Luka hugged her pillow as she lay on her bed, burying her face in its softness. She could still remember Kaito's cool touch as their hands met. It took all she had to keep herself composed when he sat next to her. To Luka, it seemed that Kaito had hated her, especially with the accident in the hallway. She also noticed how he always avoided her gaze, looking away in an instant and his obvious unwillingness to start a conversation with her, but today's events seemed to bring them closer. Turning her eyes to the clock, she stared at the time.
It was midnight, yet all she could do is gawk at the new phone number that appeared on her contacts. The group exchanged phone numbers when they all eagerly planned another event, but the only one whose number she didn't have beforehand was Kaito's. She sighed. There was no reason to talk to him yet and the young woman feared that sending him a message immediately after getting his phone number would make her seem too needy or possibly annoy him. Luka lifted her head, staring into the ceiling.
She began to have a conversation with Kaito in her head.
"Hey, Kaito…. What's your favorite food?"
In her mind, Luka interviewed him thoroughly and the fragment of her imagination answered accordingly, answering to every whim. Luka paused.
"Is there…. someone you like?"
The apparition mouthed a few inaudible words, leaving Luka torn with disappointment.
"Of course it isn't me right?" She asked herself dejectedly.
Kaito set his alarm for the next morning. Looking out the window, he admired Tokyo's skyline. The sky was painted with a deep dark blue and the city lights gave the outlines of the buildings a warm glow. He flipped through his phone contacts and silently stared at Luka's number. He would be able to hear her voice with only one push of the call button, yet he couldn't. So close yet so far, he thought to himself. He seated himself in his bed, throwing his phone aside.
"Is there someone you'd like to see right now?"He asked Luka in his mind.
Then he heard a sound that snapped him out of his daze. The dull dialing tone played on his phone. It called Luka's number when he had thrown it aside!
"Holy crap…."he muttered to himself.
He rushed to end the call, tripping over his bed sheet. He grabbed his phone, but it was too late, Luka's voice answered.
"Hello?"
Luka was shocked when she heard the phone ring so late at night, but finding out the call came from Kaito almost gave her a heart attack. She was torn between answering her phone and waiting for the call to end.
Luka weighed the two in her mind. She had no idea what Kaito would say and the young woman feared the worst, however she felt a glimmer of hope that this call would finally connect them together. Her cell phone rang a third time, in the spur of the moment Luka hit the receive button. She tried to hide the mixed feelings she held as she answered. She masked all of her anxiety, doubt and excitement in her voice and after taking a brief moment to catch her breath, she managed to utter hello.
There was an awkward silence in the phone line.
"…Hello." Kaito said back.
Kaito knew had to say something to break the silence.
"The weather is nice isn't it? Haha….."He laughed nervously
Luka took a moment to reply. "Yes it is, but I can't really tell because it's so late at night. "
Kaito hated himself for asking such an irrelevant question and was glad that Luka couldn't see him at the moment. His cheeks burned from embarrassment at his stupid remark. He needed to make up a reason why he called and he needed it quick.
"I called just to ask you if you were going to the next meeting Miku and the others planned."Kaito managed to mumble.
Glad that the conversation gained some velocity, Luka's voice eased slightly as she replied "Yes, We planned on having a picnic in the forest in around two weeks, Correct? I heard the autumn leaves look beautiful around that time."
Kaito was afraid that he would say something he would regret again so he tried to end the conversation without bothering Luka anymore. "Yeah, it's in two days. I just wanted to clarify. I have to go now Miku is calling me from the other room."
" Right now? I see… I won't bother you anymore then." She sounded slightly shocked.
Kaito realized his mistake "Wait! It's not what you think!"
He heard the click of the phone hanging up.
Luka knew that Kaito lived alone by himself, her cheeks burned bright red when she thought about Miku and Kaito being alone in his house this late at night. Even if Miku wasn't there, it could also mean that he lied just to end their conversation. Maybe her bluntness drove him away, Luka thought to herself.
She hugged her pillow closer for comfort and stared back at the ceiling. Luka wondered why Kaito called, hoping that it hadn't just to check their plans for the picnic. She closed her eyes, finally resigning herself to sleep.
The next day Kaito was walking through the school halls with Gakupo and he saw Miku chatting with Luka. Desperate to avoid another awkward moment, Kaito began to stray away from their direction. Gakupo noticed Luka and Miku and immediately proceeded to drag Kaito by the shoulder towards them.
"Look, it's Luka! Now's your chance."Gakupo exclaimed excitedly.
Kaito pulled back, freeing himself from Gakupo. "Not right now, I'm not ready!" Kaito muttered angrily.
Much to his horror, Miku noticed him as well, dragging a reluctant Luka towards them. The pink-haired girl kept her eyes on the floor as they approached.
"You two! Walk with us!"Miku commanded.
