It was a beautiful afternoon. The sun was shining brightly, bathing everything in a warm glow. The wind blew softly through the verdant scenery. Fingers of air brushed past the trees, and a faint rustling could be heard.
Hundreds of leaves flew by, carried off by the breeze which blew towards Hinata Sou. The wandering eye drifts idly, until it sees one leaf in particular, pinwheeling through space, tumbling uncontrollably yet gracefully.
The leaf is unremarkable in itself; in every respect, it is like any other. Nevertheless, the eye follows it, tracing every twist and turn in its trajectory. Sudden changes in the air sweep it helplessly, until it finally reaches its ultimate destination...
...a room.
Inside, the eye sees Konno Mitsune and Narusegawa Naru.
********************************************************************************************
"Naru, this thing between you and Keitaro is getting out of hand. You guys don't talk anymore, and you're both avoiding each other..."
Kitsune was sitting across the kotatsu from me. She had invited herself into my room, and she also brought in some oolong tea.
She knows I always need oolong tea when I've got a problem.
Good old Kitsune. Even though she could be kind of annoying sometimes, she's always been a friend in need. She's a good listener, and she really pays attention whenever I'm mad about something, and I just need to let it all out. And when I don't feel like talking about it, she always gets me to talk about it anyway.
She's just that kind of friend.
It's times like this that I really appreciate her company.
I took a big gulp of tea, and replied simply. "Oh, I'm not avoiding him. He's avoiding me. I'm ready to sort things out right now. But if he's not willing to talk yet, then it's not my problem."
Yeah. It's not my problem. If he doesn't want to apologize, it's fine by me. It's a free country. He can do whatever he wants. Even if he wants to jump off a bridge, or swim out into the ocean, or get lost in the jungle in the dead of night, I won't interfere. It's his life, and it's none of my business.
Besides, even if anyone tried to help, he won't listen.
At least, not to me.
He wants to do something stupid, it's okay. I won't be there anymore to correct his mistakes. I'm not going to meddle in his affairs. If he can't appreciate what I'm doing, then he'll just have to get into Tokyo U on his own.
"Besides," I continued, "I've already told you what happened, Kitsune. It's clearly his fault, so I don't see why I should..."
"But this is not just about you," she interrupted. "Naru, you're part of our family. And like it or not, Keitaro had become part of the family, too. Everyone is worried, and nobody wants to take sides because they don't want to hurt either of you. Seeing the two of you fight like this is very hard for us.
"Motoko's trying to hide her concern, but I can tell that she's worried; she's been doing her exercises halfheartedly and without passion, as if something was weighing heavily on her mind. Although she won't admit it, she's affected by all this.
"Shinobu has become more and more distracted lately, and she doesn't seem to enjoy cooking for an unhappy table. Haven't you noticed that? Surely you remember how sad she was when she first came here. Her parents were always fighting, always shouting at each other, and she loved both of them so much. She once told me that the worst part is the cold silences in between the fights, when they don't talk to each other, and they just let their anger build up inside. Do you want her to go through that all over again?
"And Su's not happy anymore! She may seem happy on the outside; she still chases Tama-chan around the house, yells loudly and laughs often, but you can tell that she's just putting on a brave face. Even though she's as pesky and disgustingly cheerful as ever... it's because she wants everybody to cheer up. But everyone's too troubled to play with her, and I think she's starting to feel neglected.
"Something has to be done," Kitsune said, carefully articulating every word. "If this keeps up, things will never be the same around here."
She was right. I've been selfish. All this time, I've been feeling sorry for myself. I didn't realize how hard it is for my friends to see the two of us like this. Ignoring each other, avoiding each other--if this doesn't end soon...
But I still have my pride. I didn't do anything wrong. This is all on Keitaro's hands.
"If you want this thing to be over with, then talk to Keitaro," I said, sipping the last of my tea. "Tell him to apologize to me, instead of trying to convince me to apologize to him."
"I'm not saying you should apologize," Kitsune said emphatically. She motioned for me to give her my empty cup, and reached across the kotatsu. "I'm just saying that you should speak with him. For God's sake, Naru, you're mad at the guy, but you're not even acknowledgeing his existence!"
"Are you saying I'm wrong?" I asked, handing it over.
She took the cup from my hand. "You're shutting him out of your life," she said plainly. "Is that really the right thing to do?"
