Chapter 163

“Takamori, you sure?” asked Torigoe. “If you don’t mind,” I said. “I think I’d be a little sad if I had to go back to being a loner at this point, so I’m grateful for the offer.” It seemed like Torigoe had gotten her feelings in order. Or maybe she’d always been prepared for this. She seemed frank and refreshed today. Himeji came over and joined the conversation. Apparently, she’d heard us talking. “Um, may I?” She timidly raised her hand. “Go ahead.” “If Ryou only cared about looks, he would have chosen me.” “I didn’t choose anyone based on looks!” Why does she sound like she just found a plot hole? “Anyway, we’re past that topic. Don’t bring it up again.” “Actually, I think I’d win that fight,” said Fushimi. She put on the face of a warrior ready for a duel. “This isn’t a competition,” I snapped. “You really think you’d win?” Himeji stared straight back at Fushimi. It seemed like they might lock swords at any moment. Torigoe narrowed her eyes. “You’re both completely different types,” she said, sounding fed up. “It’s silly to compare.” “Ai, aren’t you admitting that your face is your only redeeming qua—?” Himeji frowned so quickly, you could almost hear a fwsh. Fushimi was purposely baiting her, and it worked. Himeji began shouting and throwing whatever she found on her desk. “Stop that! You’re an adult!” cried Fushimi. But that didn’t stop her from fighting back. Stationery soared over my head like tiny missiles. You’re both acting like children. An eraser hit my cheek, and Torigoe started slapping her desk, trying not to laugh. Eventually, the two combatants came back to their senses, their breathing ragged. First they glared at each other, then they looked away at exactly the same time. Despite their constant fighting, the two of them were like peas in a pod. The teacher arrived, and our classmates returned to their assigned seats. As she spoke about the festival and went over the day’s announcements, Himeji faced forward sulkily and said, “That’s not what I meant to say at all.” “Come on,” I shot back. “You obviously came over ready to start a fight.” “Yes, it’s your fault, Ai.” “And yours for responding, Fushimi,” I said. There was no winner here. Both of them were equally to blame. “Hey, I’m sure Mr. Matsuda told you, but my play opens next weekend,” said Himeji, switching topics. It felt like just yesterday that she and Fushimi were auditioning for the part, but that had been during summer break. “Here’s a ticket,” she said, carefully pulling out an envelope, as though it contained her life savings, and removing a slip of paper from it. “Surely you don’t have anything better to do.” “I’d go even if I had to cancel my plans. Thanks.” I put the ticket in my wallet. “And for Hina.” She handed me another one, and I passed it to Fushimi. “You might learn a thing or two.” “From you? I doubt it,” Fushimi said, cocking her head dubiously. “On second thought, Hina, seeing a professional at work might be too much for someone who’s used to school plays.” “Thanks, Ai. I’m looking forward to it,” said Fushimi sincerely, despite the other girl’s sass. She waved the ticket around with a big smile, and Himeji finally softened up. “I promise I’ll knock your socks off.” “Don’t flub your lines, okay?” “Who do you take me for?” Himeji snorted. She had experience as an idol, and it seemed she wasn’t the least bit worried about going onstage. Our teacher finished the morning announcements and left the room, giving us a short break. “Here, Shizuka. Please come see my play.” Himeji handed a ticket to Torigoe. It seemed she still had some left. “Thanks! Break a leg!” “You needn’t worry.” She handed several more tickets out to some girls she was friendly with. She even had one saved for Shinohara. “Shinohara, too?” I said. “You’re so nice.” “Oh, I just had a few left over.” “She’ll be over the moon, crying tears of joy.” Himeji winced. Maybe she could already picture it. She was Shinohara’s idol, finally back on stage. The girl was bound to be even more excited than we could imagine. “Looks like I have one left,” Himeji said, looking at the envelope. Deguchi was staring at her expectantly. “Can I give it to Deguchi?” I asked. “Do whatever you wish, Ryou.” I took the ticket from her and walked over to Deguchi. I could see a fire burning in his eyes. “Deguchi, Himeji says you can come.” “I knew it! We were in the same group during the school field trip. Of course she wants me to come see her play.” The guy had unshakable confidence. I definitely can’t tell him this was just a leftover. “Let’s go together,” I said, deciding not to burst his bubble. “Wow, it’s next weekend? I guess she was missing a lot of school