Girl Next Door

Chapter Twenty-Five

It was several minutes before the entire auditorium was filled with students.

Kyosuke sat beside Risa in the middle row. It was a new year, and for him, it will open new doors for him to make his move on the girl of his dreams. So he decided to sit next to her and try his luck.

"Amazing," murmured Risa. "We're sophomores now. Tee-hee."

"I know," replied Kyosuke. He played with his fingers, trying to figure out what to say.

"R-Risa...?" said Kyosuke after a brief pause.

"Hm?" replied Risa.

"I was wondering if I could take you--"

Kyosuke was interrupted when the principal started speaking over the microphone.

"Good morning students. I am your school principal. I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome you all, the freshmen and the new students, to Yoshiba High School."

The statement was followed by a round of applause.

Meanwhile, some students were murmuring to others while the principal continued his opening speech.

Takeru was one of them. He sat beside Mio, who was greatly annoyed that she had to put up with the likes of Takeru again.

"Why must you sit beside me all the time?" asked Mio with her arms folded.

"Bacause all the other seats are taken," replied Takeru, smirking.

"Hmph," said Mio, turning away.

"Tsukisaki," said Takeru in a less relaxed voice.

"What...?" asked Mio gruffly.

"I hope we get to be classmates again," replied Takeru in a husky tone.

Mio blushed lightly.

"W-What?!" she said in a furious whisper. "N-No way. Never."

"We'll see after this ceremony," said Takeru with a smirk.

"Hmph," said Mio, turning away from him with her arms folded.

Meanwhile, as the principal continued on with his speech, Ichiro and Yukie sat together at the front row. They sat silent, abashed to talk to one another. They only gave each other occasional glances.

After the ceremony, everyone left the stadium in droves. The students headed off to the school grounds for recess. Kyosuke of course went with Risa. Ichiro joined the two. As for Takeru, he followed Mio and Yukie wherever they went. Mio realized what he was up to.

"Why are you following us?" said Mio, irritated.

"I'm not following you," replied Takeru with a blank expression on his face. "Just headed over to go buy some food."

"Well, go buy food somewhere else," said Mio, folding her arms.

Yukie stood silent, nervously watching the two argue.

"I don't wanna buy food somewhere else," said Takeru. "I wanna try something new."

Mio growled in frustration.

"You're despicable," she said gruffly, and turned and walked away with Yukie in tow, the latter looking back at Takeru and adjusting her glasses. Takeru, after the girls had walked a few feet from him, proceeded to follow them.

The girls made their way to the omelette-soba sandwhich stand.

"Yukie-chan," said Mio, "Have you tried one of these?"