I can't believe she, of all people, would say that.
She offered me another cup of tea, but I wasn't going to accept it. It was all too clear. Her sympathies didn't lie with me. She wasn't on my side, she was on Keitaro's. She was just being nice to get on my good side, and now she's trying to manipulate me, to trick me.
Well, it won't work.
"I don't believe this!" I snapped. "Now my best friend thinks I'm the bad guy? After I carefully explained the situation to you, you still have the nerve to say that to me?"
She was stunned by my reaction, and it took a second or two before she could respond. "You're not the bad guy, Naru," she said calmly, setting the cup down. "No one's the bad guy. Like I said, we don't want to take sides. I just think you're taking this a little too seriously. Shutting him out, just like that... it seems a little extreme."
"Well, excuse me, but HE shut ME out first!" I fumed. "Don't you get it? He doesn't want me in his life! He thinks I'm just a backseat driver, a nagger, a know-it-all, when I'm just trying to help him out! Why can't you understand that!?"
"Naru..."
"I thought you were my friend!"
Kitsune was visibly shocked.
"But I am your friend, Naru."
To tell the truth, I was shocked too. I had just yelled at Kiitsune, who had done nothing wrong. She was just trying to help me out, and I just...
I felt terrible.
I felt this horrible ache inside me. My stomach felt empty, but I felt like I was about to hurl. My heart was beating wildly, and my chest felt heavy. My back was tensed. All the muscles in my body were in knots.
It was guilt.
And I realized... this must be how Keitaro felt.
After he yelled at me, he said 'Gomen, Narusegawa'... and he ran out of the room.
He hasn't looked me in the eye ever since...
How could I be so mean?
"I'm sorry," I said. I felt the tears welling up. "I'm not mad at you. I just..."
She got up, and went over to my side of the kotatsu.
"It's okay, Naru," she said. "I understand."
I smiled weakly. "Arigato, Kitsune..."
At that point, I burst into tears. She took me in her arms, and squeezed tightly.
********************************************************************************************
"The tea's gotten cold," Kitsune said. "If you want, I could go down and reheat it."
"No thanks," I said, smiling gratefully. "I don't need to drink tea anymore."
"That's good. I'm glad you're feeling better."
"It's all thanks to you, Kitsune. If you hadn't come in here and insisted on talking about it, I would never have been able to vent all my emotions. I haven't been able to think straight lately but thanks to your counselling, I don't feel so bad now."
"Think nothing of it," Kitsune said, waving her hand dismissively. She handed me another box of kleenexes. "Here, use this."
"Thank you," I said, taking them. "I must look awful."
"You've looked uglier," she remarked playfully.
"I take it back," I said, giving her a look. "You're a horrible friend."
"Well, at least I don't look like I was assaulted by a blind band of babboons," she shot back.
I dabbed a kleenex on my face, crumpled it up, and set it down on the floor, next to the other twenty napkins I had used earlier. "You're not helping, Kitsune," I said, putting down the box.
"Hey, I'm just saying. Besides, haven't I helped enough?"
"Yeah, I suppose you have."
"Do you know why he yelled at you?" Kitsune asked suddenly.
I hesitated. "No," I said, after a moment's consideration. "He just yelled at me and left. He didn't even tell me why."
"Maybe you could ask," she suggested. "Naru, Keitaro has never yelled at you before. He wouldn't hurt you on purpose. Whatever reason he had for exploding at you, it must have been very important to him, and I'm betting he's feeling really guilty right now."
"Yeah, you're right," I said. "I think he is feeling pretty crappy. He's been looking really down lately, and I've been giving him the evil eye all week."
"Yeah, you sure have," Kitsune noted. "Haruka-san thinks he's got a problem with his self-esteem or something, and that he's getting really worked up over the coming mock exam. She thinks that he just felt attacked when you were pointing out what he did wrong, and he just snapped. It's possible that's what happened, but personally, I think it's more than that."
I thought about it.
Keitaro has been overly sensitive lately, but I've never bothered asking why. I guess I didn't think he had any problems. Sure, he has that thing with the girl of his promises, and how he really wants to get into Toudai. But those are just things he whines about.
