Asymptotes That Coincide

Chapter 1

It's finally the start of a new semester. I was on my way to the library to get my clearance for enrollment.

The sun is shining brightly, as if it were already summer. Despite that, early January is still a bit chilly in the morning. I walked up the path that leads to the entrance of the library building. Students pass by, chattering and laughing about their holidays during the winter break. As for me? I just move along. I don't see any familiar faces; not even Daiki nor Hana.

During New Year's Eve, we greeted each other. Being the stupidly in love girl that I am, I sent Daiki quite a message. I apologized, and thanked him for being part of my life last year and hoped we will get along this year. I typed that message along with the anxiety of facing him at university, laughing with Hana. Even though she rejected him and friend-zoned him, it's still a little suspicious.

I don't know if I am being a worry-wart, or just negative, but I can't help feeling... insecure. During winter break, Daiki already rejected me. He rejected me through text and call. I wonder if he will reject me again in person.

In the end, Daiki just sent me a really short, one-liner message. It pissed me off. And I was annoyed with my own stupidity for expecting he'd send me something longer or talk to me some more. He keeps going distant.

All that pain I still carry them. Three-months-worth of it is still dragging my heart. While I'm still alone, enjoying my solitude, I hurried up the steps and entered the building. There were lots of students by the desks, getting their clearance. I waited in line along with them.

I idly looked around, listening to Anthem Lights via headphones. That's when I saw something I didn't want to see.

I saw him with her. Why are they together? She looked shy and... it was evident on her face that she likes Daiki. I immediately looked away as they went to the other line next to where I was.

How great, they're laughing. I suddenly felt a little hurt and furious. I could hear you both, you know!

One person left and I will be out of that place.

As I received my clearance, somebody shouts my name. "Kiyo?!" I went to the side to leave the line and turned my head towards the person calling me. To my surprise, the person calling me was my classmate Brianna. And to my greater surprise, she is standing behind Daiki.

I forced a smile and pretended I didn't notice Hana and Daiki.

"Yo." I say as I approach Brianna. I passed Daiki and Hana. As I did, I pretended to be surprised to see them there.

"Oh, hey you two." I say cheerfully.

"Kiyo, you look different!" Brianna says. "Right, Daiki? She looks really different, I didn't recognize her."

"Haha, well..." Do I look odd? Or does the violin I'm carrying make me different that usual?

"Actually I recognized her right away." Daiki says. I just ignored him. It's not because I really want to ignore him. It's because I don't have anything to say to him.

"What are you carrying on your back?" Brianna asks. She grabs me by the shoulder and makes me turn to check out the violin I was carrying. She gasped. "I didn't know that you played the violin!" she says.

"Oh, well, it's been a while since I played." I told her quietly. "I was asked to play some tunes at my brother's cafe."

"YOU HAVE A BROTHER?" she says. "WHO OWNS A CAFE?"

"Geez. I'll tell you the rest later." I told her. "I'll get my grades first." And so I left her and hurried to our college building.

My name is Kiyoko Mitsuo. I am now in my third year, and I'm an engineering student at Hapburn University. The reason why Brianna was surprised to know I have a brother who owns a cafe was that I never introduced him to my classmates. I felt it unnecessary to tell them I have an older brother unless a situation permitted to. Also, I forgot to tell them anyway.

I used to date Daiki back during our first year. But he broke up with me last year, about two months ago. And he is going for Hana, who is my close friend.

Right now, I still can't talk to them properly. I may be hated for saying this, but I felt that they suddenly became my enemies. I'm not sure if enemy is the right term. I feel disappointed with them both. I feel as equally negative as how I am disappointed with them as I feel bad for feeling that way towards them. They are my friends after all.

But, Daiki said innumerable hurtful words that I am more disappointed and upset with him than I am with Hana.

I ran all the way to our building, away from Daiki, away from Hana, away from all of them.

~~

After the enrollment, it was definitely a long day for me. I had to see Daiki and Hana together, everywhere! It was so annoying, like the world must be trying to tease me.

Oh, God are you testing me today?

"I'm home." I say as I entered my brother's cafe. It's small, and cozy, but I really like it. He actually teaches at this university, that's why he was able to open up a cafe in the town within the campus.

"You finished early." My brother says. He was sitting at the counter, computing his earnings for the day.

"And you closed shop early." I say.

He let out a sigh and said, "I had to close early because..." he raised his head and diverted his eyes towards the side. I followed where he was looking. There was a woman sleeping on the couch at one of the tables.

"GEH! Ma'am Dianne?!" I gasped. She suddenly snorted in her sleep. "Aniki! That's my teacher! What is she doing here?!" I say as I pointed at her.

