Chapter 8 – A Party with Secret Feelings
Ayano's POV
It took another half-hour for the two of us to arrive back in Kasukabe. And after I had dropped off Ayuko's package at home (and promised Misao again that I'll bring her some barbeque), we both headed for the Hiiragi residence for the welcome back party.
(So, one of these returning friends is K-A-G-A-M-I-senpai's twin sister? Why did she move?) Hosokoji-san asked as I was explaining to her what this party was all about.
"From what I was told before, she sighed up for a student exchange program a couple of months beforehand and she was chosen to transfer to a school in Takaoka known as Shinohara. And then she ran into the other friend who had transferred there before she did. And now, both are really good friends."
(I see. And both plan to stay there for their third year of high school?)
"Most likely. Tsukasa-chan was only supposed to stay there for a year. But I guess she convinced her parents or something to let her be a permanent student there."
(Wow…I did not know that was a thing.)
"She seems to be having fun, from what she told me earlier."
(I see…if I would have known that earlier, I probably would have done that myself. I hear you get benefits for having a disability as a transfer student.)
"Really know? Like as in someone translating your sign language?"
Hosokoji-san nodded. (But luckily I have P-A-T-T-Y-san to do it for me. Even though is not accurate sometimes.)
"I see…" I said.
Why didn't Patty-san just tell her about the subtitles? It would make things a lot easier…
The conversation we had (if you can call it that) took up enough of our time to arrive at the Hiiragi household. And after ringing the doorbell, we were greeted by the oldest twin of the family.
"Ayano, you made it." Kagami greeted me. She then took a look at who was standing next to me. "And Hosokoji, too? What a surprise to see you here."
"I ran into her while in Kichijōji for a bit." I said. "She…has a bit of a problem. And I brought her along knowing the other second-years would be here. I hope you don't mind."
"A problem, huh? Well, I'm sure it's fine. After all, it's Tsukasa's party. It'll give her a chance to meet you, Hosokoji."
(Okay, then. Pardon the sudden intrusion, K-A-G-A-M-I-senpai.)
…
(So, these subtitles really do appear whenever I sign. How am I now noticing it?) Hosokoji-san said after making a small depressed sigh.
"You told her about it?" Kagami asked me.
"Yeah. It was quite a shock for her. I had to calm her down for a few minutes."
"I see…"
The two of us then followed Kagami into her home and eventually towards the living room were most of the people were. Being Tsukasa-chan, Izumi-san, Yutaka-chan, Minami-san, Miyuki-san, and the twin's two older sisters Inori-san and Matsuri-san. Some of them looked like they were deep into a conversation.
"Hey, everyone." Kagami called out. "Ayano's here."
"Hey, hey, Aya…Tch!" Izumi-san was the first to respond…but then froze up once she saw Hosokoji-san standing next to me. "H-Hey…Hosokoji…"
"Wowie…hey there, Konno-chan!" Yutaka-san seemed happy about her friend's surprise visit.
"I thought you went back to Kichijōji for the break." Minami-san added.
(I did. But I ran into A-Y-A-N-O-senpai there and she invited me to tag along. I will be heading back after the party, though.)
"I see…"
"S-So…th-this is Hosokoji-san? Th-The girl you were talking about before right, Izumi-san?" Miyuki-san asked. Completely mesmerized by Hosokoji-san's beauty for the first time.
"W-Wowie…sh-she's so pretty…" Tsukasa-chan added while in the same effect.
"H-Holy mother of God, she's an angel…"
"I-Inori…I-I know it's kinda wrong, but…I-I could totally go gay for this…"
Even Inori-san and Matsuri-san were in complete awe of Hosokoji-san's insanely cute looks. But, unlike the others, they were trying to keep it on the down-low.
I guess their religious side still had some power over it…
"*sigh* Es geht wieder los..." Hosokoji-san mumbled to herself in German before covering her mouth.
"W-Wait, what?!" Kagami yelled in shock.
"Holy crap! Hosokoji just talked!" Izumi-san shouted in a bigger shock.
(Aw, phooey. I did not want to explain this now.) Hosokoji-san signed.
"Well…better sooner than later." I said to her.
*ONE EXPLANATION LATER…*
"And that's why she's here. To an extent."
"So, Hosokoji's half-Japanese and half-German…but only knows German." Kagami said. "And one of the reasons why she didn't want the hearing aid was because she feared that no one would understand her anymore. Is that it?"
Hosokoji-san simply nodded. Confirming that all of it was true.
