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Johnhouse125: Yes I know Ren kinda fades into background a little bit, but I promise you a certain blue haired girl will change that. Thanks for the review. Always appreciated
Now on with the Chapter!! Enjoy!!
Morning
Me and Ryuuji entered Taiga's apartment with her breakfast, we entered her room and she was still sleeping.
"Jeez, would you get up already? I bet you stayed up late again, didn't you? Don't bother denying it. I know for a fact, your lights were on until 2:30!" he said slightly annoyed as he pulled out the covers revealing Taiga's sleeping form as she mutters in her sleep
"Rice… pouring out of Ryuji's ear… all white and shiny and… mmm… fluffy…"
"C'mon, I brought your breakfast over. Ren will warm it up, okay? Wash your face, and let's go." he said to her still sleeping we leave the room and finally is sort of awake and mutters
"…Did someone say breakfast"
Me and Ryuuji were now at the kitchen and I finished setting up her breakfast.
"Taiga's breakfast is good to go man, what's next?"
"Good, then you can go do the dishes and I'll do the laundry and we're good to go" Ryuuji said and I nodded as he looks around, still can't believe an apartment this big can feel so cold and empty.
"Hey Ren look at this" Ryuuji called to me and I crouch down and he gave me a photo album that came from the cardboard box he saw propping the door I opened it and behold, they bunch of pictures, but very blurry ones I did get a feeling of who was in these pictures until I felt a very scary presence behind me and Ryuuji.
"What are you two looking at" we turned around to find Taiga, very angry and cracking her knuckles
"T-Taiga! Are these all-" Ryuuji said as he's pretty scared right now
"Yeah, that's right. They're all pictures of Kitamura. You got a problem with that? You think I give a damn if you mutts do?!" she said getting ready to hit someone
"So you were taking pictures of Kitamura, is that why these pictures were taken by someone who couldn't hold a camera properly" I said jokingly but also while trying not to smile, but it didn't matter because she was mad all the same.
"I-It's not my fault! Whenever I try to take his picture, my hands start shaking really badly, and-" she said embarrassingly as an idea popped in my head
"Do you want me to take some pictures of Kitamura for you, It's no big deal, besides it'll be a lot better than what you currently have-" I was about to say more but Taiga stopped my by putting her hand in front of me
"Whoa! Back up a sec!"…Okay. How many are we talkin' here?"
"Let's see… what kind of pictures do I want? A profile shot when he's deep in thought? Him at softball practice? Oh! And one of him eating lunch, too! Gotta have that!"
Taiga was thinking out loud about what photos she wants of Kitamura while we're at are lockers she has to reach a little since her locker was at the top I couldn't help but smile at Taiga's enthusiasm over photos but I'm not going to judge
"Ren said he'd take as many as you want, didn't he? Jeez" he said reminding her
"Yeah I know, but there are ones that I wanna make sure he get! " she said and then turns to me
"Whatever you do, make sure you take a whole lot of 'em!" I nodded with a thumbs up when all of a sudden
"Morning!" Kitamura said behind Taiga and jumps up in surprise, I gave a wave hello
"Oh, hey. Morning yourself. Getting kind of a late start today." he said to Kitamura as he's a little early for school usually, while that happened I see Taiga dropped her bag.
"Yeah. I needed to drop by the student council office on my way in." Kitamura replied as Taiga was stuttering
"G-Good mor- H-hey-, H-h-Howdy…!" she finally got out something, but it didn't stick the landing
"Seriously?" I muttered as I put hand on my face
"Uh- no- That wasn't what I meant to say… I…" she looked like she was ready to did of embarrassment, but I think Kitamura found it enjoyable
"No, I get it.Howdy!" he said sort of cheering but the three of us was silent think, what just happened, but it gave me a great time to take the photo.
