Month 1 Day 5
The Hinata Apartments
It had taken a while for Motoko to recover, but by today she had finally gotten into a good enough shape that the other girls let her leave her room. She had been going stir crazy having to lie in bed all day, unable to leave, and with only Su as company. She was close to the girl, but prolonged exposure would make anyone crazy.
She still couldn't train, the most annoying thing of all for her, and whenever she had tried, Saki, who had been assigned to the task, restraing her in a headlock, and dragging her back to her bed. Motoko had already planned ahead all the training she would put herself through at the first opportunity, despite everyone telling her to take it easy. She felt she had no excuses for letting Keitaro get as close as he did to defeating her in their duel, even though cooler heads stated that she was on the verge of collapse, and still held the upper hand.
However, now that the other girls had decided that she was healthy enough to leave her bed, there was one thing that she had been meaning to do that she could finally go about doing.
She looked at the door ahead of her nervously. A headache still clamped down on her mind, making the myriad of thoughts that swirled in her head already more painful than they may have been to begin with, and the heartache in her chest was simply another nuisance that plagued her weakened body.
But with all the discipline and bravery she could gather, she forced herself to follow through.
She knocked lightly on the door.
"Oh? One second." She heard Keitaro's voice on the other side. She heard the man get up, and walk to the door, and opened it. Surprise showed on his face. "Motoko-Chan, shouldn't you be in the bed?"
"The others said I'm healthy enough to go about the inn." Motoko said more weakly than she would have liked. She saw past Keitaro, both Naru and Shinobu sitting at their desk with various school supplies out. "If this is a bad time, then I can come again." She told him.
"Oh, not at all, um…" He turned back to the other two girls. "I'll be just a second okay?"
"Okay Sempai." Shinobu said.
"…alright then." Naru said warily.
Keitaro nodded and stepped into the hall, closing the door behind him. "What did you want to talk about Motoko-San?"
"…I um… I wish to um *cough* … excuse me…" Motoko cursed herself mentally. She hated appearing weak to Keitaro. Despite her sickness, she needed to stand strong, and say what she wanted to say. "I feel I should apologize to you." She forced out.
"Apologize?" Keitaro asked.
"Yes, you see *cough* you see, it appears I have been ill during the past several days and, *cough* I *cough-cough* excuse me, I may have made some rash decisions that I would have made otherwise if I had possessed a more sound mind."
Keitaro remained silent in slight confusion.
"Like for instance, when you offered your hand in friendship to me I *cough* I fear I overreacted to some perceived slight I had made in my confused state. It was wrong of me to do so, for me to threaten you when you were simply trying to restore our relationship to what it once was."
"It's okay." Keitaro said with a smile. "All that's over with, you were just a little overheated is all."
"Yes. It was due to my feverish mind that I came to many conclusions that weren't so." Motoko said, more to herself than Keitaro. "But now with a more calm heart, I wish to say yes."
"Um… yes what?"
"Yes… I would like to remain friends." Motoko said, with a blush that probably was not caused by her fever. "The plea you made to me was one in earnest, and I can not help but appreciate such honesty on your part."
Keitaro smiled. It was a very genuine smile, more so than someone who simply smiles from happiness born of everyday events, but of someone who needed to be recognized for some hard and trying task. "Th-that means a lot to me Motoko." He said.
"However!" Motoko said. "Do not think that means I shall support you when you commit any perverted acts! *cough*."
"Huh?"
"This place is a bad influence on you Urashima." She told him. "It is only natural that you would succumb to such depraved acts of perversion when there lies so much temptation for misdeeds! When you commit such acts, I shall still be there to set you on the right path. You have a dedicated g-girlfriend Urashima, you should respect that, and keep your eyes on her, and away from the many helpless girls of this Dorm. Do you *cough* do you understand?"
"I-um…" Keitaro muttered. "I… I wouldn't have it any other way Motoko-San." Keitaro told her.
Motoko smiled. "Good. I hope you pass you exams for Tokyo University Urashima, and when you do, that you stay far, far away from this place, and the girls who inhabit it." With that, she turned away, and walked down the hallway with more confidence than she had earlier, swaying slightly less than she had on the way there.
Keitaro smiled, and rubbed the back of his head. There sure was no easy path for him here at the Hinata was there, he mused. He opened the door back into his room, and saw Shinobu looking slightly uncomfortable, and Naru pretending to study.
Month 1, Day 8, Midday
"Alright! We're off!" Keitaro announced, walking out the Hinata arm and arm with Naru.
"Wait a minute!" One of the girls stated from inside the living room. Tamiyo rushed forward, and slid to a stop in front of the two of them. "Where do you think you're going?"
"On a date." Naru said with a slightly hostile tone. "You know, that's something that Couples typically do." She stated, tightening her grip on Keitaro's arm.
"A date!?" A second voice from the living room stated. Kitsune charged in, and slid to a stop between Tamiyo and the happy couple. "Why didn't you tell me about this?"
"Why should I Kitsune, it's not like I have to inform you ahead of time do I?" Naru asked.
"Yes you do!" Kitsune said. "Your supposed to be with me, and making your goo-goo eyes while you fantasize about everything your going to do, and then you come back and you go over every single implicit detail."
Keitaro started blushing, while Naru gave a slight huff. "So basically what I'm getting is that I'm your entire social life."
"Eh, um…" Kitsune started muttering.
Naru smiled, and started chuckling. "Sorry Kitsune, I'm kidding. I just wanted to keep quiet about it in case something went wrong. I mean a Samurai girl tried to kill my boyfriend the last time I tried to go on a date."
"What were you afraid would go wrong?" Kitsune asked.
Naru leaned to the side to see Tamiyo with an irritated expression on her face hovering behind Kitsune.
"Anyway, we'll be going, and all that, try not to burn the house down while we're gone okay?"
"Don't forget to tell Shinobu we'll be out, so she shouldn't bother with our dinner tonight, okay?" Keitaro told them.
"Alright, we're off, bye!" Naru said, waving goodbye as the two exited the doors.
"I just know those two are up to no good." Tamiyo mumbled as she sat next to Saki on the couch. They currently had the living room to themselves, with Kitsune having gone up to her room. "I bet they're going to do all kinds of immoral things together, it just burns me up."
"So why don't you do anything about it?" Saki asked.
"Well what can I do?" Tamiyo asked.
"Follow them, and bust them before they can do anything." Saki said. "Then we can finally kick 'em out and get this place back to ourselves."
"W-well um…" Tamiyo muttered. "I don't even know where they're going." She confessed. 'Maybe Narusegawa had a point about not announcing anything to the rest of us.'
"Don't let that stop you!" Saki said, who was bored and looking for anything to entertain herself. "Use that big-ol noggin of yours and figure it out!" She stated, poking Tamiyo's head.
"H-hey! Stop it!" Tamiyo said. "Alright, alright, let me think. I know Narusegawa is a very meticulous planner, she probably has some things in her room."
"And?"
"Well, maybe I can look there, and see if there are any clues."
"Alright!" Saki said jumping up, and grabbing Tamiyo's hand. "Let's go!"
"W-Wait!" Tamiyo protested as Saki dragged her up the stairs to the third floor, and to Naru's room.
"Alright, behind this door is the proof we need to finally evict that pervert." Saki stated.
"Well, actually behind that door are the clues that will lead us to the- wait a minute!" Tamiyo said. "I can't just go in there, and search through Narusegawa's things!"
"Why not, you were up for it a moment ago." Saki said.
"No I wasn't."
"But we might be able to bust the pervert manager tonight when he tries something funny with Narusegawa!" Saki told her.
"Look, I don't want to go through the whole trouble of trying to piece together clues that might not be there to follow those two to a place where they might not even be, where I might or might not get caught, just to see those two do something I definitely do not want to see." Tamiyo told her. "Besides, if I get caught, Narusegawa's just gonna glare at me, and yell at me for a couple of hours."
