Chapter 2-The One I Love

"Because you know how to give love, Chika!"

He was saved by those words. And his lips curled into a smile, a sad and lonely smile but a fond smile, Satowa was glad that he smiled. That was enough for her as for now. Slowly, he leaned towards Satowa and rested his head on her shoulders. His fingertips searched for hers and when he touched her hand, he entwined his fingers with hers.

He closed his eyes, "I'm grateful that you're here with me, Satowa!"

His sudden touch did make her surprise. But seeing him calm down, she smiled. She wants to be there for him and she is now. All she cares about now is Chika and of course the club. She rested her head on his and made her grip on his hand a little bit tighter.

All he ever wanted was someone to be there with him. Tetsuki was there, always! But he never imagined the girl he used to fight a lot with will be another person who would stay by his side. He was worried though, what if she leaves him too, like his mother, father, or what if someone takes her away from him. But he shook away those thoughts. He believed she will never leave him. And he promised himself that he will protect her so that no one takes her away from him.

But why, why he wants her to be with him? The question crossed his mind. Why was she such an important presence to him? What is she for him? He asked those questions to himself. Why was he so desperate to make her stay in his life? Why? She is someone he admires. She is the one he wants to catch up with. She is someone from his precious Koto club. One of his important friends. But really is she someone?

'She is someone you fell in love with,' his heart replied. Chika felt his heart racing.

Someone he loves?

No, it can't be. He can't fall in love, not with her.

'But you did. You want to protect her, you want her to stay by your side, you want to hold her close to you, you don't want anyone to hurt her or take her away from you, don't you? Still, you say you don't love her.'

He got the answer. He does feel all of those things about her.

He indeed is in love with Satowa.

Chika and Satowa both went to school the next day. The club was gathered and Tetsuki was there too. Satowa told everything that happened last day. She also showed the recording she took.

"This is great evidence against Uzuki!" Takezou senpai said.

Everyone did agree to that. Satowa sent the video to everyone else and also to Takinami sensei.

"While going home, don't let the girls go alone. You stay for practice for a long time. So, make sure that Houzuki-san and Kurusu-san reach home safely. We don't know what that guy can do." Takinami sensei suggested.

"Okay, sensei!" Takezou senpai replied.

After the practice was over, everyone packed their respective koto.

"I will go with Kurusu-san to drop her home," Takezou informed.

"Eh? Okay!" Hiro just shyly agreed.

"Then I will go with Sa-Houzuki!" Chika hesitated when he almost called her by her first name but then changed back to Houzuki.

But Hiro's sharp ears already caught that. Even Satowa was taken aback. He was trying to call her by her first name in front of others.

They bid goodbye to the others and left the school. It was almost 6 pm in the evening. The sun was about to set. Chika and Satowa were walking towards her house. Both of them were quiet. They soon reached her house.

"See you tomorrow at school then," Chika said and turned to leave.

"Ja ne (Bye), Chi-Chika!" Satowa used his first name.

Chika felt glad that his back was facing Satowa. His face was totally red. He just shyly waved his hand without even turning back and left. Satowa smiled as she understood that he was just embarrassed.

"What a romantic scene!" a person came out of hiding.

Satowa recognized the voice. As her back was facing the person, she dialed the emergency contact where she had added Takinami sensei, Chika, Tetsuki, boys from the Koto club. Because her mother was out of the city. She knew that Uzuki will make some move. So, she had added the contacts in that way. And there he came.

She kept the call recording on so that what he will say will be recorded and others can hear him. She kept the phone inside her bag and turned towards Uzuki. He slowly moved closer to her.

"What do you want now?" she asked him.

"I just want Chika to be back where he belongs," Uzuki stated.

"In your dreams!" she mocked.

"Why are you so desperate for Chika?" he asked her moving closer to her than before. Satowa stepped backward.

"It's none of your business!" she replied.

Uzuki was now annoyed. She clearly saw his annoying expressions though he tried to maintain his calm posture. He stepped forward and Satowa moved backward but she bumped into someone who was behind her.

She turned to look and saw a disgusting pair of eyes looking at her with a smirk on his lips.

"Yo, Ojou-san (Young Lady)!" the person was none other than Abiko.

And when Satowa moved back trying to go away from him she bumped into Uzuki who was standing very close to her. she understood that both of them have surrounded her.

"I see!" she calmed herself down. "Now, you are trying to take up on one girl while you are two! How fair!" Satowa felt outraged.

"Everything is fair, in war, I mean fights and love Ojou-san!" Abiko teased her while he grasped her hand.

She tried to jerk his hand away but he made his grip on her hand stronger.

"If you have that much courage, leave my hand, you coward!" she shouted.

