What She Sees In You
Chikorita-Trainer1
K
Disclaimer: I don't own Kodocha, it's just my favorite manga.
Author's Note: This isn't much of a fic, I just find that there aren't that many Sana+Akito stories out there. If you don't enjoy this, I just hope it inspires you to write some of your own.
"I'd like to know just what it is that she sees in you."
"So would I."
Naozumi never had gotten an answer. The question still ate away at him, three years later. Akito had returned to Japan for high school, and he and Sana maintained their relationship. Naozumi did high school by correspondence, so he could keep working, though he still harbored feelings for Sana.
I have to know, he thought. I can't forget her. Maybe if I know once and for all WHY she chose Akito, I can finally move on.
Jinbo High School. Where Sana and Akito went together every day, in their perfect little uniforms.
Maybe that's part of the reason she doesn't feel anything for me. I'm not like them. I don't go to regular school.
Naozumi got out of his car and waved at Mr. Maeda to drive around the block until he was ready to be picked up. He strolled over to the front gates of the schoolyard. The courtyard of the school was surrounded by a 6-foot high brick wall. It was nearing 3, all the students would come pouring out soon. He was being presumptuous, expecting to just conveniently run into Akito, but he was already here, so he figured he may as well wait.
Soon enough, students began to exit the school and pass through the gates. It was hard spotting one out of a crowd, as they all wore uniforms, but Naozumi kept an eye out for Akito's half-lidded eyes and flat line of a mouth.
The guy never even smiles, he thought. And eventually, the actor caught sight of the blonde karate champion.
"Hey, Akito!" he called. Akito looked up and met the boy's blue-eyed gaze. Naozumi knew that Akito wasn't likely going to come up to him, so he closed the distance between them himself.
"Hi," muttered Akito. "Did you come to see Sana? She has a club after school…"
"Actually, I came to see you," said Naozumi. "How are you?"
"Fine," said Akito. "You?"
"I'm great, actually. Although something's still troubling me. Do you have a minute to talk?"
"I guess," said Akito.
There it is again. Man of few words. Do he and Sana even have conversations? What IS IT about him that she likes?
"I just…" Naozumi trailed off. "OK, I'm sorry to bring this up again, but I can't let it go. Why does Sana like you?"
A brief flash of annoyance showed on Akito's face for a second, but he quickly masked it with indifference, and shrugged.
"I don't know," he admitted.
"Alright, maybe that wasn't a fair question. Uh, what do you two do together?"
At that, Akito's eyes widened and his nostrils flared.
"None of your business, Kamura!" he growled.
"No! I didn't mean it like that! I meant—oh, brother. Alright…I look at you and Sana, and I just don't see a match. I know she doesn't have feelings for me, and that's that. I should be able to move on, but I can't. And I don't know if it's because I still love her, or if I just don't trust that she's happy with you. I don't know what to do. That's why I'm asking."
"How should I know what you need to hear?" asked Akito.
"I don't know. I just can't see a connection between you two. I mean, you never smile, you hardly ever talk, you're very unenthusiastic. Yet Sana sticks by you. And you honestly look like you're annoyed with her whenever she's dancing around you, getting all excited, like—HOW are you two a couple? You have nothing in common."
"I don't know. Opposites attract?" Akito said with another shrug.
"How can you not know? You're her boyfriend, aren't you?" Naozumi pressed.
"Yeah, I am. And I don't take that position lightly. I know how lucky I am to have her. If you're worried that I'm not treating her right, you can—"
"No! No, that's not it. I'm sorry. I don't know how else to say this," said Naozumi. "I just don't know what she sees in you," he added in a whisper.
"Ask her," said Akito, turning away.
"Sana, hey!" said Naozumi.
"Naozumi! Oh my God! Hi!" cried Sana, running over to her friend and embracing him. "How are you? It's been a while!"
This is the Sana I love, thought Naozumi. Bright, cheerful, bubbly. How can you be happy with a bummer like Akito?
"Been good. Working, mostly. How about you?"
"Just going to school and doing my radio show with Fuka," said Sana.
"And, um, you and Akito are doing OK?"
"Yeah, better than ever! Thanks!" said Sana, not even a little suspicious of Naozumi's intentions.
