You Don't Go To Parties

Chapter Four

Thursday morning dawned bright and crisp, but for Tohru, it felt like time was moving too fast. She was seated at her desk, nervously twirling a pencil as she thought about the upcoming Friday. Uo-chan and Hana-chan approached her with their usual bright smiles, their energy immediately lifting Tohru's spirits.

"Good morning, Tohru!" Uo-chan greeted, plopping down next to her.

"Morning!" Tohru responded, her face lighting up. Hana-chan joined them, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Hana-chan, Uo-chan, are you both excited for Friday?" Tohru asked, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm.

Hana-chan's eyes widened. "Of course! It's going to be so much fun. We've been looking forward to it all week."

Tohru's smile broadened. "I'm really excited too. It's going to be a blast!"

Uo-chan raised an eyebrow, her gaze shifting to Tohru with a hint of surprise. "You know, I'm surprised that Carrot Top isn't joining us."

Tohru's smile faltered slightly as she looked down. "Oh, well, that's because he doesn't know I'm going to the party."

Arisa and Saki exchanged confused glances. "What do you mean he doesn't know?" Saki asked, her curiosity piqued.

Tohru sighed softly, her cheeks tinged with pink. "Kyo doesn't want me to go. He's worried I might get lost or something."

Uo-chan and Hana-chan's eyes sparkled with a mix of amusement and mischief. They had seen Tohru's rare rebellions lead to memorable moments before.

"Really?" Uo-chan said with a smirk. "Tohru, when you decide to rebel, it's always quite the adventure."

Tohru nodded, her expression earnest. "Please, don't tell Kyo. I don't want him to worry."

Before anyone could respond, strong, familiar arms wrapped around Tohru from behind. She stiffened, her eyes widening in surprise. Uo-chan and Hana-chan exchanged smirks, clearly enjoying the unfolding situation.

Kyo's voice, low and teasing, broke through the moment. "Don't tell Kyo what?"

Tohru's heart raced as she turned to see Kyo standing behind her, his gaze shifting between her and her friends. Her friends' amusement was palpable as they tried to suppress their laughter.

Uo-chan quickly stepped in, trying to deflect attention. "Oh, we were just talking about the craft project Tohru is planning to make for you. She's going to work on it at Hana-chan's place."

Kyo's curiosity was piqued, and he raised an eyebrow. "Craft project? I thought you were watching movies at Uo's?"

Tohru tried to act casual, her cheeks still flushed. "Yes, we're planning to make some crafts at Hana-chan's and then head to Uo's for movies and games."

Kyo's gaze remained skeptical, but he seemed to accept the explanation. He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on Tohru's forehead. "Okay, weirdo."

He turned and walked back to his desk, casting one last curious glance over his shoulder. Tohru and her friends exhaled in relief and then burst into laughter.

"That was way too close," Hana-chan said, her laughter contagious.

"I thought he was going to figure it out for sure," Uo-chan added, still giggling.

Tohru's laughter mixed with relief. "Thank you both for covering for me. I didn't want him to find out just yet."

The school bell rang, signaling the start of their next class. They wiped away tears of laughter and headed to their seats, the anticipation for the next day's adventure still bubbling inside them.