Hey all! I think I have found a new update schedule: every Thursday…. If I'm not busy ^^

Disclaimer: Konomi-sensei owns almost everything here. I only own this fic's crappy plot, Kouki and Masami. The title Aruhi no Oshitari is taken from the aother story OVA, Oshitari family is definitely Konomi-sensei's and Masami's surname (Takamiya) is taken from one of my fav mangakas' name.

Sorry for typos and grammar mistakes. You know my English sucks. I do hope you can still understand the story even though it's full of errors.

I guarantee there'll be an enjoyable moment here :)

Ch6: Itazura na Kuchibiru

"Thank you, Takamiya-san. I think I know what to do now."

"You're welcome." Masami replied in her usual emotionless tone.

"I've got to go now. See you later." Kouki said. Once the other girl gave her a simple smile in return, she turned around and walked across the court in search of a certain someone.

Back then, she had never really thought about Shiraishi's feeling. She must have hurt his feeling. Imagine that your lover couldn't differ the real you and the fake one! If it had been her, she would have felt really sad.

A relationship shouldn't be ruined by a small unimportant issue.

Masami was right.

Kouki shouldn't ruin her relationship with him by her coward acts. She had done something wrong and hurt his feelings thus she should apologize to him. The sooner the better, just like what Kenya had said before…

"Oshitari-san," A gentle male voice called. "Can we talk for a while?"

She looked at the direction where the voice came from, it was Yukimura. "Yes, Yukimura-san? Ah, if it's about today's practice-"

"No, it's not about that, "He chuckled. "You look like you're searching for something. I just wondering if there's anything I can help."

"Thank you, but-"

"If it's Shiraishi-kun, I believe he's clubroom at the moment."

She looked at him in surprised. "H- How?"

"I've heard what had happened yesterday from Renji. I'm really sorry for our Niou's misbehavior," He explained with a sad smile. "I do hope there's something we can do to help you."

"No, it's okay, really." She quickly shook her head.

His smile brightened up. He then told her to go to the clubroom. According to him, Shiraishi should be alone there, preparing today's training menu. She bowed gratefully to him then walked to the clubroom.

She stopped right in front of the clubroom's door. Honestly, she was a little afraid to open the door before her. What should she say to him? Would he forgive her only with a simple I'm sorry?

Funny. She felt she had experienced something like this before. Well, she did experience it. It had been a month and a half ago. She had stood before the tennis club's door to meet and talk with Shiraishi when they had been avoiding each other because of the infirmary incident. Her o half sided crush on him back then, her attempts to get closer to him, her hostility with the fangirls… Everything would be useless if she failed to put an end to this problem and reconcile with him.

She put on the jersey she had been taking around with her, his jersey. It was too large for her, but somehow very comfortable to wear. And just like a magic, it gave her an extra courage to knock on the door.

Shiraishi looked up from the paper containing the training menu list he had been working on when he heard a knock. He was quite surprised when Kouki walked in and closed the door behind her, much because he had thought it would have been Yukimura or Osamu or a Rikkaidai member or just anyone but her.

She did become a little braver to meet him; however she still didn't dare to look at him, to directly meet his eyes with hers. Instead, her eyes were locked on the paper in his hand. Once again, she didn't know what to say to him. It was ironic that she couldn't say anything if needed, while sometimes she didn't even think before talking, just like when she had yelled at him and made everything worse.

He sighed as she just stood still like a statue. "Don't you want to say something?"

She bit her lower lips. He was waiting for her to talk. She knew that! It was just her brain seemed to have stopped working by the time she entered the room.

"Kouki…" He said very slowly.

Now, what's with this somewhat intimidating atmosphere?

"Sorry."

"What?"

"I'm sorry… about yesterday," she squeaked. "For leaving the practice, for not seeing Niou-san's trick, for not being able to tell that he was a fake, for a- almost k- k- kissing him," her face turned pink. "And for yelling at you back then. Sorry, I didn't mean to."

This time it was him who said nothing for a while (a quite long time for her because she was really nervous waiting for his reply).

"You… know very well why I'm angry, don't you?"

She nodded. "Sorry."

"Well then, since you've apologized, I think I should just let it go."

He stood up then approached her. He stopped in front of her and patted her on the head. She almost cried in relief when he did so, when she felt his usual gentle touch.

"But... with one condition."

She quietly gulped as she looked up at him.

"Close your eyes."

She widened her already big eyes. "Eh?"

"Do you want me to repeat it as usual?"

Gosh, he just knew her so well, no, too well.

"Err, no. But why?"

He looked away then replied in cold tones. "Well, if you don't want to do it then it's alright. Just don't expect me to forget everything easily…"

"That's unfair!"

"It's up to you, whether you choose to do it or not."

He gave her no other option; it was just like a do or die for her.

"Fine. But what'll you do once I close my eyes?"

"Saa…"

If her cheeks had been pink before, now they were red like apples.

Would it be the kiss? She was both excited and nervous. Excited because… well, who on Earth didn't want that? She did want it, really really want it, however, she was not ready for it. Just when she had finally forgotten about it...

She closed her eyes and waited. It seemed that he really took his time looking at her face, much to her nervousness.

Slowly she could felt his warm breath on her face.

His hand stroked her left cheek.

His nose lightly touched hers.

And finally he gently pressed his lips on her… forehead?

She opened her tightly shut eyes as she heard him burst into laughter right on her ears.

"Really, what a face you had just now. That was priceless." He said, wiping his eyes from tears of laughter.

"You tricked me!" She pouted.

He simply replied her with his usual teasing smile, which she could never hate.

"Well, well, feeling disappointed?"

"…a little…"

…

…

Outside the clubroom: the eavesdropper party x2.

"I have to admit that it was a quiet genius way to end a couple's fight."

"Wait! Why didn't he just kiss her? That's so slow of him!"

"There's still 1 month and 2 days until they finally have their first kiss."

"No, based on my prediction, it's 97.8% that they'll have it in 3 weeks and 5 days. It's also more that 72% that they'll have it after afternoon practice ended."

"Fufu.. This is interesting."

"Tarundoru! It's so imprudent to eavesdrop to a private conversation!"

"Err, fukubuchou, aren't you also eavesdropping with us?"

"Who cares? Even the noble gentleman is eavesdropping. Puri."

"Niou-kun, I'm not eavesdropping on purpose like you."

"Look at how much they all are worried about us! Yuu-kun, I'm so sorry for what've I done!"

"No, it's my fault! I shouldn't have said something so harsh to you! I'm sorry too, Koharu!"

"I think you better not to see this, Kintarou-han."

"EEEEH? WHY DO YOU CLOSE MY EYES? I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING!"

"Somehow I feel that we're still forgotten by the others…"

"I guess it's because we're jimmies#2…"

"Whatever. Can't we just start practicing already?"

So, whose prediction will come true? Chitose's or Yanagi's?

The title is taken from Shiraishi's Kuchibiru while this chapter's theme is Yukimura's Baby Knows ^^

1 more chapter left! What kind of ending there will be? Let's beat Chitose and Yanagi, and try to predict what'll happen next!

Hope you like this chapter. Please review! Concrits are also welcome!

Hona na~