Chapter Twenty-Two

Kotoko skipped down the stairs, all clad in a new outfit and ready to begin her college experience. At the table, she shied away from looking my way.

"You look so pretty today," My mother said, "Are you excited?"

"Really excited." Kotoko said, nodding and grinning widely. She caught a glimpse of me and quickly averted her gaze to the floor. My mother got her camera out and took a picture of Kotoko, and then one of me.

"Why don't you two take another picture together?" She said with hope.

"No." I said. Kotoko tensed into stillness.

"But why?" My mother said with a whine.

"Because why would I want to take pictures with someone like her?" I snapped. This was just one of the many times over break before the start of college that I'd said something like that… insulting her, avoiding her… and I wasn't very proud in admitting that. What was more, I didn't know why I was doing it.

I tried to pretend I hadn't seen how stung she looked from that statement.

"I'm leaving." I said and made my way to the door to escape them and their gazes. Naturally, Kotoko followed not far behind. The entire way there, she stayed back and away from me.

At Tonan University, she took off for her own department and I carried on to mine. In the science and engineering department, the atmosphere was calmer than in high school.

A guide directed me to a classroom and I found a seat.

"Naoki Irie." A familiar voice said. Yuuko Matsumoto stole the seat beside me. It had been a few years since I'd last seen her. Yuuko smiled at me, but I noticed the smile wasn't nearly as warm or inviting as Kotoko's.

"It's so nice to see you. It's been such a long time." She said.

"Yeah… So you chose Tonan?" It was strange to see someone like her here, the same way it was strange to see me here. She might've been my exact twin when it came to scores and success.

"The tennis club. There's a great one here. Will you be joining?" She batted her eyes at me, flirting hard. That was one way to start the day.

"I don't think so."

"But why? You're so good at tennis." Yuuko's gaze was unfaltering.

"Just not interested." I said.

"Well that sucks. I was hoping to play doubles with you sometime." She smiled seductively.

The professor arrived and class began.

This class was so similar to Class A that it felt like high school despite not having to wear a uniform. Everyone was quiet, diligently taking notes and listening to the professor until the end of the first class. Yuuko walked out with me.

"You should rethink joining the tennis club. It could really benefit with you." She said.

"We'll see." I said, though what I meant by that was "it's still no". The first thing I noticed as we walked out the front doors was the bright pink sweater sitting on a bench with her friends, right in front of my department. She turned her head to stare at Yuuko and me.

"Have you chosen your elective course yet?" Yuuko asked.

"No. Have you?"

Kotoko was shoved out in front of us. She gave her friends a dirty look. They took off and Kotoko straightened herself up.

"Is there something you want?" I said.

"Oh, nothing." She bit her lip and shoved her hands deep into her sweater pockets. Yuuko smirked and then scoffed.

"Is this your girlfriend?"

"Her? No way." I said. Kotoko looked like I'd slapped her in the face. Her eyes fell and again I ignored it.

For the next two classes before lunch, Yuuko sat beside me in each and chatted it up afterward. I could actually have an intelligent conversation with her. As we spoke, I found many ways in which we were alike. There was something missing from the conversations, though, and I couldn't quite pinpoint what it was.

For lunch we parted as she was going to a cafe for food. I stuck to the college cafeteria. And right up in front of the serving lines was Kotoko, listing the food options out loud. I joined her.

"Do you know how to think inside your brain?" I said and she was startled by me, "Lunch A, please." I said the server. Kotoko started to order.

"I would like lunch-"

"They don't have a lunch F." I said. Fire might've shot from her eyes… but a very small fire. Her anger was never scary.

"I'll have lunch A, too!" She ordered and glared at me.

Both of our lunches were sat in front of us. Though they were supposed to be the same lunch, there was a definite difference in amounts. Kotoko's tray of food was overfilled by what might've been double what she was supposed to get. Mine was barely filled. She looked as confused as I was.

"What's with the difference?" I demanded. The server revealed himself as none other than Kinnosuke. I sighed and my head pounded instantly. There was no escaping that moron.

"You're complaining about the fairness of my servings? The nerve." He said, smuck as ever.

"Kin-chan, what are you doing here?" Kotoko smiled.

"I'm working here during the day to keep an eye on that evil guy. But at night I'll be working at your father's restaurant." He bragged.

"That's great!"

"I'm going to become a great chef. And then you'll see just who the better man is." Kinnosuke said, but he would never be any kind of threat. "What do you have to say to that, Mr. genius?" This nickname he had for me was wearing me impatient.

"I'm just baffled at how a person could revolve their whole life around one girl. I couldn't do that."

"What did you say?" It was so easy to offend him.

"I'll just leave you two alone now." I picked up the tray and brought it to a table, not caring about the portions anymore.

For minutes more, Kotoko stayed up at the counter, talking to Kinnosuke. She giggled some and smiled brightly at him, the way I hadn't been seeing much of. He reached over and brushed a strand of hair out of her face. Frustration and anger jolted up my back. I fought the urge to leave the cafeteria simply because he was here.

Finally his manager got on his case about not working and Kotoko left him to sit with her two friends.

I didn't have peace for much longer. A shaggy-looking guy bumbled into the place, searching all over until he found me. He slammed his hand down on the table.

"Naoki Irie. I hear you weren't planning on joining the tennis club." He said.

"That's right. Who are you?"

"I'm Sudo! Leader of the club." He posed with his hands on his hips and then gulped down my entire glass of water.

"Is that all?"

"No. You really should join our club. We need a player like you. Almost everyone there except for me is hopeless." He whined and seated himself next to me.

"That's not my problem."

"Oh come on. Please?"

"No."

"Don't say that! We really do need someone like you in the club!" Another headache formed in my temples and I gritted my teeth.

"I have no intention of joining any clubs."

"But this one is so right for you." I bit my tongue, clenching and unclenching my fist.

"Fine. Whatever." I said. His eyes widened in excitement.

"Okay!" He yelled, taking flight, "I'll see you later! We meet at four." He flew out of the cafeteria. I caught sight of Kotoko watching. Great. She would be following me there today, as Sudo had revealed a little too much information.

...

At four o'clock, I took off for the club room and Kotoko started tailing me all the way there. I formed a plan in my head and took a wrong staircase. She dodged behind a corner to not be seen by me, but she couldn't have been more noticeable.

Trying to lose her, I purposely entered the wrong club room, leaving as soon as I knew she was out of sight. She fell for the trick and I made for the actual tennis club. Yuuko was already there when I arrived.

"So, you're here." She said happily.

"Yeah. Sudo somehow knew I wasn't joining and badgered me at lunch." I said. Yuuko grinned guiltily.

"Sorry about that. But I really wanted you to join." I nodded. I'd figured as much already. Sudo came through the door and bounced to the moon and back when he saw me.

"You're here!" He called, "Good." He went to the front of the room to prepare for an introductory speech, I presumed.

The door busted open.

"I would like to join this club!" Kotoko wailed. So she'd found me. Yet another way I couldn't get away from her.

"Who are you?" Sudo asked, "Who is your referral?"

"I don't have a referral, but I just really want to join the tennis club! It looks like so much fun." She bared her teeth in a grin. But I had news for her… that smile wouldn't work for everyone. There were requirements for this club.

Sudo lifted an eyebrow and made his way over to her, "Anyone with enthusiasm is welcome to join!" He squeezed her shoulders in a hug, "What's your name?"

"Kotoko Aihara."

I could already see this club being a nightmare. Kotoko playing a sport? Surely, nothing good was going to come from it. I wondered what was going to happen next when it came to her, because it seemed her reign of terror wasn't anywhere near over.