Girl Next Door

Chapter Fifty-Six

Kyosuke gasped and widened his eyes at what emanated from the pop idol's mouth.

"W-W-What...?!" he said, flabbergasted.

"I love you, Matsumaru-kun," replied Hikari.

Kyosuke's heart thumped faster that ever. His cheeks where flushed and he was sweating.

"H-Hikari... -san..." said Kyosuke.

Hikari was unable to look into his eyes after saying that. She was blushing wildly and swaying from side to side.

"I-I don't know what to say," said Kyosuke, still bewildered.

A long awkward silence occurred between the two. Kyosuke was really nervous, not because he shared Hikari's feelings, but because now that she confessed to him, there would be no way he could get to Risa now. The confession seemed to confuse him more.

Then all of a sudden Hikari spoke.

"M-Matsumaru-kun...?"

"Hikari-san...?" replied Kyosuke softly.

The two stared at each other for quite a while. All of a sudden Kyosuke noticed the gap between him and Hikari was beginning to get thinner. It's that feeling that the two of them were being drawn to each other by an unknown force.

They were going to kiss.

Kyosuke's heart thumped the fastest it did since the time he and Risa almost kissed. Then as soon as Risa popped in his head, he came to his senses. The feeling was gone in a snap as Kyosuke gently pushed Hikari away. Hikari was of course surprised.

"M-Matsumaru-kun?" she said. "What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry, Hikari-san," said Kyosuke softly. A solemn expression was in his eyes.

"Why are you apologizing?" asked Hikari, starting to get worried.

"Because..." said Kyosuke, "I don't feel the same way."

Hikari's heart grew heavy after hearing that from Kyosuke. Her eyes began to well up.

"I'm really sorry," said Kyosuke in utmost sincerity.

"Matsumaru-kun..." said Hikari sadly.

"The truth is," said Kyosuke, "I'm in love with somebody else."

Hikari's heart grew even heavier at that.

"S-Somebody... else...?" said Hikari.

"I've been ignoring her for days because I was too busy spending time with you," said Kyosuke. "I've loved her since I was four."

Hikari was touched by what he said, but was even more depressed at his answer to her confession that she couldn't speak.

"Now I gotta go and apologize to her," said Kyosuke. "I'm sorry, Hikari-san." With that, he picked up his bag and stormed out of the classroom.

"Matsumaru-kun?" said Hikari as she tried to go after him, but never got past the door. "Wait!"

Kyosuke ran all over campus searching for Risa. It took him almost eight minutes. Of course, it was dismissal time, so either she could have left or is currently waiting for him. However, given the current situation in their relationship, it was almost certain that she left without him.

Kyosuke stopped his search in the middle of the school grounds. He had all but given up trying to find Risa.

Not all hope was lost.

For Kyosuke saw the auburn-haired beauty sitting at a bench in the distance, all alone. He was of course still nervous about coming up to her, but he had to make up his mind. He slowly approached her.

Risa saw Kyosuke coming. A rather solemn look was in her face.

"Hey," said Kyosuke softly, waving.

"Kyosuke," said Risa.

"This seat taken?" asked Kyosuke, referring to the empty space on the bench beside Risa.

Risa shook her head in reply. Kyosuke sat next to her.

A brief moment of silence before Risa spoke.

"Shouldn't you be with Hikari-san?"

"Before you try to brush me off, will you listen?" said Kyosuke in a serious tone. Risa stayed quiet.

"Hikari-san came to me earlier," said Kyosuke. "She told me she liked me."

Risa's eyes widened a bit. Other than that she was not surprised.

"I rejected her," continued Kyosuke. Now Risa was surprised.

"R-Really?" she asked."Why?"

"I told her I liked... someone else," said Kyosuke hesitantly.

"Oh," replied Risa softly.

Another awkward silence came up between them. Then Risa spoke.

"Did you come here to tell me that?" She avoided his gaze.

"No," said Kyosuke. "Actually I came here to tell you that I'm sorry."

Risa looked at him after he said that.

"I've been ignoring you these past few days because of Hikari-san, and I'm sorry," said Kyosuke. Risa sensed his sincerity.

"Kyosuke..." she said.

"Can you forgive me?" said Kyosuke.

Risa took a brief pause before giving him her answer.

"Why not?" She gave him a gentle smile.

Kyosuke had to smile back. The weight in his chest seemed to have fallen off.

"Let's go home," said Risa.

"Oh, no, we're not going home, Risa," said Kyosuke with a smirk.

"Huh?" wondered Risa.

"I gotta make up for the days I wasn't able to hang out with you," said Kyosuke.

"How are you gonna do that?" asked Risa.

"Say, coffee before we head home?" said Kyosuke with a smile.

"Haha, okay," said Risa with a chuckle. Then the two of them headed for the school gate.

Watching the couple leave the school was Hikari, who was looking for Kyosuke. When he saw him with Risa, she shed a tear.

"That must be the other girl," she said as she wiped the tear from her cheek. Then she gave a smile. "I hope everything goes out well for the two of them.