Girl Next Door

Chapter Eighteen

Later that evening, Risa and her grandmother Sakura were invited over to Kyosuke's house by Matsuko to have dinner. At the table, everybody was cheerfully talking about Yoshiba's basball victory earlier this afternoon.

"That was a great game back there, son," said Matsuko, raising her teacup.

"Thanks, Mom," replied Kyosuke as he wolfed down on some teriyaki.

"I agree," put in Granny Sakura. "That was one of the best games I've ever seen since I saw my son, Risa's father, play baseball in high school."

"I heard Dad was great," said Risa, tapping her chopsticks on the table. "But Kyosuke surely nailed it today."

Kyosuke bowed his head with a modest smile.

"He sure did," said Hinako. "Nice throwing arm, Onii-san."

"Yeah, I agree," put in Risa. "I've never seen anybody pitch like Kyosuke does."

"Well," said Kyosuke, rubbing the back of his head, "I have been practicing with Takeru for three years."

"Oh, and Takeru-nii-chan was a great catcher too," said Hinako, taking a bite of tempura.

"Yeah," agreed Kyosuke.

"You boys did great," said Matsuko. "You deserve a good reward."

"Oh, um, now that you mentioned it," said Kyosuke after taking a sip of tea, "Mom, I was gonna ask you if my friends and I could go swimming this weekend."

"Oh," said Matsuko. "Really? Well if it's okay with your friends..."

"We're all agreed," said Kyosuke eagerly.

"Then you can go," said Matsuko with a smile.

"Yes!" said Kyosuke, clenching his fist.

"Oh, I wanna go too," put in Hinako. "Onii-san, can I come?"

"You better ask Mom," replied Kyosuke.

"Mom?" said Hinako with "puppy-dog" eyes.

"Sure, sweetie," replied Matsuko.

"Yay!" said Hinako cheerfully.

"Grandma, I'm coming too," said Risa to Granny Sakura.

"Of course, dear," said the old lady, who was sixty-eight. "I'm quite able of taking care of myself after all these years."

"Thanks a bunch, Grandma," said Risa with a sweet smile.

Later on, supper was finished, and it was time for Risa and her grandmother to go on home. They left the house, but not before bading Kyosuke and his family goodbye. After that, Kyosuke brushed his teeth and went upstairs to his room.

Kyosuke threw himself onto his bed, greatly elated. He had never been happier in his life since the day of Risa's return from America.

"I can't believe it," he thought to himself. "I actually won my first game. My first official game. It feels so great. This is the best day ever. And Risa was there, cheering for me. She gave me the confidence to win this thing. I should be grateful to her."

Kyosuke looked to his window. He wondered what Risa was doing. He wanted to talk to her. He then got up and walked towards the open window. He looked outside and saw Risa in her room, apparently about to change.

Kyosuke suddenly remembered what happened the last time he peeped on her. Frantically he hid behind the wall beside the window. Too late though, as Risa already noticed.

"Kyosuke?" she called his name.

"I didn't mean it!" said Kyosuke as he appeared from behind the wall beside his window, shaking his hands frantically at her.