Hey everyone... I am back after a surprisingly little amount of time... You can thank inspiration, which comes from all the people who review, follow and favourite my story, and of course, my brain, which despite TWGOK being over for 18 months, still continues to obsess over Keichi (that's the couple name I subscribe to, just coz it can be shortened to K1).
In any case, here you go... There is more Keima in this chapter, obviously.
So enjoy...
Chihiro sighed, watching her unlocked phone hesitantly. In the phone, her call menu was open, and a number was typed in. Chihiro just couldn't bring herself to call it.
Who thought calling Katsuragi would be so hard… C'mon! She was 21 already… this shouldn't be so hard!
Now, on the floor of her apartment, the inside of her brain was screaming as if she was 12… What the hell was wrong with her!?
She quickly grabbed a paper pad from the table in front of her, hoping to organise her brain a bit. She still had no clue what she'd say to him… or what she actually wanted to know… Or what Eri had been doing…
Chihiro snapped up. That was a perfect excuse to call! Maybe she could go visit Eri, and Katsuragi could come along… that made her feel a little better, even though she wasn't sure why… she had no reason to feel nervous around him. He was just an old friend… Stupid Kako was putting weird ideas in her head.
"Old friend…" she repeated a couple of times, while taking deep breaths. Then, with the little courage she had in her body, she pressed the call button…
Ring… ring…
Come to think of it, had Chihiro ever even called Katsuragi personally before? He sometimes answered Eri's phone, but that was it.
Aaah! That wasn't helping!
The phone clicked when he answered, nearly causing the phone to slip onto the table in front of her.
"Hello?" the voice answered, somewhat formally.
"H-hi…" she got out, "how are you doing, Katsuragi?"
There was a bit of scuffling on the other side, which continued for a couple of seconds.
"Hey, are you still there?" she asked, wondering what that could be.
"Yeah, sorry…" he replied, "I was just saving my game…"
Chihiro felt herself loosen up a bit. Compared to how awkward some topics were, she was happy to hear about his games.
"Of course…" she smirked, "are you having fun there?"
"Yeah… they're good… I just figured I should be polite and pause it while you're calling."
Chihiro was a bit touched…
"That's… um… thoughtful… of you," she felt herself turn a bit hot, "do-don't worry though… I'll keep this brief, so you'll be back with your precious game soon enough."
"Alright… do you have anything specific to say?"
"Umm… yeah. Do you see Ellie a lot, nowadays?"
"Yeah… we're still living together… why do you ask?"
"I was thinking it would be fun if the three of us could get together and hang out for a bit…"
There was silence on the other side, which worried Chihiro a bit.
"Well, it's up to you, of course…"
"Do you want to talk about that?" his voice was solemn. Chihiro felt her heart quicken a bit.
"Yeah, if you don't mind… it would be easier in person."
"I don't mind… just, Eri doesn't know that you know a little about what happened. I'd prefer to talk about that at a different time…"
"Alright, point noted…" Chihiro replied cheerfully, trying to think of a joke. Katsuragi's serious tone just made her feel uneasy, "how about we just get together for old time's sake… get some cake or something…"
"That we can do… but Eri seriously has no clue what happened at the festival…"
What, did he forgot what she said to him at the station? Chihiro laughed.
"What happened at the festival?" she asked jokingly, before sobering up, "I told you… it doesn't really matter what happened at the Festival…"
"So you were serious before?"
Chihiro shrugged.
"Yeah… I won't mention it at all… If you want, I'll even bring a peashooter and throw scrunched up paper at you, like how I used to do in class…"
He laughed.
"Thanks… though I don't think you should let me off that easily…"
Chihiro felt irrationally angry at that. Was he expecting her to take revenge or something?
"It couldn't be helped, right?" she snapped.
"You sound pretty mad at it, considering it doesn't matter…"
Chihiro was about snap, but she took a deep breath. It wasn't really his fault.
