chapter 3: Sacrifice
Two weeks has passed and Ayu's slowly starting to adjust to her new environment.
"Ayu-chan! Wanna go check out the new cafe downtown? I heard they make these really delicious milkshakes!" Nina asked Ayu. It was already 5pm and Ayu's Tennis practices just ended.
Ayu finished putting on her shoes and turned to Nina. "Sure. It'll give both of us the opportunity to catch up with each other."
"Yatta!Let's go!" Nina took Ayu's hand and started off excitedly"
"That would be 200 yen for 2 milkshakes."
Nina pulled the exact amount out of her pocket, paid, then headed to the booth Ayu reserved for them.
"Here you go Ayu-chan!" Nina handed Ayu her order and sat down across her.
"Arigato. So, what's up with you? Except the fact that you finally have a boyfriend." Ayu asked while taking an experimental sip on her milkshake.
Nina blushed crimson. " Nothing really. Mama and Papa's okay. Still the same. I'm taking up english remedial classes cause I'm having sa really hard time undderstanding it."
"What about Tsujiai? How long have you been...uh...together?"
"Oh...uhm...not that long really...We're together for about 1 month." Nina answered cheerfully then noticed Ayu staring at her strangely. "What?"
"1 month? By the way you're acting it's like you were together for a year already." Ayu teased. "any plans of marriage?"
Nina choked on her milkshake. She gave Ayu her version of "Death Glare". Then she laughed nervously. "Don't be silly Ayu-chan! We're still in High School. We're too young for that!"
"Whatever you say Nina." Ayu said in a sing-song voice.
"Enough about me! What about you? Any suitors or boyfriends?"
Ayu finished the last of her milkshake then pushed the glass to the side. "Nah. I have absolutely zero time for those things. I have to finish my studies first. Then after that maybe I'll think about it."
"Still traumatized over what happened to you and Yuta...?" Nina asked quietly.
"Something like that." Ayu had this far away look on her face. "I thought I'm ready to forgive him for cheating on me. But everytime I see him or thought about what he did, I realize I'm not ready to forgive and forget. I still hated his existence. I still loathed his whole being."
"I see.." Then something in Nina's head clicked. "Why don't you try DATING?"
Ayu groaned. "Nina..I just said..."
"No! I mean JUST DATE. Not enter a relationship or something!"
"Well..." Ayu said doubtfully.
"Please Ayu-chan!Just try! Pretty please?For me?" Nina pleaded with puppy dog eyes.
Ayu threw her hands up in defeat. "Fine. I give up. Okay already. But who will I go out with?"
"Why not go on a blind date? That's a pretty good way to meet someone."
"Nu-uh. NO WAY. Remember the last time I went to one?" Ayu stated firmly.
"Oh yeah. Okay...hmmm..." Nina snapped her fingers. "I know! Kaji-kun!"
Ayu was about to object when she suddenly went still. She slowly raised her head to look at her bestfriend. "Tetsushi..?" she said thoughtfully.
Nina nodded her head excitedly. "It's perfect! At least you two will have the chance to get to know each other!" Then she lowered her voice "and maybe you'll be the one who can mend his broken heart..no thanks to me.." Nina mumbled incoherently.
Ayu failed to catch the last sentence. "What? What did you say?"
"Uh..nothing! Just go Ayu-chan, okay? I'll fiz your date for you!" Nina said quickly.
Ayu sighed. "Okay. Fine. You got me already. I'll go."
Nina jumped up to her feet and winked at Ayu. "I'll go over to Kaji-kun's place and ask him personally! See you tomorrow Ayu-chan!" With those words, Nina ran out of the cafe's door, leaving Ayu staring at her dot-eyed before she shook her head while smiling.
"She'll never change..."
Kaji was lying on his bed, staring at his ceiling, thinking of his usual thoughts that can be spelled with 4 letters: N-I-N-A. He sighed dejectedly, mad at his foolishness. "Forget her. She's happy now. At least you still have her as your bestfriend, right?" He sighed again. "Who am I kidding." He thought disgustedly. " I'm still madly inlove with her. And I just can't stand the thought of only being her BESTFRIEND." Kaji buried his face on his pillow and was about to indulge himself to more self-mourning when he heard someone knock on his door.
"Tetsushi? Are you awake?" It was his mother.
"Yes Mom. Why?" He called while sitting up on his bed.
"Nina's waiting for you downstairs. Shall I tell her to go up here?"
