Just Call Me

by SunGalatea

Summary:

It was just another day at kinder when they met, it was just another day at school when they said "see you later".

It was Graduation Day when they met again.

 

.-.-.-.-
Kazuyaka Week 2022
Day 1: Modern AU | Childhood Friends | "Farewells"
Day 3: School/College AU | Seasons | "Sakura Petals"

Chapter 1: Bad News

Winter days ended
we bid our last farewells
try to smile again

Kazuha was two weeks from his 4th birthday when he met Ayaka. She was wearing a light blue dress and even for her young age she was already a graceful dancer. So Kazuha did what whatever kid his age would had done, looked for the prettiest thing he could find, a dandelion he took from the garden and gave it to her. She accepted it with a bright smile that made the little boy in front of her feel like he was at the top of the world. And so, their friendship was born.

It was such a simple relationship, they spent their time together at the kinder garden, and then, if Ayaka’s schedule was free they would spend the rest of the day together too. Sometimes he would join some of her lessons.

At first they were almost inseparable. When they started school their social circle began to grow. They weren’t the only friends they had, but they were happy with their relationship. And so, the years went by, the both of them remaining at each other’s side. Even when time was almost nonexistent they would find a way to reach the other, being just a little note on the other’s book or a quick call before sleeping. 

And so, when the years went by, maybe they weren’t together all the time, but they remained as close friends. Enough for them.

Or at least that was what Ayaka told herself while she watched him meet with their group of friends. All her duties to her clan had make her teen years busier than someone her age should endure. The death of her parents made the Kamisato sibling’s life a mess, one that couldn’t bother with friends that had a life to live.

And when he made his own group outside the school the girl just felt even more left behind. She couldn't blame him, almost every day she was tied to a lot of responsibilities and he had always been more a free soul so it made sense for him to look something different, even if it seemed to be some sort of motorbike gang that teachers recommended to avoid.

“Hey, Ayaka…” Kazuha called her one day after class, she looked at him and smiled as gently as always.

“Kazuha, sorry, I didn’t see you before. How was your day?” She asked, and if it weren’t for how nervous she was, she would realized the little blush on his face.

“Oh, uhm, well… I was wondering if you’re free later. We haven’t hang out in a while, and I would like to show you my new driving skills.” He sounded a bit nervous, especially when Ayaka frowned at the mention of those “skills”. She knew he meant those motorbikes and a part of her really wanted to reject it.

“I… I don’t know, we can stay at my place if you want…” Her voice betrayed her, showing her hesitation.

“Well, that sounds fun too… Let’s go to your house then!” Kazuha was a bit taken aback by her doubts but he understood where she was standing.

They were about to keep talking when the bell sounded and their teacher appeared, a tall woman with pink hair and a mischievous smirk that everyone knew the meaning. A new test that no one was expecting.

After the exam the Kamisato felt uneasy, at first she thought it was related to the test itself, but as the hours went by the feeling grew stronger. She checked her phone more than usual on her way home, waiting for news from her friend.

The night came down and there was no news about the Kaedehara. He didn’t visit her home, he didn’t answer the phone and all Ayaka could do was freak out, worried about the white haired man. Her brother tried to reassure her, but even him knew there was something going on there.

When Ayaka finally fell asleep Ayato started making a few calls here and there. As he expected, it wouldn’t be to her sister liking. Deciding the best was allowing her a full night sleep before dropping the bomb to her seemed the best. 

Next morning he woke her up pretty late, making sure she wouldn’t attend school.

“Ayaka… This may sound difficult but this bike gang that hang outs near your school was caught in a fight with some sort of big names and…” Ayato started to say, trying to find the words.

“Tell me he is ok! Brother, please!” She screamed, terrified of what her brother could say.

“He’s alive, but he had to run away.” He started to say and then explained what was known about the incident, that indeed one of Kazuha’s closer friends had fall. It seemed that they were framed for doing something about this important gang and so they decided to answer with fire. And while Kazuha was safe and sound for his own he had to get as far as possible from Narukami.

She spent the day locked in her room, figuring out what to do, how to sort her feelings. He was her closest friend! And maybe, just maybe, she was starting to develop a crush on him, but what now? She couldn’t just ignore everything and run for him! So she cried her heart out, screamed and threw her pillows all across the room. Wondering what to do now.

When Ayato knocked the door later he found his sister hugging her knees, in a room that was as messy as probably herself. He took a deep breath and then approached her, holding a cup of tea.

“Hey, take this.” He offered to her sister who had her sight fixed on a portrait. He looked at the picture of two little kids and the dandelion that was also kept there. Probably everyone was way more aware of the feelings between those two than themselves, and it was cruel pointing it now.
“Thanks brother.” She answered taking the cup in her hands and just holding it. The heat was somehow comforting but it wasn’t enough.

“I know this won’t be enough… But I managed to get you a way to contact him.” Ayato started to say, extending an old phone from his pocket to her sister. “No one must know.”

