(07/01/10)
Sunday…
I stopped Minako before we went to work.
"Hey, Minako… what exactly is the true plan?" I asked.
She gave me an annoyed look.
"You forgot already? Alright, listen up… We pretend to be dating, which would be a lot easier since practically everyone already assumes it, and make Yukari jealous in the process and we go in a really vomit inducing lovey dovey sweetie pie pumpkin cake relationship that'd make the goddess of love herself puke rainbows… and since it's the first day today, we break up in the seventh, A.K.A. the number of the Lovers Arcana." She said.
"Sixth."
"What?" she said.
"Sixth. The Lover's Arcana is the sixth arcana." I said.
"Aw, who gives a shit?" she said.
"The one who made the Tarot cards, apparently. And there are quite a lot of holes in your plan… suppose she doesn't get jealous? What if she allows it? What if we actually end up falling in love?" I said half in jest and half in seriousness.
"If we date, then she won't expect you want her to hop in the sack with you." she said, "And if you have a better plan, genius, let's hear it." she said.
I remained silent.
She patted my shoulder in reassurance.
"Hey, don't worry about it… Yukari is a green eyed monster's monster. And we'd never fall in love, bruv! You're my best mate!" she punched me in a friendly way.
That isn't necessarily true… sometimes, best friends make great lovers… because when the love fades, the friendship remains, I wanted to say.
"Yeah I guess… let's go…" I said.
Minako and I were hiding behind a bush.
"So, what exactly do I do?" I asked.
She looked at Yukari.
"We walk along the path and you put your arms around me and we pretend we don't see her… simple as that." she said.
I felt really skittish and jittery.
"I change my mind… let's go…" I said.
I tried walking away, but Minako held me with a titan's grip.
"Oh no you don't!" she said, "You're not walking out of this one, buster!"
"Hey! I wanted to go take a stroll!" I protested.
She gave me a very stern look.
"Just do as I say."
I winced.
"… Fine." I conceded.
I put my arm around her and walked along the outdoor café, which Yukari enjoyed a steaming cup of coffee with Yuiri.
I walked slowly and I looked back.
"She didn't even bat an eye at us!" I whispered angrily at Minako, "Your plan is failing us!"
She nods in agreement.
We went around the block and came back to where we came from, the bushes behind the café.
"Hmmm… she probably thinks that we do this as a casual close-friend thing…we need to hit it to turbo mode…" she noticed.
"Turbo mode?" I said, "What… what's turbo mode?" I asked.
She grinned like a nerd in a Star-Trek convention.
"Why are you grinning like that?" I said, "You look creepy, man…"
She stopped smiling and made aseriousface.
"Put your arm lower." She said.
I did so and my hand was at her upper back.
"Lower." She said.
I went lower and my hand touched her bra-strap.
I waited for her instructions.
"Ugh! Dude, quit playing with my bra-strap and go lower!" she hissed.
"I wasn't!" I denied.
"Come on… you were playing with the hook and snapping the strap… ugh! Just go lower already! And no detours!" she barked.
I went lower and my hands were at her lower-back.
"You need to go lower." She said.
"Lower?! If I go any lower, I'd be touching Ground Zero!" I complained.
She looked at me flatly.
"Go lower." She said.
"But… I'd be touching your…" I hesitated.
"Fine! I give you full permission to touch my posterior region." She said.
"Your what?"
"Just lower your hand and touch my butt!" she yelled loudly.
I hesitated and she threw a tantrum.
"Alright already!" I said and, very reluctantly, went lower.
"Now… put your hands at my back pocket." She said.
Since she wore those knee-length punk jeans, her back pocket was unbelievably tight, so I had to really squeeze my hands in.
"What are you doing? I said put your hand in my back-pocket, not grope my butt to jelly!" she complained.
"What are you talking about? I can barely fit a finger here!" I said.
Then, I noticed a slim guy staring at us.
"Aw, what are you looking at, pal? Take a hike!" she hissed and the guy ran off.
"Just hold still…" I dove my entire hand in her pocket.
"Ugh…" I said as we walked smugly.
I whispered to her, "Why am I the only one doing this?" I said.
She slapped her hand to my butt and it stayed there.
I gave a sharp yelp.
"Don't mention it." she said smugly.
When we passed by them, I saw Yukari immediately look at us from the corner of my eye.
Meanwhile… at the café table of Yukari…
"Isn't that Minato-kun?" Yuiri said.
Yukari looked at us.
"Nah, that can't be him… with a redhead… touching her…" her eyes widen.
