Keiko admired herself in the full-length mirror as she tied the sash around her teal kimono.
Spring had arrived, finally! The traditional festivals would be underway, and they would all have a day free!
She smiled at herself. For the first time in a while, she felt pretty.
The sakura blossoms were aromatic and enchanting with the moonbeams reflecting against them. Keiko kept ot herself during the festival mostly. She found solitude by the banks of the lake to be romantic, sitting on the cool blades of grass.
"Hime-sama."
Keiko's eyes widened, and she looked behind her shoulder with an anticipating smile.
"My lady, you must get inside soon." Obari stood a few feet behind her in ancient kimonos of royalty. "You'll catch your death's cold if you're out much longer."
Keiko smiled wider, and followed Obari with her eyes as he came to sit next to her. She rested against his chest. "I was led to believe that His Majesty was capable of defending his fiancee against all evil."
Obari put an arm around her, and rested his chin on her head. "That's just what I'm doing, my beloved."
The two lovers gazed into the lake.
"It wasn't much more than a year ago that I sealed the legendary Phoenix in this lake in front of us." Obari sighed.
"And freed me from captivity." Keiko nuzzled Obari lovingly.
Obari sighed again, and held her as they fell back on the grass.
Keiko rested her head against his chest. "Dearest, when shall we be wed?"
"Soon, my love. Very soon."
The two relished in their silent moments together. It was soon cut short by the sound of a wild, shrill shriek.
Keiko pulled away from Obari. "Did you hear that?"
Obari sat up, and looked around. "It can't be."
"It can't be what?" Keiko's eyes were wide.
A light shone from the lake, and the waters parted.
A hot glow bounced off of Obari and Keiko's faces. Obari held Keiko.
Another shriek sounded, and a red bird, aflame, erupted like lava out of the lake. It took Obari in its talons, and began to fly into the night sky.
"Obari-sama!!!" Keiko screamed, running after them down the shore of the lake. Tears streamed down her eyes, and her skirts began to catch in the brush.
"Hime-sama! Stay back!" Obari screamed back, his free hand reaching out for his Princess.
"Obari-sama!!!!!!" Keiko cried, and the skirts of her kimono tripped her. She pushed herself up, and helplessly watched the Phoenix carry away her beloved, dearest Obari-sama...
"...." Keiko's foot twitched to attention at the soft thud on the dorm room's door.
The long, pale foot stuck out from under the blankets, and hung suspended a few inches above the carpeted floor.
The soft thud at the door transisted into a more aggressive pounding, and Keiko opened one eye.
It was Saturday morning--
Problem number one. She shouldn't have to wake up until at least noon.
The pounding persisted. With a weak grunt, Keiko sat up, and slithered out of bed.
She rubbed her eyes, and groped around for her glasses. She smacked her mouth a few times, trying to get the horrible stale taste out of her mouth. She finally found her "eyes", and slipped the glasses on. Straightening her pajama shirt out, she trodded over to the door, and half-heartedly opened it.
She sighed, and leaned against the door groggily. "I should've guessed it was you."
Kakeru made a face, and let himself it. "What does that mean?"
"E-excuse me!" Keiko tried to shut him out of the room. "This just happens to be my room!"
"And I just happen to be coming in!" Kakeru succeeded in showing himself in, and making himself comfortable on Anji's bed. "You are supposed to be a guy, right? So no big deal."
"Anji's gonna kill you if he sees you!" Keiko threatened.
"Oh? He knows that I know?" Kakeru kicked off his shoes.
"No, of course not!" Keiko growled. "And put your shoes back on!"
"Then I'm innocent, as far as he knows." Kakeru grinned, and pointed to Keiko. "You'll be the one being killed, if he sees."
"If he sees, which he won't because you're leaving--now!!" Keiko stood next to her bed, and extended her arm in the door's direction.
"Not until I give my next assignment." Kakeru stretched out his legs.
Keiko grumbled, and knelt down to begin to put Kakeru's shoes back on, to speed up his leaving process.
"I'm craving those chips that come in that cardboard tube--what're they called?" Kakeru faded off, not taking much notice (not really caring, actually) to Keiko tying his shoes.
Keiko continued tying, but glared up at him. "Now you want me to go grocery shopping for you?! I'm your slave, not a wife!"
Kakeur looked down at her, with his unamused expression, however--his cheeks were a little pink.
Keiko blinked, wondering if she hit a sore spot because of their encounter yesterday afternoon.
Kakeru finally said something, and said it really plainly: "Your shirt's gaping open."
Keiko yelped, and jumped back a bit. She grabbed the collar of the shirt,and pulled it tightly shut.
Kakeru sat up again,and looked out the dorm window. "Doesn't your brother have a game today?"
"Don't you have something useful you could be doing?" Keiko retorted back, holding her shirt's neckline still.
Kakeru kept his eyes on ht ewindow, and sighed, calling back on Anji's bed. His legs crossing at the ankles, he kicked of his shoes again. "Your bed's nice and soft."
Keiko quirked an eyebrow. "That's Anji's bed."
Kaker stiffened, and quickly got up from his position.
Keiko was still sitting on the floor, holding her shirt closed.
Kakeru ran his hands down the front of his pants, and turned to look at the bed. "Why isn't it made?"
