The Art of Flirting Chapter 5: Inui
A/N: Sorry for not updating. I was very busy and lost some inspiration for the story. Please enjoy chapter 5.
BTW, I understand I spell senpai as "Sempai". It will be changed for now on.
Sighing, I put my head down on the wooden desk. The library was indeed a peaceful place, yet I just couldn't calm down enough to concentrate. I mean, if anyone else was put in my place, they would be able to manage just fine. But for me, Sakuno, being stuck in a very awkward study group consisting of Inui-senpai, and…Ryoma-kun was like torture. Confused yet? Heck, even I was confused. Maybe if I just go through a replay of the last hour, I might be able to understand how I was in this situation…
"So, Sakuno, only how many more senpais left?" My loud-mouthed best friend Tomoka asked.
"A lot." My answer was true though. I only flirted with Eiji and Fuji. Well, Fuji was more of a date, which means I did more than what was required. Now there was Tezuka, Oishi, Taka, Momo, and Inui. "It seems weird though," I added, "I mean, I've only gone through two senpais. So my progress isn't really that…well…great."
Tomo-chan put her arm around my shoulder and said, "Who cares if you only been through two senpais. The main point that it is working- hello, Ryoma-sama is totally jealous!" She stressed the words 'working' and 'totally'. I couldn't help smiling at the fact Ryoma-kun could show…well…emotions. "So, who are you gonna go after today you tiger?" She asked while playfully pushing me.
I was about to answer 'Momoshiro, duh' when I overheard fellow classmates whining about the big Japanese History test tomorrow. It hit me that I really didn't know anything about Japanese History except maybe about samurais. And I really couldn't afford to fail a class…so no flirting today! My mind was at complete peace- I never thought a Japanese History test would be what saved me from this humiliation.
"Um, earth to Sakuno?" Oh. Tomo-chan. How was I supposed to explain this to her without her freaking out?
"Gomen Tomo-chan, but I can't go down to the tennis courts today." As I expected, Tomoka started to spaz.
"WHAAAAAAT? But Sakuno-chan! You HAVE to. And I mean you HAVE to. It's your civic responsibility! We have to make Ryoma-sama WANT you! DREAM about you! NEED you! THINK about you every day!" She ranted. Okay, but the only thing I was thinking was that I needed to make her shut up.
"Gomen, but I have to study for the Japanese History test. I think you should too…" In response Tomoka just scoffed; I guess that would be expected from her- the number one slacker in Seigaku.
"Fine, go study. Since you are the number one perfectionist in Seigaku, I guess getting one failing grade would be like doomsday for you. But tomorrow, you have to flirt with two people!" Nodding weakly, I watched Tomoka walk away, muttering something about 'perfectionists' and 'the sake of love'.
It's weird to me how Tomoka and I are friends. I mean, we are polar opposites. She's loud; I'm quiet. She's obnoxious; I'm polite. She's confident; I lack self-esteem. She's a complete slacker; I always do things with 100 of my effort. And the list just goes on and on…but somehow we compliment each other, kind of like twins. I giggled at the image of me and Tomoka sharing the same body- but with two heads and four feet, four arms.
After what seemed like ages of walking in the hot sun, I finally reached my destination- Seigaku's library. If I needed to find books on Japanese History, which I must add, is my worse subject, this was the place to find it. I entered the cherry blossom smelling room and sat down at a wooden table. Taking out my textbook I began to read: The Yamato period…Japanese language most likely came from this period…Kofun period…close relationship with The Three Kingdoms of Korea in this period…Asuka period…beginnings of Buddhism in Japan…Ugh, I thought, how many periods were there in Japan? Why couldn't it be like American history where everything was much shorter- like instead of starting in like 100 AD, it started in the 1700s! I was there for a half an hour, and yet I barely remembered anything. It was starting to feel hopeless- why couldn't it be Extremely Recent Japanese History? Not, Extremely Old, Over Centuries Ago Japanese History? And why was it called 'his'tory anyway? Weren't there girls too? Why can't it be called Theirstory?
Unnoticed because of the rant going inside my head, the door opened and in came- guess who?- Inui-senpai and Ryoma-kun. They sat down at my table; I was too busy glaring at my innocent Japanese History textbook. They stared at each other awkwardly as I was, well, ignoring them. Inui-senpai broke the silence.
