ARATA

I was already in bed when my phone buzzed on the end table beside me.

Maybe it's Chihaya!

I felt around for it in the darkness and flipped it open. When my eyes adjusted to the glow, I saw there was a message from Taichi.

You know she's a complete airhead. She's like 5th from the bottom of our class. She forgets to eat and she gets lost in department stores. She falls asleep in the weirdest places. She's never dated anyone and she's totally naïve when it comes to guys.

Be careful with her, okay?

My lips curved. It was as close to permission as I would get.

I sent back: I will. Thanks, Taichi.

I continued to stare at my phone. Would it seem be too eager to message Chihaya already?

I remembered her tearful goodbye and decided I didn't care if it was too soon.

Good job today. You're really improving. It was fun playing you again.

Thanks for saying yes. I'm really glad. Goodnight, Chihaya.

I didn't add it, but I thought it… I love you.

-0-0-0-0-

TAICHI

Clusters of people passed by as I waited at the agreed-upon spot outside the station. I watched Rion appear among them as she exited the automatic doors. She looked left and right before noticing me and heading my way.

She looked cute today in a sleeveless sundress. The skirt flared mid-thigh, making her legs look all the more appealing.

She hurried up to me. "Have you been waiting long?"

"No, it's fine. You didn't have any trouble finding it?"

"No. I'm getting pretty good with the map now."

"You're a quick learner." I smiled comfortably.

"So," she said, "what do you want to do?" She seemed cheerful.

"Want to head over to Yoyogi Park? There's always an interesting crowd there on the weekends."

"Sure. Sounds good," she said brightly.

We walked side by side, weaving through passersby. It was a little awkward, since we were both aware that this was a sort of, but not official, date.

She spoke first. "It's weird having so many days off from karuta practice."

"Well, you guys will start back tomorrow." The grim specter of cram school loomed before me.

"Yeah. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone. It's too bad you won't be there."

"I'm going to try to stop by the Shiranami society in the evenings when I can. So I can stay in practice." A thought occurred. "Maybe I should try jogging to class every day to keep in shape," I mused.

"Oh, look! What a huge arcade!" Rion stopped abruptly, looking at the open storefront.

"You want to go in?" I asked.

She nodded, smiling. She looked like an eager little kid. Adorable.

We made our way into the noisy venue, cluttered with youth at games.

She pulled up in front of a car game. "Hey, let's race." Her eyes gleamed.

"Sure. Let me go get tokens."

She accompanied me and tried to force some money on me, but I wouldn't hear of it—a man's got his pride after all. Her anxiety at that melted away as we returned and took our seats at the game.

Soon we were tearing around the virtual speedway. I was surprised at how she kept up with me. Her little squeals and noises of challenge sounded in my ear.

"Ha! Got you!" she announced as she crossed the finish line just ahead of me. Her eyes sparkled with the thrill of competition.

"Hey, I didn't run over any pedestrians," I ribbed her.

"Sore loser," she teased back.

"All right…" I said, a challenge in my voice. "I happen to be a master at Kung Fu Fighters. Let's see you beat me at that."

When she smiled, that dimple appeared in her cheek. "You're on."

We tried out one game after another, and I was surprised at her enthusiasm, and at her skill at some of them.

"You've spent a lot of time in arcades, haven't you?" We strolled past rows of crazily-lit machines looking for a game we hadn't tried yet.

"I have a big brother, you know."

"Ah, I see. I'm not crazy about the rest of these. How about you?"

"No. You want to go?"

"Yeah, let's."

It was a warm, sunny summer day. As we approached the park, we could hear a rock band playing somewhere. Mature trees in the peak of their greenery were spaced at intervals around the large pond we were approaching.

We turned onto a footpath that followed the shoreline. Here and there couples and families were having picnics on the grass. We talked easily-about school, things new to her in Tokyo, interesting characters we passed.

That was the thing about being with Rion-it was just easy. I didn't worry about her. I didn't have to work at conversation, and she answered my banter with sassy quips that made me smile. In fact, I realized I felt happy being with her.

