Fools Rush In: Where Angels Fear To Tread
Chapter 3
I Am So Not Into You
"We always believe that our first love is our last, and our last love is our first."
Ritsu woke up from the sounds of birds chirping by her windowsill. She sluggishly propped herself up from the bed, taking in her surroundings. The brunette scrunched her eyebrows in bewilderment. Ritsu did not have the slightest idea how she got home in the first place. This situation was something not unusual for the brunette. She looked down at herself, observing her body, like it was some routine every morning during the weekends.
Fully dressed.
Her amber orbs then travelled to the bed, a sigh of relief escaped her mouth when no one was in the bed this time.
Okay. I don't have any recollection about last night. But I don't think I got drunk. No hangovers. No girls either. So that's good. Yes. Good. But god, I feel drained.
Ritsu's train of thoughts were interrupted when she heard some clashing sound outside her room. The immediate response her body made was to freeze while sitting atop the huge bed.
Okay. Scratch that. I brought someone home with me last night.
Ritsu slowly got off of her bed and walked out of the master's bedroom. She looked to her right where her living room was located together with one more room. None. The noise stopped for a moment before the rattling began again. Following the jangling noise, Ritsu looked at her left. She trudged down the hall, passing through another room and into the kitchen. Her perfectly shaped brown eyebrows rose in both amusement and interest.
Dare? [1]
Before her was a raven-haired girl much shorter that she is. She had her back faced towards the owner of the penthouse, oblivious to the curious amber orbs that were watching her in amusement. Ritsu cannot help the smirk that was slowly forming on her face as she crept towards the still unaware teenager.
Oh. It's the moe moe girl from my class.
Ritsu snuck on the girl's back and shouted, "Boo!"
"Kyaaaaa~~" Mio screamed at the top of her lungs, flinging backwards after the startling scream, resulting the high school student to fall butt first on the hard cold tiles. "O-o-ouch." Mio wailed as she rubbed her sore butt. Ritsu laughed at her yowling student, earning a rightful glare. "Why don't you help me out instead of laughing?" Mio hissed at her teacher.
"Hahaha. Sorry," Ritsu stopped laughing and looked down at Mio. "Here." She offered the teen a hand with a huge grin on her face.
I swear she grins too much. Mio was about to take the offered hand when she stopped midway. Her heartbeat started to race at the recollection of a certain night. "Actually it's fine," Mio said as she felt her face heat up. "I can stand up on my own," Ritsu raised and eyebrow at her student's behaviour. PMS?
"I don't want to be alone." I froze upon hearing these lonely words coming out from the usually jolly teacher. My thoughts then came back to when I first entered the overly spacious apartment that Tainaka sensei owns. I assumed that she was living with someone by the number of rooms and spacious place she had. But then again, I saw no one even after I fixed something for her to eat. I cannot help but wonder if she had been living along in this roomy space.
I looked back at her. Her face was still flushed from the fever. "I'm here. You won't be alone." I murmured. I don't know what had gotten into me to say those heavy words. Suddenly, I found myself leaning closer to my sleeping teacher. Tainaka-sensei was slightly panting. Her forehead also started to sweat again. This was the first time I had seen my teacher so different. Different from the usual cheeky teacher at school. She looked so… so vulnerable. My eyes travelled further, stopping just at her ajar lips. I gulped audibly as I leaned closer. Just what am I doing? I closed my eyes as I closed the gap in between us. More. Our lips were barely inches apart when I heard her groan.
"Ungh." I immediately jerked back in shock. I froze there looking idiotically startled like some deer caught in headlights. I sat there motionless as I eyed her carefully; looking for any signs that she was awake. She stirred in her sleep and face towards the opposite direction but not before murmuring something. I leaned closer yet again, trying to catch what my Graphics teacher was saying in her sleep to no avail. When she finally faced her back towards me, I sighed. Good. She was still asleep. But bad. This is very bad. And I mean very, very, VERY bad. I just tried to kiss my teacher! In her sleep nonetheless! When she was vulnerable. I swore she could hear my heartbeat.
I slowly backed away from the bed. I glanced at her form and sighed. I am so not into my Graphics teacher. Right? I was just caught up in the moment. Nothing more. Yeah. That's all.
