Yoshio Hitomi's POV

Tokyo, 7:36 am.

“Hurry! Hurry! The shrine’s this way!” Mayu rushed us while climbing up the stairs towards a shrine or temple here in Tokyo. It’s the same shrine we always visit during New Year’s or even before Christmas. Mayu and I used to live here in Tokyo. When I moved to Akita, she tried her best to convince her parents to follow us there. She didn’t want to stay in Tokyo without me. “Hitomi~!”

“I got it, sheesh. Why are you in such a rush anyway?” I asked, trying to keep up with the others. I realized Yumi wasn’t at my side so I glanced back down to see her panting in exhaustion. Her tiny body must be tired already and couldn’t keep up with the height of the stairs. “Yumi, are you alright? Do you want me to carry you?” I went down a few steps, to go see if Yumi was alright.

The little girl straightened up and shook her head. “I-I’m fine Hitomin! I can do this!” she persisted and continued to step up. Man, she doesn’t like to look weak, does she? I smiled inwardly.

“Well you need help, just ask Murasakibara to carry you, okay?” I teased her a bit, patting her cotton like hair softly. It made her blush and look at me.

“I don’t wanna! I’ll just be a burden to him!” she pouted as we walked up the stairs together. We were falling behind a little. Kensuke was walking with Kaichou and Himuro was with his two teammates, Liu and Murasakibara. Their captain’s not with them though since he visited his grandmother in town, if that’s what I remember. “Murasakibara-kun…” Yumi murmured staring at her crush.

“So, how was that dance he gave you?” I asked referring to the earlier event. It was pretty cute actually. I didn’t know opposite sizes would look adorable. Murasakibara is tall and on the other hand, Yumi, the puny girl, dancing in the snow. Yumi had to raise her head to look at him and Murasakibara looking down. Her head reached only up to his waist.

“H-How did you know that?! Or rather… Did you two do that on purpose just for Murasakibara-kun to dance me?” Yumi pouted, glancing at me.

I shrugged. “We knew you two were watching but we decided to ignore it. Himuro just offered me a dance because he felt like he needs to give me one. He didn’t intend for you two to do it though” I explained as Yumi started to think. “Maybe he just wanted to dance you”

“That’s impossible” the little girl denied, shaking her head. “Murasakibara-kun doesn’t like me back” I raised an eyebrow at her.

“How can you be so sure, Yumi?”

“Because when I confessed to him, he told me he was proud to be my friend!” oh…

Judging by Murasakibara’s IQ… “Yumi, with Murasakibara’s intelligence, I assume 100% that he didn’t know that he was friendzoning you. I bet he doesn’t even know what a friendzone is”

“He doesn’t…” Bingo.

Yumi looked down so I decided to cheer her up and patted her head again. “Don’t worry Yumi. You still have a chance. Besides, who wouldn’t like a cute and sweet girl like you?” I smiled at her. I’ve been smiling more often now…

Yumi’s eyes lit up as she hugged me. “You’re the best Hitomin! I love you so much!” she says happily.

“Oi! Hitomi! Shiraga-chan! What’s keeping you guys so long?” Mayu whined from on top of the stairs, waving her hand at us. “C’mon! it’s just a few steps away!”

I sighed. “Coming!” I shouted back then turned to Yumi. “Can you still walk, Yumi?” she nodded her head. I held her hand. “Let’s go then”

“Hai!” I and Yumi climbed the steps left for us to reach the top where the shrine is. Mayu cheered for us when we got there and got excited again, wanting to go to the temple already.

“Oi, we just got here. Yumi’s still panting you know” I told her as she looked at the exhausted little girl and smiled.

“Then I’ll carry Shiraga-chan!” she volunteered, carrying Yumi on a piggy back. “Let’s go Shiraga-chan!” as usual, she’s elated again and came running around the area with Yumi on her back. tch—“Yumi might fall Mayu! Be careful!” “HAI!” those two…

“Wei, could you follow them and make sure they’re alright?” Himuro requested our Chinese friend over here, Liu.

