THIRD WHEEL

"Yukishiro-san, here is the movie. Thank you very much for lending it to me!" She thanked Nagisa with an emotion that she couldn't and didn't want to hide. "I really liked seeing this version. Your grandmother has a fantastic collection!" Nagisa was happy because her father got her a good cheap VHS player at the Sunday flea market.

Honoka's grandmother, Yukishiro Sanae, had a wide collection of movies that she used to accompany her nights before going to sleep. When the old woman found out that her granddaughter had a classmate who loved old samurai movies, she couldn't refuse to share her collection with her. It was the third movie that Honoka's lent to Misumi Nagisa that week.

"I'm glad you liked it. Even though it only has seven more minutes of material, the extra scene is really emotional," Honoka said with obvious excitement as she took another VHS out of her school bag and handed it to Nagisa. "Here, my grandmother especially recommends this one."

Nagisa looked at the cover of the movie and her eyes seemed to shine. "I can't believe this! It's the legendary 'Fist of the Crane' movie!" Nagisa almost jumped for joy. "I couldn't find it on DVD; I just have a bad recording that I found on the internet."

"Then I'll ask the AV club to save this movie on DVD and I'll give you a copy," Honoka said, noting the joy on her classmate's face. It was nice to have something in common with her, only one, because in everything else they didn't agree.

Nagisa thought the same. And even though they both liked those kinds of movies, each of them appreciated them in a different way. For Nagisa it was the action and the honorable and courageous characters. For Honoka it was the cultural and social importance of the film and everything the film stood for. Nagisa admitted that it was fun and very educational to hear Honoka explain everything that happened around the movie.

"Is it okay if we go home together?" Nagisa asked out of mere courtesy.

"I must take those documents to the Student Council room first," Honoka replied as she pointed to a stack of documents on her desk.

"That's a lot of papers, I'll help you carry them," Nagisa offered immediately.

"Thank you, Misumi-san."

Their walk to the Student Council room was quiet but comfortable. Little by little they both felt comfortable with each other. Nagisa admitted that it was the first time for her to go to the Council room. The last thing that Nagisa expected to see was the handsome soccer player that she had seen more than once in the distance.

"Shougo, hi!" Honoka greeted with a big, pleased smile.

"Honoka! I see they have you as an errand boy, too," the soccer player replied as he pointed to his own stack of documents.

"Someone has to do the work, it doesn't bother me, but you're always chosen because you get distracted when they vote for the class president," Honoka commented with a cute little laugh.

Nagisa had never seen her classmate smile like that. She had always had an even prettier smile? Besides, Yukishiro Honoka knew the most handsome and desired boy in school! Were they two...?

"I don't need you to scold me, Honoka, I'm not a child," Shougo complained as he patted Honoka's head affectionately.

"I'm not a child either," it was Honoka's turn to complain.

Yes, those two definitely had a very deep relationship! They even had physical displays of affection! Nagisa couldn't help but think that Yukishiro and the handsome soccer player were dating. They also called each other by their first names, no one else called Yukishiro Honoka by her first name!

Honoka didn't take long to look at Nagisa. "Thank you very much for helping me," she said and they both put the papers on the desk. "Shougo let me introduce you to my classmate, Misumi Nagisa." And then she pointed at the soccer player. "Misumi-san, this is Fujimura Shougo."

"Nice to meet you," Nagisa replied awkwardly, her cheeks red.

"It's nice to meet you too, Misumi-san. Thank you very much for helping my dear Honoka with her work, this girl works a lot," the boy said as he ruffled Honoka's hair.

As Honoka complained and Shougo laughed, Nagisa was uneasy. Why did she feel so out of place? She didn't like being the third wheel. Nagisa didn't like this feeling.

"Well... I have to go, see you tomorrow, Yukishiro-san. And see you later, senpai," Nagisa ran off.

"Misumi-san, wait!"

And she left. Honoka didn't know what to think. They had agreed to go home together.