"Anji's a jock. D'you really expect it to be?" Keiko stood, and put her hands on ther hips.
"Point taken." Kakeur walked over to Keiko's desk, and picked up the Polaroid of her and Otaru. "Huh?"
Keiko turned around, and saw the picture in Kakeru's grasp. She suddenly found herself blushing.
Kakeru smirked. "I had no idea you and Chinen-kun were so close."
"We're not that close." Keiko folded her arms.
Kakeru set the photo down. "That's good. You don't want to blow your cover."
"What concern is that of yours?!" Keiko rose her voice a bit higher.
Kakeru didn't answer, and moved on to a book next to the photo. "Macbeth? Isn' that what the drama team's doing?"
Keiko walked over to her desk, and pushed Kakeru away. "That's none of our business!"
Kakeru stepped back, and blinked. "Wh-? Oh..." he folded his arms, "Are you two having some sort of secret affair?"
"No way!" Keiko rose a fist, "Otaru has no idea about me!" Keiko got starry-eyed, and she clasped her hands together. "Besides, Obari-sama is too much a distraction!"
Kakeru stifled a laugh at that comment, and tried to cover it with a cough.
Keiko caught Kakeru's behavior, and shunned him. "Why don't you go watch the tournament?"
Kakeru unfolded his arms, and rubbed one of his shoulders. "On my only day to sleep in? I'm no fool."
It was Keiko's turn to snort a laugh.
Kakeur stretched out his neck a bit. "Before you get my chip-things, I want a neck rub."
"What?!" Keiko gasped as Kakeru plopped stomach-down onto her bed. "Wait! What do I look like?!"
Kakeru looked over his shoulder at Keiko, and seemed to slowly look her over. "You don't want me to answer that." He turned back around and faced forward.
Keiko glared down at Kakeru, and envisioned herself on his back, pulling a leg back as far as she could, until he'd cry "uncle".
sigh. If only.
As she walked towards her bed, Anji burst into the bedroom and darted towards his bed.
Kakeru sat up in a hurry, and Keiko was so relieved to see her brother.
"Anji!!" Keiko wanted to cry, she was so happy to see him! He just prevented a horrible situation!
"No time to talk. I forgot my wrist guards." Anji slipped on his wristguards, and turned to Keiko, freezing once he saw Kakeru propped up on his sister's bed.
Keiko gulped. Great. Here it comes...
Kakeru grinned, and waved a few of his fingers. Great! Here it comes!
Anji paused, and ran one of his fingers underneath his wristband. "Still undressing any guy you get your paws on, huh?"
Both Keiko and Kakeru blushed furiously at Anji's unexpected comment.
Kakeru got a little blue in the face. Undress any guy--?! Is Amuro's sister playing a queer?!
Keiko just glared at her brother, silent and humiliated.
Anji walked towards the doorway. "Welp, I'm assuming the Head-Nutballs are wrapping up their latest spat. I'm outskies."
Anji shut the door behind him, and paused. He made fists,and hissed below his breath. "Keiko, you better explain yourself good when I get back!!" He stormed towards the courts, "I'm going to pretend you're the ball!!"
Aika was waiting by the entrance to the courts for Anji to return. She noticed the perturbed look in his eyes, and quickly stepped aside.
"What do you mean, 'serial killer'?" Staci looked up from her stenopad, and gave Aika a weird look.
"His hands were twitching--like this!" Aika held up her hands, and began to twitch. "It was real bogus! He scared teh daylights outta me!"
Staci looked over to the courts, and looked for Anji. "I wonder what happened now..."
"You don't think Keiko did something with Otaru-kun again, do you?" Aika asked.
"Doubt it seriously. Even Keiko wouldn't be that bold." Staci looked around the bleachers. "Speaking of...where are those two?"
"Keiko sleeps in on Saturday, even so, she'd avoid this place at all costs on tournament days." Aika looked around while answering Staci.
"Oh, yeah. Mai's on the lookout for her now, right?" Staci jotted down a few notes on her stenopad.
"Right. and don't look now, but Mai's sinking her claws in deeper..." Aika pointed.
Staci looked up,and followed Aika's finger.
"Getting to her beloved Fujishige through the best friend. She'll be thrilled."
Otaru was sitting next to Mai, who was accompanied by a tall blonde young man with bright green eyes.
Staci's eyes widened, and the pen in her stenopad fell out of the binding.
Aika folded her arms, and frowned. "And would you look at that? Who's the poor guy she dragged along with her?! Does he have any idea what she's doing?" Aika sighed.
Staci bent down, and picked up her pen. Her hands shook a bit as she put it back in the binding.
Aika sighed. "Next thing you know, she'll be after Anji!"
Staci stepped down from the bleachers. "I need to find Rina-san..."
Aika blinked. "Staci-chan?! I didn't mean it like that!"
"No, it's not that!" Staci turned around and smiled. "Don't worry, I'm fine!"
Aika rose an eyebrow.
"Go find Naoki! She's probably worrying about you, the poor dear!" Staci called before running over to the table where Rina and Jiro were sitting.
Aika frowned, and muttered below her breath, "She's at the dorm..." She looked over to Otaru and Mai and the stranger. She furrowed her brow. Staci-chan may have stolen Anji from me, but she's still my friend! I'll make her feel better by going over there and playing moderator...
