Chihiro Hanagaki

Chapter 19 Part 1

After Kakucho left, Chihiro stood outside her door for five minutes trying to process what just happened. 'Did he just.....kiss me?' she thought. Chihiro's face felt like it was on fire. Eventually, she went inside the house to find Takemichi waiting for her. "Where have you been?" he asked, leaning on the stair railing. She cleared her throat, trying to calm her thumping heart, "I went on a date." Takemichi gave her a strange look, "Date? With who?" Chihiro was hesitant to tell him exactly who.

Kakucho tried to kill her several times on Kisaki's orders. But she knew if she hid it from him, he would figure it out eventually. "Promise you won't freak out," she sighed. Takemichi crossed his arms, "I'm not going to like the answer, am I?" Chihiro gestured for him to follow and went to her room. "Remember the festival where Draken almost died?" Chihiro asked, sitting at her desk. Takemichi nodded, "Yeah why?"

Chihiro bit her lip before telling him, "I met Kakucho. He was the one I went on a date with." Takemichi stared at her blankly. He didn't start yelling at or lecturing her like he did several times before when she met up with Kakucho in the present. Takemichi's hands were balled in fists and they were shaking. She could tell her brother wasn't happy with her. "I know what you're thinking. Before you say anything, the young Kakucho didn't do anything bad to me," Chihiro pointed out. Takemichi clicked his tongue, "Chihiro!"

He rubbed a hand down her face, "What reason did you have to go out with him?" Chihiro flushed, fiddling with her fingers, "I don't know. My heart beats fast, I can't think straight, my palms get sweaty, and I feel so happy...What does this mean?" Takemichi sits on her bed with his hands on his knees, "That my dear sister, means you're in love." The idea of being in love with Kakucho made things all too clear. Chihiro was in love with him. It was strange since she barely had any contact with him before.

How long did it take for someone to fall in love? She remembers bits and pieces of the days she spent with Takemichi and Kakucho as children. Chihiro mainly played with the two when Hibiki was too busy. "Is it really..." she mutters. Takemichi smiles, "If we manage to change things, then maybe I'd be alright with you dating Kakucho." After the little heart-to-heart, Takemichi went back to his room. Chihiro lay in her bed, staring up at her ceiling.

Kakucho promised them to go out on another date later. She wondered if the two were a couple now. 'How many dates did you have to go on to be considered a couple? Am I overthinking things?! No, I can't be he kissed my cheek!? What friend would kiss your cheek before leaving?!' Her thoughts were all over the place. She tossed and turned all night trying to figure out her newly realized feelings.

The next morning, Takemichi and Chihiro made their way to school. "Chi, how are we gonna bring him back?" Takemichi sighed. Chihiro looked at her brother's hopeless expression, "I have no idea." Takemichi sighs louder, "I didn't get any sleep at all. I feel like an old man." Chihiro rolls her eyes, "Technically you are 26." Takemichi scowls, "That didn't require a comment." Chihiro giggled at the death glare Takemichi was sending her way. The two began to pass the park when someone I.e. Chifuyu called out to them, "Hey, blondie! Get over here!" Chihiro would have loved to stay for this part, but it had nothing to do with her.

"I'm gonna go ahead," Chihiro told him. Takemichi gave a noncommittal response and Chihiro made her way to school. When she gets there Hibiki is already waiting. "Chichi~" Hibiki exclaims, pouncing on her. Chihiro managed to keep her balance at the surprise hug. "Why are you so hyper?" she sighed. Hibiki grinned from ear to ear, "So?~" Chihiro furrowed his brow, "So, What?" Hibiki pulled Chihiro closer whispering, "Your date~" Chihiro felt her face heat up at the mention of it.

"O-oh...my date.." she stammers. Hibiki was practically on the edge of her seat and they weren't even sitting down. "Tell me. Tell me. Tell me." Hibiki pressed. "Tell you what?" a familiar voice asked. The two turn to see Akkun and the rest of the Mizo Middle Five walking up. "Chichi had a date~" Hibiki cheesed. Chihiro flushed darker, gasping, "IKKI!?" The boys looked gobsmacked by the news.