CHAPTER 9

"Tsukimori…"

Kahoko was stunned to see Tsukimori standing beside the door. She quickly pulled herself away from Tsuchiura who also looked shocked by his own action. Tsukimori was looking at her and Tsuchiura with confusion and pain in his eyes but were instantly replaced by anger. Kahoko wanted to say something, to explain herself but was not able to do so when Tsukimori walked to her and Tsuichiura and grabbed her hand then pulled her to him.

Tsukimori dragged her as he started to walk to the front door but before he could even get near the door, Kahoko's other hand was seized by Tsuchiura. Kahoko turned to look at Tsuchiura then at Tsukimori. The two men are looking at each other, both looking outraged. Kahoko did not know what to do. It was like Tsuchiura and Tsukimori were playing tug of war and she was their rope. She was also feeling uneasy of her situation because both men are holding her wrists tightly and it's starting to hurt her.

"Tsukim—" Kahoko was cut short when Tsukimori pulled her forcefully to him, but Tsuchiura was still holding her other hand. Kahoko winced from pain as the two guys tighten their grip of her wrists.

"Let go of her." Tsukimori did not yell, his voice was the normal volume but when he said those words, it exuded rage and authority.

"Why, is she your property now?" Tsuchiura just scoffed at him. He tightened more his grip on her.

Kahoko couldn't take it any longer. She groaned from pain to let them know that they are hurting her. Tsukimori and Tsuchiura looked at her at the same time and both loosened their grip immediately.

"Do you honestly believe that after being gone for ten years I would just let you have her now that you're back?" Tsuchiura said with a fixed look on Tsukimori.

"What gave you the right to decide whether you can let me have her or not?" Tsukimori answered back, his voice firm.

"Let go of me, both of you!" Kahoko could not contain herself anymore. She yelled at both of them then tugged her hands from their grip. She felt like she was an object being fought over by two men and that angered her.

Tsuchiura and Tsukimori were surprised by her sudden outburst. They both looked at her simultaneously.

"Both of you are driving me mad! I'm not a rope that you two could just play tug of war with!" Kahoko could feel her face getting hot. She probably looked like an apple right now with her red face matching her red hair.

Kahoko grabbed her bag from the table and then, without another word from her, stormed out of the room, leaving two dumbstruck men. Well, she didn't care anymore, but she made a mental note to call Maya later to go back to the tutorial center after her last class in the university to check the locks of the center.

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Kahoko was lying on her bed inside her room. She's still thinking about what happened that afternoon in the tutorial center. She could not believe she lost control and yelled at Tsukimori and Tsuchiura. She was now feeling anxious of what she did. She was thinking if she should call them and apologize. She was actually more worried about Tsukimori. She desperately wanted to explain the scene he witnessed between her and Tsuchiura earlier in the center. She wanted to clarify to him that she did not want the kiss to happen.

Kahoko was thinking of a way to talk to Tsukimori when she heard her cell phone rang. She hurriedly digs in her bag for her cell phone. It could be Tsukimori calling her.

When she found her cell phone, it wasn't Tsukimori, it was Tsuchiura calling her. Kahoko sighed then answered the call.

"Hello?"

"Hino, I'm sorry about what happened earlier. Can I see you? I'm outside your house…"

Kahoko was surprised. She went to her window and peaked behind the curtain. She saw Tsuchiura standing outside their house, his cell phone on his ear. He was looking up at her window. Kahoko quickly moved away from the window and went back to her bed.

"Tsuchiura-kun—"

"Please? I just want to talk you. It would be real quick," Tsuchiura's voice on the phone was pleading.

Kahoko sighed again. Tsuchiura was one of her closest friends. They've been through a lot and she still considers him as her friend despite of what happened in the center.

"Ok, I'll be out in a minute"

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"I'm really sorry for what I did in the tutorial center, Hino"

Kahoko did not reply or say anything. She just stayed quiet as they walk together. Tsuchiura suggested they take a walk in the neighborhood.

"I shouldn't have kissed you when you said you love Tsukimori. Are you really sure that you love him?" Tsuchiura looked at her face intently, waiting for her answer.

"Yes, I am. I love him."

Her answer came out naturally for her. She did not have to think about it because that's what she knows and that's what she truly feels. As much as she wanted to spare Tsuchiura from getting his heart broken, she has no choice but to be honest with him with her feelings.

"But does he love you back?"

Kahoko was taken aback by that question. She was silent for a few seconds then answered it with all honesty,

"I don't know. But I don't care, I will still love him even if he doesn't…"

"You know, I've always felt that it was him whom you like since high school. I just ignored it, hoping that I could change your feelings. But turns out I couldn't."

Kahoko turned to look at Tsuchiura beside her.

"Tsuchiura-kun…"

"I think that's really the main reason why Tsukimori and I can't get along well. When he left, I thought I would have better chances with you but I guess, it's really never meant to be…"

Tsuchiura looked so serious and so sad it actually hurts Hino to look at him. She felt guilty for giving him this kind of pain. She never wanted to hurt him.

