll be late!” his mother said. “If you don’t get up right now, you’ll have to leave without eating breakfast!”
Xinji groggily rose from his bed. Leave for where... You know, he thought, that dream was one of the best dreams I’ve ever had. I just have to be continuously reminded of that day, don’t I? I squandered my only opportunity at real love. I think that was the only girl I talked to my whole life? Congratulations, kid.
After dressing himself, he went outside onto the balcony. His parents were sitting down on the small strip of grass that surrounded the concrete.
“Sit down, Xinji.”
Xinji walked forward and sat down beside them, stuffing a manto into his mouth. He looked in their eyes, and could see a mixture of emotions- disappointment, frustration, and hopelessness. They sat there silently for a while, then he spoke up.
“Yes, mother? Father?”
“I think it’s about time you found a job,” his mother said.
“Yes. We can’t support you forever. If you can’t pass the entrance exam, you might as well find a job anyway. You’ve tried so hard to get into Beijing University and failed, can’t you just admit defeat? It’s not shameful to admit defeat to something so big,” his father added.
“What job do you have in mind?”
“An old friend from China has a café that needs taking care of, as well as a small boarding house above it. Akasaka House, I think. It’d be great if you could manage it for him.”
Xinji looked surprised.
“You want me to go back to China?” he gasped out, between choking on mouthfuls of the manto.
”No. That’d waste even more of our money… I mean, we don’t want too much stress on you. It’s in Tokyo. You might have to go to other places for some reason, but we expect you should stay in Tokyo.”
“When do I depart?”
”Today. This morning.”
Xinji nearly choked on the remains of his meal.
“What? How? You didn’t tell me I was leaving town! How do I leave? Where are my tickets?”
“We have that handled,” his mother said. She handed him a card. “Just show this to the ticket person. It’s a prepaid one way trip to Tokyo by train.”
”What about my planned make-up classes?”
”You’ll do them there. We already took care of that. You’ll report to the Nagarashi Academy when you arrive.”
”But… how would I concentrate on my studies?”
”I’m sure you’d manage as both the temporary owner of the Akasaka Café and a student. I suggest you head for the train station right now. If you do, you’ll miss the morning rush.”
“Thank you. I’d wish you had told me sooner, though.”
“I wish we could.”
Xinji walked outside, put on his glasses and picked up his bicycle. It was a brisk, cold day outside. As he peddled quietly along the streets, he noticed that the peach blossom trees again had those same delicate, pink leaves. Just like in the dream, he thought. Just like Beijing.
- - - - -
“For the field determinant value, you simply take the sine of both sides, then you try to remove the I variable from the left side and move it to the right. So it becomes the following equation, which can be transformed into the General Equation for Electricity.”
This is bad, Xinji thought. I don’t understand any of this! What the hell is this guy talking about? First day, and I don’t get any of this!
“Because of the quantum field elements, the new vector on the molecular surface of a crystalline carbon structure has what type of surface variable? Chan Xinji?”
“What? Oh… X? Y? Z? I have no idea. I’m sorry, sir,” he said quietly.
The teacher sighed. This kid just doesn’t get it. This is his third time in the physics make-up class. Well, hard to blame him. He has been getting unsatisfactory grades in every previous science class. Scratch that, he thought. Make that every previous class, according to his teachers. If I remember correctly, wasn’t he the person that got only one problem right on the basic skills exam? Wait… didn’t the elementary school language teacher say on the grade summary he was the only person to fail a basic kanji test? Argh, this kid is full of problems. I just have to get one kid like this every year, don’t I?
“Ok. I’m going to say this for the fifth time. When a quantum field is applied to any crystalline structure, the vectors on the molecule surface become charged, thus represented by an i. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
Some classmates were whispering behind him.
“What a retard,” someone commented.
“Kid’s dumber than a brick.”
“New people... they’re always stupid or something.”
“What does that have to do with physics?”
“Maybe they go easy on people where he comes from.”
“He doesn’t look any different. Are you sure he’s not just stupid?”