Another chortle interrupted Mio's little recollection of what happened last nigh. She looked towards the source and found the brunette chuckling.
"What?" Mio glared at her teacher when she did not show any signs of stopping at any moment now.
"Nothing," Ritsu shook her head. The wide grin was still plastered on her face. "Why are you so red?" Ritsu cannot help but tease her timid student. Mio had always been a quiet one in class. But it never ceased to amaze the brunette at how popular the first year student was, not only in class but the whole school. Imagine her reaction when she was walking through the halls of Sakuragoaka and all she can hear was rumours and chats about a certain 'Mio-tan'.
Mio chose to ignore her teacher's remark and continued on what she was doing before being rudely interrupted by a certain brunette. "Are you feeling better now?"
"Huh?" Ritsu looked at Mio in confusion. "Uhm. Yeah?"
"That's a relief," Mio mumbled softly.
"What?" Ritsu bellowed when she thought she heard Mio spoke.
"Nothing, just go and seat. Lunch will be ready in 10," Mio stated without looking at Ritsu. Ritsu stared at Mio for a while before she obeyed the younger girl.
Did I just get ordered at my own home?"
"Ah!" Ritsu stretched. "Gochisosama," Ritsu watched Mio clean up the table. Both were silent during the meal and Ritsu pondered what she had done to the raven-haired girl to earn those glares. "Ne, Mio-chan."
"What?" Mio answered, not commenting on the all too familiar use of her first name.
"What are you doing at my house?" Ritsu asked blatantly making the much younger girl look at her incredulously.
"What do you mean what?" Mio looked at Ritsu who just looked plainly and honestly clueless. "You mean you have no idea what happened last night?" Ritsu felt her body stiffened immediately after the words left Mio's mouth.
Oh, the horror. The all too familiar line of "You mean you have no idea what happened last night?" Just how many times and from how many girls Ritsu had heard that line? Ritsu slowly turned her head towards her student.
"Wh-why?" Ritsu started slowly. Her voice cracked. "Wha-what ah. Happened last night?" Ritsu tilted her head as she looked at Mio. Colors immediately drained out of her face when she noticed what Mio was wearing. Oh shit. NOW I'm really getting it from Azusa. Amongst her friend, Azusa was the one hesitant about Ritsu's escapades while the others said that it was one of Ritsu's ways to divert her mind from certain things. I don't wanna go to jail.
"Wh-why are you wearing my clothes?" she asked making Mio stop washing the dishes and look at her hysteric teacher. "Why am I in my sleeping clothes? I don't remember changing into these clothes last night!"Ritsu's home phone began to ring. The ringing sound went through unhearing ears as her voice continued to get louder each question. "Why—"
*beep*
Ritsu's bombing of questions was disrupted when her answering machine beeped. The two people in the kitchen stopped all their doings to listen.
"Ne, Taicchan, where were you last night? I was waiting for you at my room." Ritsu's eyes went wide once she realized how the girl had called her. Taicchan. Her amber orbs threatened to fall off from its socket. "I had something prepared for our role—"
"Waaaaaaaaahhhhhh!" Ritsu screamed, censoring any words that would come out from the answering machine to her minor student. She dashed towards the phone, barely avoiding to trip on herself.
"He-hey!" Ritsu greeted the girl on the other end of the line. She then looked at Mio who was now staring questioningly at her. Oh great. Now she must think I'm weird.
"Huh? Oh yeah. Uhm... I'm kind of busy… Yeah… No! You can't… Okay… Bye." Ritsu hung up after the short exchange with the mysterious girl on the phone. Ritsu swallowed the big lump on her throat before walking back towards Mio who just finished washing the dishes. "Sorry about that." She mumbled. "Where were we?"
"Last night?"
"Oh yeah." Ritsu cleared her throat nervously. "So? What exactly happened?" Ritsu carefully listened to her student's explanation. Everything came back into mind when she remembered collapsing by her car. I guess I'll have Yui get my car. Ritsu said to herself but suddenly shook her head when she pictured Yui driving her precious BMX. On the second thought, I'll have someone else drive my car.