"Wow…never would've thought."
"I brought her along thinking that Patty-san could just teach her both." I said. "Since she's helped Hosokoji-san communicate before."
"Oh, is that the reason?" Yutaka-chan asked. "Well…sorry to disappoint you, Ayano-senpai, but it's just going to be us two here."
"Why? Is Patty-san not coming?"
"No, not really. She and Hiyori-chan are both in Okinawa right now."
"W-Wait, WHAT?! Why are those two in Okinawa?!" Kagami asked in shock (and a little rage from jealousy).
"Neither one of them would say. At least, not Hiyori." Minami-san said. "Patty tried to a couple of times, but always got blocked off."
"You've gotta be kidding me…Misao's in Hakone and now Hiyori and Patty are in Okinawa…WHY DO THESE RESORT PLACES KEEP SCREWING WITH ME?!"
"You're probably fun to screw with, Kagamin~." Izumi-san said with a smirk.
"SHUT IT, YOU!"
"Now that I think about it, how come Kirin isn't here?" I asked.
"Oh, Kirin? I tried inviting her, but she said she was busy. She and Rui were going to Tokyo to get people to…*sigh* "wash it after", as Kirin said."
"Wash it after?" Izumi-san asked.
"The hell are you washing?" Matsuri-san asked.
"And what are you doing with it beforehand?" Miyuki-san asked.
"You know, I wanted to ask…but knowing Kirin, she would've probably made the answer into some perverted innuendo or something."
Makes sense coming from THAT girl…
"I-I see…" I said with a sweatdrop. "…Well, it looks like you're at a bit of a disadvantage here, Hosokoji-san. Sorry for dragging you here."
(It is okay, A-Y-A-N-O-senpai. I can still have fun here, at least. I will just have to keep signing and make sure I do not speak out in German all of a sudden.)
"I see…well, at least you have a positive outlook on it."
"Silent but deadly…a force to be reckoned with."
"Matsuri!" Inori-san scolded her younger sister.
"Girls. Another guest has arrived." We heard Mrs. Hiiragi say. And then saw Kei-san walk into the living room without much care in the world. Basically, his normal personality.
"Oh. It's just Kei." Kagami said.
"A somewhat warmer welcome than yesterday. You must be already used to me being back huh, Kagami?"
"N-No! D-Don't get the wrong idea, damnit! It's not like I MISSED you or anything!"
"And she's already gone tsundere…" I heard the other three Hiiragi sisters mumble to themselves.
"Anyway…" Kei-san said. "…kinda small here for a welcome party. You think there would be more people."
"Hiyori-san and Patty-san are busy from what I've heard." I said. "And then there's Misao being in Hakone…" I then secretly winked at him.
"Right…" He nodded back. It was then that Kei-san noticed Hosokoji-san standing next to me. "…So, then who's this girl? A friend of yours?"
"Well…"
"Oh! Kei-senpai!" Yutaka-chan cheered as she came over to us. "This is my friend Konno Hosokoji. The girl I told you about yesterday."
"The deaf girl, huh? Well…nice to meet you, Konno. Name's Kei Otoguro."
…
…
…
"Uh…hello?"
…
…
…
"Um...Did I offend her?"
"What's wrong, Konno-chan?" Yutaka-chan asked. It was then that Hosokoji-san came back from her sudden trance and signed something that, really…no one saw coming.
(Oh…I am sorry. It is just…O-T-O-G-U-R-O-san really is the first person I have met that did not fall in love with me due to my looks. It took me by surprise.)
"Fall in love with you? W-Wait, that's actually a thing?" Kei-san looked baffled. "I honestly thought you were joking about that, Yutaka."
"No…I wasn't." Yutaka-chan said. "Pretty much everyone has been affected by it so far."
(You really are the first person to be completely immune to my insane cuteness. It is a dream come true.) Hosokoji-san signed.
"Uh…"
"Woah…" Izumi-san said. "…for someone like Kei to be completely immune to Hosokoji's insanely cute aura…what kind of special powers do you have, Kei?!"
"I don't have special powers, you otaku loon!"
"You gotta if Hosokoji's cute aura has no effect on you! It has to be due to the Takaoka Effect, right?!"
"The what?"
"Kona-chan…" Tsukasa-chan said with a sweatdrop. "…Takaoka may be a place where weird things tend to happen, but I'm pretty sure there's no "effect" going on there."
"It's never been disproven, Tsukasa~ …"
"Seriously…?"