Xinji merely buried his head in his book. I hate this place, he thought. Everyone here is so mean to me. It isn’t my fault I failed the entrance exam three times in a row! No wait… it is, but what the hell! The least they could do is shut up and leave me alone!
“Hey! Take it easy on him! Quit making fun of him, you jerks!” a voice behind them rang out.
“Yuki-chan, please stop disrupting class!” the teacher called out.
”Sorry sir.”
The other classmates snickered.
“Watch out, teacher going to own you,” a tall, skinny boy sneered.
“Learn to mind your own business,” another girl said.
“I’m just trying to be nice to the new guy!”
“It’s a lot easier to laugh at him, though,” the tall boy replied, smiling.
The teacher turned from the board and announced something.
”Everyone, clear off your desks, please. You will be taking the practice exam for the physics section.”
A few murmurs were heard, with the occasional “Aw, damn!” Some people groaned, already knowing what their test grades were going to be. Xinji was just staring quietly forward. So, I’m doomed, he thought.
“This will be recorded in the grade-book as well. There is to be no talking during the exam. That goes for you too, Miss Miramitsu,” he said, looking at Yuki sternly.
“Yes sir.”
And thus, the final nail in my coffin, Xinji thought. Not only will my teacher know how badly I score on this, but the university will, too. This is excellent, he thought sarcastically. I should write a book on this. Lots of failures wrote books on their failures and became successful, he thought. Maybe I’d get lucky. No, wait… the reason you’re a failure is because you’re unlucky.
He got his paper. What the hell is this? Quantum field magnifiers? Molecular vectoring? Crystalline field properties? Argh! Screw this! A. B. B. A. C. D. Wow, C looks cool. I wonder how low I’d get if I continuously mark A. He wrote every answer as A. Xinji turned his test in first. Around him, everyone was either staring at their test paper blankly, or trying to fill it in at maximum speed. A few were quietly whispering “Damn it! So hard!” and “These calculations are a bitch!” Calculations. Oh my. I didn’t do any calculations! I think I failed this test, he thought.
“All test papers in. You may rest and sit silently for the remainder of the class period, which is over in 1 minute. I will have all the tests graded by then.”
Xinji closed his eyes and dreamed he got the top score in the class. I can just hear it now, he thought. “Way to go, Xin!” one of his classmates yelled. “We were always cool with you, just playing around, you know what I mean?” “I love you Xinji!” Yes, I know you do, because I’m so smart and I’m going to Beijing University! Majoring in physics, watch out! Perfect score on the physics section! “You’re the best, kid!” Even the teacher likes me now, he thought. “I’ve never had such a…”
“… terrible student.”
Xinji woke up.
“Chan Xinji, lowest score in the class, 22.8%. Note he got lower than what is statistically expected if he randomly guessed. Next, Miramitsu Yuki, with a 38%. Well, she did a little better, at least. Now for the highest scores… top in the class, Akamatsu Ryu, with a perfect 100…”
At the mention of his name, the tall boy smiled. He seemed to already know what his score was. He was the only one not panicking, Xinji recalled. He was so calm when he was taking the test… every step another easy exercise to him.
When the teacher was done exulting the highest scores in the class, he turned to Xinji and Yuki.
“Good job to both of you, I think I’ll see you in Beijing University… in eighty years or so! The Chinese are ten thousand times as strict with their university students; I’d be surprised to see you survive there even if you did pass!”
The other students snickered.
“Good job, Yuki-chan,” one of the students laughed.
“You’re as smart as Xinji-san there!”
”Oh shut up,” Yuki replied.
“Maybe you two will get married! You know, similar brainpower…” the tall boy joked.
“Bastard.”
”Idiot.”
The teacher stood up. “Class is dismissed. Xinji and Yuki, please stay behind.”
Everyone rushed for the door. The only two people lingering behind were Xinji and Yuki. The teacher walked up to them.
“You know, you two, you were the only people in the class to score below 40%. I’m ashamed of that. Are you trying to shame me?”
