Picture Perfect
By Neon_Fantasy
Disclaimer: La Corda d'Oro rightfully belongs to Koei and Yuki Kure. This story is merely for entertainment purposes. The characters featured in this story don't belong to me, except for Hanako Kirishima. This is an Azuma x Kahoko story, featuring a tiny bit of Ryotaro x Kahoko and Kazuki x Kahoko… but mostly Azuma x Kahoko, so don't expect too much from the others as Azuma won't allow that ;)
Chapter 10
After browsing through a few stores, with not much bought between the four of them, Kahoko and the three guys decided to have lunch. Only trouble was they all craved something different. Kazuki was all up for fast food and Ryotaro wanted something healthier like sandwiches or rolls. Azuma didn't say anything so Kahoko assumed he didn't mind one way or the other – although she couldn't picture him eating fast food.
"Well, why don't we walk around and see what there is to choose from?" Kahoko suggested as she didn't mind where they ate.
"That's a great idea Kaho-chan!" Kazuki exclaimed. "Let's go this way!" Kazuki pointed down one end of the street and took Kahoko's hand so he could lead the way. Kahoko went wide eyed at first, as his actions took her by surprise. She didn't realise how cold her hand was until Kazuki's warmth spread through her fingers, around her hands then up her arm, causing her to shudder slightly. They only managed a couple of steps before Ryotaro took Kahoko by the arm. He held her in place which stopped Kazuki from advancing any further ahead.
"You're going the wrong way Hihara-senpai," Ryotaro raised his free hand and pointed with his thumb over his shoulder. "There are more places to eat at in this direction."
Kazuki looked back at him quizzically. "Really? I could've sworn it was this way."
"It's not." Ryotaro put simply as he pulled Kahoko away from him.
"I don't know," Kazuki pondered as he looked back in the direction he was about to go. "I'm convinced it's this way." He took Kahoko's hand again and tried pulling her away from him but Ryotaro wouldn't budge.
"It's this way Hihara-senpai…" Ryotaro said as politely as he could, although you could sense his irritation growing.
"And I'm telling you it's this way!" Kazuki said with his voice getting louder with each exchange.
This started a near argument between the two boys as they were both convinced of their directions. This reminded Kahoko of their argument back at Shouko's villa. They both argued over who should be on the sofa, and while they had good intentions behind it, either one simply couldn't accept the other having their way. It wasn't until that pillow incident happened that it sort of put an end to their argument but… Well, there was no need to remember what else happened. But the fact was that they didn't need to be so stubborn. And why did she have to stand in the middle of this? She would have liked to of backed away but Ryotaro had her arm and Kazuki had her hand. She didn't want to make matters worse but this was making her extremely uncomfortable.
Azuma kept out of the exchange between the two green haired boys. But watching the way they tried to keep Kahoko to themselves was irritating him to no end. They might have thought they were being subtle about it but it was clearly obvious what they were doing. And there Kahoko was, once again not sensing the meaning behind their actions or doing anything about it! This was what bothered him most of all. She had to know what was going on. Their behaviour wasn't natural for one, and they paid more attention to her than their own Christmas shopping. Sometimes he wondered if Kahoko pretended not to notice so she wouldn't hurt their feelings. He bet if one of them asked her out, she would probably say yes even if she didn't feel the same way... This thought increased Azuma's frustration all the more. His hands began to tremble in rage so he clenched them into fists by his side in order to calm himself. But all this did was give him the urge to punch someone so he gently eased his fingers back out and tried with all his discipline and might to remain unaffected – without succeeding. But thankfully no one was paying attention to him to notice.
"U-Um," Kahoko was worried about interrupting but she didn't want this argument to get any worse. "I have a place in mind, if you don't mind going there…" This immediately stopped the argument as each of the boys turned their attention towards her.
"Café Ruba ato huh?" Ryotaro questioned as he admired the sign outside the café.
"Never been here before," Kazuki said as he stared at the sign also.
Kahoko wondered now if she made a mistake suggesting this place. It was where she and Keiichi went to get refreshments after they went to an instrument exhibition, which was held at the museum. She only had drinks at the time but their food looked and smelt delicious, so she promised herself to come here again but never had the opportunity till now. Although seeing the way Ryotaro and Kazuki stared blankly at the café, she wondered if it didn't suit their taste.
"What a nice idea, Hino-san," Azuma said kindly which drew everyone's attention. "This place is bound to have a variety of foods to choose from. I'm sure Tsuchiura-kun and Hihara will find something they both want here." Both boys turned to look at Kahoko then. At first they had the same blank expressions like earlier but then Kazuki suddenly beamed in happiness while Ryotaro smiled thoughtfully.
"Wow, you were thinking about us, really?" Kazuki smiled brightly. "In that case, I'm sure this place will be great!"
