CHAPTER 42

"Miyuki, how would you like to be my date to a party?"

I slowly set my bag onto my desk, fluttering my eyelids. Yuji had spun around and propped his arm against my desk, his brown eyes carrying a mischievous glint.

A bundle of confusion welled up inside me, more so upon the large smile painting the bottom half of his face. I looked around the fairly empty classroom, seeing as it was too early for school to begin, then back down towards him.

"A what?"

"A party," Yuji insisted, proving my ears weren't playing a trick on me.

My brows knitted together as I pulled back my chair to sit. "Um, I don't party."

He elevated his shoulder. "That's fine, I don't either. We'll be the perfect pair."

Despite the strange look I sent his way, his toothy grin reached his ears.

"It's this upcoming Saturday," he said. "I'll send you the details."

"But I didn't even..." My words died in my throat, mainly because Yuji was already typing away into his phone. My cell vibrated in my pocket just as he shut his off. My face fell in distaste. "What is this party for anyway?"

Yuji's chuckle wrung me with unease. I waited for him to elaborate but honestly, before he did, the slyness in his gaze was enough of an answer.

"Let's just say this is something I've been looking forward to for a very long time."

——————————————————

"Oh, you're gorgeous."

My pace slowed to a halt. I awkwardly rose my gaze to Yuji who had taken off his helmet after pulling up to my house. He had a teasing smirk playing at his lips, only instigating a sense of embarrassment within me. I spared a moment to stare down at the simple dress I was wearing, overlapped by my leather coat. I even put on my fanciest heeled boots and did my hair up in curls.

"You're the one who told me to wear something like this," I pointed out, pursing my lips. "Since you wanted to match."

"I deemed that was the best way to go," he agreed, throwing his leg over his bike to rise to his feet.

Considering the time of evening, it was fairly dark outside but that still didn't hide the matching leather jacket of his. He'd still put on a formal dress shirt and pants, and even slicked his hair back (which ended up a bit tousled due to his helmet anyway). Seeing as an attire so bold brought out an exceptional charm for someone of his status, it was definitely awing.

"Now then," Yuji started, lopsided smile upturning the corner of his lip. He peered past my shoulder and performed a tiny wave. "Good evening!"

Startled, I swivelled around. I knew I shouldn't have been the least surprised to see both my younger siblings as well as my mom poking their heads out the front door. As soon as Yuji had said his greeting, they immediately recoiled. My younger sister was the first to appropriately clear her throat, followed by my smiling mother who'd come back just last night with my dad. I introduced my palm to my face as the three of them stepped out onto the porch. I should've expected they wouldn't let me leave without doing something like this.

"I hear you're taking her to a party," my mom said, a little expectant.

"That's correct, ma'am," Yuji responded as he politely approached the front steps. "I don't believe we've met, but I'm Miyuki's classmate, Sato Yuji."

My mom spared me a suggestive smile. Whatever that reaction ever meant, I didn't want to know so I vigorously shook my head. She didn't pay it any mind as she returned her gaze to Yuji. She tittered and held out her hand for his. "I'm Miyuki's mother, Yuriko. It's a pleasure to meet a classmate of Miyuki's... moreover, her boyfriend."

Yuji merely produced a boisterous laugh as he took her hand in his. Heat crossed my cheeks as I jabbed his side. Yuji innocently met my gaze which was met with a scowl from me. He didn't even try to deny it?

"Mom, it's not like that," I said.

She met my eyes with a blatant wink. "Of course it isn't, dear."

"Our older sister finally found an interest in a 3D person," Yui was talking away to her twin.

"I feel very conflicted," Yuki responded, a hand at his chest. "Who even is she anymore?"

"Shut up, squirts," I hissed.

My mom glanced over her shoulder. "Yui, Yuki, where's your father?"

"Passed out on the couch, mom," Yui reported.

Yuki saluted in accordance. "Kyo-nii is passed out as well. They're exhausted from the intensive baseball game that just ended."

My mom shook her head. "I swear those two... First they're stuffing their faces in food then raiding the living room to yell over sports..."

Yui held up her hands. "Boys will be boys."

