Thoughts
English
"Dialogue,"
As soon as Kyoko walked out of the office room, she couldn't hold back anymore. One tear after another escaped, no matter how hard she tried to hold it in. She ran down the hall and slammed her back against the wall around the corner, just barely out of sight before she heard Ren.
"Wait! Kyoko! I'm sorry!"
She flinched, and stifled a sob. Kyoko drew in three ragged, deep breaths. I need to calm down. The more breaths she took, the easier it was for her to stop the tears. As soon as she did, she started thinking.
Maybe I overreacted. He probably has a good reason for hiding from everyone, right? She closed her eyes tightly. ...Of course he does. Tsuruga-san doesn't do things without a reason. I...I should go apologize.
Kyoko wiped the evidence of her tears away on her sleeve and proceeded to turn around when another thought struck her. He called me by my first name, more than once. She smiled to herself and continued walking when she heard a thunderous crash followed by a smaller one. Her eyes flew wide open, and she picked up her pace to almost a jog.
Upon arriving at the door, Kyoko took a deep breath to steady herself, and reached for the door handle. "Ts...Tsuruga-san?" she asked in a small voice, "I'm coming in."
Kyoko gently pushed on the door, barely opening it a crack, when she heard Ren's voice boom through the otherwise empty room and spill into the hallway, causing her to jump back in surprise.
"Damn it all! Kyoko, I just want to tell you I love you! That's why I want you to be on your guard around him, that ass! He has the guts to take what he wants, I'll give him that, but I don't want that scumbag touching or even looking at the only person I've ever loved!"
Kyoko froze, barely able to comprehend his words. Her mind raced a million miles an hour. Then, she heard him say one more thing in a much lower volume. Her ears, acutely attuned to his voice, caught every word.
"I...I'm so jealous. It's so crazy, but I want to be the one to be able to kiss you. I'm so, so unbelievably sorry."
What...what...what… she thought, what is he talking about? He loves me? No, that's not possible. Maybe there's another Kyoko? But that's what he called me earlier. More than once, he must've forgotten he was in Japan! But...what? I'm so confused…
Her internal struggle immobilized her externally. When the door squeaked open, the only physical motion was her golden gaze shifting upwards a fraction, raised to the face of the person emerging.
Her first instinct was to flee, but his gorgeous brown eyes kept her ensnared, entranced, and rooted in place. Kyoko watched a tempest of emotions flicker across his face; first despair, then astonishment, wonder, and back to incredulity. Finally, his face rested in nervousness. All of his emotions were showcased for Kyoko in just the time it took for him to open the door and meet her eyes.
"M-Mogami-san," he greeted awkwardly.
"Kyoko, please call me Kyoko," she corrected, "I seem to prefer it now, after..." Kyoko could feel her cheeks heat up into a pretty rose-colored blush.
He took a second to register what she said, but he caught up quickly. As soon as he did, a radiant smile softened his features and lightened up the entire area. Simultaneously, it set the butterflies in her stomach into flight and made her heart beat so loudly that she was sure he could hear it.
"Kyoko."