Kaito and Luka were unable to look at each other, as they both looked nervously at the ground. The two both silently complied and walked together.
"We were just about to go to the garden, we can talk on the way there" Miku smiled at Kaito, gesturing him to take initiative.
Luka and Kaito walked side by side, awkwardly avoiding each other's gaze, while Miku was reprimanding Gakupo for not attending their trip right behind them. They brushed past a crowd mingling around the doorway.
As they approached the garden gate, Kaito noticed he could no longer hear Miku energetically scolding Gakupo, who would merely agree with every word smugly. He realized that with each step, Miku and Gakupo slowed their pace, leaving the two alone in front of the garden.
Luka made her way to the entrance of the garden and leaned on the iron gate. For the first time that day, Kaito met Luka's gaze. Her crystal blue eyes became set on Kaito's and they spent a brief moment of silence, staring into each other's eyes.
Kaito wasn't prepared to tell her everything. He wasn't prepared to clear up last night's misunderstanding, to admit that he lied, and to finally confess to her. Even though he wasn't prepared he mustered the courage to speak.
"Luka, about last night. I-"
Luka walked past him, she didn't turn around. Luka was not mad at Kaito, nor did she want to avoid him. She simply still had not prepared herself as well. She had not prepared herself to hear his words, brace herself for any rejection she may receive and to truly accept the feelings she held for him.
"We'll talk about this later, Kaito. I have somewhere I must go."With this, Luka began walking away, her long hair swaying behind her. Kaito tried to call out, but the words wouldn't come out a second time. He choked on his words and swallowed his bitterness as Luka made her way through the garden, leaving Kaito alone at the gate.
The next few days, Luka and Kaito treated each other like strangers. Kaito felt helpless, unable to bring himself to talk to Luka again. He feared he squandered away all his hope of getting closer to Luka. Kaito held his book in front of him covering his face and took a peek in Luka's direction, who had also taken a quick glance at him. She noticed him watching and quickly turned away.
Miku noticed the growing distance between Kaito and Luka. Taking Kaito out to the garden, she hoped to talk some sense or confidence into him.
She handed him a can of juice and seated herself next to him on a nearby bench. Without a word, Kaito pulled the tab and took a sip. Miku wasn't sure how to start the conversation so she silently took a sip of her own drink.
"Did something happen between you and Luka?"Miku asked after a while.
Kaito took another sip of the juice then he turned to face Miku at the bench and said "Why would anything happen?"
Miku rolled her eyes "It's useless to deny it Kaito. You love her, so why are both of you avoiding each other?"
"I told you already…. You got the wrong idea Miku. There's nothing between us."Kaito insisted on denying it.
Miku threw her can on the ground and with one swift movement, got up from her chair, gave Kaito a stern look and yelled "If you have trouble telling me you love Luka, then how are you going to tell Luka herself?"
Miku's outburst took Kaito by surprise. He didn't expect her to be so serious when she said that she would help him. Kaito lowered his head.
"Alright….I admit it…. I do love Luka." He raised his head and looked Miku in the eyes. Miku's expression had softened considerably.
Kaito tightened his grip on the juice can, the aluminum began to give way and cave in. "Even if I do accept it, that doesn't change the fact that I still can't bring myself to talk to her. I…. I try you know? But every time I approach her, she always looks so far away. Why would Luka accept me?"Kaito's words dripped with a sad desperation.
Miku looked at Kaito thoughtfully and put her hand on his shoulder.
"Then you're just going to wait as she slips further away? If she seems so far away then you have to make yourself be heard….. and you have to do it now or else Luka will drift farther until she can't hear you anymore."
Kaito dropped his can and lowered his head again. "All right, I understand."
Miku pulled back, putting some distance between them. "Now then, Can you tell me what's causing you both to act like little love-sick puppies?"
Kaito smiled a little at her comment. "Well, it's actually pretty funny. I accidentally called Luka and now she thinks that you and I are in a relationship. Isn't that ridiculous?"
Miku began laughing. The teal haired girl laughed so hard, droplets of tears started escaping her eyes. Kaito began to get a little annoyed. "Come on, it wasn't THAT funny….."
Miku energetically brushed off the little droplets from her eyes. "Sorry…Hehehe, I think I'm going to need a moment….Wow… "Miku snickered" Oh man…..I can't take it, Its too funny! I'll see you later…"Miku resumed giggling as she walked away.
Kaito watched her walk away, bewildered.
Sitting alone in his room, Kaito thought about the week's events. Luka obviously didn't want to talk to him, but he needed to talk to her. He needed to clear everything up and gain closure about all of this. Kaito felt a lump in his throat. Reaching for his phone, Kaito began to dial Luka's number. Doubting himself every time he pressed a digit.
"I need to talk to her…"He reassured himself
Gathering all of his resolve and leftover courage, he pressed the call button.