Chapter 3: Kouzumi
Couple: Kouji and Zoey from Digimon Frontier
It is the fourth day of High School.
"So… why are you sitting with me?" asked Kouji.
"Because there's no one else I can sit with" snapped Zoey.
"I thought you made a new friend yesterday. What was it? Kari?" suggested Kouji.
"She and TK both caught a cold"
"How? Were they dancing in the storm last night?" (A/N *cough* Yes *cough*)
"Don't be ridiculous!"
Zoey said her last sentence without realizing that it was a joke. It wasn't very often you hear the lone wolf Minamoto tell a joke but if he did, then that meant he trusted you.
"Oh, sorry. I didn't know you were joking" apologized Zoey.
"Hey, it's fine. Why don't you eat with Taki?"
"It's awkward between us without you or one of the others"
"Kouichi?"
"He's in the library, and I want to eat. And you can't eat in the library"
"If you don't want to hang out with me then just make a new friend" said Kouji.
Being the cold loner, Kouji was able to hide the hurt he felt. Only his eyes betrayed that. He wasn't as unfeeling as everyone made him out to be. If he was… then he wouldn't have fallen in love with the girl in front of him.
"Like who?" asked Zoey, completely oblivious.
"Like them"
Kouji gestured towards a brunette and a redhead.
"No. I f you're Mr. Anti-Social then the red haired girl would be Mrs. Anti-Social" said Zoey.
Another flash of hurt passed through Kouji's eyes.
"I don't remember putting you in charge of who I will marry in the future. Besides, if you can make friends with me, I'm pretty sure you'll be able to do the same for that girl"
"You think so?"
"You have that quality to open up people. It should be easy for you. Just be yourself"
"Alright, I'll try"
Zoey got up and walked away from Kouji. She was completely ignorant to hurt aura that was surrounding him.
"Hey, you girls don't mind if I join you do you?" asked Zoey once she reached the table.
"Go ahead" said the brunette at the same time the redhead said "Whatever"
"I'm Zoey"
Before the brunette could introduce herself the redhead interrupted her. "We know your name. We hear it whenever the teacher does roll call"
"Rika! Don't be rude. I'm Jeri and this is Rika" said the brunette.
"Nice to meet you two"
"So… why do want to sit with us?" asked Rika in the same tone as Kouji had only more colder.
"You sound like my friend over there" laughed Zoey.
"Speaking of your friend, isn't he lonely there by himself?" asked Jeri.
"Nah. Believe me, with him, he'd much rather be by himself or with his twin brother. He doesn't like company all that much" said Zoey.
Both Jeri and Rika glanced at each other. Before Jeri could stop her, Rika made another rude comment. "Wow you're stupid"
Zoey was about to argue back when Jeri stopped her. "I think what Rika was trying to say was that even though he may seem like he doesn't enjoy company, he'd probably still like it"
"How do you two know that?" asked Zoey.
"Because I was just like that. I scared everyone away with my attitude and glares but the truth was that I was lonely. It's true that loners don't like company but they do like it when their friends are with them" said Rika as if it was obvious.
"Hey Rika" called a voice near the doorway.
Zoey turned to see a very handsome boy standing there. Before she could ask who he was, Rika was suddenly standing there in front of him with a huge smile plastered on to her face. She now seemed like a really cheerful and non-rude person.
"Okay what just happened? First she was all rude and then suddenly, she lights up like a Christmas tree" said Zoey.
"Well, that's Henry, Rika's boyfriend. He's also one of the reasons why Rika's not a loner anymore" explained Jeri.
"She looks like a completely different person"
"That's because the way she was acting like before was an act. She does that to ward off strangers. Truth is, is that this is who she really is. You see, this is what we were talking about. Chances are, you're friend is only faking his hate towards people. It's going to take another person to get rid of it" said Jeri.
"You have that quality to open up people. It should be easy for you. Just be yourself"
Four years ago, Zoey admitted that she had crush on Kouji. As time passed, those emotions vanished. But now, she felt them again. She remembered all the times she and Kouji ever showed any signs that they could've been a couple.
When Kouji got in between her and hypnotized Tommy.
When she hugged both him and Takuya.
When she got scared and grabbed him.
When they got lost together on the island of lost digimon.
When she got cold and he let her borrow her jacket.
His jacket had his scent on it. And subconsciously she had that scent memorized. It was one of the many things she would never forget.
"Thanks Jeri. I think I've finally realized something. Something very important" said Zoey as she took her lunch and made her way back towards Kouji.
Jeri smiled as she watched Zoey walk away. But that smile disappeared as she placed one hand on her stomach and tightened her hold on her chopsticks. She needed to tell him.
"Hey, is it okay if I join you?" asked Zoey.
Kouji looked up. He appeared to be surprised to see her. "What happened?"
"I asked you a question"
"Go ahead" chuckled Kouji. Once she sat herself down he spoke again. "Now it's your turn to answer my question"
"I don't think I became friends with them… yet. But I did learn something"
"And what's that?"
"That hanging out with you is much better than hanging out with someone I just met"
"I thought you didn't like hanging out with Mr. Anti-Social"
"True" The hurt returned in Kouji's eyes but disappeared when she spoke again. "But… I do like hanging out with my friends. Especially ones that I've fallen in love with"
Kouji smiled. "Well… then I guess you are the real Mrs. Anti-Social"
"Oh, shut up"
This time, Kouji's smile reached his eyes. The hurt was gone, and so was his loner persona.
I feel evil for some reason. Oh well. Tell me what you think and I promise to get the next chapter as soon as I can. Thank you my readers and I hope you keep up the reviews. Ciao!