"Well, I better get going. See ya.Howdy!" he said as I gives the greeting to some students and some of them give an awkward greet back to Kitamura
Hey. Hey! You get that? she asked me
"Huh? Get what?" I asked her
"Y'know, "Howdy!" You got a picture of that, right?" she asked me if I got a photo of Kitamura I was going to say yes but Ryuuji interrupted me
"He just showed up out of nowhere. How was Ren supposed to know that'd be a photo op?" he said trying stand up for me but I put my hand on his shoulder
"Don't worry Ryuuji, I took the photo of Kitamura, I also kept the flash off so he wouldn't notice" I said while getting the camera my pocket and showed the picture to Taiga.
"Good job wolf" she said to me, looking very satisfied with the picture and I gave her a thumbs up
"Maybe you can teach that useless mutt a few things" Taiga said quickly going back to her usual self
"Really?" Ryuuji sighed as the three of us walked to class
Timeskip
Every student of Ohashi High we're gathered outside, there was a small stage and there was Kitamura, waiting for someone and it's was the student council president Sumire Kano, she's was a beautiful girl with long dark blue hair, she had a megaphone and she started by getting the students lined up in perfect rows and the girls with hands on there hips.
She started by announcing that some students have been forgetting there textbooks on a daily basis. She said the disciplinary committee said reported they counted that 59 students forgot their handbooks,
I realized she forgot how many at first and Kitamura had to remind her by whipering in hear and she said that 56 students forgot them, which prompted Kitamura do whisper (that it was 59) in her ear again (which pissed off Taiga to no end) and Kano corrected her mistake and dismissed the details
"The point is, forgetting your student handbook is unforgivable! It's the same as forgetting to have pride in being an Ohashi student! Got that, you boneheads?!" she said on the megaphone and all of us chanted
"YES, Ma'am!" Kano gave an approving nod, from what I've just seen, she can be very forgetful at times
"You're one to talk. You're about the most forgetful person I've ever seen!" Taiga spoke up to Kano with conviction
"What was that, pipsqueak? Did you say something?" the student council president asked
"You forgot to say "At ease."
"Hm?" Sumire asked again confused
"Say "At ease!" Taiga responded, raising her voice and Sumire finally gets what she's telling her to do.
"Oh! That's right! My bad. Students! At ease!" she said as the students relax and the female students take their hands off their hips.
"How lame. Why do you make us line up like this? We're in high school, not the army! You make us stand out here like jerks, while you go on and on with your stupid talk!" Taiga said exactly what's on her mind
"I fail to see the problem. You just have to stand there with your hands on your hips." Sumire responded a little confused
"We're not your slaves!" Taiga yelled with a raised fist
"Aisaka, take it easy!" Kitamura nervously said trying to defuse the situation
"Oh, working up a sweat this early in the morning, are we?" Sumire said with a smile
"Calm down, you're not helping!"
"Why don't you try it for once?! Do you have any idea what it's like to stand out here holding your arms up looking like an idiot?! It's so humiliating!" Taiga yelled but then Kitamura grabbed her by her armpits, due to her short height she was off this ground.
"Aisaka, do you think you could dial it down a little bit?" he said as Taiga was blushing and nodded her as he continued
"Sorry about that, President! Please continue with the assembly."
After the fiasco that just happened, the student rumor mill started rolling as students started to question why Taiga would go after the student council president. Ryuuji had his head down and I heard him say something
"That was dumb..." I couldn't help but agree with him.
Class continued, as Haruta was struggling to read a passage, I stopped reading to check on Taiga. I can tell she was upset about what happened or maybe she was happy...?
She was going through the stages of emotion and at some points she went through the emotions at the same time. Our teacher stopped Haruta from reading and she made the mistake by choosing Taiga and she makes both hands into fist and gave our teacher a death glare.
