Oh happy day (or night)! My chapter didn't take 6 months to write! Back to school we go!
"Hino-san?" Manami looked up in surprise as she saw her friend standing at the door of her classroom.
"Hello, Mori-san." Kahoko waved a little awkwardly. Even though many of the Music Department students had accepted her after her performance in the concours, she somehow still didn't feel all that comfortable wandering the halls of this particular wing of the school. "How are you? Did you have a good rest of the winter vacation?"
"It was wonderful! Thanks for inviting me to go café hopping. It was fun."
"Of course! Hey, I was wondering, have you seen Hihara-senpai?"
"Hihara-senpai?" As she thought, she lightly bit the knuckle of her finger in a gesture that Ryoutaro secretly found endearing. "I don't think I've seen him yet today, why?"
Kahoko lifted a small parcel. "I've got a thank you card and a thank you lunch from my family. Everyone has really enjoyed the music box that he gave me for Christmas. I don't think a day goes by that someone doesn't open it."
"Ah, I see." Manami hid a knowing smile. "Your family seems to have taken quite a liking to Hihara-senpai. I didn't realize that they knew each other."
"There were a couple of times that he came over to help me with things and they met." Kahoko smiled, "But I'd better go find him. My mother will have a fit if I don't give him this lunch she specially prepared!"
Manami laughed. "Alright, alright. I'll see you at the usual lunch spot?"
"Yes."
"See you then!"
"Bye!" Kahoko waved, heading down the hall.
Maybe he'll be in his classroom? Which one was it… Spying a sign up ahead, she perked up. Oh! I think that might be it! I think I remember the concours' announcer saying that he was in Class 3-B… Kahoko poked her head in. I don't see any sign of him… *sigh* Oh well…
"Are you looking for Kazuki, Hino-san?" a voice asked from out of nowhere.
Kahoko jumped a mile into the air. "Ha-Hasegawa-senpai!" She put her hand over her heart. "Please don't scare me like that!"
"Sorry! My bad, my bad!" he apologized. With a small smile he added, "But if you're looking for Kazuki, he's in the gym. Some friends of his wanted to play some basketball."
"Oh! Thank you Hasegawa-senpai!" Kahoko waved as she ran toward the basketball courts.
"Hmm…Maybe they are dating after all. It looks like she may have brought him a homemade boxed lunch!" Tsukasa thought. Grinning, he leaned against his desk, looking out the window toward the gym. "Good going, Kazuki!"
~ b(^_^)d ~
Gym, gym…it should be around here somewhere… There it is!
Kahoko stopped in front of a building and slowly opened the door. When she poked her head in, she was assaulted by warm air filled with the squeaky sounds of sneakers sliding on the hardwood floor. She could see ten boys running up and down the court, completely focused on the game. As she slipped inside, she watched as Kazuki leapt into the air, easily sinking a basket.
"Alright! Way to go Hihara!" one of his teammates yelled.
"That was a killer fade-away shot!" another complimented, giving him a high-five.
Hihara-senpai looks so relaxed. I knew he was good at basketball, but he's practicing with people in the basketball club! Her eyes followed him for a few more minutes before she wistfully tore them away. I wish I could stay and watch. It looks like they're having a lot of fun. Looking around, she spied his trumpet case on the far side of the court. I'll put his lunch down over by his things so I don't disturb him. The thank you card should explain everything.
Kahoko walked over to the other side of the court and placed her parcel next to Kazuki's jacket and trumpet case.
"Watch out!" Kazuki's voice rang out as she straightened up.
"Huh?" she turned to see a basketball flying through the air just before it collided with her face, knocking her to the ground.
"Kaho-chan!" Kazuki rushed to her side and knelt down beside her. "Are you ok? Do you have any injuries? Where did the ball hit you?"
"I-I th-think so…" Kahoko replied, dazedly answering the first question. She reached up to gingerly touch a bump that was forming on the side of her head. "Ouch…" she hissed, wincing in pain.
