[AQ] Hanging Wishes [Sayuri/Masahiko]

[Sayuri]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}

Wishing tree!

+ Description: For some years now there has been an old tree in the park said to be special. They say that if you write a wish on a strip of paper and tie it to one of its branches, the wish will come true! It’s just a saying of course, but a lot of people have visited the tree in the past. Nowadays, not a lot of people go there; you’ve heard about this from some students, but you wonder why it suddenly stopped being popular.

+ Visit the tree and make a wish!: +1 Guardians, +1 Faberge, +1 Roost

+ Make more than one wish, the branches seem pretty empty anyway!: -1 Guardians, +2 Faberge

+ Take a friend with you and talk about what kind of wish you want to make: +2 Guardians, -1 Faberge
+ Ignore the talk going on, you don’t believe in any of this wish talk: -1 Guardians, +1 Faberge, +1 Roost

+ You decide to ask around and find out that some weird things have happened and decide to check for yourself: +1 Faberge, +2 Roost

+ Requirements: none; feel free to make up your own lore though!

+ Submitted by Catrifer

For quite some time Sayuri had heard about the alleged 'wishing tree' located in the park of Downton Otonoki.  She wasn't very spiritual, but after all this hype about flying eggs and magic fairies even she had to second guess herself.  Her older siblings had said that the tree heard the prayers of anyone who left a token on its branches.  It was their key to success, from her eldest brother's spot in the Guardians to her sister's acceptance into medical school.  She remained skeptical for years until finally being forced to the place herself, hanging a single wish to attend Seiyo.

She'd made it, miraculously, even when it seemed like time wasn't on her side.  After that point she began to wonder about the so called magic of the tree.  A lot of it had been due to her own work, but at times it felt like something else was pushing her in the right direction.  Now a year later she sat in the same spot she had months back.  Her wheelchair was switched out for crutches she had propped neatly to the side but in her hands rested the same paper.  She was already scribbling down her next wish with a pencil she'd found in her back pocket.  Maybe, just maybe, luck would smile down on her once more.


Harada.M

[Harada.M]

The blonde third year was already standing at the wishing tree, paper and pen in his hand. He couldn't stand these types of rumors but right now this was his only hope at something dear to him. Lately, the boy was nothing but a complete wreck. He had suddenly vanished from Twitter, not speaking to a soul. He was rarely sleep and eating when he could. He was always in his room, skipping classes to train on his technique or stare at the ceiling. He just wanted everything to go away or disappear out of everyone's memory. He just wanted to be away from everything and everyone. So today, he walked to this tree that could grant wishes or some shit. His only hope was such a plant.

He stood at the tree, with a black hood over his head and eye bags to match. He tied the wish onto the tree and looked at his wish. He couldn't even smile at the moment. He could be the most protective but he could be the most destructive. Today was one of those days. His wish wasn't even considered a wish but a deeply infused dream that could possibly come true soon. As he turned to leave, he saw a girl. She was on crutches. She had the most happiest look. Well maybe happier than his. He stared at her, like a bug.

She was disgusting looking. How could such a girl, on crutches, have a positive outlook on her fucking face. He wanted to wipe the nasty look off of her face. It was like his negative mood when he got to Seiyo returned but even worse. Masahiko used to be happy but manipulative. He went from that to being plain hopeful for the right things, almost to the right path until his rival's egg broke. Now, he was just "yeah, no, whatever" on the outside but horrifyingly bitter on the inside. His violet eyes were that readable. He found every piece of hope gross and she was one of them. He stared at his wish and back at her. Disgusting.

[Sayuri]

Sayuri was halfway through writing her wish when she pressed down just a bit too hard, the tip of her pencil snapping off. Gasping as she watched it skitter to the side, she stared at the now broken edge as her wish was left incomplete. Well, this put a bit of a damper on things. She hadn't brought any spares, her entire bag a bit difficult to carry when she was traveling such a long distance. She could go back to the car to see if the driver had something she could borrow, but that would be a bit out of the way for her.

Puzzled but forever optimistic, she looked up to see if there was anyone near her that could spare a pen. Those nearby seemed to be deep in thought as they carefully etched their wishes onto their slips. She wouldn't dare interrupt them during such an important moment so she stood up, taking her wish with her as she went closer to the tree. Spotting a boy in a hoodie hanging his paper with pen in hand, she slowly made her way over to him. He was done, so maybe he'd be willing to offer?

"E-excuse me!" She said once she was within earshot, holding her paper nervously in one hand while she smiled kindly at the boy. It seemed he had noticed her already from the look on his face, still holding the wish in his hands. "U-um, could I possibly borrow your pen for a moment? My pencil broke and well.... well I'm nearly done writing my wish! I'd hate to bother anyone that isn't finished. It'll only be for a second, I promise!"

