Chapter 3 - "Declaration of the Rival"

"Watch out!" He tugged the other side of the rope when he saw a ball incoming my way. I was pulled to his chest or that's what I thought. He side stepped as I face the ground with my knees and face. 'Kami-sama is this the reason you made me grow up in the hospital? I understand now. Please give me patience.' I ranted as I stood up breathing in and breathing out heavily.

"Why didn't you catch me?" I turned to him pointing the bruises on my knees.

"Why would I catch a germ? Duh. That's very disgusting." He said. I was on the verge of snapping when I remembered I'm indebted with this person. 'Calm down (y/n) remember that you're indebted with this jerk. You want to pay him back. Yes. That's it.' I took a deep breath when I felt that he's pulling the other side of the cloth already.

"Come with me" He said. He dragged me to a area where it's less crowded.

"Why did you take me here? I thought you're gonna show me the Hatchiko Statue." I asked.

"Sit" He pointed to the bench behind me. I followed his instruction. He brought out something from his bag, an alcohol and a band aid.

"What's in your bag anyway? Every time I see you bring out something it's either a disinfectant or a cleaning supply." He just raised a brow like he didn't hear what I said.He bended on one knee as he opened the bottle of alcohol and sprayed it to my wound. He looked at me and I just smiled.

"Does it hurt?" He asked.

I shook my head and said. "No, I'm used to this. I grew up the hospital more like prison. They do far more worse than what you're doing right now."I laughed. His eyes showed a bit of concerned which made me uncomfortable. I don't like being pitied. I hate those kinds of eyes.

He gave me the band aid that he's holding between his thumb and forefinger while raising the other fingers looking like a number 3 sign.

"Here, put it on yourself. I don't want to touch germs" I giggled at his expression. 'He hates germs that much?' I thought. 'That's cute.' I added. I took the band aid and applied it to my bruise.

I stood up and said. "So, what now? We can't see the Hatchiko statue anymore. There's a lot of people there you'll feel uncomfortable." He just looked at me.

"I can take you there. It's my job anyway." He suggested.

"No, don't. Don't force yourself to do something you're uncomfortable with." I placed my hand on my chin trying to think of something. "Ah!" I raised my forefinger. "I have an idea. Why not tell me the Hatchiko story although I've read it already. It'll be a whole new different story if I heard it from you." I smiled. I patted the seat right beside me while I looked at him asking him to seat. He crossed his brow and brought out Lysol out of his bag. He sprayed it on the bench before sitting. We're one human apart like when we first met in the hospital. I smiled as I remembered.

"Hachiko was a Japanese Akita dog remembered for his remarkable loyalty to his owner, Hidesaburo Ueno, for whom he continued to wait for over nine years following Ueno's death." He narrated.

"He's one loyal dog isn't he??" I smiled as I looked up at the clear sky. He did the same.

"No, he's one stupid dog. He waited for a germ." He brought his face mask down letting the sun ray kiss his skin as he closed his eyes. I was looking at him with awe. 'He's one pretty boy.' I thought.

"Why do you hate germs anyway?" I asked. His eyes opened and I saw pain.

Sakusa's P.O.V.

'Why do I hate germs?' I thought. I looked at her. She reminds me of her. She's a happy go lucky person. She gives me that light as a feather feeling.

Flashback (Sakusa when 5 years old.)

"Omi~!!" She called. She opened her arms wide open for me to be locked in her embrace.

"Mama!" I shouted as I ran towards her embrace.

She looked at me. "You played in the dirt again, Omi" She patted my shirt and pants removing the dirt on them. "Didn't I tell you there's a lot of germs there? Do you want to get sick? I'll be sad if you do" She asked.

"No, I'll never play in the dirt again mama." I hugged her. She carried me on her arms.

"Let's go take a bath." She said. She prepared a lukewarm bath and took my clothes off. As he rubs my back. I asked her.

"Mama, how long do germs live?" I looked at her.

She gave me a sweet smile. "They don't live that long but they can damage your health, Omi." She smiled and continued to wash me. 'I'll be the cleanest person on earth.' I proclaimed in my head.

End of Flashback.

"But you're the germ..." I murmured as the rays of sunlight kissed my eyes.

"What did you say??" She asked. 'Ah, I got lost in my thoughts again' I thought. I pulled my mask back up and stood.

"I just hate them because they're dirty." I said. I pulled the other end of the cloth. "Get up! Let's go." I commanded.

(Y/N)'s P.O.V.

'What's with him?' I thought. 'Did he have a bad memory on a germ? What memory could a germ give him anyway.' I added. I wonder what he meant about 'You're the germ?' Is he pertaining to me?

I stood up and followed him. The whole walk was quiet. He brought me to a famous food chain. It's so crowded and hot. I tugged the other side of the cloth.

"Let's eat somewhere else." I looked around and saw a high end restaurant. "Like...There!" I pointed.

"That's an expensive restaurant." He complained.

"And not crowded." I giggled. "It's on me but, one condition you can't say no to what I'm about to ask later okay?" I dragged him to the restaurant before he could even say a word. The waiter showed us to our seat as usual, he prayed Lysol to his seat. I let go of the cloth rolled on my palm for a while.

