Author's note: I'm super sorry everyone for the big delay! Here's the latest chapter of Bittersweet Love story, please leave a review!

Bittersweet Love Story

"She's like a bitter sweet fruit that he can't pick yet until it has ripened…"

Chapter Seven

Their True Feelings

Today is a day-off for the Rikkaidai tennis regulars since the national championship already ended, all thanks to captain Yukimura. Marui sent a message to Miyabe to meet him this afternoon. He stayed outside the school's premises and leaned his back against the concrete wall as he pops his bubble gum (as usual) and waited for the arrival of his date or should he say, new partner in crime. They will talk about their 'mission'.

Yes, a mission. What's their mission? Make Hikari jealous. Miyabe told her yesterday that she feels that her best friend Hikari likes him and not despise him. That's what they were whispering to each other last night at the gazebo as they eat their snacks…

Miyabe leaned forwards to Marui and whispered, "You know what, I can feel that Hikari likes you."

Marui knotted his forehead and murmur his answer softly, "How can that be? She treats and avoid me like a plaque."

"She's just pretending to everyone and even to herself. I know that deep inside her she really likes you…maybe ever since you two were younger. She just hated what you did to her…when you kissed her," Miyabe spoke softly.

Marui's lips arched in a smile and then turned into a huge grin. "You think so?"

Miyabe nodded with a smile. "You want a proof?" Miyabe shot a quick glance at Hikari. Miyabe cocked her head, urging him to look back. He followed her and glanced at Hikari, she was singing with Cassie and Christine but her eyes focused on the two of them with fury eyes but when she saw him looking, she looked away. Marui averted his eyes from her and looked again at Miyabe. "See that? She's probably jealous because we're talking with each other as if we have our own world." Miyabe giggled and Hikari looked at them again with glaring eyes. Marui laughed too.

"Do you love Hikari?" Miyabe asked him, still whispering.

He stayed quiet for a while but smile eventually and answer, "Yes, I love her." Miyabe beamed at him.

"Then let's do something to make Hikari realized her true feelings…let's make her jealous." Miyabe's eyes glinted with mischief.

"Make her jealous?" he asked, his voice still soft so as Hikari won't hear them.

"Yeah, we will do that…listen carefully…" Miyabe moved closer and started whispering their plan…

That happened yesterday and this afternoon they'll continue talking about their mission. His cell phone beeped the message alert tone. The message was from Miyabe, telling him to go inside the school premises and wait for her in the tennis court.

Marui walked nonchalantly on the grounds of Hyoutei Gakuen. There were a lot of students murmuring at each other upon seeing him. There were even girls giggling at the sight him but mostly looked puzzle as to why a Rikkai regular player is inside their Academy.

He finally reached the girls tennis court and gain more attention. Everyone were looking at him.

"Marui-kun!" Cassie called him and waved at him. The captain of the girls team is together with Hikari on the upper part of bleacher. He saw her scoffed at the sight of him. With the kind of expression, he's really doubting if Miyabe's hypothesis is even true.

"Where's Miyabe?" he asked them.

"At the shower room," Hikari answered blandly at him.

"Don't worry she'll be back soon," Cassie told him.

"MARUI!" someone shouted his name. Not again! It's none other than his number one fan, the sleeping beauty of Hyoutei, Akutagawa Jirou, now fast approaching his idol.

Jirou stood in front of Marui with wide eyes. "Marui, it's really you! I can't believe that you visit Hyoutei! What are you doin here?" he just grin, he will not tell him his real motive of course, it's a top secret.

Cassie answer for him"Jirou-kun, Marui-kun is here because of your sister…they're going out on a date."

Jirous eyes grew wider. "You're dating my sister?"

Marui scratched the back of his head and nodded hesitantly.

"I can't believe it! Miyabe did not tell me about your date." Jirou whined.

"Akutagawa, I just asked her earlier this day, so maybe she just forgot to tell you about it," Marui defended Miyabe.

"Yeah, maybe you're right, Marui." Jirou smiled widely at his idol. "Marui, why don't we have a warm up match. Just for fun, until Miyabe come back!"

"A match?" Marui asked.

Jirou bobbled his head. "Just for fun. Please!" Jirou clasped his hand together while pleading at the self-proclaim tensai of Rikkai.

