The Vanguard and The Jewel Knight

Three Words, Eight Letters

Three words, eight letters.

Those are the only things that she wanted him to say, those words she wanted to hear coming out from his mouth.

But he'll never say it to her, right?

Kourin could only look at the blunette having fun with their club members at Card Capital while she sits on a different table than them. She watched, observing him quietly. It was just one of those days, but this time she wasn't in the mood to do anything.

Kourin's mind had drifted off to the same thoughts that she has whenever she looks at Aichi. It was those feelings that she has, and she really wants to know how she feels and expects that Aichi loves her the same way as she does. But Kourin did feel like she was expecting too much, and she knew that Aichi might love someone else but it's not her.

Surely it's not her, right? Kourin said to herself. It was obvious after all, since Aichi always thinks of her as a friend and nothing else. She knew that, but still she cannot help but to expect such things. She was hoping for nothing, and maybe she should really stop doing this.

"Kourin?" Misaki went to her, and Kourin immediately glanced at her.

"Oh, hey..." Kourin just gave a small smile.

Misaki sat in front of Kourin and smiled back before she asked, "Are you okay?"

Kourin let out a sigh and rested her head on the table with her arm, and groaned under her breath. "Idol work is tiring me out lately... maybe I should take a day off or two?"

"Oh, you definitely should. You look really sleep deprived, Kourin!" Misaki said. "As a friend, I'm totally worried about you. You really need some day off."

"I'll ask my manager and Takuto then," Kourin replied and took her phone to send a message. After she left a message, she sat back up and stretched her arms out. "I'm just going to wait for their response..."

"Being an idol sure is tough, huh. How about some cardfight for a moment?" Asked Misaki, who already had her deck on her hand.

"Oh um... sure!" Kourin replied and took her deck out as well, and they had a cardfight.

-

When the two girls finished cardfighting, Misaki won. The two of them looked at each other with a smile and called it a good game. Kourin then felt her phone vibrate from the pocket of her skirt, and she took it.

"Takuto said that he'll allow me to take a day off tomorrow and this weekend." Kourin said.

"That's great, Kourin. You can have a rest." Misaki replied.

Kourin then glanced at Misaki and she blinked before speaking. "Do you want to go out tomorrow? We can go shopping and watch some movies together. You know, girl's hang out?"

"Oh, I'd love to. But I'm going to be busy tomorrow, I need to help Shin with the shop." Misaki replied apologetically. "It would be fun though."

"Ah, it's okay. I can just ask Rekka or Suiko." Kourin giggled as she was waving her hand.

"Kourin-san, Misaki-san." Then there was the voice of someone familiar; Kourin glanced and saw Aichi smiling at them brightly. "What are you two up to?"

"Just had a cardfight, I won against the princess of the Club." Misaki teased, causing Kourin to blush.

"H-hey, what do you mean princess?! Seriously, Misaki... since when are you a tease?"

Misaki just let out a laugh, Aichi was a bit confused but he just smiled at them.

"Oh, if you want you can invite Aichi." Misaki suggested, and Kourin blushed even more.