New Years.
Everyone wearing their beautiful, traditional kimono, ready to greet their friends and family for the first time of the New Year. Children flying kites in the sky and women chattering about the year to come.
I, Onodera Haru, together with my older sister, Onodera Kosaki, go out to meet our school friends: Fuu-chan and Paula-san who are my friends, along with my sister's friends who are my upperclassmen. After greeting my upperclassmen, who are Kirisaki-senpai, Tachibana-senpai, Tsugumi-senpai, Ruri-san, and Maiko-senpai, we head to the anticipated residence of the local yakuza, the Shuei group. We wait outside the door, waiting for a certain Senpai to notice our coming and open the door. In the meanwhile, we mingle about ourselves, and if necessary, fix our garb if it's a bit off.
Ichijou Raku hears the sounds of chatter at the front door as he had anticipated, observing what had happened last year. He approaches the front door in a simple kimono, which he usually wears around his own home casually. Upon reaching the front door, he opens it.
"Happy New Year!" everyone says upon seeing the front door of the Ichijou residence open. Raku smiles to see our coming and welcomes everyone in.
As everyone files into the entrance-way, I stand at where I stand without taking a single step forward, seeing that I have come back to this place once again. The place of the upperclassman that my sister is in love with…and who I am in love with too. As I space out in my own sentimental thoughts, Ichijou-senpai explains that everything is being prepared and that the usual group of gangsters will not be a bother. While we guests are visiting, he has ordered them to hush down. Always so considerate, trying to make everyone's environment as comfortable and friendly as needed. But it didn't matter to me if they would be there or not, since all that matters currently is that I am here again, seeing someone I should be pushing to my sister so they can realize their mutual love than casually walking into his home as much of a brush of that thought.
"Welcome," someone says from one of the closer rooms inside the home. It was an unfamiliar voice to all except Ichijou-senpai. It is obvious, seeing that all but he takes a surprised notice at who had called out. This includes myself. It was a voice that was calming, yet firm with a pinch of intellect. The kind of voice you would see fit to a heroic Ronin who is caring but persuasive with his thoughts, with a good sense of justice and selflessness. The kind of character who is always the aid to the main hero, taking no heed to attract too much attention away from him.
Everyone wonders as they take a look inside as to who is the owner of this soothing gentleman's voice.
"Your friends have arrived, Raku-dono?" the voice calls out.
"Yeah, they are here, Jun-nii," Raku responds, slightly amused by everyone's reaction.
Out from the first door on the right, a man visibly taller than the rest of us comes out, walking gracefully. His short black hair is similar to Ichijou-senpai's, except with a noticeable difference in cleanliness, making Senpai's hair look messy. His face is full-shaven and is shaped with handsome edges, just like the face a cool movie star should have. His fox-eyes hide what color eyes he might have, but that didn't hinder the prestige-filled look he has with the rectangular-frame glasses he wears. Seeing the way he talks, his mouth seems small and humbled, only uttering what words are necessary in the conversation. His posture upright, his attire is a clean kimono of the semi-formal nature, with the inside being smoke gray in color while the haori is a fleshed-out black. His cloth belt, along with other markings around his haori, are golden in color. Although not as noticeable at first, under his long leggings are the traditional Japanese style socks that fit to his feet, completing his aesthetic Japanese style attire. As he stepped out, I could see that as he approaches us, he is wearing a wooden sword at his left side with one arm resting on the sword and his other hanging at his side.
As Senpai went to speak with the man he called "Jun-nii," the rest of us remain astonished at the appearance of this handsome man. All I can do is find myself dumbfounded.
"Oh, sorry," Ichijou-senpai apologizes. "This is Jun-nii, a member of the Shuei group, and kind of an older brother to me."
"Hello. I'm glad to be able to meet everyone," the man named Jun welcomed us.
"He specializes in medicine and has been on a trip around Japan for medical purposes for the past few years. He only came back this morning. He's an important member of the Shuei, and Ryuu his younger brother has been taking lead in his place. Jun-nii is not only known for his medical expertise that helps our grim guys stay away from fatal injuries, but is also a well-respected swordsman," Ichijou-senpai explained with a slight bit of pride, visible by the giddy smirk he puts up.
Jun-san humbly interjects, "No need to exaggerate anything. I only know enough swordplay to stop bouts."
"Only enough to stop bouts? That must take a lot of skill to stop those ruffians from stopping their fights," is possibly the thinking process we guests are having in reply to Jun-san's last comment.
As Raku and Jun continue to chatter, everyone else react as follows:
"Wow~!" Chitoge and Kosaki exclaim internally.
"I wonder how strong he really is," Paula and Tsugumi think to themselves, feeling like challenging Jun who has the aura of a veteran swordsman.