Aika gathered up her courage, and went down the bleachers to make her way across the courts to the other bleachers.
She became more determined as she saw Otaru seemingly enjoy Mai's company. One of her eyebrows twitched, and her steps sped up. And what's more, she's flirting with Keiko-chan's guy!! When she doesn't even want him!
Aika's face turned a bit red as she walked up the row of bleachers. I'll ruin this way-too-comfy scene here! She walked up to the bleachers, and had Otaru's back facing her. She threw her arms around Otaru's neck, and squeezed as hard as she could. "Otaru-kuuuuuuun! Good morning!"
"Gyak!" Otaru winced, his balance completely thrown off.
Aika loosened her grip. Nice start. "Nee, Otaru-kun! Where's Kei-chan?"
Mai's eyes brightened up, and she clapped her hands together. "Oh, wow! How is Kei-kun? I haven't seen him for some time! I was meaning to ask!"
Aika still had her arms on Otaru's shoulders, and she innocently blinked. "You mean you haven't asked him yet? Wasn't that why you were talking to Otaru-kun in the first place?"
Mai blushed, and sat up a bit more.
Aika did her best to supress any smile from showing up. Bullseye. She looked to the young man sitting next to Mai. "Who's your friend?"
Mai quickly regained herself, and turned to the boy, smiling. "Oh, you don't know Tyler Manson? He was an exchange student last year!"
The blonde boy smiled, and bowed a bit. "Nice to meet you, I'm Tyler."
Aika blinked, and straightened up, letting go of Otaru. "I guess I don't. I'm Aika." Aika bowed a bit, and then sat next to Otaru, regaining her cheerful disposition.
Otaru was rubbing his neck uncomfortably, and winced as he turned to Aika. "Couldn't you be a little gentler in your entrances?"
Aika stuck out her tongue. "Then how would you know if it was Naoki or me?"
Otaru frowned, and straightened his shirt. A glance would suffice, I think.
Staci began to get more nervous as she approached Rina and Jiro. She clutched tightly on her stenopad, and got eye contact with the Student Council president a few seconds before reaching the table.
"He's here. I have no idea why he's here, but he's here, and he's with Mai." Staci leaned forward on the table, and spoke to Rina with a low voice.
Rina gave Staci a blank look. Jiro rose an eyebrow.
Staci had a seriously distraught expression on her face, and looked to Jiro nervously for a moment, and then back to Rina. "Rina-san, please, just a moment of your time."
Rina quietly nodded. "I still don't know what's wrong..." She stood, and walked around the table, passing behind Jiro.
Staci followed Rina with her eyes, and got eye contact with Jrio. The stare lingered for a moment too long, and Staci broke away to follow Rina to the back of the courts.
Rina leaned against the wire-frame fence, and looked to Staci. "Who's here, Mitsui-kun? And what concern is it to me?"
Staci clutched onto the fence with one of her hands, and leaned forward a bit.
"Mitsui-kun?" Rina persisted.
"You remember the American exchange student last year?" Staci asked.
Rina paused, and nervously smiled. "Vaguely, why?"
"Tyler Manson. He and I dated a lot last year." Staci was nervously shifting her weight left and right, "Well, before he went back, we had a really nasty breakup, and--"
"Oh..." Rina nodded. "Worried about Anji?"
Staci blinked, suddenly still. She jerked her head up, her eyes wide with fear. "You can't let him near Anji!"
Rina held up her hands in defense. "I can't really help you there, Mitsui-kun."
"If they even get close, just keep them away!" Staci begged.
Rina furrowed her brow, "I'll do what I can..."
"Oh, thank you!" Staci bowed, and straightened up. "Where's Nakaijima-sama?"
Rina looked over her shoulder, her eyebrows raised. "Probably with Obari."
Staci rose her eyebrows, and smiled. "Do we have something for the gossip column?" She lifted her pen.
Rina smiled, and turned back to Staci. "Oh, c'mon. Gossip about our Headmistress? How would that make me look?"
Staci grinned, and put away her pen. "Looks like Spring's hitting the Phoenix School and Unicorn Academy early this year." Staci turned around to go back to her seat. "Careful Rina-san. I get the feeling you're next."
Rina laughed, and parted ways with Staci, heading back to the table. "Get serious."
Jiro had a very concerned look on his face when Rina returned. "Anything serious?"
Rina folded her hands together, and watched the tournament with a smile. "Just girl things. Nothing to worry yourself over."
Jiro looked at Rina, then back to the tournament. "The audiences are really large this year. They keep growing, too."
"It's because our players are so good-looking. They draw large crowds." Rina kept her eyes on the players.
"...'our' players?" Jiro repeated. "Don't you mean 'my' players?"
Rina shrugged in reply.
Jiro sat back, and folded his arms. "I never figured you'd be the type to notice."
"I'm female, aren't I?" Rina replied. "If your musicians were as handsome as your athletes, I bet they'd draw big crowds, too."
Kakeru sneezed.
Keiko was sitting on the edge of her bed, massaging Kakeru's feet. She stopped at the sneez, and looked up to Kakeru.
Kakeru rubbed his nose, and looked up. "Why'd you stop?"
"Are you cold?" Keiko asked.