“Sure” he seems to speak normally now; probably because of our classmate, Nanami Iguru; Kaichou’s little sister. They seem to be close.

“Murochin, I’ll go follow Aki-chin and Shira-chin as well” Murasakibara told Himuro before walking after Liu and went to where Mayu and Yumi were. So I was left with Himuro, Kensuke and Kaichou.

“Should we start paying respects to the shrine?” Kaichou suggested, smiling at me. I nodded in return as we walked in front of the Torii gate before bowing and walked at the sides of it. After going to the water place, we went to the offertory box and before ringing the bell and bowing two times then clapped twice as well, and gave one last bow.

Kaichou and Kensuke went to check out something at the store so I was let with Himuro while we roamed around the peaceful area.

“Ne, Hitomi. You seem to be familiar with this place” Himuro mentioned as I stopped in front of a yorishiro. It’s been standing here for as long as I can remember.

“Mayu and I used to visit this shrine when we were kids. We used to live in Tokyo” I told Himuro, placing my palm on the tree, closing my eyes. I mentally chanted a short prayer. Opening my eyes, I glanced at Himuro who was praying right beside me, his hand clasped together then looked at me and smiled.

“Japanese shrines are so holy. It makes me good of a person” he chuckled.

“Yeah, it might even purify your pervertedness” I sneered, looking away from him.

“Don’t be like that…” he trailed. I sighed and sat on the big rocks just below the tree and patted the rock right next to mine, telling him to sit beside me. “Hitomi…” huh?

I glanced at him to be greeted by his hand caressing my cheek and his eyes locking its gaze on my face. I had a wondering look as he leaned his forehead on mine and brushed his nose against mine. W-What is he doing now?!

“I don’t think any shrine can purify me whenever I’m with you…” W-What?! O////O “You’re just too cute that, I can help but—” HIMURO!!! “—eager to kiss you”

“E-Eh?!” I reacted, pulling my face away from his and blushed. What the heck?! He’s teasing me again! He’s making fun of my flustered reactions whenever people tell me stuff like that! He’s such a pervert!

“You’re reactions are so cute whenever I do that to you” Himuro!!!

“I-I hate you—” “But, it’s nothing compared to my reactions whenever I see you like that” Himuro said in a husky voice. I flinched. “W-What does that even mean?” I questioned with my face blushing. “You might punch me if I tell you. It’s too… rated M” P-Pervert!”

“S-Stay away from me you sicko! You’re such a maniac! A pervert! I hate you!” I screamed at him as he shushed me by putting his finger on my lips.

“Shh, you’re noisy Hitomi; we’re by a sacred tree”

“YOU’RE SO TAINTED! WHY ARE YOU EVEN IN THIS PLACE?!” I hollered, slapping his hand away. He just smiled at me. “Too cute Hitomi, stop it” why he—“It makes me like you even more” and there he is again; kissing me without my permission!

“Ne, Nanami, let’s go back to where Hitomi and Himuro are” Fukui told Nanami as soon as they finished buying some stuff from the shop.

“H-Hai!” Nanami walked after Fukui who was heading to the direction where the sacred tree was. They saw two figures standing close to each other that made them realize. “Y-Yoshio-san and H-Himuro-kun…” the raven haired girl trailed while blushing.

“T-They’re kissing…” Fukui uttered and glanced at Nanami. It made her flinch and became flustered that he was looking at her. “Oi, what’s wrong?”

“F-Fukui-san… Seeing such a sight with Fukui-san…” Nanami mumbled to herself while blushing. Her head steamed and she almost fainted.

“Oi!” Fukui exclaimed catching Yoshio and Himuro’s attention, that made them pause from kissing and glanced at the two older teens. “Great now they saw us” the dirty blonde 3rd year muttered and dragged Nanami away from the area, leaving the two to their privacy.

