Girl Next Door

Chapter Sixty-Three

Kyosuke and Risa have been very close these past few months. Some might even say too close for a boy and a girl who are only "friends". Kyosuke had been wanting to confess to Risa since the day she got back from America almost three years ago. He had been hiding his feelings (he might say guilt) for a very long time. Now, Kyosuke, aged eighteen, is ready to face the fact and tell Risa what he really feels for her.

It was Christmas Eve.

Families across the world have prepared for the holidays days before, and the Matsumarus of that quiet suburb in Tokyo were no different. Matsuko and Hinako were setting up dishes and food on the table, and Kyosuke was busy preparing the drinks.

"Put this on the table, will you, sweetie?" said Matsuko at the kitchen, handing Hinako a plate of grilled mackerel.

"Okay, Mom," said Hinako with a smile as she took the dish and headed for the table.

"Kyosuke, how are the drinks coming?" asked Matsuko.

"Fine, Mom," replied her son as he poured some orange juice into a pitcher and brought them to the table.

"All right then," said Matsuko, having just finished making some miso soup and carrying a large potful to the table. "The Takanakas are coming over so we need to hurry."

"Right," said Kyosuke, placing the pitcher of juice on the table. "And maybe, just maybe, I could get a chance to confess to her today. I have to," he added in his thoughts.

Moments later a knock was heard on their door. Matsuko opened it and welcomed Risa and her grandmother.

"Good evening," said Granny Sakura with a sweet smile.

"Good evening, Mrs. Takanaka, Risa-chan," replied Matsuko. "Come in."

The two stepped in and took off their shoes (as it is customary for the Japanese to take off their footwear when entering a home) and went inside. Risa of course was welcomed by a hug from Hinako.

"Onee-chan!" said the seventeen-year-old cheerfully.

"Tee-hee," giggled Risa. "Hello, Hinako-chan. Where's Kyosuke?"

"Hey," Kyosuke greeted them with a wide grin as he exited the kitchen.

"Hey," replied Risa with a smile.

A few minutes later, everyone knelt at the table as they prepared for supper.

"Itadakimasu!" all said as they split their chopsticks and ate.

"You are a really good cook, Matsuko-san," said Granny Sakura as she took a bite of her blue-backed fish.

"Why, thank you," replied Matsuko with a smile. "I try my best. I mean I do run a kitchen in a fancy restaurant."

Granny Sakura chuckled.

"Risa-chan, how's baseball?" Matsuko asked.

"It's fine, really," said Risa with a grin. "I'm enjoying being on the team, despite the fact that I'm the only girl. Tee-hee."

"Isn't that difficult for you?" asked Matsuko, sipping on a glass of orange juice. "A bunch of boys drooling all over you?"

"Ahaha," Risa laughed. "That's what I first thought but they're kind of nice once you get to know them. Besides, with Kyosuke as team captain, they wouldn't dare pick on me." At that she smiled at Kyosuke, causing him to blush.

"Speaking of which," said Kyosuke's mother, "are you guys seeing each other?"

Kyosuke and Risa both turned red as Matsuko said that. They glanced at each other and looked away just as quickly.