Chapter 3

Aguri Sakurano:

When I saw the door of my home locked I understood that my mom is not at home. I opened the door with my keys. It's actually good because otherwise I had to make up some nonsense reasons why I didn't go to school.

I entered my room and landed straight into my bed. It seems like for the last couple of days, I have endured too much stress. I just don't want anymore stress. Sometimes I think breaking up with Tasuku would actually do good for me. But I can't imagine the scenario. I fell in love with him at middle school. I worked so hard to be his girlfriend. I just can't imagine to get back now. But am I happy?

I don't want to think anything. I want to keep my mind in other things. I want to... I want to talk with Amanocchi. I immediately turned on my phone and messaged him. And... 15 minutes passed but no answer. May be he still not reached home...

Why... why is he not answering? Is his mood so off? Or he just doesn't want to talk to me anymore? Suddenly I could feel a sharp pain in my chest. Whenever I needed him, he was always there. He always helped me regardless the situation. I can remember when he gave up going to his favourite space ocean just to help me and that too was just a misunderstanding between me and Tasuku. I'm so useless and I can't rely on anyone else. Today too, that's why I asked him to bunk school and come to meet me. I just didn't want to be left alone but he wanted to go home and that's why I had to come home. But i just wanted to be with him so i requested him to take me home with his bicycle.

Wait... wait a minute. Just why am I wanting to be with him? Even though exactly that caused the misunderstandings between me and Tasuku. I just can't escape from the fact that Amanocchi always heals my pain everytime. Now I think... whenever I'm in trouble I always talked with home. Talking to him is relaxing, it's refreshing. Can't... can't I just always talk to him?

Wait... I should not think that. I love Tasuku. I also should not always disturb Amanocchi. He has a girlfriend. He is now in problem just like me.

30 minutes passed. I just can't keep up. I'm sorry Amanocchi but I can't help it. I opened my phone and called him. After several times, he has picked up.

"What happened Aguri-san?"

As soon as I heard "Aguri-san" from his lips, all of my anxiety disappeared. Really... why does that always happen? I couldn't help but smile and said,

"I'm sorry Amanocchi but I just called because my mood is off. I shouldn't have disturbed you."

"It's okay Aguri-san."

"Thanks."

"I too was not in a good mood and wanted to play video games."

"As expected."

"Haha but I loved it that you called me."

"I have messaged you too but you didn't answer. I thought you are ignoring me."

"Oh no I actually didn't check my phone yet. Why on earth would I avoid you? After all you are my most precious friend right now."

"Pr-precious?", my heart skipped a beat as I heard that. Why are you so casually saying it?

"Don't joke around Amanocchi. What about Tendou-san? Did you finally get to talk to her?"

"Ah about that..."

"Hm?"

"Tendou-san has broken up with me."

"Eh?... what?"

...

"Now tell me Aguri-san, why the heck are we again in this restaurant - again!?"

"You just told me that your family is not at home. So where do you think you would have eaten lunch?"

"And ironically that too is your fault, Aguri-san. My family thought I would have been in school at this time. But we had to bunk it for your idea to meet here in the morning."

"Jeez Amanocchi, you're always blaming everything on me."

"Says the girl who blamed her love-life problems on me."

"We both are having love-life problems at this moment."

"Haha my love-life is already over hahaha..."

"Amanocchi, I can't exactly see whether you're laughing or crying."

"It doesn't matter... hahaha...", Amanocchi continued to making weird sounds while looking down.

Clearly he is having a mental trauma... I have to do something to cheer him up.

"Hey Amanocchi, you didn't order anything yet..."

"The God has ordered lifetime pain for me."

"Oh just stop it... oh yeah... Amanocchi, I'm thinking about paying today's meal."

"One chicken rice bowl for me then."

"That was quick... sigh..."

When the waitress came to take our orders she looked a little troubled seeing us, making a face which says, 'Ah sh*t here we go again'... Things clearly are not good when we are so infamous in public.

Amanocchi was still looking down while eating. I don't know what he is really thinking now. To cheer him up, I said, "Tomorrow we will both bow down to Tendou-san. I'm sure she will understand."

