More than a Married , But Not Lovers: Confessions are Good for the Heart (Short Story) Part 1

Placed this story in this one because it is not listed yet.

Main Characters: (Character Profiles taken From Wikipedia. Do not own Wikipedia. Used as Resource. In profiles will have some spoilers for the Anime.)

Akari Watanabe-While Akari portrays an extroverted and confident nature, deep down she is actually very sweet, shy and kind towards her friends and loved ones. Her goal is to become the partner of Minami in the training, and she will do anything, even act like a well behaved newlywed with Jirō. However, as the story progresses she loses her crush on Minami and falls in love with Jirō for real. Now, her new goal is to become an actual couple with Jirō but struggles to put her feelings into clarity, as well as dealing with Jiro's own insecurities

Jirō Yakuin-The main male protagonist of the series, who was forced to pair up with Akari in the couples training. An awkward introvert who deals with self-esteem issues but very kind and hard working at heart. His main goal is to pair up with his childhood friend, Shiori, and he will do anything to reach his goal, even act like a well behaved newlywed with Akari. As the story progresses, despite his feelings for Shiori, he finds himself developing deeper feelings for Akari, finding it harder and harder to let her go.

Shiori Sakurazaka-Jirō's childhood friend and crush. Shy and kind, Shiori is a beautiful girl who ends up becoming Minami's partner in the couples training. Unbeknownst to Jiro, she also has feelings for him, hoping to earn enough points so that she could end up switching Minami for him. Her best friend is Mei; Shiori does not realize that Mei has an unrequited crush on her.

Minami Tenjin-A popular and well liked school idol, Minami is the object of nearly every girl's affections, including Akari, who is hoping to become his partner during the couples training. Through circumstance, he ends up being Shiori's partner in the training. During an outing on a school trip, he ends up being confessed to by Akari but gently lets her down, revealing that he has unrequited feelings for a woman in his past. The woman, named Nozomi, was his former tutor that ended up marrying his older brother; it's hinted that his views on love are jaded due to accidentally witnessing his brother and Nozomi having sex with one another. Thanks to this conversation, Minami helps Akari realize that she is now in love with Jiro.

Sadaharu Kamo-Jirō's best friend at high school who is the only person that Jiro will open up to despite his introverted nature. Like Jirō, Sadaharu also has lousy luck with woman, preferring the women to be "2D" instead of real so they can't end up hurting his feelings. Despite this, Sadaharu is a good person at heart and will go out of his way to help his friend out a bind. He ends up being paired with Mei; their relationship is cordial but is unable to move further beyond due to Mei's sexual orientation.

Sachi Takamiya-One of Akari's best friends, who is outgoing and assertive but wiser than she lets on. She is usually seen together with Natsumi, as both girls help giving Akari valuable life advice

Natsumi Ōhashi-One of Akari's best friends, who is a bit of an airhead but nice at heart. She is usually seen together with Sachi, as both girls help giving Akari valuable life advice.

Plot:

Akari Watanabe had just learned that Jiro Yakuin was in the Nurse's Office with Shiori Sakurazaka.

Love and Hate:

"I hate you Jiro." Akari said softly with her hands on Jiro's ears. Which made it impossible for him to hear what she had just said. Then without another word she let go of his ears, stood up and went into her Bedroom and shut the door. While Jiro had no idea what was going on. Laying on her bed with her face down on her pillow she cried. Cried and then cried some more. Worse then when she cried before. "I hate him...I hate him soo much." She said sobbing into the pillow. Falling asleep and having uneasy dreams. Remaining there until the next morning completely ignoring the three times he knocked on her door to inquire if she was alright.

In the morning, she got out of bed and got ready for School. Fully intending to leave before Jiro came out of his bedroom. She could not face him right now. Not after what she had gone through last night. Arriving at School a good half hour early she sat in the Cafeteria and sipped lukewarm Coffee that she had picked up at the Convenience Store as she walked to School. Not even noticing when her two friends arrived. "Hey Girl...What the...? Wow your eyes are so puffy and red. What is wrong?" Natsumi asked and Akari looked up at her two friends.

"Nothing is wrong. I am just having a bad morning is all." Akari said sadly and both of her friends sat down across from her.

"Bull. There has to be something wrong. Come on Girl we are your friends. We have been best buds since Grade School. So spill." Sachi stated firmly and Akari closed her eyes and felt like crying again.

"I...I...I don't even know why I even care that he is going to be with...Sakurazaka. But...But...I am sorry I got to..." Akari stood and rushed towards the nearby Girl's Bathroom. Her two friends stood and outside the door they could hear their friend crying.

