"Karin?" Kazune said from beside me, quietly. "Let's get married." "EHHH? B-But.. Kazune-Kun… we're so young! I mean, what will the Kazune-Z think? They'll hate me forever! And what about Himeka-Chan and Q-Chan? What will-" His lips pressed against mine, firm enough to keep me from speaking. He broke away, subdued humor in his eyes. "Kazune… Kun?" "Just kidding, Karin!" he said snickering, and walked away. I just stared at his back, shocked, as his silhouette receded into the distance. Did he really just say that?
"Just kidding, Karin!" I mused over this in my head. Why couldn't I have just told her that this time I was serious? I just couldn't stop messing with Karin's emotions, even when I was trying to be serious. "Baka.." I murmured to myself, "Just tell her. What's wrong with you?" "Kazune-Chan!" Himeka 's soft voice said, from somewhere behind me. "Are you OK, Kazune-Chan? You seem upset…" she rushed over from the doorway to the kitchen. "Ah, yeah. Don't worry Himeka," I smiled, to put her at ease, and patted her head gently. Her face broke into a huge grin as she said, "I'm glad!" and rushed off again. How come I can't seem to be this gentle with Karin? I always say the wrong thing to her. She's always upset with me.
"Nyah-Nyah Karin-Chan, He was just kidding with you! Kazune-Chan does that to Karin-Chan a lot!" Shii-Chan said from my bed, as I told her about Kazune-Kun's strange statement. "But Shii-Chan, I don't even think he was drinking today! And, usually he only says H-mode things when he's drunk!" "Maybe Kazune-Chan meant it, then!" Shii–Chan said, nodding sagely. What if… Could he really mean that? "You must be right, Shii-Chan! He said he was kidding! He must have been trying to confuse me. Kazune-Kun is always saying those kinds of things." Silly Karin, I chided myself, getting so caught up in some silly thing Kazune-Kun said just to confuse you!
~ Several Days Later ~
"Are you almost done, Karin? We're going to be late for school! Girls are so slow!" Kazune-Kun shouted from downstairs. I didn't answer, but instead straightened the clips in my hair and rushed out the door, flattening my skirt as I turned the corner, and tugging on the hem of the uniform as I ran down the stairs. "Finally," Kazune-Kun said, clearly irritated. "Male Chauvinists should learn to be patient!" I shouted at him, and looked away. His attitude just... made me so grumpy sometimes! Although Himeka-Chan fruitlessly tried to keep us from our bickering, we only stopped our arguing when the school came into view.
As we walked through the gates, Kazune-Kun turned toward me, something clearly on his mind. "Karin," He began, "I-" "Hanazono-San!" Micchi ran up to me, and pulled me into a huge hug. "I missed you, Hanazono-San!" "Micchi… I saw you yesterday?" I said, trying to escape the hug. Eventually Micchi let go of me, but by that time, Kazune-Kun was being chased around by the Kazune-Z. I giggled as I watched them all try to touch Kazune-Kun. "~ Kujyou-Kun! ~" They screamed, as they ran past me. "Leave me alone!" He shouted over his shoulder, still running. "Karin-Chan!" Himeka ran over to me, a smile on her face. "Miyon-Chan and Yuuki-Kun want us to help with chores this morning!" "Okay!" I followed Himeka inside the building.
Stupid Michiru.. Irritated, I put my head down on my desk, and sighed. I lifted my head off the desk quickly, in case Teacher called on me to answer a question. Why couldn't you have shown up just a few minutes later? I glanced quickly toward Karin, who seemed to be doing everything but paying attention today. She stared out the window, whispered to Michiru and Himeka, and doodled in her notebook. I smiled a small, quick smile. No use in alerting those stupid fan girls that she was making me smile. They'd be on Karin in a moment for that, and I wasn't going to let them terrorize her for something she didn't even know happened.
During break, I decided to find out what Kazune-Kun had been trying to say for days. "Himeka-Chan… have you seen Kazune-Kun?" she looked a little confused, but then her eyes lit up and she grinned. "I think Kazune-Chan went to practice archery," she answered, and turned toward Miyon. I walked out the door of the classroom, and hurried down to the archery range. As I approached, I called out, "Kazune-Kun?" I heard something drop, and then Kazune appeared from behind the targets. "Karin?" five minutes later, he was sitting beside me in the grass. "Uh, Kazune-Kun, about this morning-" He cut me off, kissing me and gently pushing me on to my back in the grass. He leaned over me, mischief dancing in his aquamarine eyes. "K-Kazune… Kun?" he kissed me again, still gentle. He sat up, quickly. "Someone's coming…" I sat up, and was quickly but gently pushed on to my back. My heart was beating so fast! Get a hold of yourself, Karin! Yuuki appeared from around the corner, "Hanazono-San? Kujyou-Kun? Why are you lying in the grass?" Kazune looked toward me, winked, and said, "Just enjoying the clouds." He stood up. "We'll talk later, Karin!" He strode over to Yuuki, and began talking to him.
I could still feel her heartbeat pounding as I kissed her. I knew it still made her nervous, and I had to fight to keep from smiling. Why did you interrupt her? Teasing her some more? You could have just told her then and there. Baka. When Yuuki and I finished talking, I immediately looked for Karin. She's gone. Good job, Kujyou. You missed another chance. Damn these interruptions. "Yuuki!" I heard Miyon shout. How did she find him? Karin's the only one who saw him come here. Maybe she came back! Great, now don't screw this one up, Kujyou! I heard loud sobs now, and worried that Karin was crying, I ran around the row of targets. "Oi! Karin?"