This is a spin-off of my original series “Broken Link.” You can check the character bios of the characters Mima and Shinta in my gallery. For best understanding of the story, it is recommended to view the bios before reading. All other characters are non-related to neither the actual series nor this story.


Setting: In the schoolyard, only one person stood there. The late summer breeze shook the branches and leaves of the trees giving partial shade to the person below. The air lifted the hair just slightly, giving a peaceful aura to the scene. There, stood a girl with red hair that ran to her upper mid-back. The high school uniform, specifically her skirt, danced with the wind just as her hair did, as the bangs slightly covered her golden eyes. She stood gazing at the rest of the empty space, content with her surroundings now.

Boy: Ogasawara-san!

She turned to meet the boy’s eyes, without her expression changing.

Mima: Ah. Sagara-san. There you are.

Boy: *pant pant* (Bent over, looking up) Did you wait long?

Mima: No. Not really. You didn’t have to run, ya know.

Boy: No. I had to. I didn’t want to keep you, nor do I have time to wait.

The boy stood straight up, taking a deep breath. The wind blew again, adding tension to the atmosphere. He took small breaths, a reaction to his hesitance. Finally, he opened his mouth ready to say something.

Boy: (Blushing) O-Oga-sa-sawara-san-n…

Mima: Yes?

Boy: I-I-I… I LOVE YOU, OGASAWARA-SAN!

The wind blew harder this time, as his sigh of relief from his confession. He looked at her face, but nothing on it seemed to have moved even a fraction of an inch. Finally, she closed her eyes and laced her fingers behind her back. She lowered her head as to face the ground, and started to kick an imaginary rock that wasn’t there. After a bit, she gave a slight grin and opened her lips to speak.

Mima: Is that so, Sagara-san?

Boy: Er…er…yes! It is!

Mima: Well then. (Opens eyes) What is it that you love about me?

Boy: What?

Mima: Is it my personality? Is it the way I look? My appearance?

Boy: Um…well….

Mima: Is it from just watching me? ...You know, (turning a bit and placing a finger to her lips as in thought) I don’t even recall us speaking that much to each other. Wasn’t the only time we had any real communication was the class trip several months ago?

Boy: But that’s it! (Stepping forward with confidence) Ever since then, I couldn’t stop thinking about you! Although we only said a few words, I still love you, Ogasawara-san!

Mima: You do realize … (glances at him) that you may be confessing to a boy, right?

He took a step back in a bit of shock.

Boy: I-I understand! And I don’t care! (Walks to stand in front of her) I still love you…

He reached for her hands so he can embrace hers in his, but she stepped back out of his reach.

Mima: I think that’s a lie.

Boy: Huh?

Mima: Well, maybe not a “lie,” but it’s definitely not the truth.

She turned to face him, the same expressionless look stayed on her face, but with a small smile that’s used when you’re superior over another.

Mima: If I remember correctly, you’re the one who “loves” to play baseball, right? (The boy nods) And the one who “loves” to play video games “loves” to eat curry, and “loves” the holidays from school that we have?

Boy: Ah, yes.

The smile from her lips slid off and a stern look took its place. The wind blew again, signaling the increase of drama that is about to take place.

Mima: I don’t love you, Sagara-san.

Boy: (eyes widening) What? Why?

Mima: Un…I didn’t say I hate you. It’s too cruel to use that word, the word “hate” so easily, but people do so every day. That’s just the way I feel. And this is also how I feel about its opposite.

She turned around and slowly walked from under the shade into the light provided by the sun. She turned her head to the sky once more and looked deeply into the open blue, looking for the right words to say.

Mima: Tell me: How can you use that word so easily? The word “love?” When “love” is used, it is meant for a deep affection towards another person. The precious feeling for that person, the wanting to be together, the unwanting of separation. A feeling of sacrificing to gain or keep those thoughts…

Boy: Ogasawara-san…

Mima: That wonderful feeling. People must use it so they may try and experience some of that feeling, but it’s virtually pointless tactic…

As the wind blew once more, the sun grew brighter for a change in scenery. A flashback ran through her mind, a sunny day such as that, in that same place where the confession was. A young boy with short, golden hair and eyes as blue as the sky was walking down the path in the schoolyard with her and another student. However, on this particular day, she decided to wear the boy’s uniform, because it was in the earlier part of the year, so it was a bit colder. The group stopped and the other student moved in front, ready to part from her other classmates.

Girl: Well, I guess I’ll see you guys later…

Mima: Sure.

