Long awaited chapter 8 is here and many things happen so read carefully!
enjoy~
Afternoon sun was set on a still blue and clear summer sky. It emitted a large amount of heat that would hopefully calm down in the evening. But, that evening was too far away. People tended to stay inside and not come out until the heat calms a bit. Familiar sound of the summer cicadas could be heard through open windows of most buildings. Unwillingly opened windows let in those sounds, with hopes for a wind to also come and cool the heated rooms.
School classes ended; most of the students went home to finally relax after a hard and hot day which everyone spent mostly indoors, in the crowded classrooms full of their classmates. But, there were always those people who stayed in the school even after the bell signaled the end of their long day full of something to learn. Those people were the students that had club activities and the employees who are there to take care of the school after most of the people go home.
And then there was the group of four first year students, in the first school building, standing on the stairway that leaded to the second floor. Three of them were girls, standing on the corridor where the stairs from the first floor ended, all of them looking at the fourth person with the same expression. The fourth person was a blonde haired boy, boy from the class 1-A, looking at the girls with the biggest frown he ever made. In his eyes was pure rage, the rage he never thought he would look a girl with. And as for the girls, they were all frightened to death by his glare; they just didn't know what to expect.
Sanji didn't even take a step closer to them and the mean twins shivered more, taking a step back, closer to Sana. The bullied girl was relieved on the one side and scared on the other, never before seeing Sanji mad like this.
"Sa-Sanji-kun…" slowly whispered Yoko - the braver twin at that moment. Her sister held her by the hand, both swallowing hard few moments after Yoko called boy's name.
"We…We were just…" the other twin, Yuko, tried to continue after her sister. But Sanji just kept his angry glare, making the girls to barely let their voices. Sana just stood behind them, not being able to say anything; she just stared at Sanji, just like the two of her classmates in front of her.
"We were just… talking to Sana-chan… Yes. We were just asking her to lend us her notes from the English class. Yes, that's right…" Yoko gathered the whole amount of courage she had, just to take a tiny step closer to Sanji and tell a lie. But that lie was so shallow and plain that anyone could say that it was not the real story. Sanji relaxed his frown a bit and straightened up more, looking like a scary giant compared to the girls who seemed like tiny frightened mice.
He was still standing on the stairs, with one hand in his pocket. The other hand was tightly gripping the steel handrail that was strongly drilled in the hard concrete wall handrail on his left. And it seemed like Sanji was about to pull that piece of steel out of that wall; he was pissed off and that see-through lie just added more fire and made his blood boil more. But he controlled it all perfectly.
"That didn't seem like an ordinary talk to me." he said with the calmest voice he could possibly pull out. The tone in his voice was cold, like he didn't have a single emotion in him.
The twins took another small step back, obviously failing to deceive a student from class 1-A. They had to come up with an excuse that would work out… possibly work out.
"Well…" Yoko started but as soon as her eyes met Sanji's, she looked away, her mouth drying fast, unable to let out some words. Sanji waited. He waited for another potential lie or something that will make him spit out what was on his mind. The other twin held her skirt tightly, trying to speak up.
"Y-Yoko-chan…" Yuko started but Yoko didn't dare to look at her. If she would do so, who knows what will Sanji do. "Yoko-chan… you know… We… We need to pick up those groceries Mom told us to. She… She's making something delicious for dinner. You know… groceries…" that was the biggest and most complex sentence Yuko has said the whole time she was on those stairs.
Yoko seemed like she remembered something. She suddenly flinched and smiled nervously. Her small laugh was also plain like her lies and Sanji just tilted his head to it. Yuko came up with an excuse for those two to escape from a deadly situation they were buried in.
"Ah, y-yes… we need to get the groceries…" Yoko laughed again, holding her sister's hand tighter, giving her the signal that it was time for running.
"Shi… SHITURESHIMASU!" both sisters shouted at the same time and bowed. Not a second later they streamed downstairs, right next to Sanji. Once in the first floor hallway, the running began. They ran as fast as their legs could afford them to. Both Sanji and Sana could hear them screaming and running across the courtyard when they finally exited the school building.