"Well, that sounds incredible," Marika, Shuu and Ruri think quietly with no deeper reaction or change in their expression.
"Ufufu" is Fuu-chan's thought process as she gleefully notices Haru having a complete awestruck look.
"Well, I have business to clean up, so I'll be excusing myself. Call for me if there is anything you need," Jun-san politely excuses himself to his own business.
As Jun-san walks down the corridor away from us, I could only stand there with my mouth gaping, thinking to myself how idealistic Jun-san is to a "cool Ronin doctor," appropriate to what he is.
From the opposite corridor, as everyone enters the main hall, Yui-san appears all dressed up in a beautiful kimono befitting of her already stunning looks. She greets us as we file into the room and start to talk among ourselves.
Few minutes later, the friendly talk we were having earlier has turned into a mix of chatter and quarrel, as my sister is trying to now stop her lady-friends from fighting amongst each other. Maiko-senpai is sitting next to Ruri-san, which the latter visibly dislikes a lot as she attempts to remain composed. Ichijou-senpai and Yui-san sit just outside of the boundaries of the quarrel, looking at the squabble unfold before them. Paula-san sits away from most everyone, although seemingly closest to Tsugumi-senpai. Fuu-chan and I are chatting as we usually would, although half of my attention is on the fight nearby.
Yui-san then notices that on the other side of the room, there is a table set with 7 tea-cups. Yui-san didn't question their existence and goes over to the table, sipping a bit out of one cup. With a delighted look, Yui-san looks to everyone and invites them to have some tea. As everyone, aside from my sister and the other girls who are arguing, comes to the table, Yui-san admits that the tea has a bit of an unusual taste but in the end tastes good. Even with her strange comment, everyone takes a cup and drinks their share.
As everyone settles, I sit in a different place than I had sat before with the tea-cup in hand. Fuu-chan chooses to return to the same place, calling me over. I reject her offer, which seems to make her giggle for some odd reason I don't know. I look at the four girls continue their bickering, with Tachibana-senpai on one side and Kirisaki-senpai and Tsugumi-senpai on the other, while my sister is idling in between. Compared to the small arguments they were having earlier, they now stand as they quarrel.
"Well, if you really consider, I have the most love for Raku-sama," Marika boasts with her chest up high. "Isn't that true?"
"S-so what if you do?" Chitoge replies with a tint of blush across her face. "Stop trying to make any ploy to get close to Raku."
To back up her lady, Tsugumi follows up with, "Yes, just as Ojou says!"
Feeling like a smart schemer, Marika swiftly answers, "You think such a simple excuse would push me away from sealing this red string of fate between me and my beloved Raku-sama?"
Upon hearing Marika say that with such delicate yet self-flattering words, both Chitoge and Tsugumi find themselves infuriated, unable to pipe down.
"Chitoge-chan. Tsugumi-chan. Calm down." Onee-chan in the meanwhile is doing her best to stop the fight from escalating to the point of no return. But as obvious as it seems, her efforts are fruitless. I observe the dispute unfold from afar.
"What is with this carnage?" I rhetorically inquire in my thoughts, feeling a slight bit of disgust. "Too see so many girls fight over a single guy, and most of them unable to admit their true feelings in a straightforward manner. Well, I'm no exception either to this matter."
I look at the tea in my hand, and think deeply about my current situation with Ichijou-senpai. "No exception. That is very true. Although I do not fight with the others for Senpai, I'm still here because of my lingering feelings. Well, I'm also here…because I know that if I try to purposely avoid Senpai, it would be too obvious and unnatural." I close my eyes as I reflect more on the situation.
"Onee-chan and Senpai are mutually in love. That at the very least is clear. Yet they seem to shy it out and delay it, even though their love for each other correspond…" I continue to think internally.
"I've KISSED Raku-sama twice!" Upon hearing this sudden remark, I spit my drink out of the bold statement.
I look over, seeing that Tachibana-senpai is laughing as lady-like as she usually does while pecking up with arrogance. On both Kirisaki-senpai and Tsugumi-senpai's faces, I can see a bit of defeat by those words along with a crimson blush. But after a few moments, Kirisaki-senpai seems to remember something.
"Ki-ki-kiss, you say!?" Chitoge responds while partially flustered. "Well, I-I heard from Honey that it was only ki-kisses on the cheek!"
"Y-yesh, as if those would c-c-count!" Tsugumi attempts to follow, but stumbles on her words from the start.
As Tachibana-senpai looks displeased that her declaration was easily shot down, Kirisaki-senpai and Tsugumi-senpai continue to bicker with her. My sister continues to unsuccessfully stop them from fighting. As I regain my composure, I wipe my mouth as I had spit out the bit of tea I had in my mouth.
