Tsurune Fanfic-Shot Your Heart!

Chapter 09

Takigawa Masaki put Ishida Andini down carefully onto the dojo floor.

The 23 year old man knelt in front of Andini then confined the petite body of the girl in front of him between his own body and the wall. Andini froze. The girl stared intently into Masaki's blue eyes.

"Stay here. You can't go anywhere, Andini," said Masaki in a firm tone. "I'll have one of the Kyudo club members take your backpack and bring it here." Masaki turned his head around when he heard the sound of approaching footsteps and met Fujiwara Shu's gaze. Then, Masaki's focus returned to Andini. "And you can't chat with him."

"You are not my Father," said Andini in a firm tone. "So, don't tell me to do whatever you tell me to do."

Takigawa Ren walked back into the dojo and shook his head in amusement when he saw his little brother acting childishly like a child. The man approached Masaki and patted Shu lightly on the shoulder as he passed the man.

"Masaki," Ren called in an amused tone. He squeezed Masaki's shoulder. "Do not be like this. You're giving Andini-chan a hard time. What's the problem if Andini-chan chats with Fujiwara-san? They seem to have known each other for a long time."

"I don't like looking at it."

"Why?" Ren challenged. He raised an eyebrow and smiled mysteriously. "Is it because you like Andini-chan?"

The question not only surprised Masaki but also Andini and Shu. The three of them looked at each other and Andini was the first to break eye contact between them. Luckily, this awkward situation ends when members of Kazemai High School's Kyudo club show up. Masaki stood up and immediately approached Kurosaki Inga.

"Inga-chan, can I ask you a favor?" Masaki asked in a low tone.

Kurosaki Inga nodded. "What's wrong, Masaki-san?"

"I want to ask you to keep an eye on Andini."

Inga blinked. "Yes?"

"Please, make sure Fujiwara Shu doesn't approach Andini and engage her in conversation." Masaki glanced at Shu who was talking to Minato. "I don't like seeing that man approaching Andini."

"Yes?"

Masaki smiled at Inga who looked confused for a while. The man ruffled Inga's hair and went into the dressing room to change clothes. "Thank you for helping me. I will buy you ice cream as a token of my thanks."

After changing clothes, all the members of Kazemai High School's Kyudo club started practicing. And, Masaki managed to convince Minato to invite Shu to train together. Luckily, Shu agreed to Minato's invitation so Shu didn't have to be close to Andini. While training Minato and the others, Masaki never stopped paying attention to Andini who was sitting in the back, leaning her back against the wall. Beside the girl, Ren was busy photographing all of Kazemai High School's Kyudo training activities.

Meanwhile, Andini looked at the Kyudo practice in front of her with longing eyes. Her hands clenched tightly at her sides. Her longing for Kyudo begins to make her helpless. She remembered her childhood when she and Ishida Akira practiced Kyudo together. Those were very exciting times for Andini. The girl closed her eyes, trying to forget the pain that suddenly appeared in her chest.

~~~

Today's Kyudo practice ends.

Takigawa Masaki gave some criticism and advice to Minato and the others. The man glanced at Andini who was asleep. Andini looked very peaceful when she was sleeping like that, making Masaki smile without realizing it. After he finished with his words and Masaki told the Kyudo club members to go home, he immediately approached Andini and squatted in front of her.

"Andini, it's time to go home," Masaki said in a gentle tone. "I'll take you home."

However, Andini did not open her eyes. This made Masaki confused. He frowned and touched Andini's hand. Masaki gasped and widened his eyes when he realized that Andini's body temperature was very high. The girl has a fever!

"Andini?" Masaki tried to gently shake Andini's body. "Andini?!"

However, Andini remained silent. Suddenly, her tiny body swayed forward and Masaki immediately caught her. When his hand accidentally touched Andini's forehead, Masaki froze.

"Dammit! She has a high fever! Ren!" Masaki exclaimed. The man immediately stood up while carrying Andini's body. Because Masaki started to panic and shouted for Ren, the Kyudo club members were automatically curious, as was Shu. He looked worried and immediately approached Masaki.

"What's wrong with Andini?" Shu asked in a worried tone. The man stretched out his right hand and touched Andini's forehead. "Good grief! Andini has a high fever!"

"I know!" Masaki shouted again. Panic started to take over his body. Then, Ren appeared while running.

"What is it?"

"Please, take Andini and me to the hospital," said Masaki in a worried tone. "Andini fainted. She has a high fever!"

Takigawa Masaki is a very calm man. The man had never felt panic and fear like this. This is another proof for Takigawa Ren that Ishida Andini is starting to occupy an important place in Masaki's heart.

"Ren, what are you doing?!" Masaki exclaimed. "My car key is on the table over there! You will be the driver and I will look after Andini in the back seat! Move your feet quickly, you idiot!"

They all immediately ran towards Masaki's car, leaving Shu and the others in the dojo. Inga approached Shu and glanced at the man with a sad glance.

"I know you like her."

Shu took a deep breath and massaged the bridge of his nose.

"I've liked her a lot since we were little, Inga-chan." Shu turned his head and smiled. "And this time, it's no longer the distance that separates me from Andini-chan. But, a man with perfect Kyudo skills, who seems to be able to melt something inside Andini-chan. Do I have to lose for the umpteenth time?"

~~~

In the car, Masaki sat in the back seat, hugging Andini's tiny body.

The man didn't care about the heat spreading from the body he was hugging. What Masaki wants is for them to get to the hospital quickly and Andini to get treatment immediately. Masaki was afraid that something bad would happen to this girl.

Suddenly, Andini screamed. The girl opened her eyes and cried. Seeing that, Masaki was shocked, as was Ren who was driving. Masaki immediately cupped Andini's face and looked into her eyes with a firm gaze.

"Andini, calm down!"

Andini continued to cry. "No! I didn't kill him! Please, don't look at me like that! I didn't kill Akira Oniichan. I'm not guilty! I promise I won't do Kyudo again! I promise I will never live happily!"

Hearing that, Masaki froze. The man swallowed hard. The trauma and sadness of the girl in front of him was very severe. What should he do so that Ishida Andini will open her heart and no longer be trapped in the dark world that the girl created?

"Ishida Akira... has passed away?" Ren asked in a disbelieving tone. The man looked at the back seat through the rearview mirror. Realizing that, Masaki gave him a sharp look.

"Just focus on the road in front of you if you don't want to kill all of us, Ren."

Masaki's cold voice made Ren flinch. He immediately concentrated again on the road in front of him even though he really wanted to ask many questions.

Meanwhile, Masaki wiped the tears from Andini's face. The girl was no longer as hysterical as before. But, her eyes were so empty. Andini decided to go deeper into the dark world she created and Masaki had to immediately pull her out of it.

"What if I force my way to make you happy?" Masaki asked in a gentle tone.

At that moment, Andini's bright brown eyes looked into Masaki's blue eyes.

"I will make you happy," Masaki said in a firm tone. "Like it or not, I will do it. I will make you happy until you forget how to cry. I will make you forget Ishida Akira and your parents who have made you sad like this. Therefore, be mine, Ishida Andini."