"Okay. I'm not going to lie, but this party sucks." Natsumi said. She looked around the room and at all of the other party goers. The speakers that had been playing music had all of a sudden malfunctioned, and without music to dance to there wasn't much else to do except for eat snacks, and Natsumi was not going to eat those terrible foods. "Why did I even come here anyway?" She mumbled to herself.
Gouenji and Kidou were sitting on the couch, looking bored out of their minds. Max and Handa were stacking empty soda cans on top of each other, while Kabeyama and Kurimatsu were over at the snack table. Shourin and Kazemaru watched as Shishido hit the speakers repeatedly, as if that would help things out. Megane (who did not look happy about Shishido's repair methods at all) quickly ran over there, and he began to tinker around with them. Domon and Ichinose were making their way – very, very slowly – to the window in a desperate attempt to escape. Kageno was just sitting in a corner. Haruna was sitting in a chair, flipping through a photo album she had found, and started to giggle at something. Aki was smiling at Endou – the host of this failure of a party – and was telling him "No, this isn't the worst party I've ever been too..." in an attempt to make him feel better. But Endou knew that no one was enjoying it, and he sighed.
"I'm sorry, guys." Endou said. "I guess this celebration party isn't really..."
"It's not your fault, I suppose." Gouenji said. "I mean, I'm sure you didn't plan for it to...end up like this."
Endou sighed. He looked over at his window to see Ichinose sitting on Domon's shoulders, trying to unlatch the window. The two laughed nervously when Endou saw them, and Ichinose jumped off his shoulders.
"Hehe, sorry Endou." Ichinose rubbed the back of his head. Domon kicked the ground and chuckled.
Endou waved his hand at them. "You guys can leave if you want. I understand." He looked around at everyone, and he shrugged. "I guess you can too. I'll see you at practice tomorrow."
Everyone sat there for a bit – they weren't sure if they really should leave. It seemed great to be able to, but no one really wanted to hurt Endou's feelings by walking out. But after a minuted Ichinose and Domon started for the door.
"Sorry, Endou.. but uh..." Domon said. He waved goodbye, but right before they reached the door Natsumi spoke up.
"Hold it right there." she said. Domon and Ichinose stopped in mid-step, while everyone else looked over at her. "I know how we can liven up this party."
"How?" Endou asked. Natsumi waved everyone over to her, and as the neared her she instructed them to sit down in a circle.
"If this is what I think it is..." Kidou said. He glanced over at Haruna, who was sitting between Kazemaru and Megane.
"I'm not sure what you're thinking of, Kidou," Natsumi smiled at Kidou, who frowned. "But I thought we all should play a little game."
"Oh, games are great!" Aki said. Many nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, it's been a while since I've played something other than soccer." Max laughed. Natsumi smiled and walked over to the snack table.
"Does this game involve snacks?" Kabeyama asked.
Natsumi shook her head. "Sorry, no snacks." she turned around and faced the group, a bottle in her hand. She shook it. "Just this."
"That's it. C'mon, Haruna, we're leaving." Kidou stood up and grabbed Haruna's arm, and despite his sister's protests he lead her out of the room.
"Onii-chan, what are you doing? I don't want to leave!" Haruna struggled to get away, but Kidou pushed her out the door.
"Thanks for inviting us, Endou!" he called. With that, Kidou slammed the door behind him, and they were gone.
"Well. That was nice." Natsumi said. Most everyone else was still looking at the door, but Natsumi sat herself between Endou and Gouenji and set the bottle in the middle of the circle. "Now, I'm sure most of you have heard about spin the bottle."
"Yeah, it's that kissing game, right?" Kazemaru said.
Natsumi nodded. "Indeed it is."
"So uh... that's what we're playing?" Shishido asked. Natsumi smiled.
"But there's like... five times as many guys than girls," Shourin said. Him and Shishido looked at each other, and they both stood up. "Um... I don't like those odds." the two left the house, thanking Endou for the invitation.
"We're loosing people, Natsumi." Endou said. Natsumi shrugged.
"Let them. I mean, it's good we're getting rid of all the chickens. It just makes the actual game that much more exciting." Natsumi reached out for the bottle. "Now, shall we begin?"
"I guess." Kazemaru said. Max and Handa nodded too, and Gouenji just shook his head.
"Whatever."
"Good." Natsumi cleared her throat. "I'll do the honors of the first spin." She grabbed the bottle and gave it a spin.
Everyone – well, aside from Aki – looked at the bottle, and everyone wondered who it would land on. It spun for five seconds... ten... fifteen... Soon it started to slow down, and then it stopped.