He's a really fun guy... bit dorky sometimes, but he's always nice. He always has a smile ready for anyone he meets, no matter what the weather. He's always willing to help out with any problems, and he always gives good advice. He takes a personal interest in the affairs of his tenants, and has a contagiously otimistic and simple outlook on life.
I guess I just ruled out the idea of him having a real problem... something for him to be bitter about. He just doesn't seem to be that kind of person.
"But it's not important what his problem is," Kitsune continued. "The point is that you'll have to patch things up with him sooner or later. It's obvious that he needs to vent, and we can't be there for him unless things go back to the way they were. How many times has he apologized to you? How many times has he swallowed his pride, just for the sake of keeping the two of you together? Are you saying that all you've been through together was meaningless, that all your feelings were fake?"
Kitsune walked up to me, and put her hands on my shoulders. She looked deep into my eyes, and I saw her wearing an expression I'd never seen before. "It has to end, Naru. And it's not just because we'll miss him, and things won't be the same without him. Things are bad for all of us right now, but I realize that it's even worse for you."
"Kitsune..."
"Listen to me, Naru," she went on. "We've been best friends forever. And as your friend, you know that I only have the best intentions for you. You know I wouldn't suggest anything if it wasn't for your own good."
She gave a weird smile, and continued. "And right now, I think it would be best if you made up with Keitaro, the guy you love..."
WHAT!?
"I don't love him!" I exclaimed with embarrassment.
"Oh come on! You don't have to lie to me, Naru!" she said, sitting down next to me.
"I'm not lying!" I protested.
"I'm your best friend, you can tell me anything!" She nudged my shoulder, and winked conspiratorially. "Do you dream about him? Do you hug Liddo-kun every night, hoping that soon you will be locked in his soft embrace? Come on, you can tell me anything!"
"I have nothing to say! You've got it all wrong! I don't feel that way about him!"
She flashed that weird smile at me again. "Why'd you kiss him, then?"
"Well... because..."
Why's she doing this to me?
She had me, and I knew it.
Still, I didn't want to say it. "I was being stupid." I said, sheepishly.
She burst out laughing. "Yeah right!"
Then she stopped, looked at me, and gave me a hideous grin. "Oh, look... you're BLUSHING!" She started dancing around the room, all the while chanting out "Naru and Keitaro, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G! First comes LOVE! Then comes..."
She's really enjoying this, isn't she?
"Stop that, Kitsune! It's not what you think! I'm just disgusted by the thought of..."
She then stopped, turned around, and gave a self-satisfied grin, apparently to say she's had enough fun for the day. "All right, all right. Geez, I was just teasing you, Naru. You should've seen your face! I should've brought my camera!"
I wasn't the least bit amused. "Well, you shouldn't joke about that!" I said.
"I'll stop joking when you two make up," she sang.
"That's not fair!" I moaned.
"Who said anything about fair?" she replied, with that trademark mischievous glint flashing in her eyes. "Now, are you going to make up with him?"
I give up. She really wanted us to make up. If I don't do something soon, she's gonna pester me for the rest of my life. There are a few things I need to ask him, anyway.
"All right. I'll make up with him tomorrow."
She looked blankly at me. "Tomorrow? Why not today?"
"I saw him go out of the house with Mutsumi-san earlier. He hasn't come back yet."
"Oh," she said, nodding.
We sat in silence. The afternoon sun was already setting, and Keitaro hadn't returned yet.
Come to think of it, why did he leave the house in the first place?
Why was Mutsumi with him?
"Well," Kitsune said, after a while, "I'm sure nothing's happened..."
"Yeah," I agreed, after a moment's reflection. "I mean, Keitaro's not that kind of guy... and Mutsumi's not that kind of girl..."
But deep inside, I wasn't sure.
Why would Mutsumi and Keitaro go out together?
I know she likes Keitaro. And I know that he likes her, too. They get along very well whenever they're together. They're always thinking the same things, always laughing at the same jokes... they enjoy each other's company so much. I guess I shouldn't be surprised if they actually were on a date.
But Keitaro had already turned her down before. When he thought she was the girl of his promises, they were together for a while...
But he gave up on her, didn't he? He really wanted to be with me, and he was afraid that he was taking the easy way out, deciding to be with a girl who liked him already.
He didn't want to lead her on back then. Why would he lead her on now?
Unless...
...maybe he really isn't leading her on.
