The next day…
After the class had been dismissed, Ran hurried home to change clothes. She stayed there for an hour or so. Then she went to Rei's apartment.
Ran is standing in front of Rei's apartment. She lifted a hand to press the doorbell but hesitated. "Oooow!" she uttered. She tried again...but again hesitated. She's sweating already. She calmed herself and said. "I can do this… Go Ran!"
She pressed the doorbell for the third time. Rei opened the door. "You're late!" he said. Ran scratched her head "Sorry! I did some important things." She's sweating hardly than before.
"You should be cooking by now."
Ran stood straight. She swallowed. "Uhmmm Rei… About the cooking…" she swallowed again. She closed her eyes and held up a big lunch box. Rei's eyebrows met. "What's this?"
She grinned. "L…lun…lunch box, can't you see?"
Rei crossed his arms below his chest and leaned on the door. "I know it's a lunch box but what are they for?"
She swallowed again. "I cooked them by myself… at home."
Rei grabbed the lunch box; he opened it and tasted the food inside. After a few seconds, Rei suddenly glared at her. "Who cooked this?"
Ran's eyes opened wide. She smiles, "Of course it's me. I'm the one who cooked that. You don't believe me don't you?"
He looked at her seriously "Yes… I don't believe you."
Ran gulped. She bowed helplessly. "I knew it… I can't fool you… Alright… my mom did it…" before she finished what she was going to say, Rei had already slammed the door.
"What the!" she lifted her head. She knocked hardly on the door. "Hey! Rei, don't be so rude. I asked mom to teach me how. She guided me. I watch her. So please Rei, open up." Rei opened the door. "Are you telling the truth?" She's panting heavily. "Of course, I promise… I'll cook next time… so please don't be upset." She grinned.
Rei thought for a second then he opened the door widely. "Alright, come in."
"Yes. You're the best Rei…" Ran jumped happily. She went in.
After eating dinner, they started the tutorial…
They sat on the floor next to each other. "We'll start with Mathematics, okay?" Rei said.
Ran slammed her head on the table. "Oh! God! Rei… let's take it slowly… can't we? Why don't we start on the easiest subject for me?"
"Nothing's easy on you…" He leaned to Ran closer. Ran smells his perfume. "This is how you do it..." Rei continue talking but Ran isn't listening. 'He smells good…' she said to herself. She closed her eyes to inhale his scent deeply. "Hmmm…"
Rei heard her moan. He turned to the closed-eyes Ran. His eyebrows met. 'What is she doing?'
When Ran realized that she doesn't hear Rei anymore, she opened her eyes. He is staring at her. She opened her mouth to say something but nothing comes.
"What's with you?" Rei suddenly asked.
Ran bit her lower lip. She shook her head slowly. "Nothing…" then she grinned. She thought for a second 'What am I going to do? I should do something…' She cleared her throat. "Oh! Yeah! I'll make some juice… I'm thirsty… You want some?"
Rei nodded slowly. Ran rose from the floor "Okay then, wait for me here." Then she hurried to the kitchen. Rei's eyes followed her… "What's wrong with her?"
At the kitchen…
Ran paused for a while. She reminisced the embarrassing moment a while ago. She walked towards the sink. She turned to the mirror above it. She sighed. "What's happening to me?" She shook her head several times. She calmed herself, took a deep breath and looked at the mirror. "Nothing's wrong… right, Ran?" she grinned. She gave herself two thumbs up "Now, I have to make those juices I had promised before that nerd scolded me."
Ran went back to the living room. She's brought a tray of two glasses of orange juice.
Rei glared at her. "What took you so long? I thought some creature have eaten you already."
She put the tray above the table. "Oh don't be so overacting… I was trying to make these juices taste good… so you won't get upset."
Rei took his glass and drink from it. Ran looked at him "Well?" she leaned closer to see what he'll say. "It's fine." He said. "Alright." She yelled with glee. "Hey calm down. Everybody can make a juice, even a child can…"
"Oh! Shut up, okay? Can you show me some appreciation?"
He smirked "Let's continue."
Ran returned to her seat. She listened carefully to every word that Rei would spit. She can still smell Rei's perfume. She tried to avoid it but can't. But she managed to calm herself and try her hard to concentrate in his teaching. They spent 2 hours for the tutorial. And Ran spent it also by drowning herself to his scent.
Rei looked at the clock hanging above his T.V. set. "It's time already." He started fixing the scattered books on the table. "Let's continue tomorrow."
Ran lifted her head. "What!? It's time already. But it's only 8:00 in the evening. We still have an hour left."
"Sorry! But I have an important business to do."
"Oh! We're getting there already Rei. Why leaving it for tomorrow." She cried.
