Okay… Got nothing much to say… This is the last chapter…
Just enjoy this chapter and have a nice day~ *sob* T_T
The Fuuka Girlz
Chapter 14: Three Magic Words
It was another Sunday morning, and it supposed to be a peaceful time for enjoying the breakfast at home, until…
"WHAT!!?" a loud bark from the navy haired girl.
"I said… I've told him about her…" Saeko repeated her words as she calmly took a sip of her coffee while her eyes still focused on the newspaper in her other hand.
Natsuki choked on her espresso and Alyssa quickly patted her back.
"Why did you tell him? It's too damn early!! Thanks Alyssa…" Natsuki smiled at her little sister as Alyssa handed her a napkin.
"Why not?" Saeko frowned slightly. Natsuki just sighed.
"We've known each other for only two freakin' months and you already told him about her!?" she pinched her temple in frustration. Saeko just grinned.
"Seriously, mom… Don't you think you're moving too fast here…? Leave Shizuru nee-chan some room to breathe… She's already freaking out when she met us last week…" Alyssa continued with her breakfast.
"S-she's freaked out?" Natsuki turned to face her sister. Shizuru freaked out…? Wow! No wonder she was so mad at me and I had to pay her~ Her cheeks started to blush.
Alyssa grinned widely as she nodded.
"You should see her face that time, nee-chan… It's priceless…" Alyssa laughed. Natsuki just snorted.
"That's not a nice thing to say about your future sister-in-law, Alyssa-chan…" Saeko grinned widely when Natsuki choked on her drinks again.
"MOM!!" her face was beet red. Alyssa laughed heartily.
"Anyway, he'll be in town tomorrow…" Saeko put down her cup.
"Oh my god…" Natsuki clutched her head as she leaned her back on the chair.
"Isn't he supposed to be busy all this week…?" Alyssa leaned her arms on the dining table.
"He is… because he's going to have a meeting with some of Japanese companies… That's why he's going to be here tomorrow…"
"YES!! That means he's damn busy and he won't have time to meet Shizuru…" Natsuki pumped her fists up in the air.
"Oh no, no, no… he's got two days off on Tuesday and Wednesday… And he already reserved a table for us and Shizuru for a dinner this Tuesday night…" Saeko grinned widely to Natsuki petrified face.
"This is unbelievable…" Natsuki groaned in frustration as she quickly got off her chair.
"Where are you going, nee-chan?" Alyssa asked with a cup of tea in her hands.
"Basketball training… Midori wants us to prepare for the final…" Natsuki grabbed her bike keys and her helmet.
"Can I come along?" Alyssa asked with an excited face.
"Sure~"
"NO!!" Saeko suddenly barked. Natsuki and Alyssa turned to look at their mother.
"Why not?" they asked in a same time.
"If Alyssa-chan go along with you, I'll be left alone in this house! I'll be dead with boredom…" Saeko faked a sob.
"Urgh! Grow up, mom! Don't be such a baby… There are plenty of programs on TV…" Natsuki groaned loudly. Alyssa also poked a tongue out to her mother as she quickly jogged to Natsuki.
"Oh! Yes! What about I ask Zuru-chan out for shopping…?" Saeko's eyes brightened in an instant.
"Zuru-chan!?" Natsuki turned to look at her sister. Alyssa just shrugged her shoulder.
"Your girlfriend!! I called her Zuru-chan! You got a problem with that?" Saeko shot her two daughters a grim glare.
"Since when you call her like that!? And how did you know that we're dating!?" Natsuki blushed as she handed a spare helmet to Alyssa.
"You think I'm that stupid? It was written all over your face, sweetheart… Besides, Zuru-chan didn't conceal it very well during the basketball match… She was all happy when she watched you playing…" Saeko smirked widely as she reached for her cell phone and she pressed the speed dial. She even turned on the loud speaker so the whole apartment could hear.
Natsuki just glared at the older woman in front of her. Never thought she's so observant… Shizuru was all happy when she watched me playing…? A thought of her brunette girlfriend quickly brought a small smile on her face.
"Hello…" Shizuru's soft voice echoed from the speaker.
"Hello, Zuru-chan… Am I interrupting…?" Saeko winked at Natsuki's fuming face. Urgh! This woman is so unbelievable… Since when she called Shizuru with 'Zuru-chan' and how the hell she get Shizuru's number already?
Shizuru giggled. "Ara… Saeko-mama… Of course not… I'm just finished with my breakfast. Do you have your breakfast yet, Saeko-mama?"
"I'm still in the middle of eating actually… You're such a caring girl, Zuru-chan… Not like this particular person here… She didn't even care if her own mother starving…" Saeko giggled. They also could hear Shizuru chuckled on the other line.
"Ara… I totally understand your suffering, Saeko-mama… 'That' person could be so cold-hearted sometimes…"
"Hey! Stop talking about me like I'm not even exists here!!" Natsuki yelled angrily.
"Ara… Is Natsuki there, Saeko-mama? I've heard her voice just now…" Shizuru's voice was full with amusement.
"Oh, yes…my dear. And she also can hear your voice now…" Saeko grinned again.
"Really? Good morning, Natsuki!" Shizuru greeted and then followed with a hearty laugh.
"Grrr…" Natsuki just growled in annoyed manner. Saeko and Shizuru laughed together. Alyssa just grinned as she patted Natsuki's shoulder.
"Anyway, Zuru-chan… Would you like to go out for shopping later this afternoon…?"
"Shopping? I would love to, Saeko-mama… I didn't have anything to do actually…" Shizuru retorted delightedly.
"That's great! What time do you free, my dear?" Saeko smiled at Natsuki's irritated face.
Shizuru silenced for awhile before she replied. "What about I'll come over there around 11? Would it be okay with you, Saeko-mama?"
"That would be perfect… I'll wait at Natsuki's apartment then…"
"Alyssa-chan is not come along with us?" Shizuru asked.
"No. She's going with Natsuki to the basketball training. She wants to watch her beloved sister do some practice…"
"Oh? I see… It's okay… Maybe some other time…" and Alyssa just smiled when she heard Shizuru said that.
"Okay then, Zuru-chan… I'm sorry for taking your time, my dear…" Saeko smiled excitedly.
"It's okay, Saeko-mama… I don't mind. Please continue with your breakfast… I'll see you later…"
"See you later, sweetheart…" and she cut off the line.
"Is Natsuki-chan okay if I'm taking Zuru-chan out today…?" Saeko grinned at her daughter.
"Just do whatever you like… I'm not into shopping and all that girly stuff anyway…" Natsuki quickly put on her sneakers.
"We're going, mom! Let's go, Alyssa!" Natsuki opened the door for her sister and they walked out the apartment.
"Bye, mom! Have fun with your shopping…" Alyssa smirked just before she closed the apartment door. Saeko just waved at her daughter and she sighed happily.
"Shopping! Shopping! What should I wear?"
---
"It's a good thing Shizuru nee-chan could go along with mom…" Alyssa put on her helmet and she fastened it. Natsuki just smiled as she lifted her leg to straddle her bike.
"Eh? Why did you say that…?"
Alyssa smirked widely. "I don't have to do all those shopping stuff with mom again… It's so annoying and tiring, you know…"
Natsuki laughed. "So you're saying that Shizuru will become mom's victim right now…?"
"I'm sure she'll be more than glad to do that…" Alyssa laughed heartily.
---
"I can't believe we made it to the final… It's like a dream, you know…" Chie grinned widely and she laughed again.
"Yeah… After we beat those giants last Monday, the other two teams in our group are already scared with us…" Nao snorted.
"I'm glad that you guys made it… It will be Garderobe in the final with you guys, right?" Mai rested her arms on the counter. Chie and Nao just nodded.
"Anyway, Mai… where's Mikoto? I thought I'm going to pick her up together with Akira-kun here... We've got training after this…" Chie sipped on her drinks.
"She's inside the office, sleeping… I'll wake her up when you guys finish with the breakfast…" Mai smiled widely.
A soft ring at the door quickly made them turned to look. They saw a handsome young man walked into the cafe.
"Hey… Look who's here…" Nao grinned to Mai. The orange haired girl just sighed.
"Don't worry, Nao-chan… I've already got that thing out my head…" she smiled.
"I'm glad…" Nao chuckled. Chie just smirked.
"Good morning, ladies…" Reito beamed his trademark bright smile. Chie and Nao just tilted their head slightly with equal smile on their face.
"Good morning, Reito-san…" Mai smiled widely. Reito nodded his head.