Maybe he has given up on me, and he's decided to go for her instead. Maybe that's why he's been avoiding me lately. Maybe that's why he doesn't want to look at me, or talk to me.
"Don't worry about it, Naru," Kitsune said, patting my shoulder.
"I'm not worried," I said, trying to mask my uncertainty.
"I can read you like a book, Naru," she stated matter-of-factly. "I've been hanging around you for years, and I think I know you well enough to be able to tell whether you're lying or not. And believe me, you're a really bad liar."
"But, Kitsune, I'm really not worried..." I insisted.
"Naru..." she said, wearing that half-smile that says "you know it, and I know it, so what's the point of trying to hide it?"
"All right," I said, letting out a sigh of resignation. "Maybe I am a little worried..."
"And you don't have to worry, Naru. Keitaro won't do anything to betray your trust. He's not the kind of guy who would do that sort of thing. I mean, he may be stupid, but if he has a problem with your relationship, he knows well enough to discuss things with you before doing..."
"I know, I know," I interjected. "But he was pretty hurt when we last spoke. We both were. Frankly, I wouldn't blame him if..."
"Don't talk like that," she said gently. "Don't think about things like that. All that matters is that you have to talk with him tomorrow. Tell him how you feel, say everything that needs to be said,and I'm sure everything will work out great."
"You think so?"
"Trust me, Naru. You're a very beautiful, attractive girl, and if he does anything that could screw up your relationship, then he's an even bigger idiot than we've given him credit for."
"Yeah... I guess you're right..."
"Of course I'm right," she replied, with the air of confidence exuded by those who can't imagine being wrong. She then walked over to the kotatsu and gathered up the cups and pots onto a wooden tray. "Well, I've done my good deed for the day. Guess I'll just be taking these out, then."
"Thanks again," I called out after her.
"No problem," she yelled back. "I'll collect the money for my services in a couple of weeks!"
"What!?" I exclaimed, running out after her. "Hey, you didn't say anything about payment!"
"You didn't ask! Just be sure to have ten thousand yen by the end of the month!" She was an awfully quick runner for someone who was carrying a tea set on a bulky tray.
"That's not fair!" I moaned.
"Who said anything about fair?" she asked, disappearing down the stairs.
"Kitsuneeee!!! You're mean!!!"
Hundreds of leaves flew by, carried off by the breeze which blew towards Hinata Sou. The wandering eye drifts idly, until it sees one leaf in particular, pinwheeling through space, tumbling uncontrollably yet gracefully.
The leaf is unremarkable in itself; in every respect, it is like any other. Nevertheless, the eye follows it, tracing every twist and turn in its trajectory. Sudden changes in the air sweep it helplessly, until it finally reaches its ultimate destination...
...a room.
Inside, the eye sees Konno Mitsune and Narusegawa Naru.
********************************************************************************************
"Naru, this thing between you and Keitaro is getting out of hand. You guys don't talk anymore, and you're both avoiding each other..."
Kitsune was sitting across the kotatsu from me. She had invited herself into my room, and she also brought in some oolong tea.
She knows I always need oolong tea when I've got a problem.
Good old Kitsune. Even though she could be kind of annoying sometimes, she's always been a friend in need. She's a good listener, and she really pays attention whenever I'm mad about something, and I just need to let it all out. And when I don't feel like talking about it, she always gets me to talk about it anyway.
She's just that kind of friend.
It's times like this that I really appreciate her company.
I took a big gulp of tea, and replied simply. "Oh, I'm not avoiding him. He's avoiding me. I'm ready to sort things out right now. But if he's not willing to talk yet, then it's not my problem."
Yeah. It's not my problem. If he doesn't want to apologize, it's fine by me. It's a free country. He can do whatever he wants. Even if he wants to jump off a bridge, or swim out into the ocean, or get lost in the jungle in the dead of night, I won't interfere. It's his life, and it's none of my business.
Besides, even if anyone tried to help, he won't listen.
At least, not to me.
He wants to do something stupid, it's okay. I won't be there anymore to correct his mistakes. I'm not going to meddle in his affairs. If he can't appreciate what I'm doing, then he'll just have to get into Tokyo U on his own.
"Besides," I continued, "I've already told you what happened, Kitsune. It's clearly his fault, so I don't see why I should..."
