"Oh come on Hisao, in the last two minutes you've said she's beautiful, attractive and sexy! Choose one, or are you telling me she's such a paragon of womanhood that she's all three?"
I only asked Misaki if she would take a picture of us before we had to part ways for the holidays but somehow the subject of what brought us together has come up.
"Of course she is! Well they all mean the same thi-"
"They certainly do not! Take Lilly for example." I glance over at class 3-2's representative who is engaged in a battle of wills by proxy.
" 'Beauty' is a societal construct, a tacit agreement over a set of attributes that defines it. And for a lot of people the epitome of beauty is tall, blonde and, err, well proportioned."
OK that makes sense, Lilly has the looks you see on the cover of magazines and posters advertising blockbuster movies.
" 'Attractive' is about your reaction to her. Check out Akio.''
I'm surprised by the yearning on his face, all of his attention captured by.. I follow his gaze and see Hanako, half a step behind Lilly. Her face is slightly cast down and she's peeping through her fringe at Shizune with those big violet eyes. She looks a little scared but determined to defend her best friend if needed.
"He's been mooning over Hanako for years but he's fast running out of time to do anything about it. Silly boy."
"So what about 'sexy' then?"
"That's the hardest for me to pin down." I almost see the cogs in her head whirring as she organises her thoughts. "It's something inside her, her confidence, her fearlessness, the way she demands your attention just by being there."
"Miki!" we chorus.
I find myself admiring the way Miki's eyes flash as she goads her classmates into betting on the outcome of the cousins' latest argument, her ready laugh and warm smile shattering even Molly's reserve. Yeah, she's sexy alright, but too intimidating for me.
"So Hisao, back to my original question: beautiful, attractive or sexy?"
Hmm, which one DO I mean? I have a sudden thought. "Wait, are you a lesbian?" Ouch! I guess I deserve that.