Everything that happened in the last fifteen minutes scared Sana to the bone and she just couldn't make herself to move, to run like her classmates, to run to her clubroom on the third floor of the first school building. Instead of running, she just shivered in the corner of the stairway corridor that was connecting the stairs that led from the first to the second floor. She was still holding her school bag strap really tightly, her nails digging into her palms.
Few moments after the screaming of the scared twins died, Sanji opened his eyes and looked up at Sana, his gaze frightening her more, making her turn her head to the side. He saw that move and caught himself and his angry expression. Sanji quickly relaxed his face, not wanting to scare the poor girl in front of him. Instead of that big and scary frown, on his face came a heartwarming and gentle smile and it was dedicated only to Sana. But the girl still looked at some imaginary spot on the floor, on her right. She still shivered, like she was waiting for Sanji to yell at her, not catching even a glimpse of his lovely smile. Sanji smiled more to the sight of the girl that seemed so tiny and so precious that he thought some wrong words would break her. She seemed so fragile but that just made him want to protect her more.
"Ne, Sana-chan..." he started very gently, not to scare her even more but she flinched still looking to the side. Her eyes seemed like they would fill with tears any moment. Sanji took a deep breath and released his hands; the left one from the handrail and the other out of his pocket. But, he still stood on the same spot, not wanting to scare Sana, even more than she already is, by coming closer.
"From what I've heard and saw this whole time you avoided me… I can finally get a full picture of your situation. I finally understood everything." Sanji continued. Sana's eyes widen but she still looked at that one spot on the floor, still not brave enough to look the blonde boy in front of her. Instead of that, she seemed like she was waiting for the next part of the story Sanji would tell.
'He… knows?' she thought, big part of her still not believing Sanji's words.
"The thing I just witnessed was like a period at the end of the sentence, completing and ending the story I had in mind. Like the final piece of puzzle I've been hopelessly putting together this whole time. And now, the picture is here. The story is here. I know. I understand." Sanji said and took a pause. Sana could clearly hear him taking a deep breath, like he tried to relax or get some more air to continue his story telling.
"Sana-chan…." he called for her with a gentle tone in his voice, hoping that the scared girl will look his way. It took her some time but, Sana slowly turned her head in his direction, periodically looking at him. Her eyes were still mostly focused on the marble floor of the stairs. Sanji smiled wider, ready to make a careful move – he offered his hand to Sana, like he was trying to call for a frightened little fawn in the woods.
But, that little fawn was too scared. Sana just couldn't make herself trust Sanji. He was scary, like a hungry wolf, ready to eat that little fawn, just five minutes ago. She couldn't talk to him. She just couldn't tell him everything, even though he already said that he knows her situation. She didn't know how much he knew about the whole thing. She just couldn't assure herself to trust him. She couldn't trust anyone in the time like this.
"I… I need to go…" she whispered, loud enough for Sanji to hear it. Sana gripped the strap on her schoolbag again and went to the next set of stairs that led to the second floor, still not looking at Sanji.
"Sana-chan, wait!" Sanji's voice came through, making Sana stop in the middle of the stairs. She was standing still like a stone; waiting for what will Sanji do next. And she knew he was standing behind her, on that corridor where she was just seconds ago. She heard his breathing that mixed with the sound of cicadas, coming from the opened window behind them.
"I already told you… I completed the puzzle…" that meant nothing to Sana. She still couldn't believe him. "I know what happened and… I want to help you." she heard his voice behind her. Sanji's voice was imbued with determination and seriousness, slightly erasing Sana's doubts. "I most likely don't understand how you are feeling; I've never been in such a situation but… I want to understand!" his sudden raising of the tone made her to slightly flinch. Sanji noticed that and calmed down his excited feelings. "It's always better to share your story with someone. It's always better to talk about it and let it all out. It'll make you feel better and make me… understand your feelings." his voice slowly muted but the volume was just enough for Sana to hear the whole thing.
