A/N: My apologies for how long this took. Life just gets in the way. This chapter is a long one and a bit of a whoozy! I hope you guys enjoy it!
Chapter 39: Like a Hurricane
Things hadn't exactly gone in her favor these last few weeks.
She was humiliated in front of the school when her own plan backfired on her and chastised by her one true love. And it was all because of that idiot Kurata Sana.
Chisaki didn't understand why people were so enamored with her.
She was the true embodiment of obnoxious. She was loud and cheery and too immature. How Hiro was attracted to her made no sense!
Hiro had actively been avoiding her for weeks now, a disappointed sigh every time they caught sight of one another. And every time, it broke her heart.
With every day that passed by, Chisaki had watched as Hiro fell more in love with Kurata Sana. She saw them together in the hallways, at lunch, at the courtyard. She even saw them in town with Hayama Ayame at their tow.
When she had heard his grandmother died, she had approached him with a gift of reconciliation and sorrow. He had accepted it gingerly and hugged her thank you. Taking advantage of his vulnerability, Ryu embraced his embrace and milked it for all it was worth.
But once the funeral had passed and he was back to his high spirited and charismatic self, he pulled further and further away from her.
And into the arms of that manipulative girl.
It was selfish, she knew.
She knew her hate was unjustified, and her lens had been covered from the beginning. Since Chisaki had gotten wind of Akimoto Hiro hanging out with the new girl, she never saw Kurata Sana as anything but a thorn in her side. Chisaki never wanted to "get to know her" as Hiro would say. All she saw was another worm beneath her feet trying to steal Hiro from her.
Chisaki felt her heart strain as she looked out the classroom window and thought about the boy she loved for so long.
Maybe, if it was meant to be, it would had already happened? They had known one another since grade school. If a relationship was meant to happen, then it would already have happened, wouldn't it?
The fourth year shook her head.
No.
There was still time. They had three more months to graduation. It was plenty of time.
All she needed to do was take care of the obstacle that stood in between her and her true love.
.
He was watching from the door frame, listening to her voice sing throughout the classroom. Her smile was so infectious, he couldn't help a grin of his own. She was a bright light in his dim world right now. With all his personal stuff going on at home, Hiro knew he had sunshine waiting for him at school.
He really should be studying for the university exam, but his head space wasn't in the right spot. Between his grandmother's death, his dad reappearing into his life out of nowhere and the stress of graduation and studying for the university's entrance exam, he felt like his life was spiraling out of control.
Ayame and Sana had been his biggest support systems. When she wasn't at softball, the youngest Hayama would drag him to either her house or the library to study. Sana aimed to be a distraction; take his mind off of his dad and grandma. Whether it was hanging out at Ayame's softball practice, grabbing a snack on the way home from school, or just sitting at lunch, she was always making him laugh.
It was getting harder to keep his love for her at bay.
Every so often, he would make a flirty joke at her and she would shake it off as a joke. Half the time he wanted to grab her shoulders and tell her he wasn't joking, that he really wanted her. The other half, he had a half mind to kiss her just to see how she would react. But Hiro was a gentleman and would never do that without consent.
She was now laughing, his heart swelling at her joy. She was sitting backwards on top of a desk, leaning over towards the blond head sitting behind her.
Sana was shouting something to Hayama Akito with a bit of a sneer, but then she smiled candidly at him. He could see the blond-haired boy scoff and turn his head, which caused her to roll her eyes. But her smile never faltered.
Hiro's stomach dropped, their interactions with each other so natural.
He remembered he asked Sana some months ago if she had feelings for Hayama Akito, and she strongly denied. But, watching them now, there was a change in their dynamics. He wasn't really sure what to call it or how to describe it. But lately, it was difficult to find one without the other.
The green-eyed teen almost laughed, not really believing that he was jealous of Hayama Akito. The same Hayama Akito who got into nothing but trouble in elementary school and forgot his sister existed. The same Hayama Akito who threatened his teachers. The same Hayama Akito who he felt sorry for when their mom died. The same Hayama Akito who he was so angry at for only fending for himself and abandoning Ayame when she needed him the most.
It was ironic really.
The guy he pitied became the guy he was so envious of.
"Boo."
Hiro almost jumped out of his skin as he looked down at found Ayame snickering at him. Her face was covered in dirt and sweat, and she was wearing some practice clothes, which were stained green and brown.
"Jesus Ayame. You scared the shit out of me." He narrowed his eyes and his surrogate younger sister continued to laugh.
"You were so entranced by her; it was easy to sneak up on you."
His cheeks went aflame almost instantly.
"Just shut it." Hiro pushed her face away and bit his lip.
Ayame just laughed again as she stood next to him, looking into the classroom. Hiro didn't have to tell her he was crushing on Sana. She knew almost instantly. The struggle of having an intuitive younger sister.
"So, avoiding responsibilities and your dad?"
Rolling his eyes and pursing his lips, he sighed. "Something like that."
"It's been a few weeks now. You really should sit down with him." She countered.
An angry fire lit in his chest as smoke began to rise and he turned away, not wanting Sana to see him like that. Walking away from the door frame and back into the hall, he heard steps behind him.
This wasn't a conversation he really wanted to have. He had been avoiding it for weeks now, Ayame always trying to push him to confront his dad. But Hiro didn't think he was ready.
Or maybe he was being a coward?
"I don't want too." He countered.
