Gekkou: The Stubborn Will of the Crescent Moon
This is a work in progress...
Introduction
A beautiful fine arts instructor offering private lessons; the proposition sounds both alluring, and... suspicious?
A story of the heated romance between a boy who's bored with the world around him, and a lovely girl with a devilish side.
A “Murder Recipe”, lost by one Youko Tsukimori, caused the dull everyday life of Nonomiya, a boy bored with the world, to turn upside down. His constant association with her brought several other women into the picture, including one with a certain grown-up charm—Misaki Takaoka, the fine arts teacher at Senkou Senior High. But her real reason for trying to get close to Nonomiya is...?
Story
A large cheer rose up from the sound of boys playing baseball out on the field. In the forest in the back, the unyielding sound of cicadas drowned out everything else.
From the pool, water splashing and the lovely sound of female students having fun could be heard. Birds chirped and sang all around.
Outside the classroom it was summer; that much there was no doubting.
At that moment, summer had the world in it’s grip. It wasn’t the springtime of our life, it was the summertime.
It’s only natural then, that the classroom would also be overwhelmingly under the control of summer—hot and stuffy, and filled with idle people. We could do nothing but serve under our powerful oppressor as humble servants.
So, lumbering along like a turtle, I gazed vacantly at the cloudless sky. Setting my sights on the blazing spherical inferno reigning over the sky, I slowly opened my mouth to speak.
“…could you turn it down a bit?”
To be honest, I am not a fan of summer. More specifically, I hate the midsummer sun as if it were a mortal enemy from olden times. If I were the brave warrior and the sun the evil king, then right now I would be gathering my comrades and launching my crusade.
“My classmate Nonomia with that childish face is super-cute. It’s dazzling even.”
While listening to me as she would a committee notification, the girl beside me let out a quiet laugh. My eyes widening, I shot a quick glance at her. Too startled to say anything, I even managed to forgot my denial.
With the regular student council meeting happening, nearly thirty boys and girls from each grade were meeting up. Each and every one of them with sweat on their brow, the shirts of their uniforms casually sticking to their skin, trying desperately to relax even just a little while steam rose noticeably off them. Then came her turn—except here the uniform was in order, the hair was in order, not one thread was out of place. Of course, on her face there wasn't even one drop of perspiration. She looked as cool and refreshed as if the rest of the world were that way.
“It seems when faced with Tsukimori Yoko who's heart is of ice, even the sun is powerless.”
“Of course, since ancient times, a frozen heart could be melted by the ‘tender kiss’ of a knightly prince.”
My sarcastic remark to Tsukimory being easily deflected, after saying “knightly princes need lots of advice” with a smile, she sneaked her hand under the table where, hidden from view, she placed it on my thigh.
Dizziness. And that's definitely not just the heat’s fault. Dizzy for all sorts of reasons, unable to focus, I could only manage an “…I think the heat’s getting to me” as I brushed Tsukimori’s hand away.
Unsure if she enjoyed the looks of disgust on people’s faces, or perhaps had the abnormal trait of gaining immense enjoyment from being treated coldly by people, Tsukimori Yoko didn't refute this claim and simply said “bully” while happily narrowing her eyes.
Ever since that midnight rendezvous at the park, it felt like the heat would rise more and more each day every time she touched me. Even if the air temperature was decidedly different, even if it became winter time, her behaviour toward me would likely not cool off.
Without saying another word, I sighed to convey my annoyance.
The committee meeting was finished. Definitely due to her accumulated karma, Tsukimori Yoko, after having just sat down, stood up again and waited expectantly for the other class council members gathered around.
Me, who lost interest the more I copied other’s karma, without hesitation abandoned her and left the classroom.
Right at this moment there came a “Sorry, I have to get to my part-time job right way.” While maintaining her cool and refreshing air, but perhaps with a heart full of purpose, she, after hurriedly saying those words, lightly ran over to my side while smiling.
“Let’s go back together Nonomia-kun.”
Tsukimori hung onto my side quite naturally, as if that was her assigned place. Looking around to make sure bystanders were not watching our movements, she took hold of my little finger with her own.
Unbeknownst to anyone at school, having a secret relationship with me—she looked to be enjoying that considerably. As I started imagining the time leading up to winter and her growth, I forgot about the summer and flying back to the air-conditioning.
