Chapter 3: Confrontations

Date Started typing this Chapter: April 29, 2004 6:23 PM

Hey minna-san, I changed the summary. Sorry for the delay. Here, this is my third chappie! By the way thanks for your very nice reviews!

It's been three days since Aya talked to his new boyfriend Rei. The last time they talked was only through phone. (You know guys, their last conversation on the previous chapter.) But for now, she was studying in a restaurant and preparing for the upcoming exams in History. Somehow, she was insecure and can't concentrate on her studies. Suddenly, someone patted on her back.

"Oh studying as usual! No wonder you're the brightest woman in our campus!" It was Kazuki Katase, the one who greeted her.

"By the way, thanks for the compliment Katase-kun!" Aya took a sip on her lemonade. "Oh by the way, what brought you here?" Aya asked him and sighed.

"Nothing. I just passed by and saw you, that's all. I didn't know that you love to study in this kind of place. Hey, why with a gloomy face? Let me guess, you were thinking "him" again." Katase answered.

"What do you mean by "him"?" Aya wondered.

"You know, Rei Otohata. Having problems with him again? I told you Aya, I'm always behind you no matter what."

"You're WRONG. For your information, I don't have problems with him. And besides, I'm his girlfriend now!" Aya explained to him.

"Huh!?" Katase was quite confused. After that he just laughed to what Aya had said. "I'm sorry Aya for my behavior. You know that I'm just worried about you."

"Yeah, I understand. Thanks for your concern." Aya smiled. She just continued reading at her lessons.

"Well, if you don't have any problems with Otohata, then… what's your problem today??" Katase asked.

"Can't you see what I'm doing? I'm studying for the upcoming exam next week!" Aya answered.

"I see. So, want to study with me? I'm also preparing for the exams you know." Katase sat beside her. Aya seemed to be enjoying their review in the restaurant. Because of that, that made her mind in ease. (Sorry guys… this isn't an AyaXKatase fic! But who knows… it all depends on your reviews! My mind might change.)

Minutes later, Ran and Miyu arrived.

"Aya-chan! Please help me! I have big trouble… If I don't pass the upcoming exams next week, I'll have to take summer classes again! Or worse… I'll be kicked out of school! I don't want to happen that again! I want to have a wholesome summer!!" Ran pleaded to her best friend. Aya was speechless and didn't know what to do.

"Re-relax Ran-chan! I can help you… but please, let me finish first. You know, I'm also tired. I got to relax a little bit. Ne, Katase-kun!?" She faced to Katase.

"Yeah, if you want you could also join us! The more the merrier!" Katase smiled. Ran agreed to study with them.

"But since we're here in the restaurant, why don't we eat first. Besides I'm hungry!" Ran cheered up and raised her hand to call the waiter. "You know Aya, I'm really grateful to have a friend like you!!" Ran thanked her afterwards. Aya blushed and covered her face.

After they ate lunch, they studied together and had fun. (You know that reminds me of my friends. Having fun during the examination days. Quite silly hehehehe…) But Aya preferred to stay there and studied more.

"Hey Aya are you sure you want to stay here? I mean… I don't want you to stick up with those pesky books." Ran said.

"No… I'm fine being here with Katase. Thanks for the concern." Aya smiled to her best friend.

"Ok then, bye!" Ran and Miyu waved goodbye to her.

Moments later:

Aya and Katase continued studying. While Aya was studying, she looked at the window and saw Rei. Her eyes widened and she hurriedly ran outside.

"Rei!! Wait a minute!" Aya ran to her.

"Oh Aya it's you. What's the problem?" Rei asked her.

"Did something happened? I haven't seen you for days. I was worried." Aya looked down and held his hand.

"Is that all? You know Aya, I'm in a hurry right now. Bye." Rei continued walking.

"Rei-chan wait." Aya pulled his hand. She raised her head and looked directly to him. "I know you're hiding something from me…" Tears were starting to form from her eyes. (Oh no… she's getting emotional again…)

"Oh nothing, you know… I'm a kind of person who's always hiding secrets from others. Now don't worry, everything will be ok. Hey Aya, I almost forgot, I have two concert tickets here. Want to come with me tomorrow night?" Rei held her cheek. That cheered Aya up.

"Uhmm…" Aya nodded. "Oh Rei-chan, don't forget your promise, I'm going to your house next week." Aya cheerfully said.

"I'll never forget that… that's a promise, right?" Rei smiled to him. Aya smiled in return. Inside the restaurant, Katase was watching the two of them.