for rehearsals lately. But wait, Takayan, won’t you be busy with Fushimi?” Deguchi slapped my shoulder and whistled. “Oh, you knew? And no, we don’t have any plans that day.” But before I could add that Fushimi would be going, too, I noticed Deguchi shooting me a weird look. “What’s wrong?” I asked. “You didn’t deny it… What’s going on?” He looked like an abandoned puppy. “Are you for real?” “About what?” “Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa! Don’t tell me you got caught up in that despicable closing party nonsense and wound up going out with Fushimi!” “I wouldn’t say ‘wound up,’ but yeah, I guess we did.” “How could this happen?!” Deguchi clutched his head. “With Fushimi? I was just messing around…! I thought you’d deny it! What the heck?!” “Why are you mad?” If anything, I should be upset with him for teasing me like that. “How awful… You promised me we’d both die virgins…” “Why would either of us want that?” And I definitely hadn’t agreed to such a thing. “I bet you… I bet you guys just got together because you didn’t want to be alone for Christmas! I know how it goes! It happens all the time! It’s okay, I understand!” Deguchi’s yelling caught everyone’s attention. There were tears in his eyes, and it seemed like people weren’t even listening, they just thought he was a weirdo. At any rate, it didn’t seem like he was mad at Fushimi and me in particular, as much as he was upset with everyone who’d gotten together during the festival. “Hey, cheer up,” I said. “It’s not the end of the world.” “Shut it!” Deguchi raised his head and brushed my hand away from his shoulder. “This is too much… If you two were gonna get together, you should’ve done it ages ago…” “We took a lot of detours along the way.” “Come on, God! Why didn’t you give me a pretty childhood friend, huh? I’m not picky. She doesn’t need to be gorgeous, just a normal girl—a girl-next-door type who makes me want to protect her…” Now he was speaking to God. Better just leave him be for now. I’d already fulfilled my mission and handed him the ticket, so I turned around to go back to my seat. But then he grabbed my shoulder. “Congratulations, Takayan. Enjoy your Christmas…enough for the both of us…” Deguchi sniffled. You’re that sad about being left behind? There weren’t many people in my small circle of friends to give the news to. But there was one person I still needed to tell. I asked Fushimi to come home with me after school so we could tell her together, but when we got there, the girl in question still wasn’t back. We decided to wait in my room. I could imagine how she would react. “Do we really need to be so formal?” Fushimi asked. “Yes. This is pretty important.” I heard a bike come to a stop outside. “She’s here.” “O-okay…” Fushimi nodded nervously. The door opened, and someone called out, “I’m home!” from below. Then we heard footsteps coming up the stairs, and finally, the door swung open. “Hey, Hina.” Mana smiled and waved. She was carrying a bag of groceries in her other hand. “Saw your shoes by the door.” “Yes, I am here.” “You’re acting weird. What’s wrong?” Mana looked at me, then back at Fushimi, then back at me. “Ohhh! Were you about to get it on? I bet you were. Well, I’ll leave you to it!” Mana giggled and started to leave, but I stopped her. “Wait a second, Mana. We have something to tell you.” “Hmm?” She leaned to the side so her head was visible through the door. I decided to cut right to the chase. “You see, we’ve started dating.” Mana blinked repeatedly. “Huh?” “That’s right, Mana,” said Fushimi. “Ryou and I are a couple now.” I heard the grocery bag fall to the floor. Then Mana vanished and high-tailed it toward her room. “Wait, Mana!” Fushimi called after her. “H-huh?” I said. “Th-that’s not the reaction I was expecting!” What was with her? I thought she’d smile and say something lighthearted, like, “Whoa?! No cap? Gratz, Bubby!” I heard the door to her room slam shut. I was still in shock, but Fushimi seemed to understand what was going on. “I should have expected this,” she said. “What do you mean? I’m completely lost.” “Come on…” Fushimi sighed. “Don’t you remember back when we were kids, how she’d always come between me and Ai when we talked about who you’d marry? How she cried when you chose me?” Is that true? “You totally forgot. I can tell from your face.” “You’re right. But we were just kids back then.” “Yeah, I know. I figured there was a ten percent chance she was over it.” Only ten percent? “Mana’s just shocked because of how much she loves you.” I guess she really was just joking about us “getting it on,” or whatever… Fushimi braced herself and left the room. Worried, I tagged along, and we