"You could find some closure in it." She persisted and Hiro felt a tick.
"Maybe. But I'm not really feeling it right now." He waved it off, their voices getting louder.
"That's what you've been saying for weeks now."
He groaned. Hiro didn't understand why Ayame was pestering him so much. If anyone should understand, wouldn't it be her?
"You can't keep running away from it, Hiro-kun. At some point, you're going to have to face him."
He stopped mid-walk and clenched his fist. Turning back at her with angry eyes, he spat back at her.
"Oh? Like you? Cause you're suddenly the expert at daddy issues after you chased away yours."
The moment those words left his mouth, his eyes went wide, realizing what a horrible mistake he had just made.
.
Ayame felt like she was kicked in the stomach.
Her eyes grew, and tears threatened to prick at her eyes. Her throat went dry and she felt a tight burning in her chest. But instead of crying, instead of letting those awful words pierce her heart, she narrowed her brows.
She manifested the best Hayama Akito glare and stared Hiro down.
"I recognize that you're upset and feel like you have a lot going on, but that doesn't give you the right to be a dick." Her voice was neutral but there was an edge to it. And Hiro clearly recognized it as he swallowed, hard.
"That was uncalled for." She spat again, angrier.
Her adoptive older brother bit his lip, eyes filled with guilt.
Despite the venomous look on her face, she was filled with hurt. She knew Hiro was facing the issues of his past. And maybe she may have pushed, but his hurtful words weren't deserved.
"You should leave."
A deep, calm, yet threatening, innerving voice appeared next to her, and she looked up with shock as her older brother stood at her side.
His eyes were filled with an eerie stillness, the muscles in his face flexed.
"Hiro-kun." And to her right, was her surrogate older sister.
Sana's face was much more expressive, her eyes filled with disappointment, but also sadness.
Hiro looked horrified, and Ayame suddenly felt regretful. He looked like he was on the verge of tears and was wanting to step forward, but Akito took on step in front of her, like he was shielding her. Sana walked slowly towards Hiro and grabbed his shoulder.
"Walk away for now. Why don't you go cool off and revisit this conversation another time?" Looking right at her, Hiro's eyes looked like they were starting to tear.
I'm so sorry.
But his gaze was torn away as Sana lead him away.
"Show's over. Go away." Ayame heard her brother bark and she turned behind her to see his classmates scramble back inside the classroom. She locked eyes with Tsuyoshi, who gazed at her with concern. She smiled sadly at him and nodded. The glass eyed boy nodded back and went back inside the classroom.
Sana disappeared with Hiro and the stillness of the empty hall allowed for the hurt to creep into her heart. She clenched her chest and squeezed her eyes shut, trying to keep the pain aside. A hand landed on the top of her head and Ayame opened her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks. The youngest sibling turned upwards to her brother.
"Don't listen to that crap. He's being shitty because he's hurting. And he doesn't know how else to deal with his pain." Ayame's eyes went wide. "He knows better. And good on you for letting him know that."
There was almost pride in his voice as he removed his hand from the top of her head.
"He'll come crawling back to apologize. He's too sensitive to let it drag."
Ayame cried again. But not because of Hiro's comments.
But because her older brother was there for her. He stood up for her and attempted to cheer her up. And she knew it was difficult for him to convey his feelings outwardly. Her brother was always a man of action. That was how he conveyed his own thoughts.
She knew he would hate it and would most likely peel her away, but how could she not hug him?
In all her messy and stinky self, she threw herself at him and they almost fell backwards but he stopped them by planting his foot to the ground. She could hear him groan at her sudden tackle but Ayame laughed as she cried and he sighed, knowing there was nothing he could do.
"… Hell." He muttered in defeat.
Ayame squeezed him harder and he coughed.
"D'AWW! I WANT TO JOIN THE GROUP HUG TOO!" And suddenly, they were on the ground and Sana's and her own laughter filled the empty school hall while her brother shouted indecencies at the auburn-haired girl.
"Are you stupid or something!? Why the hell would you do that?"
He pushed himself away from them and stood up, glaring down at Sana. She just continued to laugh. "Don't be such a sour patch kid! You are totally fine!"
Tsuyoshi poked his head back out the door to check out the noise, and Akito barked at him to go back inside. Sana helped her off the floor, and Ayame couldn't help but wonder if Hiro was doing okay. It was essentially 3 versus 1. And she felt immensely bad for that.
Sana smiled. "He's fine. Obviously feeling guilty so he will come groveling to your feet in no time!"
Ayame sweat dropped. "Only you could make light of such a situation, Sana-chan."
The auburn-haired girl gave her a thumbs up and grinned.
"Best not to dwell on the bad. Siblings fight all the time. You and Hayama over there certainly have had your own quarrels. Sometimes you say things you don't mean. I know Hiro didn't mean what he said to you. Not that it's any excuse. It was obviously rude, and he knew that the moment he said it."
Ayame was sheepish. "Yeah, but I pushed. I shouldn't of."
Sana flicked her on the forehead, Ayame grabbing at the now sore spot in the middle of her forehead.
"You listen here, missy!" Sana had her hands on her hips, and eyes were lit with fire. "That thought right there, blaming yourself? Yeah, don't do that. That's gaslighting. And you're only doing it to yourself. Hiro-kun took his frustrations out on you and it was uncalled for. Sure, you maybe didn't have to push, but there was a better way to say it."
