A/N: I do not own Amagami SS/Amagami SS Plus
"Chapter 10 – Red above White"
"Wh-What are you doing Tachibana Junichi?"
"Eh-eeeeh! No- I, this is."
He had to think fast if he was to escape the indescribable humiliation that was inching at him on every second wasted. The horror of her *evil* aura that seemed to scorch the very earth where he was seated brought forth anxiety and distress to Tachibana itself.
It was no doubt miracle that when he was about to accept the humiliating fate coming closer to him, his eyes fell to his right side where he had inadvertently left the key to his salvation.
"Tachibana! May I remind you that this incident is at the borderline of a crime so I advise you to-"
Just as she was about to skin him alive, Tachibana took a notebook and directed it at Ayatsuji. She was taken aback at the sudden provocation only to realize that Tachibana was more cunning than he looked.
"What is this?"
"Why don't you check on it and see for yourself?"
She took it. Just the texture and weight of it was enough to verify that it was hers, the item that she has been looking for since the end of the class.
"D-did you read this?"
Junichi Tachibana chose silence and took the unconscious Keiko Tanaka on his arms. He expected her to stop his tracks immediately but the shock was far more deep-rooted that it took a while for Ayatsuji to recover.
"I'm asking you if you read-"
"I am really sorry, President Ayatsuji, but my girlfriend is not feeling good so if you could please excuse me."
Tachibana made a curtly bow to show respect and slowly walked on to thread the path to the infirmary. He was almost sorry that he had to do that against Tsukasa Ayatsuji, their class president, but he doesn't really have much of a choice. At least that was what he thought at the time.
(This is the worst.)
Unbeknownst to Tachibana, Ayatsuji had a dark shadow in her eyes as she was looking at his back going inside the building.
0O0
Inside the Kibitou Tea Club room, the three members of the club had just completed cleaning up, basically it was a task left for Rihoko Sakurai alone to do, being the youngest member and with the other two graduating soon.
With the graduation ceremony getting close, it was a given that the two third year student member of Kibitou Tea Club were worried not just with the tea club but toward the last member of the club.
"Have you not asked Tachibana yet?" Ruriko Yuzuki asked her kohai nodding in tears.
Ruriko Yuzuki, the current president of the Tea Club. She has the air of being strict and serious, one may relate this to her neat-looking eye wear but despite her aura as the president, she was naturally outgoing and had an elder-sister approach when it comes to her two members especially to Sakurai.
"What are we going to do with you? You'll be alone when Manaka and I graduate next year. You know that right?"
Ruriko tried to sound as calm and understanding, but there's also seriousness in her tone. It wasn't a laughing matter to be the last member.
"But, senpai, you said I can take my time?"
"Well, I don't know but Manaka and I felt that we should at least be around when Tachibana officially joins."
"We need to get Junichi Tachibana to join even by force."
Manaka Hiba rarely let her voice be heard and at this crucial moment, her bestfriend, Ruriko Yuzuki cannot help but rejoice and follow through.
"Nicely said, Manaka."
"We need to make a plan."
Ruriko pondered about it for a while. "Come closer, I have just a plan."
Little does Rihoko Sakurai knew that the action of both her senpai, Ruriko and Manaka, were closely related to the curse on Junichi Tachibana. And though she was hesitant about it at first.
"Eh? I have to do that." Sakurai grimaced.
"You are the only one who can do it. Also, you should…"
The voices of the three members of the Kibitou Tea Club remained in the four corners of the room without a leak of it in the hallway. Rihoko Sakurai had to brace herself if she was to succeed.
0O0
On their way to the infirmary, he was hounded on what to do. He didn't particularly feel anything for Keiko Tanaka, except for parts where his heart goes *doki* when she gets more than just close, but he didn't dislike her either. If anything, this was his fault.
"I have to man up and explain everything to Tanaka-san."
Rolling sound of metal from the sliding door showed Junichi Tachibana an empty infirmary room. It would appear that they have missed the school nurse.
"I see. No wonder there's no one here."
He took a glimpse of the time and it was almost past the curfew hours. Teachers would be making the patrol now to ensure the students have all left before closing down the doors of Kibitou High. Tachibana was brooding which vacant bed to rest Keiko Tanaka but she started to make noise before that.
"Ugh… what happened to me?"
Tachibana hurriedly laid her on the closest bed to the door and stood beside Tanaka calling her name.
"Are you alright?"
The moment Tanaka saw the face of her benefactor, she immediately pushed Tachibana away after recalling the kiss she shared with him at the back of the school.
"What, what's wrong?" Tachibana was bewildered.
"Get away from me, Tachibana-san. I- I must've been just depressed that's all."
Tanaka shied away rubbing her lips. From that gesture alone, Tachibana was able to surmise one thing.
(She remembered about the kiss but not the feeling she had then. Does that mean the curse was lifted when I kissed her?)
It was only an instant but he recalled the night, the night he was forgotten.
"I see. I understand Tanaka-san. I'm sorry."
Faster than her lips parted, Junichi Tachibana leaped out of the door without giving her a chance to offer words of reconciliation. There was no need. He knew that what girls felt for him was due to the curse, but this feeling.
