Shades of Azure

シェイドス　オフ　アジュル　　

A guy's lonely life brightens as he encounters a girl who is unemployed… for the nth time around.

Disclaimer: I do not own this anime

Chapter Eleven: Miyu and Nozomu, Kanata and Akira

Suddenly, a blonde guy entered the scene….

“Yo! Saionji-kun!” he greeted.

Miyu was suddenly alerted. She knew that voice! When she looked behind her…

“Hey! Hikarigaoka!” he stood up, and shook hands with the man.

“It’s been a long time! Where’s your wife?”

Kanata went to Miyu’s side and introduced her to him. Suddenly, the man was stunned. He was speechless.

“Y-You’re… just here! You… married him?!” he was so shocked.

Kanata can’t get any of this.

“Nozomu-kun?” Miyu said. “Kanata, he was my college classmate.”

Kanata thought for a while. “So you attended Tokyo University?” he was surprised. He never knew some things about her, though Miyu thinks it’s trivial.

Nozomu nodded. “Although she just passed college by hook or by crook.” He teased her.

“Why you!” Miyu was energetic again and was filled with life. Kanata never saw her like that before.

“How about you two? How did you know each other?”

Kanata suddenly was silent. “We were rivals!” Nozomu announced.

“Rivals? You courted the same girl, eh? I thought Nozomu has same feelings for all girls?”

Nozomu laughed. “Miyucchi…”

“Stop calling me that…” Miyu was blushing. Kanata knew the sense of closeness they have.

“We were rivals for the handsome boy contest during high school!” Nozomu continued.

Miyu glanced at the silent Kanata, who just nodded shyly. Then she just knew she was laughing…

“You guys… you’re funny. Having a fight because of that contest… Hahaha!” Miyu can’t help but express her wonder.

Kanata looked at her carefully, as if he were examining her. Miyu was never that happy before. She never opened up anything more that what she had said; about her past, and everything that she concealed.

“Hey, Saionji!” Nozomu called him. “What’s wrong?”

He simply smiled at him. “I was just gazing at my lovely wife.” He said bluntly. This made Miyu blush.

Nozomu laughed. “Yeah, Miyucchi is so pretty. I actually planned to marry her too after graduation. But I heard she was engaged and… she ran away. Then again, it’s too late that I found her. She’s got you already.” He muttered, with his face looking down.

“… I lost to Saionji again… so Saionji,” he looked up and faced Kanata. “If you hurt Miyu or make her cry, I’ll make sure you’ll pay…”

His tone was serious, and Miyu and Kanata suddenly were alarmed by what he had muttered. They both cast strange glances on him, as if they were totally surprised.

“Hahaha! Nozomu-kun, you’re so overprotective of me till now!” Miyu patted his back, grinning. Nozomu simply scratched the back of his head.

“Yeah, I guess… you’re right in what you just told me. Sorry if I surprised you, Saionji. Forget about what I said.”

Kanata fell silent. He knows that Nozomu likes Miyu… a lot.

“Miyu-chan!!!” a voice called out from the disappearing crowd.

“Ne, Nanami-chan, Aya-chan!!!” Miyu excused herself from Kanata and Nozomu. “How are you?”

Suddenly, Akira appeared before Miyu and the girls. “Congratulations,” she said.

The three girls were dumbstruck by her astounding beauty. “A-A… Arigatou!” Miyu bowed down politely.

She beamed on them, and she introduced herself. “My name’s Kijou Akira…”

Akira-san… what a beautiful woman… She… looks more astounding than I am right now. Then she saw Kanata look over them.

“Akira!”

Kanata and Nozomu walked close to them. “By the way Miyu, have you met---“

Miyu and Akira nodded. “Miyu is your name then.”

Miyu was flushed. “I’m so sorry! It was so rude of me not to tell you my name! I’m Kouzu---“

“Saionji Miyu. That’s your name now.” Kanata interrupted her.

Miyu chuckled. “R-Right…” she muttered.

Kanata introduced Akira to Nozomu and vice versa. “She’s my friend since Primary School, and he’s my High School friend.”

The two of them shake hands. “Nice meeting you!”

Akira approached Miyu, “Can I talk to your husband for a minute?” she asked.

Miyu nodded. “No problem!” she smiled. Just staring at her makes me feel ha-p-py!”

“Thank you!”

Nozomu came to the girls Aya, Nanami and Miyu. “Let’s talk too. How long has it been?”

Aya smiled. “I can’t believe Miyu would be my boss’s wife…” she said.

Miyu’s jaw dropped. “It was because of Aya that I ended up with him.” She suddenly blurted out. Then she cupped her mouth with her hands, shaking her head.

“Really?” they all asked, even Aya. And Nanami looked at her.

“Since when did Aya play matchmaker?” then Nanami and Nozomu laughed. “Tell us about it! How did it happen?”

Nozomu nodded. “Yeah, I agree.”

“Well, it was actually just months ago when I knew Miyu was once again fired from her work…” Aya recalled. “And at the same time, Saionji-san was looking for a babysitter for his son.”