"The usual…?" she asked again.
"Yes, please…" he smiled. Mai nodded her head and she quickly moved to prepare the drinks.
"Anyway, Harada-san, right?" Reito turned facing the short haired girl beside him.
Chie arched her brows and she smiled. "Yes, I am… I never thought Fuuka Boyz Kaichou also know me…"
Reito just laughed. "Well… I've heard a lot of things about you…" he grinned.
"I see… I hope it's a good thing only…" Chie snorted.
"Anyway, I've heard that the final between Garderobe and Fuuka Girlz will be held this Saturday, right?" he asked. Chie turned her head to look at the red head beside her. Nao just grinned.
"Um, yeah…" Chie scratched her cheek.
"What time it will start?" Reito asked again as he stroked his dark hair.
"10 in the morning…" Nao replied in Chie's behalf. Chie just smirked silently.
"Great… I thought I'm going to miss my little sister's game…" Reito laughed.
"Your little sister…? Is she from Garderobe…?" Mai asked as she placed a cup full with hot tea in front of that dark haired man. Reito just laughed again.
"Eh? Aniue…? You're here?" Mikoto suddenly appeared from the Mai's office as she rubbed her sleepy eyes.
A-a-aniue? Mai, Nao and Chie went jaw dropping. Their eyes widened in shock when they heard Mikoto called Reito 'big brother'.
"Ah, Mikoto… Good morning… You have your breakfast yet?" Reito smiled widely at the spiky haired girl as she leaped her hips to sit on the counter.
"Hmm! I already had my breakfast! Mai made me some morning ramen!! It's delicious!!" Mikoto nodded her head ecstatically. Reito laughed heartily at Mikoto's delighted face.
The other three girls turned to look at each other with a surprised look.
"W-wait! Can somebody explain to me what is happening now…?" Nao raised her arm as she shifted her eyes to look at Mikoto and Reito back and forth.
"Mikoto… Who's this…?" Chie asked the spiky haired girl as her finger pointed at the man beside her.
Mikoto blinked her eyes a few times. "Aniue…" she simply replied.
"He's Reito! Kanzaki Reito!" Nao added. Mikoto blinked again.
"Yes! Reito. Aniue!" Mikoto grinned.
"No, Mikoto… He's Kanzaki Reito… not 'aniue'…" Mai said with a concern look. Reito already laughed.
"Hahaha! Girls… Let me explain… Mikoto is my little sister…"
The other three girls went into silence.
"B-b-but… H-h-how…W-w-what…?" Mai's face already paled.
Mikoto and Reito nodded their head in the same manner.
"WAIT! You're Kanzaki and Mikoto is Minagi… How the hell…?" Chie asked with a confused look on her face.
"Well… it's a long story to start with…" Reito grinned.
"Make it short…" Nao arched her brow. Reito laughed again.
"Okay… When I was 5, after our father's death, I was adopted by my father's best friend, Kanzaki Masahiro… It was my father's will that ask Kanzaki to take care of me when he's dead. " Reito started as he patted Mikoto's head. The other girls quickly put their attention to the handsome man in front of them.
"Mikoto was only one year old that time, so our grandfather decided to take care of her while I go with Kanzaki family… And after our grandfather's death when Mikoto was 14, I ask her to stay with me… But she said she already found someone who can take a good care of her…" Reito raised his gaze to meet the orange haired girl in front of him. Mikoto nodded her head as she also turned to look at Mai.
Mai unconsciously blushed to Reito's words.
"And the rest, you guys also already know that Mikoto is never been separated from Mai-san and still together until now…" Reito grinned widely.
"But how come you never tell me anything about it, Mikoto…? Mou…" Mai sighed loudly.
"Mai never ask…" Mikoto replied blankly. Mai slapped her forehead. I didn't ask because I thought that you didn't want to share anything about that with me… Argh!! I'm so stupid!!
"Mikoto… Come over here for a second…" Chie called for the spiky haired girl and Mikoto just complied. Chie pulled one chair from the nearby table and she placed it next to Reito.
"You go sit on that chair…" she pointed at the chair and Mikoto slowly lifted her body to sit on that cold surface.
Nao and Chie quickly stood next to each other with folded arms and they stared at two figures in front of them.
Reito and Mikoto blinked their eyes again.
"One, their hair. Two, they got same eyes. Three… Hey, both of you… Please smile now…" Nao rubbed her chin.
Reito and Mikoto beamed a toothy grin.
"Confirmed. They're siblings!" Nao and Chie nodded their head in affirmation.
"So…? Everything's clear now?" Reito smirked. Chie and Nao just laughed.
"Chie-san! Nao-san!" Akira walked into the café while panting slightly.
"Oh, here you are, Akira-kun!" Chie grinned widely. Akira smiled.
"I'm sorry I'm a bit late…"
"It's okay… You're just on time…" Nao jumped off her chair. Chie also got off her chair and she grabbed her car keys.
"Okay guys, we gotta go now… Midori will kill us if we're late… See you later, Mai… And you too, Kanzaki-san!" Chie waved her hand as she walked out the café with Nao and Akira.
"Mai! Aniue! I need to go to training now… Bye-bye!" Mikoto leaped off the counter and she quickly jogged to follow those three girls.
"Work hard, Mikoto!!" Mai yelled as she waved her hand. Mikoto simply waved back with a wide grin on her face while the others already got into Chie's car.
They just watched Chie drove her car along the street and off to another junction.
Reito slowly lifted his cup and he sipped the hot tea. "My sister might be a simple-minded girl…" Reito started after a short silence between them. Mai just blinked her eyes as she watched Reito movement.
"But she cares about you more than anything else, Mai-san…" he smiled. Mai blushed slightly to Reito's statement and she slowly smiled.
"I'm already aware about that…"
Reito chuckled. "No. You're not… Mikoto really-really cares about you… Maybe she didn't show it obvious enough, despite she's so childish and I guess you overlooked on that…"
Mai frowned slightly. "What do you mean, Reito-san?"
Reito took a deep breath just before he continued. "During last two weeks matches and that was the first time she's been away from you for a long period, she asked me to come over here to watch over you…"
Mai widened her eyes when she heard such revelation. During those times Reito-san came over here… I thought he's flirting with me… It was Mikoto who asked him to look after me… Her brain quickly recalled everything that happened last two weeks. And I was totally misunderstood his doings…
"She was so worried that something might happen to you when she was away… Though I didn't do much in 'watching' you because I know you're such an independent girl. But she kept calling me almost every day to ask about you…" Reito laughed.
Mai's blushes went into a deeper shade of crimson. Oh my god! I'm so embarrassed! I misunderstood his kindness and I called him a pervert! NO! It wasn't me who called him that… It was Nao!
"I-I'm sorry, Reito-san!!"
"Eh?" Reito blinked his eyes in surprised.
"I-I was totally misunderstanding your doings when you came here every day… I-I thought that y-you're f-flirting with me…" Mai quickly bowed her head with her face flushed deeply.
Reito snorted. "Flirting? With my sister's girlfriend?" and he laughed. Mai quickly raised her head and he watched Reito was laughing hard.
"R-Reito-san…" she stammered. Reito laughed again.
"Oh my god… Mai-san… How could you think about something like that…?"
"I didn't know that you're Mikoto's big brother that time! And you kept looking at me during the whole time you're here…" Mai blushed again when Reito laughed a lot louder.
"I'm sorry! Maybe I'm just too preoccupied with what Mikoto asked me to do…" he took a deep breath as his laughed subsided. Mai just pouted as she looked down again.
"Anyway, Mai-san…" Reito exhaled calmly. Mai lifted her gaze to look at the man in front her.
"Thanks for always being there for my little sister… I really appreciate it…" he smiled softly. Mai widened her eyes slightly and she nodded her head.
"No problem, Reito-san… It is my responsibility to do that…" she smiled widely.
"I'm glad she met you…" and they shared smiles.
---
"Are you guys on crack!?" Natsuki twitched her brows as she watched the spiky haired girl did some routines.
"What the hell, Natsuki…? Reito confirmed it to us just now…" Chie stroked her hair.
Natsuki just rubbed her chin as she watched the spiky haired girl.
"Come to think of it… Mikoto did have some similarities with that Kanzaki boy… They looked alike in some way…"
"And we already confirmed it too…" Nao grinned. "Anyway, what the hell Alyssa doing here…? Don't tell me your mom also here…" Nao quickly turned to look around the court.