"Not even if it might get that manager out? I thought you we were on the same side as this. First Motoko, now you-"
"Don't." Tamiyo said icily. "Don't make the mistake of thinking I harbor warm feelings of any kind towards that foul man. He touched me in places no man should ever touch me, he has stared, glared, and placed his hands on everyone in this dorm, without a care in the world. And then he just laughs it off, and calls it an 'accident'. And worst of all… worst of all he… he…" At this point Tamiyo was trembling. "Get out of my way!" She told Saki, as she wrenched open Naru's door.
Tamiyo took a short moment to survey the room before starting her search. The room was colorful, and bright. She had a bookcase full of reading books, and several textbooks piled on her desks, and a few stuffed animals placed on her bed, as well as one yellow lopsided one that had been left on the floor.
Tamiyo started by taking a look at the surfaces and table-tops to see if anything useful had been placed there but the place was tidy save for a few school supplies, nothing she could use, the drawers were a similar case, however she did find something when she checked under the bed, and found a folder labeled 'Date-Time with Kei-Kun' which contained several papers.
"Here we go!" Tamiyo said with a satisfactory grin, as she laid out the folder on the bed, and went over the various papers and documents, while Saki peered over her shoulder to get a better view.
"All that for a date?" Saki asked.
Tamiyo leafed through the various papers, pushing her glasses up as they slid down her nose. "A local map, with several restaurants and date spots highlighted on it, A map of the local park with one of the paths outlined-" She listed. "A list of dating tips, ten ways to save money on a date, there's a handwritten note, though I don't know what it means 'Show him Tomoe's walk, huh, ah, here's something a bit more useful, movie times for the Bunraku Movie theatre." Tamiyo stated, showing the pamphlet to Saki. "And she's circled 3:45."
"He-heh, great! Let's get going!" Saki said.
"Wait a moment." She said, looking through papers once more before leaving.
"Whatever, we got what we came for, so let's leave before someone comes snooping." Saki said.
The irony of that statement was not lost as Tamiyo quietly put the folder back under the bed, and left with Saki.
Koichi quietly swept away the leaves off of the walkway in front of the Hinata Teahouse like Haruka had told him to do. It was quiet, but somewhat tedious work, since every two seconds another leaf fell in front of him to sweep. Business was slow at the moment, as it had been since he had started working at the Teahouse, there was currently one girl quietly sipping the tea he had served her, and she was the second customer to come to the shop, the first being half of an elderly couple that were apparently regular customers to the teahouse.
He shivered slightly in the nippy air, and enjoyed the quiet. Until it was shattered by two of the girls running down the walkway.
"Come on, we gotta hurry if we wanna catch them!" The redhead yelled back.
"W-Wait up! It's not a race!" The one with glasses said, as she was still trying to put on her jacket.
Koichi made sure to keep quiet and out of the way. He had learned on the first day to stay far away from the girls at the dorm, as they had been very particular about making sure he had learned that lesson.
And so when the two girls left his sight, he just went back to sweeping. That was before someone came up behind him, and grabbed him.
"Where did they go?" He was turned around a shaken a few times before he was allowed to answer.
"Where did who go?" He asked, getting a little dizzy.
"Saki and Tamiyo!" She asked.
"Who?"
"Oh, for the love of…" The person dropped Koichi, and he fell to the ground, and looked up at his attacker. He couldn't see her face past her bust, until she leaned down, and he saw that it was the girl who had tried flirting with him.
"Did you mean those two girl who just ran past?"
"Yeah those two!" She told him.
"Yeah, I saw them."
"Where did they go?" She asked in a very serious manner.
"I don't know. I saw them as they were going down the stairs, but I didn't see where they went. I just saw them as they were going down the stairs."
"Oh god…" She muttered.
"Is something the matter?" Koichi asked, picking himself up off the ground.
"Yeah, Keitaro and Naru were supposed to go on a date today, but I think those two are going to sabotage it." Kitsune muttered. "And I as my best friends wingman cannot allow that to happen!"
"…Keitaro's the Dorm manager, right?" Koichi asked.
"If this ends up their way, Naru and Keitaro are going to end up booted out, and what I have left of a social life is going to be in shambles!" Kitsune bemoaned.
"Well, I guess… you should go out and stop them then." Koichi said, picking up his broom.
"I'm glad you agree." Kitsune stated grabbing Koichi by the wrist. "And you'll be my decoy!"
"Wait, what?"
Kitsune briefly ran inside the Teahouse with Koichi in tow, and called out to Haruka who was leaning on the counter "IMGONNABORROWYOURLACKEYOKAYB YE!" Before running back off, and down the steps of the Hinata dragging Koichi away before Haruka could protest.
Koichi shivered as he and the big-busted-eyes-closed girl and he hid behind a bush, following the red-head and glasses-girl as they hid behind a bush and followed the dorm-manager and his girlfriend.
He would have complained more, and tried to return to his job at the Teahouse, he was sure Haruka would not be happy about current events, if it wasn't for the fact that he was pretty sure that big-busted-eyes-closed girl could probably kill him if he tried. He couldn't remember what exactly it was that she did, but he was pretty sure if was something painful.
If he knew he was going to be abducted today, he would have at least brought a jacket.
"One hand follows another." Some old man standing behind them stated.
"And one hand follows that. But do even those in the lead know where they are going?" Another old man beside the first asked.
"One simply wanders through life, that is all anyone can do. Those who follow, simply stand together in ignorance."
"Ah, but perhaps there is something at the end of all the wandering, after all, why wander, if there is nothing to gain."
"Yes. Perhaps there is something to be gained."
"Perhaps love."
Koichi stared at the two, and turned back to Kitsune. "What the heck are those two guys talking about?"
"Ignore them." Kitsune told him.
"Shinobu!" The young girl barely had enough time before Su had jumped, and started climbing onto her, barely managing to keep her balance. "Shinobu, do you know where everyone is?" Su asked, with her face not an inch away from Shinobu's.
"U-um, w-what do you mean Su-San?" She asked.
"I mean I don't know where anyone is!" Su said, dismounting from the girl. "I don't know where the older girls are, I don't know where the Manager is, you're the first person I've seen here for months!"
"Su-San, I think you may be over exaggerating." Shinobu said. 'Though it does seem quiet around here.'
"Well, it's a good thing I brought this!" Su said, reaching into her skirt pocket, and pulling out yellow round object. "Ta-Da!"
"…What is it?" Shinobu asked.
"It's a tracking device!" Su said proudly. "It's what I wanted to show to Miko and Miho before Motoko had her duel with the manager!"
"A… tracker?"
"Yep! I made several microchips that emit a signal that is broadcast to this thingy here, and then I put one into everyone's underwear while you were doing the laundry last week!"
"S-Su! You can't do that! It's illegal!"
"It is?" Su asked. "Whatever! Laws can't stand in the way of science!" Su claimed, grabbing Shinobu's wrist. "Come on, it says here that at least two more people are still in the Dorm!" She stated, dragging her down the hall, despite Shinobu's protests. "If my hypothesis is right, then since these two people are the only ones left in the dorm, they must be the perpetrators of the disappearances, and the mastermind of the whole conspiracy!"
Shinobu didn't have the energy to try to reason with the girl, and just let her lead her down the hallway, until she reached her destination, and with no hesitation whatsoever, slammed open the door to reveal the supposed conspirators.
"Aha! I have you know!" She bellowed.
Behind the door, were Miko and Miho, still in their school uniform, were sitting at their desk doing homework. They looked up from their work, turned to Su, standing with a triumphant look on her face, turned to each other, back to Su, and then back to their homework.
"Ah seriously, no reaction?" Su asked, sounding rather disappointed.
"Buzz off, we're trying to do homework, we're in no mood for your stupid games today." One of them muttered.
"Confess now!" Su yelled, pointing an accusatory finger at the two. "You! You were the ones who did it!"
The two completely ignored her, and continued scribbling on the piece of paper in front of them.