"Well, Izumi-san…" Miyuki-san said. "…it may be a possibility that Otoguro-san just doesn't find Hosokoji-san cute. He may have other preferences."
"M-Miyuki…don't just throw out assumptions like that." Kei-san said.
"So, you do think that Hosokoji-chan is cute?" Tsukasa-chan asked.
"W-Well…" Kei-san went silent for a bit. "…y-yeah, I do. But no offense, Konno…there's a girl who I just find cuter. S-Someone that I know, basically."
(Oh. I see. No offense taken then, O-T-O-G-U-R-O-san.)
"*sigh* That's good to hear…"
"What was that?" Kagami asked Tsukasa.
"N-Nothing! I didn't say anything…"
"Sounded like you did."
"W-Well, even if I did, why the hell is it any of your business?! Just…leave me alone, Kagami!" Tsukasa-chan then got up and left the living room. leaving the rest of us shocked at the cold nature she just gave her own twin sister.
"Ts-Tsukasa…" Kagami said while nearly in tears.
"*sigh* Just when we thought they were finally making up…" Inori-san said.
"Looks like this feud will really reach a full year…" Matsuri-san added.
Geez…Poor Kagami…
The party continued even with the tension between the Hiiragi Twins slowly growing worse. Everyone was having fun eating, talking, or whatever else came to mind. It was more enjoyable than I thought it was going to be.
As everyone was doing their own thing, I was sitting out by the wall watching it all go down. I wasn't the type of person to be highly involved in parties such as these. Just sitting out is fine for me.
…
Much like how I've been doing these past few years…
I never realized how accepting I was of being in the background…
*NOTIFICATION CHIME*
"Hey, hey! Don't forget to bring me some barbeque! I'm STARVING!" Misao had just sent me a text once again reminding me to bring her some food. We've been texting back and forth with me explaining what was going on with Hosokoji-san and the feud with Kagami and Tsukasa-chan.
But all Misao really cares about right now is food.
Her fang must've metaphorically taken over her again…
"I know, I know. I'll bring you some food. Just be patient." I texted her back.
*NOTIFICATION CHIME*
"Aya-chan~…"
"Ooh~…Misakichi begging for food. Very moé."
…
…
…
"Gah! Wh-Where did you come from?!" I yelled in shock after turning to see Izumi-san looking over my shoulder.
"Fufufu…the fact that you didn't notice me, Ayano means that my ninja skills are working."
"Breaking the 4th wall does not make you a ninja." I retorted with an agitated sweatdrop.
"Anyway~…you've been texting Misakichi for a while now. Whatcha talking about~?"
"Why is that any of your business?"
"Oh, nothing. just curious about the potential new couple coming to light. *giggle*"
"Will you just drop that already?" I said in an irritated tone.
Though I hate to admit it, she's dead-on accurate right now…
"Look, is there something you want, Izumi-san?"
"Oh, right…you two read the light novel I lent you, right?"
"Yes. We did." To be honest, I was still pissed about her making Toshinio-san write that novel about us. And the fact that she brought it up so casually didn't help ease my frustration, either.
"Great read, right? It totally roped me into the prospect of light novels. I originally never cared about them. But with this one…man, Kyouko really knows how to make a good plot. Am I right?"
"Yeah…I can agree."
So, she's casually admitting to being involved with Toshinio-san writing that book. Does she have ANY ounce of shame?
"Is that really all you wanted to talk to me about?" I asked.
"Well…no. There's actually something else."
"Something else, huh? This oughta be good…" I was still irritated with this girl for both being nosey with my conversation with Misao and bringing up Happy Go Lily 2 without a care in the world. So, I wanted to get this over with.
But what Izumi-san said next really took me by surprise. Mainly because…
"Be honest with me…does Misao hate me?"
"*cough* *cough* *cough* H-Huh?!"
…I was NOT expecting that.
"Wh-Where did a question like THAT come from?!"
"Well…I kinda had this feeling since our first year. Back when I first met you guys. I was able to make friends with Kagami, Tsukasa, you…"
Since when were we friends?
"…but Misao wouldn't even talk to me. In fact, she basically ignored me for the whole year. And when the second year came, she finally spoke to me…only to call me a midget. Which is somehow less offensive than Kirin calling me a sex pillow."
"I…can kinda understand that." I said with a sweatdrop.
"It's just been bugging me for a while. And I was hoping to get a straight answer from her today but she's in freaking Hakone. So, I'm asking you instead."
"I see. And you want me to be COMPLETELY honest?"
