I probably seem pretty lonesome, just as I was 10 years ago. On my pale hand there lies no beautiful wedding ring. I'm certain most classmates whom I happen to bump into at the grocery markets marvel at how I'm still such a wallflower.
"Wow, hey, Nakahara. Long time no see. How's life going?"
"Fine."
"Mine, too. I'm married now."
"So are Noi and Tama."
"The pretty girls you hung out with? What beautiful brides they must have been. I'm so jealous. How about you, Nakahara?"
I would then hold my hands up shamelessly.
"Man, I'd thought you'd end up with Kyohei for sure. Sorry about being so bitter to you so many years ago about Kyohei, Nakahara. I was young, I was stupid. Now that I have found true love, I've changed. I really am so sorry."
"It's fine."
"I hope you find someone to love, too, Nakahara."
"Thanks."
Then we would wave our goodbyes, and they would saunter off, walking on the paths they had chosen for their future. And I would continue on my way, too. I guess, in a way, I really still am a wallflower.
That I really still am alone.
"Sunako, make me fried shrimp!" I whined through her bedroom door. I'm not really that hungry, but her shrimp is heavenly. I'm never really as starving as I complain about, really. But hey, if you were living in the same house as a cooking goddess, I'm pretty sure you would want to eat as much as I do.
There was no response, so I barged in. The light that flooded into the room from the hallway I came from was pretty much the only lighting here, minus the faint rays from the TV. Geez, it's always so dark in here. I squinted and looked for the ghost-like chef.
"Get. Out. Now," I turned around, and looked to the direction of the voice. I barely had time to react when she attacked me with a combo of professional punches and kicks. She always does that when I barge in her room. I'm used to this welcome. But, as always, I managed to dodge from them. Don't get me wrong- Sunako's not at all weak. She's actually a very good opponent; it's nice having someone on my high level of fighting. It gets boring fighting weaklings who just sob after agreeing for a small brawl. She's good; I hate to admit it, but maybe even as good as me.
A horror movie screamed at me from the glowing TV. I glanced quickly to see Sunako's latest movie, and that was a very wrong move. The next thing I knew I was dropkicked to the door.
"Augh!" I wiped the blood from my nose.
"I'll make dinner after my movie is done." Those were the words I heard before the door slammed in my face.
"Kyohei, I see you were in Sunako's room again." Ranmaru smirked at me and gave me one of those perverted looks; arms crossed, eyebrow slightly arched, with a dirty glint in his eyes.
"I am not desperate enough to go for every woman within a 50 mile radius, Ranmaru." I retort back.
"It's not my fault the ladies find me so attractive, Kyohei." Ranmaru jutted out his ass in an attempt at an erotic pose. "You know you would want a piece of this, too," he winked.
"Not my fault when you get herpes." Nice one, Kyohei.
"I'm as likely to get herpes from beautiful, rich women as you are to not get with Sunako," Ranmaru slyly changed the subject.
"Sunako's just a friend. Fuck off," I said, maybe sounding a bit overdefensive.
"What about that time you almost had sex with her for free rent? You know, when Auntie Nakahara forced you two on a-"
"You guys brainwashed me! Peer pressure! Geez." I quickly retreated to my room, trying to get the memory out of my head.
I don't know why everyone thinks we're dating. We're honestly not. Everyone's always pestering me about Sunako, but I don't really think anything of her. She's just a friend to me… a close friend. Hmm, I guess I never really considered who Sunako was to me. Is she really just a close friend? Augh, I don't know. Sunako's my fighting buddy, too, I guess.
"Kyoooohei and Sunakoooo," Takenaga whispered in my ear. I jumped. How the hell did he get into my room?
"Dude, what the fuck was that?"
"Truth," Takenaga smugly replied.
I sighed. "Are you hear to pester me about Sunako too?" I gave Takenaga a lethal evil eye.
"No, I'm here to let you know it's time for dinner."
"Oh." I prepared for a full speed sprint to the dining room. The lovely dining room with even lovelier shrimp was waiting for me.
"Not so fast." Takenaga held my wrist.
"WHYYYYY?" I pointed to my stomach. "THIS WANTS FOOD!"
"Well… Auntie Nakahara came back while you were fighting with Sunako."
"Oh god. No. Not that woman. No."
"Yeah…"
"What does she want now?"
"She's attending a yacht party, and wants her precious niece to come as a beautiful lady along with her hot date."
"Yay for you, Takenaga. Dating both Noi and Sunako. Ranmaru would be proud of you, you little playa." I elbowed him playfully.
"No, Noi and I ship SunaKyo. You have no idea how many gifs of you guys she has already posted on Tumblr. Sorry." Takenaga thrust a dry-cleaned suit to me. "Be a good trophy boyfriend, will you?" He grinned and gave me a pat on the back.
"What about dinner?" Seriously, does Aunt Nakahara think I could be picture perfect with her niece on an empty stomach?
"Well, considering it's an expensive yacht party thrown by Auntie Nakahara, I think there will be some decent food there, too. Of course, I may be wrong because it's not like Auntie is super rich, right?" Takenaga rolled his eyes and went back to his arrogant-genius persona. That's the typical sarcastic Takenaga. Don't ask me how Noi finds this attractive, but she does.
"Blehhhh… why is it always me?" I took the suit remorsefully and pushed Takenaga out of my room before he could answer me with a full speech about the clear evidence that "SunaKyo" exists.
Suits don't suit me. I prefer my hoodie and jeans to a suit any day. I wish Aunt Nakahara would stop being so selfish and keep dragging her tenants to parties every month. Why won't the woman get a boyfriend and leave me alone?