"Kisses…huh…" I think to myself. "Kisses…something that lovers would do…"
From behind, I don't notice someone crawling towards me.
"Haaaarruuuu… "
Upon hearing this call, I know who it is and turn around. "What is it Fuu-cha-" I start to ask as I sip my tea.
"You would like to kiss Senpai, wouldn't you?" Fuu-chan abruptly questions, making me once again spit my tea.
"Wha-wha-wha-what do you me-mean!? Of c-course I-I wouldn't!" I immediately deny. But from Fuu-chan's dreamy expression and her continuous "ufufufu," my denial didn't convinced her a single bit.
Wait! "Dreamy"? This description of Fuu-chan's current state strikes me that she's not her usual self. Of course, she is always bright with some form of pleasant joy, but never in the matter of looking dreamy.
"Fuu-chan, are you fi-"
*Thump*
A sudden thud is heard, and a few others had seen what had made the sudden sound. As Tsugumi-senpai, Onee-chan, Ichijou-senpai and I look towards where Yui was sitting. Kirisaki-senpai and Tachibana-senpai are too absorbed in their fight to notice what has happened. Right now, Yui-san has fallen to her side and is sleeping soundly. Senpai out of all his worry shakes her, making an attempt to wake her up. Seeing her not waking up at all, this causes us all to be alert to what might be happening.
"Ruri-chan, where are you?" Kosaki calls out as she looks around the room.
From the other side of the room, Ruri's voice responds with, "You call for me?"
Relieved that Ruri is fine, Kosaki approaches her. But as she gets closer:
...I'm busy right now, because I need to make sure that everything is going according to plan. Because if mankind doesn't do something for the world, we'll collapse under our own planes of infrastructure. Although we do update technology every day, we've been looking too narrowed mindedly at the future, only at the few first meters that are before us. Fossil fuel will run out. Deforestation will become irreversible. Landfills will become overfilled. But we also have to work at the center of society too. You know those electric lines? Well, currently, not the whole world is up to date with how much those wires and their transformer can intake. Especially with the fact that weather forecasting is both hard to read both on Earth and in the solar plane, we cannot foretell what could happen. And in the case that a random solar flare does occur, we will be doomed and electric lines all over the world will go over their capacity and create world chaos. Even with electricity as our main resource, we'll still have issues with efficiency, you see? We need to reinforce these ideas into the common people, because at our current rate, we're becoming too lazy to truly take the appropriate steps to prevent mass destruction to human society, or even this entire Earth. Time waits for no one, just like some famous scholar said in the 12th century. We need to do things now...
Kosaki could do nothing as Ruri rambled on and on. In all the worry, Kosaki tries to stop her, but just like her efforts in stopping the fight between the girls earlier, her attempts on Ruri are just as unsuccessful.
"Paula." Tsugumi was not paying attention to where Paula was as her attention was on aiding Chitoge. "Where is she?" Tsugumi mutters.
"Yeeeessss….?"
This awkward sounding reply is no one else than Paula's voice. This made Tsugumi wonder what is the matter. She looks around to where she heard the voice, seeing the hint of the Paula's scarf as a guide. But finally, when she had turned around completely, before her is Paula, laying laxly on her side, with one arm supporting her head. Although Paula's head faces away from her, Tsugumi could tell right away that Paula is in a complete "lazy mode," which both displeases her and makes her disheartened to see Paula in such a state she never wanted to see in her.
No matter how much Tsugumi tries to pull her out of her "Lazy mode," Paula remains persistent in not moving around much and says "bother this" and "bother that." And as if to instigate the issue even further, Paula scratches her butt while telling Tsugumi to "finish confessing to Ichijou Raku, since it's so bothersome to wait for something to happen." Tsugumi rebukes to this comment with a full blush across her face.
It's all visible that Marika and Chitoge are still brawling it out.
Raku too hasn't seen Shuu around, as he had been watching the girls quarrel. In his case though, Shuu went off on his own business to supposedly talk with his "glasses-buddy," Ruri. Raku, without needing to look around much, sees Shuu sitting in a corner towards the wall. Raku wonders what has gotten into Shuu, and holds his shoulder.
"Come on, if you are here, help u-"
Before Raku is Shuu, sitting with his mouth agape. There is no figurative sign of life from this glasses-wearing guy, which Raku could only do but stare blankly. Raku waves his hand in front of Shuu's face, but all Shuu is doing is spacing out into the oblivion, as if he had completely given up on living. Raku confirms, Shuu has been KOed.
Ichijou-senpai notices that Kirisaki-senpai and Tachibana-senpai have been continuing their quarrel the entire time and believes that they should stop, especially because an oddity has occurred.
