“Here, Sengoku-kun, the notes from class,” said his best friend and next door neighbor, . She was on the short side and she was not a skinny girl but she was not fat or even chubby, maybe a little; she was bigger than the other girls. She has brown eyes and black hair, wearing the Yamabuki high school girls’ uniform. Sengoku flashed a grin at her that made her smile shyly and blush a light red. It was lunch time and they were in the cafeteria.
“Thanks -chan,” said Sengoku. “Remember I’m gonna be walking you home today!”
“Ah of course,” said . Sengoku was about to say something else to her when he spotted Kazumi, a girl that he had his eyes on for a while who is a track star, tall and beautiful.
“Lucky! Kazumi-chan, wait for me,” said Sengoku, leaving in a hurry to catch up with the track star. sighed and began eating her lunch. She has known Sengoku since they were four and has been in love with him since they were twelve. knew of course that Sengoku only goes after cute girls that are talented in sports. She would not say anything to him because he would reject her and then she would never be able to look him in the face again.
“Oh hello Sengoku,” said Kazumi. “No I’m not going out with you.” This girl knew and Sengoku since they started school together and of course Kazumi noticed ’s feelings for Sengoku. Kazumi thought was a nice girl and deserved someone better than Sengoku, but you can’t help who you fall in love with.
“Aw, I didn’t even ask this time,” whined Sengoku. Kazumi laughed and walked away. The ‘Lucky’ tennis player sighed and went back to where was, sulking.
“No luck,” said .
“She’ll eventually fall for me,” said Sengoku.
“Sure,” said .
“That was not very reassuring,” said Sengoku, pouting. giggled. Later that afternoon, they had gym class at the end of the day. Sengoku was dressing back into his school uniform in the boys’ locker room. He, unfortunately, got a locker near some of the most annoying seniors ever. They talked about a different girl everyday, usually in their own grade. But today they started talking about the freshmen girls.
“Kazumi, the track girl is pretty but so cold,” said one of them. “She’s never been on date before.” Sengoku twitched but decided it was not so bad what they were saying plus he did not want to get into a fight with the seniors.
“You know who’s cute— , she’s got that innocent look down pack,” said another senior. “I bet since she’s not as pretty as the other girls, she’s easy.” That’s when Sengoku snapped. He grabbed the senior by his short hair.
“Say that again, I dare you,” growled Sengoku, angry.
“Oh what are you going to do about it,” the senior asked.
“How about you stop talking or I’ll bash your skull into the lockers,” said Sengoku. The seniors shrugged, and Sengoku released the one he had in his grasp. He walked out of the locker room, angry.
“I think you’re spending too much time with me,” snorted his guy best friend, Akutsu Jin. He saw the whole thing.
“Shut up,” said Sengoku. “-chan is the nicest girl and no one is going to talk about her like that.” Jin dropped the topic and left to do whatever he wanted to do. Sengoku headed to the gate of the school and waited for to show up. He closed his eyes and thought back to in the locker room. Those seniors really pissed him off, he’s usually easy going but this is his female best friend we’re talking about, no one will say anything negative about her. He knew that someday, of course, she find a boyfriend (which made him feel a bit unsettled) but for now he knew that she was not interested in dating.
“Sengoku-kun,” asked . “You look angry, are you alright?”
“Of course, -chan,” said Sengoku, grinning at her, no use in worrying about something that will not happen for a while. blushed and smiled at him. “Come on let’s go home.” When they reached the two houses, Sengoku bid goodbye and both entered their own respective homes. and Sengoku had rooms on the first floor and the windows were right next to each other’s. When they were younger their parents used to get really mad at them during school breaks because they stay up all night laughing about something or another.
“Sweetie how was school,” asked -mama.
“It’s was fine, Mama,” said .
“Anyway, I was thinking since you are getting older that you should start dating,” said -mama. ’s mother knew that her daughter was in love with Kiyosumi and her mother and his mother wanted them to get together. However, -mama and Sengoku-mama know Kiyosumi too well that it’ll take him a while to realize his feelings (which they are pretty sure that he has for ).
“No thanks Mama,” said , going into her room. ’s mother sighed. peeked out her window when she got in her room in Sengoku’s room. He was napping and he looked so cute. “I’m so pathetic.”
The next few weeks passed by without much incident, but then one day during lunch Sengoku and were eating, minding their own business. Suddenly a boy walked up to them. He was a good-looking boy, probably second-year, with black hair and green eyes.
“You’re -chan, right? The English teacher said you were really good so could you just explain something to me really quick,” asked the boy. blinked.
