walkwithheroes | Fic: 'Roles to Play' [Hana Kimi]

Title: Roles to Play
Author:

walkwithheroes
Rated: G
Word Count: 700
Summary: Nakatsu knows the role he's meant to play in Mizuki and Sano's story.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. I just own this story. Yay me!
Notes: I had no beta, sorry. Written in about ten minutes using a theme. That theme? 'draw the line in the sand'.
A/N: It should be noted that I've never read the Hana Kimi manga. I'm one of those. One of those people that's just watching the Japanese show. Which is why I'd like to blame this fic on Horikita Maki and Ikuta Toma. Those two have insane chemistry and Toma's Nakatsu Shuichi is just too sweet, funny, and perfect.

There was a formula to romance. The plucky heroine always melted the heart of the stoic hero. And, somewhere in the background the funny best friend watched with a breaking heart.

Their story was no different. Well. . . maybe it was a little different. He was sure he had never heard of a girl dressing up like a boy in order to be close to her idol. At least, not outside of a manga. The point was, he was doomed to be the 'funny best friend' and Sano was blessed with being the 'stoic hero'. Everyone had a role to play and each of them would play it to perfection.

And yet . . . he had broken the rules.

Once the best friend realizes that the heroine is in love with the hero, he's suppose to back off. He's certainly not meant to tell the girl he likes her, especially when the girl is still pretending to be a boy. But, he had. He'd broken the rules and messed up in playing his part.

Still, didn't she like him? Wasn't he her best friend? They had fun together, laughing and playing. He was sure that if Sano hadn't been there. . .she'd love him instead.

If there was no Sano, she never would have come to Japan.

If there was no Sano, she never would have faked being a boy.

If there was no Sano, she never would have enrolled in this school.

If. . .

Nakatsu knew that it was fated for him to met Mizuki. If there was no Sano, they would have met anyway. Maybe during a vacation; Mizuki's first time in Japan right after graduating high school. They'd meet at a beach or in a crowded park. And, she'd laugh at his jokes before inviting him for hamburgers.

He'd be the charming hero in their story. Mizuki wouldn't have to melt his icy heart. Instead, they'd spend a blissful summer together. He'd teach her about Japanese culture and soccer and she'd share all her dreams with him.

They'd have new roles, roles that they'd play with perfection.

“Nakatsu?” Without even turning around, he knew it was Mizuki. “About earlier. . .”

With a deep breath, he turned around and smiled broadly. “Yeah. Yeah, that was probably weird for you. I meant it, but. . .”

“No. Yeah. I. . .”

The awkwardness was almost too much to bear. Nakatsu wished the Earth would open up and swallow him whole; he was sure Mizuki felt the same way.

“It's just. . . you're my best friend. I'm . . .”

“A girl whose in love with a boy, who isn't me.” Nakatsu regretfully finished for her.

“Nakatsu,” Mizuki began, only to be cut off again.

“If it were me. . . would you have come to Japan for me? If there were no Sano, or if he were different or gay or something, could you have loved me instead? Could I have been the hero instead of the faithful friend?”

Mizuki's following silence spoke volumes. So, Nakatsu laughed away the pain.

“Forget it, Mizuki.” He wanted to turn and leave, but found himself glued to his spot.

At that moment he wanted to die. Nakatsu wanted to Earth to swallow him; wanted to disappear. If only lighting would strike him dead. If only a pack of wild dogs would appear and rip him to shreds. If only. . .

“Nakatsu,” Mizuki's soft hand reached out for his. “would you like to go get a hamburger?”

His eyes were as wide as plates and his palms were already sweating, he was sure of that. “Eh?”

“Hamburgers.” she repeated softly, unsure. “Would you like to go get one? We should. . . talk, about. . .stuff.”

Stuff? As in their relationship and her feelings for Sano?

“Yeah.” Nakatsu knew he was practically drooling, but he didn't care. Mizuki was holding his hand. Mizuki was a girl who was holding his hand. And, she wanted to have hamburgers and talk. “W-we should do that, Mizuki.”

She smiled, really and truly smiled, at him and him alone.

Together, hand and hand, they walked out of the school gates. And, if anyone could have heard their conversation, they would have heard Mizuki asking,

“Hey Nakatsu. . . one day, would you teach me how to play soccer?”

-Fin-