"What should we do, Uzuki?" Abiko ignored what Satowa said.

Uzuki smiled smugly, "Whatever that should be done with a girl!"

Satowa struggled. Uzuki grasped her bag and threw it on the road.

"I have told you before, this isn't anything you should poke your nose into. This is between me and Chika. So, I have to do something to get rid of you." Uzuki said.

"And do you think that it will make me afraid of you?" Satowa smirked not losing even a bit of confidence. "I know how awful you can be Uzuki!"

Uzuki ignored her comment as he tried to touch Satowa. She struggled in Abiko's grasp trying to free herself.

"Help!" she yelled.

But Abiko covered her mouth. Uzuki touched her cheeks teasing her skin with his fingers. And Satowa just closed her eyes. She felt disgusting. She could feel his fingers moving down to the uniform. But then she heard the sound of someone falling down along with a painful yell.

When she opened her eyes, Uzuki was fallen to the ground and Chika stood in front of her protecting her. He looked at Abiko with an angry look and Abiko let go of Satowa.

"How dare you to touch Satowa with those dirty hands of yours!" Chika yelled. "Don't you ever try to come close to her and hurt her! I can't guarantee what can I do to you!" he added further.

"Enough now isn't it!" Takinami sensei stated as he put his hands on Uzuki's shoulder who had just stood up. "The police are waiting!"

Two policemen came and held Uzuki. Abiko had run away before Takinami sensei came. The other club members also reached.

Uzuki turned towards Satowa and Chika before going ahead with the police.

"Why this girl Chika? Why do you care so much about her? Tell me!" he asked.

Satowa, surprised by Uzuki's question, looked at Chika getting curious to know what Chika feels about her.

"She is someone I respect!" Chika told him.

Satowa felt happy but disappointed at the same time. She knew that Chika don't have the feelings she has for him. And now it was confirmed. She looked down sadly.

"But, more than that, she is someone I don't want to lose, someone I want to protect even if I have to put my life at risk. Because she is someone I fell in love with!" in front of all the members, police, and sensei, Chika confessed his love for Satowa.

And listening that everyone was taken aback but then smiled, except for Chika and Satowa. Chika was totally embarrassed and Satowa had tears in her eyes. Her gaze was still on the ground. She was feeling happy, embarrassed, astonished all at the same time. She wanted to hug Chika right away but stopped herself as everyone was there.

Uzuki, on the other hand, showed no expressions. He silently turned and left with the police. Satowa and Chika were taken to the police station for getting their statements as well. Takinami sensei went with them. Both of their as well as Uzuki's family was contacted.

After all the official work in the police station was done, they let Chika and Satowa go home. Takinami sensei asked them to drop them at their respective homes but Chika said that he will drop her at her home properly and then go home. On have seen Chika confessing, Takinami sensei didn't insist further.

The sun was about to set. The sky was colored in shades of orange and blue. Both of them were silently walking towards Satowa's house. Chika wasn't sure what to talk about. Satowa couldn't find the right words to talk to him. Both were so much flustered at the moment. Soon they reached her house. They both stood in front of each other but not looking at each other.

"Thank you for dropping me till my home." She shyly thanked him.

"It's nothing!" again there was a silence.

Satowa could have gone inside the house but she wanted to talk to him. But she was not able to find what words to use. Chika wanted to talk too and he knew she was struggling about talking to him.

"I'm sorry, Satowa." He bowed and apologized.

She looked at him, surprised. "Why?" she asked.

"Because of me, you had to go through all of this. Uzuki targeted you, he tried to hurt you. It was my fault. I'm sorry!"

She hated it when he apologizes for something that is not even his fault.

"You're targeted Kudo, and the club too! I just couldn't stand still seeing him hurting the people close to me." She moved a bit closer to him and slowly held one of his hands, "It wasn't your fault. And Uzuki didn't hurt me. You saved me. So, I don't see anything that you should apologize for."

"But he tried to do some worse things to you. Because of me, you have to go through such a disgusting experience."

"No! I'm stronger than you think I am Chika! Thanks to you he was not able to do any worst things to me so don't think it was your fault, ever again. We were together in this." She said a little bit of tint of anger in her voice.

He looked at her. He could see concern as well as anger in her eyes. He chose not to say anything over it.

"You need to go home and rest properly, Kudo! Your back still hurts." He loves how she changes the way she calls his name. And because of that, he cannot control the urges of hugging her. He wants to know her feelings but he doesn't want to rush things for her.

He nodded and turned to leave.

"Take care, Chika!" she said and ran into her house.

'Damn I love her!' he shouted in his mind.

"You too!" he replied and left.