"So, when Hiro-kun comes groveling to your feet for acceptance of an apology, you take it. Kapeesh?"
"Okay, okay." Ayame finally submitted and Sana smiled.
"Are you two down messing around? It's time to go." Her older brother walked out of the classroom; his backpack slung over his shoulder and one hand in his pocket.
But Ayame couldn't help but catch the other book bag that was swinging from his other hand.
"Oh so-rry for disturbing Hayama! We were talking life over here, ya know!"
He rolled his eyes, and he lifted his hand. Sana grabbed her book bag from him, and she thanked him, padding his shoulder.
This caused Ayame to raise her brows, as this was clearly something Sana was used too.
She caught her brother's eye, and she couldn't help but smirk.
He glared in retaliation.
Oh, how very fascinating.
.
Sana gripped the script in her hands as she paced around on the empty stage. She had been practicing her lines for a few weeks now, but this was going to be the first time they actually got to use the stage.
It was one thing just rehearsing in the classroom. It was another doing it on the stage.
And her first time rehearsing her lines, Sana felt like she was going to faint.
Sana smiled as she watched Hisae and Gomi read through their lines together, the obvious sparks of their real-life relationship shining through. They wanted to make it where the Hunter and Little Red's mom were 'dating,' and when Little Red went missing, she asked for the Hunter to help find her.
Most of Gomi's lines were improvised by him anyway.
"Don't you worry! I will find your daughter and slay that damn wolf!" Gomi 'acted' and Hisae slapped him.
"You idiot! We aren't allowed to swear!"
Gomi pouted. "it doesn't sound as cool saying darn. It sounds stupid!"
And they broke out into a fight. The room just sighed together as they had to take yet another break to cool them off.
But Sana was grateful because this meant that it put off her turn to act.
She didn't really have a hard time mesmerizing her lines. No. That was simple. It was the idea of acting them out loud that her absolutely terrified. Every time she looked at the script, she saw Rei's face and heard his voice.
Sana heard his encouraging voice and felt his support. She knew that there was always someone in the audience for her.
"You ready to start, Sana-chan!?" Mami came up to her and smiled. Sana was broken out of whatever trance she was in and nodded.
"Let's do it!" She shouted, putting on that façade.
Turning around, she looked for her partner, only to find him looking right at her.
She gulped, his mesmerizing golden-brown eyes captivating her completely. He drew her in so effortlessly that she didn't realize Mami was calling her until she touched her shoulder. Shaking herself out of it, she apologized and walked to the front.
"Alright Sana-chan! We are going to start with the first part! Yunichi-kun is going to narrate the beginning and it will open with you and Hisae."
She nodded.
"Once upon a time, there was a young girl who lived in a small village with her mother. One day, her grandmother gifted her a very nice, and fancy lookin' red cloak. It was the talk of the village that got everyone calling her Little Red Riding Hood."
"One day, her mother received a message that her grandmother was sick. And needed Little Red Riding Hood to make a delivery…"
Hisae stepped in, script rolled in her hands.
"Oh, Little Red Riding Hood!"
Sana swallowed the knot in her stomach, feeling all eyes on her.
You can do this. You can do this. You CAN do this.
"Yes, mother?" She asked, in her most innocent voice.
"I received news of your grandmother being sick. So, I need you to take her honey and bread, okay?"
"Yay! I always love to see grandma!"
Yunichi took over.
"So, they got together and packed her a basket with honey and bread. The mother put Little Red Riding Hood's cloak on and kissed her goodbye."
"Remember honey! Go straight through the marked path and do NOT stop along the way. For ANYONE. There are gross strangers out there who are not afraid to kidnap you! The woods are very dangerous and be EXTRA careful of the wolf!"
"If the woods are so dangerous, why don't you come with me then?"
"Oh, well that's because I have so much work to do around the house."
Sana snorted. "More like flirting…"
Hisae raised a brow. That was unscripted.
"Never mind! Don't you worry mom! I will be just a-okay! No talking to strangers or wolves and go straight through the path. You got it!"
As they continued going through the script, Sana found it easier and easier to, finding it all coming back to her. Soon, it was nothing but muscle memory, her ability to act and go off the script.
That dread, that agony she was so afraid of, it dissipated with every sentence read and she was filled with sheer joy; a feeling she thought she lost forever.
"If you're going to throw up, at least get a bag."
Sana sighed deeply and rolled her eyes but as she turned to her now partner in crime, she couldn't help but laugh. Hayama Akito had his own script in hand, eyes stoic and bored as usual.
"I'm a professional, Hayama. I simply do not throw up."
Now it was Hayama's turn to roll his eyes.
"Oh, my bad. I simply forgot." He teased, throwing her words right back at her. She huffed, crossing her arms.
The jerk had the nerve to smirk at her.
"Alright! You two ready?!" Loud footsteps and voices broke them out of their usual bantering. Sana looked up and Hisae and Aya were looking down at them with eager smiles.
Swallowing the ball of nerves in her throat, she wrung the script in her hands and gave her most perfect, actress smile.
"Hell yeah! Let's do it!"
.
His eyes never left her.
She was rocking on her feet constantly, constantly playing with her hands, exaggerating her expressions, giving wide eyed smiles. It was somewhat unnerving, how effortless she was able to mask her anxiety and fear. But when one was trained in the art, it made perfect sense.
