Toradora: The Next Step

Chapter 6: Concerns

As everyone arrived into the living area, Kitamura offered a couch to Taiga and Ryuuji, who swiftly threw themselves onto it.  It was a reasonably cold day, however, there was a warm breeze of unease stuffing the air.

"Hey, Kitamura...  H-Have you heard anything from Kushieda in the past few days at all?"  Ryuuji stuttered with a speck of hope in his words.  He was given a curious look from Kitamura who then grew a doubtful frown.

"Yes of course.  She's been calling and texting me almost everyday!  It almost got annoying, haha.  B-But is there something bothering you?  Has she not contacted you recently?"  He asked with absolute caution.

Ryuuji nonchalantly shook his head almost straight after Kitamura spoke.

"Interesting..."  Kitamura brought his hand up do his chin and sat motionless for a few moments.  Both Taiga and Ryuuji felt sweat run down their faces.  "Did something happen between you two and her recently?"

Taiga thoughtfully bit her lip and shifted her head to confront Ryuuji.  He peered back and let out a light sigh.

"The only contact we've had with Kushieda since Taiga got back was when we went out shopping.  I can't understand why she is ignoring us.  We didn't offend her, did we, Taiga?  T-Taiga?"  Ryuuji explained as he realized that Taiga had put on a serious face.  "Hey, whats with the serious face?"

She averted her eyes to face Kitamura as her face lit up with color.

"Wait!  What if she... Still...  You know... For Ryuuji..."

The words shot the room into utter silence.  The boys' eyes widened simultaneously because of the realization.

"So you're saying...  She's jealous?"  Ryuuji broke the silence.  However, the silence was reinstalled just after his speech.  Frowns showered the room and Ryuuji felt a heavy weight fall onto his consciousness.  All three of them knew that the matters from a few months ago were not yet sorted, and could take a lot of time and effort to sort them.

The front door belted open abruptly.  Kitamura felt a chill since there was no knock.  The short, pink haired lunatic rushed into the room with the others.  Her breathing was heavy and fast.

"I'm sorry I'm late, everyone!"  She yelled enthusiastically.  "Now, let's get this party started!"

After a few moments of hesitation, Ryuuji, Taiga and Minori jumped up in canon respectively and cheered, "Happy Birthday, Kitamura!" 

In Ryuuji's head, he thought to himself: "I'm glad, so glad, that she turned up.  But...  What Taiga said really does put me in a worried state..."  He threw a fake smile upon his face as he took a look at Minori as she seemed to smile so cheerfully...