Hey! Yep, here's another chapter! Just one thing before you start reading. Most of the characters' names in this are pretty easy to pronounce and basically said as written or how you'd think they'd be said, but Chieko is pronounced 'Chee-eck-oh'. One of my friends pronounced it wrong today so before my mind goes crazy I just have to set it straight! XD
'Hey, Chieko. Chie (pronounced 'Chee-é')? CHIEKO!'
'Huh? Oh. Hi, Ushio,' said Chieko, looking up from his work and brushing a strand of deep-red hair from his face. 'You okay?'
Ushio sighed. 'Come on, Chieko, you've been working so hard. You barely noticed me just then.' She flopped down into her seat and began tapping her pencil on the desk. Chieko sat up straight and gazed over at her.
'Sorry, but this is really important, Ush.'
'How? Really, you say I'm smarter than you. Okay, fine, so what if I am? You'll easily pass these exams without any revision. It's not like you're not smart enough for this set or something.'
'I can't just memorise stuff like you. I have to revise.'
Ushio went quiet for a minute, staring at her desk, and Chieko just watched her in silence. The only sound between them was the tapping of Ushio's pen.
'You didn't answer my question,' Ushio said suddenly, still staring absent-mindedly at her desk and leaning back in her chair. 'How is this so important? Who cares if you fail them? Sure, you'll get moved down a set. But we can still be best friends. We can still hang out at lunch, break, after school... so what's the problem?'
For a minute or two, there was no response. Just silence. Ushio thought that Chieko must be thinking it over, and that he was going to come to his senses and agree. She was wrong.
'Ushio.' said Chieko, suddenly and quietly. Ushio sat up properly and turned to look at him.
'Yes?'
'I'm revising so much because I can't not be in the same set as you. I wouldn't be able to bear it. You're my best and only friend at this school, and not being in the same class as you... it would be horrible. Just, please let me keep revising, and I'll pass the exams, and then I promise you I'll stop. Please.'
Ushio sat there and blinked. Chieko's answer was completely unexpected, and she couldn't help but be slightly surprised but also happy at his response. It was lovely to have a friend like that.
'Okay, fine... but only on one condition.' It was originally going to be two, but she decided at the last second not to bother him with the other one.
'And what would that be?' grinned Chieko. It was fantastic to see his old self back, even for only a few minutes.
'Next semester, for being such a jerk, you have to join the Drama club.'
Chieko laughed, and his face lit up. 'Alright, alright. I will. I promise. Anyway, lesson's starting. Thanks, Ushio.'
'No,' whispered Ushio as the teacher began talking, 'thank you.'
She wasn't sure if Chieko heard her or not.
'Hey, Ijiri.' said Ushio. She walked up beside him and smiled up at him.
'Oh, hey, Okazaki,' replied Kentaro, looking down at her. He hadn't been waiting long, just watching everyone else as they walked out of the gates and towards their homes. 'So... what do you wanna do?'
'We could just walk around the school campus, if you'd like. It's still open because of all the after school clubs, like netball and football...'
'Oh yeah! That sounds fine to me,' agreed Kentaro with a smile, even though he was sort of disappointed at not being able to go into town with her or something like that.
They began wandering in no particular direction. For a few minutes, Ushio just enjoyed being in the company of a friend in silence, listening to the sounds around them. It seemed like it had been ages since she had been with any other friends like she was now, and she decided to savour the moment. Eventually, though, Kentaro felt that he just had to say something; he was becoming slightly uncomfortable.
'So, Okazaki, who's this best friend of yours who's ignoring you at the moment?' he asked.
'Oh, you mean Chieko? It's okay now, we've sorted it out.' replied Ushio, staring at the route ahead.
'Chieko?' Kentaro couldn't help but laugh a little. 'But that's a boys' name!'
Ushio glanced up at him confusedly. 'Yeah, what's so funny about that? What, you thought girls could only be best friends with girls?'
Kentaro suddenly stopped walking and looked down at Ushio embarrassedly. 'Oh, er, I'm sorry- wait. Your best friend's a boy?!' What if he likes her too?! He thought. He suddenly felt panicked.
'Yes, Chieko Mitsuharu, but hey, so what if he's a boy?! Stop being like this, Ijiri, I don't like it much.' said Ushio angrily. She didn't understand what his problem was, and she couldn't see his feelings for her yet.
'No, no, I don't mean it like that, it's just...'
'It's just what?'
'Nothing. I'm sorry, Okazaki, I really didn't mean to upset you.'
'I'm not upset,' muttered Ushio. She may not have been upset, but she was annoyed. 'Anyway, yeah, we sorted it out. I understand why he's been spending so much time working and studying now. And guess what? He promised to join the Drama club next semester!'
'What?!' Cried Kentaro. He really was panicking in his mind now. He might like her... but... it seems like she likes him too! He thought. In fact, it didn't, but that was the way Kentaro's mind was working, turning like cogs in his head.
'Yeah, I know, it's awesome right?' smiled Ushio, misinterpreting his response. They were walking again, and she couldn't see his face, so she thought that his reply was out of excitement. 'It was part of him making up to me for being such a jerk and not telling me why he had to study so much, and ignoring me, and you know, all that. I was also gonna get him to come to town this weekend with me, but since exams are next week I thought it would be too much of a weight for him to carry.'
'Oh... er... I could come with you to town this weekend, if you want.' said Kentaro, seeing an opportunity. Ushio looked at him as though evaluating him - she was still slightly annoyed and confused at his reaction to Chieko.
'Well...' said Ushio, trying to make a final decision, '...okay. That would be nice. I haven't been to town with anyone in a while I guess. Thanks, Ijiri.'
'No, thank you for accepting me!' Replied Kentaro happily. At least Ushio didn't seem angry at him any longer.
They continued walking in silence until they eventually came to the gates.
'Well, I gotta get home.' said Ushio, hesitating just outside the school.
'Okay Okazaki. See you tomorrow. And then, Saturday, right? So the day after too.'
'Yup. See you, Ijiri.'
'Bye, Okazaki,' said Kentaro, as Ushio began speed-walking down the sandy road. She looked over her shoulder just to see him standing there with a strange smile on his face.
To Ushio, his goodbye somehow didn't seem as special as Chieko's.
Ooooh what's goin' oooon who knoooows only meeee hehe XD
Thanks for reading again! To be continued soon!
~LilsNightlock