DISCLAIMER: I do not own Love Hina. This is already the third time I've
said it.
FLASHBACK----------------------
We return to the night of the play. The following events unfold after the dramatic events that took place onstage. The audience already left the scene, happy and contented with the fight scene they just watched. As we go back to the stage, we find Naru, cradling the now unconscious Keitaro on her lap. Seta regains his composure and approaches Naru.
"You got a real fighter there, Naru-san." He commented.
"Seta-sempai, I think you took this one a little too far." She nervously retorted.
"Keitaro-kun needed a little spark to ignite the flame inside him and you needed to realize how much he likes you. He was actually willing to spare his own life for you and I'm glad my assumptions were correct. I like both of you and you two seem to make a perfect couple. You just got to sort out some personal issues and I think I just made the perfect jumpstart for you both." He replied.
"You almost got my niece killed, baka!" Haruka commented, whacking him in the head at the same time. "But I think this is all for the best. It looks like Keitaro is going to be okay. He just needs some time to rest"
"Naru-san, why don't you clean up first while I take Keitaro to the beach house?" suggested Seta.
"O---Okay." Naru answered.
"Don't forget to come back and tend to him, you understand? You are, after all, the reason why he's all wasted like this." Haruka added.
"Y---Yes, Haruka-san!" stammered Naru as she left to get herself cleaned up.
"All right, young man---"Seta spoke as he carried the unconscious Keitaro to the beach house. "You really put up a fight tonight. Never thought you had it in you to challenge me like that! By the way, Haruka, where'd he learn to fight like that?"
Haruka was walking beside him but Seta didn't get any reply.
The skies were clear that night and the water was calm. The breeze was very refreshing, and so, they turned one of the tables into a makeshift bed and placed Keitaro's spent body there.
"Well, I better get going Haruka-san. There's another excavation on the other side of Japan that requires my expertise. I enjoyed tonight." And with that, Seta waved goodbye, driving off in his van with Sara tagging along.
Meanwhile---
"I can't believe I actually told Keitaro how I feel towards him. I don't know how much longer I could've kept it from him but I can't take back what I already said. Not after what he went through for me. I never thought he felt so much for me. All this time, I was just thinking he was a sick pervert who'd try to satisfy his urges as much as he can. Come to think of it, most of his acts of clumsiness were actually accidents. Keitaro's going to have to deal with the situation, now that everything between us in already out in the open. I guess I have to do my share too. He's already proven himself to me and I hope I don't disappoint him. That reminds me, I have to talk to the other girls to and explain everything. I hope I don't disappoint them too." Naru thought.
Naru took a change of clothing and headed out to where Keitaro was resting. He was lying on a futon spread over one of the beach house's big, rectangular tables. Keitaro was lying on his side, curled up like a ball under the sheets and sleeping like a log. Naru approached him and pulled a seat where she positioned herself, just watching the exhausted young man sleep.
In the shadows of the house, we find four heads observing this sight.
"What is Naru-sempai doing?" asked Shinobu.
"She's probably trying to catch an opportunity for some midnight-delight." Kitsune suggested. "That was romantic, what Keitaro did earlier, ne?"
"Midnight-delight---?" Shinobu was close to tears.
"Put a lid on it, Kitsune-san!" retorted Motoko. "That Urashima--- he has cast some evil spell on Narui-sempai and that's why she's acting like this! I will punish him when he wakes up!"
"Midnight-delight? That sounds yummy!" Kaolla squealed.
"Ah, just who I've been waiting for." Spoke Naru. "Why don't you guys come over here so we can all talk? There are some issues that I would like to discuss with you."
Sweatdrops form on all four heads.
"I told you not so loud." Motoko expressed to Kaolla, as the other four girls emerged from the shadows.
"What are the four of you still doing up?" asked Naru.
"The question is, what are you doing up? And you're seated beside Keitaro, at that." Kitsune answered back.
"Well I've been thinking about something the whole night. I have personal issues that I've come to terms with and I hope you guys can listen to what I have to say." Naru said.
"Okay, we're all ears."
"Well, let me start by saying that you guys are my closest friends. We were already like this even before Keitaro stepped into our world. Keitaro has earned his respective place in each of your hearts and he has earned his place in mine. Each of us has grown to like him in one way or another and because of the events that happened early tonight, I found strength to confront what I had been keeping inside. I'm not going to deny it anymore in front of you, I like him---"
"Hey, I like him too!" yelled Su.
"Me too---" Shinobu whispered.
Kitsune projected a smile that you couldn't read through while Motoko just grunted.
"All I'm saying is that things might change between me and Keitaro from now on. I hope you guys can deal with that and I hope things don't change between us, girls. Oh, I won't keep him from you guys, if you're worried about that."
"I still will not tolerate his acts of perversion." Motoko sternly replied. "Does that mean you're not going to punch him anymore?"
"Not if I can help it---" Naru answered.
"Hey, Naru-sempai, maybe I should confess to Sempai too---" Shinobu interjected.