Kahoko blinked and stared at Kazuki quizzically. She was thinking about them? Really? Kahoko thought she only suggested this place because of personal reasons. But now thinking about it, cafés always did have a wide variety of foods to choose from. Ryotaro should be able to get something healthy while Kazuki should be able to get something equivalent to fast food. Azuma must have realised that the moment they arrived.
"Well, let's go inside." Kahoko smiled. "I'm sure everyone is hungry."
Kazuki was the first to walk in. Ryotaro went to follow after him, but stood by Kahoko's side for a moment to give her head a little rub. Kahoko glanced at him and noticed Ryotaro smile kindly before walking into the café.
"How thoughtful of you indeed…" Azuma murmured to himself as he thought about what Kazuki said moments ago. "I'm so glad you have their interests in mind, Hino." His mood darkened immensely from this.
Kahoko went to follow after the two boys with a bright smile on her face. She was relieved that Ryotaro and Kazuki seemed happy with her choice. Thanks to Azuma's input, their opinion on the café changed dramatically.
Before opening the door she turned to look back at Azuma. "Thank you, Yunoki-senpai," she said gratefully and went on to ask, "Have you been here before?"
Azuma glanced at her and forced himself to smile, "No, but you suggesting it for everyone is so typical of you..." While he said this in his kind, light hearted tone, Kahoko could sense the sarcasm behind it.
"Are you… alright, Yunoki-senpai?" Kahoko asked worriedly. Did she say something to upset him again?
Azuma's smile turned to a sinister one then. 'No, of course I'm not alright! Did it take you this long to notice?!' This was almost like a repeat from last night. From the dozens of girls he always put up with at school, how was Kahoko always able to get him so emotional?
He was so tempted to yell at her for it, along with being such an idiot, but that was not him, he wasn't like that. And even if he wanted to, he knew deep down it wouldn't achieve anything. Her naivety was part of her personality and it was usually cute, if it didn't involve the other guys. Oh well, she will realise her errors soon enough and will make it up to him, one way or another. Such thoughts helped Azuma gain better control of his emotions. He quickly changed his smile to a more pleasant one before she grew suspicious of his mood.
"I'm being lenient," Azuma replied, which he knew would make no sense to her. "Let's go in before the others wonder where we are." He walked to the entrance of the café and held the door open for Kahoko. She merely watched him with curiosity, wondering about his response and if he really was alright. He didn't technically answer that, so did it mean he wasn't? Kahoko was tempted to ask but judging by the way he watched her impatiently, she figured he wasn't going to say anything about it. Not wanting to keep him waiting, Kahoko quickly entered the café while he followed straight after.
As soon as they entered, Kahoko noticed Ryotaro and Kazuki standing by the counter of the café where customers were to order and pay for their food. They looked to be talking to someone which got her wondering if they were already ordering, but when she got a closer look, her eyes widened when she recognised who it was.
"Sakimoto-san?!"
Mizue Sakimoto smiled brightly when she saw Kahoko. "Ah Hino-san! What a surprise! I figured seeing Ryotaro and Hihara-san here would mean you were close by."
"Been working here long?" Ryotaro asked as both he and Kazuki had said their greetings before Kahoko and Azuma walked in.
"For a few weeks so far. I work part time as I need the extra money. It definitely helps with Christmas around the corner and all."
"Hm, that's a good idea," Kahoko said while she pondered over the possibility of getting a job too. Her allowance alone won't be enough to get presents for everyone. It was one reason why she hadn't bought any yet.
"Ah!" Mizue's eyes lit up when she noticed Azuma by Kahoko's side. "So HE must be your boyfriend! I'm right this time, aren't I Hino-san?"
Ryotaro and Kazuki nearly fell over when they heard this. Kahoko went wide eyed as this was the fourth time Mizue asked such a question – first with Ryotaro, then Len, then Kazuki and now Azuma. It didn't get any easier to deal with, although this time around she felt more embarrassed than usual. This was due to the fact that it wasn't the first time someone assumed such a thing. Hanako thought they were an item the moment she saw them together. Even Nami seemed very suspicious of their relationship, even though she had been told they weren't together. Then there was that jeweller from this morning that seemed to subtly back off after Kahoko stood by Azuma's side. Remembering such things made Kahoko's face turn pink with embarrassment. They didn't honestly look like a couple, did they?
Azuma on the other hand couldn't help but smile. He had no idea who this person was, but he didn't feel the need to tell her the truth. It was like Hanako, he would let her assume whatever she wanted. After all, it wasn't any inconvenience to him.
"So it IS him?!" Mizue's smile widened when she noticed Kahoko's and Azuma's reactions, taking their silence as a yes.
"NO!" Both Ryotaro and Kazuki yelled at the same time. They turned and looked at each other then, not expecting the other to say anything.
Mizue nearly jumped at their outburst. "What was that all about?"