Marui shrugged. "Okay."

Jirou shook Marui's both hands energetically. "Thank you, Marui!" He dragged him to the empty tennis court below. The girls who were currently having practice matches gaped at the two famous serve and volley specialist.

"Oi Jirou, you two play there in the boys tennis courts. You both distract my players!" Cassie reprimanded.

"Cassie-chan, we'll just have a short match!" Jirou complained. "We will stop playing until Miyabe returns."

"Okay, fine! Do what you please!" Cassie rolled her eyes and went down to the tennis courts. "Girls, continue practicing and ignore these two. Move now or else I'll punish you all!"

"HAI!" the girls obeyed and moved in a flash. She somehow reminds her of their vice-captain Sanada, she's also scary.

"Let's start!" Jirou then served the ball.

They only had two games, and it was a tie; one game for each of them because Miyabe already arrived. After a few moments the two of them left the tennis courts.

They stroll down the street of uptown Tokyo and found themselves comfortably sitting on bench at the park while eating a cake that they bought at a nearby pastry shop.

"So let's talk about our plan," Miyabe started after munching her strawberry cake. "You must pretend that you like me and that you are courting me."

"So that includes picking you up after class and go out with you."

She held his shoulder and shook him quite hard. "You must be sweet to me, Marui-kun. We must make her jealous, we must threaten her and make her realize her true feelings. Believe me, this will work! Promise!"

"You're quite enthusiastic about this huh." He twitched.

"Of course." Miyabe stood up in front him. "I love Hikari and I want her to admit her feelings so that she can be happy. She's just suppressing her true feeling because she kept inside her mind that she hates you but in fact she really loves you. She's my best friend and I want her happiness. You also love her, don't you, Marui-kun?"

He smile at her and nodded. " I love her…ever since we were little. I treasure her so much and I was so sad when she got mad at me after I did that to her and I want our old relationship back."

"What? You want your old relationship back?" Miyabe exclaimed, her hand move up to her hips as she stare down at him. "No, no, no. Your relationship must level up, from friendship to enemies and then lovers. Don't be contented with being just a friend, Marui-kun! Come on!"Miyabe rolled her eyes.

Marui scratched his head. "You think so? Don't you think that this mission is impossible?"

Miyabe's eyes widened and held his hand. "This is not mission impossible! You're going to be great couple! Let's do our best acting and you'll see, she'll surrender to her own feelings…I know her too well, Marui-kun. I know it will happen. I'll be your partner in this mission."

He stared at her for moment. Deep inside his heart he knows that he doesn't only want friendship from Hikari. He always loved her. He sighed deeply and smile at the girl in front her. He'll do it. "Okay, partner. We'll make her surrender."

Miyabe grinned widely." You can count on me."

After their 'date' Marui walked Miyabe home and at the main door Jirou was waiting for them.

"MARUI-KUN!" Jirou enthusiastically exclaimed his idol's name. "I'm glad that you take her home. Come on don't go home yet. Let's play xbox!." Jirou tugged Marui by the arm he looked at Miyabe signaling her to save him from his enthusiastic brother but the girl just grinned at him.

"Then join us in dinner later, I will tell our chef to cook the best food!" Jirou continue tugging him to door at the left side of the living room which he guessed as the entertainment room.

"As if I have choice now that you are pulling me," Marui muttered. Inside the room were a boy who's around fourteen years old and a girl around twelve years old who's currently playing tekken using xbox.

"Rika, Hiro. We have a visitor. It's Marui-kun!" Jirou called their attention. The two younger teens stopped and looked at them.

"Ah, onii-san he is the Marui Bunta? Your idol?" the girl named Rika asked with wide eyes and run towards them.

Marui popped his green bubble gum. "Yo." He greeted them.

"Sugoi! I'm glad that I finally met you! You're really cute, Marui-nii-san!" The girl shook his hand energetically while her eyes were twinkling in delight. "I'm also your fan but I'm your number two fan."

"Onii-san is your number one fan," the boy remarked.

"I know." Marui chuckled.

"Just so you know, Marui-san is courting Miyabe," Jirou blurted out.

The younger teens widened their eyes. "Really!" they exclaimed in unison.

"Sugoi you will have a really cool boyfriend…that's really amazing," the girl said with awe.

