Disclaimer: Characters are not mine.
Favor
He frowned.
Then he smiled.
After a few seconds, he frowned again.
Good thing he's inside the comfort of his home or else people will start to think that he had gone insane.
Mikagami Tokiya is currently torn between feeling contented and blameworthy.
He's contented because Sakoshita Yanagi, the girl who has been filling his dreams, has asked to have dinner with him today.
On the other hand, he felt like he's somehow betraying the memory of his sister whose death anniversary was just yesterday.
He should be deep in solitude and prayer for his sister's soul.
But then again…
Maybe it was his sister's doing. Or maybe the gods have thought that he has suffered enough and it's about time to give him a taste of happiness.
But why can't he seem to smile genuinely at the thought?
He had wanted this all his life, didn't he?
I mean, this is Yanagi.
He tried to shrug off the feeling of uncertainty as he got ready.
Maybe this is another chance for him to change Yanagi's mind about choosing him.
Then he thought if Hanabishi Recca knew about their "date".
He's Yanagi's acclaimed ninja, after all.
But Tokiya decided that he didn't since he'll never approve of it.
Then a purple head girl popped in his mind, which stirred something inside him.
He shook his head to clear his thoughts but he couldn't help but wonder.
Why doesn't it feel right?
He closed his eyes and tried to think of Yanagi's smile, that has always had a soothing effect on him.
But Yanagi's brown eyes suddenly turned a stunning shade of green.
Her brown hair turned purple and her smile much brighter.
Holy shi—!
Tokiya opened his icy blue ices abruptly.
That was—
Before he can finish his thought, he immediately tried to think of something else.
He thought of the projects he still need to finish and exams he needs to study for since next month he's going to be busy in arranging his requirements for entering the top universities.
The end of class is just 2 months away.
He felt another stir in his heart.
Is it—regret?
He shook his head again.
After making sure that no hair is misplaced and his clothes are without any crease, he went on his way to meet Yanagi at the restaurant.
He was there a few minutes early but he didn't really mind waiting since it's Yanagi.
But he didn't really wait for that long because after a few minutes, she finally appeared looking pretty as ever in a white fluffy dress that ends about 3 inches below her knees.
"Yanagi." He greeted with a small smile.
"Tokiya-senpai." Yanagi greeted back with a smile of her own.
Tokiya showed her to her seat and the waiter gave them the menu.
After going over it, they gave their orders.
They were mostly quiet the whole time, even after their food was served, with occasional talks about school and the weather.
But Tokiya decided it doesn't really matter.
He was quite contented to just look at and be with her.
After the dinner, Yanagi suggested that they walk by the park.
Surprisingly when they got there, fireworks display lighted the sky.
Tokiya found it odd.
He couldn't think of any particular occasion for anyone to used fireworks but Yanagi seemed to be quite happy about it so he just shrugged it off.
After the fireworks, he finally walked Yanagi home since it's getting late already.
"Thank you for the wonderful evening, Tokiya-senpai." Yanagi said with a bow.
"No, I should be the one thanking you." Tokiya answered quietly.
Yanagi smiled, "See you tomorrow then."
Tokiya just nodded before turning and starting his long walk home.
When he's already a few steps away, he stopped, suddenly feeling rude since he didn't bother waiting for Yanagi to get inside their house first before leaving.
But when he turned, Yanagi was not there anymore.
He sighed before turning around and walking again.
He's been acting really strange today.
He didn't even bother to convince Yanagi to be his instead of that flame caster boy, which was his plan early on.
Everything was so confusing.
When he was nearing the corner, he realized that the flame caster's house is just before it and to his surprise, he saw the purple head girl who has been bothering his thoughts standing there talking to Recca.
"Thanks for the fireworks and for understanding, Recca." She said with an appreciative smile.
Recca looked anything but happy.
"Hmp! Just remember you owe me big time, Kirisawa." He muttered with a snort before going inside their house, leaving the girl sighing.
She looked tired and Tokiya thought what could have caused her weariness.
Then her words echoed in his mind.
"Thanks for the fireworks and for understanding, Recca."
Thanks for the fireworks and for understanding…
Fireworks? Understanding?
