A/N: I OWN NOTHING! I am just borrowing Naoki and Kotoko for my own amusement.
-3K+N3-
The next couple of weeks went in the same fashion, just with Naoki and Kotoko walking to and from Tonan together as he got ready for his tournament in the beginning of the summer break, and Kotoko finished her half summer break remedial lessons. Before either of them knew it, the National's Tournament was upon them and Kotoko was finally done with her classes.
"Irie-kun," Kotoko started during her tutoring session the night before the tennis tournament started. He looked over at her and hummed softly in response, lounging on his back across her floor. The hard surface actually felt wonderful on the aches that had been plaguing him as he continually pushed himself in practice, feeling more pressure than normal to do well. "How exactly can I support you besides just being there? I do not wish to embarrass you, so I would like to know the proper etiquette please."
Naoki was kind of stunned that she would make such a conscious effort to support him in the proper way at the tournament. "Honestly," he replied as he rolled over, groaning in pain as he turned over onto his stomach, resting his head on his arms as he looked at her across the room from him. "I do not really know how to answer that. I have never had a girl…. Uh… Well, someone other than family there to support me." Naoki could not believe he had almost called Kotoko his girlfriend. Is that what he considered her to be? He stopped to think about it. 'I guess I have only ever kissed her. She is the only girl I have ever showed interest in… But I would have to actually ask her on a date or ask her to be my girlfriend… I wonder if I could somehow convince her that the date is her idea…'
"Well, I will try not to be too loud," her voice came from a closer distance than before. Naoki refocused on her to realize that she was kneeling next to him, her face bright red, the color dipping below the collar of her shirt, which was normally prone to happening whenever she was really embarrassed.
'What is she so embarrassed about?' he wondered. Before he could ask her, she spoke.
"Would…" she paused, taking a deep breath, and swallowing harshly. "Would you like me to massage your back and shoulders, Irie-kun. You seem to be in pain from the tension, which I would imagine is from all the practicing that you have been doing."
Naoki was flabbergasted at the object of his affection's directness. 'Can I handle her hands on me for so long?' he mused as he contemplated her offer. 'I mean, I am really sore…' Deciding that worst case he would end up with her in his arms again, or possible with her pillow soft lips against his own again, he threw caution to the wind. "If you do not mind, that would actually be great." The young girl shook her head before beginning at his shoulders, firmly massaging in wide circles. She would dig in any time she felt a knot roll, meticulously working out every bit of tension from his body.
Naoki felt his eyes growing heavier as she worked his back over, enjoying the feel of her willingly touching him. 'This would be even better if I did not have to have my shirt on…' he stopped that train of thought quickly, acknowledging to himself that it would be completely inappropriate to be in her locked room alone with her while half clothed. 'Ah well, cannot be helped at this point.' To keep himself from falling asleep, Naoki decided to talk to her. "So Aihara," he began quietly, not really wanting to interrupt the easy silence. "Have you figured out what you want for either of your other wishes?"
Her hands paused briefly at the base of his shoulder blades (her current mission in this wonderfully frustrating massage) before she resumed her movements. "I had an idea for one," she whispered shyly. "It is honestly more of a dream than a wish… I am sorry, but I do not know if it would even be appropriate to ask for as a wish."
"How about I be the judge of if it is appropriate or not?" he questioned, far too curious at this point to let it go.
"I would love to go on a date with you sometime," she continued. "But I am unsure if that would make it seem like I am forcing you to do something you do not wish to do, by making it one of my wishes."
He twists himself slightly to look at her before he spoke. "Kotoko, would you like to go on a date with me after the tournament?" He watches her nod her head vigorously. "That was me asking to ask," he explained. "The wish part can be you planning the date. Sound fair?" She beamed happily at him as she finished up his massage. Naoki was in heaven at this point, because he was able to take her out, with it mostly being her idea, and his back was feeling better than it had in weeks. "Thank you for this by the way."
"You are most welcome, Irie-kun" she whispered as she finished. He pulled himself up to a sitting position before he reached for her. He wrapped his around her gently, allowing her the opportunity to pull away if she wished to do so before drawing her body against his, both upright on their knees as he hugged her firmly. He sighed happily internally as he held her in his arm, breathing in her familiar scent.
"I think," he began beside her ear, feeling her wiggle slightly as the sensation tickled her. "That for you to be supporting me tomorrow, you should make sure that I stay hydrated, that Mom packs food for us, that I have a towel for ridding myself of sweat, and possibly massaging my shoulders and back during the tournament."
"If I do that in front of people, will people not get the wrong idea about us, Irie-kun?" she asked shyly. He pulled back slightly to look into her face, noticing that her eyes were slightly glazed as she became lost in one of her daydreams. He chuckled lightly before he spoke again.
"What idea would that be?" he asked curiously, to see if she would say it.
"Well," she stuttered out. "Would they not believe us to be dating or engaged if I was touching you like that in the open?"
"And?" he asked. "How is it any of their business. I asked you to be there to support me, and the massage you just gave me was able to relax me in a way I have not been for weeks, if not months. If the pain comes back, I might need that again, regardless of who is around or what they think." Naoki was more confident asking this of her because his mother had to take Yuki to one of his camps for school, so she would not be present. He smiled slightly as he watched the copper haired girl duck her head as her blush deepened. "What did I say about hiding your face from me?" She gasped softly as she jerked her head back up quickly, her eyes catching his, the cool storm that was reflected in her chocolate gaze had grown darker.
