Ties

"I can't give Hiwatari-kun a tie. I mean, let's face it... Every man, for every holiday or special occasion always gets a tie. What kind of message would that send to him? That I ran out of ideas and bought the only thing I could think of?"

Riku Harada stared at her twin sibling, a bit confused. "Uhh..."

"Yes, I know that's what really happened, but I can't let him think that!"

She sighed. "I suppose not."

"He's my friend, no matter how many times he denies it." Risa, the younger Harada, forcefully hit a fist against the wooden picnic table that the two were sitting upon. "I have to get him something nice. Nicer than some dumb, old tie anyway. Something like a gold watch or a new, expensive pair of glasses."

Riku had to laugh. "Good luck with that."

"Unfortunately," Risa sulked, frowning. "Dad said that I was on my own for this gift. Personally, I think he did it on purpose because I let it slip that I was buying it for a guy."

"Hmph. Fathers."

"So over-protective."

"Indeed."

"How do you decide what to get your friend when he's already got everything he could possibly need?" Risa asked, desperate for an answer. She fiddled with the plain blue tie in her hands, stroking the satin material, but scowling in disappointment. "He can't even want something, because, heaven forbid, that would be human emotion. I swear, he's a robot in disguise." She paused. "Is there such a gift for robots?"

"Maybe oil or something?"

"Or some grease... but I suppose he wouldn't respond too kindly to that."

"Probably not."

Risa let out a soft growl, then whined her sister's name. "Riiiiiiikuuuu! What do I do?" Riku had her mouth open for another suggestion, though it was a pitiful one, but then her sister gasped. "Oh! Hi, Hiwatari-kun!" Riku's head whirled around, surprised at the sudden visit. She glanced back at her twin and noticed how much she regained her posture/composed herself before her, ahem, "friend". "What are you doing here?"

"Nothing," the bespectacled boy admitted, his hands deep in his pockets. "I was walking, but I saw you, and I figured that I would say hello."

"That's really weird."

"That is precisely what I thought. Yet my feet carried me, my brain unattached, and here I am."

"Wow."

Riku blinked, unable to understand how two people so different could even put up with each others presence. Just listening to them speak was odd. Uncomfortable, and feeling as if she were in a spot that she wasn't supposed to occupy, Riku slowly began slipping away. That's when Satoshi noticed the sea-blue tie in Risa's hands.

"What is that?"

Risa's face changed instantly from a covered-up pale, to a dark maroon. She smiled sheepishly. "Oh, this? It's really nothing. Well... no... I guess it's something. I mean, seeing as how it's a tie, and it does in fact take up space. But, erm... I mean, it wasn't really meant for anything so I... No, no it was meant for something, but it's such a poor excuse for a gift..."

"It's a gift?"

She cringed. "... More or less..."

Riku had to bite her lip in order to stop herself from bursting into hysterical laughter. Watching an embarrassed Risa was better than daytime television, and Satoshi made it so much more interesting.

"Who is it for?"

"Oh, the tie? Yes, of course the tie. What else would you be talking about... Um, the tie. Well, it's sort of for... at least I meant for it to be... I mean, I bought it as a birthday gift for you."

At this, the young genius stiffened. Riku could have sworn that she saw a hint of pink taint his cheeks. "... How did you know that today was my real birthday?"

"Umm... Daisuke told- well... I sort of forced him to tell me..." Her thumbs were twirling circled around each other at lightening speed, and Riku couldn't help but let out a stifled snort. The two students were oblivious to her struggle, and she could at least stand unnoticed.

"Why would you want to get a gift for me, Harada-san?"

"Uh, because that's what normal people do?"

Riku finally spat out a strange squeak, biting her tongue and covering her mouth. Satoshi merely glanced at her, while Risa cast her an ice cold death glare. Riku sent an apologetic look, but couldn't keep it for too long. She was just beside herself with amusement.

"What I mean is... that you're my friend," Risa explained, turning her gaze back to her thumbs. "And I wanted to get you something to let you know that. I mean... I'm glad that you were born, you know?" Risa refused to look at him. "I'm sorry I couldn't think of, or afford, anything nicer though."

Riku was amazed when she saw Satoshi practically melt (as much as a super robot with no emotion could melt anyway). "That's alright, Harada-san."

"Not really. I mean, come on. You must have a million ties at home, and it just seems like another useless item that was given by another uncaring girl, but I really did try! I just couldn't think of anything that you really needed or wanted, and I feel so bad because a tie doesn't send the type of message I need you to get, which is that I'm really glad to be your friend, and-!"

"Risa." Satoshi leaned forward and put a hand over her spasmodic hands, stilling them. Like a scene from a movie, he looked deep into Risa's amber eyes, the two of them holding their breath, lost in the moment. "... The mere fact that you thought to get me a gift for my birthday is good enough for me. In fact, it's more than enough for me." He took the tie, slipping it through her fingers. Not breaking their staring contest, he said, "... Thank you."

She couldn't help it. She really couldn't. Letting out an audible sigh of admiration, Riku broke into a grin and clapped. Her two companions slowly turned their heads to glare at her, but she didn't care.

"Please!" Riku said, holding out her hands, as if to stop them from attacking. "Please, go on! I was going to meet Daisuke on the other side of the park anyway, so that gives you two a chance to be all alone. Really, I had no intention of interrupting." She broke out laughing. "Ho-honestly! Just go back to staring lovingly into each others eyes, completely ignoring me. Ahaha! D-don't let me hinder your blossoming relationship any further!"

Satoshi rolled his eyes, but Riku could now definitely say that he was blushing. Risa, on the other hand, stood, taking out her fan from her purse. "Why you-!"

Daisuke Niwa was awfully confused when he saw a tearing Riku Harada running towards him. The red-head looked to his friend for advice, but the blue-eyed male just shook his head.

"Wahh! Daisuke, Risa's hurting me!"

"Nag, nag, nag! I always give you and Daisuke your space! But you just HAD to be a nuisance-!"