"Not really." Kakeru rested his head back on Keiko's pillow.
Keiko sighed,and went back to rubbing Kakeru's feet. "This is cruel and unusual punishment."
"What do you call yesterday?" Kakeru asked.
Keiko paused, and smiled. With the tip of her index finger, she ran a swift line up the bottom of Kakeur's right bare foot after replying. "A tease."
Kakeru jumped up, laughing a bit.
"So Mister Cold-As-A-Rock-And-As-Dumb-As-One-Too I fancy is a bit ticklish?" Keiko grinned.
Kakeru quickly stopped laughing, and extended a finger at Keiko. "I forbid you to do that!"
"How un-callous of you, my Lordship." Keiko sarcastically replied. "Get your socks back on, before you catch cold."
"Yes, Mother..." Kakeru droned, and fell back on Keiko's bed.
Keiko tugged at one of her pajama sleeves, and turned to Kakeru. "I'm still in my jammies, y'know."
Kakeru crossed his legs, and sighed. "What are you suggesting?"
"That you get out." Keiko bluntly replied.
Kakeru sat up, and looked at Keiko with a surprised face. "Well, why didn't you say so?"
"I have." Keiko folded her arms.
Kakeru pulle do his socks, and put his shoes on. "Well, I know when I've overstayed my welcome."
"If you did, you never would've come in here in the first place!" Keiko snapped.
Kakeru whistled. "Feisty slave, that's bad."
Keiko sneered, and walked to the door to open it. When she put her hand on the knob, she felt an arm loosely wrap around her shoulders.
Kakeru leaned close and hummed secret message into her ear. "If you want to be on my good side, do me a favor and wear that short skirt when you bring me those chips."
Keiko's face burned, and Kakeru let her go.
"Bye bye!" Kakeru chimed as he made his exit.
Keiko silently closed the door, and stood there for a moment.
"He was looking..." Keiko muttered to herself, and suddenly an eyebrow twitched. "He was looking?!"
She pushed the door open, and glared down the hallway to make sure Kakeru was still in earshot.
"HAH!" Keiko bellowed, and slammed the door with all she had.
Kakeru's shoulders bunched up at the slam, and he made a quick nonchalant glance behind his shoulder before walking back to the music hall.
Keiko began to slap herself in the face. "Dummy! Dummy! Dummydummydummydummydummy!" Keiko rushed over to her bed, and threw the sheets over the bed. "You let him have the last word again!" She sighed, and plopped herself in her desk chair. She scooted in, and pulled out a sheet of paper.
Clicking on the end of her mechanical pencil, Keiko began to scribble down a bunch of things in a hunched-over urgency.
Aika stood on the benches, cheering at the top of her lungs as the players left the court. "That was too great! Wasn't that great?! That was the best one yet!" Aika turned to Otaru and Mai. "Right?!"
Otaru kept watching the courts, ignoring Aika.
Aika paused, her smile now vanished. "Otaru-kun."
Otaru seemed to be in a trance.
Aika nudged him. "Hey!"
Otaru jumped, and turned to Aika. "I'm sorry!" Otaru pulled the cotton balls out of his ears. "Did you say something?"
Mai and the exchange student laughed as Aika's face went blank.
Aika leaned to the side, and glanced over at the two laughing, and took one of Otaru's arms. "C'mon, let's go get Anji and get some shakes."
Otaru blinked as he was pulled up. "Wha--?"
Mai observed this, and of course began to draw conclusions. Aika-chan is going after two guys are once? She smiled sincerely, and leaned forward a bit. "Tell Kei-kun I said hi!"
Otaru fidgeted in Aika's grip, but smiled over his shoulder, giving Mai a polite nod.
Aika tugged on Otaru. "Quick, before the crowds get insane."
"Why are you doing this to me?!" Otaru whined.
"As a favor!" Aika replied, fighting the flow of people to get to the locker rooms.
Otaru sweatdropped, being pulled unrelentlessly by the carrot-tressed fangirl.
Anji was toweling off his forehead as he walked out of the locker room to bump into a starry-eyed Aika.
"Aika-chan." Anji stepped back.
"Wonderful game, Anji-chan!" Aika clasped her hands together. Otaru nervously waved from a few feet behind Aika.
Anji smiled at Aika quickly. "Thanks." He walked past her, and approached Otaru, which took him by surprise. "Otaru-kun! Thanks for coming down, man."
Otaru's eyes were wide. "Ah, well, I mean--she brought--"
"Otaru and I wanna go with you for a shake!" Aika cut in politely.
Anji noticed Otaru silently pointing both index fingers at Aika. "No kidding? Sure!"
Aika gasped with delight. "Really?!"
"Sure. Let's go now, though. I don't wanna be out late." Anji gave Otaru a friendly pat on the shoulder, and led the two away from the locker room.
"Did your opponent play well?" Aika eagerly asked.
"Oh, yeah. It was expected." Anji replied.
The three teenagers sat in a booth with their milkshakes. Anji looked across the table to Otaru. "What'd you think, Otaru-kun?"
Otaru looked up from his milkshake. "Huh?" His eyes were a bit dull.
Aika and Anji both smiled, and Anji leaned forward on the table, much like how his sister had habit to do. "It looks like Otaru-kun's mind is on something other than the tennis match."