On Megane.
Natsumi's face turned red, and Megane's was probably more red than hers.
"Uh... that was just a practice spin," Natsumi said. She laughed and reached for the bottle again, but Gouenji grabbed her arm and smiled.
"Come on, Natsumi. Don't be a chicken."
After frowning at Gouenji, Natsumi took a deep breath and faced Megane. And in one fluid motion, Natsumi grabbed Megane's face with her hands and pecked him on the lips. Just as soon as it had begun, it ended, and Natsumi started to wipe her lips on the back of her hand.
"Well, that's over with. Someone else spin." Natsumi said. She sat back from the crowd, and so did Megane. The poor kid was speechless, and he pulled an inhaler out of his pocket.
"Uh... I have to go." He stood up and ran out the door.
"Well that was... interesting. Who's next?" Ichinose asked. He looked around at everyone, but most people seemed a bit scared to continue, considering what just happened. Max shrugged.
"I guess I'll go." He took the bottle and spun it. Everyone was a bit more nervous this time, considering a guy was spinning. Deep down inside, everyone hoped it would end up on Aki.
Everyone, that is, except for Endou.
Lately, he'd noticed something change in himself. Every time he looked over at the managers during practice, his stomach felt funny and he swore that his heart would beat faster. The highlight of his day was waking up and going outside to meet Aki in front of his house, waiting to walk him to school. And when Ichinose first came to Raimon and hugged Aki like that... Endou knew they were childhood friends, but seeing that made him... upset. It had taken him a while, but after thinking it over, he realized that he really liked – no, he loved Aki.
It was weird. This was the first time he'd really loved anything aside from his family and soccer, but now he was pretty sure about it. And as he watched the bottle spin, he prayed that it would land on anyone other than Aki.
The bottle was slowing down, and to Endou's horror it slowed down right before Aki. It kept going – slowly... slowly... and then it stopped.
And Endou breathed a sigh of relief.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Max said. He grabbed his hat sighed with frustration. "I'm not doing this."
"If I had to kiss Megane, then you can kiss Handa!" Natsumi said. Everyone was giggling, except for Handa and Max of course.
The brunet shook his head. "I'm not kissing another guy. Especially not my best friend." Handa covered his mouth for added effect.
"But you have to!" Kurimatsu said. He and Kabeyama were in hysterics, and Domon patted Max on the back.
"It can't be that bad." Ichinose said. Handa's face was starting to get red, and Max was pulling his hat down over his eyes.
"Guys, they don't have to if they don't want to. This is kinda different with two guys and all - " Aki spoke up. She put her hand on Handa's shoulder. "Don't listen to them, okay?"
That was one thing he loved about Aki. She cared about how people felt, and she was always willing to help."
"Yes they do!" Natsumi said. She stood up and yanked on Handa's arm and then on Max's. She got the two boys up and she tried to push them together.
"Do it! Do it!" Everyone else was chanting. Gouenji just sat and smiled, Aki shook her head, and Endou didn't say anything.
"Alright, fine! If it will shut you guys up!" Max said. He looked over at Handa. "I mean... do you want to?"
Handa shrugged and looked away. "Uh... I guess." Handa almost forced himself to face Max again, and then Max neared the brunet. Neither of them knew what they should do with their hands, so Handa's just hung at his sides, when Max's reached up a bit and just stayed there. The two were literally an inch away from each other, and Max then pressed his lips against Handa's. They stood there, lips to lips, for three seconds – Endou counted – and then they broke away. They immediately turned back to back and sat on different sides of the room, facing the walls. Max had his hat pulled all they way over his face, and Handa just cover his face with his hands, as if attempting to hide his red cheeks from everyone else.
"Yeah! Way to go!" Kazemaru said. He and Ichinose leaned against each other, both of them laughing uncontrollably. Natsumi crossed her arms and nodded, feeling quite proud about the fact that her idea had caused this amazing sight.
"Is everything all right down there?" Endou's mother called down from upstairs. Everyone had shut up – no one really needed her down here. "It's gotten pretty loud."
"Uh, we're fine, mom!" Endou called. The last thing he needed was his mom coming down to lecture them. That would be way too embarrassing, especially with Aki down here with them."We're just... uh..."
"Well keep it down, it's almost midnight!" Endou's mother said. Kazemaru slapped his face.
"Oh man... Almost midnight? I have a curfew I need to worry about!" he said. He headed for the door. "Sorry, guys. I need to get home. Thanks for the great party, Endou!" He laughed and was out the door.
"It is getting pretty late..." Gouenji said. Kabeyama and Kurimatsu nodded.