Yuki paused to stare at her. "What is that supposed to be mean? I'm a boy, too."

"Since when?"

"Since always! Just because I don't like sports as much as Kyo-nii and dad doesn't mean I'm any less of a boy."

"But you are girlier than most," Yui replied. "I'm telling you that's the problem."

I reached up and snagged Yuji by the shoulder. "Anyway, mom, the party starts in a half hour so we have to go."

"Take care," she said. With a warm smile, she bent over to my height and squished the air out of my cheeks. "Make sure to bundle up, it is fairly cold out. And Yuji, I'll be counting on you to drive safely."

"I'll protect her with my life, ma'am."

My mom once again emitted a cheerful titter. "You're quite the boy, huh? Thank you for looking after Miyuki."

I was sending warning signals to my mom and eventually, after one last exchange, I dragged him off towards his bike.

"You're smooth with parents aren't you?" I whispered to him once he went to scoop the helmets into his hands.

"I've learned a thing or two throughout my life." He tossed me one as he got on. "Your siblings are cute. And you're family's so lively."

"You've never brought them up, so I'm guessing you don't have any siblings."

"Nope," he said, enunciating the p. "I'm an only child with a bunch of adult relatives in his life. Saki and Hiro have been the only people..."

Yuji's words trailed off as he paused to get a good look at my face. I stiffened, dodging his eyes.

"Why did you flinch?"

My heart nearly leapt to my throat. "H-huh?"

"When I brought up Hiro—"

I darted onboard and wrapped my arms around his abdomen. "Let's go. We should go."

"But..." I clenched him even tighter. Yuji became mute at once. Maybe because I had squeezed all the oxygen out of him. Either way, he started it up and took off down the road.

It was after a couple minutes of silence and accepting the lull of peace the quiet evening brought that my mind congested with thoughts.

"Um, Yuji?"

He didn't respond.

"Yuji?"

Only sporadic gasps filtered from his mouth. With wide blinks I came to terms with why: I was hugging him way too tight. I quickly loosened my hold and Yuji inhaled and exhaled a choked breath. I whispered an apology but he waved me off.

"No worries," he panted. "What's up?"

It was hard to formulate the words. "Well, you told me this party is one where your relatives and close family friends are gathering."

"Yeah, it happens every year around this time." His eyes were focused entirely on the practically vacant roads. "And?"

My stomach knotted with nerves. "No... I was just wondering..."

"Wondering?"

"If... Hiro was going to be there," I mustered out. "Or something?"

I regretted it the moment it came out of my mouth but what could I do? The question was the only real reason I was dreading for this day to come. Ever since that camping trip I still hadn't really come to terms with what happened. More so, how to deal with it. Every single day at school I'd been trying my best to act as natural as I could (as did he) but that didn't change what occurred...

"Hiro?" Yuji repeated after a gruelling pause. "I hope so. I want to show off my pretty date."

Not expecting the comment, heat flourished on my cheeks. "You always love to tease people don't you?"

Yuji's chuckle was as rich as always. He was constantly in a upbeat mood. "You're the one who loves to brush aside people's feelings," he said, startling me. "Kindly reminding you of your effect on me here and there makes sense then."

Effect...? My lips met, but suddenly it was hard for my mouth to move the same time it came to terms with my head.

That couldn't be it. Then again, with how this entire direction my life had been swerving towards, it wasn't impossible. But how could I just accept it? Hiro—a guy—had real-life feelings towards me, a real-life girl! Romantic feelings! I considered myself quite the romance expert but never had I ever anticipated it would happen to me. And for me to get conceited that I was starting to have a love triangle (including Yuji) was a stretch on its own.

Despite knowing that—even though I knew, or really, prayed it wasn't true—my mind was slapping me with another idea entirely.

We arrived at the party in no time. It was a rather large manor, surrounded in Christmas decor and ornaments. The hedges and grass were lush with budding flowers and withering autumn leaves. The entire pathway leading towards the front doors were packed to the brim of vehicles with even more fancier people entering and exiting from them at a timely rate.

Yuji parked his bike a good distance away from this chaos. We hopped off around the same time and Yuji reached into his bike's compartment only to pull out a beautifully wrapped gift.

