No changes at all. Everything is just the same. I don't do what I don't have to, what I need to do, I make it quick. That's my known motto. But imagine, me doing whatever that girl wants just to satisfy her curiosity. Why exactly do I do that? Do I really need to do it? I just can't say no to her.
…
And why can't I?
It was any normal afternoon. I wasn't rushing or anything. I just don't want Ibara to yell at me again. So, I went up to the clubroom to find the two girls talking in hushed tones. Chitanda had this worried look on her face, which worried me. Ibara was kind of anxious or surprised. I can't tell.
I decided not to bother. I can't waste my energy this time.
As I entered, Chitanda almost jumped from her seat, while Ibara glared at me. What is with her anyway?
"You're late, Oreki!" Ibara told me. Well, she always tells me that anyway.
"G-good afternoon, O-Oreki-san…" Chitanda mumbled without making any eye contacts. Damn. She must be deeply curious about something that it makes her so worried. Good luck, Houtarou.
I won't bother to ask though. Can't waste any energy this time.
"Where's Satoshi?" I asked, trying to break the awkward silence. Ibara stared at me for a moment.
"Student council meeting." She plainly told me. I then transferred my gaze to Chitanda. She was feeling really awkward, just by judging her facial expression. Any moment now, she'll definitely pounce on me and beg to satisfy her curiosity.
"Sorry I am late everyone! Did I miss anything?" Satoshi entered, and then sat across me.
"Not really, Fuku-chan." Ibara answered.
"Good afternoon, Fukube-san." Chitanda politely greeted him. I sighed, and started to read my book. Before I could flip the next page of what I am reading, Ibara stood up and started to rant at Satoshi.
"Seriously, Fuku-chan? You're grades are dropping and you don't even care!" she said.
"Sorry, sorry. I have so many activities in my hands right now. So, I-"
"Not acceptable! You're coming with me to the library! I'll help you till you improve at History at least!"
And she dragged my poor friend with her. He's wasting too much energy, I can't even stand it.
So basically, that leaves me and Chitanda in the room. Across me, she is still looking worried. And I don't want to ask her about it. I can't waste energy this time.
"What's wrong?" I subconsciously asked. Damn it Houtarou. Here you are again, involving yourself in Chitanda's world.
But she simply glanced at me, her eyes showing the obvious worry. That somehow worries me too.
"I-it's nothing…" she replied. She's stuttering again. She never did this before. What's wrong?
"You're curious about something?" I asked again.
"Eh? You may call it that way but…"
"But?"
"I think it's kind of awkward if I tell you about it."
Oh. It's so personal that you can't involve me? You're not the Chitanda I know. Not that I am complaining or anything.
"Okay." I simply said, and then continued on my reading. But it seems she wants to tell me something. I know, because she kept on fidgeting her fingers. I can't stand that. I don't know why. Somehow, I want to satisfy her worries. But why?
"If you want to tell me, then tell me." I finally said. She seems a bit surprised, and actually, I am too.
"Oreki-san… are you curious about what I am thinking right now?" She said. I don't know if she was trying to change the subject or she read my mind.
Wait.
Read my mind?
Am I actually curious about her worries?
"Curious is not the word. I just can't stand seeing you so stressed or worried at something. It's getting on me." I said. She looked down a bit.
"Sorry."
"No need."
"O-okay… I'll tell you."
"I am not forcing you, okay?"
"N-no! I am telling you this, on my own w-will!" She said. Okay, I admit. I was pretty defensive myself.
"Okay. Tell me."
I heard her inhale, then exhale. She must really be curious about this.
"I know someone from a different school who came over last weekend." She said. I nodded, and let her continue her story.
"She was with her friends. We were having a sleepover together."
Girls talk huh.
"Then, their topic suddenly went to… romance."
I almost choked. Don't tell me she's curious about that!
"Then what about it?"
"Since I can't relate to them, they started to investigate me." She said. Her cheeks were turning a bit pink now.
"They asked questions like "Is there someone you feel special about?" or "Do you feel weird around him?" I was confused with the questions so I started to explain what I feel to… a guy who I think I might like, or at least according to them."