She nodded, understanding how important was this, not because of her, but mostly because of him. The phone buzzed briefly and there was a notification of a text message. She checked it immediately, just to find a maple leaf emoji. Somehow that made her feel more at ease, and after pondering for a second, she answered with a cherry blossom emoji.

It was silly, it was meaningless maybe, but for them it felt way more comforting that anything.

Ayato left the room while her sister kept her eyes fixed on the screen.

She kept her tears while watching the little silly emojis, there was a lot she wanted to say but how? How with such a few messages? The situation wasn’t ideal at all.

K: Hey, I know this isn’t the best circumstance, but one day, we will meet again. Wait for me, I’ll go back to you. 

Chapter 2: Phone Call

Sakura petals
we meet again on that day
and the flowers bloom

The last time Ayaka saw Kazuha was that dreadful spring day. After that it become a sour memory, even with the cherry blossom on their full it was difficult to not keep her mind going back to the things that somehow she could do different. But could she? Back then she was merely a teen, barely learning how to navigate her own life let alone being able to save someone from some sort of criminal gang.

She spent the next summer trying to find some sort of comfort, feeling like the warm of the season wasn’t enough to kept her heart from become cold. Keeping in touch with a few phone text wasn’t enough. She missed his voice, his laugh, his warm. 

On autumn a birthday party that was meant to ease her heart but the only thing that could achieve was to remind her the one who wasn’t there. And her mind wondered, if that they felt awful for her with just the lack of him, how would he spend his birthday in one month after that? Far from home, from the people he know. Another sleepless night.

And as the time went by those sleepless nights became rather usual. With how little they interacted the Kamisato had to confront her own feelings. She was grieving a love that could be, realizing that her little crush was anything but little. The little distance they had when he was with his own group of friends was nothing compared to this. And the worst part is that he was alive, somewhere out there that she couldn’t reach.

Was he even into her to begin with? She could be here feeling heartbroken while he just saw her as his sister. It didn’t matter anyway, if he was interested into her would make this whole ordeal even worse. 

Either way she kept wondering, all the what ifs, the routes, the endings. And so the seasons went by, the years around while she kept looking to the same old phone.

The few first years it was only text, as Kazuha was on the run trying to find a place for himself, so when Ayaka felt that phone buzz with a call her heart beamed.

“Hello?” Her voice was full of insecurities.

“Hey, it’s me.” He answered surprising her with his voice, it wasn’t the one from the cheerful boy she remembered, but a young man.

“It’s been so long… You sound different.” 

He could feel the smile in her voice and that was comforting to him, to know that she was as happy as him for that little call. 

“Yeah, Beidou says I’m starting to sound like a man now, even if she keeps calling me kid.”

She laughed and Kazuha thought that that was probably the most beautiful sound in the entire universe. He missed her so much, every day felt empty without a glimpse of her.

“From what you’ve told me she will call you that way even after becoming an elder.”

Now he was the one laughing. “You know, you’re right.”

They remained silent for a brief moment, trying to recompose themselves. At this point they were used to exchanging phone texts almost daily, but hearing each other’s voice was so different for that.  Something they weren’t aware how much they needed.

“I missed your voice.” Kazuha confessed, taking her aback.

“I miss yours, even if it has changed. It’s still yours.” She tried to remain strong, but before she knew the tears were falling down her cheeks and she was hard sobbing.

Kazuha’s heart clenched at the sound, knowing pretty well the reason for those tears. It was his fault and even if he wished with his whole being to be there to take those tears away reaching to her was literally impossible. 

“Hey, I’m here. Please don’t cry, if Ayato hears you he will forbid me from doing it again.” He tried to joke, knowing damn well that her brother would never do something that could somehow harm her.

“It’s just… I’m overwhelmed. We used to meet each other every day, at school, at my house… And now it’s been years since I heard you for the last time… I didn’t know it was gonna be this difficult.” Her voice was giving away how hurt she was, and that was another torn in his heart.

“I know. My life changed in a brief second… But we kept close despite that even all this years, so please, don’t cry, this storm will end.”

She wanted to believe his words. Oh, she really did. Yet with the world against them it was so hard. Almost impossible. And it seemed that he knew what she was thinking, so they changed the topic and pretend as if all this mess was just a bad a memory and not their reality.

When the sun rose again, Ayaka had fell asleep listening to his soothing voice, he on the other hand, at the other side of the world was just humming a song to her, knowing pretty well that no matter how free he felt wandering the continent, his heart was still in the same place. And so, if he ever lacked a bit of resolution he knew there was none of that now. He would go back to her.

Another autumn took place, another birthday apart. How many by now? Yet it hurt like the first time. Way more aware of the feelings they were harboring for each other.

Winter felt harsher, longing for the warmth they couldn’t reach.

And spring was a sad reminder. 

How many summers? Why was it that hard? Was it even worthy to suffer like this?

Yet even if she wanted to, Ayaka couldn’t just forget about him, that sole idea felt so wrong. She needed him to be present in her life, even as a silly maple leaf emoji.