Kaji inhaled sharply. Nina. Nina's here! Matybe she realized she doesn't really love Tsujiai. Maybe..maybe...
"Sure mom. Send her right up." Kaji said.
"Hey! Sorry to disturb you Kaji-kun! Are you doing anything important?" Nina asked cheerfully as she bounced into Kaji's room moments later.
Kaji's heart sank. Any hope of him and Nina being together was crushed when he heard what she called him. He forced a smile, asked her to sit down beside him and tried to mask his disappointment by answering her question just as cheerful. "Nope. I'm not doing anything. So what brings you here?"
Nina pouted. "Humph! Why? Can't I visit my bestfriend for no reason at all?"
"Nina, I've known you all my life. I know when you're up to something and when you're not." Kaji rolled his eyes playfully.
Nina grinned. "Okay, okay you got me. I have a favor to ask you."
"Shoot. Start talking."
"CANYOUTAKEAYU-CHANOUTONADATE?" Nina slurred out, not able to contain her excitement.
Kaji held up his hand in mock-surrender."Woah! Chill man! I didn't know you can talk THAT fast."
Nina grinned sheepishly. "Gomen! Got over excited."
Kaji scratched his cheek thoughtfully. "Lemme see if I got what you just blurted out irght. You want me to take Ayu out on a date?"
"Yup! You got it!"
"Well...I don't know.." He started slowly.
Nina jumped up from his bed and clutched Kaji's left hand tightly in her hands. "Come on Kaji-kun! Please! Please!"
Kaji just stared at Nina's pleading face, marvelling at how pretty she looks despite her childish exterior ( Complete with what looked like chocolate milkshake remains on the side of her mouth) and thought for the hundreth time why he can't have her. He looked away and shook his hand out of her grasp and walked to his window.
"Kaji-kun?"
Kaji took a deep breath before he faced her, and said in a crefully controlled voice "Sure Nina. When?"
Nina brightened up immediately and ran to him and hugged him tightly while saying happily "Yay! Thank you so much Kaji-kun!" She released him so sudenly that he stumbled backward but caught himself in time. Nina didn't seem to notice. "Pick her up on saturday. 4pm. Don't forget to fill me in with the details, okay?" Nina picked up her bag then approached Kaji again, taking his left hand again, giving it a light squeeze. "Thank you so much again Kaji-kun."
Kaji slowly raised his right hand and placed it on Nina's cheek. Nina closed her eyes as she felt the warmth of Kaji's hand, missing the opportunity to see the tears in his eyes. Kaji started leaning towards Nina's face and was about to kiss her when an image of Nina with Tsujiai flashed on his mind and he froze. Then he just let his lips land on her forehead instead before pulling back. NIna opened her eyes and saw Kaji smiling at her gently.
"No problem Nina." Kaji said then turned Nina around and began to lightly push her to the door. "Now go! Before I change my mind and decide to date your boyfriend instead." He said in lame attempt to lighten the mood..and to save his sanity. He was on the brink of losing it.
Nina laughed. "Hands off! He's mine! Okay, see you Kaji-kun! Thanks again!" She glanced at him one last time and headed down the stairs.
Kaji closed the door behind him and leaned on it and thought about what almost transpired between them. He would've regretted it..BIGTIME! He heard the front door slam and he went to his window to see Nina skip out of his house and start her way home. He sighed to himself and before he turned away, if someone even bothered to listen more closely, they would've heard him say "I still love you Nina..and for you...I'll do anything..."
a/n:GITARISTA22O7 SIGNING IN! sorry for the late update (yeah right!)...hope you like my chappie...uh...reviews are very much welcomed...flames too...I tried my best to keep the mood light and not get too dramatic.
: YEAH RIGHT!
GITARISTA22O7: ...?who said that?
: me!
g2207: who?
: ME! Kaji appears out of nowhere
g2207: waaah! what are you doing here?
Kaji: oh nothing...HUMPH.
g2207?What's up with you?
kaji: WHY THE HELL ARE YOU PAIRING ME UP WITH NINA?Ayu's mad at me.
g2207: nevermind...that's for me to know and you to find out.
kaji: hurrr...XX
g2207: sweatdrop uhh...can you do me a favor?
kaji: ...what?
g22o7: can u do the disclaimer next chapter?
kaji: I'll think about it.
g22o7: > meanie...fine...well folks, until my next update!
kaji: whenever that will be.
g22o7: HEY!
scene fades out with gitarista22o7 bopping Kaji in the head with and electronic hammer(?)