"Or, maybe not! That's fine too… Haruta!" she said in fear going right back to Haruta who was hiding food he was eating behind the book
"Ah! But, that's not fair, ma'am!" he said complaining
"Great! Give it your best shot!" but his pleas went on deaf ears by her
"Do you even care what I said?" he responded depressingly and Taiga melted back to her desk
LUNCH
"Hey, here's your lunch." Ryuuji said handing her lunch
"No thanks, I'm not hungry." she said with her head down with her arms buried with it as Ryuuji sighs and put her lunch down on her desk
"I get in a stupid fight with the student council president and make trouble for Kitamura. But then… he comes up and holds me by my armpits… Happy, happy, Armpit Carnival!" she said squirming in her seat dreaming happily with a open smile
"Oh, god, I have to apologize!" she said and the almost like magic Kitamura appeared out of nowhere and said
"Seriously, don't worry about it! Our president doesn't let things like that bother her!" he then sees Taiga's unopened lunch
Whoa, you brought lunch? Do you mind if I join you guys? he asked surprising her, the Kushieda came out of nowhere and spun around into view
"Someone say lunch? I like the sound of that! You guys got room for one more?" she chirped, causing Ryuuji to be dumbfounded, my mind was going haywire at this point as Kitamura and Kushieda were talking to each other, the three of us looked at each other wondering how we ended up in this situation.
I excused myself from the situation and found a small space between two vending machines, cowardly or not, I wanted to eat my egg sandwich with no awkwardness in my way, I opened the packaging and ate the first half and contemplated the day, I heard steps and saw it was Noto, a classmate in 2-C
"Hey Saikawa" he said with a smile and gave a wave
"Hey Noto" I replied as he looked at a me confused to what I'm doing
"I wanted to be alone and It's actually a nice spot to think and eat" I told and it seem to answer his questions without him asking.
"Did I get all your questions or you want to tell me something?" I asked him
"Yes I do, don't freak out ok but I know who you are." he said to me as I froze up, mentally I was freaking out.
"How long?" I asked quietly, he kneeled down with me.
"A couple days after school started, I figured you were the son of famous clothing designer Sumi Saikawa" Noto replied as I was shaking nervously, I got caught, someone recognized me, all possible scenarios was in my mind.
"Don't worry I won't tell anyone, I can see that you have a reason for not telling anyone, I won't ask but your secret is safe with me" he said as I was shocked, I finally relaxed
"Promise?" I asked
"Promise"
"Well I enjoy the rest of your lunch, Saikawa don't be a stranger yeah?" he said waving as he walked away
"Yeah definitely" I said loud enough to hear him as I finished the last of my sandwich and went back to the classroom
Afternoon
The rest of the day was business as usual. After I got lectured for ditching Ryuuji and Taiga. She took me to Kitamura's baseball practice to take pictures, while Ryuuji was cleaning the school men's bathroom ( for some reason) I was able to get clean photos of Kitamura and it went without a hitch Taiga got the photo's she wanted and everything was fine. After Ryuuji was done, the three of us went to get coffee at a rip-off Starbucks.
"I still can't believe this place didn't get sued yet" I muttered while drinking my coffee
"Agreed" he said holding his mug as he turned his attention to Taiga who was staring dreamily at the photos I took, and drooling no less, I grabbed the a napkin and went towards her and cleaned her mouth
"You know you're gonna ruin the pictures if you get drool over them right?" I said, but she ignored me as she continued to look at them.
So much Kitamura… it's like a Kitamura Carnival…" she said in her own world giggling, I couldn't help but smile and Ryuuji did the same
Timeskip
We left the coffee shop and went back to Ryuuji's house as he's making dinner, and Taiga wanted to help, reminding him that he's making extra lunches for Kitamura and Kushieda. So Ryuuji let her peel potatoes.
"If you haven't noticed Ryuuji, you have the chance to make lunch for Kushieda" I said as the realization dawned on him as Taiga aggressively chops the potatoes turning it into a square as Ryuuji freaks out a little
"You know that's not how you peel potatoes right?" I said with a small chuckle
"What? I got rid of the skins, didn't I? Besides, if I do it like this, I won't accidentally cut my fingers off!" she told me, I shrugged, I guess she had a point
Me, Ryuuji, Taiga, and Ryuuji's Mother had our dinner, Rice Balls and the potatoes Taiga "peeled" we're cut into smaller cubes. Ryuuji's Mother had stars in her eyes as she looks at the food.
