You sat on a park bench, listening to the children running around and laughing. In your hands, you held a cup of tea-probably a bit too tightly, but your hands were trembling, and you didn't want to drop the cup.
"Really, where is he?" You wondered, walking down the halls of Yamabuki in search of a certain ginger. "Geez, even though he told me to wait for him, it's been fifteen minutes. He's almost as bad as Echizen." you sighed. "Maybe he forgot something in the classroom?"
You entered the class, room 3-3, putting your hands on your hips when you didn't find any sign of the flirtatious tennis player. Right, flirtatious. You had been trying to keep an eye on him though, as his girlfriend, you found it rather uncomfortable when he would unconsciously gawk at other girls when you were right there. Even though you knew he was probably the biggest flirt you've ever seen, if he liked you enough to ask you out, then obviously he liked you more, right?
You trusted him.
Biting your lip, you hunched your shoulders slightly, your breaths coming out in white puffs of air against the cold autumn air. Winter was on it's way, as you often found the grass glistening with frost early in the morning. You were deaf to the world, cheeks and hands cold but eyes hot as you struggled to bite back tears.
You had been so blind.
"Really... that Sengoku..." You sighed when you saw his bag, tipped over on his desk. Some contents had spilled out, his cell (it would be useless to text him), a brush, and a Gameboy, among other things. Sighing, you knelt down to pick them up, when a small white box caught your eye. Curious, you picked it up and opened it. What you saw took your breath away. On a golden chain, were the initials [First] [Last] on it, carved out of shimmering opal and lined with a golden back. Small clear flowers, elegantly decorated knocked against the letters. It was beautiful, and you couldn't believe your eyes.
White Day was a few days away, after all. Did he get this for you? You smiled slightly. That Sengoku. He always did things to surprise you.
"Stupid idiot..." you muttered finally, wiping your eyes furiously. "What was I thinking? Date the most flirtatious idiot in the whole school and think everything would be fine? Yeah right."
Looking around, you carefully covered the necklace and put it back in his bag, promising yourself you'd act surprised when he gave it to you. With a light heart, you put the rest of his things back in his bag. "Oh, the board isn't wiped." You said, standing up to wipe it clean. As you were clearing the board, the door slid open, revealing a red-faced and panting Sengoku.
"[F-First]!" He gaped, "W-what are you doing here?"
"I was looking for you, but then I realized the board wasn't wiped. Also, your bag fell over. I thought you carried your phone everywhere? It fell out, so I had to put everything back in."
"You... didn't find anything other than my phone, did you?" He asked, looking a bit scared.
'Yes, I found a necklace' You pushed the thought away. "Well, your brush fell out too. Same with your gameboy. Geez, it's not good to be this messy, you know?"
"A-ah, yeah, you're right, haha..." He laughed weakly. You tilted your head slightly.
"What's wrong?"
"A-ah, nothing! I was just at practice! Should we go home?" He asked, scooping his bag up and sending you a smile. You nodded, putting down the board wiper to go to his side, picking up your own bag on the way.
Shuffling your feet slightly, you ignored the soccer ball that went flying in your direction, missing your legs by a few inches. "Sorry, miss!" A high-pitched voice called out, but you didn't bother to look up.
"I'm so stupid, I could die..." you sighed, no longer feeling as sad as you did tired. Tired of having to deal with the disappointment you felt every time his eyes wandered from you, tired of the way he always seemed to disappear when you wanted to see him most, or when he had canceled your dates because of 'practice' or 'something came up'.
You were tired of it all.
Sitting on the roof during lunch, you couldn't keep still as you waited for Sengoku to show up. It was White Day, and other girls in the school were already fawning over their boyfriend's gift to them, or sulking somewhere quiet. You couldn't keep your nerves down, and when the ginger0haired male finally entered the rooftop, you found yourself standing up. "Sengoku, hi." You said.
"Hey," he smiled, and you couldn't help but notice it was a bit tentative. "I have something for you." he said, reaching into his bag and giving you a wrapped box. "Happy White Day, [Last]." He smiled a bit wider. Smiling back, you took it from him, a small blush on your cheeks.
"Thank you, Sengoku." Carefully ripping the wrapping, you found a box and opened it to see...
A CD.
Looking up at Sengoku, he took your silent questioning glance as an excited, surprised look. Smiling, he ruffled your hair. "You like this band, right? I thought about you while getting it."
That should have been the red light, but you remembered his sister also had the same initials as you, so you didn't really pay any mind to it [1].
Nearly all the kids had left by the time you decided to go back home. It was late afternoon, and your tea had long grown cold. Standing, you tossed the nearly full cup into the trash, turning on your heel to walk away, hopefully leaving your sadness behind when...
You saw Sengoku several feet away from you, cheeks flushed and eyes watching your expression guiltily.
Guilty. You supposed both of you were guilty. You for trusting him, and him for cheating.
"[First]! How was your break?" your friend asked, a cheery smile on her face.
"Ah, [Friend Name], it was fine." you said, anxious to see your best friend, Fuji and confront him about the necklace and CD. Even if he didn't know what was going on, you knew he would assure you it was a misunderstanding as he always did. You felt horrible; since you told yourself to forget it, but it gnawed at your mind, and you were suddenly feeling more anxious than you know you should have.
"Eh? You look kind of pale, [First]. You aren't sick, are you?" Your friend asked, leaning forward to put her hand on your forehead. As she leaned forward, your eyes widened.
A familiar chain swung out, glistening in the sun.
"Sengoku-san. Hello." You said formally, causing the male to wince slightly. Like the weather, your voice was cold. Close to freezing. "Shouldn't you be at tennis? I vaguely remember Banji-sensei telling you all that practice would be until late." You were proud of your voice for not breaking.