Rei stood. He took an envelope below beside his T.V. Then he put his wristwatch on. "I have a job, remember?"
Ran rose from the floor. She put her hands on her hips. "But you told me that your part time job is just for Saturday and Sunday, right?"
Rei turned to Ran. "Yeah! You're right. But my boss asked me to deliver something, something that I can't say no."
"Oh! Rei! This tutorial thing is not just a game, okay? I need to pass my exams or else I'll never see Shibuya forever."
He sighed. "I know Ran. But I have a job… I can't just leave it for you…"
They kept silent for a moment when Rei began to talk. "Don't worry Ran." He looked at her seriously. Ran stare at him, his eyes are very serious.
"I'll never let that happen." He muttered. Then he turned around and took his shoes. Ran blinked. She can't believe what he had said. She feels confused suddenly. She's staring from his back. 'What did he just said?' she thought.
Rei turned to her. "Will you be scolded if you went home late?"
Ran was interrupted. She didn't heard what he just said. "What?" she asked.
"I said will you be scolded if you came home late?"
Ran looked at him confusedly. "No! Why?"
"Can you come with me? I have to go somewhere."
Without thinking, she nodded.
"Good. Coz if you don't, I'll never teach you." He smirked.
Ran's eyebrows met. "Hey! That's…."
He chuckled.
She smiled. "Well… Alright…but you'll pay for everything." She said.
"If that's what you want." He said
She paused for a second. She can't believe it… Rei agreed to her? 'He was supposed to get Mad.' she thought.
"Wow… you agreed to treat me… huh!? That's new…"
"Are you ready?" he asked.
"Yes!" she took her bag and walked towards the door.
After they stepped outside the apartment, Rei locked the door. Then she turned to her. "I'm not forcing you. If you don't like to come, it's okay. I don't mind at all."
"What!?" She grabbed Rei's hand and pulled him. "I already told you that I want to come with you right? Besides, I don't want to go home yet. Now let's go." She pulled him again.
At the Kotobuki residence...
The phone rang. "Hello..." Yamato answered the phone.
"Hello, Yamato, honey." The girl said on the other line.
"Miyu? What is it honey? I missed you already sweetie..." Yamato said in a flirty voice.
"Me too... but can i talk for Ran?"
"I thought that it's me you want." Yamato muttered. Miyu chuckled. "Where is she?"
"She's actually in her friend's house."
"Friend's house... is it Aya?" Miyu asked.
"No! her name's Rea..."
"Rea? Who's this Rea?"
"She told me that she's a new friend... I guess that's why you don't know her... Did she told you that she has a tutorial with that Rea?"
"No! Ran told me that she there's someone who'll help her... that's all..."
"Ooooh! Is that so... I think she want's to keep it a secret... let's just leave her honey... why don't we talk about us..." Yamato asked.
Miyu giggled on the other line. And they begun their conversation on the phone...
They are now heading to the 'somewhere' Rei's talking about.
Ran turned to him and asked "Where's this somewhere again mister?"
"It's the fair."
"Fair?" she laughed. "What are you going to do there? Are you going to meet someone? Is it Aya?" Ran looked around the city, as if thinking something else. "Ah-hah… you're going to play there, right? Are you fond of playing fair games?"
"What!?" his eyes narrowed. "I'm not like you… I don't waste time for those stuffs." He brought up an envelope and showed it to Ran. "I have to deliver this." Ran took the envelope and opened it. It's filled with CDs. "CDs? What are they for?"
"Music, can't you see?" Rei said in an irritated voice. "They asked me to deliver it tonight."
Ran gave Rei the envelope back. "I think you're going to be a great DJ someday." She smiled.
"Don't talk like that, okay? I'm not used to it." Rei smirked. Ran laughed.
They stopped at the fair's gate. "Here we are." Rei said. She turned to Ran. She was staring at the fair.
"It's been a long time since I've been here. Amazing." She
"Long time? I thought that you're always staying in every places of Shibuya."
"But not here. I've been in every mall of Shibuya to buy my girly stuffs." She ran to the entrance then turned to Rei. "Oh please Rei, can we play after you deliver those CD's…" she pleaded.
"Hmmm…" Rei thought for a second, he's rubbing his chin. "No!"
"What!?" Ran asked. She walked towards him. "Why not?"
Rei looked at his wristwatch "It's getting late Ran… you're parents will be worried for you… I should take you home before something happens…"
Ran frowned. She shook her head. "No! I'll send them a message… telling them that I'll sleep with my friend's house… with you…"
"Huh!" he shouted. "You can't do that…" Rei eyes narrowed. "You can't sleep with me. And besides it's too awkward for a girl to sleep in a man's apartment. What will my neighbors think of you… that you're a-"
"Alright!" she lifted her hands in the air. "I give up. I won't tell them that… but Rei… I want to play…" she cried.
