Konnichiwa minna-san! Gomenasai for not updating for a lllllllooooooooooooooonnnnnggggggg time! Can you believe it? TWO LONG YEARS! I bet you are thinking if I'm going to finish this! I got a big writer's block and I was kinda frustrated of my writing! Maybe I need a beta (is the term, 'beta' right? I'm don't know what is that? :V) I will try to finish this story because I know the feeling of reading an unfinished story! I must admit, this story of mine is kinda slow – paced. Anyways, here is the update, hope you are still with me! :D

Note: The Author does not own Lovely Complex. This amazing anime belongs to Aya Nakahara – sensei.


CHAPTER 16: STEP FORWARD

"Otani – kun?" I approached him. I was kind of nervous, but to overcome this fear of boys, I must always talk to Otani – kun. Otani – kun is the only male I am comfortable with. Oh! There is also someone..

Otani – kun turned his head towards me. He instantly smiled as he approached me. I invited him for lunch, since our friends were waiting for us in the cafeteria. We talked for a while then he asked me if I am comfortable with boys now.

I instantly answered, "Not really, Otani – kun. But I am trying." I bowed my head shyly. Otani – kun is helping me, yet I am progressing slowly.

He called my name to get my attention, "Don't worry, this thing is not solved quickly. I will help you." He smiled warmly that made me smile too.

"Arigato, Otani – kun." I want to overcome this fear that burdens me for a long time. I want to change. I want to talk to boys easily.

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My heart skipped a beat as Suzuki – kun calls my name. I nervously turned my head towards him. I was carrying books to the library. "Can I help you?" he asked. I thanked him. I sometimes wonder why everytime I am carrying books, Suzuki – kun is always helping me. Maybe I think too much. Or maybe Suzuki – kun is really a good guy. Both Suzuki – kun and Otani – kun help me overcome my fear. I remembered the first time Suzuki – kun approached me, I almost cried infront of him.

I was in the library returning the books I borrowed in the shelf when I almost bumped with Suzuki – kun. I jumped back, my eyes are starting to glisten from impending tears.

"Are you alright, Tanaka – san?" he asked in a worried tone.

"I am okay. Uhmm. I have fear of talking to boys.." I replied, my voice and my body were both shaking.

"Gomenasai, if I frightened you," he said sadly.

"No, no. It is not your fault. I am sorry if you found me weird," I bowed embarrassingly.

"I did not find you weird. I think you have a reason why you have this fear. Uhmm.. if you don't mind, you can talk to me about it. I will help you." He offered shyly.

"Really?"

"Yes. I can be your friend. If that is alright with you?"

"Thank you."

And that is how it started. Since I am Nobu – chan and Risa – san 's friend, and Suzuki – kun is friends with Otani - kun and Nakao – kun, we are always together. Thanks to them, I can see the hope of eliminating this fear.

But as time goes by, I somehow felt nervous everytime I am with him. At first, I was uncomfortable, then I felt at ease, but recently, the nervousness is back again. It is not uncomfortable. It is not nervousness out of fear. It was a different kind of nervousness. Despite of this feeling, I welcomed it. I like Suzuki – kun's company and I won't let this unexplainable feeling to avoid Suzuki – kun. I won't let his and Otani – kun's effort to be put to waste! With that, I composed myself and managed to answer him, "Yes, thank you, Suzuki – kun." I handed him some of my books I carry, but he insists he will carry all the books. "Are you heading to the library, too?"

To my surprise, Suzuki – kun face became scarlet. Is he sick? I absentmindedly put my hand to his forehead. I realized what I did when he didn't answered me. "I am sorry!" Oh, this is so embarrassing!

Suzuki – kun cleared his throat and answered, "I .. I am n-not sick, thanks for asking. I am – uh.. n-not heading to the library. I just saw you carrying a lot of books. Girls should not carry heavy things." I tried to hide my blush as he said that. Suzuki – kun is truly a gentleman. 'No wonder I like him. What? Why did I say that?' I shook my head and Suzuki – kun asked if I am okay.

"A-ah yes.. Th-thank you for helping me, Suzuki – kun. Risa – chan and Otani –kun are busy doing other class duties so I volunteered to return these books to the library."

