Just Ride Along

“What do you mean you’re going to Keiji's house and have a tutoring session with him this weekend?” Ritsu asked, shocked over the phone.

“Exactly what it sounds,” Kanae replied, nonchalantly as she stares at the ceiling while lying on her bed.

“You mean Keiji? Ryuu-kun’s friend? The same guy who ignored me that day we were assigned to watch over them?!” Ritsu asked again, finding the words that just came out of her best friend's mouth hard to believe.

Kanae doesn’t have to see Ritsu’s face to figure out what kind of reaction she is currently showing. Her voice says it all.

“Ritsu-chan, he is the only Kurayami Keiji at school.” Kanae reminded her.

“How come? Sorry, it was just unexpected that he chose you out of all of his options, and again? You did agree? YOU DID AGREE? HOSHIZORA KANAE?!"

Kanae moved her phone slightly away from her ear, afraid that her eardrum might burst any second due to Ritsu's loud, high pitched voice.

“The offer wasn’t that bad, plus I don’t want to be unfair. You know that I’ve always taught others who ask for my help, right? I don’t want to make Keiji an exemption just because his reputation isn’t that good among teachers.” Kanae explained, in her defense.

“God, I’m so proud of you, Kana. But still, what a lucky bastard he was for you to dedicate your precious time with him.” Ritsu expressed.

Kanae laughs, “It’s fine, he is willing to pay in exchange.”

“But honestly, I’ve got a weird feeling about it,” Ritsu commented.

She raised her eyebrow as if Ritsu could see her, “What do you mean?”

“I think…” Ritsu pauses for a moment before continuing, “He might be into you.” She sings with the tone of the song ‘Still Into You’ by Paramore but Kanae only chuckles and shoves the idea away.

“I don’t think so. You’ve mentioned it yourself, he ignored someone like you whom other boys would go head over heels for, so what more if it’s me?” She admitted.

“Or might be that he is not interested in someone like me because he is interested in a girl like you.” Ritsu teased.

Kanae felt a strange feeling on her chest with that idea. Is that possible? Or maybe Ritsu is just saying that to mess up with her, or probably to make her feel better.

Kanae is too much of a realist to make unreasonable assumptions.

“Or maybe he just wants to graduate on-time.” She defended and Ritsu finally shuts her mouth, accepting her defeat.

“So are you coming with me this weekend? He proposed that I can bring you along if I want to make sure he will not do something stupid and he’ll also invite Ryuu if you’ll come.” She informed her.

It didn’t take a second for Ritsu to respond, “Hell yeah, I have to see for myself that he is not going to do anything wrong with you.”

Kanae smiles, “Thanks, Ritsu-chan.”

*****

“Kana, wake up!” Kanae’s mom shouted, and pulled the blanket down away from her and she felt a sudden chill of the cold morning breeze due to the absence of the thick fabric while laying on her futon.

“Mom, I don’t have classes today.” She groaned, voice muffled by the pillow covering her head, shielding her drowsy eyes from the bright morning light.

“There is a handsome guy in front of our house,” Kanae’s mom whispered but her voice screams panic.

Even if that guy was the most handsome man on the planet, Kanae couldn’t care any less. “So?” She snorted pulling the blanket back up.

“Kana, he is looking for you!”

Kanae abruptly comes to her senses and sits up on her bed.

'Holy shit.' She inwardly cursed.

Panic rises through her chest as she jumps out of bed and peeks at the window. Her eyes widened in shock as she saw Keiji wearing a plain white shirt, black jeans, leaning on his motor-bike being pretty occupied with his phone.

Well, Kanae wouldn’t deny that he looks so damn hot but… screw that! She has to figure out what’s happening as soon as possible.

She checks her phone and sees several unread messages and missed calls, mostly from Ritsu and Keiji, but more than that, the time reads 10:21 AM.

'Kamisama, did I forget to set the alarm?!' She questioned herself, inwardly.

She immediately dashed towards the bathroom, washed her face, brushed her teeth, and stormed out of their house as Keiji is probably waiting for about twenty minutes already given that they’ve agreed for him to fetch her at ten.

The moment she was outside, Keiji slowly raised his head to face her, reacting with an unreadable expression. He gives Kanae a head to toe look, not uttering a word. His eyes roamed from her disheveled hair, faded gray shirt, red and black checkered pajama bottoms, to her furry house slippers.

“Sorry,” She apologized that Keiji's gaze went back right straight to her eyes.

Kanae looked away, “I overslept.”

Damn, she knows she is being unprofessional, and also… embarrassing, that is. Keiji continues to remain silent.

She questions what he thinks of her now and why is he not saying anything? Is he angry? Pissed off? Disappointed?

Her heart was starting to beat rapidly due to the anxiousness surging inside her chest.

On top of that, she looks like a mess. Keiji is probably doing a great job holding back his laughter, she thought. Eventually, a small smile formed on his lips. As if he looks so… amused? She was unsure of it, however, Kanae still felt a sense of relief because she expected a worse reaction than this one.

“Should I deduct it in your pay?” He teased, grinning.

Kanae is unsure if she is just imagining things or not but she feels like the atmosphere is becoming lighter, and that she doesn’t have to worry so much after all.

She nods, “Better than being fired on my first day,” She rode along as both of them laughed at their silliness.

“I don't really mind either way but... will you come wearing that or what?” Keiji asked, referring to Kanae's current attire.

“Ten minutes,” she replied, “give me ten minutes, I swear I’ll make it fast.”

Keiji glances at his wristwatch, “Alright.”

And Kanae storms back into their house without wasting any second after his agreement. She felt that it was the most intense ten minutes of her life as she managed to shower, get dressed, and fix all of her stuff that she’ll be needing for the day, within that short amount of time. Damn, did she just set a new word record there? Good thing she had enough sleep to provide her sufficient energy because she’ll probably be having a long, long day.

Keiji notes she still has a minute left when she comes back, near him and Kanae just laughed at him saying she didn’t expect he’ll keep track of the time.

He handed her the helmet but Kanae hesitated to take it when she realized that Keiji was not wearing one.

“How about you?” she asked.

“You can simply say thanks you know?” Keiji chuckles, “I’ve always ridden this motor-bike by myself so I don’t have a spare one.”

He shoves the helmet further towards Kanae, “Take it.”

Kanae simply stares at it for a while, thinking if it’s really fine.

“Your mother might kill me if I won’t be able to bring her daughter back, safe and sound.” He argued as he saw that Kanae was hesitating.

She sighs and finally takes it, “Just drive carefully if you want me to come home in one piece.”

“I cannot promise,” he laughs. “That’s why I’m giving you the helmet.”

'This guy screams trouble since day one.' Kanae’s no longer surprised with his antics.

“Do you want this tutoring session to end on the first day?” She warned.

“Just kidding… I mean, I can promise. Maybe?” He grinned.