"Wow," I said.

"It's kind of a birthday party," he responded, focus directed onto the towering house.

I followed his eyes. "Is this one of your relative's houses?"

Yuji was already starting off towards the pathway after the quick ruffle of his hair. The dishevelled mess it'd become suited him perfectly. My hair, on the other hand... I had tried to flatten it the best I could, but let's just hope people didn't comment on its craziness.

My eyes crossed the nameplate on the way in. 'Yamamoto's.' My eyes shrunk back, my nerves jerking up. Yuji's attention wasn't on me, moreover did he not appear surprised. He'd known all along we were coming here...

"Stay close," he told me once we reached the entrance. People kindly took our coats for us as well as Yuji's present and filed them away in an organized manner (it really was a rich people's home). Yuji gave a couple people we passed, smiles and waves as he guided me through the halls. "I don't want you to get lost."

"I'm not a kid," I reminded him.

Both of our eyes followed a waiter amble past us with an expensive platter of food into the main room. Yuji, being the glutton he was, followed. I hurried after him.

The dining room was elegant in a simple sort of way, but still a completely different world than I was used to. The huge table dominated the space with pristine white tablecloths draped around it. Platters of appetizers were already prepped and ready to be taken, like some kind of banquet. The adults donned in fancy suits and dresses loitered around, socializing and eating. It only added to how high caliber this was all shaping out to be, and with the strange looks they shot my way, I could only feel I stuck out like a sore thumb.

"You're not gonna eat?"

I craned my head back. Despite my uneasiness, Yuji already had his cheeks bloated, a completely full plate in hand. Seeing him continue to chew like that couldn't stop the laugh that left my mouth.

"You come to a party and the first thing you do is stuff your face?"

"Saki's family always has the best food," Yuji reasoned. "Here, we can share."

He plopped the plate into my hands. Although I wanted to argue, the eyes of adults were on us, boring a hole through the back of my head that I didn't like. Yuji clasped his free hand on my shoulder and steered me away.

"Are all the stares bothering you?"

I ducked my head, fixing my gaze onto the plate. "Don't they bother you?" I asked him. "Everyone's wearing such fancy clothes. Why'd you tell me to dress like some biker?"

"Because then I'd feel left out. Duh."

I sighed as we came to a halt. It was a patio far from the crowd of roaming eyes and adults. Yuji merely fell into an open seat and reluctantly, I did into the chair opposite from his.

"You know," I drawled as I set the plate onto the table between us, "there was always the option of the both of us dressing more appropriately."

Yuji only picked up a cracker from the plate and took a bite. "Too much work," he muffled mid-chew.

I pushed out my lips in disbelief. "Now I can kinda see why Hiro gets mad at you all the time for these things."

"You're taking his side? Don't betray me like this, Miyuki."

I stiffened. Did it seem like I was taking his side? Well, it was true that I was uncomfortable. If Hiro was the one to ask me to come here instead, he'd definitely have made sure I dressed well enough to fit in. But why did Hiro even matter right now? I didn't have to bring his name up out of nowhere, right? Ugh, now I was feeling all awkward again...

"Hey, did Hiro do something to you?" Yuji called, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I jolted, much more vigorously than I wanted. "H-h-huh? N-no. Nothing! He didn't do anything to me!"

Yuji's features fell flat. "At least try to tell a better lie."

"Wh-who said I'm lying?" Cheeks warm, I quickly fanned myself and scrambled to my feet.  "I-is it me or is it too hot out here? I think I'll grab something to drink—"

"Sit down." He clasped my arm, keeping me in place. "I get it. I won't ask anymore, so stop freaking out."

It was as if a weight had been lifted. Relief washed over me and I steadied my breathing. I slowly eased back into the chair and Yuji released my arm. The faint sound of classical music wafted out from inside and hanging around in the background. Yuji prodded at a cracker, mouth pursed.

"But it wouldn't hurt to tell me, would it?" he said after what felt like forever. "It's not like you can't trust me—"

"Did you know Hiro liked me?!"