"Is it him?" Yuiri asked.
"It… it… it's him!" Yukari seemed rather shocked.
"Calm down, Yukari…" Yuiri said.
"I… I better give him a call…" Yukari said.
My phone rang.
"It's her!" I said.
"Well? What are you waiting for? Answer it, silly!" Minako said.
I did so.
"Hello?" I said.
"Hey, Minato… it's me." Yukari said.
"Well, the caller ID gave me a pretty good clue…" I said, "Anything you need?" I said.
"I need to ask a question, but don't think I'm prying…"
"I won't. Ask away, Yuks."
"Yeah, well, where are you and who are you with?" Yukari said.
I covered the receiver.
"She's asking me where and who I'm with! What should I say?" I said.
"Tell her the truth! And put that on loudspeaker!" Minako said.
"Wilco." I said and talked to Yukari.
"I'm with Minako, near the strip mall." I said.
"Are you now… on a date?" she said.
"Ah…" I looked at Minako for confirmation, who just nodded with enthusiasm, "Yeah. We are on a date."
"I see… you two a couple?" she said.
"Yes." I said with much hesitation.
"Hmmm… how about you two come over to the café and have a few cups of coffee with me and Yuiri?" she offered.
"Uhhh… we… uhhh…"
Minako made a DO NOT DO IT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES gestures.
"We can't… we have… things to do." I said.
"Oh, but we just ordered a batch of freshly baked blueberry muffins…" Yukari said temptingly.
"Sorry, but we-"
"WE'D LOVE TO GO!" Minako yelled.
"Great. See you!" Yukari said and hung up.
I looked at Minako flatly.
"You have no shame, haven't you?" I said.
"Shame, none. Plateful of blueberry muffins, yes." She said and walked along, dragging me with her because I had my hand firmly anchored in her back-pocket.
Yukari and her friend, Yuiri greeted us warmly.
"Have a seat, you two!" Yukari said a bit stiffly.
We did and Minako seemed, or at least acted, nice.
"Hello, Yuka-tan!" Minako said.
Yukari seemed a bit annoyed at Minako's directness, seeing as only Junpei called her Yuka-tan.
"Hello, Minako-chan…" Yukari said coldly, "Help yourself." She points to the plate that had so many muffins, they were able to make a pyramid of it.
"Don't mind if I do." Minako said and stuffed her face.
Yukari and I looked at each other as Yuiri awkwardly sat there.
"So… you two are dating… since when?" Yukari said.
"Quite recently…" I said, trying to stay in the safe side.
"Ah…" Yukari said, "And you two are in love?" she said.
"I can't say for certain, but we're still finding it." I said.
"Okay… so… since we're all practically adults here, I'd like to apologise to you, Minako, for my past behavior." Yukari said.
"Apology accepted." Minako said in-between bites.
"Well…?" Yukari said.
"Oh yeah… this is the best muffins I've ever had." Minako said, "Thanks for inviting us!" she said.
"Pray don't mention it." Yukari said tiredly.
"So… we can be friends again?" I said.
Yukari smiled and nodded.
"Yes. I just want us all to be happy as friends." Yukari said, "Because, quite frankly, I'd rather be your friend, Minato, than not have you in my life at all."
I smiled warmly, "Thanks…" I gave her a hug and I was surprised at the reciprocation of her hug.
Then, we all walked home together.
I went to my room and wrote:
Minato (me): THAT TURNED OUT WELL…
Minako: IKR? AM I A GENIUS OR WAT?
Minato (me): YOU R… WATS UR NEXT PLAN, EYENSTEIN?
Minako: HEHEHEHE… WAIT AN SEE, BUB…
Minato (me): NOTHING CRAZY, OKAY HONEY-BUN?
Minako: NONE
And with that, we both went to sleep.
(07/02/10)
Monday...
When we walked together, Minako said that I should act incredibly lovey dovey, so I did.
But… I might have laid it a little too thick…
"Oh, Minako, my sweet, sweet little honey-bun, I love youuuuu!" I said, brushing her stray hair behind her ears.
"Oh, thank you so much, my dear sweetie pie, Minato!" she said, giving me a small kiss.
When we were outside the classroom, we were still holding hands.
"Oh my dear honey-bunch! I swear I shall die if we part ways! Please, remember me…" I said, hugging her intimately.
Then, a voice, Rio, spoke up.
"Geez louise! You two go to the same class together!"
For show, we would not let go of each other's hand that at the end of the day, out hands became sore.
