Ch.3 Confessions under a Sakura Tree

In the center of the now-deserted park, under billowing sakura trees, was located a set of swings wide enough to fit two little children. Orihime occupied one and Ishida awkwardly occupied the other. The sun's rays emphasized the strange but beautiful orange-ness of Orihime's hair. The way it flows seems to gently graze just above her soft luxurious skin. Gah what am I thinking! Snap out of it Ishida! Get a hold of yourself!

"Ishida…have you…ever loved someone?"

His ears perked up at the sentence. "Sorry Inoue-san…I don't understand you."

"Have you ever loved someone Ishida? Loved that person so much that you place their happiness above yours… love that person so much as to give up your love for them if that person should decide to be happier with someone else? A selfless love…yeah, that is what love is" finished Inoue with a sad smile.

"Yes Inoue, I unfortunately…have."

Now her eyes glowed with surprise.

"You have, Ishida? When? With whom? That is, if I may know."

Ishida chuckled at her surprise and timidity even when she showed interest.

"Yes of course you may know Inoue-san. You're the closest person I have to …a friend…I will certainly tell you. I fell in love, not long ago, to a bright and cheerful girl who is apparently very oblivious to my feelings. Haha, though I can't blame her. I was denying it for the longest time. In fact, I have just accepted my feelings for her recently right under this sakura tree too, coincidentally" he smiled mischievously.

"Oh really, that must have been romantic. She must have been delighted. Rest assured Ishida-kun she will and she must return her feelings for you. You said it with the utmost sincerity. You've a very sincere person Ishida. I know that, and any person, any girl, would be foolish not to love you" her eyes glittered for a second and her smile turned genuine.

Ishida's heart did leaps and bounds as he, secretly on the top of his heart's little lung, shouted hooray at this hard-earned victory. He got Inoue to smile again.

Suddenly, a daring but mysterious intriguing thought came to him. What if he was to confess everything to her right here, right now? All the feelings that have laid hidden in his heart could burst forth in this crucial moment of indecision. Cautiously, bravely, and abandoning reason, Ishida decided.

"Inoue"

"Yes Ishida?"

"No, I mean Orihime"

"Hehe, you finally remembered to call me by my first name"

"Yes…um, Orihime. There's something that I wish to tell you"
"Go ahead Ishida-kun."

"Orihime…I ….for the longest time…."
Orihime peered at him with big patient eyes.

"I've felt…certain strange things…as of some time now."

"and…what are they Ishida?"

"I…(looking at the his own shadow on the ground), I've for the longest time, felt something for you," he exhaled.

" I don't even know what it is. Don't ask me because if you do I will just stammer away to no end and bore you to death. You see, I'm boring you already! I'm not much of a talker, I'm not very intelligent either, but I'm really good at sewing! I'm not as athletic as Ichigo or as strong as him…damn it…but I am still a man…who cares for you…very much. And I would be sooo happy, if you Orihime, would return that same affection to me. I know that you need time so I'll be happy to leave now to leave you in your thoughts. Good-bye Orihime, um, forgive me, I have no right to call you that yet, haha, Inoue-san."

After that massive speech where he almost took no breath of air, he trotted away back to his home. He needed to take a cold shower. He couldn't believe what he just did. Where he got the courage to confess to her he didn't even know. All he knows right now is that his happiness and his heart all lie in her hands.