“Maybe we should come back later…”

Meanwhile, Akihiro and Shiraga were praying in front of the offer box doing the same traditional routine every person does when they visit there. “It’s so nice to return here after a few years” Akihiro beamed, smiling down at Shiraga who was curiously staring at her.

“Akihiro-chan used to go here?”

“Hai. Both Hitomi and I used to live in Tokyo and every year during winter, we’d always go here together”

Shiraga’s eyes widened realizing that Akihiro and Yoshio were that close and were even childhood friends. “I see. No wonder you’re her best friend. Akihiro-chan and Hitomin has been friends since they were little”

Akihiro nodded at the little girl. “That’s right. Although, Hitomi was completely different when she was a kid” Shiraga notice that low tone the older girl had that made her curious and ask further questions, being quirky as she is.

“How come, Akihiro-chan?”

Akihiro gazed down at the little girl with glum eyes and looked up the sky. She suddenly changed the subject that connected to Shiraga’s question. “I didn’t mention why we moved from here to Akita, did I, Shiraga-chan?” she confirmed as Shiraga nodded. “Well… the reason why Hitomi moved is because of her parents’ death…”

Shiraga’s eyes narrowed in shock. “H-Hitomin’s parents…” Akihiro saw the look on her face that confirmed Yoshio hasn’t told Shiraga all about her. “Judging by your expression, Hitomi still hasn’t opened up to you about her back story, has she?” Akihiro knelt down so she was on the same level with Shiraga. “Sorry about that Shiraga-chan. Hitomi has a difficulty in making close friends because of that habit of hers. She doesn’t like to talk about herself to others and chooses to keep silent around others that make her much of a loner”

Shiraga’s red eyes softened as she fidgets her hands. “I noticed Hitomin doesn’t talk much to people; even Kensukkun…” she admits.

“I know that. That’s why I had to follow Hitomi to Akita to prevent her from being alone” Akihiro says making Shiraga look at her. “I don’t want… I don’t want to leave Hitomi alone… even though she yells at me or even gets mad at me a lot. I just, I can’t leave her because she’s my best friend”

“Akihiro-chan…” Shiraga stared at her senpai with admiration. “So this is what a true friend is like” she thought seeing how Akihiro cares for her friend.

“Although Hitomi gets angry a lot these days, I’m really glad I introduced her to Tatsuya-kun. Because if she didn’t knew Tatsuya-kun then you wouldn’t have the strength to approach her right, Shiraga-chan? He was able to pull out her soft side!” Akihiro tried to shoo away the gloomy atmosphere around them and smiled at the little girl.

“I would’ve have approach her even if she didn’t know Himuro-kun!” Shiraga pouted making Akihiro chuckle. “I know that Shiraga-chan. That’s why I’m really happy you approached her. She was able to gain more friends!” 

“But Akihiro-chan am I not your friend too?” Shiraga pouted, clinging on Akihiro’s arm. “A friend of Hitomin is a friend of mine!”

“Shiraga-chan…” Akihiro trailed and smiled. “Then, from now on, you can call me Mayu!”

“R-Really?!” Shiraga beamed, smiling at the blonde girl. “C-Call me Yumi-desu!”

“Yumi-chan it is!”

“This is your fault! They saw us!” I blamed Himuro, sitting on the farthest rock from him. Damn him! Damn him! Damn him for kissing me!

“But you kissed back, Hitomi” i-it’s still his fault!

I can feel his presence approach me as I felt him hug me from behind. “I like you, Hitomi. Truthfully” he whispered huskily at my ear. W-Why is he telling me that again?! I already know it!!! “Now can you tell me honestly what you feel about me?” why is he asking me this right now?!