"Oh...You know what Natsumi. I think she is..." Sachi started to say and her friend finished with a small smile.

"She is in love. She actually loves that...Guy. So what can we do to help our bestie?" Natsumi asked though she already had a good idea. "I think it is time we met her husband and get that moron to stop being an idiot." She stated and walked to where she knew where Jiro would be about this time of the morning. Upon finding him she grabbed his wrist and with Sachi trailing behind. "Come with us...We got to talk." She demanded taking him towards one of the empty Classrooms.

"Hey what is going on?" Jiro asked as he was dragged inside the empty room. Natsumi released him and spun towards him. Grabbing now the front of his shirt lapels in both of her hands.

"That is what we want to know! What did you do to Akari?" Natsumi demanded and Jiro shook his head.

"Nothing. I swear. Yesterday she started out teasing me about...Never mind about what. Then all of a sudden she got real...depressed for some reason. I have no idea what about. Can you let go of my shirt?" Jiro quickly said not about to tell them that she had undressed the night before and made it look like they had done it. Then dropped the bomb that they hadn't and then everything went down hill from there. Natsumi let him go but still stared at him angrily.

"Is it true that you and Sakurazaka are...Are together now?" Sachi asked and Jiro shook his head again.

"No! No we are not." Jiro said and Akari's friends stared at him.

"Yeah well I saw you two in the Nurse's Office." Natsumi said accusingly and Jiro again shook his head.

"We didn't do anything. I...I did something but...No me and Shiori are not together." Jiro was not about to tell the two girls that he had kissed Shoiri. But when he did he could not stop thinking about Akari. How it felt wrong when he kissed Shiori. Like he was cheating on Akari and how much he had wished it had been Akari instead.

"Let me ask you something. How do you feel about Akari?" Natsumi asked and Jiro blushed lowering his gaze downward. Easily answering her question without actually saying anything. She smiled. "Well you idiot she feels the same about you. So do something about it." She demanded and he stared at her in shock.

"No way. There is no way she feels that way about me. She is just so incredible. She is so cute and so wonderful. There is no way she could like me like that." Jiro quickly said thinking about the food chain on how she was high up on it while he was basically the lowest. Just above his friend.

"We know her better then anyone and we are telling you...She does." Sachi told him and Jiro could not fully believe them. But he wanted to. He hoped that they were right and that Akari did like him. Or how he felt. That he loved her. He had fallen hopelessly in love with her and he hoped that she felt the same about him.

"You are going to confess to her tonight and if you don't. You and us are going to have a serious problem. One that will involve us castrating you for hurting our friend." Natsumi told him and Jiro swallowed heavily.

Confession:

Coming home, Jiro opened the door to see Akari sitting on the couch staring at the TV in a sort of daze. He sat down a few feet from her and she did not even acknowledge his presence. He then noticed what was on. A infomercial that was advertising some weird product. SO he picked up the remote and turned the TV off. "Hey. I was watching that." She said with mock protest.

"So you are actually interested in a pair of spiked shoes that you would use to aerate your yard?" Jiro asked and Akari shrugged slightly then returned to staring at the now turned off TV. He stared at it too and after several moments reaffirmed his resolve. "Uhm...Akari...Could...I need to...Tell you something." He stammered out as he began to sweat. At the same time he felt his mouth go dry and he had a hard time swallowing.

"Yeah...What is it?" Akari asked still looking at the TV. Finally he was able to swallow but he could not stop sweating. He took several breaths in and out. Closing his eyes he felt like he was about to have a stroke.

"I...I...Know this is...I doubt you probably feel the same way...But I have to tell you this..." Jiro could not stop his heart from pounding heavily in his chest as his whole body felt like he was about to die. She looked over at him.

"Well what is it?" Akari asked a little more firmly and Jiro again breathed in and out. He felt light headed and he could not stop his hands from shaking.

"I have...I have...I have...Fallen in love with you." Jiro whispered those last five words and Akari sat up and stared at him.

"What was that?" Akari asked loudly and Jiro swallowed dryly again. He squeezed his eyes shut.

"I have fallen in love with you." Jiro stammered out this time a little louder and Akari gasped. Then there was utter silence and Jiro knew what was coming. She would mock him and tell him that she no way felt the same. That he was deluded into telling her that he had fallen in love with her. Since she in truth wanted Minami and he was no where good enough to even think he could be with her. Not compared to Minami. After several more painful moments of silence, he began to stand up. Fully intending to go to his room and try to forget how embarrassed and pathetic he was right now. She grabbed his right hand stopping him.

"Where do you think you are going?" Akari asked him and Jiro gestured to his room.

