I Was Once Loved...
By Saeko
A Fujima-Hoshi fic… you get the idea… ne? Ne? NE? ^^
Note to the ROW members: It's very, very hard keeping track of who's talking and maintaining the balance of the conversation and the story at the same time. So most of you guys may come in the later chapters. As for now I'll include only a few people. Hope you understand.
Okay, so I've been a little lazy. But then again, whenever I put all of us in this fic, we have different situations.
And to Hoshi, I hope you don't mind me borrowing Toru for a while. I still have a bit of a thing for him since I saw him… ^^
…
The Shoyo Basketball team was having a game against Shohoku High. There were only five minutes left to the game and Shoyo was losing, though it had a lead on the first half. Shohoku had just stolen the ball from Shoyo and Kenji Fujima was trying hard not to pass out as he ran after Ryota Miyagi, who had the ball and was dribbling it toward the other court.
"Let's go!" Kenji said to his teammates. They all nodded and ran faster. Toru Hanagata tried to steal the ball, but Miyagi passed it to Mitsui, who again made another three points. The Shohoku fans jumped and cheered.
"This isn't good," thought Kenji. To give himself some buying time, he looked at the audience of Shohoku and Shoyo, his eyes trailing over the different people.
Suddenly, he stopped. Somebody had caught his eye. She was standing at the very front bench. It was a Shoyo girl, judged by her uniform. Kenji knew her. Oh, how he knew her…
"Fujima-san, c'mon," Toru said, coming over to Kenji. Kenji kept on staring.
"Fujima-san?" Toru followed his gaze, and his eyes also fell on the Shoyo girl. She must've sensed that somebody was looking at her, because she began looking around and saw Kenji and Toru staring. When she saw Kenji, she blushed quickly and looked away.
"Fujima-san, have you forgotten what you did to her?" Toru asked.
"Huh?" Kenji looked at Toru. "What do you mean?"
"Never mind. Come on, let's go," Toru said, walking away.
"O – okay."
...
"Hey Saeko-chan," Hoshi said, tugging at her friend's sleeve.
"What?" Saeko asked, looking at Hoshi, puzzled.
"Fujima-san was looking at me," Hoshi said.
"WHAAAT?"
Saeko jumped up and looked at the court, where Kenji was preparing to get the ball.
"I meant a while ago," Hoshi said.
"You could've told me," Saeko said, turning around to look at Hoshi. "You know the guy stinks. He dumped you, remember?"
"Yeah..."
"Well, that's that. Tell me if he looks at you again," Saeko replied. "Are you sure he was looking at you?" she asked. "There's got to be hundreds of Kenji-fans in this place. He could be looking at anybody."
"I'm positive," Hoshi said.
"So keep watching," Saeko said, turning back to the book.
"Okay."
Hoshi looked out at the basketball court. Kenji had the ball and was running to the other court as fast as he could. Hoshi could see the determination in his eyes, not to mention taking in every detail about him: his brown hair, irresistible blue eyes, his green-and-white Shoyo basketball uniform with the number 4, and the way he moves on the court. Hoshi sighed.
"Something wrong, Hoshi? Or are you daydreaming again?" Saeko asked.
"Daydreaming," Hoshi replied without looking, still staring at Kenji.
Saeko sighed too and went back to her book. She was used to Hoshi daydreaming in public places, though sometimes it could be embarrassing. "Hey, do you know where Nayomi and Yuki are? They said they'd be at the game today."
Hoshi continued to stare at Kenji. She had a secret crush on him for as long as she could remember, from the first time she saw him. But she never had the guts to stalk him. She was far too shy on the subject. And though they had been a couple, Kenji had two-timed her. But even so, she still couldn't bring herself to hate him. He was so…
"Hello?" Saeko said. Hoshi continued to look dreamily at Kenji.
"When are you gonna stalk him?"
Hoshi turned around to look at Saeko.
"How do you know I'm thinking that?" Hoshi asked.
"I just do."
"Okay, okay." Hoshi turned to the court again. She looked for Kenji and saw that he was staring at her again. Hoshi smiled and gave a little wave. Kenji looked surprised, but he waved back.
