[Summer Contest Entry 2012] Bitter vanilla
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It was hot.
In his chest, on his head, his blood too, is boiling.
Usually, at this time, he goes onto Fakku to begin his daily fapping session. Yet he logs on to Facebook, waiting for that person, or at least waiting for someone to talk to.
Don't know why, but to him, this summer is cold, and sad...
He's an otaku, an eccentric one. Addicted to manga, anime and stuff. He loves dancing in public. Sure, completely understandable for him, but to the others, he's just some weirdo. He doesn't hide it.
She's an otaku, unlike him, she can draw. She can draw pretty well almost anything. She loves those stuff too, again, to the others, she's just another weirdo. She tried to hide it desperately.
The two were classmates. Hell, just the same topic could bring them together. They could talk forever and ever about this. This is not a problem for him, however, she, afraid of the other's opinion, stop the conversation before it's finished.
Days after days, the school year ended. Every day were pretty ordinary and nothing special happen throughout the year, that's why summer is full of hope and dreams.
That day, they met each other inside a store. Tears are rolling on her face. Filled with curiosity, he asked:
-What’s wrong?
With a sad tone, she replied:
-Nothing… nothing at all…
-There’s gotta be something wrong if you’re crying… isn’t that logical?
-Heh… you wouldn’t understand…
-Just say it.
-Mother, she burned my drafts… everything, all of it…
-Why?
-My work for 4 years… all gone now…
-Reason?
-She said… that I’m an otaku, and they…are… worthless…
Usually a guy wouldn’t stay calm from hearing that. He said:
-Hmm… well, what are you going to do now?
-What do you mean?
-What are you gonna do about your mom?
-I don’t know… I mean… what can I do now? She said that by tomorrow I have to get rid of all my figure collections, my DVD,… all of it. I’ve been collecting them for a long time. Waiting at shops, working part time, borrowing, I’ve done everything to get my hands on them. And now she’s telling me to get rid of them…
-You need help? -he replied with a confident voice.
-How?
-Well, the least I can do is keep them for you until she cools down.
-You don’t need to do that…
-Sure, your choice, it’s not like I can force you right?
-…thanks…
For him, this is weird, as he never offers help to someone. He only focus on what happen to him, no one else matter.
He questioned about otakus
The next day, she comes to his house, stuffing a bunch of boxes onto him. Remembering what happen yesterday, he just took them and put into his room without saying another word. He heard something, though very faint…
“Thank you”
Bringing those boxes to his room, he thought: “might as well take a look”. Scanning through the contents, he was amazed. Inside are the limited editions of mangas, boxes of animes that even in his dream he couldn’t reach. She must be a really hard core fan.
For a while after that day, they become closer and closer, talking to each other, eating lunch together, sharing works, going to the shop. Eventually, what comes has to come. He started to have feelings for her. It’s strange, really, as he doesn’t know what it feels like. He’s an otaku, he loves his collections, his figures, his images. But loving a person? Well, one like him doesn’t know what love feels like. And so…
“Aishiteru”
The only word that appears on the white chat box. Though its meaning was small and limited, behind it was a guy, who took all of his courage, saying a word that has the enormous power. And then there was silence… Dead silence…
The chat box slowly shows more and more words from both. It looks a little bit like this:
Lilwhitebutterflies246: …
Bakahoge: I know it’s stupid, just forget what I said
Lilwhitebutterflies246: no no, it’s ok…
Lilwhitebutterflies246: the truth is…
Lilwhitebutterflies246: I love u 2…
Bakahoge: …
Bakahoge: lolololol, u’re jokin rite?
Lilwhitebutterflies246: no, i’m serious
Lilwhitebutterflies246: I’ve got a crush on you since start of the year
Lilwhitebutterflies246: I can’t explain, but…
Bakahoge: dont need to
Bakahoge: I have your answer and that’s enough
Bakahoge: I dont want to know the reason
Lilwhitebutterflies246:...
Lilwhitebutterflies246: I see…
Lilwhitebutterflies246: <3
Then she went offline.
The next day... There's a handmark on her face...
-Was it your mom again?
He knows but still asks with an angry tone, clenching his fist.