"But this is not just about you," she interrupted. "Naru, you're part of our family. And like it or not, Keitaro had become part of the family, too. Everyone is worried, and nobody wants to take sides because they don't want to hurt either of you. Seeing the two of you fight like this is very hard for us.
"Motoko's trying to hide her concern, but I can tell that she's worried; she's been doing her exercises halfheartedly and without passion, as if something was weighing heavily on her mind. Although she won't admit it, she's affected by all this.
"Shinobu has become more and more distracted lately, and she doesn't seem to enjoy cooking for an unhappy table. Haven't you noticed that? Surely you remember how sad she was when she first came here. Her parents were always fighting, always shouting at each other, and she loved both of them so much. She once told me that the worst part is the cold silences in between the fights, when they don't talk to each other, and they just let their anger build up inside. Do you want her to go through that all over again?
"And Su's not happy anymore! She may seem happy on the outside; she still chases Tama-chan around the house, yells loudly and laughs often, but you can tell that she's just putting on a brave face. Even though she's as pesky and disgustingly cheerful as ever... it's because she wants everybody to cheer up. But everyone's too troubled to play with her, and I think she's starting to feel neglected.
"Something has to be done," Kitsune said, carefully articulating every word. "If this keeps up, things will never be the same around here."
She was right. I've been selfish. All this time, I've been feeling sorry for myself. I didn't realize how hard it is for my friends to see the two of us like this. Ignoring each other, avoiding each other--if this doesn't end soon...
But I still have my pride. I didn't do anything wrong. This is all on Keitaro's hands.
"If you want this thing to be over with, then talk to Keitaro," I said, sipping the last of my tea. "Tell him to apologize to me, instead of trying to convince me to apologize to him."
"I'm not saying you should apologize," Kitsune said emphatically. She motioned for me to give her my empty cup, and reached across the kotatsu. "I'm just saying that you should speak with him. For God's sake, Naru, you're mad at the guy, but you're not even acknowledgeing his existence!"
"Are you saying I'm wrong?" I asked, handing it over.
She took the cup from my hand. "You're shutting him out of your life," she said plainly. "Is that really the right thing to do?"
I can't believe she, of all people, would say that.
She offered me another cup of tea, but I wasn't going to accept it. It was all too clear. Her sympathies didn't lie with me. She wasn't on my side, she was on Keitaro's. She was just being nice to get on my good side, and now she's trying to manipulate me, to trick me.
Well, it won't work.
"I don't believe this!" I snapped. "Now my best friend thinks I'm the bad guy? After I carefully explained the situation to you, you still have the nerve to say that to me?"
She was stunned by my reaction, and it took a second or two before she could respond. "You're not the bad guy, Naru," she said calmly, setting the cup down. "No one's the bad guy. Like I said, we don't want to take sides. I just think you're taking this a little too seriously. Shutting him out, just like that... it seems a little extreme."
"Well, excuse me, but HE shut ME out first!" I fumed. "Don't you get it? He doesn't want me in his life! He thinks I'm just a backseat driver, a nagger, a know-it-all, when I'm just trying to help him out! Why can't you understand that!?"
"Naru..."
"I thought you were my friend!"
Kitsune was visibly shocked.
"But I am your friend, Naru."
To tell the truth, I was shocked too. I had just yelled at Kiitsune, who had done nothing wrong. She was just trying to help me out, and I just...
I felt terrible.
I felt this horrible ache inside me. My stomach felt empty, but I felt like I was about to hurl. My heart was beating wildly, and my chest felt heavy. My back was tensed. All the muscles in my body were in knots.
It was guilt.
And I realized... this must be how Keitaro felt.
After he yelled at me, he said 'Gomen, Narusegawa'... and he ran out of the room.
He hasn't looked me in the eye ever since...
How could I be so mean?
"I'm sorry," I said. I felt the tears welling up. "I'm not mad at you. I just..."
She got up, and went over to my side of the kotatsu.
"It's okay, Naru," she said. "I understand."
I smiled weakly. "Arigato, Kitsune..."
At that point, I burst into tears. She took me in her arms, and squeezed tightly.
********************************************************************************************
"The tea's gotten cold," Kitsune said. "If you want, I could go down and reheat it."
"No thanks," I said, smiling gratefully. "I don't need to drink tea anymore."
"That's good. I'm glad you're feeling better."