”No sir,” they replied in unison.
“The real test is still a few months away. Study well, and maybe you’ll pass. Dismissed.”
“Thank you sir.”
Xinji picked up his books. Man, that teacher is seriously annoying. Blah, at least I’m not that much worse than the second to last person. I was worried I might have gotten a zero while everyone else got 90% or higher. Sort of relieved, sort of… still disappointed.
As he was getting up to leave, he accidentally tripped. He fell on Yuki.
“Ow!”
“I’m so sorry!”
As he was scrambling to get up and apologize, he mistakenly allowed his hands to slip over her chest. He immediately realized his mistake, but it was too late.
“Pervert!”
Yuki sent him reeling backwards with a punch to the solar plexus. Damn, she hits strong for a girl, he thought. Make that very strong.
“Hmph! Bastard!”
She ran and left.
“Wait! I’m sorry! It was an accident!” he called after her.
She seemed to ignore him. Yep. I’m cursed, he thought.
- - - - -
So this is the Akasaka café and hotel, he thought. Akasaka House… now under my management. Great. Not as bad as I thought it would be. He opened the door. The place appeared deserted.
“Anyone in there?”
There was no response.
Let’s have a look around shall we… hmm, there’s supposed to be a café… check. Dorms upstairs and my room… check. The bath and pool… check. Yep, everything is in place. At least this isn’t cursed. Yet.
Man, I have to chill out for a while. He went into the men’s heated pool. It was a small pool studded with rocks to imitate the sea-shore. He got in. The water felt warm and steamy. Ah, this is the life. The water is nice. The old guy had a nice place here. It must cost a fortune to supply the electricity to run this place. Xinji stirred the water with his fingers. Really nice, he thought. It might not be so bad to stay here. Free hot open-air pool, all expenses paid, and I get free money for living here. Suddenly, he heard someone come in. It was the girl from the make-up class.
What the hell? There were separate entrances… don’t tell me they lead into the same pool! What the… who the hell designed this place?
The girl from school walked in, wearing only a towel. She took off her glasses, putting them on a rock nearby. She sat down behind the rocks in one corner. He could hear a sigh. She was talking to herself. Xinji hid himself behind the rocks. This is so embarrassing…
“Damn. 18%. Stupid teacher doesn’t know how to grade.”
“I don’t think I deserve that grade, did I?”
“No, you didn’t.”
Oh shit. Why did I have to talk? Damn! I have to be more careful and less clumsy about these things.
“Who’s there?”
No answer.
“Hmm. Must be my imagination.”
She swam around, then bumped into something. It was Xinji.
“Oh, I’m sorry… wait, what the hell are you doing in here? Bastard!”
Yuki panicked and tried to scramble out of the pool to try and put some clothes on, but with Xinji also scrambling to get out of the pool for fear of offending her more than he already has. He hurried out and quickly put on a towel. He looked behind him, and saw Yuki still struggling to dress herself in her panicked state. She turned around, finding him staring at her, naked. Oh damn. I didn’t mean to look!
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to!”
“Pervert! I’ll get you for this!”
She hurriedly put on her clothes and ran out of the room.
Damn it! I had better apologize, he thought. He hurried to find her. She was in the main café, looking for the manager.
“Wait! Please stop and listen!”
“What do you want now? Haven’t you caused enough trouble here?”
“I’ve come to apologize. I am really sorry.”
Xinji closed his eyes and bowed forward to apologize. When he opened them, he was staring at her breasts. Yuki quickly noticed this. She seethed with anger.
“Get away from me, pervert!”
Yuki punched him in the solar plexus, knocking him to the floor, and temporarily stunning him. Taking advantage of this, she took the opportunity to rush upstairs to her room.
After quickly recovering from the pain, Xinji walked upstairs and locked himself in the nearest room, still struggling to dress himself. This is bad, he thought. I seriously have to be more careful. I think she already thinks that I’m a pervert.
