Six.
Rikuo and Kana were walking along the school corridor, carrying piles of papers. Yura was walking a few feet in front of them, holding her own portion of papers. The three walked in a somewhat comfortable silence- well to Rikuo maybe who didn't notice the blushing Kana beside him, and instead was looking at Yura's back with a victorious grin and Yura who had an annoyed look.
Flashback…
During lunch break…
'I'll tell him today… I'll confess to him…' Kana thought to herself as she walked towards a relaxed Rikuo.
"Rikuo-kun… um… the teacher asked me to get some documents from the faculty room. Would you please come with me?" a blushing Kana asked.
"Hm? Sure thing Kana-chan." He said with a smile. Kana stifled a squeal of delight.
Rikuo turned behind him. "Oi, Yura, lets go." He said as he stood. Yura raised a brow at him as she looked up from the book she was reading. Kana looked confused as she looked at Rikuo then at Yura, then Rikuo again.
"Why? Ienaga-san called you, not me…" she said in an annoyed tone as he had disturbed her reading. Rikuo rolled his eyes at her.
"Well, duh, your my body guard aren't you? You're supposed to stay by my side. If you don't, what will happen if I get attacked?" Rikuo said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Yura glared at him. "I'm sure you can take care of yourself Nura-kun. You've proved that last week when Tamazuki-sempai and Inugami-sempai attacked you in public." She said as she remembered how Rikuo had beaten those two up by himself.
"Yeah, I was pretty amazing huh." Rikuo grinned. "But I got injured...Well, I would have been able to beat them without being injured. Unfortunately, someone just decided to jump in during the heat of the battle, and thanks to that, I injured my wrist. What if someone suddenly attacks and I can't fight with my injured wrist?" he added triumphantly. His grin grew as Yura's brow twitched.
"Fine." She frowned and stood up to join him. Rikuo stifled a laugh. Of course he could still beat anyone who tried to attack him even with his injury, but no way was he telling Yura that. Sure, the attack last week with Tamazuki was really meant for him, but he still wanted to keep a close eye on Yura, just in case there was another attack. For some reason, he didn't like it when she was not near him.
Kana looked dejected as she led the two out of their class room.
End of Flashback…
That had happened a few minutes ago. And now the three were heading back to the classroom.
Finally, Kana took a deep breath and stopped walking. Rikuo seeing that his companion was no longer beside him stopped walking and looked at her from his side.
"Rikuo-kun? Theres something I need to say to you." a fidgety Kana looked the teen beside her.
Rikuo raised a handsome brow at her. "Sure. Is something wrong Kana-chan?" he asked. Yura who heard them stopped walking as well and looked at the two.
"Ah…well… I wanted to talk to you in private…but…" Kana looked at Yura. "In private? Is it really important?" Rikuo asked. Kana nodded in return. Yura took it as an excuse to get away from Rikuo. Lately, she was feeling funny when she was near him for too long.
"I'll be heading back ahead then." Yura said as she hurriedly left with a triumphant grin. Rikuo quickly turned to look at her departing form quickly.
"Oi! Yura! I didn't say you could leave!" he yelled but the girl was out of sight. He frowned and muttered a few words about scolding her, and then looked back at Kana. "Sorry, anyways, what do you want to ask?" he tried not to sound impatient.
Kana's face was beat red. Rikuo's eyes softened. "Are you feeling sick, Kana-chan?" he asked. Kana furiously shook her head. "N-no… its just… Rikuo-kun… I… I…" Kana closed her eyes.
Rikuo raised a brow. Kana took a deep breath"I LO-"
"Young master!" Kana was interrupted midway as the cheerful voice of one of Rikuo's attendants rang in their ears.
The two turned to see Tsurara who was bouncing towards them with her usual smile. Kana's jaw dropped.
"Tsurara, what's up?" Rikuo asked. "I was just checking up on you, young master. You two should hurry up to, classes are about to start." She said as she looked at Kana who had paled. "Ah, really, thanks. Kana-chan, just tell me later alright. Lets go. I need to check up on Yura." Rikuo said as he turned to leave.
At the mention of the other girls name, the two looked at him with shocked eyes. "Yura-chan?" Kana choked out. She froze as a lot of things entered her mind. 'Does Rikuo-kun like her?'