"It's all thanks to you, Kitsune. If you hadn't come in here and insisted on talking about it, I would never have been able to vent all my emotions. I haven't been able to think straight lately but thanks to your counselling, I don't feel so bad now."
"Think nothing of it," Kitsune said, waving her hand dismissively. She handed me another box of kleenexes. "Here, use this."
"Thank you," I said, taking them. "I must look awful."
"You've looked uglier," she remarked playfully.
"I take it back," I said, giving her a look. "You're a horrible friend."
"Well, at least I don't look like I was assaulted by a blind band of babboons," she shot back.
I dabbed a kleenex on my face, crumpled it up, and set it down on the floor, next to the other twenty napkins I had used earlier. "You're not helping, Kitsune," I said, putting down the box.
"Hey, I'm just saying. Besides, haven't I helped enough?"
"Yeah, I suppose you have."
"Do you know why he yelled at you?" Kitsune asked suddenly.
I hesitated. "No," I said, after a moment's consideration. "He just yelled at me and left. He didn't even tell me why."
"Maybe you could ask," she suggested. "Naru, Keitaro has never yelled at you before. He wouldn't hurt you on purpose. Whatever reason he had for exploding at you, it must have been very important to him, and I'm betting he's feeling really guilty right now."
"Yeah, you're right," I said. "I think he is feeling pretty crappy. He's been looking really down lately, and I've been giving him the evil eye all week."
"Yeah, you sure have," Kitsune noted. "Haruka-san thinks he's got a problem with his self-esteem or something, and that he's getting really worked up over the coming mock exam. She thinks that he just felt attacked when you were pointing out what he did wrong, and he just snapped. It's possible that's what happened, but personally, I think it's more than that."
I thought about it.
Keitaro has been overly sensitive lately, but I've never bothered asking why. I guess I didn't think he had any problems. Sure, he has that thing with the girl of his promises, and how he really wants to get into Toudai. But those are just things he whines about.
He's a really fun guy... bit dorky sometimes, but he's always nice. He always has a smile ready for anyone he meets, no matter what the weather. He's always willing to help out with any problems, and he always gives good advice. He takes a personal interest in the affairs of his tenants, and has a contagiously otimistic and simple outlook on life.
I guess I just ruled out the idea of him having a real problem... something for him to be bitter about. He just doesn't seem to be that kind of person.
"But it's not important what his problem is," Kitsune continued. "The point is that you'll have to patch things up with him sooner or later. It's obvious that he needs to vent, and we can't be there for him unless things go back to the way they were. How many times has he apologized to you? How many times has he swallowed his pride, just for the sake of keeping the two of you together? Are you saying that all you've been through together was meaningless, that all your feelings were fake?"
Kitsune walked up to me, and put her hands on my shoulders. She looked deep into my eyes, and I saw her wearing an expression I'd never seen before. "It has to end, Naru. And it's not just because we'll miss him, and things won't be the same without him. Things are bad for all of us right now, but I realize that it's even worse for you."
"Kitsune..."
"Listen to me, Naru," she went on. "We've been best friends forever. And as your friend, you know that I only have the best intentions for you. You know I wouldn't suggest anything if it wasn't for your own good."
She gave a weird smile, and continued. "And right now, I think it would be best if you made up with Keitaro, the guy you love..."
WHAT!?
"I don't love him!" I exclaimed with embarrassment.
"Oh come on! You don't have to lie to me, Naru!" she said, sitting down next to me.
"I'm not lying!" I protested.
"I'm your best friend, you can tell me anything!" She nudged my shoulder, and winked conspiratorially. "Do you dream about him? Do you hug Liddo-kun every night, hoping that soon you will be locked in his soft embrace? Come on, you can tell me anything!"
"I have nothing to say! You've got it all wrong! I don't feel that way about him!"
She flashed that weird smile at me again. "Why'd you kiss him, then?"
"Well... because..."
Why's she doing this to me?
She had me, and I knew it.
Still, I didn't want to say it. "I was being stupid." I said, sheepishly.
She burst out laughing. "Yeah right!"
Then she stopped, looked at me, and gave me a hideous grin. "Oh, look... you're BLUSHING!" She started dancing around the room, all the while chanting out "Naru and Keitaro, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G! First comes LOVE! Then comes..."
