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Leader’s problems
I stare absentmindedly through the glass pane, not registering any of the scenes that are happening behind it. My tea already grew cold so I somehow lost my interest in it…Well, actually everything became so insignificant after what she had told me…
“Soo Koharu and Aika…” I drawl, musing at loud with still the same vacant look.
“Can we change the topic already?” my partner in conversation answers a bit surlily.
“And what are you…?” I pretend I didn’t notice that bitterness in her voice.
“That’s it! You gonna stop talking about that or I’m leaving.”
I slowly turn my gaze at her. She sits with arms crossed at her chest and her eyebrows are unnaturally close to each other as she frowns at me.
She isn’t kidding…better not to aggravate her more.
I lean in my seat and smile, putting up a white flag.
“Good…” she sighs, abandoning the sullen look and gets back to torturing with a spoon her parfait. “Better tell me how Tanakacchin is doing as a housewife?”
“A housewife?” I chuckle at the idea. However, Reina in an apron would definitely look cute…“I think you’re exaggerating. We don’t live there, just meet occasionally. It’s still Maki’s apartment although she currently doesn’t live there.”
“I see…but she does help you with cleaning and stuff, right?” she raises her eyebrow suspiciously as if I wasn’t telling her the whole truth.
I just nod, grinning amused at how concerned she is about me.
I’m actually tempted to get back to our previous topic but I’m sure she will leave then and I don’t want that to happen, after all it was me who invited her to this café. Nevertheless, I’m slightly upset that she doesn’t want to admit, she isn’t so okay with Koharu dating Aika as she states she is.
“And what about your parents? Suspecting anything?” she eyes me attentively, probably trying to read something from my facial expression as I speechlessly stare into distance.
Parents…Lately, they often occupy my mind…
“As far as I know they don’t. However…I don’t know how long we will be able to keep that this way. I’ve been wondering about telling them the truth…” I say without enthusiasm.
Has winter depression got me…?
“Have you spoken about that with Reina?”
“Not yet…” I answer shortly and take a sip of my cold tea.
To be honest, I’m afraid of how she would react to the idea…
“It’s getting late. Let’s go back,” she suggests looking through the window at the dark street. “Are you coming back to your home or your
secret hideout?” she winks teasingly at me.
I roll my eyes at her. I’d prefer she didn’t use such a term…
“Reina sent me a message that she is waiting for me,” I mock her teasing tone.
“Shame…then it means you won’t see me home,” she pouts playfully.
“Sorry. Next time Gaki-chan,” I pat her shoulder and we leave.
“Eto…Risa?” I stop her as we are to part our ways, “don’t worry about what happened. I’m sure you will find someone…” I mute as she puts finger onto my lips. I blink in puzzlement but she just grins as she withdraws her hand.
“Ai-chan, it’s sweet that you worry about me but firstly, I don’t want a jealous Yankee to hunt me at night, so better quickly get back to her, and secondly, I’m really okay. I already realized it didn’t make sense. Besides, I told you about that today because I thought you should have known as a leader that soon we might have another couple in our band, that’s all…”
I wish it was true, the things she says…but even though she smiles her eyes look so sad…
“Bye Ai-chan. See you tomorrow,” she hugs me and walks away.
“Bye Gaki-chan,” I mutter as she vanishes into night’s darkness.
You may act tough but you can’t fool your best friend…That’s why, I will do everything to make you feel happy again…
* * *
I walk up the stairs of the building in which Maki’s apartment is located and which now serves as mine and Reina’s
secret hideout like Gaki called it. It’s far from the city center so doesn’t draw much attention. Of course, it was all my girlfriend’s idea…she said that since we couldn’t do what we want at our parents’s houses and hotels are too risky, we would get an apartment for ourselves…The whole idea sounded insane to me but Maki agreed to help and now we meet at her old place once or twice a week, well…sometimes more often if Reina insists…
I briefly look at the message I’m intending to send…
Tonight I’m staying at Reina’s place… To some extent it’s true, I’m spending a night with Reina, just not in her home…and this
just makes me feel guilty as I hate to lie, especially to people whom I love…
“Tadaima!” I shout from the entrance.
“Okaeri!” I hear Reina’s muffled voice coming from the bathroom.