"Yeah... we should get going too." Kurimatsu said.
"Same here." Ichinose and Domon nodded. "Well, see you tomorrow at practice. Thanks for having us!" He and Domon went to fetch Max and Handa, and the two pretty much threw them out the door. Soon everyone was gone, aside from Aki, Natsumi, and Endou.
"Well, I'm sorry our host didn't get any action tonight." Natsumi said. Endou rubbed the back of his head and laughed.
"Hey, that's all right." he said. "I'm actually kind of glad I didn't." From the guys, at least.
"I should be going then." Natsumi said. "I had a great time. We should do this again." she winked, and she was out the door.
"Well, some party that was, huh?" Aki laughed. Endou nodded.
"Ha ha, yeah... and just look at all the fun I'm going to have cleaning down here!" he said. The room was pretty much trashed now – snacks and cups were covering the floor, and the furniture was in chaos.
"I could stay here for a while and help you clean, if you want," Aki offered. "My parents know where I am. I don't think they'll mind."
"A-are you sure? You don't have to if you don't want to." Endou said. The thought of being alone with Aki was kind of bittersweet – it was great that he would have her all to himself, but on the other hand he had never been alone with a girl like this, and in all honesty he was kind of scared.
Aki picked up a plastic cup and threw it in a bag. "It's fine, Endou-kun. I don't mind." she smiled.
"I can help too."
"AH!" Aki and Endou screamed. The former jumped and threw her arms around Endou, and Endou stumbled backwards a bit. Kageno had appeared out of nowhere, and he scared the living daylights out of both of them. "Oh, it's just you..."
"I'm sorry if I scared you." Kageno said. He looked over at a clock on the wall, and he made his way to the door. "...actually I should go."
Endou and Aki watched as he left. Aki's arms were still around Endou, and she quickly let go and stood back. "Uh... let's get cleaning, shall we?" she laughed, quite nervously though. "I swear I'll never get used to that."
Feeling disappointed that Aki was no longer hugging him, Endou grabbed a garbage bag and started to clean up as well. The two of them worked together, picking up trash, chatting, and re-arranging furniture. The time seemed to fly, and in no time the basement was all cleaned up. Endou flopped down on the couch, and Aki sat down next to them.
"Man, I'm beat." Endou said. He glanced at the clock. 1:22. Great, it was already tomorrow. Or today. Whatever.
"At least it's all clean now!" Aki smiled. Both of them sat in silence for a while, then Aki stood up. "I really should get going now..."
"C-can't you stay a little longer?" Endou blurted out. Aki looked at him, and Endou quickly covered his mouth. "Er... I mean... your house is just down the street and uh..."
"Uh.. I guess I could," Aki said. "But what do you want me to stay for?"
Endou shook his head. Ugh, why did he always act weird around her? "Nothing really... I mean, you can go home now if you want to. Because I don't care or anything like that."
Aki raised an eyebrow. "Endou-kun, are you okay?"
Endou smiled and nodded. "Yep! Never been better!" Aki shook her head and smiled.
"If you say so." She headed for the door, and Endou got off the couch and followed her. Just before she opened the door, she turned and faced Endou. "I had a really great time tonight. Thanks for inviting me." she smiled and opened the door.
"Aki..." Endou said. Aki let go of the doorknob and looked over at Endou.
"What is it?" she asked, and Endou had no idea what happened next. He grabbed Aki's wrists and pressed his lips against hers. Aki let out a surprised noise, but she didn't pull away from the kiss. The two of them stood there, not moving or anything. Just standing there with their lips touching. Endou finally pulled away and let go of her wrists.
"I-I'm sorry Aki..." Endou said. He turned away and slapped his face. What had he just done? That was probably the stupidest thing he'd ever done in his life, and now Aki was probably going to think that -
Endou felt a pair of arms wrap around his back, and he froze.
"Endou-kun..." Aki said. Endou wriggled around to face Aki, and he hugged her back. "Do... do you really feel the same way?"
Endou nodded. "Aki... I love you."
"I love you too."
-.-.-
AN
Aww wasn't that just cute. :3
So I'm starting up a couple's collection thing. I'm just going to write a bunch of oneshots about I11 couples and put them here so I don't spam with a ton of oneshots. Haha. Please note that not all of these will be romance though – I have quite a few friendshippy ideas too ;D You can request a couple if you want, too. Also note that I fail at yaoi, and I'm not doing anything 'hardcore'. I might not do every single request – but it doesn't hurt to ask. :3 I thought this would be a good way to improve my writing, so I really hope it works out!
Icee Suicune