The Past

Chapter Three:

Hotaru held Kanade's arms just above her head, the blades protruding from her hands the smallest distance from her face.

Maybe she had played with this one too much?

Everytime she almost let her grip slip, the tips of the blades brushed her face. Holding her breath, she was on the verge of being scared.

Hotaru couldn't show the scared she was feeling from the expression on Kanade's face, but she had to conceal it. It would come to a disadvantage.

"What's going on?" A voice called over. Was it Otonashi? Either way, she couldn't let her guard down.

"Hello, I don't know whether you're still in there, but I'd like to get out of this position now." Hotaru tried to get through to her, but all she got in return was a steely, emotionless look and a robotic sounding voice telling her that she had to finish what she had started.

Desperately, she looked for an opening, something to used to her advantage.

Kicking her legs out, she caught Kanade by surprise and she lost her footing, and fell into Hotaru. Quickly, she turned her over and stood up away from her.

She was no admiring girl for her Otonashi-kun, that was for sure. She was a strong, robot that must have had that as some sort of disguise.

"Who are you?"

"Kanade, you know that."

"I meant, what are you."

"A human, just like you are."

"No human looks like that."

Otonashi came inbetween them, his arms outstretched.

"What are you two doing."

"She challenged me to a fight, so I merely agreed." Kanade answered.

"Merely? You nearly killed me, and all just because you want Otonashi!"

Otonashi seemed surprised, and dropped his arms. Kanade blushed.

Otonashi stepped over to Kanade. "I'm sorry." he gave her a short, soft hug. The girl disappeared into the shadows once she wriggled out of his grip.

"I know you want her, so have her."

Otonashi turned back to Hotaru.

"Yuzuru, I... I wanted her to know that... I thought I had a chance against her..." He lightly kissed her cheek.

"I get it, you felt jealous. But, please, don't ever do that again." He whispered in her ear.

She nodded and wrapped her arms around her neck. "As long as you promise to actually make it to dinner next time." He laughed, but agreed.

It was their promise.