[Harada.M]

And there she was. The girl on crutches was standing there next to him almost, asking him for his writing instrument. He looked in at her but was so deep in thought, he didn't notice her for a minute. He was still focused on how such a girl could be so happy at these times. His eyes were almost empty looking. He just felt sick looking at such a glee. Why? Why could such a girl like be so happy on crutches by a old wishing tree. What was her wish? To walk normally? Never gonna happen kid. But before he could open his mouth for her to just shoo and disperse from his sight, she has asked him to see his pen. The blonde blinked from hearing the request register in his brain. He glanced down at his black pen and muttered, "You need a pen to finish your wish?" His looked went from disgust to confusion. Why would you bring a pencil? Not only was she just a little parasite but she was an idiot too. Classic.

Staring at her again. He asked her out loud, "A smart cookie would bring a pen to these things. You want my pen? Then answer my question: What did you wish for?" He hoped it was something dumb so he could laugh at her. He put fixed his bangs around his eyes and stared at the the large tree in fornt of him. He stared at all the empty branches on said plant. Everyone always has a wish to fulfill, why not write here on this tree. Maybe people finally realized a stupid tree as this is nothing but a false glimpse at the hope people want. This girl was one who believed in this vegetation. Masahiko on the other hand. He didn't wish for his wish. He simply wrote a dream that was close to being reality and it was sooner than anything. As he waited for the girl's "delightful" answer, he turned his head to all that was on the tree. Disgusting.

[Sayuri]

"Y-yes, a pen. I took the first thing my driver handed to me, but he's parked a bit far and I'm trying to avoid two trips," Sayuri replied, looking at it for a moment before staring back up at him. He was quite a few inches taller than her and the hood did little to detract from the shadows of his face. It was such a simple request but perhaps the pen had some importance to him? She would hate to use such a significant object. She fidgeted a bit, wondering if perhaps she should have found someone else, someone with something a bit more replaceable. She didn't want to bother him after all with such an inconvenience. Maybe he still had to finish his own wish?

He spoke to her again though, catching her attention as she began to turn away. Oh, her own wish? "Oh, um, well...." she started, bashfully looking down at the ground as her small smile returned. It would be a bit difficult to understand her wish with how it was written now, but she could just tell him, couldn't she? "Well you see, I wished for good weather! I just started school again and it's kind of hard to get around when it's too hot or stormy. A few weeks would be all I needed to get settled in! Plus the good weather would be helpful for the tree, don't you think?"

It was a very simple wish but important to the girl. To ask for something too grand would be impossible for the tree, and most of what she wanted could be achieved on her own time. Weather was out of her hands though, and she was sure the tree would agree that a light shower and a cool summer breeze would feel refreshing.

[Harada.M]

"Weather?" The blonde looked up at the sky and focused his energy on why good weather. Then as she continued to speak of heat and storms. Honestly, hot weather is too much but storms were therapeutic. He looked at his pen and handed it to her. As much as he regretted her smile and looking at her obstacles called crutches, he just gave it up. Two trips on crutches isn't good, especially from observation. He looked how far the car was and folded his arms. Then he heard the statement about the tree. A tree.

"You're really putting all your faith in this tree?" His chuckled under his breath, finding her answer quite amusing. "This school doesn't need perfect weather." He snorted, looking up at the tree. "Why should a tree be so trusted into giving a wish. I mean, you see how little people can go to this tree. Trusting a plant for a wish." Of course, he was there to but wishes aren't true. They can't be true. You can't just devote all your faith in a tree. He rolled his eyes and walked up to the other wishes, reading them. He scoffed at most of them. Crushes, money, world peace and all that shit. It was a plain mockery of reality. He walked around, waiting for his pen. A wish for good weather.

He stared at the girl again. She was pretty. Black hair and hazel eyes. Classic. She was pretty small as compared to him. Adorable. All of that in one. Again. He found it just plain horrific. Why such a girl with such a statute be so hopeful. Especially at a school as this one. Seiyo is and was a mistake. This tree was a mistake. Students here are mistakes.

[Sayuri]

Sayuri brightened considerably when she was handed the pen, quickly scribbling the rest of her wish on the paper. Her handwriting was messy when she rushed, a scrawling mess of small lines and mistaken characters as she tried her best to finish. In her free time she enjoyed practicing calligraphy but now was not one of those graceful moments. As she used the palm of her hand as a support for the paper, she put the final characters in, adding a few cute hearts and stars at the bottom. There, perfect!

"To be honest, I didn't believe in the tree much either," Sayuri started, reaching up to tie her wish to one of the lower branches. It flew gracefully in the wind, a gentle fluttering that showed off her simple wish, "My older siblings all swore this tree was magical and I thought it was silly. But then I came here last year wishing to go to Seiyo Academy. I didn't think much about it at the time, just some stupid tree that people believed in. But I made it, I'm able to attend the school now. I got through my first day and I've met so many people."

She turned back to him as the wish continued to drift, holding out the pen to him. The look on her face was enigmatic but somewhere in her eyes she looked content. Happy. "My wish became a reality once, maybe it'll happen again. And if it doesn't, then I'll make due with what I have. Wishes aren't just words to tie to a tree, they're what we're made of. I'll work hard towards my dreams, with or without a 'plant'."

