Right, back on track, finally. Updates will be slow, especially over the following month. Exams are a bitch to deal with. This chapter occurs on chapter 19 of the manga. On another note there's a manga called Unbalance x Unbalance, something I recently discovered by accident. The main character, Jin-Ho, has a similar attitude to this fic's Junichi: kind of an ass in some areas but nice enough, unless you push him too far, and isn't afraid to be affectionate with his girlfriend (waggles eyebrows)…but first… a flashback…

Some Common Sense Chapter 6: My First Swimming Session With My Girlfriend

Four years ago…

Dark clouds overshadowed the town, and it looked like it was about to rain. A dreary autumn day that drives many people to stay inside.

This was not the case for two individuals. One was down on one knee, panting out breath after breath, his auburn hair overshadowing his eyes. The other stood a few feet from him, a small bruise on his cheek from a lucky blow but otherwise wasn't worse for wear. His blue eyes were narrowed at the taller boy.

"You going to listen now?" the blue eyed boy asked.

"Damn you." the auburn haired boy snarled, but made no move to continue the fight the two had been waging for the past ten minutes. The taller boy who was down on his knee had underestimated his foe, and had been beaten soundly for it.

"I did tell you that your anger would lead to bad places, and now look at you." The shorter of the two walked forwards, crossing his arms. "You keep getting angry at people you'll pick a fight with the wrong guy, like you did today. Lucky for you I'm willing to help."

"How the hell can you help me? Nobody else tried." The redhead snarled.

"That's exactly why I'm offering." The foe answered. "Listen, I know dealing with rage is difficult, I've been there as well. So I know from experience how hard it is." He stepped forward. "So maybe I can help you where others have failed, ne?" he extended a hand. "If you want my help… then take my hand. If you don't want to, fine, but know that the offer's always open." Then his eyes turned hard. "But if your anger leads you to harming innocent people, know full well that I will stop you."

The redhead glared at the shorter boy. The little shit who always had a goddamn smile on his goddamn face. Hard to believe he was a year older. Even so, the redhead knew that the bastard before him could definitely back his words up. The redhead sighed, and slowly took the opponent's hand.

"Thank you. Name's Hachi by the way. Hachi Tanaka."

"…Junichi."

Present…

Junichi groaned. The weather was horrendous today. The sun beat down on him with the force of a hammer on an anvil. His bishonen friend was calmly lapping at an ice cream which he had brought from an ice cream truck recently. Hachi would occasionally moan with contentment just to annoy Junichi.

"Will you quit that?" he growled. Hachi winked at him, poking his tongue out. Junichi sighed.

"So, you think this Ranko girl has it out for you?" Hachi asked. Junichi nodded, "Yeah, I have no idea what her problem is. Maybe she's overprotective."

"From what you described it seems to be just a bit more than just that." Hachi mused. "Look, so long as you don't let Ranko get to you, there shouldn't be an issue, unless she gets violent. If she does, be careful and only use the non-violent techniques that sensei taught us. If you hurt Ranko you hurt Yukana and that's a no-no."

"Yeah, like I need to know that." Junichi grouched. Hachi smiled, "Hey, no need to be angry. Yukana obviously cares about you, maybe she even loves you, and I can tell that you reciprocate those feelings." Junichi blushed. "Damn, you really are smitten. Maybe those perverts you keep around are actually good for something."

"Hm." Junichi grunted.

"In other news, I hear there's going to be a small card gaming session at a nearby game store. It's Yugioh." Hachi pointed out.

"Huh, I haven't played in a while. I need to break out some of my decks again. I've been meaning to try out my Monarch deck."

"Yeah, and my Cyber Dragon deck hasn't seen the light of day for a while. What about your Ancient Gear deck?"

"Eh, it's pretty good, but I want to try out the new stuff. It doesn't include that crappy XYZ stuff right?" Junichi asked.

"No, it's just the classics."

"Good." Both settled down into comfortable silence, until Hachi spoke up again, "For more immediate stuff, I hear that pool place is opening, want to look? I think the Trio is going as well."

"Oh, wow. The Perverted Trio at a pool with several bikini clad women in the vicinity. Wonder if they'll either faint from a nosebleed or faint from a real life women talking to them." Hachi giggled at Junichi's musing.

"I guess we'll find out. I wonder if Yukana will be there." He wondered.

"Oh, please, what are the chances of that happening?"

"…You just jinxed yourself, you know that right?"

"Oh, come on, as if we'll actually meet Yukana-san at the pool because I—"

00000000

"—Am never tempting fate again." Junichi finished glumly on the next day. Yukana and Ranko stood there, both clad in revealing swimsuits which left very little to the imagination. Junichi wore a pair of navy swimming trunks, while Hachi wore purple ones and a pair of large goggles over his eyes. Junichi looked back, and noticed that the three perverts who had been behind him mere moments ago were unsurprisingly absent.

