Chapter 9 – One problem is solved, another comes…

By : Sushimii S.S

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Part 1 – Mai's outburst

Takumi and Akira were walking side by side down the street. Both Takumi and Akira were as red as apple now.

Am I a bit too aggressive? … GOSH… I just kissed Takumi on the cheek… OMG! OMG! OMG!… My heart is beating like crazy…I AM SO EMBARRASSED! What will Takumi thinks? Does he like aggressive girl?

Akira stole a glimpse of Takumi. Their eyes met. Both of them quickly looked down on the ground.

Alright! I have decided…as a guy, I must be brave to make a move…since Akira has just kissed me… Takumi blushed as he thought of what happened at the restaurant just now.

Takumi reached out his hand to hold Akira's hand. Akira was surprised, but did not pull her hand away. Both of them blushed more.

Meanwhile Mai, Tate, Natsuki and Shiho who were planning to sabotage the date were hiding in the bushes nearby. Mai was so angry when she saw them held hands that she wanted to run toward them and pull them apart, but was held back by Natsuki.

"LET ME GO! OMG! WHAT DO THEY THINK THEY ARE DO-?" Mai yelled out loudly, but Tate covered her mouth immediately.

"SHHHhhhh!"

Akira and Takumi looked around.

"I thought I hear someone yelling," Akira said.

"I thought I hear Nee-chan's voice…" Takumi mumbled to himself.

"Anyway… where are we going now?" Akira asked as her voice suddenly turned soft and gentle.

"We are supposed to go to the amusement park… but now…" Takumi touched his hair. It was sticky due to the food that had spilt on him just now.

Akira also touched her hair. It was also sticky with some food stuck in her hair.

Oh no… I almost forgot about this! But I don't want to end the date now…Akira thought. She looked at Takumi, hoping he would continue their date.

Mai was still struggling to release herself from Natsuki. She was so strong until Shiho have to help Natsuki to pin her down.

"Calm down, Mai!" Tate hissed, but Mai was still purple in rage.

"Mai, you are so strong like a gorilla. I wonder why would Onii-chan want to date with a gorilla?" Shiho commented.

Mai stopped struggling and looked at Shiho. Now she was angrier than before. She swung Natsuki off like a piece of paper and jumped onto Shiho. Both of them started fighting like cat and dog, clawing each other again. Without realizing, they rolled out off the bushes where they were hiding in and stopped right in front of Takumi and Akira.

"STUPID SHIHO! WHAT DID YOU SAY!" Mai yelled.

"I SAY YOU ARE SO VIOLENCE AND STRONG LIKE A GORILLA! NO WONDER YOUR BROTHER RATHER BECOME A GAY! BECAUSE OF HAVING SUCH A SISTER LIKE YOU!" Shiho yelled back in anger, not realizing that Takumi and Akira were staring at them, and heard everything they said.

"Nee-chan…?"

Mai and Shiho were frozen. They slowly looked up and saw Takumi and Akira looking at them, shock and disbelief. Immediately, they jump away from each other. Shiho covered her mouth, knowing that she had said something bad. (Really bad… . )

"Eh… Takumi…" Mai panicked. She knew Takumi would be very angry to know that she had been sneaking on him.

"Nee-chan… what are you doing here? And what with the gay thing…?"

"Ehh…. That…" Mai stopped and thought for a while. Since she had been revealed, why doesn't she just confront Takumi of his abnormal taste…

"Takumi, are you dating with Akira?"

Akira's heart skipped a beat.

OMG! Have she finds out… my true identity?

"What?"

"I know you are dating with Akira. Takumi, what's wrong with you? Are you… are you a gay?" Mai blurted out her question as she looked anxiously at Takumi, hoping he would deny it. .

Akira's jaw drooped.

She did not find out… but now she thinks Takumi is a GAY! OMG…

There was a moment of silence. Everyone waited anxiously for Takumi's reply, including the whole bunch of girls following Nao to stalk the cute little couple. They were hiding near them too.

"Yes, that's right… I'm a gay." Takumi replied calmly.

Everyone including Akira's eyes dilated in shock. They were stunned for a moment.

What? Why? Why Takumi admit it when he is not… No, no, no… Takumi is trying to protect my identity… because of me! Now his sister thinks he is a gay… OMG… What is happening? NO, I cannot let Takumi's sister misunderstands. It's all my fault… I cannot let them fight…

"That's not true!" Akira cried out, as tears began forming in her eyes. Mai turned to look at Akira, surprised.

"Actually… actually I-,"

"ENOUGH, AKIRA. That's the truth, Nee-chan, I am a gay," Takumi cut off Akira immediately. He looked straight into his sister's eyes. Mai's eyes were teary now. She was trembling in anger.

SLAP!

Mai slapped Takumi hard on his cheek. Tears began rolling down her cheeks.

"Why, why… WHY!"