"Hoshi! I told you to tell me if he looked at you again!" Saeko said, standing up and joining Hoshi at the metal banister.
"Oops," Hoshi said.
"'Oops' is right," Saeko said. Just then, they heard a high-pitched bleep, bleep. Saeko reached into her pocket and took out a cell phone. "It's time."
"Oh, yeah, you're right," Hoshi said. "We'd better get going then."
And the whistle sounded, signaling a charged time-out.
...
"You've really fallen for her, have you?" Toru asked Kenji as they walked toward the Shoyo bench during the time-out.
"Fallen? I don't know," Kenji said, taking his towel and wiping his face. "I still have Kira Kira, don't I?" But he smiled when he remembered how the girl from Shoyo had waved at him.
"Fujima-san," Toru said, pointing to the Shohoku benches, "isn't that your girlfriend leaving?"
Kenji turned around just in time to see his mystery girl's back disappear as she walked down the stairs.
"Sorry, Fujima-san, but I had to tell you that," Toru said, taking a swig of water.
"It's okay," Kenji said. "I wasn't planning on going after her again anyway." He turned around and began to talk with his teammates. Toru kept staring at the stairs, where a girl with long hair and glasses was looking back at him. The girl nodded, and Toru nodded as well. The girl smiled and waved before disappearing after Hoshi at the stairs.
...
Hoshi and Saeko walked through the court exit and went to the big tree by their right, where their friends, Yuki, Nayomi and Hinata were seated on wooden benches under the shady tree.
"Konnichiwa," Saeko called out.
"Konnichiwa," Nayomi returned the greeting.
"Why weren't you at the game?" Hoshi asked.
"Sensei kept us in the lab for half an hour cleaning up the experiments," Yuki said. "Good thing we had extra uniforms in our lockers. Our gym uniforms stunk."
"Baka sensei," Saeko said, shaking her head.
"But it was fun making all the acid slither down the counters and burn them using my flamethrower," Yuki added.
"Ha ha," Hoshi said.
"Why are you late?" Nayomi asked.
"Because Hoshi was busy waving to Kenji Fujima," Saeko replied. Hoshi elbowed her in the arm. "Let's go," Hoshi said, walking away.
"Oooh, how nice," Yuki said.
"Really, Saeko?" Nayomi asked as they followed Hoshi. "Did Hoshi really wave to Fujima? I thought he dumped her."
"Yeah," Saeko nodded vigorously. "And he waved back! Can you believe it?"
"Hoshi must've been possessed," Yuki said. "She NEVER waves to a guy. Especially one who dumps her."
"Don't we all," Saeko added.
"Except Saeko, Hoshi and Akai-san," Nayomi said.
"Where's Akai? I thought she'd be going with us," Saeko said.
"She has basketball practice, remember?"
"Oh yeah."
"I wouldn't dump Rukawa if I could help it," Hinata said.
"Yeah right," Saeko said.
"Hey!"
"Shut up or we'll be late," Hoshi said.
"Okay," Saeko replied. She ran up to catch with Hoshi. "What're your plans this weekend, Hoshi?"
"Do my homework, I guess," Hoshi replied.
"I mean, anything time-consuming," Saeko said.
Hoshi thought for a moment. "None at all," she said.
"Okay. That's all."
Hoshi stared at Saeko. "That's all?"
"Uh-huh. Got a problem?" Saeko asked.
"Well, no, but-" Hoshi started to say, but Saeko cut her off.
"Good," Saeko said. "Let's catch a movie or something."
"And?" Hinata said.
"I don't know…" Saeko replied, thinking. "Maybe hang out at somebody's house after."
"I can come!" Yuki said.
"Let's make yema," Nayomi said, looking at Yuki.
"So it's set," Saeko said.
"YEMA!!!"
The five of them continued on talking cheerfully, not knowing that someone was watching them.
...
"I can't believe you dragged me all the way here just to hear them talk about hanging out," Toru grumbled as he and Kenji crouched down behind a bush. "Don't you care about the team at all? At this rate it'll take up a fourscore to get to the Inter High, and by then we'll be married."
"I care about the team, Toru," Kenji said, peeking out, "But I can't stop thinking about her."