But I won't lie. I do look forward to attending these parties because Sunako… Sunako's very attractive when she wants to be. It's breathtaking, how this dark morbid not-at-all-perfect woman turns into a beautiful lady. I wish whoever called her ugly would just take that back. Honestly, how could anyone ever see the party-perfect-lady Sunako ugly?
Girls. They can be so unreasonable sometimes. I don't understand how Sunako could like a guy she never got to know. I have tons of fangirls screaming about how they'll bear my children and marry me (yeah, I'm not even kidding), but they have no idea who I am or what my personality's like.
"Hurry up and change! Sunako's almost ready!" Yuki's adorable little-boy voice screeched through my door. I heard Sunako's running footsteps coming in my direction, probably fleeing from the guys trying to makeover her.
Shit. I had just started to change, and I was half naked. I was only wearing boxers. She's going to bitch about melting in my presence since I'm so "radiant."
The door opened before I could get any clothes on and Sunako crashed onto me.
Just like any other teenage guy in my situation, I was pretty thrilled at first to have a female body on top of mine. I was the most thrilled about an accidental meeting of lips, though.
The number of accidental kisses between Sunako and I is pretty eerie. It's like whatever forces are dictating the world are just knocking her faces together in an attempt to create sparks. I'll be honest; the forces aren't doing too bad a job because I can't say I don't enjoy these kisses. A little bit of the enjoyment comes from the testosterone. But it's mainly the fact that the lips that mine touch are sweet and lovely.
My mind was being invaded by thoughts of Sunako, when I was suddenly fully aware of what was going on again. Her face reddened. Then she covered her red face with those pale hands. Then came the scream.
"Stop screaming already. It's not like I'm completely naked," I yelled over her. I pushed her off me and shoved my suit pants on quickly. Yuki rushed through the door, with Ranmaru and Takenaga trailing behind.
"Do you see all this blood?" Sunako uncovered her face, and threw her hands in front of my eyes. "Do you think it's funny to give me nose bleeds? Are you trying to torture me?"
"Well, if by torture you mean bondage, I'm sure Kyohei would gladly torture you." Ranmaru winked at Sunako. Damn you, Ranmaru. I swear this kid knows the worst possible timing to bring up stuff like this. "Oh? See? He's blushing," Ranmaru continued cockily, as if he was reading me like a book.
"Bondage?" Sunako looked at Ranmaru curiously.
"Bondage is sex with chains and whips," Ranmaru answered. "Wouldn't you like that, Sunako? Chains and whips with Kyohei."
Sunako blushed. It was the first time outside of her party-lady persona that I saw her cheeks a healthy rosy color. It was adorable. Maybe Ranmaru should openly talk about porn to Sunako more. Wow, Kyohei. You just went full-on retard. Oh god, no. Ranmaru can't taint my Sun- Sunako like that. My… where did that sneaky little word come from? She's not mine.
"Stop it, Ranmaru. Remember why we're here," Takenaga interrupted. He pointed to Sunako's face, her plain jersey and jeans, while waving a dress at Ranmaru.
"Oh Takenaga. So serious and cold. Noi might not like that," Ranmaru replied, sticking out his tongue. Takenaga's stoic face turned cold, yet warm with a telltale blush. He grabbed Ranmaru's collar and pulled him dangerously close. "What did you say?" Takenaga looked like he was going to punch Ranmaru and wear his teeth as a victory necklace.
"Guys, stop it. Sunako. Remember?" Yuki whined. A note about Yuki: he has this innocent little kid quality to him. No one can get into a fist fight in front of a little kid. Especially not if the little kid is tearing up. Takenaga recomposed himself, and Ranmaru went back to wearing a smug smile. "Sunako, please do it for Auntie Nakahara," Yuki begged. His slightly teary eyes sparkled.
Sunako was hesitant, but not even the coldest people can say no to Yuki's puppy eyes. "Fine. But this is for Auntie, not for you." Her violet eyes glared my way.
"Stop staring at me like it's my fault you told Auntie Nakahara you wanted to be a perfect lady like her when you were a kid. It's not like I want to accompany you to the party either," I respond coolly. Does she really despise me that much? Sure, I'm blonde, tall, and attractive, but geez. Most people are supposed to like that. But she wouldn't really be the Sunako I know if she was appreciating my looks instead of cursing (literally, putting curses) on my looks, like she usually does.
Yuki shuffled Sunako out of my room, and Ranmaru and Takenaga followed. I made sure to lock the door when they left. Then I put on my party clothes. Wearing a suit is so formal… it feels like I'm going to a wedding or something. It's awkward. If I'm wearing a suit, Sunako's dress will probably be really gorgeous. Sunako will be gorgeous.
She was. In record timing and minimal makeup, the guys ushered Sunako back into my room. She was wearing a flowing and flowery white dress. Wedding clothes. The white made her look like a bride. A beautiful bride. Her jet-black hair was curled elegantly, and framed her delicate pale face. Her lips were plump and feminine, a gorgeous finishing touch to an airbrushed looking goddess. Dear god, how much am I staring? I looked away to the guys.
I caught Ranmaru's gaze. Ranmaru noticed my staring. He was smirking more than usual. Then he made this dumbstruck looking face: eyes wide and dreamlike, mouth open as if in awe. Was that bastard fucking imitating me? Damn it, Ranmaru; what if Sunako sees you? He gestured me to come over next to Sunako. "Come on, Kyohei. Auntie Nakahara will be mad if you stand ten feet away from her niece."
I obeyed because I would go mad if I didn't stand 10 centimeters Aunt Nakahara's niece.