A/N: I feel sorry for Eriko coz being the straight one, she isn't getting much attention so here's a little for her.
Chapter 3. Eriko's Struggle
Torii Eriko was sitting quietly in a bench at the park, looking at the kids playing at the playground. However, if you would look closely at her, you would realize that her mind was in faraway place.
So what was troubling her?
It had been a while since something happened that would occupy her mind.
It had been a while since she had seen her friends from the Yamayurikai.
She hadn't seen her classmates Mizuno Youko and Satou Sei for a while.
Youko was in faraway law school. She hadn't seen her since they graduated. Youko, if she had visited Lillian Girls Academy, she wasn't aware of. Maybe she had visited since their graduation. No. She surely had visited without her knowledge. If not for the others and her petite soeur, Ogasawara Sachiko, then for that person. She wondered if anyone knew about Youko's feelings. If Sachiko knew it. If that person knew it.
Her other friend and enemy, Sei, on the other hand, was just nearby, but she didn't feel like visiting her. Why? She didn't know. Just that, she didn't feel like it.
So boring.
She heaved a sigh.
Then she remembered her petite soeur, Hasekura Rei. She hated to admit that she missed her.
And Shimazu Yoshino. Rei's petite soeur. The thought about that person brought a smile to her lips. She missed her banter with that little spitfire.
Really.
Being around Yoshino was fun because it was just way too easy to get a rise from her. She liked her brave and unwavering gaze at her, and how those eyes of hers blaze with anger whenever she did something to Rei or made Rei do anything unusual. She remembered last time around February when Valentine's Day was coming. Yoshino had fought her about the activity on the treasure hunt, of the students finding the en bouton's card and winning a date with the owner of the card. It was really fun. And Rei was at the middle of their fight. It was really fun messing with her, winning against her. Yoshino never backed down from anything.
Her smile turned into quiet laughter at the thought of her petite soeur and her petite soeur's petite soeur. It lingered for a moment. She wanted to see them. But then, she didn't like to.
How troublesome.
Her mirth disappeared.
Then she thought about the others, the little sisters of Youko and Sei. Fukuzawa Yumi's cute expressions, Sachiko's stoic expression and loose temper, Toudou Shimako's serene features. They were all interesting bunch of people.
Once again, she contemplated about visiting Lillian, but just then, the faces of her brothers and father came into mind.
She let out a tired sigh.
Certainly she loved being pampered and all by three brothers and her father, but she also found it annoying and tiring. Fighting about who would go first on a date with her and such was just so childish.
And then there was Yamanobe-sensei. Of course she hadn't given up chasing after him. In fact, she would see him again later. It lifted her heart to know that she would see him again. He fascinated and interests her to no end. The last time they had seen each other…
Eriko's shoulders sagged a bit as she remembered the last time she and Yamanobe-sensei went out. He said that he liked her, but for now, only as a friend. What was holding him back?
Really.
Had she lost her touch?
Somehow, she felt like she was in similar state with Youko. However, the difference was that, she told Yamanobe-sensei directly about her feelings. And she was acting on her feelings. Youko, on the other hand, wasn't.
What should she do about Yamanobe-sensei? She hadn't wanted anything that she hadn't got. However, this time, it didn't just about wanting to have that something, or someone. It was more than that. It was deeper than that.
What would be her next step?
Maybe she should seduce him? She thought with amusement, then laughed to herself as she tried to imagine how he would react. Really. She was just a little tempted to do just like that. But of course, she wouldn't. There were better ways.
But how about her friends? What would they say if she told them that she would seduce Yamanobe-sensei?
Youko would raise her eyebrows as if challenging her to do so.
Sei would definitely laugh and say "Go for it!".
Rei would be horrified and would try to change her mind or something.
Shimako and Yumi would be shocked. Yumi might even panic while Shimako would still be quiet.
Sachiko would turn green knowing her dislike for the male species.
And Yoshino, she would definitely agree for her own selfish reasons. If she had Yamanobe-sensei, then Yoshino would think that she would have her away from Rei. Yoshino might even offer her help to the task. She wondered what Yoshino's suggestions would be and how Rei would react. The latter would surely try to stop Yoshino, but would fail miserably.
It would be fun to see those reactions. Just thinking about it made her giggle. She might even just do it if only she would see those interesting reactions.
And her brothers and father?
She giggled again when she thought about them. They would definitely scream with rage and if only possible, lock her inside the house. Her father would rant non-stop, and together with her brothers, would threaten to do something about Yamanobe-san. But of course, she could win against them with simple threats alone, too. That was the advantage of being spoiled to the core. They should have known that. They couldn't say no to her. They wouldn't if they knew what was best for them. A threat of not dating with anyone of them anymore would be a sure hit.
Eriko looked up at the clear, blue sky and then looked down at her watch. It was time to met Yamanobe-sensei. How the day would end, she would find out soon enough. However, she knew that something interesting would definitely happen.
A/N: Well then, that's it for Eriko. It's a little hard to do it. Tell me what you think please.
BTW, if you're expecting more of Youko and Sei, then you have to forgive me coz I want it to be like that. They're done for this story :) :)
---Arvendell---
31 January 2008