"You dumped her just last week!" Toru argued. "So what if she waved at you? It was probably 'coz it's for the team!"
"Sssh!" Kenji said. "We just need to be more specific."
"But how, Kenji?" Toru asked.
"Talk to her, of course," Kenji said.
"Oh, and I suppose YOU'LL do the talking?" Toru said.
"No."
"Then who?"
Kenji fixed Toru with a meaningful look. Toru instantly got the message.
"NO, NO, NO and NO," Toru said. He stood up and started to walk away when Kenji got on his knees and held his hands in front of him.
"C'mon, Toru," Kenji begged. "Please do this for me. PLEASE!" Kenji grabbed Toru's leg and held on tight.
"Man, get off me!" Toru said.
"PLEASE, Toru, and I'll never ever ask you for another favor again!" Kenji said.
"The last time you said that, you asked me for another favor: To jump in the piranha pool," Toru said. "Which I didn't do 'coz you put a large hole in the aquarium and gave me bruises for a month! Am I supposed to believe you?"
"YES!"
"NO!"
"YES!"
"NO!"
"Uh, is something going on here?"
Kenji and Toru looked around and saw a girl with short hair looking curiously at them.
"What is it, Hoshi?" Saeko asked, running toward her. She saw Kenji and stopped running, taking in the full scene: Toru standing up while Kenji was glued to his leg.
"OMG," Saeko said.
"Is something wrong?" Hinata asked.
"Hoshi?" Yuki asked. "What's going on?"
"Hoshi, the food's there and we're gonna eat it all if-" Nayomi stopped speaking, and her eyes also fell on Kenji and Toru. Kenji realized what he was doing and quickly stood up and brushed his hands on his pants.
"God... aren't you Kenji Fujima?!?!" Saeko asked, pointing at Kenji.
"Uh... no," Kenji said.
"Hey, look, it's Toru!" Nayomi said.
"How embarrassing…" Hinata muttered.
Kenji turned to Hoshi. "Hoshi…" Kenji began, but Hoshi turned around and ran.
"HOSHI! Wait a minute!" Hinata cried, going after her.
"Hoshi!" Kenji made to run, but Saeko blocked him, her hands on her hips.
"Who d'you think you are, huh?" she asked him, her arms folded. "Don't you know that she still loves you?"
"How forward," Yuki commented.
"Very," Nayomi said, nodding.
Kenji stopped and looked at Saeko. "Really?"
Saeko nodded. "Really. She loves you so much and you're just gonna look like a jerk in front of her? In front of us? Then she won't be capable of loving you… because you don't love her back. Because you replaced her with a whore. Jerk," she muttered. Shifting her bag to her other shoulder, she turned around and walked to their table.
"You can just forget about running after Hoshi," Nayomi said quietly.
"Why?" Kenji asked.
Nayomi sighed. "Well," she said, "Bye." She walked after Saeko, Yuki behind her.
And so Kenji and Toru were left alone.
...
"You blew it, Fujima-san," Toru muttered.
"If you didn't stand up then we wouldn't have been caught," Kenji countered.
"Oh, and I'm wrong? You were hanging at my leg," Toru replied.
"Well, you still stood up," Kenji said, trying to find a good argument.
"Will you guys shut up already?" Yuki yelled. "We're trying to eat here."
"Let's go, Toru," Kenji said, walking away. Toru looked back at Saeko, who was still in a bad mood. Toru shook his head and went after Kenji.
...
"Calm down, Saeko," Yuki said. "Have a burger."
"I'm not hungry," Saeko said.
"Oh, yes you are," Nayomi said, pressing a burger into Saeko's hand. "You haven't eaten since breakfast."
"I'm not hungry," Saeko repeated, staring at the burger in her hand.
"Saeko…" Yuki said.
"Okay, okay," Saeko grumbled, unwrapping the burger and taking a bite. After a few minutes, she asked, "Where's Hoshi?"
"With Hinata," Nayomi replied, unwrapping her burger. "Why?"
"Nothing," Saeko said.
"There's Hinata and Hoshi," Yuki said over her burger.
"Good."
