Konnichiwa minna-san!

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


Chapter 17: SHOCK!

Omniscient Point of View

"Suzuki – kun! Ohayo!" Koizumi greeted cheerfully as Suzuki entered the classroom. Others greeted him also.

"Ohayo, minna-san!" He replied, he looked at Chiharu and whispered, "Ohayo, Tanaka-san..". She responded also quietly, without looking him.

Ever since they went out on that fateful Saturday, things got a drastic turn to them. Chiharu won't looked at him directly, and that worried him.

Could it be that she was more afraid of me? Could it be it made her uncomfortable?

He thought inviting her would make them closer. He was intrigued on her and want to know her more.

He frowned, confused. That Saturday, they agreed to visit the public library (Author's comment: LIBRAY again?) and finished first the assignments before visiting a bookstore's first opening day. He knew they both like it, since the store housed different kinds of books ranging from literature, history and arts. The entire event went smoothly, and they enjoyed it a lot. They met some people who have same interest as them, discussing various topics, recommending books and author's works. In fact, both had just signed to a book club since most of the people they met encouraged them to broaden their knowledge and to meet people who share same interests as them.

They were talking happily about the events during the dinner at Ikebe's. But Suzuki stopped talking and just admiring Chiharu's face while she was happily chatting. As if on trance, he absently twisted a strand of her hair. Chiharu went wide-eyed with sudden contact.

"Suzuki – kun?" she nervously inquired.

Coming back to his senses, he blushed madly, pleading, "Gomen, Chiharu – chan! Gomen!" What have I done? This is so awkward!

Chiharu meekly replied, "It's okay, Suzuki – kun". He was so trying to avoid looking at her, that he did not notice that her face too resembled his.

They decided to return to their respective homes. Along the way, they never talked, and both are trying to avoid looking directly to each other.

Ever since then, they conversed stiffly. They did not visit the library anymore. It was as if they are going back as strangers.

Or even worse.

. . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

Koizumi's Point of View

Today is my lucky day!

I got paired with Suzuki-kun on our Chemistry class! This is the opportunity I've been wishing for!

However, it seems that Suzuki-kun behaves strangely. Well, he is a quiet person. But since Monday, he seems to be distracted, and he barely smiles, like he is having a huge problem. It so sad to see other people sad, especially if they are my friends.

I can't take it anymore! I must ask him!

"Suzuki-kun?" I cut off the silence permeating. We are trying to finish our experiment and writing our laboratory report. He faced me and paid his attention.

"Hai?"

I breathed deeply and asked, "Is something wrong? It seems you are not your usual self. Do you have any problem?"

Suzuki-kun opened his mouth, trying to say something. I can feel his discomfort.

"It's okay if you can't tell me what's going on! If you are uncomfortable! It's okay! I'm just worried about you!"

He smiled and replied, "Arigato for worrying about me. Maybe I am not my usual self. I am just confused and maybe sad.. I am sorry.."

Koizumi tried to lighten the mood. "It's okay to be sad! It's okay to be confused! I mean, these are your emotions. If you feel that, don't say sorry! These are your feelings and it's important! I hope whatever you are going through right now, I hope it can be resolved! Like me, I am very bad at math, and sometimes getting failing scores during quiz. The numbers make me feel dizzy! I had this nightmare that numbers were chasing me along the hallway! And Rene Descartes scolded me for not understanding well the cartesian plane! Just thinking about it make me shiver! GYAAHH!"

Out of my outburst, Suzuki-kun laughed at my actions. I watched him, amazed by his change in demeanor. My heart skipped a beat.

"Koizumi-san, you are funny. Thank you for making me feel better.."

I smiled, knowing that I somehow helped him. "You are welcome.."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chiharu's point of view

This is bad! I never intended to end like this! Why cannot respond properly to Suzuki-kun! He might think I hate him! It's just that I am very embarrassed what happened last Saturday. I am ashamed at myself thinking too much about Suzuki-kun. I know he unintentionally touched my hair, and I think too much about it!

I read too much about his actions! We are friends, we belong to the same group of friends. I am ruining it for having feelings for him!

I gasped.

I admitted it.

I have feelings for him.

What now? Is having feelings for a friend is bad? Is it bad to have your friend to progress romantically? I am so confused! Before I have problem talking with boys, and now, I am having trouble for having this feeling!

And how will Suzuki-kun will respond?

I shook my head.

Why would he respond.. to my feelings?

No! This confusion is giving me too much ideas. I must think of a way to return the way it was before!

Do I want to return things the way they were?

I am preparing to go downstairs when he called me, "Tanaka-san!"

My heart skipped a beat.

.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Suzuki's Point of View

"Suzuki – kun?" she said, surprised.

"Are you going home?"

"Hai.."

"Ah, since we go the same way, may I accompany you?"

She smiled before answering, "Sure.."

I built-up my courage to talked to her when Koizumi-san encouraged me to do my best in overcoming my problem. Embrace it. Conquer it.

It was not an option.

Because I like Tanaka-san.

I know she is not fond of male population.

But I can't help it.

She is kind, intelligent, beautiful..inside and out. There is no wonder I like her.

I have many doubts what will happen after this.

