Chapter 14

Hana and I sat on a bench in front of the school and waited for Rika.

I still couldn't get used to the idea that we were together. Hana was right, it was like a dream.

There was a brief silence, but then I suddenly heard her calm and slightly cold voice.

"Hey, Emi..."

What's gotten into her? I thought.

When I turned around to see why her voice sounded like that, I only caught her eyes staring at me intently. Those eyes with a strange murderous desire in them and lips that curled slightly in a threatening manner created a terrifying aura around her.

I swallowed involuntarily.

"Y-Yeah?"

For some reason, my voice trembled a little.

"Well..." she began in her threatening voice. "I wanted to ask you... So… what about that girl you were talking about in the cafeteria, hmm? She wanted to confess to you, didn't she? What about her? Didn't you say you liked her or something?"

Is she jealous?

It was clear that I had to be careful with my words…

She looked really scary right now... I didn't even know she could make a face like that...

Still... I couldn't help but think that I liked it... liked her being jealous, liked the way she looked at me...

I guess… I really was crazy?

I didn't want to tease her right now because she could really kill me, so I decided to tell the truth.

"I made the whole thing up…" I said. "There was no girl, it was all a lie."

"Hmm... really?" she asked incredulously, looking at me.

"Of course, dummy..." I said, smiling gently to reassure her. "I did it to make you jealous."

We stared at each other for a moment, but then her entire aura changed instantly. All the ominous energy that had just emanated from her disappeared in an instant.

"Huh?!" Her eyes widened in surprise. "A lie?! But you seemed so confident when you talked about her!"

"I know, I know! I'm sorry... I just..."

"And you said she was pretty, too! You idiot! Do you know how I felt?! Was it just a game to you?!"

"I'm sorry, Hana!" I exclaimed, taking her hand in mine. "I'm sorry, I just didn't know what to do with my feelings and I tried to make you jealous, I'm just a stupid girl, you know?"

"Don't try to sweet-talk me now! It won't help you!" she said, looking away. "Do you still think she's cute?"

"Hey! I'm telling you, she doesn't exist! I just saw a girl in the cafeteria and made it all up on the spot! And..."

"So she does exist?!" she exclaimed, looking at me irritated.

"No! She doesn't! I mean... Calm down, Hana, please. There's no one cuter than you!"

"Ha! Then what about that guy?"

"What guy?"

"The one from the soccer club! You said you wanted to go on a date with him!"

"That was also part of my stupid plan to make you jealous! I'm not interested in him at all!"

She stared at me silently for a moment, deciding whether to believe me or not.

"So... you did all this just to make me jealous?" she asked more quietly now, looking at me questioningly.

"Yeah! That's because you never showed that it bothered you, and I was desperate to get you to show some feelings, you know? I know I'm stupid! I mean, I wasn't sure how you felt until I saw you in the costume and read the letter! And even then I wasn't completely sure! I just... I just wanted to... I know that's an excuse..." my voice trailed off as I lowered my eyes.

What was I babbling about? I didn't even know what I was saying anymore.

I could feel her hesitant gaze on me...

I didn't know what to say or do...

But then she suddenly put her arms around me.

"Don't feel bad! I'm so sorry too! I'm such a coward," she said suddenly, pulling me closer, "I tried so hard not to show you my feelings! I'm the stupid one! Not you!"

In her warm and gentle embrace, hearing her words, I suddenly felt my eyes get a little moist.

"No! It's me!" I shouted, hugging her back. "I'm the stupid one!"

"No, I'm the stupid one!" she yelled back.

"No, I'm the stupid one!"

"No! I am!"

"No! I am!"

She fell silent for a moment...

"Well... maybe we both are..." she said softly.

"...Hahaha... Yeah, maybe we are..." I said with a slight chuckle.

"You know... you actually did manage to make me jealous..." she admitted.

"...Really? Well… You're cute when you're jealous."

"But don't you dare do anything like that again, understand?" she said firmly, pulling back a little and looking me in the eye. "Don't you dare flirt with anyone or even joke about it!"

"I understand... haha. But you have to promise me the same!"

"Ha... unlike you, I won't do anything like that."

"Then what about the guy from the soccer club?" I asked.

Now it was her turn to look surprised.

"What about him?"

"From the soccer club. You mentioned he hit on you," I said looking at her.

A ringing laugh escaped her lips.

"Pfft... hahahaha..."

