Chie: The list of names: chierafied . livejournal . com / 1061 . html (Sorry for the spaces, but without them, ff . net won't show the url at all...)

17. K-I-S-S-I-N-G

631 Words

It was lunch break, and Satsuki and Mitsuo were eating in the cafeteria. Kouji had decided to join them, as his BFF Himeko was having a lunch date with her husband. Though Kouji did not often hang out with Satsuki and Mitsuo – mostly because he was pretty much inseparable with Himeko – he really liked the two actors, and found their company a nice change of pace. With Mitsuo and Satsuki, there was never a dull moment.

Izumi entered the cafeteria and walked to the counter to buy a salad. When she turned around with the tray in her hands, Mitsuo waved casually to her.

The woman cocked her head curiously and walked over.

"Hey, Izumi," Mitsuo greeted the woman warmly. "You can sit with us if you like."

The offer got both Kouji's and Satsuki's immediate attention, and the two of them shared a long, speculative stare, which ended in a bout of giggles when Kouji's comical eyebrow-wiggling got the best of Satsuki.

"Thanks, Mitsuo-kun," the kind woman said with a smile, "but I need to go over a few things with Morikawa-san, and I already asked if he would be free for lunch. Maybe some other time."

"Oh yeah, sure." Mitsuo said and grinned at the woman.

The moment she turned her back at him, however, the young man's face fell.

The look of lingering longing that briefly flashed in his deep chocolate brown eyes did not go unnoticed by his friends.

"Oooh," Satsuki intoned, her voice brimming with mischievousness as she playfully nudged the young man with her elbow. "You like her!"

Kouji chuckled.

Mitsuo startled and turned to look at the woman, alarmed surprise written all over his face.

"What are you talking about?" he asked quickly, trying to wriggle out of the situation, even as a trapped look appeared into his eyes.

"You have the hots for Izumi!" Satsuki declared triumphantly while Kouji nodded his affirmation.

Mitsuo attempted to hide his sudden embarrassment by huffing in irritation.

"Keh!"

Satsuki's brown eyes were filled with laughter and she let out a wicked little giggle. She winked at Kouji, and soon the two started to chant in perfect unison, in a lilting and highly annoying sing-song voice.

"Mitsuo and Izumi sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I – "

"Shut it!" Mitsuo barked, his ears flaming red. His resentful eyes settled on Satsuki. "You are all into Ken-san yourself!"

"I am not!" Satsuki gasped indignantly, vehemently denying the absurdity. Her cheeks, however, flushed slightly.

"Well even if you're not into him, he's definitely into you," Kouji said, joining into the conversation.

Satsuki snorted.

"That's bull. And besides, it is enough to just own a pair of boobs to make him interested in you."

Mitsuo chortled.

"Well sure, he's a notorious flirt, but I've never seen him express any actual interest in anyone but you, love," Kouji said thoughtfully.

Satsuki shook her head.

"There's no reason for the TOP 3 eligible bachelor of Japan to go after a tomboy like me," she huffed.

"Shush, hun. You're gorgeous. I'd go for you myself if I weren't gay."

Satsuki patted the man's cheek fondly.
"Thanks, Kouji."

Mitsuo was frowning.
"He does stare at you a lot, though," the boyish actor said after a moment of silence.

"Whatever. Let's not talk about this anymore," Satsuki muttered irritably.

Mitsuo and Kouji glanced at each other, letting the subject drop.

The damage, however, was already done, as Satsuki's suspicious mind went over every encounter she had ever had with Narita Ken. He had made a comment about her legs once. And then there was the time he had saved her from the reporters…

Satsuki mentally shook herself. No, the mere thought was impossible.

Comforted by the conclusion she had reached, she happily went back to eating her lunch.