Kotoko Strikes Back!

Chapter 16: BANZAI! Finale

"Are you sure?" Kenrou eyes widened disbelievingly after listening to Kotoko's revelation. "Hai!" Kotoko nodded profusely and tried to retrieve something from her pocket. "What are you trying to do? Attack me again?" Even though Kotoko was only half his size, Kenrou could not afford to turn off his awareness against this girl.

"See this." Kotoko brought out her red cardholder, opened it and flashed it before Kenrou. "Wow..." Kenrou stared hard at the picture of Naoki in daze, not knowing what to say until his cellular phone rang.

"Hai."

Pause...

"Gomen. I didn't hear my phone ring just now."

Pause...

"I am fine. I will be back later. Don't worry." Kenrou quickly ended the conversation and diverted his attention back to Kotoko.

"Now you believe me?" Kotoko asked and Kenrou just nodded.

"You are early." Reiko exclaimed when she noticed a restless Miki sitting on their usual spot in the café. "Did you manage to find Kenrou?" Reiko asked after ordering her drink. Miki shook her head, " I managed to get him on his mobile phone, but before I could ask him where he is..." Miki stopped and buried her head under her arms.

" I am sure he will take care of himself." Reiko quickly comforted.

" Enough of my problem, I will settle the score with him tonight." Miki sighed. " Didn't you say you want something from me?" Miki got straight to the point because she was in no mood to chitchat. Reiko knew Miki's temper well enough and told Miki what she wanted.

"What? Why do you need it for?" Miki asked.

"It's a secret, but I really need it. Onegai." Reiko pleaded.

"All right." Miki reluctantly agreed to it.

"Arigatou!"

"Aihara-san. Do you think it was my fault?" Kenrou asked with his staring at the pond in front of him.

"Hmmm..." Kotoko scratched her head.

"I don't know too. Irie-kun always called me a baka, but I don't mind." Kotoko giggled out.

"Irie-kun? The one in your card holder?" Kenrou asked.

"Hai!" Kotoko nodded profusely for she never fails to get excited whenever the topic is revolving around her Irie-kun.

"You love him so much huh?" Kenrou asked.

"Hai! Very...very...very...much! So much that I would give up EVERYTHING just to be with him." Kotoko started blushing when her eyes met up with Kenrou's because of their striking resemblance. "But, after I heard about your story, I seem to understand how Irie-kun had felt about me." Kotoko stopped her giggled.

"Is that so?"

"Would you want Keiko-chan as your girlfriend?" Kotoko asked.

"Actually, she wasn't that bad." Kenrou replied.

"Then why would you say those mean things to her?"

"I don't know, I really don't know...perhaps I was too selfish and failed to realize her virtues." Kenrou smiled bitterly.

"Done." Reiko wiped off the beads of perspire on her forehead as she saw the images that she wanted appearing in front of her. Minutes later, she was dialing some familiar numbers.

"Moshi-moshi. Naoki?"

Pause...

"I have something to show you. Can we meet later?"