"She's going out with Shizuru… They're going for shopping…" Natsuki pulled her hair into single ponytail and she tied it.
"Oohh… Shopping…" Nao and Chie looked at each other with a wide grin on their face.
"Yeah… That's why Alyssa's here with me… Besides, she didn't want to join my mom with her stupid shopping thing anymore… And she really glad Shizuru get along with that woman so quick…" Natsuki grinned.
"Hohoho… Alyssa-chan can be so cunning sometimes…" Nao smirked.
"Look who her sister is…" Chie laughed. Natsuki twitched her brows instantly.
"What the hell it supposed to mean?"
---
"Zuru-chan! What do you think about this one?" Saeko held up a light purple blouse to the brunette haired girl beside her.
"Ara… It is indeed suits you, Saeko-mama…" Shizuru smiled softly to the older woman.
"No. I mean it to you… Do you like it?" Saeko grinned widely.
Shizuru widened her eyes slightly. "Ara… Saeko-mama… You don't have to do that…"
"Why not? I just want to give something nice to my daughter's girlfriend…" she chuckled. Shizuru blushed slightly as she lowered her head with a timid smile.
"Saeko-mama already knows about me and Natsuki…?"
"Oh, dear… I must say that both you and Natsuki are poor actors… Even blind people could notice there's something going on between both of you…" Saeko chuckled. Shizuru just giggled as she blushed deeper.
"I'm sorry…"
Saeko smiled as she waved her hand. "Come on, sweetheart… Why do you need to be sorry? It was Natsuki-chan's fault for not introducing you properly to me and Alyssa… I keep on wondering how she managed to get you as her girlfriend, you know… With her thick-head and oblivious thinking like that…" Saeko laughed. Shizuru also chuckled to Saeko's comments.
"Ara… Maybe that's what I like about her…" Shizuru smiled softly. Saeko took a deep breath and she nodded her head.
"I'm glad she met you, Zuru-chan…" she smiled to the brunette.
"And I'm more than glad that I met her, Saeko-mama…" Shizuru's lips slowly curved into soft smile. Saeko just laughed as she stroked her navy blue hair. Her eyes suddenly brightened. Before Natsuki-chan do anything, better I ask her first… Zuru-chan will never decline my offer, will she?
"Anyway, Zuru-chan… Are you free this Tuesday night…?"
---
It was Monday afternoon.
Natsuki quickly put on her sneakers and she grabbed her leather jacket.
"Mom? What time he's going to arrive?" Natsuki yelled from the doorway. Soft clicking sound from the kitchen quickly stopped and Saeko's head peeked from kitchen's entrance.
"I believe it around 6.00…" Saeko rubbed her chin with her wet finger.
"I'll go to Chie's to get the car first and I'll go pick him up from the airport…" Natsuki put on her leather jacket and she grabbed her helmet.
"Natsuki-chan… You don't have to do that…" Saeko stepped out the kitchen as she laughed. Natsuki just frowned slightly.
"Why not…? You expect him to take a cab here…? I don't think so, mom…" she snickered.
"No, nee-chan… He's already asked his assistant to prepare a car for him… He'll drive here by himself…" Alyssa leaned on the couch as she explained with her eyes still fixed on the TV.
"Oh, really…? Well, that's save me a lot of time…" Natsuki grinned widely as she took her jacket and her sneakers off. She walked to the couch where Alyssa settled on.
"Anyway, mom… Shizuru said that she couldn't make it to the dinner tomorrow night… She got something to do with her friends…" Natsuki tried to hide her smirk as she spoke. Like I'm going to let Shizuru meet that guy… It will be a disaster!
The clicking sound from the kitchen stopped again and later on Saeko appeared at the doorway with a wide grin on her face.
"You're such a liar!" she giggled. Natsuki turned to look at Saeko with a tight frown on her forehead.
"No. I'm telling you the truth… She just told me this morning~"
"And I've already asked her yesterday and she said yes…" Saeko grinned widely. Natsuki just blinked her eyes.
"WHAT!!?" Natsuki bolted up from her couch.
"Nee-chan… Don't scream near me… You almost break my eardrums…" Alyssa inserted a little finger into her right ear and she wiggled it slightly.
"Mom! Don't you ever think how serious this thing is? You shouldn't push her to do something that she's not willing to…" Natsuki groaned loudly as she slapped her forehead.
"Why not? Besides, I'm not forcing her or something… She's willingly to come to the dinner and she wants to meet him…" Saeko took off her apron and she pulled one chair out for her to sit on.
Natsuki sighed as she walked into the kitchen. "But I don't think she's ready with all these things~"
"Is she not ready or actually it is you who are not ready?" Saeko asked with a serious look on her face. Natsuki was taken aback with such question her mother gave her and she blinked her eyes a few times.
Y-yeah… Why the hell that I'm so nervous about Shizuru meeting him? What the hell that I'm so scared about? Shizuru was totally fine after she met mom and Alyssa, not to mention she quickly gets along with them… And I'm sure that she'll be okay with him too…
"You both love each other right?" Saeko asked again with a softer tone. Natsuki widened her eyes again. Slowly she leaned on the counter as she stared blankly on the cold marble floor. L-love? Shizuru said it to me so many times, even I can't remember how many… But I never~
"Don't tell me you didn't say that three magic words to her yet…?" Saeko arched her brows in disbelieve.
Natsuki paled almost instantly. Saeko sighed as she pinched her temple.
"I knew it… You're really such a thick-head… I don't even know why I gave birth to you!!" Saeko groaned loudly.
"What is so wrong with not saying it, mom!? It's not like I didn't care about her…" Natsuki retorted angrily.
"Natsuki… Actions and words are two different things… People tend to cherish more on what other people say than do… That's why God created us mouth so we can speak our feelings out loud! Unless you're mute, then only you can show it through the sign language… Maybe that one suits you best…" Saeko laughed.
Natsuki just glared at her giggling mother. "It's not funny, mom…"
"Seriously! What is so wrong for saying it, Natsuki? It didn't even cost you money for each word… Do you know how precious those words are? It even worth more than 100 roses or a new car or 3-days 2-nights in Hawaii…" Saeko leaned her arms on the table.
Natsuki sighed heavily. "I don't know how, mom…"
"Just open your mouth and say it!" Saeko laughed again. Natsuki sighed once more as she clutched her head.
"I didn't know what's gotten into me! Every time I try to say it, I went all nervous and I couldn't even speak one word…"
"Did you sleep with her?" Alyssa suddenly appeared at the doorway with her arms folded. Natsuki widened her eyes as her jaw dropped. Saeko also surprised with such question from her younger daughter.
"W-what's with that question, Alyssa!?" Natsuki barked furiously with her cheeks flushed.
"Just answer the question, nee-chan…" Alyssa sighed. Saeko already snickered when she saw Natsuki was fidgeting on the counter.
"…yes." Natsuki lowered her head. Saeko suddenly burst into laughs.
"Please stay quiet, mom…" Alyssa scowled at the older woman. Saeko quickly shut her mouth as she raised her hands.
Alyssa took a deep breath just before she continued. "If Shizuru nee-chan is replaced with Nao-chan, would you like to sleep with her?"
"WHAT!!? NO!!!" Natsuki yelled with her face blushed furiously.
"Why not?" Alyssa asked back with a serious face.
"She's not my girlfriend and I'm not attracted to her that way!!"
"So, you sleep with Shizuru nee-chan because she's your girlfriend and you attracted to her?"
"Yes!!"
"And why Shizuru nee-chan became your girlfriend?"
"Because I love her, dammit!"
…and Natsuki froze on the spot. D-did I just say that…?
"I rest my case… I'm going to watch my movie…" Alyssa smiled as she walked out the kitchen to the living room again.
Saeko sighed heavily when she recalled how clueless her daughter could be. "Even your 16 years old sister knows how to deal about this thing better than you…"
Natsuki just silenced herself as her brain replayed words that she spoke just now. I've just say it! YAY!!~ WAIT!! It's no use to say it when Shizuru's not in front of me!!
"Natsuki… You need to work this out… She's not going to be waiting for you forever, you know…" Saeko's words quickly hit her brain like a brick and her heart slowly ached when she imagined of Shizuru wouldn't be waiting for her. B-but she said she will wait for me…
"I know she will wait for you as long as she lives… What if she's no longer living in this world…? How are you going to tell her how much you love her?" Saeko slowly got off her chair and she walked to stand right in front her daughter.