"They're not like that," Ryotaro explained with a sigh. "He's another student from Seisou Academy, like us."
"That's right!" Kazuki chipped in. "This is Azuma Yunoki, a class mate and a good friend of mine. He's just friends with Kaho-chan, just like… all of us really, heh..." He almost faltered at that last part Azuma noticed. Even Ryotaro tensed up slightly at those words. Yes, they were all Kahoko's friends, yet Ryotaro and Kazuki wanted something more. But that wasn't going to happen, not if he had anything to do with it.
"Oh? I guessed wrong again?" Mizue's shoulders slumped in disappointment. "I thought I was definitely right this time."
'No, he's right, we're just friends…' Kahoko thought to herself. Azuma must find it a nuisance to have people assume such things. If he were to have a girlfriend, it would be someone who was just as beautiful and as perfect as he was… in other words, no one like her. Thinking such things made her heart suddenly throb in pain. Kahoko brought a hand to her chest and clenched it into a fist around her white top. She didn't understand why she was hurting so much, but she couldn't let it get to her, not now anyway. Azuma glanced at her from the corner of his eye as though sensing she was troubled about something but remained silent.
"It's quite busy in here," Ryotaro took the chance to change the subject. "Can't see anywhere we can sit."
Mizue did a quick scan of all the tables. "Oh, one just became free. Come with me." Mizue quickly grabbed a tray and walked around the counter so she could guide them to a spare table. Ryotaro followed after her with Kazuki behind him, then Azuma, then Kahoko.
Ryotaro was right about it being crowded, Kahoko observed. She assumed most of the customers were here for the same reasons as them – Christmas shopping. Although, was it just her or were there a lot of women in here, particularly teenagers and young adults? This wouldn't bother her normally, but being at the back of the line gave her the annoying 'pleasure' of watching women stare over the three boys as they passed by; particularly Azuma. Even as he walked by, their heads would turn and watch after him longingly. Kahoko felt a tinge of jealousy sweep through her. But if that wasn't enough, she began to hear them whisper about how beautiful and handsome he was. They would comment on his hair, his face, his clothes, even his cologne and the way he walked! Kahoko inhaled sharply as the conversations began to take a turn for the worst, hearing them long for the opportunity to talk to him and even date him.
"Hino-san!" Mizue called out to her. "What are you doing? The table is over here!"
Kahoko noticed Mizue standing by a table which was further down the end of the café from where she was standing. She wasn't sure when or how, but she had stopped walking at some point to eavesdrop on the conversations she could hear about Azuma. A lot of the attention was on her now, for she was standing around with a vacant expression on her face and doing absolutely nothing. Kahoko's face turned a bright shade of red and quickly walked over to their table. She sat down in the only vacant seat which was next to Ryotaro. She heard a few girls giggle at her strange behaviour which got her sinking into her chair more.
"Come up to the counter when you're ready to order." Mizue advised after she had cleared the table. "I need to get back to work before I get in trouble."
"Alright, thanks for your help." Ryotaro smiled.
"Anytime," Mizue smiled back as she carried a tray of dirty dishes away.
"You okay Kaho-chan?" Kazuki asked as he watched her from diagonally across the table. "You seem a little on edge."
"I'm alright, sorry about that," Kahoko smiled a bit, still embarrassed about being caught in such a way but tried to hide it. She noticed they had a table by windowed side of the café, the window spanned over most of the wall which allowed a clear view of the city outside. Ryotaro and Kazuki had the window seats while Azuma sat directly opposite her…again. Why did she always have that unfortunate luck of sitting right in front him?
"Alright, that's good." Kazuki said in response to Kahoko. He then got up from his chair and said, "I'm going to go order now. Did you want me to order for you guys as well?"
"Thanks but I need to see what they have first," Ryotaro answered while he too got up from his chair. "You coming as well, Hino?"
"Um, I guess."
"If that's the case, I'll stay behind to mind the table." Azuma smiled, "You can leave your bags here. I'll wait till you've all ordered."
"Thanks Yunoki!" Kazuki smiled and headed to the counter, along with Ryotaro. Kahoko got up from her chair and noticed she was getting a little warm. The heaters must be running from vents in the ceiling. She noticed everyone had taken their jackets off and had them hanging off the back of their chairs. Azuma and the others must have done this while she was temporarily out of it.
While she slipped out of her brown jacket and pulled the pale yellow scarf off her neck, her eyes flickered across the room absently. It didn't register until she placed her jacket and scarf over the back of her chair that there were dozens of eyes staring in her direction. She looked again briefly and noticed the pairs of eyes were coming from girls, and they were all locked on the long haired male before her. Azuma was too preoccupied with the view outside the window to notice, or maybe he did, it was hard to tell. She couldn't put it past him as he was the most observant person she knew. But did he always draw this much attention when he went out?
