Konnichiwa minna-san!

Phew, it is like a miracle I updated! -_-

I thought I have the time to update this. Turns out, I had a different reception to the pandemic!

Hope everybody is alright in this trying times!

Author's Note: I do not own Lovely Complex. Rights belong to Aya Nakahara-sama.


CHAPTER 18: WARMTH

Koizumi

"WHAT?"

Otani and I both exclaimed at the same time. We continued to stare at them, afraid of saying anything. I tried to dissipate any residual shock I had. I must say something!

"Wow! Omedetou, Chiharu-chan, Suzuki – kun! I am happy for both you!" I started to say things I cannot remember; I think I've gone to an autopilot mode and I came back to reality when Otani grabbed my shoulder.

"Congratulations, Suzuki – kun, Chiharu – chan! We are sorry we left earlier, we heard Omibozou was performing, and we are now planning to ask for an autograph, if that's okay?"

"Thank you for congratulating us, Otani-kun, Risa-chan," Chiharu-chan replied, still blushing. "It's okay! It is not every day you see Umibouzo!"

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

Otani

I grabbed Koizumi's hand and we walked to the opposite direction, while the newly-found couple bid their farewell, still holding hands.

I tried calling Koizumi several times and at the same time, shaking our enclosed hand. "Koizumi, oi! Oi!"

Koizumi seemed to be out from her reverie because she finally replied, "Oh, hey Otani! Where is Chiharu – chan and Suzuki – kun?". She looked around dumbly.

"Never mind them. I told them we are looking for Umibouzo for an autograph." I faced her and looked at her seriously, "Are you okay?"

"Oh! Yes, I am okay!" She said, with her voice almost cracked. "Why?"

I looked our joined hands and replied, "Uhmm.. Because you are shaking?"

She looked down and blushed. "Am I?! Oh, you are right Otani!" she laughed awkwardly. "I am fine really, maybe quite shocked, but I am fine!" And then she added, "Well, thank you for making an excuse. Suddenly, I felt tired. Maybe we should go home?" She asked absentmindedly.

"Uhmm… okay," I acquiesced.

Koizumi never said a word as we returned to our respective houses.

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

Omniscient Point of View

"Take that, shrimp!" Koizumi shouted, splashing seawater towards Otani. It was a sunny Saturday and both Otani and Koizumi families decided to have a get-together at the beach.

"What's that for, amazon?" Otani countered, doing the same way towards her. We,ll they were not really that excited at first...

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

"Nani?! This Saturday? With the Otani's?" Risa exclaimed. They were having a dinner when her parents announced the planned outing.

"Hai, Risa. We really, really enjoyed that dinner with them last time. While you are talking with Atsushi-kun, we decided to have a two-day outing at the beach," her mother beamed, looking at her husband enthusiastically.

"I really miss our childhood friend and we did go to beach a lot back then. We did barbeque, campfire and fishing!" her father supplied.

Risa just sat there, still wide-eyed. I can feel this will become a disaster! An awkward get-together with them. When can we take a break?

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

Turned out, she was wrong. She forgot she loves the seas and discovered Otani loves it, too. They were like kids that entered in a candy store as they looked at the beach. Forgetting to help with unloading their things, the comedy duo ran towards the sea. They playfully splashed the seawater together but immediately a sense of dread descended upon them when they noticed the knowing grins of their family at the shore.

"You, Chibi! Don't look to much excited, our families are looking at us," Koizumi replied. Throwing again the salty seawater at him. Otani looked at their families and tried to compost himself. They then decided to help their family with the preparation for the barbeque. They exchanged laughter and singing during lunch. And Risa was thankful for that.

She felt sad these days.

Most specifically, it all started when they went to that festival.

The time when Suzuki-kun and Chiharu-chan became a couple.

Her family seemed to notice her change demeanor. At dinner, she normally fights with Takato for that biggest tempura, but Risa just let her brother took it without any complains. Normally, she will keep blabbing about character on that videogame, but they never heard it from her these past days. Usually, she ate three bowls of rice, but she barely finished a bowl.

