Disclaimer: See first.
Wow, I had TWO people saying they wanted to yell at Risa. That makes me happy, heh, for some odd reason. She's so frustrating...
(divider)
Something was haunting Risa.
All right, BESIDES the fact that Hiwatari had kissed her on the forehead, though that was haunting her as well in a somewhat different light. She'd rationalized it by now, Satoshi just got too into character, he was good at acting, and wanted to convey to her the true emotion . . .
"Oh come on, this is Hiwatari-kun, not some normal guy! He wouldn't want to protray emotion, he'd just tell it blankly like he would with anyone else!"
But then the question lurked, why hadn't he? What made this different? What made HER different?
She was having a upsettlingly simple time remembering the experience, of his lips pressing against her forehead. Funny, they were warm. You wouldn't expect that, not from Hiwatari.
"Gah!" She shook her head frantically and turned to her schoolbag. She had homework. The sky broke outside and she heard the pitter-patter of raindrops begin again. At least Satoshi wasn't out in it this time. She wouldn't need to rescue him.
'Rescue'? Her mind asked with interest. 'I rescued him? It sounds almost... romanctic.'
She huffed, glaring at the red construction paper angrily and pulling out a pair of sissors.
"I do NOT-"
Snip.
"LIKE-"
Snip.
"HIWATARI-KUN!"
Snip snip. One side of the paper drifted to the floor and Risa stared at it. An entire class...
She'd need help. Immediately, she stood and went over to the kitchen, where Riku was baking.
"Do you want to help--"
"SorryreallyreallybusyDaisuke'llbehereinaminutepleasedon'tdistractme!" The older girl said in a rush, hands a blur of action. Risa nodded.
"Okay..."
Well, that took Niwa out of the picture too. Who else was ther--
Hiwatari flashed through her mind. Hiwatari helping on THIS project flashed through her mind and she covered her mouth quickly. Even if he wouldn't help, it'd be worth the look o his face to try.
Gleefully, she tugged on a raincoat and headed out into the rain, protecting the bag with her hands. Now she'd be able to ask him about that 'incident'... or maybe it'd be too embarassing.
Then again it wasn't a crime! Satoshi did not have a right to kiss her, even when demonstrating something! She would demand an explanation!
After she got him to help her on the project of course.
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Rain. Argh, the stuff hadn't stopped falling almost all day, not for a moment. It was as if the summer were blowing out a flood of pent-back emotion, a never-ending sob.
Well, that was a cheerful way to look at the weather wasn't it?
Satoshi sighed, watching it fall. He needed a hobby. While reading was fine, he'd read all the logical books he could find, calling anyone was out of the question as it was so out of character for him, and he'd ever seen the point in watching television.
It was about then that the doorbell rang. He opened it, questions as to the caller's identity flitting through his mind. The answer was the farthest away from normal he could imagine.
"Hi Hiwatari-kun." A drenched and dripping Risa Harada stood on his doorstep, holding a bag in one hand, her hair sticking in long strands to her face.
Satoshi watched, expressionless.
"Do you have a moment? I need your help with something."
"School?"
She nodded, motioning at the bag with a tilt of her head, water dripping onto it immediately.
"Are you doing something else?"
He hesitated. Was he really so desperate for entertainment that he would stoop to this? Helping Harada with schoolwork? He decided regretfully, that the answer was yes.
"No. Come inside." He said finally, his voice quiet. She did so, rain collecting into a puddle on the floor as she stood there, sheepishly.
"Sorry to bother you, it's just that everyone's got an earlier engagement for today and... you were the only person I thought of." Realizing how that must sound, she panicked, waving her hands.
"Not that you don't have a social life, it's just--"
"It's all right Harada-san. What's the project?"
"Well... it's for some of the classrooms. It is nearing Febuary so..."
Satoshi had already opened one of the bags, taking out a piece of lace and a sheet of red paper, looking at them with an expression of bemusement. He gazed over at Risa.
"We're making paper hearts?"
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"So, Hiwatari-kun..."
They were almost an hour into the project now, Risa working hard on one of the more difficult hearts and Satoshi doing something unidentifiable with lace. He didn't look up as she started the question, still concentrating. She persisted onwards anyway.
"About what happened earlier today..."
"Harada-san, it's fine."
"Oh, well... not, that... about what you told me about Dark-sama and you... kissing me."
His head came up at that and he looked at her, raising one eyebrow. She blushed faintly.
"I kissed you?" His tone was quizzical and the blush immediately fled from Risa's face, replaced with shock. He'd forgotten!
"Yes, while you were telling me you-you kissed my forehead." And the blush was back again. She could feel her cheeks burning, and the forehead in question feeling vunerable. Satoshi frowned. He was pretending, Risa thought. He HAD to be.
"Hn." Was all he said. Risa huffed.
"Well, would you like to give me an explanation?"
"Would you like me to apologize?"
"Do you want to?"
"No."
The answer was simple and a definite end to this line of conversation. Risa sighed quietly, returning to her card which she was trimming with white lace. But it was only a few minutes before she tried again.
"Hiwatari-kun, have you ever gone out with someone?" She had no idea where that had come from, and from the look Satoshi shot her, he didn't know either.
"No."
"Why not?"
"I find that it rarely ends well."
Risa couldn't think of anything to add to that, so they continued in silence.
Until...
"Do you like me Hiwatari-kun?"
(divider)
HA!