Kahoko needed to go order her food but she couldn't will herself to leave. She wanted to go but couldn't knowing all these girls were checking Azuma out. What would happen if she left? Would some of these girls dare to approach him while he was alone? She could picture them asking for a photo, offering their number in exchange for his or not bothering with being subtle and just simply asking if he would go out with them. The possibilities made her blood boil, but she wondered what he would do in response.
He didn't seem like the type that would encourage such actions… but what would happen if someone caught his interest? There were a lot of girls in here which were far prettier than her. There was a chance it could happen. But if she stayed here, maybe none of that will happen, right? There was no guarantee but maybe some girls will get the wrong idea and think they were together, thus leaving him alone. She could also walk with him to the counter to order food after Ryotaro and Kazuki got back so that again restricted any possibilities of him being approached…
"What are you thinking?" Azuma suddenly asked, catching Kahoko off guard.
"H-Huh?"
"I asked what you were thinking."
Kahoko stared at him blankly and noticed he was watching her with one arm folded on the table while the other was propped on his elbow, cupping his chin. It was that thoughtful gesture of his which he did every so often. He seemed calm and composed which was typical of him, yet there was something about the way he watched her that looked suspicious and calculating.
"… I don't know what you're talking about." Kahoko lied. It wasn't like she could come out and say what she was thinking about him. He would probably laugh at her if he found out.
A small smile graced his lips. "If you intend to stay, why don't you sit down? I'm sure it's more comfortable than standing and drawing attention to your-self, again."
... Oh, she was still standing. Right… She knew that. But how did he know she intended to stay? Did he know what she was thinking, even when she refused to tell him? Kahoko dared not think any further on that one, knowing her luck he probably could read minds. He seemed good at everything else.
As she went to sit down, Kahoko suddenly gasped when she fell backwards onto the ground. Her bottom was first to make contact with the ground while her back pushed against the edge of her chair. While her vision spun for a second or two, she just realised then that she forgot to pull the chair in after she stood up moments earlier. She had pushed it back without thinking, thus landing awkwardly on the ground as a result… How could she be so stupid? She was even rewarded with an audience of customers who were sitting nearby that witnessed the whole thing. They giggled at her little spectacle while Kahoko wished the ground would open up and make her disappear. Great, that's two counts of looking like an idiot within a span of five minutes.
"… How long do you intend to sit on the ground?" Azuma asked as he glanced at her from the side of the table. "Or were you waiting for me to pick you up?" Kahoko shot a glare at him while he merely smiled with amusement. She would have liked to of blamed him for this but knew it was her own absentmindedness that got her in this mess. It's funny how she always managed to make a fool of herself in Azuma's presence. That couldn't just be a coincidence.
When Kahoko got up and sat herself firmly on the chair, making sure there was no risk of slipping off it, Azuma continued smiling at her and asked, "Who was that girl?"
"Who?" Kahoko asked as she looked up at him quizzically.
"The one you all talked to when we walked in."
"Oh, Sakimoto-san?" Kahoko was curious now. "What about her?"
Azuma raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"Why do you need to know?" Kahoko asked wearily, fearing the possibility that he may be interested in her. Mizue was very pretty and seemed nice from past conversations she had with her. It shouldn't come to a surprise that Azuma would ask about her, but even so…
Azuma watched Kahoko suspiciously. He merely wanted to know how they all knew each other. But the way Kahoko got so hesitant about it made him wonder if she was thinking it meant something else.
"Why does it matter? Is it a secret or something?" He hoped these questions may draw out whatever was bothering her.
Kahoko bit her lower lip nervously while she debated over what to tell him. In the end she decided on the basic story, knowing she wasn't a very good liar. "Mizue Sakimoto is… Tsuchiura-kun's ex-girlfriend. We met at the station after that visit to your place with Ayano-san. At the time, I was with Tsuchiura-kun and Tsukimori-kun. We met again at the park when I was with Hihara-senpai. Tsuchiura-kun and Sakimoto-san were out having drinks together and we ended up joining them."
Azuma's eyebrow twitched. "You were... with Hihara?" He didn't remember Kazuki mentioning anything about going to the park, especially with Kahoko. It wasn't something that would slip his mind so easily... So, Kazuki was asking Kahoko out behind his back huh? What else was going on that he wasn't aware of?
Kahoko didn't notice the strain in Azuma's tone when he asked about Kazuki. She was too absorbed with the possibility of Azuma getting with Mizue to think about the meaning behind his question. The thought about Azuma being interested in Mizue upset her, but what gave her the right to stand between them? If it was a total stranger she probably wouldn't feel so guilty but since it was Mizue, someone Ryotaro used to be close to, how could she say anything bad about her? If anything, she should encourage their meeting... right?
"She's a nice girl." Kahoko went on. "There is nothing going on between her and Tsuchiura-kun anymore. I'm sure she's still single too."
