Chapter 32“Stuff like what?”
Murmuring so softly in her reply, Ai would not have been able to hear Risa’s respond if not for the quietness of the washroom they were in.
“
Someone like you. We’re lucky to have you and you know it. You’re beautiful and smart and loyal and funny…. You’re special.”
Fumbling at the roll of paper towels dangling just next to her, Risa tore off a few sections and wiped at the fresh round of tears that Ai’s speech had unleashed.
Tearing off some towels herself, Ai dabbed at the tears that Risa had missed and swept the younger girl’s fringe to one side with her hand. Watching Risa blow her nose noisily, Ai said something else on further thought.
“Okay maybe not so much of the smart part but you know what I mean.”
Lifting her head to look Ai in the eye, Risa didn’t speak. But Ai could tell by the changed expression in her eyes that she had managed to get through to the depressed girl.
“You’re supposed to cheer me up Ai-chan, not take digs at me.”
Risa protested with a pout that was quickly replaced with a genuine smile.
“Well you’re smiling aren’t you?”
Waving Risa’s objection off with a smile of her own, Ai continued rambling on with her unfinished speech.
“You don’t have to believe me, but it’s true, and I know you better than anyone. We need you. So don’t go running off and crying by yourself again. Whatever happens,
I’ll be here for you.”
[Within the Undergrowth]
“Sorry, I thought I saw some bug near you for a second.”
Grinning sheepishly, Sayumi offered this explanation for her sudden reaction earlier.
“Oh, right.”
Nodding, Reina accepted the reason with little protests although it felt a little too far-fetched even for her.
“I wonder if she’s hiding her affections for me. Maybe she secretly likes me.”
That thought made her laugh out loud but her happy laughter was cut short by Sayumi’s frenzied attempts to drown out any sounds that might escape from the clump of bushes.
“Reina you’re acting stupid, stop letting your imagination run wild.”
The silence that hung in the air as Sayumi returned her concentration to her most chief task at hand was strangely comforting to Reina. It sure beat having to hear some weird confession by Sayumi. Was there going to be any?
“I thought Reina
wanted a love confession?”
Reina slapped herself mentally and chased the second wild notion that night out of her mind. Trying to clear her obviously polluted thoughts, Reina let her eyes wonder and unwittingly they came to rest upon Sayumi’s naked form.
Under the moonlit sky, the lanky girl’s pale skin seemed to reflect the moon’s rays beautifully. Her jet-black hair and eyes only added to the exquisiteness of this splendid image.
“Wow, woot woot…..”
Resisting the urge to whistle, Reina bit her tongue and swallowed hard, but doing both actions together only made her choke on her own saliva.
“Gah! I might accidentally kill myself one of these days.”
[Back at the Washroom]
Suddenly sitting straighter up, Risa raised both hands to cover Ai’s eyes. She held them there for a moment as if contemplating her next step. Then closing her eyes, she planted a soft kiss on Ai’s lips.
“Thank you.”
When Ai reopened her eyes to look at the girl sitting in front of her, she felt blissful and guilty all at once. Risa was a wonderful girl, she didn’t deserve having to share a person she loved with anyone.
“I’m so sorry Risa. But I can’t give up Reina either.”
Thinking to herself, Ai was determined to treat sweet Risa much better than before. She remembered seeing the moon hanging high in the sky on her short walk over to the washroom and decided to invite Risa for a nice walk.
“The moon tonight looks really beautiful. Shall we take a walk by the pool?”
Then jumping up in one smooth motion, Ai bent slightly and extended her hand in a gentlemanly pose.
“My gosh Ai-chan, I see all that RNK practice wasn’t lost on you.”
Slipping her slender hand into Ai’s, Risa squeezed it lovingly.
“I’d love too.”
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jafeijai: I
Risa, I don't think I can handle it if she leaves
ChrNo: I did didn’t I, cubicles 8 times
rndmnwierd: Ahhhh Sukeban, that was a pretty interesting film. All that bombing
JFC: Mame seems to be a little down in the dumps but luckily Ai is there to get her out of it
wordsworth: I like the thought of Risa as leader to the younger girls. I wonder if that’ll happen. Maybe in a few years?
Yuuyami: Mame hime! That has a nice ring to it. All hail Princess Risa
Topic: The Lines Are Blurred ... [completed] (Read 103203 times)