A/N: Well, here is the third chapter. I haven't updated this for a while, so here it is if anybody else wants to read this story.
Chapter Three
"Don't you think it is weird for Mori to be happy like this?" Sakuno whispered to Mitsukuni. Sakuno, Mitsukuni and Takashi were in the limousine together heading home. And for some reason, Takashi seemed happier when Ella left.
"Truthfully speaking, Takashi is afraid of Ella," Mitsukuni answered with a heavy sigh.
Sakuno looked over at him questioningly, but she didn't ask any further. She just watched Takashi started humming happily to a song. It wasn't until Mitsukuni's phone started ringing that he would stop. After Mitsukuni closed his cell phone, his expression showed worry on his face.
"It's Ella's father. It seems Ella hasn't returned home yet, and she's not picking up her phone," Mitsukuni said. Sakuno's eyes widened, and she was also worried.
"Do you think she will be okay?" Sakuno asked.
"Ella can handle herself well, but she is directionally challenged. She gets lost easily if she is not careful," Mitsukuni explained. Sakuno nodded before she looked over to Takashi. Takashi's smile faded and he seemed rather worried as well.
Sakuno did not understand what Takashi is thinking. She wondered why Takashi behaved the way he did, but she was one of those types that would wait until the person is willing to answer at his or her own time.
"Shall we go to look at the school first?" Sakuno recommended. Mitsukuni nodded before he looked over to Takashi.
"Do you want to go home first, Takashi?" Mitsukuni asked. Takashi shook his head immediately.
"I want to-" Takashi started but was cut off by Mitsukuni's phone ringing.
Mitsukuni answered and he seemed rather happy after he finished conversing in the phone.
"Ah, it's Ella's father again. He said Ella came back safely with a friend," Mitsukuni explained. Sakuno smiled and nodded before she patted Takashi's shoulder.
"You don't need to be worried anymore," Sakuno told him. Takashi stared at her for a moment before nodding his head.
He looked out of the window to see a clear sky, yet he wondered why there was such heaviness in his heart. Mitsukuni noticed his cousin's shift in behavior and sighed. He couldn't help Takashi this time for this is his own journey to walk through.
The next morning, Takashi was already in class while Mitsukuni took Sakuno to class. But even as he sat at his desk, he was worried if Ella came to class safely. He got up and looked to the right to see Ella starting to enter class. Takashi let out a sigh of relief and returned to his seat.
He was hesitant when he was going to have class with Ella. He wondered if she was going to change her mind and started jumping towards him. He sighed, knowing it would be useless to think about it and stopped thinking about it.
As he entered class, Ella was already sitting at her desk. She was quiet and did not look over at Takashi, not even a glimpse. He felt unsettled and sat down. Whispers were all around, wondering if Takashi and Ella had an argument or Takashi had finally shot down Ella's advances. The girls cried for Ella and comforted her, but Ella only smiled brightly at them. She rid all of the rumors made, causing Takashi to be relieved only slightly. For some reason, he felt his stomach rumbling painfully inside of him. He wondered if he had to get checked-up.
As time passed, Ella continued to avoid him in their classes. What made him surprised the most was she no longer called ShiShi like she always had. She called him "Mori-san", and it felt strange and foreign to him. She also seemed to be formal in the way she speaks to him, and only spoke to him when necessary. This caused Takashi to feel out of place.
"Mori-san?" Ella asked as her eyes bored into his. Takashi was frightened and backed away. Ella frowned and sighed. "I do apologize if I scared you, but could you move? You are blocking the path for other students to leave and enter."
"Oh. Sorry," he only managed to say before moving out of the way.
The other students were glad that Ella voiced out when Takashi was in his thoughts. None of them wanted to tell Takashi was in the way. Everyone respected Takashi enough to not speak their mind.
Just as he got out of the way, the students started moving again and apologized to Mori as they passed by him. Ella watched them leave one by one and then looked over to Takashi. Takashi felt his heart beating fiercely against his chest. Was she going to jump at him? Takashi was ready now to hold her into his arms like he always did, yet she did not do as he thought. She merely smiled at him and thanked him before she left. His stomach started rumbling terribly again in his stomach. And for some reason, he looked at his empty hands before he silently left the class.