"Bu-but I am in my sleeping clothes. Did you uhm." Ritsu stuttered when she suddenly remembered what she was wearing.
"Huh? No! I ah." Mio frantically shook her head when she caught up to what Ritsu was trying to say. "Nishikigi-san, the lady living downstairs, saw us last night and she was the one who changed your clothes." Mio awkwardly stated. Ritsu nodded at the mention of the much older woman, Nishikigi-san. Ever since Ritsu moved in the apartment, Nishikigi-san had been looking after her. Nishikigi-san always treated Ritsu like her own granddaughter.
"And I'm sorry I used your clothes without asking." Ritsu looked at Mio. She was wearing Ritsu's white graphic t-shirt that appeared baggy at Mio's slender body while Mio was already wearing her school skirt.
"What's wrong?" Mio asked Ritsu when she heard her teacher sigh.
"Hmm? Nothing." Ritsu smiled at her. "Thank you for taking care of me. You didn't have to stay for the night, you know." Ritsu impishly scratched the back of her head.
Mio suddenly felt a pang of sadness when she remembered the words her teacher had unconsciously muttered last night. "It's okay. I can't leave you like that. Especially since I'm the one to blame that you got sick. Uhm. Sensei?" Mio glanced at Ritsu who was busily reading something. "Do you live alone here?" Mio asked after she got a hum from Ritsu. Mio immediately regretted saying the words that came out from her mouth when she noticed her teacher stiffened at her question. "It's ok you don't—"
"Yeah. I live alone." Ritsu answered softly. "Anyway, why would you think that you're the reason I got sick?"
"Well," Mio paused shyly not bothering to comment on her teacher's reaction to her question. "You gave me your umbrella last time and you got soaked under the rain. So, yeah."
"It's no big. Hey, won't your parents get worried?" Ritsu looked at Mio who was already putting her shoes on. "That you stayed out last night, I mean."
Mio nonchalantly stared back at the taller woman. "No. They're not here anymore."
"Oh? Sorry," Ritsu apologized upon hearing about the teenager's family status.
"No! No, no. I mean they are out of the country. They just left when you started teaching at school. They'll be gone till the end of the year, I assume. They're Doctors Without Borders."
"Oh. I see. That's good. That they're alive I mean. Wow, your parents are both doctors. Are you living with a relative?"
"Yes. I'm living with my mom's cousin." Mio said, her hand was on the doorknob. "Well, I need to go now. I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused you." Mio bowed deeply in front of her teacher.
"I can give you a ride home." Ritsu walked over to Mio, grabbing her set of keys. "This time I will definitely bring you at your place."
"But we left your car near school." Mio looked at Ritsu who just finished putting her sneakers.
"It's fine. It's fine." Ritsu pushed the hesitant girl. "I've got another ride."
The two were quiet all the way down the lift. Mio was slightly fidgety while Ritsu seemed to be musing on something when the elevator door opened.
"Oh! Ritsu-san, good afternoon." A young woman in her mid-twenties greeted Ritsu. She nodded at Mio when she noticed the raven-haired girl standing beside Ritsu.
"Ah, good afternoon, Miyako." Ritsu acknowledge the young black haired woman.
"Kanojo?" She asked Ritsu, after noticing that there was another occupant in the elevator, who seemed to be with Ritsu. "I heard you're always out in the morning." Miyako stated, not bothering to hear Ritsu's answer on her earlier question.
Ritsu just chuckled at the curiosity of her neighbour. "Yes. My friend asked me to substitute for work." The ride down the building was slow, for Mio anyway. The two adults chatted animatedly with each other while Mio just stood behind Ritsu quietly.
*ding*
The elevator door opened once they reached the third floor, revealing another young adult, years older than Ritsu. "Ara! What a pleasant surprise to meet you here, Ritsu," the blonde woman greeted Ritsu. "Miya, it's been a while, too. Going somewhere?"
"Yes, I'm just going out for a while." Miyako answered.
"I see. Oh!" the blonde beamed when she saw Mio on the corner. "Hello there!" Mio instinctively hid behind Ritsu, earning a chuckle from the rest of the occupants of the elevator. "What a shy girl you've got there, Taicchan," she winked suggestively at Ritsu.