"My Room. So I can die of embarrassment." Jiro felt himself being pulled back on the couch. Akari then placed her hands on his chest and laid her head sideways in between them. She closed her eyes and smiled. As he nervously wondered what was going on.

"Did you mean that? That you have fallen for me?" Akari asked softly.

"Yes. I know that you probably do not feel anything like that for me and that you still rather be with Tenji. But I had to tell you that I have...I have fallen in love with you." Jiro said sullenly and Akari pressed herself more against him causing him to feel her impressive chest on his.

"I have too...I...I have fallen in love with you too." Akari whispered just loud enough for him to hear her. She looked up at him with small tears running down her cheeks and smiled at him. "So are you going to kiss me or what?" She said and he leaned his head down and kissed her. After several moments, she returned with her head on his chest. The Counter on the wall dinged and their numbers increased by six. Before either fully realized it, they both dozed off and fell asleep. Then again the counter dinged increasing the numbers.

In the morning, Akari awoke to a sawing sound and she smiled realizing where the sound was coming from. She looked up to see Jiro sound asleep and snoring lightly. But she could hear it perfectly due to where her head was now pillowed. "You are mine now. All Mine...Mine...Mine." She whispered contently and reclosed her eyes. Fully intending to remain right where she was, though something lower on him was poking her left outer thigh and she giggled. "You perv." She whispered softly knowing exactly what was poking her and the reason why it was poking her.

After they both woke up and realized that they would be late to class if they did not rush and as they were about to leave just in time. Akari grabbed his left hand in her right hand. Interlacing her fingers into his. "Oh by the way Jiro...You are mine now. My Boyfriend. Understand." She told him firmly with a smile and he nodded. In route she texted her friends about the good news.

Karaoke Troubles and Tribbles:

"I have never sang Karaoke before and I really am not that great at singing in general." Jiro said to Akari as he walked with her and her two friends. Her Friends had convinced her that they needed to celebrate over her getting herself a boyfriend and that meant Karaoke.

"That is okay...Usually none of us sing that great anyhow and you do not have to unless you want to." Akari told him as they followed her friends towards the Karaoke Cafe that they had frequented several times before.

"Come on you two...By now the others are already there waiting on us." Nagomi said attempting to hurry them along. Once there, Jiro essentially followed Akari into a small room where four others were in the midst of picking songs they intended to sing. One of them he noticed was Tenji.

After a couple of others sang including Tengi. Jiro knew for certain he was not going to sing anything. Though his attention at the moment was on the interaction between Akari and Tenji. From almost the second they had sat down across from the only other Guy in the room. Akari had barely talked to him and mostly Tenji. Even told Tenji that she was now dating him for real. About half an hour of this continued and something dawned upon him. Or rather his imagination dawned upon him. He began to wonder if perhaps Akari and her friends had come up with an elaborate scheme to make it possible for Akari to be with Tenji. Such as make Tenji aware and jealous over that Akari was with him now. Making it possible for Akari to trick Tenji into asking her out and from there becoming a real couple. At that point of course she would dump him. Maybe even use dumping him to convince Tenji to go out with her. As he thought that and the fact that again Akari seemed to be more interested in talking to Tenji. He decided he had enough and with the excuse that he needed to use the Restroom. He stood up and left. Unfortunately for him and his plan on not being seen leaving. Natsumi spotted him making his way to the exit and stopped him. "Where are you going? Does Akari know you are leaving?" She asked and Jiro paused at the door. Not looking back at AKari's friend.

"Drop the act. I know about...I know all about the whole scheme that you three came up with." Jiro said sullenly feeling completely embarrassed that he had fallen for such an obvious ploy.

"What scheme are you talking about?" Natsumi asked somewhat confused and he let out a sighing breath.

"Oh come on. I know already. There is no point in denying it. Though I am impressed that the three of you thought this up. It is really impressive." Jiro said and Natsumi scowled.

"What the hell are you talking about? What scheme?" Natsumi asked getting frustrated.

"Okay. You want me to believe that you and Akari did not think I would figure it out." Jiro shook his head and then gave a soft chuckle. "You know the scheme to make everyone think that me and Akari are a couple. That we got together. So that she could maybe make Tenji jealous and he would finally ask her out. I still got to admit that I am really impressed on how far she would go to be with him." With that said he was about to depart, but Natsumi grabbed his left forearm.

"Are you crazy or something? Akari would not go that far to be with anyone and I will have you know...I know she...She loves you...You idiot." Natsumi stated firmly and Jiro chuckled again and shook his head. He gestured back at the Room.

