Ch.2

Part 1: Unworthy for an Angel.

Ten-Chan followed Koboshi, making sure he was hidden in the crowd of incoming students. He knew her well enough to notice her unusual behavior when she left.

He had a crush on Koboshi for a long time. It pained him to watch her fall in love with Kotarou, doing everything she could to impress him, only to be rejected at the end. Seeing her heart broken, his hurt, too. One good thing did come out of that incident, Koboshi had grown with confidence.

She looks even more like an angel with her hair parted and without the cat ears. I knew she has it in her, and that she could climb out of the depression by herself. Koboshi is strong.

After that, Ten-Chan had to suffer the setback of going to a different school from her. It just wasn't the same, even if they saw each other everyday before and after school and her hanging out at the Tricot Café while he worked. Luckily, they were in the same school again, and he could see her as often as before.

But the separated years had taken a toll. Though Koboshi hasn't fallen for anyone else, guys are constantly trying to ask her out, which sickens Ten-Chan. He couldn't believe that anyone would think that they were worthy of Koboshi.

The requests had died down after no signs of interest from Koboshi. But when one does come up, Ten-Chan gets angry and scared.

Scared that Koboshi might say yes.

Angry that some jerk thinks he's worthy her.

Up ahead, Koboshi turned left and down a hallway. Hiding behind a display case, Ten-Chan was able to see and hear Koboshi without her seeing him. From his point of view, he can see that Koboshi was with a boy in an underclassmen uniform.

I can't believe an underclassman is asking her out!

Fist already shaking, Ten-Chan fought to control his anger and to look casual so that he would not attract stares from the passing crowd.

It was like this every time. Koboshi has to kindly turn down a boy's offer and to give him back the candy/flower/card/etc. that he sent so she won't feel guilty.

This is going to be the last time. I'm going to turn down that guy for Koboshi and then ask her myself.

Ten-Chan had told himself this many times, and like many times before, he lacks the courage and instead watches from a far.

Stupid! Coward! Loser! Ten-Chan yelled at himself. He couldn't stand being like this.

This is why he never asked her out – Why would Koboshi ever like a loser like him?

Part 2: Unpleasant Business

Koboshi was carrying the same pile of boxes as before, and she was having a hard time returning them to the boy. Not because she didn't want to, but because the boy was unwilling to take them back. This was when Ten-Chan noticed that all the boxes were all identically wrapped and unopened.

When Koboshi first began receiving candy and gifts from admirers and boys who wanted to ask her out, Ten-Chan had told her to not accept them if she wasn't going to go out with them anyways.

"That's cruel of you, Koboshi. You'll be leading the fools on by accepting their gifts. No matter how pretty the gifts are, I think you should return them and tell those guys that they have no chance from the beginning."

Ten-Chan immediately regretted saying it, because he knew he said it out of his own selfishness to keep Koboshi to himself.

"I'm not that greedy, Ten-Chan." But Koboshi had immediately put down the cupcake she had received.

"I have a conscience, y'know. I did refused them at first. But when I explained to them that I'm uninterested, they told me that they would be happy to just make me happy with gifts and didn't need anything in return."

"Still… how can you tell which gifts are from those who think that, and those who want something else?" Ten-Chan felt ashamed that he couldn't think of just Koboshi's happiness but wanted her for himself.

"I know. I thought of that already, and that's why I put a limit to how much money the gifts can cost before they go too far. If he still doesn't get it, I'll just have to, gulp, tell it to him straight on, and return everything. That'll draw the line."

Ten-Chan knew Koboshi must've noticed that this guy gave her way too many gifts to not want something back in return.

I told her she shouldn't be too greedy. But then again, all those boxes are unopened. It seems that Koboshi has cornered him. As long as he doesn't take it back, he thinks he still has a chance…

"I can't accept them! Please, you have to take them back. I don't want to do this, but…listen to me; I won't go out with you, so don't waste your money on me. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?" Koboshi's voice reached Ten-Chan, and he heard the strain in her voice.

The underclassman looked scared. This was a tough one. Ten-Chan could see he was covering his ears and had closed his eyes. Koboshi needed help.

"Hey, kid! She told you to take them back, so keep your stupid gifts. Koboshi doesn't want them." Ten-Chan was intimidating, and the underclassman had stopped his struggle with Koboshi for a moment.

"Ten-Chan?" Koboshi then quickly took advantage of the stunned boy and pushed his gifts into his arms.

"Sorry, I didn't want to do this to you, or anyone else. Please take back your gifts, and I hope you find someone better." Koboshi turned back to Ten-Chan as the underclassman left.

"Thanks, but why were you there?" Koboshi and Ten-Chan were running back to their first period.

"Just passing by, and if something like that comes up again, tell me."

"I hope it never happens again. You were a bit harsh on him…"

"What? The kid deserved it, making you uncomfortable and pestering you like that… I'm not going to just stand by and let someone do that to you!"

Before Koboshi could say anything, they had arrived in homeroom. The bell rang and Ten-Chan quickly took his seat. Koboshi occasionally glanced over at him, shocked and bewildered.