Candy bar wrappers and empty soda cans littered the floor around Nana's already full trash can. The three girls were laughing lightly at so many interesting stories that Nana and Kira were telling. Tohru had a light blush on her face as she let out a nervous laugh. Kira had just told the other two about her last boyfriend pulling his pants down to try and have sex with her when her father walked into the room.
"Oh my god, my dad was so upset! He actually dialed the police!" Kira laughed. She rocked backwards and almost spilt her soda all down her front.
"Wow, Kira." Tohru laughed lightly. It was obvious she was beginning to feel uncomfortable. "I never thought you would be this…adventurous." Nana was used to Kira's wild stories of her sexual escapades and whatever other vulgar thing she has done. Of course, the Higurashi girl hasn't tried drugs like Kira had, and she was still a virgin, but it was still interesting to hear about what her friend had done. She knew that Kira would never force her to do anything she didn't want to.
"Hey Kira, let's calm it down. I'm sure my dad is already asleep, and I think you're freaking out Tohru." Nana laughed. Tohru let out a anxious squeak.
"Oh, are we really going to stop?" she asked. Her eyes were wide, and she was shaking a little, but it was obvious how uncomfortable the young girl was, and Nana didn't want to scare her off.
"Yeah, I suppose so." Kira sighed as she wiped her eyes. "Besides, I think we should play a game instead." Her eyes flashed with a hint of mischief, and it made both Nana and Tohru a little uneasy.
"W-what kind of g-g-gam-me?" Tohru stuttered. Nana shifted nervously under her friend's gaze. What was Kira planning?
"Truth or Dare."
Eruptions of laughter could be heard out in the halls from Nana's room. Inside, the girls were talking amongst themselves about the latest secrets spilt.
"So, the Prince Yuki wears lavender boxers??" Kira laughed. Tohru was covering her mouth to stifle her giggles. She nodded her head.
"Wow, that's something I never knew about the Prince." Nana snickered. "And I can't believe you told us either!"
"Yeah," Kira agreed. "I thought for sure you were going to use your last chicken stick!" At the beginning of the game, each of the girls were given three 'chicken sticks' that they could use to opt out of a truth question or a dare. Tohru had already used two of her chicken sticks on dares. Nana had already used all of hers. They were used on truth questions considering they were mostly about who she would like to sleep with and things about her parents. Kira still had two of her chicken sticks. She only turned down one dare, and that was to run around outside naked. She had said that normally she would have, but it was just too cold out. "Okay Tohru, it's your turn to ask one of us something." Tohru sat for a moment, thinking of who she would ask 'truth or dare.' She then turned to Nana who felt a lump in her throat form. The young Higurashi girl was nervous.
"Truth or dare?" Tohru asked her, and Nana picked truth. She regretted her choice the moment the word left her lips. "Did you mean it when you said that you didn't like Kyo?" Nana tried to swallow the lump in her throat, but she found that her throat was dry. She took a sip of her soda in hopes of trying to wash down the lump that seemed to be getting bigger and preventing Nana from making any other sound that a light choking sound.
"Wait a second," Kira said in disbelief. "You told Tohru that you didn't like Kyo?" Tohru turned to face Kira wish a confused face.
"Did she tell you different?" the Honda girl asked, and Kira nodded. Tohru then turned to Nana. Her eyes were widened slightly. "So you do like Kyo." Nana's own eyes widened. She didn't know what to say. When Tohru said what she said, she wasn't asking Nana for confirmation; she was stating a fact. Nana's face was so red, and at that moment all she wanted to do was just hide. A sigh came from her parted lips, and the truth spilled out.
"Yeah, I told Tohru that I didn't like him."
"So you do?" Tohru asked, and Nana nodded. "Why did you say that you didn't then?"
"I don't know." Nana snapped. Tohru flinched at Nana's sudden burst of hostility, and the Higurashi girl immediately regretted her slight outburst. "I got scared. I really do like him, but I know that he likes you, and I just panicked. I'm sorry I lied, I just really don't know what to do, and I really don't want Kyo to know that I like him."
The three girls were silent. Nana had her head bowed while the Tohru and Kira were both looking at her with blank expressions. Kira, not wanting to make her friend feel anymore upset, suggested they all go to sleep, and they all wearily agreed and went to sleep. Nana was still so upset that Tohru found out that she had lied to her, and as she slept, muffled sobs came from her closed lips.
Nana rushed around the kitchen with a piece of toast hanging from her mouth. She yelled a stifled good-bye to her father as he drearily walked down the stairs. Nana passed him as he yawned his sleepy good-bye. She ran out the door and towards her two friends, who were slowly walking to school. They weren't going at a fast pace. They went as slow as they could so that Nana could catch up, and they could make it to school on time. Up ahead, Kyo and Yuki were waiting.
"Tohru!" Nana called out. The brown haired girl stopped and turned on her heel. Quickly, Nana approached her and hoped that she could speak with her. "Tohru," she said again. "I'm sorry."
"What do you mean?" the girl asked in bewilderment.
"I'm sorry I lied to you." Nana clarified. She felt so weird apologizing. She rarely did anything that warranted it. "I was just so nervous because I know that Kyo likes you and…" Tohru just smiled and shook her head, causing Nana to stop mid-sentence.
"Don't worry about it Nana." She said. "If you thought that I would mind if you liked him, you really don't need to worry." A wave of relief swept over the Higurashi girl. "Besides," Tohru continued. "Kyo may like me now, but I can see that he's noticing you too." Nana was almost completely shocked at what Tohru had said. A surge of happiness washed through her at the thought of Kyo noticing her. Perhaps he would even like her and share her feelings someday. The young Higurashi girl gave her friend a sweet smile and a giggle.
"You really think so?" she asked, and Tohru nodded, sharing that same sweet smile. The two girls then linked arms and started their pace again to join with their friends on the way to school.