Nozomu and Nanami were so surprised. “WHAT?!”

“Since when did Saionji have an affair with another woman?” Nozomu asked. “He hates women! Could it be that a woman had lured him before and he was off-guard?”

Miyu suddenly looked up. “E?”

“Have you ever asked him about this, Miyu?”

That’s right. He never… said anything but she’s gone. Miyu thought.

“Miyu?”

"Oh, right. I guess we're in the same situation. The reason why I am not in good terms with dad is because I ran away from home too. That was a year ago. Before Ruu was born."

"Oh, I guess Ruu's mom must've lingered in your heart..."

"She... she certainly does..." he replied

“Ne, Miyucchi?”

Miyu suddenly looked at everyone around her. “Oh, guys, sorry. I spaced out a bit. Haha…”

“…Well anyway, she took the job and became Ruu-kun’s sitter. Afterwards, I just knew from my superiors that Saionji-san announced his upcoming marriage. We were all surprised. Then I tried to ask his best friend Santa-san. He told me that it was a shock for him, and it’s Miyu.” Aya continued. “So there!”

Nanami laughed. “Look at that, who would think she’d find love unexpectedly? She tried to escape marriage, but ended up getting married anyway. At least, he’s better for she knew him already.” She told them.

“I agree. Saionji-san is a good person.” Aya said.

“I have no doubts about it either.” Miyu answered. “Still, I think I must’ve told my parents. And the other thing was, Kanata and I lied to his family about my background…”

“E?”

“… it’s to avoid my parents from finding me before our wedding.” Miyu defended herself and Kanata. “What if otosan has connections with the Kouzuki group?”

Nozomu nodded. “Miyucchi’s got a point there. Don’t worry, they wouldn’t know that yet. I haven’t heard from my Papi that your parents had some deals with the Saionji group.”

“Yokatta…”

“No matter what happens, we’ll stick by your side, Miyu-chan!” Aya and Nanami chorused.

“Arigatou… minna…” she said, teary-eyed…

Akira and Kanata went outside for a short walk. “Ne, Kanata, I never thought this day would come to you. I guess Miyu-san is just the girl you’ve always wanted…”

He looked at her and noticed her sad face. Her tone was eminently upset, and she doesn’t look like she’s happy for him. He began to worry about her.

“What bothers you, Akira?” he asked. “Tell me…”

“You… and Miyu… you look…” she began, giving out an obviously fake smile “…good together. Omedetou.”

“Arigatou.”

She walked ahead of him, and glanced back. “That’s… all I wanted to tell you, Kanata! I’ll go ahead! Ja ne!”

Kanata saw her move, slowly at first and then she dashed away from him. Right then and now, he knew that Akira wanted to say something more than what she had told him. He felt uneasy, for she was always this frank girl he knew.

“Matte yo, Akira! Matte!”

He ran after her and caught her wrist. In her hand was a handkerchief.

“What’s wrong with you?”

He heard a suppressed sob. Followed by another. And then he knew she finally gave in. She was crying.

“Ne, Daijoubu?”

She shook her head. “Can’t… you see? Kanata… I…”

Suddenly, Nozomu called Kanata.

“Ne Saionji! I’ll go ahead now! Come here at once, your wife’s waiting for you!”

Kanata let go of Akira. “Stop crying. We’ll talk again sometime. I have… someone to attend to. Ja,”

He ran back towards the venue of the reception. As he opened the door, he saw Nozomu and Miyu talking.

“So how’s mom and dad? Are they still… mad at me?” Miyu asked worriedly.

“Not at all,” Nozomu answered. “I frequently visit them, so you have nothing to worry about.”

“Arigatou. It must be hard for you, hontou ni arigatou.”

“Don’t mention it, Miyucchi. As long as I’m here, I promise to take care of your parents for you. Trust me!”

Miyu smiled. “How’s Okane-chan?”

“She’s still good at giving out the roses.” He smiled. “And she misses you, like I do…”

Miyu blushed. “No… zomu…”

“Miyucchi, if you ever find it hard to live with him, don’t hesitate to call me and I will take you away from him.” He said.

Miyu kept silent. She still can’t understand why Nozomu cares for her so much.

“That’s my promise to you, Miyucchi…”

She just nodded. Kanata suddenly appeared before them. “Omakase, Miyu.” He suddenly told them. “Hikarigaoka, thanks for keeping her company.”

“No problem when it comes to her.” He told him.

“Kanata, Miyu! It’s time for you to pack up for your honeymoon!” Mikan called them up. “Korea is a long way to go!”

“Hai oneesan!” Miyu replied. “We’ll be there in a jiffy!”

“So then… Ja ne,” Nozomu said. “I’ll see you after your trip.”

“Ja!” Miyu said.

“Ikou yo, Miyu.” Kanata took a short glance at Nozomu. Then he saw Akira leaving with her car too.

“Move faster, you two!” Kanata’s grandmother shouted. “How long will you keep us waiting?”

“Gomen nasai!” Miyu bowed down.

To be continued

つづく。。。