"Yes, Kinomoto?"
"Are you going to the festival next week?"
"I am." He watched her chew on her bottom lip. She did that when she was nervous -- it was cute. He smiled a little to calm her down.
"Are we . . . friends?" she asked.
He thought about it. "I suppose so." He was surprised by the question but didn't show it. Of all the people he associated with, Sakura was most like a friend to him. He'd just never thought about it before -- too busy thinking about which girl in his class could be the Clow Mistress.
She seemed to relax. "Well, I was thinking. My family is going to the festival, and usually I would take Tomoyo. But since we're both short one faithful companion, would you like to go with us?" At his hesitant expression, she added, "You don't have to stay with us the whole time. I just find it more fun to go and leave with other people." She had completely lost her confidence, and Li couldn't help but laugh.
"Okay. But I'm meeting someone."
"What time?" she asked.
He turned sheepish. "I don't know. She just said she'd meet me."
Sakura's expression turned sly in a moment. "She?" she asked, smiling. If she had been close enough, she would have nudged him.
He flushed like mad, which only made her laugh. "Kinomoto!" he protested.
She shook her head, still smiling. "Sorry. I won't tease you. And since we're friends, it's 'Sakura.'"
"Sakura." It was pretty, but he felt odd saying it. He pulled her homework toward him for something innocuous to do. "This one's wrong," he said.
Her groan took them back to their normal routine.