Girl Next Door

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Later that afternoon, Kyosuke, Risa and Hinako were headed off to home. Kyosuke piggybacked a tired Hinako on his back while Risa walked beside him.

"How are you tired if you barely did anything strenuous?" said Kyosuke.

"Being a member of the journalist club is harder than you think, Onii-san," replied Hinako in a husky voice, holding on to Kyosuke.

"Yeah? So is playing baseball," retorted Kyosuke.

"Oh, yeah," said Hinako, raising her eyebrows. "Onee-chan, what happened back there in the stadium?"

"Well, I tried out for Kyosuke's baseball team," replied Risa cheerfully, "and I got in. Tee-hee."

"Really?" asked Hinako, quite surprised. "But that's a boy's baseball team, Onee-chan!"

"Well," put in Kyosuke, "we haven't got much of a choice. The coach was about to abolish the team when Risa came. She saved us." He looked at Risa with a grateful smile.

Risa smiled back at him, "Well, I couldn't have done it without your support, Kyosuke. Thank you."

Kyosuke sighed gratefully.

"How about you Hinako-chan?" Risa asked Hinako. "Got any scoops?"

"Hmmm... Quite a few," replied Hinako with a smile. "But now thanks to you, Onee-chan, I've got a new one. 'Risa Takanaka: First Female Member of the Boys' Baseball Team.'"

Risa giggled.

Minutes later, the three have reached home. Hinako got off Kyosuke's back and went ahead inside their house while her brother and Risa bade each other goodbye outside the gate.

"I guess I'll see you around," said Risa.

"Yeah, bye," replied Kyosuke with a smile. "Thanks again."

"Don't mention it," replied Risa, smiling back. "Bye, Kyosuke."

The Risa went inside the gate to her house and closed it behind her.

Kyosuke gave a wide smile. "I can't believe she's doing this for us," he thought. "She joined the team to save it from being abolished. She's so generous. What a good friend. The only thing I have to worry about is, this baseball thing getting in the way of our relationship. She still doesn't know that I'm in love with her. What if she only treats me as a team member because of this?" He bowed his head, worried of the consequences of Risa's actions. He opened the gate to his house and went inside, trying to nurse his worries.

"Maybe it just needs time to work," Kyosuke thought to himself. "Like what Ichiro-kun said, all things come in their time. Maybe I should ask her out again in the weekend. That'll be a way to further break the ice." He gave a confident smile as he entered his house.

Saturday arrived, and Kyosuke was up early.

It was eight-thirty in the morning, and Kyosuke quickly took a shower and put on his best clothes, for he was planning another rendezvous with Risa today.

He went downstairs to have his breakfast before he leaves the house. He was joined by Matsuko and Hinako at the table.

"Wow, you're dressed up nicely today, Kyosuke," said his mother as she sipped on her tea. "Where are you off to?"

"Um, Mom," replied Kyosuke, rubbing the back of his head, "is it okay if me and Risa go out for a little... walk today?"

"A walk?" said Matsuko. "Are you planning to ask her out again, son?"

Kyosuke took a deep breath. "Yes."

"Oh-hoh," replied Matsuko mockingly. "And what is it that you REALLY feel about Risa-chan, hmmm?"