Girl Next Door

Chapter Forty-Nine

One evening, Hinako was watching a replay concert on television as she dug in on some chips while already in her pajamas.

It was the last night of spring break, and tomorrow, she and her brother Kyosuke are to go back to school and resume their studies.

Kyosuke had just brushed his teeth, and went to the living room where Hinako was watching TV.

"Hinako, come on," said Kyosuke. "It's time to go to sleep. It's first day of classes tomorrow, and you don't wanna be late."

"Just a sec, this concert is almost over," replied Hinako, her eyes still glued to the screen and her hand dipped in her chips.

Kyosuke walked closer to see what Hinako was watching. "What are you watching anyway?"

"It's Hikari Manabe's second concert," said Hinako.

"Hikari Manabe?" asked Kyosuke. "Who's that?"

"Don't you watch TV?" replied Hinako cheerfully. "Hikari-chan's just the hottest idol around! She's just a rising star though. I heard she's going to a school somewhere in Tokyo."

"I see," said Kyosuke, eyes on the TV. He saw a pretty-looking teenage girl with shoulder-length cyan hair, holding a microphone and singing a song. The clothing she was wearing was rather flamboyant.

"She's quite young, isn't she?" remarked Kyosuke.

"I know," said Hinako. "But she's an awesome singer! Tee-hee!"

Kyosuke observed the actions of the singer on the screen as she performed. He wondered at her rather attractive appearance.

"Well, anyway, we got school tomorrow, Hinako," he said.

"I know, I know," replied Hinako. "Just one more song and I'll be heading to my room, okay, Onii-san?"

"Fine," said Kyosuke. "I'm hitting the sack." Then he went upstairs to his bedroom.

Once there, he went to the window and spied Risa getting ready for bed in her own room next door. Risa caught sight of him and waved at him, smiling. He waved back. Risa then opened her window as Kyosuke opened his.

"Hey," said Risa.

"Hi," replied Kyosuke.

"You ready for tomorrow?" she asked him.

"You bet," said Kyosuke, smiling.

"Hey, does this mean you're gonna be captain of the team again?" asked Risa.

"Well, the responsibility of the team fell on me, so yes, I'm still leading the team," said Kyosuke, rubbing the back of his head. "How about you? Still gonna be our batter?"

"Of course," replied Risa cheerfully. "I love playing with you guys."

Kyosuke chuckled. Risa did the same. Then the two of them eyed each other for a while, stirred by the flame of infatuation. Kyosuke remembered the kiss Risa gave him during his birthday, and that has been forever burned into his memory.

Kyosuke's gaze somehow drifted to Risa's luscious pink lips. He suddenly felt the urge to kiss them, but he couldn't, for their windows separated them by a few feet.

"Kyosuke?" said Risa. "What are you looking at?"

"Huh?" said Kyosuke, surprised, as Risa's words brought him back to reality. "Oh, um, nothing!"

"Okay...?" said Risa, a little confused. Then she yawned. "I'm sleepy."

"Y-Yeah, me too," replied Kyosuke, having yawned himself. "We should get to sleep."