Otaru sat back a bit." Sorry..."
"Don't apologize! What'cha thinking about?" Aika's eyes were excitedly gleaming as she eagerly leaned forward on the table.
"It's silly." Otaru smiled, and lifted the straw in his shake.
"What is?" Anji asked.
"Oh, you'll laugh." Otaru looked to the two red-heads, who silently looked back at him. He sighed, and stirred his shake. "I'm still not sure about this entire 'haunted music hall' thing. But I think I saw something in the hall at dusk."
Aika and Anji both gasped.
"You saw the ghost?!" Anji's voice grew quiet.
"What'd he look like?!" Aika added.
"It was a she..." Otaru sipped a bit of his shake. "If it really was there...I might've been seeing things."
"Go on." Anji urged.
"She was just a pretty girl--around our age--with brown hair. Long." Otaru paused. "And she was in a Phoenix uniform."
"A Phoenix Student on campus after curfew?" Anji paused.
"I know. It's weird." Otaru went silent after that.
Anji blinked. Long brown hair and pretty. Either Staci snuck in--no, he would've recognized her. Anji stirred his shake. I'll check with Keiko when I get home.
"A pretty girl, huh?" Aika grinned at Otaru.
"Would you rather me say it was an ugly girl?" Otaru frowned at Aika.
"Not at all! I wonder if it's someone I know!" Aika winked at Anji, who sputtered on his milkshake.
Anji turned to Aika, "Don't start that!"
"Start what?" Aika grinned at Anji.
Otaru blinked at the two, and sipped on his milkshake as it reached the halfway point.
"You know what I mean." Anji flatly stared at Aika.
"Your resemblance is frightening." Otaru sat up in his seat.
Aika and Anji both looked at Otaru with large, round eyes.
Anji sat back and sighed. "Keiko always says that."
Aika folded her arms, and nodded.
Otaru sat up straighter, and snapped to attention. "Who's Keiko?"
Anji blinked, and gave Otaru a confused look. "Who?"
"Keiko. Who's Keiko?" Otaru asked.
"Keiko who?" Aika's smile faded as she realized the slip-up.
"Anji just mentioned someone named Keiko." Otaru leaned forward on the table. "Who's she?"
Anji knew there was no way out of it. Resisting would only arouse suspicion. He gave in.
"That's my sister." Anji sighed. "She swears that she and Aika must've been switched at birth."
Otaru nodded. The Amura girl is named Keiko. I wish Sempai would tell me about her...
Aika studied Otaru's face. His eyes were lowered as he stirred his milkshake. "..."
Anji noticed it, too. He rose an eyebrow, and suddenly got defensive. "What has Kei told you about my sister?"
"Not nearly enough..." Otaru replied, keeping his eyes on his shake. He paused, and looked up with a smile. "I'm sorry, it's coming out all wrong!"
Anji had a devastating glare on his face, aimed straight across the table to Otaru. "I'd say so."
Otaru sweatdropped, clearly intimidated. Aika tugged Anji's sleeve, urging him to lay off.
"I meant that it sounds like Sempai has a special relationship with her." Otaru looked back to his shake. "I envy them, actually. She sounds great."
"Not really." Anji instantly replied.
"Anjiiiii!" Aika fwapped Anji, and looked across the table to Otaru. "She's my best friend."
Otaru smiled, and laughed quietly. "Why doesn't she ever come with you to the tennis matches?"
Anji snorted as he bent down to sip his milkshake, and Aika nervously smiled.
Otaru curiously rose his eyebrows.
"She hates athletics." Aika nervously said.
"...but the two people closest to her are top athletes?" Otaru quirked a brow.
Aika laughed. "Now that's nice, but really."
"Kei-kun's not an athlete either, so..." Anji faded off.
"They exchange qualms about us!" Aika finished for Anji.
Otaru looked to Aika. "Is she lonely?"
Aika blinked, confused. "Huh?"
"Is she lonely without Sempai?" Otaru asked.
Aika sat back. "Well, she's not lonely...but sure, she misses hearing from him."
"But c'mon, he's been in Spain for two years. It's not that different." Anji interrupted.
"Sure it's different. Distance isn't keeping them apart, what is?" Otaru added.
The two redheads paused.
Otaru held up a hand, and sat back. "Sorry, s'not my business..."
Aika looked down at the table, and Anji looked out the window.
"...have you been told about the co-ed festival?" Anji asked as he continued gazing.
Otaru paused, and smiled. "Sure."
"You signed up to help?" Anji turned to Otaru.
"If they can find something for me to do..." Otaru modestly replied.
"You're in luck. We're partners." Anji leaned on the table again. "Small world, huh?"
"Is it really going to happen?" Otaru blinked.
Anji and Aika both gave Otaru a blank stare.
"Mai was just telling me about how it may be called off." Otaru explained, polishing off the remains of his shake.
Aika felt a twinge of resentment. Leave it to Mai.
"I never heard that." Anji folded his hands together on the table.
"It's probably nothing." Aika made a mental note to tell Keiko about this new rumor, so someone could check into the truth of it.
Anji was greeted at the door by Keiko, who had a seriously determined expression on her face. "Anji, please let me explain before you dish out any punishment."