"Me too!" exclaimed Kaolla
"What?!" cried Naru in surprise.
"This seems like a good start."
"Haruka-san!!!" all the girls exclaimed.
"Don't talk so loud or you'll wake Keitaro." She replied. "What's all the commotion about?"
"Well, Naru was just telling us how she might change the way she treats Keitaro starting tonight" blurted Shinobu.
Naru's face started to turn red.
"And that she likes him too!!!" Kaolla added.
Naru's face was redder than a beet now.
"Keitaro loves all of you and he would do anything to keep you from harm. It's unfortunate that my niece is a little bit more clumsy than usual which, more often than not, gives way to him getting beaten by you guys. Deep inside, Keitaro is a very sensitive and responsible person. If you stop beating the crap out of him, maybe you can uncover that side of him. We'll it's getting kinda late. I'm heading off to bed. You guys better get some rest too, we've all had a long day. Keitaro will probably be out the whole night but somebody has to stay with him here." Haruka said. She then turned back and headed for her room.
"Can I stay with Sempai?" asked Shinobu.
"I wanna stay with Keitaro too!!!" yelled Kaolla
"I believe it is proper for me to stay and watch over Urashima. I'll protect him tonight so that we can practice tomorrow." Motoko added.
"Uhm--- I don't think that's necessary Motoko-chan. Besides, I'm sure Keitaro won't be able to practice right away tomorrow due to his bruises. He's an unworthy opponent as of now so if you guys don't mind, I'll be the one to stay out here with him." Naru responded.
"You guys do whatever you want. I still have a bottle of sake to finish." Kitsune told them. "Maybe I'll deal with you when you're up and able, Keitaro." She thought, smiling to herself.
The rest of the girls, dragged themselves to their respective sleeping quarters, leaving Naru to watch over Keitaro.
"Sempai--- " sighed Shinobu as she drifted off to sleep.
Kaolla fell asleep beside Motoko as soon as she hit the mat, dreaming of bananas. Motoko, in the mean time, was playing with thoughts in her head. "Urashima has skills that I never knew existed. His skill could perfectly compliment mine, we could fall in love and he would kiss me and then we can get married and combine our schools of martial arts and then we would have kids and we'll train them and---- WHAT AM I THINKING!"
Naru remained seated as she laid her head on the empty space beside the sleeping Keitaro. She reached for Keitaro's right hand and held it to her face. She never felt so comfortable beside him and she immediately fell asleep.
END OF FLASHBACK-----------
FLASHBACK----------------------
We return to the night of the play. The following events unfold after the dramatic events that took place onstage. The audience already left the scene, happy and contented with the fight scene they just watched. As we go back to the stage, we find Naru, cradling the now unconscious Keitaro on her lap. Seta regains his composure and approaches Naru.
"You got a real fighter there, Naru-san." He commented.
"Seta-sempai, I think you took this one a little too far." She nervously retorted.
"Keitaro-kun needed a little spark to ignite the flame inside him and you needed to realize how much he likes you. He was actually willing to spare his own life for you and I'm glad my assumptions were correct. I like both of you and you two seem to make a perfect couple. You just got to sort out some personal issues and I think I just made the perfect jumpstart for you both." He replied.
"You almost got my niece killed, baka!" Haruka commented, whacking him in the head at the same time. "But I think this is all for the best. It looks like Keitaro is going to be okay. He just needs some time to rest"
"Naru-san, why don't you clean up first while I take Keitaro to the beach house?" suggested Seta.
"O---Okay." Naru answered.
"Don't forget to come back and tend to him, you understand? You are, after all, the reason why he's all wasted like this." Haruka added.
"Y---Yes, Haruka-san!" stammered Naru as she left to get herself cleaned up.
"All right, young man---"Seta spoke as he carried the unconscious Keitaro to the beach house. "You really put up a fight tonight. Never thought you had it in you to challenge me like that! By the way, Haruka, where'd he learn to fight like that?"
Haruka was walking beside him but Seta didn't get any reply.
The skies were clear that night and the water was calm. The breeze was very refreshing, and so, they turned one of the tables into a makeshift bed and placed Keitaro's spent body there.
"Well, I better get going Haruka-san. There's another excavation on the other side of Japan that requires my expertise. I enjoyed tonight." And with that, Seta waved goodbye, driving off in his van with Sara tagging along.
Meanwhile---
"I can't believe I actually told Keitaro how I feel towards him. I don't know how much longer I could've kept it from him but I can't take back what I already said. Not after what he went through for me. I never thought he felt so much for me. All this time, I was just thinking he was a sick pervert who'd try to satisfy his urges as much as he can. Come to think of it, most of his acts of clumsiness were actually accidents. Keitaro's going to have to deal with the situation, now that everything between us in already out in the open. I guess I have to do my share too. He's already proven himself to me and I hope I don't disappoint him. That reminds me, I have to talk to the other girls to and explain everything. I hope I don't disappoint them too." Naru thought.
