notes: this is actually a rewrite of a story that i wrote nearly three years ago. so if the writing between chapters seem rather strange, know it's because i'm in the process of rewriting it. :3 i should be done soon enough.
"Karin, I'm going to knock on the door three times. If you do not get up on the third knock, I will not hesitate to break this door down."
A rather moody Kazune stood outside of Karin's room in blue and white striped pajamas, arms crossed as he glared through the door as if he could see her under those bedsheets.
No reply was heard.
"Ugh, come on," Kazune groaned, opening the door to the room. He tried to be patient with her but sometimes it proved to be an impossible feat, considering how both of them were so equally stubborn. Walking to her bedside, he leaned in before promptly going scream-o in her ear.
"Lord have mercy!"
Karin woke up in a jolt and bumped foreheads with him. "Owwie...!"
She flushed slightly at the contact before the toll of her sleepiness hit her. "Kazune-kun, why do you always do this? It's not your problem if I decide to oversleep, y'know. Geez!" She rubbed at her eyes and mustered the best glare her big, olive eyes could manage.
The glare did not appear to be very effective. Kazune seemed to calm down, (the glare having opposite of the intended effect) and let himself smile a bit. "This is going to sound cheesy, but obviously it's because I want what's best for you. You know we have to keep training for your own good."
Karin's eyes widened at his caring answer and she bit her lip, flustered. She was used to bickering with him endlessly. She didn't know how to respond when he was actually...pleasant? So she laughed a bit, smiling back. "Fine. I guess I understand."
She swung her legs over the side of the bed, only to see that Kazune was still standing there. What was his deal? Karin leaned forward to peer into his icy eyes, not realizing that she was leaning in a little too close to be considered normal. She leaned in obliviously, aware of nothing but his eyes...were they always that shade of bright, icy blue? She sounded like such an idiot, but she couldn't bring herself to care.
"Kazune-chan! Karin-chan! If you'd like breakfast, you should come now, it's hot!" Himeka's voice called from downstairs.
This appeared to snap them both out of their mesmerizing trance with each other.
"Well...that was...weird. I'll um, see you downstairs? Yeah." Kazune left immediately, deciding to forget this ever happened and also too embarrassed to look her in the face again.
Karin was in a similar state of mind. Oh my god, what was I trying to do? Kiss him? What's wrong with me? She groaned, dragging herself to the bathroom and reaching for her toothbrush.
"By the way, don't slip into derp-Karin mode. And by that I mean don't dress into your uniform, today we're going on the cruise!" Kazune's head popped in cutely from the doorway.
She only rolled her tired eyes. "Gee, thanks. It's totally probable I would have forgotten about a cruise!" She paused, grinning evilly. "And don't barge in like that. I could've been changing, geez, ya perv."
Kazune's mouth dropped open, but he recovered quickly. "In your dreams."
That shut Karin up. Her mind was suddenly filled with unpleasant (or pleasant?) dreams centering her and the blonde-haired boy. She liked to deny their existence, but there's only so much denying a girl can do before she has to admit that yes, she is probably crushing hopelessly on her best friend's cousin/brother.
"Ugh, that stupid dream...it doesn't mean anything," Karin muttered darkly while blushing, grumpily stuffing the toothbrush in her mouth.
"What was that?" Kazune called from the other room. Karin's eyes widened. That boy had creepily excellent hearing. "Nothing!" she yelled out.
She changed into jean shorts and a tee, pulling her hair into a ponytail while inhaling the scent of Himeka's freshly cooked breakfast. Oh, how she hoped it wouldn't get cold by the time she got downstairs.
Upon entering the kitchen downstairs, she was encountered by Micchi and one of his infamous bone-crushing hugs.
"Hanazono-san! I can't believe we are going in a cruise! We are going to have the time of our life and gosh you're such a great person, winning us tickets and all!" Micchi said in one breath, truly a feat.
"Micchi? Air?" Karin flailed helplessly in his arms.
He let go, and she returned to her normal skin tone. "Well, Micchi, I guess I am pretty great. I did win us tickets. Looks my artistic talent paid off, after all," she said snarkily, making sure to capture Kazune's attention as she snatched the syrup bottle from his reach to use on her pancakes.
He narrowed his eyes. "What talent? You just put colors in a piece of paper, and that somehow qualifies as art?"
"Your point? I still won."
"I still won," Kazune mimicked her.
"Oh, shut up, not my fault you're jealous."
"It's not like I couldn't afford tickets to a cruise."
"But would you buy them?"
"..."
"Didn't think so."
The bickering continued on for some time, much unfortunately for Micchi and Himeka.
-x-
"Misha-san? Shia-san? You guys ready yet?" Kotarou stood patiently outside of his apartment door, decked out casually in jeans and collared button-up. It wasn't his style, but Takashi had made sure he at least dressed appropriately for an occasion such as this one.
"One minute!" came Misha's peppy voice.
He smiled and shook his head at the girl as he heard something topple over and crash.
"Oopsie! I'll take care of it, su!"
The two girls finally emerged after some time rearranging the mess Misha had made. Shia was dressed modestly in a long floral skirt and plain blouse, while Misha sported a bright blue sundress and sunhat, her grin stretching as wide as her face would allow.
"You look pretty," Kotarou commented offhandedly. His eyes widened after he realized what he said. Ugh, embarrassing.
"Who? Me or Shia-chan, su?" Misha questioned curiously, gesturing inbetween them.
Shia rose a hand to her mouth and giggled politely. "I'm sure he was referring to yo-"
She stopped as she caught sight of Kotarou's hands-crossing-neck gesture. She had learned to interpret strange human gestures over the time she had spent with him.
Takashi and Koboshi arrived, both laughing merrily and in bright spirits, while another boy followed meekly along, not so merry.
"Uh? Ten-chan?" Kotarou motioned to the boy behind them.
"Oh, uh, sorry. Poops is going with us, apparently." He only shrugged and took stance besides Kotarou. He smirked and elbowed him, opening his mouth to say what was obviously going to be a joke about Misha, before Mitarai so rudely interrupted.
"Oh, my dearest Misha-san, I'm sure you will be pleased to find out that I have arranged one of the best of the best rides to get to the cruise, designed for two, if you catch my drift."
Takashi made gagging noises, making Koboshi and Kotarou snicker childishly.
"Aww! I was hoping we could go with everyone else, su!" Misha said. She clasped her hands and commenced her puppy-dog look, which melted almost everyone instantly.
"Oh, you're referring to these peasants. We will bring them along. Anything that makes you happy, Misha-san!"
"Yahoo!" Misha promptly glomped Kotarou.
"Misha-san! You know he doesn't like it when you do that? Geez, don't be so childish," Koboshi muttered, crossing her arms with a frown.
"Peasant! Don't you dare speak of Misha-san that way!" Mitarai countered, raising a finger to her face.
Takashi swatted it away for her. "Chill, Poops. She just called Misha childish. Which, face it, she really is."
"Wait, guys. Where's Misha?"
Silence. Misha was missing.
"Oh great, look, we lost her!"
"We? You were the one who so rudely interrupted and started mindlessly arguing with me?"
"Oh, that's it!"
The arguing commenced for some time, much unfortunately for Shia and Kotarou.
hah. notice how i tried to do some parallelism there? hah, haha...ha. i'm funny.
