Kotoko Strikes Back!
Chapter 13 – Giving Up
"You two really know each other?" Miki asked, surprised. "Hai! We happened to be schoolmates as well. She is from the F class." Reiko replied, emphasizing on the letter 'F'.
"What…what are you doing here?" Kotoko stammered because if Reiko already knew her whereabouts, Naoki would eventually know it too.
"Don't worry, Naoki doesn't know. Anyway, even if he knew, he wouldn't bother to come looking for you." Reiko remarked coldly as if reading Kotoko's worry.
Who am I kidding? Naoki would sure rush over if I were to give him the address. Reiko thought with a mixed feeling of anger and depression. Nevertheless, that did not stop her from getting rid of Kotoko. Naoki would eventually come back to me once I get rid of this pest. Reiko assured herself.
Miki was seated at the sofa, observing the two girls. Reiko must be really in love with this Naoki. Look at that expression, is she going to eat up that Kotoko? Miki thought. "Well, I guess I better leave the both of you to settle your scores." Miki shrugged her shoulders. "I will be in the room if you need me."
"Young girls." Miki mumbled, shaking her head.
"Reiko-chan, you are right." Kotoko agreed, much to Reiko's surprise. "Then, perhaps you should stay away from Naoki forever since he had already made up his mind." Reiko informed. She then retrieved something from her bag and handed it to Kotoko.
Stay away from Irie-kun forever? Kotoko mentally recited Reiko's words as she strolled along the school corridor. Would I be able to do that? Kotoko started questioning herself.
"Naoki!" Reiko called out when she saw Naoki walking in front of her.
"Yes?" Naoki asked.
"Nothing, just wanted to walk together with you. So, how's your searching going on?" Reiko asked.
"What search?" Naoki asked even though he knew what Reiko was referring to.
"Never mind." Reiko replied and clung her right hand around Naoki. Why must she always do that? Naoki silently protested but never did anything to stop Reiko.
It's them! I better hide. Kotoko quickly ran behind a pillar in order to avoid the couple. Irie-kun looks so happy when he is with Reiko-chan. I never see him so happy before. I guess Reiko-chan was right after all. Irie-kun is better off without my presence. Kotoko thought sadly as she watched the couple bypassing her.
Kotoko? Naoki started scanning around the environment when they were near the pillar where Kotoko was hiding. His sixth sense had detected her presence.
"What are you looking for?" Reiko asked.
"Nothing." Naoki replied, but his eyes were still doing the scanning. I am sure she is somewhere near. Naoki frowned when he failed to see Kotoko lurking around the area.
"Don't think too much, let's go. Class is about to start." Reiko pulled Naoki away while casting her eyes at one shadow behind the pillar. If that letter weren't convincing enough, this would probably make that baka give up on Naoki. Reiko thought with a scheming smile.
"Why are you smiling?" Naoki asked.
"Nothing. I just feel so happy being close to you." Reiko replied cheerfully.
I should leave it as it is. Irie-kun made the right choice. He should accept Reiko's love. Kotoko's eyes reddened as she took out a piece of paper from her bag and stared blankly at the content.
"Kotoko?"
"Satomi? Zinko?" Kotoko was so happy to see her two best friends.
"You are back!" Satomi and Zinko quickly pulled Kotoko back to their classroom.
"I need to go somewhere." Naoki suddenly stopped walking.
"Where?" Reiko asked.
"Class F." Naoki pulled Reiko's arm away from his. "Don't wait up."
"What? You are going to stop schooling?" Kinnosuke screamed so loud that even Kotoko had to cover her ears. "Why? Is it because of that Irie Naoki again?" Kinnosuke rolled up his sleeves. "I am going to kill him!!"
"No. Why would I stop schooling because of that baka?" Kotoko stopped Kinnosuke. There was a momentary silent before Kinnosuke finally said something. "Kotoko…you call him a baka???" Kinnosuke sniffled out disbelievingly.
"Hai! If I am a baka, he would be a bigger baka!" Kotoko remarked with dignity, one virtue seldom found in her.
"Are you all right?" Satomi immediately placed her palm onto Kotoko's forehead to see if Kotoko was having any fever.
"Since Irie-kun had found his happiness, I don't want to spoil it." Kotoko explained.
"Hai! Hai! That's the way, Kotoko! Don't worry, I can give you all the happiness that you want." Kinnosuke assured and tried to pull Kotoko into his arms.
"Stop that!" Satomi and Zinko quickly pushed Kinnosuke away. "What happen to you during the past few days? Where's the original Kotoko?" Zinko gave Kotoko a tight slap across her face.
"Zinko?" Kotoko was shocked, not able to comprehend why Zinko was doing that. Wasn't Zinko the one who kept discouraging Kotoko from pinning any hopes on Naoki? "What happiness are you talking about?" Zinko questioned out pointedly. "Are you going to give up just like that?" Satomi added in.
"Hey, are you gals my friends or what?" Kinnosuke tried to stop Zinko and Satomi from changing Kotoko's mind. "Kin-chan, do you think Kotoko's heart would be with you even if she is to accept your love?" Zinko growled, giving Kinnosuke a hard stare.
"I…I don't mind…" Kinnosuke murmured out. He was totally aware of the answer.
"Zinko, Satomi…" Kotoko was loss for words.
"Kotoko…Ganbatte…you mustn't lose to that Reiko!" Satomi encouraged.
"But…but…I saw him so happy right now, I don't want to burst that bubble." Kotoko said with her eyes looking down.
"Kotoko!!" Zinko and Satomi grabbed hold of Kotoko's shoulders. "We want the old Kotoko back! Prove it to us!"
"But…" Kotoko was in dilemma.
Of course, why wouldn't Kotoko want to be with Naoki? However, after listening to Mrs. Kurozawa's story about Keiko, it was like looking into a mirror and she was able to see herself from Naoki's point of view. During that moment, she hated herself for behaving that way too. Kotoko was further convinced about giving up after receiving the letter from Reiko.
"Kotoko…"
"Let me think about it first." Kotoko said.
"Ganbatte!" Both Zinko and Satomi shouted.
"Hai!" Kotoko formed a 'V' sign with her fingers before going but silently sighed after turning her head around, not wanting to disappoint her two friends.
"Phew! For a moment I thought she was going to give up." Satomi said. "Then, we would be loosing our bet to those two bitches in Class 3-A." Zinko added.
"Why, you two devils…" Kinnosuke overheard their short conversation. "Kotoko! Wait up!" Kinnosuke tried to chase after Kotoko but was pinned down by Satomi and Zinko.
"Kotoko…" Kinnosuke cried out.
She is not in the class? Naoki frowned again when he could only see Satomi and Zinko pinning Kinnosuke down onto the ground.
Why? Why would he choose that baka over me? Why? Reiko could taste the saltiness of her tears as she watched Naoki standing outside Class 3-F.
To be continued…