A/N: I am back with a new chapter and this is not the finale, there's still one more [tha final one will be #13, same as in the show] that would be the final chapter of this story that started with an angry ranting thanks to KyoAni and their messy second season and will end up the way we all KumiRei shippers would wanted to. Thanks in advance to all that have followed/favorited/reviewed my humble story, your comments keep me motivated to write more.
On other news, rejoice my dear readers because 'she had it coming' will have a sequel portraying KumiRei second high school year, that means new OCs and lots of drama and fluff [I just hope KyoAni doesn't dissapoint with Kumiko's movie, but then again, it's KyoAni]. Although i announced a sequel, I will take a break of this story as soon chapter 13 is posted to work on two more projects that I already have in the works. One story on this fandom and one on Marimite, news about that soon. Now, replies to your lovely reviews.
Panda2501: I am glad you enjoy my story. I know everyone wanted to read the dinner but I needed to finish up some things before that but hey, now you got it here. Messy Reina makes her more human and adorable, in my opinion and yes this story has two sequels planned but time would tell, but I will write about their second year for sure.
Deliberatee: I am so sappy, I know XD. Romantic Reina is best Reina specially with who we all want her to be [suck it Taki/Tsukamoron] dragon Kaya will give them some hard times but i hope they find a way to handle her. Luis is the best father ever, I wish i had one of those and he definitely helped so much that I want him to adopt me, lol.
ELLI0T: The finale is coming, thanks for reading.
dinnca: Reina is stubborn and Kumiko is just in love but scared, it's not an easy situation but hopefully they will do something about it.
Syaoran Li Clow: Yup, both are girls on a mission, although I see Reina more into it to be honest. I wanted something light before the big guns come into the picture on this chapter with confessions and stuff. Kumiko and Luis showdown is finally here, I hope you enjoy it.
Psykoakuma: I am glad you liked it! I thought they were going to make out in the movies but they restrained and I was like awwww, bummer. MAid dragon is amazing, I envy Kobayashi so much hehe. I hope you enoju this chap too.
Ruelf: OMG you're alive! I am a fan of your work too, please update soon! I hope you keep loving Reina on this chap too.
Thestral212: jajaja ya llego la cena asi que no desesperes, aqui todo se aclara, por fin.
Warnings: Unmedicated Reina is as dangerous as the medicated one. This is a confession of love, after all.
Enjoy!
The light ahead
Kumiko was completely confused about Reina's actions today. The trumpeter had been overly sweet and caring, so out of character to her regular aloof behavior. But the auburn-haired girl didn't complain, in fact, she was enjoying this new version of the normally mysterious Kousaka Reina.
They were still holding hands and Kumiko noticed that the trumpeter was slightly shaking.
Reina is nervous.
But, why?
"Ne, Reina"
"…"
"Reina"
"Hmm?"
"Are you okay?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Reina looked away and Kumiko knew that the trumpeter was lying "Everything is fine"
"Sure" Kumiko snorted
"Hey!" Reina threw a punch to Kumiko and the latter evaded and chuckled.
"I never thought you were the violent type" Kumiko added between fits of laughter and Reina scoffed before giggling along with the euphonium player.
The route they chose was the one they normally took after school so they felt at ease with Kumiko teased the trumpeter who uncharacteristically blushed a lot. They got out and walked all the way to the spot where they normally parted but this time Kumiko followed Reina home.
The trumpeter stopped by a riverbank and Kumiko tilted her head confused.
"Reina, why are you stopping here?"
"Kumiko" Reina turned and hugged the euphonium player who blushed deeply before hugging the trumpeter back.
"…"
They kept on hugging for way longer 'good friends' were supposed to and Kumiko took a step back and locked eyes with the trumpeter who was uncharacteristically blushing.
"Reina…" the euphonium player took a deep breath before taking the trumpeter's healthy hand "…is everything okay?"
"Yes!...no!...I…I don't know!" Reina looked down and Kumiko kept silent while the trumpeter pulled the auburn-haired player with her to a nearby bench and both sat in silence.
