I'm back again

thanks for everyone who commented and for the silent readers! @Keiyuu, you have noticed correctly that I giving some attention to other pairings as well. Okay but straight to the point, shall we? I'm going to upload one more chapter this week (and because of the drama in these two recent ones, including this one) that one is going to be concentrated on the humor side (hehe...more blushing and not from Yui's) But I'm getting ahead of myself. Here is the new chapter!
Dating Game - Chapter 12
Kojima Haruna POV
Recently Jurina and Sayaka won our second competition and find out that they will have the chance to chose their ‘second half’ after Airi and Rie choices. Unless of course any of those two decided to chose Jurina or Sayaka.
Surprisingly there were no punishments this time, maybe they felt actually sorry for us as pocky game was quite awkward for mostly everyone. Except Jurina that had no problem of kissing strangers.
I can’t critic this girl a lot as she’s mostly stealing kissing on cheek not on the lips. Maybe she learnt her lesson after Rena’s incident. Of course it doesn’t stop Jurina to act as she likes.
Every morning she either hugs or kisses girls on the cheek by saying ‘hello’. I think she’s still sleeping in the same bed with Miyuki. They are probably ‘bed’ buddies (as weird as that sounds).
Yuko is not much better. She tries to steal innocent kisses from me too. One time she almost kissed me on the lips, I barely avoided that. Later on, I thought that maybe I should have let her… but it wouldn’t have meant nothing for the girl as it was just playing around.
I still haven’t forgotten what she told me on the first day we got her. About her crush on Atsuko… unless she tells me that her feelings magically changed… I can’t let her invade my lips and my world. Enough that I already like the girl… how can someone dislike this adorable squirrel?
I’m not saying that someone dislikes Yuuchan. I know that she’s liked and popular among the girls. Not in a way where everyone probably secretly dreams to have Jurina by their side (except from me). But in a way that’s impossible not to get excited when Yuko is happy and wants to do something, she has this aura about her that keeps pulling you closer.
Surprisingly she’s not so sure of herself. Obviously, her uncertainty only involves Atsuko. I’m annoyed whenever we have a talk about this topic… but I guess there are some topics that you just can’t avoid.
“You can just talk to her…” I said a bit annoyed (not really wanting to see such scene…but tired of the fact that Yuko keeps glancing at Maeda and biting her lip nervously).
“What? Oh… no… that’s not necessary. I mean… at least she knows that I exist so…”
“Oh right…you mentioned something about liking the girl from afar… when you could have done it if you were in the real world and only sometimes visited that cafe… here you spend around her 24 hours a day…”
“You think I should go and talk with her?” she questioned me with an innocent look. How can someone soo perverted be this innocent at the same time?
“I mean…that’s your decision…” I started avoiding topic when I had to confess at least to myself that I REALLY didn’t want that. I wouldn’t mind Yuuchan avoiding Atsuko for the rest of the game if she suddenly realized that she likes me instead… ha… my silly wishes.
Yuko looked down with a wonder “no… I don’t think I could do that… maybe she would just laugh at my silly feelings”.
“Who hurt you this much…that you don’t believe in yourself?” I questioned without thinking about it. It was just one of those moments when your lips moves faster than your thoughts.
Yuko looked back at me and after a second or so avoided my gaze. Maybe I actually hit a hurtful topic… that’s not my place to question it…right?
I put both of my hands on Yuko’s shoulders forcing smaller girl to face me once again and smiled apologetically “sorry… that’s not my place to mention stuff like that… I mean… if there’s really something like that…and you would want to talk about it… you can come to me and I will listen… but you SHOULD believe in yourself… believe me Yuuchan, anyone could fall for you”.
“Yuuchan?”
“Oh… I keep calling you like that in my mind…if you don’t like it I can…”
“No no…I don’t mind it all. After all, I am still stealing the nickname that Atsuko gave to you and calling you, Nyan Nyan”. She smiled cheekily now and I had to avoid this little Midget kiss again.
Oh…if only you wanted to kiss me for real Yuko…
Considering other things… most days in the house are quite calm but of course no one can’t avoid some drama. It appears and disappears all of a sudden without much of a warning.
Friday evening even I got involved in some drama even though I didn’t want to or try to. I didn’t even ask any questions but when I accidentally bumped into Atsuko she looked straight into my eyes and without a warning started telling her story.
“Minami has just…told me that she likes me”.
I smiled quite simply because I have noticed the fact that Takamina likes Atsuko. I’m pretty sure even Yuko knows it I only wonder how both of them handle the fact that they like the same girl. Especially during the week that they have to act as a couple. Our awkward WMidgets that looks more like sisters rather than lovers.
But my smile didn’t reach Atsuko. She seemed concerned about the situation and I soon got the hint that not in a good way.
“Is that a bad thing?”
“I mean…no…Minami is cute… beautiful but… I mean I was too forward to answer and instantly told her that I like someone else… I could see that my words hurt her… I know I shouldn’t have… also… who knows my feelings might change in the process of the game…”
I could see Atsuko cursing under her breath. She’s truly regretted her decision and sudden burst of honesty.
