Sorry for taking so long. By the way, I changed this story's title (I came up with the name after a few days thinking). Please, suggestions for the title are still welcome. Thank you so much for those who reviewed. I think I've replied you all. Enjoy.
'Maria is a really nice friend,' thought Hikari, smiling. She couldn't sleep, so she decided to study instead. But her mind was wandering off. 'I wonder how she's going to win Takishima's heart. I wonder how Takishima's gonna reject her.' Hikari paused. 'Wait, what? Why do I want Takishima to reject her? Oh well, I'll just leave it at that.'
Hikari held her book tighter. She was trying to concentrate, but instead, she fell asleep with her book over her blanket.
She woke up early the next day. She realised how she ended up not studying. She felt really irritated. She stood up and got ready for school in no time.
'I'll make Takishima some bento,' Hikari thought as she finished her breakfast. She walked to the kitchen. "Mum, I'm making some riceballs," said Hikari to her mother.
Her mother stood up immediately. "You know how much I hate it when you cook and ruin the kitchen, right?" said Hikari's mother to her stupid daughter.
"Don't worry, mum, I know how to make riceballs now. I promise I won't make the kitchen explode again," promised Hikari, she was smiling so brightly that her mother couldn't help but approved.
Believe it or not, Hikari could make the riceballs without ruining the kitchen! What a big improvement! But the taste of the riceballs is the most important part and we still don't know if Hikari had succeeded making it or not.
"Good morning, Hikari," said Kei as Hikari walked through the conservatory door.
"Morning," said Jun and Hikari could see "Good morning" on Megumi's sketchbook. Ryuu, Akira, and Tadashi also greeted Hikari.
"Good morning," said Hikari.
Suddenly, a loud bang came from the conservatory door which was only a few metres from Hikari by now.
It was Maria, with a brown uniform, Hakusenkan uniform! "Guess what, Kei-kun, I transferred to Hakusenkan and got into B class!" said Maria with her fake, cutie tone. "I guess the S.A is just unbeatable, I was ranked eighth!"
"Oh, hi, Maria, congratulations," said Hikari, walking towards Maria.
Maria showed her beautiful smile. "I know, right? And I want to get in S.A in the next exam," said Maria. "My score was so close to Tsuji-san's and I was so disappointed that I couldn't beat him."
The bell rang. "Gotta go to class," said Hikari.
"I thought S.A members only chill in the conservatory. At least it was what people in my class said and they envy you people so much," said Maria.
"Well, except for me," said Hikari. "Just keep lazing around, Takishima and in no time I will beat you!"
"Do your best, Miss Second Place," said Kei.
And as you expected, Hikari yelled, "Don't call me that!" really loudly.
It was almost lunchtime and Hikari was going to give Kei the bento she had prepared. She couldn't stop smiling all the time. "What's up with you, Hikari?" asked Tadashi as he chucked a whole slice of cake into his mouth.
"It's nothing, really," said Hikari.
A loud bang came and this time everyone knew it was Maria. It indeed was her. She smiled very proudly as she walked towards the S.A members.
"Hi, my Kei-kun!" said Maria.
"I don't remember becoming yours," said Kei, annoyed.
"Aw, don't be so harsh, Kei-kun. I know you're soft in the inside, just like tsunderes* are supposed to be," said Maria.
"Tsundere?" asked Tadashi, confused. "I don't think Kei is a tsundere." Tadashi chuckled a bit.
"I've decided that Kei-kun is a tsundere and don't you dare judge me!" said Maria, grabbing Tadashi's collar.
Tadashi thought that Maria was even scarier than Akira. But he didn't mind Akira hitting him while he could feel himself brushing Maria's hands off his collar. "Don't do that, you're making me uncomfortable," said Tadashi.
"By the way," said Hikari. "Since Maria is here, let's have lunch together with us!" Hikari grinned and Maria looked at her. Veins throbbed on Kei's forehead. He wanted this Maria girl to leave him alone, not hanging out with him longer. What was his Hikari up to?
"What a good idea, Hikari," said Maria. "That way, I'll have more chance to win Kei-kun's heart! Kei-kun is just my type!"
"I think the lunch is ready," said Akira, walking towards the door. "I'll go and get it."
Hikari remembered the bento she made for Kei. She grabbed her bag and looked for her bento. But bother, the bento wasn't even there! Hikari turned her bag upside down but she still couldn't find the bento. Disappointment hit her real hard. 'Guess I'll just make another one tomorrow.'
