SPICE! Chapter 10

It was only several days before school would be let out for summer break. Rin always looked forward to the summer—she could work a few more hours, which meant extra money, and the weather was warmer, which meant she could spend more time outdoors and go to the beach. The beach… Rin thought as she daydreamed during class. I wonder if we'll be able to afford it this year? Will he want to go?

Rin and Len's boss knew that they worked hard and they lived alone, so he always paid them extra during the summer and gave them more days off. He always gave them a three-day period after school got out so they could make a trip to wherever they wanted to go, and they were off on the weekends and during holidays and festivals. Rin and Len always used that three-day period to go to the beach—their families used to make an annual trip to the beach when Rin and Len were little. Now, they had no time for play, and usually couldn't afford it, so they stayed home. It had been years since they had gone to the beach.

I'm sure Len-kun would like it, Rin thought. He seems really stressed lately. He needs a break, and I'd prefer that he'd spend that break with me.

"Kagamine-san! A note's arrived for you," Hanazuki-Sensei said. "Kagamine-san! Are you paying attention?"

"Oh, I'm sorry!" Rin gasped, snapping back to reality.

"It says you need to go there immediately," Hanazuki-Sensei said as she handed the note over to Rin. "Class is almost over, so you might as well take your things with you."

"Oh, okay. Thank you, Sensei," Rin said, gathering up her things and dashing out of the room.

Rin stopped for a moment and opened up the note, immediately blushing. Oh! It's from Kaito-Sensei! He says he has a surprise for me? Rin thought. Whatever could that be? Why is my heart suddenly beating so fast?

Rin had been visiting Kaito quite often lately. She still struggled to get Len to notice her, and talking to Kaito always made her feel better. He never judged, he just listened, and he always had great advice to offer, and that's what Rin liked about him. Although going to his office every day after school and sometimes during lunch had become routine, she had been feeling something different whenever she saw him—a special feeling, one of nervousness, anxiety, happiness, and excitement mixed together…almost the same feeling she felt when she was around Len. As she touched the doorknob to Kaito's office, a certain shock ran through her, almost like electricity.

Oh no… Rin thought. Oh no, no, no. I can't be. I just can't be. I love LEN-KUN. He is the ONLY ONE that MATTERS to me. Kaito-Sensei is a counselor who LISTENS. Maybe even a friend. But no more than that! Besides, I'm sure that was only static, not something else…

"Ah, Rin, you're here. How are you doing today?" Kaito asked. "You look a little flustered. Are things going okay?"

"Y—yes, of course," Rin said, taking a seat. "I just saw…your note here, and…well, it said there was a surprise…"

"I don't give surprises to those who tell lies," Kaito said. "Please tell me the truth. Are things going well with Len-kun?"

"Well, I guess…he's been really distant lately. He seems really stressed. I haven't really talked to him," Rin said. "He's starting to hang out with Meiko-san again. But I don't really talk to her often either."

"You should talk to him, Rin," Kaito said. "If he won't come to you, you should go to him. Or…do you feel like you are losing your feelings for him? Is there…someone else?"

"I…" Rin struggled to think of what to say next. She found herself lost in Kaito's deep-blue sparkling eyes, his dazzling blue hair, and his soft-featured face.

"Rin, are you okay?" Kaito asked.

"I can't say for sure right now," Rin said. "I need more time to sort my feelings out, if you know what I mean. Actually, I think…it's not something I can talk to you about."

"Rin, why—" Kaito's face lit up, as if he had an idea. Just then, the bell rang. "School is over. You should get going. I have another meeting with someone else in a few minutes. I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you to come back tomorrow," Kaito said. "I need to go get that other person I'm meeting with right now, so bye!"

"K—Kaito-Sensei! Is there something wrong?" Rin asked as Kaito ran out the door.

He sure is an interesting person, Rin thought, a small giggle escaping from her lips. There's no way I could actually love him—right?

"Mmph—mmph—" All I was doing was waiting for Sakine-san outside of the classroom, and now I've been bound and gagged, Len thought. What the hell is going on here?

"I'm going to take off your blindfold now, so stay still and stop making so much noise," a man's voice said. "I'll un-gag you if you promise to keep quiet and only speak when I ask you to. If you cooperate with me, I'll release you."

The voice sounded familiar, but Len couldn't place who it was. I hope it's not the yakuza or something, Len thought. I have no money and I'm not related to anyone of high status! Why would they want me?

Slowly, the blindfold slipped from Len's face and the tape was pulled from his mouth. Len's eyes opened wide in fear. It was someone much worse than the yakuza…it was…Kaito?

"What the hell?" Len exclaimed. "Sh—Shion-Sensei?" He tried to get up but he was still tied to the chair.

"I'm really sorry I had to do this," Kaito said. "I had no choice."