There was a long pause from Azuma as he was caught aback from Kahoko's words, particularly that last sentence about Mizue being single. Did she… think he was interested in THAT way about her? How could she assume such things without getting the facts first? His astonishment turned to annoyance then near rage but he controlled his anger and held it in check.
"Hino..." Azuma murmured in a deep dark tone, "How can... you say that…" He shot her a glare from across the table which made Kahoko flinch with both fear and confusion. What did she do to upset him this time? If anything, she should be the one upset! If he wants to talk about girls he should do it with Kazuki or even Ryotaro as he knew Mizue better than her!
"We're back!" Kazuki announced as he and Ryotaro returned to the table. When they were both seated, Kazuki stretched his arms over his head while he threw his legs up under the table. Ryotaro suddenly leaned forward with a look of pain across his features.
"Ugh, Hihara-senpai..." Ryotaro growled as he rubbed his shin. "Why did you kick me?"
"Ah sorry, sorry!" Kazuki apologised as he placed his hands on the table and folded his legs under the chair. "I just needed a bit of a stretch, didn't expect to injure anyone in the process haha. Sorry about that."
'You got up and stretched your legs two seconds ago,' Ryotaro thought but decided to let it go. "You guys can go up and order if you like. We'll mind the table now."
"Thank you, we won't be long," Azuma said with a sweet light-hearted tone, as though his anger moments ago was a figment of Kahoko's imagination. She stared blankly at the long haired male and watched as he got up from the table and headed towards the counter. Kahoko got up and followed after him but kept her distance and didn't say anything, fearing she may upset him again. It would be nice if she could get into his head and understand how his mind worked, at least she may not upset him as such as she does. How was it that she could draw so much anger out of one person and never from anyone else? Or was she just naturally annoying and everyone else coped with it better than he did?
"... Hino-san? Hino-san?" Kahoko was drawn out of her thoughts when she noticed Mizue smiling and waving to her from behind the counter. "Hey, are you ready to order?"
"Oh, I'm sorry." Kahoko didn't realise they had already reached the counter. She was about to order, but then wondered if it was best to let Azuma go first. Turning her head in his direction she asked wearily, "Um, have you already ordered?"
"I have." Azuma confirmed with a serene, gentle smile, but then his eyes flickered in realisation of something. He scanned over the food and beverage boards quickly while Kahoko wondered if he forgot to order something. That didn't seem like him.
"Actually, I do have another request. Can I please add it to my order?"
"Sure, what would you like?" Mizue asked kindly. Azuma smiled sweetly and started leaning over the counter towards her. Kahoko went wide eyed when she saw this and fought the urge to pull Azuma back by his hair. She watched as he began whispering something in Mizue's ear. The short haired girl seemed confused at first but listened to what Azuma had to say. Kahoko noticed her glance in her direction but quickly looked away. When Azuma pulled back, a smile graced Mizue's lips as she nodded in confirmation of...whatever Azuma said.
"Thank you," Azuma said as he flashed her a beautiful, dazzling smile. Kahoko gapped at this while Mizue's cheeks turned a shade of pink. She did her best to remain as composed as possible but there was no denying she had fallen for Azuma's charm, like every other girl. Azuma glanced at Kahoko for a moment, noticing her stunned expression but didn't say anything. He merely turned and headed back to the table, although when his back was turned his lips curved into a devious smile.
Kahoko knew she had no right to pry, but she couldn't deny she was curious about what Azuma said. No, she more than curious, she was desperate to find out what he said.
"What did he say to you?" Kahoko asked with slight panic in her tone.
It took Mizue a moment to realise Kahoko was talking to her. She was still temporarily stunned by Azuma's smile. "Huh? Did you say something Hino-san?"
Kahoko inhaled sharply. "What did Yunoki-senpai say?"
Mizue shrugged. "He just ordered some food."
"That's what he whispered to you?"
"Oh that, he wanted to order some desserts for afterwards." Mizue smiled.
Kahoko had a hard time believing that. "...Desserts?"
"Yes."
"That's all?"
Mizue nodded but Kahoko couldn't believe it. If that was all it was, why did he have to whisper it?
Everyone was nearly done with their lunches but Kahoko was having a hard time stomaching hers. It wasn't because of the food; it was due to the beautifully disguised demon that sat across the table from her. Azuma hadn't done anything which would be considered wrong, but he was the reason behind her annoyance. For one, why did the attention he draw irritate her so much? He's haled like a Prince at Seisou, he was eyed at the jewellery store liked a prized possession and now he's eyed like a potential date for majority of the girls in the café. She was glad she stuck with her plan to stay with him because the moment they got back, Kazuki suddenly had a hand full of phone numbers to pass on. Seriously, who hands their number to a complete stranger? But what annoyed her more was that Azuma actually kept them. He didn't throw them away or tell Kazuki to keep them - none of the things she expected. He instead pocketed them like he'd consider calling them later. Why?! It wasn't like he knew these girls!
