Chapter 6: A Good Game (Exposition)

A good game is reminiscent of the three forms of a sonata composition.

It begins with an exposition, to which the thematic material or purpose is presented.

It is succeeded by development, to which the theme or purpose develops.

And finally, it is ended by recapitulation, to which everything goes back to normal, but differs by presenting the objective marked as achieved.

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Hiromu says:The primary objective is to see whether Youko still has feelings for me. The method may come in variety of ways, but according to my plethora of research, what she liked or loved about me might be the best cards of the deck. I have no empirical data on women. I have not paid any attention until that day when she almost confessed her love for me.

Youko says: The primary objective is to win the bet. The method would be reactionary, without looking desperate.

1

Youko's POV

"Why is he smirking at you, Youko-chan?" Nakamura-san whispered to me while passing the bread, her expression bemused. She was eyeing Hiromu who was then avoiding me but now grinning widely at me. That smiling faced bastard. He thought that this gesture of his would work knowing too well that among my weaknesses was his smile.

The kind of smile that resembled well the first one that he gave me after we succeeded with our mission at the hospital.

Damn. Why am I blushing?

Our competitive nature taking over, our little game was dubbed, "the better charmer." Not knowing that objective of his, my own wish is simply to win, while hinting at the same time that I have moved on with lady pride's bet on me.

I winked at him. The kind of wink that trending girl groups would give for fan service.

His eyes widened in surprise, mouth partly open but no sound coming out. His hands remained stationed at his hips.

Nakamura-san looked from me to him and then from him to me. Poor Nakamura-san, she looked even more confused. I'd rather not tell the whole details of what happened with our dance last night for her fragile heart might not take it.

2

HIromu's POV

There she was again in my favorite spot of the base, her nose consistently hitting her workbook. I have things to mind as well, with publishing companies asking me to give peer reviews to journal articles weekly. While I settled beside her looking rather deadpanned, she shrugged uncomfortably and corrected her slacking disposition. I took a sip from my espresso, inhaling its warmth and roasted scent.

And then I noticed that she was still wearing her uniform. Not that I'm complaining about the scent.

In fact, I am quite interested about her scent. It was a mixture of her own scent and her citrus perfume.

I rested a palm on my forehead, frustrated at myself for having these kind of thoughts.

Frustrated that I'm somehow comforted by her scent.

Frustrated that I'm reflecting the color of my red shirt.

Good thing she doesn't read minds or else she'll think that I'm some perverted teenager.

Seeing her somewhat dozing off, I readied my thumb and my forefinger and pinched her nose with it.

Perhaps the force was too great for she howled in pain.

"Why did you do that for?!" she asked, rubbing her now reddened nose with both her hands.

It was such a sight to see. And I shifted myself back to reality.

"You were drifting off," I answered with my tone low, so that it wouldn't get attention from prying ears, "I'm just trying to help."

She made faces without looking at me. I tried to suppress my fits.

With her trying to gain consciousness a little, I clicked the back of my hand with her left.

She looked at me bewildered, "What now?" she said tersely.

I placed my coffee cup near her, letting her inhale the scent that I enjoyed before I enjoyed hers.

"You may…drink from my cup…if you want."

She sighed. A long sigh.

"That's indirect kiss, Hiromu."

I snickered at her lack of sound logic. I bet she sensed through it for she grabbed the cup and sipped a little. Her face contorting with the strength of my brew, I feared her to think that I've planned the whole thing just to sabotage her.

"There," She said, landing the cup with a thud, her expression mocking, "we just kissed."

I hummed a little, amused with rescuing her befallen self with her quick wit.

And then, out of curiosity, I asked,

"Wouldn't you want my DNA transferred to you?"

I didn't know if the color on her cheeks was of annoyance or humiliation. The next thing I knew was we're running in circles.

3

Ryuji's POV

I was up the whole night, finishing blue prints of my own first generation buster machines. The next logical thing to do is to retreat to my room and get some good ol' shut eye before I could proceed with designing new mechas that would protect the enetron tanks. As I was to enter to another corridor on my left, I came upon a rare sight.

Hiromu and Youko-chan, their faces crashed to whatever they were doing. Youko's face was slumped on her workbook while Hiromu had his on the keyboard of his laptop. I have no idea as to why they were together, but it seemed they were meeting deadlines like I did.

And to my amusement, Hiromu's right hand was slightly clutching Youko's left.

Coming unexpectedly, both their morphin braces were ringing, signaling a fresh start of a new day.

Morning alarms.

The heck?—their morning alarms were even synced!

They lifted their heads in sync.

Their looked at each other in sync.

And noticing that they've been holding hands the whole night, they stared at each other in horror and in sync.

If I wasn't their acting older brother then I would've been more suspicious of their seeming compatibility.

4

Youko's POV

My classmates and I took a spot under a huge tree where we could proceed leisurely with planning our project under the theme of sustainable development. I was glad that we were of the same mind thinking of development not only in the financial sense but including some areas that were often neglected such as natural and human environments. As I was writing our ideas together on a piece of paper, I happened to notice that I was the only one left talking while my classmates fell silent.

Either their attention was caught by a person or that the building meters behind me was catching fire.

Looking at the spark in their eyes and the giggles being suppressed from their mouths, I've concluded that they were looking at a person and not to a building that was on fire.

I shifted my gaze to that person. Oh it's him, alright. The great Sakurada Hiromu.

A living legend of EMC High even if he didn't go to EMC High.

He was wearing a laboratory gown over his crisp white polo and black slacks. His hands again were on his sides and he was sporting again that smile I've learned to hate.

Or denied to love.

If it weren't for the project, I wouldn't allow my classmates for inviting him over for some ideas.

And faithful to his credentials, Hiromu did not fail to impress my classmates. His delivery on sustainable development was outstanding that I almost thought he wrote about that already in one of his research articles. Getting all the ideas we need, he stood up and my classmates thanked him for dropping by. I nodded at him to express my gratitude.

Just as he was only a few steps away, he turned again to us.

"Youko" he called

"Hiromu-kun?" I answered mockingly, my head tilted slightly to the left. My classmates looked at me in awe. It is an unspoken rule not to address a sempai with a "kun" unless you're undeniably close with that person.

It seemed Hiromu knew that I was mocking him.

It seemed Hiromu knew how to respond wittingly against it.

He smiled mischievously. And I regretted playing honorifics.

"Would you go out with me?"

I swallowed hard, digesting what he had just said.

A pregnant pause.

Stares. Giggles. A classmate nudged me and that took me back to reality.

To the reality of the game itself.

I smoothed the edges of my skirt, looked up at him with a smile on my face, and gave him a wink.