'On any other day I'd be legitimately impressed that they managed to vacate the area fast enough to be out of sight in just a few short seconds but right now… I'm just even more annoyed with them. So much for a guy's day at the pool.' He sighed. "Hey, Yukana-san. I didn't expect you to be here." Hachi sent a smug look at Junichi for a few seconds, not affected by the glare he got in return and then turned to the girls. Ranko was standing there with an arched brow, while Yukana was staring at Junichi with a slight blush on her cheeks.

'He's ripped.' She observed.

"At least it's a surprise of the pleasant type. Hello Yame-san, hello cute-tanned-girl-whose-name-I-don't-know!" Hachi waved in a cheery manner. Ranko arched a brow while Yukana giggled, "I think he might be your type, Ranko." She said. "You always said you liked the cute ones." Ranko looked Hachi—who decided to flex his muscles, and there more than one would think—up and down, smiling appreciatively.

"Not bad, not bad at all. But I have another type." She informed Hachi in an apologetic voice. Her eyes glanced left for a moment, seemingly locking on Junichi before going back to Hachi. The androgynous boy snapped his fingers, "Darn. Oh, well!" he then marched off to the slides. "I'm off, see you later!" Junichi glared after him, knowing that Hachi was leaving him there with the girls because he found it funny. He sighed and turned, and jumped back, for Ranko had gotten all up in his face.

"So, Virgin-kun," she started. Junichi's eyebrow twitched at the name. That better not be a thing. "Fancy seeing you here." Junichi rolled his eyes and turned to Yukana.

"So, you want to do anything? I usually swim a few laps first but if you want me around—"

"No, no, it's fine. Don't let me bother you. If I want to do something with you, I'll call you over." Yukana answered with a smile. Junichi nodded and as he walked away he saw Hachi in the distance, making whipping motions. After shooting his best friend the finger, Junichi dove in, gliding through the water in an arc before resurfacing. He swam around the outer edge of the pool, his eyes and nose above the water.

He didn't notice Yukana staring at him from where she was lying on her stomach as he swam around. Yukana knew Junichi exercised, but damn! She had dated a few big burly guys in the past, at least until Ranko frightened them off, but Junichi was lither than them, and didn't look like he took steroids since he was twelve years old.

As Junichi got closer, Yukana took the opportunity to eat as much eye candy as possible. Her eyes took in every single rippling cord of muscle in his arms and legs, and on the rare occasion Junichi floated belly up, she hungrily looked at the six bulges on his stomach.

Yep, this one's a keeper. She would have been satisfied if he was of average fitness because he was really nice to her, but she would be lying if she said that his body wasn't a plus. When he was right next to her she couldn't hold herself back anymore.

"Hey, Junichi, could you come over here for a second, I need your help?" she was going to enjoy this. Junichi nodded and lifted himself up out of the water, shaking his arms and legs much to Yukana's appreciation. He walked over to her, tilting his head.

"Yeah?" he asked. Yukana looked up at him from her position and grinned wolfishly, "Could you rub lotion onto my back please?" she asked. Junichi gave her a flat look. He got called over for that?

"Couldn't Ranko-san do it for you?" he asked. Almost on cue he looked at Ranko to find that she was also lying on her stomach… without her bra. She grinned at him, "Do me too, Virgin-kun."

'Oh, that's just cruel.' He thought. "Do you have to take your top off like that? This is a public pool, there are children around!" he yelled at her. Yukana pouted at Ranko, and silently shoved the lotion she was holding into Junichi's grasp. She lied down on her stomach, undoing her own bra.

"Do me too, please." She requested with a blush. Ranko's smile very nearly split her head in two.

'Oh, hell yes! Free viewing, and I didn't have to trick Yukana into stripping for me this time!' she cheered internally. Junichi realized that he wasn't getting out of this one and decided squeeze some lotion out.

"If I touch anywhere I'm not supposed to, don't go all Pervert Revenge Mode and slap me around, alright? Just tell me to stop." He asked. He kneeled down and after some deliberation focused his efforts on Ranko first. Save the best for last, right? Ranko seemed to enjoy the attention and moaned appreciatively.

"Oh, my…" she groaned. "Your hands are heavenly." Junichi gave her a flat look, 'Really? Here, now?' he thought in exasperation. As he kept spreading the lotion Ranko moaned louder, drawing attention.

"Harder, dear. Harder!" she demanded. Junichi scowled, but then smiled evilly.

"If you insist." He sniggered, before chopping her none-too-gently on the head.

