"Natsume-san." Natsume Asako sighed deeply, 'here they go again'. She slowly turned around to face the boy who called out to her and waited in practiced patience.
The boy, who was not from Syoyo High by the looks of his uniform, reached inside his bag and handed her a single red rose, his head slightly bowed.
"I like you. Will you go out with me?"
Natsume stared at the boy sadly. This is the 25th time someone has confessed to her this month and the nth time that she has to reject someone and break their hearts.
"I'm sorry." The boy slowly looked up to her. "I cannot accept your feelings. We haven't even talked before, have we? I cannot go out with you just like that. Besides, I am completely busy right now as an entrance examinee."
There was sadness and hurt reflected in the boy's eyes and Natsume couldn't help but feel bad as well. After getting rejected by Micchan in her first year, she quite had a grasp of how the boys she rejects might feel. So, she sort of could empathize with them now although she still does not do well with boys.
The boy looked at her and a slight smile formed on his lips.
"I understand." Natsume sighed in relief, at least with this one she does not have to resort to being harsh, he got it immediately.
"I should have known, but I don't want to miss this chance you know. And I don't want any regrets."
Natsume just stood there and listened, she understands that. Somehow, she feels like this boy is quite different from the usual ones that approach her and although she rejected him, Natsume is glad that the boy does not insist himself to her. The least she could do was to listen to him for a few more minutes.
"When I saw you look so happy with him, I know I don't have any chances. But I'm still glad I confessed. Thank you for your response, Natsume-san." The boy bowed again and was preparing to leave.
Natsume would have let him leave, but there was something about what he said that made her stop the boy.
"Wait!" Natsume called, the boy stopped in his tracks. "Wh-What do you mean by 'him'?"
The boy stared at Natsume, confused, "That guy you're always together with. That short guy." He said simply.
Natsume felt her cheeks blush, "I-I'm not going out with Sasayan-kun!" she spoke, flustered.
She heard the boy laughed lightly, "Is that so? But you really look close. The other guys at my school were discouraged to confess because they thought you two were dating. Are you not really?" his tone turned teasingly, "Then, would you like to go-"
"No!" Natsume cut him off before he finished, and the boy looked at her in surprise, then he laughed loudly.
"I was only joking, Natsume-san. I'm sorry." Then he handed her the red rose again, "Here. I know I was rejected but please accept this. I would be happy if you would. Don't worry, I won't ever bother you again." Natsume reluctantly accepted the rose and with that, the boy bade his good bye and left her to herself.
Natsume felt herself relaxed with the boy gone and she continued her walk to the batting center. She and her friends have a study meet there and even with Haru gone and overseas, the group still frequently hangs out at Micchan's place.
She was busy with her thoughts that Natsume didn't hear the sound of Sasayan running to her side.
"Hey, Natsume." Sasayan said as way of greeting.
Natsume almost jumped in surprise upon hearing his voice. She was supposed to scold him or something but then the conversation she had with the boy earlier popped in her mind and she looked away and ignored him instead.
"What's this?" Sasayan was now asking, Natsume was determined to ignore him, she could still feel her cheeks red. Unfortunately, it was not what Sasayan was asking about.
Sasayan caught hold of one of Natsume's wrist and stared at the red rose she clutched between her fingers. Natsume hissed in protest and snatched her hand away.
"What are you doing?! I told you to stop doing things like that!"
Sasayan only stared at the object she had on her fingers. His expression unreadable.
"Who's that from?"
Natsume traced his eyes and saw that Sasayan was referring to the rose, she held it up on face level.
"Oh this? Some guy who confessed to me gave this."
Sasayan felt his face twitched in annoyance. He stared at the rose one more time before his eyes shifted to look at Natsume, her face tinge of pink. And without a word, he left Natsume and went ahead to the batting center.
Natsume was so surprised that she had to stop a moment to process what happened. Then she was quick to follow behind Sasayan.
"Hey! Sasayan-kun! Hey!" but Sasayan was simply ignoring her and didn't even look back as he quickened his pace.
"Hey! Sasayan-kun! Wait for me!"
'What was that?'
ooooo
Shizuku looked up from her notes when Sasayan entered the room.
"Oh, Sasayan, you're here. So now we're just waiting for Natsume."
Sasayan immediately took a seat opposite Shizuku and slumped down grumpily.
"She's coming."
Shizuku stared at her friend for a long time before she picked up one of her books and flipped to a few pages. "Did you two had a fight again?" She peeked at Sasayan from her book.
As far as Shizuku was concerned, the look that Sasayan gave might as well confirm what she just asked.
"Natsume-san is being an idiot again." He finally let out. "She accepted a rose from one of her suitors." He hmphed at that.
Shizuku dropped her book and crossed her arms over her chest, eyeing Sasayan with skepticism and interest.
"Are you perhaps jealous, Sasayan-kun?"
Sasayan looked like a deer caught in traffic light and Shizuku noted how he deliberately avoided her gaze and looked away, a faint red blush on his cheeks.