"Ooh… you're good." Su remarked.
"Su's worried about where everyone is." Shinobu tried explaining. "We, um, don't know where everyone went."
"And what does that have to do with us?" One of the twins asked.
"Sh-She thinks you're the reason." Shinobu confessed.
"Tell me right now where you hid them, or else I shall have to be forced to use… extreme measures…" Su threatened.
"We don't know where anybody is." One of them said.
"We've been doing homework since we got here."
"Well if you didn't do it, then who did?" Su wondered.
"U-Um, well Su, if your device lets you track people, why don't you just use it to figure out where everyone is?" Shinobu suggested.
"Aha! Shinobu you are a genius!" Su said, embracing the girl in a back-breaking hug. "Alright, we're going on a rescue mission then!"
"That's g- wait, we?"
"Uh-huh." Su stated, with a wide smile. She ran over scooped both twins out of their seats before they had a chance to react, and ran back out the hallway, with the two young girls struggling, and Su cackling maniacally, with Shinobu chasing after them.
The last sound they made was the front door as it slammed shut.
"Su?" Motoko called out from her room. "Su? Could you get me a *cough* a glass of water? … Su?"
"Okay, okay, I'm pretty sure they don't know we're following them yet." Tamiyo muttered, as she adjusted her glasses.
"Good, how long until we can bust them?" Saki asked.
"I don't know!" Tamiyo told her. "We just follow them until they do something suspicious."
"Aw, come on, that sounds boring." Saki complained.
"This was your idea." Tamiyo told her.
"No, it was yours." Saki told her.
"Whatever." Tamiyo stated, not wanting to get into an argument that might get them caught. Tamiyo leaned to the side of the tree, and watched Keitaro and Naru head down a street.
"Okay, that area has a lot of restaurants, so they're probably going to eat there." Tamiyo said.
"How can you be sure?" Saki asked, peering over Tamiyo's shoulder.
"Well, they're going to a movie, but that's not for a while now, is it? And it's common for couples to go for a movie, and a meal. It's very likely, and I can't see why else they'd be going that way. Come on, we're gonna lose them."
Tamiyo grabbed Saki by the wrist, and the two of them rushed out of cover, and hid behind a wall, while Keitaro and Naru chatted amiably.
"So then the question becomes which restaurant are they going to?" Tamiyo said.
"Well… I have no idea." Saki confessed.
"Alright, let's think this through." Tamiyo said. "I couldn't find any menus in Naru's room, knowing how much of a planner she is, she must have already picked out a restaurant before hand, and already know it's menu."
"You think?" Saki asked.
"Yeah, those two supposedly grew up around here, so I've bet they've gone on tons of dates here." Tamiyo said. "The question is still which restaurant would they go to. This way."
The two of them ran out of cover, and raced down the street and hid behind a car, as Keitaro and Naru kept walking.
"My bet is that one." Tamiyo said, pointing to the fancy French restaurant in front of them. "This is supposed to be the first proper date they've had in a while, right? I bet that's the fanciest place to eat around here, it's definitely where they are going to go to eat tonight."
"Wow Tamiyo-San, you put that egghead of yours to good use, don't you." Saki commented.
"Well…" Tamiyo said, smiling from the complement. "Alright, we just have to stake out this restaurant for a while then."
"Alright." Saki said with a grin.
Kitsune leaned from behind a wall to see Saki and Tamiyo hiding behind a car, and staring intensely at the restaurant across the street from them. Kitsune snickered as she went back into her hiding spot.
"What's so funny?" Koichi asked.
"Those two have no idea what's going on." Kitsune told him. "I bet those two think Keitaro and Naru are in that fancy restaurant over there."
Koichi paused to peer around the corner himself to take a look. "Yeah, that looks like a good date spot, I'd take my girlfriend there."
"Yeah, but not those two." Kitsune said. "I'll give those two credit for making it this far, but when it comes to Naru's dating powers, I am the real expert."
"Alright, so if not there, then where?" Koichi asked.
Kitsune grabbed Koichi, and peered back around the corner with him. "See that small place at the back."
Kocihi squinted his eyes, and searched the street. "Ichiraku's Beef Bowl?" He asked.
"Yep, that's the one." Kitsune stated, heading back into her hiding spot. "Those two are going to be freezing their asses off waiting in front of that fancy French place."
"I guess." Koichi stated. 'It doesn't really matter which restaurant their waiting in front of does it? It's not like they could go in either one without getting caught.' "Why the Beef Bowl place though?" Koichi couldn't help but ask.
"Ah it's an old tradition of theirs." Kitsune explained. "They didn't get much pocket money as kids for dates, certainly they don't get much now, so they pick cheap places, and that's one of their favorites."
"Ah, I guess that makes sense." Kocihi said. "It's like one of those little rituals you have with someone you like. It's those little useless rituals you have when you're in a relationship with someone that are the best don't you think?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah, I guess so." Kitsune said. She went back to spying on Saki and Tamiyo, who were in turn trying to spy on Naru and Keitaro.
"Can I go home now?" Koichi asked.
"Quiet lackey."
"Okay, if my calculations are correct, everyone is somewhere in this area…" Su muttered, as she marched down the street, eyes focused on her small device. The twins followed reluctantly, with a resigned look in their eyes, while Shinobu continued to fret.
"Su-Chan, are you sure we should be doing this?" Shinobu asked.
"Of course Shinobu-Chan, if we don't find anyone, they'll be in serious trouble, why I bet right now all of them are being bullied and intimidated by a gang of evil bikers, just waiting to be rescued by us, the Hinata Rangers!"
"The what?" The twins asked.
"Whenever someone is in danger we'll be there, waiting to strike back at evil!" Su stated, striking a pose. "Miko! Ranger Black! Miho! Ranger White! Shinobu! Ranger Blue, and I Koalla Su as the leader, Ranger Gold! Together we are the Hinata Rangers ready to save the day!"
"…" The three of them looked at Su with her triumphant pose at a loss for words.
"You watch too many cartoons." One of the twins said, walking past her.
"Ah geez, what does it take to get a reaction out of you guys?" Su asked, pouting.
"Um… Su-Chan, maybe you should go a little easy on those two." Shinobu said.
"Huh? Why would I do that?" Su asked.
"U-Um, well maybe you can be a little… much at times, you know?" Shinobu said.
"Oh, am I being a bother?" Su asked.
"No, it's just that-"
"It's alright." Su said. "Actually, I'm trying to be a bother to them." She said with a grin.
"H-huh? Well why?" Shinobu asked.
"It's because all those two ever do is mope." Su said. "I don't know what happened to them, but they were like that ever since they came to the dorm. They didn't try to talk to anyone, or hang out, just those two together alone. So I decided, I was going to make those two smile even if it kills me!" Su said, giving a grin and a thumbs up. "Besides, if I don't bother them, all they'll do is sit around in their room and mope."
"Hmm… but still…"
"All right! My radar says that the rest of them are very- very close by…" Su stated. We're right on top of them, where could they be…"
"Su?"
"Ah found you!" Su said, turning to see Saki and Tamiyo peering over a car.
"What are you guys doing here?" Tamiyo asked in shock.
"We're here to rescue you! Now, where are those evil bikers?" Su asked.
"We were worried about where you went, everyone left so suddenly." Shinobu explained.
"See, I told you we should have left a note." Saki said.
"No you didn't!" Tamiyo spat back. "You didn't say anything like that at all! Not once did anything of that sort come out of your mouth!"
"Well, I was thinking it…" Saki muttered.
"Seriously, where are those bikers, I'd rather they come out already…" Su muttered.
"Would you guys quit standing out in the middle of the street where they can see you?" Tamiyo asked.
"Ah where are they, I know there here!" Su stated, getting into a fighting pose.
"Would you quit it with the crap already!" Saki yelled, grabbing Su, and pulling her over the front of the car.
"U-Um, what are you guys doing here?" Shinobu asked.
