Author's Note [1]: Thank you for the review, Day, and I'm glad you like it! The age difference isn't too much; they're only 3-4 years apart.
Author's Note [2]: Things will get subtly sexual at the end, fair warning!
After weeks of avoiding him, Haninozuka Mitsukuni had managed to bring Yayoi to the empty music room. He went to her club and used his cuteness to sweet talk the captain of the archery team to let him have Yayoi, to which the captain said "yes" in a matter of seconds. It explained why Yayoi sat quietly with tea in her grasp and clad in her sweat stained archery attire. Hani was by her side, chomping down cake after cake.
"Do you love Chika?"
She bit her lip, hands hugging the teacup.
"If I had told you 'I loved you' first, then would you have stayed with me?"
Yayoi shakily placed the cup down. She bit her lip. "No."
Mitsukuni moved, having his face a centimeter away from hers.
...
Haninozuka Yasuchika breathed heavily, as he quietly closed the door shut without much of a small click. He was red with anger, and he stomped away.
They had dared to go behind his back!
...
"I'm sorry, Mitsukuni-kun."
...
After the conversation with Hani, Tachibana Yayoi also realized the warm feelings she held for Yasuchika, so she decided to confess to him and return his one-sided love.
Yayoi reached Yasuchika's classroom. She had planned to invite him to a small dinner at her place, since her parents were not home, and tell him of her love for him then.
A girl greeted Yayoi, looking her up and down suspiciously. "Who are you, and what do you want?"
"Good afternoon. I'm Tachibana Yayoi, and I'm looking for Haninozuka Yasuchika-kun."
"What's your relation to him?"
"I'm a friend." She wasn't sure if Yasuchika had informed his classmates of the news yet.
"Well, he's not here."
"Do you know when he'll be back?"
"Who knows. He's with a teacher."
"Then, is it alright if I wait here?"
"It's not my classroom; do whatever you like."
She smiled gratefully. "Thank you. I'm sorry to have bothered you."
...
Haninozuka Yasuchika never went back to class.
...
Lately, Morinozuka Satoshi was feeling happy for the couple. Yasuchika was finally winning the feelings of the Tachibana girl, and she didn't seem to mind; however, when he reached his classroom after practice, he felt a surge of frustration and anger.
"Yayo-nee, what are you still doing here?" Satoshi inquired.
Yayoi pushed herself from the wall that she had leaned on. "Oh, Satoshi-kun. I'm waiting for Yasuchika-kun."
"What?"
"Yes, I was planning on asking him to dinner."
"Yasuchika left hours ago! You should've left, too! How long have you waited?!" Satoshi stood in front of her.
"I-I don't know."
...
Haninozuka Yasuchika felt guilty about leaving Yayoi at the hallways in front of his classroom. He believed she would leave once all his classmates had gone home. She wasn't stupid enough to stay until he arrived. He punched the tile wall. She was.
He got out of the shower, as he received a phone call on his cellphone. He went over and picked it up to see Satoshi's name. Reluctantly, he answered. "Thank you for getting my school bag. I'm sorry for the inconvenience," he started. "I'll buy you lunch."
"Yeah, you're welcome," Satoshi replied. "Hey."
"What?"
"You knew Yayo-nee was waiting for you, didn't you?"
Yasuchika didn't reply. He lay on his bed and had his other arm drape over his eyes.
"You idiot! She waited well past club hours to ask you to dinner!"
"Does it matter?"
"Does it matter? Of course it does, you -"
"She loves him."
...
Haninozuka Mitsukuni left his room to see Yasuchika in front of his door. He wanted a late night snack, but he found his schedule to be delayed by his younger brother. Noticing Yasuchika tremble and stare angrily at him, Hani realized the topic that would ensue.
"It's not fair!" Yasuchika declared.
Hani only studied the boy.
"You... You have everything that I want," he said. "Your strength in karate, your respect from the club members, and your bravery to have cute objects around you.
Aren't those enough? Can't I have a romantic relationship with someone I loved since long ago? It's not fair! Why must you also take her from me?
This one thing. Is it possible for me to have? You have already taken much from me the day you were born. And, if she chooses you, I will have lost everything.
I love her, Mitsukuni-niichan."
...
The next few days, Tachibana Yayoi never saw Yasuchika at school. So, on the weekend, she went to visit the Haninozuka household. She called, but she was informed that Yasuchika was feeling ill. Thus, she worried and came over immediately with porridge, side dishes, and herbal medicine.
She was brought to the room of Yasuchika. The maid knocked. "Yasuchika-sama, Yayoi-sama is here to see you."
"Come in."
The maid opened the door and allowed Yayoi entrance. She closed it once Yayoi had her whole body in the room.
"Yasuchika-kun, good afternoon."
Yasuchika lay in bed, reading a new novel without his glasses. His attention remained on the book, so Yayoi decided to move over to his mattress and sit by him.
"I was told you were feeling nauseous. Do you have a fever?" She reached a hand to his forehead, but Yasuchika grabbed her wrist. "Yasu-Yasuchika-kun?"
He had placed his book to the side, and he pinned Yayoi on the bed as he straddled her. With a clouded vision, he began to kiss her neck. His hand went under her blouse and he pushed it upwards.
Yayoi was startled, but for some odd reason she hesitantly wrapped her arms around him and whispered, "I-I love you, Yasuchika-kun, so tell me: what-what's wrong."
Yasuchika halted his movements. He looked to her frightened expression, and his hands stopped.
"Yasuchika-kun?"
Tears appeared in his eyes. "Yayo-nee," he murmured. "Yayo-nee, I love you. I love you."