Anji dodged out of Keiko's way. "Waitasec." He set his wallet on his desk, and sat in his desk chair. He turned around, and faced Keiko. "Before I ask, I'll let you get out the uniform."
Keiko paused, a blank look on her face.
Just as Anji was beginning to feel relieved that it wasn't Keiko Otaru saw, Keiko turned around and opened the closet.
Anji clenched his teeth out of anger as Keiko shamefully pulled out the uniform.
There was a tense silence between the two, and Anji finally broke it.
"Where's that explaining you were promising?" Anji folded his arms.
"Rina and I went to run some errands for Kakeru! And, well, we went out to eat after than, and--"
"--back up a sec." Anji unfolded his arms. "You did this with Rina?"
Keiko nodded. "She got me the uniform."
"She got you the uniform." Anji repeated, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah! I mean, I didn't even ask for it." Keiko answered. "Isn't that weird?"
"'Weird' is a good word for it..." Anji paused. "But so is 'suspicious'."
"Eh?" Keiko blinked. "Why would you suspect Rina of anything?"
"It may be far-fetched to expect her to have any involvement in this music hall thing." Anji stood, and walked over to his closet. "But I've gotta cover my bases."
Keiko smiled. "Are you planning a secret rendevous with Madame President?"
Anji changed into some casul lounging shorts. "Nah. Too late in the day. Maybe tomorrow."
"Mmh." Keiko smiled, and shoved the uniforn back away.
"And then I'll deal with you after that." Anji droned with a flat glare.
"Gyak!" Keiko winced.
"You're not off the hook yet, little sister." Anji said.
Keiko whimpered, and clasped her hands together. "I tried to keep him out! Honest, I did!"
Anji fell back on his bed, and spread out his legs. "Man, I've work too hard for this..."
Keiko was fully dressed, and now was combing back her hair into her usual low ponytail. "He's got me running another errand for him, so I'll give you some peace."
Anji sat up. "What's he got you doing now?!"
"He wants me to go get him some chips." Keiko twisted the rubberband around her hair.
"Chips?!" Anji rose his voice. "What are you, his slave or his wife?!"
"With him, I don't think there's a difference." Keiko folded a piece of paper, and stuffed it in one of her pockets. "I won't be long."
"Right." Anji fell back on his bed again, and turned to his side. "Nnh?" He saw a folded sheet of paper on his bedside table. He looked to the doorway, and saw that Keiko had already left.
He rolled over, and picked up the note. He saw "Amuro-kun" written on it, and opened it to see what it was.
"Don't think I'm doing this to get back at you for yesterday evening. But there seems to be some sort of confusion about my relationship with Shuu-san. I am in no way related to him, he is involved with Nakaijima Youki. I wanted to clear that up, among other things...
"I want you to please forget about what happened yesterday evening. We don't have to discuss it, it can be as though it never happened."
Anji's eyes widened in shock as he realized that this letter was addressed to the other Amuro! His eyebrows sharply arched as he continued to read the letter. His mouth hung open, and he leaned forward as he read further. "...!" He blushed a bit, and lowered the letter onto his lap in silence. He stared across the room at his sister's bed, his face blank.
"...he's a real pain, huh?" Anji muttered below his breath. He opened the drawer beneath his bedside table, and shoved it in there. He sat back on his bed, and folded his arms before falling back in a huff. "Some brat."
Blowing her bangs out of her face, Keiko impatiently tapped her foot waiting at the checkout aisle of the convenience store.
This wouldn't have been a big deal if the only store that carried them was twenty minutes away! Keiko thought as she approached the counter.
She jammed her hand into her pocket, and pulled out a 1000 yen bill to pay for the purchase. As she handed the clerk the money, she spotted a piece of notebook paper she pulled out with it. While waiting for the change, she unfolded the paper, and read it.
"I want you to please forget about what happened yesterday evening. We don't have to discuss it--"
Keiko folded up her note before reading any more of it. Just my note to Kakeru. She shoved it back in her pocket.
She wasn't going to say anything to Kakeru when she delivered the chips. She would just leave him to read her letter.
Keiko took her change, and put it in her pocket with the letter, and nodded in affirmation as she took the tube of chips. That's what I'll do.
...then why was she so nervous when she approached his dorm room?
She rapidly knocked on his door, waited about two seconds, and turned around to walk off. "Probably at the music hall--!"
The dorm room door opened, and Kakeru looked in the hallway. "Oh, it's you."
Keiko froze, and turned back around. "Oh, you're here!"
"Uh, yeah. It is my room." Kakeru backed up, and opened the door wider. "Come on in."
Keiko's pupils got small, and she waved her hands in front of her. "Wh-in your room? I can't intrude!"
"Stupid. Get in." Kakeru tilted his head towards the back of the room.
Keiko paused, and slowly took her steps into his room.
"Nnh! Fujishige-saaaan! Take me slowly!" Kakeru threw his arms around himself and moaned a few octaves higher than his real voice.
"Ha, ha! You're a comedian!" Keiko heard the door close behind her, but didn't jump or tense up. She knew better. She turned around, and tapped the tube of the potato chips on her chin. "Here's your snack."
Kakeru walked up to her, and took the chips. "Thanks." He looked to her, and Keiko noticed that he didn't break away from their eye contact. He didn't back away, either.