"Yeah. And I mean it, too."
Well, if she's truly serious about it…
"Okay, then. If I'm being completely honest…Misao does hate you. And frankly, I hate you, too. You're annoying, selfish, perverted, and a flat-out nuisance. The only reason we put up with you is because of Kagami. But even then, we still got pushed aside like we're a bunch of unimportant side characters. And because of that, we've hated you from the start."
…
…
…
We both sat in silence for a good while. What I just said to her…it felt like I was releasing all sorts of pent-up anger I've felt for so long. I definitely felt a lot better after saying all of that to her face.
But who's to say what Izumi-san feels about it…
"W-Wow…o-okay, then. That was an eye-opener." She finally broke the silence. "I…I-I'm just gonna go. Sorry for bothering you, Ayano." She then got up and started walking away. But as she did, I saw tears forming in her eyes. And she walked away slowly as she was trying to hold it in. But was failing hard.
Aw, geez. That doesn't look good…
And with that thought in mind, I decided to sneak out of the party and head home. Not wanting to deal with the aftermath of this situation.
Misao's POV
"…I'm okay, really. You guys just enjoy your vacation. You deserve it."
"Well…okay then sweetie. Just checking in. We'll be back next week, so…see you then, I guess."
"See ya!" I then hung up the phone and let out a huge sigh. "Geez…even on vacation, Dad's still a worrywart. Makes me wonder how he'll handle me moving out once I graduate high school."
I was just sitting around Ayano's living room still waiting for her to get back from that party. It…honestly kinda sucks that I couldn't go. But for all they know, the others think I'm in Hakone right now. So, it'll really look bad for me if I just showed up without much of an explanation.
Aside from the fact that Ayano and I are dating…
"I'm home…" I heard Ayano's voice as she had entered her house.
"Hey, hey! Aya-chan!" I cheered as I rushed over and gave her a hug and a kiss.
"*giggle* Geez, did you really miss me that much? It was only a few hours."
"I know, but…even for that long, being without you was total hell. I was bored and hungry and…really lonely, too."
"Misao…" Ayano said with a guilt-filled tone before giving me a kiss of her own. "Don't worry. From this point onward, it'll just be the two of us. No one else to interfere with our tradition. I promise."
"Aya-chan…" I said with tears forming. But managed to hold them in. "*sniff* I really do love you, Aya-chan."
"I love you too, Misa-chan." Ayano replied as we hugged it out right there in the doorway.
…
…
…
"By the way…I brought you barbeque~…"
"Yay! Barbeque!" I cheered as I snatched the plate from Ayano and ran back towards the living room to devour it all.
"*giggle* I knew you couldn't resist Mr. Hiiragi's barbeque. You always loved it back when we were in middle school."
"Man…this was the one thing tempting me to go to that party. But I knew that if I did, Chibikko would be on my ass about it."
"Um…yeah." Ayano then went silent for a bit. "You know, speaking of Izumi-san…she did ask me something earlier."
"Oh, did she now? Bet it was something perverted and nonsensical."
"Well…no. She actually asked me if…if you hated her."
"*cough* *cough* *cough* *cough* W-Wait, huh?! She asked THAT?!" I yelled in shock after almost choking on a piece of meat.
"Yeah…she did. Took me by surprise, too."
"And uh…wh-what did you tell her?"
"Well, she wanted me to be completely honest, so…I told her the truth. That we both hated her for how annoying and perverted she is. And she took it pretty hard."
"Aw, geez…"
"Yeah…it's gonna be really tense when get go back to school."
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…
…
"Oh, well. We'll deal with it when the time comes. For right now, let's just enjoy our time together. Aya-chan."
"*sigh* You really are carefree, Misa-chan." Ayano said before giving me another kiss on the mouth. This one being longer than the other ones.
"Then again…it's another reason why I love you."
"*giggle* Aya-chan…"
Our lives as the Other Two continues! Hahahaha!
Author's Note: Different types of emotions flowed through this party. Love. Hatred. Guilt. It was a good idea for Ayano to sneak out of there. I would've done the same.
So, this is a brand-new chapter…kinda. This was actually the chapter I was working on before I called it quits with this story. And it's been bugging me for a while. So, I decided to not only finish this one but also rewrite the previous ones. As some needed fixing.
This doesn't really mean the story is fully back. At least not now. If I have time in the future, I'll definitely come back to this story. I really do want to give it a second chance. Until then, though…enjoy the rewrites and new chapters.
Thanks for reading. Later.