Classes became harder for Takashi to concentrate. He didn't like the feeling within his stomach and his chest was tightening as if something or someone was squeezing him. And for some reason, he wanted to look over at Ella but stopped himself from doing so. Students noticed the brooding aura coming from Takashi, but the only one who did not was Ella. And if she did, she was showing no concern.
Lunch came soon enough, letting Takashi sigh in relief. He needed to speak to Mitsukuni right away, but he waited for Ella. When Ella was ready to leave, he called out her name.
"Ella?" Takashi asked. Ella looked up at him and smiled. Her smile always seemed so bright to Takashi.
"Yes, Mori-san?" Ella asked. Takashi winced when she called his name in that way. He wasn't used to it, but he wouldn't tell her that.
"What would you like for lunch? I will get it for you," Takashi told her. Ella was surprised and looked rather flustered. Takashi wondered why.
"Oh, you don't need to Mori-san. I'm eating lunch with a friend," Ella replied. Takashi's eyes widened but nod his head. His chest started to tighten again. "I'm sure your lunch wouldn't be spoiled without me. If you please excuse me, I will take my leave." She smiled brightly again and left.
Takashi's head lowered and felt his walk to the cafeteria had become painstakingly long. Mitsukuni noticed Takashi's odd behavior and wondered if he was okay. He also noticed Ella wasn't with him. Did something happen?
Takashi sat next to Mitsukuni with a brooding manner like Tamaki would always do when Haruhi shot him down. Tamaki noticed Ella wasn't there with him and started pestering Takashi, not noticing Takashi was already unhappy.
"Where's Ella-chan?" Tamaki asked.
Takashi's body tensed and the brooding aura started growing. Mitsukuni frowned and understood. Tamaki was surprised at the aura. But thankfully, Kyoya pulled him away before he did any more damage. The twins knew better and kept quiet. An unhappy Takashi can make a bad day for anyone. It was then Lina finally spoke up. Her eyes looked at him sharply.
"Honey. Mori. Did you guys leave Ella alone yesterday?" Lina asked. Takashi and Mitsukuni tensed but nodded. "No wonder. I saw a red-head crying alone and some guy comforted her. I had a hunch it was her with her red hair being so hard to go unnoticed, but I wasn't sure. The guy had red hair too; almost look like he was from the yakuza. I thought that a brother was comforting his sister since I couldn't see the girl's face."
Takashi looked over at her.
"Ella... was crying?" He asked softly. Lina sighed and nodded.
"If that were the case, I would have taken her home with me and Kyoya," Lina said, "Mori, you do realize you hurt her deeply, don't you?"
"Lina," Kyoya warned her. Lina shrugged and got up.
"Better than keeping silent," Lina told Kyoya and left only eating a bit of her food before leaving. Kyoya sighed and followed her, dumping his untouched food in the trash as he did so.
"Takashi," Mitsukuni said softly, trying his best to comfort him.
"I hurt Ella again, Mitsukuni. I hurt her again," Takashi said quietly. Mitsukuni frowned and patted Takashi's back comfortingly. Takashi couldn't feel it at all. His chest started hurting again.
When school ended, Takashi went on his way to his kendo practice but stopped midway when he saw Ella smiling at Casanova or was it Bossa Nova? His whole body tensed up as they seemed happy to chat with each other even Casanova was smiling gently at Ella. He felt a sting in his heart for whatever reason it may be.
It was then Casanova took out a crown of flowers and put on top of Ella's head. Takashi stared with his breath caught in her throat. If anything, Takashi thought she looked like a fairy. She seemed to glow to him.
"Beautiful," Takashi said absently. He then froze at the thought. Did he... like Ella?
Takashi continued his way to his kendo club, but his thoughts were on Ella and Bossa Nova. There was a stinging pain inside him as he remembered Ella smiling brightly at the red-headed yakuza boy. His momentarily distraction cost him to bump into one of the columns at the school. He fell back and looked up at the ceiling. He blankly stared at it while rubbing his pained nose. He shook his head and tried his best to clear his head. He couldn't practice kendo if his thoughts were on other things, in this case, someone. He sighed and stood up. His eyes sharpened before becoming more serious. He couldn't let Mitsukuni see him this way. It would be unforgivable to worry his cousin.