Kurata was reciting her lines with Hisae while he was staring at the script in his hands. He had never done anything like this before. It made him nervous if he was being honest. Not being one for crowds or audiences, outside of karate, this was somewhat humiliating for him.
If he was going to be center of attention, he wanted it to be on his own terms.
"I think you're going to be great, Akito-kun!"
Looking up, Tsuyoshi was giving him an encouraging smile.
He rolled his eyes, still somewhat annoyed with his longtime friend. This was partially Tsuyoshi's fault anyway as he encouraged him to take on this part. But Tsuyoshi seemed to be ecstatic about the whole idea. Along with the entire class.
But, Akito owed it to him.
He owed it to all of them.
The blond understood that being his friend was never easy. Tsuyoshi went through hell and back for him. Since they were kids, he had never given up on him. Despite the fights, and bullying, and mocking and trauma, his glass eyed friend was there for it all.
Up until he wasn't and Akito ended up in juvenile detention. For reasons he didn't deserve, mostly. And Tsuyoshi didn't mean for things to end up the way they did as he was only trying to protect his friend. Looking back, he realized, he could had been seriously injured if it hadn't been for his friend's intervention with the police.
"You say that about everything."
Tsuyoshi chuckled and rubbed the back of his head.
"We'll, someone has to be optimistic about it all!"
Like his relationship with his sister, his friendship with Tsuyoshi seemed to steadily improve. The weird, awkward tension that had been there before, was almost entirely gone. Where Akito would disappear, he was now hanging out with the same old gang from his elementary school days. He and Tsuyoshi would laugh about stupid things again.
He never thought he would be here. He truly thought his life was over. At 17, he thought he had nothing left.
Until a certain someone made him realize he had everything in his life left.
The blond's eyes found Kurata Sana, wrapping it up with Hisae, talking to Mami and Aya. The rest of the class was putting together the stage with the props that were borrowed from the theater club and things they put together. Other people were reciting their own lines.
But he focus was about to shift to both he and Kurata.
"Alright everyone! Time for the stars of the show!" Yunichi called out with his mega horn and Mami began moving around the set.
Kurata locked eyes with him and grinned. "Alright partner! LET'S DO THIS!"
Shouting as she basically skipped to him, she grabbed him by his arm and pulled him to the center of the stage. For a minute, his heart began to flutter. He wasn't sure if the fluttering was from her or from the idea of acting in front of everyone. Akito would like to think the ladder, but he knew it was from her delicate touch.
"Okay! Sana-chan, you come over here by the forest path and Hayama-kun, you need to go into the pretend bushes!" Mami instructed them to their positions and he had every nerve to huff, but seeing how serious everyone was taking this, changed his mind.
He raised a brow when two students from his class stood in front of him, holding brushes of paper sticks in their hands.
"Okay! Perfect! Stage is set! Let's do this!" Mami commanded and Akito watched Kurata take a deep breathe. Her face looked ready, ecstatic with no fears or worries.
Yunichi came front and center to the stage with the cheesiest smile on his face.
"Classmate Hayama and Classmate Sana will now be playing the part of Little Red Riding Hood and The Wolf!"
"You don't have to announce it, Yunichi! Just narrate!" Hisae barked, but he laughed.
"The story continues with Little Red Riding Hood, who has entered the forest and started making her way to her grandmother's house!"
That was Kurata's signal to start "trotting" through the forest. She was skipping along the makeshift forest path.
"Little Red Riding Hood was laughing and enjoying the leisure walk, admiring all the flowers and small animals she passed by. It was hard for her to believe that anything scary would come to her. But of course, as all girls do, Little Red got distracted and started off the path."
Kurata began. "Oh! Look at all these pretty flowers! I've never seen them before!"
"Known for ditzyness and ability to be distracted, she wondered away from the path and deeper into the forest. Little did she knew, the dangerous wolf her mother had warned her about was lurking nearby!"
Hayama sighed, knowing that was his cue.
Kurata was bent over, pretending to be enthralled with a pretend flower and Hayama stepped in front of her.
The former actress looked up to him, and his eyes went wide. She looked up at him with all surprise and wonder, playing into the part very well as her eyes shifted to that of anxious fear. She jumped up and moved back, her eyes now more curious then fearful.
It was truly incredible watching how she changed her emotions so effortlessly.
"It's you! The wolf!" She pointed and he realized it was now his turn to speak.
"Yeah. Far from home, aren't you?" His tone was lackluster and devoid of the same emotion Kurata put into her own acting.
Acting surprised, Kurata turned her head in all directions and her eyes grew wider.
"I suppose I am! Oh, dang it. I always get so lost in my head and so distracted I didn't realize I strayed from the path!" Hayama scoffed and Kurata sent him a narrowed look.
"Oh? Something funny, Mr. Wolf?" That was off script and Hayama couldn't help the taunting tone.
"Just how ditzy little girls always lose their ways."
She crossed her arms, the basket poking at her sides. She was now glaring at him.
"There are dangerous animals out here, don't you know, Little Red?"
Her brow rose and he smirked, enjoying the moments he caught her off guard.
"So, I've heard. Which is why my mother told me to never stray off the path. So, if you will excuse me, I have to get to my grandmother's house!" She sauntered away, and he couldn't help but chase after her, knowing the script was completely forgotten at that point.
"Do you even know how to get back?" He trailed next to her and she gave him a pointed look.
