Kotoko Strikes Back!

Chapter 15 – Face to Face

"Nurse!" Miki dashed out of the ward and grabbed hold of one oncoming nurse. "Where's Kenrou?"

"Kenrou?" The nurse was obviously shocked by this abrupt confrontation. "Kenrou Kurozawa. He stays in this ward." Miki pointed at the ward number.

"Oh…Kurozawa-san had discharged himself during this morning." The nurse informed.

"What?" Miki's eyes widened.

"Gomen…we tried to stop him from doing so, but he was very persistence." The nurse quickly explained. Miki finally let go of the nurse and took out the ringing cellular phone out from her sling bag.

Kotoko walked aimlessly on the street, recalling the 'encouragements' from Zinko and Satomi. "We want the old Kotoko back! Prove it to us!"

The old Kotoko? The one who was madly in love with Irie-kun? Kotoko questioned herself. "But, I still love him so much. So, I am still the old Kotoko." Kotoko assured herself and stopped by the lakeside. "I-R-I-E-K-U-N! I LOVE YOU!"

"Irie?" Kenrou looked up when he heard a somehow familiar name and tried to locate the source of the voice. From he sat, he noticed a girl standing by the lakeside with both her legs wide open in an inverted 'V' shape and her hands on her waist. However, he couldn't see her face since her back was facing him.

"That posture and voice reminded me so much of …Tanaka Keiko?? Urghh!" Kenrou quickly instinctively had both his ears covered, just like what he would do in the past.

"I-R-I-E-K-U-N! I LOVE YOU!" Kotoko kept repeating the sentence, chanting each sentence in a crescendo tone. "Urghh! When will she stop that horrible roaring?" Kenrou grumbled to himself and took off.

"I-R-I-E-K-U-N! I LOVE YOU!"

"Ooi!" Someone interrupted Kotoko by tapping her shoulder.

"Huh?" And much to everyone's relief, Kotoko finally stopped. "Irie-kun?" Kotoko muttered out bewilderingly.

Reiko was clenching her fists so tight that her nails might dig into the flesh of her palms if she were to continue with the clenching. Her eyes were burning with anger, or perhaps, jealousy? Reiko slowly wiped away the hot tears from her eyes. Irie Naoki! Why must you be so cold towards me? What do you actually see in that baka?" Reiko thought furiously as she watched Naoki walking away from Class 3-F.

"You left me with no choice then. " Reiko muttered before taking out something from her pocket.

"The bandage! No, this is not Irie-kun. This is Kenrou Kurozawa." Kotoko

analyzed after calming down. "Gomen nasai!" Kotoko quickly made a ninety-degree bow.

"Huh? " Kenrou was taken aback by Kotoko's strong reaction. "Eh...No need to be that formal. Just stop that mindless yelling. You can just tell that person right in the face that you love him. It is much better than yelling your head off because he won't get to hear it." Kenrou explained the purpose for his interruption.

"Gomen nasai, Kurozawa-kun, I didn't mean to hurt you." Kotoko's mind was too preoccupied with the apologizing.

"How did you know my surname? And when did you hurt me?" Kenrou was confused.

"I was the one who knock you down during that night." Kotoko explained.

"What?" Kenrou cautiously backed away from Kotoko because he already experienced the taste of Kotoko's 'power'.

"Please..." Kotoko took a few steps towards Kenrou. "Stop…don't you dare come near me." Kenrou warned and took another few steps backwards.

"Okay. I won't come near you." Kotoko stopped.

"Good." Kenrou stopped too. There was an awkward silent between the duo and Kenrou's face softened when he sensed Kotoko's sincerity from her expression.

"Okay, you may tell me your reason." Kenrou said. "Arigatou gozaimasu." Kotoko quickly made another ninety-degree bow before relating the whole picture to him. " I thought someone had broken into the house during that day…"

Not Kenrou. Miki thought sadly after checking the Call ID function of her ringing mobile phone. "Moshi -moshi."

Pause….

"Sure. But I can only make it later. Kenrou had discharged from hospital without informing us. I need to find him first."

Pause...

"The problem is that I don't know where he is right now. But don't worry. I will meet you later this afternoon."

Pause...

"Bye." Miki ended the conversation and dialed another button. "Damn it. Kenrou, pick up the phone." Miki mumbled as she headed towards the exit of hospital.

To be continued…