-*sobs* I… I don’t know *sobs*… what to do anymore…
Then she cried louder…
He stood there, because he doesn’t know what to do. He wants to help, yet there is nothing he can do. He wants to say something, but his hesitation stops him from doing so. Standing there, watching her cry, one must be really frustrated.
She slowly stops crying.
-can you do me a favor?
-What is it?
-I’m going to US for 3 weeks, my mom said that I need to take a trip to get away from those “contagious” products. Can you keep my stuff for me?
-that’s what I’m doing.
-thanks, I love you.
She then kissed him on his cheek, and walks away, don’t know how, but he can feel that she’s relieved and happy inside.
The time without her was incredibly boring and lonely.
Everyday he just goes onto the internet, looking around. Reading the comments about how otakus are “forever alone” he can’t help but laugh at them, laugh because he finally has a taste of love and a girlfriend who loves him very much. He laughed because he is now on a higher position than them.
And then she returned.
She was happy to see him again. But somehow, she seems different. The normal, ordinary otaku girl got rid of her glasses, replacing them with contact lenses, change her hairstyle, wearing something that seems like a very expensive dress. She looks like a completely different person.
It’s not much of a problem to him, yet he still feels like there is something else that is different about her.
He forced himself to ignore those things. But slowly, he noticed there is more than that. She no longer talks to him as much as the past, she refused to go to the shop with him.
-Hey, about your stuff…
-yeah, what about them?
-You want them back?
-Nah, you can have them if you want.
That simple answer has a huge impact on him. Now he clearly cannot ignore anymore. She has turned into a completely different person. He doesn’t understand what have gotten into her…
2 weeks after she came back, they have a conversation:
Bakahoge:hey
Lilwhitebutterflies246: hi
Bakahoge:I’ve been meaning to ask this
Bakahoge: what happened during your trip?
Lilwhitebutterflies246: what do u mean what happened?
Bakahoge:like…
Bakahoge:you’re a completely different person from who you were before.
Lilwhitebutterflies246: … I’m completely the same
Lilwhitebutterflies246: how am I different?
Bakahoge: your stuff, they are still here
Lilwhitebutterflies246: oh, about them? I’ve lost interested in them
Bakahoge: In just three weeks?
Lilwhitebutterflies246: I’ve realized they are a complete waste of time
This is not about the collections anymore.
It has turned into something beyond that, something that is could bring in the conflict between two person.
Lilwhitebutterflies246: My friends and others told me that mangas and animes are stupid, and otakus are weirdos who have no life.
Bakahoge: ...I thought ure 1...
Lilwhitebutterflies246: I’ve never said I was one
Pissed, he logs out. Grabbing her stuff, he threw them out the window and jump onto bed, trying his best to forget what happen.
“Is being an otaku wrong?”
“Societies hate them?”
“Will she change into one of them?”
Those questions keep ringing inside his head.
It was a summer night
Feeling bored and guilty, he decided to go to her house to apologize. He saw her walking out. As he’s trying to find a word, he saw a guy coming out along with her. They were kissing and snuggling with each other.
Everything around him shattered.
His heart shattered.
Slowly walk away, he look up onto the summer night sky.
In his hand is a souvenir, a glasses heart, he was planning to give it to her. He threw it away, and it broke to pieces.
It was hot.
In his chest, on his head, his blood too, is boiling.
He bought an ice cream, usually he would buy chocolate, but today, driven by something unknown to him. He bought vanilla.
“Why is it bitter…?”
In his head right now, it’s the time they spent together, they appeared one by one vividly. He constantly ask the same question over and over: “what have I done wrong?”
The vanilla ice cream tastes bitter… as he slowly drag his way into the night…
End
In his chest, on his head, his blood too, is boiling.
Usually, at this time, he goes onto Fakku to begin his daily fapping session. Yet he logs on to Facebook, waiting for that person, or at least waiting for someone to talk to.
Don't know why, but to him, this summer is cold, and sad...
He's an otaku, an eccentric one. Addicted to manga, anime and stuff. He loves dancing in public. Sure, completely understandable for him, but to the others, he's just some weirdo. He doesn't hide it.