"…" Takumi remained silent, even though his cheek was burning in pain, and his chest is feeling heavy now.

Gomen, Nee-chan… but I, I… I want to protect Akira…Protect everything that is important to her…

Mai turned to look at Akira abruptly.

"Is it because of YOU? YOU CHANGE MY BROTHER! YOU ARE THE ONE LEAD HIM INTO SUCH THING!" Mai yelled indignantly at Akira.

"GOMENASAI!" Akira cried out in tears as she bowed and turned around to run off.

"AKIRA!" Takumi called out, trying to chase after her, but Mai put her hand on his shoulder to hold him back. Takumi slapped his sister's hand off.

"You shouldn't do that to Akira!" Takumi snapped. Mai was taken aback.

"You can scold me or hit me… BUT YOU SHOULDN"T HURT AKIRA!"

Takumi turned around to chase after Akira. Mai wanted to call out to him but Tate jumped out of the bushes and stopped her.

"That's enough, Mai!"

Mai stopped. Slowly, she collapsed on her knees and began to cry out. Tate kneeled beside her, and placed her head to his chest as he wrapped his hand around her shoulders.

"What have I done…?"

End Part 1

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Part 2 – Vegetables and meats…

Takumi entered his dorm. He looked around the living room, but see no sign of Akira. Then he heard water sound from the bathroom. He walked toward the bathroom and stopped in front of the door.

"Akira…?" Takumi called out.

"…"

After a moment, Akira still did not answer Takumi. Takumi sighed and walked away. Meanwhile in the bathroom, Akira was standing, lying against the wall. She let the shower on so that Takumi will think she was bathing.

I don't know what to do now… I have caused Takumi' sister to misunderstand him… I have to apologize to Takumi.

After an hour, Akira walked out of the bathroom after taking her bath. Takumi was not in the dorm.

Strange… where is Takumi?

Akira sat on the sofa and waited for Takumi to return. She looked at the clock. It was already 4.30 p.m. After a long time, Takumi was not back yet, and she fell asleep on the sofa without realizing.

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6 p.m.

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Takumi returned to the dorm with bags of vegetables and meats. He saw Akira sleeping on the sofa. Quietly, he tiptoed past her and put his items on the kitchen. Then he went to take his bath.

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6.30 p.m.

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After his bath, Takumi came out of the bathroom and saw Akira was still sleeping soundly on the sofa. He walked toward her and kneeled down beside the sofa.

… Akira looks so cute when she is asleep… Takumi thought as he blushed.

"Takumi…" Akira mumbled.

Takumi was caught off guard and he fell backward in surprise.

Thump, thump, thump…

He looked properly at Akira. She was still asleep.

Phew… luckily, she is still asleep… I thought she would catch me watching her sleeping… OMG! What will Akira thinks of me if she knows? What if she thinks I am some kind of psychotic guy?

"Takumi…"Akira mumbled again. Takumi's heart skipped a bit.

She is calling my name… in her sleep…

Takumi blushed. He quickly stood up and hurried off to the kitchen. He was bursting with energy now. Working hard to distract his mind from Akira, he started cooking dinner.

Thump, thump, thump… OMG… What am I thinking? I have to focus in making dinner now. That's it! All I need to think of is cooking dinner. What should I make today? Takumi hesitated awhile and turned to steal a glimpse of Akira's cute sleeping face. OMG! AKIRA IS SO CUTE!

Takumi quickly turned his attention back to cooking. He started grabbing all the vegetables in the plastic bag near him out and chopped blindly but delicately.

Note: This is like a wolf trying hard to distract himself from eating a cute and innocent little sheep who is unaware of the danger she is facing…

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The sun began to set. Tate and Mai were sitting on a bench in a park.

"Tate… do you think I have done wrong…?" Mai asked, looking down on the ground.

"Hmm?" Tate turned to look at Mai. He sighed and patted Mai on her head.

"Well, honestly, I think Takumi is very serious about Akira, and I don't think you should separate them."

"Even Tate you think I did wrong? But I just trying to save my brother from going to the wrong path!" Mai protested as she looked up to Tate.

Tate smiled gently and replied, "Mai… lets put it like this. I like Mai because Mai is Mai and not because you are a girl… That should be the same in Takumi and Akira's situation. They like each other not because of their gender but for who they are."

Mai looked at Tate with teary eyes.

Liking someone for who they are… and not because of their gender…

"As his sister, you should give him support, because if you don't, no one else will."

Mai hesitated for a while, but then nodded her head. Tate smiled.

"Good, so now, should we go talk to them?"

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Akira slowly opened her eyes.

"Have I fallen asleep on the sofa?"

She turned to look at the clock on the wall. It is 8 o'clock now.

OMG! I have been sleeping for so long?

Akira jumped out of the sofa. Then she heard sound from the dining table. She headed toward the table and was shock to see what happened. The whole table was filled with delicious looking meals… except that they were all made out of… umm… VEGETABLES.

