Chapter 4
::Taka::
"Can I talk to him on my own for a bit, Miaka?" I ask. Miaka nods and skips off to look at a sweet shop. Nuriko and I head to the park and sit down on a bench. He leans off it and I'm just glad it's bolted down. The whole situation is very awkward.
"So..." he says.
"So..." I say. I look at him and shake my head. "All those jokes. God. I never thought..."
"It's okay, Taka," Nuriko says, calmly. He squeezes my hand. I flinch then relax.
"Sorry," I apologise.
"I can't blame you for being so freaked out," Nuriko says. There is a pause.
"How can you afford it?" I ask. "It'd be so expensive."
"I got a loan," Nuriko sighs.
"Where from?" I ask.
"A bank. I had to try about four." A tear makes its way down Nuriko's cheek. "They wouldn't give me a loan when they heard what it was for. I'd had enough by the forth bank. I said I wanted a holiday. They gave me the loan then, no problem."
"You could've asked us," I say, awkwardly.
"I was too embarrassed. And you couldn't afford it, I didn't want to be a strain on you or come begging," Nuriko explains, sadly. I hug him awkwardly.
"You're not. We would help you, you're one of us, remember?" I ask. He nods, looking unconvinced. "Always," I say, firmly. "Come on, didn't everything turn out okay in this life? You're dating Hotohori after all this time."
"True..." Nuriko says.
"What does he think?" I ask.
"I haven't told him yet," he replies. I do a double-take.
"You're telling Miaka and I before your boyfriend?" I ask, in surprise.
"I don't know how I'll tell him, I really don't," Nuriko wails.
"He loves you. I'd accept Miaka, no matter what. He's the same, right?" I say. Nuriko nods.
"You're right. You have to be," he says.
"So, when are you going to tell him?" I ask.
"After Tasuki and Chiriko. The others know. Well, in the case of Mitsukake and Chichiri, that's because of their jobs. Mits is doing the surgery," Nuriko replies.
"Then you couldn't be in better hands," I reply. He nods.
"I'd better go," he says.
"Why?" I ask.
"Now that you've taken it so well, I'm going to tell Tasuki," he says.
"Why not wait a bit?"
"The surgery is next week. Mitsukake pulled a few strings. I have to tell them all as soon as possible, before I change my mind."
And with that, he was gone.