But before he could call out their names, footsteps are heard running outside the room, with the door opening short after. It is Jun-san, who seems to have heard our shouts.
"What's the matter, everyone!?"
Before him is a scenery of "mayhem," if one could call it that.
Minutes later.
"I see." Jun-san states.
"So while some of the upperclassmen girls fought amongst each other, the rest took a sip of my experimental remedies, assuming it was just tea. Because of that, most of those who had drunk the "tea" faced the effects of those drinks, causing this mayhem…"
"And it ended with only you six remaining?" Jun-san concludes.
"Yes," Ichijou-senpai answers with a slight feeling of guilt.
Jun-san ponders for a moment, mentioning how it is not entirely our fault, since he had placed out the remedies without giving warning of what they were. As he continues to think, he draws out a folding fan from one of his sleeves, vertically hiding his mouth with the end of it without opening it.
"But it can't be that bad, can it, Jun-nii?" Ichijou-senpai inquired.
"Well, that may be right," Jun-san responds, reassuring everyone. He then lists off, "These are the ones you've already witnessed: dreamy, sleeping, rambling, lazing and spacing-out." Jun-san continues to list off, "There is supposed to also be a Death one and another that is a Lo-"
"!"
Upon hearing the word "death", we, aside from Jun-san himself, feel a chill down our backs.
"Wh-why are you making such dangerous poisons!?" everyone aside from myself demand out of Jun-san.
Jun-san, although startled at first by everyone's urgency to hear the need to make such a deadly remedy, answers that he also takes care of experimental drugs such as Truth serums and similar meds to be used by the Shuei group.
Even with this sound reasoning, almost all of us start to panic at the thought that one of the drinks is a "death" remedy. The thought struck that either Ichijou-senpai or I may have taken it. Ichijou-senpai feels the stares from all of us girls, but he sighs.
"Let's calm down first and thin-" Ichijou-senpai attempts to reassure everyone, until his body starts to suddenly fall forward.
With a small "thud," Senpai's body lays on the floor, his face visibly showing signs of exhaustion. This only causes us girls to panic more. As Tachibana-senpai and Onee-chan attends to Ichijou-senpai's body, worrying and setting his body in a more comfortable position, Kirisaki-senpai and Tsugumi-senpai are enraged, raising their arms at Jun-san at the clutches of his kimono collar. All I could do is sit in awe at the unfolding events of high tension one after another.
"I understand your worry," Jun-san attempts to reassure everyone in Senpai's place. "But please calm down. Panicking will do nothing but waste time."
"In such a case that this kind of accident would happen to any of my lethal remedies, I've readied these." Jun-san reaches into his sleeves, throwing out random stuff, almost like Dorae**n. Jun-san wisely jests, "Accidents do happen."
He finally takes out five small bottles, holding them out in his hand, claiming that they are antidotes to the remedies.
"And, how do we give this to him!?" all the girls demand earnestly. Jun takes interest that all four girls are earnest in saving Raku.
After a moment to assemble his explanation, as if it is the most apparent way of giving medicine to someone, Jun replies boldly.
"Mouth-to-mouth."
Everyone for a moment freezes blankly without a single movement. Upon realizing what Jun had said, and reflecting on past experiences requiring mouth-to-mouth, all of the heroine girls exclaim internally. "Not again!"
"Y-you're joking, right, Jun-san…?" Kirisaki-senpai awkwardly asks Jun-san. Jun-san does make note that there are other methods, but such methods might take too long before Ichijou-senpai would fall victim to the "death" remedy.
Possibly thinking that these "maidens" are too shy to do something so intimate, Jun-san asks if he should do the proceedings instead. Everyone immediately rejects his offer.
"Ohohoho. Finally a real chance to do mouth-to-mouth, and for a legitimate reason. Hopefully no one gets in my way like last time."
"A-a-a ki-kiss…with that beansprout!? But if this continues…as his gi-gi-girlfriend…I need to…"
"A ki-ki….a kiss. No, no! If I am to do it, it's for Ojou's sake alone! But still…a ki-kiss…"
"A-again, m-m-mouth-to-mouth? Hawawawa….!"
Apart from the four girls contemplating on the idea of kiss, I sit firmly where I've been. I am well aware that my cheeks are a bit flushed by the thought of the kiss, but I think of this a chance for Onee-chan to be able to finally take that first step out of her silky shell. This is a chance for Onee-chan and Senpai to get together…but first off, the problem is Onee-chan's courage to even perform mouth-to-mouth...
"Even then, why does my heart hurt so much still…I decided...that I'll give up…"
Jun notices that Haru isolates herself from the other girls, as if she is an outlier to the others.
He takes a glance to the other four, and understands what seems to be happening among these romantic maidens. He sighs.