Wh-what's he trying to do? Keiko's brow furrowed as she continued to stare back into his dark brown eyes. Scare me...?
Kakeru's face was unreadable, but he finally spoke. "Did you find it?"
Keiko blinked out of her trance, and took a step back, bumping into his desk. "O...of course! I brought them, didn't I?"
Kakeru's face went from blank to confused. "Eh?" He stood back, and looked to the chips. She didn't read it. I guess she didn't find my note. He smiled, That's a cowardly way to tell her, anyway. Maybe it's best that she didn't find it. Kakeru looked up to Keiko, and gave her a teasing smile. "Hey, you! This is the wrong flavor!"
Keiko nearly fell over. "Th-that's the only place that has any of them!"
Kakeru sighed, and pooped off the top. "It'll have to do, then." He peeled off the foil cover, and pulled a chip out.
Keiko's eyes widened. "Oh! I've got this--" She pulled out her letter to him, and all of her coin change fell onto Kakeru's floor. "Ah!" She knelt down, and began to scoop it up. "Always me..." She muttered.
Kakeru set down his chips, and knelt down to help her pick up the change. "What'd you do this time?"
"I was getting out this letter I wrote for you, I kinda had a lot to think about last night, and this morning I wrote it after you left." Keiko began to babble, and took the change Kakeru gave her. "Here, I'll give it to you so you can read it whenever you want." She put away her change, and then freed her hands to give Kakeru the note. "Here. Read it when you have the time."
Kakeru was still kneeling on the floor across from her. His eyes grew round, and he took the piece of notebook paper from Keiko gently, and looked at it for a second.
"It's all the truth." Keiko said.
Kakeru began to reach for his jacket pocket to put it away, when Keiko suddenly grabbed the wrist of the hand that took her letter, and tugged Kakeru across to her.
Kakeru yelped, and slid to Keiko's side. He blinked, and pushed himself up as Keiko unfolded the paper she just handed him.
Keiko began to babble more. "And I realy meant where I said that if I thought before I spoke, I wouldn't have done what I did. And I REALLY don't appreciate you treating me like some second-rate citizen even when we're not working!" She rose her voice a bit, "And here! Right here, see this?" She turned to Kakeru, and pointed to a line on the paper. "See here, I said that I'd like you to at least acknowledge my presence in class."
Kakeru nodded, his neck craning over Keiko's arm. His eyes were still round, and his mouth tugged to a thoughtful frown. "I see that. You did write that."
"And here, later on--I wrote more, see..." Keiko's finger ran down the paper. "About...about how I really am sorry about last night..." Keiko's voice lowered, and her eyes fell to the floor. "...and about how you deserved to do a lot more than throw me to the floor, even though that hurt a lot..." Her cheeks turned a crimson red.
Kakeru turned to look at her, his neck still craned over her arm. He studied her eyes behind the glasses, and quietly spoke in a gentle tone. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"
Keiko shook her head. "It doesn't hurt anymore. Besides..." She looked into his eyes shamefully. "...you probably hurt a lot more."
Kakeru's throat went tight, and his eyebrows rose. "..."
There was a silent pause where the two just looked at each other.
She never read my note, but she still...Kakeru looked at her still longer, and she wouldn't turn away like she usually did.
He laughed a bit, smiling. "Are you kidding? I knew it was just a joke! Don't feel bad! I was playing along!"
Keiko blinked, and leaned back a bit. "Playing along?"
"Mmh! That's why I was asking if I hurt you!" Kakeru's eyes suddenly got bright. "A joke is ruined if someone gets physically hurt!"
Keiko paused. "...oh."
Kakeru stood, and folded his arms. "Wow, I really had you convinced, huh?"
Keiko stood, "Amazing. You're not in the drama club?"
"No way. Too many weirdos." Kakeru replied, picking up the tube of chips again.
Keiko set the letter on Kakeru's desk. "Well, there's more there, but I guess some of it couldn't wait."
"Sure." Kakeru replied, putting a chip in his mouth.
"I guess I'll leave you alone, before you get sick of me." Keiko brushed off one of her sleeves, and tugged at the bottom of her uniform jacket. "See you Monday, I guess."
"Amuro, wait." Kakeru stepped forward, and took a hold of one of Keiko's arms.
Keiko paused, her cheeks turning a light pink. She didn't turn around, but looked to him over her shoulder. "What?"
Kakeru grumbled, and tugged at her arm in such a way that she spun around to face him. "Look at me when I talk to you, for crying out loud." His aggression quickly faded as he too began to blush. "I just wanted...to thank you, I guess...for being so honest."
Keiko blinked. "Uh. Sure."
Kakeru grumbled again, and rubbed his forehead in a frustrated manner. "Now go on, already."
"You're still holding me."
Kakeru stopped rubbing his forehead, and looked down at his other hand, which was indeed still holding onto her arm. "Ah. So it is."
"Kinda hurts, too."
"Sorry." Kakeru let her go suddenly.
Keiko held her arm, and walked towards the door. "Uhm...well..."
"...uh...yeah." Kakeru replied just as articulately.
"Bye." Keiko slipped out of Kakeru's room, closing the door behind her.
