Girl Next Door

Chapter Fifty-Four

When the Kyosuke, Risa and Hinako got to school, the crowd of paparazzi trying to get photos of Hikari were still at the gate, but comparatively few in number. Still, the three had a hard time trying to get through the lot.

"Wow," said Kyosuke, panting. "They're so persistent."

"I know," said Risa, smiling with amusement.

Within seconds of entering the school gate, Hinako was glomped by her friend Mori.

"Wife!" said the pigtailed girl, burying her cheeks in Hinako's face. "I missed you so much."

"Mori-chan," said Hinako, smiling awkwardly, "it's only been a day."

"I know but I still missed you," moaned Mori.

"Eh..." uttered Hinako. Kyosuke and Risa watched with huge sweatdrops on their heads.

"Wife," said Mori, slowly puckering up her lips and getting closer to Hinako, "kiss me..."

Hinako's eyes widened as she gently tried to push Mori away.

"Stop it! We're in public!" she squealed, but to her dismay, Mori had managed to finally land a kiss. Kyosuke's nose ran with blood and Risa shut her eyes.

"Morning, Matsumaru-kun," said a familiar voice from a distance. Kyosuke turned to the direction where it came from. It was Hikari.

"H-H-Hikari-chan?!" exclaimed Hinako as she caught sight of her idol. "Hikari-chan!!" She ran towards her and glomped her.

"Ah! Matsumaru-san!" said Hikari, smiling awkwardly as Hinako hugged her. "Nice to see you too. Tee-hee."

"Let her go, Hinako," said Kyosuke softly. And she released Hikari.

"Hey, Hikari-san," Kyosuke greeted her. Then he remembered Risa was still beside him. "Ah, let me introduce you guys. Hikari-san, this is Risa Takanaka. We've been friends since childhood."

"Lovely to meet you, Takanaka-san," said Hikari, bowing and shaking Risa's hand.

"P-Pleasure's all mine," replied Risa, smiling.

Hikari smiled back, but turned to Kyosuke afterwards.

"Matsumaru-kun, can you come with me?" she said, smiling.

"C-Come with you?" said Kyosuke, curious. "Where?"

"Anywhere," said Hikari, smiling sweetly. "I just wanna talk with you."

"A-About what?" asked Kyosuke, heart thumping.

"Anything," said Hikari as she grabbed Kyosuke's wrist and started dragging him away.

"Whoa," said a bewildered Kyosuke. "I guess I'll see you later, Risa."

"Hmm... Yeah," replied Risa softly.

Soon Kyosuke and Hikari disappeared from Risa's sight.

"Ooh, she just dragged him away," said Hinako mockingly into Risa's ears.

"Yeah, so?" retorted Risa with a smile.

"Aren't you... you know... jealous?" asked Hinako, who wasn't expecting an answer like that from Risa.

"Me? Jealous?" said Risa with a snort. "Now Why would I be jealous? I'm sure he and Hikari-san are just friends."

"Uhuh," said Hinako. "Well, I'll go see you later, Onee-chan." With that she waved and walked away with Mori.

"Later," said Risa, waving back. And she was alone.

Risa knew deep in her heart that Hikari was way out of Kyosuke's league. But the next few days seemed to prove her wrong.

Since the day Kyosuke had met Hikari, he had been spending all of his free time at school with her. It seemed she had become the center of Kyosuke's life. During breaks, Hikari would drag Kyosuke somewhere just to have a chat with him. Kyosuke had almost ignored Risa completely. It's as if the two are becoming more distant to one another.

One day, Hikari came to Kyosuke out in the hallway. She seemed in a hurry.

"Hikari-san, what is it?" asked Kyosuke.

"Matsumaru-kun, I want to give you something," replied the idol, out of breath. She pulled something out of her bag and gave it to Kyosuke.

"A-A CD?" said Kyosuke.

"It's my latest album," said Hikari with a smile. "I want you to have it. Who knows, maybe Hinako-san will like it too."

"I see," said Kyosuke. "Thanks."

"Oh, and I have a concert this weekend," said Hikari as she pulled out a ticket from her bag. "I was wondering if you wanted to come see it."

Kyosuke was rather anxious about this. He hadn't talked to Risa in a long time. He wanted to make up for it during the weekend, but he could not turn down an offer from Hikari. He uttered a deep sigh.

"Okay," he said. "I'll go."

"Thanks, Matsumaru-kun," said Hikari. With that, she planted a kiss on Kyosuke's cheek and ran away.

Kyosuke blushed lightly. He was kissed by a celebrity, but to him that was no big deal. It seemed to worry him even more. He remembered Risa, and it is imperative that he talk to her.

He looked for Risa all over the huge campus, until he found her near the library, just having talked to Yukie. Kyosuke approached her.

"Hey," he greeted her with a small smile.

Risa turned to Kyosuke and when she saw him, a look of subtle disappointment was in her eyes.

"Oh," she said. "You."

"I was looking for you all over campus," said Kyosuke. "Where have you been?"

"Around," said Risa. "You?"

"Well, I've just been hanging out with--" started Kyosuke.

"Hikari-san, yes I know," said Risa. Kyosuke was surprised at her total lack of emotion.

"Risa? What's the problem?" said a confused and concerned Kyosuke.

"Problem? Nothing," said Risa, folding her arms.

"Come on, what is it?" insisted Kyosuke.

"I'm fine," said Risa. "You should be with Hikari-san right now. You two probably have a lot to talk about." She then walked past him. Kyosuke could just stare as she walked away until she disappeared from sight.

That night, Kyosuke could not sleep well. He was torn between two hearts, and he didn't like it. He was so confused and so alone.

That weekend, Kyosuke fulfilled his promise of coming to Hikari's concert. He didn't enjoy as much as he expected before his last conversation with Risa. It was a great concert in general, and Hikari gave her all to give the audience a good show, but Kyosuke's mind was on other things. He felt as if Risa had left his life.

As he went home after the concert, Kyosuke was having second thoughts of ever seeing Hikari again. It seemed she was turning into a distraction from the girl he really loves: Risa. Once again, he had feelings of confusion and loneliness.