Life Made Anew

5: Doing Everything for Love

What Kamino said yesterday never left my mind. But it gave me determination to beat her. I decided to make him a lunch to show her that I can help him in at least this way.

I walked to school by myself, so that it could be a surprise for him. At least, I was smiling today. Kazama walked up behind me, and I immediately hid the boxed lunch from him.

"What are you hiding?"

"It's a secret. I'll show you later."

He sighed, clearly wanting to see it. Just promise me that you won't fall prey to the b****, I thought. B**** had become my nickname for her.
—
Lunch came upon us quickly. I went to Kazama's class, but Hotaru told me that Kamino needed him for something.

I figured that was fine, as long she wasn't doing anything bad. Hotaru gave me the general direction that they went. I walked down the hallway and heard them talking. I decided to listen in.

"—I want you to be mine. I don't want to be with her anymore. I only have eyes for you now."

Kazama...? I couldn't believe my ears. Is he... Cheating on me...?

"Yes, I'll accept your confession. I was in love the first time I saw you," Kamino replied.

I clenched my firsts very tightly that blood vessels could be seen on my hands. I dropped the box lunch and ran off.

Kazama heard that and went to the source of the sound. He saw me running off. "Wait! Maki!" It was too late. I was already halfway down the hall.

He picked up the boxed lunch I made for him. There was a little note on the box. "For Kazama, my one true love. Made for you with love."

His face grew sullen, and he finally understood everything. "You." He turned to face him with a look that even Death would be scared of. "You did this on purpose to get her away from me, didn't you?"

She was scared now. "N-no, of course not, heheh..." She looked away with her head tilted up. She avoided eye contact.

"Don't lie. That will just make your situation worse."

"Okay, okay! Yes, I wanted her to doubt your faithfulness to her. So I talked to her after school to begin that. And I had you practice that scene with me to make it seem like you were confessing to me and ditching her."

He grabbed her shirt and pinned her to the wall. She was powerless to defend herself. "You little..." He gripped her shirt harder and pushed her harder against the wall. His fist was in her throat. "If we weren't in school, I couldn't guarantee your safety."

He didn't drop her; he threw her down on the ground, not too hard through. She coughed, trying to regain her breath. Kazama was walking away. "Do that again—" he turned his head to her and gave a slight tilt of his head. "—and you're dead."

He walked away without a second thought. She was so scared of him now.
—
I was behind the school, crying my eyes out. "He... He's cheating on me. I thought he really love me. It was all a lie!"

"No, it's not." I turned my head to see Kazama.

I got up and walked away. "Go away, liar!"

He hugged me before pinning me to the wall of the school and kissing me. I pushed him away. "Why would I want to kiss your filthy, lying lips?"

"Because they aren't. Hear me out."

I stopped to consider his offer. "Fine. I'll listen only because I'm pinned and can't move."

"Thank you. First off, she won't be doing anything like that again."

"Like what?"

He laughed. "I think I should explain first. Kamino called me out to ask me to help her with the script for her next movie. She choose the confession scene, where the main male protagonist confesses his love to the girl and ditches the other girl, because she knew you'd come looking for me and overhear that. She bet on you taking it as me actually confessing to her and ditching you. You fell into her trap."

"What...? I... I'm sorry, Kazama." I started crying again.

He hugged me again. It was very gentle, adding to the tender moment between us. "It's all right, Maki. As I said before, she won't try that again. I made sure of it."

I didn't want to ask, and thus ruin the moment. I also couldn't; I was too choked up wth tears. Then, I remembered. "My gift!"

"You mean this?" He held up the lunch box.

I nodded. "I wish I could have given it to you myself. But I dropped it when I ran from the scene."

"Don't worry." He kissed me at that moment. "Thank you for that, Maki. The note as well."

"Mhm, I wanted to try to one-up that b****—"

"Maki! Language."

"Oh, so I shouldn't call her what she is?"

He sighed. "Even if she tried to take me from you, you shouldn't insult her. Try to be her friend."

"Fine, if you insist. I just wanted to prove that I could help you, even if it's something small like a lunch. Yesterday, she tried so hard to make me doubt you, and what I was doing for you. That's why I didn't walk home with you yesterday. I was too sad that I just wanted to be by myself."

"That explains it." He ruffled my hair. "Did she make you think that I was taking advantage of your kindness? Don't believe it. I would never do such a thing. I'm dating you because I love you. Initially, it may have been because you would help my family, but later on, I truly did fall in love with you."

He kissed my forehead; I smiled brightly. "You're so cute."

"Thank you. I love you, Kazama."

"I love you too."
—
Kamino went back to class and sat by herself. "How can he love her instead of me? I'm richer, more beautiful and have more talent than her."

"Having a rough day?" Kaname walked over to her.

"Oh, hi, Kaname!" She smiles. "Why do you ask?" She has a cutesy air about her.

"Remove your façade. I can see through it. And don't even try to get them to break up. They're too far in love for it to be fairly possible to separate them." He starts walking off. "Don't let me stop you though. Try if you may, you won't succeed."

The end of lunch bell rings.
—
A/N how was this chapter? I really think this one was a good one. Kazama starts to go far for Maki.