The second thing that annoyed her was his interest in Mizue. What got him talking about her before? She tried asking Mizue about it but she had to get back to work. Kahoko didn't think she lied about the dessert thing but surely there had to be more to it than that? Did Azuma mention anything about meeting up later or exchanging numbers or something? It was hard to tell... yet there was a little voice in her head that was trying to tell her that Azuma wouldn't do something like that. Yes, he always drew constant attention from the opposite sex but he, never, pursued any particular girl - at least that's what she wanted to believe. But the other part of her was screaming for vengeance against him. How dare he tease her and take advantage of her when he's not even interested in that way - not that she wanted him to be. She should tell Mizue to stay well clear of him - not because she wanted him for herself, it would be for the best, for her own good - not because she was jealous or anything!
'Wait,' Kahoko backtracked a bit. 'Me? Jealous over Sakimoto-san? Do I… want Yunoki-senpai to myself…?'
This was the third thing that weighed heavily on both her mind and her heart. Azuma was becoming an obsession and there was nothing she could do to stop it. She knew there was a reason for it, but she didn't want to acknowledge what it was. She felt if she ignored it and denied it enough, the feeling would go away and everything would go back to normal. But that wasn't the case. If anything it was driving her insane. She never overreacted to the attention Azuma usually received. It never used to bother her but now she felt like punching any girl that so much as glanced at him.
Even Mizue was becoming an enemy, even though she barely knew her and didn't have a right to hate her... But there was reason for that. Azuma whispered in her ear and he never did that with other girls... Or did he? It wasn't like she watched him twenty four hours a day. He may do things with girls outside of school that no one was aware of. Perhaps he purposely went out with girls from different schools so the ones from Seisou wouldn't get upset. This new theory sent a shockwave of both anger and fear through her system. Her body trembled while she suddenly had the urge to scream.
"ARGH! I can't stand it!" Kahoko shouted which made all three boys jump, plus other customers who were sitting nearby.
"K-Kaho-chan?" Kazuki blinked with surprise.
"Are you... alright?" Ryotaro asked as he stared at her blankly.
Kahoko was silent for a moment, wondering where that outburst came from and thinking how much of an idiot she was. She put a hand over her mouth and quickly looked to the two green haired boys. "S-Sorry about that," Kahoko apologised sincerely as she bowed her head, "Please don't mind me. I have no idea what that was about, haha..." Although they had every right to worry - she was losing her mind.
Azuma watched her carefully from across the table. "You haven't eaten much. Are you sure you're alright?"
Kahoko tensed up when she heard his soft heavenly voice. Knowing he was the cause of her dismay made it difficult to keep a straight face, but she built up her courage and raised her head to look at him. The moment she did however, Kahoko felt her courage diminish instantly. His eyes, while he watched her with concern and curiosity, she felt he was accessing her, like he knew what was wrong with her but wanted her to admit it. Kahoko wasn't sure if that was her overreacting again, but it was hard to tell in Azuma's case. She envied his acting skills; it would be so useful at a time like this.
"I-I-I..." What was she supposed to be saying again? "I'm... I'm..." Kahoko took a quick breath and mentally kicked herself. "I'm fine! Really!" Wait, she said that too loudly, it was almost like she WANTED him to know her thoughts.
Ryotaro and Kazuki glanced at each other from across the table, both recognising something was definitely wrong but Azuma continued watching her with intrigue. He was curious about her behaviour. Seeing her all flustered and barely able to say the simplest words was amusing. Kahoko wasn't the hardest person to understand. She was so transparent at times that sometimes you almost feel sorry for her not being able to pull off the simplest of lies. Yet right now, for some reason, he couldn't figure out what was going through her mind on this occasion. He wanted to ask but he doubted she would say anything. Unless if, maybe, she was alone... or forced.
"Here we are!" Mizue announced as she approached their table. Everyone looked up at her and noticed she was holding a tray full of dessert foods. She started laying them out over the table, not knowing which was for whom but she guessed one of them to be Ryotaro's and placed his automatically in front of him. "Was this correct, Yunoki-san?"
"Yes, thank you for your hard work." Azuma smiled gratefully.
Mizue beamed at his compliment, as if his praise was the best thing she had received since she started working here. She picked up all the plates from their last meal and took them away to be washed. Kahoko glared after her but soon after sighed and tried to get a hold of her-self. She knew Mizue was only doing her job and that she meant well, but it still annoyed her that Mizue got so happy about Azuma's kind words. She may not have lied about the desserts but it didn't give her the right to be so friendly... 'Wait, stop thinking that way! Sakimoto-san isn't doing anything wrong!'