She's an otaku, unlike him, she can draw. She can draw pretty well almost anything. She loves those stuff too, again, to the others, she's just another weirdo. She tried to hide it desperately.
The two were classmates. Hell, just the same topic could bring them together. They could talk forever and ever about this. This is not a problem for him, however, she, afraid of the other's opinion, stop the conversation before it's finished.
Days after days, the school year ended. Every day were pretty ordinary and nothing special happen throughout the year, that's why summer is full of hope and dreams.
That day, they met each other inside a store. Tears are rolling on her face. Filled with curiosity, he asked:
-What’s wrong?
With a sad tone, she replied:
-Nothing… nothing at all…
-There’s gotta be something wrong if you’re crying… isn’t that logical?
-Heh… you wouldn’t understand…
-Just say it.
-Mother, she burned my drafts… everything, all of it…
-Why?
-My work for 4 years… all gone now…
-Reason?
-She said… that I’m an otaku, and they…are… worthless…
Usually a guy wouldn’t stay calm from hearing that. He said:
-Hmm… well, what are you going to do now?
-What do you mean?
-What are you gonna do about your mom?
-I don’t know… I mean… what can I do now? She said that by tomorrow I have to get rid of all my figure collections, my DVD,… all of it. I’ve been collecting them for a long time. Waiting at shops, working part time, borrowing, I’ve done everything to get my hands on them. And now she’s telling me to get rid of them…
-You need help? -he replied with a confident voice.
-How?
-Well, the least I can do is keep them for you until she cools down.
-You don’t need to do that…
-Sure, your choice, it’s not like I can force you right?
-…thanks…
For him, this is weird, as he never offers help to someone. He only focus on what happen to him, no one else matter.
He questioned about otakus
The next day, she comes to his house, stuffing a bunch of boxes onto him. Remembering what happen yesterday, he just took them and put into his room without saying another word. He heard something, though very faint…
“Thank you”
Bringing those boxes to his room, he thought: “might as well take a look”. Scanning through the contents, he was amazed. Inside are the limited editions of mangas, boxes of animes that even in his dream he couldn’t reach. She must be a really hard core fan.
For a while after that day, they become closer and closer, talking to each other, eating lunch together, sharing works, going to the shop. Eventually, what comes has to come. He started to have feelings for her. It’s strange, really, as he doesn’t know what it feels like. He’s an otaku, he loves his collections, his figures, his images. But loving a person? Well, one like him doesn’t know what love feels like. And so…
“Aishiteru”
The only word that appears on the white chat box. Though its meaning was small and limited, behind it was a guy, who took all of his courage, saying a word that has the enormous power. And then there was silence… Dead silence…
The chat box slowly shows more and more words from both. It looks a little bit like this:
Lilwhitebutterflies246: …
Bakahoge: I know it’s stupid, just forget what I said
Lilwhitebutterflies246: no no, it’s ok…
Lilwhitebutterflies246: the truth is…
Lilwhitebutterflies246: I love u 2…
Bakahoge: …
Bakahoge: lolololol, u’re jokin rite?
Lilwhitebutterflies246: no, i’m serious
Lilwhitebutterflies246: I’ve got a crush on you since start of the year
Lilwhitebutterflies246: I can’t explain, but…
Bakahoge: dont need to
Bakahoge: I have your answer and that’s enough
Bakahoge: I dont want to know the reason
Lilwhitebutterflies246:...
Lilwhitebutterflies246: I see…
Lilwhitebutterflies246: <3
Then she went offline.
The next day... There's a handmark on her face...
-Was it your mom again?
He knows but still asks with an angry tone, clenching his fist.
-*sobs* I… I don’t know *sobs*… what to do anymore…
Then she cried louder…
He stood there, because he doesn’t know what to do. He wants to help, yet there is nothing he can do. He wants to say something, but his hesitation stops him from doing so. Standing there, watching her cry, one must be really frustrated.
She slowly stops crying.
-can you do me a favor?
-What is it?
-I’m going to US for 3 weeks, my mom said that I need to take a trip to get away from those “contagious” products. Can you keep my stuff for me?
-that’s what I’m doing.
-thanks, I love you.
She then kissed him on his cheek, and walks away, don’t know how, but he can feel that she’s relieved and happy inside.
