From Dawn Until Dusk: Chapter 7

A Munto Fanfiction: From Dawn Until Dusk © RedWingedAngel002
Disclaimer: Munto; Sora Miageru Shōjo no Hitomi ni Utsuru Sekai © Kyoto Animation; Yoshiji Kigami and Tomoe Aratani
Genre: Angst and Friendship
Summary: Drabble Collection. WVII: It is often difficult to accept change. Word count: 883.
Prompt: Week 7/10: Write a response with conflict (one of the four basic conflicts please) or without. Include all of the following in this prompt: yellow, glass, mud, water, and hair.
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A/N: I deeply apologize for the extended hiatus, guys. Besides writer’s block, that’s what happens with your last year of school and an art student—many hours within the studio, while the draining doses of free time remain mindlessly on Tumblr. Oh, Tumblr.
This overall Grit plot will correlate with chapter nine. I’m over 3/4th’s finished for this (overdue) writing prompt; that said, I plan on completing this fic before moving onto anything else. Thank you again for baring with me.
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Songs: Chasm by: Flyleaf, The Great Destroyer (Modwheelmood) by: Nine Inch Nails, and Run by: Shinto Akatsuki・Monaca
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Japanese Index:
-hime: Princess
-san: Honorific: Carries the meaning of “Mr.,” “Mrs.,” “Miss,” etc., but used more extensively in Japanese than its English equivalent
-senpai: Honorific: An Upperclassman. Used in relation to fellow classmates of higher level or age.
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“Talking.”
‘Thinking.’
Memories/Flashbacks
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Chapter 7: Grit
“Turn it up.
Listen to the shit they pump into your head.
Filling you with apathy.
Hold your breath.
Wait until you know the time is right on time
The end is near…”
The Great Destroyer (Modwheelmood) by: Nine Inch Nails
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“You can run, little rabbit, but you can’t hide,” came a haunting jeer, which was so close to her hiding spot.
Crouched beneath one of the dust-filmed shelves, Yumemi quickly covered her mouth to deafen the spike of her breathing. Luckily, her pursuer did not notice due to the pattering storm outside, but she had to keep quiet, knowing that there were two more within the gym storage house.
Bravely creeping out from her cove, she had accidently stepped upon a wedge of glass, breaking the silence beneath her shoe, and fear-struck, made a dash for the door. Unbeknownst to her, a teen stood behind the outer entrance, awaiting the opportunity to strike. Neck jerking, there was a tug at her arm, which refused to let go. Blonde locks whipped in front of her wide gaze, obscuring the malice embedded within churning brown.
Bringing Yumemi back within the dark, she called for her comrade. “Fuko, I’ve got her!”
Another second-year flanked her right, pinning her squirming self in place as their leader sashayed towards them. Once the scent of floral cherry reached inches from the blonde’s nostrils, she spoke.
“Where are you off to in such a rush, Hidaka-san? We just want to talk to our beloved senpai.”
A bitter smile stretched across Yumemi’s lips. “Shouldn’t you be a bit more respectful then?”
She flicked her curled bangs back. “Well, of course. This is as much as you deserve, being the lowlife that you are.”
Whispers among the halls were ever constant, only turning silent as she entered class, while cold, judgmental stares followed suit. Sometimes, when in a restroom stall, she would catch glimpses of their hurtful jeers…
Eyes of emerald wavered in defiance, as her hands balled into fists. “What do you want?”
“Vengeance. My father died because of you, you know?” The caress at her cheek then dug into her skin. Yumemi turned to avoid the sting, but was forced by the jaw for attention. “And what a hero you are. With all the cameras and attention on the news, you’d think that would be enough? But no, you’re sleeping with those freaks on top of it all!”
All color drained from her flushed cheeks. “That’s not true!”
Gray irises flickered towards her left, receiving a chorus of chuckles from the three females.
“Really? Why else would they adore you so?” Fuko bat her eyes and cupped her hands together in mock. “Oh, Yumemi-hime. Fair, beautiful maiden, Yumemi-hime!” Her façade twisted into a snarl. “It makes me sick. You make me sick…!”
It was then that all the air within her lungs was forced out, while pain flooded in her gut. Listlessly, she gasped for the air she was denied. “Stop. Please… listen.”
“You’re nothing special! All you’ve done is bring pain!”
Quietly from the stairwell, she watched her mother gingerly apply the icepack upon Chikara’s swollen eye, the innocent tears, which lay remain dry, empty, just as the sickness in her chest…
There was a tug at her sailor collar, and before she knew it, the necklace containing Munto’s ring was yanked away.
“This is his, isn’t it?”
Ice filled her veins with realization. “No, please don’t!”
Fuko simply scoffed at her plea, and gave a mighty swing and threw the gold signet out of sight and within the storm.
The cry died within her throat. She would not give them the satisfaction of tears, despite how much they burned.
A shout from the doorway suddenly disrupted the quad, while Yumemi craned to see whom it originated from. With a flicker of lightning, her rescuer’s silhouette was illuminated to reveal the sopping transfer student, Haruka Hakanai. The chilling intensity of her gaze peered at them, and just as it came, she was veiled in shadow once more.
“Hakanai-san…” Yumemi whispered, while she made her entrance.
Russet irises flickered towards her direction, her mouth twitching downward as she calmly ordered, “Get away from her.”
They looked nervous, fearing for a complaint of higher authority. Once reason dawned, the claws piercing into her arms were removed and the trio left her in pieces, muttering glaring threats as they went.
Dazed, Yumemi tenderly rubbed her side—bruised luckily where no one could worry—and she struggled to gain her bearings. There, a hand tugged her forearm up for assistance until she was well balanced on her feet. She watched the nonchalant student with caution, perplexed by the aid, but did not pull away.
“This won’t end unless you fight. I assume you understand that much?” The fifteen-year-old’s shoulders slumped forward, heavy with the burden placed upon them, and she nodded in agreement. “Well then, they took something precious of yours? I will help you find it.”
Taken aback by her kindness once more, she spoke her confusion aloud, “Why?”
“You and I are more alike than you think.” Her smile held a tinge of bitterness. “Now, let’s get going before the mud makes it impossible to find.”
The breath bated at her lips was released, and she quietly muttered her sincere gratitude. “Thank you very much.”
Following the trek of puddles to the doorway, Haruka turned, her damp, raven-locks billowing with the quick motion, and she held her head high. “I said I would help you. That does not make us friends…”
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A/N: Bleh, it still sounds bad. Damn writer’s block. I have to start somewhere, I suppose. :c
I’m on the long trek of translating the Munto manga, and by chapter one, I found out the introduced girl’s name is Haruka Hakanai. Unfortunately, the story takes place between the year-and-a-half, which passes between OVA's, so it wouldn’t make sense in this timeline, but since I don’t really take it as cannon, I wanted to incorporate her in a different way.
I’m still struggling with Haruka’s speech pattern since my translations of the manga are so basic. For the time being, I’m basing her off of Homura from Puella Magi Madoka Magica.

—Ari 3/13/14