The Guy I've Always Loved (Anime Story)

Chapter 43: Resolution

- Takami's POV -

In the Classroom

"Happy Birthday, Aoi!" I handed the present I got for her when she was sitting at her desk.

"What is it?" Aoi took out the tissue paper from the gift bag and looked inside. Her eyes started to glisten. "Oh my god! A penguin plush!"

"I thought it was cute when I was at the store, so I got it for you." I smiled.

"Aww, thanks." Aoi got up from her seat and hugged me.

"I got something for you too, you know." Kiyoshi walked up to us.

"Really? And what is that?" Aoi leaned closer to Kiyoshi.

"Pffft, you know..." He scratched his head.

"That's what I thought." She smirked at him and then looked at me. "Thanks for the present, Takami."

"No problem." I smiled.

Ms. Kita walked into the room with her usual briefcase. "Good morning, class."

We went back to our seats and said, "Good morning!"

"We have a new student again today." She smiled and looked at the classroom doors.

"Oh no, please no." I looked at the classroom doors scaredly.

"What's wrong?" Kiyoshi leaned closer to me.

Mariko walked through the doors and faced the classroom. "Hello, my name is Mariko Tani, Aki's fiancé." She bowed down. "It'll be really nice if I got to know you all."

"Fiancé!?!" The class yelled.

"Ugh..." I put my head down on my desk. "Not here too."

"Is she that bad?" Kiyoshi whispered.

"Yes! I have to wake up two hours earlier than usual... just to brush my teeth..." I sighed.

"Ms. Tani, will you please sit next to Aoi Sato?" Ms. Kita pointed at Aoi.

Mariko walked up to Aoi and made a disgusted face.

"Hey, Mariko, I'm Aoi Sato. I hope we can be friends." She smiled.

"Aww, thanks." Mariko grabbed onto Aoi's hands. "I thought it'll be difficult to make friends here, but you seem really nice."

Kiyoshi tilted his head at them. "Mariko seems really nice. I don't know what you're talking about."

"But... but... the other day..." I looked at him desperately.

"Are you hallucinating?" He put his hand on my shoulder.

"No..." I pouted.

He giggled. "Don't worry, I believe you. There's no reason for you to make up a story like that." Kiyoshi faced the front and thought about it. "Wait, will you?"

"Of course not!"

Time Lapse: Lunchtime

Mariko giggled with Aoi, walking toward Kiyoshi and me. "Did you know Aoi likes Akane Saito, Aki?"

"What's so funny about that?" Kiyoshi asked.

"Have you meet Akane? Akane's just full of lies. She seems all nice but on the inside, she's like the devil." Mariko giggled again.

"You know, I actually meet her in my..."

Mariko, suddenly, cut me off. "Hey, Aki, let's get lunch." She grabbed onto Aki's arm and dragged him out of the room.