Chapter 4

The Return

"Matsuri-san!?"

"I know who I am," she says as she flips her now dyed silver hair with a thin yellow bow tied to the back of her head. Back then, it used to be teal colored. "And, drop the honorific. Matsuri is fine."

I can't believe she's here. She's the girl that had confessed to me back in school and is jealous of Mai. "W-what are you doing here?" I manage to ask.

"Oh, I was just enjoying my time at the amusement park when suddenly I noticed you were alone on the bench," Matsuri answers. She walks over closer to me and leans down to my level. "So, Reo-sama, how does it feel to get engaged?"

"What? How did you . . ."

"I just happened to watch Mai-sama propose to you behind the bushes that day when we graduated," Matsuri explains. "I felt so furious that she chose you as her bride.

"Well, first come first served," I say, shrugging.

"Don't start. You know, for someone like Mai-sama to fall in love with you, she's made a big mistake."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're not good enough for her. All she ever does is take care of you. After all, you only rely on her even when there's the most simplest things a person could do. You could have had a real girlfriend like me."

"Hey, it's none of your business!" I snap at her. "Besides, what do you know about being in a relationship?"

Matsuri just clears her throat and adjusts her shoulders. "By the way, where's Mai-sama? Did she abandon you again?"

"No. She just went to get drinks and cotton candy."

"Interesting. Well, since I'm here, I might as well take advantage of this situation."

I frown at her. "What do you mean?"

She quickly sits next to me and puts her hands on my shoulders. "Let's just say that we need to catch up on what we missed." In an instant, she pushes me down on the ground and jumps on top of me before I can even get up.

"W-wait, what are you doing?"

"Like I said, we're catching up on what we've missed." She rubs my chest in circles, making me moan in pain. "Wow, tiny breasts." Her hand then creeps down to my leg and rubs against my thighs. "Ah, such silky, smooth skin, like a little girl again."

"M-Matsuri . . . w-what if people . . . saw us like this?"

"Don't worry," she whispers. "No one's noticing right now, not even Mai-sama." She then caresses my cheek. "Besides, if you hadn't had your eyes on that tomboy, we would've had a relationship from the start."

"Well, it's too late for that now, is it?" I counter.

"No, it's not," Matsuri says with a smirk. "I still have a winning chance." She leans closer to me. "And I can prove it to you."

That's when I know what she's going to do. "Ah! N-no!" I cry as I try to push her away with all my might. "No, don't! Please! Mmph!" It's too late. Matsuri's lips are already planted against mine, and it's a rough kiss.

When we part lips, the silver haired girl gazes at me lovingly. "Oh, I just missed this most of all, Reo-sama. You're just too adorable to resist." She leans in again.

"Matsuri, no . . . Mmph!"

"Hold still, Reo-sama. This is just the beginning of our relationship." She continues to kiss me as I helplessly struggle to get free.

When she parts lips again, she gazes at me with lovestruck eyes. "Reo-sama . . . I . . ."

"HEY! WHAT IN THE HECK ARE YOU DOING TO REO!? GET AWAY FROM HER!" Mai's voice shouts from a few feet away.

I quickly look over to notice my lover standing there with clenched fists, having dropped our cotton candy in the process and milkshakes and an angry face staring at Matsuri. The silver haired girl wouldn't even budge.

"I said get away from her!" As quick as light, she runs towards us, shoving Matsuri out of the way and helping me up. I quickly wrap my arms around her for safety.

"Mai!" I cry.

"Reo, are you alright!?" Mai asks.

"Mai-sama!?" Matsuri blurts out before I could even answer.

Mai glares at the girl. "Who are you? And what are you doing to Reo?"

The silver haired girl gets up and flips her hair. "Ah, I don't believe we've met. My name is Matsuri Tojo. I used to be in your class back in third year a St. Michaels."

"What?" Mai's eyes widen in shock.

"You heard me. And I've also found out that you are in a relationship with Reo-sama, yes?"

"H-how did you find out?"

"Why, some rumors," Matsuri replies matter-of-factly. "And then I made Reo-sama tell me how long you two have been going out. It was so easy to convince her."

Mai's eyes darts fro me to Matsuri a few times, still shocked about what's going on.

"Anyway, I also heard that you two are engaged. I would have loved to congratulate you two, but there's just one problem: I'm in love with Reo-sama as well."

"W-what?" Mai gasps, cupping one hand in her mouth.

I've been interested in her the same time she first laid eyes on you, Mai-sama," Matsuri continues. "Since then, you've been going out with this naive, childish fiend and you never stopped loving her. Until that one day, when you were gone for two whole weeks, I was able to finally confess my love to her. It was so easy doing that and it made me feel special."

"Special, you say?" Mai mutters, clenching her fists in anger. I continue to hold on to her while hiding behind her.