"Yup! Now, if you will excuse me, my mother told me to never talk to strangers!" She hurried ahead of him and he ran to catch up to her. He reached forward and grabbed her arm, stopping her in her step. Kurata looked flabbergasted at him.
"We're not strangers so much though, are we Little Red? Besides, you knew who I was when you saw me." Pursuing her lips, she ripped her arm away from him and smiled.
"Perhaps you're right. Doesn't matter though because I have a sick grandmother I have to get too! Not playing with a puppy like you." She pretended to continue walking while clutching her basket close to her.
"Puppy, huh?" He whispered and his heart was beating quickly in his chest, unbelieving how natural it all was when it concerned her.
"AND CUT!"
Hayama blinked once, twice, three more times before he realized that they were on a stage, in the middle of his entire class. Kurata too, seemed to have realized it wasn't just them anymore. And they had completely went off script, even though they had practiced their lines with one another for a few weeks.
Everyone was looking at them with wide eyes, jaws open to the floor and he suddenly felt like running out of the room. Looking over to his partner, Kurata's face was completely red.
"Holy smokes you two!" Hisae started, jumping to her feet.
"What was that!? Did you two just decide to change the script on us?! I mean, sure whatever, but the TENSION." Hisae so casually shouted, and he felt the tips of his ears burn instantly.
Kurata went rigid immediately, her face turning darker shades of red.
"I didn't realize this was like a forbidden love story or else I would have TOTALLY changed the story!" Mami said next, her hands opening the script and immediately scribbling over the printed lines.
"Oh no no no no no! Mami! Hisae! That is NOT what this is!" Kurata finally found her voice and jumped forward, ripping the script from Mami's hands.
"Sana-chan! Give it back!"
Kurata was still red in the face, but now she was glaring at the two girls.
"There is NO forbidden love story! Hayama and I were just ACTING. That was it! ACTING. I mean, isn't that why you wanted to do this whole thing? Because I was an ACTRESS!?" Kurata defended herself and Mami and Hisae stopped as they chased her on stage. The two girls looked at one another.
"Well, I guess you make a point." Mami muttered.
"I dunno. You two made it look like real up there." Gomi opened his god damn mouth, and Akito glared viscously at him. He was propped up on one of the seats, sucker in his mouth.
"Uh, Gomi-kun. I would watch what you say here." Hiroshi warned as Gomi looked at him with pursed lips.
"What? I ain't afrai-"
But the words died on his tongue and the sucker fell out of his mouth as Akito looked down at him with the most menacing glare. Gomi immediately sat up and gulped.
"Uh sorry! My bad, Akito! I was being stupid. Didn't know what I was saying as always!"
"Okay! That's enough everyone!" Tsuyoshi interjected and all eyes were on him. "I think, we can all safely say that was some great acting from Akito-kun and Sana-chan, right?"
The room nodded, not wanting to say the wrong thing and be on the receiving end of Akito's glare.
"But damn Sana-chan! We didn't realize you were THAT good!" Hisae broke out the awkward tension and ran up to her. "I mean, you too, Hayama-kun! Who knew you had a hidden talent like that!"
"Classmate Hayama needs to be an actor!" Yunichi clasped his shoulder and Akito wanted to burn it off with his eyes.
"Get your hand off me, Yunichi." He threatened. But that did the opposite as now Yunichi had an arm around him.
"Let's go become actors, Classmate Hayama!"
Yunichi had to be the one person in the class that did not care for his life as he continued to haul him off the stage. Everyone watched wide eyed as they walked off together and Akito wanted to murder this kid.
But in the chaos of it all, Akito found Kurata's eyes again.
And while they stared at one another, he found hesitancy there. Hesitancy and uncertainty. Akito didn't know what it meant, but she quickly turned away and it left an unsettling feeling in his stomach.
.
"So? You want this to be a love story then?"
Sana's throat went dry and she groaned loudly, head thumping to the locker.
"How many times do I have to tell you guys? IT WAS JUST ACTING. And NO. NO LOVE STORYS." Sana yelled to no one in particular as all the girls were getting ready for PE.
Since their first practice a couple days ago, the girls had been relentless about the tone of the story. And changing the story. It had caused her sheer embarrassment and she wanted nothing more than to crawl into a hole.
"But are you sure?!" Mami asked again, and Sana almost lost it right then and there.
She turned swiftly, putting her foot down as Hisae, Mami and Aya looked at her.
"Look, Hayama and I are just friends. It would be WAY TOO WEIRD to turn this stupid story into a love story! Besides, I'm not comfortable with it!"
"I don't know, Sana-chan. You and Hayama-kun have been spending a lot more time together." With shift eyes and a dramatic change in tone, Sana's stomach dropped at the implications in Hisae's voice.
"She's right you know? Some people in the class have been talking about how you guys are never found without one another!" Mami added and Sana hung her head.
She felt the back of her neck burn fiercely as her two friends picked at something that wasn't there!
"Guys! Come on! Me? Like Hayama? That sounds ridiculous! Besides, don't you remember how much we couldn't stand one another?" Sana looked to Aya, who hadn't said anything, for help.
The sand-colored haired girl must have gotten the memo because now she was defending her.
"Oh, hush now guys. Let's give Sana-chan here a break. If she says there's nothing there, then shouldn't we believe her?"
