Red Roses: Hola my readers/friends. Thank you for waiting this long for my story update. You're all so sweet :)
To my faithful readers,
Late Bloomers: I'm so glad you think the chapter was really moe and cute. I would like a rabbit plush doll myself :)
CherryPop0120: I'm so happy you liked it so much. Thank you for your consideration, I would love to hear about Katou's dad but I will wait like a good girl :)
YamadaHikari: Haha, yes Harumi is a very sneaky person :) She is a huge KatouShina fan. Shinako is pretty oblivious to her feelings so please bear with her.
Light27: Yes, you did say 'the hair clip' scene twice but I don't mind :) I'm so happy Shinako was a big success! This chapter is one small step for man, but a giant step for a big romantic explosion!
LightSpeed Athlete24: Yes, this is just the beginning of a wonderful discovery of feelings. Well, you're a smart one, aren't you? :) Shinako is just one big ball of pure emotion! Thank you for your kind words but I'm still an amateur writer, I still have a lot to learn.
MystiqueSilver: Thank you so much for your sweet words. I wonder how Katou and Shinako would feel about your words... Hehe.
As always, the disclaimer...
Shinako: Red Roses does not own Sket Dance. It's wrong to call another's hard work your own without permission.
Red Roses: I needed a disclaimer, not a preaching.
WARNING: I know some of you love ShinaKatou but this chapter may be a little frustrating for fans. Please don't hate me!
Also, I do not own the song in this chapter.
"Oh, I feel like my heart's about to explode!" Harumi squealed gleefully as she clutched her chest tightly. Hibiki and Shinako sat near her with a face expressing exasperation and confusion respectively.
"Harumi-san, it's not such a big deal."
"Why do we keep talking to her?" Hibiki bluntly said, earning a hard nudge from Shinako.
Fortunately, Harumi was too preoccupied with her joy to listen to him as she brought Shinako into a tight embrace. Shinako imagined this is how being constricted by a python feels like.
"I can't believe this day is finally here!" The jade-eyed senior exclaimed in joy. "My dear little junior is getting on the dating scene!"
Shinako blushed at her words "Must you say it like that?"
To get up to speed, it started with a conversation between Shinako and her mother.
FLASHBACK
This was a little after Shinako's friends left her home after her surprise birthday party. After cleaning up from the party, Shinako and her mother had a talk in the Japanese-themed living room.
"So, Shinako how did you like your little surprise?" her mother asked sweetly to which Shinako smiled in return.
"I will never forget this day!" she replied wholeheartedly. "Nothing could make this day better!"
"Well, I wouldn't say that," the older woman said as though she'd saved the best for last.
The young samurai girl tilted her head in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"I've decided you're old enough to start looking for a suitor."
If Shinako was wearing socks, those would be off in a split second as Shinako's face exploded in embarrassment and shock.
"W-W-What?!" She stuttered out. "A s-suitor?"
The mother giggled a bit at her cherry-faced daughter. "You were always such a good girl. I don't see why I shouldn't trust you"
"B-But..."
"In fact, I've already bought tickets to a popular movie showing tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?!"
Mrs. Kikuchi nodded. "So, you've better find someone to bring to the movie," She then wagged her finger at her daughter, warning her. "And it has to be a boy. I've specifically bought those tickets for you to have a wonderful new experience. Do I make myself clear?"
Shinako, unwilling to defy her mother, sat there silently and nodded in response.
END FLASHBACK
"So, I'm not quite sure what to do right now," Shinako said, holding out two tickets. "I can't go to a movie alone with a complete stranger."
"Well, you could always ask one of your guy friends."
"But, who?" Shinako asked confusedly.
"..."
"What about Katou-kun?"
Something snapped within Shinako, she's not quite sure if it was good or bad but something snapped.
"WHAT?! WITH KATOU?! ARE YOU INSANE?!"
"Relax, it was just a suggestion" Harumi smiled sheepishly as she raised her hands in surrender.