She clenched her fist that was resting on the concrete wall handrail. She bit her lower lip, almost to make it bleed. She didn't know what to do. Her head was filled with many things, with most complicated stuff ever. Can she do it? Can she really trust Sanji? Can she just go all out and tell him everything? Can she just turn around, smile and open her heart to him?
It seemed impossible… very impossible. But, after Sanji's words she really felt like she wants… no, like she needs to share her story with him. She didn't tell anyone this whole time – not her friends, not her family, no one! Sana kept this whole bullying thing for herself as she thought that "it was only her problem and she had to deal with that alone". Right now, she felt support and the offering hand, someone that really wanted to help her.
Her grip carefully loosened, she took a deep breath and finally made her mind.
Sana slowly twisted her ankle, making a turn to the side. Her face showed worry, anxiety and doubt, all mixed up in one sad face. On the other side, Sanji was smiling; wanting to lower the pressure Sana was feeling. And what awaited her when she turned? That warm and saving offering hand she was thinking about. It didn't seem scary at all. The whole atmosphere around Sanji was different – it was warm, pleasant and calming, making her feelings settle a little and her face change the expression. She felt calmer but still couldn't form a smile.
When their eyes met, Sanji smiled more, sending that wonderful warm wave of his true feelings her way.
"It's still early for clubs to start and senpais didn't come either. How about we go out of here? Let's go outside and relax." Sanji continued to smile, not letting his arm get tired of reaching to Sana.
It took her a few moments of thinking but as soon as Sana took a small step down, Sanji felt relieved and victorious that his words finally reached the scared and fragile girl. He imagined himself as a prince, offering his hand to the gentle princess on the stairs. And Sana acted like a princess he imagined – she took his hand before she stepped from the last step of the stairs she was on.
"Let's go… princess." Sanji said, holding Sana's hand really careful, like she was made of glass and about to break if she would make even a slight sudden move.
The two went outside of the school building, outside on the heavy afternoon heat. The Sun was heading west but it still heated the air with the might it had. There was no wind to cool people down even a bit and maybe Sanji's idea for them to go outside was not a very smart one. They walked on the campus, Sana letting go of Sanji's hand long ago. She continued to look down at her feet, not saying a word, just walking next to Sanji.
"Hmm… it's still quite hot outside but I guess we can find some nice spot to sit." Sanji said but there was not even a piece of shade in a huge range around them. They were in the middle of the schoolyard, a piece of campus where everyone would hang around – the benches on the small hill that looked straight on the sport fields.
"Guess we have no choice then… Let's sit there." Sanji said, pointing to the bench in the lowest part of the hill, the bench that was in the first rows.
Sana looked up at the direction he was pointing to and her eyes widen. Sanji pointed to the EXACT same bench were she was sitting that time when she made a scene with Zoro. It was a scary memory; it was the one she wanted to erase from her mind forever. But, before she could even say a thing, Sanji already started walking down the hill to the selected bench. Sana just had to swallow her fear and go.
The wood of the bench was so hot that it seemed like it could catch on fire any moment. The heat went up and through students' clothes, slightly burning their skin. The two sat and just kept it silent. Sanji knew that it was his duty to calm down Sana and not to expect the first words from her. She was still vulnerable so she couldn't just go along and tell her story right away.