"Yay! Rice balls for dinner? It's like we're on a picnic!, I likethisone! It's cute, tiny and adorable!" she said as she pickes up a small rice ball that Taiga prepared.
"Really?! 'Cause that's the one that I made!" she said happily to Ryuuji's Mother
"Get out! You're a genius!" she replied as Ryuuji is eating a rice ball.
"On the bright side, she practice on these without hurting, there no peeling or cutting involved" I said as Taiga ate and then she glared at me while trying to say something to as well
"Eat then talk ok, don't want you to choke" I said, then Ryuuji's mother ate the rice ball Taiga made claiming she can taste her little hands.
After we finished our dinner, Yasuko went to work and I decided to head back to my apartment and at the front door I met a person holding a pet carrier and a two large boxes
"Are you Ren Saikawa?" he said looking at his clipboard
"Yes that would be me" I said as he handed me the carrier and pointed at the two boxes
"These is for you, have a good night" he said and he left I looked at the carrier and I spotted and envelope taped to the box I removed it opened it and it was a letter from mom.
Hi honey hope your doing well back home, since I'm very busy with work, I won't be able to take care of our kitten, so to make you won't feel alone at I sent maple to you, I know you will take great care of her, and I know you will make the right decision about your future
Sincerely Mom
I sighed at the last part knowing she won't take a hint that I don't want to take over her company, I put that in the back of my mind and took the carrier inside and the two boxes but I was happy I'm going to see my cat again.
I opened the zipper of the carrier and maple walked out she's a 2 year old black and white tuxedo cat, she instantly recognize me and hopped on my shoulder and I gave her some pets. as she purred
"Good to see you again maple" I said smiling as I started unpacking and set up the cat tree and all of her raw cat food in the in the freezer, there was a small backpack that can carry her since she likes go outside, she doesn't have a car bed since she always liked to sleep with me ever since she was a kitten and of course the litter box. I realized maple left my shoulder and sat in the cat tree, I was done I gave maple her dinner, after she was done I went to bed, thinking about how i would like to take pictures of the new friends i made would be great.
Morning
"Hey Saikawa! Check this out!" Kushieda said flashing a picture of a bucket of yellow... something.
"What's is it Kushieda" I said a little confused about the mysterious yellow substance
"Amazing, right? It's pudding! I made a whole bucket of pudding! It's every girl's ultimate desire!" she said as I now what it is and I start looking at the rest of them
"Looks cool" I said as best as I to not sound mean or weird
"I know, But since it was a huge amount, it didn't turn out too well. The parts that were supposed to melt in your mouth and the parts that were supposed to be all jiggly got all mixed up and- ah! Hello there, ladies! Here, take a look! Photos of my valiant bucket challenge! she said to me than turned to Nanako and Kihara with more pics of her pudding to show.
Looking through the rest of the pictures and I see picture of Minori sitting on the floor with the bucket of pudding between her legs. She has a spot of pudding on her nose, and she's raising a spoon full of it to her mouth. I found it cute and I couldn't help but lighty blush even though I didn't notice. I smiled and decided to keep the picture.
Timeskip
Even though it's not the picture Kushieda I had in mind, who is the first friend I made since coming back to my hometown but it's certainly fits her bubbly and cheery personality, so I'll say this is great picture and memory for my picture book as I put the picture in the pocket
I walked through the halls to see Ryuuji crouching near the vending machines looking at pictures.
"What are you doing Ryuuji?" I asked him, he looked up quickly to only realized it was only me and looked at the pictures
"Picking a picture for Taiga to laminate for her, last night I said I would do all of it for her since she couldn't decide, but she got mad and left, I reminded her that I can do all of them but she got angry again and told me to pick one and told me to help you" he explained as I sighed at the situation, I took the pictures and looked through them
"How are we supposed to know what she wants?" I said still looking through and I hear someone talk
"Let me guess, those photos belong to Aisaka."
