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fandomweekly2016-03-04 04:21 pm
dryswallow) wrote in fandomweekly2016-03-04 04:21 pm
Entry tags:
[#005] a star in her life (Free!)
Theme Prompt: Minor Characters
Title: a star in her life
Fandom: Free!
Rating/Warnings: G
Bonus: No
Word Count: 832
Summary: Kou and Chigusa talk about the future.
Chigusa’s favourite part of spring is when the weather is warm enough that she can finally open her windows again and let the breeze sweep through her bedroom. The sunlight lasts a little longer in the evenings, catching the decorations hanging in her window and dying the room with their bright colours.
In the spring, the air smells sweet and fresh; it keeps her awake and motivated even through long study sessions with Kou. They sit together on Chigusa’s bed, Kou at one end and Chigusa at the other, with a collection of textbooks and notebooks arranged between them. Tonight, Kou is the one who relents first, closing her biology textbook with a clap.
“I think my brain’s had too much of this for a while,” Kou says. “Let’s take a break.”
“I won’t argue with that,” Chigusa says, putting down her pencil. She reaches up her arms to stretch, her muscles already beginning to cramp from writing all evening.
“Oh,” she says. “I was going to ask you earlier but I forgot. What did you put on your career planning form?”
Kou grins sheepishly. “I put a few things, actually.”
“A few things?”
“Yeah, well, it’s hard to decide just one,” Kou says. “Let’s see… I put down physical therapist, that one was a bit obvious. Personal trainer. Nutritionist.”
“What about massage therapist?”
“Massage therapist!” Kou exclaims, her eyes starting to shine. “That’s a good one! I should have put that down too.”
Kou stretches her legs out in front of her on the bed and relaxes back onto the pillows, sighing. Her calves are pale now, bright against Chigusa’s pink sheets, but come summer they will darken again with the hours she spends outside by the pool.
“What about you?” Kou asks. “What did you write?”
“Well, I’m not sure about it either, but I said graphic designer,”
“Hana-chan, that’s a really good idea! I think you’re perfect for it.”
“Really?” Chigusa looks up, startled by Kou’s enthusiasm.
“Yeah, you’ve always been one of the best in art class. You have a good sense for colour – just look at your room and the way you dress! And your calligraphy is so good.” Kou smiles widely, pleased with her assessment of Chigusa’s skill. “You could definitely do whatever you wanted; work for a magazine, do advertising, or even websites.”
Chigusa’s cheeks are beginning to flush beneath the intensity of Kou’s gaze. It’s been years since she has been the subject of Kou’s enthusiasm, though it’s not an unfamiliar sight. The look on Kou’s face is the same one she wears when she’s excited about training regimens or designing nutritional lunches for the swim team. Once she’s focused on something, nothing can stop her – especially when she’s helping someone she cares about. It’s not something many people notice, caught up as they are in the excitement of the swimmers and their races, but Kou has been the backbone of the team since the start. Without her, they wouldn’t have made it as far as they did.
This is one of Chigusa’s favourite things about Kou: the way she can uncover the potential in anything. The way she sees the very best in people and encourages it.
(Though if she had to be honest, Chigusa has a lot of favourite things about Kou.)
“Have you thought about what school you want to go to?” Kou continues. “Or what city?”
(Like her friendliness.)
“Mm, not really.”
“Then should we do some research together!”
(And her kindness.)
“I thought we were taking a break,” Chigusa says.
“We’re not doing homework, so it still counts as a break,” Kou says, pulling out her phone and opening up a search. “Besides, after everything that happened with the seniors last year, I don’t want to leave anything to the last minute. In your final year of high school, time goes by so much faster than you want it to. Before we know it, we’ll be writing exams again.”
(And her particular way of smiling.)
“Ahhh, don’t say that! I’m sick of exams!” Chigusa laughs in protest, but she can hear the underlying sadness in Kou’s voice. Their time as high schoolers is running out.
She’ll miss this.
“Hey,” Chigusa says. “There are lots of schools that have design programs. Maybe I’ll be lucky and get into one that’s close to your school.”
Kou’s face brightens as she looks up from her phone.
“I hope you do,” she says. “But let’s not leave it up to luck. We’ll choose the schools we want and study hard to get in, okay?”
“Okay,” Chigusa agrees. “Let’s do it.”
Kou smiles again, and Chigusa feels her chest tighten. How does anyone ever overlook this bright, shining girl? Kou is a star in Chigusa’s life, regardless of what anyone else sees.
Kou holds out a hand, pinky finger extended. Chigusa meets her halfway, letting their fingers curl around each other until they’re locked in promise.
