"…Kana…"
There was a thump! and I landed on the floor.
I woke up this morning in an obvious daze. Too many things to think about, I almost skipped school again. But I wanted to confirm something. First of all, yesterday, Sachiko said that she liked me. I had to confirm if that was true, if it was the same type of like I have for her, and if she and I are going out.
Second, I had to thank that boy for being the instigator to mine and Sachiko's confessions.
…Well, the second one can wait for later, I giggled.
The other thing I was a bit confused about was that I had actually slept. The past few weeks since Valentine's Day, I had been infected with insomnia, and didn't get any winks at all. But last night, I slept more soundly than I ever had, that's for sure. This was pretty good, if it had been any other night.
How could I be sure I hadn't dreamt all of that? It seemed like it all had happened, but since I slept, I couldn't really be sure. It was quite confusing at this point, but school was a must-do on my list today. Oh, and there is of course, a third thing I have to do.
Ask Sachiko out on a date!
On the way to school, my smile was wide enough to reach my ears. I couldn't help it, though, because Sachiko had said that she liked me. It wasn't everyday that you got the person you like to like you back. Although, at that point, I felt like all the obstacles I went through weren't enough.
Besides the gender one, this 'boy liking me' didn't prove even a little problematic. I'd read manga; usually it takes at least, what, 50 years for the main couple to get together? Yet it happened over night. Does this mean I'm lucky, or something?
But then I remembered: in manga, rivals always appeared after the couple gets together! Of course, I'll have to be careful. There might be some guys who realize how beautiful Sachiko is, and get enamored with her. I'll make a resolution to protect her from any vultures!
But by that time I was already at school, and Sachiko came running up to me, hugging me. I smiled in pure bliss. When Sachiko released me, she looked me over while I was zoning out.
"Kana, what are you doing?" She asked in that soft voice of hers. I gasped. I grabbed her hand.
"Sachiko, let's go to class like this!" I said, resolutely. I could see her blush but she didn't protest. I smiled again. How could things get better than this? Just by holding her hand, I was so happy, and I wondered if she was, too.
"Kana, does this mean yesterday wasn't a dream?" Sachiko asked quietly while we slipped on our shoes. I laughed a little. "Ah! Meany, you're laughing?" She gasped in surprise.
"No, it's just; I was thinking the same thing, Sachiko. So surely it wasn't just a dream, you know!" I smiled and brought her face to mine so I could touch our foreheads together. She turned redder.
"Kana, you seem so cheerful today. I'd been thinking of how gloomy you were these past few weeks," She said shyly, seeming slightly down.
"That's because I thought you liked that baseball goon. 'Course I was sad, but now I'm so happy, because we can be together all we want." I said, closing my eyes in a moment of appreciation.
We walked to class silently after that, both our faces red, but we were both happy. Even if a rival did appear, I don't think anything could break us right now. I love her so much, it doesn't matter what obstacles come my way. I'll make my way through them, if only to see Sachiko smile.
I really wanted to cry tears of joy, at that point. Instead I smiled. If only I could go back in time and tell myself that Sachiko would come to like me…I might have experienced this feeling earlier. It was strange, really, but still a pleasant feeling.
My heart was fluttering and faltering when Sachiko came near. My words tripped out of my mouth, to me, but Sachiko seemed as though she didn't notice it. Perhaps she was tripping on her words, too.
At lunch, I was already about to ask her. It took courage, but Sachiko probably wouldn't notice how shy I was. Before Sachiko walked to my desk, I was running circles in my head. I suddenly wished my hair was longer so I could cover my face—
"Kana!" Sachiko smiled brightly at me, making my cheeks turn redder and redder. I couldn't understand why I was unable to greet her properly anymore, so I sighed silently. I took a deep breath and grabbed Sachiko's hand.
"So, wanna go on a date?" I asked, trying to keep my cool—probably failing. Well, at least I tilted my head the right way, but she probably wouldn't notice. I kept my eyes locked with hers the whole time. She was hesitating slightly.
"S-sure," She murmured, looking down and blushing. I nodded to assure her. A first date with the girl I like, huh?
Suddenly, I heard the hallways quieted down on our way to lunch. Whispers filled my ears and I saw that Sachiko noticed them as well. I looked around inconspicuously. People were staring. I was surprised, because normally Sachiko and I didn't attract too much attention.
Is it because we're both girls?
I stopped. Sachiko, too, stopped. If I had been a boy, asking Sachiko out on a date, nobody would have noticed. Nobody would have cared, yet, because we're both girls, it's not okay? I remembered the obstacles I had thought up earlier.
I had thought that the 'gender obstacle' was getting the person of the same sex to fall in love with you, but there was another part. There were the other people who talked about us, weren't there? We'd probably get bullied by other girls. I probably wouldn't be allowed to change with the other girls—not that any of them were as lovely as Sachiko.
Frowning, I needed confirmation. I led Sachiko down the hallway, turned, and we both hid behind a staircase.
I got down on one knee. It was a little exaggerated, but that's okay.
"Sachiko, we might be ostracized by the rest of our friends," I closed my eyes, for fear that she would reject me with her expression.
"We might get bullied and hated. Even so, can you accept me despite the way society will view us?" I kept my eyes closed.
Softly, I felt Sachiko's hand on my cheek, caressing me.
"Kana, you're always too serious. If we are bullied, we'll protect each other, 'cause that's what lovers do, right?" I blushed at the word she used, but nodded.
"So, you don't mind if the world knows about us and hates us?" I said, smiling wryly.
"It'll be hard, but we'll make it through!" She grinned comfortingly.
I took her hand. "Then you won't mind…" I began.
We were in the previous hallway. "…if I yell out loud how much I love you!" I announced, making sure all of the people in school could hear. I noticed out the window of the hallway, the baseball field, and there was the boy who confessed to me earlier.
"K-Kana!" Sachiko said in a hushed whisper. I grinned a little. Does it really matter? I mean, I'd loved Sachiko for how long, and now that she loved me back, what was there for me to lose?
I simply looked her in the eye with that small grin. She paused and took a moment to understand. I nodded. She understood; she must have gone through the same thing when she liked that boy. Having the person you love not love you back.
That was why, even if all of our classmates hated us, I'd stand strong.
Even if they all exclaimed in unison…
"Ew!"
