Kaorin sat beside the desk groaning as she drank a glass of water. Her head killed her, but moreso, she remembered telling Sakaki that she was hot. Sakaki had yet to show any signs of remembering last night. She didn't know whether that was good or bad. What she did know was that Sakaki had called her adorable. A faint ray of hope! But did it hold the type of weight she hoped it did? Had Sakaki's comment been romantic or merely said with the same feeling as Kaorin did towards Chiyo-Chan?
"Oh, everything has to be difficult doesn't it?" she mumbled.
"You didn't drink so much that you forgot how to drink water did you?" asked Osaka, looking from the girl to the glass of water she appeared to be talking to. "Because if you did then I said call an ambulance, it might be bad."
Kaorin looked up at the girl in shocked surprise. "Huh-what?" Oh yeah…it was something said by Osaka. The drinks influence was only part of what she was confused. "Oh I'm fine Osaka; I was just talking out loud."
"Oh ok Miss Kaorin. But don't forget if you have any problems you can come to me" said Osaka in a teacher like tone. "I'm never too busy" she said holding up a thumb.
"…Ok. I'll keep that in mind Osaka" said Kaorin. The other girl nodded and walked outside.
Kaorin thumped her fist down on the table.
"Ow" she said holding it up gingerly. She wouldn't do that again in a hurry.
She'd been able to say the words that escaped her last night. She'd been able to tell Sakaki she loved her…with the aid of alcohol. Perhaps that was a plan…get intoxicated and talk to a sober Sakaki.
"That's a pretty stupid plan" she said to herself, quieter then last time. Osaka may have vanished, but that didn't stop Tomo potentially lurking around somewhere. She wouldn't give up as easily as Osaka had.
Damn it! Why did saying those three words have to be so hard? After all, she was able to say them so well in daydreams and while completely drunk. As long as she was in a dream world or plastered she could do it…just a shame about most of real life. She gulped down the rest of the water and stood up.
"I'll just tell her! I-it shouldn't be too hard should it?"
No letters or complicated plans this time. She'd simply approach the tall girl and tell Sakaki her feelings towards her. They'd been lingering in her for so long, she at least knew what they were. A simple plan, so easy to do.
…So did she find herself unable to move, legs refusing to budge. She felt shaky, her legs wobbling as she slowly sat down. Feeling jittery she took in a deep breath. This could be a problem. She tried to stand up and felt slightly light headed.
This could definitely be a problem.
---
Kaorin leant back in the bed looking up towards the white ceiling. She sighed, gripping a pillow against her chest. Slowly she turned, looking towards the light blue wall. There was a loud tap and a faint creak as the door slowly opened, Yomi stepping inside. Kaorin slowly moved to look at the girl.
"Are you feeling alright Kaorin?" asked Yomi caringly.
Kaorin nodded her head. "I'm just feeling a little off" said Kaorin. "Nothing much, I just feel like laying down."
"What, the drink last night?" asked Yomi smiling. "You and Sakaki seemed to do your best to compete against Tomo and Yukari."
"Where is Tomo?" asked Kaorin.
A sudden yell and a sound of feet running across a wooden floor was followed by a sight of Tomo sprinting by the open door towards one of the toilets. Yomi slowly pushed the door shut as light cursing and bleugh like sounds filled the air.
"Tomo decided she could handle much more drink then Yukari and Kurosawa sensei" said Yomi. "She just about managed to last night, but now it's trying to escape."
"So how was Yukari?" asked Kaorin.
"She fell headfirst into the sand and has been sleeping there since. Speaking of which, while me and Chiyo-Chan went and looked for all of you, we found you and Sakaki sleeping together. You seemed pretty comfortable there."
Kaorin suddenly froze. Had her secret been discovered by another one of the group…well actually it would be the first discovery, everyone else who knew had been told.
"Chiyo seemed a bit uncomfortable. I hope you and Sakaki-san didn't do any questionable activities last night" said Yomi laughing.
"What!?" said Kaorin who then tried to control the volume of her voice. "No of course not, why?"