"Sa-Sanae-san!" Ritsu blushed at the use of her infamous pet name.
"Fufufufu. I'm sorry. Sorry. It's just been a while since you attended my dinner invites that I missed to tease you," Sanae paused, eyeing Mio once more. "The girls are getting younger and younger every time, Ritsu," Sanae said, apparently aware of the brunette's activities during Friday nights for that matter.
Eh? Is she referring to me? What? What did she mean by tha—
Ritsu frantically waved her hands in front of her. "That's not it!"
"Hmmmm," Miyako cooed, "if you say so, Taicchan," humour was evident at the women's voice.
"Mou! I. Told. You. That's not how it is!" Ritsu frustratingly denied the suggestive tones of her friends. The poor brunette was nearing the state of pulling her hair out of her pretty head, while the subject of their discussion stood there silently, trying to mind her own business.
"What's your name?" Sanae asked, startling the lone teenager.
"Ih! Mio. Akiyama Mio," Mio mumbled softly.
"How did you meet Ritsu-san?" Miyako asked curiously. Ever since she stepped in the small space, she'd been wondering what relation the raven haired girl had with Ritsu.
"I ah—"
*ding*
The elevator door opened after reaching its main floor, effectively cutting what Mio had to say.
"Oh! That's our cue," Miyako said. "I'll see you later Taicchan. Mio-chan too!" the rest watched the tall girl disappear to one of the hallways.
"Fufufu. I guess I'll have to leave too. It was nice meeting you Mio-chan. Ritsu, come over to my place later." Sanae winked suggestively which went noticed by Mio.
"Sanae-san! Stop saying things that could be easily misunderstood!" Ritsu half-heartedly scolded the older woman who began hopping away from the fuming Ritsu and astounded Mio.
"Hehehehe," Ritsu laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of her head. "I'm sorry about them. Just ignore what they said."
Those two! They always tease me every chance they get!
"Here. Wear this." Ritsu pulled Mio out of her reverie when she threw a helmet without notice.
"Uhm? We're riding that?" Mio asked, pointing at the yellow BMW sport bike.
"Yeah, why?" Ritsu asked as she straddled the yellow motorbike with a black helmet on hand.
"Gochisosama!" Mio bowed deep at Ritsu. "Yosh!" she immediately turned around towards the door with the helmet still on her hand.
"O-oi! Where are you going?" Ritsu asked when Mio suddenly walked away from her.
"I-it's okay. I can just ta-take the bus h-home."
Ritsu raised an eyebrow at her student's antics. "But I said I can give you a ride."
Mio looked at Ritsu then to the motorbike behind her teacher then back to the waiting brunette. "I don't want to trouble you." Mio answered nervously.
"Hmmmm?" Ritsu smirked when she realized the reason why Mio had suddenly changed her mind. "Fine," Ritsu reached her hand for her helmet. "We'll take a car then. Is that fine?"
"You have another car?" Mio screamed, immediately clamping her mouth with her hands. "I mean, you have another car?" Mio asked, this time softly.
"Yeah?" Ritsu tilted her head in confusion. "We'll take this." Ritsu walked towards the white Audi sports car. "I don't really use this much because of my job. But well, I guess we have no choice but to take this." Ritsu pressed a button in her remote car.
Mio cannot help but stand there in awe. It was already a knockout that Ritsu owned a luxurious car, but to have another one? Just where the hell does she get all those money to buy not one, not two, but three expensive vehicles?
"Hello?" Ritsu waved her hand at Mio. "I'm gonna leave you behind if you just stand there," Ritsu chuckled before entering the white car.
"Sorry," Mio mumbled before getting in the car herself.
"Is this it?" Ritsu asked as she pulled over a contemporary detached house. "Wow. You're family is loaded."
Mio looked at Ritsu like she had grown another head. Ritsu was musing over a simple house while the girl herself lives in a rather large luxurious penthouse by herself. Not to mention the teacher also owns three expensive and lavishing vehicles. "It's not ours. It's my mom's cousin's house."
"I did not say it was yours," Ritsu answered wittedly.
