Author's Note: Sorry for a month and half delay. The curtains are set to fall as the story comes to an end; hence I would like to give my heart felt gratitude to the following:
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Enjoy reading and feel the sugar rush for the last time XD
Chapter 21: Farewell My Honey
Eri throws herself on her bed and close her eyes. The time for her to decide has finally come. Was it her fault to fall for two men at the same time? Even her friends are torn between two lovers, but why does it seem that they can handle things unlike her. She picked her phone and send a message to her two friends.
S.O.S. Sugar Freak or Sea Urchin?
Not for long, she receives a reply from Natsumi. She immediately read the reply only to find out that her friend got no interest in her silly shally. Natsumi even tell Eri not to take things seriously. The girl sighs in frustration, what did she expect to get from a two-timer girl like Natsumi? Then her phone beeps again, this time it's from Sakura. Eri ignores the message thinking that Sakura might give her the same reply as Natsumi does but later she reads it.
Choose the 1 who will leave you no regret
Marui arrived at Eri's house 5 minutes before 6 o'clock. The girl is already dressed like a little lady on her lavender imperial cut evening gown with a very light make-up. The feeling is so awkward since Eri keeps so silent during the time that she's with Marui until they reach the restaurant where they will eat dinner. It's a moment to be treasured with, so she must make the best of it. Eri fixed her gaze on the red hair while they are eating dinner as she torture the food in front of her with a fork and knife.
"You're so silent kaichou," Marui said out of the blue.
"I'm sorry…" Eri mumbles.
"Hn? Are you saying something?" the red hair asked while munching the steak.
Eri stopped from stabbing the food on her plate and take a deep breath. Is it the right time and place to tell Marui about her decision? Her heart and mind is torn in two but no matter how painful it is, she must make her decision. "Bunta I…"
"Excuse me, I'm here to serenade the two of you," a violinist suddenly came to their table.
Marui smiles and whispers something to the violinist then he asked Eri for a dance. Actually there are other young couples in the place already dancing and doesn't mind the other people around. Eri hesitated to dance at first but she wasn't able to object when Marui grabbed her hand and initiates the dance. The song is so serene making the two of them at ease while dancing. Eri keep distance with Marui during the dance and avoid gazing at the red hair. Contrary of what she's doing, she hopes that the music will not fade just like that very moment where she feels so secured with Marui.
"You're so pretty tonight, your dress suits you well." Marui whispered to the girl.
"Arigatou…" Eri replied and tighten her hold on Marui's shoulder. "How could I tell you that it's Haru-kun who chose this dress for me?"
Marui feels the change of Eri's grip on his shoulders so he asked her if there is something wrong but Eri diverted the talk. Guiltiness is what the girl feels. Being caught in a situation where it is very clear that Marui is becoming aggressive on her is swaying her emotion. A love that is lost is very difficult to be found. The song was finished and so their fairy tale like dinner ended.
When they reached Atobe's mansion, the party has already started. Eri parted with Marui as if they had not been together before they went there. The place is so crowded with many students coming from different schools of Tokyo and Kanagawa. Eri made her way through the crowd only to see her so-called friend Sakura has just finished dancing tango as if she owns the whole dance floor.
"Choose the one who will leave you no regret, huh…" Eri mumbles and crosses her arms as Sakura walked towards her. "I can't believe that you can be this show-off Kanzaki Sakura…"
On the other hand, Marui found the Rikkaidai's table. Kirihara asked him why is he late but he do not answer his kohai's question. Niou pretends to ignore Marui coming late though he doubts that the red hair was with Eri before the party started. Instead, they tease and flame up the poor seaweed headed kohai to ask Ootori Chotarou's dance partner for a dance. To Marui and Niou's surprise, Kirihara walked towards Oootori and bravely snatched the girl for a dance. Marui and Niou jaw dropped on what they saw and they look at each other.
"That Bakaya…" the red hair muttered and chuckled.
"You seem so happy, did something good happen to you?" Niou asked and take a sip of the tasteless orange juice full of ice.