"But condolense to you Marui-san for dating my onee-chan." the boy remarked mockingly.

Miyabe scowled at her brother and Marui sweat dropped. If they only know the real deal…

Right after dinner, they continue playing the xbox. Marui was enjoying playing with the Akutagawa siblings. They were fun to be with. All of them are enthusiastic and energetic. They were loud and they also tease and fight each other every now and then but it seems fun. He always wished to have sibling but he never had and that was why he was so fond of Hikari back then. He wanted to have a sibling to take care and play with. He sees her as a sister before but now its totally different, he love her not the way a brother should love a sister but the way a boy loves a girl.

"It's my turn Hiro," Miyabe told the younger teen.

Hiro stuck out his tongue at her. "No way, you're not even good at this game. Just sit there and relax."

"I'm not good? I'm way better than you!"

"In your dreams!" Miyabe stood up and hit Hiro's head using the pillow continuously. "Ouch! Stop it nee-chan!"

"Then let's have a match. I will crush you, Hiro."

Hiro smirked mischievously "Sure you will eat dirt." The sibling started their fight.

He laughed out loud and turn to Jirou who was sitting beside him on the couch. "Are you always like this?"

Jirou grinned widely. "Yeah, this is the way we are."

"It seems fun to have siblings."

"It's fun, super fun! You don't have siblings, right?"

"Nope."

Rika appeared in front of them. "You can be our brother. Since you're going to be nee-chan's boyfriend you are now a part of the family."

Jirou nodded in agreement. "That's right you can come over here and be our brother Marui-kun, that will be fun."

Marui sweat-dropped with a force smile on his lips. "Sure, I guess…ha-ha."

Jirou gave him a big bear hug that he almost run out of oxygen. "I'm soooooooo happy!" Marui cringed.

"I won!" Miyabe cried out loud. She made an L sign in her hand on top of her forehead. "Ha-ha-ha, loser."

Hiro scowled. "Rematch, I want rematch."

A loud thunder roared. "Did you hear that? It's a sign that we shouldn't have a rematch because you will lose again."

Thunder…Hikari… Marui suddenly remembered that Hikari has a phobia in thunder. He doesn't know if she has overcome it now…he must get back.

Marui hastily stood up sending Jirou flat on the floor. "I need to go, Miyabe, everyone. I forgot something."

"It's fine. I really think you should go now…it seems that a heavy rain will soon come," Miyabe told him.

"Thank you for the dinner. Bye." He picked up his things and hurriedly walked out of the room. He needed to be with her.

Marui run his to the train station. He remembered the first time that he discovered about her phobia…

It was a bright and sunny day. The young Bunta thought that the weather forecast was wrong about a storm that will approach that day. Marui urged the young Hikari to play at the park.

"I don't want, there's a storm…" Hikari pouted her lips.

"Storm?" His violet eyes grew wide. "Look it's a very fine weather, those forecast are not true. Come on Hikari, it's a Sunday. Tomorrow there will be school again and we won't have much time to play." Marui held her hand and tug her off from the sofa and out of their house.

They reached the park and saw their playmates. They enjoyed a lot while playing with other kids in their neighborhood. After a few hours their playmates went home but the two of them stayed and eat their favorite ice cream heartily.

A loud thunder sounded. Hikari's ice cream fell on the ground and her eyes grew wider.

Marui whistled. "Looks like the weather forecast is true…there's really a storm. You were startled, right Hikari" He chuckled and turn to Hikari who looked so stiff. "Oi, Hikari."

"L-let's hurry and g-get h-home…" Hikari almost whispered. She stood up and started walking. Marui crease his eyebrow and just follow her tread.

After a while it was already drizzling and soon enough it became a heavy rain even before they reach their house.

"Come on let's stay there in the waiting shed until the rain stops." Marui dragged her towards the spot. "I wish this will stop soon." They were sittng close beside each other. He looked at Hikari who looked so pale and stiff. His eyes caught a glimpse of her legs…they were trembling. "Hey Hikari, are you cold?" Both of them are drench because of the rain, maybe she's freezing cold. A louder thunder noised again. Hikari covered her ears with her eyes close. She's breathing harder and she's really shivering.