But one thing is for sure.

I will confess my feelings for her.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Otani's Point of View

"What took that Amazon sooo long?" I mentally said to myself. We are planning to attend a festival. We planned to invited Chiharu-chan and Suzuki - kun. We talked about that a few days ago...

"That's a great idea!" I said as Koizumi laid out her plan this coming festival. Since Nobu-chan at Nakao-kun are together during that day, we decided to invite Chiharu-chan and Suzuki - kun.

"It will be a great opportunity to get closer to them!"

We slapped our hands as a sign of teamwork.

And now I waiting for her since we planned to meed earlier than the agreed time. We might not prepare our plan if she is going to be late!

"Gomen, Otani!" I heard that Amazon, from afar. I was preparing to give her an earful of sermon for being late when I stopped on my tracks.

She is wearing a yukata.

I blinked rapidly, in disbelief. I never saw Koizumi like that.

She is beautiful, I can't deny it. I just stared at her.

"Otani? Otani? Oi?"

"Huh?"

"I said I am sorry for being late. I got lost."

The irritation I had suddenly dissipated. "It's alright. Uhm, you look nice.." I said to be polite and truthfully, she is indeed nice.

Koizumi gave a big smile, then blushed, suddenly shy. "Thank you."

"So," I shook my head, trying to get on track of our initial plan, "..we should have fun with them right?"

"Hai! And then, we will get 'accidentally' separated. You with Chiharu-chan and i for Suzuki - kun.. Then let us meet after an hour here. Then let's watch fireworks together."

After some minor planning. They saw us. To our shock they came together.

"Risa-chan, Otani-kun!" Chiharu-chan called us. "I saw Suzuki-kun on the train station and we came together."

Ara ara.

"Hello, Suzuki-kun and Chiharu - chan!" Koizumu and I greeted. We then started at prized games. Chiharu-chan is shooting for mini hulahoops game when Koizumi and I heard a passerby commented, 'Was that Omibozou performing on a mini stage at the entrance? An indi singer invited him on stage'.

Our eyes get on fan-mode.

"Otani-kun, did ya hear that?"

"Yes, Omibozou is here!"

"I wanna go.. but.." We looked at Ciharu-chan and Suzuki-kun. If we tell them we wanna see our favorite singer. They may get disappointed. Upon assessing, there are still many hoops she will attempting to aim. Considering the entrance is near from our current location... I looked at Koizumi, who nodded in agreement.

Just five minutes and we will leave the stage.

We silently left them, and we will just return in five minutes.

We reached the stage on full fan mode and we saw Umibozou singing his new song! Gladly, because it was just a request, he just performed only one song.

"Wahooo! Yeah Umibozou the best!" Both of us happily chanted, raising a rocker sign hand in the air.

Koizumi laughed. And then I looked at her. Somehow she seems different. Her hair was tied in a bun, and adorned with Sakura ornament. She seems glowing. Maybe because there is too much lighting in the place.

I got this strange feeling.

Maybe I got pumped up with Umibozou's performance.

We returned to the mini hulahoops game where we left Chiharu-chan and Suzuki-kun.

I thought five minutes was enough. One song is enough.

We are wrong.

Suzuki-kun and Chiharu - chan were not there.

. . . . . . . .

Chiharu's Point of View

"Risa-chan?" I looked around me and I found that Risa-chan and Otani - kun were not around.

"Kanzaki-san, I think they both went somewhere," Suzuki-kun said.

I blushed as realization hit me. I was alone with Suzuki-kun! My heart thumped fast and I hear my heart pounding that rendered me almost deaf.

Looking at him closely. He seemed to be nervous.

"I will send them message," I suggested.

"Tanaka-san, wait," Suzuki-kun interrupted. "I have something to tell you. Can we go to that tree near the Shrine?"

"Okay," I answered nervously. I don't know, but I think something will shift after this conversation...

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Koizumi's Point of View

We were running to the location Chiharu-chan texted us. Otani and I are worried they were angry at us.

"We let our feelings for Umibozou rule over us.." Otani sighed.

I smacked him in the head. "Ow! What was that for?!"

"Are you even Otani? Umibozou will never forgive us if we did not go to his performance! It's like we commit a sin or something!"

Upon nearing the location. I was taken aback. I saw jointed hands of Chiharu-chan and Suzuki - kun. Otani must observed it to and halted his steps.

I was first to broke the silence, "Uhmm. Chiharu-chan?". I then looked at their faces. They were smiling and blushing at the same time. My mind doesn't seem to come in terms what was the situation.

They exchange knowing looks, and that made me nervous. I then think Otan and I have an inkling what are they going to say..

Turns out, I was not wrong.

"Risa-chan, Otani-kun, we are now going out.."

We were shocked still.

"WHAT?!"

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Sorry guys, it's been three years :3! I am currently working at the same time pursuing my graduate studies. I do think about the next chapter during when I am waiting for local transportaion or during the ride, or washing my clothes, some idle stuffs XD.

Hopefully, I can update! hope you can bear my tardiness :3

Thank you who are patiently waiting my story. To 'what I am doing', Lifealive, Allie Grauman, Louga thanks for the comment!

by

green-ninja05

November 2019