"Yeah, there's something good that happened to me. Is there a problem with that?" the tensai replied and pop his precious green apple bubblegum.
The trickster shrugged and looked back at the dance floor where Akaya is dancing horribly. After sometimes, he excused himself from the group to breathe some fresh air since the mood of their table has changed when Marui arrived. Not far from where he is, he overheard the conversation between Eri and her friends.
"Let them play tennis and choose whoever wins the match," Natsumi suggested out of boredom.
"How imprudent! You're really a psycho Natsumi," Eri replied.
"But I also agree with Natsumi." Sakura suddenly join in the conversation. "It's the best way to determine who is better."
Eri choked the juice she is drinking after hearing Sakura's opinion. Sometimes when it happened, she feels that her friends are making fun of her. She stand up from her sit and fixed her dress.
"I hate you Natsumi! I hate you Sakura!" Eri said and walked away when suddenly Niou appeared behind the marble post.
"Serious debate with your friends?" Niou asked with a smirk.
The girl was surprised of the trickster that she almost jumped back. Her heart started to race fast and become speechless. She feels so guilty of what she did when she go with Marui earlier since she promised Niou that they will be together at the party.
"Haru-kun, I'm…" her words are cut off when the trickster placed his fingertip on Eri's lips.
"Shh…" Niou draws himself near the girl and smiles.
"Why do you love to torture me?" Eri asked.
"Because you also love to see me in pain…" the silver hair replied and ruffles Eri's hair.
Eri take off Niou's hand on her hair and give a gloomy smile. When Eri noticed that there are students looking at them, she asked Niou to come with her at the rose garden that Natsumi told her to avoid any gossip. They sat on a bench near the garden fountain and remained silent while listening to the music being played by the orchestra at the party. Eri sighs deeply as she remembered Sakura's advise to choose the one that will leave her no regret. She take a deep breath and was about to say something when Niou suddenly speak up.
"Happy White Day, Eri-chan." trickster said and pulled out a rectangular wrapped present out of his coat.
"Arigato, Haru-kun…"the girl blushed and takes the present from Niou. "Happy White Day too…"
Niou smirks since Eri can't hide her blush. He was about to pull the girl closer to him but he stopped himself when he saw Marui looking at them from the veranda. It's the first time that he saw such kind of seriousness on the tensai's face. Considering the feelings of Marui and for the sake of their friendship, Niou didn't continue his plan of hugging Eri. The trickster just ended up teasing Eri about worthless stuffs and escorts her back to the girls table. Eri totally forget her plan of choosing between Marui and Niou that night.
A week has passed and graduation day is set the following day. Being the best student of Rikkaidai Fuzouku, Eri is selected to be the one to give speech during the graduation ceremony; a news that pleases her parents. Eri's father brings the girl to a traditional shop that sells high class kimono as a gift for his daughter. He wanted Eri to wear a kimono rather than the typical school uniform during the graduation ceremony.
On the kimono shop, Eri can't decide on what to choose whether the red printed kimono or the blue one. She like both of it but she has to choose only one since her father is becoming impatient of waiting for her to decide what would they buy.
"You cannot wear two kimonos at one time, so choose already." Eri's father commanded.
"Since I can't decide between the two, I choose to wear my school uniform rather than a kimono," Eri said firmly.
Things go bad, very bad. Eri's father was displeased on her answer. "If you can't choose on what kimono you are going to wear, then better not attend your graduation day. Not everyone has given this opportunity Eri!"
"But Oto-san.. I…" Eri is trying to reason out when his father slapped her.
"Playing around is not good Eri," her father told her and then turned to the stunned dress maker. "We are taking the two kimonos; I'll let Eri decide for herself."
Eri remained silent during their trip going back to their house. Neither she nor her father wanted to start a conversation. She looked at the window while her father drives the car.
"He doesn't need to slap me…" she said to herself when she noticed Marui and Niou walking together on the street. "Where are those two going? And what is with those serious faces?"