"Hikari…" He finally realized why she doesn't go out when its raining, he's so stupid not to realize it sooner. She looked up at him with tears covering her already puffy face. He gathered her in his arms and embrace her tight. "Don't be scared…I'm here." Hikari softly sobbed. She still trembles whenever a thunder sounds but she's breathing evenly now.

After almost an hour their parents came looking for them. Hikari's father told him that she has phobia in thunder ever since she met him. She had her phobia since the day that her family had a vacation when she was only four years old... she got lost in the woods during a storm and was stranded there all night. Ever since, she never gets out when there's a thunderstorm.

From that day, he promised that he will always be with her with or without thunderstorm. He will stay by her side for always but it didn't happen because she came to hate him…

"Bunta-sama, you're all wet!" the butler exclaimed when he opened the door for him.

Marui feel so cold with his drenched clothes hugging his body. "I was caught in the rain when I got off from the train station, I'll just go and take a warm bath," he said.

"Please do, Bunta-sama or else you'll get sick."

"I won't get sick, Yoshimori-san. By the way, where's Hikari?"

"Hikari-sama is already in her room, she looks pale. I thought she was sick but when I knock on her door and ask her she said that she's fine and to leave her alone…"

He knew why but he will not tell him. He knew that Hikari will not like it if someone knew about this weakness of her. Everybody thought of her as a strong woman. He bet that Miyabe doesn't know about it either.

"Don't worry, I'll check her out after taking bath." He smiled at the butler and take his way towards the guest room that he was occupying.

Marui stood still in front of Hikari's door, he can hear soft sobs coming. She's still the same. She's already scared but she will never admit it and just lock herself inside her room. He knocked but she didn't answer. He knock again, again and again but she never answer. Maybe she's covering her ears that's why she was unable to hear him. He turned the knob and it was open. The room was dark, the lights are off and the window were covered with dark curtains. He saw her coup underneath her blanket. He called her name, "Hikari-chan…"

She removed the blanket that covers her and glare at him. "Don't you even know how to knock? And why are you even here? This is my room! Pervert!" Hikari screamed while hugging the blanket over her chest.

"Sorry, but I knocked at your door a few times already. There was no answer so I decided to just enter your room," Marui explained. He examined his childhood friend and decided to ask the question. "I heard you crying so-" Marui tried to asked but was cut off rudely by Hikari.

"I am not crying so get out of my room!" Marui sighed instead of going out he went to Hikari's side and pull her head towards his chest an attempt to comfort the other girl. Hikari struggle at first but she suddenly gave in. He smiled, he always wants to be this close to her but she never let him. He smiled at her, and sit next to her. He looked at her intently and cupped her face in his hands.

"Close your eyes," Marui said gently

Hikari raised her eyebrow in suspicion. Marui pouted at her. "Trust me…" he said gently at her. "You know I wouldn't do anything harmful to you Hikari-chan." he added.

Hikari rolled her eyes, "If you do something weird I will kick your royal backside!" she fumed.

He was nervous but he still manage to give her his infamous smirk. His heart is hammering so hard against his chest. The girl that he love is in front of him looking at him intently. He gathered all his courage and kissed her nose softly. He wanted to do more than that but he will never do it again without her consent, he doesn't want her to hate him even more. He pulled her head into his chest and started stroking her hair gently. Maybe she can hear the erratic beating of his heart but he did not mind. He hum a song and soon enough she was peacefully sleeping in his arms.

The thunderstorm already stopped and he carefully lay her head on the pillow. He smiled to himself and kissed her forehead. "Goodnight, Hikari…" He was about to stand but something or rather someone pulled him. It was Hikari's hand tugging his shirt tightly. He observed her, her eyes were still close, she's still sleeping. He tried to pull it off but she won't let go. "Don't go…" she said softly. She is talking in her sleep.

He shook his head, his smile never leaving his lips. The bed is quite big, maybe he can spend the night there next to her, he'll just keep distant.

He lay down not too close to her. He also feels tired his body seems heavy now…he also needed to rest. Hikari moved closer to him a hugged him like pillow. He stiffened, she's hugging him unconsciously in her sleep. Hikari cuddle him tightly and her head rest on his chest. This is the best night in his life but he feels like he will have a hard time sleeping knowing that the girl he loves is sleeping beside him. He just sighed deeply.

