'No way!'

Tanaka-sensei frowned at that up-turned nose and hardened his gaze, he had expected that frivolous answer but he was not planning to just give up at this stage. He held out his hand and waved a bag full of books before Kou, 'These are supplementary material I got from the bookstore, even if you find it pointless to go through these alone, you could share them with your friends? And Kou, it really is important -'

Kou interrupted Tanaka-sensei's routine lecture and grabbed the bag of books, it was the only way he could escape from this persistent act. 'I'd take the books, and read them only if time permits since I might have other things to attend to.' Kou walked away and Tanaka-sensei could not help revealing a crestfallen face, he dropped his head and shoulders in slight defeat. 'Kou, if you don't mind having dinner tonight..'

'Busy. See ya.'

When Kou turned the corner and Tanaka-sensei was finally out of sight, he sighed out loud and kicked a paper ball lying close to his feet.

'What are you doing sighing like an old man and kicking paper balls irresponsibly like a five year old?' The voice was a familiar voice he had gotten used to hearing almost every day - it was sweet yet forceful and always filled the air with an energetic vibe. 'Oi, Futaba. What's with you reprimanding young souls like an old woman yet sounding immature like a five year old?' Kou grinned proudly at his own comeback.

Futaba perched her hands on hips indignantly and stuck a tongue at Kou, 'That's unoriginal. You merely took my words and spun it against me. And I do not sound like a five year old! Do I?' Kou sniggered at Futaba's confused look and kicked the paper ball towards her, 'Why would you care how you sound like, you would just shout your thoughts out loud whether you sound like that or not.'

Futaba's voice dropped down to a whisper as she evaded Kou's eyes, 'It's not like I can say certain things out loud.' Kou raised an eyebrow and regarded Futaba's evasive behaviour curiously, 'Futaba's whispering, how rare.' He took a step closer and leaned in against Futaba, his nose grazing the crown of her hair, 'What's the big secret, Futaba?' The low decibel tones resounded loudly in Futaba's ears and she felt a wave of flurry tossing in her stomach, how am I supposed to reply to that?! Kou leaned in closer, and finally bent down to pick up the paper ball next to Futaba's feet. They were so close, she could hear his breathing - slow and deliberate, as if he had been regulating his breathes to be at this specific rhythm.

Futaba's cheeks flushed violet, then red - she had held her breath ever since they came into close proximity and now that she's breathing normally again, the emotions rushed to her head. 'No secret, it's not like Kou is particularly interested to hear my problems out right?' She looked out of the window deliberately to escape making eye contact with Kou, her heart was pounding like a racehorse and she needed a distraction. That's when she noticed the bag of books in his hands.

'Oh, you're holding books, how rare! What's the occasion? Finally, you're getting in the mood to prepare for mid-terms?' She flashed her usual sunshine smile and Kou felt torn between wanting to pursue their original conversation to following the flow of the conversation. 'My brother wants me to study although seriously there's no need to insist on being in special class or whatever. It all amounts to nothing in the end.' Futaba watched Kou intently and then proceeded to snatch the bag from his hands, 'Let's study together. These books, they're really good! I always wanted to get them but you got to them first. If you feel lazy or just plan to escape from the library, then I'd just go over to your house to read through them. No worries, if you're so intent to let me overtake your score then simply lend these to me with an open hear-'

Before realizing Kou's movement, Futaba found herself cornered against the wall by Kou's lean frame and his hands effectively blocked all possible escape routes. 'What's with that careless talk, Futaba? Making casual suggestions like going over to a guy's house, haven't I warned you before about your status as a girl, you ought to be more wary?' The overwhelming close proximity and Kou's scratchy voice made Futaba's mind go pleasantly blank and she unconsciously reached her hand out to grab onto his sleeve.

'Kou, you're doing this again. Stop it, I trust Kou and I'm not -'

'You're right, I don't wish to hurt you but I could. Nobody knows what could happen, don't go around with complacent thoughts thinking you'd be regarded like a princess and -'

'That's not what I MEANT!' Futaba's shout rang through the deserted corridor and students who stayed behind after school poked their heads out of the classrooms to watch the commotion. 'Even if Kou thinks I have a horrid voice or a princess personality, or am just complacent and never thinks for people around herself - I'm not like that! I want Kou to work hard too, and I don't want you to work hard by yourself. You may not regard me as a friend, but I want to help you nonetheless!' Kou winced at Futaba's sudden outburst and felt a pang of regret for his careless words. Maybe he went a little too far this time. 'And I meant that I'd go over with everyone else, at the very least I know Kou would not enjoy my singular company!' At that last sentence, she threw her fist half-heartedly at Kou to push him back then turned to run away.

He instinctively reached out to grab on to Futaba but she was already out of his reach, and he watched her run down the halls helplessly. Like a deflating balloon, he lets out a long sigh and let her angry words repeat in his mind.

Contrary to her own presumptions, he never said he hated her voice. He liked the contagious happiness that gets to him whenever she spoke and the girlish tone that never sounded deliberate but naturally charming. He'd give anything to have the chance to hear that voice now.

-End of chapter 4-

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To my readers:

When I read through Ao Haru Ride I often wondered why there was never like a real outburst from Futaba. (I would have?) I thought it would be interesting to watch Futaba fight her own stand against Kou and his dubious intentions. I believe Kou is gentle at heart, but his actions often depict otherwise as a cover. So most of time I watch Kou and Futaba's relationship the way I watch a yo-yo swing - even at the low points I believe they will gain momentum and move forward once more. So this was a slightly experimental plot, hope you'd like it too.