Chapter 4

Discussion

Himawari stares at the blonde girl while Toru just smirks as he lets go of her.

"W-what the heck is g-going on?" Sakurako manages to get out. "Tell me right now."

"Oh, allow me to explain," Toru steps in. "You see, while Himawari and I were taking a tour, she came to realize that she's being silly falling in love with you. Besides, she told me that she fell in love with you just because you insisted on her doing it."

Himawari gasps at his foolish story. "N-no! That's not true!"

"Also," Toru continues, ignoring the blue haired girl. "When we ended the tour, as you saw us right now, she confessed her love to me as I did the same for her. Love between girls is just sick."

Sakurako looks down at the floor as more and more tears come falling freely from her eyes while shaking uncontrollably. Himawari uses all of her strength to shove Toru away and take a few steps close to her beloved.

"Sakurako, please listen-"

"I understand."

"Huh?"

"You're freaking nuts!" As quick as a flash, Sakurako clings onto her lover and glares at Toru. "I know that Himawari would never say such things about me because we've been friends though out our lives! So, don't ever talk bad about either of us!"

"The . . . the heck!?" Toru is surprised that his whole plan backfired. "Why?"

"Because you don't know anything about us," Sakurako presses. "So, you can try all you want to break us up, but you'll fail every time."

Curses! Toru says under his breath.

"Now then, if you'll excuse us, we have to walk home together." With that, Sakurako takes Himawari's hand and exits the school with Toru clenching his fists in anger.

So that's how it's gonna be, huh?He thinks to himself. Well then, so be it . . . Sakurako Ohmuro.


Outside, Himawari and Sakurko keep on walking until they come to a stop halfway from home. Himawari stares at the blonde as she has her back to her for a long time. She doesn't know whether or not she should say anything to her or just thank her. But Sakurako beat her to it.

"There's no way that you'll ever fall in love with that guy," she says as she turns to her childhood friend. "Because you have me. And that's all that matters."

Hearing her say that brings Himawari to tears and quickly embraces her. "Sakurako!" She bursts into heavy, shoulder shaking sobs. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"

The blonde just gently smiles and hugs her back while stroking her hair. "Himawari . . ."

Deep down, the blue haired girl thought she was going to scold her or something, but instead, Sakurako just stuck up for her and not once yelled at her. And she was very happy about it.

"I'm so sorry, Sakurako!" she apologizes again. "Thank you so much for saving me!"

"It's no problem, Himawari," the blonde whispers. "After all, I love you. And no one, not even that Toru guy, could take you away from me."

Himawari nods as she cries even harder, letting out every tear from her eyes. She herself will never forget her words that are being said to her by her lover. The two remain in each other's embrace for what it seemed like minutes.


Himawari stumbles home that night, sets her bag down and slumps on the couch. Little footsteps are heard from the stairs and out comes her 11-year-old sister, Kaede. She runs up to her big sister with a worried look on her face.

"Big Sis!" she says. "Where were you? I was so worried about you!"

Himawari looks up. "Oh, hey. I just had some studying to do with Sakurako. It's nothing serious." She couldn't tell her about the guy who almost tried to kiss her or even rape her if he's at that level. It might have been too complicated for her little sister to understand.

Kaede doesn't seem convinced though. "You looked so sad when you came home. You even look exhausted. Are you sure you're alright?"

Himawari nods as she gives her little sister a pat on the head. "I'm fine, Kaede. You don't have to worry about a thing."

The little girl still has that worried expression on her face, but decides to not ask any further. She wants to help out her big sister, but is wondering why she doesn't want to tell her.

"By the way, where's mom and dad?" Himawari asks.

"They're still at work," Kaede replies. "They won't be coming home until late, so they told me that you'll have to start dinner."

"Okay." With that, Himawari gets up off her seat and walks into the kitchen.

Kaede, on the other hand, looks at her big sister worriedly. She always worries about her whenever something is wrong or has happened to her and will do anything to help out. This has been going on for the last 5 years as well. However, from what Himawari is telling her, it makes her even more worried.

"Big Sis . . ." she whispers, putting both hands on her chest.


