Chapter 3- Out On The Beach

No one could say that Hiroki Tsujiai wasn't handsome.

That's what Ayu was thinking as she looked at her new room mate.

They had just arrived after a long, tiring three hour journey.

The view from their room was incredible- they dumped their bags by the sides of their beds and ran straight for the balcony.

Ayu just watched Hiroki's movements.

The way he flicked his hair back, the way he leaned against the wall lazily, the way his eyes rolled when the sun's rays disturbed them.

She could sort of understand why Nina liked him so much.

Ayu had never really enjoyed Hiroki's company.

She found him slightly sly and awkward to be around.

When she played tennis with him, his moves were almost robotic, so it was not surprising that she had not got to know him very well.

"Hey, do you want to go out to the beach, Hiroki?" asked Ayu politely.

"Yeah, sure," replied Hiroki casually. "Why not?"

Ayu sprinted into the bathroom, and changed into her swimsuit.

It was a simple swimming costume, scarlet red with white polka dots.

"Let's go."

***

Hiroki and Ayu were not the only people out on the beach.

Some of the other pairs from her school were out as well.

Unfortunately, Tetsushi and Nina were not among them.

"Ayu…" whispered Hiroki uncomfortably. "Can I ask you some thing personal?"

"Huh? Um… ok…"

"It's about Nina."

Immediately, Ayu began to listen carefully. "Go on," she encouraged.

"Well… it's just… she's been acting really weirdly around me lately. You know those books I lent her?"

Ayu nodded. Every one knew about Hiroki and Nina's similar taste in books.

"She returned them the day after I lent them to her. She usually takes ages over them, reading them carefully. Oh, and another thing…"

Hiroki went on for quite a while about all the strange things Nina had done.

Ayu found it quite entertaining really.

Hiroki seemed to have noticed every thing about Nina; Ayu on the other hand, even though she was Nina's best friend, had not noticed any of the things that Hiroki was pointing out.

"Well… maybe you should talk to her about it?"

"I'll try… but it's not exactly… I mean I… well…"

"You find it hard to talk to her?" Ayu completed.

Hiroki nodded shyly. Ayu smiled. Could it be that Hiroki felt the same way about Nina?

She didn't probe any more.

She was going to find out once and for all whether Hiroki liked Nina or not, and it was going to take careful planning.

***

Well, that's the third chapter! ^_^ Hope that you liked it.