"We're spying on the Manager and his girlfriend!" Saki said.
"Idiot, can't you be a little bit more subtle about it!?" Tamiyo asked.
"What that's what we're doing, isn't it?" Saki asked.
"Ah, I see it's another game, great!" Su said, struggling out of Saki's grasp.
"Guys!" Shinobu whined. "We can't spy on Keitaro-Sempai, and Naru-Sempai, it's wrong."
Tamiyo grimaced. "Well, you're not wrong, but…"
"Look kid, sometimes you gotta get your hands dirty." Saki told her.
"Can we go now." The twins monotoned.
"Not yet, things are just getting interesting!" Su stated, reaching over the car, and pulling them behind it with the others.
"B-but guys!" Shinobu tried.
"You get behind here too!" Saki said, pulling Shinobu behind the car as well. "Alright, so we figure those two are in that fancy restaurant across the street, right now we're waiting for them to come out."
"And them we bust them, right!?" Su asked.
"Um, well no." Tamiyo said. "We can't really bust them for eating, can we?"
"Eh? So why've we been waiting her for so long then?" Saki asked.
"W-Well, we can't just wait for them at the movies, because they might do something between now and the movies." Tamiyo explained, adjusting her glasses.
"Like what?" Shinobu asked.
"Oh, well, um…" Tamiyo stammered.
"We're going to the movies?" Su asked.
"Uh, yeah, maybe." Tamiyo said.
"Hey guys." One of the twins intoned.
"What is it?" Saki asked.
"They're leaving." They said.
The four of them, Tamiyo, Saki, Shinobu and Su all peered over the top of the car. "Where are they, did we lose them?" Saki asked.
"No not out of there." One of the twins said.
"Over there." The other said, pointing.
The four turned to the right where one of the twins was pointing to see Keitaro and Naru exit a small beef bowl restaurant.
Saki turned to give an angry glare to Tamiyo.
"Oh, um… well then…" Tamiyo muttered.
Saki pulled Tamiyo into a sudden headlock, and began grinding her fist against the poor girls skull. "You mean we've just been waiting outside here for the past half hour in the cold, waiting for those two IN FRONT OF THE WRONG RESTAURANT?" She asked angrily.
"Ow, ow, ow! Okay, I messed up! Ow, ow, ow, you can stop now!" Tamiyo whined.
Saki gruffly released her from her grasp with a huff. "So much for that big egghead of yours." She mumbled.
"Look, this is just a setback, okay?" Tamiyo said, rubbing her head. "We're gonna lose them if we don't hurry, come on!"
"Fine." Saki muttered.
"Ah, that was a good meal, don't you think?" Keitaro said, patting his appreciative stomach.
Naru stayed silent and didn't respond.
"You know, nothing like having a meal at your favorite restaurant." Keitaro said.
Naru glared at him.
"I'm so full, I don't even think I could have room for popcorn." Keitaro said. He turned to Naru to see her still glaring. "You're still mad aren't you."
Naru huffed and turned away. "That waitress was totally checking you out." She muttered.
"She was not!" Keitaro stated emphatically. "She was just trying to remember where she knew me."
"We've been going to that same place for years now, you're telling me she couldn't recognize us?" Naru asked.
"Naru, it's been a while." Keitaro said. "Years. You didn't even recognize me at first, in fact you knocked me unconscious as I recall."
Naru refused to respond.
"Our first date in a while, and the first thing you do is get jealous." Keitaro said with a smile.
"H-Hey, that's not how it is." Naru defended herself.
"You got jealous of the waitress you've known since you were eight, and who's probably twice your age." Keitaro said.
"H-Hey, Mitsuku-San is good looking for her age." Naru said. "... last time we were there, was before I switched to contacts." Naru mused.
"Yeah." Keitaro said. "Before I flunked the exams."
"Hey, don't you start moping too." Naru said.
"So you admit you were moping." Keitaro challenged.
"I admit nothing." Naru stated. "Still though, it was nice to be there again. It brought back fond memories. I think it's good to know our childhood hasn't been completely ruined."
"Eh, what do you mean?" Keitaro asked confusedly.
"Well be honest with me Keitaro, do you think it's possible to relax and reminisce in our favorite inn like we used to, with those crazy girl in there?" She asked.
"Well, if I'm being honest then… no, no I don't." Keitaro admitted.
"Hmm-hmm, I don't remember you having to go on any duels at the Hinata when Mutsumi and Kanako were around." Naru said.
"No, but to be fair, it seems you're forgetting all that other crazy stuff we did when we were together." Keitaro told her.
"Oh, like what?" Naru asked.
"Ok, how about that time when we went to the circus, and you were almost eaten by a lion." Keitaro said.
"Oh, you're exaggerating." Naru said, brushing him off.
"Naru, you had your head in it's mouth."
"And circus lions are trained not to eat people, duh!"
"How about the time we got lost at sea while we were heading to Mutsumi's?" Keitaro asked.
"Hey, we were never lost, we were ten feet away from their back yard." Naru stated.
"We were stranded for two days without food water or shelter." Keitaro shot back.
"We're still here, aren't we?" Naru defended.
"How about that time we were exploring round back the Hinata, and got lost in that cave?"
"We were found eventually."
"Yeah, but-"
Keitaro was interrupted by Naru when she gave him a quick punch to the shoulder. "Alright, I get it, you don't need to go on about it." Naru told him.
"See?" Keitaro asked, as he rubbed his arm.
"See what? What's your point?" Naru asked.
"Things have always been crazy around us. It's like we're the epicenter of some craziness storm." Keitaro told him.
"Okay, now you're just being silly." Naru said with a giggle. She quietly slipped her hand into Keitaro's and grasped it firmly. "Okay, come on, we gotta hurry if we want to make it to the movie on time." She said, dragging her boyfriend down the street.
Kitsune, having already known which restaurant her favorite couple had gone to, easily kept track of them as she dragged Koichi from one building corner to the next, expertly sticking to the shadows as she followed her prey.
"It sucks that now all the girls are in on this." Kitsune muttered. "But I still have the homecourt advantage."
"You are really dedicated to helping your friend." Koichi mused.
"Yeah, well, that girl wouldn't be able to survive out there in this world without me." Kitsune told him. "And, if I'm being a little honest with myself, I've got nothing better to do today."
"Ah… I see…" Koichi muttered. "So where to next?" Koichi asked while he shuffled around his feet to keep the feeling in them.
Kitsune started giggling again. "Fortunately this is where my knowledge of that pair is going to come in handy again. Always, always, every time they have a beef bowl, they always do the same thing."
"And what would that be?" Koichi asked.
Kitsune turned to him with a foxy grin. "You wanna catch a movie together?"
"I haven't lost them." Tamiyo told the rest as she led her group down the street. "I haven't lost them!"
"I didn't say anything." Saki muttered.
"I haven't lost them!" Tamiyo repeated.
"Uh-huh." Saki muttered again. "How about this, I lead the group, and you're the one stuck babysitting."
"I told you, I haven't lost them." Tamiyo spat back.
"I didn't say that you did." Saki said. "But you did."
Tamiyo finally stopped, and turned to glare at Saki. "Fine. I'm sure I can figure this out."
"What, you're going to use your telepathy?" Saki asked.
"You can do that!?" Su asked, clambering on to Saki's shoulders.
"Get off me you monkey girl." Saki muttered trying to dislodge Su from her perch.
"Aha!" Tamiyo exclaimed as Su stubbornly clung onto the red-heads body. "I just remembered we found a pamphlet for movie times, right?"
"Yeah." Saki muttered, paying more attention to the tan giggling girl hanging onto her.
"Narusegawa had a pamphlet with movie times, remember? And she circled 3:45. They must be heading to the movie theater, right?"
"Huh? Wait a minute your right!" Saki said, as she ceased her struggling with Su. "I guess that egghead of yours is kinda useful after all."
"Heh-heh, why thank you." Tamiyo said grinning.
