"Alright, class," the detective's English teacher began. "Open your books to page 266; we're going to look at more English poetry."
Naoto's stomach churned as she opened her book to the specified page, remembering last night. She had kissed him, kissed him. It was only on the cheek, sure, but it was still him. The dumbest boy on the planet, she thought. The dumbest, most pathetic, clumsiest boy, and she had kissed him. And not only was he dumb, pathetic, and clumsy, but he was also negligent, a bit dopey, and perfect, yes, perfect, in so many ways she could and couldn't name. Sure, he didn't seem like it, but he was a gentleman, always helping her whenever she needed it, always doing the dumbest things just for her. Her heart pounded as she flipped through the pages.
"Let's see...," the teacher said as Naoto looked up, making eye contact. The detective cursed to herself. "Ah," started the teacher. "Shirogane, read the poem on page 266."
Standing up, she wanted to groan. Her heart couldn't take this."In English?" she asked.
"In English," her teacher responded. She read over the poem once, making sure she knew how to pronounce each word. The detective then cleared her throat, ready to recite.
"'Love is a door we shall-'" The first-year was interrupted by a ringing bell.
"Oh," said the teacher, looking up from the book, "looks like you were a bit fortunate there, Ms. Shirogane." The teacher then addressed the rest of the class. "Your only homework tonight will be to finish the poem. Oh, and don't forget that you have the next two days of school off, as well: Friday and Saturday. That is all."
Naoto wanted to give a sigh of relief, sitting back down at her desk. A few moments later, the idol came into her classroom.
"Hey, Naoto-kun," Rise started, coming over to her desk.
"Rise-san," Naoto nodded in acknowledgement.
"So," she said, placing her bag on top of the detective's desk, "you're coming to the party, right?"
The shorter first-year groaned. "I don't know," she replied sarcastically. "Am I?"
"Of course you are," she started with a grin. "'Cause we're friends, and friends always go to each other's parties."
"This isn't even your party," Naoto pointed out.
"Whatever," the idol said, rolling her eyes. "It's tomorrow, starting at 7." She then looked back over at the detective with a sly grin. "And don't forget to bring your boyfriend."
"He's not my boyfriend," retorted Naoto, turning red.
"Suuurre," the idol trailed on. The detective ignored her, turning away to place her books into her bag. "You guys are so in love." Naoto begged whatever higher being there was to grant her some patience with Rise. "Can I be your maid of honor at your guys' wedding?" What? Naoto wanted to turn around and punch the idol in the arm. "Or, ooh, I know! I'll be your kids' godmother!"
The detective blushed furiously at the thought of her marrying the delinquent, or possibly even having children with him. "Would you please be quiet, Rise-san?!" Naoto groaned as the idol had a look of clear enjoyment across her face. "It isn't like Kanji-kun likes me back or anything," she started. "And last night, it was only a ki-," the detective stopped, remembering that the other first-year wasn't there to see what had happened between the two.
"What?" Rise started.
"It's nothing, never mind," Naoto started, deeply regretting what came out of her mouth.
"No," the other first-year started. "You were gonna say something about last night. What happened after I left?"
"It was nothing, Rise-san."
"Nuh-uh, you were gonna say something," the idol repeated. "Kiss?" She squinted her eyes, thinking. "Did he kiss you? Holy crap, or did you kiss him? Or, oh my god," she started again, grabbing Naoto's shoulder with wide eyes. "Did you guys kiss each other?"
"It's nothing," the detective still insisted, the color of her face clearly proving otherwise. She stood up, looking away. "Now if you'll excuse me," the first-year started. "I'm leaving."
"Naoto-kun, wait!" Rise called. The detective grabbed her crutches and left the classroom with the idol quickly trailing behind.
Naoto heard a knock at her door as she finished up the last chapter of her book. "Yes?"
"Hey, uh," Kanji said, sticking his head into her room as he cracked open the door. "I, uh, well," he mumbled, seeming to have a hard time finding the correct words. The detective raised an eyebrow.
"I got this movie... And, uh, I mean, I was gonna watch it and stuff, and I didn't know if you would've wanted to see it too or anything, and, uh..." He was clearly turning red. "Look, just- here," he said, pushing her door open all the way and stepping in. He handed her a DVD, still very red.
"Y-Yukiko-senpai said it was a pretty good movie, and, uh, I kinda wanted to watch it, but, uh," he swallowed, scratching the back of his head. "I decided I could wait until it was, like, out on DVD, or whatever, so, uh..."
The detective looked down at the DVD. It was a horror movie. Of course, she thought. Only Yukiko would recommend that genre of movies. Though they really weren't her thing, she decided one little horror movie wouldn't hurt. Besides, she was already done with her book. "Sure," she said, looking back up at the stuttering delinquent.
"Wait- Really?"
Naoto nodded, looking back up at Kanji and handing him back the box. "Uh," he started. "Cool, alright then, er..." The detective stood up from the sofa. "I'll just go get this ready, then." The taller boy then left the room.
Heading to the family room, Naoto caught the scent of popcorn being made. It sent butterflies through her stomach, realizing that she would be watching a movie with Kanji, alone. Her stomach then churned, remembering the kiss she had given him, hoping that it didn't ruin any chances. But, she thought, he did invite her to watch a movie with him; so there was that. Butterflies were sent through her stomach again.
Finally making her way to the couch, Kanji was standing on the other side, a bowl of popcorn in his hands. "Uh," he started, clearly hesitant about something. "Just sit wherever you want," he said as he put the bowl down on the coffee table in front of the couch. Going over to the television, he placed the disc inside of the player.
The detective sat on the side of the couch closest to her, assuming the other first-year would be sitting on the other side. Really though, she would have liked to sit much closer without it seeming suspicious.
The beginning of the movie wasn't all too bad, Naoto guessed; most of it made sense. Around the middle of the movie, when many of the chase scenes and jump scares occurred, was when Naoto found herself a bit conflicted. She knew for a fact that things like those could never happen in the real world, but every time she still found herself telling the main protagonist to not open that door or to not turn her back, afraid of what would pop out. But, sooner or later, her focus came off of the movie and onto her trying not to smile whenever Kanji flinched or jumped in his seat.
She didn't eat much popcorn either, with the taller boy pretty much inhaling the bowl whenever he knew something was about to happen or someone was about to die. Once, when the main protagonist, Hana was her name, came to a door, about to open it, Naoto could have sworn she heard the other first-year muttering and shaking his head to himself "don't do it, don't you dare fucking do it," while taking handfuls out of the bowl which he had taken entirely over to his side of the couch. After the demon had popped out from behind door, Kanji pretty much threw the bowl of popcorn off of the couch, kernels splaying across the floor.
"Uh, sorry," he said, pausing the movie and getting up to clean the mess and get another bowl, which he promptly inhaled soon after. Naoto just looked up at him and snorted, sitting on the couch and her legs pressed up against her chest.
The ending wasn't too bad, as well. The detective just wished that the movie was a bit longer so she could have spent more time with the delinquent before heading to bed.
AN:
"'Love is a door we shall open together.'
So they told each other under the moon
One evening when the smell of leaf mould
And the beginnings of roses and potatoes
Came on a wind.
Late in the hours of that evening
They looked long at the moon and called it
A silver button, a copper coin, a bronze wafer.
A plaque of gold, a vanished diadem,
A brass hat dripping from deep waters.
'People like us,
us two,
we own the moon.'"
Moon Rondeau, by Carl Sandburg. it's a nice poem, in my opinion at least; one of my favorites.