She didn't pay any attention to Tsurara and Rikuo.
Tsurara tugged at her masters sleeve.
"Keikan-san? Did something happen to her!" Tsurara asked in a panicked tone. She was worried that the girl had gotten into some trouble. If anything bad would happen to the Keikan heiress, chaos would surely commence.
"No, nothing happened. Yet…" he said the last word in a silent whisper for Tsurara to hear. "Then why check up on her?" Tsurara asked with a confused look.
Rikuo sighed and his brow furrowed. "I just can't risk her getting into trouble when I'm not with her. What if something happened to her when she's in zero radius of my vision?" he said. 'She should be in my line of vision 24/7.' He added mentally. Tsurara sweat dropped.
'Master is really worries about a lot of people... but he himself is not worried about his own safety...' Tsurara sighed.
"I'm sure she'll be alright. She really knows how to handle herself! Ryotaneko-san and Aotabo-kun are keeping a close eye on her as well anyways, so you don't need to worry young master. You can count on me as well!" Tsurara said with a comforting smile.
Rikuo smiled. "Yeah. You're right. That girl can put up a fight of her own… Unfortunately… she's too reckless… that's why I cant help but worry for her… her recklessness just means trouble..." he added as his smile became a thin line.
'Just like you young master…' Tsurara noted mentally as she giggled.
"Well, we better get going then…" Rikuo said. "Kana-chan, lets go." Rikuo turned to the frozen girl. Tsurara looked at her. The two froze as tears suddenly formed on the side of Kana's eyes.
"Ienaga-san? Are you alright?" Tsurara asked. The girl looked at them, well, specifically at Rikuo.
"Rikuo-kun…" she started. Rikuo looked at her with a worried gaze.
Kana looked at Rikuo with determined eyes. "Rikuo-kun… I really… like you… no… I love you…" she said.
Rikuo felt frozen. His childhood friend has just confessed to him! How was he supposed to answer? Tsurara looked at her master worriedly and then at Kana. 'I wasn't expecting something like this!'
The bell had already rang signaling the start of classes, but the three didn't seem to have noticed. A very pregnant silence came over them.
Finally, Rikuo close his eyes. "Kana-chan…" he opened them again and looked at her eyes. "I'm sorry…" he said. Those first few words brought more tears to her eyes. Rikuo grit his teeth. "It's not like I don't like you or something… but… Kana-chan… I think… we should just be friends for now…" he continued. "I don't want to get you hurt… I'm being attacked constantly you know… and… I can't let them hurt you…" Rikuo cringed as he remembered the stalker incident. Kana was innocent… she shouldn't be involved in something like that…
Her next question however shook him...
"Do you like Yura-chan?" Kana suddenly asked.
Rikuo's eyes widened and so did Tsurara's. He was speechless.
'Why did she suddenly ask that!' he thought to himself. However the thought of the Keikan brought a small blush which was not very visible.
Kana bowed her head. She forced a smile on her lips. "I… I understand… I… think I'll go to the nurses office… I'm not feeling so well…" she then hurriedly left.
Rikuo felt guilt wash over him as he saw the retreating form of his friend... things were not going to be like the way they were before...
Tsurara looked sadly at the departing back of the girl then at her master. He looked so sad. She needed to do something.
"Young master! You should be getting back to your classes! The bell already rang! Keikan-san might be doing something reckless again! You must go and keep her from doing so." Tsurara said. Somehow the mention of Yura doing something reckless again brought Rikuo out of his reverie. "Yeah… I guess your right… I'll go ahead then." Rikuo said smiling as he left her.
Rihan frowned as he watched the scene while hidden behind a nearby tree together with an annoyed Kubinashi.
"How could Rikuo not answer such a simple question! All he had to do was to say yes or no! If he liked Yura-chan or not!" RIhan said as he pouted cutely. Kubinashi sighed. "Rihan… we shouldn't be here… spying on them is wrong..." he said to the current head. "And anyways, you are still not going to do anything if he answered yes or no. You are not going to meddle in…" Kubinashi gave him a warning glare. "Hmp. Your not the boss of me…" Rihan replied stubbornly and Kubinashi sighed in defeat.
"Things are just starting to become even more interesting…" Rihan said with a grin.