"Look, I want to forget… but I also wish I actually understood what was happening…"
"Would you be able to forget it if you actually knew the story?" he asked, and it was a decent question… Chihiro had an answer for that.
"It's better than wondering about it at night…"
"I don't know… it is a pretty heavy story for someone who just got shoved into it one night…"
"It may be…" Chihiro replied stubbornly, "still, I don't think I can actually forget until I know what to forget… Now, it's just a whole bunch of questions sitting at the back of my head, buzzing like flies."
He exhaled so loud that even Chihiro could hear it.
"Fine… but then, can you tell me something?"
"What?" Chihiro braced herself.
"Tell me what you remember…" she breathed out, relieved.
"From the festival… Well, there was-"
"Not from then…"
"What time are you referring to, then?" Chihiro put her head down on the cold table.
"It probably isn't relevant to you, but during the rainy season in that year…"
Chihiro lifted her head up, confused… nothing happened then, right?
"I dunno… it was rainy… does it even matter?"
"Yeah, it does…" he sighed, "just think about it more and tell me if anything comes up…"
"Alright," she snorted, "I can barely remember what I had for breakfast today, though…" he exhaled sharply as well, from held-down laughter.
Chihiro lay down in that silent moment, so she was looking at the window, which had darkened during the time she'd been on the phone.
"I'm sure you want to go back to your game now," she pulled the phone back, so it would be easier to turn off.
"Actually, can you answer one more question?"
"Err… alright…"
"I'll ask it in person… just promise you'll tell the truth…"
"Is it a question you'd be willing to ask in front of Ellie?"
"Yeah… I guess so..."
"Alright, I'll answer..." she answered. If Eri could hear it, it probably couldn't be bad.
"Good... So you remember where our house is?"
"Yeah... so is this Saturday alright?"
"Yeah, Saturday is alright..." Chihiro grinned, before her face fell. She forgot something...
"Actually, can we do Sunday? I forgot I had plans with another friend then..."
"Weird... you're actually popular now..." Chihiro snorted... Popular was hardly the word. She just wanted to take Kako to DesneySea... Poor girl hadn't been to an amusement park her whole life.
"So can we do Sunday instead?"
"Sure... I can miss you for one day more..." Chihiro felt her face heat up, a mixure of embarrassment and anger. However, she wouldn't let that show in her voice. She just swallowed and continued cheerfully, ignoring that last sentence.
"I'm all amped for it... I'll bring my peashooter and some other stuff to annoy you..." he snickered.
"Maybe we should just meet at our Cafe... when you annoy me, I can just go to my room..."
"Spoil sport... well, whatever! I can have fun with Ellie while you nerd it up in your room..."
"Be my guest... So bye, then."
"Bye bye..." she chirped before cutting the call. She missed the groan from his side, at the unwelcome reminder...
Keima still didn't particularly like that phrase...
In any case, Keima needed to come up with a strategy... This Sunday meeting was crucial for getting her love points- not those- idiot! No, gaining her trust and friendship was more important... He was going to sort through this relationship properly, this time. Still, it didn't hurt to say a flirty thing here or there...
Girls like that, right?
He picked up his game, thanking the Gods that there were some easier relationships to play through...
"Nii-sama! Dinner is ready!"
Still, as much as Keima liked the thought of making up with Chihiro, he still couldn't help thinking of the other Goddess Hosts... They probably deserved apologies as much as Chihiro did.
But how could he even begin with that? Girls just had way too much in their head for Keima to understand... maybe he could ask Eri for help with that? Or Chihiro, after she understood more of the situation?
"Geez, Nii-sama!" the door in his darkened room opened, "your food is getting cold..."
"Doesn't matter..." Keima muttered, "I'll eat later..."
Yes, plans first, dinner later...
"Though Eri..." the door opened again, "do you know where the Goddess hosts are?"
Eri stuck her head in, curiously.
"I can find out for you... Though this is the first time you've asked about them... Can I ask why?"