He turned around, and Yuki appeared through an inner doorway.
“What the hell??!!”
“What are you doing here?”
“What are you doing here? I live here! Get out of my room!”
“But-“
Without giving him an opportunity to reply, Yuki pushed him out the door and locked it.
“Yuki, what’s up?” a voice from down the hall asked. A young girl with glasses peeked out from the door. Yuki opened her door.
“Some pervert came in here. The jerk was staring at me in the bath!”
“Say what?” another voice said. A girl with long hair opened her door and looked around. “Want to escort him out?”
“More than glad to,” Yuki replied.
I think I should run now, Xinji thought. Do I have time to put on some clothes? Crap, never mind! Just run with the towel on! The girl with glasses stepped out of the room, appearing extremely irritated. The other girl stepped out, running for him.
“Ayase, you take the entrance! Yume, with me!”
“Right!” the girl with glasses hurried to the entrance, while the girl with long hair followed Yuki, chasing after the barely-clothed Xinji.
Left turn goes to the lobby… no wait, it goes to the store-room! Crap! Right turn goes to the café… yes! I think I’m safe if I lock myself in there! He ran right… and forgetting he was on the second story, ran off the balcony into the bushes.
“Ow! Shit! Damn bushes!”
He could hear Yuki and the other girl rushing down the stairs. If I make it to the entrance, I think I’m safe. I can lock myself in. Yeah! He ran around the outside, finding the entrance, guarded by another girl.
“Excuse me, but can you-“
“Hey! You’re the pervert Yuki was talking about!”
“No, wait-“
”He’s over here, guys!”
Yuki ran out the front door, and Yume quickly followed, forming an exact triangle around him. He was surrounded.
“It’s about time you left,” Yuki said.
“Wait,” a voice behind them said, just as Yuki was about to punch him for the third time that day. It was the old landlord.
“Mr. Lin! I didn’t-“
“I’m sorry, I didn’t introduce him yet. You guys, this is the new manager of Akasaka House. Meet Chan Xinji.” He nodded at Xinji.
“Ugh, you mean we have a pervert as the new landlord?” Yume commented.
“No! Not at all, I think Xinji is a very nice boy. He’s going to go to university overseas, isn’t that great?”
Big deal, Yuki thought. Hold on, old man… You mean he’s trying to go to university overseas, right? Oh, I see now… the lying bastard! Oh, just wait till I get you, Xinji…
“Girls, just do me this one favor. Give him a chance, will you?”
“Fine. Bye, Mr. Lin!”
The old landlord motioned for Xinji to come over. He whispered in his ear.
“You know, these girls can be a bit… how can I say this, energetic at times. Don’t worry, I’m sure you can handle it! I just came by to make sure you were safe. I’m going to the airport now! Just remember, if you actually make it into Beijing University, would you still be lying? Good luck on your entrance exams, kid.”
Safe from them? Yeah, I thought so, Xinji thought to himself. He collected himself and went up into his room, the correct room this time, and dressed. You know, it’d be nice to be surrounded by beautiful girls all the time, he thought. I do feel a bit guilty about what happened today… this misunderstanding was mostly my fault. Also, was it right to lie to them? It was the old landlord that lied, but I didn’t correct him… doesn’t that put me at fault? He sighed. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
“Coming! Please wait!”
He opened the door. It was the girl with glasses at the entrance just a few minutes ago.
Xinji sat down on his bed and sighed.
“I’m really sorry-“ Xinji started.
“Don’t be. It was really my fault.”
She sat down on the bed besides him.
“Sorry to ask, but what’s your name?”
“I live here! My name’s Miyazaki Ayase! Along with Yuki and Yume, we are the residents of Akasaka House!” she cheerfully replied.
“It’s nice to meet you, Ayase.”
“You know, the feeling’s mutual.”
“I really think you’re-“
Yuki slammed the door open. She looked around the room, seeing both of them sitting on the bedside together.
“Xinji, you per- Ayase! What are you doing in his room?”