The river's current was the only sound heard while the sun disappeared behind a far hill and streetlights slowly lit bathing them in an orangish glow.
"We will have dinner with my father" Reina suddenly said and golden eyes widened.
"Wha…what? Why?" Kumiko blurted before covering her mouth with her free hand, yes, they were still holding hands.
"He…wants to meet you" Reina cryptically replied.
"But…why?" the euphonium player blurted out again.
"I told him that you are…special to me" even Reina's ears were burning now "as I told you earlier, we need to talk"
"Yeah, I remember" Kumiko looked up and the sky was getting darker and start could be seen shining "but what is it about, Reina?"
The trumpeter felt trapped and was getting anxious. Confessing for real was something that she had never done before and the entire situation was making her really nervous.
I want to tell you how I feel but, how do I even start?
"Kumiko…I…" Reina was suddenly interrupted by her ringing phone and she couldn't be more relieved.
"Reina-chan, did you girls get lost or something?"
"No daddy, we are on our way" Reina stood up and Kumiko followed suit "we will be there in around ten minutes or less" after hanging up, the trumpeter turned to take Kumiko's hand and they resumed their walk to Reina's place.
"Kumiko"
"Yeah?"
"We will talk after dinner" the trumpeter stopped, turned around and cupped the auburn-haired girl's cheek before taking a step forward and smiling sweetly at Kumiko's blushing face "I promise."
Just in that moment, the sound of rain made Kumiko chuckle before taking a step back and taking Reina's hand and they ran in the rain. Five minutes later, they stopped under a tree.
Golden locked orbs with purple and Kumiko couldn't help but blush at Reina's sight. Flushed face and disheveled hair, the trumpeter was slightly panting and then, the auburn-haired girl noticed Reina's bleeding ankles, running with heels wasn't the best choice.
"I know you will tell me that you like pain but" Kumiko pointed at Reina's feet "that looks really painful"
"To be honest" Reina smiled embarrassed "it is"
"Let me carry you home" the euphonium player added before turning around so she could carry Reina on her back.
"But…it is not that bad, Kumiko" the trumpeter lied, she actually was under a lot of pain.
"Don't lie and hop on" Reina complied and the euphonium player carried the trumpeter on her back all the way to the latter's home while it was pouring.
After walking for a couple of meters, the trumpeter finally relaxed surrounded by Kumiko's warmth and approached her lips to the auburn-haired girl's ear.
"Thank you for being this caring, Kumiko" Reina whispered and the euphonium player stumbled with a rock and both girls almost fell, there was something alluring about Reina's voice that was making the euphonium player lose control.
"It…it's no problem Reina" Kumiko stammered and sighed relieved when the sight of Reina's home brought some peace to her racing heart.
When Kousaka Luis opened his front door, he didn't know whether to laugh at the two soaked teenagers or just hug Kumiko for being so caring about Reina. In the end, he took option three, let them in and offer a hot drink and a bath.
Reina was the first coming out from her parent's bathroom and sat on one of the stools of the kitchen while her dad handed her a cup of warm amazake.
"You must be the only parent…" Reina took a sip of her mug before continuing "…that gives an alcoholic drink to your daughter"
"Amazake barely has any alcohol in it, Reina-chan besides…" Luis approached and poured a bit of sake on his daughter's mug "knowing you, I am sure you need some liquid courage"
"I don't know if to love you or hate you, daddy" Reina mumbled between sips and Luis chuckled.
"You know you love me, my sweet kid" Luis added and his daughter scoffed "and don't worry, you will be able to take your meds despite that drink."
From afar, Kumiko watched the father-daughter interaction and was surprised of how sweet Reina's dad was with his daughter. Although, the euphonium player couldn't listen what they were mumbling about, she enjoyed how cute the trumpeter looked all flushed while talking to her dad.
"Here's the girl of the hour!" Kousaka Luis added and Reina looked up and purple melted in golden orbs "come here and have a warm drink, kiddo, dinner will be ready soon" Kumiko walked in the kitchen and sat next to Reina while Luis placed a steamy amazake mug in front of the auburn-haired girl.
"Thank you, Kousaka-san" Kumiko promptly replied.