“Well… you didn’t lie to her… its not like you hurt her on purpose… maybe its better to find out sooner than later… that you know… you have no hope of getting together”.
I considered my own words and even the fact that if I listened to my own advises I should also confess to Yuko that I like her. No chance in hell though… what if she reacts the same way as Atsuko? I couldn’t handle rejection. Poor Minami.
“Well yes…but how could I make such announcement on the first week? When there’s literary two months and three weeks ahead of us…”
“I mean yeah…and if the person that you like rejects you…you will be left with nothing” I reasoned but soon realized that maybe I should have kept my thoughts to myself. Oh…Atsuko’s expression only proved that my thought was right. I should just keep my mouth shut.
“I wouldn’t want to use someone in a case like that… in a way I understand what you meant…I mean… I think I do”. She answered calmly. But its not even my business, I think I should stay out of it. In case… I don’t even know who Atsuko likes.
“am…is that not a secret… am… who do you like then?” I asked trying not to show my curiosity.
I held my breath waiting for an answer not sure if I really want to know.
Oshima Yuko POV
I was about to walk out of my room when Takamina walked in wailing. I could say that because it seemed like her tears were not planning to stop at any time soon. The girl looked like a mess.
Still unsure what is happening and what kind of tragedy occurred I let her to hug me for support. I don’t know if I am soothed for these kind of things as I can mess up quite easily myself but… I had to try and calm her down.
“What’s wrong?” I questioned while sitting in the corner of the bed and dragging Takamina to sit down as well.
She sighed brushing the tears away thought it was pointless because as soon as she did that new ones reappeared. “I…oh…I told… told Atsuko…I told her that I lik..e… like her…and…nd… she just…”
I didn’t need the ability of reading minds to know that someone cries like that only when they feel their heart breaking. Still I let her continue without interrupting. I had to wait for few minutes just looking at the girl that tried to get herself back together and control her emotions.
“she likes…someone el..se…not me”.
“Oh…” was all I managed to answer. Getting rejected… something that all of us fear. Even the bravest and the most reckless people most of the time keep their true feelings for themselves avoiding confrontation and realizing the fact that someone they adore might not feel the same way.
Takamina looked at me expectancy but I couldn’t think of a way how I could comfort her in situation like that. I still tried to think of something and finally said the only thing on my mind at the moment. It’s probably better to do that rather than sitting in silence for the rest of the evening.
“At least you know from the very start what to expect…” I couldn’t stop myself from asking “did she tell you whom she likes?”
“No…I tried asking but couldn’t form words…she also kind of evaded the topic… who…knows maybe she doesn’t even like anyone… maybe she just told me that because she REALLY dislikes me…”
All of a sudden Takamina started crying again. I hug her not knowing what else to do. “I don’t think she dislikes you… maybe its just… too soon?” I tried reasoning.
At the same time I put myself in Takamina’s situation. Of course I knew Atsuko for a longer time…but I can’t say that I really know her… I only saw her a lot in the cafe. I never dared to talk with her. I found out about her name only from other workers. If I had summon up all my courage and confessed to her and heard the same answer as Takamina did… I would be as broken as she was.
I understand that Atsuko tried to be honest but… there are better ways to say such things.
I lay with Takamina on the bed, hugging her from the side, remembering this technique from my best friend Sae. Most of the times it worked for me in the past because I got relaxed, I stopped thinking and sometimes even fallen asleep. I wish that this will have the same effect for my Midget companion as well.
We lay like that for ten minutes, maybe even longer as the time usually stops in these kind of situations. Once or twice I thought that maybe Takamina fallen asleep but then I heard a weak cry and realized that she’s still pouring her heart out.
Five minutes later she finally pulled back a little now looking at me with sad smile plastered on her face. “Thanks… you didn’t have to comfort me… but you still did…”
I caught another tear that escaped Minami’s eye and smiled in supporting way. At least I tried to, I couldn’t see my face so I wasn’t sure how it actually looked. “That’s okay… everyone gets their heart broken in one way or another… and everyone needs someone to share that pain with”.
Takamina nod with agreement and once again we lay in silence until she finally spoke up. “Yuko?”
“m?”
“Can I ask you something…?”
“Sure” I nod encouraging seeing worry behind her eyes.
“Could you help me forget, Atsuko?”
“?” I stared back at Takamina a bit speechless and unsure what to say. I didn’t even understand what the girl had in mind.
“Do you remember when we talked while walking during our first competition? I told you about my crush…I think I kept telling you whenever I had a choice…I was probably really annoying… but I also asked if there’s someone that you like and you said… not yet…? If that’s still the case… could you help me forget her?”
For some time Takamina waited for my answer and her broken expression made me feel uncomfortable. I don’t know why but I felt myself nodding once.
Her eyes sparkled for a second and I saw gratitude in them. Being honest…I didn’t expect Takamina kissing me. That was a short and a bit awkward kiss. But it did happen.
What I got myself into?