Hinata and Hoshi reached the table and sat down. "Where's my burger?" Hinata asked.
"Here." Nayomi pushed a burger toward Hinata, who began to eat.
"Hoshi?" Yuki asked.
"Yeah?"
"You okay, Hosh?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Hoshi said, taking a burger and unwrapping it. "Just a bit paranoid."
"Okay."
"I'll take a walk," Saeko said suddenly, standing up and putting down her burger.
"I'll come with you," Hinata said.
"No thanks," Saeko said. "I need to think," she added, and walked away.
"What's with her?" Hoshi asked.
"I don't know…"
...
"Fujima-san," Toru called.
"Yeah?" Kenji said.
"I'll go to the park for a while," Toru said.
"Why?" Kenji asked curiously.
"I need to think."
"Fine."
Toru shook his head and walked away.
...
Saeko walked quickly to the park grounds. Her head was fuming with annoyed thoughts and she felt she would explode. She looked around and saw the big cherry tree in the middle of the park and walked toward it. Toru was already there, waiting.
"Hey," Toru said.
"Your best friend is such a hopeless good-for-nothing," Saeko said. "How could he do that to Hoshi?"
"Hey, don't say things like that about my best friend," Toru said.
"How can I not? He broke Hoshi's heart for Pete's sake! And I thought we were gonna get them back together!"
"Even so, it doesn't give you any right to ridicule him and insult him in front of me!"
"Oh, now you're defending Fujima?"
"I'm his best friend! I'm supposed to!"
"Sometimes friendship isn't what it seems, Toru. He might be taking advantage of you."
"And sometimes it is what is seems," Toru shot back.
Saeko stopped, her mind running out of words to say. She slumped against the cherry tree, defeated. Toru's angry face softened as he reached out to put his hand on Saeko's shoulder.
Saeko jerked back, shaking. "Don't touch me," she said, taking a step back, tears in her eyes. "I've had enough of you," she said, turning around and running away.
"Saeko! Wait!" Toru said, but Saeko had already disappeared behind a tree. He sighed and put his head in his hands. He had blown it. For Fujima. For himself.
By Saeko
A Fujima-Hoshi fic… you get the idea… ne? Ne? NE? ^^
Note to the ROW members: It's very, very hard keeping track of who's talking and maintaining the balance of the conversation and the story at the same time. So most of you guys may come in the later chapters. As for now I'll include only a few people. Hope you understand.
Okay, so I've been a little lazy. But then again, whenever I put all of us in this fic, we have different situations.
And to Hoshi, I hope you don't mind me borrowing Toru for a while. I still have a bit of a thing for him since I saw him… ^^
…
The Shoyo Basketball team was having a game against Shohoku High. There were only five minutes left to the game and Shoyo was losing, though it had a lead on the first half. Shohoku had just stolen the ball from Shoyo and Kenji Fujima was trying hard not to pass out as he ran after Ryota Miyagi, who had the ball and was dribbling it toward the other court.
"Let's go!" Kenji said to his teammates. They all nodded and ran faster. Toru Hanagata tried to steal the ball, but Miyagi passed it to Mitsui, who again made another three points. The Shohoku fans jumped and cheered.
"This isn't good," thought Kenji. To give himself some buying time, he looked at the audience of Shohoku and Shoyo, his eyes trailing over the different people.
Suddenly, he stopped. Somebody had caught his eye. She was standing at the very front bench. It was a Shoyo girl, judged by her uniform. Kenji knew her. Oh, how he knew her…
"Fujima-san, c'mon," Toru said, coming over to Kenji. Kenji kept on staring.
"Fujima-san?" Toru followed his gaze, and his eyes also fell on the Shoyo girl. She must've sensed that somebody was looking at her, because she began looking around and saw Kenji and Toru staring. When she saw Kenji, she blushed quickly and looked away.
"Fujima-san, have you forgotten what you did to her?" Toru asked.
"Huh?" Kenji looked at Toru. "What do you mean?"
"Never mind. Come on, let's go," Toru said, walking away.
"O – okay."
...
"Hey Saeko-chan," Hoshi said, tugging at her friend's sleeve.