"Ow!" Ranko whined. Junichi poked her cheek, "If you keep making those noises then you'll be applying your own frigging lotion, ya hear?" he settled back to work without a word before moving to Yukana. "Right, Yukana-san, same deal, I touch anywhere bad, you tell me, okay?" he then set to work. Yukana squeaked as his hands contacted her bare back. It wasn't an orgasmic feeling like a massage or something like that, but the sensation was pleasant enough to make Yukana tremble. She held onto her mouth, careful not to let any noise out.

Junichi didn't notice this as he was too focused on what he was doing.

Ranko did notice, and she hated Junichi for it.

On the other side of the pool, the Perverted Trio noticed, and they glared at Junichi in jealousy.

Hachi noticed just as he entered the slide, having watched the scene for a few seconds before entering the slide. He laughed like a maniac as he went down.

Junichi, having felt that he was done, wiped the excess lotion on his own arms, tied up the knot on Yukana's bra and then stood up.

"Welp, that was awkward as fuck. I'm off." He declared. Yukana quickly got up to follow him, "Wait!" she called. She jogged up to him, careful not to slip on the wet floor. "Want to go on the slides?" she suggested, using her usual tactic of pressing her chest against Junichi's arm. Junichi looked at the slides, and faintly heard the ghostly echo of Hachi's laughter along with the sound of a cracking whip.

"…I'd rather not." He said. Yukana didn't seem content to take no for an answer and dragged him along, gripping him firmly all the while.

"I'll go back to the towels, lie in the sun for a bit, I like to keep my tan." Ranko excused herself, shooting a glare when the duo's back was turned.

00000000

"Could you let go? This is awkward." Junichi asked. Yukana shook her head, "Nope, I have to make sure you come with!" she most certainly did not grab a hold of him purely because she liked the feel of his muscular arm, no, certainly not.

It was a pity the slide queue was short, as she was seriously enjoying this, but she had to have her turn on the slide.

Oh… she had an idea.

"Junichi, slide down with me!" she requested. Junichi sighed and sat down behind her. He wrapped his arms around her tight enough to maintain a grip. Yukana suppressed a squeal. Junichi eyed the yawning expanse of the tunnel before them before the green light flashed. The two slid down, with Yukana whooping and Junichi cracking a smile. They went around a corner which led to them becoming almost horizontal as they slid to the right, before settling back down to the centre of the slide. More twists and turns, and then finally a steep part where there was a light.

"Hold on!" Junichi hollered, gripping her harder. They both dropped into the water below, spluttering as they resurfaced. Junichi and Yukana's feet barely touched the floor, and so had to kick their legs to stay afloat. "Well, I can't say that hasn't been fun but—hey are you okay?" Junichi asked. Yukana was blushing bright red, and her arms were wrapped around herself. "Hey, what's wrong? Did you hurt yourself?" Junichi asked in a panic.

"It slipped off." Yukana said.

"Eh?" Junichi titled his head in confusion.

"My top, it slipped off." Yukana gulped. Junichi blushed, realizing why Yukana was clutching her chest so tightly. He swam over to her and hugged her tight, guiding her away from the slide. "Hey, don't get so grabby!" Yukana protested.

"I'm not, we need to get away from the slide so nobody falls on us. Now where did it—aha." He saw something red floating a few feet away and after making sure Yukana was covering herself, he swam over to get it. After hurrying back he presented it to her, "Here." Yukana took it quickly before rushing over to a corner and sinking down as low as she could without dunking her head beneath the water.

She marched back, her face expressionless.

"We mention this to nobody." She decided.

"Agreed," Junichi replied in a flat voice. They both left the small pool and decided to sit down on a bench. Junichi settled back, sighing. "Well, that was a ride, in more ways than one." He said.

"Mm-hmm." Yukana nodded in agreement, yawning. Junichi looked over to her, "Late night?" he said.

"No, it's just been a hectic day." Yukana shook her head. She leaned on Junichi's shoulders, breathing deeply.

"Oi, no falling asleep please," Junichi warned. Yukana yawned and lifted herself off Junichi's side, "I think it's the heat, it's making me drowsy." She said. Junichi wasn't sure if there was a hint but it was best to play things safe.

"I'll go get some ice cream, cool us both down." He offered. The sparkles in Yukana's eyes informed him of her opinion of that decision. He chuckled and after retrieving his wallet from underneath his towel he jogged over to a nearby stand.

He wasn't sure what to get so he just went with two vanillas, however when he turned around…

"Hey, there, Virgin-kun." Ranko grinned at him. Junichi yelped and in his panic dropped one of the ice creams, which landed on Ranko's chest. She squeaked as the cold dessert dripped all over her.