I can’t help but to grin at this short exchange, it really feels as if it was our home…
“I’m taking a bath,
mind joining me~?” she exclaims in a singy-songy voice and my grin immediately spreads wider.
“Give me a sec!”
She sure knows how to silence my consciousness…
However, I still can’t stop thinking about Gaki. What can I possibly do to make her forget about Koharu? Because obviously, she didn’t get over her and knowing Risa she will start working like mad just to occupy her mind with something…plus, she must feel a tad bit lonely surrounded by all those couples…
“That’s bad…”
“Hm?” I look up at my girl sprawled in the bathtub across me and covered to the neck with white bubbles.
“Basically, I’m naked and wet just before your eyes and you don’t even bother to look my way…” she says smiling at me sympathetically.
She knows that I’m so awfully absent because something worries me, otherwise I surely wouldn’t ignore the mentioned sight…
“I’m sorry Rei-chan,” I swim up to her and comfortably lean on her chest as she wraps her arms around me, “I’m just thinking about Gaki-chan.”
“Oh right, you are worried that you’re friend doesn’t get laid…”
Yeah that…no wait it has nothing to do with this! Gosh, does she have only one thing in mind….
I glance upon her merrily grinning face and nudge her lightly. “Reina, I’m seriously concerned about her. I mean, how would you feel as the only one alone and surrounded by couples.”
“Shitty I guess…” she couldn’t say that more delicately, could she…? “So what are you planning to do, set her up with someone?”
“I was considering this. However, I have no idea with whom…”
“Miyabi-chan!” she exclaims raising her index finger into the air.
“Ee?” I ask, cleaning my face from the foam which she splashed at me with her rapid hand movement.
“What? She also has a weird chin…” she points at her own chin and sticks it out.
Geez, can’t she be serious for five minutes….I narrow my eyes and splash water into her face.
“Okay, okay I get it,” she giggles, wiping off the water. “But my point is that true love comes when you aren’t searching for it. Look at us, no one had to set us up, it just happened,” she smooches my cheek to appease me.
“I believe we aren’t the best example,” I raise my eyebrow skeptically. “We started in a completely opposite order…”
Normal people first talk, go on dates and then end up in bed…
“You can’t fight destiny honey,” she mutters into my ear, gently nuzzling it. “Besides, we are going on dates now so everything is perfectly fine.”
Yeah, seems like she’s right, it doesn’t matter how we started it matters how we ended up…
“Listen, I’m sure Gaki-san will find someone even without our help. Give her some time, you can’t rush love.”
I look at her cute smiling face and softly kiss her on the lips.
“Thanks. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“Hmm,” she pokes her chin thoughtfully, “would have to find someone else to get you laid?”
“Fool!” I giggle, smacking lightly her head.
“Maybe I am fool but…I’m your fool…” she kisses me back.
“Sooo…” I begin as I leave the bathtub. Better not to give her a chance to drown me in there, after she hears the question. “How your mom is doing?”
“Good…” She mumbles grumpily, leaning her chin on the tub’s edge.
I wrap myself in a towel and give her a doubtful look.
“Oh okay!” she gives up, “she is pissed off that instead of spending my free time with them I spent it with people whom I see everyday…”
I crouch next to her and tousle her wet hair, that puts smile back on her face but not for long…
“Spend the next week at home.”
“What?! No way!”
I knew she wouldn’t be pleased with that…
“Reina, please, family is very important.”
“So are you,” she mutters with a face of a scolded puppy.
“That’s sweet but currently they need you more,” I stroke her cheek.
“So you don’t need me?” she sadly asks, looking me in the eye.
“Ehh…” I sigh and stand up, “don’t change the meaning of my words.”
She glances upon me with sulkiness written all over her face, crossing her arms. After a moment she leaves the tub, giving an impression of being deeply lost in thought.
It would be easier if she wrapped herself in a towel because seeing her naked body dripping with water, makes me want to take back my previous words…
She comes closer to me and with serious face finally answers.
“I agree.”
Why she had to agree...? Why didn’t she rebel against me like she ususally does…?
“But…” she slyly grins and slowly,
painfully slowly unwraps my towel…
“But…?” I whisper, feeling tension building up inside of me.
“You’re not getting any sleep tonight,” she whispers and captures my lips…
Whole week…? Have I lost my mind…?