"So…" Sanji somehow began but Sana only looked at her hands placed on her lap. Sanji took a deep breath before continuing, "I know I said that the puzzle is complete and all that but… I really want to hear Sana-chan's true story." he said but the girl never looked up so he continued, "Okay, let's start from the thing that happened not so long ago… Those two girls, Yoko-chan and Yuko-chan… they are your classmates, right?" still no answer and no movements from Sana, "I also noticed them in the crowd of girls that follow me everywhere. So… they probably got mad when Sana-chan was talking to me and tried to push you away and ban you to talk to me, right?" Sana didn't do anything, "Continuing slowly… I also noticed that they follow Maki-chan everywhere." on the mention of Maki's name, Sana flinched and her eyes grew bigger. Sanji definitely noticed that. He was following Sana's every move, the whole time he was talking. "By your move, I can't help but figure out that Maki-chan had some kind of impact on your life. You two have some common past." he stopped there, just to see Sana shiver, just like she did on the stairs in the school. "In my guessing, you two encountered a lot in the past and I can figure out why…" Sana started to shiver more, holding her hands tightly, "It's that stupid green idiot, right?" Sanji looked up at the sky that was slowly becoming orange and Sana bit her lip. Sanji got it all right but… he was just beginning to reveal the real thing. "Sana-chan… you most likely didn't know that those two were together, right? The moron never talks about anything than those stupid swords. And not knowing that they were in the relationship, you continued to talk and spend time with him. The time you stopped talking and rejected our lunch together was the time you met Maki-chan." Sana was now re-calling the whole thing – she had a splendid day at school and it all crashed when Maki stopped her at the gates with her gang. "That day, Maki-chan told me that you said I was annoying you and wanted to get rid of me. But, I never really believed in that. Sweet and smiling Sana-chan would never say something like that, right?" he looked back at her but Sana just kept her head bowed, eyes slowly filling with tears. "Your current expression tells me the correct answer." Sanji chuckled a little but got serious again, "Maki-chan bullied you because of Zoro and the twins because of me… even though Sana-chan did nothing wrong…" Sanji silenced his voice putting his elbows on his knees, chewing on the nail on his thumb, "I will never forgive them…" he took a pause, slight wind blowing their way as the Sun slowly went more to the west. "Coming to the next matter – the thing that happened right here, on this bench." Sana couldn't help it anymore - she looked at Sanji with one fast move of her head, her eyes wide in surprise.
'He… he knows…'
"That moron was pushing it too far, probably demanding from you to tell him stuff that was on your mind. Of course, who wouldn't be pissed off when someone was asking them the same thing over and over again? Who wouldn't flip out when someone was pushy like that? Everybody will; that's the point! I didn't see you two but I heard the majority from some classmates that saw you." then Sanji silenced, scared to talk about the next thing that happened, the next piece of puzzle. "That same day… Sana-chan got injured…" he clenched his both fists, biting off his thumb nail, "Maki-chan did it, didn't she?" he finally looked at Sana and she slightly jumped in her seat. Their eyes finally met and Sanji didn't have any intentions of looking away, "In the end, you stopped talking both to me and that marimo idiot, just because those girls told you to, threatened you and bullied you. And yet… Sana-chan didn't do anything wrong… Sana-chan couldn't do anything to defend herself from those things…" his eyelids lowered and he looked at the poor girl sitting next to him. He was feeling sorry for her. But more than sorry, he was feeling a need to protect her. To save her from all the danger and cruelty that was going on in this world.
It was the end of the story, the revealing of the puzzle. Sana was being bullied by her classmates, unable to defend herself, forced to keep it all silent and not tell anyone the truth but here… here was a boy who knew it all. It was a friend who figured out the whole thing; the friend who stepped out to help her, without making a huge commotion about it; a friend who was there when Sana needed one the most. Sanji was her savior, her knight offering a helping hand.
And now, it was for Sana to confirm or deny his theories, his whole story. She looked away from him and gripped her skirt. She needed a moment. She needed to settle her thoughts. She needed a deep breath.
"It's all as you say…" she finally spoke up, with the nervous voice, "It happened just like that…" but her one thought of Zoro made her lose control and burry her face in her palms, "I never knew they were together!" she started shouting through her tears, "Zoro never said anything and I never wanted to have anything with Maki! I never knew! Yet… yet I suffered… I was tortured and threatened just because I wanted to make some friends!" she cried more. Tears she held for weeks finally emerged. Sanji didn't know what to do – can he let her cry? Or should he hug her? Tap her on the shoulder? Say something? He never witnessed such thing.