"I'm sorry, I don't want to hurt you…"

"I know." Tsuchiura said simply.

"I don't want to mess up my friendship with you, Tsuchiura-kun. You are one of my dearest and closest friends and I don't want this to come between us,"

"Me too, so I guess this is where I stop. I may never have your love, but at least I have your friendship. And I don't want to lose that, too. I think I could settle as your best guy friend, huh?" Tsuchiura tried to smile but the sadness and hurt were still evident in his voice.

"yeah, I guess you could be that" Kahoko smiled at him.

Tsuchiura was obviously trying to be optimistic about this but she was sure he was hurting every second they are together. They could still be friends but as for now, he has to move on. And when the time comes that he has gotten over his broken heart, maybe they could be friends again like before.

They stopped walking in front of Kahoko's house. Tsuchiura turned to her.

"Thanks for giving me a chance to talk to you. I hope you will be happy."

Kahoko smiled. She was glad they talked.

"Yeah, I hope you will be happy too"

"I think I won't be seeing you for a while now 'coz I'm gonna be busy again for the tournament and for fixing my broken heart." Tsuchiura laughed, although it was a shallow one.

"I'll miss you, then" Kahoko said truthfully.

Tsuchiura hugged her and then kissed her on her cheek. He gently touched her cheek with his hand one last time. Kahoko could see the sadness and pain in his eyes as he caressed her face. And then they said goodnight to each other.

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(TSUKIMORI'S POINT OF VIEW)

Tsukimori parked his car near Hino's house.

After Hino walked out of her tutorial center that afternoon, he and Tsuchiura just stood there for several seconds like total morons. He was the first one between the two of them to leave the center. They did not talk nor bother to look at each other anymore. He was thinking of following Hino but he changed his mind. He had to give her some time because she was obviously mad at what happened in the tutorial center. He was angry at himself for putting Hino in that kind of situation. He was just too shocked when he saw that soccer player kissed Hino. He was sure that Hino has nothing to do with that kiss. It's that Tsuchiura's fault. But while he was at his house, he thought that he could no longer wait for tomorrow to talk to her. So, he drove off to Hino's place.

He was about to open his door when he saw Hino walking with Tsuchiura. He froze on his seat. Why the hell is that guy with her again?

He was stunned once again when he saw Tsuchiura and Hino hugged each other. This time he was sure Hino was returning the hug. He also saw when Tsuchiura kissed Hino on the cheek and caressed her face with his hand, and Hino was not pulling herself away from Tsuchiura. They were looking at each other intently… almost lovingly. They seemed so intimate.

Tsukimori saw Tsuchiura left, leaving Hino in front of the gate of their house. He could see the smile on Hino's lips as she watched Tsuchiura walked away. She seems happy and content.

Tsukimori was confused. Just several minutes ago, he was absolutely sure that Hino would choose him over that Tsuchiura. But now, he doesn't even know anymore. Was he just imagining it? Was he just trying to convince himself that Hino returns his feelings? Or is he just simply making a fool out of himself?

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(BACK TO KAHOKO'S POINT OF VIEW)

Kahoko was excited. Her last class is over and she's now waiting for Tsukimori in her tutorial center. They have a scheduled practice today and she's been excited about it all day although she was still a little anxious about what happened yesterday. She actually tried to call him that morning but her call just went to his voicemail. She was thinking that maybe Tsukimori was busy about something so she never tried to call again on his cell phone.

It was already four o'clock but he's still not there yet. Maybe he'll be late again for a few minutes.

4:36pm. Maybe he's stuck with reporters again.

5:04pm. Still no sign of him. Kahoko tried to call him again but her calls always go to his voicemail.

5:32pm. Kahoko sent Tsukimori text messages instead but he wasn't texting her back.

6:01pm. Tsukimori never showed up.

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That's chapter 9.

Sorry,I know the scene between Tsukimori and Tsuchiura was kind of dull and boring, I actually want it to be full of rage and fury. But I'm not good at writing that kind of scenes so it kinda turned out like that. Hahaha :P

I know some of you guys are hoping and expecting Tsukimori to punch Tsuchiura but I don't personally believe in violence. Hehe. And besides, I never really see Tsukimori as a violent man. And I don't want Kahoko to just stand there like a typical damsel in distress waiting to be rescued by her prince, so I made her lose her cool and walked out on them instead. LoL. :D

Anyway, thanks again for reading my story especially to those who give their reviews, alabyu guys! Hahaha your reviews complete my day, may it be good or bad :P

and to my silent readers out there, alabyu too! hahaha!

Let me know if you like this chapter or not, i hope the characters are not so OOC here hehe=)

And sorry for the grammatical errors, I couldn't help it. haha

Ciao! ^.~

xoxox

E.E.

P.s. Thanks to those who give me tips on tenses. It helped a lot! ^_^