We were quiet as we return the books to the librarian. We were still quiet as we walk to the hall. As we reached the corner, Suzuki – kun asked me, "Tanaka – san, do you have any plans this Saturday?"

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On-the-other-side Point of View

"This Saturday?!" Koizumi excitedly asked to Otani, who is also beaming.

"Yup! And I brought the tickets! There is also an albu-signing after the concert!" He answered, handing the ticket to her.

"For real?! Oh my goodness! I am so excited!"

"Hey, don't think this is for free! You must pay me!"

Koizimi gave him a sharp look. "Old man! I will buy the tickets next time." The comical duo then started planning for the upcoming Umibozou concert.

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Upbeat music blared the concert hall from the loudspeakers. People were starting to assemble to the front. The light above and below were blinking in timed fashion. Koizumi and Otani ran towards the crowd. The big screen on the stage showed the countdown of the concert. 30 seconds.

"This is so fun!" Otani shouted, as people and the music were so noisy, that he himself cannot hear his own voice.

"The people are riot! I am looking forward to the album – signing later!" Koizumi shouted back. When Umibozou appeared on the stage, all of them shouted excitedly. All of the audience were jumping and dancing, raising their hands in the air shouting the artist's name.

"OSAKA! ARE YOU READY?!" Umibozou greeted the over- zealous fans. The crowd went wild as they sang with Umibozou.

"OTANI!"

"KOIZUMI!"

Both shouted at the same time. Both of them were dragged away from one another by the large crowd. Otani tried to reach her, but the crowd kept on dragging him away to Koizumi. He was blocked by a tall guy that he momentarily did not see Koizumi. As he looked the last spot he saw Koizumi, she disappeared!

"KOIZUMI?" Otani shouted worriedly. He should be enjoying this Umibozou's performance, but he can't. Not with Koizumi around. He shoved the people just to find her. To his surprise, he found Koizumi on the floor, struggling to get up. The people did not notice her as their eyes were fixated to Umibozou.

"Koizumi?", he helped her on her feet. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. HOO! This people are riot! Let's have fun!" She replied, like nothing happened, like she enjoyed everything that happened to them.

"Are you crazy? You are still happy after what happened? You idiot! You made me worry!" Otani shouted annoyingly, messing his hair like what he do when he is stressed.

Koizumi was taken aback, "You are worried?"

"Of course, you are a girl! I should be worried!" he said irritatingly. "I won't loose you again!" Without second thought, Otani grabbed Koizumi's hand. Both were surprised by Otani's actions. But Otani tried like it was no big deal.

'Otani's hand is warm.'

'Koizumi's hand is warm.'

They both thought. As they return to their previous spot, but of them were quiet, their minds swarmed with thoughts. And their thought were the same.

'What am I thinking? This is Otani / Koizumi!'

Koizumi tried to remove from Otani's grip, but the short one tightens his grip even more. "Hey, I don't want another search party!"

"Uhm. Okay." She replied dumbly. They both faced the stage, and the awkwardness were long forgotten. They were unaware that they were still holding hands as they raise their hands in the air, singing along with Umibozou and fans.

When the concert ended, they awkwardly release their hands. Otani cleared his throat while Koizumi fixed her scarf.

Otani was first to broke the tension. "Hey, let's go to the album-signing booth!"

With that, Koizumi lightened up. "Oh yes! Let's go!"

Without warning, Otani grabbed Koizumi's hand once again. He looked at Koizumi and he saw she was surprised. He coughed and told her, "Uhm, in case the crowd went wild once again."

"Uh-y-yeah, r-right," she didn't resist. If she was honest, she felt comfortable when Otani took her hand. Otani, on the other hand, if he also was honest, felt that Koizumi will be safe if he hold her hand.

They ran toward the booth, the discomfort of holding each other's hand started to fade away.

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Finally, I updated! I hope Koizumi and Otani's progress is not too sudden! :D

HAHAHA I keep on blabbering, I just missed writing fanfics! I consider this as rebirth! Hehehehe!

Thank you very much for still reading my story! Thank you for following!

by

green-ninja05

September 2016