Are you the one that loves me? (Yōu x MC)

Chapter 43

The phone vibrated in his pocket. Sumio Kobayashi looked at the caller id before answering.

Yōu <3

He smiled, it was hard to believe that he was cringe enough to add a heart to the end of her name.

He let it ring a couple more times before answering.

"The number you have dialed is not available at this moment. Please leave your message at the end of the-"

"My message?" He heard her voice on the other end. "My message is that you have a terrible robot voice."

"Eh… you're no fun." He replied.

"I'm trying to have a serious conversation right now."

"Yeah yeah, what did you want?" Sumio asked. "I kinda was about to eat ramen with Kotori."

"Hanging out with a famous idol over your girlfriend?" She said.

"Like I said, I want to eat ramen."

"Fine, I didn't want to say it over the phone anyways. Meet me on the basketball court tomorrow evening. Bring a ball."

"I always do." He laughed. "What? You want to play a game?"

"Sort of. I'll talk to you then." She said quickly.

"Okay, are you alright?" Sumio's voice sounded concerned.

"I just have something I want to tell you."

She left it at that.

Soon the couple said goodbye. Despite a piping hot bowl of ramen in front of him, Sumio looked somewhat worried.

"What's wrong?" His cousin asked as she received her bowl.

"Well-" He was cut off with his phone ringing again. "Hello?"

Kotori shot him a look of annoyance as he began holding a conversation once again.

"R-really? U-um… it's a real honor sir and I would love to do it." He paused. "Yes sir. Okay sir. Thank you."

He hung up and smiled at Kotori.

"Are you gonna tell me or…"

He broke the news to her and suddenly his cousin was also full of all smiles. For a moment. Then her face was all gloom.

"So then…

When do you leave?"

*

"Are you going to play basketball Yōu?" Mr. Watanabe asked as his daughter was attempting to grab her sneakers at the top of her closet.

It was the next day. About an hour until the slotted five o'clock time Yōu and Sumio agreed to meet.

"Yeah." She replied stretching as far as she could, finally reaching the box.

"With Sumio?" He smiled.

"I guess." She shrugged, causing her father to beam with excitement.

"Ahhh… I'm so happy, it'll be your first game as a real couple!"

"Papa, please stop overreacting. Plus we're not going to be playing with each other."

"What?"

"I'm going to beat him again."

Her father continued to smile, "Well you have plenty of time to play as a couple this summer before you two leave. Who knows maybe your old man and your mom will play you two."

"I'm not going to be around this summer Papa."

"You're not?!" She winced. She hadn't told her parents the news yet. "Why not?"

"Um… you see…" Yōu started. "I've been selected to be on the national team for diving."

Her father's face went from concern to straight joy. He quickly pulled her into a hug.

"MY DAUGHTER IS ON THE NATIONAL TEAM!" He quickly called his wife who also began to celebrate.

"This is such a big deal!" Mrs. Watanabe cheered happily. "I'm so proud of you."

"Thanks!"

"So when do you leave?"

"Um, I have to be in Tokyo by Monday and we're apparently flying Tuesday morning." She explained.

"Do your best princess!" Her parents both encouraged. "Aim for the top!"

"Yousoro!" She saluted.

"So is that why you're going to play basketball with Sumio?"

"Yeah." She nodded. "We won't spend much time with each other this summer so I want to do something before I leave."

"Have fun then!"

"I'm off!"

*

Sumio Kobayashi bounced the ball back and forth and eyed his girlfriend suspiciously.

"So… what did you want to say?"

Yōu cringed. "Um… how about we play a little bit before we talk huh?"

"Or we can talk now and then play after." He glanced at her. "Come on, just spit it out."

"Well, I'm just letting you know. I've been selected to dive for the national team."

"Congratulatio-"

"Don't even try to make me stay for the summer!" She warned.

"I never-"

"We're leaving for Singapore together anyways so I'm going to compete no matter what!"

"Like I said congrats-"

"Even if you beg and beg and beg I'm telling you I'm going!"

Sumio just sighed as his girlfriend continued on and on and on.

"Yes yes, congratulations on making the national team. Although it'll be a lonely summer without you up here I wish you luck."

"W-wait what? That's it? No tears? No 'Yōu please stay!'" She asked dumbfounded.

"Why in the world would I not let you represent the country?" He smiled. "I'm such a supportive boyfriend."

She turned slightly red. "I-I wish you showed a little concern about your girlfriend leaving…"

"Ah…" he muttered. "So that's how it is."

He walked over and pulled her into a hug.

"I'll miss you, but we won't be gone for that long. Trust me." He smiled. "That's why, do your best, okay?"

"Idiot… I knew I shouldn't have worried." She whispered.

"Huh?"

"Nothing!" She grabbed the ball and shoved it into him. "Check up!"

"By the way," he asked. "When do you leave?"

"Monday."

"I thought so…" he said to himself.

This was turning out better than he thought.

Look at these consistent uploads! No way!

Mainly because I want to finish the story... but hopefully you guys will continue to read with me until the very end.

Thanks for reading! If you got this far then um... tell me your favorite manga of all time!

Mine is Ichigo 100% (real ones know this is peak shoujo manga)

-Kazuya