"Oh, crap, sorry!" Junichi whipped his head around, spotting some paper towels. He grabbed some and handed the ice cream to Ranko. He started wiping away the ice cream before he realized what he was doing. He looked up, Ranko was arching a brow.

"You like?" she asked. Junichi's brain chose a bad moment to short-circuit because Yukana came around the corner. Due to the angle she was standing from it looked like Junichi was groping Ranko. Her face went from shocked, to betrayed to thunderous, and she turned around to storm off.

"Oh, shit! Wait, Yukana-san, wait up!" he dashed away, following his girlfriend. Ranko stared after him, a thoughtful look on her face.

'Well, that worked out nicely. Didn't even need to seduce him.' She eyed the ice cream still in her hand. She looked up at the corner Junichi dashed around.

Nah. She took a lap from the ice cream and went off on her merry way.

00000000

"Yukana-san, wait up!" Junichi ran after Yukana, eating up the distance between them. She continued to stomp away before coming to a sudden stop. Junichi barely managed to halt his own momentum to stop himself from crashing right into her. Yukana turned around, her emerald eyes flashing dangerously.

"You…" she growled. On any other day Junichi would have found her expression cute, now it was downright terrifying. "You goddamn adulterer!" she hammered her fists on his arms, not hurting him a lot though. "I hate you, you're the worst! Why'd you grope Ranko!?"

"I didn't grope her, I was cleaning ice cream off her chest!" Junichi yelled back.

"Why we're you doing that? Why did you need to clean her in the first place!?" Yukana snapped.

"She jumped me from behind and I spilled ice cream over her. I was on automatic pilot and started cleaning her before I realized what I was doing. Believe me, I was just as shocked as you were!" Junichi explained in a hurry.

"How can I know you were telling the truth?" Yukana crossed her arms in a huff. Junichi held up the paper towels in reply, handing them to Yukana.

"I wasn't lying." Junichi told her. "I already told you there's nobody else but you. I'm seeing nobody but you, understand?" Yukana looked at the tissues for a few seconds before looking up at Junichi.

"But… but…" she said. Junichi groaned, "Gah, Yukana, for god's sake. I fell for you damn it, it's not like I'll be going after any other woman, this isn't a harem anime." He said in exasperation. Yukana blinked, she blinked again, and then she started to blush.

"What did you just say?" she asked. Junichi frowned, "About the harem anime—"

"No, no, no… the fell for me part?" Yukana elaborated. Junichi blinked, he blinked again, and then he started to blush as well.

"Uh… I…" he stammered. Yukana's eyes were sparkling, hope etched on her expression.

"Could you say it again, please?" she breathed. Junichi sighed, "I don't know if it's too early or whatever, we've only been dating for nearly two months, but yeah… I think I love you." He confessed. 'I'm going to get smacked in the face, aren't I?' Yukana blushed, and made a high pitched noise. Junichi assumed this was the infamous squee.

"I love you too, Junichi! You clumsy baka!" she hugged him tightly. He grunted from the sudden impact, but eventually he returned the hug, smiling.

'Thank god she believed me.' He thought. Yukana leaned back, smiling sultrily at him, "You realize I'm still hot, right?" she asked.

"How's that new? You're hot all the time." Junichi joked, getting a playful slap on the shoulder.

"Temperature hot, Junichi. You spilled one ice cream and Ranko probably ate the other one. What will you do?" she asked.

"I can buy another one, but I only have enough money for one." Junichi warned. Yukana grinned, a flush appearing on her cheeks, "That's alright," she assured, balancing on her toes to whisper into her boyfriend's ear, "We can share."

"Ooh." was Junichi's intelligent reply. He let Yukana lead him away, neither of them noticing the angry glare of a certain tanned girl.

"Damn you, bastard." She growled underneath her breath. "Whatever it takes, I'll break you two up, and Yukana will be mine!" she wasn't aware that she was also being watched. Hachi leaned against a nearby wall, grinning at the scene.

'Well, well, well. The plot thickens.' He grinned, showing sharp teeth that looked more like the teeth of a vampire.

Woo, that took me longer than expected. Now we can get to the climax of the Ranko arc I think. I knew I had to work in a confession scene somewhere, and without the leg cramping incident in the manga which lead to the compromising position Yukana found Ranko and Junichi in I knew I had to do something a bit different. I hope this was a suitable substitute. Also, as mentioned above, updates may be slow, well, they already are but at least I have an excuse this time that isn't laziness and writer's block!

I'll just see myself out. Roll the 'next time' please

Next time on Some Common Sense: A realization made, an impasse reached, and a fight for love…

Junichi Hashiba

Vs.

Ranko Honjo