"Hino-san," Azuma got her attention with the dessert he placed before her. "I know you weren't able to finish your food but I hope you have enough room for this."
Kahoko looked over what she got given. It was a chocolate flavoured milkshake which sat within a tall fancy cone shaped glass. The milkshake was topped with a couple of scoops of chocolate ice cream, along with whip cream, grated chocolate sprinkles and chocolate topping. She loved chocolate, like most girls, and could feel her mouth watering at the mere sight of it. She didn't eat a lot of chocolate, but on occasions like this, how could she refuse?
"Wow, Yunoki..." Kazuki was staring over his dessert with stars in his eyes. He had a multi-layered black forrest cake, it's size equivalent to three slices. It was no surprise seeing Kazuki with such a large serving.
Ryotaro was given a fruit salad with a scoop of plain ice cream. It seemed ordinary compared to what Kahoko and Kazuki got given but he seemed satisfied with it.
"Heh, you're aware that I'm not much of a dessert person?" Ryotaro looked to Azuma.
"Am I wrong?" Azuma asked, pretending to seem worried that he may have got the wrong impression.
"No, no this is fine, really." Ryotaro started reaching into the pocket of his jeans. "How much do I owe you?"
Azuma chuckled. "Tsuchiura-kun, I bought this for all of you because I wanted to. I don't expect anything in return." Azuma smiled inwardly at his last sentence but kept up the reassuring facade.
"I see, thank you." Ryotaro replied.
"Yes! Thank you Yunoki!" Kazuki looked like he was about to cry in happiness. Azuma laughed as he watched his friend dig right in, he liked how easy Kazuki was to please. Azuma didn't have any dessert but ordered coffee as a substitute. While he drank peacefully, Ryotaro watched him from across the table in deep thought. Part of him was a little suspicious of Azuma's kind gesture - not that he didn't seem like the generous type, but he wondered if there was a hidden motive behind it. He glanced at Kahoko from the corner of his eye and watched as she ate the ice cream from her milkshake happily. He wished he had thought about buying her something. Maybe he still could, they did have the whole afternoon.
"Hey Kaho-chan," Kazuki smiled. "Are you enjoying your milkshake?"
Kahoko nodded, "And are you enjoying your cake?"
"Yes! Very much so!"
"Hehe, it's quite a lot though isn't it?"
"That's okay, 'I have a different stomach for sweet things', right?"
Kahoko laughed, remembering she said that at training camp. "But I thought you had a different stomach for dinner."
Kazuki pondered over that line. It took him a moment to realise where that had come from. He said it that night after he, Kahoko and Ryotaro had left Len's house, after she had returned his school jacket. "Ah! That's true! Then I guess that means I have three stomachs huh?"
"Haha, that's right!"
Kazuki and Kahoko started laughing while Ryotaro rolled his eyes, recalling those strange lines they mentioned. Azuma eyed the two of them suspiciously, feeling like he was missing out on something, again, but tried to put it out of mind. He shouldn't let every conversation they had get to him.
"Kaho-chan, do you… want to try some?" Kazuki gestured to his cake bashfully.
"Really?" Kahoko smiled, not recognising the sudden change in Kazuki's mood. "Okay, but to be fair, I should offer you some of my milkshake in return."
"Eh? Really?!" Kazuki's eyes lit up while Ryotaro and Azuma nearly choked. The first things that came to mind were Kazuki feeding her cake from his spoon and him leaning over the table to share Kahoko's milkshake… together with her. Azuma kept his poker face intact; however his hands began to shake uncontrollably. Coffee was swishing around in the cup he held and some even began to spill over the rim. Thankfully he held a saucer underneath to catch any spillage, but he wasn't concerned about that. He wasn't even aware of what was happening to the coffee. All he was focused on was Kahoko and what she intended to do with Kazuki.
Azuma watched as Kazuki did as he imagined, he took a spoon full of cake and looked ready to offer it to her but Kahoko hand her milkshake held out to him. Kazuki was confused at first but accepted it gratefully. He was about to offer his spoon to her again but Kahoko had her own spoon in hand and scooped a small portion of his cake with it. Bringing it to her mouth and savouring the taste of the cake, they all watched as she smiled and her eyes brightened.
"Ah, delicious!" Kahoko gushed.
"Yeah it is huh?" Kazuki smiled, seeming a little disappointed that she didn't eat from his spoon but glad she enjoyed the cake. Ryotaro exhaled with relief rushing over him but Azuma continued to eye the milkshake Kazuki had in hand. He watched as his friend took a sip from Kahoko's straw and felt his anger suddenly skyrocket. It was the only straw Kahoko had, which meant after she got it back she would…
"Hey this is very good too!" Kazuki smiled as he held out the milkshake to her. "Thanks for letting me try it."
"That's okay." Kahoko smiled as she reached her hand out for it.
