Girl Next Door

Chapter Twenty-Three

Kyosuke was sympathetic. It seemed Risa was dreaming about three years ago, when she told Kyosuke that she was leaving for America. Yet he was unsure of what to do. Risa was crying in her sleep.

At last, Kyosuke made up his mind. He walked back to Risa's bed and gently shook her. She suddenly awoke, and rose from the bed as if from a nightmare.

"W-Where am I...?" she asked, rubbing her forehead.

"You're in your room," said Kyosuke, sitting on Risa's bed. "You fell asleep while you were trying to finish the presentation. I'm sorry, Risa."

"That's okay," said Risa with a sigh. "I... I had that dream again."

Kyosuke paused for a second. "It was about that time, wasn't it?"

At that, tears began forming in her eyes once more. Kyosuke looked at her with pity.

"Risa..." he said.

"I-I thought it was happening all over again..." sobbed Risa. "I thought... I was gonna be separated from you again..." Then she burst out crying and hugged Kyosuke tightly, much to his surprise.

"I don't wanna be separated from you again...!" wailed Risa as she wept on Kyosuke's shoulder. "I don't want to leave... I never want to be away from you again..."

Kyosuke felt extreme sympathy for Risa. He embraced her and stroke her beautiful auburn locks.

"It was only a dream, Risa," said Kyosuke reassuringly. "And besides, I made a promise to you back at that airport, remember? No matter where you go, I will always wait for you. I will always be here when you come back."

At that Risa minimized her sobbing and relaxed her embrace. She looked, with eyes sparkling, into Kyosuke's eyes.

"Promise...?" asked Risa with one last sob.

Kyosuke, smiling, held out his pinky finger at her, to which Risa entwined hers in a pinky promise.

"Tee-hee," Risa giggled.

"Feeling better?" asked Kyosuke.

"Yeah, much better," replied Risa, wiping the last tears from her eyes. "Thank you!" She then proceeded to hug Kyosuke tightly, so tightly that the two of them fell on the bed together, with her on top of him.

Granny Sakura, who peered through the half-closed door, chuckled as she watched the two teenagers.

"Tee-hee," giggled Risa as she lay on top of Kyosuke.

"Risa," said Kyosuke, feeling a little uncomfortable of the situation, "get some rest. We got school tomorrow."

"But... the report..." said Risa, "Who will finish it?"

"I will," replied Kyosuke, smiling reassuringly at her. "I owe you one. You've overworked yourself. You need some rest."

"Are you sure?" asked Risa tauntingly.

"Yes, I'm sure," said Kyosuke. "Now if you don't mind, you are heavy, Risa, and you must get off of me."

"Oh, sorry. Tee-hee," replied Risa cheerfully. She then got off Kyosuke and sat on her bed, as Kyosuke rose. He then turned to leave the room.

"Wait," said Risa.

"What is it?" replied Kyosuke.

"My cheeseburger," said Risa, smiling cheerfully.

"Oh," said Kyosuke, as she pulled from somewhere a paper bag containing a cheeseburger and handed it to Risa.

"There you go," said Kyosuke with a smile.