"Why not tomorrow? I'll go with you… I promise you that…"
"No! I want tonight… I'm too excited to wait for tomorrow…" She grabbed Rei's arm and hugged it tight. "Please Rei… Please."
Rei sighed. 'Not again.' he thought. He calmed his self for a second. "Alright! But when the clock strikes at 11:00 I'll take you home… got it?"
"Alright!" she jumped with glee and hugged Rei on his neck tightly.
Rei startled. He can't believe it… Ran's hugging her… and it is so tight. He feels nervous all of a sudden. He could hear her giggling. He could smell her wonderful scent. How he waited for this moment to come. He wanted to return her hug. He wanted to hug her tight.
He was about to lift his arms. But Ran let go of him.
"Let's go." Ran said. She grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the entrance. Rei's still quiet… he can still feel Ran's arms hugging him. How he wanted to feel that again. He was still reminiscing the moment a while ago when Ran tapped his shoulder hardly. "Hey! What happen to you?"
"Huh!?"
Ran smirked. "Where's this place you're talking about?"
Rei didn't utter a word, instead he pointed to a building beside the Ferris wheel.
"Then let's go. I'm excited to have fun in here. Let's hurry." Ran grinned. He nodded and followed her.
They walk through the hallway. Rei stopped at a door with management written on it. "Is this the one?" Ran asked.
"Yes!" he said.
"Okay! I'll wait for you there." she pointed at a near bench.
He nodded. He waited for Ran to sit at the bench before he knocked the door. A guy opened the door. "What is it?"
"Good evening, I'm Rei Otohata. I'm here to deliver these CD's." he held up the envelope.
"Oh yeah, so you're the one. Rei Otohata, right?" the guy asked. Rei nodded. "I heard good things about you. You're one of the famous good-looking guys in Shibuya." He observed Rei for a second. "I also heard that you're a DJ, right?"
"Yes." He replied.
The guy smiled. "Well, please to meet you." He offered a hand. Rei accepted it. "I'm Kaede Kaito. You can call me Kaede, like everyone does." He cleared his throat. "If you want, you can work with me… we need someone like you…"
Rei paused. 'A fair needs a DJ? How come… it's just a fair?'
Kaede chuckled. "You're probably thinking that I needed you for this fair…"
Rei looked at him seriously.
"I guess I'm right. But you got it all wrong… I'm asking you to apply here…" he gave out a calling card to him. "It's a disco bar… the famous disco bar in California… I'm working there every summer. My boss asked me to find a DJ here in my hometown. I searched, and then I heard about you… so-"
"I'll mull it over." He interrupted and hid the card in his pocket.
"What!? Mull it over?" he chuckled. "I'm telling you Otohata… this bar is not just an ordinary bar… It will make you a famous DJ, man..." Kaede said.
Rei looked at Ran. She's playing with her cell phone. The guy looked at where Rei's eyes are focused.
"So that's why?" He smirked. "Is she your girlfriend? Well, she's beautiful." Rei turned to him. "With a beautiful girlfriend like that… I guess I'll also find it hard to decide.
"Excuse me… I have to go now. If there's any problem about the CD, you can find me at this place." He gave him a calling card. "I'm working for a part time job there." then he said goodbye.
"Think about it, Otohata! I'll be waiting." He shouted.
Rei approached Ran. Ran looked up to him. "Are you done?" he nodded. "Can we play now?"
Rei looked at his wristwatch. "You only have…"
"Oh, will you cut that out?" she grabbed his hand again. "Let's go."
Ran played everywhere, anything that she wants to play, she plays. Rei just followed her. Ran spent time playing every single game in the fair while Rei spent it by following her and watching her.
'She acts like an immature teenager… She's really happy…' he smiled. 'It makes me happy also… knowing that somehow… I made her smile like that…' he thought. Then he remembered Kaede. 'It'll make you a famous DJ… in California…'
"California… a famous DJ, huh…" he watched Ran. He frowned. 'Will it make me happy like this? Being away from her?'
After 30 minutes…
Ran decided to rest for a while. "Oh Rei, I'm starving already."
"Huh! We just ate dinner 3 hours ago." Rei said.
"But I'm hungry." She cried. She looked at him seriously and grinned "Remember what you told me? You said that you'll pay for everything right?"
Rei took a deep breath "Geez…Alright... What do you want?"
"I want that." she pointed at the nearest ice cream store.
"Ice cream store? That won't fill your big stomach."