That is why it was a relief for them to see her excited playing with Atsushi-kun. They are confused though, why they laugh at one point, then glaring and fighting the next. It was like a banter between a cat and a dog.

Still, they are thankful she is in her normal, usual cheerful self.

Could this be because of Seiichi-kun and Yuriko-chan's son?

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

"Uwaaa! The sea breeze is so refreshing!" Koizumi exclaimed while stretching her arms. It was nearing sunset, and the rest of the family is making dinner. She looked at the beautiful sunset, appreciating the orange hue across the horizon. She can also see some big ships and small fishing boats from afar, and some lights twinkling from the mountains, which she assumed lights from faraway houses.

She is now under a lone, enormous pine tree located on top the cliff. She saw this place earlier and decided to go there when her family is not watching. She looked up, appreciating the sound of the rustling of the leaves against the wind. She closed her eyes and let her mind wander. Truthfully, she was happy for this outing, but times like this she wanted to be alone with her thoughts.

Being alone is a blessing and a curse. Now, alone in this quiet place, her thoughts were back again with what happened last time, when she learned Suzuki-kun and Chiharu-chan were officially a couple. These past days were tough. She witnessed the innocent affection expressed by the new-found couple. Even they discreetly show their affection, for her it was obvious, added from the fact they are part of their circle.

Her thoughts were having a battle inside her mind:

Why am I feeling this? Was this because I really like Suzuki-kun?

No! No! While I admit I decided to pursue Suzuki-kun, and I am quite surprise they become a couple, I am not really that in love with him! I just thought he is a nice and tall guy, and we talk a lot in the school!

Was he really my first love? Or am I just denying?

Or am I feel sad being… alone?

She stopped on her mind-tracking.

YES, SHE FEEL ALONE.

She is genuinely happy that her friends have their own romances. Yet, deep-down, she felt a twinge of jealousy because she is now the lone single in her group. She thought Chiharu-chan will be less likely to have a relationship, as she was afraid of boys. Honestly, she found a bit of a comfort that both of them might remain single throughout high school.

But now, she felt even more alone and an outcast.

She knew this is ridiculous and a total non-sense. But being alone like this, her mind can come up with these thoughts.

Indeed, being alone is also a curse.

What is wrong with me?

Am I not really a girlfriend material?

Do some people never consider me as a girlfriend?

Is it because of my loud personality?

Or because I am not lady-like.. because I am THIS TALL?

Her last sentence made her gasp. She knew and accepted already that she is tall. It took few years to accept who she was and nothing she can do about it. But thinking her efforts to Suzuki-kun and her attempts to make him to like her made her insecurities raise to a ten-fold.

Then, tears started to fall from her eyes.

"Koizumi?"

Koizumi flinched and quickly wiped her tears. She composed herself and faced him. "Oh! Otani! You came here, too?" She asked, trying to act surprised.

"Ah..yes.. Uhm.. I saw you walked here.." He said awkwardly. He planned to make a prank on her and surprised her, but then had second thoughts when he saw her crying.

She did not respond, so he asked, "Uhmm… are you alright?"

These past few days, she become less cheerful and less talkative. Her arguments were less 'lively' than before. When Nakano-sensei teased them, she just responded blankly and do their assigned duties.

She just talked loudly and act her old self when they started a conversation with her. But when they were done talking, he observed that she has the tendency to stare blankly and her smile fades. He also thinks her friends did not notice her changed demeanor.

If he is honest to himself, he is truly worried for her.

He has a faint suspicion that it was because of what happened on the festival.

She acted so differently when Suzuki-kun and Chiharu-chan revealed they became a couple.

Truthfully, he was quite surprised himself. And slightly sad because he really like Chiharu-chan.

Or at least, liked her because she resembled his ex-girlfriend.

Chiharu-chan is cute and a kind classmate. And he did like the idea of being his girlfriend.

But, well, he is happy because he knew Suzuki-kun is a good guy.

And honestly, he tried to pursue her because of his silly game with Koizumi. The competition made him do his best and the thought of defeating Koizumi motivated him even more.

But if he thought it carefully, his feelings for Chiharu-chan were different from Kanzaki-san.

