Allie's Corner: Haruhibunny, you are evil. So much that I want to not do this... but... nooo! I'm getting sucked in!!

Ever since Suzuna and Sena were going out, they discovered quite a bit of things: skateboards, roller skates, figure skating, hockey skates, skate fish, speed skates, slider skates, and finally, inline skates. It was more of Sena's discovery, anyway; Suzuna usually showed him the wonders of skating world and skating Internet.

He would be surprised. After, all, how many people can do a 180 degree spin on roller skates? And who would go on the Internet for some fishy deals on that hot, off-of-the-assembly-line wheelies? It was little wonder that she, to be polite, was pretty much obsessed.

"Suzuna-chan, why do you like... skates so much?" Being the polite person he always was, he trudged on the conversation that Suzuna was most touchy about.

"...why? What do you mean, why?"

"I meant... everyone has a reason for liking something. I began liking football because it gave me happiness when I played it, no matter how much I lost..." He smiled, gently but surely coaxing an answer from the girl.

"I used to be terrible at sports. I'd try volleyball and give it up the next week. It was the same for basketball, swimming, and tennis. It's funny that I ended up on the football team. I thought I'd give it up again, but then I saw the intensity of the matches. They were so wonderful! Oh, every day, when I was in sixth grade, I'd go to the high school next door and watch all their matches. I loved the playoffs and strategies.

Then I heard that they were accepting cheerleaders. It was marvelous. They didn't like elementary kids, but they said they'd accept middle schoolers. I'd waited this moment in my whole life. And I was the first in line.

But somehow... things went wrong. I didn't know that you were supposed to know how a split-toe jump was all about the sharp movements. I was an amateur. I was worse than a beginner. The girls were horrible. From this day I still think giggling should be made illegal. That was one sport down the drain, I guess. I quit for good, and I stopped going to football matches. I forgot everything about that and went to school like a good girl. Mother was pleased. She said that footballs wasn't for girls, and she was glad that I stopped being a tomboy.

She was wrong. I still loved sports even though I wasn't any good at them. I kept attending the free karate lessons. I climbed trees all the time and kept falling out. Father had recognized in me what Mother hadn't. He gave me roller skates for my twelfth birthday. They were beautiful. Easy to learn, too. Pretty soon, they became my legs. Sometimes, I don't even take them off when I go to bed.

Then, my brother left for America. I was stunned. Everybody was. My mother wept. I went to America for that purpose. It turns out that football is a pretty popular sport in America... can you even believe how much money they pay for a quarterback? That's where I got re-introduced to cheerleading. Roller skates plus cheering on those brave football players--- it sort of clicked, you know? I created my own choreography, I cheer you guys on, and I'm definitely enjoying myself. Thus ends my story."

She looked at him curiously. He was holding her hand. It had occurred to her that maybe, in the school, or anywhere in the world, she wouldn't find another boy who'd listen to her like Sena would. She laid her head on her hand.

"Um... I'm sorry if I bored you with that story---" she peeked a look at him again to make sure that he was listening, "but I was really happy when you asked me about that. Do you want to know why? I've always admired you. From the day we've met."

Sena dropped his hand aside, mouth dropped.

"You admire me?"

"Yes, I do. Funny how I could keep that to myself. I'm always spouting nonsense about other people's affairs, and I can keep one about myself-- mphh!"

Sena had used reflexes to place a well-aimed kiss on her lips. And then, to top it all, a whisper in her ear telling her he was glad that she admired him. He ran away, of course, his other ego appeared quickly after and he was embarrassed. Suzuna shook her head but pleased all the same. He always ran away.

---

They always stopped by the roller skate shop after that. At the end of a date, it became routine, and if the shop was closed, they'd go to another one.

Author's Note: I think Daisuke would do this if he kept turning to Dark every time he gets close to Riku...