"That's kind-of what I wanted to talk to you about. Um, I really hate to pry, but it's been bugging me."
"What is it?" asked Sana.
"OK," Naozumi took a deep breath. "I know I must sound like a jerk, but…why do you like him?"
Sana's eyebrows creased and she took a literal step back. "Nao…" she began.
"I'm sorry. I know it's none of my business, but I just can't let you go, Sana. And if I ever want to move on, I need to know. Why did you choose him over me? What does he have that I don't?"
"It's not what he has, Nao. It's who he is," said Sana.
"Explain it to me, please. Because all I see when I look at him is a cold, emotionless…nothing. Yet you smile like an acre of sunshine whenever you're around him."
"I know he can be cold on the outside," said Sana. "But that's just how he is. He may not say a lot, but when he does speak, his words are very meaningful. He tells me how he feels when we're alone. And while other people might not be able to figure him out, I can. I know what he means when he speaks."
Naozumi listened and nodded.
"And it's not like he has to tell me everything that's on his mind. He shows me. He always waits by my locker. He comes over whenever I ask him to. He always works around my schedule. He does everything for me. And I know he does that because he cares. He wouldn't put in the effort to be with me if he didn't WANT to be with me. Knowing that I mean that much to him…it's enough."
"Well, I wasn't aware of that," said Naozumi.
"When I'm sad or freaked out, he holds me tight. He doesn't have to say anything, but I know he's there for me. When he laughs, which isn't very often, I'm sure you've noticed, it's like a huge expression for him. I don't expect him to be verbal, and I don't need him to be. His actions speak for themselves. Everything he does, he does with me in mind. I'm the first thing he thinks of when he wakes up, and the last thing he thinks of at night."
Naozumi nodded.
"And basically," Sana continued. "When I'm with him, or even when I think of him, I get butterflies. I get that warm, swelling feeling in my heart. He makes me feel that way, no one else. And yeah, he doesn't smile much. His smiles are only for me. And that makes me feel pretty special."
Naozumi was silent for a moment.
"Thanks, Sana. For telling me all that," he said. "If that's the kind of person who makes you happy, then I guess you and I don't belong together. I could never be that way with you."
"I'm sorry," Sana shrugged.
"No, don't be. I'm glad you explained it. Because now I see that it's not just about people liking each other. There has to be something between them that's different from their relationships with other people. Something they do for each other that no one else can. I can't give you what you need, and you can't give me what I need."
"What DO you need?" asked Sana.
"Well, I don't know yet. But I hope when I do meet a girl who wants me, it won't just be because we have fun together. I'll be because we do something for each other that changes us for the better."
"That's actually really beautiful, Naozumi," Sana said.
"I'm glad I came here and talked to you," said Naozumi, extending a hand.
"Yeah. Me too," said Sana, shaking his hand.
"I've got to go. Take care of each other."
"We will. Bye, Naozumi!"
Naozumi got back in the car with his manager, and they drove off. Sana beamed, and turned around, and walked a few steps along the wall of Jinbo High.
Suddenly, a figure jumped down off the brick wall and landed right in front of Sana.
FWUMP!
"EEEEEEK!"
When Sana opened her eyes, she saw it was Akito.
"Wh—what were you-? Where you up there the whole time?" she asked.
Akito simply threw his arms around Sana and pulled her close.
"You were listening?" she asked.
"Yes," Akito whispered in her ear.
"Oh. Well, I meant every word."
"I know," Akito answered.
"I really do love you," said Sana.
"I love you, too," said Akito.
"I know. I feel it in everything you do," said Sana, pulling back so she could look her boyfriend in the eye. Akito gave her a ghost of a smile, then kissed her slowly.
Sana titled her head back, and allowed Akito's arms to wrap around her back, one hand holding her still while the other drifted up into her red hair. Sana just locked hers around Akito's waist, and melted into the kiss.
Akito trailed a few more chaste kisses up Sana's face, and then kissed her forehead
"I can't imagine my life without you, Akito," Sana said softly, looking into his hazel eyes.
"Me neither," said Akito.
"Walk me home?" asked Sana. Akito grinned.
"Always." And he threw his arm over her shoulder, and the couple strolled home.
THE END
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