He decided to try what seemed the smartest to him at the moment – he came closer to Sana and put his arm over her shoulders, slowly pulling her closer to him. Sana cried and told Sanji everything through her sobs. She told him everything – how she only wanted friends, repeating many times how she didn't know about the Zoro-Maki couple, telling him how she cried at home to her sleep, how she couldn't tell her two friends because she was afraid that Maki would bully her more, how she basically couldn't do a thing and how in the end she yelled at Zoro to finally leave her alone. Those sad and hard sobs finally stopped as she was ending her story.
Sanji listened to all of that, carefully and patiently, holding Sana by the shoulder the whole time. At the end of her story, he said some encouraging words.
"Don't worry, I'll help you and this whole mess will end." it all ended with Sanji's gentle smile. Sana looked at him and couldn't believe that someone was finally there, offering help to her. Looking at Sanji's constant smile, she couldn't stay sad anymore. On her dry lips grew a small smile that soon became bigger as she was finally feeling safe, after such a long time.
"Saa, let's go. Everybody is probably in the clubrooms." Sanji said and offered his hand to Sana. She smiled more and gladly accepted it, going up the hill with Sanji. They entered the school building laughing and continued with their joyful spirit up the stairs and to their clubs.
…
Eventually, Sana stopped thinking about both Maki and Zoro. She stayed away from them but hanged more with Sanji and that made her go back to her cheerful and friendly self. Emi and Haruna were suspecting that something was up with Sanji and Sana but they would always smile and deny their statements. Overall, they were a happy company, spending so much time together.
As for Sanji's fangirls, he calmed them down by telling them that he and Sana were just friends and telling specifically Yoko and Yuko to never bully her again or he will hate the both of them. With that, the twins stopped their bullying but still envied Sana that was spending so much time with their idol.
"That Sana hangs out with Sanji-kun more now. Aren't you two going to do something about that?" Maki asked the twin sisters one day.
"A-ah, no… We… we will let them be." Yoko said shivering, remembering Sanji's treating words.
"Hmm… Is that so? Well, I don't really care about that, it's not my problem. As long as she stays away from Zoro it's fine. I don't really care what she does with Sanji-kun or any other boy." Maki said, showing her true colors. She didn't really care about her "friends" and their problems. As long as it wasn't affecting her and Zoro, she didn't do anything.
Maki stopped Sana on the hallway once again, though. The girls went to the bathroom and Maki seemed like she had something serious to tell Sana.
"I see you're back to your cheerful self, all nice and dandy. That's nice… but, if you approach Zoro being merry like that, you know what will happen, right?" Maki was scary as ever but Sana knew that she now had Sanji by her side so those words didn't affect her much, "Now go and play with your precious Sanji-kun and don't even think of Zoro, okay?" Maki didn't expect an answer. She blew the bubble gum and popped in Sana's face, making the girl back off a little. She didn't need to feel sad or drop on the floor and cry. No, she didn't need those things back. She was perfectly fine.
But that day, someone else stopped her on the hallway – it was Katsumi, another of Sana's classmates. He always seemed like a friendly guy, ready to help both boys and girls. Overall, everybody loved him and gladly spent time with him.
"Hello, Sana-chan." he started, walking to Sana on the hallway. He had a sad face on.
"Hello, Katsumi-kun. Can I help you with something?" Sana asked politely.
"Well, you were just with Maki-chan in the bathroom, right? Ever since she started calling out for you, you've been really sad. I'm… I'm worried." Katsumi blushed which surprised Sana.
The two were now standing by the window in the hallway, talking with no one around. "I was trying to stay calm and not 'butt in', but I… I just couldn't stand seeing Sana-chan so sad, with every passing day." his eyes showed sadness and worry. Sana really felt sorry for the guy.
"It's okay, Katsumi-kun; she has been nice to me lately. I'm not experiencing those things I did in the past. Maki-chan and I are okay now." Sana smiled, wanting to believe her own words but couldn't.
"I can only imagine what sort of horrible things you experienced…" Katsumi sighed, looking at Sana with his sad face.