"Aguri-san...", Amanocchi looked at me with moist eyes. And then said, "Aren't we the bad guys here, Aguri-san?"

"Eh? Bad guys? We?", I don't get it.

"You know, we may wash it away by calling misunderstandings but this doesn't change the fact that we keep coming to the restaurant together and spending time alone."

"Ah...", I can't answer... it's really the truth. As a girlfriend of Tasuku, I shouldn't spend time alone with other guys.

But... but aren't Amanocchi different from other guys? He's a special person of course so it's okay I guess... N-No way... This is even WORSE... what the heck I'm even thinking?

"So Aguri-san, I think we should stop coming together from now. I don't want Uehara-kun to break up with you."

"But Amanocchi... We always have fun here, right?... Oh why this is happening? It seems like our peaceful life is gone forever..."

"We can get back our peaceful lifestyle, though."

"Huh? How?"

Amanocchi took a deep breath and then told me, "Tendou-san has broken up with me and Uehara-kun is most probably mad at me. I think I got my peaceful loner life back. That life... come to school... only study... play games at break... and go home... And if I keep my distance from you, you'll get back your peaceful life with Uehara-kun. Isn't it right, Aguri-san?"

"Eh? So Amanocchi, you're going to avoid us now?"

"Yes... and that's good for all of us..."

What is this? Why am I feeling this sharp pain in my chest? I looked at him with moist eyes...

"Amanocchi... you earlier told me I'm your precious friend, and now you're telling me to ignore you. Was that a joke?"

"Eh... No Aguri-san. Your really my precious friend... probably the only one and that's why I want you to have your good old life back."

"No."

"But..."

"No."

"Aguri-san... are you... crying?"

"No."

"Wait a moment. Take this handkerchief."

"I told you I'm not crying. It's just sweat."

"Anyway just wipe whatever it is."

"You two kids... what even is happening, can you tell me?"

""Eh?""

Both me and Amanocchi were surprised to see one of the older waitress, suddenly asking the question.

"Kids, I see you two almost every other day here. You always seem so cheerful. But why are you crying now?"

"Eh.. that was some personal matter.", I don't know what else to say.

"I know I shouldn't interfere here but I can't help but overhear you because you two are so loud. Anyway remember one thing... you all are still kids. Don't take anything too seriously. Specially school life relationships is not that rocket science you're thinking. Just have fun with your friends.

Don't think too much about complex relationships, otherwise it will ruin your school life. Everything is going to change once you go to college anyways. By the way thanks for coming." And after giving the long speech, Waitress-san walked away.

Both of us don't know what to say anymore. We both stayed quiet for 10 minutes. Finally Amanocchi broke the silence.

"Aguri-san, I think as we bunked our school today..."

"Yes?"

"Let's enjoy the whole day then...", Amanocchi gave me a wry smile. But in that wry smile I can feel the relief. I'm smiling too."

"Fufu... then let's have a fiesta at your home."

"Huh? At my home, Aguri-san?"

"Yes... your family is not at home. Let's watch a movie or something at your home and then eat my handmade food."

"Huh? You can cook?"

"Of course I can."

"Then... oh but Uehara-kun?"

"Sigh... I just want to keep that matter for tomorrow. I want to have fun tonight.", I weakly smiled at him.

"Okay... then let's have fun...", Amanocchi also gently smiled. I don't know why but I'm having the urge to hug him. No no no... that's not good. I'm having NTR thoughts.

"But I don't think my fridge has so many ingredients? I have to buy some."

"Let's go buy meat and vegetables together. We're free anyway."

"Aguri-san is paying, right?"

"Yea- wait! No what the heck..."

"Haha."

"I'm going to smack you."

Ah... we are back at it again... but hey... I kinda like this... and i can see the waitress is also smiling to us from distance...

[To be continued]

Chapter End Notes

*Space Ocean:* reference to episode 10 of the anime, where Aguri called Amano because she saw Uehara hanging out with Tendou and Hoshinomori (A misunderstanding)