Ekoda even poked fun at us, but then again, he always does that.
"What, why are you two holding hands? Are you two afraid of losing each other or something?" he said snidely, but I was on a roll.
"No, sir… if my dear Minako-chan were to be lost, my heart would be lost as well and I might as well be dead… Minako is my little darling sweetie-pie, after all!" I said.
To prove how effective that was, Fuuka puked.
"I think we need to scrap the whole lovey-dovey thing, honey-bun…" Minako said.
"Why is it so, sugarplum?"
"Because! You're laying it a little too thick, my dove... even Fuuka puked!" She said.
"I see… besides, I was acting to OOC for my own good…" I said.
Even if the lovey-dovey theme was scrapped, we still held on to the holding of each other's hands and the pet-names.
(07/03/10)
It was recess, morning.
"You ready for the plan?" Minako said.
"What's the plan?" I said.
"First of all, you want some gum?" she said, pulling out two wads of gum.
"Yeah, sure." I said.
She threw one of the wads away.
"Great… now what?" I said.
"The plan." She said, eyeing Yukari in the distance.
She pops the gum in her mouth and chews as she tells me to sit down across her.
"THIS is out plan? Block the hallway while you eat gum?" I said.
"Not I." she said, popping the gum out and said: "Open up."
I looked at her until I finally understood.
"No fucking way. You must be out of your mind if you think that I'd-" she then impatiently steps on my toe and forces me to chew on the gum.
"Chew!" she hissed.
I did so and it felt both unhygienic and weird.
I popped it out and she chew on it as well.
Yukari passed by and gave a meaningful and envious look at us.
"Hey Yuka-tan!" Minako said.
Then, Junpei passed by.
"Hey! That's my line!" he said, "And… WHAT are you two doing?" he said.
"None of your business. Go away." Minako said.
"Alright, alright, sheesh!" Junpei said, "You're as bad as Yuka-tan, Minako-san!"
Yukari looks at me longingly as I waved goodbye as Minako hands me the gum back.
As we were done with the Badminton practice, I told her it felt… strange about how good and bad sharing gum with her felt.
"That's how you do it." she said.
"I'm guessing there's more to come…" I rolled my eyes.
(07/04/10)
Kenji was wiping an aluminum locker.
"Like my new locker?" he said, buffing it with bear grease, "My astrologist recommended it." he said.
"Cool. What else?" Minako said.
"Look what I have." He took something from his shirt-pocket, revealing a Dragon sticker.
"Whoa… you got a Kohryu Dragon car sticker! That's pretty rare!" I said.
"Relax, it's a sticker my astrologist recommended… cost me quite a lot… my weeks allowance," Kenji sticks the sticker to his locker, "This sticker will protect my new locker from harm!" he said, leaning beside his locker.
"Hmmm…" Minako thought for a while, then suddenly kicked the locker, destroying it.
"My locker!" Kenji moaned.
"Ahahaha! I hope you get your money back!" Minako snickered.
"Sorry… I'll ask Hidetoshi to streamline your locker request…" I said.
Afternoon dismissal, Minako and I went to the Persimmon tree, which now overlooks the Archery Range about four meters behind the range, and we lay there.
She crossed her legs and I laid my head on her lap.
Yukari was so distracted, she couldn't hit any of the targets and the moderator got mad at her, which I felt a bit guilty about.
She gave another look at me.
Then, we went home and she schemed the next… scheme.
Yukari went by and we hung out as I introduced her to Leah, who, knowing Leah's warm personality, befriended Yukari.
(07/05/10)
I was at the library after classes, streamlining Kenji's request as promised, when Minako came to me.
"Listen! Listen!" she said breathless.
"Take a deep breath and talk." I said.
"Okay… *takes a deep breath* I overheard the Archery club having a dinner party at the Classy restaurant near the SEES mall and we need to go get ready for an impromptu date. Are you with me?" She said.
"Do I even have a choice?" I said.
Before I knew it, as soon as I was finished, I was getting ready for the date.
When I went down, Leah seemed surprised.
"Where are you off to, you stud?" she said.
"On a date." I said.
"On a school night? You're pretty bad-ass, ain't cha?"
"It's only with Minako." I said.
"Ah… with Minako, it's hard to see who'd do most of the eating: you or her…"
I went to Minako's place and she went out wearing a dazzling black gown, which I gawked at.
She had taken off her ponytail, which gave her an air of nobility and maturity.
"Do I look hot?" she asked.
"Very." I said, gulping.
"Hahaha… let's go. You drive Mutsuhito." She said.