* * *
I lie sprawled in the dark corner of the stage, staring at the ceiling and trying hard to keep my eyes open.
Fifteen minutes…just fifteen minutes…it won’t do harm, right?
I yawn and close my eyes to the notes of some C-ute’s song.
“Ai-chan, are you alright?”
Already caught? That’s not fair, I am a leader after all, no one should interrupt my naps…
I lift my eyelids lazily.
“Yes Gaki-chan, I just need some sleep,” and as if to prove my words another yawn escapes my mouth, “more importantly, why were you practicing during Berryz’s rehearsal?” I mutter, not opening my eyes.
“What? Are you trying to suggest that I’m throwing myself into work so that I wouldn’t think about Koharu?!”
I didn’t want to say it but she just admitted that herself…
“Well…yeah…” I open my one eye and notice that all sweat which covers her face is almost evaporating as she glares furiously at me, boiling with anger.
“To your information, I’m not overworking myself!” she huffs and walks away.
“Risa!” I call after her but she ignores me and leaves the stage.
Ehhh…how I’m supposed to help you when you don’t even want to admit that you need help…
I lie down again, feeling even more tired than a minute ago, when I hear quiet steps approaching me…
Oh no, who’s next…?
“Ai-chan, you look awfully drained, what’s wrong?” Sayumi asks, sitting down next to me.
“I didn’t snatch much sleep yesterday…” I mutter, hoping she will catch the note of irritation in my voice.
“You mean Reina didn’t let you snatch much sleep?”
I turn my head to her, throwing her a fleeting glare.
“But she seems to be in a great shape today. To be honest, I’ve never seen her being so energetic during the rehearsal.”
“Yeah I know, she is always like that….” I wave dismissively and close my eyes again. “By the way, I have a favor to ask. Can you somehow keep her away from me for at least next three hours?”
“And my I ask why?” she asks a bit bewildered by my favor.
“Because she will want a second…no wait…” I count in my mind yesterday’s occurrences, “a sixth round….”
Sayu chuckles whether at the number or simply at me, I don’t really know.
“And can’t you just say no?”
That’s the problem…
“I can’t tell her no, she will make that puppy look and whine sadly, it ruins my resolve. The point is that I told her to spend the next week with her family so now she can’t keep her hands away from me…”
“Wait, don’t tell my you aren’t keeping up with our kitten.”
“Excuse me!?” I jerk straight. How dares she?! “I’m in perfect shape!”
“Suuure and that’s why you look pale like a ghost,” she smiles ironically.
“Listen, I do keep up with her, it’s just that she is some strange form of life which is able to function without sleep. Besides, I drank four cups of coffee which made me even more sleepy because I took them with extra milk!” I gasp for air as I end my tirade.
“Geez, Ai-chan no need to get so excited but…I can’t do that for you. You see, Reina is my friend, I can’t deprive her of her
rabu-rabu time with the leader,” she smiles cutely, pats my head and simply as that walks away.
But…but…but you didn’t mind that she was your friend when you harassed her! You damn devil hare! Dammit, Reina is coming here! That sly grin…it’s almost shouting “hey,let’s find some empty room and have a hot make out session”. Normally, I wouldn’t mind but today my every muscle is against that idea…I need to get away from here…I love you kitten but please, forgive me this time…
Pretending that I didn’t notice her, I flee behind the stage…
“Ah Ai-chan…” Eri calls me, coming my way, “want some coffee?”
She hands me a cup and as the caffeine smell reaches my nose, something starts to boil in my gut.
“I’m gonna throw up…”
I run to the restroom, reaching it just in time…
* * *
Looking at myself in the mirror, I must admit that Sayumi was right, I look horribly. I’m pale and have bags under my eyes, I need to do something about this but first I’ll rinse my mouth once again…I duck under the tap, hoping to get rid of that terrible taste…
“Wah!” I flinch as I look once again into the mirror and notice Reina standing next to me. “You want to give me a heart attack?”
“Sorry, I didn’t want to startle you. I heard from Eri that you weren’t feeling well,” she puts hand to my forehead, checking if I have a fever.
“I’m fine just drank too much coffee,” I withdraw her hand and smile reassuringly.
“Fine? Is that how a healthy person should look?” she points at my reflection in the mirror. “You are going home. Tell your manager that you aren’t feeling well and need to rest before the tomorrow’s concert,” she firmly grabs my hand but I don’t show any intention to follow her.