[Harada.M]

This poor girl. She walked herself into a school full of shit. She scribbled like a madman. As his violet irises watched the girl, he could do nothing but chuckle at how ecstatic she was. He stuffed his hands further in his pockets and watched the girl. He looked up at the floating pieces of wishes, like wind chimes swaying in the wind. He read a few wishes as he waited. They were about, "hoping senpai notices me soon" or "going to ace the entrance exam" or "defeating this egg". He couldn't even process all of these hopes. As the girl had finished her wish and begun to tie it, he slowly looked down at her again. She was so happy. Out of all of these things happening, you have the most happiest smile. In these dark little days, you're just so happy. It bothered him, alot. He wanted to know what keeps her so eccentric, so light on the heart.

Then, she started speaking. The words that came from this girl's mouth was plain disgusting. She didn't believe in the tree but she's so jubilant to tie it on this branch. She's met people, she's gotten through her first day. Yeah, congrats for her. Wait til she gets a taste of this egg stuff. Wait til she sees what happens. She will regret coming to Seiyo.

Nodding her direction, talking about "wishes" are what we're made of and doing it with or without this tree, he stepped close to her. He muttered, "Why are you so hopeful about this stuff. How old are you? Five? Do you know what school you've walked into? Do you know what you've walked into? I'm not saying this out of concern but I'm saying this out of plain disgust. You should have not came here. This school is not for people like you. You think this shit is gonna be sugar and fucking rainbows. You haven't seen nothin yet, princess." He took the pen from her fingers and continued to laugh. "Work hard if you want. You ain't gonna get far. See those sad people on Twitter, that will be you. Seiyo isn't the place it used to be. It's not some great school that'll make you happy. It's a petty place. A place full of liars and deceivers." He turned to walk away from the girl. He couldn't even look at her.

His laughter carried on for a while. He strictly was just in tears. This girl. Wishes. Working Hard. You don't have to work hard to get fucked up at this school, sweetheart. He walked away from the tree and head towards the school.  She wasn't gonna make it far anyway.

[Sayuri]

Sayuri stood and listened carefully as the other spoke to her, the smile on her bright face never faltering. She had noticed that there were sad people at this school, that the expressions of those in her class seemed a bit more reserved than usual. She remembered arriving to orientation last year with a school full of happy and hard-working people. Now there was a black cloud that covered the entire campus, bringing with it rain and thunder and despair.

She'd been gone a year so it was no wonder she didn't understand what she had walked into. She'd missed so much in only a few months and perhaps that was for the best. Maybe it was better that she had taken her time arriving at this school instead of worrying over the start of the semester or whether or not she'd be able to make friends. She'd arrived a season late but filled with all the energy and excitement of a newly transferred student. Her mind was fresher than those around her and she could honestly say that this school was the right choice for her.

No matter the pain of others, no matter what they were facing, she'd face it with them.

"I'm really sorry..." Sayuri started, her smile changing from a content curve to a lopsided grin filled with confidence and certainty, "I'm sorry that you feel that way, but I worked hard to make it to where I am now. You might not think I belong here, but you're wrong. Everything you've just said counts as one more important reason why I need to come to this school. Let's endure all that suffering together and turn it into something wonderful. I believe we can do it."

She stayed where she was even as the boy turned to walk away from her. She seemed at peace with herself even though a small part of her mind still felt the sadness of his words. Cupping her hands around her mouth, she called out to him. "I hope your wish comes true! Let's meet again sometime!"

[Harada.M]

Masahiko then stopped in his tracks. Listening to the second-years words like it was a parent's hope for their child. Her words dug deep to him. He turned to face Sayuri again. He looked at her with the most wet of eyes and the most destroyed of expression. In all things she said, she hoped his wish came true. No one ever wished that for him. No one hoped the best out of him except his family and a few of his friends. She was a sweet girl. As much as he hated sweetness, as much as he hated happiness right now, this one kept a smile when he tried to bring her down. He slightly admired that. There needed to be more people like her in the world, just not now. Just not now.

"I'll do my best to make my dream come true." A small, weak crack in his voice caused him to fluster heavily and turn away. He wanted to say more to her but he just couldn't feel the nerve to say anything to her.

However, just to thank her, the blonde walked over to the girl on crutches. He bowed to her with the most full on respect he could to the younger one. He then quickly with no hesitation just hugged her. He couldn't think of anything besides words to let her know that she was appreciated. So maybe a hug helped? He didn't know. So as he backed away, he stated, "I'll see you around school, alright?" He turned from her again.

[Sayuri]

Sayuri was surprised when the other spoke again, expecting the worst to come out of this situation. She felt her heart burst with pride as the other talked about his dream and she nodded excitedly at the prospect of it. It was always good to hear that someone was able to make their dreams come true, even more so when they were turning over a new leaf to start again. She was confident the other's hopes would return full force to drive him into a brighter future.

Even more shocking though was the respectful bow that he offered her along with the hug. After dealing with so many doctors she was quite used to physical contact and she patted his back like a mother would a child before he pulled away.

"See you then," She said, waving at him politely before looking back up at the tree. She was almost certain the two would meet again, hopefully under even better circumstances than they just did. She was definitely looking forward to it.