"Yeah." Kakeru quietly mumbled after the door closed. He waited a few second, and then grabbed his head with both hands. "Oh, MAN!!! What happened to my letter?!" He sat on his bed, and began to munch on some more chips. I guess it'd be better to hear it form me. A letter is cowardly. And it's so early on...she'd not handle it well...at all. He looked over at the note on his desk. Yeah...definitely for the better..tell her later.
He heard a knock on the door again, and he looked up. His roommate wasn't expected back for a good two hours still. "Coming." He stood, and secretly hoped it was Keiko again, forgetting about the money he owed her.
He opend the door, and was very surprised to see Amuro Anji standing in his doorway.
"...ah? Amuro-kun?" Kakeru's eyes were wide with question, and then he smiled. "What, did your dippy roommate forget something?"
Anji's brow furrowed, a dangerous glare glazing over in his eyes. His voice was low and threatening. "What were you doing with my sister this morning?"
Kakeru's heart skipped a handful of beats. His grip on the doorknob tightened, and he took a step back. How did Anji know that he knew?! Was he following Keiko?! Did Keiko tell him? What did he want?
Before all of the question could make any sense in Kakeru's head, he found himself being lifted up and slammed against the wall. He was pinned there by Anji's shaking fists. Hes shoulder-blades throbbed in pain as they dug against the sheet rock of the wall.
Anji's pale face was a fuming red. He glared at Kakeru hideously, and with one of his feet, he slammed the dorm room shut behind them.
"H...how..." Kakeru sputtered out.
"ANSWER ME, SHIRANUI!" Anji rose his voice, and pushed him further into the wall.
Kakeru winced. "I had her get some things for me from the convenience store..."
Anji dropped him, and dug into his pockets.
Kakeru rolled his shoulders, and tried to straighten out his shirt.
Anji pulled out a piece of notebook paper. "What is this?! Didn't you come to give her this?"
Kakeru's eyes got wider. "Ah...I..."
"So you knew!" Anji waved the letter at Kakeru. "How long have you known?!"
Kakeru opened his mouth to answer, but Anji cut him off.
"Obviously long enough to write a love letter to her!" Anji fumed, and turned around.
Kakeru's face turned a bright crimson color. "You read it."
"Every word." Anji replied. "And somehow I get the feeling you know how dangerous this is."
"N...nnh." Kakeru nervously peeped, not taking his eyes off of Keiko's brother.
"What were you thinking?!" Anji put his hands on his forehead, and threw them down at his sides. "How could you possibly love her?!"
"I guess the same way most people do..." Kakeru blushed, and looked over to his desk.
Anji fumed, and stepped away from the violin player. "I cna't believe this...I expected maybe her to...but..."
"It's okay." Kakeru walked over to his desk, and leaned back on it. "She won't know...it's a good thing you found it, Amuro-kun. You prevented a big mess."
Anji turned around, and looked at Kakeru. His furious expression had vanished completely, and now his eyes were wide and confused.
Kakeru's eyes were lowered. "It was a mistake."
Anji blinked. "Y'mean..."
"Don't worry about it." Kakeru's voice was low. "Your sister's going to be fine."
Anji didn't really know what do do next. He rubbed the knuckles of his right hand. "..."
Kakeru looked up to Anji. "Don't get mad at her. She doesn't have to know that we spoke today."
Anji was taken aback by Kakeru's expression. His eyes looked...hollow, almost. "...that's fine with me."
"Thank you." Kakeru held out his hand. "I'll do my best to keep her a secret."
Anji paused.
"Could I request my letter back?" Kakeru gently insisted.
Anji looked at the letter, and then looked to Kakeru's open hand. He took Kakeru's hand iwht both of his, and shook it before giving him the letter. "Thank you. And sorry about slamming you into the wall, there..."
Kakeru nervously smiled. "I hardly felt it."
Anji returned the smile, and turned around to head out. "Well..."
"Yeah." Kakeru nervously replied. "Don't worry about it."
Anji opened the door. "See ya."
Kakeru held up an open palm to wave as the door closed behind the athelete. He watied for a few seconds again, and then rested the note he wrote next to the one from Keiko. He picked up Keiko's note, and opened it.
"I guess this is sort of whimpy, how I'm dong this...but I didn't want to get in a fight over this, and defeat the purpose of spilling my guts to you."
It was all there, like she said. It first started out with a bit of chewing out, which Kakeru really didn't seem to mind. It was mostly about how she didn't appreciate being treated like a slave, and then never being even glanced at during class. That took up about a third of the page. The rest of the page was a verbose, rambling apology. She repeated herself at least three times, but it was sincere and honest. Her handwriting was getting messier as it progressed, it looked a little rushed.
As he continued reading the letter, he sat down on his bed, and lay on his side. He propped his head up with an arm, and he reached the end of the letter.
"All in all, I'd like to see if we can make this realtionship we have work. Please don't take my criticisms personally. I was just expressing how I feel. Well...I guess that's it. I sounded pretty stupid, huh? I guess that's what it takes."
She signed it, of course. With Amuro Keiko, not Fujishige Kei. At the bottom of the page, he read: "Oh, yeah. You owe me 360 yen."
Kakeru cracked a smile, and folded it up. He slipped it into his shirt's breast pocket, and rolled onto his back. He stared at the ceiling, a smile peeking out from his mouth.
End Episode Ten