Natsuki widened her eyes in panic as tears slowly welled inside it. No…No!! I don't think I could live either way… Why I never think about this before…? Why am I always failed to notice these things? Oh my god…
"I'm such a stupid girl…" Natsuki buried her face in her palm as she sobbed slightly. Saeko just smiled and she pulled her daughter into her arms.
"Don't worry… Just take your time… I know Zuru-chan will always understand that… She always knows how dense and how thick your head is when it comes to things like these…" Saeko laughed as she pulled Natsuki closer.
"Shut up, mom!" Natsuki also couldn't help but to laugh together.
Suddenly they heard the front door burst opened,
"Hey ladies~ I'm hoooomeeee!"
Saeko and Natsuki turned to look at each other.
"He's here!"
---
A tall, handsome blonde man stood right in front the doorway with a wide grin on his face. His sapphire eyes twinkled brightly and he was like a split image of Alyssa, only with short hair and beard along his jaw. He put down his travel bag on the floor and he walked into the apartment.
"Hey, dad…" Alyssa raised her hand lazily to that blonde man and she didn't even bother to look at all. Her eyes still fixed on the current movie on TV.
"Hey Alyssa! Oh my god! Look how much you've grown, young lady!" that blonde man grinned widely at the girl on the couch.
Alyssa tilted her head slightly as she shot her father a boring look. "I left America for only two weeks, dad… Don't be ridiculous…" she turned to look at the TV again. That blonde man just laughed loudly.
"Anyway… where my other lovely ladies~"
"Honey!!!" Saeko jumped into her husband's arms. They hugged each other tightly.
"Oh my queen… I was so lost without you… I missed you like crazy!" they were about to lean down for a kiss,
"Okay! Cut that out! There's the room and please use it for your own pleasure!" Natsuki stood behind them with a furious look on her face.
"Mou, Natsuki-chan… I missed him so much… Why did you have to cut off our moment…?" Saeko pouted as she let go of the blonde man.
"You can have your 'moment' somewhere else but not in front of me~eekk!!" she shrieked loudly when that blonde man grabbed her into a bear hug.
"Oh my god!! I missed you so much, Natsuki-chan!!" he squealed delightedly as he tightened his grip around the poor girl.
"Just-let-me-go-can't-breathe-I'm-going-to-die~" Natsuki already choked under the death grip around her.
"Oh my… Honey! Natsuki-chan already turns blue!" and that blonde man quickly released his embrace. Natsuki went limply on the floor as she breathed heavily.
"Ahahaha~ Sorry, Natsuki-chan! I was so excited to see you…" he laughed. Natsuki slowly stood up as she panted.
"Dammit, dad! I've already 22 and stop hugging me like I'm 7 years old girl…" she tidy up her crumpled shirt. The blonde man laughed again.
"Anyway, James-honey… Are you hungry…? Do you want to have a dinner? Or do you want to take a shower first? …Or do you want me?" Saeko winked playfully to that blonde man.
"Hell yeah~" James was about to pounce his wife when Natsuki quickly pulled his back collar.
"That's it! You guys are banished from my apartment… Get out of here!!"
"Natsuki… I'm just kidding! Ahahaha~" James quickly tidy up his black suit and he smiled.
"Anyway, I'm so freaking hungry! Why don't we have our dinner first, okay?" he grinned.
---
They barely had a peaceful dinner since James always made some jokes and pranks on a certain navy haired girl.
"How long is it…? 5…6 months?" James asked as he spooned some rice into his mouth.
"It's 6 months, dad… we didn't meet each other for half a year…" Natsuki replied lazily as she took another spoonful of rice into her mouth.
"God… never thought it was that long… You should come back to America sometimes, Natsuki-chan…" he put down his spoon and he reached for his glass.
"I'm in second year now, dad… I don't think I have much time to go back there…" she sighed. Alyssa who sat next to her sister just ate her food silently.
"There's always summer break… and Christmas too…" he smiled.
"Natsuki is in basketball team right now, honey… She's going to have some training during the summer break…" Saeko retorted on her daughter's behalf.
"Oh yeah! I totally forgot about that! How's your game, girl!?" he asked excitedly.
Natsuki grinned widely as she put down her spoon. "We've made it to the finals!" she chuckled.
"Really? God! That means I already missed a lot of your action! When is the final?" he stroked his blonde hair casually.
"Um… this Saturday morning…" she replied and suddenly, James pulled out his cell phone. He pressed on the speed dial and he placed the phone on his left ear.
"Hey! Mike? It's me! I want you to cancel all the meetings on Saturday morning… Don't ask me why! It's my Natsuki's basketball final, dammit! Just cancel it and delay it to next Monday!" and he flipped off his cell phone.
Natsuki just blinked her eyes a few times while Alyssa just sighed.
"Hey, dad… You know you don't have to do that…" Natsuki grinned sheepishly to the blonde man.
"Why not? I'm not going to miss your final game! Besides, those meetings are not that important anyway… They keep babbling about the same things all over again…" he grinned as he took another spoonful of his meal. Natsuki just sighed as she shook her head.
"Anyway, tell me about this Shizuru girl…" and Natsuki already choked on her rice. Alyssa sighed again as she moved to do her duty to pat her sister's back.
Saeko and James already laughed.
"Why bother to ask me since you're going to meet her tomorrow night anyway?" Natsuki quickly gulped down her cold water and she sighed.
"Oh right… Did you ask her yet, my queen?" James grinned widely as he turned to face his wife. Saeko just laughed and she nodded her head.
"She will be there tomorrow night. I've already informed the time and place… We will wait for her there…"
"Oh… I can't wait to meet my future daughter-in-law…" James smiled with dreamy eyes.
"DAD!!"
---
She just stared blankly at the dark, empty ceiling above her. No matter how much I scared to say those words to her, I have to say it sooner or later…
She shifted her body and she looked at her cell phone. A dim digital clock was displayed on the small screen of her cell phone. It's already 10 pm… I wonder if she's already asleep…
Without she realized it, she already pressed the speed dial button and she placed it on her right ear.
"Hello, Natsuki…" Shizuru's delighted voice quickly brought a smile on her face.
"Hey, Shizuru… You sleep yet…?"
She could hear the other girl chuckled. "No… I'm not asleep yet, obviously… I was reading a novel…"
"Oh? Did I bother you?" she asked as she scratched her head. Then she heard Shizuru laughed again.
"No. You didn't bother me, Natsuki… I couldn't sleep either…"
"You couldn't sleep? Why?"
She could hear Shizuru took a deep breath before she replied. "Well… I'm so nervous about tomorrow night… I'm going to meet your father, Natsuki… I don't know if he's going to like me or not…"
Natsuki just smiled as she sighed. "My mom and Alyssa like you, right?"
"I think so… but I'm still nervous, Natsuki…"
"No. They really like you and I'm sure my dad will too… Don't worry about it…"
"If Natsuki said so…maybe I should stop worrying too much, ne?"
"You should…" and they laughed.
"Um… Shizuru…?" I can do it, right? I've just said it earlier… well, maybe without her standing right in front of me… but I did say it, right?
"Yes, Natsuki…?"
You can do it, Kuga Natsuki! Come on!! "I-uh… I lov~"
Suddenly, a loud whistling sound could be heard from the other line.
"Ara… I forgot that I boil some water just now…" Natsuki could hear a rustling sound which she assumed Shizuru got off her bed, then followed with soft footsteps and clicking sound.
"You're going to make some tea before you go to sleep?" Natsuki asked as she laughed. Shizuru also followed to giggle.
"Ara… it seems Natsuki already noticed my habit, ne? Anyway, I didn't catch what Natsuki said just now…"
"Oh, it's uh… It's nothing… I just wanted to say that I'll see you tomorrow night at the dinner…" Urgh… I'm so fucked up…
"Okay Natsuki… I'll see you tomorrow then… Want to kiss me good night before you go to sleep?"
"What!? No!!" she retorted angrily while Shizuru already laughed. Damn this woman… Even on the phone she managed to make me blush…
"I prefer only the real one…" Natsuki grinned widely and she also sure that Shizuru was blushing right now.
"Natsuki… Ikezu~" and she laughed again, louder this time.
"Okay! Okay! Just go make some tea and relax yourself, 'kay? Don't think so much about the dinner… I'm going to be there too, remember…?"
"Yes… Thanks a lot, Natsuki… I'll see you tomorrow…" she could hear Shizuru sighed contentedly. Slowly her lips curved into soft smile again.
"Yeah, no problem… I'll see you tomorrow… Good night then!"
"Good night, Natsuki…"
And the line was off.