Katsumi was a nice guy, about a forehead taller than Sana, with short black hair and deep brown eyes. He was handsome, yes but in the moment of his sadness, he was more than cute.
"Thank you for worrying, Katsumi-kun, but really… I'll be fine." Sana smiled tapping Katsumi on the shoulder. She never had and close conversations with him but his worry and honest words made her accept him in her heart.
…
Sana now spent her every lunch break in Sanji's company, sometimes with Emi and Haruna joining them. The four made a nice group, always laughing and joking around, enjoying the time of their lives. Also, Sana would spend some time with Katsumi, a nice boy from class who made her laugh really much. She was enjoying his company and was glad that she made another friend.
After school Sanji and Sana often came to each other's clubs and spent more time together. But, all those meetings and happy feelings had to stop – term finals are coming up!
Clubs stopped their activities in the last week of June, giving everyone just enough time to prepare for the exams. And everyone was so intense – those were final exams of the first term. Everything they learnt so far will be included in the tests and they had to show how well of a students they really are and how much they have studied during that term.
As those days were closing, students had less time to have fun with their friends, less time to enjoy the lunch break and less time to actually relax. Rain season was at its midst, those gloomy and gray clouds making the students feel more nervous and be under more pressure.
When the days of the exams finally came, rain slowed down and clouds moved away – three final days were showered by golden rays of summer sun.
"Alright, that's it; everyone turn over the papers – the exam is over." homeroom teacher of class 1-B clapped his hands, announcing the official end of the finals. A major wave of happy sighs filled the room, making the sensei smile himself.
Sana looked over to her friends, exchanging smile with them – they were finally free. They showed what they learnt during their group studying and judging from the smiles on their faces – the time they spent together didn't go to waste. But, they'll see the real results on Monday.
Big paper on the board in the hallway held the announcement of the final test results. Sana was placed first from her class but seeing the paper of 1-A, her score was really below the student who was first. Still, she was happy – her happy summer can finally begin!
The Friday came and it was the last day of the term. Sanji had to leave earlier, having some business back home, so Sana had to spend most of the time without him after school and exit the school alone. She stretched on her way out of the school building, breathing in the nice summer air.
"Term finally ended. It feels like we started school only yesterday, wow…. Well, this day was really great and it's time to go home, finally relaxing after all the exam torture." she sighed, going to the school fountain to refresh herself. As she turned the faucet back and stopped the water, she heard some voices, coming from behind the nearest building. As she listened closely, she recognized the voices – they were Maki and Zoro. She didn't want to but she just couldn't help it not to hear their conversation:
"So… are we gonna do it?" was Maki's voice.
"Yeah… I guess so…" came Zoro's voice shortly after.
"Tonight, as promised, right?" Maki asked again.
"Yeah…" Zoro responded coldly. His voice seemed so uninterested and bored, like he only wanted Maki to get away from him.
"Nice! I can't wait…" Maki's voice had a seductive tone in it and after her sentence came the sound of kissing. Sana immediately flinched and went back to the fountain, to drink some more water and clear her thoughts that were now full of images of those two kissing.
As she finished washing her face, she saw Maki coming from behind that building. Their gazes met and Maki smiled victoriously. She raised her chin up and just looked at Sana.
"Have a nice summer." Maki said, leaving the courtyard, leaving Sana confused with water dripping off her face.
'What was that all about?'
…
"What do you mean you can't come? Come on Sana-chan! We've been planning this day every lunch break at school! Don't bail on me now!" Emi whined over the phone.
"I'm so sorry, Emi-chan! We have to move the plans for another date. I'm sad too but this was just… so sudden. I'm sorry." Sana really sounded like she was sorry something like her brother's flu messed up her plans with her friends.
"Okay, next week, for sure okay? Or maybe even… tomorrow?" Emi got excited.
"I'm sorry, my parents are still working and my brother probably won't get better soon. We have to do it next week. I'm sorry." Sana apologized over and over again.