"I'll go search for some more antidotes," Jun states as he stands up. "I might have some more in my personal storage, so I'll inspect that first." Everyone nods in agreement.
As Jun-san walks out, he warns us, "Don't waste time. I do not know how long Raku-dono has. Be quick."
As he leaves, we could feel the pressure of this vital situation.
To get everything starting, Kirisaki-senpai attempts to rally everyone up to decide who will give the antidote first. But all three of them notice that Tachibana-senpai is not where she was originally. We all swiftly look towards where Ichijou-senpai is, seeing that she is attempting to sneak ahead of everyone as expected.
"With this antidote, I'll seal Raku-sama and my first kiss! Our love will grow in multitudes!" Marika, within her own thoughts, exclaims to herself with the antidote in her mouth. She approaches Raku quickly, closing the distance between their lips.
But before she could plant her mouth on Ichijou-senpai's lips, both Kirisaki-senpai and Tsugumi-senpai push her aside, getting in her way but also wasting an antidote.
[4 antidotes left]
Tachibana-senpai gracefully recovers from being pushed aside, asking, "What are you doing to such a frail and sickly girl who is innocently doing what should be done?"
Disgusted by Tachibana-senpai's clean words, Kirisaki-senpai ripostes, "What part of you is frail and sickly!? And don't you mean 'lustful,' not 'innocent'!?"
"Then why don't you do it, OH GIRLFRIEND OF HIM?" Tachibana-senpai simply rebukes, which catches Kirisaki-senpai off-guard.
After a few stutters, Kirisaki-senpai responds, "O-o-o-of course! I am his girlfriend! Ea-easy enough!"
There is an awkward pause. Chitoge thinks to herself that she is truly embarrassed, which is shown to everyone by her blushing cheeks, all in the while Marika is snickering.
"No, you can do it, Chitoge," Chitoge whispers to herself, slapping her cheeks with both hands. Chitoge takes the antidote into her mouth and approaches Raku. She looks down at Raku's distressed expression.
"I'm his girlfriend. I can do this," Chitoge starts to think to herself. "Just a kiss…it's only a kiss."
Chitoge's face gets closer and closer to Raku's, and her heart beats just as much faster and faster. About a few inches away, she takes one final glance at his face and...
*GULP*
All of us sit frozen, upon hearing the loud sound of someone drinking something. All of us look blankly at Kirisaki-senpai.
"…Dammit. I accidentally drank it under all the pressure," Chitoge thinks to herself nervously. But then, she feels an odd taste roll over her tongue.
"...Mgh!?"
Kirisaki-senpai starts to thrash around with teary eyes while covering her mouth. As she starts to scream out how bitter the antidote is, Onee-chan points out that on the antidote bottles, there in small text is a warning saying, "Those not affected by Jun's special remedies will taste extreme bitterness upon consumption. Take caution." Looking at Kirisaki-senpai's current state, it is obvious she is tasting the "extreme bitterness" of the antidote.
[3 antidotes left]
As Tsugumi-senpai attends to Kirisaki-senpai, Tachibana-senpai states that she is willing to go for a second attempt at doing the mouth-to-mouth. Immediately, Kirisaki-senpai blubbers a demand that it is my sister's turn to do it, to which Onee-chan exclaims in embarrassment.
I think to myself out of curiosity, "So we're taking turns now?"
Kirisaki-senpai explains, with her bitter tongue sticking out, to my sister that it's better than Tachibana-senpai doing the mouth-to-mouth. But even then, my sister embarrassingly rejects doing the mouth-to-mouth. Tachibana-senpai takes offense to Kirisaki-senpai's words.
Kosaki agrees that she might want to take a chance at doing it, but is too embarrassed to do it. In a motion to get some help, she looks to Ruri. As she had forgotten though, Ruri is in no state to help Kosaki, continuing her ramble about world reconstruction. Kosaki proceeds to look at Haru with a face of worry. Haru wonders why her sister is asking for her help.
I give out a brief sigh.
"Just do it for Senpai's sake, Onee-chan," I tell my sister, pushing her to do it. "Why do you need to ask me?"
Hearing this somewhat cold response from her own little sister, Onee-chan must be feeling a bit down. But no, she holds herself up and seems to have agreed to doing the mouth-to-mouth.
"I will do it!" Onee-chan says out loud.
"Oh, is that a confession of love?" Tachibana-senpai pokes fun at my sister, which my sister denies in embarrassment.
Kosaki takes a deep breath, and intakes the antidote. She leans over for the kiss, thinking about how she can finally kiss her love. But she evidently stops right before the lips comes into contact.