“I don’t know! I don’t know what to tell you!” I gushed praying that my heart would stop pounding like crazy. Every time Himuro does things like this!! I… I ha—I… “I don’t even know myself… I don’t know my true feelings…” I confess grabbing hold of his arms and pulled him closer. It seemed to surprise him a bit. He slowly let go of me and grabbed my shoulders letting me face him. “Hitomi” he called me as he cupped my chin. I stared into his lime green eyes and leaned my head on him

“For some reason, you always got my heart beating so fast it leaves me so confused. I don’t know what I’m feeling” with my head near his chest, I can feel his heart beat as well. Is this what he’s talking about whenever he’s around me? Himuro… “Himuro, is that what you feel too? Does your heart beat fast as well?” I ask, embracing him. “If so… can you tell me… what that feeling is?”

“Hitomi…” Himuro hugged me back. “I believe you have to find out about that yourself” Eh? Why is that? “Because… only you can realize what your feelings are”

What my feelings are…?

“Shirachin, there you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you” Murasakibara, alongside Liu found Akihiro and Shiraga just by the water place. A few seconds before Nanami and Fukui joined them as well. “Kaichou-chin and Fukui-chin, you’re here too~”

“Obviously, Atsushi. Himuro and Hitomi are too busy smooching each other so we have to find where you guys are” Fukui stated, letting go of Nanami’s arm.

“Smooching?” Liu wondered, raising an eyebrow.

“They were making-out?!” Akihiro exclaimed acting like she was shocked.

“You already know they’re capable of doing that when they’re alone” Liu pointed out, looking at her.

“Shut up, Liu!”

“Eh? Does this mean Hitomin really likes Himuro-kun?” Shiraga says happily, catching Murasakibara’s attention.

“Like? What does that mean?” the tall teen quizzed, glancing down at her. It made her feel shorter than ever. “Shirachin…”

“S-Sorry Murasakibara-kun! Liking someone means you want to be with them always, and you think about them all day! And whenever you seem them, you can’t help but get nervous” Shiraga explained for him which back fired because of his question.

“Is that what you feel around me, Shirachin?”

“E-Eh?!?! o////o”  

Shiraga blushed after he asked her that and panicked. “I-I-I-I-I-I-I”

“She sounds like a broken tape” Fukui commented. “So then, Nanami. What does liking someone mean?” he now asks his classmate making her twitch. And the same with Shiraga, she stuttered. “I-I-I-I don’t know! H-How should I k-know anyway? I do-don’t even lik-like s-someone Fukui-san…” she fidgets her hands nervously.

Fukui thought for a while. “Hitomi likes Himuro huh…?”

“F-Fukui-san…”

Nanami saw Fukui broke in grin. “I bet she’s too much of a tsundere to even realize that!!!” he laughed only to get hit by Yoshio who appeared with Himuro. “Hitomi?!”

“S-Shut up Kensuke! Stop saying crap!”

I-I like Himuro? I-Is t-that… Is that even t-true? Kensuke saying shit again, I’m tired of it.

My whole face was blushing again and I can’t help it I had to hide it with my hoodie. Himuro chuckled beside me and commented how cute I was. There he is again; teasing me. “You don’t need to rush, Hitomi. I already told you I’ll wait for your response” he assured, removing the hood from my head. “No need to hide your face” idiot. Of course I need to hide it! Blushing is embarrassing! Says every tsundere ever.

I did not just call myself that.

I felt Himuro lean on my face and kiss my cheek. “So adorable~” he cooed, smiling at me.

Hitomi likes Himuro.

Why is Kensuke’s voice repeating in my head?

I like you, Hitomi.

And now Himuro’s.

I like you, you’re a nice person.

Could it be that that statement had a double meaning?

I like Himuro because he’s a nice person. And I like him because…

I like him. I like Himuro.

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Hey people!!! XDD 

So no one replied to my message yesterday, about asking Hitomi about herself .w. so I'll just post three facts about her! 

Fact 1: Hitomi is actually scaredy cat. She doesn't like watching horror. In fact, she prefers cliche and scifi. 

Fact 2: She doesn't know how to ride a bike. 

Fact 3: She's a tsundere. (no shit) I'm kidding--Hitomi is part of the library committee of their school but rarely attends it because of student council work. 

That's all peeps~