Aqua Terrarium (Nagi No Asukara)

Chapter Sixteen

"Manaka is cute, isn't she?" Chisaki couldn't help but say aloud while we were busy salvaging what we could of the Ojoshi-sama.

Hikari and Manaka were nowhere to be found right now since sensei had advised Hikari to head home to cool his head. Of course, Hikari took it as a form punishment and out of anger left the room in a fit of tantrum. Manaka, feeling partly at fault also left, leaving us three to fix up the mess.

"What makes you say that, Chisa-chan?" I replied back, wondering why she would blurt something like that all of a sudden.

It was Kaname who replied. "Is it because she's small and you're big?"

"That too blunt of you, Kaname." Chisaki pouted before frowning as she looked down on the Ojoshi-sama's head. "But then again, she has a small body, and cute round eyes whereas I-,"

"You do know that there are some who'd prefer a much more mature looking woman, right?" I say, gripping the cloth in my hand tightly.

I can't help but begin to hate these conversations lately even though I know it can't be avoided and that I have no right to do so. It's in these moments that I know Kaname will come to her rescue and once again the feeling of being unable to breathe will eat up at me. I know full well where I stand and even though I tell myself that I've already agreed to try and fight too- it's always easier said than done.

Because no matter what I do, it will always never be enough for him unless it's her.

"Aoi's right. You should be more honest with yourself, Chisaki."

"I guess I have to be more honest like Manaka, right?"

I close my eyes to calm myself, steadying my breathing as I do so.   Chisaki is so dense, unable to see her own charms because of her blinded love for Hikari and inferiority towards Manaka. Kaname didn't mean it that way when he told her to be more honest with herself. He wasn't telling her to be more like Manaka but rather to be more like her real self. It's the reason why Hikari can't see her. She's trying too hard to emulate Manaka and it's because of that that she's never going to make him acknowledge her.

"Not like Manaka, Chisa-chan. He meant more like your real self..." I sigh and afterwards an awkward silence surrounded us. It wasn't until Chisaki had turned the head when the silence was finally broken.

"Sayu... Has arrived?"

"Sayu-chan?" I couldn't help but ask, the issue momentarily forgotten when I rose to walk to her direction with Kaname following suit.

"Who's Sayu?" Chisaki couldn't help but ask.

"She's one of those grade-schoolers with a grudge against Hikari." Kaname answered while I continued about the fact that she was also a classmate of my brother along with Sayu's other friend Miuna.

"That's one obvious declaration, don't you think? It also means that it wasn't those boys in our class that was responsible for this." Kaname added to which I nodded with a frown.

"Hikari must've pissed her enough to warrant such a revenge. I'll see if I can ask Takashi for her and have her explain herself..."

After our conversation, both Kaname and I could only watch in surprise when Chisaki quickly grabbed a cloth and tried to erase the name on the head. I grabbed her by the wrist to stop her, prompting tears to form from her eyes.

"W-we have to keep this a secret," She begged us, making me turn to Kaname- a torn look on his face at what to do.

"You can't possibly be serious, Chisaki? We were in the wrong, we have to at least fix this mess." I tried to make her see reason, dropping the nickname to show her the gravity of this situation. I had to step in, knowing Kaname, he'd only watch her and pretend he saw nothing. He knew it was wrong but he could never refuse her.