"Well! I really am not hungry you know. I just want sweet foods." Ran smiled at him.
Rei sighed. He took his wallet and gave her money. "Go now!"
"You want some?" he shook his head. She went off.
After eating her ice cream…
'I have 15 minutes left before eleven…' she roamed around and saw something big that she wants to ride. "Rei… I want to ride on that Ferris wheel…"
"Huh!? Ferris wheel!? Do you really want to ride that thing? How immature."
"Oh! Come on, Rei! I want to rest for a while before we go home. I still have 15 minutes and I think that's the best place to rest."
"We can spend those 15 minutes by walking home" he said
"No way! You promised that we'll go home by eleven… not before eleven."
He took a deep breath and said "Alright… buy a ticket for yourself-"
"I don't like to be alone there… that will be very boring… you have to go with me…please…"
Rei shook his head. "Ooooh! Buy for two then." He gave her money for the ticket. She grabbed it and walked towards the ticket booth."
"Wow! Rei! This is awesome." Ran watched through the window. "The view here's very beautiful; the light from those buildings is making an amazing view." Ran stretched her arms.
"You don't know the word 'tired' don't you?" Rei muttered.
"Not exactly." She sat beside Rei. "It's just that I'm happy."
"Happy, huh!?"
"Yeah!" she stood again… and watched through the window. "Not just because that I'm happy with the fair… it's also because I'm happy that you'd come with me… that you spend your time with me… I know that you don't like me that much… and we're not that close enough… but really… I'm happy being with you lately…don't you think that we're getting close already?" she turned to Rei with a smile but to her surprise… he's fallen asleep…
"Oh! Rei!" she put her hands on her hips. "I'm making a moment here…Geez…" she pouted.
But he didn't make a move. Ran walked towards him, she leaned forward and bent down. She observed him for a second. "I guess he's tired already…"
Suddenly her face softened. 'He's sleeping like a baby…' she smiled. 'I never realized this before, but he really is good looking after all…' her eyes went down on his lips. They stayed there. She was mesmerized all of a sudden. She bit and wet her lips. It seems like they are very inviting for her. She blushed.
She was about to leaned forward when the Ferris wheel suddenly stopped. She lost her balance and tripped off. Then, out of the blue, she accidentally kissed Rei's lips. She was shocked that she can't move. She stayed like that for a second. And when she realized that she can move already. She pulled herself back. She's panting heavily. She's too flabbergasted. Her eyes are locked on his lips.
She stood and sat across him… her wide eyes never leave him… He's still sleeping… The Ferris wheel moved again in the normal way.
She touched her lips… she kissed Rei…
She stayed like that, when the door suddenly opened. "Ma'am, you can go out now." She turned to the man. She nodded slowly and stepped outside. The man turned to Rei and woke him up. "Sir, it's about time."
Rei opened his heavy eyes. He moaned and stepped outside. He walked towards Ran. "Sorry about that. I didn't notice that I had slept already." he heard nothing. Her back is facing him. "Ran!?"
"I want to go home…"
"Is there something wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing. I'll go home now."
"Alright… I'll take yo-"
She interrupted him. "I can go home by myself." Then she ran.
"Hey Ran. Wait!" Rei want to catch her but decided not to. "What's wrong with her?" he murmured.
"Where's Ran? It's already late…" Yamato said. The Kotobuki family is at the living room.
"That girl… she'll be punished for this." Mr. Kotobuki said.
Mrs. Kotobuki interrupts. "Oh! Don't be honey. What if their friend's tutorial is very hard for her, that she has to be late? And besides, she can take care of herself."
"But Mom, she's still a girl…" Yamato stopped when he heard the door opened. They hurried to the door and saw Ran.
"Oh! Geez Ran. What time do you think it is, huh?" her father yelled. Ran stood in front of them. She didn't utter a single word. Her head is facing the floor.
"Don't you think-" her father paused when Mrs. Kotobuki covered his mouth.
Ran lifted her head. "I'm sorry." Then she hurried to her room.
Her mom's eyes followed her. The three looked at each other.
"What happen?" Yamato suddenly asked.
Ran's lying on her bed. She hasn't changed her clothes. She's staring blankly at the ceiling. Then she remembered what happened at the Ferris wheel… She didn't want to look at him back in the fair… because she knew… that she's blushing…
She touched her lips… 'She accidentally kissed Rei's… soft lips.' she gulped. 'What am I thinking?' She sat quickly on her bed and shook her head… she closed her eyes for a moment… she calmed herself… then she opened her eyes and said courageously… "It's just a kiss Ran… it was an accident…" but then she frowned and murmured. "…but why am I feeling this way…"