"Calm down" said Yomi gently. "I better go check on Tomo, make sure she hasn't fainted and got her head stuck in the toilet. Her ego would make it difficult to pull out."
"Take care out there" said Kaorin, "And try to keep the mess down, this is Chiyo's place."
"I'll try to" muttered Yomi. "Wish me luck."
---
With her head feeling much clearer, and feeling much stronger in herself, Kaorin rushed down the stairs to get a glass of orange juice. She stood drinking it. She felt a bit better mentally. She must tell Sakaki- if she didn't bring it to an end soon, she might damage herself mentally. That may have been an over exaggeration, but she was sick of the stress she continually felt. It had been a great strain upon her and now she wanted an answer once and for all. And she was also tired of looking like a bit of an idiot in front of Chiyo, the one friend who knew the truth about her.
And Chiyo was the girl who entered the room.
"Hi Miss Kaorin" said Chiyo chirpily. "You look much better then you did earlier" she said grinning.
"Yeah well…"
"But of course, you did look very happy when we found you with Sakaki on the beach" said Chiyo. Kaorin looked awkward as Kaorin looked towards her. "Yes you did seem happy."
"Yeah, well…"
"So Miss Kaorin" said Chiyo, lowering her voice and making sure no one else was around. "Have you told Miss Sakaki yet? I was thinking you might have last night."
Kaorin shook her head. "I haven't yet Chiyo-Chan."
"Miss Kaorin" said Chiyo sadly. "You should try to tell her soon or you may burn yourself out with worry!" she continued anxiously.
"I know." She moved closer to the youngest student in her year. "In fact Chiyo-Chan, I'm planning on telling her today!"
Chiyo's face lit up. "Really?"
"Well…yeah" said Kaorin. She wasn't certain about actually saying anything today, she'd only said that to make Chiyo feel reassured. But she guessed it wouldn't be harmful to talk to Sakaki today.
"That's great Miss Kaorin" said Chiyo, quickly embracing an embarrassed Kaorin in a hug. "Good luck. I'm sure you'll hear what you want to hear."
"I'm kind of hoping for that" said Kaorin. She was really hoping for that answer now.
Chiyo bowed. "Good luck today Miss Kaorin" said the girl. "I'm going to the shop to get some headache tablets for Miss Yukari sensei." Kaorin said bye to the girl and the smaller girl vanished.
Kaorin stood for a moment and then finished the rest of her drink. She stood in silence for a few minutes before some yelling caught her attention. She looked out of the window and watched as Mayaa ran past aggravated. She moved back in shock as a boy suddenly ran past yelling at the cat. She watched as he held up a stone and threw it.
Despite not knowing how she might respond she found herself rushing to the door. There could be more then one of them out there, they might turn on her as well. She pulled open the door and stepped outside. Shocked, she watched as the boy kicked the cat which hissed out weakly.
"Hey! What are you doing!" she yelled out. How dare he hurt an animal like that! Especially Miss Sakaki's cat! She felt angry, really angry. This wasn't right at all!
The boy paused and smirked. "What do you want?" he asked disdainfully.
"Leave that cat alone!"
"Or you'll do what?"
Kaorin held up the phone. "I can easily call the police. And this house is filled with my friends."
The boy paused. He had seen a lot of people in that house recently. Smirking he kicked the cat once more before turning and sprinting away. Kaorin rushed over to the cat and picked up Mayaa who looked up at her weakly.
"Mayaa…" said Kaorin sadly as the cat mewed gently. The cat wasn't in serious danger, but had been hurt.
"K-Kaorin?" asked Sakaki.
Kaorin turned to find Sakaki standing behind her, having recently returned. She glanced once at Kaorin, and then down at the cat.
"M-Mayaa?" asked Sakaki.
"This isn't what it looks like…" said Kaorin, mistakenly using the most guilty sounding tone possible.
Sakaki stood looking dumbfounded. The two girls stood in front of one another for a short time.
"Sakaki- wait!" called out Kaorin. Tearfully Sakaki turned and sprinted back to the house leaving Kaorin alone, holding the injured cat.
"…Sakaki?"