"What?" Saeko asked, looking at Hoshi, puzzled.
"Fujima-san was looking at me," Hoshi said.
"WHAAAT?"
Saeko jumped up and looked at the court, where Kenji was preparing to get the ball.
"I meant a while ago," Hoshi said.
"You could've told me," Saeko said, turning around to look at Hoshi. "You know the guy stinks. He dumped you, remember?"
"Yeah..."
"Well, that's that. Tell me if he looks at you again," Saeko replied. "Are you sure he was looking at you?" she asked. "There's got to be hundreds of Kenji-fans in this place. He could be looking at anybody."
"I'm positive," Hoshi said.
"So keep watching," Saeko said, turning back to the book.
"Okay."
Hoshi looked out at the basketball court. Kenji had the ball and was running to the other court as fast as he could. Hoshi could see the determination in his eyes, not to mention taking in every detail about him: his brown hair, irresistible blue eyes, his green-and-white Shoyo basketball uniform with the number 4, and the way he moves on the court. Hoshi sighed.
"Something wrong, Hoshi? Or are you daydreaming again?" Saeko asked.
"Daydreaming," Hoshi replied without looking, still staring at Kenji.
Saeko sighed too and went back to her book. She was used to Hoshi daydreaming in public places, though sometimes it could be embarrassing. "Hey, do you know where Nayomi and Yuki are? They said they'd be at the game today."
Hoshi continued to stare at Kenji. She had a secret crush on him for as long as she could remember, from the first time she saw him. But she never had the guts to stalk him. She was far too shy on the subject. And though they had been a couple, Kenji had two-timed her. But even so, she still couldn't bring herself to hate him. He was so…
"Hello?" Saeko said. Hoshi continued to look dreamily at Kenji.
"When are you gonna stalk him?"
Hoshi turned around to look at Saeko.
"How do you know I'm thinking that?" Hoshi asked.
"I just do."
"Okay, okay." Hoshi turned to the court again. She looked for Kenji and saw that he was staring at her again. Hoshi smiled and gave a little wave. Kenji looked surprised, but he waved back.
"Hoshi! I told you to tell me if he looked at you again!" Saeko said, standing up and joining Hoshi at the metal banister.
"Oops," Hoshi said.
"'Oops' is right," Saeko said. Just then, they heard a high-pitched bleep, bleep. Saeko reached into her pocket and took out a cell phone. "It's time."
"Oh, yeah, you're right," Hoshi said. "We'd better get going then."
And the whistle sounded, signaling a charged time-out.
...
"You've really fallen for her, have you?" Toru asked Kenji as they walked toward the Shoyo bench during the time-out.
"Fallen? I don't know," Kenji said, taking his towel and wiping his face. "I still have Kira Kira, don't I?" But he smiled when he remembered how the girl from Shoyo had waved at him.
"Fujima-san," Toru said, pointing to the Shohoku benches, "isn't that your girlfriend leaving?"
Kenji turned around just in time to see his mystery girl's back disappear as she walked down the stairs.
"Sorry, Fujima-san, but I had to tell you that," Toru said, taking a swig of water.
"It's okay," Kenji said. "I wasn't planning on going after her again anyway." He turned around and began to talk with his teammates. Toru kept staring at the stairs, where a girl with long hair and glasses was looking back at him. The girl nodded, and Toru nodded as well. The girl smiled and waved before disappearing after Hoshi at the stairs.
...
Hoshi and Saeko walked through the court exit and went to the big tree by their right, where their friends, Yuki, Nayomi and Hinata were seated on wooden benches under the shady tree.
"Konnichiwa," Saeko called out.
"Konnichiwa," Nayomi returned the greeting.
"Why weren't you at the game?" Hoshi asked.
"Sensei kept us in the lab for half an hour cleaning up the experiments," Yuki said. "Good thing we had extra uniforms in our lockers. Our gym uniforms stunk."
"Baka sensei," Saeko said, shaking her head.
"But it was fun making all the acid slither down the counters and burn them using my flamethrower," Yuki added.
"Ha ha," Hoshi said.
"Why are you late?" Nayomi asked.