Naru took a change of clothing and headed out to where Keitaro was resting. He was lying on a futon spread over one of the beach house's big, rectangular tables. Keitaro was lying on his side, curled up like a ball under the sheets and sleeping like a log. Naru approached him and pulled a seat where she positioned herself, just watching the exhausted young man sleep.
In the shadows of the house, we find four heads observing this sight.
"What is Naru-sempai doing?" asked Shinobu.
"She's probably trying to catch an opportunity for some midnight-delight." Kitsune suggested. "That was romantic, what Keitaro did earlier, ne?"
"Midnight-delight---?" Shinobu was close to tears.
"Put a lid on it, Kitsune-san!" retorted Motoko. "That Urashima--- he has cast some evil spell on Narui-sempai and that's why she's acting like this! I will punish him when he wakes up!"
"Midnight-delight? That sounds yummy!" Kaolla squealed.
"Ah, just who I've been waiting for." Spoke Naru. "Why don't you guys come over here so we can all talk? There are some issues that I would like to discuss with you."
Sweatdrops form on all four heads.
"I told you not so loud." Motoko expressed to Kaolla, as the other four girls emerged from the shadows.
"What are the four of you still doing up?" asked Naru.
"The question is, what are you doing up? And you're seated beside Keitaro, at that." Kitsune answered back.
"Well I've been thinking about something the whole night. I have personal issues that I've come to terms with and I hope you guys can listen to what I have to say." Naru said.
"Okay, we're all ears."
"Well, let me start by saying that you guys are my closest friends. We were already like this even before Keitaro stepped into our world. Keitaro has earned his respective place in each of your hearts and he has earned his place in mine. Each of us has grown to like him in one way or another and because of the events that happened early tonight, I found strength to confront what I had been keeping inside. I'm not going to deny it anymore in front of you, I like him---"
"Hey, I like him too!" yelled Su.
"Me too---" Shinobu whispered.
Kitsune projected a smile that you couldn't read through while Motoko just grunted.
"All I'm saying is that things might change between me and Keitaro from now on. I hope you guys can deal with that and I hope things don't change between us, girls. Oh, I won't keep him from you guys, if you're worried about that."
"I still will not tolerate his acts of perversion." Motoko sternly replied. "Does that mean you're not going to punch him anymore?"
"Not if I can help it---" Naru answered.
"Hey, Naru-sempai, maybe I should confess to Sempai too---" Shinobu interjected.
"Me too!" exclaimed Kaolla
"What?!" cried Naru in surprise.
"This seems like a good start."
"Haruka-san!!!" all the girls exclaimed.
"Don't talk so loud or you'll wake Keitaro." She replied. "What's all the commotion about?"
"Well, Naru was just telling us how she might change the way she treats Keitaro starting tonight" blurted Shinobu.
Naru's face started to turn red.
"And that she likes him too!!!" Kaolla added.
Naru's face was redder than a beet now.
"Keitaro loves all of you and he would do anything to keep you from harm. It's unfortunate that my niece is a little bit more clumsy than usual which, more often than not, gives way to him getting beaten by you guys. Deep inside, Keitaro is a very sensitive and responsible person. If you stop beating the crap out of him, maybe you can uncover that side of him. We'll it's getting kinda late. I'm heading off to bed. You guys better get some rest too, we've all had a long day. Keitaro will probably be out the whole night but somebody has to stay with him here." Haruka said. She then turned back and headed for her room.
"Can I stay with Sempai?" asked Shinobu.
"I wanna stay with Keitaro too!!!" yelled Kaolla
"I believe it is proper for me to stay and watch over Urashima. I'll protect him tonight so that we can practice tomorrow." Motoko added.
"Uhm--- I don't think that's necessary Motoko-chan. Besides, I'm sure Keitaro won't be able to practice right away tomorrow due to his bruises. He's an unworthy opponent as of now so if you guys don't mind, I'll be the one to stay out here with him." Naru responded.
"You guys do whatever you want. I still have a bottle of sake to finish." Kitsune told them. "Maybe I'll deal with you when you're up and able, Keitaro." She thought, smiling to herself.
The rest of the girls, dragged themselves to their respective sleeping quarters, leaving Naru to watch over Keitaro.
"Sempai--- " sighed Shinobu as she drifted off to sleep.
Kaolla fell asleep beside Motoko as soon as she hit the mat, dreaming of bananas. Motoko, in the mean time, was playing with thoughts in her head. "Urashima has skills that I never knew existed. His skill could perfectly compliment mine, we could fall in love and he would kiss me and then we can get married and combine our schools of martial arts and then we would have kids and we'll train them and---- WHAT AM I THINKING!"
Naru remained seated as she laid her head on the empty space beside the sleeping Keitaro. She reached for Keitaro's right hand and held it to her face. She never felt so comfortable beside him and she immediately fell asleep.
END OF FLASHBACK-----------