"Then why is that she has basically ignored me for the past hour and talked to Tenji almost the whole time?" Jiro asked her and Natsumi suddenly realized that her friend had done that ever since they arrived. Pulling his arm gently free, he walked out the door leaving Natsumi standing there in shock. She then went in to talk to Akari in an attempt to find out what was happening. Really concerned when her friend suddenly realized that Jiro was not in the room and had not returned from the bathroom yet. Taking her friend to the Bathroom, Natsumi stood there shaking her head. "What the hell are you doing Akari?"

"What do you mean?" Akari asked and glanced towards the bathroom door. "I got to go look for Jiro."

"Oh now you think about him after what over an hour." Natsumi stated and then frowned. "He left a good fifteen minutes ago because he was tired of seeing the Girl that was supposed to be his Girlfriend completely ignoring him and talking to Minami the whole fricken time since we got here." She took a breath and clasped both of her friend's hands in hers. "Tell me girl...You are not using Yakuin in some scheme to get Minami to finally notice you...Are you? If you are I can tell you that...Man that is so wrong." Akari looked at her wide eyed.

"What? No I am not." Akari said then thought about it. She had done exactly what Natsumi had just asked her about. She had ignored Jiro almost from the second they had arrived to talk to Minami. "Oh man what have I done? I got to go find Jiro and...I really messed up...Didn't I?" Knowing she had already when she let herself ignore her Boyfriend to talk to her one time Crush. She had no idea why she had done that. But she suspected that it was because Minami had talked to her and she had not felt the need to try to get with him anymore.

"Yep. Big time. I bet he headed for home. You might want to go and...I don't know beg for forgiveness. Otherwise girl...You might have the shortest relationship I ever heard of." Natsumi told her with a small smile. Shooing her out the door.

Ambling home or rather back to the Apartment he shared with Akari as her Practical Husband. Jiro now considered that was all he was to her. Once again just her Practical Practice Partner. "Well that did not last long...Did it? The next time I can I will ask to switch." He mumbled sadly and was actually considering asking the Teacher if he could maybe put in for that escape clause if there was one to do a mock divorce. At the Apartment he immediately headed to his room and locked the door. Laying on his bed and stared up at the ceiling. He still could not fully believe that he had completely fallen for the scheme. He knew he should have known better to actually believe that Akari would feel anything for him for real. "All she did all that time was trick me into thinking that she even liked me just so she could be with Tenji." He almost imagined perversely what the two of them probably were doing right now. Which made his insides hurt. A knock on his door interrupted his self turmoil. "I need to be alone...Watanabe." He said towards the door.

When Akari heard him say her last name, she felt like crying. It was as if he had punched her in the chest. Not about to let it go. She knocked again. "No. Come out here and talk to me." She demanded and when he did not answer she proceeded to pound and kick his door. That was until he opened it.

"Geez! Stop that already." Jiro said and Akari moved back. Gesturing at the couch.

"Sit. I want to tell you something." Akari ordered him and he reluctantly did as she told him. In truth he had considered shutting the door again and sealing himself within. But he wanted to know if she had succeeded in her plan or not.

"So did your plan work? Are you and Tenji together now?" Jiro asked her sullenly and Akari stared at him in shock.

"What?" Akari blurted out. Jiro chuckled and shook his head.

"I have to admit I am impressed. You had a perfect way to make Tenji become interested in you. By making him jealous. Isn't that the reason you had your friends convince me to confess...Right?" Jiro asked and Akari could not believe what she just heard. Then thought about it. Realizing that he would think that since she had spent the whole time at the Cafe talking to Minami and ignored her own boyfriend.

"No. That is not what I did. I swear that...I did not do that. I was serious when I confessed to you. I have fallen in love with you." Akari told him and then inhaled softly while tears began to form in her eyes. "Listen I know I really messed up...But you know I had a serious crush on Minami...Like you had one on Sakurazaka...I hope it is had and not have...Well this was the first time Minami actually talked to me. Really talked to me and I know I really messed up letting myself become entranced with the idea of talking to him finally."

"Are you telling me that you are not going to...Be with him?" Jiro asked wanting to believe her. She smiled and edged closer on the couch.

"No way. I got the Boyfriend I want. The one I am in love with. The one that I want to be with forever. The one I want to keep having my firsts with. You are the first one I ever kissed. You are my first and hopefully only boyfriend I want and eventually you will be my first..." Akari blushed slightly and looked at him and he could see large tears running down her cheeks. "I am so so sorry Jiro...Please...Please...Please forgive me. I promise it will never happen again. My crush on Minami is long gone." She pleaded and Jiro smiled at her.