My shout packed more of a punch than I liked to admit. Yuji coughed, eyes bulging as he met mine. My heartbeat speeding in my chest, I slammed my palms onto the table.

"H-he told me it so suddenly. Am I that dense?" I was rambling so fast I barely even realized I'd clamped my hands over his forearm. "My head just spins when I think about how crazy the idea is because it is crazy, right? I've been avoiding him like mad all week, Yuji! How am I supposed to face him today?"

Compared to the mess I was, Yuji was actually calm. With his free hand, he properly reached for another cracker and steadily took a bite. "He... confessed to you?"

"Isn't it strange?" I demanded. "It's not like I'm appealing or anything."

"I wouldn't say that," Yuji replied, chewing softly. "I think you're very pretty."

"Pretty enough to have someone liking me like that? I don't think so."

"Someone?" Yuji echoed.

"Hiro!" I half-exclaimed. "Catch up quicker, man! Don't tell me he's around here...?"

I hastily jerked my head left and right, ensuring we were still in the clear on this patio.

"Miyuki."

I returned my gaze to him, frazzled. "What? Did you catch sight of him—"

"You do know I like you too, right?"

My eyelids fluttered open and closed while a moment of silence passed by.

"...Huh?" I eventually sputtered.

"You don't?" Pouting, Yuji tilted his head to the side. "I thought for sure you were brushing it aside on purpose all this time."

"...Huh?"

"Stop making such a stupid face." He gently flicked me between the eyebrows. "I confessed to you last summer, remember? When we got separated from everyone and were watching those fireworks together."

As if I were watching some kind of video, my mind replayed the scene. My jaw fell. Wait... That day was... No way. And I just completely nudged it aside? I veered my gaze at once, clearing my throat. "...D-did s-something like that happen? I-I c-can't remember..."

"You totally recalled it right now, didn't you? How cruel can you be."

"Y-you're kidding!" I shouted, once again slapping the table. "You have to be! I mean, you're talking about me!"

Yuji was still nonchalantly munching on his cracker. "Look, I've never had a crush before, so I can't really explain it too well," he said, as calmly as before. "But I'm almost completely sure I'm infatuated with you in that way."

My breathing hitched in my throat. It felt like ice had snatched the warmth out of me. "Th-this can't be happening." My mind was running amuck. I clasped at strands of my hair. "Two boys? Am I really awake right now? This doesn't make any sense."

"What doesn't?" he asked.

"That! This!" I yelled. "You're way too calm! Shouldn't you be flustered or saying cheesy things like how I'm important and the only one for you? Even now when I told you Hiro confessed to me you weren't jealous at all!"

"...What kind of romantic expectations do you have exactly?"

"Fictional! I have fictional expectations!" I boldly reasoned. Granted, it wasn't a grand excuse. "And sure you may have confessed but you didn't do or say anything to me afterward. How is it my fault I took it in a platonic way?"

"Well..." Yuji caught my focus. Dusting off the crumbs from his hands, he looked in a different direction. "I mean, forcing myself on you, or suddenly trying to win you over... would be a bit weird."

"...Weird?"

"I like things the way things are between us," he responded, almost sheepishly. "We can joke around and have fun, bond over silly things... You always reiterate how you don't like real guys that way, so if I still pushed for you to like me back, and made things all awkward between us, I don't think I'd be able to stand that."

"Yuji..."

"Besides, I already knew Hiro liked you. He's liked you for about a year now—"

"A year?!"

"Oh... he didn't tell you?" Yuji paused to suck in an awkward breath. "Yeah, he has it pretty bad..."

What the heck... And I had no idea?

"Anyway." He waved it off. "Somehow despite knowing all that, and spending so many months mulling over it, I still didn't push for more. I think that proves my determination and feelings to make you mine aren't strong enough. I do think you're a great person, but realistically imagining a relationship between us is too far-fetched, even for me." Yuji shook his head, halting his spiel. "My point is, I think I'll be able to live even if you get with Hiro. Is he not your type or something?"

Considering my brain was still reeling from his words, it took awhile for me to find my voice. "What my type is isn't really the issue right now..."

"So short guys don't appeal to you? That's rather cold."