Sana faked cried tears, nodding her head vigorously. Oh, she could kiss Aya right now!
But Hisae and Mami didn't seem entirely convinced.
"Yeah, but haven't you ever heard of a good enemy to lovers' trope? Come now, it's a classic! All that time you were forced to spend together, you're telling me no feelings caught on?"
Hisae was relentless, and Sana now understood Fuka's frustrations.
She could murder her friend right now. Couldn't she just drop the subject? Maybe Fuka's irritation with her was justified after all…
Sana sighed deeply, her own heart now racing. Her friends were clearly painting a picture they wanted to see, not what was actually there.
"Hayama and I are friends. We have developed a great friendship and that obviously translates onto the stage. Shouldn't we be focusing on the fact that Hayama is actually participating? And acting? When we all thought he wouldn't? Come on guys. Girls and guys can be friends without any weird feelings!"
She felt like she was climbing mountains just to get the two girls off her back. Sana was mentally exhausted from fighting this battle. And frankly, it was causing weirdness between her and Hayama.
Ever since that first day, they had actively avoided one another. Whenever they ran into one another, Sana was a blubbering mess and Hayama would steel himself and walk the other way. And having to explain that to Ayame was definitely not easy.
It wasn't that Sana wanted to avoid him either.
Hayama Akito was one of her best friends.
That phrase in itself was weird, and it wasn't something she hadn't entirely admitted to herself. Since Fuka, Sana had been hesitant to claim anyone as her 'best friend,' so to say. But this friendship with the lone wolf had evolved and they continued to grow closer.
She hated that they were forced into this awkward position when in reality they were just acting… right?
That day, Sana found it so natural. Whatever worries she had about acting, the PTSD, the memories, the fears, they all disappeared knowing that her friend was right there. She hadn't forgotten those words he said to her in the old dance room. She hadn't forgotten his comfort. And he relieved her of all those fears.
If Hayama was doing something completely out of his comfort zone, Sana owed it to him and herself to do the same.
And when they started that first part together, they had gone completely off script. Because their friendship was so natural from start to finish. The banter, the teasing, and the fun. Sana found it fun. When was the last time she had found acting to be fun?
But then their friends put feelings into the situation and caused a mess of it all.
"I guess you're right. Besides, why go for Hayama-kun when Akimoto Hiro is at your door, I suppose." Hisae finally backed off.
Sana narrowed her eyes at that statement. She looked at Aya who shrugged her shoulders.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Sana asked, genuinely curious.
Mami and Hisae looked at her incredulously.
"Wait, do you not realize?" Mami pushed Hisae away and looked at her with wide eyes. She then turned to Aya and back to her.
"Holy hell, Kurata. I mean, how dense are you?!" Hisae added.
Scratching her head, Sana still had no idea what her friends were talking about. She looked to Aya for help, but her friend gave her a sheepish smile.
"You really don't know, Sana-chan?" Aya asked with innocence.
The lost look in her eyes may have been the answer to that question.
Hisae closed the door shut to her locker and sighed loudly.
"You are way too dense for your own damn good!" The brown-haired girl sounded angry as she stalked off and Mami called behind her.
"Hisae! Wait!" Mami looked back to Sana and sighed with a silent shake. "You're a lucky girl and you don't even realize it. Oh, Sana-chan."
And she sprinted off.
Sana was left with just Aya and her own jaw was open wide, genuinely confused about this whole interaction and how Hiro got pulled into this mess.
"Aya-chan. Am I missing something or are they just pulling my leg?!" She scrambled her hands in her hair as she leaned back against the lockers.
"I don't think it's my place to say anything, Sana-chan." She defended and that definitely did not make her feel better.
"Are you seriously going to leave me in the dark too!?" Sana shrieked, attracting the attention of the few girls left in the locker room.
"I just think it's better if you hear it from him." Aya smiled and the former actress had NO IDEA what the even meant! She continued to be flabbergasted as the girls finished up and headed out to the gym for PE.
"You all seriously SUCK!"
.
The sun was out more than usual that day, and Fuka definitely felt like she needed the extra sunshine. Having returned to gymnastics fulltime once more meant she allotted all of her free time to the sport again.
Which she was perfectly fine with as things were still estranged with her mother.
All Fuka wanted was an apology.
And her mother couldn't even muster that.
So, Fuka decided to throw herself into gymnastics and forget about all the other problems in her life, including her former best friend.
When the rumors about Sana circled about and the truth about her acting career was finally revealed, it took everything in her to not run into her class and shield her from it all. When they ran into one another at the cafeteria, Fuka had to hold back the concern. She needed to turn away because her pride was slipping.
It was selfish of her, she knew it. A decent friend would have put everything they said to one another aside and been through it all. Instead, she entrusted Hayama Akito to look after her friend.
Fuka was unsure if that was the right call or not, knowing that those two had been at each other's throat for so long. But, when she saw the change in the blond-haired boy, saw his easiness and laxness with her, she knew it was the right decision.
Especially after hearing about what he did for her in the hallway against that fourth year.
She could be lying if she said she wasn't envious, even the least bit upset. But it was more relieving knowing that someone had Sana's back in those situations. Not that her the former actress couldn't handle herself. Sana had stood up to bigger and badder, especially in the acting industry.
But at the mention of her former manager, she was putty in their hands. And she could never think straight. Sana shut down after Rei's death. Fuka didn't even recognize her best friend after Rei died.