Chitanda likes someone? She actually does? That's news. I don't know why but, I am kind of disappointed. After she said that she likes someone, I just felt bad.
"I told Mayaka-san about it too."
Ah, so that's why you were talking in hushed tones.
"She was a bit surprised, uh… very surprised actually."
So I was right. She was surprised.
"But I didn't tell Mayaka-san about the suggestion that my friends told me to do."
"What's the suggestion?" I asked.
"I-I should k-k-k-kiss that person. Then, that's where my curiosity started."
What?
Chitanda started to look opposite from me. The pink smudge on her cheeks went deeper in color. And why would she take that stupid suggestion? You can't just kiss the person you like!
"They told me that the feeling of kissing the person you like is yes and no. You want to kiss that person yet, you don't want to. But once you kissed that person, it makes you want to kiss again."
Sigh. Don't take advices from those kinds of friends. Ibara's a better friend to consult. Then again, maybe not.
"Then I realized something. If I want to know that my feeling for that person is love, I will try to kiss him."
"Huh? So you're actually going to try it?"
"Y-yes. I am curious about my feelings. I want to find out the mystery. I want to know why I feel that way when I am around him. And all these wants just came to me when my friends investigated me."
Great. Thanks to your friends, I am now stuck here to solve another mystery that you want me to answer. A mystery that somehow irks me, a mystery that I don't want to do.
"When are you going to kiss that guy?" I asked, trying to hide my irritation, which I believe I did successfully.
"N-now. As soon as possible, I-I want to know the answers." She said, and then stood up. She walked towards me and stared right through my eyes.
As our eyes met, I blushed a little, causing me to look at the opposite side.
"Who's the guy?"
"O-Oreki-san…"
She was starting to blush furiously. Come on. I am good at keeping secrets.
"Just tell me."
She nodded lightly, and then grabbed my hand. I am actually used at her habit of holding my hand.
"P-please…"
"Hm?"
"…k-kiss me!" She said, as her eyes were glowing at me.
But wait. She wants me to kiss her? Doesn't that mean…
Wait.
I am the one the she likes?
My eyes widened, and I felt blood rush to my face. I don't know how I will reply to that. She basically confessed.
"W-what?" I muttered. That's the only word I could produce for now. She transferred her gaze down, but our hands were still intertwined.
She shut her eyes hard then said something that was almost inaudible.
"Please, Oreki-san?"
I guess I have no choice. I stood up, and stared at her eyes.
"Once I do this, the mystery is solved, right?"
She nodded. I sighed.
I placed my free hand on the back of her neck and angled her head. I am no expert on these, but thanks to some shows that my sister is watching, I learned a bit.
She opened her eyes, and our eyes met again. When I started to lean my head closer to hers, we coincidently closed our eyes. Though it may feel like minutes, our lips collided softly.
The moment my lips touched hers, she squeezed my hand that she was holding. I winced a bit. That girl sure can hold hands.
I don't how long we did it, but I then parted from her. She slowly opened her eyes, still not letting go of my hand. My free hand was still at the back of her neck too.
Our eyes again met for a second, and then we avoided each other's gaze. I freed my hand from her hands then sat down. At the corner of my eye, I saw her hands touching her lips. As if she was feeling the kiss through her fingers.
"Thank you, Oreki-san."
"What's your analysis now?" I asked coolly.
There was a sudden silence that approached us. Chitanda then went back to her seat then looked down.
"I feel weird."
"What kind of weird?"
"I-it's so embarrassing to say but… I will for the sake of getting answers."
What's more embarrassing than we just did?
"It's so weird… because…"
Okay, another pause.
"… It seems that I want you to kiss me again." My eyes widened at her statement. I also felt my cheeks grow redder.
Its official then.
Chitanda Eru likes me.
Case closed for you, Chitanda.
But as for me, I still have a mystery to solve on my own. Do I feel the same was as her?
Why… do I feel so happy?
I can't believe I am saying this but…
…
I am pretty curious myself.