Title: Ticket
Theme: Beat the Heat
Author: littlebottle
Genre: friendship
Rating: K
Characters: Hihara Kazuki and Junnosuke Sasaki
"No way!"
The trumpeter whined in disappointment as he scanned the list of prices on top of the ticket booth of the water park.
"You owe me, man!" A familiar voice jokingly scolded.
Kazuki turned around with a desperate but hopeful smile.
"Sasaki!"
"Hihara-senpai!"
"Hey, Sasaki! Oh. Is this a class outing?" He asked as he quickly filtered the faces of class 2-B students to find a certain redhead. His eyes drilled every single face, scrutinizing every single feature of their faces like a world-class detective.
"She couldn't make it because of her violin lesson, Hihara-senpai..."
"Wh-what? Who?"
"You know who... Should I say her name out loud?"
"No… I do not know what you are talking about," he said as he avoided Sasaki's sinister eyes.
"Hi..."
Kazuki started ruffling his olive-green hair.
"...no..."
Kazuki flinched at the syllable.
"...Ka..."
"So anyway! Sasaki, I need to borrow your money!"
"Why?" Sasaki managed to gasp as he tried to suppress his laugh.
"I want to go to the water park but I didn't bring enough money. I can only afford the couple's ticket. So can you help me out?"
"I'm really sorry but I don't have that much spare money…"
"Why don't I pretend to be your girlfriend?" A female voice suddenly caused both guys to jump.
"Wh-what?" Kazuki gaped, filled with utter disbelief.
"It's just pretend," the black-haired girl said stoically.
"Why would you do that?" Sasaki demanded, confused by Nao's actions and his own incomprehensible feeling.
"What's the big deal?"
Going to the water park as a couple? With Kobayashi-san? No way! I can't do something like that! I-I like Kaho-chan so... I can't! I'll be betraying her! Wait, what? We're not even g-going out! This doesn't count as betrayal but I-I... I want to go to the water park! The thoughts infiltrating Kazuki's mind is as chaotic as World War II.
What's the big deal? What IS the big deal? Why do I not want Kobayashi to pretend to be Hihara-senpai's girlfriend? I mean it's not like I have feelings for her or anything... So what is this extreme frustration? Why am I feeling so angry? The thoughts bombarded in Sasaki's mind in a turbulent turmoil.
"Hihara-senpai, you helped Kaho a lot. Take it as a token of my gratitude!" Nao said with a smile so bright that it forced Sasaki to squint as a surge of red dye colored his face. Kazuki immediately realized what was going on. Sasaki was just like him.
"Here! Take my money and go buy the couple's ticket! I'll use your money to buy a regular ticket! You guys look more like a couple anyway! Is that okay?"
"So... What do you say?" Sasaki asked, his gaze fixed on the flushed girl in front of him.
"Do whatever you want!"
When Nao was out of earshot, Sasaki leaned in and whispered, "Thanks but next time, I'll be the one to help you get your girl!"
"W-whaaaaaaaaat?"
Their friendship has definitely grown stronger.