Akira's jaw drooped. She turned to look at Takumi who was placing the last plate of vegetable on the dining table that was already over loaded with food that is enough for 30 people to eat. (Accurately, 30 monks… since all of it was made out of vegetables… .) Takumi looked exhausted as he wiped his sweat on his forehead with his sleeve. Then he noticed that Akira was standing over there and was staring at the dining table in shock and disbelief.

"Ah, Akira!" Takumi panicked.

"OMG… Takumi! What are you doing?" Akira asked, still staring at the table with dilated eyes.

"Ahhh… that…" Takumi remembered what happened just now.

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Flashback

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Huff, huff, huff…

Takumi panted with the knife still in his hand. He could feel his hands were cramp. As he looked up, his jaw drooped. He had finished chopped off all the vegetables he just bought from the mall. The vegetables that were supposed to be their entire month's supplies were all chopped into pieces, while the meats were left untouched at a corner. He gasped.

OMG! What have I done? OMG!

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Flashback end

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"Ha, ha, hahaha! That, well… I am just thinking… ehh…" Takumi avoided Akira's eyes contact as he worked hard to think off an excuse. Akira waited anxiously for an explanation.

"Well, actually, I feel like we have been gaining too much weight, so today we will be dieting… hahaha…" Takumi sweated.

"Gaining weight? Ehh… you mean, I'm fat?" Akira asked.

"No, no, no! Of course not! Hahaha…, you are still in a great shape. I mean, ehh…"

Akira looked at the bags of meats left untouched at the corner of the kitchen.

"And we will be eating meats only for the entire month after this?"

"That, that…, eh…"

"And how are we going to finish all these vegetables today…"

Takumi panicked. He did not thought of it at all. Suddenly the doorbell rang, saved Takumi. Takumi quickly hurried to get the door.

"I'll get it!"

Takumi opened the door. Mai and Tate were standing outside.

"Nee-chan?"

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Takumi, Akira, Mai and Tate sat around the dining table. The atmosphere was very tense. There was a long moment of silence between them. At last, Akira spoke.

"Gomenasai… Takumi."

"Huh? Why?" Takumi turned to look at Akira.

"It is all my fault that you and your sister fight…"

"Akira-," Takumi called out but was cut off by Akira.

"I have thought for a long time just now and I have decided… GOMENASAI, Mai-san!"

Akira looked at Mai as she continued, " I, I… I really like Takumi! … I know you will object our relationship, but I will not give up, because Takumi means a lot to me! So, please give me a chance… I will prove to you that I am worthy for Takumi."

Takumi's heart skipped a beat. He blushed upon hearing what Akira said. Akira looked at Mai for her reaction anxiously. Her heart was pounding like a runaway horse. Even Takumi and Tate turned to look at Mai, waiting nervously for her answer. Mai took a deep breath.

"I guess I have no choice," she smiled gently to Akira and continued, "I believe you truly like my brother, so I'll give you a chance, but if you hurt my brother, I will not let you off easily."

Akira and Takumi smiled joyfully.

"HAI!" Akira bowed.

GRUUU….

Their stomachs started growling. Four of them began laughing, remembering that they had forgotten about dinner. Takumi immediately invited Mai and Tate to join him and Akira for dinner. That night, Akira and Takumi thought it was a happy ending for them, not knowing that the worst is yet to come….

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"Ohayo, Takumi," Akira greeted. She was fully dressed, all ready to go to school.

"Ohayo. I have prepared breakfast." Takumi replied.

"Breakfast? What is it?"

"Here… careful, it is hot and steamy," Takumi joked as he handed a freshly baked bun to Akira.

"Meat bun…"

Akira looked at Takumi and both of them laughed, remembering that yesterday Takumi had cooked all the vegetables, so from today onward they will have to eat meat only for a month. Furthermore, Mai had shocked them all by swallowing up all the vegetables Takumi made yesterday, so they don't even have leftovers for today.

"Let's get going!"

While making their way to the school, Akira and Takumi noticed that people were looking at them strangely. Suddenly Mai ran toward them in hurry.

"Takumi, Akira, come with me!"

Not knowing what happened, they followed Mai toward the school bulletin board that was overcrowded now. Mai pushed off the people around the board aggressively, making way for Takumi and Akira.

Akira and Takumi had their biggest shock of life.

An enlarged photo of Akira kissing Takumi on the cheek was posted on the board with a note written 'FUUKA GAKUEN NEW HOT COUPLE' pasted below it.

Takumi and Akira's jaw drooped. Suddenly someone tapped them on the shoulder. It was Tate.

"Eh… The president of student council wants to see you two," Tate said, looking concern.

To be continued...

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Side note : The writer of this chapter was challenged to add a hot and steamy… meat bun. And she did it! Congratulations to the writer!