Shinta: See ya tomorrow! (waving)

The girl turned around and began to walk, but the blonde boy called out to her, wanting to make a final remark.

Shinta: Ah! Umi-chan!

Girl: (turning) Hm?

Shinta: (slightly blushing) Ah…er…um…never mind.

Girl: You’re silly Miya-chan! Bye you two!

The girl turned and ran out of the schoolyard. The other two smiled and waved as she disappeared around the corner. When she was out of sight, they let their friendly expressions slip away and for the silence to take over. Finally, she opened her mouth and broke the silence.

Mima: So, what was that about?

Shinta: Huh?

Mima: You sounded like you were about to say something, but you held back.

Shinta: What? Oh, it was nothing important. (begins walking)

Mima: Was it you who would let people know you love them before they left?

His feet came to a halt at the word “love.”

Mima: Am I right?

Just as the present, the wind blew on cue. They both didn’t make a sound or a move. They let the silence sink in and the tension in the air grew really thick.

Shinta: Ah, yeah. (smiling shyly) That was me.

Mima: Can I ask why you stopped? (walking up to him) You’re one of the most sensitive people I ever met, to your and others’ feelings. When we were young, you would always let the teachers or you friends know that you loved them, whenever you were about to part. You said it to me every day. Now, I don’t ever hear that word come across your lips. The word “love.”

Shinta: Well… that’s because I now have a new meaning to it.

She could only see the back of his head, but she still gave him a look of confusion.

Shinta: When I was young, I was told that “love” is a feeling of never wanting to part from those people. For pretty much everyone I knew, I didn’t want to leave, so I always “loved” them. I was also told that “love” is a great feelings and I should always spread it, so I would tell people about “loving” them. (slightly turns his head) However, as I grew older, I learned that there was not only a different type of “love”, but also many different dimensions to it. After learning this, I couldn’t let my “love” go to just anybody, so my farewell speeches stopped.

The wind came to a standstill at that time. She looked at him with her eyes wider than she has ever done. Her mouth hung slightly open, struck stiff with what he said. Without any response to react on, he turned around to see what has happened. After seeing her expression, he waved his arms a bit hysterical to gain her attention.

Shinta: Wait! Wait! I didn’t mean it like that! I still like you, Mima-san! I still like all my friends! They should know that, right? Ahahahahah!

By now, a smile came across her face. Amused by his actions, she walks closer to him to give only slight distance of their faces. Using her boyish charm, she talked in a low whisper so she could tease him a bit.

Mima: If that’s so, Shinta-kun, then who do you “love”?

His eyes grew wide when she asked the question. He quickly averted his eyes to the ground while the redness ran all across his cheeks. He fidgeted his fingers hanging onto his schoolbag and his feet in rather small distances. She smiled from his rather adorable reaction and gave a small chuckle. She reached for his face and gently grabbed his chin as if she were about to kiss him. His eyes, reacting to the touch, rose to meet hers. Again, she asked him a question in the same charming tone.

Mima: Who do you love, Shinta-chan?

Finally, he gave an adorable smile, able to catch anyone’s heart, closing his eyes in a bit of joy and embarrassment. The redness from his cheeks disappeared to a slight minimum, still present because of his feeling of awkwardness. The wind began to pick up, brushing his hair up so his child-like charm and innocence glowed from his face.

Shinta: Not telling. It’s a secret until I tell him myself!

As the wind settled down, Mima brushed her hair out of her face, returning to the speech to the boy who “confessed” to her.

Mima: I’m sorry, Sagara-san, but I don’t think I can go out with someone like you. You just simply don’t care for me like you think you do.

Boy: That’s stupid! How can you turn me down like that, Osagawara! I did something no one else could do, but you just step all over it like it’s nothing?! If you just rejected me that would have been fine. But this is the worst!

Mima: I’m not being mean, I’m being reasonable. (turning to face him with cold eyes) I don’t want to be with anybody who can give their love to just anything.

The boy stepped back annoyed, both by her rejection and to her reasoning. He finally turned and ran away, calling out as to get the last word.

Boy: Good luck finding any love with that attitude! Bastard!

Untouched by the final sentence, the girl walked to the tree and pulled her things from behind. The coat she slipped on was part of the boy’s uniform, and she grabbed her schoolbag and put it over her shoulder. She began to walk towards the opposite exit, thinking to herself a gentle but equally painful thought.

Mima: That may be true, but I would rather have that kind of pure love rather than the watered-down “love” of today. I truly envy him who is receiving the love of that little golden angel…

--END--