A/N: Aniki is another way of referring to an older sibling.

"She's your teacher?" My brother says. "Ah, right. She graduated with a degree in engineering after all."

"What happened to her?" I ask. "She looks wasted."

"She got drunk." My brother says. He goes back to his data and computations.

"Here?! We're not allowed to sell alcohol right?"

My brother let out a sigh. "No, she came here drunk. When the last customer left I closed up shop immediately and let her let her mouth loose. She fell asleep not too long ago."

"What was she talking about then?"

"She talked about a break up or something. She was bawling her eyes out. Look at her eyeliner, it's smudged. She looks like a wasted panda." My brother laughed.

Ugh. Break up. The last thing I wanted to hear was that.

"She should've just put her attention elsewhere instead of getting herself drunk." I say. I went to the counter and took a slice of cheesecake from the display. I sat next to my brother at the counter and assisted him with his calculations.

"Speak for yourself." My brother smirked. "You locked yourself up the whole winter break inside your room. Did you know how furious mom was when she found out you kept skipping breakfast? Didn't you undergo a break up that time?"

"HAAAAAA?! How did you--wait, HOW DID YOU KNOW I WAS DATING SOMEONE?" I never told anyone in my family that I had a boyfriend for more than two years! How did he know that?!

"Because I'm your brother. Stupid." He says. "I already saw him. He was that boy mom kept talking about. She said she was a rude boy."

"He's not a rude boy. He can be very annoying, but he's not rude. I think his honesty is what made mom think he's rude. He sometimes say the truth in a way that it would pierce you." I say.

My mom always had high standards. Everybody looked up to her. When Daiki came to our house, she sized him up. It was the first time I brought a boy at home. He was there to help me out with tutoring for a back subject. It was also the first time somebody politely told her that she can be wrong sometimes. She didn't like it when she was wrong. She was always right most of the time. That's why she felt insulted and she said Daiki was a rude person. But it was never true.

To me, Daiki is just an honest person. He is polite. But you know how the truth can be hurtful sometimes. It could hurt other people's pride. But Daiki is a good person even though he's so blunt.

"I think so too." My brother says. "What was his name?"

"Daiki."

"Daiki, huh. Well, he was really a good person. You just didn't value him enough." My brother knows too much, its so scary! I never told him anything about me and Daiki!

"Are you some sort of stalker?" I ask.

"Nope. As your brother, I just know these things." He says. "You should rely on me more. I know how you can't tell mom about your problems, but what is a brother for?"

"I'm sorry." I say.

I hear him put his pen down. Then he suddenly pat my head. "I'll cook something for you."

"Omurice please." I say.

"Yosh." He left the counter and went to the kitchen. I watched him make omurice while I eat my cheesecake.

"Ne aniki," I began. "What's your relationship with ma'am Dianne?"

"She's one of my friends back during high school." He answered. "Whenever she's depressed he comes to me for advice. It only happens when she's drunk."

"Do you go to drinking parties?" I ask him.

"No." He says. "Drinking is forbidden in our religion right."

"Yeah." I say. "I was just asking. But I'm curious though. Are you gay?"

"HAH?" now he sounds angry.

"Well, you're 27 now and you entertain heartbroken girls for love advice about men, and you still don't have a girlfriend. Mom says you're just a hard working handsome man. But it's getting suspicious." I say.

At that moment, he serves the omurice to me. The ketchup lettering says "Move on. Stupid."

"Grr. You're the best brother in the world." I say. "Ittadakimasu."

"I am. And you really should just forget your break up. Don't spread the depressing aura in my shop. It will chase out the customers."

"Tell that to ma'am Dianne too, stupid." I say. I started eating the side dishes.

All of a sudden I hear a sob near my ear. I glanced at the person standing next to me.

"Waaaah! Even the omurice is insulting my feelings! I dated him for seven years, you know!" Ma'am Dianne woke up!

"That's why I told you to get over him already. Are you a middle-schooler?" My brother says.

"But Keita, we were so close to getting married!" she bawled.

"He never proposed to you." My brother suddenly reminded me of Daiki. He can be mean sometimes, but he is actually trying to cheer you up in that way.

I watched them argue until ma'am Dianne got exhausted from crying and fell asleep again.

I helped my brother clean up the shop after eating. While I was wiping a table, I hear the door chime.

"Sorry, we're already closed." I say, without looking at the people who entered.

"Kiyo?"

I looked at the customers. Why is Daiki and Hana here again? Will there ever be a day wihout me having to see both of them together?