"Because Hoshi was busy waving to Kenji Fujima," Saeko replied. Hoshi elbowed her in the arm. "Let's go," Hoshi said, walking away.
"Oooh, how nice," Yuki said.
"Really, Saeko?" Nayomi asked as they followed Hoshi. "Did Hoshi really wave to Fujima? I thought he dumped her."
"Yeah," Saeko nodded vigorously. "And he waved back! Can you believe it?"
"Hoshi must've been possessed," Yuki said. "She NEVER waves to a guy. Especially one who dumps her."
"Don't we all," Saeko added.
"Except Saeko, Hoshi and Akai-san," Nayomi said.
"Where's Akai? I thought she'd be going with us," Saeko said.
"She has basketball practice, remember?"
"Oh yeah."
"I wouldn't dump Rukawa if I could help it," Hinata said.
"Yeah right," Saeko said.
"Hey!"
"Shut up or we'll be late," Hoshi said.
"Okay," Saeko replied. She ran up to catch with Hoshi. "What're your plans this weekend, Hoshi?"
"Do my homework, I guess," Hoshi replied.
"I mean, anything time-consuming," Saeko said.
Hoshi thought for a moment. "None at all," she said.
"Okay. That's all."
Hoshi stared at Saeko. "That's all?"
"Uh-huh. Got a problem?" Saeko asked.
"Well, no, but-" Hoshi started to say, but Saeko cut her off.
"Good," Saeko said. "Let's catch a movie or something."
"And?" Hinata said.
"I don't know…" Saeko replied, thinking. "Maybe hang out at somebody's house after."
"I can come!" Yuki said.
"Let's make yema," Nayomi said, looking at Yuki.
"So it's set," Saeko said.
"YEMA!!!"
The five of them continued on talking cheerfully, not knowing that someone was watching them.
...
"I can't believe you dragged me all the way here just to hear them talk about hanging out," Toru grumbled as he and Kenji crouched down behind a bush. "Don't you care about the team at all? At this rate it'll take up a fourscore to get to the Inter High, and by then we'll be married."
"I care about the team, Toru," Kenji said, peeking out, "But I can't stop thinking about her."
"You dumped her just last week!" Toru argued. "So what if she waved at you? It was probably 'coz it's for the team!"
"Sssh!" Kenji said. "We just need to be more specific."
"But how, Kenji?" Toru asked.
"Talk to her, of course," Kenji said.
"Oh, and I suppose YOU'LL do the talking?" Toru said.
"No."
"Then who?"
Kenji fixed Toru with a meaningful look. Toru instantly got the message.
"NO, NO, NO and NO," Toru said. He stood up and started to walk away when Kenji got on his knees and held his hands in front of him.
"C'mon, Toru," Kenji begged. "Please do this for me. PLEASE!" Kenji grabbed Toru's leg and held on tight.
"Man, get off me!" Toru said.
"PLEASE, Toru, and I'll never ever ask you for another favor again!" Kenji said.
"The last time you said that, you asked me for another favor: To jump in the piranha pool," Toru said. "Which I didn't do 'coz you put a large hole in the aquarium and gave me bruises for a month! Am I supposed to believe you?"
"YES!"
"NO!"
"YES!"
"NO!"
"Uh, is something going on here?"
Kenji and Toru looked around and saw a girl with short hair looking curiously at them.
"What is it, Hoshi?" Saeko asked, running toward her. She saw Kenji and stopped running, taking in the full scene: Toru standing up while Kenji was glued to his leg.
"OMG," Saeko said.
"Is something wrong?" Hinata asked.
"Hoshi?" Yuki asked. "What's going on?"
"Hoshi, the food's there and we're gonna eat it all if-" Nayomi stopped speaking, and her eyes also fell on Kenji and Toru. Kenji realized what he was doing and quickly stood up and brushed his hands on his pants.
"God... aren't you Kenji Fujima?!?!" Saeko asked, pointing at Kenji.
"Uh... no," Kenji said.
"Hey, look, it's Toru!" Nayomi said.
"How embarrassing…" Hinata muttered.
Kenji turned to Hoshi. "Hoshi…" Kenji began, but Hoshi turned around and ran.