"I might have let my imagination cause some of this. I am sorry too." Jiro admitted and Akari shook her head.

"No it is my fault." Akari declared sternly.

"How about we just say it is both of our faults and let it go. You are in love me and I am in love with you. That is all that is important right now." Jiro said and Akari nodded. Then when he opened his arms outward, she happily accepted the hug. Placing her head sideways in the middle of his chest as he put his arms around her. When they both felt better, she moved up and kissed him and then returned to where he had his arms around her as she sat with her head in the middle of his chest. She liked it there. Not only was it comfortable. But she could hear his heart beat in his chest.

"The next three day holiday weekend. I think it might be a good time for me to meet your Family and also for you to meet mine." Akari suggested and Jiro paled. Swallowing heavily.

"That is a big step isn't it?" Jiro asked and Akari smiled.

"Yep." Akari said and found it funny how hard his heart was beating. "Oh yeah there is one more first that I want to do with you." He looked at her wondering what it could be. But before he could ask. "I want to go on a date. You know a date. Something like us going to dinner and then a Movie. So how about it. Can my boyfriend take me out on a date?" She asked and he nodded with a smile.

First Date:

An hour or so after School, the couple made their way to one of the local Diners to have dinner. They had not picked a movie yet. So as they waited for their food, they reviewed what Movies were playing at the nearby Theater. Akari wanted to see a Romantic Comedy and Jiro wanted to see the new Action Adventure. But he relented when she mentioned that the Romantic Comedy meant they would be able to snuggle a bit as they sat and watched the Movie. After they both ate, Jiro headed for the bathroom while Akari sat rechecking the times of the Movie. She did not even notice when someone was standing at her table until she looked up to see a Man leering down at her. She was used to men leering at her and she most of the time she ignored whoever it was. This time though as she looked at the man. She loathed the way he was staring at her. Especially since the man looked to be at least 10 years older then she was. "Hey there little girl...Is there any chance you are lookin for a Sugar Daddy?" The man asked with a sneer and Akari rolled her eyes in disgust.

"Go away!" Akari said sternly and the Man chuckled.

"Oh come on...I was just kidding. But if you were I would be interested. You got some nice assets and I would be willing to pay a good amount to be one for you." The Man said still smiling at her while attempting to look down her shirt. So she ignored him hoping that he would leave before Jiro came back. To her dismay the man sat down across from her at an angle and continued to leer at her. At the same time he put his feet onto the bench seat next to her. Which would make it difficult for her to just get up and leave. The Waitress had come over and she looked first at Akari and then at the Man.

"Mister Honji why don't you leave this girl alone?" The much older Woman asked and the Man glared up at her.

"Why? I am not really bothering you am I?" Honji asked Akari and then looked back up at the Waitress giving the elder woman a venomous glare.

"You are bothering me. So please leave me alone." Akari asked and the Man chuckled making no move to even let her get up. Then at that moment Jiro returned and looked down at the situation.

"Excuse me Sir...Could you let my Girlfriend get out of the booth?" Jiro asked politely and the Man laughed evilly and looked up at Jiro with a smirking sneer.

"Why don't you make me?" Honjo said not prepared for Jiro to grab his crossed legs and removing them from the bench so Akari could get out. The Man bolted to his feet, moved with a few inches of Jiro and glared at him. No longer smiling. "You are pressing your luck...Asshole! No one touches me! Not unless they want their asses kicked!" Jiro chuckled and the man let out a low growl. "Let's take this outside!" The man stated and then headed for the door. Jiro was about to follow but Akari grabbed his right hand.

"Don't. Let's just go out the back door." Akari suggested but Jiro shook his head and smiled calmly.

"No it will be alright. Trust me." Jiro said and then went out to meet the Older Man outside. Akari followed taking out her Cellphone so she could call the Police. Then she watched in utter disbelief on what happened. The man took a swing at Jiro. But her boyfriend blocked it easily and effortlessly. After several more attempts to hit Jiro with the same result. Jiro then proceeded to beat the man until the man was laying partially unconscious on the ground.

"What the...?" Akari asked wide eyes and Jiro smiled over at her as he stood over the prone older man.

"My Father is a Third Degree Black Belt and works at the Zing and Zang Dojo as one of the Instructors. I have been taking lessons since I was three." Jiro told her with a smile and Akari laughed. Then they both went inside to wait for the police arrived. At first the man tried to lie and say Jiro started it. But the Waitress, Cook and over a dozen patrons who watched the encounter. Claimed Honjo started it. So he was arrested. Akari then led Jiro home. No longer intersted in seeing a movie since she wanted to kiss him badly.

The End or Beginning or Whatever?