"Seems like they're already getting along with each other…" he smiled as he watched the two. After that, he just ignored the two of them and started to read his book. But one thing entered his mind. Recently, he observed Rei as it seems he was hiding something. 'I know something's wrong with him… I really can't believe that Aya is too insensitive to notice that…better find that out.' He held his forehead and stroked his hair.

Meanwhile, back to the two…

"Hmm… do you want Ran and company to join us tomorrow?" Rei asked her.

"What!?" Aya was surprised. "No Rei. You know… I… its fun to be with them… but I want to have a date… or something just like that! I want to be alone… with you!" Aya pulled up all of her courage to said that. Rei was surprised.

"Relax, relax… I was just joking. Ok, then it is settled. We'll have a date tomorrow…" Suddenly something entered his head. "But wait, according to Yuuya, you'll have to prepare for your finals." Rei explained.

"Don't be a Kill Joy (Yeah… that's right… KJ!)!" Aya giggled. "The exam is next week. I still have plenty of time to prepare." She added.

"Oh I almost forgot… you're the most intelligent gal at Shibuya." Rei said in a teasing voice. Aya just laughed because she rarely saw him to act like that. Suddenly, Rei paused and looked directly to her eyes. The two were speechless and as red as a tomato.

'Aya, thank you for everything. I will never forget you. My entire life had changed when I met you…' Rei stared to her more deeply.

'W-what am I gonna do? Rei is staring at me like that!' Aya said to herself with confusion.

After they stared at each other, Rei suddenly looked around and saw Katase. That shut him up.

"Oh Aya… would you look at the time, I'm going to be late at my job. Well, see ya then!" Rei waved his hand and smiled to her.

"Rei wait a minute…" Aya chased him and kissed him on the cheek. Aya blushed even harder.

"Hey, what was that for?" Rei asked. Holding his cheek.

"Oh Rei, that's the worst attitude I hate about you. You're so insensitive!"

"Hmmm, I see. So that was a goodbye kiss." Rei replied and she nodded, blushing. Rei walked to her slowly and he also leaned his head to hers and kissed her… on the cheek! (Huh… you thought he kissed her on the lips didn't ya! Well, I'm going to save my moves till the later chapters!) "Well, that's my reply…" Then, he turned around and walked away from her. 'Darn… I knew he was around! Well, I know it would be hard for me to let Aya love him. Well that's a fact. I'm going to die soon and I have to leave her with Katase…I think I'm the most unlucky guy in the world. My head aches and so is my heart…' Rei looked down and closed his eyes. (You know, sort of a Heero Yuy walking stance. Walking with eyes close… cool huh?)

Back to Katase. He was watching the two of all of the time. "Well, at least Aya was telling the truth…" He sighed. Suddenly he heard Aya's voice.

"Hey Katase-kun, what's the matter?" Aya asked him.

"Nothing… Well let's continue studying."

"Y-you're right…" Aya smiled to him. (That's all? All Aya knows was to smile and blush?) Suddenly, she started to ask him. "Hey Katase, is something troubling you?" That made him pause for a moment.

"N-nothing!" He pulled himself up.

"Hmm… that's ok!" Aya giggled. "Hey Katase-kun, I think it's embarrassing…"

"What do you mean by embarrassing? You don't want to be with Rei?" Katase wondered. Somehow that made his feelings light.

"No… I mean what we just showed outside… it's embarrassing to the public…" Aya blushed.

"Oh is that it? Well you see… there were only few people who saw you… and that includes me…"

"Hey… I think you heard our conversation!" Aya grinned.

"N-no! I didn't heard anything! I promise!"

"Promise?" Aya doubtfully asked.

"Yeah I promise…" Aya smiled after hearing those words from Katase.

Later that night: (You know the usual POV style…)

Rei laid to his bed as early as possible. He was already exhausted and pressured. Exhausted, because of some activities at his school and of course pressured because he wanted to keep his disease a secret to others, especially to Aya.

"Thank god… nothing bad happened today. I was expecting to break down and collapse. I'm glad Aya still doesn't know about this… but I know the time will come and she will know it. Am I really doing the right thing? Making other people happy before myself… how pathetic of me…" Rei placed his hand on to his head and sighed.

He was too bored at his room so he reached for the remote control and opened the television near his desk. Because of boredom, he kept on changing channels. "Hmm, no nice shows to watch…" Until he switched the channel to mtv. That reminded him of his promise. Not only promise, but promises he gave to Aya.

