Manami Mori had always been an open girl – always friendly with new people, chatting to them, getting to know them.

This was the first time she ever realised something like that had been misinterpreted by someone else.

But was it Hino-san who misinterpreted? Or was it me? Maybe there was a tone to his voice that she recognized that meant something more than friendship?

Hino-san… her mind must be filled with a million thoughts like mine is right now.

Part of her wanted to go out and confront Hino-san about everything right that moment. Another part of her wanted to keep this bottled up forever, completely throw away that piece of paper with Tsuchiura-san's number on it.

She looked back to the kitchen, Takato-san and Kobayashi-san working away without any understanding what had happened, and smiled.

Either way this goes… we'll overcome this. I'm sure of it.

She headed back to finishing the vegetables and helping out where she could.


Kaho-chan… Kaho-chan deserves much better than a guy like Tsuchiura!

Kazuki was more than tempted to run out and declare his hidden feelings for Kaho-chan right then and there.

But she had kept this from me… for years. Even though we've been friends for so long, classmates, playing music together and so on… I had never noticed that this had been affecting her.

I'm a failure of a friend!

He looked towards Mori-san, the girl that had been talking to Tsuchiura and had a role in Kaho-chan falling. From the look on her face, it seems that she never meant to hurt Kaho-chan like that…

I now realise why Yunoki said girls are complicated. They really are.


The unaware Mio and Nao had heard that Kahoko had woken up, which meant they both were in a good mood.

"Kaho-chan, you didn't get enough sleep last night?"

"It looks like it…"

Kahoko had woken up and headed into the kitchen, and blinked at the mix of smells from the cooking.

"What are you guys cooking…"

"Your favourite, of course, Kaho"

They watched her face brighten up, and then had to force her to sit down.

"You don't need to help us, Kaho-chan!"

"It's all good, Kaho"


Kazuki excused himself from helping about in the kitchen and went to sit down at the dining table with Kaho. He took a careful look at her and found himself gaping slightly.

Kaho-chan… Kaho-chan looks really pretty…

"Kazuki-senpai?"

He blinked and realised that she was calling his name.

"H-hai, Kaho-chan?"

Her attempt at a smile nearly broke his heart.

I'm so going to kill that Tsuchiura the next time I see him.

"I was wondering… why… you were looking at me… like that"

He blushed.

"You… look pretty, Kaho-chan… and I…"


Nao, Mio, Mori and Nami came out to the dining room bringing meals and paused at the weird atmosphere that seemed to be encircling the dining table.

What happened while we weren't around…

"Wow, it smells really good… I'm looking forward to eating it!"


FLASHBACK…

Kazuki-senpai had blushed and told her that she was pretty. Pretty! Her? The word hadn't even come to mind when she thought to describe herself…

She hadn't been able to stop looking at him.

Pretty… if to him… I'm pretty… would he… would he accept this broken me? Would he comfort me, be there for me… would he… be the right person to help me get over Tsuchiura-kun? Could it be…?

"K-Kaho-chan…"

She slowly stood up and headed to where he was sitting. She was so close to him, she could see herself in his eyes. She could feel and hear the ragged breath coming out of her senpai's mouth, the expression changing as she was only centimeters from him. Her eyes glassed over as she felt something else take control of her; someone else controlling her voice and actions.

"Kazuki-senpai… help me, Kazuki-senpai…"

She could see his Adam's apple bobbing as he gulped and considered. Her eyes had never left his, watching his expressions, miniscule facial movements; knowing that this was all or nothing, knowing that she needed his masculinity to take charge, that in the end it was all instinct…

"K-Kaho-chan… for you… I'd do any-"

That was all she needed, as she sat in his lap and put her hands on his face, and, moments later, leaned in…


It had taken Nami just one look at the two of them to figure out something had happened.

Well, it's pretty obvious with the atmosphere around here, too…

The look on both their faces had the journalist puzzled. She had noticed Hino-san's eyes had glassed over just moments ago, but now they were back to normal. The bubbly and noisy Hihara-senpai had actually been quietened somehow, with a slight blush and expression of utter confusion, combined with a maelstrom of emotions…

Even Hino-san's emotions showed nothing of what she had experienced hours ago… and for some reason… the journalist could feel chills in her back that warned her that she shouldn't even consider finding out this scoop…


The four girls had arranged the various cooked items at the table and then sat down, saying a loud 'Itadakimasu' as they dug in to eat.

Kahoko was the first to smile as she took a spoon of the cooked items.

"Oishii!"

Mio and Nao laughed as they saw her grab more of what she had just tasted, and looked at each other before nodding.

Manami Mori was mainly looking at Kahoko, wondering if Kahoko had managed to block what had happened before, or if it had been forgotten, silently hoping that the red-haired girl wouldn't turn on her and hate her.

Manami figured she should speak up before she forgot to.

"Hino-san, about Tsuchiura-san…"

The response she got to that statement from Hino-san scared and worried her.

"Who, again?"

Nami once again had that chilling feeling along her spine as she heard Hino-san say those two words.

Something's definitely not right around here…

OOOOOOO

Author's Note:

I was going to get Mori-san to confront Kahoko about Tsuchiura in this chapter… but I figured maybe I didn't have to do that; otherwise the story would be going too quickly… =.=

What's your opinion of what happened in this chapter?