41. Unexpected outcome

428 Words

"He is staring at you again," Mitsuo snickered gleefully.

"Shut up," Satsuki snapped, trying to quell her embarrassment.

Even though she was blatantly ignoring him and his insistent stare, the skin at the back of her neck was prickling uncomfortably and she was in constant danger of blushing.

"I don't think your strategy is working," Mitsuo grinned.

"That is not true," Kouji denied. "Satsuki's strategy is working wonders, even if it isn't in the way she had intended."

Mitsuo laughed again.

"Right," he agreed readily, "I see what you mean."

"I don't," Satsuki said coolly, and glared at her so-called friends. Really, could they just stop teasing her about it already? The fact that Narita Ken was eyeing her so insistently was an unnerving experience enough in itself. She did not need the added discomfort of her friends' teasing banter.

"The more you give him the cold shoulder, the more persistent he grows," Mitsuo replied.

"So, in a way your strategy is working amazingly well – just in the completely opposite way of your wanted outcome."

Satsuki groaned.

"It's unnerving," she grumbled, trying not to squirm under the intent scrutiny. "Why can't he go to bother someone else?"

"I suppose no one else is as interesting as you," Mitsuo quipped.

Satsuki narrowed her eyes at him. She had had quite enough of Mitsuo's teasing.

"Seriously, hun, if he stared at me with such eyes and intensity, I'd spontaneously combust!"

Satsuki's response to Kouji's exclamation was an odd strangled sound that was halfway between an exasperated sigh and an amused giggle.

Still, she finally gave in, and turned slightly so she could meet the persistent actor's gaze. She scowled at him in a silent reproach. The corner of his lips twitched in amusement. Then, Narita Ken inclined his head politely at her and turned away.

Satsuki blinked in surprise and involuntarily continued to stare at the man.

What was that? He had just been staring at her intently for minutes and when she finally turned to face him he merely nodded and looked away?

Men!

Kouji chuckled at the look of baffled indignation on Satsuki's beautiful face. He glanced at Narita Ken from the corner of his eye. He couldn't help but feel that the situation was steadily growing to be more serious. He was certain that Satsuki would be absolutely alarmed if she were aware of it… But the move Ken had made just now had been so smooth, that Kouji couldn't help but admire the charismatic actor.

Kouji had the feeling that Satsuki wouldn't know what hit her.