Natsuki took a deep breath as she stared at her cell phone. Well, at least it was a lot better than before…
---
Shizuru just stared at the dimmed screen of her cell phone. Her lips were still curved into wide smile while her cheeks already blushed heavily.
She almost says it just now… Her heart was thumping like crazy when she heard Natsuki's halfway attempt to say those magic words to her. And that kettle really spoiled my Natsuki's love declaration to me!!
She casually flipped off her cell phone and she placed it next to her on the bed.
Ara… I don't think I could have any sleep anyway…
---
A classic Japanese instrumental song echoed softly across the VIP room.
Okay… This music really annoys me… I feel like I was in the Heian period only without samurais around me… Natsuki took a deep breath as she rested her chin on her palm. Her eyes tilted slowly to look at other three people inside that room.
James was wearing a light blue yukata as he sat at the center side of the table. He held up his tea cup as he savored the beverage with a content smile on his face.
"Okay… Why didn't anyone tell me that we're going to a Japanese restaurant?" Natsuki frowned slightly as she darted her eyes to each of three other people inside that room.
"Because Natsuki-chan didn't ask…" Saeko replied with a wide grin on her face. Saeko also wore a matching kimono with James and she tied her hair up into a bun, with a few loose strands, framing her matured and refined façade.
"I haven't enjoyed the true Japanese cuisines for a long period, Natsuki-chan… Besides, I'm dying to put this yukata on… It looks cool on me, right?" he grinned. Natsuki just rolled her eyes.
"Come on, dad… There's plenty of Japanese restaurant around New York… Just say it that you always want to put on that yukata…" Alyssa who sat next to Saeko just glared at the blonde man. She also wore a soft beige kimono and she had her hair tied up high.
Natsuki snickered when she saw James blushed slightly to Alyssa's comment. She slowly picked the chopsticks in front of her and she tapped it on the table in annoyed manner.
"Natsuki… Stop it. It's annoying…" Saeko glared at the navy haired girl but Natsuki just grinned as she tapped the wooden sticks on the table a lot louder. She only stopped her tapping when there were soft knocks on the door.
The door was slide opened and a waitress who wore a kimono uniform stepped into the room, and she placed hot towels for each people on the table. After she finished with her task, she bowed her head and she walked out the room.
Natsuki was about to continue with her tapping but Saeko quickly snatched the chopsticks away from her.
"Don't ever think to start it again!" Saeko hissed angrily. Natsuki just laughed when she saw Saeko's angry face.
"Seriously, Natsuki… Can't you just stay still? And what's with that leather jacket anyway? You should wear a kimono in a place like this…" Saeko pinched her temple softly. The others just laughed.
"No. I won't wear a kimono, mom… It's freaking annoying…" she replied nonchalantly as her hand reached for another pair of chopstick that lay next to her. Instead of tapping it, she just swirled the wooden stick on her fingers.
"This is the room, miss…" A soft female voice could be heard from behind that door. They quickly turned to look at the door as it slides slowly.
"Ookini…" a very familiar voice with Kyoto accent followed later on. Natsuki quickly tilted her head up to look at the door as it being opened.
A certain brunette haired girl, with a light green kimono walked into the room graciously after she bowed to the waitress. Her hair was pulled into a tight bun with a few strands loose, framing her beautiful and flawless face.
Natsuki unconsciously slipped the chopstick off her fingers and it fell on the table with a loud clicking sound. Her jaw dropped and she could feel her own breath hitched. H-holy shit! S-she's freaking beautiful!!
James also couldn't help but to stare at the beautiful young lady at the doorway with wide eyes. T-this is Shizuru…? Natsuki-chan's girlfriend?
Shizuru just smiled when she saw Natsuki stared at her in awe. Ara… Natsuki… What a wide mouth you have there… She tilted her head slightly to look at the blonde man. Ara…? A foreign man? He looks so much like Alyssa-chan… Is he Natsuki's father…? Instead asking it out loud, Shizuru quickly bowed her head with a soft smile on her face.
"Good evening…"
"Good evening, Zuru-chan… Oh my! You look so beautiful in that kimono…" Saeko said with a wide smile on her face.
"Ara… Ookini, Saeko-mama… You're too looking beautiful in kimono…" she smiled. Alyssa just grinned and she turned to look at her gaping sister who sat across the table. She let out a soft cough to gain Natsuki's attention.
Natsuki quickly shifted her eyes and she saw Alyssa signaled her to get up and lead Shizuru to the table.
Shit! You're so stupid sometimes, Kuga Natsuki! She quickly got up from the zabuton and she walked to the brunette haired girl.
"Hey…" she whispered softly when she stood close enough to that brunette. Shizuru just smiled as she bowed her head.
"Good evening, Natsuki… I hope I didn't overdress…"
Natsuki quickly shook her head with her cheeks blushed slightly. "No! No! No! You dressed just fine… a-and you look so beautiful in that kimono…" she scratched the back of her head sheepishly. Shizuru chuckled when she saw Natsuki's blushing cheeks.
"Ara… Ookini, Natsuki…"
Suddenly a throaty cough broke their reverie. "Natsuki-chan… Please lead our guest to the table…" James said with a serious look on his face.
"Uh… y-yeah! Come, Shizuru…" Natsuki grinned as she offered a hand to the brunette. Shizuru gladly took that hand to entwine it together with hers. They quickly took a seat next to each other. Shizuru sat down in seiza manner and she placed her hands on her lap graciously.
James and Saeko just watched the brunette with observant gaze. Such a courteous young lady… Where are you going to find a girl like this again nowadays…?
"I-uh… Dad? This is Shizuru, Fujino Shizuru… and uh… She's… She's my girlfriend…" Natsuki scratched her blushing cheek slightly. Alyssa and Saeko couldn't help but to grin widely.
"Nice to meet you, sir…" Shizuru slowly bowed her head in respect to that blonde man.
James just remained in his serious composure as she stared at the brunette with a stern look.
Shizuru could feel her heart pounding loudly in her chest. Is there something wrong…? He doesn't seem so pleased to see me…
"So… You're Natsuki's girlfriend, huh?" James uttered in a deep, hoarse voice as his sapphire eyes stared into the crimson ones.
"Yes… sir…" Shizuru replied hesitantly as she turned to look at the navy haired girl her on her left. She was surprised that Natsuki only let out a loud sigh. She shifted her gaze to look at the other two people. Saeko just giggled and Alyssa also sighed heavily, just like her older sister.
All of sudden, James snorted and he went into hysterical laughs. Saeko also laughed while Alyssa just smirked with a small smile on her face.
Shizuru blinked her eyes in confusion and she turned to face Natsuki again. Natsuki just sighed and she smiled.
"He was joking at you…" Natsuki shook her head.
"A-ara…? Joking…?" she was confused.
James took a deep breath and he grinned at the brunette haired girl. "Oh, I'm sorry, sweetheart… I can't help myself to not teasing you… You're so cute with your terrified face just now…"
"Honey… You should stop doing that… If not, Zuru-chan will run away…" Saeko playfully scowled her husband.
"How's my acting eh, Natsuki-chan? It's good, isn't it? Your girlfriend totally buys it!" James patted Natsuki's shoulder delightedly.
Natsuki sighed again. "Yes… yes… You're such a good actor, dad…" she retorted lazily. James just laughed again. Shizuru watched those two in amusement.
"Anyway… Let me introduce myself properly… I'm Alexander James Searrs the Third…" he beamed the brunette a toothy grin.
"Where the hell that 'the Third' come from, dad!? Don't be ridiculous!" Natsuki barked angrily. James went into laughs again.
"Okay! Okay… Just Alexander James Searrs actually… It's a pleasure to meet you, Shizuru-chan!" he grinned and he bowed his head slightly.
"A-ara… It is a pleasure to meet you too, Mr. Searrs…" Shizuru quickly bowed her head too. Searrs…? But Natsuki is a Kuga… She tilted her head slightly to look at the girl beside her. Natsuki just grinned as she gave her a look which like saying; I know what you're thinking… I'll explain later.
She quickly smiled at the navy haired girl and she nodded her head.
"Shizuru-chan… You don't have to call me 'Mr. Searrs'… Just call me papa…" he grinned. Shizuru couldn't help but to blush slightly and she nodded her head.
"Yes… papa…"
"Anyway… Since we already introduce to each other, why don't we have our dinner now, hmm?" Saeko smiled and she called for the waitress to bring in the menu.