After a few moments, Kosaki's thinks to herself, "I really...ca-can't do this…" as she feels like her eyes are spinning. She finally notices though that someone is lightly rambling to her side. Kosaki looks aside to see who it is, only to see the person she was trying to rely on earlier.
-and a deep kiss involves the use of the tongue, intertwining yours with your partner's, making sure that your own brushes over and around your partner's tongue. Push yourself into the kiss, deep into it, with as much passion. Otherwise, there is no point if you can't be bold in the engagement between the lips. And there is a point where you will have to breathe. Time that well and you'll be the master at capturing them into your pace. It's just as critical to-
To another rant by Ruri, all Kosaki can do is stop herself from spitting out the antidote out of surprise. But the more Kosaki looks at and listens to Ruri, the more she feels she is at her limit.
Reaching the limit at what she can hold, Onee-chan leaves the room in full haste, excusing herself internally.
[2 antidotes left]
All of us look blankly at my sister running away…
"So whose turn is it this time," Tachibana-senpai chants, causing Kirisaki-senpai and Tsugumi-senpai to shake a bit. As for myself, I've seen this gig one too many times, making me unfazed.
Kirisaki-senpai quickly tells Tsugumi-senpai to take action, which the latter rejects just as much as it is embarrassing. Kirisaki-senpai makes the same claim that it would be better than Tachibana-senpai doing the mouth-to-mouth, which Tachibana-senpai notes again about how rude Kirisaki-senpai is.
Tsugumi-senpai takes a moment to think, and after a few moments of blushing, she straightens up.
"I-I'll dyo it f-f-f-f-for Ojou's sake then!"
Kirisaki-senpai congratulates Tsugumi-senpai, stating how proud she is of her.
Tsugumi intakes the antidote, and stands above Raku, just the same as everyone else had done before. She kneels down next to him, thinking to herself that she can do it.
"This is all for Ojou's sake. Yes, a-all for her only. If it's for Ojou, a-a ki-ki-kiss is nothing…" Tsugumi thinks to herself as her blush starts to grow across her face.
"A ki-kiss...not an indirect lip-to-hand-to-lip like la-last time...but an actual…"
She begins to get too concentrated on the kissing aspect, making her blush even more.
"Tsugumi-san," someone calls out to Tsugumi.
But as Tsugumi looks up, she sees Marika, making a ridiculous face, causing Tsugumi to spit out her antidote.
[1 antidote left]
As Tsugumi-senpai attempts to regain her breathing, Kirisaki-senpai re-engages in a quarrel with Tachibana-senpai, demanding why she had wasted an antidote. Tachibana-senpai responds that it looked fun to do something of such to Tsugumi-senpai, but it's obvious that she wanted revenge for what had happened on her turn. Onee-chan returns from where she had run off to.
Trying to find words to counter Tachibana-senpai's words, Kirisaki-senpai shouts out, "Well, aren't you a prideful idiot, who is only infatuated with the very image of what this beansprout is like. You are just delusional!"
Tachibana-senpai remains still for a moment, but the very next second, she makes an outburst in her home dialect. "Whatcher gettin' at, ya damn gal!? Mah luv aint no simple 'nfatuation or d'lusion as yer sayin'!"
Tachibana-senpai finally snaps and begins a real quarrel with Kirisaki-senpai, compared to how she was teasing everyone earlier today.
As the two quarrel, Tsugumi-senpai joins in to hold back Tachibana-senpai while my sister tries to push back Kirisaki-senpai.
I look upon this situation with nothing but worry, seeing that no one seems to be taking this as seriously as they should be. I see on one side that the heroines are fighting amongst each other, while on the other, I can see everyone else in what I could only call a "retarded" state. I sigh from the dissatisfaction of the productivity of the current collected people.
My eyes wander to where Ichijou-senpai lies, where his face shows signs of distress, although he isn't moaning as much as someone who is suffering pain. His eyes are closed with visible bags developing under his eyes. His mouth is slightly open, shaped into a slight frown. His body on the other hand rests easy, thanks to the help of Tachibana-senpai and Onee-chan organizing it into a more comfortable position.
What would I do? What should I do?
He is someone I am in love with. Someone I care for. Someone who cares about me back, but only like a big brother would. And if someone beloved such as my sister were to be in such a dire situation, I would do what I can to save them. That's what I should do. Even then though, I shy myself from stepping forward to save him.
I shake my head in denial. "Taking the spotlight," I think to myself. "There is no way I can take the spotlight of a main heroine. At most, I'm only a secondary character, there to aid and progress the story of the heroines, which are my sister and her friends. I could never think of doing that. Never."