Suddenly, someone knocked the conservatory door. 'Who could it be?' everyone wondered. It couldn't be Akira because Akira would just come in.
"I'll go and get it," said Hikari, walking towards the door. She opened the door and she was really surprised. She could see her brother outside. "Atsushi, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at school now?"
"There's a big staff and parent meeting in my school so I don't have school today," said Atsushi. "You left the bento you made this morning. We all know how hard you worked on that so I brought it here." Atsushi gave Hikari the bento box.
"Hey, come sit with us," said Ryuu from the distance.
"Yeah, lunch is almost ready," said Tadashi. "And Akira's cooking is the best, believe it or not."
Hikari grabbed her brother's arm and pulled him to a couch in the conservatory. Maria had gone quiet somehow. She just stared at Atsushi nonstop with gleaming eyes.
"I think my type has changed," Maria finally said. "I'm falling in love with Atsushi now."
"What, you don't like Kei anymore!?" Akira said who had just come back from the kitchen with the foods. She was panicked. Now no one was going to make Hikari safe from that demon Kei!
"Sorry, Akira, I don't think I like Kei-kun anymore. Sorry, for not being much of help of making Hikari yours," said Maria. "But now, I'm gonna win Atsushi-kun's heart!"
Atsushi who was sitting next to Hikari only went quiet. "Atsushi?" Hikari asked. Atsushi's face was unreadable.
"Ne, Atsushi-kun, wanna go out with me after school finishes?" asked Maria. Atsushi didn't say anything.
"Hikari, let's go to the café we went to yesterday after school finishes? Looks like Atsushi-kun isn't in the mood right now," said Maria.
"Sure," said Hikari. "Atsushi, what's with you? Are you okay? Feeling sick?"
"No, I'm fine," said Atsushi, snapped out of his thoughts. It was the first time a girl had a crush on him.
Hikari stood in front of the café door with Maria next to her. "That's a shame the café is closed," said Maria. "Let's go to somewhere else then."
"Yup, how about the park?" asked Hikari.
"Good idea!" said Maria as they skipped along the road.
A five minute skip was done and they got to the park. Maria was breathing really heavily. "We should've gotten the taxi."
"Oh, are you okay, Maria?" asked Hikari. Maria nodded, panting.
They sat under a shady tree. "So, Hikari, who is Atsushi to you anyway?" Maria started the conversation.
"He's my brother," said Hikari. "A really nice one."
"So you live together?" asked Maria.
"Yeah."
"Sleep together?"
"No, why do you ask?"
"Nothing, just curious."
"Hey, the stupid woman is here!" Hikari heard a familiar voice exclaimed. Hikari turned to see who it is.
Hikari saw a miniature of Kei running towards her. She also saw Kei walking behind the miniature.
"Hello, Sui," said Hikari, smilling super brightly. "What a nice coincidence that you guys are here too."
"Big brother was tutoring me here and I saw you with this woman," Sui pointed at Maria. "Hey, aren't you the woman who went to my house yesterday and yelled 'Kei-kun, my love!' all evening?"
"Uh, yes," said Maria, not wearing the cutie smile or voice even though Kei was in front of her. "Sorry, for disturbing you."
"What, you went to Takishima's house yesterday?" asked Hikari.
"Yes, and I met his dad as well and they're arranging a betrothal between me and Kei-kun," said Maria. "Wait, I haven't told them to stop it yet! Oh no, I don't want to be Kei-kun's fiancée anymore!"
"That's what you get when you do things too quickly, even stupid-er woman!" said Sui to Maria. Maria began to cry.
Extra: Kei's reaction when eating Hikari's homemade bento
"Here, I made a bento for you this morning, Takishima," said Hikari. "Thanks for bringing it here, Atsushi."
Kei took the lunchbox after saying thenk you to Hikari and took one riceball. He brought the riceball to his mouth and took a bite. "CRRRRRUUUNCCCHHHHH" everyone in the conservatory except for Hikari and Kei closed their eyes because of the loud sound.
Kei chewed it, making the sound "CRUNCH, CRUNCH, CRUNCH." Then he swallowed it.
"It tastes really good, Hikari," said Kei. "Nicer than before."
Everyone except for Hikari and Kei were amazed at Kei's comment even though they had expected Kei to say something like that.
*Tsundere: Those anime characters who are harsh in the outside but soft in the inside. Eg. Chitoge from Nisekoi and Taiga from Toradora (At least people say they are, I don't really know.)
Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed it.
-Harune Miki