"Nice try, Takada-san" Hibiki commented.
"I'm sorry, Harumi-san but I would like to go with someone I would be more comfortable with" Shinako said, having calmed down.
Silence took over the infirmary for a while when Hibiki spoke up with a suggestion.
"What about Shinpei-san?"
"Huh, Shinpei-kun?"
The ice-eyed boy nodded. "You and Shinpei-kun had been friends for a long period of time and I'm sure he would not mind going as friends"
A bright smile emerged on the female samurai's face as she stood up from her seat.
"Yes, that's it! Thank you, Hibi-kun"
And with that, she left the infirmary and headed to class to find her childhood friend, leaving Harumi and Hibiki.
The young jade-eyed senior huffed irritatedly at the emotionless butler.
"You, all of people, know Shinako the best yet you went and sent her to him?"
"It is because I know Lady Shinako the best is why I did this. She needs to learn of her true feelings." Hibiki sighed in exasperation as if that is all he can do. "This will be a good experience for her and maybe he will finally do something about his own feelings."
"Huh, a movie?" Shinpei looked to his fellow samurai in confusion.
Shinako nodded. "My mother bought two tickets to a popular movie playing and it would be nice if you'd join me."
Shinpei pondered for a bit before asking a question. "Why not ask the Harumi girl to go with you? You two seem quite close."
"I'd like to but my mother specifically told me to ask a male friend to come along" Shinako sighed sullenly, wishing it was easier to just ask a girl instead.
"I guess it would be fun" Shinpei smiled at her. "Sure, why not?"
The ebony-haired female clapped her hands in joy. "Oh, thank you Shinpei-kun"
Apparently, high school students have no boundaries on privacy as everyone was already gossiping of the latest news.
"Did you just hear that?" One of the girls whispered.
"Shinpei and Shinako are going out!" Another girl excitingly said softly.
"I didn't know they were dating!"
While ridiculous rumors flew around the classroom, Katou was sitting a his table, minding his own business when all this gossipy hens started going about. The constant nonsense flying around the air was starting to annoy the white-haired ninja. With an irritated huff, he stood up from his seat and walked straight out of the classroom.
"Did someone leave the classroom?" Shinako inquired, having thought she heard the door shut. Shinpei simply shrugged his shoulders.
Shinako stood patiently alone near the train station. She smoothed down the creases on her green sundress while at the same time calm down her nerves. The young female samurai grew accustomed to her turtleneck and bokuto and she feels kinda naked without them.
"Hey, Shinako" Someone called out to her and she turned to see the boy she was waiting for.
"Shinpei-kun, hi!" She smiled as she waved as her friend reached to her side.
"Sorry, am I late?"
Shinako shook her head. "Not at all, are you ready to go for the movie?"
"Alright," Shinpei then looked behind his back as he was looking for something or someone.
"What are you looking for, Shinpei-kun?" Shinako asked, a little worriedly.
"I could have swore someone was following me on my way here." Shinpei said, looking all about behind him.
"Following you?" Shinako looked at him confused but Shinpei smiled to ease her confusion.
"It was probably nothing. Let's go" The two samurais then started walking ahead to the cinema.
What they didn't realize what Shinpei's instinct was right on the mark as four pairs of eyes followed the two samurais.
"Harumi, should we really be doing this?" Himeko, disguised in a trench coat and sunglasses questioned said senior wearing the same attire.
"Be quiet," Harumi shushed the blonde. "I'd asked you guys to help me spy on them, not complain."
"Do you really have nothing better to do than to spy on your junior?" Bossun inquired to which Harumi answered with a whack on the head.
"Ow!"
"How dare you? I'm simply making sure my little junior is safe," Harumi said, an irked mark on her temple. "She's so innocent, I have to protect her from the nasty dogs in the city."
"Another question," Bossun said. "Why are we wearing these ridiculous disguises?"
Instead of another whack on the head, Harumi broke into a smile.