"How much time does that give us?" She asked.
"Well…" Tamiyo glanced at her wristwatch. "Crap, Fifteen minutes we better hurry." Tamiyo muttered. She grabbed Saki, with Su still clinging on, and raced down the streets, with Shinobu and Miko and Miho hurrying after her, not wanting to get left behind.
Soon enough the movie theater was in sight, and the group had reached their destination just in time to see Naru and Keitaro enter the movie theater hand in hand.
"Heh-heh, I knew we hadn't lost them." Tamiyo said with a large grin, leaning from behind a wall. "So now they're going to watch a movie."
"Or maybe they just like popcorn." Saki suggested from behind Tamiyo.
"What's popcorn taste like?" Su asked, still perched atop Saki's shoulders like a bird.
"You are not helping." Tamiyo told Saki.
"So, we going in then?" Saki asked.
"Why would we go in?" Tamiyo asked. "We might get spotted."
"Because, it's cold out here, and we've spent the last hour out here, I think my nose is starting to run, and I really don't want to spend another two hours freezing out here." Saki responded.
"We're going to watch a movie?" Su asked with a wide grin. "You hear that guys we're going to watch a movie!" She told the others, jumping off of Saki's back, and bouncing around with joy.
"H-Hey, that's still not determined yet!" Tamiyo declared.
"Awww…." Came from both the Twins and Su.
"Hey, it's five against one here, majority rule." Saki said.
"It's just um…"
"What?"
"It's just that um…"
"Spit it out already!"
"Movies are… you know… expensive." Tamiyo said.
Saki glared at her for a few seconds while Tamiyo looked around sheepishly before Saki put the older girl in a headlock again. "Hey, this was your idea, wasn't it?" Saki asked.
"No it was your idea!" Tamiyo responded, struggling against the other girls grasp. "Fine! Fine! Fine! We're watching a movie!"
"Yay!" Both the twins and Su exclaimed as Saki released the bespectacled woman from her grip.
"But we're splitting the costs, I don't have enough money for all of us." Tamiyo told Saki. "And we gotta be sneaky about it."
"Fine, so long as we're not out here." Saki said.
"Good, now the question is which one are those two going to see." She said, peering over the side of the wall.
"What do you figure then?" Saki asked.
"Well, the choice is obvious." Tamiyo stated. "There are two movies, one is the big action movie, with an overload of violence and explosions, the other is a sweet romance movie about two estranged lovers. Which one would you rather see if you were on a date?"
"Seriously, a chick flick?" Saki asked.
"If you don't want to come, feel free to stay out here. In the cold." Tamiyo said.
"Fine, fine… but seriously a chick flick, I hate those things…." Saki muttered.
The group waited a bit longer until after Keitaro and Naru had entered the movie theater to enter themselves. Shinobu who had kept quiet up until this point lagged behind until Su grabbed her wrist, and made sure she kept pace with the group. "Come on Shinobu, it's gonna be fun!" She exclaimed.
"A-alright…" Shinobu muttered. 'Sempai's, please forgive me.'
The group managed to make it into the movie theater without being detected by Keitaro and Naru, and both Saki and Tamiyo took out their wallets to pay for everybody's entrance, which caused a good deal of pain to their wallets. Each took their seats in the back-row, so as not to be spotted, and the movie began while Su was still complaining about the lack of popcorn.
The movie played was about two lovers who had been estranged for up to three years, both planning to see each other again when the reached the same university. Each sent letters to the others throughout the film, and each had to deal with temptation of others, should the female lead rekindle her lost feelings with her handsome and well meaning tutor, should the male lead break off his relationship, for the lovelier and more loving childhood friend character? Despite close calls however, both stayed true to their sweethearts, and reunited at their university of choice at the end of the movie, embracing as the credits began rolling.
"Finally it's over." Saki muttered, lying far back in her seat. "That had to have been the worst movie I have ever seen."
"I know, you only complained a hundred time during the movie." Tamiyo whispered.
"Those two didn't even kiss!" Saki said. "Not once throughout the whole film!"
"A romance doesn't have to have kissing in it." Tamiyo defended.
"Yes it does! That's the whole point of a romance!"
"You don't even like romances to begin with Saki-San." Tamiyo said. "It's not like you're completely unbiased."
"Yeah, I don't like sappy films to begin with, but can the sappy film at least do what I expect it's going to do?" Saki argued. "Besides, I'm not the only person who thinks it's bad, take a look at the younger girls."
Tamiyo turned to her left to see that Su had started snoring very loudly, her head tipped back on the top of the seat, and the twins were cuddled up against one another, sleeping soundly. Shinobu however, was silently sobbing, trying to wipe the tears away from her face.
"T-That w-w-was… the most b-beautiful thing… I've ever seen… it was so touching…" She cried.
"Do you think maybe we can leave them here?" Saki asked.
"What?"
"Just saying, it'd be easier to snoop around without these four around." Saki reasoned. "Three of them are asleep, and Shinobu seems, kinda… preoccupied."
"You make a fair point." Tamiyo said. "Alright, let's be quick about it."
The two quietly got up from their seats, and tried to silently tip-toe away from the younger girls. The barely made it to the end of the aisle before Su suddenly woke up.
"Hey, where are you two going?" Su mumbled, her eyes still drooping.
"So close." Saki muttered.
The group waited until most of the other patrons of the movie had left the theater to leave themselves, lest Naru and Keitaro spot them. Tamiyo and Saki spent a moment to stretch her legs while some of the younger girls had to relieve themselves in the bathroom.
"And another thing, why the heck would those two wait for three years when they both had people in front of them they could have been with." Saki complained.
"Could you please stop your moaning for a moment." Tamiyo said irritably. "We might lose them if we don't spot them in this crowd." She said, as she surveyed the people in front of her who were milling around the theater.
"I'm just saying that movie made no sense whatsoever." Saki said.
"Gah, where are they…" Tamiyo muttered. "You don't think they already left did you?"
"If I were them, I would have left halfway through." Saki responded.
"Would you quit complaining." Tamiyo said as the crowd for the other movie started coming out as well. "It was a bad movie, but it's not like I was the one who chose it, it was that idiot couple. Couples watch bad romance movies together it's just what they do."
"Yeah yeah." Saki said, leaning against the wall to avoid the moving crowd. The two stood there in silence, with Saki stewing, and Tamiyo searching the crowd, moving her head back and forth so fast she was sure to develop a crick.
"And then, and then-" An excited voice from the crowd could be heard. "The bad guy gets punched so hard, he goes flying!"
"Yeah, that was a good scene wasn't it."
"Wait a minute…." Saki muttered. "Is that who I think it is?"
"Damn right it was, with the explosions, and, and all the stuff in the background, and then you had the main lead giving off the speech with the girl in his arms, not to mention that his shirt had been torn to pieces and he wasn't too bad to look at it either."
"Hey be careful, you might start making me jealous."
The two of them ducked behind a corner, and peered around the side to see the back of Keitaro's black scruffy hair, and Naru's long auburn mane walking through the crowd.
"Oh I am, am I?" Naru teased.
"Well, it's just that I kinda come up short to a seven foot tall giant who constantly spews bullets and one-liners." Keitaro lamented.
"Well, no need to worry, I go for the dorky sensitive types anyway."
"Oh, now you're calling me a dork are you?" Keitaro asked.
"Who says I wasn't talking about Haitani, or Shirai?"
"Oh god, don't even joke about that Naru." Keitaro said quickly.
"Well, how about if I just do this?" Naru asked before leaning over to give her boyfriend a quick kiss on the lips. "Am I forgiven now?" She asked cutely.
"Well… do that a few more times, and I might forgive you." Keitaro said with a slight blush.
Naru pouted for a moment. "Well then, I guess I'm just going to have to try real hard to make it up to you on this date, huh?" She said. "Now come on, we better get going then."
"Alright." Tamiyo said. "We have to hurry if we don't want to lose them." She glanced at Saki to see that the redheaded girl was glaring at her evilly. "What?" She asked.