“Reina, it’s nothing, you don’t need to worry.”
“Baka!” she yells at me frustrated, “You’re my girlfriend and I will worry for you even if you ask me not to”, her voice quivers as tears begin to flood her eyes, “so stop pretending and just admit that you aren’t feeling well…”
My softie yankii is really worried about me…and what am I doing? Exactly the same thing as Gaki, rejecting her help and deceiving myself.
I softly wipe her tear with my thumb and hug her.
“I’m sorry. I’ll go back home and rest properly.”
She sobs quietly and wraps her hands around me.
“Reina loves Ai-chan…”
“And Ai-chan loves Reina…” I kiss her forehead and we both leave to find my manager.
* * *
With phone stuck to my ear, I’m frantically walking in circles around my room.
“Come on, pick it up, pick it up…” I nervously chant under my breath but it’s pointless.
Maybe her battery went flat? Or maybe she simply doesn’t want to talk with me? Gosh, and she dares to claim that I’m the stubborn one. Fine, if she isn’t picking up the phone I will confront her tomorrow after the concert….and this time I won’t be so nice, she needs to face the truth…
“Ai-chan!”
“Reina?” I stare at my girl as she stands in the entrance of my room. “What are you doing here? You promised to spend this week at home,” I frown at her as she comes up to me.
“And you promised to rest”, she retorts, “give me that phone and get back to bed.” she takes my phone and before I’m able to protest, pushes me onto the bed. “Now sleep!” she orders, taking a seat on the chair next to the bed.
For a moment, we stubbornly glare at each other not saying anything.
“I was just trying to call Gaki but before you came, I really was resting,” I finally speak up.
“Good and I told my mom that I was going to visit you since you weren’t feeling well,” she calmly explains. “By the way, Gaki-san won’t answer the phone; she still is at the rehearsal.”
“What? So she stayed longer?”
I knew that it would turn out like this! That stubborn brat will work herself to death. I have a feeling that we are going to have a long conversation…
“Yes, but you’ll take care of her later, now just go to sleep,” she covers me with sheet. “I’ll stay here until you fall asleep. Good night,” she kisses my cheek and gets back to her chair.
“Don’t treat me like a child,” I murmur, pouting but she just grins at me and…god, I’m sooo tired…zzzzz….
I wake up at eleven o’clock at night, realizing that Reina is still in my room…sleeping in my chair. Her head lifelessly hangs down as she idly drools, having her arms still crossed at her chest. It must be extremely uncomfortable to sleep in such a position and if you ask me it looks a bit creepy too…
“Reina-chan, wake up,” I gently shook her shoulder.
“Wha?” she jerks awake and with her thin sleepy eyes looks around the room. “Oh it’s you…” she smacks her wet lips, stretching her arms. “What hour is it?”
“Don’t worry you may stay over the night, so go to bed,” she groggily stands up and throws herself at the bed.
“Where are you going?” she mumbles as I am to leave the room.
“Tell my mom that you are staying,” I whisper and wink at her.
I walk down the stairs and to the living room where my mom is watching some drama in TV.
“Feeling better?” she asks, smiling heartily as I take a seat next to her.
“Yeah, much better…” I unwillingly smile too. “Is it okay if Reina stays for the night?”
“Of course it’s okay. It’s really nice of her that she came to visit you. She is such a good girl.”
I grin proudly to myself…Yeah, she is really loving and caring, sweet and much more emotional that one would expect…and she is…
“Mom, actually Reina is…” just say it, just say it…“is a very reliable person.”
I’ve never thought it would be so hard…guess I’m not ready yet for this…
“I’m sure she is,” she strokes my head.
“Good night mom,” I say and get back to my room.
Reina lies in the same position in which she was when I left her, sprawled like a starfish and clutching my pillow.
How one can be so adorable?
“Hey, mind sharing this pillow with me?” I whisper to her ear, she opens her wonky eye and puts pillow in the right position so we both can sleep on it.
I’m so lucky to have her…I wish Risa could also experience these feelings of being loved and loving someone…those surely are the most wonderful feelings we can experience…
Topic: RenAi Revolution[UPDATE! 29/12 Chapter 22: Me & You &…She] (Read 58175 times)