Azuma couldn't take this anymore. Try as he might, he couldn't pretend none of this didn't affect him. He couldn't stand how familiar Ryotaro and Kazuki were with Kahoko. They seemed closer than he was, and he didn't appreciate knowing he was on the lower scale of Kahoko's list of relations. For ignoring him last night and not even apologising, for going out with Ryotaro, for letting these guys touch her inappropriately, for assuming he was interested in Mizue… He had had enough…
When Kahoko had her milkshake within her grasp, she brought it in close to herself and was about to take a sip until she felt something, strange. Something was creeping up her leg at an agonisingly slow pace. Electrical currents were running up and down her leg while her body froze and tensed up at the feeling of it. Her breath caught in her throat and her heart began to hammer against her chest.
"Hino?" Ryotaro noticed her face redden while her eyes began to widen. "What's wrong?"
The tortuously good feeling was close to her knee by the time Kahoko realised what was happening. Someone was feeling her up with their foot, and it was none other than…
"Hino?"
The moment Kahoko felt Ryotaro touch her face, it was like something snapped from within. She jumped at his touch and suddenly felt her milkshake spill over her chest and top. The cold liquid shocked her momentarily as the milkshake cup slipped from her fingers. The glass hit the corner of the table and shattered unexpectedly as more of the brown liquid spilt over the table and her jeans, along with pieces of the now broken glass.
"Hino!" Ryotaro gasped as he quickly picked up a handful serviettes that were on the table and tried cleaning up the spilt milkshake.
"Kaho-chan!" Kazuki quickly got up, "I'm going to get Sakimoto to help clean this up."
Kahoko didn't pay attention to what either Ryotaro or Kazuki were doing. All she could see was the person sitting before her who didn't seem at all phased by what happened or show any form of concern. She could hear other customers in the café talking about her, particularly the ones that didn't hide their interest in Azuma. She could hear them murmur to one another like they were screaming the words at her - that she was an attention seeker, how it would be embarrassing to sit with her, how she didn't seem good enough to be in the presence of these three boys, especially Azuma. She didn't know these girls, but she couldn't deny their words hurt. She was beyond embarrassed. She was ashamed and felt like an fool for being placed in such a situation. Kahoko got up from her chair and felt glass from her lap spill over the ground, along with some excess milkshake that hadn't seeped its way through her clothes.
"I'm going to the bathroom…" She whispered as she quickly walked away. Azuma watched after her in deep thought, while Kazuki had just arrived with Mizue to help clean up the mess. They were so absorbed with the task at hand that they didn't notice Azuma as he got up from the chair and began to slowly follow after her.
Kahoko was relieved to find no one in the bathroom when she walked in. At least she could be on her own while she tried cleaning herself up, although one look in the mirror proved it was going to be a lost cause. Her white shirt had turned brown; half her jeans had been stained. Even underneath her clothes she could feel her skin sticking to the material and could feel her bra had been affected by the spillage as well. How was she supposed to feel about this? She was still shocked over what happened but had no idea if she should be upset or angry about it.
"Hino…"
Kahoko flinched when she heard her name, especially who's voice it belonged to. She slowly turned her head towards the bathroom's entrance and noticed Azuma leaning against the closed door with his arms behind his back. When he had walked in, she wasn't aware, although she heard a little 'click' as the door was locked behind him and watched as he slowly begun to approach her.
Author's Note: Ah dear, look at that. Ended it at the worst possible moment, sorry about that. I really want to keep going but this chapter will never end if I do that lol :P I'm sorry this chapter took so long as well. You'll probably think it didn't seem like three weeks worth of writing, as it doesn't seem all that impressive. Technically it was one weeks worth but two weeks to plan – along with some debate over whether or not I should scrap this idea.
I stuck with it mainly because it revolved around Azuma's and Kahoko's feelings for one another (even if they haven't accepted or acknowledged them yet) and how it's affecting them – particularly Kahoko when they entered the café. I know Azuma has a lot of explaining to do, you're all probably wondering what's going through his head right now XP I promise you'll find out in the next chapter. I would have revealed it now but as I explained before, the chapter was getting far too long. Sowwie :P
The café was inspired by Episode 13 of the anime when Kahoko and Keiichi ran into each other at the instrument exhibition. I changed the café slightly in my story to better suit my ideas for it, like more tables and chairs and that they could occupy more than two people as the one in the anime seemed to only seat two. Mizue won't have a large role in my story but I plan on having her featured in more chapters. I couldn't resist not adding her and doing her whole boyfriend line thing XD
It's weird, I feel like nothing has happened in this chapter, yet there isn't anything I would change as it's all relevant in some way. Ah well, we still have a long way to go; so hopefully you'll all stick with me till we get there :-) Hope to see you in the next chapter. I'm excited that we've reached the double digits in chapter numbers XD