And he, oh, he was so into her. Like the sun of his universe he could only gravitate around her, wishing to come closer. No matter the time, he just really wanted to hold her in his arm to never go away.

At some point they had hope that those feelings would disappear, but as the season passed by they were not only staying but also growing stronger. Although they weren’t clear about it, both knew that it was a matter of time before being tiptoeing around the matter would be useless.

Another set of seasons went by, with phone text, late night calls, sleeping to the sound of the other breath, as the only way to remind that across the sea was someone longing for that.

School finished, college started. More text, more calls. The shy girl with pale-blue hair reminded away from everyone, being as perfect as everyone expected her to be. Waking up with his “good morning” was her reason to get up. And so her years of study went, alone yet with company. A few people tried to ask her out on dates, but she always rejected them. Some started the rumor that she was dating some sort of delinquent and that was the reason no one had see her with someone, others just say she wasn’t into those guys and they didn’t know how to handle being rejected.

And with another summer approaching with her graduation day all those rumors faded. After years without being seen dating someone everyone accepted that she wasn’t into that. She had her few friends that were close to her, and those were the ones who kept her on check where he couldn’t.

She stood proud while receiving her diploma. After working hard for it she smiled to the cameras, hoping she could sent those pictures to him. Her classmates were the same, all satisfied of their accomplishment. 

Ayato approached her sister followed by his fianceé. Both of them looking at the young woman as parents probably would look at their kids. 

“Congratulations sister.” The older Kamisato was the first to talk while the younger felt a bolt of joy.

“Thanks brother!” She said, remaining in her place with a bright smile.

Thoma in the other hand just hugged the both of them, knowing them well enough that while they would love to, they would never do such display in public. “Look at yourself, Ayaka, congratulations!”

She laughed nervously while hugging him back, enjoying her moment.

After a few moments Ayato took a little distance from her an feigned a to cough.

“Well, there’s someone else who also wanted to congratulate you. But maybe you’ll need a quiet place to hear the phone.” Ayato said with a relaxed smile watching the expression of her sister change. He was well aware of the fact that her sister would carry that phone everywhere.

“Oh, yes. I’ll call him!” Ayaka answered and walked almost running to a close corridor that was quite alone.

Thoma looked at Ayato a bit surprised. “What have you done?”

The older one just smiled.

 

At the other side, Ayaka was calling the very same number she knew like the back of her hand. She had already told him about the graduation, the time and everything, so she was pretty sure he would know the call was coming. Sadly, he didn’t answer. So she tried again trying to not get frustrated by it. Another last call.

She pouted, feeling disappointed. 

She was about to call again when her phone buzzed. Sighing with relief she answered the call.

“Hey! I was starting to think you wouldn’t answer!” She reproached him with a joyful tone. 

“I would never, it just happened that the place where I am doesn’t have good signal.” He answered hiding a soft laugh.

“Ugh, yeah, this place is the same. I think I already told you that there’s only one corridor where I can call you and actually listen to you.” 

“You did, but I didn’t think it was that bad, for a moment I thought my phone was useless here.”

“Here as in…?” Ayaka asked, hearing his voice clearer than ever.

“Turn back.”

She froze. Was? Was it possible? Feeling like the world stopped moving while she turned back Ayaka’s eye met Kazuha’s for the first time in over a decade. He was a whole head taller than her, long gone was the boy face she remembered. Wearing a black suit and with a fresh dandelion in his hand he approached her in the same way he did all those years ago.

“Congratulations.” 

She threw herself to his arms, and he held her as if his life depended on it. After all those years they were finally reunited and it felt like the world started to make sense once again.

“You came, you’re here.” Her eyes were full of tears, overwhelmed by his presence.

“And I don’t plan to go away.” He replied hugging her once again, kissing the top of her head. “I missed you so much, after being in so many places the only one I really wanted to be was here with you.”

She was speechless, even while feeling his arms around her it felt surreal. A part of her was terrified that this was just another dream and she would wake up without him once again. So she placed a hand on his cheek and he leaned into her touch. 

“Tell me this is not a dream. Tell me I won’t wake up alone.” She pleaded while looking to his eyes, trying to find any clue that would destroy the illusion.

“Let me prove it to you.” He whispered before using his hand to lift her chin up and just kiss her.

Ayaka was shocked yet and for a brief second Kazuha was terrified of being rejected, He was about to step back when she gave in the kiss. Pouring all those years longing for each other in it. She didn’t know it would feel this right to kiss him, and he thought that he would become addict to her.

They stopped only when the need to breath was stronger but remained as close as possible. After all those years apart they weren’t about to waste any second. They shared a glance at each other, saying with their eyes what their voices wasn’t able to.

There was no need for silly confessions. When they kissed again it was all clear.

This summer was about to be their first step together.

Notes:

Hi! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! I think the ending turned out more fluffy than ever, so hope you enjoy it!

Notes:

Hello! This is a bit messy and absolutely rushed, hope it makes sense once chapter 2 is realised!

As usual, English is not my first language!

Also, you can follow me on twitter (@VicMegurine).

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 1 of Kazuyaka week 2022