Eri is so curious that she told her father to stop the car making an alibi that she has something to buy. She stepped out of the car and walk casually towards a candy store while still eyeing the two boys. When she noticed that her father has already left, she runs towards the direction where Marui and Niou went only to find out that they are in a tennis court.
"This is only a one set match. I will serve as the umpire while Sakura will serve as the scorer, understand?" Natsumi said to the two boys.
"Are you really sure that this will settle everything?" Sakura asked in doubt.
"Don't worry Kanzaki, everything will be alright. I'm a tensai," Marui replied to Sakura and pops his bubblegum.
"Don't be sure Marui. I'll definitely win against you and have Eri-chan. Puri~" Niou said.
"Ok, the two of you… get in the court! Let the game start…" Natsumi told them casually as she climbs the umpire's chair.
Eri can't move from where she is standing. How can her friends keep a secret from her? And what does Marui and Niou thinking of her? She wanted to get angry and scream on the top of her voice but she can't. Niou is the one to serve the ball but before he could do it, he noticed Eri.
"Eri-chan…"
Marui observed the sudden change in Niou's expression so he looked back only to find out the frustrated girl fiercely looking at them. Sakura immediately walks towards Eri while Natsumi jumped from the umpire's chair.
"Who tell you to decide for me?" Eri scolded her two friends.
"Don't blame them kaichou… I'm the one who requested Kanzaki and Wanazaki to come here so don't get mad at them." Marui said but the girl slapped him.
"What do you think of me? A trophy that could be in the possession by whoever will win this match? Answer me!" Eri yells at them.
Marui and Niou didn't say any word. They could have gone far by using tennis to decide on whose gonna win Eri's heart. The two boys walked off the tennis court and place back their racket on their bags when suddenly the girl said something that surprised them.
"After the graduation ceremony tomorrow, I want to see both of you under the big old Rikkaidai tree…"
At 9:50am the Rikkaidai band started to play and the 3rd year students began filing into the gym, two by two, led by their homeroom teacher, standing before their seats, and sitting as a class when told. Eri's parents seat on the stage with the principal and other city officials since her mother was the PTA president. For the first time in Eri's life, her mother seems to be very proud of her since she's the will graduate as the top notch of the class. All students wear their school uniform except from Eri who wear her kimomo.
At 10:00 the ceremony began with everyone standing to sing the Japanese national anthem. Then, we sat down and were immediately asked to stand to sing the Rikkaidai's hymn. With the singing finished everybody sat down, and each 3rd year student was called by name by their homeroom teacher. As each name is called, the student stands up and says "hai!".
When all students' names had been called, Eri approached the principal at the podium and formally received a diploma on behalf of all of the students, by raising it above her head, bowing, and retreating backwards off of the stage. Afterwards, the principal and mayor both gave speeches, and also a 2nd year student to his senpai-tachi.
When the time comes for Eri to give her speech to all 2nd years, parents of other students could be seen whispering to each other since its very unusual for Rikkaidai to have a female representative but when they hear her surname, they don't bother to murmur anymore since Eri's surname is well known in their place. After the graduation ceremony, the students takes picture with each other and asked their admired someone to signed their yearbooks.
"Marui-kun, can I take picture with you?" a girl asked the tensai and he agreed to pose for a picture.
Suddenly, many girls crowded him and pleaded to also pose for a picture with them. Since it's the last time for the season to see his fan girls, he let them take pictures with him. On the other hand, Niou is almost stripped of his clothes since his fan girls demanded a souvenir from him. They take his school badge, buttons of his school uniform and even his coat and necktie.
"We will miss you Niou-kun, kyaa~" the fan girls sobs and when they saw Marui around, they ask him to pose with Niou for a souvenir picture. After so much picture taking, the two boys went to the big old Rikkaidai tree as Eri instructed them to do.
Meanwhile, Eri is with her father who is talking with his old time colleagues during middle high while Eri's mother left already.
"This is really a nice day… look at the students who graduated. I could still remember the big old tree," Eri's father said.