"Just call me Luis, Kumiko-chan" Luis added with a warm smile, similar smile than his daughter gives the euphonium player when she is pleased about something "By the way Reina-chan, you haven't properly introduced me your friend" the trumpeter stood and bowed.
"Father, this is Oumae Kumiko, my…" the young trumpeter felt a knot on her throat that didn't let her continue.
"Your…?" Luis slightly pressed. He was aware of how hard it was for his daughter to voice her feelings and his wife has most of the fault on that particular matter but that was something he will discuss with Kaya when she came back from her work trip.
I guess Reina-chan hasn't confessed yet.
"…good friend" Reina whispered while looking down.
And I am so damn right.
This kid, really.
"Oumae Kumiko, nice to meet you, Kousa…I mean Luis-san" Kumiko bowed deeply and quickly replied while looking sad all of a sudden.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot I am just her friend.
"Glad to finally meet you" Luis smiled "Reina-chan has told me a lot about you"
"She did?"
"Yeah, she has told me about how you have been there for her and I am really thankful, Kumiko-chan"
"It is no problem, Luis-san" Kumiko smiled after finishing her amazake mug "she is a good friend of mine" the last two words carried some sadness and Reina looked down at her mug finding it very interesting all of a sudden.
Ouch, Kumiko-chan is hurt and my daughter is finally acknowledging her feelings.
Well, that's better than nothing but, poor Kumiko.
"Well I think that she sees you more like a…" Luis saw how Reina's eyes widened at her father's statement and her mug slipped from her hand spilling the rest of the amazake on the kitchen counter.
"Are you okay, Reina?" Kumiko stood and took a kitchen towel to clean the mess the trumpeter had made.
"Yes, I was just careless" the trumpeter replied while his father offered her an extra towel to clean her hands.
"Don't worry about this, I will take care of the rest" Luis offered with a smile "you girls go and wash your hands, I'll call you when everything's ready" the man wiggled his brows at his daughter who just rolled her eyes before taking Kumiko's hand and both walked out of the kitchen.
After washing her hands, both girls sat on Reina's bed. The tension was palpable but none of them dared to break the silence. Not a minute later, Kumiko stood up and walked to Reina's desk and smiled at the picture she found.
It was the trumpeter holding a shiny silver trumpet on one hand and a medium size trophy on the other while giving a proud smile to the camera.
That's so cute.
"Thank you, Kumiko"
Damn me and my blurting.
"N…no problem" the euphonium player stammered and stiffened when she felt Reina's body slightly pressed against her back. When Kumiko quickly turned around, the trumpeter's face was really close to her own and she flushed.
"Um…" the auburn-haired girl took a step back to be blocked by the desk, she was trapped.
"Kumiko" the trumpeter whispered before taking a step forward.
"Y…yes?"
"I need to tell you something"
"I…" the trumpeter took a step forward and smiled with a crimson face "think that…I like you"
"I like you too, Reina" Kumiko smiled "I mean we are friends so of course that I like you"
"No Kumiko you don't understand" Reina sighed frustrated "what I really meant is that…" a knock interrupted their conversation and Kumiko took the chance to escape from the trumpeter's confusing advances and sat back on the bed.
The moment the door was opened and a smiling man announced that dinner was ready, both girls followed Kousaka Luis to the dining room while avoiding each other's gazes.
Kumiko was surprised at Luis' cooking skills because they were completely superior than his daughter's, although she could eat Reina's food any given day.
"So, Kumiko-chan" Luis started and smiled at his daughter's terrified expression "how do you like the food so far?"
"It's delicious Luis-san, thank you for the invitation"
"Don't mention it, Kumiko-chan" the older trumpeter took a sip of his drink before continuing "I have the feeling that I will see you around more often"
"Daddy!" Reina interrupted nervously and her father just chuckled amused.
"Oh, that reminds me, Reina-chan" Luis commented while looking at his watch "it's time for your medication, I left it on the kitchen's counter"
Saying that the young trumpeter was nervous of leaving Kumiko and Luis alone was an understatement. In fact, she was terrified because she knew that her father could 'blurt' some of Reina's inner thoughts and feelings.