After he finished practicing and showered, he started walking towards the Host club, but he had met up with Casanova and Ella on the way.
"Yo, Morinozuka-senpai," Casanova greeted.
"Good afternoon, Mori-san," Ella greeted with a smile.
Takashi merely nodded before he noticed her hand holding Casanova's. He tensed and felt an urge of unhappiness going through him. Is this jealousy he was feeling?
"Do you two know each other?" Casanova asked, pulling Takashi out of his thoughts.
"Oh yes, we are childhood friends," Ella answered with a smile. "Right, Mori-san?"
Takashi merely nodded. Casanova looked over at Ella and then to Takashi and then back to Ella again.
"Why the honorifics?" Casanova asked.
"I would like to know as well," Mori thought and stared at Ella as if she would understand him.
"Oh, well, I've decided to give Mori-san some space. In a way, I felt the need to be more respectful towards Mori-san with such change," Ella explained. Casanova scratched his head as if he half understood yet didn't. Meanwhile, Takashi did not want it to be this way. Yes, he did feel uncomfortable around Ella, but he did not want her to be beyond his reach.
"Ella, I-" Takashi started.
"Oh my, are we in the way, Mori-san?" Ella asked before she immediately looked over at Casanova, "We should not take too much of his time, Soda-chan."
Casanova groaned and shook his head.
"It's Kasanoda, Ella. Not Soda," Kasanoda corrected her.
"I thought his name was Casanova or Bossa Nova?" Takashi thought.
"But I like Soda-chan better. It's easier to remember since you cheered me up by giving me a soda yesterday and asked me if I want to kick the can," Ella said before she giggled. Takashi felt his heart stop, remembering what Lina said.
"Ella, I-" Takashi started but was cut off once again.
"Yes, I remember. I helped you back home," Kasanoda said with a smile. Ella's smile brightened and nodded. Takashi felt a sharp pain in his gut as if someone had stabbed him.
"Ella!" Takashi finally yelled, getting Kasanoda's and Ella's attention. Their eyes widened in surprise at his outburst.
"Yes, Mori-san?" Ella asked, a bit hesitant to reply. Takashi went to her level and hugged her tightly. This surprised Ella before she smiled and gently stroke his back in comfort.
"Please. Let's go back to what we once were. I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm sorry," Takashi said quietly. Tears started to brim Ella's eyes and she nodded.
"You just need to ask, ShiShi," Ella said. Takashi let go of her and stared at her in the eyes. She had called him ShiShi again and the pain in his stomach stopped hurting. "I'm sorry for hurting you as well. I never thought this change would make you unhappy."
"It feels strange to be called Mori-san," Takashi admitted. Ella giggled and nodded.
"I won't call you by such then, but I will give you some space. I know my return was sudden, so I won't be forceful like I was before," Ella told him. Takashi smiled and nodded. It was then Ella looked over at her watch and gaped. "Oh my, you should get to the Host Club. I'm sure NiNi and the others are worried about you." Takashi nodded before he nodded at Kasanoda as well and left. His heart seemed lighter and the pain seemed to have subsided. Things were looking up again by the end of the day.
Ella and Kasanoda watched him leave. Just as he disappeared from their sight, they looked at each other and smiled. Kasanoda took her hand and they walked their own way.
"I'm surprised you are my senpai, Ella," Kasanoda told her, "But from seeing you and Morinozuka interact like that, you two seemed like lovers." She giggled.
"I do love him, Soda-chan, but he doesn't love me in that way," Ella admitted. Kasanoda stopped and looked at her questioningly.
"He seems to like you though," Kasanoda told her. Ella sighed and looked towards the sky.
"He likes me as a friend. If he did love me, he would have chased after me yesterday. He knew if he stopped me, he would admit that he loved me as well. It was a test he failed," Ella told him before looking over at Kasanoda. "Even if we aren't lovers, I wish he would find love in another. I want him to experience the happiness the world offers to the fullest extent because he deserves to be selfish."
"Ella, you really are a senpai, aren't you?" Kasanoda asked, surprised to see this different side of the cute Ella.
"Ah, but of course, Soda-chan. Sometimes, this Ella knows when to act grown-up," Ella said before they both walked again to their destination.