The time without her was incredibly boring and lonely.
Everyday he just goes onto the internet, looking around. Reading the comments about how otakus are “forever alone” he can’t help but laugh at them, laugh because he finally has a taste of love and a girlfriend who loves him very much. He laughed because he is now on a higher position than them.
And then she returned.
She was happy to see him again. But somehow, she seems different. The normal, ordinary otaku girl got rid of her glasses, replacing them with contact lenses, change her hairstyle, wearing something that seems like a very expensive dress. She looks like a completely different person.
It’s not much of a problem to him, yet he still feels like there is something else that is different about her.
He forced himself to ignore those things. But slowly, he noticed there is more than that. She no longer talks to him as much as the past, she refused to go to the shop with him.
-Hey, about your stuff…
-yeah, what about them?
-You want them back?
-Nah, you can have them if you want.
That simple answer has a huge impact on him. Now he clearly cannot ignore anymore. She has turned into a completely different person. He doesn’t understand what have gotten into her…
2 weeks after she came back, they have a conversation:
Bakahoge:hey
Lilwhitebutterflies246: hi
Bakahoge:I’ve been meaning to ask this
Bakahoge: what happened during your trip?
Lilwhitebutterflies246: what do u mean what happened?
Bakahoge:like…
Bakahoge:you’re a completely different person from who you were before.
Lilwhitebutterflies246: … I’m completely the same
Lilwhitebutterflies246: how am I different?
Bakahoge: your stuff, they are still here
Lilwhitebutterflies246: oh, about them? I’ve lost interested in them
Bakahoge: In just three weeks?
Lilwhitebutterflies246: I’ve realized they are a complete waste of time
This is not about the collections anymore.
It has turned into something beyond that, something that is could bring in the conflict between two person.
Lilwhitebutterflies246: My friends and others told me that mangas and animes are stupid, and otakus are weirdos who have no life.
Bakahoge: ...I thought ure 1...
Lilwhitebutterflies246: I’ve never said I was one
Pissed, he logs out. Grabbing her stuff, he threw them out the window and jump onto bed, trying his best to forget what happen.
“Is being an otaku wrong?”
“Societies hate them?”
“Will she change into one of them?”
Those questions keep ringing inside his head.
It was a summer night
Feeling bored and guilty, he decided to go to her house to apologize. He saw her walking out. As he’s trying to find a word, he saw a guy coming out along with her. They were kissing and snuggling with each other.
Everything around him shattered.
His heart shattered.
Slowly walk away, he look up onto the summer night sky.
In his hand is a souvenir, a glasses heart, he was planning to give it to her. He threw it away, and it broke to pieces.
It was hot.
In his chest, on his head, his blood too, is boiling.
He bought an ice cream, usually he would buy chocolate, but today, driven by something unknown to him. He bought vanilla.
“Why is it bitter…?”
In his head right now, it’s the time they spent together, they appeared one by one vividly. He constantly ask the same question over and over: “what have I done wrong?”
The vanilla ice cream tastes bitter… as he slowly drag his way into the night…
End
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Cinia Pacifica
Ojou-sama Writer
Otameganekun... you sure you just didn't take it from elsewhere? Like, The World That God Only Knows?
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oh, sorry, my mistake, i thought that name was familiar but can't remember where it's from. If possible, can I re-edit the entry?
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So... Forever alone I guess. It was a nice story. An Otaku gets his hopes up by learning about love first-hand then gets shot down in the worst way. Not the kind I've never read, but still nice to read (though when I say "nice" I don't mean it's a good thing, don't get me wrong).
This isn't something I've myself lived through but I can't say I can't relate. Those feelings of rejection are sometimes horrible (though the most annoying thing that happened to me is stupid fags calling me "Naruto", to mock me obviously, and made me hate Naruto, but enough of Ma Life).
Oh and, the "glasses heart" thing is cute ^^
This isn't something I've myself lived through but I can't say I can't relate. Those feelings of rejection are sometimes horrible (though the most annoying thing that happened to me is stupid fags calling me "Naruto", to mock me obviously, and made me hate Naruto, but enough of Ma Life).
Oh and, the "glasses heart" thing is cute ^^