Hikari knows that the sun is already shining but she feels so lazy to get up and besides there's no class today, its Saturday. She cuddle her pillow even more. Her pillow smells so nice…and masculine? And why is it not soft…it seems hard and kinda big but nonetheless it still so nice to hug and to smell. Her eyes fluttered and was greeted by Marui Bunta's face, only a few inches away from her face. Her eyes widened and she hastily sat up. She looked down at him, he was peacefully sleeping beside her, on her bed… how dare him! She remembered what happened last night, he was with her and help her sleep…so he did not leave her…but he should have! He's a big pervert to sleep beside a girl.

"You're the biggest pervert, Marui Bunta…" she hissed. She raised her hand and was about to slap him to wake him up but she stopped midway. She stared at his sleeping state, he seems so peaceful and…extremely cute!

She shook her head continuously. "No, no, no. I shouldn't find him cute…no way!" she looked back at him. Why because it's an understatement…because he look handsome? A tiny little voice in her head told her. "No!" she almost shouted. She turned to him again and find herself moving closer. His bangs slightly covered his face, she stroked it away and stare at his face even more. Long lashes, cute pointed nose and a pair of lips that every girls would want to kiss. And she already did seven years ago…

She was startled when his eyes suddenly open, he saw her studying his face, it's so embarrassing. She suddenly slap him hard on the face.

"Ouch!" he complained and touched his reddened left cheek. "What was that for?" He sat up and glare at her.

"That's for being a pervert! How dare you sleep beside me!" she fumed. She knew that her face is so red with so much anger and embarrassment.

"That's because you don't want me to leave your side. You told me 'don't go' while you were half asleep so I decided to sleep here."

"I didn't say that!"

"Yes, you did!"

"Don't make stories Marui Bunta, I will never say that."

"But you did." He suddenly sneezed and covered his nose using her blanket.

"EEEWWWWWWW. HOW DARE YOU USE MY BLANKET TO COVER YOUR NOSE!" she shouted angrily.

"Why, do you prefer me to sneeze straight to your face?" he mocked and then he coughed, he cover his mouth using the blanket again.

"You're super gross and super pervert!" she strangle him, she used both her hands to choke him but she felt that his temperature in not normal. She touched his forehead to confirm her speculation. "You have fever!"

"I was caught by the rain yesterday…maybe that's why…"

"You're super gross, super pervert and a super idiot. Oh my gosh, Marui Bunta!" she rolled her eyes.

"You're going to take care of me anyways, right Hikari?" he said while smiling.

"You wish!" she stood up. "Come on now, you should go back to your room, I'll call the maid to take care of you."

"I don't want. I will not leave your bed if you are not going to take care of me…" he childishly said.

"No way, why would I take care of you?" her hand rose to her hip as she stare down at him.

"You're the reason why I got sick."

"Me? Why? Care to explain?"

Marui just narrowed his eyes at her. "No more explanations! You are the reason why I got sick, that's it!"

"I don't get you. Why are you putting the blame on me?" she shook her head. "Get out of my room now before someone saw you, I don't want them to think that something is going on between us," she told him while glaring at him.

"Promise me that you're going to take care of me first, or else I won't leave your room," he threatened her with a mischievous smile on his lips.

"How dare you threaten me!"

"Promise me first!" he insisted. She looked at the wall clock it's almost 8 o'clock. A maid will probably enter her room at o'clock for breakfast. It's not good if they see Marui on her bed, they will probably start gossiping about them!

"Fine! I'll take care of you, go back to your room now, please!" She opened the door wide for him.

He smiled triumphantly and stood up. He looked at her, she can see that he's really sick his eyes are deep and his nose is kinda but he still has the guts to irritate her.

"I'll wait for you in my room." He winked at her before closing the door behind him.

Just as promised, Hikari take care of the sick Marui Bunta. She's currently feeding him a rice porridge for breakfast.

She glared at him. "You're not disable why do I have to feed you?"

"I don't have the energy to eat…I want more…ahhh…" he opened his mouth for another spoon.

Hikari hissed and gave him a death glare but she still feed him continuously without even giving him a chance to chew and breathe. In just ten continuous spoonful of rice porridge she's done feeding him.

"Are you trying to kill me? You didn't even let me breath!" Marui complained at her.

"I just want you to finish your breakfast so that you can drink your medicine right on time," she flashed him a fake smile.

