Song: Kiseijuu-Next To You

Meaning of the Japanese words/phrases used in this chapter:

*Konnichiwa: Hello!

*Hajimemashitte: Nice to meet you.

*Doumo: A way to say 'Hi' when you're not quite sure who the person you're talking to is.

*Kochira koso: It can be translated as "same here" and as referred to here "Nice to meet you as well."

*Otsukaresama deshita: Thanks for your hard work. A Japanese phrase to appreciate someone's work.

*Gomen:  A short or casual form of 'gomenasai' which means "I'm sorry."

*Baka: Idiot or stupid.

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She was lost in the words of the book she was reading when she heard a voice that kept on calling her name. For the first few minutes she thought she was imagining it but then, after a few more minutes, reality struck her and she looked up. Someone was standing right in front of her. She blinked her eyes, trying to make out who the person was.

"Brother?" She mumbled.

"...why are you saying it as a question...?" He said awkwardly.

"...I'm sorry. I was lost." She looked down at the book in her hand, then back up at her brother.

"Yeah, I saw that." He ruffled her hair causing her to take a few steps back, using the book to cover her head protectively.

"...please stop that..." She averted her eyes.

Her brother laughed a bit. "Fine! Fine!" He then pointed at the figure beside him. Blonde hair on a tall figure, features partly bored, partly zealous with a slight tired edge to it, smiling down at both of them.

A model of course... Yoshi-nii's friend..? I guess...

"Hisa, meet him~ He's Kise Ryouta~ He works with me  and he's also a model~ And he's also in the same grade as you so I thought I should introduce~" he explained enthusiastically.

"Konnichiwa! I'm Kise Ryouta. Hajimemashitte, Hisa-chan!" Kise waved.

Hisa stared at Kise before taking her time putting the book back into her bag. She looked up at Kise and waved back awkwardly. "Doumo... I'm Izumi Hisa. Kochirakoso...?"

Yoshi pinched Hisa's cheek causing her to squeal. "What was with the lazy response? And again, why do you have to make everything sound like a question?"

Hisa pulled away from Yoshi, she pouted, rubbing her cheek."Ouch!"

Kise glanced back and forth between both of them and then burst out laughing. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to laugh... I just..." He mumbled trying to catch his breath.

"That's fine! I know she's adorable!" Yoshi slapped Kise's back playfully then winked at Hisa.

Hisa looked away from them blushing in embarrassment. "I'm leaving first. Otsukaresama deshita." She mumbled, pout still in its place, rummaging through her bag. Taking out her book finally, she buried her head in the book and hurried out  of the studio.

–

Sun's out, school's on.

Why's summer so hot?

Hisa was sitting in the classroom, reading a book as usual. She sighed as she continued on reading. Suddenly, she heard something.

Why am I hearing an extra voice?

She heard it again and realized that someone was calling her. She looked up and blinked herself out in reality before mumbling in irritation. "What!?"

"Kise Ryouta?" She narrowed her eyes.

"You're saying it as a question." He laughed and then sat down on the chair next to her. "So what are you doing?"

"Why are you here?" Hisa stared at him, her expression deadpanned.

Kise blinked in confusion. "What would I be doing in my classroom?" He smiled weirdly. "Don't tell me you didn't know that?"

Hisa looked away in embarrassment, burring head back in the book. "I didn't tell you that... you just said it yourself..."

"Anyways, Hisa-chan, I want you to come to the practice with me today." Kise stood back up. "I'm in basketball club, by the way. Just in case you didn't know."

Hisa looked up at Kise in confusion. "...I can't. I'm busy." Before she could get back to her book Kise grasped her hand, pulling her up. "Wah!?"

"Yes, you're going to be busy watching me practice." Kise winked at her and ran to the club pulling her with him.

–

After the practice ended, Kise pushed on walking back home together and for some unknown reasons Hisa couldn't refuse. She was stunned to see such amazing play of basketball. She had never been interested in sports before but now her mind was overflowing with ideas of writing on sports genre. Specifically, basketball or if a bit more specific then Kise Ryouta.

Ahhh! No! No! No!

She flushed and then slapped herself out of the daze.

"What's wrong, Hisa-chan?" Kise asked.

"Basketball looked fun." Hisa smiled trying to be honest. "You were all great! I had fun. Thanks for inviting me, Kise-san."

More like dragging me though...

Eyes slightly wide in surprise, Kise stopped in his tracks, he parted his lips to let out the stucked breath. Hisa stopped as well to blink at him in confusion. "...?"

His features relaxed into a warm smile. "I'm glad."

They stared at each other for the tiny bit of moment that seemed to last no less than an eternity. Only the gentle summer breeze willed to interrupt the sentiment passing between them, caressing them back to reality. Hisa flushed as she blinked at the weird warm sensation she felt inside.

Taking in Hisa's flustered expression, Kise giggled making her blush even more. Kise took a few steps towards her, moving his face closer to Hisa's flushed one. "Your face is all red. Is Hisa-chan in love with me~?" Kise grinned mischievously.

Hisa hurried away from him. "Like hell!" She pouted and turned to walk away.

Kise laughed and followed her. "Gomen, gomen. I was just kidding."

"...you shouldn't jest like that when your fangirls are going 'kyaa kyaa' on us. It could cause trouble for me."

"Eh?" Kise looked around. "When did it get so crowded?"

"....ever since it's awkward..." She whispered but loud enough that Kise managed to hear it and smiled. "I see." He replied causing Hisa to blush again.

The rest of the way they peacefully walked, chatting about casual stuff.

Hisa lay down on her bed, tired, as she let out an exhausted sigh, and closed her eyes. The image of Kise's face inches away from hers passed by her mind.

"Is Hisa-chan in love with me?"

Her heated up body turned to beet red, and she covered her eyes with her forearm.

"...don't ask if you know, baka..." She whispered.

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