"Do you mean to tell me that you had us watch the WRONG movie?" She asked.
"W-What?" Tamiyo asked.
"That girl was talking about explosions, and action, none of which I saw in that sappy romance we saw." Saki told her.
"O-Okay, they picked a different movie then I thought they would, but it's not that big a deal, right?"
"I sat through two hours of crying, and swooning ,and, and obnoxious couple talk for nothing!?" Saki fumed.
"H-Hey, be quiet, they'll hear you!" Tamiyo said.
"Hey guys, did you find Naru and the Manager?" Su asked as she and the other younger girls returned.
"I'll kill you!" Saki said as she put Tamiyo in another headlock.
"Hey! You were the one who wanted to see a movie! I wanted to stay outside and wait!" Tamiyo defended herself. "Besides those two are getting away!"
"Huh?" The four younger girls said, as the looked at the direction where Tamiyo was pointing to see the young couple walking away.
"Damn you're right." Saki muttered releasing Tamiyo from her grip. "Come on then, we're gonna lose them!" Saki grabbed Tamiyo by the collar and ran away with her to catch up with Naru and Keitaro, with Su cackling manically as she did likewise with Shinobu and Miko and Miho.
Kitsune stood to the side snickering at the sight. "Those girls are cracking me up."
"I don't see what's so funny." Koichi said.
"Oh come on, everything those are doing to try to catch those two in the act is blowing up in their face." Kitsune responded.
"I guess. I just don't see what's so funny." Koichi repeated. "I still don't get what you need with me."
"Silence lackey." Kitsune told him.
"I mean, you could have at least let me watch the other movie, I actually wanted to see that, that action movie was completely boring."
"I said silence lackey, you do not want to incur my wrath!" Kitsune said theatrically.
"Y-Yes ma'am." Koichi said, bowing to her whims.
"Come on then, we need to follow them, or else we won't see what happens next!"
The next stop for the happy couple was the local park, where the leaves on the trees were changing and falling, and whipping about in the wind. Naru clung onto Keitaro's arms as they walked down the path that winded back and forth through the trees.
Meanwhile Saki and Tamiyo's group went from tree to tree trying to avoid being seen while still trying to stick close to the couple. And behind them was Kitsune dragging Koichi as she tried to tail Saki and Tamiyo.
Naru and Keitaro stopped for a moment to purchase ice-cream from a stand, and rested at a bench besides the duck pond to enjoy their treat, while the others hid and watched.
The two sat in silence simply content to be in each-others company while they licked their ice-creams.
The two just sat their on the bench not saying a word and enjoying each-others company. That is until Naru finished hers, cone and all, and looked over to see Keitaro doing the same thing, and saw he still a smear of ice-cream on his cheek. With a grin, she leaned over and licked it off oh him, causing Keitaro to jump. He turned to face her, and was ambushed by a kiss on the lips. Though surprised he didn't fight back, and instead slowly embraced her, leaning back into the bench.
"Ew, now they're kissing." The twins remarked.
"I can see that." Tamiyo mumbled.
"Wow…" Shinobu muttered, as she blushed, not taking her eyes of the couple.
"…Oh, they must be trying to get each-others ice-cream!" Su exclaimed as if she just solved a difficult puzzle.
"Uh, yeah, that's it." Saki said. "Man, they're really going at it, aren't they." Saki said to Tamiyo.
"Feh." Tamiyo said unmoved.
"So what are they doing now?" Hiromi asked.
"They're still just- Hiromi-San!" The group wheeled around to see Hiromi in her policewoman uniform, which consisted of dark blue pants and jacket with a police insignia in addition to a pair of white gloves and a blue police-womans cap standing behind them, a majority of the girls having their hearts currently beating out of their chest from her surprise arrival. "What are you doing here?"
"Hello, nice to see you out and about too." Hiromi said. "I received a call about suspicious activity in the area. I'm assuming that's you?"
"Well…" Tamiyo said.
"And by the way, it's Officer Himoshira while I'm on duty." Hiromi commented.
"How did you find us?" Saki asked.
"You guys aren't exactly the stealthiest bunch. You're a bit loud, and you're not doing a good job of staying out of sight either. Probably the only reason neither of those two noticed up until now is because they're so absorbed into each other."
"I-I see…" Tamiyo said.
"So what exactly is it that all of you are doing here?" She asked, with arms crossed.
"Well, you see those two are on a date, you see." Saki said. "And they didn't tell us about it. So we were worried that they were going to do you-know-what, and Tamiyo thought that if we catch him in the act, we can get rid of that pervert manager, see?"
"Uh-huh, so you've been following them this entire time?" Hiromi asked.
"Well, you see…"
"Well, they left before we could figure out to follow them, but then Tamiyo said we should search her room for clues, and aside from a few missteps here and there, we've kept a close eye on them."
"Uh-huh, and you thought it would be a good idea to bring the middle-school girls along with you on this field trip?" Hiromi asked.
"Okay, as for that-"
"That one's not our fault." Saki stated. "They found us on their own, and it's not like we could let them blow our cover."
"We were worried that everyone had been kidnapped by bikers!" Su stated. "Evil bikers!"
"You couldn't at least leave a note?" Hiromi asked shaking her head.
"Um well…" Tamiyo muttered.
"Ah, what does it matter, we're this close to kicking that pervert manager out, and he won't be walking in on us, and groping us all the time!" Saki stated.
"Ah yes, about that, could you two step a little closer?" She asked.
Saki and Tamiyo each took a step closer to the Policewoman before she smacked both of them on the heads. "Are you two crazy or something!" Hiromi said. "You two are stalking that couple, this is a violation of privacy!"
"Hey it was her idea!" Both Saki and Tamiyo stated pointing at the other.
"Ugh, what am I going to do with you." Hiromi wondered.
"W-well what does it matter anyway, that guy has invaded our privacy more than a dozen times already." Saki defended.
"So then it's alright if you do it?" Hiromi asked.
"Yes, because if we do it, then it's goodbye pervert!" Saki said.
Hiromi hung her head in exasperation.
"You don't seem to excited about our plan." Tamiyo noted.
"That's because I'm not." Hiromi said. "Look, the reason why I support that no you-know-what rule at the inn, is because there are a lot of young impressionable girls who are staying there, who really don't need to see that sort of thing." Hiromi paused to peer at the younger girls who were watching the three of them as they were having this argument, and listening intently on it. "I don't think I need to point out the obvious." Hiromi said.
"But, but-" Tamiyo tried.
"But nothing." Hiromi said. "What those two do on their own time is their own business. You know for a fact that the only reason such a rule is in the contract is so the manager can't coerce a tenant into a you-know-what relationship. Take a look at those two." The group turned to see Keitaro and Naru still happily making out on the park bench. "She doesn't seem coerced, does she?"
"Yeah, but if it means we no longer have to worry about being peeped on or groped, or who knows what else, it's worth it, right?" Saki asked.
"Look, I'm not saying I wouldn't rather see that guy take a long hike, and yeah, things at the dorm would be a lot more peaceful without him, but I'm not gonna stoop to following him everywhere he goes just because he wants to be with his girlfriend, and neither should either of you." Hiromi told them. "Now, I'm going to let all of you off with a stern warning because I know you, but I won't be so friendly if I catch you doing this again. Go back to the inn, and give those two some semblance of privacy, got it?"
"Got it…" Tamiyo muttered.
"Good." Hiromi said, as she left.
"Hiromi san's right." Shinobu spoke up. "It's really wrong to be spying on Naru-Sempai, and Keitaro-Sempai on their d-date. You shouldn't be doing this, and neither should I. I-I'm leaving." Shinobu kept her head down and left too.
"Huh? Shinobu?" Su asked. When she didn't respond, Su chased after her.
That left Saki Tamiyo and the twins, who looked to the older girls as if asking them what to do.
"They're right." Tamiyo sighed.