The brown-haired gymnast prayed she would never have to see her like that again.
So, when she found out that Sana was acting again, even if it was just a silly high school play, it scared the hell out of her. Because she didn't know how her former friend was going to react.
It seemed as of now, she was okay. And unbeknownst to any of Class 3A, she had been staying in the loop of Sana's acting journey. Between Tsuyoshi, Aya, even Akito, she had been keeping tabs. She just didn't want Sana to know.
A small chill swept through the courtyard, and Fuka shook slightly. She hugged her jacket closer and walked across the open area to her gymnastics' friends. It was when she saw Hayama Akito sitting by himself that she stopped.
"Sitting by yourself today, I see?"
Akito looked up to her, annoyance crossed his face.
"I'm not really in the mood."
Fuka raised a brow. Someone was not happy today.
She took that as an initiative to stop and sit next to him.
"Sure. Make yourself comfortable." His voice was poisoned in sarcasm accompanied by the classic eye roll.
"Normally, I would think you're just being your normal self. But I feel like something is actually bothering you. So, what is it?" She pressed because now that she was thinking about, Akito did look more annoyed than usual.
It was probably just her experience from being his friend the last two years, but she'd like to think she can tell when there was a change.
He seemed struck by her words as he clenched his jaw. "So what? You're my therapist now?"
More sarcasm. Fuka fought the urge to smack him.
"Oh, stop being a baby. I'm just trying to be your friend, idiot." Fuka replied, annoyed by his sarcasm.
Akito looked at her quizzically, like he was so unsure of whether or not he can trust her. Which, Fuka did find slightly annoying. They hadn't been the closest of friends, but ever since he rejected her, their friendship improved. And it was so much easier for them to communicate with one another.
"I'm just annoyed with this damn play, that's all." He sighed in defeat.
Fuka narrowed her eyes at him. "Are you sure that's it?"
He glared at her rebuttal. "What else would it be?"
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe the fact that everyone is saying you and Sana had some crazy chemistry on set and now you guys haven't been able to be around one another?"
Akito's face went blank before he bit down on his lip. He turned away from her and started cursing under his breath.
"God damn. Does anyone in our fucking class have anything better to do than open their fucking mouths." Fuka heard in particular and she sighed, leaning back against the bench they were sitting at.
It was something she noticed a few days ago. It was so strange to see Sana without Akito these days so when she saw them on other sides of one another, Fuka thought it was weird. And then the brown-haired girl was walking through the cafeteria, only to see awkward silence at the table between the two.
Knowing something happened, Fuka went to her trusty sources of Aya and Tsuyoshi. Tsuyoshi had spilled it all, Aya adding commentary here and there. So, then Fuka began to follow with her own eyes and could see the hesitancy in Sana's eyes and the annoyance in Akito's.
Fuka knew that their friendship had grown. But she didn't expect there to be any feelings involved.
If there was any of course.
It was crazy to think that the stoic and ever elusive Hayama Akito could ever grow to like someone. Especially someone like Kurata Sana. Fuka didn't know how much she believed it, knowing she needed to see it for herself.
Sana never dated.
Sure, she had thought guys were cute in middle school, but her heart belonged to Rei. Not in the weird grooming type of way. More in the puppy love. And she was so busy with acting that Sana never had time to think about relationships.
So, to hear that, Fuka needed to see it with her own eyes.
"So? Do you like her?" She pressed on and Akito looked like he was going to murder her at any second.
"Of course not. I didn't like her when she got here, and I don't like her now." He denied and Fuka wished she could believe him. It would make the pang in her heart go away and not think that Sana chased her away for her own selfish reasons.
"Feelings can change, ya know? I mean, look at mine. I thought I loved you like a month ago. Turns out, that was all superficial." She shrugged her shoulders, and he rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, well that's not what it is now." He dug his hands into his pockets, tapping his foot. "Those idiots went and made it weird and now it's all awkward."
Fuka could hear the actual worry in his voice. His body language shifted, and he was no longer putting on the defense against her. He was opening up to her again, like he had done in the hallway last week. He was giving her a glimpse of his own feelings and Fuka was not going to let the opportunity go to waste.
"A little advice?" Fuka offered and he looked up at her with his golden-brown eyes. His shields were down, and every time she saw the true emotion in his irises, Fuka had to hold herself back.
"Unless you come right out and say something to her, it's just going to a guessing game for her. Sana likes transparency. Her dense skull can't handle anything else, really." She laughed, thinking about all the obvious signs her best friend had missed in the past. "Besides, the festival is coming up quick in like less than a month. So, if you want to try and get in second place, behind our sushi shop of course, then you better get to it!"
Fuka's eyes went wide as Hayama Akito scoffed, a small smirk gracing his lips.
"It's always a competition with you." He said in a taunting tone, and Fuka couldn't help but laugh. She punched his shoulder and nodded.
"Hell yeah! Nothing stands between me and victory!" Pumping her fist high in the air, Hayama Akito gave her another scoff and shook his head.
He didn't have to say anything though.
His thank you was loud and clear.
.
There was this tightness around her heart that Sana couldn't quite explain.
She really hadn't meant to watch them. Sana had excused herself from their friends to run to the bathroom. The former actress noticed that a certain lone wolf wasn't there to join them again, and she couldn't help but feel like it was her fault.
