Symptoms of Romantic Realizations - Part 1

Our school trip has finally ended and we are back to our normal school life. Normal, did I say?

ARGHHH! I'm seating on my seat right now and I can clearly remember what I said to Suzuki that night!

'I promise that I will not make you sad....' and stuff?! Gah, that was so embarrassing! I want to smack my head towards the wall! Come to your senses, Kusakabe Tanaka! She even said that I sound like I am proposing to her! My goodness, gracious!

Because of that, I can't really look her directly in the eye since this early morning! Eek! Just seeing a bit of scene from that night inside my mind makes me super flustered! Like extremely flustered!

N-No, this is just a trial, Kusakabe Tanaka. You are not like that. You can face that hurdle! After all, you are the toughes-

"Yo, Tanaka," greeted Suzuki.

"Eek!" I reacted.

"Hmm? Is something wrong?" asked Suzuki.

"N-Nothing, really," I said.

Out of a sudden, she places her palm on my forehead.

"Oh, you're warm," said Suzuki. "Do you feel sick?"

C-Crap! I'm warm because you're touching me!

"I-I'm fine, really!" I answered. "Maybe because my body is slowly adjusting since winter is coming..."

W-What an excuse I just said!

"Haha, I know you're embarrassed since I touched you!" teased Suzuki.

S-She knows!

"I-I'm not embarrassed!" I answered.

I need to drive this conversation to a new topic!

"Well, look me in the eye then," said Suzuki.

She presses her forehead against mine, then our eyes meet closer than usual.

"W-What are you-" I reacted.

"Just checking if you can really focus on me," replied Suzuki.

This is bad! My overall temperature is rising! W-What an embarrassing situation! Plus, we're inside the classroom, isn't this a little...?!

"My, oh my, getting flirty over here, eh?" said Amatsuka.

"No, I'm just checking if he has a fever," replied Suzuki. "He looks legit dizzy or something."

"Hmmm~," said Amatsuka as she stares at me.

W-What's the deal with Amatsuka-san?! Why is she fixated on me all of the sudden?

"Hoho," reacted Amatsuka. "Boy, it seems like you have something troubling you..."

Why is she speaking like she's elderly?

"T-Troubling? What are you talking about?" I asked.

"I can see it in your eyes," said Amatsuka. "You have an infatuation trouble!"

I-Infa-what?!

"T-That's impossible!" I reacted.

"I know you're still in deep thoughts," whispered Amatsuka. "So, I, Love Expert Amatsuka, shall help you with your agenda! Hahaha!"

L-Love Expert?! Is this self-proclaimed or...

"Why would I need a Love Expert to help me?" I asked. "I'm not even..."

"Sooner or later, you shall seek for my assistance," whispered Amatsuka. "As for my earliest hypothesis, you are being troubled whether you will confess to Suz-"

I covered her mouth before she can even finish speaking.

"W-What are you talking about?!" I reacted. "Go to your seat since the class will start soon!"

"Hahaha! Okay, then," said Amatsuka. "As I said, you will seek for my help the soonest... HAHAHA..."

Good thing, she left. Sigh.

"She has been lively since before the school break, eh?" I said.

"Probably she watched a ton of movies while we're on a break," said Suzuki. "It reached the point that it affected the way she speaks. Hahaha, she's amusing to hear."

T-That's a cause I will not count out.

"By the way, do you listen to Koi no Radio?" asked Suzuki.

"Sometimes, if I feel listening to," I answered. "Why do you ask?"

"The topic last night was interesting, at least for us girls mostly," said Suzuki.

Oh, she likes romance themed entertainment?

"What's the topic, then?" I said. "I kinda got curious."

"It was all about love symptoms," she replied.

L-Love symptoms?!

"S-Symptoms? I-Is it some kind of disease?" I asked.

"It's just a metaphor, of course," said Suzuki. "There's this someone who wrote to the DJ about her unexplainable feelings for a boy classmate."

T-That's silly. Why would someone share that kind of story with the public? T-That's embarrassing...

"She was confused about what her feelings are, so she narrated everything to the host thru a letter," said Suzuki.

"W-What were the factors that she mentioned?" I asked.

I-I'm curious like I said.

"Hmm, the girl said that whenever she sees the boy, her heart races as if it already has beaten the national record of heart BPM," said Suzuki.

R-Racing heart?! M-Mine is just beating heavily fast when I see Suzuki, though. It must be different, right? Hehehe.

"W-What more?" I asked.

"She feels super warm like she's a steam engine in work if she's talking with the boy," added Suzuki.

W-Warm?! I-I feel absolutely hot earlier! I-It's just a coincidence right?!

"I-Is there more?!" I asked.