"Oh yes, the big old tree… the place where students confess their love and get rejected at the end," her father's colleague replied half-heartedly and laughs.
"Who knows if there are boys patiently waiting patiently under the tree right now?" Eri's father said and glance at the girl.
"How does he know?" Eri asked herself. "Excuse me in your conversation Oto-san… I have something to do."
"I'm giving you your freedom Eri… now go to the place where you have to be," her father said and ruffled her hair for the first time.
"Ha…hai!" the girl replied with a bright smile and after excusing herself, she runs towards the big old Rikkaidai tree.
"She's late," Marui muttered.
"Do you think she'll come?" Niou ask while leaning on the opposite of the tree where Marui sit.
"Who knows…" the red hair replied and popped his green apple bubble gum.
Suddenly, Niou spotted the girl running towards their direction. He immediately fixed himself and welcomes the girl with a gentle smile. As Eri approached him, she accidentally tripped on her kimono and fell towards Niou's arms.
"Hey are you alright?" the trickster asked.
"Ha..hai, I'm alright Haru-kun…" the girl replied while blushing. "Stupid kimono!"
Marui didn't show up, he remain sitting on the opposite side of the tree listening to the conversation. It might be hard, but it's the best way to do since Eri didn't bother to ask where he is.
"Why are you so careless Eri-chan?" Niou asked and assist Eri to stand properly.
"I'm not careless Haru-kun…" she replied with a smile.
"Ah, that's my girl… but don't let me worried about you so much," the trickster said and place her two hands on Eri's shoulders and looked at the girl's eyes directly. His sapphire eyes gazing with sincerity at Eri's dark brown eyes. "Don't be careless Eri-chan… and please always take care of yourself. I'll do everything to see you happy."
"What do you mean Haru-kun, why are you saying these things to me?" Eri asked uncertainly when Niou suddenly hugged her.
"I'm ending our contract here," the silver hair whispered and let go of the girl.
Eri stayed on her place and couldn't react for the moment. Is everything only the trickster's act as part of their contract? How dare him to play with her feelings. At the same time, why does she feel so relieve as if the bonds tied on her heart loosens up.
"I know you're still there chewing your precious bubblegum Marui Bunta! Show yourself now; your Honey is waiting for you!" Niou yelled enough to catch the attention of the red hair.
Surprised of Niou's words, Marui swallowed the green apple bubblegum. He slowly get up from sitting and detached the second button of his uniform and hides it on his pocket. Then he casually shows himself to Niou and Eri.
"Now that your prince charming is here, allow me to leave and give both of you privacy to talk about yourselves," Niou said and avoid looking back at Eri. When he passed Marui, he pushed the tensai towards Eri and grins mischievously. "Puri~"
"Niou you're…" Marui glares at the trickster since he accidentally hugs Eri.
"As I told you Marui, even if Eri-chan belongs to the type of girl I like, I am not the kind of person who will betray a friend." Niou said and waves his hand in a careless manner. (see Chapter 7: Sweet Lips)
With that, the trickster leaves the two under the big old tree. Marui and Eri are now alone at the place. Marui removed his arms around Eri and apologized to the girl. Since he's so tense, the red hair scratched his head lightly and looked away. He tries to pull out a bubblegum from his pocket but he runs out of it. On the other hand, Eri is only watching Marui when she noticed that the second button of the tensai's uniform is missing. She frowned and become hopeless; does it mean Marui has given it to another girl?
"What are you doing Sugar Freak?" she asked unconsciously.
"Kaichou… I…" Marui stammered.
"Hn?" Eri hummed.
"I…"
"I…" the girl waits for the next syllable that the tensai will say.
"I don't have any sweets left…"
Upon hearing that, Eri raised her eyebrow and turn around ready to leave.
"Hey kaichou… did I say something wrong?" Marui chased her.
"I hate you!" the girl yelled.
"She hates me…" Marui cries in a very childish manner.
