Chapter 16: End of the Year Party
"Kotoko-chan, I bought you a beautiful dress for you to wear to your end of the year party." Mrs. Irie calls as she knocks on my door and steps in. "Goodness, dear. Why are you wearing your school uniform? Aren't you and Naoki going to a party?"
I turn around to face her; my hands weaving my hair into a French braid that hung over my left shoulder. "It is a party; however, the entire class A always attends in their school uniform. I think it's great that we keep up our image until the very end. Unfortunately, I won't need the dress. It's gorgeous though." The dress was gorgeous, a midnight blue dress, covered in sequences and tight enough that it would hug my hips. Thin spaghetti straps hangs the dress from the hanger and an equally dark blue shawl hangs over the hanger.
I turn back around to grab a ribbon to tie the end of my hair. "There, I'm ready. Do you know where Irie-kun is?" I ask Mrs. Irie.
She nods, telling me he's downstairs before putting the dress in the closet. "You may not have a chance to wear it now, but a special event might come up where that dress will be perfect."
"Thanks Mrs. Irie, it's so beautiful. Well, we should get going. See you later tonight."
I ran down the stairs, where Irie-kun stood in his school uniform. "Hurry up. We're going to be late."
I slip my shoes on. "Why do you care? You hate parties." Grabbing his arm, I drag him out of the house, and pull him down the street towards the restaurant where our party was being held.
"Irie-san, you're missing your second button! Who did you give it to?" I cringe slightly at Kobayakawa-san's voice.
"I hate her voice." I mumble under my breath.
Watanabae-kun laughs, "You're just upset that you can't show your relationship. Besides, he gave you his second button did he not?" I nod my head in agreement reluctantly. I turn my head to face Irie-kun and Kobayakawa-san who storms off, her cheeks red with embarrassment and anger. Running his hand through his hair, Irie-kun comes over and sits down next to Watanabae-kun. "What did you tell her?" Watanabae-san asks.
"Is it really that difficult to believe that I have a girl friend?" Irie-kun looks up at both of us. I meet eyes with Watanabae-kun briefly before nodding my head.
"A little. Honestly, if I didn't know you so well, I would never understand why you have a girlfriend. You're always so reserved and expressionless in public, so unapproachable and untouchable."
"Sara's touching me just fine." Irie-kun asks confused.
"Yeah but she think she's in your league. How many girls showered you with attention after our graduation ceremony? Girls you've probably never seen or talked to. They're desperate as you're leaving next year." I cock my eyebrow at him. "You really don't see it?"
Irie-kun just stares at me. "I have a girlfriend! Of course I'm not going to look at other girls."
I smile. "Good to hear."
"Kotoko!" I flinch at the loudness of the call and turn around to see who called me.
"Kin-chan? What are you doing here?" I hurry over to where a divider has split the room into two.
"Class F is having their party over here. Why aren't you dressed for a party? Come over here and join us." Kin-chan grabs my arm and gives it a tug.
I pull my hand back, shaking my head. "I can't. I'm not in class F anymore. I'm in class A, remember?" I wave at Satomi and Jinko. "Have fun guys!" I turn and walk back over to Watanabae-kun and Irie-kun, walking past silent classmates.
I spent most of the evening talking to Watanabae-kun until Mr. Takashima gives his speech. Over on the other side of the divider, I can see the class F teacher giving his speech to his class. I roll my eyes a little. Even from here, the teachers reflect the class they teach.
"What the hell did you say?" I come back to reality to see Kin-chan storming over, slamming his fist against a nearby pillar
"And you always turn to violence immediately." Kobayakawa-san scoffs.
"What? I haven't done anything yet." Kin-chan growls back.
"Did you know that the use of verbal violence can be exposed to criminal liability?" She counters back. I groan and face palm. Why is Kin-chan still talking? Kobayakawa-san is studying Law next year. He's not going to win this at all.
"After all, the only way people for class F can fight us…" I look up in shock at Irie-kun. "…is with muscles." I stare in disbelief at him. Kin-chan looks at me before rolling his eyes and storms out of the room. Tension high in the room, each class splits to return to our separate parties. I slap Irie-kun's arm.
"What was that for?" He turns to me, expressionless.
"He had it coming." He answers before walking away.