"Hmm, the last thing I remembered was she mentioned that whenever she is with him, she feels toasty and joyful inside," said Suzuki.

T-Toasty?! Why are her factors almost the same as mine?! Could it be that I... Hmm, no! T-That can't be!

"Are there more?!" I reacted.

"I fell asleep midway since it was a late-night talk," said Suzuki. "But I woke up when it is in the ending part. The host concluded that those were symptoms of romantic feelings!"

R-ROMANTIC FEELINGS?!

"R-Romantic feelings?! H-Haha~ What a baloney,~" I said.

Crap! I'm really confused now because of what she narrated! Why does it seem those symptoms are somehow a super little bit identical with mine?!

"You said it is a joke, but you may not know that you're already in love with me," said Suzuki.

W-WHA...!?

"W-What are you saying?! Cut that out!" I reacted.

"Hahaha! I'm just kidding," said Suzuki. "You react quicker and more visible than usual, eh?"

"I-I'm not! You're imagining things, okay?!" I said.

"Okay, then. If you say so, Tanaka," said Suzuki. "By the way, I'm going to be with Riko this lunchtime since I promised her so I can't join you."

"O-Okay..." I said.

Good thing the cafeteria isn't crowded this time but, I'm going to eat alone!

What's more unusual is that why did I feel a little bit lonely when she said that she will not be joining me for lunch. No, it probably is because I want a friend beside me. That's all!

I'm sitting alone here at a two chaired table set, sipping a beef stock soup. This is so flavorful!

Where are Tatsumi and Koyanagi, anyway? They could have been with me right now!

As for Suzuki, uhh...

"Where could she be right now...?" I uttered while staring at the ceiling.

"She's on the rooftop with Riko, want to check her out?" asked Amatsuka.

"W-Whoa! You were there?!" I reacted.

"Yes, the moment you involuntarily said that you're curious whether Suzuki Kotori is," said Amatsuka.

S-She heard that?! How embarrassing! In the first place, why did I even utter that?!

"You like her, don't you?" asked Amatsuka.

"W-What are you saying, Amatsuka-san! T-That's...!" I said.

"Don't worry, I will help you configure what's bothering you," said Amatsuka. "Let's talk about it. I don't have anyone in accompany right now so this is a perfect chance."

Can this self-proclaimed love expert help me with these unexplainable thoughts?!

"Something's really bothering your thoughts, right?" asked Amatsuka.

"W-Well, yeah," I said. "Something like that."

To be clear, I'm not expecting this to be romantic feelings! I just want to seek advice!

"Like what?" she asked.

"L-Like, I don't want to make her sad," I said. "I-I just want to see her happy all the time."

Eek! Did I just really said it?!

"My heart somehow beats faster than usual whenever I'm with her, and the beating intensifies whenever both of us are in a certain situation," I added.

"Hmm, hmm," reacted Amatsuka. "Is there more?"

"I-I'm embarrassed whenever specific situations occur," I added. "T-That's it!"

G-Gosh, I am panting, legit!

"You're hiding something, aren't you?" said Amatsuka.

"Huh?! I-I'm not!" I said.

I can't tell her those specific situations!

"Your factors are somehow vague to me!" said Amatsuka. "There's this possibility that you actually like her or you're just shy around her since she's the opposite sex!"

"T-That's it! I-It must because I'm not good with talking to girls!" I said.

"Then, why don't you have any difficulties talking to me?" asked Amatsuka. "You didn't have any trouble talking to Riko-san, to the student council president, and the others. You seem flustered whenever you're talking to Suzuki Kotori."

"I-It's because she's always teasing me!" I answered.

"Even so, you guys are often together for more than a year already," said Amatsuka. "You should have been used whenever you are with her unless you have 'specific' feelings."

S-She doesn't stop!

"Sigh, since your narrative is somehow vague, let's do an imaginary checklist," said Amatsuka.

"C-Checklist of what?" I asked.

I don't have a good feeling about this.

"The seven main symptoms of a person having feelings for someone," said Amatsuka. "Number one, you think of the person often or always. She will eventually cross your mind time to time."

"W-What's next?" I asked.

"Number two, you want her to be with you all the time," added Amatsuka. "You feel super excited whenever you are with the person. You don't want her going anywhere else."

W-What I uttered earlier shouldn't be considered here, right?!

"Number three, your heart races unusually whenever you talk to her or something is closely involved about her," added Amatsuka. "The feeling of just hearing her name makes you jittery inside."

"W-What are the other three?" I asked. "I bet I wouldn't hit three or four marks here!"

Fortify your heart, Tanaka!

"Number four, you see her being different from other girls," said Amatsuka. "Like you have acknowledged her beauty and everything great about her. You might not even help but look at her when she doesn't know."