At Sakurako's house, the blonde is feeling the same way, but frustrated and angry. She can't believe she just saw Toru try to force a kiss on her beloved, let alone having to fall in love with her. Why would he despise lesbian relationships? She knows that it can be a challenge for some girls, even woman, but she loves Himawari since both of them are best friends their whole lives and would never leave each others' side. Now that Toru came in the picture, she has to find some way to protect her lover and childhood friend. But nothing comes to her mind, which frustrates her even more.

"Argh! Just why does it have to happen!?" Sakurako shouts, instantly throwing a pillow at the couch.

"Hey, what's going on?" Nadeshiko calls as she comes out of the kitchen.

Hanako comes down the stairs, probably heard the commotion too. "I'm trying to study here. What's wrong?"

Sakurako just slumps on the chair with her head hanging down. "Something bad happened at school."

"Really? What was it about?"

Sakurako takes a few deep breaths and tells her sisters everything that happened today: the new student who happened to fall in love with Himawari and Sakurako getting really jealous, then about Toru wanting a tour around the school just to spend time with Himawari, only Sakurako catching the teen forcefully kissing her beloved. It is sickening to have her mention Toru in front of her sisters, but it made her feel a bit better soon after.

Nadeshiko can't believe what she just heard. "What a jerk. I really can't believe a guy like him would even do that to Himawari-san."

"Somebody should teach that guy a lesson!" Hanako blurts out as she stands in a boxing position. "You know, like the old one two?"

"I don't think that will solve anything," Nadeshiko points out.

"Then, the old one, two, three?"

"That's the same thing." Nadeshiko turns to her younger sister. "Sakurako, the only advice I could give you is to watch over Himawari and to not let him take her away from you. You know her, so it's your job to protect her."

Sakurako nods. "Got it. I'll do everything I can."

"That's the spirit!" Hanako cheers, putting her fist up in the air.

Nadeshiko smiles. "I know you and Himawari-san love each other, so protect each other as well. I don't want either of you hurt."

Sakurako smiles back. "Thanks, Big Sis. You both are the best."

Nadeshiko hugs her younger sister. "No problem. I'm glad you told us about it. Let me know how things go between you two and Toru."

"Get that Toru boy good!" Hanako shouts out.

"I will," Sakurako replies as she hugs her older sister back. "Thanks for hearing me out. I couldn't have done it without you two." She now knows that she will have to do everything in her power to protect the one she loves at all costs. She can't let Toru get to Himawari no matter what. So with that in mind, she vows to protect Himawari like she did with her years ago.


Late that night, Himawari couldn't sleep. She keeps tossing and turning in her bed, but failed to get any sleep. Her mind is filled with too much of what happened today. Toru, him falling in love with her and him forcefully kissing her, it was all too much.

"Why?" she whispers as she can feel some tears in her eyes. "I . . . can't believe he would do this to me. And Sakurako . . . boy, he really hates her because she and I are in love. What do I do? I mean, if he's able to, he'll try to get rid of Sakurako for all I know. I can't let that happen! I love Sakurako with all my heart! And she loves me, too! Why would he try to separate us?" As a single tear rolls down her cheek, she sits up and determination builds up. "Alright, from this moment on, I will protect Sakurako. That freak won't stand a chance when the two of us are on him. Yes, that's what I'll do." She lies back down and closes her eyes. "Don't worry, Sakurako. I'm here to protect you."

Unbeknownst to Himawari, Kaede stands by the bedroom door as she heard the whole thing. Worry builds up as she realizes why her big sister is down in the dumps today. Now she doesn't know this Toru guy, but what she does know is that Himawari could be in big trouble if she doesn't act soon. A plan forms in her mind as she quietly leaves the room.


A/N: This might be a boring chapter to some of you guys, but that's all I can come up with. Besides, I liked adding the sisters in there. They seemed pretty important in the series, so that's why I put them in there. Also, I had to look up the ages Himawari and Sakurako's sisters were to calculate how old they are after 5 years. So, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Feel free to give out any suggestions, questions or concerns and don't forget to review! ;)