“I was just apologizing to him for-“
“It’s not how it looks-,” Xinji began.
“Pervert! You’re such a jerk, trying to corrupt young girls like this... She’s only 16! Let’s go, Ayase.”
”But-,” Xinji called after them.
“Hmph!”
Yuki slammed the door behind her.
- - - - -
I think I have to tell the truth on this one. Yuki already knows, and it’s only a matter of time before the others find out. I also didn’t apologize to the other girl, the one with long hair. I’m so embarrassed and feel so guilty… I seem to attract trouble for some reason…. Maybe it is best that I left… it’s in the best interest of everyone if I did that…
He continued sweeping the floor near the open-air bath. He seemed to fall into a daze, methodically sweeping the floor while being completely absent-minded and daydreaming. This time, he was fantasizing about Yuki begging him to stay.
I knew you’d want me to stay, he dreamed to himself. “Xinji, please stay here with us!” “Xinji, we all love you!” “Where are we to go without you?” “You’re the best!” “Congratulations on making it into Beijing University with me!” “I hope you…”
“… are you there?” Yuki was staring at him blankly.
“Oh sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.”
“I think it’s about time you told everyone else the truth. We both know that you aren’t actually going to attend school overseas right now.”
“Yes. I’m so sorry for lying to you. Once I am done cleaning, I think I should apologize to everyone, tell the truth, and then leave.”
“No, wait! Who will take care of us? What about the living conditions?”
“You girls don’t need me. I’m just pretending to be the new manager. I know nothing about running a dorm or a café.”
Xinji put his broomstick in a corner.
“Well, I guess it’s time for me to board the next train-“
He walked towards the door. Slight tear drops formed in his eyes. So, this is how it was destined to be. First day, and I’m already a failure.
“You’re not leaving!” Yuki ran forward and accidentally crashed into him. Xinji knocked his glasses off by accident. That put them in an awkward position- Yuki was on top of Xinji, and they were staring at each other directly in the eyes.
“I’m so, so sorry.”
Yuki smiled.
“You know, you look pretty decent without those glasses.”
“Really?”
A bit overexcited at hearing this compliment, Xinji grabbed her arm.
“What are you doing? Pervert!”
Yuki was about to send a fist into Xinji’s face when the door to the open-air bath opened. It was the girl with long hair with Ayase.
“What are you two doing?” she questioned.
They looked at each other, and noticed they were still in that same position. Both scrambled to stand upright.
“Nothing,” Yuki said. “Seriously, we weren’t doing anything. I just… accidentally crashed into him, that’s all. And we landed… yeah, sort of like that.”
“Yes, it really was nothing. It was just a big misunderstanding!”
“I have to tell you people something. I’m not really a-“
Yuki hushed him with a quick hand over his mouth.
“He is meaning to say he’s not really a… yeah, a martial arts master!”
“Huh?!!”
“Ok, never mind what you two were doing. Just keep it private, ok?” the long-haired girl said, turning to leave the pool.
“Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?” Yuki called after her.
“I think I caused enough trouble here,” Xinji said. Getting his glasses, he walked out of the bath area as well, and headed for the stairs. He walked into his room, and found his balcony. It had a nice pool of hot water there, a small, private version of the larger pool on the lower floor. He settled quietly into the pool and reflected on his situation.
“You know, Yuki isn’t so bad,” he said out loud to himself.
“I think it might be worth it to stay, if only for her.”
A voice from below called.
“Hey! Are you talking about me up there?”
Xinji looked over the edge of his balcony. Below in the springs, he saw Yuki covered only with a towel. She was staring right at him. Damn! Why do I keep putting myself in these situations?
“Pervert! Just wait until I get up there! I’ll teach you a thing or two!”
Yuki scrambled out of the pool, trying to put on clothes frantically. I might just be able to tolerate him… eventually, she thought to herself.
__________________
Unfortunately, I write from experience...
Students are both lucky and unlucky. We get free food and shelter, but we pay for that in horrific amounts of study.
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