"Yeah. Sure," Mio waved Ritsu off. "Thank you for the ride, Tainaka-sensei."
"Ritsu."
"Huh?"
"Just call me Ritsu when we're not at school. It makes me feel—" Ritsu shuddered. She felt slight remorse when she had to be a substitute, to think that she was a regular at the disciplinarian's office and the major reason for the teacher's migraine. It was now her turn to feel what her teachers felt ten years ago, in the same school. Oh, the irony. The biggest irony in Tainaka Ritsu's life. "Anyway, some girls in the class already call me Ricchan at school."
"Okay," Mio mumbled softly. "Thank you again, Tai—I mean Ri-Ritsu-san." Mio blushed.
"No problem." Ritsu remained in the driveway until she made sure Mio was inside her home.
"I'm home!" Mio called out upon entering the house where she would stay for the rest of the year.
"Oh? Mio-chan! Welcome home," a brunette woman in her late twenties greeted Mio. "How's your friend?"
"She's fine," Mio answered.
"Did her parents give you a ride home? I heard a car pulled in our driveway," the longhaired brunette asked, her eyes where not leaving the computer.
"Another song?" Mio asked her guardian.
"Yeah. I'll be meeting with Souichiro-san tomorrow morning."
"He's the owner of TNK Mousikē, right? I can't believe you know him personally," Mio said, plopping herself on the sofa in front of the opened TV. Being a big fan of music, Mio could not believe her luck when she learned that her guardian personally knew the big man behind the famous music studio. Mio very much liked the idea of having the privilege to enter and watch some famous artists record their soon to be hit songs.
"Well, my friend was actually the one who knows him personally. I just got introduced," the older woman replied.
"I see," Mio said before her attention was caught by an advertisement, completely forgetting about her guardian.
"Hello?" Ritsu answered, pressing the loudspeaker while she maintained her eyes on the road. "Ah! Nakata-san, is there something wrong with my car?"
There was a slight irate sound before the voice emitted from the phone. "No, there is nothing wrong with your car, Ritsu-sama."
Ritsu smiled when she heard the very familiar male voice. "That's good. Thank you for getting my car for me, Nakata-san." Ritsu pulled over to the still unopened Kallistēi bar. The brunette turned off her engine, grabbing her phone as she got off her car.
"No problem at all. Is there anything else you need me to do, Ritsu-sama?"
"No. That's everything. Thanks you," Ritsu shoved her phone inside her jacket's pocket. The brunette entered the facility like her own home. The sight of the owner, Hirasawa Ui and Azusa, wiping the table, while Yui happily ate some strawberry parfait, greeted her. The darker brunette chuckled when she noticed that there were already two empty cups of dessert at Yui's table.
Ritsu cannot help but smile. This was something that came natural with them. They would get together for some tea and desserts. The brunette how ever cannot help but feel something stirring inside her as she realized something.
Ritsu shook her head. The three had yet to notice her. "Yo!"
The three looked at her, smiling as the each greeted the brunette in unison.
"Ya ho Ricchan!" Yui beamed at her. She had remnants of whip cream all around her mouth. "What happened to you last night?"
"Oh, nothing much," Ritsu said as she pulled a chair in beside her childhood friend. "I was not feeling nauseous yesterday. I was dead until this afternoon."
" Oh," was all that Yui muttered before Azusa glared at Ritsu.
"Have you been eating junk again, Ritsu-senpai? No wonder you feel sick."
"What? No! I was just…" Ritsu trailed off when she noticed Azusa's glare intensified. "Well, ahem. I actually get real foods from my neighbours, Azusa. Mostly, Nishikigi-san brings supper for me everyday."
Azusa's glare disappeared as soon as she heard that Ritsu had been taken care of whenever she was not around—at least. "Mou, I just can't understand why you don't cook." Azusa's eyes instinctively looked down at the vibrating black phone in the table.
"It's a hassle to cook just for one," Ritsu said, ignoring the fact that someone was trying to get a hold of her on the phone.
"Well, that's right, I guess," Azusa replied, her eyes did not leave the phone. It's her. Azusa thought and moments later, the phone stopped vibrating. She looked back at Ritsu, just in time to see that the brunette was well aware of the call.