“Um, sure,” said . He flashed a smile at her. She smiled back and neither noticed Sengoku begin to choke on his food. As they talked, Sengoku thought that guy was getting too close to for comfort. He glared at him. After a few minutes, the boy left thanking her for explaining it. Sengoku grunted in annoyance but did not seem to notice. “I guess sensei thinks highly of me in English.”
“Of course you’re really smart,” said Sengoku, regaining his cheerful demeanor. blushed. Then to Sengoku’s horror that black haired boy came back the next day and the day after that and the day after that and so on for about two weeks. “-chan will you help me with my math? I didn’t understand the lesson.”
“Oh, of course, Sengoku-kun,” said , “Just as soon as I help Tan-san with his English.” Sengoku nodded but inside he was really, really angry. She always helped him first, all the time. No one came before him. The guy came over yet again and after talking about English, he did the unthinkable (to Sengoku that is).
“Hey, ,” said Tan-san, “Tonight do you wanna catch a movie or something?” Sengoku finally snapped.
“She can’t, she has to help me with homework tonight,” said Kiyosumi, rather pissed. looked shocked that Sengoku answered for her, she was going to say no but she was going to do it in a nicer manner.
“Ah sorry, Tan-san,” said , “But I did promise Sengoku-kun that I’d help him with homework.”
“Oh I see how it is,” said Tan-san. “Thanks for your help .” He left and Sengoku sighed in relief.
“Why did you all of sudden think you can answer for me, Sengoku-kun,” asked , raising an eyebrow.
“He doesn’t look trustworthy,” said Sengoku, in a voice that said it was the end of this conversation. That night when they were at home, sat in her room. She already helped Sengoku with his homework right after school and did her own. She wondered why Sengoku was so angry with Tan-san. He was just probably being protective of her like a friend should. Yes he was not jealous.
“Don’t be delusional, girl,” told herself. “Sengoku only thinks of me as a friend, his best friend.” She wondered why she could not have been born prettier, so Sengoku would notice her as a girl. But in reality she liked how she looked. She sighed and close her eyes, maybe even to have some nice dreams as she feel asleep. Meanwhile next door Sengoku was thinking. He got so angry with that guy asking out and he finally realized why, he wanted her for himself.
“I can’t believe I’ve been in love with her this whole time,” said Sengoku to himself. He was so sure that he liked Kazumi, but picturing with another guy being happy, going on dates, and God forbid kissing each other, really made Sengoku uncomfortable. He knew he had to do something before another guy asks her out. She is not always going to say no. He got up and went out his bedroom window. Luckily, ’s window was open, but she was sleeping soundly. “-chan, wake up!”
“Huh? Sengoku-kun what are you doing in my room,” asked , sleepily. He rarely went through her bedroom window anymore.
“We need to talk,” said Sengoku, sitting on the edge of her bed.
“Sure what’s wrong,” asked , sitting up. Sengoku thought about how he was going to say this to her.
“You know you are my best friend and nothing is going to change that fact, but I realized something very important,” started Sengoku. looked at him expectedly. “I love you.” blinked and processed what he just said.
“You’re kidding right? It’s not a very funny joke,” said , blankly. Sengoku cursed in his mind, she did not believe him.
“I’m not,” said Sengoku.
“Why? I’m not pretty or anything like that,” said .
“Who says you’re not pretty,” asked Sengoku, sternly. remained silent. “, you are very pretty and kind and smart. You’re so loyal and dependable. I was so stupid not to notice you before, you were always there.” He stared at her and watched her ’s tear up. “Ah! Don’t cry, please don’t cry.”
“You jerk! I’ve been in love with you since we were twelve,” said , tears falling down her face.
“What?”
“I never told you because I’m not pretty enough for you,” said , sniffling.
“That’s ridiculous,” said Sengoku, “And please stop crying!” He hugged her. “This is not the way I imagined it go, just stop crying please I don’t like when you cry.” He figured one of two things would happen, she either laugh or accept. Instead he was sitting in her room with her crying into his chest.
“So (sniff), you really love me,” asked , mumbling.
“Yes, I love you.”
“I love you too,” said , still crying into his chest. Sengoku grinned.
“Hey, look at me,” said Sengoku. She lifted her head and Sengoku gave her a chaste kiss on the lips. ’s face turned red. “No need to be embarrassed, .” He chuckled.
“Kiyosumi, don’t tease me,” whined .
“Adorable,” said Sengoku, kissing her nose. The next day at school Sengoku held onto to show everyone that they were together and other boys better back off.
©CrazyGirlOfManyNames, 2008