"I—I have no money. And I'm not related to anyone who is rich, so I can't give you anything," Len said. A terrible thought crossed his mind, and he felt as if his heart had stopped. "D—does this have something to do with Rin-chan? If you hurt her, I'll—"

"It does have to do with Rin," Kaito said, smiling. "But no, I haven't hurt her. She's probably on her way home now. I actually just finished talking with her before I got you. I knew you'd say no if I asked to talk with you, so I had no choice but to drag you here."

"A—Are you crazy?" Len shouted, staring at Kaito in disbelief. "Isn't this illegal? I—I knew you were kind of weird, but this is just unbelievable. I'll report you to the head principal and get you fired! Then you won't bother Rin-chan anymore!"

"She came here on her own accord," Kaito said. "Now, if you promise not to run away, or report me, I'll untie you from that chair. Then I really need to talk to you. It's urgent."

"Fine," Len sighed. He and Meiko were going to walk to the café and talk. Lately they'd started hanging out more. This time Len was hoping for a good relationship and he wouldn't make the same mistakes, but now she was probably waiting for him, and she'd be pissed.

I'll just say, 'I'm sorry, Sakine-san, but I'm kind of being held hostage by the crazy school counselor right now, so let's decide on another day.' Of course she'd believe THAT, Len thought.

"Okay, now you're free. Would you care for any refreshments?" Kaito asked.

"No thanks. I hope this is quick, because I really need to meet someone right now," Len said.

"It depends. Do you mind if I ask who you're meeting?" Kaito asked.

"I—I'm meeting Sakine Meiko-san. She's a girl in my class. We were just going to go to the café and talk a bit—maybe a little studying," Len said.

"Ah—that's—okay," Kaito said, looking a little surprised. I wonder why, Len thought.

"Anyways, I have a problem and you're the only one that can help me," Kaito said.

1 "Sh—Shion-Sensei…what is it?" Len asked, trying not to laugh. Maybe he needs help finding a girlfriend, Len thought. But he's not ugly. I find it hilarious that he'd ask me about that kind of thing.

"You know Rin? Well…I need you to take her out on a date," Kaito said.

"A—a date?" Len gasped, blushing a bit. "I—I could never—I mean—she's more like a sister to me than anything else—and if it didn't work, I'd lose the only one that I have!"

"If you do this, it will help Rin out a lot. And maybe even you," Kaito said. "You two have similar problems, I'm sure."

"I—I really can't picture Rin-chan having the problem of having too many suitors. Not that she's ugly, she's actually really cute, but she's never been good with talking to guys," Len said. "My attraction to her—I'm really not sure about it. I'm sorry, I really…I can't picture us together…"

"This is exactly why," Kaito said. "If you take her out on a date, you'll know for sure."

"You mean—Rin-chan—Rin-chan is in LOVE with me?" Len gasped. "I—I never knew…that's why she's been visiting you a lot?"

"My god, you're DENSE!" Kaito shouted, shaking his head. "You've been hurting her all this time. I'm not really sure she's in love with you. She definitely likes you, but whenever I talk to her, she seems …as if she has something on her mind. Something she can't tell me. If you go on a date with her, I'm sure she'll be able to make a decision."

"I—I don't mind taking her out, but I don't have any money," Len said.

"I've got that all covered," Kaito said, handing Len two slips of paper and some bills. "Here are two tickets to the Space World Amusement Park and also enough money to cover the cost of food, games, gifts, and whatever else. All you have to do make sure that she has a good time. I know you two are always working, so you deserve a break."

"Th—thank you," Len said, overwhelmed. "I—I'll try my best. But—actually, I really can't. This doesn't feel right to me." He handed the slips of paper back to Kaito.

"Why not?" Kaito asked.

"I—I'm lying to Rin-chan. I'm asking her out on a date, but really, there are no feelings in it. Well, maybe there are some feelings, but she'll be more into it than me. I'll only end up hurting her more," Len said.

"Haven't you been lying to her all this time?" Kaito asked. "Hurting her? She cries every night about it, Len. EVERY night. She told me all about it. She spilled her HEART out to me, Len, so I know these things. Even if there are only a few feelings in it for you, it will make her happy. The day you spend devoted to her and only her will probably be the happiest day in her life."

"I—then—then why aren't you her boyfriend?" Len shouted. "She tells you everything! I—I've known her all my life, and I really do love her, but—why doesn't she tell me these things? Why?"

Kaito was speechless. He didn't expect this type of response. "Len…"

"She quit being in love with me to be in love with you! I—I can just tell! The way she looks at you, the way she talks, the way she smiles—she really enjoys being around you! She's happy! She visits you every day before and after school and sometimes even spends lunch with you! When she's around me, she feels like sh*t! I—I can't compete with that!" Len was screaming now. Tears started to run down his face. "I know I'm a horrible, selfish person. I don't know what's wrong with me. But I know things have changed between Rin-chan and I since the beginning of this year. I've damaged our bond, and I don't know if I can fix it. Sh—Shion-Sensei…call me what I am. Just say it. I need to hear."