While her parents and Alyssa were arguing on which food to order, Natsuki turned to look at the brunette haired girl beside her.
"So… you're okay?" she whispered. Shizuru just smiled and she nodded her head.
"I'm okay, Natsuki... and I'm happy too..."
Natsuki took a deep breath and she smiled. "I'm glad you're okay… My family can be a little crazy sometimes… Hope you can manage…" she grasped tenderly at the brunette's left hand.
Shizuru chuckled. "It's so interesting, Natsuki… I'm really glad that I meet your whole family right now…" she patted lightly on the hand atop her left one.
"Thanks for coming though, Shizuru…" Natsuki smiled.
Shizuru just sighed as her lips curved into a warm smile. "You're always welcome…"
"Shizuru-chan… What would you like to have for dinner?" James suddenly asked with a menu on his hands.
"I'll be okay with anything you'll order, papa…" Shizuru smiled. James grinned widely and he nodded his head.
"What about you, Natsuki-chan?" he asked the navy haired girl.
"Is hot dog and mayo in the menu? If they are, I want those…" Natsuki replied lazily. Shizuru laughed in an instant.
"Natsuki-chan… You know that this is a Japanese traditional food restaurant… There are no mayo or hot dogs here…" Saeko sighed heavily. Alyssa already laughed loudly.
"Then... why bother to ask me anyway…? I'll take whatever Shizuru have…" Natsuki scratched her cheek.
"Okay then… We'll take the family set, okay honey?" Saeko turned to face her husband.
"Whatever you like, my queen…" he replied with a dreamy and loving look on his face.
Natsuki and Alyssa sighed heavily when they looked at their lovey-dovey parents.
"Okay, guys… Enough with this all lovey-dovey stuff… We're in the restaurant now…" Natsuki said with wide grin on her face. Shizuru just giggled heartily.
---
The dinner went smoothly as James asked a few typical questions to Shizuru. Natsuki just smiled when she watched on how brilliant Shizuru was in answering James's killer questions. I guess she's already prepared for this… Slowly she returned her gaze on her food. Urgh… Tofu… Miso soup… These things are killing me! I want my mayo now!!
Shizuru noticed that Natsuki barely touched her food. She smiled silently as she leaned closer to the girl next to her.
"What about we drop at McDonalds drive thru after this dinner, and order one double cheese burger with extra mayo in it… onion rings, and one large diet coke?" she whispered to the navy haired girl.
Natsuki widened her eyes instantly and she turned her head to look at the brunette beside her. H-how the hell she knows what I have in my head?
Shizuru just chuckled on Natsuki's startled face. "What do you say…?" she whispered again. Natsuki laughed and she nodded her head.
"Hell yeah! Absolutely!"
---
They walked out the restaurant and towards the parking lot.
"Mom, dad? You guys go first… I'm going out with Shizuru…" Natsuki grinned widely. James and Saeko just looked at each other with an amused face.
"Okay… Don't go out so late… It's dangerous…" Saeko smiled softly to Natsuki's excited face.
"Got it!" Natsuki smirked.
"We'll be going, Saeko-mama, papa, Alyssa-chan… Thank you very much for the dinner…" Shizuru smiled as she bowed her head slightly.
"Don't worry about it, sweetheart… Hope we can do this again sometimes, if you don't mind…?" James beamed a bright smile to the brunette. Shizuru just chuckled and she nodded her head.
"I'll be more than glad to do the same…"
"We'll go now! See you guys later! Come, Shizuru!" Natsuki pulled the older girl's hand and they walked to Shizuru's car.
"Ara… Someone is impatient…" Shizuru arched her brows with a playful smile on her lips.
"Of course I am… I'm so freaking hungry right now… I'm really glad you came out with that idea to drop at the drive thru!" Natsuki grinned widely as she tightened her grip on their entwined fingers.
"Since Natsuki is so eager to go there, why don't you drive?" Shizuru grinned as she dangled the car keys to Natsuki.
"Hell no! I'm too lazy to drive now… You're the one who come out with that idea, you'll drive!" Natsuki poked out a tongue to the brunette. She was about to run at the other side of the car but she forgot that their hands were still entwined.
Shizuru quickly pulled the younger girl and she pushed Natsuki until her back touched the car. She closed the distance between their face and she breathed hotly at Natsuki's lips.
"If Natsuki didn't want to drive… She'll never get that burger she wanted so much…" she whispered with a wide grin on her face.
But all of sudden, Natsuki yanked Shizuru's kimono and she kissed the brunette passionately. Her hand trailed down to the button at the car key and she pressed it to unlock the car.
"No. You'll drive…" she grinned at the breathless brunette and she quickly leaped to the other side of the car. Natsuki laughed as she opened the door and she quickly got inside the car, leaving the dazed brunette outside. Shizuru blinked her eyes a few times and slowly she pouted her lips.
"Natsuki… Ikezu~"
---
After Shizuru bought Natsuki's dinner, she drove to the park nearby so that little puppy could have her dinner there.
"Oh, god… Finally I got some space from my crazy family…" Natsuki leaned her back on the wooden bench as she sighed contentedly. Shizuru just laughed as she settled next to the navy haired girl.
"Why don't you eat your burger now, Natsuki…? It won't taste good if they turned cold later on…" Shizuru opened the wrapper and she handed the burger to Natsuki.
"Thanks! Itadakimasu!" Natsuki took a wide bite on her burger. Shizuru giggled again when she saw Natsuki's happy face.
"Umm!! This is so delicious!!" Natsuki rejoiced the taste of her favorite food inside her mouth and she took another bite.
"Eat slowly, Natsuki… I don't want you to choke on your burger…" Shizuru chuckled and Natsuki just nodded her head.
"Natsuki mind if I have some of your coke…?" Shizuru held up the chill drink on her hand. Natsuki nodded as she tried to swallow her food.
"Sure… I don't mind…"
"Ookini…" Shizuru giggled happily and she slowly took a sip from it.
They just stayed in silence as Natsuki finished up her burger.
"Oh yeah… About earlier at the dinner… I'm sure you're wondering how come my father is a foreign man, right?" Natsuki turned to look at the brunette haired girl beside her. Shizuru simply nodded her head as she drank the coke through the straw.
"Well… he's not exactly my father actually…" she smiled. Shizuru widened her eyes slightly to such revelation.
"More correctly, he's Alyssa father… And Alyssa is actually my half-sister…" she added. "And I'm pure Japanese…" Natsuki grinned widely. Shizuru just giggled.
"No wonder Alyssa-chan looks so much like him… Well, not with the beard though…" Shizuru put down the drink on the bench. "What about Natsuki's father then…?"
Natsuki took a deep breath and slowly a sad smile appeared on her face.
"Natsuki…" Shizuru quickly grasped Natsuki's hand. "It's okay if Natsuki didn't want to tell me~"
"No. I want to tell you everything… I want you to know everything about me, Shizuru…" Natsuki smiled as she took the hand into her own. Shizuru just smiled as she nodded her head.
"Well… I don't know much about him… My parents were divorced when I was 5… I don't really remember what happened, but when my mom was away… She's an engineer and she was working with James' company that time, so she had to keep on fly back to America to do her job. And during the times when my mom gone to America, my father often brought back other woman to our house…" Natsuki stopped to take a sip on her drink.
Shizuru just kept silence as she focused on the girl beside her.
"…so one night, I guess my mom caught my dad with another woman red handed and she filed for divorce. Mom took me away to America, and that was when she met James. They got married and a few months later, my mom got pregnant… and Alyssa came into our life… It was great…" Natsuki took a deep breath.
"James is always been a great dad to me… I never knew about my own father before and he gave me that… He never treats me like an outsider and he cares about me and Alyssa equally… I stayed with him until I was 10 and then I decided I want to return to Japan…" Natsuki rubbed her nose.
"Why did Natsuki return here…?" Shizuru asked as she shifted her body closer to the navy haired girl.
Natsuki just grinned. "I don't know… Maybe I've got a sign from God that I'll be meeting you someday…" and she received a soft slap on her arm from the brunette.
"Hahaha~ It's nothing actually… I just wanted to go back here… This is my place. I belong here… American life is not suitable with me I guess… Besides, my English is not that good anyway…" she laughed. Shizuru also laughed and she rested her head on Natsuki's shoulder.
Natsuki just sighed contentedly. "My mom asked her sister, who is Nao's mother to take care of me… So, I'd been staying with that spider ever since…" she grinned.
"No wonder you and Nao-san are so close…" Shizuru lifted her head to grin at the navy haired girl.