I don't need my father's help to confess to Kumiko.
The young trumpeter entered the kitchen to find that her meds weren't where her father told her, instead she found a piece of paper with some written lines.
'Your meds are somewhere in here, just follow the clues I prepared for you. Have fun while I entertain your lovely Kumiko-chan.
Love,
Your daddy'
"Why can't I have a normal father that actually leaves the meds where he said he did?" the trumpeter complained and with an annoyed sigh, Kousaka Reina started looking for her meds in the kitchen.
Oumae Kumiko couldn't help but feel nervous by being left alone with Reina's father and the latter couldn't be more amused.
These two girls are so similar and different at the same time that is sweet. I can tell from how Kumiko-chan sees my Reina that she's head over heels my daughter.
How come Reina-chan hasn't noticed it?
I never thought my bright daughter would be this oblivious.
"So, Kumiko-chan" Luis started and nervous golden orbs observed him.
"Yes, Luis-san?" the euphonium player commented before taking a sip of her drink.
"When are you going to tell my daughter how you feel about her?" the older trumpeter added and Kumiko coughed and almost spitted her drink.
"Wha…what…do…do y…you mean, Lu…Luis-san?"
Oh God, he knows.
"Yup, I know" Luis added with mirth and Kumiko covered her mouth with her hands "and don't pretend that it is not true that you have feelings for my daughter".
Damn.
"I…" Kumiko looked down at her shaking hands resting on her lap "I…do care about Reina a lot, Luis-san"
"Well, to be honest" Luis looked up deep in thought "I don't see the issue with that as long as you let her know"
"But she loves Taki-sensei!" Kumiko blurted again, this time on purpose. That was what she considered the main obstacle for her confession, being rejected because the object of her affection was in love with their sensei.
"That old hag? I don't think so" the trumpeter chuckled out loud "In fact, let me ask you two questions"
"O…k"
"What would happen if that weren't true?"
"Um…"
"If that were the case, would you confess your feelings to Reina-chan?"
"I…" Kumiko took a deep breath to calm down and reply in all honesty "I think I would confess to her if that were the case, Luis-san"
"Well Kumiko-chan" the trumpeter leaned forward and the auburn-haired girl did the same and the former whispered "today's your lucky day and I said too much already" and the euphonium player flushed while her mind went into chaos.
"Very funny, father!" Reina glared at her dad while entering the dining room.
"I don't know what you're talking about sweetie" Luis ignored his fuming daughter while trying hard not to burst into laughter "did you find them?"
"Of course, I did!" Reina snapped with a blush and Kumiko was taken aback. Seeing her beloved trumpeter this annoyed was an uncommon sight "not thanks to you, dad"
"Oh well…" Luis stood ignoring his daughter completely "time for dessert" he added before walking towards the kitchen and Reina turned to Kumiko.
"What did dad tell you?" Reina suddenly snapped and the euphonium player raised her hands cautiously.
"Nothing, I swear!" the euphonium player promptly replied "did you take your painkillers?" Kumiko asked to change the subject.
"I did" Reina whispered before looking away with a blush.
"Ice cream it is!" Luis commented while reentering the dining room carrying small bowls with different flavors.
"We have to study for our finals so we will have our ice cream in my room" Reina suddenly stood and Kumiko followed suit.
"If you excuse us, Luis-san" The euphonium player added before bowing slightly.
Before leaving, Kousaka Luis mouthed a 'good luck' to the auburn-haired girl that just gave him a small smile and a nod before following Reina to her room.
"They are a perfect match" Luis had some ice cream before chuckling "even if they don't fully realize it yet"
Oh well, I just hope they finally acknowledge how much they love each other.
Those silly girls.
When the soft click of a closing door was heard, Kumiko jumped alarmed. She felt really nervous all of a sudden. Maybe because of how Reina had been behaving or perhaps due to the trumpeter's father words that were just driving her crazy.
If that were the case, would you confess your feelings to Reina-chan?
Would I be brave enough to confess?