"I said that's not it!" I placed my hands on my heated cheeks. "I just... really didn't think of him like that. Or you!"

He laughed. "It's fine, Miyuki. You can forget about it."

"Forget?"

His gentle smile carried traces of wistfulness. "If you didn't take it seriously when I said it, that just means you've never saw me that way. But you did take Hiro seriously, surprisingly. So it's fine. Let's both forget about this all and move on."

Move on... I scrutinized him but Yuji's smile only expanded, not carrying a single ounce of falsehood. He was... serious? "I don't get it," I said. "If you weren't gonna try to win me over, why confess?"

"I don't know. Watching you freak out about Hiro kind of made me want to." I gaped, to which he shrugged. "More importantly, did he kiss you?"

I blushed hard, mouth flapping to respond. Yuji barked out a laugh, amusement seeping onto his features.

"Just how long did it take for you to process his confession? Poor guy must've been completely finished with your obliviousness that he somehow mustered the balls to do it."

He only continued to laughed at the prospect, without a care in the world. And here I sat, doing my best to not lose my sanity the best I could. This didn't make sense. Yuji liked me? It was astonishing enough on its own, and yet he was calmly telling me to forget about it and 'get with Hiro,' whatever that meant.

He was always a baffling case. What caught his interests was never predictable. He'd rather come dressed to a fancy party in biker clothes, stuff his face in appetizers than socialize. Even his laziness was worse than mine. But this entire situation just went and passed a line. Was it because he and Hiro grew up together he was reserved about his feelings? Or did he really not like me as strongly as he said? Honestly, what I wanted to know more than anything was why I was the one acting up about this all when he was the one who caused this situation. And yet he wanted me to forget this ever happened?

Sure the fangirl in me wouldn't allow a love triangle opportunity slip me by, but the romance inept seventeen-year-old me could only be hit in nothing but relief.

Heaving a loud breath, I face-planted onto the table.

"Yuji, you're a complete weirdo."

"Now, now. As a good friend of mine, I thought you already knew that." He chuckled again. "But I don't want you to lose all your energy just yet. Our night's not over."

"I swear, Yuji, if you try to say some inappropriate innuendo after all this—"

"Of course not. You think so little of my sense of humour." I rose my head to furrow my brows, to which he snorted. "Before you rudely interrupted me, I was actually trying to say the real reason I called you out to this party wasn't to have fun or this semi-awkward confession. I actually have a plan."

"For what exactly?"

We were back to talking like normal. Yuji took a moment to scour the area around us and without warning, nothing but solemnity coated his features.

"To get Saki to join the Humanity Club again."

My eyes bulged from their sockets. I straightened my posture, incredulity wounding up inside of me. "What do you..."

"I've never forgiven myself for letting her step out on us like that, moreover allowing her siblings to walk all over her since."

His gaze was intense, very much so it was unfitting of his character. Yuji was never the type to be serious. Our conversation only moments ago was proof of that. Then again, his mention of Saki only made my heart sink low in my chest. We never talked about her anymore at the club, but I knew she was always at the backs of our minds. It was a topic we needed to discuss eventually. And yet, considering Yuji's stoic countenance now, it caught me off guard anyway.

"I'm not letting her ignore us any longer." Conviction was clear in Yuji's voice and knitted eyebrows. "She's going to talk to us today and we're figuring out a solution to this all, no matter what."

____________________________________

So... the reason I haven't updated in a while is because I was working my hardest to finish writing this book (which I officially have so all my efforts were worth it xD). Plus I started my second semester of uni and needed to get back into the routine. Therefore, I have come to let you all know I'll be posting the rest of the book in one go in give or take a couple days (maybe even tomorrow). Hopefully it won't overwhelm you guys too much (it's only about ten chapters) so although they'll be lacking in quality do look forward to them~

Also, I can't believe this book hit 17k reads. You guys are amazing, I don't deserve you :')

And I wanted to ask your opinions on the new Wattpad update? For me it's a little strange and sudden considering I've been in this site for so many years and this is the biggest change yet. It'll definitely take lots of time to get used to lol

—Misty