Chapter Thirteen

Asami

I've started getting nervous around him, and I don't know why. Maybe it's because we spent so much time together that he effects me like this. All I know is that I'm not comfortable with it. Amane is not my type, at all, but he demands my full attention, and it's very frustrating.

He catches me watching him as he plays soccer during phys ed, and he fixes me with a brilliant smile that makes my heart thump in my chest. I drop my gaze, feigning intense interest in my scuffed shoes. These long gym clothes are too hot, that's all. My head is just getting fuzzy, I'm not interested in Amane at all! He's like a brother to me, right? Right?!

"Asami-chan?" Oh no, there he is. I look up and he's leaning over me, his shaggy hair is damp and hanging in his face, his eyes are bright and twinkling with humor, his lips are quirked into an uneasy smile. This is a face that I know almost as well as I know my own, this is a face I've seen every day for the past 9 years, so why do I feel so nervous now?

"Yeah?" I try to appear unaffected and nonchalant, but I can tell by the look on his face that I'm failing.

"Can I ask you a question? After class, by the big tree?"

"You can't ask me now?" I quirk an eyebrow at him. He looks around, running a hand through his hair and making it stand up like porcupine quills.

"No," he said, "I'd rather ask you while we're alone."

"Alone?" I repeat, my heart thumping in my chest again, is this some kind of joke? "After class?" I ask like an idiot. He nods, refusing to meet my eyes. Behind him on the soccer field, I catch Tsukasa staring me down. Amane's twin brother has never liked me, no matter how hard I tried.

"Is that alright?"

"Yeah," I shrug, "I'll see you there."

He grins then, his whole face opening up like a flower in bloom. "Thank you!"

~xXxXxXx~

I wait for Amane by the big tree, like I promised. It takes everything in me to keep from pacing back and forth. There is only one question that I can think of that requires a boy and a girl to be alone. I place my hand on the bark of the big tree, it's rough and cool, and comforting under my hand. Amane is late. Maybe this is just a prank after all.

If it is, I'm going to kill him.

"Asami-chan!"

I jerk my head up, here he comes, running towards me, one hand raised, "I'm sorry I'm late, Tsukasa was holding me up." He stops in front of me, bending over and placing his hands on his knees in an effort to catch his breath. "Thanks for waiting for me," he says, looking up into my eyes. I turn my head.

"I'm just curious about what you wanted to ask me, that's all." It's not like I'm feeling hopeful or excited or anything. Not even a little bit. "So what is it?"

"About that, um," oh great, Amane is turning red right in front of my eyes. "I was just wondering...you know…"

"I don't know, I'm waiting for you to tell me."

"Ssh!" He put a finger to his lips, "I'm trying to come off as suave and cool."

"Well, you're doing a great job of it."

"Just hush for a minute, let me collect my thoughts." He was quiet for a moment, fidgeting with his fingers, until he finally said "Damn it! Here it goes, Asami will you go out with me?"

It's the question I dreaded and hoped for, I had ran many possibilities through my mind about what this question could possibly be, but my mind had always settled back on this one. And I had been proven right. Now what was I going to do about it.

He's waiting for me, purposefully avoiding eye contact. I can see his ego deflating as I hesitate. I want to say no, I want to say…

"Alright," it comes out of my mouth far easier than I expected it to, "I'll go out with you, Amane-kun."

He beams at me, and my heart feels like it's boiling in my chest. "Thank you! I promise you won't regret it!"

And despite everything, I never do.