( This first story is written in Hariya's POV. )
Rated T for language.
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One
Jealousy: Hariya
"Ne, Megumi-chan, who would you like to ride with?"
Her eyes had flickered to me then, and I'd been pretty damn sure she'd pick me. And, not lying here, excited that she would…
"Let's ride together, Chris-kun!"
Dammit. Itwas still aggravating me, even as the four of us stood in line for the ride. I'd been pretty psyched about the double date to the Amusement Park – Weatherfield was the one who'd asked me, and I'd never really liked him, but then he'd mentioned that Megumi was coming and of course I'd accepted – but now…
It all just seemed like a waste of my time.
Mizushim Hisoka stood beside me, as bothered as I was. I could tell – she would smile when Megumi turned to look at her questioningly, and then she'd go back to frowning at the two of them when Megumi turned around. I'd never had a decent conversation with the black-haired girl before, but I'd heard from Megumi on our walks home – sweet, sweet walks home, that is – that her roommate was incredibly kind but had another side to her.
Why hadn't she taken Chris before Megumi could? Now I was stuck with her. Don't get me wrong, Mizushim was nice and all, but Megumi…
"Two people to a car!"
I blinked and found that it was our and several other people's turn to get on the ride. Sighing, I let Mizushim go in first before I half-heartedly jumped into the rollercoaster car.
As I pulled down the big black security object, I looked ahead and saw that Weatherfield was putting Megumi's on. After the English alien had done that, a shaking Megumi held onto his arm. Leaning back, I decided to close my eyes, not wanting to see anything more.
Great. How the hell was I supposed to enjoy my favorite ride now?
-
The four of us – actually, it was more like we'd divided into two groups of two – stepped out of the car. It'd happened so painfully slowly, what with hearing Megumi scream "C-Chris-kun!" and Weatherfield replying with "It's not that bad, Megumi-chan. Just hang on to me" the whole ride.
I did not enjoy the Jet Coaster.
"So, where do you guys want to go next?" Mizushim asked, putting on that fake happy smile again. At least she was annoyed too; I didn't want to be alone in my hatred.
"How about the Go Karts?" Weatherfield suggested. His accent was ridiculously agitating, and those stupid blonde braids only added to how much the guy infuriated me.
Normally I would have said yes to that, but Megumi was standing at his side so I just replied, not bothering to hide my irritation, "Whatever the braided dude wants."
Weatherfield blinked at me curiously. I'd have flicked him off if Megumi wasn't there.
Speaking of Megumi… She was staring at me, concerned. "Hariya-kun," she murmured, biting down on her bottom lip.
Damn, that girl was cute.
"What?" I'd meant to sputter sourly, but it came out differently. Calmer than I'd wanted it to be.
"Hey Hariya-kun, let's ride the Go Karts together!"
It didn't come from Megumi's mouth. It came from…Mizushim's?!
What. The. Hell.
Before I could say anything, Mizushim took my arm and dragged me next to her. "Go Karts it is," she announced, heading off in the direction of the speedway. "Let's go!"
Another ride I should enjoy, but end up hating.
-
Mizushim had no interest in me, I thought, the four of us standing in line for the Go Karts, so why had she picked me?
And it sounded like Megumi was going to ask me to ride with her, too!
Dammit… Did no one want me and Megumi together?
Quietly so that Weatherfield and Megumi wouldn't hear, I demanded, "I know you don't like me, so what was that all about?"
Mizushim rolled her eyes. Sure enough, there was that different side of hers. "I was going to see if Chris-kun would get jealous. You're not the only one who doesn't like them together." Frowning, she looked ahead at Megumi and Weatherfield. "Looks like he isn't, though…"
Wow. "Well, nice going! You couldn't have waited a few seconds longer? Couldn't you tell that Megumi was going to ask me?"
The black-haired girl just blinked at me, much like Weatherfield had earlier. "Oh," she murmured, finally getting it.
"'Oh'," I imitated her, pissed off at this point.
"You know, if you're so jealous, why don't you just ask her to ride with you yourself?" Mizushim grumbled, turning away from me.
Jealous? Hell no I wasn't! "Hey, I am not jealous." I'm just…greatly bothered by Weatherfield and Megumi being together.
That was not jealousy.
-
Like I knew I would, I ended up even grumpier than before as we got off our go-karts. I'd planned to win the race against Weatherfield's go-kart, but they won in the end. That, and the fact that the sight of Megumi's arms around Weatherfield's waist had been the thing that had distracted me.
Dammit.
"All right, the Ferris Wheel will be our last ride," Mizushim declared. I had to give her points for not showing any signs of her envy.
"Yipee," I griped under my breath. The Ferris Wheel wasn't as exciting as the Jet Coaster or the Go Karts, but…
Looking over at Megumi, I knew that I'd like the ride – very, very much too – if I was with her. She had that affect…
But she was probably going to be with Weatherfield again.
I saw it there, and so I admitted it to myself. Mizushim was right. I was jealous.
I was going to do something about it.
"Megumi-chan, who do you want to ride with for –"
"Hey, Megumi, let's uhh… Let's ride together for the Ferris Wheel…" I stuttered a bit there, but I'd done it. I had asked her myself, instead of waiting for her to ask me.
Megumi stared at me, surprised. I waited for her reaction, watching her expression carefully.
Then she grinned. Wide.
"Okay, Hariya-kun!"
So damn cute…
"Great!" Mizushim said happily. It wasn't a fake kind of cheerfulness, I noted. Linking arms with Weatherfield, she smiled at me gratefully.
"Let's go."
This time, I said it.
-
Weatherfield and Mizushim entered their passenger cab as I smirked at the couple. They looked much better together. But then again, I was biased, wasn't I?
"Go ahead." The man said, gesturing us into the Ferris Wheel car.
"Thanks," Megumi mouthed to him, stepping in before me. I followed and took a seat.
Just before she could take the seat opposite me, I grabbed her arm and pulled her next to me. Hey, don't blame me. It was an impulse…
Okay, so what should we talk about?
For the first few minutes of the ride, there was an awkward silence. We were facing different directions, and I could feel her fidgeting slightly. C'mon, Harii, say something…
"So why didn't you ask me to ride with you for the other rides?" I burst.
Oh, god. Anything but that.
Quickly, I amended, "I mean – "
She cut me off, though. Good, secretly (or not so secretly), I kind of wanted to know why… "Well, I was kind hoping that you would ask me…" She was cutely biting her lip again, I noticed as she spoke. "A-and, if I'd asked you, I thought that you might think I was annoying…"
"No!" Once again, I spoke without thinking it through first. "I mean, I wouldn't think that you'd be annoying…" I looked down.
Do you like Chris…that way?
I wanted to ask, but at the same time, I didn't want to.
Something snapped me out of thoughts. I felt something warm on my hand. Looking down my arm, I realized that…Megumi was holding my hand.
"Sorry…" she said, a small, apologetic smile on her face.
Sorry? What was she sorry for? If anything, I was being the asshole on this double date. "What are you sorry for?"
"I didn't know," her smile turned teasing, eyes twinkling playfully, "that Hariya-kun wanted to be with me so much. That Hariya-kun was…jealous."
I immediately recoiled, feeling my cheeks involuntarily heat up. I didn't deny it, though, not when she was sitting next to me, her hand in mine, with an adorable smirk on her face.
She…made me feel better about myself. She had that weird, empowering effect on me…
"Hey, if you're free next weekend, maybe we can go to the amusement park together. Just the two of us this time, though…"
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Notes: That's how I see jealous Hariya as. :'D Sorry if he's…a bit much.
Thanks a bunch for reading!
Next story will be on…
Komori Taku~