"Yep your right" I unknowingly said to the person peeking over my shoulder and I realized it was Kitamura and I quickly stood up and also Ryuuji as i tried to hide the pictures.
They're all of me, huh? he said and I started panicking as I keep fumbling my word and continued.
"That reminds me. I'd completely forgotten I still have this in here." he took the student handbook from his shirt pocket and opened it to a page, he took a photo to reveal it's a picture of Taiga and to say me and Ryuuji was surprised, it's an understatement
"Sure takes me back…" Kitamura said with a smile
"Excuse me to ask Kitamura but why do you have a picture of Taiga" I asked confused, it could mean only one thing if I'm correct
"I used to have a crush on Aisaka. And now you know." he said keeping his smile, I knew it!
"Huh?" Ryuuji said completely dumbfounded
"Yeah, and within seconds of telling her how I felt, she totally shot me down! Cat's out of the bag. Just don't tell anyone else, okay?" he continued I nodded, honoring his request, Kitamura left I turned around to see Ryuuji's eyebrow twitching.
"You okay?" I asked and he finally spoke
"What...the...HELL!!!!" he screamed to the top of his lungs, definitely something I'll never forget.
After school it was sunset and me, Taiga and Ryuuji found ourselves on top of the roof of Ohashi High.
"I can't believe you straight-armed the guy." Ryuuji sighed in disbelief
"Agreed" I replied with my arms crossed
"It wasn't my fault! He- He said he liked me, and- and it caught me off guard… so I turned him down. But then, I started noticing him more after that, and I don't know… but somehow… I don't know, I just started really liking him!" she yelled a bit and the roof got silent then Taiga continued.
"It happened right here. On this very spot."
Flashback
Aisaka! someone said as Taiga turned around to see where the voice came from to reveal it was Kitamura
"With your straightforward personality and your short-fuse temper, I'm in love!" he said confessing his love in the weirdest way possible
"Oh, Kitamura…" Ryuuji sighed facepalming
"Weird, right? I couldn't tell if he was complimenting or dissing me. But either way, I was happy. I felt like, "Finally, someone gets it! Someone like me for who I am! ...Finally, someone understands me." she explained softly
"That's why I took all those pictures. The thing is, none of them had what I was looking for. That look. The one he had back then. I wanted to see that look on his face again. I-I just… I wanted to see it one more time." she finished her story with a smile, that's why she looked so indecisive on the pictures.
The moment that was actually pretty nice was ended by Taiga (who else) by trying to hit Ryuuji with a flying kick, he moves out of the way, but the kick ended up hitting me instead, sending me the to the wall, it didn't knock me out but everything hurts, and I think my ribs are bruised maybe cracked.
"Why are you making me say such embarrassing things to you too, you mangy mutts?!" she yelled angrily at both of us
"Why are you blaming us?!" Ryuuji yelled defending me and him
"Well- you guys are the only ones up here!" she yelled
I'm back at my apartment and I fed maple dinner and wrapped my severely bruised ribs in medical wrapped and mind couldn't stop thinking about Taiga's
"To be needed by someone else. Hm… I wonder what a concept like that means to someone like Taiga." I thought
"To be honest she still a big mess, she should've held up on giving Kitamura an answer, and Kitamura is no different, he needs to man up and ask Taiga out again" I continued, I shook it off as a question crossed my mind as Iay on my bed
"Will I ever get to experience love?"
A/N: Wow! this chapter took longer than I thought huh? Well I did it! I know I'm late but Happy New Year, 2020 is dead and buried. So on to Chapter 5, Hope you enjoyed it this chapter and I hope to get Chapter 5 out as soon as possible, as usual please consider leaving a like, a review and a follow so you don't miss out on a chapter. See you guys soon PEACE!!!