Chapter 20: Plateau

After acknowledging the suspicions of the two being a couple, Hayate and Hinagiku decided to be even more secretive of their relationship. They sat together within the school grounds, discussing of their relationship.

"Hinagiku-san, I feel really guilty about this," Hayate said. He gazed at the large trees surrounding them. "Why must this be secretive?"

"Because if they find out, Ayumu-san will hate me... and Nagi-san may hate you, too," Hinagiku replied. She has been nervously looking at her fiddling hands.

"I suppose so, but they might found out eventually," he said.

"I-I don't want them to found out!" she said loudly, startling him a bit. "I'll do everything in my power to make sure that nobody knows we're a couple!"

Upon saying that, an entire wave of students within close distance, heard her fully clear.

"You two are a couple?! Heh?!"

"Whaaa? The student council president and the Sanzenin butler are dating?"

"My Kastura-chan... taken by that poor bastard?!"

"My poor Ayasaki-kun... taken by that flat chested warrior?!"

"This booze... I cannot spend anymore yen!"

"Katsura-sensei, go away."

"No! No, everyone! You've got it all wrong!" Hinagiku said, trying her best to make them think otherwise. Hayate looked just as nervous and embarrassed as Hinagiku was.

"Is that so?" Aika asked, randomly showing up from the crowd. "Then why are you two holding hands?"

Hinagiku looked at her left hand.

'What the hell! I am holding his hand indeed!' she thought. With that in mind, Hinagiku pulled Hayate and ran away from the crowd. As they ran, they both were blushing from all the sounds of cheering a lot of the students were making.

"Got that butler doing special service for you, huh?!"

"Onee-chan, shut it!" Hinagiku yelled at her drunk sister.

Finally arriving at her kendo club after a long and hasty run, the two came inside the empty room, heavily panting. Hayate leaned his back against the wall and slowly slid down to sit against it.

"You didn't have to drag me with you... you know," Hayate said, still catching on his breath.

Hinagiku understood what he meant. Having held his hand as they ran, she realized that more students they have both ran by have seen them running and holding hands.

"Damn! I know..." she muttered. She leaned her hands on her knees, to catch on her breathing as well.

Hayate caught a glimpse underneath of Hinagiku's short summer skirt as she bent over.

"People are so rude," Hinagiku said. "No respect for privacy whatsoever."

Hayate did not say anything, knowing that he would stutter very hard after what he just saw. She looked at him and noticed him blush for some reason. "Eh? What's wrong, Hayate-kun?"

"Nothing... nothing at all," Hayate said, obviously denying.

"Heh... you're blushing, yet you won't tell your girlfriend why?" she asked, looking a little mad.

Hayate gulped. "You're... wearing white today."

Hinagiku blushed and immediately sat down, covering herself. "Hentai..." she muttered. Hayate looked away, feeling embarrassed of himself. They both remained seated on floor, not looking at one another one bit.

Hayate mentally slapped himself. 'I blew it again...' he thought.

A little snicker broke the silence. Hayate looked at Hinagiku laughing hysterically.

"Hinagiku-san, what's so funny?" he asked.

Hinagiku looked back at him, then laughed some more. "Ahaha! I can't! I can't!" she said as she continued to laugh. Hayate continued to stare at her laughing, feeling really confused of her behavior.

Her laughing gradually stopped. She sat against the wall as well and leaned her head on Hayate's left shoulder.

"This situation is sorta funny, ya know," she said. "And stupid..."

"Stupid? Why is that?" he asked her.

"Because..." she then said, now looking serious. "I wanted this to stay as a secret."

Hayate looked even more confused, as he stared into those chartreuse eyes. 'Keeping a secret of me staring at your panties is stupid?' he thought.

"Us... as a secret," she rephrased.

She looked at the butler staying quiet and gently staring at her. From his cool blue eyes, she could tell that he already knew... somewhat.

"Let's tell them, Hayate," she said. She looked away and blushed as she said this. "Tell them we're together."

She looked at him once more and saw a small smile upon his face, as he slowly stood up and offered her a hand. She grabbed it, and he said to her, "I'll tell them that I love you."

The kendo club remained dark. Shutters remained shut, doors were kept locked. What else remained in the room were two loving and affectionate youths. Hayate gently pinned Hinagiku against the wall. With the same hand holding hers, he placed it high above her shoulders, with his other hand on her hip.

Hinagiku placed her free hand against his chest, caressing the fabric of his shirt beneath his coat. Her eyes stared intently into his, sharing the embarrassing excitement flowing through her body. Her breath was hitting his as they pulled closer. Her blush was warming his. Her hair then brushed against his. Their noses pressed against each other. Their lips got closer and closer...

It was moments like these that they would never forget about each other. Hinagiku closed her eyes. She lifted her hand from his chest and caressed his hair instead. She was gonna miss this.

'I am gonna miss this.'

She slowly slid down the wall, sitting against it. Hayate felt struck, as his lips did not reach her's, and that she was suddenly crying in front of him.

Hayate quickly kneeled down in front of her, unsure if he should embrace her or not. 'Did I do something wrong?' he thought. Here in front of him, is a girl who was laughing hysterically a minute ago, before suddenly breaking down. He placed a hand on her shoulder nonetheless.

The tears did not stop. She was crying for real.

For the first time in Hakuou Academy, the kendo club was cancelled that day.