I-I did say Suzuki was b-beautiful! I-Is this one strike?!

"Number five, you feel that time flies whenever you are with her," said Amatsuka. "You don't want a single moment with her to end quickly."

O-Our almost every single moment is actually me being teased!

"Number six, you want her to be happy all the time," said Amatsuka. "You don't want to see her hurt or sad or any negative emotion inflicting her as much as possible. You want to do everything to cheer her up whenever it happens."

M-Mine was just an apology, okay?!

"Well, there you have it," said Amatsuka. "Did something hit the mark? Hmm~"

"N-Nothing, for now!" I reacted. "T-This is a restart! Back to zero! If I ever feel that way, I'll consider that, I guess."

"That's my boy!" said Amatsuka. "If you completed marking all of those, then you should know that you like Suzuki Kotori, romantically."

"T-That won't happen...!" I said.

"Just be honest to yourself," said Amatsuka. "It will benefit you for real."

H-Honest to myself? I-I am, in the first place...

"I'll be going back to the classroom once I returned this to the dish dispenser!" I said.

"I'll be leaving first, then," said Amatsuka. "See you, Tanaka-kun."

"Yeah, see ya," I said.

Ugh, that was some kind of advice. Symptoms of love, eh...? It feels hypothetical for me to complete it...

Wait, she did say seven but...

"Amatsuka-san!" I called as she was leaving the cafeteria. "What's the seventh symptom?"

Come on, she really forgot about it?

"It is...," said Amatsuka.

A bunch of noisy students crowding towards the cafeteria arrives as she was about to reveal the seventh. Everything has been inaudible until they completely pass through.

"%$#$#@&!" screamed Amatsuka. "Got it?"

"I didn't!" I yelled.

She walks towards me, to converse better.

"Too bad you didn't hear it," said Amatsuka.

"Just reveal it!" I reacted.

"Hahaha! That's the ultimate symptom!" said Amatsuka. "Once you realized it yourself, then you are clearly positive for being in love! See ya!"

"W-Wait...!"

Ugh, she quickly left. I wonder what it is...

I can't believe Satsuki-sensei caught me daydreaming in class! That was one of the core embarrassment I experienced! My punishment was to help him carry the box filled with the mock exams for the whole student body.

Ugh, I feel so tired. I better go home.

Come to think of it, did she already went first?

"W-Whatever, I should get my things now," I uttered.

I arrive in our classroom and Suzuki is still in her seat, reading a magazine. F-For some reason, I felt glad that she's still here. W-Weird. M-My heart starts to r-race as well. I feel nervous.

"Oh, Tanaka. Finally finished?" asked Suzuki.

"I thought you went home already?" I asked.

"Nah, I want to wait for you," said Suzuki. "Plus, I'm still reading the latest issue of this magazine. It's enjoyable!"

C-Crap, I feel glad that she actually waited for me.

"Come on, then," I said. "Once I finished packing my things, we'll go."

"What's your horoscope again?" asked Suzuki.

I-Ignoring me?!

"Cancer," I said. "Why do you ask?"

"Hmm, wow, your fortune for today really sucks!" said Suzuki.

I-Is she intentionally pissing me off?!

"Well, thanks for informing!" I said.

"Except, the love fortune is exceptionally high!" added Suzuki. "It says that you'll have a high chance of having a special moment with your romantic interest for today!"

"T-That's the fortune I least needed!" I said. "P-Plus, I don't have any roman-"

Tsk, she looks joyful about this!

"I bet you're fortune today sucks as well!" I said.

"Then check it," said Suzuki. "Here, read it. I'm an Aquarius."

"Hmp, I'm sure yours are..." I said.

Aquarius... Aquarius....

"Ha! It says that every fortune of yours terribly sucks... b-but..." I said.

"Hmm? What's the continuation?" asked Suzuki.

T-That smile... She knows it already!

Our fortune according to this horoscope is identical! Her love fortune for today is the same as mine, as well as the description! The word choice was the only thing different!

"Say, Tanaka," said Suzuki. "Do you think our horoscopes are compatible?"

"C-Compatible? O-On what category....?" I asked.

"Hmm, in romance, to be exact," answered Suzuki.

"W-Wha...?!" I reacted. "I-I don't know..."

"You know what," said Suzuki. "I strongly want it to be compatible, of course."

T-The moment she said that, my heart races stronger than it was earlier. T-This is unusual. I feel satisfied with this. W-What in the world...?

"Haha, let's go home!" said Suzuki. "The last one to reach the gate treats the winner a juice!"

"H-Hey, wait!" I reacted.

Sigh, come on now. She's energetic even it's already dismissal. I-It's a bit of a sight to see.

Argh! I guess I'll put a checkmark on one symptom for now. Just one!