Even then…
Memories of my time together with Ichijou-senpai start to flow through my mind. The time when I had first met Senpai, jabbing into him the fact that he was a four-timing gigolo. The time when he had come to the store to help the family when we were lacking hands and, while I kept my barriers up, I mistreated him like he was a guilty criminal. The time he first talked about his supposed relationship with "the prince," saying that the prince had saved me from some falling scaffolding, although I know now that it must have been Senpai himself. The visit he made to take care of Onee-chan, later on myself as I had caught my sister's cold, putting up a tough front that he could see through. The time when Senpai and I went out to buy Onee-chan a gift under his request, only to find out how similar we truly are. The time when I helped him with making the collaboration sweet when the opposing cakery appeared, although my mother called the resulting cake something heretical. The summer festival where I finally learnt the secret behind Senpai and my sister's shady reasoning, thereafter enjoying my time together with him around the stalls. Our supposed date to the aquarium, which ended up fruitless in pulling Senpai and Onee-chan together aside from solidifying my love towards him. The cultural festival's haunted house that was used to push my sister to Senpai, yet ending with a prick in my heart. And finally, the beauty pageant which I had won in order to push Senpai away, although the gesture was incomplete and unsuccessful.
The many times I saw him with my sister, mingling with them as her little sister. The times I agreed with him, and others where I didn't. Times when I had my guard up, and times when I collaborated with him. The prince...who was no more than him hiding behind that image because of my stubbornness.
I look upwards as I sit where I am and give out a depressing sigh.
I wonder to myself what I should do. "Is this really how I'm going to end my first love, fully unrequited and kept away as a secret from almost everyone, especially the sister I'm doing this for and the Senpai I am in love with?" I close my eyes with my head still tilted upwards, as if I am being showered by rain of sorrow in the middle of nowhere.
I feel someone tugging at my kimono. I stop my moment of painful thoughts to look downwards, only to see Fuu-chan resting her head on my lap while her left hand is what has been tugging onto my kimono. Over and over, she sloppily calls out my name. I sigh again, shaking Fuu-chan to snap out of her trance.
"You really like…" Fuu-chan starts to speak softly, looking upwards towards me.
"You really like Senpai, don't you." I again proceed to a spit-take upon hearing Fuu-chan's absurd words.
I instantly point out, "I-it's nothing like that, Fuu-chan! Pl-plus, Onee-chan is in l-love with Senpai, so how could I…!?" Even with this immediate denial, Fuu-chan doesn't seem convinced.
"But…" Fuu-chan says with a loving tone.
"Your sister loves you just the same, right?"
Fuu-chan words strike deep in my heart. It is very true, Onee-chan loves me just as much as she would the person she loves. She cares for me just as much as I care for her. While she wouldn't kill herself for me, she would be willing to be there during my darkest nights. If I were to find happiness, I'm sure Onee-chan would root for me selflessly.
Even then, I don't want to rob from her the person she's been in love with longer than I have. I couldn't take away from her someone so precious because of my own mirrored selfishness. I would only be a "bad girl," taking Senpai away from the sister I admire, and love, from the bottom of my heart. I could never think of doing it…what should I do?
As for Senpai, I had mistreated him. Yes, all because of a misunderstanding, but because it was by a misunderstanding. If I had listened to him from the start, none of these troubles would have started. I don't deserve him...what should I do?
Tears start to run down my cheeks. I keep looking down so that no one than Fuu-chan would be able to see my miserable face. As a tear falls onto Fuu-chan's forehead, she speaks up in a gentle voice.
"Don't cry," she says with a smile. I hear her words, and I pay attention to what she has to say. She continues to smile at me.
"Think about it. If she found out you are in pain because of her...what would she think?"
"What would she think? Of course she would feel sad, but I can't possibly-," I start replying to Fuu-chan's serious question. But I'm soon cut off when I start attempting to make excuses.
"Your sister's happiness can come later. Be selfish for once," she tells me with a profound touch to her voice.
"You know," she continues. "You only live once. Live it with joy, Haru."
It feels like a gust of wind passes by me. A breeze of realization. A gentle wind of an epiphany. Although simple, Fuu-chan's beautiful words move my very heart, making me realize something.
Fuu-chan goes back to lazing on my lap, quietly calling out my name. I think for a second upon what I had just realized. That Fuu-chan is correct.
I stand up, causing Fuu-chan's head to fall to the ground with a soft thud. It was an impact she was not ready for.
I start to walk towards the other girls, as Fuu-chan wonders where I am headed off to.
"I've been wasting time," I think to myself.
I approach the last antidote, realizing that I had been making simple excuses to avoid what I assumed would severely harm my sister.
I pick up the antidote bottle, remove the cap and intake the antidote. I agree to myself, "I should face what I keep denying and what I keep fearing."
I turn around, with my back now facing the girls who are quarreling. "I need to stop running away. I need to face the truth. My true feelings."