"Hello Sakuno-chan." I looked up- and finally noticed him. Both were showered and smelled like lavender soap. Whoa, Sakuno, lavender soap? Let's stop there…
"Hello Inui-senpai, Ryoma-kun." I nodded to both of them. I went back to studying. Then I felt breathe on my neck- I turned and Inui-senpais face was less than a millimeter away from mine. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ryoma-kun give him a murderous glare, and I turned my eyes back to see Inui-senpai wink before going back in his seat. My heartbeat went faster, and I was sure I was blushing madly. Oh my God, what did I do to deserve this?
"So, Japanese History eh?" He said as more of a statement, although it was really a question. I sighed…why me?
And that brings us to where I am right now. I found out Ryoma-kun and Inui-senpai were in the library because Ryoma's grades were slipping in, guess, Japanese History. Since it is a school rule that if a player on a sport club gets a grade lower than a 'C', he/she is immediately kicked out of the club, Tezuka-senpai had asked Inui-senpai to help the freshman prodigy. And the two of them thought the best place to study was the library, at my table.
"There is a 90 chance you both have the same Japanese History test tomorrow." Inui stated.
I nodded. "We are in the same class."
"Hn." Ryoma put in.
Ignoring him entirely, I turned to Inui-senpai (who was sitting right next to me if you were wondering) and asked in my sweetest voice, "Inui-senpai, would you like to help me study Japanese History?"
"I would love to. Japanese History is one of my better subjects." Wow, I must have had great luck.
So the studying began between Ryoma, Inui, and me. Inui would ask us questions and then, well, we would answer. It soon got so competitive that it was more of a game show than a study session.
"Name one literature from the Heian period." Inui stated.
"The Tale of Genji" I said while Ryoma said, "the Iroha"
"Correct, Correct. Next question, what period did the samurai come to power?"
"Heian period" we both answered at the same time.
"Correct. Sakuno, the next question is explain the Japanese Feudal System."
"It starts with the Emperor, who was 'God' to the citizens, then the Shoguns, who mostly controlled the lands, then the Samurai, who fought for the Shoguns, and finally the peasants, or the citizens."
"Correct. Ryoma, name an important fact about the Muromachi Period."
"Foreign traders from Portugal, Spain, and England came and set up missionaries, introducing Christianity to Japan."
"Correct. Now, Sakuno…" This went on for another half an hour. I couldn't believe how easy it was to study with Inui-senpai. His questions made me think, and I understood what were the most important things in each period. I also couldn't believe how smart Ryoma-kun was. I mean, he usually sleeps in class, so I thought he wouldn't have learned any of the material. I guess everyone was full of surprises. I looked at the wall clock and gasped- 5:50? I was going to be late for dinner and Grandma was going to kill me.
"Gomen, everyone, but I have to leave before I get killed. Thank you for helping me study Inui-senpai. You really saved me!" I hugged him and he returned the hug.
"No problem, you are my favorite kouhai." I blushed and went out the door, forgetting, for the first time of my life, to say goodbye to Ryoma-kun. Tomoka would be really proud of me, I thought. So I accomplished two things today- studying for my big test and making Ryoma jealous. Inui-senpais words kept ringing through my head as I ran home: you are my favorite kouhai. Was he…flirting with me? Just like Fuji-senpai had? And why was I blushing so madly? Wasn't the one I loved Ryoma? Right? Ryoma? Not Fuji or Inui or Eiji. R-y-o-m-a. Why was I getting so defensive and unsure about who I liked? Shuddering at the image of making out with any senpai, I reassured myself I was just blowing things out of proportions. The whole thing was to flirt with different senpais which meant they would flirt back. Nothing to worry about! My love for Ryoma was 100...right?
Meanwhile, Ryoma walked home fuming. How dare she ignore me? She says goodbye to Inui of all people, and even hugs him...Wait a second Ryoma, get a hold of yourself. Why do you care what that girl does? But still, something fishy is going on...and I am going to get to the bottom of it.
Inui typed in the number on his cell phone and waited as it rung twice. The other side picked up and Inui smiled.
"Inui here. Numbers increased to 86. Today went well. Are you ready for tomorrow Momo-chan?"
"Don't worry senpai. I'll make sure Ryoma gets so jealous, he'll propose to Sakuno just to keep us away."
"Great." Inui shut the phone, smiling- everything was going perfect.
TO BE CONTINUED!
A/N: finally finished a chapter! Jeez! I researched a lot for this chapter, since I don't know squat about Japanese History. Thank you Wikipedia!
1. Iroha- famous Japanese Poem
2. The Tale of Genji- first novel, written in Japan
3. Gomen- sorry.
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