She and Emi talked for a bit more, reviewing the plan over again, getting excited like they did while they were in school. The phone call ended with Emi wishing the VERY QUICK recovery to Sana's brother.
"I'm sorry, nee-san. I messed it all for you." little brother said as Sana was bringing him the cold piece of fabric that was being placed in a cold water bowl. She put the small cloth on her brother's forehead, making him flinch to the cold.
"Don't worry. We're okay. We can always go to the pool next week. Summer has just begun." she said, calming her brother.
She gave him the medics her Mom told her to and went down to the kitchen to cook something for him. Some minutes later, she brought a fresh made porridge but the poor little guy couldn't eat it – the flu was really breaking him down.
"For now, just rest and try to beat that nasty cold." she said, caressing the boy's hair.
…
Sana and her friends didn't even have to wait for the next week – little brother got well within two days so the girls hit the swimming pool right away!
Beautiful and cute swimming suits, friends and fun - that was all they needed! They met some of their classmates and it was awesome adding more fun within the group. Katsumi, the nice and caring guy, was also there and his relationship with Sana became closer with their every meeting. Sana really liked that, it was keeping her mind off of a certain green.
Their trip to the pool was planned for every week but it all had to end when the time for homework started. They all had so much fun that they totally forgot about the homework teachers gave them to do during the summer break.
Sana and her friends would meet at Haruna's house to study but no matter how much they did, there was always more!
"Waaah~ I'm beat! Can we do English tomorrow? Biology just took everything out of me, I can't continue." Emi dropped on the floor.
The three girls were sitting on the floor by the small table full of textbooks and notes from class.
"Sure, I'm tired too. I really need some rest." Sana said stretching.
"Well, it's already night so we can end it all here." Haruna added and closed her notebook. The other two girls rejoiced, happy that their torment ended… for now.
They all parted at the Haruna's mansion gates but few steps after, Sana's phone rang. On the display was shown Katsumi's name and number. That surprised and made her blush, remembering how that boy was really nice and gentle with her. She had to admit that she had some feelings for him but couldn't say anything yet. Not wanting for Katsumi to wait, she answered the call:
"Hello? Katsumi-kun?" she answered.
"Sana-chan! Finally I can reach you! For some reason, you weren't there when I called you." his voice came.
"Oh, sorry; I was at Haruna-chan's place, doing homework."
"Ah, then, I'm sorry! I didn't know. I'm sorry I disturbed!" Katsumi said, his voice sounding really nervous.
"Hehe, don't be, it's okay. You just didn't know. So, is there something you need me for?" Sana asked.
"Oh, yeah! I almost forgot! Hmm… where are you now?" Katsumi asked over the phone and Sana looked around her.
"Umm… I just crossed the street from Haruna-chan's house so… I'm entering the Sunny East Park." she said, coming in the park.
"Oh, perfect! I'm nearby so just wait for me by the main fountain, okay?" the boy said.
"Okay…" Sana replied, feeling kind of nervous.
They ended the call soon after and it took for Sana just a couple of minutes to get to the main fountain. But, when she got there, Katsumi was already waiting for her.
"Oh, gomen, I got you waiting." Sana bowed and apologized.
"Hehe, don't worry about it. I was on my bike so I got here first." Katsumi said, rubbing the back of his head, smiling very nicely. Sana liked that smile, it made her blush. "So…" Katsumi started, making Sana look at him, fully concentrated on what he was about to say.
"Sana-chan…" Katsumi stared over again, blushing and looking down at his feet, "Ano… Sana-chan… I really like you! Will you go out with me?!" Katsumi shouted and Sana startled, widening her eyes. In that moment the fountain sprinklers changes and water went up, crowning Katsumi's proud confession.
Sana still couldn't believe her ears. She held the edge of her skirt and just looked at the boy in front of her. When the said words finally reached her mind and she finally analyzed them, she blushed hard, looking at her own feet, unable to meet Katsumi's eyes.
"A-ano…" was all she could say.