"Well, gotta be honest with you… Other than my own family…and you, obviously… Nao also one of the people that I cherished most…" she smiled softly. "…despite the fact she always troubled me with a lot of problems…" and Shizuru giggled again.
"And I have to kill you if you dare to tell her that!" Natsuki smiled at the brunette with a soft frown on her brows. Shizuru burst into laughs again, a lot louder this time.
"So, later on you met Mai-san, Chie-san and Mikoto-chan…?" Shizuru asked after her laughs subsided.
Natsuki nodded her head. "Yup… At junior high school, and we always stick together until now…" she smiled as she watched Shizuru traced her finger on her palm.
"I'm glad you tell me these… Natsuki…" she sighed as she raised her head to look at Natsuki's tender smile. Shizuru smiled back and she slowly cupped the navy haired girl's cheek.
"You make me feel like I am part of your life now… I really appreciate it…" Shizuru whispered softly as her crimson eyes twinkled under the dimmed light of street lamp.
Natsuki just smiled as she leaned her face closer to the warm palm.
"You're always part of me, Shizuru…" and she leaned down to capture the lips before her into a gentle kiss. Shizuru slowly brought her arms to circle Natsuki's neck and they deepened their kiss.
"And you will always be part of mine…"
---
The day for the final game had come.
The whole arena was shaking with thunderous cheers and screams for the both team.
"Dad… where did you get that jersey?" Alyssa stared at the blonde man who wore a number 7, silver/blue jersey with 'KUGA' printed on the back.
"Oh? This? I ask coach Midori to get one for me…" James replied blankly.
"What!? Why didn't you tell me that!!? I want one too!!" Alyssa gave her father a combo of punches on his arm. Saeko and Shizuru just laughed to those two blondes.
Mai, Reito and Takumi who sat at the row behind them just smiled.
---
"Natsuki… did you tell Shi-chan that she need to sit down here?" Midori asked the navy haired girl. Natsuki blinked her eyes a few times.
"What? Why does she have to sit down here?" Natsuki frowned slightly.
"It's for the closing ceremony later after this game… She will be the representative for our university to receive the champion or 1st runner-up trophy…" Midori added.
"Oh… No wonder that Garderobe kaichou, Ahn Lu already sit there…" Chie gestured at the brown haired woman with a calm face.
"I wonder all the kaichous in other universities also like that… You see, first we got Fujino, then Reito and that Ahn Lu girl… They're like sharing the same trait of ability to smile at anytime, anywhere and to anyone…" Nao arched her brows with a wide grin on her face. Natsuki and Chie already laughed.
"Quick, Natsuki! Go call your girl down here!" Midori pushed Natsuki's back slightly. Natsuki just frowned to her coach as she walked to the court. She tilted her head up to look for that brunette haired girl.
"Shizuru-san… I think Natsuki-san is looking at you now…" Reito tapped on Shizuru's shoulder. Shizuru quickly turned to look and she saw Natsuki signaled at her to come down to the court.
"Ara… She wants me to go down there…?" Shizuru blinked her eyes a few times as she slowly got off her chair.
"I'll be going now…" she bowed her head at Natsuki's parents and she walked to the stage exit. She quickly made her way to the court entrance and she saw Midori grinned widely at her.
"Midori-sensei… Is there anything…?" she asked the red head coach.
"Yes, Shi-chan… You need to sit with me here today…" Midori smirked.
Shizuru widened her eyes slightly. "Ara… and why is that, Midori-sensei… I don't think I have the privilege to sit here…"
"No, Shizuru… It's for the closing ceremony… You'll be representing our university to receive the trophy later after this game…" Natsuki smiled at the brunette.
"Ara… really? I'm so lucky then to have such a great view to watch the game…" Shizuru chuckled happily.
"Yeah… It's a VIP seat, you know… It's a rare chance to watch your beloved puppy make her flashy skill on the court…" Nao grinned widely when Natsuki shot her a death glare.
"May I have both of the teams lining up at the center of this court…?" The umpire spoke through the microphone.
"Alright guys! I don't have anything to tell anymore! Just go kick their asses!" Midori pumped her fist up in the air. Her team players just laughed.
"Good luck, Natsuki!" Shizuru grasped the girl's hand.
Natsuki smiled and she nodded her head. "Thanks!" and both teams quickly moved to the court.
---
"Congratulations for made it to the final, girls…" Laura smiled at the short haired girl in front of her. Chie just chuckled.
"Same to you…"
"Let's do our best, Mikoto-chan!!" Arika offered a hand and Mikoto shook it frantically.
"Um! Um! You too, Arika!"
"Nice somersaults, Okuzaki-kun…" Carla smiled widely to the green haired girl before her. "Do you planned to do that against us?" she whispered.
Akira just laughed as she scratched her head. "Well… I can't tell you that…" and Carla just pouted.
Nao just watched with a wide grin when the raven-haired girl in front of her fidgeting. "Ara-ara… Are you nervous, Nina-chan…?"
"N-no! Nao-sempai…" Nina quickly lowered her face.
Nao grinned again. "Then… why are you fidgeting like that…?"
Nina blushed deeper. "I-It's nothing, Nao-sempai!"
Nao arched her brows slightly. "Oho… Maybe we will find out about it later, ne? Nina-chan?" she winked playfully at the poor girl. Nina's face turned into a deeper shade of crimson while Nao already laughed.
"It's a pleasure to see you again, Kuga Natsuki…" Miyu said with a small smile on her face. Natsuki just smiled as she nodded her head.
"It's nice to see you again, Miyu Greer…"
"Anyway… That girl there…" and Natsuki followed her gaze. She saw Alyssa punched James shoulder as they fought for pop corns.
"What about her…?" she asked as she turned her gaze back to the light blue haired girl before her.
"Is she your sister…?" Miyu asked. Natsuki frowned slightly.
"Yeah…" she replied nonchalantly. Miyu smiled at her with her cheeks blushed slightly.
"Could you please say hello to her for me after this game?"
"EH!!?" Natsuki, Nao and Chie shouted at the same time.
"Okay… To your position, girls…" The referee suddenly butted in. Both teams quickly moved to their respective positions. Chie and Laura stood at the center circle, lowering their body to prepare for the jump ball.
Natsuki twitched her brows as she stared at the light blue haired girl beside her. I can't believe she actually ask me to do that! Is she interested in my little sister already!? Her sisterly protectiveness feeling quickly engulfed her heart.
"Chie-chan~" Aoi yelled but she immediately silenced herself when her other cheerleading teammates glared at her.
"Traitor…" they muttered in deep, threatening voice.
"Ehehehe~" Aoi giggled nervously and she quickly hid her face behind her pom-pons.
"Ready?" the referee asked as she held the ball. Both Chie and Laura nodded.
PRIITT!!
And they jumped.
---
Halfway through the first half, both teams managed to catch up with each other and their points were neck to neck.
"Wow… Those Garderobe girls are pretty good…" James munched on his pop corns as he watched the game intently.
"Yeah… That Garderobe No.3 guards nee-chan quite well too…" Alyssa took a sip on her soda can.
"Looks like this one is a bit tougher for our team…" Saeko folded her arms as she leaned her back on the chair.
---
One minute before the halftime,
"Are you interested with my little sister?" Natsuki asked as she bounced the ball on the floor. Both she and the light blue haired girl in front of her were breathing heavily.
"Yes." Miyu replied without hesitation. Natsuki twitched her brows and she quickly pivoted her body, went through Miyu's defense. She's a lot straight forward than Mikoto… Geez…
"We'll see if you're worth enough to my sister…" Natsuki grinned as she dribbled past the girl and to the 3-point line. Miyu quickly chased the girl as Natsuki already jumped and she made a 3-point shot.
Damn it! Miyu gritted her teeth as she watched the ball went into the hoop in one swift motion.
"KUGA-SAN~!!!" the crowd cheered for the successful shot.
"Oh yeah!! Natsuki!!" James jumped on his chair and his pop corns went scattered all over the place.
"Dad…" and he tilted down to look at her daughter. A large amount of pop corns were scattered on her blonde head.
"Ehehe~" James laughed nervously just before he screamed his lungs out.
Saeko just sighed.
---
The whistle for halftime was blown. The Garderobe team players were panting heavily on their bench.
"Oh my god… What are they…? How come they could improve that fast since the last friendly game?" Laura brought her arm to rest on her forehead. The others also panted heavily as they just stared at the other team.