It took few sleepless nights to finally reconcile that he and Chiharu-chan will never be a couple.

And quite frankly, he is not THAT hurt.

What he felt truly surprises him. It made him realize that all this time, his feelings for her were not that strong. And he knew Chiharu-chan and Suzuki-kun are very happy and totally in-love.

While he knew what he truly feels, he had an inkling Koizumi did not feel the same.

He continued to look at her, waiting for her reply. Koizumi sighed, defeated. She realized that she has no choice but to be honest.

"Honestly, Otani, I don't know.."

"Uhmm.. Are you hurt? Are you having cramps? Are you sunburnt?" He asked rapidly, trying to delay the inevitable.

Koizumi laughed. Sadly she replied, "This has nothing to do with what we did at the beach.."

Finding the opportunity, he then pressed on, "Was this because of… Suzuki-kun and Chiharu-chan?"

Koizumi's eyes went wide. So he knows.. "Uhmmm, teehee, was I that obvious?" She laughed quietly, facing away from him.

"I had the suspicion, since you acted differently after that."

"Oh," she replied and continued looking on the seaside.

"Errr.. You know, I don't blame you, Suzuki-kun is a great guy.. Chiharu-chan is in good hands. Frankly, I am happy for the both of them, they are good friends.." He stated awkwardly, he is just trying to ease the tension.

"Otani," she started, and Otani faced her, "Do you think I am not a good friend for getting sad because they became a couple?"

Otani was surprised at her statement. "No, you are good friend! It was normal, you know, because you like Suzuki-kun. It is normal, I assure you!"

She stayed quiet, and then whispered. "Thanks, Otani for saying that. Maybe, I just feel alone, ya know? It is not like I got dumped by him. Maybe, it was a missed opportunity that I did not had the chance to let him know my feelings for him… Or maybe, I just feel alone." Her tears started to fall, she tried to wip her tears, but failed miserably. "Sheesh.. I am just feeling silly.."

Suddenly, she felt something warm engulfing her.

Otani grabbed her shoulders, tried to face her, and then…hugged her tightly.

"That is not silly, you idiot! It's okay, it's okay," he tried to comfort her. He tried, really, and the only think he knew was to hug her and tell her it's okay.

Koizumi was surprised by the sudden embrace, but what left the lasting impression is the comfort and assurance of his warmth and his words.

What she felt was different from what she felt for Suzuki-kun or Cain-sama.

She cannot pinpoint it.

She cannot decipher what this means.

Whatever this feeling is, she knew, this is what she needed.

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

"Dinner is almost ready!"

"Wow, thank you, Makiko-chan!" Seichii replied.

"Hmmm… I wonder where is A-chan? Yuriko, the mother, inquired.

"Ah, I think he went for a stroll," Makino, the sister, answered.

"Onee-chan is not here, too," Takato observed.

"Ohhhhh~ Maybe, my lovely daughter and Atsushi-kun walked together?" Takashi supplied, facing at Seichii-kun with knowing looks. They gave each other a thumbs-up sign.

"Oh no! I forgot to tell you earlier about that pine tree on that cliff earlier!" Yuriko exclaimed sadly.

"What is it, darling?" Seiichi asked, intrigued.

"Some folks here recommended to visit and look at the view on that cliff. I forgot to invite everyone earlier at sunset. They said the view was beautiful and breath-taking…" she relayed, sad at the missed opportunity.

"It is okay, Yuriko-chan, maybe next time we can visit it! Sadly, we will pack our things tomorrow after lunch. But we can say this is a way we can still look forward to have a beach outing here next time!" Makino said positively.

"Thanks Makino-chan! You know what, folks have a legend to that cliff. They say that the pine tree there is considered as the 'Tree of Love'. When two people hugged under the 'Tree of Love', their fates will be completely sealed. They will find happiness and love each other for eternity. Sounds like a romantic legend, right?" She beamed.

"Awwww… that is cute! I will invite my boyfriend there next time!" Makino Otani gushed.

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Thanks for reading!

Please let me know what you think! :3 Was this too soon? Rushed? Or the progress is too slow for them? LOL

by

green-ninja05

February 2021