The Melancholy Schmaltz

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CHAPTER THREE: MINDFUL

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"You look pretty in blue." Kaji passed by while Hino and her friends were scanning over a stylish dress magazine.

"Well, yeah Hino-san." Nao agreed.

"Really?" Hino asked.

"You look blooming today Kahoko." Kaji said in an pleasing way.

"Kaji-kun, can I talk to you for a while?" She stood up.

"Well yeah." He nodded. Pleased by her request. They went outside of the classroom then went to a place where no one stayed.

"Do you mind if I ask a favor from you? It's just a small favor though." She asked.

"Anything for you." He smiled.

"Can you help me decide for a gift later?" She said.

"Is that all? Well certainly." He placed his hands inside his pocket.

"Thank you." She smiled back.

"For whom will this gift be?" He wondered.

"For my friend." She said before returning back to their classroom.

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Dismissal came and Kaji went together with Hino. He was a good companion but he was such a head turner that everyone turned to them as they went. Many glared at Hino but she was already used to it. Who wouldn't be used to it? Whenever she was with Tsukimori, Hihara and Yunoki many would glare at her that she felt like she will be murdered the next day.

"Hino-chan!!!" A familiar yet playful voice called her. She and Kaji turned to the caller. It was Hihara together with Yunoki.

"Hihara-senpai." She smiled but when she turned to Yunoki, she noticed that he wasn't having his normal 'gentle-as-a-lamb' look. He was expressionless. "Yunoki-senpai." She smiled.

"Kaji." Hihara said.

"Yo." He smiled at the seniors.

"Where are you going Kaji?" Hihara wondered.

"We have a date with Hino-san." He smirked.

Yunoki was caught right through there. Hino then reacted upon hearing his answer.

"Kaji-kun!" She halted him. He just shrugged.

"Date?" Hihara was torn. As expected from the guy who admires Hino.

"No." She denied. "We are just going somewhere."

"That is still the same Hino-san." Kaji playfully said.

"Kaji-kun!" She was pretty annoyed.

"I think I have to go now Hihara." Yunoki declared. "Excuse me but I have to go. I still have a meeting to attend."

"With whom Yunoki?" Hihara wondered.

"With my fiancé." He smiled.

Hino watched him. 'With Ayano?'

"See you Kaji. See you…Hino." He said as he left and went inside his car.

'What was that blank face that I just saw right now?' She thought.

"Do you know that Yunoki had been attending a lot of meetings with his fiancé these past few weeks?" Hihara said.

"Really? Well, that is expected from the youngest son of the Yunoki clan." Kaji said.

"How about you? You are rich, right so do you have a fiancé too?" He asked.

"No, I don't. I want to decide for myself." Kaji turned to Hino. "That girl is just somewhere. Wandering."

"Hihara-senpai? Can you also accompany us?" She asked.

The two guys urked.

"Me? Accompany you on your date? Like a chaperone?" He surprisingly said.

"Hino-san?" Kaji questioned.

"It's not a date. We will just buy a gift for a friend of mine." She calmly said. "I won't mind if you would want to tag along."

When the shopping happened, Hino was not really paying attention since her thoughts were flying.

"What about this Hino-san?" Kaji asked. He was bringing a music box.

"This one Hino?" Hihara also asked while bringing a green figurine.

Hino spaced out and this made the two guys wonder.

"Are you all right?" They chorused.

Hino was then snapped back to reality. "What?" She turned to them. The two stared at her. "What were you saying?"

"Hino, you are not feeling well are you?" Hihara measured her temperature with his hand.

"Ah, I am just tired." She looked down.

"Well just bring you home then." Kaji said. "We can have this some other time if you like."

"Mm." She nodded.

They brought her home.

"Thank you for accompanying me." She weakly smiled.

"Don't worry. It's a pleasure." Kaji gave her a sweet smile.

"Anytime." Hihara saluted. "Go inside now and rest before it gets worst."

She nodded then went inside their house.

"Kahoko." Her sister greeted. "I baked a strawberry pie for us." She said but then Kahoko was weak. She stared at her. "Are you all right?"

"No. I think I'm sick so you clean your kitchen mess after and good night." She slowly went inside her room. She closed her door then took her jacket off and let herself fall over her bed. 'What am I feeling?' She thought. She rolled then stared at the ceiling. "Fiance? He is attending a meeting with her these past few weeks?" She sighed then closed her eyes. 'What was that expression when he saw me with Kaji? He seemed to be something. Why? I want to know.' She opened her eyes then turned to where she placed the bear. She got it then embraced it tight. "This does not feel right."

Author's note: Knowing that the person you are starting to like is seeing someone hurts, am I right? It might not hurt so much but it makes our day bad or it grabs away your vigor. I hope you can relate.

Hey, I made Hihara enter here together with Kaji. I really like these guys. They are very kind and I think I can make them really good friends. It's just that Kaji in this fic tries to play a joke that he and Hino are dating and so on, which hurts Hihara.

I am confused. What if I will cut Yunoki's treasured long hair? Wow I think he will be hot. New look. Love him.

Thank you so much to verballydeclined and to my friends. Fel and Rai. Thank you for reading my stories and for reminding me of my past tense. Rai, rai, rai… thank you so much for always giving a nice scene. I like your ideas and see? I even have this thank you note for you. Fel, thank you also. Best friend?

Thank you once again for the other readers. Hope you will review my story.