"I thought we look super cool like this~"
"..."
"I agree."
"Shut up, Switch!"
When Shinpei and Shinako reached the cinema, with Harumi and the Sket-Dan not far behind, they realized that the movie Mrs. Kikuchi picked out was a romantic drama movie.
You could probably tell what was Shinako's reaction.
"A-A r-r-romantic drama?!" Shinako felt her entire face heat up. To be in a dark room watching a romantic movie seems to make Shinako a little light-headed.
Shinpei, sensing her uneasiness, patted the dark-haired girl gently on the head.
"We can always skip the movie if you don't feel too comfortable with it," He assured his childhood friend. "We can find something better to do."
At his words, Shinako's red face cooled down albeit. "Are you sure you're alright with it?"
Shinpei nodded. "I'm not all that keen with a romantic drama either" He gently grabbed Shinako's wrist and pulled her from the cinema. "Let's find somewhere else to go."
In the background, the four spies watched the two samurais from afar.
"Where are they going?" Himeko inquired quizzically.
"It seems that they're not going to watch the movie," Switch assumed correctly.
"I guess Shinako-chan isn't all that comfortable watching a romantic movie alone with a boy, regardless who it is" Bossun said.
"But, where are they going now?!"
While following them, the four seniors saw their targets entering a...karaoke house?
"Eh? A karaoke bar?"
"Let's go" Harumi unhesitatingly entered the building with the Sket-Dan following behind.
When they went in, the bar had a colourful theme going on with lights all around and chatty, energetic teenagers hanging around.
"I see Shinpei!" Himeko spotted the samurai to which then everyone looked to where she was staring.
At the corner, they saw Shinpei sitting alone on the booth. They were albeit confused where was Shinako.
"Where's Shinako?"
As they pondered and looked around, the DJ interrupted their thoughts with his announcement.
"Alright everyone, please welcome a first-time karaoke singer, Shinako!"
With that, everyone looked to the stage where the pink-faced Shinako was shyly smiling and waving to the audience. The four spies ducked behind a booth to avoid meeting the female samurai's eyes.
Then, the DJ started to play a catching upbeat tune and handed Shinako a microphone. As the song played, Shinako opened her mouth and started to sing.
Sekai de ichiban suki da teki na
Anata shika iranai no yo teki na
Anata no tame ni ikiru wa teki na
Koto nante zettai ni ima wa iwanai wa Fake it
The crowd started clapping to the rhythm of the song as Shinako started to dance to the song. As the song played, Harumi and the Sket-Dan's jaws dropped at this discovery. Shinako was not shy as she danced cutely on the stage as she sang beautifully.
"She's really good."
"I never knew Shinako could be like this."
As the seniors hid behind the booths in shock, Shinako continued to sing.
saikou ni naritakutte ichiban ni naritakutte
nee motto ki ni tomete KIMI no kyoumi hikitakutte
na no ni mata tsuyogatte choppiri no muri mo shite
zannen na kekka datte ochikonderu hima wa nai yo
jama shinaide, timing mihakaratte
watashi wo mite, omoikitte kyori wo tsumete
ugokidashite, kotoba ni dasanakuccha
kono kimochi wo, ima shikanai demo
By the time Shinako started to sing the repeated chorus, she was so engrossed in the song, she didn't notice the audience clapping or dancing along with her as were the seniors. But, one was not all that engrossed enough to noticed them.
"Hey, what you guys doing here?"
That voice startled Harumi and the Sket-Dan that they tumbled over each other out from their hiding spots. They looked up to see Shinpei looking down at them with a quizzically expression.
"Shinpei!"
"Crap, he found us!"
"Found you?" Shinpei then realized what they're talking about. "You were the ones who were following me!"
Since the cat was out of the bag, the discovered seniors explained everything to Shinpei as Shinako sang the last verse of the song. When the song ended, the audience clapped their hands in praise for the female samurai as she bowed politely before leaving the stage.