I stole a look. Her coppery hair bounced as she walked. The soft features of her face just begged to be kissed. My heart skittered as I thought it.

I like her. I really do.

I hadn't been able to admit it as long as I was holding onto Chihaya. But like Arata said, it was almost as if it had become a contest…to make Chihaya notice me, to make her forget about Arata. Now that I'd closed the door on that, my heart was free to admit its new captivation.

Her hand swung close to mine. The day was bright, the pond was peaceful, and the sounds of happy people carried on the breeze.

I caught her hand. I saw her eyes widen, but she didn't look my direction. We kept walking as though nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.

"Do you mind," I asked, waiting for her to turn and acknowledge me. When she did, she looked torn. "Do you mind if we do this," I lifted our entwined hands, "with strings attached this time?"

She still looked confused. "Do you mean…" She trailed off.

She was going to make me say it. My heart sped up as I prepared to pass the point of no return, the moment when she could reject me and leave me embarrassed.

"I want to go out with you." I stated it frankly.

Her eyebrows went up, but otherwise her face held that expressionless mask she'd been teased about at Fujisaki. I waited, dying of mortification. Our steps made the only sound as the tension mounted.

"Okay," she said. A smile began to curve her lips, slowly breaking over her face. She blushed and looked away.

My tension suddenly released, I felt a happy rush. My pleasure bubbled over in teasing. "Okay? Just okay?"

A small giggle escaped her. It occurred to me that maybe she was really happy too.

I liked that.

"What do you want me to say?" she asked, keeping up our playful tone. "Uh…thanks for asking?" She put a finger to her lips, thinking. "Or did you really ask?" she wondered aloud.

I squeezed her hand, and we smiled contentedly at one another.

I'd had doubts, but in that moment I knew…this was completely right. If I could see that smile every day, I'd be a happy man.

-0-0-0-0-

CHIHAYA

"Oh," I lamented. "I'm never going to finish in time." I stood in the tiny kitchen of Arata's apartment trying to shape rice balls correctly.

I'd managed by blood, sweat, prayers and tears (and a lot of tutoring from Desktomu) to pass the entrance exam for the same college Arata had in mind. Our first semester was well underway now, but I was still amazed at how much I loved being near him. I wasn't likely to take him for granted after dating long-distance for nine months.

Even though Daddy insisted I keep living at home, I spent a lot of time at Arata's place. We did our homework together, watched TV, and, of course, we played karuta—both here and at club. Sometimes, like tonight, we played house and made dinner together. I was still new to this dating thing, but from what I could tell, I'd be perfectly happy if we spent the rest of our lives like this.

My boyfriend finished putting on tea at the stove and came up behind me. Putting his hands on my waist, he said. "They're our friends. They're not going to care if you're making rice balls when they arrive." He pressed a kiss to my temple before releasing me.

He was sweet like that. His tender attentions made me feel precious. Few would believe the cutthroat karuta champion could be so gentle.

He'd made it to the Master match a few months back. I hadn't been able to watch most of it, since I was facing Shinobu-chan again. I'd been less nervous this time, more prepared. Arata had been able to snatch two games from Master Suo but fell short in the end. I'd been both thrilled and disappointed to have won a game against the Queen. Arata and I both were still training hard for our dream. Next time, I vowed, I'd win two matches.

A knock at the door startled me. Arata said, "I'll get it."

He admitted Taichi and Yama-chan, exchanging warm greetings with them as they kicked off their shoes. Taichi drifted over to the counter where I worked, as Rion and Arata got caught up in a discussion about their math class.

Taichi snitched a plum and popped it in his mouth. "Who knew they'd get along so well?" he commented, casting a glance toward the other two.

"Well, they do have that class together, plus we've seen each other a lot at the Shiranami society."

"And her karuta is a lot like yours."

I agreed. I finished the last of the rice balls and pulled a platter from the cupboard.