"Before I forget, Ricchan, your father called me yesterday. He's worried about you, you know." Yui told Ritsu as she finished her third glass of parfait. "You still haven't contacted home since forever."
"Yeah I know," Ritsu shrugged, her phone began vibrating again, making Azusa glance once more. "I'll call them sometime. I just—I-I need some time to myself," Ritsu mumbled. She spared a small glance at her phone. Same caller.
"But Ricchan! You haven't seen them for what? Almost a year. Ricchan, I really think you should get over it. It's been almost a year after all," Yui said while Azusa glared at her incredulously. How can her wife be so dense at such things? "Don't get me wrong, I like M—"
"Nine months, Yui. No-not that I'm counting," Ritsu corrected her friend, effectively cutting the airhead off. She still ignored the phone call.
"Yui, that's not a nice thing to say so bluntly," Azusa reproached her wife of three years. "And stop arranging blind dates for her, too!" Azusa's eyes did not leave Ritsu's phone.
"But, Azusa, did you not hear what I just said? Almost a year!" Yui griped. "Ricchan must've been lonely."
Azusa looked menacingly at Yui, tearing her eyes off the still vibrating phone. "She's not lonely. She has us. You're not lonely are you, senpai?" Azusa paused for a while to look at Ritsu. "Anyway, it doesn't matter how long it is. What if that happened to us?" Azusa continued, not bothering to hear the answer from Ritsu. "Are you okay with me dating after? It's just almost a year! They could still work on i—" Ritsu sighed as the married couple began ranting at each other.
"Like I said. It's nine months! And stop it you two," Ritsu butted in. Her right hand was rubbing her temple. "Honestly, you guys are giving me a head ache."
"Hmph!" Yui huffed. "Maybe you should just talk to Mugi-chan then. She can tell you otherwise. I miss Mugi-chan's cake. I wonder if I sent a postcard for her."
Azusa ignored her wife's remark. "Senpai, aren't you going to answer that?" she asked when she realized that Ritsu had yet to answer the call. "It's been vibrating for a while." Azusa pointed at the black vibrating phone sitting on top of their table.
Ritsu looked at it. It was still the same caller for the last three calls. "I—" she sighed before standing up from her chair. "Yeah. I think I should," Ritsu excused herself to take the call.
Yui and Azusa looked at the retreating form of their friend. Their eyes did not leave the spot where Ritsu disappeared into the corner. "I wonder who it is," Yui voiced her thoughts as she looked sadly at the empty glasses of strawberry parfait.
Azusa turned to her left, looking at Yui seriously. "It's her."
Ritsu leaned back at the wall. Her hands were tightening around the black vibrating phone. The brunette was debating whether to answer the phone or not. It had been a while since she talked to the caller. Nine months. And now you just call. The last time she talked to the said caller did not leave any good memories.
Ritsu closed her eyes, inhaling and exhaling deeply before she brought her phone to her ears. "He-hello," Ritsu cursed herself when her voice cracked.
"He-hellooooww," a high-pitched tone answered the other line, making Ritsu raise her perfectly shaped eyebrow. Ooooooiiiiii!" the toddler on the other end of the line chuckled.
"Chi-chan? Hey!" Ritsu greeted comfortably. She sighed in relief when she heard a certain little brunette. "Why are you using this phone?" Ritsu tried to ask the newly turned 3-year-old girl. The toddler always used their home phone whenever calling.
The toddler chuckled again. "Licchan! Yo-you see. Chi-chan is. Chi-chan called you,"she tried to say, stammering every now and then.
"I can see that. How's my little princess?" Ritsu asked sweetly. It had been a while since she last saw the little girl.
"Chi-chan is gooooodd. I miss Licchan. Licchan wa?[2]"
Ritsu chuckled. "I'm fine and I miss you too. Are you out today?" Ritsu asked when she heard cars in the background.
"Un! You see. You see. You see. Mommy's taking Chi-chan to buy pweettty clothes today," Chi-chan chuckled once more. "Ojou-sama, your mommy is here already." Ritsu heard another voice called out at the other end of the line. Ritsu instinctively pulled the phone away from her ears when the toddler screamed "Mommy" happily. "It's Licchan!"
