9 BEST FRIEND ONLY?

Rukia actually didn't seem like she was thinking about it. She took Reina to leave the music club and head to the nearest mini market. Her face was cheerful. Even the sad Reina got infected with her smile along the way.

"Want that?!" exclaimed Rukia excitedly. She pointed to a crepe seller across the street with an even brighter face. "Look. Gosh... Great! I haven't eaten sweets in a long time!"

"Eh? Rukia!"

Rukia doesn't care. She kept dragging Reina closer and bought 3 crepes at once. Reina thought, that much for what?

It turned out to be 2 for her, and 1 for Rukia herself. Her best friend didn't hesitate to give her last pocket money for the day to the seller when Reina was still confused.

"Here, hold it," said Rukia. Then give the two crepes. "Eat, hm? Isn't it great to eat sugary foods? Ha ha..."

"H-Hey, Rukia-chan..."

"Already... Just eat."

"But-"

"No buts!" exclaimed Rukia happily. "The important thing is that you come back SPIRIT! After this we race to the house, how about it? Later we will also do the tasks from Akira-sensei earlier. Agree?"

"Ugh..." Reina sighed. "T-Thank you, Rukia. Once again I—"

"Ah! Irritating!" exclaimed Rukia excitedly. "Do you know? I just don't like it when you're like this. I am? Not other people? Ha ha ha..."

Honestly, seeing Rukia's laughing face and her words just now, Reina suddenly imagined what if Rukia was a boy. Ahh... Surely he would be lucky to have her as a lover too.

Not sick.

Expecting Aki far away who hardly ever really gets close to girls.

Ugh.

That afternoon, after eating crepe together, Rukia and Reina really ran a race. Just as Rukia thought. However, usually Reina wins, this time it was Rukia who cheered happily for arriving in front of her house first!

It's not that Reina doesn't know the road, in fact she usually visits her best friend's house if there's something they can do together. However, maybe because her head was all over the place, she had a hard time describing how to respond to Rukia at that time.

"Hey, you lost!" Rukia exclaimed with a mischievous grin.

Reina just smiled and bumped into her beautiful friend's hug. "Ahh.. Rukia, I'm tired..."

Rukia patted her back gently. "Yosh… Gosh… If you're tired, we'd better get in right away, okay? My mom must have something in her fridge."

"Okay."

They both entered. And as soon as Reina got inside, the girl immediately targeted the carpet as usual. Sitting lying down as if her own house without the slightest hesitation.

Rukia just smiled at her best friend's behavior. She also placed a jumbo-sized bottle of fanta next to Reina before gently shaking the girl's shoulder.

"Oi, don't sleep..." said Rukia.

Reina who was originally closed also blinked cutely because she was a bit surprised to be woken up.

"Hmm... Rukia?"

Rukia smiled amusedly. "Here, drink. Later you can become dehydrated if you don't add ions immediately."

Reina also accepted it with a slightly tired smile. "Should I say thank you 3 times today?"

Rukia laughed at that. "Hey, what the hell!" she amused. "It doesn't have to be like that either, gosh. So serious."

"Hahaha... You're done..." Reina stopped continuing her words and seemed to think for a moment. "By the way, Rukia. If Aki rejects me, should I just cut my hair and try to move on."

Rukia almost spat out her own can of soda when she heard this. "What?!"

Reina smirked. "That's usually how it is..." she said. "In the movies right?"

Rukia's nose wrinkled in disapproval. "Hey... No need to overdo it," she said. "Just fix what's still not enough. You know? That best revenge by being more successful than before."

Reina smiled faintly. "She knows why..."

Rukia then dragged Reina to her room. There was a study table there, but they chose to lie down on the carpet with drinks and snacks scattered with books.

Rika muttered, "Tomorrow when you perform, will you wear a red dress?"

Reina frowned, "Ugh.. I don't know," she said while scribbling on a book on Cultural Arts. "It doesn't feel like anything fits. Because the OP I played was pretty sad. So if you wear it brightly, it doesn't feel like it's bringing out the mood."

Rukia laughed, "Heh... If that's your goal, why don't you just wear black? Darker. It's sadder to watch, isn't it?"

Reina shook her head, "No, really."

"Why?"

"Black, I'll be like mourning later..."

Rukia laughed even harder at that.

Ah... Basic...

The song is about the history of the past that is forgotten by today's people. Why is mourning like death?

Even if you think about it, Rukia's words are true.

"For sure.... If I actually wear black and end up getting rejected by Aki, isn't everything complete?" Reina said.

Rukia stopped laughing for a moment. "Eh..." she sighed. "Why did it get there in your mind?"

Reina lashed out again, but this time it was more casual. "Because I lost quickly to Fuyu?"

"Hah?"

"Fuyu, Aki's schoolmate," Reina said annoyed. "He always follows Aki everywhere. Vice versa. I've also never seen Aki alone for too long. Do you know? It was very, very annoying."

"Wait... I don't understand what you mean," said Rukia. "Don't tell me you're jealous of Fuyu, Reina."

Reina pouted for a moment, "What if I did?" he asked. "Do you think it's weird? I just... Felt it wasn't right. Always together everywhere. Is it normal to be just friends?"

Rukia was silent. Her lips pressed together for a moment.

Reina continued her tirade. "Well... How about that. I'm not accusing either of them of being deviant. It's just... Honestly I'm jealous. Why am I a girl and should have more opportunities by Aki's side to feel difficult just because there is Fuyu?"

"…ahh, how about that. I'm having a hard time commenting."

Reina rubbed her face lazily. "That's also the reason why I don't express my feelings directly," she said. "You know that, Rukia? I don't really like showing things in such a cowardly way. But, if I do, Fuyu will definitely see us face to face and that's really, really annoying."

Rukia put down her pen and squeezed Reina's right shoulder gently. "Hey, are you sure you're okay?" he asked. "Mn, I mean… I understand you're worried about everything. With the performance, with Aki's answer, but not like this either."

"Then what should I do, Rukia?"

"Reina..."

Reina suddenly slammed her pen and sat up. She even cleaned up all her school supplies without even bothering Rukia trying to prevent her at all costs.

Reina doesn't care. She put all the books and stationery in her bag even though she knew they were not half done with their homework.

Reina then looked at Rukia's eyes sadly. "Sorry, Rukia. Looks like I want to be alone this time. And please don't force me. It's so hard, you know? I've had a crush on Aki for the past two years. But with only a few months of Fuyu's arrival, I became easily angered by everything. Haha... I'm weird right?"

Rukia also tried to stop Reina, but because Reina was polite to her as soon as she arrived at the exit, Rukia was stunned on the spot.

Rukia smiled bitterly, "Thank you for today, Rukia," he said. "But I'm going home first. Mn, take it easy. If I need anything with your help, I'll definitely call you on the phone, okay?"

Rukia nodded in the end. She knew Reina was the type of friend who wasn't too bad. But when it comes to stubbornness... That girl is the master.

"Okay," said Rukia. "Then be careful on the road."

Reina smiled even brighter. "Okay," she said. "See you tomorrow at school. And don't forget to draw well, Rukia."

"Okay."

They separated after that.

Rukia was silent, made a fake smile and waved to Reina as the girl stopped a passing bus.

Even though after Rukia closed the door, she slumped behind it without being able to hold back tears.