It was that moment that Natsume entered the room greeted by Micchan and she immediately marched towards where the two of them were.
"Natsume, you looked like you raced all the way here." Shizuku commented upon seeing her best friend.
Natsume took a few deep breaths before answering, "Ah Mitty. I'm sorry I got caught up in something on the way here." Then she turned to Sasayan angrily. "And you! What was that about?! Rushing to come here, you didn't even wait for me!" it was then that Shizuku noticed the red rose Sasayan mentioned earlier.
"Where did you get that, Natsume-san?"
Natsume turned to Shizuku and slowly sat beside her.
"Oh this? From that guy who confessed to me."
Shizuku eyed her doubtfully. "What? I thought you hate boys?"
"Huh? I still do."
"Then, what's with the rose?"
Natsume felt her cheeks go red again. "I-uh, well. There was something he told me and I got distracted. So, uhm, I took the rose. Bu-but! I still hate boys!"
Shizuku turned to look at Sasayan who was still looking away.
'Oh well, whatever.' "Since you're here, we might as well start studying."
oooo
The study meeting went well. And although Shizuku was a bit irritated at Natsume at first (because she was stupid and easily distracted in lessons just like always), the three friends managed to make use of the hours productively. It was now 8:00 PM and the three agreed to put an end to their study session to head back to their homes.
"We'll be going now, Micchan-san. Thank you very much for accommodating us." Shizuku bowed lightly to Micchan who was at the counter.
"Don't mention it, Shizuku-chan. You know Haru's friends are all welcome here anytime." Shizuku smiled at that.
"Good bye, Micchan!" Natsume went after Shizuku who was at the door already.
Sasayan was the last one and he bade good bye as well.
"Baseball boy." Micchan called and Sasayan looked back.
"Don't get so worked up." Micchan grinned.
Sasayan sighed. "Shut up, manager." Micchan chuckled as Sasayan walked towards the door.
"Jealousy does not solve things, you know." He saw Sasayan glared at him annoyingly before the door closed.
oooo
"I'll be going ahead. Take care, Natsume-san, Sasayan-kun." Shizuku waved her two friends good bye and started her walk home.
"Byebye Mitty!" Natsume cheerfully waved back. When Shizuku no longer waved, she turned towards Sasayan who was standing a few feet from her.
"Come on Sasayan-kun, let's go home." She started walking as Sasayan walked beside her.
The walk home was silent and very awkward, something she rarely gets with Sasayan. Sasayan is a very cheerful person and he would always be the one to initiate conversations with Natsume even when the latter ignores him or when they are on one of their one-sided fights. So, it was quite a bit out of character for Natsume to have Sasayan so silent with her.
There was a long siilence before Sasayan finally spoke up. "So, this guy. Do you like him?"
Natsume paused in her tracks in surprise.
''Eh?! Wh-What are you talking about Sasayan-kun?"
For the first time since he ran off from her, Sasayan looked at Natsume in the eye.
"The guy who gave you that rose."
"What?! No, I'm not!" Natsume stated hotly.
Sasayan sighed deeply. "Look Natsume, I know you hate boys. So, for you to accept a rose from a boy must mean something, right?"
Natsume stared back at him like he was some idiot, in which she thinks he is. 'So, that was that.'
"I told you, I was distracted so I accepted it unknowingly. I rejected him, like how I reject everyone else."
Sasayan looked unconvinced. "Distracted? How could you get distracted?"
It was then that Natsume's cheeks turned red again and Sasayan felt something hit him in the chest.
Sasayan turned around and continued walking. "I get it. Let's get you home, Natsume-san. It's getting late."
'What? He gets what? Seriously this guy is driving me crazy!
"Sasayan-kun! Hey, Sasayan-kun!"
He slowly turned around.
"What?"
There was a hint of hurt and something else reflected in his eyes that caught Natsume's interest.
"What is it, Natsume?"
A grin spread across Natsume's face.
"Are you perhaps jealous?"
Natsume burst into laughter the moment Sasayan avoided her gaze and continued on his tracks, looking irritated.
"HAHAHAHA you are jealous! Right, Sasayan-kun? HAHAHA."
Natsume was so caught up in her laughter that she didn't notice Sasayan stopped walking, Natsume bumped into him and Sasayan caught her by her waist and pulled her closer.
Natsume opened her eyes and was surprised to find Sasayan's face so close to her own.
"What if I am?" she heard him say and noticed that both of them were blushing.
Sasayan abruptly dropped his hands to his sides and looked away. He sighed deeply.
"I'm sorry Natsume-san." He looked at her, his usual smile on his face. "I got a bit weird today. Come on, let's get you home already." And he led the way again, Natsume following from behind.
A small smile crept up on her cheeks and Natsume whispered in a low voice only she can hear.
"Stupid Sasayan, what's there to be jealous about?"
"Oi Natsume, walk faster."
"I'm coming!"
This pairing needs more love! They're so adorable!