So, when Sana was walking through the hallway and looked outside to find Hayama sitting next to Fuka, she was shocked.
Not really knowing why it came as a surprise, Hayama had told her that he and Fuka were actually better friends now than before the confession. Sana had found it weird, but if it worked for them, then who was she to judge?
Though, she wouldn't lie and say she wasn't upset.
While her's and Fuka's friendship had completely deteriorated, his and Fuka's had grown closer. It almost felt like a slap to the face, knowing that their friendship grew at the expense of hers.
But she was happy that Fuka at least had someone.
Hayama was sitting hunched over, clear distress in his eyes. And Fuka had to have picked up on it because her own body language changed and now, they were looking at one another, and Sana had to look away.
Her chest tightened and she pursed her lips.
What is wrong with me?
She shook her head, knowing it was just probably pent buried feelings of anger from their fight. She was just jealous. Yeah! Jealous because Hayama had a good relationship with Fuka. How could she not be? Fuka was her best friend since childhood! How come through all that drama, they were the ones that ended up friends?
Sana looked back at them and she saw Hayama smirking at her, Fuka punching him in the shoulder and then throwing a punch in the air.
Her stomach immediately knotted up and Sana bit her lip.
Where was she going? Oh! That's right! The bathroom! That's why her stomach was acting funny. She needed to get to the bathroom right now!
"Sana?"
Sighing inwardly, she turned around and Akimoto Hiro was standing behind her.
Burying all her uncertain feelings, Sana put on her best smile.
"Oh hey, Hiro-kun! What's up?"
Something seemed off about him. Sana tilted her head slightly, realizing that Hiro seemed nervous? His hands were fidgeting, and he seemed to be rocking on the balls of his feet. He was taking a few deep breaths and finally nodded.
"There's something I've been wanting to talk to you about for some time but…" He laughed nervously. "I just – haven't had the balls to say it honestly."
Sana raised a brow, not really understanding what was going on.
Since his fight with Ayame a few days ago, Hiro had been nothing but a sullen puppy. She was upset with him, disappointed in the way he choose to respond to her.
They were in the classroom reciting their lines when both she and Hayama had overhead Ayame's and Hiro's voices growing louder. Hayama was the first to jump when they realized the change in Hiro's tone.
When Hiro spat those words to Ayame, she thought Hayama was going to karate chop him. Instead, he stayed by Ayame's side. Sana took Hiro aside and when they were out of all seeing eyes, he completely broke down, wanting nothing more than to apologize.
"I can't believe I fucking said that! What the hell, Hiro! Why would you say that?! Stupid idiot!"
"Sana, you have to know I didn't mean it. I didn't! I was just angry and dear God, she's never going to forgive me, is she?"
Sana encouraged him to just give her a few days and then to apologize when the feelings were settled. With everything that had happened the last few days, Sana had honestly forgotten to ask if he had apologized yet.
"Oh? Is it about Ayame? Look, she knows your sorry. All you have to do is apologize, dummy!" She laughed, thinking how silly he was for letting it go for so long.
But the perplexed look on his face wasn't what she expected, and Sana realized that this maybe wasn't about Ayame?
"Ayame? What? No. No." He shook his head and scrambled his hair in his hands, ruffling his fine, brown hair.
"I'm confused?" She questioned, not really understanding where this conversation was going.
"Me and Ayame are fine. I apologized and she forgave me, thank God." He muttered quickly and she smiled.
Ah ha! She knew that they wouldn't be quarreling for long!
"Oh good! We can get past that then!" She grinned and crossed her arms, nodding firmly.
But Hiro only seemed to grow more agitated as he took a deep sigh and looked at her with a frown.
"But Sana. This isn't about Ayame." He muttered and now she was lost again.
"This is about you." Eyes went wide and mouth opened as Hiro stepped closer. "And me."
His voice seemed to deepen a bit and grow a bit lower. Suddenly, the frustration in his emerald green eyes changed, and the dark shade lightened to a bright green. His eyes sparkled.
"I'm… I don't – What?" She sputtered, taking a step back.
He was getting too close now. He followed her every step and the contour of his face changed along with his eyes. He smiled, embarrassingly but also… lovingly?
Sana gulped.
"Sana." He reached forward and grabbed her hand. Her heart jumped in its cage, thumping loud against her chest. Her mouth went dry.
"I don't want to hide it anymore. What I feel for you. I'm tired of not being honest with you. And frankly, with myself."
In that moment, she finally realized.
What everyone had been saying to her from the start.
"Not just anyone can get close to Akimoto Hiro like that."
"What Hiro sees in you; I don't get it!"
"I guess you're right. Besides, why go for Hayama-kun when Akimoto Hiro is at your door, I suppose."
"You're a lucky girl and you don't even realize it. Oh, Sana-chan."
Oh no.
"Hiro…" She mustered out and he looked at her the way Yuta would look at Fuka. She gulped, the realization hitting her like a train.
"Sana, I'm madly in love with you."
He clutched her hand tightly, his warmness consuming her.
"Please, be mine."
A/N: I have to admit that this isn't my favorite chapter I've ever written. But it is needed. Sana's denseness is really just the end of her, isn't it? What's so obviously in front of her just goes right over her head. Also, needed to add some drama to the mix because what's high school without it?
Let me know your thoughts! As always, reviews, comments, concerns, etc. are always welcomed!
Till next time!
Dark Waffle