"You won't pass as a nurse."

"I never dreamed of that anyways." She gave him a glass of water and the medicines that he needed. "I need to do something, if you need something just call the maid, okay? Don't disturb me." She stood up but Marui pulled her wrist.

"Don't go…take care of me, please?" he pleaded with puppy eyes.

She pulled her hand away from his grip. "Why don't you just call Miyabe and her to take care of you since you two are dating."

His eyes twinkled with what she said. You like Miyabe that much huh? Something seems to stab her heart that it aches so much…

"Don't worry, I'll call her now." She made her face expressionless.

"Really?" he smiled. He seems so delighted with the idea and why the heck am I hurting?

"Yeah, I'll call her up just wait." Just that and she left his room.

"AAARRGGHH!" Hikari screamed her lungs out as she punch the punching bag with Marui's picture attach to it. Boxing had been her weekly exercise for the past two months already. She's losing weight even more with the help of that sport and now it has a new purpose… a stress reliever, pretending that she was punching Marui's face.

"I hate you even more!" she gave him an upper cut. Just a few minutes ago, Miyabe came to their house after she informed her about Marui's fever. She seems so worried and when she finally saw Marui she throw herself at him and hugged him tightly.

She doesn't know why but she's angry, she's so angry! To Marui? Or to herself for feeling that way…she's so angry and she doesn't even know why.

She's panting heavily and she's all sweaty. She slumped on the floor as she wipe her sweat with her towel. Then, she stood up and took a quick shower. After she's all fresh up, she decided to take a peek on his room and wonder what those two were doing. The door was slightly open…she push it a bit more and take a peek inside. Miyabe's back is facing her line of vision and Marui is sitting as they talk softly at each other. She can't hear what they were talking about.

Afterwards Miyabe started helping him taking his clothes off! She gasped loudly but she covered her mouth…looks like they didn't see her. Marui was now half naked while Miyabe is giving him cold compress.

Marui held her hand. "Thank you for taking care of me…" he raised it and kissed her knuckles.

"It's nothing…I am glad to help you." Marui's face come closer to Miyabe, inch by inch…

Hikari closed her eyes and run towards her room. She breathing heavily as she clutches her chest. It hurts…a lot. Is she jealous? Why would she be jealous? Is it because she loves him?

Realization hit her…she's not angry, she's just jealous seeing how sweet they are because deep inside her heart she wished that she was the one beside him but her pride will never allow her. And now she's too late…just too late. Deep inside her heart she regretted for making herself believe that she hates him. Tears started to fall from her face, it hurts and it hurts more because the one she loves is in love with her best friend...she's so stupid for not realizing her feelings for him, she's stupid for being so in denial...

"Is she gone now?" Miyabe asked Marui when he stopped moving closer to her, pretending that he's going to kiss her. She knows that it's just an act but she knows that she's blushing.

"Yeah…she ran away." Marui moved away. "You're really good in planning schemes, you're a female trickster." He chuckled.

Miyabe flashed him a wide smile. "I knew that she's peeking on us, maybe her jealousy is eating her up. She'll eventually give in, I assure you that." Miyabe touched his forehead "Seems like you're getting better, your temperature went down." Miyabe blushed when she realized that he's still half naked. "Put on your clothes now." She handed him his shirt.

He grinned at her. "Thank you, Miyabe."

Miyabe blushed like a tomato. "I-its nothing, I'll do anything for Hikari." Miyabe stood up. "I won't stay long, Rika has a ballet recital later, her mom can't make it so I'll accompany her."

"Her mom?" he asked curiously.

"Ah…I haven't told you about our situation yet right? The four of us has the same father but we have different mother. You know our father is quite a womanizer that's why Jirou-nii and I are almost the same age, he's just 4 months older than me…but I still call him nii-san…"Miyabe told him.

"At least your father is responsible unlike mine…" he said almost like a whisper with fury in his eyes but its eventually gone. "I don't want to talk about sad things now," he said with a smile on his lips. "Thank you for taking care of me, Miyabe."

"No problem…I'll go back tomorrow, take care." Miyabe said and waved goodbye at him.

When she closed his door, she leaned her back against it while holding her chest. Her heart is beating fast. "I'm so screwed, I shouldn't be carried away with our mission…I shouldn't."

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