wound up standing outside Mana’s door. “Mana,” Fushimi called out through the door. Was she going to try to soothe her? Honestly, I had no idea what to do. I’d never seen Mana act like this. “What we said wasn’t a joke.” Come on. Don’t kick her while she’s down. “You knew, didn’t you? That Ryou would start dating eventually.” Mana didn’t answer. Fushimi and I had only been together for three days. We hadn’t done anything couple-like yet, but we’d get there eventually. I heard a clatter from inside the room. “I don’t care. Bubby can do whatever he likes. He doesn’t mean anything to me.” Mana came out, her cheeks puffed up like they were about to explode. She pushed us out of the way and started down the hall. “I hope you build a beautiful family! Jerk!” She stuck her tongue out at me and picked up the fallen groceries before going back downstairs. “I’m afraid I won’t be having dinner tonight…,” I said. I was dead serious. Fushimi cleared her throat. “Ryou, Ryou,” she said, pointing at herself. “Are you saying you’ll make dinner for me if Mana won’t?” She’d done it once before. “Hee-hee… Yup!” She nodded, grinning from ear to ear. “I am your girlfriend, after all…” Her head was down, at the perfect height for patting, and I gave into the temptation. “…!” In return, she held me close. I felt her small shoulders and lean chest. When I brushed her cheek with my finger, it felt as hot as a teakettle. Then I reached my arms around her back, realizing suddenly how slender she was. “Ryou…” Her breathy voice tickled my ears. There in the dark hallway, we locked eyes at close range. “Hina, you wanna have dinner he—…?” “Eep!” “Whoa!” We jumped apart. Mana was staring at us; she’d clearly seen. “…” “Oh, don’t mind me. But thanks,” Fushimi said nervously. “Uh-huh…” “Oh, but Mana, I do want dinner, okay?!” I had to say it before she decided not to feed me. “I really want to eat your cooking.” Mana’s expression softened. It seemed my pleading had pleased her. “Oh yeah? Well, I wasn’t asking you.” Despite her words, her mood seemed to have improved. Once she’d left, Fushimi and I giggled. “That scared the crap out of me,” I said. “I bet she came up here just to catch us.” “Nah, I’m sure it was a coincidence. I think she genuinely wanted to ask about dinner.” I let out a sigh of relief, then felt a hard poke on my cheek. “Ow!” “I’m a little jealous. I know you care a lot about your little sister… I do, but…” Fushimi fidgeted. I took her hand and led her back to my room. Once I’d closed the door, Fushimi stretched and then gave me a little peck. Then she touched her hair, hiding her face from view. I grabbed her free hand and entwined our fingers, and she let herself fall against me. Leaning against the door for support, I caught her in an embrace. Her big eyes were already closed. My mind used to grow hazy in moments like this, but now that haze was gone, and love bubbled up in my heart. I brushed my lips against hers. As I drew back, Fushimi opened her eyes. They were wet, and her face was beet red as she stood up on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around my neck. Then our lips came together like we were two magnets. My brain went numb at her scent and the soft sensation of her mouth on mine. I barely managed to keep my breathing normal as my heart started to race from anxiety and excitement. Fushimi must have been the same. Her breathing was already starting to falter. “Wait, Ryou, I… Hold up.” Fushimi stepped back as though freed from a spell. “L-let’s s-stop here…!” She plopped down onto the floor, holding her rosy cheeks between her hands. I was probably just as flushed. “I didn’t expect you to be so assertive… So…aggressive.” “I’m surprised, too. I guess I’ve never done anything like this before.” It was obvious where we’d been headed… The more I regained my cool, the more I thought about what came after. “Sorry,” I said. “I guess I don’t know how to stop.” “N-no, it’s okay. I’m just surprised…… I’m not sure…I would have been able to stop, either.” “Really? You too?” Fushimi stood up and grabbed her bag. “I—I gotta go home! I have to stu— I mean t-test— No, study, for, um, midterms. Bye.” Her eyes were swimming all over as she spoke, then she bolted out of the room. “Want me to see you home?” I called out after her. “N-no! I’m okay!” I heard her soft footsteps heading down the stairs. Without waiting for me, she put on her shoes and left. Back in my room, I could still feel her warmth and smell the scent of her hair in the air. “Did I go too far?” I mumbled. Maybe I had. But Fushimi didn’t seem put off by it. In fact, she seemed a little out of control herself. And in that case, we were the same.