"I almost forgot. We'll have a date tomorrow. B-but what if something happens to me?" Rei asked to himself. "By next week she'll come to our home and have a sort of "vacation" here… How the hell can I find peace in myself if I'm not alone? Or worse, she might REALLY find out about my disease… well I don't really want to hurt her feelings…" He sat up and suddenly he felt his head aching in pain. He was sweating a lot and felt his body warm.

"N-no… why…" Rei couldn't stand the pain so he screamed. Unfortunately, he was just home alone and no one was there to help him. (I can't take it anymore!! Why do I have to do this!? I don't want to make my idol suffer… but anyways, it's really included at the story…). Slowly, he tried to reach for the medicine that the doctor prescripted to somehow ease the pain that he was feeling. Seconds later he heard his cellphone ringing. Rei answered and tried his best to be calm and retain his composure.

"H-hello…" Rei answered.

"Hi Rei… I just want talk to you… I can't sleep you know…" Aya said. Who was also lying at her bed.

"Yeah… me too…"

"Hey Rei, is something wrong? Why with a low voice?" Aya asked him.

"Oh n-nothing… you know… my daily night… r-routine…" Rei excused.

"What about your routine?"

"L-like my mouthew-wash… yeah, mouthwash!"

"Are you sure? I thought something bad happened to you… I was worried."

"Not again…" Rei sighed.

"Hmm… you know, koishii…"

"What!? Koishii!? We're not even married!! And please Hoshino-san… don't ever call me koishii…" Rei reacted. 'Hey wait… the pain's gone… was it because of her? When she called me… I immediately forgot the pain…' Rei noticed. Seems like he was better than ever now. (Yeah, isn't it nice when you have are worrying about something, then a friend will come and try his/her best to ease you, ne?)

"Well… but I love to call you THAT!" Aya giggled.

"Whatever…" Rei sighed.

"Oh about tomorrow… I really can't wait! Our first date!"

"Yeah… me too. I was kinda… excited." Rei smiled. He laid down on the bed.

"Rei… I want to tell you something…"

"Then please tell me immediately…" Rei replied.

"I miss you…" Aya blushed. Aya sat up, closed her eyes and looked down.

"You're just lovesick Aya." Rei was right. Actually, Rei was Aya's first true love. So, she was still inexperienced about it. But Rei remembered he just want to make her happy so he changed his mind. "A-aya… I'm sorry for what I had said earlier… there's something I want to confess to you…" Rei finally decided to straight things up.

"Then what is it… please tell me…"

"It's just I… I…"

"I… c'mon Rei… please tell me…" Aya was full of excitement.

"I… I… I… h-have a…" Rei nervously said.

"Have?" Aya excitedly asked.

"I have to go to the bathroom!" Rei exclaimed. Aya chuckled and afterwards, laughed. "But wait Aya, you could meet me tomorrow at the park at eight o'clock… is that ok?"

"That would be fine for me!" Aya replied.

"Ok, bye…" Rei hung the phone.

'Rei, I know you're trying to say something… but it's ok. I know that you finally felt that you love me… and it's quite obvious in your actions. Don't worry I love you too. I hope this would last forever…' (Hmmm… I think something's wrong… I think I made her too ignorant or should I say dense…)

Few hours later…

Aya heard her cellphone rang again. This time Katase called her.

"Aya! It's me!" Katase greeted her cheerfully.

"Look it's already eleven o'clock. I have to go to sleep…" Aya looked at her wall clock.

"Hey wait for a second… you know… It's just like… would you come with me tomorrow?"

"Where?" Aya asked.

"You know… I have two concert tickets here with me…"

"WHAT!!??"

Author's notes: At last!!! I finally finished this chapter. Sorry guys for a long delay. I'm also working on my fic "Sneaky Love" in Gensomaden Saiyuki and "For the Future" in Flamr of Recca. Hehehe… I'm also trying to COMPLETE the game SD Gundam GGeneration SEED… does anyone of you guy know that game? If you know kinda help me… I don't know how to acquire my all time favorite XXG-00W0 (Wing Gundam Zero Custom).

Anyway, back to the fic. I want to thank you guys for the "very nice" reviews. And about the story… Rei and Katase invited Aya to watch the concert of TM Revolution.( You know the band that sung the popular Heart of Sword in Rurouni Kenshin and Invoke in Gundam SEED.)

P.S To Sechskies: hey thanks for appointing us to be the moderator! I promise to do my job well!

Date Ended: May 3 2004 9:01 PM