"HOSHI! Wait a minute!" Hinata cried, going after her.
"Hoshi!" Kenji made to run, but Saeko blocked him, her hands on her hips.
"Who d'you think you are, huh?" she asked him, her arms folded. "Don't you know that she still loves you?"
"How forward," Yuki commented.
"Very," Nayomi said, nodding.
Kenji stopped and looked at Saeko. "Really?"
Saeko nodded. "Really. She loves you so much and you're just gonna look like a jerk in front of her? In front of us? Then she won't be capable of loving you… because you don't love her back. Because you replaced her with a whore. Jerk," she muttered. Shifting her bag to her other shoulder, she turned around and walked to their table.
"You can just forget about running after Hoshi," Nayomi said quietly.
"Why?" Kenji asked.
Nayomi sighed. "Well," she said, "Bye." She walked after Saeko, Yuki behind her.
And so Kenji and Toru were left alone.
...
"You blew it, Fujima-san," Toru muttered.
"If you didn't stand up then we wouldn't have been caught," Kenji countered.
"Oh, and I'm wrong? You were hanging at my leg," Toru replied.
"Well, you still stood up," Kenji said, trying to find a good argument.
"Will you guys shut up already?" Yuki yelled. "We're trying to eat here."
"Let's go, Toru," Kenji said, walking away. Toru looked back at Saeko, who was still in a bad mood. Toru shook his head and went after Kenji.
...
"Calm down, Saeko," Yuki said. "Have a burger."
"I'm not hungry," Saeko said.
"Oh, yes you are," Nayomi said, pressing a burger into Saeko's hand. "You haven't eaten since breakfast."
"I'm not hungry," Saeko repeated, staring at the burger in her hand.
"Saeko…" Yuki said.
"Okay, okay," Saeko grumbled, unwrapping the burger and taking a bite. After a few minutes, she asked, "Where's Hoshi?"
"With Hinata," Nayomi replied, unwrapping her burger. "Why?"
"Nothing," Saeko said.
"There's Hinata and Hoshi," Yuki said over her burger.
"Good."
Hinata and Hoshi reached the table and sat down. "Where's my burger?" Hinata asked.
"Here." Nayomi pushed a burger toward Hinata, who began to eat.
"Hoshi?" Yuki asked.
"Yeah?"
"You okay, Hosh?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Hoshi said, taking a burger and unwrapping it. "Just a bit paranoid."
"Okay."
"I'll take a walk," Saeko said suddenly, standing up and putting down her burger.
"I'll come with you," Hinata said.
"No thanks," Saeko said. "I need to think," she added, and walked away.
"What's with her?" Hoshi asked.
"I don't know…"
...
"Fujima-san," Toru called.
"Yeah?" Kenji said.
"I'll go to the park for a while," Toru said.
"Why?" Kenji asked curiously.
"I need to think."
"Fine."
Toru shook his head and walked away.
...
Saeko walked quickly to the park grounds. Her head was fuming with annoyed thoughts and she felt she would explode. She looked around and saw the big cherry tree in the middle of the park and walked toward it. Toru was already there, waiting.
"Hey," Toru said.
"Your best friend is such a hopeless good-for-nothing," Saeko said. "How could he do that to Hoshi?"
"Hey, don't say things like that about my best friend," Toru said.
"How can I not? He broke Hoshi's heart for Pete's sake! And I thought we were gonna get them back together!"
"Even so, it doesn't give you any right to ridicule him and insult him in front of me!"
"Oh, now you're defending Fujima?"
"I'm his best friend! I'm supposed to!"
"Sometimes friendship isn't what it seems, Toru. He might be taking advantage of you."
"And sometimes it is what is seems," Toru shot back.
Saeko stopped, her mind running out of words to say. She slumped against the cherry tree, defeated. Toru's angry face softened as he reached out to put his hand on Saeko's shoulder.
Saeko jerked back, shaking. "Don't touch me," she said, taking a step back, tears in her eyes. "I've had enough of you," she said, turning around and running away.
"Saeko! Wait!" Toru said, but Saeko had already disappeared behind a tree. He sighed and put his head in his hands. He had blown it. For Fujima. For himself.