"You sure?" Saki asked.
"Yeah." Tamiyo sighed. "We're not even accomplishing that much by being here." She said.
Saki sighed. "Fine then, let's head home."
Naru finally pulled up for air, and looked down at her smiling boyfriend, who had his glasses askew at the moment.
"Am I forgiven now?" Naru teased.
"Yeah, I think so." Keitaro stated.
"Good." Naru stated, as she went back in for a tight hug. "I needed to get that out of my system." She said as she snuggled into his chest. "Kitsune was right, we don't do enough couple stuff."
"Yeah, you're right." Keitaro said. "I miss when we were in high school." Keitaro said.
"Oh, you don't have any complaints from back then?" Naru asked.
"Plenty." Keitaro stated. "Haitani, Shirai and I weren't exactly the most popular students, meeting Kitsune for the first time wasn't exactly easy, and when we started attending the same school, you were either trying to jump me, or strangle any girl that looked at me sideways."
"Man, way to ruin fond memories." Naru pouted.
"But hey, we'll always have moments like these, right?" Keitaro asked, running his hand through her hair.
"Yeah. Always." Naru said with a giggle. "Mock exams are coming up pretty soon." She said. "We still haven't been able to have a proper study session since that whole Kendo thing. After the Mock exams will be the Holidays, and then after Valentines Day, it's gonna be the real thing."
"Don't worry, the exams are still far-far away." Keitaro said, trying soothe her.
"I just saying how easy it'd be for time to slip away from us." Naru said. "Things are hectic, but we gotta keep focused."
"Yeah…" Keitaro said. "Naru, what do I do if I fail again. For a third time?"
"Don't talk like that Keitaro." Naru told him sternly.
"It's just that, all of us were so sure I would get in." Keitaro said. "The second time, I remember thinking, 'for sure this time' that I wouldn't make the same mistakes as last time, but I failed for a second time. How could I do that? What makes now any different?"
"I'm what's different." Naru said. "I'm here to make sure the both of us get to go to Todai, and live happily for the rest of our lives." She told him. She paused to take in her surroundings as the sun was dipping towards the horizon. "Okay now's a good time." She stated getting up.
"What's a good time for what?" Keitaro asked.
"It's a secret." Naru said playfully grabbing her boyfriend, and pulling him up from the bench. "I need you to follow me, okay?"
"Alright." Keitaro said with a slight grin.
"Oh, there you are lackey." Kitsune remarked, as Koichi returned with two scoops of ice-cream.
"Here's your ice-cream-" He said, trying to remember the woman's name. "Here's your ice-cream."
"You missed it." Kitsune remarked, grabbing her cone.
"Missed what?" Koichi asked.
"Hiromi went and came over, and busted up the group." Kitsune told him, licking at her chocolaty goodness.
"Who?" Koichi asked.
"Hiromi." She said. "The Police-Woman."
"Oh, that woman who tried to tase me." Koichi said. "She did what?"
"Busted up their little group, sent them packing." Kitsune explained.
"So does that mean we're done?" Koichi asked. 'Can't believe I didn't think of doing that sooner.' He thought gripping his cell phone in his pocket.
"If only it were so easy." Kitsune said with a conniving grin. "Now you have to walk me back to the dorm!"
"…Why?" Koichi asked.
"Because I demand it!" Kitsune said. "Besides, spending time with a beautiful gal like me can't be all that bad, can it?"
"I guess not." Koichi conceded. "If I wasn't with you, I'd probably still just be raking leaves."
"That's the spirit!" Kitsune stated, hitting him on the back. "You do have bus fare by the way, right?"
"Hey Shinobu! Wait up!" Su cried as she bounded towards the blue-haired girl. "Hey Shinobu, are you okay?"
"Huh? Oh yeah, I'm ok Su-Chan." Shinbou said.
"You don't sound okay." Su noted.
"It's just that…" Shinobu tried to sort out her feelings. "Saki and Tamiyo are older, I feel like they should know better about following people, you know?"
"Hmm? Well maybe they don't want to know better." Su suggested.
"What do you mean Su-Chan?" Shinobu asked.
"Acting mature all the time is real boring, you know? So sometimes it's better to do something stupid, or make a mistake on purpose."
"H-How can you say something like that Su? That's not true at all!" Shinobu told her.
"It's not?" She asked.
"No it's not! You're supposed to act mature, and responsibly. You're supposed to know what you do before you do it so you don't make a mistake! Because, because sometimes when you make a mistake, you just end up hurting other people, who-who can't do anything about it." Shinobu said. "A-And they should have known better and not done it. A-And I should have known better too."
Su paused a moment before responding. "Not every mistake is a bad one." She said. "There are a lot of mistakes that end up being good things. And if you don't try to mess up every now and again, those good mistakes will never happen."
"Th-this and that are completely different Su-Chan." Shinobu told her.
"Are you sure?" Su asked, getting pretty close to Shinobu. She studied the girls saddened expression for a moment before making a happy grin. "Hey Shinobu, wanna race to the dorm?"
"No thanks Su." Shinobu said.
"Too bad!" Su stated as she grabbed the girls wrist and took off with Shinobu in tow, just barely able to keep up.
"Well that was a waste of time." Tamiyo said, her head hung low. "I told you that this was a bad idea."
"When? When did you say anything like that at all?" Saki asked.
"I said a dozen different times while we were doing this!" Tamiyo told her. "Why do I bother, you only ever hear what you want to hear."
"Whatever." Saki said. "… It wasn't a total waste."
"We didn't get any closer to kicking out that damned perverted manager." Tamiyo said.
"True."
"We got chewed out by Hiromi."
"True."
"Half the time we were in the wrong place."
"True."
"And the other half we spent out in the cold."
"Yep."
"So how exactly was it not a complete and utter waste of time?" Tamiyo asked.
"Well we had fun at least, right?" Saki asked.
"How was any of that fun, you didn't even like the movie!" Tamiyo snapped.
"Hey, any time you spend with a friend is a good time in my books."
"I-… you consider me a friend?" Tamiyo asked.
"What else would you be?" Saki asked.
"It's just that…" Tamiyo mumbled. "I-It's not like you and I have hung out much. We go to different schools and everything."
"Yeah, so?" Saki asked. "That doesn't matter."
"So we're friends then?" Tamiyo asked.
"Geez, your not supposed to even ask about stuff like that.." Saki said, rolling her eyes, and giving Tamiyo a light punch on the arm.
Tamiyo complained, and rubbed her arm, but on the inside, she was a little more happy than she had been before.
"How much further?" Keitaro asked as they were about to cross the road.
"Shush." Naru told him, looking both ways. "I'll tell you when we get there. Alright let's go." She said leading her boyfriend across the street.
Keitaro groaned as Naru led him by the arm until he heard the preposterously loud roar of an engine. He turned to his left to become blinded by the headlight of an oncoming vehicle seconds before the large piece of metal struck him dead on, sending him flying, while the vehicle and it's rider went skidding down the road.
"Keitaro!" Naru cried rushing over to her downed boyfriend.
"What hit me?" Keitaro asked dazed, propping himself up. He looked around to see a motorcycle lying on it's side, motor still running, with it's rider, a biker in a full track suit and helmet picking himself up.
"Hey you should watch where you're going!" Naru yelled.
The biker shook himself out of his daze, and rushed over to his bike, which still had it's wheel spinning, and propped it up inspecting it for damage. "You scratched it…" The biker said, his voice muffled through the helmet.
"I scratched it?" Keitaro asked. "You ran into me!"
The biker turned to glare at him before mounting the bike revving the engine to the loudest it could go, and screeching off into the distance.
"It's official." Keitaro moaned. "The Universe wants me dead."
"I can't believe that, that guy just ran off without even bothering to see if you were okay." Naru fumed. "Oh! Keitaro are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine." Keitaro said, waving her off. "Maybe a little bruised. I've had worse. Though we should probably avoid tempting fate, and get off the road."