"If you have nothing important to say, I'm going now! You're wasting my time!"
"I'm serious here, I don't have any sweets anymore…." The red hair replied and chased the girl who is walking away.
That scene is not what Eri is expecting. She really dreams of herself confessing under the big old tree and not fooling around like a kindergarten about sweets.
"Stop acting like a child Sugar Freak!"
"But I like sweets now," Marui demanded and smirks. He went in front of Eri and kneels before her like a man proposing for marriage. He pulls out the second button of his uniform from his pocket and offers it to Eri.
The girl's eyes widens since she already thought that Marui has given away the second button. Her hands are petrified that she can't get the second button out of Marui's hand.
"You know kaichou, I'm not a traditional person… but I would like to give you the second button of my uniform… I hope you will take it and consider it as a way of confession. This second button is the one closest to my heart and it contains all the emotions I have from my three years of attending Rikkaidai Fuzoku."
"Sugar Freak…"
"It's alright if you will reject my confession kaichou… at least I become man enough to tell what I feel for you," Marui said.
Not far from the big old tree, Eri's father is watching the scene when suddenly a very familiar person came near to him.
"Ichirou-senpai is that you?"
Eri's father looked at the owner of the voice and greeted casually in return, "Yes its me Tamara, what brings you here?"
"I'm looking for my son," Marui's mother replied and walks toward where Eri's father is standing. "Isn't that…"
"My daughter and your son," Eri's father replied in a casual tone.
"That brat…" Marui's mother said and was about to yell at Marui when Eri's father stopped her.
"Don't show yourself Tamara… just let it pass only this time. Don't you trust your son?"
Marui's mother looked back at the two young couple, "What if they only repeat our story Ichirou-senpai?"
"Eri should be prepare for the karma. Time can only tell how long they will stay like that."
Meanwhile, Eri take the button out of Marui's hand and look at the red hair. Then she lends a hand for Marui to get up from kneeling before her. "I'm leaving the country tomorrow Sugar Freak…"
"What did you say?" Marui's surprised reaction.
"I try to tell all of you about my decision of going to Germany but every time I want to speak up all of you are interrupting me," the girl explained while she looked directly at Marui's eyes full of regret.
"But why?" the red hair asked.
"It's my personal choice… I want to be recognized further by my parents. I will do everything to please them…"
"I understand… and I'm willing to wait for you to return," Marui said and remove some strands of Eri's hair that is covering the girl's face.
The girl's heart started to race fast and she feels butterflies flying on her tummy. Her blush could never be hidden as she gives a very gentle smile. "I'll take it as a promise Sugar Freak…"
"I promise kaichou… I will never look for other girls while you are not around." Marui swear and comes closer to Eri. He leaned and kissed her on the forehead.
"I'm sorry… I couldn't give you the sweets that you desire now," Eri apologized.
"You already did give me a sweet, kaichou … your forehead taste as sweet as honey."
Eri raised her brow and start to walk away, "Stop harassing me!"
"But I'm not harassing you; it's my farewell kiss since you will leave tomorrow. Hey kaichou stop walking away from me… let's spend your last day here in Japan together," the tensai explained while walking behind Eri away from the big old tree.
Suddenly Eri stopped from walking which caused Marui to bump on her back, "How imprudent!" the girl said and glares at Marui.
Marui let out a chuckle and holds Eri's hand deliberately, with his fingers intertwined with the girl's fingers and they continue walking way. Marui looked at Eri and gives a sweet smile. Both of them smile and with all sweetness Marui whispered to Eri, "No matter what, you will always be my honey, Honey."
~OWARI~
Author's Note: Do you approve the ending? Will Eri really go to Germany to study? The sequel might take months before I publish so DON'T REMOVE THIS FROM YOUR STORY ALERTS.
Niou's ending of this story is on Boyfriend for Rent.
Meanwhile I am currently working with Dance With Me: Tango By Three (AtobeXOCXSanada). My apology to GothiqueMarionette since I saw that one of her story is also entitled "Dance With Me".