He recalled calling her 'girlfriend' in front of Tsukasa Ayatsuji.
(What a cruel joke.)
Before he knew it, Tachibana was already in the rooftop overlooking the city and sun setting on the horizon. It exuded a warm color contrary to the feeling he has in his heart. He doesn't want to accept it but he thought it was a blessing instead of a curse.
"But now you understand why it was a curse, right?"
It startled him. A voice suddenly called out behind him. No, not behind but above him.
"Hello, Junichi Tachibana."
"Cupid, are you here to make sure that I am suffering?"
"Suffering? You make it sound horrible."
"…"
The stout boy with a quiver and arrows behind him chuckled and stretched his arms afloat in mid-air.
"Do you remember what you told me?"
"…"
Tachibana looked away, stared in the horizon and crossed his arms on the rail.
"So, you are here to rub it on me."
"That's right. You have no choice but make a memory, good or bad, then after just one kiss, that girl will forget her feelings for you."
"This method is not so different when taming a cat, isn't it?" Cupid made a bad joke.
Listening to the so proud Cupid, Tachibana stared at him wide-eyed perceiving something simple yet he forgot to comprehend.
"I see, so that's it… and also I have a choice on how to end it. I see, now I understand. Thank you Cupid. Now I know what to do."
Tachibana ran past the mystified Cupid and escaped the rooftop leaving the god of love behind.
"Looks like I am going to win this bet, Cupid." Santa puffed out brushing on his long-white beard.
"Interesting. Let's see if that boy has the courage as you said."
0O0
Back on the 2-A classroom, Tachibana quickly picked up his things and was about to rush out when a girl with black eyes and black hair in hime-cut called out to him.
"Tachibana! I need to talk to you." Ayatsuji shouted.
Junichi Tachibana took a hard turn and with a smile apologized to Tsukasa Ayatsuji. "Sorry. I'll listen to you tomorrow."
And he disappeared before the bewildered classroom president of Class 2-A.
(I'm beginning to hate that guy. No, I think I already hate him...)
0O0
Junichi Tachibana was almost in frenzy. He hurried down the stairs as though he was catching the last train and as expected his haste caused an accident.
Clash!
"Aw, that hurts."
Student from Class 2-B as apparent on her identification card was bumped by Tachibana. He could've sword he heard her curse but she brightened up as the young man pulled her from the ground and immediately turned sour when the young man turned about and waved his hand at her.
"Sorry, I'll make it up to you tomorrow."
Tachibana immediately kicked it off and disappeared from the campus ground but the young lady continued to watch his back until only his mirage remained.
"Kamizaki-san, what's wrong?" A classmate from behind called to her.
"Oh… a- nothing, let's go."
He ran past the students who were on their way home.
"Isn't that Tachibana-kun?" Haruka Morishima pointed to her best friend walking beside her
.
Her bestfriend, the current captain of Kibitou High Swimming team, Hibiki Tsukahara traced his back until he disappeared in the corner.
"Hibiki-chan, you like him, right?" Morishima playfully teased an annoyed Tsukahara.
"Well, I don't think he's bad."
"Hmmm… Hibika-chan in love is so cute."
Morishima was only half-joking but what surprised her was the fact that her bestfriend didn't try to deny it. Somehow, she felt lonely about it and sighed deep, noting that she doesn't have a boyfriend to spend the upcoming Christmas Eve.
"What are you saying? You'll spend Christmas with your family, right?"
"I'm not really sure." Morishima sighed once more.
Out of breath, Tachibana made three big one until his lungs calmed down and finally entered the bookstore and afterwards a flower shop. He took his time picking the right "apology gift" before taking the road back to home.
0O0
Creaking sound of the lockers being opened and shut close greeted Kaoru Tanamachi and Keiko Tanaka.
"Ohayou, Junichi. You are surprisingly early today." Tanamachi waved a hand at Tachibana changing into his wabaki.
Tachibana at the sight of the two got shivers on his skin and quickly hasten his step to reach the stairs.
"That's weird, he doesn't have to ignore me. Hmm… Keiko is that a-"
Tanamachi was amazed but more so was Tanaka. Who wouldn't, when it was the first time she saw a white envelop on top of her 'inside shoes' and a lovely red rose on top of it as well.
"Wow! You have an admirer?"
"Hey! That's rude Kaoru-chan." It does sound rude and Tanamachi seemed to realize that her voice was a pitch higher as though noting this event was indeed a miracle for Keiko Tanaka.
"Who is it? Tell me, quickly."
"No! I'll check on it later… though I think I have an idea as to who." Tanaka warmly smiled.
"What? Come on, tell me… please…"
Tanamachi was relentless but the recipient of the letter has the obligation to make it private. There was also her experience when her letter was read aloud in the class.
"What! Don't ignore me… Keiko-chan!"
Besides, the letter and the rose were secretly delivered for her alone still it puzzled the students of Class 2-A when Tanaka suddenly pinched Tachibana's nose before laughing audibly and apologizing to her bestfriend.
"Sorry Kaoru, I don't think I can support you wholeheartedly from now on."