Chapter 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Sekaiichi Hatsukoi nor its characters. All rights regarding this anime belongs to Nakamura Shungiku
(Takano's POV)
I walked towards the Emerald Department in an usually good mood. As I was entering the over decorated, girly office, I heard Onodera's voice.
" Wait! Don't just hung up on-!"
Who is he talking to? Could it be...
" Oi! Onodera! Who's that?" I asked curiously. I hope it's not his god damn fiancee.
" Umm... it's..." he hesitated for a while when he finally sighed and closed his phone. " It's my mother" he said as he put his phone back into his pocket. " What did she tell you this time?" I asked annoyed. She may be pestering him again to marry Kohinata-san.
He then glared at me. " It's none of your business" he said sharply and continued on with his work. I stared at him a bit worriedly then proceeded to go to my desk where a bunch of manuscripts were stacked.
" Takano-san! Yoshikawa-sensei's manuscript haven't arrived yet!" Hatori informed with a bit of panic in his voice. " What?!" Kisa exclaimed as he animatedly collapsed and fell down his chair. I then glared from my glasses. " Tell that damn mangaka the if the manuscript isn't finished by this instance, I would rip his throat out and throw him at Tokyo Bay!" I yelled as I grabbed the phone to negotiate with the printers.
I'll just ask Ritsu about that phone call later.
( Ritsu's POV)
Stupid Takano-san! Prying into other people's matters!
My thoughts then drifted off to what my mother told me. Christmas Eve, huh? What should I do? I already promised Takano-san that I'll be with him to celebrate his birthday.
Wait! It's not like I wanted that! I was just forced by Takano-san!
Thinking deeply about this, if I accepted my mother's invitation, I wouldn't have to be together with him on Christmas Eve. I wouldn't have to wear a god damn turtleneck for a week to cover the hickeys on my neck. So... somehow this might be an opportunity.
'So, you're at it again. Still running away from him. What do you think would he feel when you ditched him on his own birthday?' a voice from behind my head said.
Ha?! Running away?! Why would I run away? Besides I have the right to ditch him. He just forced this on me. It's not my fault that I don't want my hips hurting exactly on Christmas morning.
' That's the point! Why do you always have to think that every time he would ask you to spend the day with him it would always lead to that. What if he just really want you to be beside him? What if he just really want to feel your presence?' that voice lectured again.
Gah! This is seriously pissing me off! I don't even want to think about it!
Suddenly, I felt a hard thing hit my forehead. " What the- Takano-san! Don't just throw a stapler at me!" I exclaimed as I rubbed the sore spot on my forehead. " Then don't space out and get your hands working!" he yelled back as his glasses gave a menacing glare. " I know! I'm on it! You don't have to remind me!" I retorted as I did the typesetting. That Takano-san!
(Time Skip) (Still Ritsu's POV)
"Tell me why you're walking beside me again?" I asked irritated. "Are you an idiot? Don't I have the right to go home? We live in the same building you know" he replied wittily. I then glared at him all the while blushing from embarrassment.
"Well then, I have to go now. I still have to go to the convenience store." I said and was about to walk away when Takano-san held my hand. " Just eat dinner at my place. That way we could also get some work done" he said as he pulled me beside him. I then pried my hand away from him. " That's not necessary" I said and walked away.
" Oi! Onodera!" he then ran to catch up to me. " Just mind your own business,Takano-san!" I exclaimed but then he ignored me. We reached the elevator when he asked something I wished he shouldn't have. "About that phone call earlier. What did you and your mom talked about?" he inquired which made my eyes widen.
Crap! Did he hear our conversation?
I then looked down. " It has nothing to do with you" I lied. The elevator door opened at our floor and as fast as I can, I brisked toward my apartment. "Onodera..." he started but I cut him off. "Look, it's none of your business so don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong to." I said coldly as I fished out the keys to my apartment.
I opened the door and stepped in and was about to close it when Takano-san blocked the way. "Stop it Takano-san!" I yelled but it was no use. He just barged into my apartment.
" Hey! Don't just enter without my permission!" I yelled but he pinned me to the wall and looked straight into my eyes.
" Ritsu, tell me..." he started and brought his face closer to mine until I could feel his hot breath on me. "Tell me. Is it bad to worry about the person I love?" he asked as he brought his lips close to my own.
"Takano-san, please let me go..." I said as I tried to push him away but to no avail, he grabbed both my wrists and kissed me. I then felt his hand stroking my hair as he pulled me closer to him to deepen the kiss. "Ngg... Takano-san" I complained between kisses. " Ritsu..." he mumbled as he looked straight to my eyes, his hazel orbs penetrating through my very soul. " I love you" he whispered on my ear as he kissed me again.
Love... What does that mean?
' Sempai, I love you!" my younger self exclaimed to Saga-sempai all the while blushing furiously realizing what he just blurted out.
"Do you want to go out with me?" sempai asked nonchalantly like it was just an easy question as ' What is your name?'.
" Eh! A-A-Anou!" my younger self stammered trying to process what his 'dearest sempai' has just said to him.
"I don't mind. I'll go out with you..." his sempai said which ignited a new hope in his his heart.'
What is the meaning of Love?
' Sempai, are the two of us going out?" a 15 year old Ritsu asked as he looked down on the bed where they had just made love.
" What kind of question is that?" his sempai said as if the answer was the most obvious thing in in the world.
Ritsu then blushed lightly as he smiled. " I-It's because you haven't said anything." he replied.
A few moments of silence passed when Ritsu heard a chuckle from his sempai.
H-He laughed?!
Do-Does this mean that... he's just toying with me!?'
What really is love?
...Because... I have forgotten that ages ago...
With all my strength, I pushed him away from me and wiped my lips. " Don't just blurt out unnecessary things on my face, you idiot!" I yelled as I glared at him.
His eyes widened from my outburst but then his gaze turned sad. "Unnecessary? Do you think my feelings for you are unimportant huh, Ritsu?" he asked as his grip on me loosen a bit. " You weren't like that back then. You were so sweet and innocent." he added.
I tightened my fists as I looked at him harshly. "It's because it's not who I am! I'm not your naive 'Oda Ritsu' who responds to your every whim! Not anymore..."I spat out angrily.
I'm not him any more. I'm not that weakling who cries over spilt milk.
I then felt his warm hand on my cheek as he wiped the tears from my eyes.
Wait. Tears? When did I even start crying?
" Ritsu, Haven't I told you before? The one whom I'm in love right now is the present you." he said softly as he pulled me into a hug. I, unconsciously leaned my head on his shoulder and cried.
I guess even if I had locked away my feelings for him in the past,
I guess that... deep within me, 'Oda Ritsu' is still there.
Sealed in my heart who is just waiting to be freed in some period of time.
What is really love?... Takano-san...
(Takano's POV)
A few minutes later, I realized that Ritsu fell asleep. I smiled inwardly as I carried him to his bedroom and laid him on his bed.
I gently patted his head and stroked it.
'Ritsu, the person I'm seeing now is not my 'little kouhai' anymore but you, Onodera Ritsu. Please remember that.'
I then kissed his forehead and took a final glance at him and was about to leave when I heard him mutter something.
" Takano-san..." he whispered
My eyes widened as I looked at him softly. I kneeled on his bedside and kissed the tip of his nose.
" I love you, Ritsu. I always do and I'll always will." I whispered softly as I stood up and left his apartment.
If... only you would realize that...
End of Chapter 2