“Good,” Kou says. “I’ll hold you to that.”
Title: a star in her life
Fandom: Free!
Rating/Warnings: G
Bonus: No
Word Count: 832
Summary: Kou and Chigusa talk about the future.
Chigusa’s favourite part of spring is when the weather is warm enough that she can finally open her windows again and let the breeze sweep through her bedroom. The sunlight lasts a little longer in the evenings, catching the decorations hanging in her window and dying the room with their bright colours.
In the spring, the air smells sweet and fresh; it keeps her awake and motivated even through long study sessions with Kou. They sit together on Chigusa’s bed, Kou at one end and Chigusa at the other, with a collection of textbooks and notebooks arranged between them. Tonight, Kou is the one who relents first, closing her biology textbook with a clap.
“I think my brain’s had too much of this for a while,” Kou says. “Let’s take a break.”
“I won’t argue with that,” Chigusa says, putting down her pencil. She reaches up her arms to stretch, her muscles already beginning to cramp from writing all evening.
“Oh,” she says. “I was going to ask you earlier but I forgot. What did you put on your career planning form?”
Kou grins sheepishly. “I put a few things, actually.”
“A few things?”
“Yeah, well, it’s hard to decide just one,” Kou says. “Let’s see… I put down physical therapist, that one was a bit obvious. Personal trainer. Nutritionist.”
“What about massage therapist?”
“Massage therapist!” Kou exclaims, her eyes starting to shine. “That’s a good one! I should have put that down too.”
Kou stretches her legs out in front of her on the bed and relaxes back onto the pillows, sighing. Her calves are pale now, bright against Chigusa’s pink sheets, but come summer they will darken again with the hours she spends outside by the pool.
“What about you?” Kou asks. “What did you write?”
“Well, I’m not sure about it either, but I said graphic designer,”
“Hana-chan, that’s a really good idea! I think you’re perfect for it.”
“Really?” Chigusa looks up, startled by Kou’s enthusiasm.
“Yeah, you’ve always been one of the best in art class. You have a good sense for colour – just look at your room and the way you dress! And your calligraphy is so good.” Kou smiles widely, pleased with her assessment of Chigusa’s skill. “You could definitely do whatever you wanted; work for a magazine, do advertising, or even websites.”
Chigusa’s cheeks are beginning to flush beneath the intensity of Kou’s gaze. It’s been years since she has been the subject of Kou’s enthusiasm, though it’s not an unfamiliar sight. The look on Kou’s face is the same one she wears when she’s excited about training regimens or designing nutritional lunches for the swim team. Once she’s focused on something, nothing can stop her – especially when she’s helping someone she cares about. It’s not something many people notice, caught up as they are in the excitement of the swimmers and their races, but Kou has been the backbone of the team since the start. Without her, they wouldn’t have made it as far as they did.
This is one of Chigusa’s favourite things about Kou: the way she can uncover the potential in anything. The way she sees the very best in people and encourages it.
(Though if she had to be honest, Chigusa has a lot of favourite things about Kou.)
“Have you thought about what school you want to go to?” Kou continues. “Or what city?”
(Like her friendliness.)
“Mm, not really.”
“Then should we do some research together!”
(And her kindness.)
“I thought we were taking a break,” Chigusa says.
“We’re not doing homework, so it still counts as a break,” Kou says, pulling out her phone and opening up a search. “Besides, after everything that happened with the seniors last year, I don’t want to leave anything to the last minute. In your final year of high school, time goes by so much faster than you want it to. Before we know it, we’ll be writing exams again.”
(And her particular way of smiling.)
“Ahhh, don’t say that! I’m sick of exams!” Chigusa laughs in protest, but she can hear the underlying sadness in Kou’s voice. Their time as high schoolers is running out.
She’ll miss this.
“Hey,” Chigusa says. “There are lots of schools that have design programs. Maybe I’ll be lucky and get into one that’s close to your school.”
Kou’s face brightens as she looks up from her phone.
“I hope you do,” she says. “But let’s not leave it up to luck. We’ll choose the schools we want and study hard to get in, okay?”
“Okay,” Chigusa agrees. “Let’s do it.”
Kou smiles again, and Chigusa feels her chest tighten. How does anyone ever overlook this bright, shining girl? Kou is a star in Chigusa’s life, regardless of what anyone else sees.
Kou holds out a hand, pinky finger extended. Chigusa meets her halfway, letting their fingers curl around each other until they’re locked in promise.
“Good,” Kou says. “I’ll hold you to that.”
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