"Kumiko" the auburn-haired girl looked up and Reina smiled and the former blushed while taking the trumpeter's ice cream bowl to place it on a nearby table.
Yeah, probably not.
"Since I was a kid, I have always loved sweet things" Reina enjoyed a big spoon of ice cream "and I still tend to drift towards people with those qualities like a moth to a flame" the trumpeter suddenly blushed a bright shade of pink before looking away "like you, Kumiko"
"Huh? Me?"
"Yes, you" Reina moved closer to Kumiko and stared at her ice cream bowl before continuing "haven't you noticed how much I have changed under your terrible influence?"
"Well…" now it was the euphonium player's turn to ponder about things and she had to recognize that the trumpeter was right.
Reina had opened up a lot lately, despite how hard it is to her, she had been trying really hard to get closer to Kumiko who hasn't been that receptive due to that confession the trumpeter voiced during the national competition "you are right, you have told me many things lately and I am glad you finally trust me"
"That aside, I don't have enough words to apologize to you" Reina sighed and looked up to glance at Kumiko "what I told to Taki-sensei was something I wanted to say for a long time and, after I did, I felt so relieved"
"Do you love Taki-sensei?" Kumiko didn't blurt this time, she actually meant what she asked.
"I admire him" the trumpeter stated slowly "he has been a great influence in my life"
"But, do you love him, Reina?" the euphonium player wanted a straightforward answer and her heart racing like crazy wasn't helping.
"I thought I did" the trumpeter chuckled bitterly "after I confessed I didn't feel love, but alleviated, like a heavy burden was lifted from my heart"
"But…you looked at him with so much love, it was nauseating" Kumiko raised her voice frustrated "I still remember that time we went to his office to give him the music room's key and you blushed so red that I thought you were going to pass out"
"I was embarrassed, Kumiko!" Reina replied raising her voice as well "I wanted to live up the expectations you had of me and having a crush on a teacher was something silly and childish"
"It was!" the auburn-haired girl sighed and looked down at the now melting ice cream "I admired you for who you were despite your ridiculous crush!"
"But things have changed and I have strong feelings for someone else!" Reina loud voice cracked Kumiko's mask and golden orbs widened surprised.
"Yo…you do?" it wasn't more than a whisper but Reina panicked when she heard the sadness in the euphonium player's voice.
"I do!" the trumpeter replied clearly annoyed.
"I…see" the pain on Kumiko's voice was palpable and golden orbs looked away so Reina couldn't see her cry. The trumpeter tried to touch the auburn-haired girl but she didn't dare, instead she stood up and headed towards her bed to take her sleeping clothes.
"I will change into my pajamas" Reina opened her room's door "I suggest you do the same, Kumiko" with that the trumpeter closed the door to lean on the other side, deep in thought.
I just told Kumiko that I liked someone but I didn't specify that it was her!
I am so silly.
With a long sigh, Kousaka Reina headed towards her bathroom to change clothes. Inside the room, Oumae Kumiko was a mess. What the trumpeter just told her devastated the auburn-haired girl.
One thing was that Reina were in love with Taki-sensei, which Kumiko knew would go nowhere but other completely different was that the trumpeter was in love with someone else.
So now I know my chances have dropped to zero.
While changing into her pajamas, Kumiko felt really sad. She had been encouraged to confess tonight but after knowing that Reina's feelings were directed to this someone, the euphonium player wasn't so sure about telling the trumpeter how she really felt towards her.
So, when Reina reentered the room, Kumiko looked away while she felt her heart aching. The trumpeter placed her folded clothes on a nearby chair and took Kumiko's wrist to lead her to her bed.
"Sit next to me please, Kumiko" added Reina between yawns and the euphonium player realized something critical.
Reina took her painkillers.
The same ones from that time when she…kissed me.
Oh God.
"Do you love me, Kumiko?"
"…" golden orbs widened surprised but no words came out this time.
"Well?"
"Does it really matter, Reina?" Kumiko snapped and took Reina aback, the last time the trumpeter had seen her this upset was that time Kumiko argued with her sister in front of her, weeks ago.
"It does to me!"