"You are a jerk. A man-whore. A player. A pervert. Selfish. You play with girls' feelings, and when the one with genuine feelings was right in front of you, all you did was make her die inside. You're disgusting. You don't deserve anything," Kaito snapped.

"Th—that's actually kind of…mean," Len whimpered.

"I'm not taking any of it back either," Kaito said.

"I deserved that," Len said. "If anything, I think…Rin-chan should say all of those things to me."

"You spilled a lot of your feelings out to me today," Kaito said. "But that's what counselors are for. I'm really proud of you. Now, will you take these tickets and show Rin a good time tomorrow?"

"I promise," Len said. "I'll do the best I can."

"Just send me texts on how things are going. My phone number is XXX-XXX-XXXX. I recommend you ask her as soon as possible," Kaito said. "There is no time to waste."

"Thank you, Shion-Sensei," Len said. "I'll let you know how things go. You're not all that bad."

"No, I should be thanking you," Kaito said. "Have a good day."

Len ran out the door as fast as he could. He needed to let Meiko know that he wanted to cancel today, and he'd be busy tomorrow.
"Kaito-kun, is it okay if I come out now?" A girl's voice sounded from the closet by Kaito's desk.

"Of course," Kaito said. "Meiko-chan."

"Would you please go out with me tomorrow?"

Rin couldn't believe what she was hearing. Len and her had just finished their shifts at the café and were now in front of their apartments.

"Go out…tomorrow…with you?" Rin asked. Her heart was beating as fast as the words had come out of Len's mouth, and she could feel herself getting redder and redder. "Is that what you said?"

"What else would I say?" Len said, smiling. "I—I have two tickets to the Space World Amusement Park for tomorrow. I really want you to come with me. You seemed really stressed, and I thought you deserved a break."

"H—how did you get them?" Rin asked. "We could never afford that—please don't tell me you—"

"I'd never," Len said. "I won these fair-and-square in a lottery. I won a little cash too. Besides, it would be a great way to kick off our summer. Please come with me…I wouldn't want anyone else."

"Len-kun, I—I—" Rin stuttered. This had come out of nowhere. She didn't even think she had any chance whatsoever of Len liking her, let alone asking her out on a date. It was as if they were suddenly in an alternate dimension.

"I'd love to, Len-kun," Rin said, smiling.

"That's great. That makes me really happy," Len said. "So…I'll see you tomorrow? We'll probably have to take the bus, but…I'll meet you outside at 8 am."

"That sounds wonderful, Len-kun," Rin said, stepping into her apartment. "I—I'll see you…"

Rin shut the door and threw herself onto her bed. "YES! YES! YES!" she shouted. "Finally…all that I've dreamed of…I'm so happy! Wait—now I have to decide on what to wear!"

Rin felt like she was floating around her apartment as she dug around in her closet, searching for the perfect outfit to wear. Len's words constantly echoed in her head, sounding better and better each time. 'Would you please go out with me tomorrow? Please come with me…I wouldn't want anyone else.'

I really hope I'm not dreaming, Rin thought. She pinched herself as hard as she could just to be sure.

"Ow! Nope, I guess it's not a dream," she laughed.

I'm glad Len-kun has settled down some, Rin thought. He doesn't hang around those unsavory girls anymore. He's finally come to his senses, and now he's the true Len-kun I know. I'm so happy!

The walls between Len and Rin's apartments were very thin, and Rin could usually hear whatever Len was doing next door. For the past few months she'd often heard girls over—Meiko, the Hatsune girl who worked at Resort Island (see Chapters 6-7), and a few others. It always made Rin furious that those girls used Len in such horrible ways, and Len let them do it. Maybe he liked it? Maybe he was just playing around with all those girls, Rin thought, her heart sinking. That can't be what he's trying to do to me. Or is it? No, no, no, Len-kun would never do that kind of thing to me. He'd never lie. There were true feelings behind what he told me. I just know it!

Rin could hear Len talking on the phone. "Yes, I just asked her out, and she said yes," Len said. "I was worried, but things worked out fine. And hopefully, tomorrow will be even better…"

Rin felt like she was about to burst with happiness. I bet he's talking to Gakupo-kun, Rin thought. He was worried that I'd say no? Then he definitely has true feelings for me. I shouldn't worry. Now, to get ready for tomorrow…

Little did Rin know that Len was talking to the one person she trusted the most.

~CHAPTER 10—END~

© 2010 Ikuto-sama