"Seriously… I don't know what their coach did until they become this good…" Carla took a huge gulp from her bottle.
Miss Maria just stared at the court floor with a grim look on her face. They're indeed improved a lot than before… I never expect such improvement from them…
---
"Here, Natsuki…" Shizuru handed a bottle of cold water to the navy haired girl. Natsuki just smiled as she received it.
"Thanks…" and she slowly took a gulp from the bottle.
"You played well, Natsuki… Thanks to your last shot, we managed to lead the game with three points…" Shizuru smiled softly to the girl before her.
Natsuki just grinned as she took a deep breath. "Hey, you know what? That Garderobe No.3 just asked me about Alyssa…"
Shizuru widened her eyes slightly. "Ara…? That girl…?" Shizuru tilted her head as she looked at the other team.
"Yeah… And she even asked me to say hello to Alyssa for her… God! I can't believe she got that gut to ask me like that!" Natsuki twitched her brows as she wiped the sweats that running down her face with a dry towel.
Shizuru just laughed. "Ara…? Is Natsuki jealous her little sister has some admirers now…?"
Natsuki just pouted and she looked up to the blonde haired girl at the audience stage. "No. I'm not jealous…" She smiled widely when Alyssa waved at her.
"I'm just worried…" she added as she looked at the brunette haired girl in front of her with a wide smile. Shizuru just giggled.
---
The second half started with Garderobe's throw in.
"Garderobe! Garderobe!" the cheerleaders shouted for their team.
"Chie-chan! Chie-chan!" Aoi whispered faintly as she watched that short haired girl made some dribbles and moved to the perimeter area.
Chie raised her arms and she made a jump shot.
"YEAH~ CHIE-CHAN!!!!" Aoi yelled delightedly when the ball went into the hoop. Chie just grinned as she pointed out a 'V' sign to the brown haired girl.
Aoi could feel her other teammates stared at her deadly.
"Traitor…" they hissed angrily.
"Eheheh~" Aoi's face went paled.
---
There was only 3 minutes left. Now the Garderobe team was leading again with 70 points while Fuuka Girlz was only 65 points.
Nao walked in slow pace to the raven-haired girl while bouncing the ball on the floor.
"Hey, Nina-chan…" she called the younger girl. Nina tilted her head slightly to look at the red head.
Nao just grinned. "Why don't we go out sometime?" she asked, straight forward. Nina widened her eyes as her cheeks turned beet red.
"N-Nao-sempai!! It's not the right time to talk about this thing!!" Nina barked angrily with flushed cheeks.
"Why not…? Anyway, I'll take you out if your team wins this game…" Nao lowered her body as she dribbled faster. Nina widened her eyes again as she tried to catch up Nao's speedy movement.
"And if your team lost…" Nao pivoted her body, making a 360 turn through Nina's defense.
"I'll ask Arika instead…" she whispered at the girl's ear right before she dashed to the 3-points line.
Nina quickly turned her body around and she sprinted to pursue the red head. No! I can't let her ask Arika-chan out!!
Nao leaped and she made a shot from the 3-point line. Nina couldn't catch up with Nao swiftness, and she just watched the ball went into the hoop.
"Darn it!" Nina muttered breathlessly as the crowd cheered. Nao just walked beside her with a grin on her face.
Nao just added another 3 points for her team, totaled it up to 68 points against 70 for Garderobe.
---
Less than one minutes left.
Mikoto and Akira dashed from the both side of the court.
"Ready! They're going to do their somersault this time!" Laura yelled to her teammates. Both Carla and Arika quickly dashed to confront the approaching girls.
Suddenly, both Akira and Mikoto jumped and they leaped over Arika and Carla's head.
"What!?" Arika yelled as she glided her feet to stop her run. She quickly pivoted her body to chase the spiky haired girl.
Mikoto and Akira ran fast to the perimeter area where Miyu and Laura awaited.
"Stop those two!" Laura yelled and they dashed to stop two smaller girls. As expected, Mikoto and Akira somersaulted over their head to the perimeter area behind them.
Laura grinned widely as she and Miyu turned around immediately. You think I'm going to fall with such a childish game?
"Sempai!! Not those two!! It's number 7!!" Nina yelled from the far side of the court since she was guarded by Nao.
What!!? They turned their head to look for that number 7. Natsuki already halted her step outside the 3-point line.
"Natsuki!" Chie made a sharp pass to the navy haired girl and Natsuki seized the ball firmly.
"Dammit!! They fooled us with these two brats!!" Laura pivoted her feet again and she dashed to the navy haired girl 6 meters away from her.
Natsuki quickly jumped and she made a shot. She could feel the air that surrounded her went into stillness as the ball went into the hoop.
SWOOSH!
"YEAH!!!" Midori yelled as she jumped high from her chair.
PRIIIT! PRIIIT~
"FUUKA GIRLZ!!!" the whole arena filled with deafening screams.
"Natsuki!!" Mikoto jumped on the navy haired girl shoulder and they laughed. Akira just flopped down on the floor and she laughed.
"We did it! We did it!!" Chie hugged the red head and Nao laughed happily.
Laura just took a deep breath and she smiled. Well, they're a worthy opponent… Can't say I'm ashamed that we lose the game today… She turned to look at her coach. Miss Maria just smiled slightly as she nodded her head.
"The champion for 2009 Spring Tournament is Fuuka Girls University…" the umpire made the announcement.
"YEAH!!!" the whole crowd cheered again.
"Chie-chan!!" Aoi ran to the short haired girl and she jumped into Chie's arms. Chie just laughed as she held the brown haired girl tightly.
"AOI!! YOU'RE A TRAITOR!!" her friends screamed and then they laughed.
Nao walked idly to the solemn raven-haired girl few feet away from her. She reached up her hand to tilt Nina's chin and she leaned closer to the girl's right ear. Nina blinked her eyes in surprised.
"N-Nao sempai~"
"I'll be waiting for you tomorrow's night… Outside your campus dorm at 8…" she breathed hotly and she just walked away. Nina widened her eyes as her cheeks blushed instantly. T-tomorrow? That means… She quickly turned to look at the red head. Nao just grinned as she waved her hand.
Natsuki slowly walked to the brunette haired girl near the bench.
"Congratulations, Natsuki!!" Shizuru quickly jumped to hug the younger girl.
Natsuki laughed loudly as she wrapped her arms around the girl. "I've promised, right? That's my present for you!" she grinned widely when she heard Shizuru laughed.
"Well… I've got another present for you…"
Shizuru arched her brows as she laughed. "What is it, Natsuki~"
She quickly silenced when Natsuki kissed her cheeks.
"I love you too…" a soft murmur from the navy haired girl in front of her.
W-what!? WAIT!! Shizuru widened her eyes as she looked at the girl in her arms. Natsuki was smiling at her with a smile she never saw before.
"W-what…?" she finally got her voice back and Natsuki just chuckled.
"Oh no… I only say it once…" Natsuki grinned widely. Shizuru blinked her eyes a few times.
"B-but I didn't quite hear it just now…"
Natsuki laughed and she poked out a tongue to the brunette. "Well… That's too bad…"
"No!! Natsuki!! It's not fair! How am I going to hear it under such loud screams around us!!" she pouted and tears started to well inside her crimson eyes. Natsuki laughed again and she quickly pulled the older girl into an embrace.
"I love you, Fujino Shizuru…" she uttered it clearly to the brunette's ear, and she pulled away slightly to look at Shizuru's stunned face.
"Clear enough…?" she grinned.
Tears already ran down her porcelain face as she chuckled.
"Very clear…" and she leaned down to capture Natsuki's lips into deep, passionate kiss.
"Woohoo! Way to go, mutt!!" Nao yelled with a wide grin on her face. Chie and the other already laughed.
Natsuki rested her forehead on Shizuru's and they laughed happily as Natsuki lifted the brunette to spin her around.
"Do you like your present?" she asked. Shizuru chuckled again as she nodded her head.
"I love it…" and they leaned again for another kiss.
Just like mom said… Those words worth more than anything else…
Okay… My fingers are numb right now… Hope you guys like it. I have to shorten the basketball scene because I just don't want to repeat the same thing over and over again.
And guess what? This is not the last chapter!! YAY~ \o/ Rejoice everyone!! I'll write another special chapter about Natsuki meeting Shizuru's parents. (It's not fair that only Shizuru met Natsuki's family, right?).
About the new story, you guys can still vote for it. The poll is still open! I'm going to close the poll after this next special chapter. Okay? ^_^
Thanks for your patience and review please?