"Well... I er, skipped."
"That was rather stupid of you." You retorted harshly, causing the boy in front of you to whither slightly, cringing. "Even though Banji-sensei is taking time out of his schedule. It's not like you haven't' finished your homework. Go to practice."
You hurried through the halls, ignoring the confused calls of your so-called-friend. Oh, how your eyes stung, how you wanted to tear yourself apart for believing in him, for trusting him. How you wanted to scream and cry and throw something. How you wanted it to be a lie.
Fuji was waiting at the gate. He would walk you home when Sengoku had practice, and even though he went to an entirely different school, you both lived in the same neighborhood. You were thankful. Fuji smiled and waved, but tilted his head at the agonized look on your face.
"[Last], what-" You buried your face in your best friend's chest, gripping his uniform tightly as tears immediately spilled over. It took one shaky gasp for Fuji to understand, and he wrapped his arms around you, hiding your face from onlookers. You felt him unwrap his arms before feeling him drape something over you; his Seigaku jersey. "Let's go somewhere quiet." He whispered, and you nodded numbly, hands pressed against your eyes as you let Fuji led you away.
"I wanted to talk to you." Sengoku said, and you noticed the way his voice sounded a bit defeated.
You felt angry. Rage bubbled up, rage and sadness and resistance. You didn't want to talk. You wanted to run. You wanted Sengoku to forget this happened, you wanted yourself to forget this ever happened. You were just so angry and hurt.
"I don't want to talk to you." you said shortly. "Your girlfriend is probably waiting for you since you've skipped. Don't you know it's rude to make a girl wait?" You wanted to lash out more at him, you wanted to let him know how hurt you had been. Because you didn't know how long it had been going on, but he had been cheating on you with someone who you thought was your friend. Did he whisper the same sweet nothings in her ear? Hold her and tell her he loved her? Then you laughed out loud, bitterly. Of course he did. He was Sengoku Kiyosumi for god's sake. He probably did that to every girl to make them blush and swoon...
Just like you had.
"Please wait!" A hand grasped your wrist, and the warmth sent a shiver up your arm, but you didn't look back at him.
"Let go." Your voice hardly wavers, and you feel Sengoku's hand on your wrist tighten.
"[Last], I really love-"
"Don't!" You interrupt. "I don't want to hear it!"
"But I want you to hear it." Sengoku says, and your body is frozen as he turns you around to look at your face. "I love you, [Last]. I really, really love you."
You bite your cheek as you feel the words begin to attack your resolve. "If-if you loved me, then you wouldn't have cheated. I don't want to go back to you to find out you've said the same damn things to that other girl."
"That other girl was your friend three days ago." Sengoku reminds you softly, but you feel as if he's blaming you.
"What of it? Who's fault do you think it is that she's not?" You snap, glaring up at him. "Sengoku-san, you don't understand how I feel at all. Girls flock to you. You're like a goddamned lantern in a room of moths. One forgotten one isn't going to make a difference. If you let me go, we can just forget we ever went out, and you can go back to attracting whoever you please."
"But I don't want to." He says, and you turn away.
"Bullcrap. You've been doing it all this time, so-"
"Can you please just listen to me?" He interrupts, and you send him an irritated glare, but let him continue. "I messed up, big time. I know that and I've regretted it ever since I saw you walking with Fuji. But to tell the truth, it's also partially your fault!"
"M-my..." you gape, "You ass!"
"I thought you were going to leave me for Fuji!" He suddenly cries out. "I was scared you'd leave me for him, and I panicked! I know it was shitty of me to go after your friend, but I was truly scared because I thought you found someone you liked more than me!"
"You-you're completely blind!" You stammer, "I only went with Fuji because I thought you didn't want to spend time with me! I never thought about dating him when I was with you! I never thought about anyone else but you that entire time! I was totally in love with you, you idiot!" You yell. There's a short silence as the both of you catch your breaths.
"...Do you still like me?" Sengoku asks quietly. You look at him out of the corner of your eye before turning away, very aware of his grip on your wrist, and the fact that he can probably feel your heartbeat.
"I should as you the same thing."
"I won't answer until you do."
"What the hell?! Then I won't answer until you do, either!" You quickly retort.
"Just say it!"
"No! Why should I?!"
"Just do it!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
"No!" The two of you stop to stare hard at each other, a bit breathless from shouting, and the way you're arguing now reminds you of how he used to tease you. You're glad the cold is an excuse for the flush on your cheeks.
"Yes." Sengoku says, smiling a bit smugly, and you shoot him this 'don't-start-this-again'.
"Why?" You ask, receiving an incredulous look in response.
"Because I still love you, okay?" he says, exasperated.
"I-idiot! Stop joking around!" You say, feeling your cheeks heat up despite the cold air.
"I'm not lying!"
"I don't trust you!"
"Then I'll prove it!"
"Wha-" you turn speechless as he turns your head to face him, his warm palm cupping your cheek. Your widened eyes meet his before he presses his lips to yours. At first, you're frozen in shock, but gradually, you relax, closing your eyes and bringing your other hand to cup the back of his head. Sengoku smiles into the kiss.
When the two of you pull away, you're blushing like mad, and Sengoku looks so happy his smile could rival the sun. "D-don't look so happy, idiot." You mutter, turning away.
"I love you, [Last]-chan."
"... I love you too, you idiot."
Extended Ending
"But if you cheat again, you aren't getting lucky a second time."
"Ah, but lucky is my motto!"
"I don't care!"
[1] I know he has an older sister, but I don't know her name, so this is just for convenience of the plot. xD
