Testing The Waters
.
.
Chapter 34
He notices there's a difference.
There's a difference in their dynamic and it's irritating.
More than usual, per say.
She blushing, and is more conscious of her words. A little stutter here and there, and a twirl of her hair.
It's aggravating.
Like a bug crawling under his skin.
"Oi." He calls out.
She doesn't hear him.
"Oi." He strains.
A glance. "Yeah?"
"Didn't you say you were here to concentrate?"
"I am!"
"Yeah right." Obvious sarcasm. She was flirting, or at least it seemed like it.
A huff was his response, and Mamoru turns back in her seat.
There's an amused glance thrown her way, courtesy of Haruka Nanase. Mamoru snickers when she catches the look.
...Twitch.
A nervous chuckle from Makoto. "Rin.. hey, can you help me with this?"
"Aren't you like a year younger than us?" Rin's not listening to you, Makoto.
"Yeah, so?" A blink from Mamoru.
"Then you'd get different homework than us."
"...Yeah?" She doesn't see where he's going with this.
The tension is obvious.
It's clear what Rin's implications were.
"I promise her I'd help her with math." A curt response from Haruka.
Somehow that irritates the redhead more.
"Are you even good with math, Haru?" His voice is flat, and despite himself, Rin tries to hide his annoyance. It doesn't work, because everyone else can tell how tense he was. If he weren't annoyed, he wouldn't be like this, and Makoto, Mamoru and Haru all knew. The reason as to why, remains a mystery. Maybe Rin and Mamoru had some unfinished business. Or maybe, Rin was simply irritated that day. They don't know what is the cause of his sudden attitude, but if the knowing twinkle in Makoto's eyes were any indication, he thinks he has an inkling.
And so, the elder Tachibana clears his throat, and smoothly steps in, and hopefully avoids any arising conflict with his interference.
"Mamo-chan," Said girl looks up in curiosity, and Makoto offers her a reassuring smile. "Maybe I can help you with some things too?"
Her response is a hum, and she nods (probably wanting out of the crossfire between Haru and Rin), and scoots over to the side her cousin was on.
"Makoto."
Haru's reply was a simple smile, and the Nanase pauses for a long moment, looking like he remembered something, before turning his head away pointedly. Rin huffs, and the change seems to quell the situation considerably.
The only sounds are Mamoru and Makoto's quiet chatter as they work on their homework. When night seems to hover over their shoulders does Rin stretch and snap close his notebook. He stands, and lifts a hand to rub the back of his neck. "Alright," He starts, his voice a bit gruff for staying quiet for so long. "I'm going back to Samezuka."
Makoto glances out the window, and takes note of it's lateness. "We can walk you back-"
"Nah," He doesn't think he'd need the company with the mood he was in. He thinks he'd like to stay quiet for a little longer. His eyes, instinctively, flickers over to Mamoru, and just as expected, she had something to say. "I'll walk you!"
"I just said no." He reminds her with a look.
"So?" She's pouting, and without discretion, moves to stand as well. "I'll walk you to the train station. It's our thing."
Now if Mamoru was paying attention, she'd know that now Haruka's gaze was on her. There's a flicker between Rin and Mamoru, and Rin raises an eyebrow with a tiny scoff. "It's not a thing, idiot. It's just coincidences."
"Still," She's persistent. "I wanna coincidentally walk you back."
"Who's gonna walk you back?" Now he's smirking.
"I will."
Now Rin and Mamoru glance at the source of interruption. It's Haruka, and the look he withholds entails that there is no further argument. Rin scowls a little, and Mamoru blinks; looking as if she's seriously considering it. "Sure."
"No." Rin huffs. "I'll just walk myself back."
Mamoru looks ready to object. "But-"
"No." And Rin is solid in his decision. He packs up his things, and throws his bag over his shoulder before there's further argument on the matter. Mamoru follows him to the front door, her eyebrow's furrowed and her mouth twisted in a tiny frown.
A sigh leaves Rin's lips when he realizes she's still hovering in the foyer as he toes on his shoes. "What is it?"
"If you won't let me walk you back, at least let me say bye." She huffs. She doesn't know why he's so annoyed today, and quiet too, but it's bugging her; and honestly, she's a bit worried.
Rin doesn't realize this until the last minute though, when he's opening the door, and about to step out. When he does, however, he sighs again, and casts her a glance over his shoulder.
Smirk.
Ba-dumph.
"Walk me back next time, okay?"
"Y-... yeah."
The door shuts, and Rin leaves.
Mamoru lingers, and stares at the shut door for a moment.
"..." She doesn't know when she started blushing, but now she couldn't stop.
"...Mamoru."
Said girl jumps a little, and spins around to regard the culprit with a look. "Uhm- Yeah?"
"Are you okay?" Haru nears her, and lifts a hand to touch her forehead. She doesn't know when he got there, or if he was there all along, but the flip her stomach did made her duck her head. "Your face is red." He murmurs, and the concern is only the tiniest evident in those leveled, cerulean hues. Though regardless, it's there, and stirring far more prominently behind his concealed gaze.
But Mamoru flinches, when she feels his touch, and fumbles for her words. "Uhm, yeah. I-I'm fine! I-!" She pauses, and shakes her head, suddenly confused and flustered with the thumping in her chest. She isn't sure what's causing it, but she suddenly thinks back to that little smirk Rin sent her, and then that kiss Haruka gave her, and then that night she shared with Rin, and then Haruka's confession and now she's a hell of a lot confused.
"I just.." She continues in a small voice. "I'm.."
"Mamoru?"
When she looks up at Haruka, the concern seems to be more blatant now. She doesn't know how to respond to it as of yet, because the words were still stuck in her throat, and the heat in her face still scorches her cheeks.
"I.."
His eyebrows furrow. "Are you alright?"
"I think I'm in love."
A/N: LMFAO WAHT.
OHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO
BUT WITH WHO?
HEHEHE
Find out next chapter! :)
omfg im so sorry this is so short and i am so lame and this is so late forgive me ;;