She's really enjoying this, isn't she?
"Stop that, Kitsune! It's not what you think! I'm just disgusted by the thought of..."
She then stopped, turned around, and gave a self-satisfied grin, apparently to say she's had enough fun for the day. "All right, all right. Geez, I was just teasing you, Naru. You should've seen your face! I should've brought my camera!"
I wasn't the least bit amused. "Well, you shouldn't joke about that!" I said.
"I'll stop joking when you two make up," she sang.
"That's not fair!" I moaned.
"Who said anything about fair?" she replied, with that trademark mischievous glint flashing in her eyes. "Now, are you going to make up with him?"
I give up. She really wanted us to make up. If I don't do something soon, she's gonna pester me for the rest of my life. There are a few things I need to ask him, anyway.
"All right. I'll make up with him tomorrow."
She looked blankly at me. "Tomorrow? Why not today?"
"I saw him go out of the house with Mutsumi-san earlier. He hasn't come back yet."
"Oh," she said, nodding.
We sat in silence. The afternoon sun was already setting, and Keitaro hadn't returned yet.
Come to think of it, why did he leave the house in the first place?
Why was Mutsumi with him?
"Well," Kitsune said, after a while, "I'm sure nothing's happened..."
"Yeah," I agreed, after a moment's reflection. "I mean, Keitaro's not that kind of guy... and Mutsumi's not that kind of girl..."
But deep inside, I wasn't sure.
Why would Mutsumi and Keitaro go out together?
I know she likes Keitaro. And I know that he likes her, too. They get along very well whenever they're together. They're always thinking the same things, always laughing at the same jokes... they enjoy each other's company so much. I guess I shouldn't be surprised if they actually were on a date.
But Keitaro had already turned her down before. When he thought she was the girl of his promises, they were together for a while...
But he gave up on her, didn't he? He really wanted to be with me, and he was afraid that he was taking the easy way out, deciding to be with a girl who liked him already.
He didn't want to lead her on back then. Why would he lead her on now?
Unless...
...maybe he really isn't leading her on.
Maybe he has given up on me, and he's decided to go for her instead. Maybe that's why he's been avoiding me lately. Maybe that's why he doesn't want to look at me, or talk to me.
"Don't worry about it, Naru," Kitsune said, patting my shoulder.
"I'm not worried," I said, trying to mask my uncertainty.
"I can read you like a book, Naru," she stated matter-of-factly. "I've been hanging around you for years, and I think I know you well enough to be able to tell whether you're lying or not. And believe me, you're a really bad liar."
"But, Kitsune, I'm really not worried..." I insisted.
"Naru..." she said, wearing that half-smile that says "you know it, and I know it, so what's the point of trying to hide it?"
"All right," I said, letting out a sigh of resignation. "Maybe I am a little worried..."
"And you don't have to worry, Naru. Keitaro won't do anything to betray your trust. He's not the kind of guy who would do that sort of thing. I mean, he may be stupid, but if he has a problem with your relationship, he knows well enough to discuss things with you before doing..."
"I know, I know," I interjected. "But he was pretty hurt when we last spoke. We both were. Frankly, I wouldn't blame him if..."
"Don't talk like that," she said gently. "Don't think about things like that. All that matters is that you have to talk with him tomorrow. Tell him how you feel, say everything that needs to be said,and I'm sure everything will work out great."
"You think so?"
"Trust me, Naru. You're a very beautiful, attractive girl, and if he does anything that could screw up your relationship, then he's an even bigger idiot than we've given him credit for."
"Yeah... I guess you're right..."
"Of course I'm right," she replied, with the air of confidence exuded by those who can't imagine being wrong. She then walked over to the kotatsu and gathered up the cups and pots onto a wooden tray. "Well, I've done my good deed for the day. Guess I'll just be taking these out, then."
"Thanks again," I called out after her.
"No problem," she yelled back. "I'll collect the money for my services in a couple of weeks!"
"What!?" I exclaimed, running out after her. "Hey, you didn't say anything about payment!"
"You didn't ask! Just be sure to have ten thousand yen by the end of the month!" She was an awfully quick runner for someone who was carrying a tea set on a bulky tray.
"That's not fair!" I moaned.
"Who said anything about fair?" she asked, disappearing down the stairs.
"Kitsuneeee!!! You're mean!!!"