Kotoko Strikes Back!

Chapter 4: Kotoko's Next Move

"La~ la~ la ~ " Kinnosuke was humming away while wiping the tables.

"You look happy today." Sai remarked.

"Otouchan!" Kinnosuke called out when he sees Sai walking in.

"Call me BOSS!" Sai corrected.

"Hai! BOSS!"

Never mind, sooner or later. It will be otouchan...hehehhee... Kinnosuke thought happily and continued with his humming.

"What type of flavour would you prefer? Strawberry? Chocolate?" Reiko asked.

"Anything." Naoki was in no mood to discuss the flavour.

"Why are you looking so grumpy?" Reiko asked, but she already had the answer. She just wanted to hear it personally from Naoki.

"Nothing." Naoki replied.

It's always nothing or anything. Why can't he just let me know how he feels? Reiko thought sadly. For the rest of the journey, both didn't speak much as each having their own thoughts.

"Konnichiwa!" Kotoko greeted as she walked into the office.

"Saa...Konnichiwa..." the lady greeted back.

Minutes later...

Kotoko sadly walked out of the office.

Why can't she just lower it a bit? Then I might be able to afford it. Kotoko thought sadly as she looked back into the office.

Looks like it's not going to be easy. I think I better give up since I never let Irie-kun know about my plan. He will soon forgets about everything and we can start over again. Kotoko's determination began to shake a little while she retrieved her red cardholder and opened it.

"I think the only thing that I am capable of in persisting would be my love for Irie-kun." Kotoko muttered softly to herself and let out a sigh before she went on with her muttering, "Irie-kun, maybe you are right, I just couldn't forget you, no matter how cold that kiss is." Just as Kotoko wanted to dump the newspaper into a nearby bin, someone shouted from behind.

"Aihara-san! Wait up!"

"Huh?" Kotoko turned around and realised that it's the lady who she had just spoken to earlier in the office.

"I am back!" Naoki informed when he stepped into the house. She's not back yet? Naoki thought because he could only see Yuki's shoes.

"You are back!" Mama greeted. "Where's Kotoko? You two are not walking back together again?" Mama asked.

Why must she always ask the same question? Naoki couldn't understand what Mama sees in Kotoko. Well, he was asking himself the same question too.

Later that night...

"Ring~~ "

"Moshi moshi..." Mama answered the phone.

Pause.

"Okay." Mama put down the receiver. "Let's eat first, Kotoko is not coming back for dinner." Mama informed.

"Baka!" Both Naoki and Yuki mumbled, soft enough not to be heard by Mama.

"Konbawa!" Kotoko greeted.

"Kotoko?" Kinnosuke was surprised to see Kotoko coming. "Oh...Kotoko!" Kinnosuke was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't realised Kotoko had gone into the kitchen.

"I am sure I will give you happiness when we are married!" Kinnosuke shouted out.

"You will?"

Wait up, that voice doesn't belong to Kotoko! Kinnosuke thought as he opened his eyes. There was this fat middle-age woman, with a pair of watery eyes and some ramen sticking out at the left side of her mouth (obviously she is too happy and shocked to swallow the rest of the ramen) starring intensively at Kinnosuke.

Sweat drop (I mean very big sweat drop)...

Where's Kotoko? Kinnosuke thought. A three-headed Kinnosuke started searching aimlessly around the area for Kotoko. Without any warning given to him, the middle-aged fat lady quickly pulled Kinnosuke over and gave him a BIG BIG KISS (not on the face, but on the lips...yuck!) and not forgetting to share some delicious ramen (Remember? The ones left on the tips of her mouth) with Kinnosuke.

"SOB* SOB* ......MY FIRST KISS!"