Kotoko Strikes Back!

Chapter 2: Cold Shoulders...from Kotoko?

"Niichan! Wake up!" Yuki tried to wake Naoki up because it's nearly dinnertime. Huh? I've actually fallen asleep? Naoki thought as he opened his eyes.

"Dinner time." Yuki informed.

"Hai!" Naoki quickly got up from his bed and proceeded to the doorway with Yuki.

As he opened the door, he could see the sign written "KOTOKO ROOM" hanging on the door opposite his room.

I wonder if that baka is back. Naoki thought, getting kind of uneasy without seeing Kotoko around when she was supposed to be around during this time to tell him that it's dinnertime, though he had always ignored those calls. It had only been a while since he had last seen her in his class during that morning and he was already missing her?

"Urghh..." Naoki grumbled upon having this feeling because he did not want to admit that Kotoko had managed to influence him ever since the day she stepped into the Irie household.

"Dai jo bu?" Yuki asked when he realised that Naoki was behaving very strangely. Must be that baka making life difficult for niichan again. Yuki presumed, feeling very sorry for his niichan.

"Nothing. Let's go." Naoki replied. Must stop thinking of all this rubbish! So what if I had initiated the kiss? It's always fun to see that baka's expression especially when she thought I had feelings for her. Naoki tried to deceive himself with these lies in order to make that uneasy feeling disappeared, however it didn't seem to be working at all.

"Let's not wait for them, eat first." Mama suggested.

"Hai!"

That baka is back? Naoki's heartbeat somehow skipped when he heard the familiar voice and he quickened his pace toward the dinning table.

"Gomen!" Naoki apologized before taking his seat at the dinning table, followed by Yuki.

Kotoko just dug into her rice without even looking up.

This baka is still pretending huh? Okay, let's see how long you will last. Naoki thought.

Throughout the dinner, Kotoko has been very quiet and occasionally spoke when Mama was asking her something.

"You seem so quiet today. Having any problem at school?" Papa asked.

"Eh...iie!" Kotoko quickly denied and forced out a smile at Papa.

"Ahh...must be having a tiff with Naoki, right? Well, it's normal for a couple to quarrel sometimes. Am I correct? Papa?" Mama teased while smiling at Naoki who just ignored her and concentrating on his meal.

Mama is always like that, always assuming that we are an item. I bet that baka must be smiling dumbly right now. Naoki thought. What? NO REACTION? This is really getting weird. What is she up to now? Naoki began frowning when he noticed Kotoko just continued digging from the bowl and stuff them into her mouth.

On the other hand, Yuki saw Naoki's expression and thought Naoki was not feeling very comfortable about Mama's statement. " Mama! Niichan and Kotoko is not an item! Why would niichan want a baka as a girlfriend?" Yuki cried out in a protesting manner. Yep, I am really a BAKA, a baka for falling so madly in love with Irie-kun. Kotoko thought sadly.

"Yuki! Don't be rude." Mama scolded. Yuki simply stuck out his tongue at Machiko in an I-don't-care manner.

"Irie-kun." Kotoko muttered to herself as she stared at the photo while she was alone in her room. I will prove to you, I can forget you even after that kiss. Kotoko thought with a strong determination.

I will prove to you...

Naoki opened the drawer and retrieved out an envelope from it. "Don't tell me you've fallen for that baka." Yuki asked. "When did you come in?" Naoki was quite shocked to see Yuki standing behind him.

"I am in the room for 5 minutes, you looked like a zombie just now." Yuki grumbled.

"Am I?"

"Yep. You have not reply my question. Are you?" Yuki asked.

"Don't be ridiculous. How would that be possible?" Naoki denied.

"Then, what about these?" Yuki pointed at the envelope on the table.

"Nah...I am about to throw them away." Naoki picked up the envelope and started tearing it into pieces before dumping it into the dustbin.

"Happy now?" Naoki asked. Yuki did not reply and went back to his table.

"Dear Diary, that baka is really going to destroy niichan, what should I do?"

Yuki drew out a badly distorted Kotoko dribbling a basketball, which looked like Naoki but only in a form of a basketball.

Later that night...

Naoki opened his eyes and gently got off from his bed in order not to disturb Yuki. Slowly, Naoki tiptoed to his table, bent over and picked up the pieces of paper from the dustbin.

A while later...

It's a good thing I didn't tear them into too many pieces. Naoki heaved a sigh of relief while he carefully pasted the adhesive tape over the uneven while lines in order to join the last two torn pieces of paper.

"Done!" Naoki whispered to himself. After doing some final check through, Naoki carefully put the photos (*), which he had confiscated from Mama into a new empty envelope and puts it back into the drawer. Neither did he realize that Yuki wasn't sleeping at all.