We drove to the Restaurant and we found the place sort of empty, but we had no prior reservations.
That's when I used an old trick.
I went to a waitress, shook her hand, which had 1000 yen and said, "Find us some shade."
"This way, sir."
We found a seat quite near the Archery club and yet far enough for us to barely see their heads.
"Great… how are we gonna get their attentions now?" I said.
"Watch this… I'm going to say something very sexy…" she said.
"Go on…" I said.
She looked around, "Oh Minato! I can't wait 'till we get home so you can watch me have my PERIOD!"
I just looked at her, mouth agape.
"What the hell is the matter with you?! That's not sexy!" I growled.
"Shut up, she's coming!" she whispered.
Yukari had a warm smile.
"Minato! Good to see you two here!" she said, "What are you guys doing on a date on a school night?" she asked.
"Secret… we're planning to go for a walk later…" she said.
"I see…" Yukari said, looking forlorn, "Well, please enjoy your night!" she said.
She left the restaurant with her friends.
"Aw, that's no good…" I said, "She left!" I said.
"In jealousy. She left in jealousy." Minako said.
"Well, no point staying here…" I said.
"Wait, I'm hungry…" she flips the menu and saw the outrageously high prices and called the waiter.
"Waiter, the price of the lobster is ludicrous! You expect me to pay this much for a sea-spider?!" Minako said.
"Sorry Mademoiselle, but ze lobster was flown spezially from America." The waiter said.
"Flown? Couldn't you have just bought the ones that swam here?" she said, "In any event, we're leaving…" she said as she stood up.
"*ahem* a tip would be customary." He said.
"Here's a tip: Don't wear too much cologne!" Minako said.
The waiter took a bottle of cologne from his coat pocket and threw it away.
Minako and I just had a home cooked meal at home, courtesy of Leah.
(07/06/10)
Minako and I didn't do anything today other than to pretend to fight. All part of the plan.
We also made sure Yukari saw it.
How she didn't suspect a thing made me wonder.
(07/07/10)
Yukari went over to the house after Leah invited her to try Leah's peach cobbler.
She was to see our fight.
Minako and I were upstairs.
"Ready to break up?" I said, extending my hand.
She held it.
"Better that we break." She said, referencing Maroon 5's song.
"Once more, unto the breach dear friends…" I said.
I nodded.
"YOU BIG STUPID JERK!" Minako yelled, then she whispered, "I love acting!"
She pulled me downstairs.
We went down really angrily.
Yukari looked up from a bow magazine she was reading.
"I don't give a shit if you loved me with all your heart! I hate your face anyways!" she yelled.
"Don't say that!"
Yukari and the others were looking on, as if they were spectating a fight in the street.
"B-But Minako!" I pleaded.
"A-and I don't care i-if you told me that you'd love me forever! Because… you're a liar!" she said and turned around.
"I-I mean… I'm tired of lying about how much you really love me because you're not showing all your love!" she said, "And I'm now invulnerable to your remarkably potent charms!" then, halfway to the door, she said, "And I want love!" and with that, she left.
I began making crocodile tears.
"I thought we had something special!" and I just bawled.
"Oh! Oh! There there…" Yukari said, letting me cry on her shoulder.
"Yukari… I'm sorry… can we ever get back together?" I said.
She smiled kindly.
"Yes. I love you, Minato-kun!"
With that, we kissed.
It seemed quite some time since she kissed me, so it felt really strange.
I hugged her and saw on the rain spattered window, Minako in the rain waving wistfully at me.
I didn't know if she was crying or the rain…
Then, I knew that there was a chance I couldn't hang out with Minako much anymore…
Meanwhile… outside…
Minako felt conflicted.
I know that was play-acting and all… but… I think I like Minato…
She walked in the drizzling rain.
She found herself crying.
I'm… crying… why am I crying?
Is it because there was a chance I'd never see Minato without Yukari getting mad, or have I fallen in love with my friend?
No… I couldn't be that…
She looked up in the sky.
The cloudy grey sky reflected her mood. Dark and dreary.
Then, she looked in the living room window and saw Yukari and Minato kissing.
She cried even harder at the somewhat ridiculous thought of her friend falling in love with someone else.
Even as a child, Minako loved walking in the rain.
She even named herself, Minako Rainwalker.
She was then thankful for the rain.
The reason why I love walking in the rain is because… no one will know I'm crying.
She then went home and cried herself to sleep, not knowing if that was sickness or if she had fallen for Minato.
She regretted what she did.