"I figure it's about time I apologized to them... about the two-timing and randomly disappearing once I returned back..."
Yeah, even out of hindsight, Keima knew he had been a jerk... True, it was for a good cause, and he had been smart about it, but he had led too many girls along... They weren't games he could just put aside for whatever reason, and he definitely needed to apologize for that.
While he had been gone, despite the excessive games he played, it was the voices of the real girls which would echo in his head... of promises broken and empty confessions... of things he couldn't do for them...
"That's good, Nii-sama..." Eri's voice broke his thought process, "Because Tenri-san is here for dinner..."
Hohoho... and just when you thought the Goddesses didn't matter...
To explain, I was not fond of how the Goddess hosts were blown off toward the end of the manga. That is why, in this story, he will apologize to all of them in person... So yay! The Goddess hosts will be back!
So yes, compared to my other story, the cast will be significantly bigger. Still, because the camera will follow either Chihiro or Keima, they are still the main characters...
In any case, I really want to thank everyone who reads my stories... Writing is a true joy, but writing stuff which people like is even better... So thanks... I've been loving the reviews.
I didn't really address reviews from last chapter, so might as well. There's bound to be a lot, so skip it if you want:
From Chapter 2:
Guest: Oh... whoops! In any case, by definition, a Fix Fic is one that resolves plot points not adequately addressed in the source material, as well as fixes things the Author didn't like, so I don't take it back... Though Autocorrect does suck.
You're right though... Chihiro has friend-zoned him, but that's because she's certain she doesn't like him... it seems like Keima is fairly certain, so it's more of an 'unrequited love switcheroo'
Shaunobrow: lol at the name... I'm glad you enjoyed it... I will show everyone the awesomeness of K1! Too bad I can't even get my sister to ship it with me... *sighs*
Shawn Raven: Actually, you were right. This was going to be a one shot... Just... plot happened... My brain sucks!
In any case, Keima actually wanted time to heal some wounds... After he met Chihiro again, he decided to move back and finally take responsibility himself... also, free electricity for God of Conquest mode... He won't complain.
Still, winning over Chihiro won't be easy... as the trope goes: Absence makes the heart go yonder... or does it? ;)
From Chapter 3:
Shawn Raven: Hmm, I figued Kako wouldn't appeal to everyone, but I'm hoping that you'll warm up to her... She's a music-obsessed oddball... kinda like me.
If you actually care, that 'reading music mood' is actually stuff I do. I just close my eyes and imagine... usually I pick up colours and times from those images.
More odd is that I actually see the other 'Hajimete Koi wo Shita Kioku' from the OVA, as a Spring, after school song, in pinks and greens. It's cute, but doesn't punch me in the feels like the 2B Pencils with Kanon Nakagawa version.
x-Midnight-Reader-x: I totally laughed at your review... Take it easy though! You don't want to get fat on all those snacks XD.
You are right about the fan-comics... I don't think I've seen a single non-hentai one. Funnily enough, this addresses your review on Damn that Guy! The first chapter was actually a doujin which I drew in my programming class two years ago. However, if you do feel like drawing a doujin comic of this story, please be my guest. I would love to see something like that.
Though some of the TWGOK doujins aren't too bad... I actually enjoyed the K1 one... When Keima told her to wait, i was like "Damn straight! Tamiki Wikaki should have done that!" I think I actually think Chihiro had mentioned that as an option in the first chapter of this story.
Hikari no Kiseki was pretty nice too... As long as we can agree that Satomi Kawasaki sounds like an angel, we can get along... All her songs are awesome.
Guest: Is this the same Guest from Chapter 2? Coz if it is, that means I'll have three regular reviewers for this story. That would be great.
In any case, thanks for the compliment. I hope i won't disappoint you in the future.
Thanks again to everyone who got here, despite the ramblings... I'll be back soon.
Ja ne... i love the reviews, so please keep them coming.