"So what's the condition?" He asked as he looks on the menu.

"Before that, don't you remember me?" I asked. He looked in my eyes. I can see his cold black orb shimmer in the reflection of light. 'It's so pretty' I thought.

"No, did we met before?" He answered.

"Yes and I'm going to make you remember." I said. "So, my condition is go out with me next weekend not as my fake boyfriend but, as a friend that I'll be touring around." I smiled. I pointed my fork in front of him.

"To where? And what are you doing? Weirdo." He asked pointing at the fork.

"It's a secret. Don't worry it's not that crowded. And this fork, It's our sign of agreement." I smiled. "You don't want to shake my hand so, just tap your fork against mine as an agreement." I pointed his fork. He raised his fork hesitating for a second but, eventually tapping his fork on to mine making a clang sound.

We ate our food and headed out. I took the end of the cloth again and rolled it onto my palm. We we're laughing on our way out after talking about how he's not so gentleman after letting me fall a while ago.

We we're about to go to another destination when we saw Liliana. Her eyes grew and she seemed shocked.

"Hey Liliana!" I greeted.

"Oh, Hey (y/n)!" She turned to Sakusa "Hey...Omi" she greeted back. I can feel the awkward tension between them.

"Tch" I heard Sakusa annoyed. Liliana looked at the cloth in between us.

"Can I talk to you for a second (y/n)?" she asked. I pulled an envelope from my bag and unrolled the cloth on from my hand. I handed Sakusa the envelope.

"Thanks for today Saku-chan!" I smiled. His eyes grew upon hearing 'Saku-chan' so did Liliana's.

We parted ways and I followed Liliana. We got inside a cafe and took a seat.

"Are you okay? Do you feel good?" She asked.

Confused about the sudden question, I answered. "I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

"Actually, I was called the other day out of the teachers concern. They were worried that you're not doing well especially that you've been confined for a long time." she said as she sip her cup of tea gracefully. 'She's so pretty and graceful' I thought.

"Oh that, I'm okay now. The doctor said that I'm stable now that's why I've been discharged." I said. "So how's your date?" she asked.

"It's not a date!" I corrected. "It's just a tour around the city. It's just a coincidence that he's the one I got booked with the rent a boyfriend app." I explained.

"Oh, Omi does that now huh? I'm impressed." She whispered.

"Are you and Sakusa close? You're calling him by his first name." I asked out of curiosity. She just smiled at me and stood up.

"Let's go." She said.

Liliana's P.O.V.

'Should I tell her? But, If I do she might have the same feelings for him like I do. It'll be such a hassle to let her chase a guy who doesn't want any help.' I thought.

Flashback (A year before)

Sakusa has been my first ever crush. We've been classmates since middle school. Although he's a germophobe and doesn't like anyone near him. I think it's cute and a unique. One day as I'm walking back home. Someone called my name to my surprise it's him. "You dropped your handkerchief." He said. He didn't pick it up. Instead he just pointed it on the ground. Understandable since, he's a germophobe. 'I can't believe he remembers me' I thought.

Every evening I'll sneak to the gym to watch him play volleyball. It's the only place I can see him not wearing a face mask. We sometimes get to talk about little things until, I became his partner on a project one day. We decided to go to his house and finish the work there.

When I got there, there was only him. His parents were not there. I asked him. "Where are your parents?"

"My dad's in the hospital" He said. "My mom... she's away." He gestured me to seat down and we both got the works done.

Out of curiosity before, leaving I asked him. "Why's your dad in the hospital?" He just stared at me, he didn't answer. "How about the bills who's paying?"

"Me." He replied. He never talked after that. He showed me my way out.

The next few days I was busy creating a fund raising for him. I wanted to help him in any way as possible.

One day, he came barging into the classroom. "Oh, hi Omi!" I greeted.

"Why did you do that?!" He shouted. Komori in the background trying to hold him back. I was scared. I've never seen that expression before.

"D-did what..?" I stuttered.

"You're the one who's sending me money!" He threw the pieces of envelope on my table. "I never asked for help! Are you trying to look down on me because of my situation?! I'm not a beggar Liliana!" He shouted.

"I w-was just trying to help, Omi!" I pleaded as I touched his arm. He swung his arm away.

"Don't touch me germ! Don't ever show that pitiful expression again." He turned his back. I was so scared and so hurt.I ran towards him.

"It's because I like you!" I shouted in the corridor. People we're looking at us but, I didn't care. "I did that because I like you, Omi! I wanted to help." He turned to look at me. His eyes were different. They possess a monstrous aura.

"Did you really like me or did you pity me?" He said with a scary smile on his face before turning his back. I was left in the corridor processing all that happened.He was my first love and I won't give him up. I want to help.

END OF FLASHBACK

As me and (y/n) is walking I stopped before parting ways. I turned to her.

"What's wrong Liliana?" she asked.

"About Sakusa, he's my first love and I'm not giving up on him." I smiled. "Let the best girl win." I offered my hand for a hand shake. She took my hand hesitating while she's trying to process everything that's happening.

TO BE CONTINUED.