I run out of the room, down the hall to the front entrance where Kin-chan is begging the front desk for a different room. "Kin-chan, don't. Sorry to bother you, the room we have now is fine." I smile at the man before tugging Kin-chan away. "I'm so sorry, about what Kobayakawa-san is saying. She doesn't have the best personality." My voice trails off as Kin-chan hits the wall.
"How can you even talk to that guy? He's so obnoxious!" Kin-chan shouts out. I jump back in surprise.
"Hey, relax. Did you forget your promise to me? That you were going to become something I couldn't before I graduated school? The same goes with all those smartasses in class A. They're going to spend years in school and you're going to get a job and move on with your life before any on us." I look at his back expectantly. He sighs, shaking his head and turning around.
"It's hard to stay mad when you're so reasonable." He smiles at me. "Thank you for reminding me, Kotoko." He fully turns around, and laughs softly, "You have a green thing on your lip." I blush, rubbing my lower lip furiously. "Here, let me get it." He gently takes my chin, and begins to rub the corner of my lower lip, brushing away the offend piece of food.
"IRIE NAOKI!" I break away suddenly, staring at Kin-chan's friends nearby before looking over Kin-chan's shoulder. Sure enough, Irie-kun's there, staring at us. As everyone looks towards him, I shake my head at him, silently begging him not to misunderstand the situation.
He rolls his eyes, looking behind him. I take the hint. "Uh, Kin-chan, I'm going to head back to my party." I briskly leave the group, turning around the corner to eavesdrop on the conversation. I hear Kin-chan scoff.
"What are you doing Mr. Genius?" He asks. "Are you worried about me and Kotoko?" There's silence, and a shuffling of footsteps. "Are you jealous?" Kin-chan asks, trying to rile him up. I groan silently, Irie-kun will never stoop to his level. "Hey! I'm talking to you! While you're off slacking in university, I'm going to work hard and be successful. I made a promise to Kotoko." He drawls. I hear Irie-kun scoff slightly.
"Hearing that from someone who couldn't even get into our escalator university, it sounds pretty rancorous, doesn't it?" Irie-kun replies.
"That's not the only promise I made. I'm going to…kiss her tonight."
I can feel Irie-kun rolling his eyes without seeing him. "Dream on."
"I wonder? Who was it she went to after the ceremony was over? Me. She may think she's in love with you, but I'm here to show her differently. Kotoko will realize soon enough who loves her most. It's too late for you to be jealous…Mr. Genius." Footsteps sound, approaching me with louder scampers following them. I duck into a small indentation in the wall as Kin-chan and his friends walk by.
Silence ensues for several minutes as I sit there in stunned silence. "Come out, Kotoko. I know you're there." I peek around the corner to see Irie-kun leaning against the wall, his hands in his pocket. I laugh hesitantly as I walk out of my hiding place. "I know what you think you saw…but that's not what happened. I had some herb thing stuck to my lip and he was helping me to remove it."
"Kotoko, after last time, I know better to hear from you before jumping to conclusions. I told you I was going to talk to you before reacting. It doesn't mean I'm not furiously jealous that he can touch you in public and I can't for the sake of gossip and my mother marrying us on the stop, but I care too much about you to have any misunderstandings between us." I pull his arm and drag him outside the building, onto the outdoor stairwell.
"Listen to me Irie-kun, there is probably never going to be another guy. I love you, and only you. Nobody now, in college, or in the future is ever going to sway my feelings for you."
Irie-kun traps me between his arms and the balcony. "I hope you feel that way, because I'm never going to let you go." He brings me flush against him, kissing me sweetly and passionately as he wraps his arms around my hips. I reach my arms up to tighten around his neck, bringing us closer as I kiss him back. The need to breathe separates us, I lean my cheek against his chest chuckling lightly.
"What is it?" he asks me.
"I'm thinking back to when you tutored me all those years ago. I swore I would hate you for the rest of my life. You were the biggest jerk to me."
He tilts my face up, his signature smirk that I absolutely adore and hate present on his face. "Serves you right…" He states before kissing me again.
Hey guys, I promised I would be back and I am. Great news! I'm going to university next year! With most of my stress evaporating after my acceptance email, I've finally finished the party scene! (Fitting no?) Anyhow, it closely follows the Love in Tokyo version, with some changes due to Kotoko and Naoki already dating. We're finally ready to move onto the University arc, and my next biggest challenge will be finding a reason for Naoki to realize his passion for Medicine. I will write to you guys next time. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Ciao!