'Well damn,' he thought briefly before he leaned down, gently connecting their lips in a soft kiss. 'That reaction was just too cute for my own good.' He deepened the kiss by gently running his tongue over her bottom lip, swallowing her second gasp as he massaged her tongue with his own, claiming her mouth. He tightened his arms around her, pulling her body as close to him as possible as she began to participate eagerly. After a few more moments he pulled back, panting lightly, hugging her tightly against him. "I think I should go to bed," he said out of breath.
"Oh…okay," she struggled to catch her breath as well. He smiled softly before pulling back from the hug, gently pecking her lips once more before disengaging from her entirely.
"Good night, Aihara," he whispered as he stood. "I will see you in the morning." He stretched his arms above his head before walking to her door, unlocking it, and opening it.
"Good night, Irie-kun," she replied. "I will make sure everything is in order for the tournament before I turn in. Rest well." He nodded before walking to his own room and flopping onto his bed.
'Well,' he sighed softly into his pillow as he got comfortable. 'That could not have gone better than if I had planned it. I definitely enjoy the fact that she likes my touch enough to allow me to hold her and kiss her. I think I actually have feelings for her. I think I want her to be my girlfriend.' He paused himself as he mulled over that term. 'I more just do not want anyone else to have the opportunity to have her. Keeping her for myself definitely makes it so no one else will touch her the way I always find myself touching her. Does that mean I actually want her to be my girlfriend?' Unsure of himself, Naoki decided to go to sleep. 'Guess I will know for sure after our date.' With that last thought, Naoki found himself involved in several dreams about his housemate, most of them involving more intimate massages that had far less clothing involved.
The next morning, Naoki woke up to noises floating up the stairs. 'That sounds like a lot of crashing' he mused completely puzzled as he followed his morning routine, getting ready for the tournament. He was dressed in his tennis kit and made sure that he packed his bag with his racket, shoes, towel, wrist bands, and extra balls. 'Guess I should see what is going on. That was one of the best night's sleep I have gotten in a while. Thank you, Aihara, for working out all that tension. It definitely made a difference.' With that last thought, he slid into his place at the table, having dropped his bag by the front door as he passed it.
"Good morning," he greeted quietly before picking up the paper, thanking the Gods and his mother for the food, and Kotoko for his coffee before digging in. Nothing interesting was really happening, but he still enjoyed the mundane routine of reading the newspaper. He was a firm believer in the written word not being on a computer or phone screen as a way of truly learning. Naoki would always prefer books, newspapers and written correspondence over a phone or computer, but he was able to grasp that different technological advancements permitted people to maintain their personal connections easier while having information at the click of a button.
'The only downside is the fact that everyone can post on the internet, whether that information is valid or not.' Therein lays his issue with technology, is the fact that the sources do not have to be checked or verified for someone to post their opinions, or their trolls as seems to be the more often case. Before Naoki could even begin contemplating the horrid annoying ability of keyboard warriors, he realized that his food was long gone, and his coffee was being slowly savored. 'Guess it is time to go, since we have to head to Shibuya for the tournament this year.'
"I am going," he said as he pushed away from the table and stood up.
"Oni-chan," his mother wailed. "I am so sorry that Yuki and I will be unable to make your tournament this year! And Dad and Mr. Aihara will be unable to make it as well do to work!"
"It is okay, Mom," he placated as he began to slide his feet into his shoes. He noticed that Kotoko was carrying a large bag that she put down as she slid her shoes on as well.
"Kotoko-chan," his mother bawled pathetically. Naoki rolled his eyes as the beginning of one of her over dramatic scenes began to take shape. "You must go to Oni-chan's tournament and cheer for him in our stead." The younger girl nodded seriously, balling her hand into a fist, and firmly pulling it down in front of her with her elbow bent, kind of in a way that reminded Naoki of someone celebrating a success of their own.
"Regardless of who is going," he drawled out, anxious to head out so he would not be late as he picked up his tennis bag. "We need to go now, so we are not late. Goodbye, Mom," he said as she pulled him into a quick but tight hug, wishing him luck. "See you later." With that last word he left the house, Kotoko on his heels with the large bag in her hand. He waited until they were away from the house a bit before asking: "Do you want me to take that?"
"No thank you, Irie-kun" she denied. "I do not wish for you to be sore before you even start your tennis matches."
"And here I thought you enjoyed having your hands all over me," he sighed dramatically, taking a page out of his mother's book with a dramatic eye roll. He was rewarded with Kotoko attempting to back pedal before he began to chuckle. "I am joking, Aihara," he smiled at her. She began to giggle softly once she caught on to the joke that he had made.
"Oh," she replied. "I am so excited to actually attend your match though, Irie-kun. I am sorry for saying so, but it seems like something a real couple would do. The girlfriend preparing everything, so her boyfriend does not have to worry about anything besides his match…" Naoki watched as her face took an adorably dreamy quality as she got lost in the idea of them being in a true relationship.
'Maybe someday soon,' he thought to himself. 'Although you do have a point… I definitely treat he as though she is my girlfriend already.' He shook his head firmly. 'NO! Tennis now, Aihara later.' Once he got his head on straight, he grabbed her elbow steering her to the correct train to ensure she did not get lost. After about 15 minutes they were at their stop and began the short walk to the tennis courts. 'Let the matches begin,' he exhaled firmly, happy that everything he had been working towards was finally coming to a head.