I approach Senpai's laying body and kneel down before him. I can see the sign of distress in his face as he struggles against death. I reach down to touch his face and caress it.
"The truth." I pull my hair back so that it does not get in the way as I ready my lips.
I think in those brief moments, "My true feelings…that I am…"
As Marika is held by Tsugumi and Chitoge by Kosaki, Kosaki notices Haru leaning over Raku. The other three follow suite, taking notice of what Haru is doing. But unknown to them, what comes next will astonish them.
"I am in love with Sen…no, I'm in love with Ichijou Raku."
I lean down, gently placing my lips on Raku-senpai's. As our lips remain together, I give over the antidote. The soft sensation of the kiss is sweet, and makes me want to remain like this for as long as possible. Although my eyes are closed, everything seems to feel puffy and soft as if I am in the clouds.
Unbeknownst to me, all the girls behind me are struck into stone from seeing me do what I'm doing.
After giving the last bit of the antidote to Raku-senpai, I gently pull my lips away from his. I slowly open my eyes, which are probably dreamy looking, as I put my hand onto my mouth, recalling the soft sensation. I look down at Raku-senpai's face, seeing that he looks much more peaceful than he was before. I feel a touch of relief from seeing this, making me smile.
"If I were to hold back for Onee-chan's sake," I think to myself, "I'm sure she'll feel just as guilty as I would if she held back for me. If she found out later about my broken heart, she along with Raku-senpai would feel bad because of how kind they truly are. I would feel the same."
"I wouldn't like her to have such senseless worries. My sister will understand very much. I'm sure of that."
I notice some stares from behind and turn around in response. I see all four heroines as stiff as a rock as they are surprised by my course of action.
I close my eyes and give a deep sigh.
"What are you doing, my upperclassmen?" I give a jabbing question to my upperclassmen with a slight blush across my face. All the girls shake in shock by the striking question, speechless as to how to answer.
"While you all were hesitating and fidgeting around, I just took the initiative to save Ra…Senpai in this dire situation," Haru explains to her upperclassmen what seems to be the moral decision over the four girls' emotional debacle.
"Or could it be that you were worried about kisses?" Haru asks with an even more noticeable blush as she cross her arms and averts her gaze. "If you all are going to grow up and be mature, a ki-kiss or two shouldn't so much of a worry. A-at least, I think so."
Silence befalls the room aside from the chatter and grumbling of those still under the effects of the remedies. The four heroines could do nothing but gape at Haru's words. As Haru looks aside in a poutful manner, all the heroines are deeply moved by her words. "So…so mature…!"
Kosaki, instead of gawking in surprise, smiles in joy about how Haru has matured, becoming friendly with Raku. Marika on the other hand gives a unamused "tsk" to what has happened.
The door into the room suddenly opens and out comes Jun-san. His sudden entrance throws away the low-tone atmosphere from before. He has finally returned.
Jun-san asks us if everything is okay. Upon noticing that Senpai seems to be better than he had been earlier, Jun-san knows right away that Senpai had taken the antidote.
Even then, Jun-san asks, "How is Raku-dono doing?"
The girls squeamishly respond that the antidote worked.
At that moment, Jun-san makes a half-relieved yet half-troubled expression. "Truthfully, I need to apologize to everyone. I made a mistake."
All of us wonder why Jun-san says this. He then proceeds to explain.
"Unlike we all believed, Raku-dono did not consume a death-inflicting remedy but instead a death-faking remedy. I know this based on the ingredients that are used from my collection."
"Eh!?" is all what we girls could say as Jun-san continues to elaborate on about the remedies. "That remedy is used to fake deaths during an interrogation or negotiation process. It's not lethal."
Kirisaki-senpai raises her hand to get Jun-san's attention, which it does. She then questions, "Then was it necessary to…?"
After a short moment of thinking, Jun-san concludes nonchalantly that the mouth-to-mouth was completely unnecessary. Everyone, in a form of humor, falls back with their legs up high.
Immediately, the girls aside from myself stand up and start to complain to Jun-san, stating how their efforts were all for naught. Although Jun-san tries to have them calm down, the girls continue their complaints.
I sit a bit isolated from everyone else, facing away to hide my face.
"So it wasn't that dire…" I think to myself.
As I connect the dots, my already blushing face violently turns as red as ever as I lean over.
"My first kiss…!" is all that I could think of in that moment…
Chapter one done! Thank you for reading. Hope you enjoyed this first chapter of the "Harukoi" journey. More is to come, as this chapter only resolved Haru's romantic issues in regards to her sister.
Also, an epilogue and maybe some extras will accompany each chapter shortly, so look forward to them. I'll leave discussing about Haru to another time.
And yes, Jun is an OC.