"That was so much fun~" Shinako beamed with happiness when she saw her seniors. "Eh, why are you all here?"
As the seniors rubbed the necks sheepishly, Shinpei answered in their place.
"They were spying on us."
"Eh, why?" Shinako questioned confusedly.
"I've just wanted to make sure you're alright, walking around the city," Harumi answered, a little guilty of her actions.
"Harumi-san, though it was sweet of you, I'm not a little girl."
"I'm sorry, I should have trusted you more" Harumi said guiltily.
Then, Shinako smiled at her seniors, already over the spying thing.
"How about we go for burgers?" she suggested.
As all six of them exited the karaoke house in search for a restaurant, Harumi, Himeko and Shinako was chatting in the back.
"How do you get to sing so well, Shinako-chan?" Harumi questioned to which Shinako blushed albeit.
"Well, it's tradition for the women of my family to sing our children to sleep. So, my mother taught me to sing along with my etiquette lessons," Shinako answered truthfully. "My cousins and I love to put on performances during family reunions."
"Wow, your family sure have a lot of traditions," Himeko commented but Shinako smiled warmly.
"Our traditions and beliefs keep my family's legacy alive and I'll do my best to pass these traditions to my children one day."
"Oh, so you're already thinking about children~" the jade-eyed senior smiled slyly as Shinako's blushed burned a little darker.
"Harumi-san, please don't say it like that!"
After Shinako easily forgave her sneaky seniors, they found a nearby restaurant and had a nice time while having a meal. Shinako called it a pretty good "date" as she came to school the next day with a sweet smile.
"Good morning, Tsubaki-sama~" She greeted the young president sweetly.
"Good morning, Kikuchi" he greeted back but the white-haired ninja standing silently beside him seemed more annoyed today then any other day. Though oblivious to it, Tsubaki asked the young samurai a question.
"You seemed quite happy today, Kikuchi. Did something happened?"
Before Shinako could answer, Katou brashly interrupted her.
"She probably had fun during her date with that annoying samurai friend of hers."
Shinako glared daggers into him "Don't rudely call my friend that, you delinquent ninja!" she said angrily. "Besides, Harumi-san and the Sket-Dan came along with us."
This took Tsubaki and Katou by surprise. "Eh?"
"Harumi-san was worried for me and she and the Sket-Dan were following Shinpei and I the whole time," Shinako told them nonchalantly.
An irked mark appeared on Tsubaki's forehead. "Those Sket-Dan, always causing trouble!"
"Hpmh, you truly are a troublesome samurai. I pity the guy who has you as a girlfriend," Katou said to which Shinako's glare turned more vicious.
"What did you say?!"
"Any guy who has to handle you is not gonna last very long." He said, looking up to the sky, not meeting the samurai's glare.
Shinako's eyebrow twitched as she huffed in angry. "As I recall, you always seems to be around and helping me yet you're still here."
Then, when Shinako realized what she'd said, her face turned beet red putting all red vegetables and fruits to shame. Even Katou's eyes widened a bit when he realized what she said was right.
"Though, it's not like I've ever asked you for your help!" She quickly tried to cover up. "Everything was on your accord!"
"It's my job to protect the students of this school, regardless who they are," Katou gave his own excuse, still not meeting her eyes.
Everything turned awkward as the flushed samurai kept her face down, watching her feet. She quickly turned her heels towards the school.
"I'm heading to class!" she said quickly before hastily rushing to the school building, leaving the two boys in her dust.
"What just happened?" Tsubaki inquired, clueless as per usual.
Red Roses: Tada, chapter 14 complete! I feel like time is flowing so fast~
This is not my best work, but I assured you it will get better in the next chapter.
Hope you enjoy this chapter and to those who are interested, the song Shinako sang was "Fake it" by Perfume. You have to listen to the whole song because the beginning is pretty annoying but overall the song is very nice.
Well, Adios my readers/friends! Until next time~