"Yes," Matsuri replies as she points her index finger at her. "But you, Mai Sawaguchi. You were the one she's mostly in love with. Well, let me tell you this: you're not good enough to be her girlfriend! She's been relying on you way too much and you give in to her childish desires. You're also babying her too much either. When will she ever walk on her own, huh?"

Mai just stays silent as she still has her fists clenched in anger.

"And you even abandoned her without even telling her what the heck is going on!" Matsuri continues. "If I were you, I would go and tell her right away. Then, she wouldn't be worried sick over something that has been kept from her! So, how is she going to trust you this time?"

"Shut up," Mai says firmly. "I'll have you know that I didn't abandon her. My little brother was sick and had to take him to the hospital for treatment. And . . . you don't know a thing about Reo. Sure I take care of her a lot, but that's just to help her out. She may be a little naive and childish as well, but that's what I love about her. She still has a chance to learn some things. It's not that bad. The more important thing is that I love her no matter what. We even promised that we'd stay by each other's side for as long as we live and we've been keeping that promise." She walks up to Matsuri and pokes her hard in the chest. "So, don't ever come near Reo again. You hear me?"

Matsuri just shrugs, not even the slightest bit surprised by her anger. "Alright, fine. But I'm warning you: Reo will and forever be mine and there's nothing you can do to stop me."

Mai puts her hands on her hips. "We'll see about that."

The silver haired girl glances at her watch. "Well, I have to go. This is boring me anyways." She turns to leave, but slightly turns her head back. "Be warned, Mai-sama."

Mai rolls her eyes. "Whatever."

Matsuri shrugs and walks away. As soon as she's out of sight, Mai turns to me with worried eyes.

"Reo . . ." she starts to say.

But I'm already in tears. Having to see Mai defend me like that was just brave and protective. And I couldn't have asked for more. "Mai . . . sniff . . . ngh . . . Waaaahhh!" I plunge into Mai's chest, sobbing my heart out.

"Reo . . ."

"I can't go with that girl! I just can't!" I sob. "She's too cruel and mean and she even tried to rape me!" I clutch my hand onto Mai's shirt as I shut my eyes tightly. "Please, Mai! I want to stay with you, not her. Please . . ."

Mai puts on a serious expression, tips my chin up and wipes the tears off my cheek with her other. "Of course. That's why I love you, Reo. No matter what that girl says, I'm always going to be by your side."

I sniffle. "R-really?"

She caresses my cheek. "Absolutely. After all, we're engaged, so there's nothing to worry about."

"Mai . . ." I couldn't say anything else, so I just plant my lips against hers. This gives a much better feeling than Matsuri's.

Mai soon returns the kiss and neither of us wanted to let go.

**Mai's POV**

"Mom, I'm home," I call as soon as I enter the house.

"Hi, Mai-chan," she greets me. "How was the amusement park?"

"It was fun," I answer. "Reo and I went to some cool rides and played some fun games."

Just then, my little brother and sister jump in and give me a hug from both sides.

"We missed you, Onee-chan!" My sister says.

"Where did you go?" My brother asks.

"To the amusement park," I tell him. "Weren't you paying attention?"

"He had homework to do, sweetie," Mom says.

I nod in understanding.

"Oh! Oh! Can we go to the amusement park, too!?" My sister begs Mom.

"Yeah!" My brother agrees. "We want to have fun, too!"

"Now, now," Mom says. "We can go to the amusement park some day. I'll probably think about it for a bit."

I smile at my two siblings as they let go of me. They then rush to their own room upstairs.

"I guess I should be heading to my room, too," I say. "Good-night, Mom."

"Good-night, Mai-chan."

I walk upstairs to my room, close the door and slump on my bed. As I let out a sigh, I think about what Matsuri had told me. She's been in love with Reo since second year? I had no idea that happened during that time. But then again, maybe because I've been with Reo a lot, I haven't noticed at all. And she tells me that I'm not being a good girlfriend? Now, that hit me hard, like an arrow was shot at me. I may be taking care of her more than I intend to, but lately, Reo's been doing things on her own since she's growing up. And now the two of us are finally getting married, so Matsuri won't have a chance to have her once we do that. I'm not gonna let that girl take my Reo away from me. She's much too dangerous for her own good.

A/N: Well, that's the fourth chapter for you all. Oh, and in case you're wondering where I got the name "Matsuri" as my new character, I got this name from a couple of mangas, "Citrus" and "Miss Sunflower". In Citrus, the Matsuri in here acts as an antagonist and in Miss Sunflower, the Matsuri in there acts as a nice girl that is interested in a librarian.

Now, I may have stolen some of Matsuri's personality in Citrus, but that's all I can come up with. If you haven't read any of those two mangas, you should. They're really great!

Anyway, feel free to give out any suggestions, questions or concerns and don't forget to review! ;)