"Why are you laughing, you idiot?" I said, pouting.

"Are you jealous too? I never thought you'd be jealous over something like that! Hahaha!"

"Hey! Stop laughing and answer the question! Why didn't you tell me right away that he was hitting on you?"

"All right, all right... hahaha, calm down. I wasn't trying to hide it. I just didn't think it was important, that's all. Honestly... it was a minute exchange of words. He asked me out, I turned him down and left...and that was it. I didn't think it was that important to you..."

"Really? That's really it?"

"Of course... Did it really bother you?"

"Of course it did!"

"I'm sorry..."

"Now that you know that I care, the next time someone confesses or flirts with you, tell me about it right away!" I said demandingly.

"Okay, okay...," she quickly agreed. "...Now I totally understand how you feel, hahaha."

"What do you mean?"

"You're cute when you're jealous too."

"Huh…? Cute? Really?"

"Yes, the cutest!"

"Hmph..."

"Since you're soooo cute when you're jealous, maybe I should..."

"Hey! Don't you dare!" I interrupted her immediately.

"Hahaha, don't worry, I'm just kidding!" she said, waving her hands in front of her.

…After a moment of silence, she asked, "Hmm... By the way... how did you know I was going to the drama club? You were waiting for me outside..."

"I guessed..." I said, smiling. "And my guess turned out to be right."

"Ah... You have no idea how worried I was when you said in the chat that you were really going to find whoever was in that costume! That's why I went there, to ask them not to say it was me!"

"I'm sorry... My stupid games stressed you out..." I said.

"Hmph! That's okay, you'll have to work on getting me to forgive you."

"Sure... A date, right?"

"Yes..." she replied, blushing slightly. "Honestly, I'm glad it worked out this way. Now we're finally together..."

"Yeah... and you're my girlfriend..."

"Yeah... I'm yours and you're mine..."

"I like the sound of that..."

There was silence between us. It lasted for a while.

Then I broke the silence. "I have something else to confess..." I said.

"Hmm?"

She looked at me suspiciously.

"Don't worry... it's nothing bad. So… Remember when I dated that bad boy in middle school? Truth is…, that was a lie… I didn't really date him. I was just pretending…"

I was silent for a moment, as if to give her a chance to ask.

"Huh? Why?"

That was the only question she asked.

"...To make you jealous... I guess in the end all the stupid things I did were just to make you jealous... Admitting it and realizing it makes it all sound even stupider..."

I lowered my head awkwardly, realizing how stupid this all sounded.

She didn't make a sound or flinch, allowing me to continue.

"But in the end, you never showed the slightest bit of jealousy... You always smiled and cheered me up... So I thought my feelings were one-sided..." I sighed. "I also lied about being sad about the breakup. I... I just wanted you to hold me and comfort me... Ah... Sounds stupid, right? I'm so messed up... How embarrassing..."

I finally lifted my head and looked at her.

She just remained silent with a calm expression on her face.

"Say something..." I said, unable to bear the silence.

"Ah..." she sighed, smiling slightly at me.

"You really are such a stupid girl..." she added after a short pause.

She didn't say anything else, and it was clear in her eyes that all the words she wanted to say were unnecessary, because I already knew how she felt by the look in her eyes.

There was tenderness and softness in them...

"But you're wrong about one thing..." she said.

"Huh?"

I looked at her in surprise.

"I was jealous… Crazy jealous… I was just hiding it..."

"You were?"

"Yeah…"

"Hmm... so I was wrong. You're a pretty good actress, huh?... Ah... I really am so stupid."

"Well... I can't disagree. Maybe you are," she said casually.

"Huh?!"

I immediately looked at her, surprised at how quickly she agreed, only to see her grin.

"What do you mean? So you really do think I'm stupid?!"

"Hahahaha..." she just laughed. "Maybe I do... just a little... but you know... you are my stupid girl..."

In an instant, I felt a rush of heat on my face.

"W-What? What the heck?!" I turned away, blushing a little. "When did you get so smooth, huh?"

"Maybe I always have been? It's just that now I can show that side of me openly..." she smiled slyly.

This girl will definitely drive me crazy... The way she can change my mood in an instant. I just don't know what to do with her.

…We spent the remaining time until Rika arrived in silence, just holding hands.

Even before today, it had felt natural to hold hands with her. But today was different. I couldn't explain why. It felt more openly intimate than usual... her grip, her fingers, her palm... and even her tender glances. Everything.