Could it be…?
Kirisawa Fuuko suddenly turned when she sensed another presence nearby.
Her eyes widened when he saw Tokiya standing not far from her.
"Michan! What's up?" She said with a forced smile.
"You orchestrated the whole thing?" Tokiya hissed angrily, taking forceful steps towards Fuuko.
Fuuko wanted to run but she couldn't will herself to move. There's only one thing left for her to do: deny.
"What thing?" She asked, feigning innocence.
"Don't take me for a fool, Kirisawa." Tokiya grabbed her arm and stared intensely at her.
"I never—" Fuuko started to say but Tokiya interrupted her.
"What games are you playing at, huh?" He bit out angrily. "Were you trying to rub it on my face that Yanagi doesn't like me even just a bit?"
Fuuko gasped as she yanked her arm from his grasp.
"That was not my intention, Michan." She said hoarsely, crossing her eyebrows.
"Then what were you trying to do?" Tokiya demanded through gritted teeth.
"I just wanted you to be happy!" Fuuko yelled in frustration. "I just wanted you to be happy and not dwell on your sister's death anniversary! I could have planned a picnic for all of us but I knew you wouldn't come because you just keep everything to yourself and you never tell us your pain. I knew it just have to be Yanagi. You feel most safe when you are with her. And you know what? That hurts because we also wanted to be your friend. I want to be your friend. But you're happy with Yanagi so I asked her and I asked Recca and we planned this whole thing. So you could be happy. Just so you could be happy."
Tokiya was stunned at her sudden outburst.
"I just want you to be happy, Michan." She added in a whisper, trying to catch her breath which she lost at her outburst.
Without waiting for an answer, she turned around and walked away.
Tokiya stared after her numbly.
He can be an idiot sometimes.
He replayed the events of the day in his head as he walked home and until he got ready for bed.
Aside from the resolve that he owes Fuuko an apology, he knew something was still amiss.
Maybe it's the fact that he didn't feel the same contentment when he was with Yanagi like he used to.
Maybe it's the fact that he's no longer longing for her smile.
Maybe it's the fact that all of a sudden he had lost his interest in her.
Maybe it's the disturbing fact that he could already be falling for…
Tokiya never got to finish his thoughts as he drifted off to a deep sleep.
The following morning, he forgot everything else but one thing.
He looked around the cafeteria.
He looked at the music room.
Oddly, he even looked at the library.
But then he realized where he should have looked all along: the rooftop.
When he got there, he found what he was looking for.
Or rather, who.
"I've been looking for you." He said, making his presence known to the other person who was leaning on the railings.
"If you came here to make accusations again you can just save your breath and take it out on somebody else because I don't talk to ice blocks that can't appreciate effort, probably doesn't even know what it meant." Fuuko said in obvious annoyance.
"You already contradicted yourself the moment you spoke and didn't you just make accusation yourself?" Tokiya answered as he stood beside her.
Fuuko glared at him and asked, "So you're admitting that you're an ice block?"
"No, I only said that because technically you're still talking to me."
"You're still an insensitive jerk."
Tokiya didn't say anything.
In fact, there was nothing to say on his defense since it's true.
But of course, he would never admit that.
They remained quiet for a few moments, and Tokiya realized how much he feels comfortable and warm standing there with Fuuko.
Then he snapped himself out of his thoughts, shocked at their implication.
Could it be…?
He turned and moved as if to leave but was stopped by Fuuko's questioning tone.
"Michan…?"
"I'm sorry." Tokiya found himself saying before he could even stop.
Fuuko was shocked, to say the least.
Then she smiled.
"Forgiven."
Tokiya can see her smile from the corner of his eyes.
The sight of it made him want to smile back but he stopped himself.
He snorted instead and started to walk back inside.
After taking a few steps away, he stopped.
Fuuko watched him curiously.
"Kirisawa." Tokiya called without looking at her.
"What?"
"Thank you."
Fuuko smiled again.
"You're welcome."
Tokiya smiled and then finally went inside.
Author's rants:
Fuuko can be too forgiving sometimes, huh? Don't forget to leave a review, okay? Thanks!