Reaching over to move her hand away, he examined the small mound. "You should get that bump looked at. Would you like me to take you to the nurse's office?" he asked as he placed her hand back on the floor to help steady her.
"No, I-I can get there on my own…" Kahoko stood up unsteadily to wobble toward the door. Just as her first shaky step began to send her again to the floor, Kazuki scooped her up in his arms in one fluid movement.
Hi-Hihara-senpai? She looked up at him in shock and surprise. A blush swept across her face, making her look feverish.
The others in the room started whispering, eyeing the pair.
"You can hardly stand Kaho-chan!" he scolded, his eyes full of concern. "At least let me carry you to the nurse's office. I don't want you to get hurt on the way there. There's still snow and ice on the ground." The intensity of his gaze bored into her. "You could slip and fall."
"But…" Kahoko started to protest.
Ugh…I'm feeling even more lightheaded than when the ball first hit me…but is it because of the basketball…or because Hihara-senpai is so close…?
I've got to get Kaho-chan to the nurse. She could have a concussion!
Kazuki strode quickly and effortlessly across the room and out the door as if she didn't weigh a thing. As her head slowly began to clear, she became more aware of the man whose arms were cradling her. Hihara-senpai has a pleasant scent…it's very masculine, yet has a gentleness to it…kind of like Hihara-senpai himself…And who'd have thought he'd be so strong! His arms are…Wait! What am I thinking? What is wrong with me?
Shaking her head, she protested again, "Hi-Hihara-senpai, I'm fine really! Y-you don't have to keep carrying me!"
He paused mid-stride. With a concerned look in his eyes, he looked down at her and asked, "Are you sure?"
Still blushing furiously from embarrassment since people in the quad were starting to notice them, she firmly responded, "Yes. Please put me down, Hihara-senpai."
Kazuki gently set her down and looked at the ground in embarrassment, realizing only now how forward he had been. "Kaho-chan…I-I'm sorry!" He bowed. "That was a bit much, wasn't it? I'm sorry for embarrassing you like that!"
Argh! Why are you such an idiot, Kazuki? Half the time you try to be helpful, you just end up embarrassing her and making her distressed! What's wrong with you?
"Ah, please raise your head, Hihara-senpai! You did nothing wrong! I…I just don't feel lightheaded anymore, so I didn't want to continue to trouble you…"
"Are you sure?" Kazuki asked with eyes that radiated his concern for her.
"Y-yes…I-I'll be fine…"
My heart is beating so fast and so hard! It's like it's going to beat out of my chest! Quiet down! I-I can't think! What's happening to me?
He looked more relieved. "I'm sorry about that. If I had intercepted the ball, it wouldn't have hit you." He smiled apologetically and scratched the back of his head. "Since it's kind of dangerous, we tend to leave our stuff strewn along that area to discourage people from going over there."
They looked at each other awkwardly for a few seconds before speaking at the same time.
"I…"
"I…"
"…"
"You first, Hihara-senpai."
"No, go ahead, Kaho-chan."
"Ah…umm…thank you for taking care of me…" She smiled bit embarrassedly and continued, "My head was reeling for a bit."
"Ah…" Kazuki blushed and mumbled, "Y-you're welcome."
"W-well…I-I should go eat my lunch…I'll see you around…Hihara-senpai…" Kahoko whispered softly and awkwardly.
"Uh, right…Bye…" Kazuki replied lamely.
They parted ways, blushing furiously.
Yay! Another Kazuki x Kahoko! I'm so glad!
This chapter was taken from a dating simulation game my friend introduced me to called, "RE-Alistair++." One of the characters (Derek) is on the basketball team, and this lovely scene happens to Merui (played by you). It's a great game and completely free. (^_^) Unfortunately, Derek is my least favorite guy, but when you're playing his storyline, he's very sweet like Kazuki.
The next chapter will probably be more of a friendship chapter than a romantic one. I feel like it's been awhile since Kahoko had any good relationship talk with her girl friends.
Please review! Yoroshiku onegaishimasu! (^_^)