"Sana-chan…" Katsumi called for her but those short words were all they could utter. They were both blushing madly.
She spent almost the whole summer break with Katsumi on the pool and they would often meet outside of the swimming pool. They would go to eat ice-cream, take a walk, and go to arcade and whatnot! They were laughing and having a great time so… was it okay for her to respond to his feelings and go out with him as something more than a friend? Was it all okay?
"I… I think we could try…" Sana said, her face burning. She was fully embarrassed as no one before confessed to her and Katsumi… he was just a kind of a guy she wanted – kind, funny, friendly and just perfect!
"Really?!" Katsumi shouted, grabbing Sana's hands, making her look at him. But as soon as he realized what he did, he let go of her hands and turned his head away, blushing once again. "So… how about a date… tomorrow?" he said, again scratching the back of his head and looking down, with the blush spreading across his face.
"I have to do homework again in the afternoon…"
"Then, let's meet before that. About 10AM? Here?"
"That sounds nice. I can't wait!" now Sana got excited and blushed quickly looking away.
"Awesome! I can't wait either! Oh, can I walk you home? It's dark…" Katsumi offered and Sana gladly accepted.
They talked and laughed as usual. They were both really happy and thoughts of tomorrow's date made them even happier! Katsumi smiled the whole time, making Sana not to let down her smile too. They parted in front of Sana's house and the girl streamed in and straight to her room happier than ever!
…
"OMG! Shut Up! Are you serious?!" Emi screamed on the other side of the phone line.
"Yes!" Sana shouted with the same tone.
Two girls screamed and screamed, probably both rolling over their beds. They were overwhelmed and just filled with so much joy!
"I can't believe it! He really did say that?!"
"Yes! When we parted, my phone rang and he asked me to meet in the park. When we met he was blushing and just super cute while saying that! He shouted it and I just… OMG!" Sana screamed, remembering the moments.
"So he was all like: 'Sana-chan… I really like you! Will you go out with me?!' like that?" Emi said, imitating Katsumi's voice.
"Yes, yes! Just like that! You should've seen him, Emi-chan! He was so cute!"
"OMG, I'm so happy for you! Youhaveto tell me everything that will happen tomorrow, okay?"
"Okay! Oh, my… I just can't wait!"
"Chill, girl… ASDFGHJKLA! I CAN'T! I'M EXCITED TOO!"
And so, the two girls continued to fangirl, happy for Sana's date with Katsumi. The call ended after a long screaming of joy and everything that followed.
Sana fell asleep happy and excited, barely falling asleep as she was thinking about one thing only – her Katsumi-kun!
…
"Woow, why are you dressed so nicely?" asked a little boy, peeping through opened door of Sana's room.
"Hmm… it's not of your business…" she replied, fixing her disobedient hair with a pair of hair clips.
"Oooh, is it for a date with your boyfriend?" her brother changed the tone into that I-know-you're-going-out-with-a-boy tone.
"I said, it's not of your business!" Sana shouted, blushing, and threw a box of tissues to her annoying little brother. He managed to escape just in time so that the box flew right out of the room and in the hallway.
'Jeez… he's such a pest!' Sana thought, making some final checks before leaving the room.
"Why don't you sit and eat properly?!" Sana's Mom shouted as the girl took a piece of toast and streamed out of the kitchen.
"I don't have time for breakfast, I'm already late." she shouted, putting on her sandals. On the wristwatch was 9:54 and she was just praying to get in the park in time. With the usual walking, it takes her about 15 minutes but she really didn't want Katsumi-kun to wait for her.
…
After about 5 minutes of speed-walking, Sana finally got to the Sunny East Park's fountain and again, Katsumi was the one waiting.
"I'm so sorry that you had to wait for me." Sana apologized.
"No worries, I came here earlier myself." he smiled, "So, shall we go?" he asked, not letting that smile fade.
Sana nodded and so, their first date began! Nothing else mattered – just Katsumi and Sana, having a great time together!
~To be continued~
