"Idiot."
"Jerk."
Miyu and Kanata were arguing. As usual.
They were on their way home from school, bickering about some trivial little things. The weather mirrored Kanata's mood: warm and bright. He really enjoyed these walks with Miyu, and today was no exception.
"Hey Kanata, isn't that Nozomu?"
Sure enough, the handsome blonde was walking towards them. "Miyu-chan! May I carry your books?"
"Sure, Nozomu." She handed him her books with a warm smile.
Kanata asked bluntly, "What do you want, Nozomu?"
Nozomu was unruffled by Kanata's less-than-friendly tone as he answered readily, "I just wanted to walk Miyu-chan home so I'll make sure that she's safe."
"Of course she'll be safe, she's with me. Although it's not like anyone would take interest in her, scrawny little twerp that she is…" He laughed sourly.
Miyu frowned. "Don't pay attention to him, Nozomu. He's just retarded. We're all sixteen years old but he's the only one who acts like a baby."
"How could he call you scrawny? You're beautiful, Miyu-chan." Nozomu said, handing her a rose. "All the roses in my garden could never compete with your loveliness."
She blushed. "Thank you. Oh, we're here already. Thanks for walking me home…"
"Anytime, Miyu-chan!" He waved goodbye.
"What's the matter with you?" Miyu asked Kanata, for he was stomping up the stone steps with an ugly look on his face. "Why did you treat Nozomu like that?"
"You are such an idiot." He was seething, and he didn't even know why. All he knew was that no one, no one, should flirt with Miyu in front of him. In fact, no one should flirt with her, period.
"What did I do now?"
"You actually believed Nozomu's cheap pick-up lines." He sneered. "Just because he called you 'beautiful', you went all red and flattered. You're such a moron."
She said sarcastically, "Oh sure, you'd know all about pick-up lines because you're such a ladies man." She flipped her blond hair as she glared at him. "You are such a retard."
Later that night, Kanata was lying in bed. His head hurt. Moments earlier, out of rage, Miyu had hit him over the head with a frying pan.
Damn that girl! He thought, gingerly rubbing the spot where she hit him. On second thought, I probably deserved it for insulting her in front of Nozomu. He felt angry at the day's events. He ruined my day. Miyu and I were enjoying ourselves, when he showed up and everything just fell apart. He didn't know why he was so pissed at his classmate, but a possibility occurred to him.
Am I jealous? If I am, then that means I like Miyu.
He found it impossible that he likes Miyu. She's such a ditzy girl.
Still, he found her so endearing and sweet, even when she was being pigheaded or clumsy. In fact, he loved everything about her: her hair, her eyes, the way she laughs, they way she talks cheerfully but suddenly falls silent when serious…
I think I love her.
He forced the thought out of his mind. She's like my little sister. Besides, she would never return your feelings.
The next day, Kanata was determined not to be affected by yesterday's events. He barely got any sleep and resolved to avoid thinking too much of his blond housemate.
Miyu greeted him, "You look terrible." She started eating breakfast. "Wanya, your scrambled eggs are delicious! Come on, Kanata, try some." She shoved a forkful of eggs into his mouth.
He chewed. "Mmm, tasty." Somehow he didn't think that the eggs would be as appetizing if Miyu didn't feed it to him. "Ah, Miyu-chan, we're going to be late."
"Oh, all right then. See you, Wanya, Luu!" Miyu kissed them goodbye.
Kanata's resolution to stay unaffected was tested earlier than he expected. Nozomu was standing outside the temple. "Kanata! Miyu-chan! Good morning!" He flashed the latter a special, dazzling smile.
"Nozomu-kun!" Miyu's voice expressed surprise. "What are you doing here so early?"
"I came to walk you to school, Miyu-chan." He took her books as they started to walk. "And may I say, you are looking particularly beautiful this morning."
She turned as red as the rose he handed her. "Thanks, Nozomu. Hey, where's Kanata?"
Kanata was walking sulkily a few steps behind them. "What the heck are you looking at?" He snapped as Miyu looked over at him. Immediately, her visage turned icy as she turned her back on him and started conversing cheerfully with Nozomu.
At school, Kanata's resolution was being pushed to its limits. Nozomu kept tailing Miyu; he carried her books, sat beside her in the cafeteria and even offered to walk her home. He cracked his knuckles and scowled, which made Santa ask, "Kanata? What's the matter? You look ready to beat someone up."
"I am," he growled to himself.
He couldn't concentrate on math problems. Instead, he kept thinking about Miyu and Nozomu.
What the hell does he want with her, anyway? It's not like he's interested in her or something. Who the heck would be interested in a klutz like her?
"I would," said a truthful voice in his head.
Shut up, an arguing voice in his head replied. You shouldn't like her. She's like your sister.
She's the girl I like.
She's like a sister!
The battle in his head raged until the bell rang for dismissal.
"Not again!" Kanata said vehemently. He didn't even care that his fellow students stared at him, wondering why he was talking to himself. All he saw was Nozomu offering to walk Miyu home. What the hell does he want with Miyu?!