"I kind of wish I hadn't got into Tokyo U. It would have been fun if we all could be together."

"But at least you didn't have to go to Kyoto."

"True."

"And you're going to be really successful when you graduate. You'll be super at running a company, I know it."

"Heh." He looked down at his toes self-consciously. He'd come a long way from the braggart he used to be.

Another knock came and Arata opened the door to Desktomu, followed by Kana-chan. They'd been hanging around each other a lot as graduation approached. Hanano said for sure they'd be a couple before long.

I placed the platter of rice balls on the table and went to hug Yama-chan and Kana-chan.

"How are your classes going?" Desktomu asked.

I saw Taichi and Rion going to plop down on the futon couch set against the wall. They'd been here several times now and felt comfortable making themselves at home. As Arata returned to the kitchen for something, I answered my former tutor. "The phys ed classes are fun, but the education classes are totally boring. If you thought our Classic Lit teacher was bad, you should hear my professor."

"And your grades?" he pushed.

"I'm passing," I brushed over it airily, changing the subject quickly. "Have you been going to the Suihoku Society much?" I asked them both. I led them to the small sitting area where Taichi and Rion were keeping up one of those private conversations they tended to have. My heart warmed as I saw the intimate smiles they shared.

I'd been surprised when Taichi showed up at club one day to pick up Yama-chan after his cram school let out early. She'd blushed and left with him while the rest of us looked questions at one another. When our senior year resumed in the fall, it was clear they were a couple. They ate lunch together a lot and laughed easily. The girls at school practically cried the first time they walked down the hall holding hands.

Taichi didn't wear that worried look anymore. Yama-chan lightened his spirit somehow. Seeing him happy made me happy as well.

"We haven't been there much lately," Kana-chan interrupted my reminiscences. "We've been trying to get used to college classes. It's a lot more work than high school, isn't it?"

"Oh, but Kana-chan we have to get you into Class A so you can become a reader one day. It's awful that Sudo-san is one and you're not. Although," I mused, "he does have some talent for it."

Arata appeared with drinks for Taichi and Rion. He'd already learned everyone's preferences from prior visits. He was smart like that, more observant than me. He turned back to the kitchen, and my eyes followed his square shoulders.

"Kanade's been doing great lately," Desktomu defended her. I saw Taichi raise his eyebrows. Even I had noticed the familiar use of Kana-chan's name. "She'll make Class B in the next tournament for sure."

"Have you seen Porky at the Society?" I asked. I hadn't known I'd miss him so much, too.

Taichi butted in. "When are you going to start calling him by his real name?"

"Shut up, Taichi. He doesn't mind."

Arata returned and set three glasses in front of us. "Thank you," Kana-chan smiled sweetly at him. She'd warmed quickly to his polite manners. As she reached across Desktomu to claim her drink, I noticed his cheeks flush.

"Well, it's too bad he couldn't come this time," Rion said. Arata folded his lanky frame to the floor beside me and I felt whole again.

"Or Shinobu-chan," I said with regret.

One of Arata's low chuckles warmed my heart. "I expect it will be a long time before she takes you up on that."

"I got her to come to our college and join our team," I disputed.

"True," he admitted, giving me an affectionate smile. I almost got lost in it.

"Chihaya can talk anyone into anything when it comes to karuta," Taichi quipped.

When we'd finished catching up, Arata asked the group, "So do you want to eat first or have a match?"

Rion spoke up. "Girls against the guys!" That sparkle appeared in her eyes; her competitive nature was peeking out.

"That's fine with me," Kana-chan said.

A fire rose inside me. This was everything I could ask for…the people so dear to me chatting happily together, my first love by my side, and the game that captivated my heart.

With a fierce smile, I cried, "Let's play!"

THE END

Thanks for staying with me through this looooong story. If you liked it, please take a moment to Favorite it so others will find it. If you like Kimi Ni Todoke, I've also written a sequel for that anime, called Ryu's Fan (it's shorter, I promise!), so check it out. Blessings!