"Oh… yeah, you're probably right." Naru said, dragging her boyfriend up to his feet and off the street.
"Naru, you ever think that maybe all this is a sign or something?" Keitaro asked.
"What are you talking about?" Naru asked, as she continued to lead her boyfriend down the path.
"You, me and Mutsumi have been separated so many times." Keitaro said. "I've failed the Todai exams twice, I live in a place where more than half of the residents want me to drop dead, and outside of that, I have near-death experiences every other Tuesday. I'm just saying that's way too much bad-luck to be having."
"Keitaro I want you to shut up." Naru told him.
"Hey!"
"Shut up I said!" Naru said threateningly. "Keitaro you are the most gentle, kind and loving person in the entire world, and I don't want to hear a word about it otherwise. Besides, you're not the only one who's going through tough times. I missed you just as much as you missed me when we were separated. I've focused so much on school work to get into Todai, that Kitsune's my only friend, and I've whittled down my eyesight to the point that I can't see three feet in front of me without contacts. Add on to that, the fact that I'm loud, I'm pushy, I have a short and explosive temper, and then my parents…" Naru paused.
"Naru, I'm sorry." Keitaro said.
"I'm not done." Naru told him. "What I'm trying to say, is that everyone goes through tough times. We're just not allowed to let it get to us."
"Naru I-"
"We're here." Naru said stopping, causing Keitaro to bump into her.
"Where's here?" Keitaro asked. He had gotten so absorbed in their conversation he failed to notice where they were going.
"Here." Naru stated, turning to him and grabbing his hands. "Look." She said nodding to her left. Keitaro turned to see what Naru had brought him to see. Stretched out before him was the illuminated skyline of Tokyo City.
"Wow." Keitaro said.
"Yeah." Naru said, leaning into Keitaro. "A friend showed me this way a while ago, and you know what my first thought was? I've got to take Keitaro on a date here."
"Naru I-"
"And make hot wild sumptuous love to him on the spot."
Keitaro froze for a moment, and turned to Naru.
"Just kidding." She giggled.
"Oh." Keitaro said, feeling somewhat disappointed.
"But look here." She said, grabbing Keitaro's arm, and guiding it over the cityscape. "See that set of lights over there." She said, pointing with his arm.
"Yeah."
"That's Todai." She said turning to him with a grin. "It took me a while to spot it, but now whenever I come here, it's the first thing I see. And when you look at it from here-" She placed her hand on top of Keitaro's. "It looks like it's just within our reach, doesn't it?"
Keitaro turned to look at Naru's face, and saw the myriad of Tokyo's lights reflected in her eyes, and when he saw her smiling like that, all his doubts and fears were banished. "Yeah, it does." He said before leaning in to kiss her. "And with you by my side, I don't think there's anything I can't accomplish."
"About time you realized that dummy." Naru muttered before going in for a second kiss.
Midnight
The Hinata Apartments
"Shh!" Naru told Keitaro.
"Sorry." Keitaro whispered. "It's hard to see here."
"That's because it's the middle of the night, and it's dark." Naru told him.
"Sorry." Keitaro said again.
The two continued stealthily walking up the many steps that led to the Hinata.
"Knowing those girls, we're never going to here the end of it if we come back home this late." Naru muttered.
"Yeah, I understand." Keitaro said.
"And you tripping over your own feet is bound to wake them up."
"There was a branch." Keitaro stated defending himself. "Besides I wasn't that loud."
"I think you woke up half the neighborhood!" Naru whispered.
"I wasn't that loud." Keitaro muttered. "Is it me, or does this feel way too much like that time we had to sneak you back to your parents house."
"Way too much." Naru said, as they reached the top of the stairs, and were in front of the old building. "Okay no lights, that's a good sign. Besides if we get caught, I have a feeling those guys would chew us out more than my father ever would. Come on, let's go."
Keitaro nodded, and followed Naru's lead into the Hinata. Naru carefully opened the door, sticking her head in before giving Keitaro the all-clear sign. The two of them carefully and quietly snuck in, closing the door behind them before proceeding. As his eyes were still adjusting to the darkness inside the Hinata, Keitaro tripped over the first step out of the entry room, causing him to fall forward towards the floor. But instead of crashing to the floor, he landing on something surprising soft that broke his fall.
A very loud and very familiar shriek could be heard less than a food from Keitaro's eardrums, and before he could regain his hearing he felt a foot jab into his side, and send him flying sideways, far away from whoever it was that he landed on.
Naru, wishing to know what was going on, reached for the light switch, illuminating the room, and temporarily blinding everyone who was in it.
"What's going on?" She asked while she shielded her eyes from the brilliance of the incandescent bulb above their heads.
When everyone's eyes had adjusted to the light, it was easy to see what had happened. In the darkness Keitaro had tripped, and somehow landed on Tamiyo, who was still on the floor. Saki, who was still rubbing her eyes, quickly helped Keitaro off of Tamiyo.
"Okay, that one really was an accident! I couldn't see anything!" Keitaro defended himself.
"What are you two- wait, what do you mean 'that one'?" Naru asked, at the same time Tamiyo did.
"Nothing!" Keitaro stated.
"What are you two doing here in the dark?" Naru asked, deciding to press the issue with Keitaro later.
"What are you two doing back so late?" Tamiyo quickly diverted.
"Th-That's none of you business." Naru stated, as Keitaro got up.
"Well then, same to you." Tamiyo said, as Saki helped her up.
"Is everyone okay?" Shinobu asked as she came down the stairs.
"I-It's nothing Shinobu." Naru and Tamiyo said at the same time.
Shinobu's eyes darted over the scene. "O-Oh, ok." She said. "Ah! I forgot to make everyone dinner! I'm so sorry!"
"It's okay Shinobu-Chan, Naru and I ate on our date." Keitaro told her. "Hey, how come you're still dressed, shouldn't you be in bed?"
Shinobu looked herself over before responding. "O-Oh, w-well a-a-about that…" She mumbled.
"What's going on?" Su asked, bounding into the scene with Miko and Miho trailing behind her.
"It's nothing, go back to bed." Naru and Tamiyo stated, before glaring at each other.
"Oh! Okey-Dokey." Su said. She turned around, and taking Shinobu with her, with the Twins slowly following.
"Something's not adding up here." Keitaro said.
"Keitaro's right, what's going on here?" Naru asked.
Saki turned to Tamiyo for guidance, who crossed her arms and glared at the two. "What's going on is- that I'm trying to help Saki with a test."
"You are?" Saki asked. "Oh right, she is."
"She's been having trouble in her math-class, and so she asked me to help her study." Tamiyo explained.
"Oh really?" Naru asked, her eyes narrowing. "What math class is she taking?"
"Remedial Algebra." Tamiyo answered.
"Okay, why are you studying in the dark?"
"We didn't want to bother anyone else." Tamiyo answered. "Satisfied?"
"Hmm… I wouldn't study in the dark Saki, you'll end up a glasses girl, just like your tutor." Naru said. "Come on Keitaro." She said, taking her boyfriend upstairs.
"How do you know I'm doing bad in my math class?" Saki asked.
"I saw your report card." Tamiyo said.
"Oh." Saki muttered. "Hey, do you think you could actually, you know, help me study in that class?"
"Sure, I see no reason not to."
"Thanks."
That night, many of the tenants of the Hinata learned something about the people around them, whether they knew it or not.
Authors Note:
Hello, I know it's been a while.
As you know, I am currently without a laptop, and that does impair my writing ability, as it's hard to write when the mood strikes me without easy access to my stories.
However, I feel that my College Classes are more to blame for the long wait. Finals week consumed a vast majority of my priorities and my attention; I really wanted to make sure I did well for all of them this semester. In addition there are also some family issues arising that I won't bore you with.
Anyway, I hope this chapter is well received, even though I don't think it's my best work. I at least hope though that I am improving.
Sincerely
-SAmaster01
And Merry Christmas