"Mommy!"
"Hey, baby," a young woman with long silky hair walked up to the 3-year-old toddler. She was wearing a long white summer dress and a tender smile on her face.
"It's Licchan!" Chiaki beamed, earning a quick peck on her forehead from her young mother.
"Can mommy have her cell phone back now, Chiaki-chan?" the woman asked, kneeling to the height of the toddler.
"Un! It's Licchan!" Chiaki happily nodded, handing the silver phone to her mommy before running over to her baby sitter.
"Hello?"
"Hello?" Ritsu's breath hitched when she heard a very familiar voice.
"He-hey," Ritsu answered nervously. She felt her body quiver as the angelic voice rang into her ear. Ritsu unconsciously pressed the phone harder against her ear.
"I'm sorry, Chiaki-chan called during this time, you must be busy, It's already night in there, right? I told her to wait until we're home but you know how she is when it comes to you."
"No, it's okay. I'm with Yui and the others," Ritsu mumbled. She found interest at the pavement below her.
"Is that so? Tell them I said hi. I'm surprised you answered the call, though."
"Yeah. Well…" Ritsu trailed off, not knowing what to say to the girl that had been haunting her in her dreams.
"Chiaki-chan misses you a lot," the girl paused, "and I miss you too."
"Really," Ritsu deadpanned to no avail when she heard the last statement. She cursed inwardly as she realized that her tone gave away her emotions to the other girl.
"Ritsu. Look I—"
"This is not something to talk over a phone call," Ritsu interrupted. Her rage was getting more and more evident from her tone.
"I'm sorry," the woman on the other end of the line apologized sincerely. The saddened tone in her voice made Ritsu cringe inside, she swore she could almost see the expression the woman was making on the other end. Ritsu never wanted to hear this kind of voice from her nor see her like this. Never.
"N-no. I'm sorry," Ritsu apologized too. "I'm sorry I snapped at you like that. I was just-I was just having a long day."
"Ri—" the girl paused. Ritsu heard Chiaki's voice again, calling for her mommy to hurry up. Ritsu heard her say "Just a moment, baby" before the girl attended to her. "I'm sorry, Ritsu. Chiaki-chan cannot wait anymore. I promised to go shopping with her today."
"Yeah, she told me. I guess I have to let you go now," Ritsu muttered softly, as if she did not want to let the woman hung up.
"I'm sorry. Look, I-ah. Take care of yourself okay?"
"Un."
"Really. Take care of yourself. Are you getting enough sleep?"
"Un." Ritsu answered curtly. She heard the other woman sigh.
"Anyway, Chiaki-chan told me to say she missed you and that she loves you."
"Yeah. Tell her me, too."
"Okay, I guess I'll let go now." Ritsu waited until the woman hung up. "Ri-Ritsu?"
"Yeah?" her ears perked when the other woman called her name once more.
"I…"
"…"
"I love you," the woman said passionately under her breath.
"…" Ritsu shut her eyes, breathing deeply, as she slumped slowly on the ground. Her thumb weakly pressed on the red button, effectively cutting the call.
Dammit! You're not supposed to say that. Ritsu thought, bringing her left hand towards her face as her head jerked back against the wall.
I love you too.
[1] Dare: lit. "who" in Japanese. Not to be confuse by the English word dare (der).
[2] Licchan wa: This is like asking "How about you, Licchan?" yeah, somewhere along those lines.
CHARACTER PROFILE III
Name: Hirasawa Yui
Birthday: November 27
Age: 26
Height: 164 cm
Blood Type: O
Occupation: Master Engineer turned Music Professor
Relationship Status: Married to Azusa
A/N: Any guesses on what Ritsu really does for a living? I had someone guess and it was fairly close. ^_^
Okay, I'm thinking of doing this story in first person (Ritsu's point of view). So maybe I'll spend the rest of my time replacing the released chapter to first person. I wonder if that's okay? I think it's appropriate. Man. I did not think about this story hard enough. -_-
Thanks for the reviews. How is this chapter? I'm trying to slowly bring out character information and backgrounds. I'm sorry if there's a lot of OC. Anyway, R&R! ^_^