"Why? You are in love with someone else anyways" Kumiko barked with tears in her eyes.
"You silly" Reina giggled softly.
"Don't call me that!" the auburn-haired player yelled "and don't laugh at me, you are being cruel, Reina"
"I call you that because you are behaving like one, Kumiko" the trumpeter added in a hurt tone.
"You are so terrible on those meds that I hate it" the auburn-haired stood up and Reina tilted her head confused.
"What do you mean?"
"You kissed me!" Kumiko finally said, she was so upset that she didn't care about what she just revealed "but it doesn't count because you were on those stupid meds, right?"
"I did?"
That dream was true!
"Yes, you did! And I don't know what to think or do anymore!" Kumiko sat on the floor leaning her back on the bed, covered her face with her hands and started sobbing and Reina was shocked.
So, I really kissed Kumiko during one of the times I took my meds, no wonder she had been this distant lately. It is hard to tell how things will go after today but I will risk my chances.
It's all or nothing, Reina.
The trumpeter kneeled in front of Kumiko and held her tight, the latter froze on the spot but her sobs could still be heard.
"I am sorry Kumiko" the trumpeter added with a soft whisper "I didn't know I hurt you this bad and I want to make it up to you but please look at me" the auburn-haired player didn't move an inch and Reina took a deep breath.
There must be a way to make Kumiko react. And then the trumpeter came up with an idea. She took the auburn-haired girl's hands and kissed them tenderly making Kumiko look at her with a puzzled expression.
"You didn't give me a chance to tell you who the person I like was" Reina smiled and kept on kissing Kumiko's now open palms while golden orbs stared at her surprised.
"It doesn't matter, Reina" the euphonium player withdrew her hands and wanted to look away but a soft hand cupped her face and forced her golden orbs to lock with nervous purple.
"It does, Kumiko" a crimson trumpeter leaned forward and the world stopped the moment Kousaka Reina placed her lips on top of Oumae Kumiko's "because the person I like it's you, silly"
"I don't believe you" Kumiko leaned back trying to be as far as she could from Reina to no avail due to the fact the trumpeter's bed was blocking her "you won't remember anything tomorrow, it's those meds fault, again!" the auburn-haired girl snapped once more but Reina didn't let her move by grabbing her face.
"Well…about the meds" the trumpeter blushed even more before explaining Kumiko what happened in the kitchen when she went to take her medication.
"Why can't I have a normal father that actually leaves the meds where he said he did?" the trumpeter complained and with an annoyed sigh she started looking for her meds in the kitchen.
Flipping the small note, the trumpeter found some more written lines on her father's neat handwriting.
'I noticed how you behave after taking those meds so I won't let you have them this time.
If you are to confess to Kumiko-chan, it would be with your five senses fully functional, there are no shortcuts when it comes to love so make me proud sweetheart!'
Reina sighed and then blushed when several memories flashed on her mind. The day where the trumpeter enrolled at Kitauji's concert band, their little interactions before trying their outfits for SunFest, that time smiling at her on their way home, the way Kumiko was always there for her. Their duet at the top of Mt. Daikichi, the jealousy she felt every time Asuka-senpai was around. That time in yukatas watching fireworks and that intimate moment where the trumpeter reassured Kumiko that she will peel off that good girl mask of hers.
That was the moment, Kousaka Reina decided that she will confess to Kumiko later, when they were alone.
"So, as you can see…" the trumpeter smiled with burning cheeks "I am acting on my own volition, Kumiko. No meds involved this time"
"A…are yo…you su…sure this isn't a…a dream?" the euphonium player asked with hope while tears threatened to fall from her golden orbs again.
"You tell me" Reina replied before brushing her lips against Kumiko's for a longer time before smiling and entwining her fingers together "does it feel like a dream?"
Kumiko didn't know what to say so she decided on act on her feelings and kissed Reina back with all those feelings she had been bottling for the last months.
And there, on Kousaka Reina's bedroom floor, trumpeter and euphonium player were finally true to themselves and found love, as it was meant to be.
A/N: Like it? I really enjoyed this one, and those kisses! review? [one more to go and it's over so please give me some love].