Girl Next Door

Chapter Fifteen

In several days summer has arrived. Kyosuke and Risa were on their way to school in their summer uniforms, short-sleeved versions of their usual school uniforms. Kyosuke was somehow excited, for coming up was his school's competition in the annual baseball game. Though he didn't know it, Risa was excited for him too.

"Hey, Kyosuke," said Risa as the two of them walked side-by-side on the sidewalk.

"Yes, Risa?" replied Kyosuke.

"Your baseball game's coming up," said Risa. "Are you nervous?"

"A little," said Kyosuke, looking at the sky. "But I'm just excited that I finally get to play an official game."

"Good for you," replied Risa, smiling. "I'll be cheering for you."

"Thanks, Risa," said Kyosuke, smiling.

After a brief moment of silence, Risa spoke.

"Hey, um, about what you said on our... date," said Risa, blushing slightly before saying the word "date", "about the vacation..."

"Yeah," said Kyosuke, also feeling awkward about the word "date", "what about it?"

"Are you gonna push through with it?" asked Risa.

"Um, I don't know," replied Kyosuke. "We'll see."

"Come on," said Risa persuasively, "you totally have to push through with it. It will be fun."

"The vacation?" asked Kyosuke. "You wanna come?"

"Yes." came Risa's reply.

Kyosuke's heart began to thump. His imagination came into play again. "Just imagine what she would look like in a bikini..." he thought to himself.  "WAAAHHH!!"

Kyosuke's fantasies were interrupted by Risa herself.

"Kyosuke?" said Risa, waving her hand in his face, "Kyosuke? Are you alright?"

"Ah, yes," replied Kyosuke, smiling awkwardly.

"So will it push through?" asked Risa.

"The what?"

"The vacation, silly."

"Oh, yeah. Well... oh, all right. After the game. It will be like our celebration if we win."

"Yay!" said Risa, cheerfully clapping her hands. "We should invite Hinako-chan and Takeru-kun. Oh, and Toyama-kun too. Maybe even Nakamura-san and Tsukisaki-san."

"Tsukisaki-san?" asked Kyosuke with a worried look. "That girl who hates Takeru?"

"Yeah, maybe it'll be good for the two of them to have a little bonding together. It will ease the tension between them," replied Risa.

"Yeah, bonding," quipped Kyosuke sarcastically, picturing an image of Mio pulverizing Takeru in his mind.

In three minutes they have reached school. Every one was in their summer uniforms. Kyosuke spied Takeru hanging out with Ichiro.

"See you later, Risa," said Kyosuke as he parted from her go to his friends.

"See you later," said Risa, waving.

As she waved, she noticed Mio and Yukie sitting and talking under a tree. She approached them eagerly. Yukie saw her coming and recognized her.

"Hi, Nakamura-san," said Risa, waving at Yukie.

"Good morning, Takanaka-san," replied Yukie, smiling gently.

"Hi, you must be Tsukisaki-san," said Risa to Mio.