2 Chapter Two: You Want Us To Do What?!

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" Haruna screamed at Kanako. All the other girl could do was stand there in shock. "Y-You can't be serious... That other l-letter was you?" Kanako finally managed to say. "Unbelievable!" Haruna shouted before storming back to the table. "This situation is already ridiculous enough, but of all the other girls that could show up, it just haaad to be you! Damn it!"

Kanako continued to stand where she was, still trying to make sense of the situation she found herself in. "Haruna... why did it have to be Haruna...?" Kanako wondered. "U-um Ha..." she hesitated, then: "Haruna!" "What?" the other girl said angrily. "W-what do you think we should do? Do we take turns or something, haha..." Kanako half-heartedly suggested.

"Are you kidding me...?" Haruna said darkly. "Take turns? TAKE TURNS?! I'M NOT TAKING TURNS CONFESSING YOU IDIOT!" Haruna shouted as she quickly turned toward Kanako, who backed up from fear. "I got here first! I put MY letter in Miyashita-kun's locker before you! Just get lost!"

Kanako was frozen in place. She hated having to deal with Haruna and her yelling, but... "N-no..." she said softly. "Huuh?! Whaddya mean no?!" Haruna yelled. "I told my friends that I would confess today s-so—" "Ohhh, you told your friends, huh? Well that changes everything doesn't it?" Haruna said sarcastically. "Guess I'll just be on my way." Of course, Kanako didn't quite pick up that Haruna wasn't serious. "R-really? Then-"

"NO, NOT REALLY YOU DOLT! God, you're so stupid, you know that? Why would I leave after I just told you to get lost?!" Haruna was fuming. "Besides, you really think you have a chance with Miyashita-kun?" she continued in a calmer but meaner tone. "I mean come on, have you looked in the mirror? Your looks barely qualify as average and your personality is meeker than a mouse! Who'd want to date you? The only thing you could even say you have are those two big lumps of fat on your front!" "At least I'm not an ironing board like you..." Kanako muttered. "What'd you say?!" Haruna shot back.

Haruna sighed. "Face it short stack, there's no way he's picking you. I'm the one that's clearly best suited to be with Miyashita-kun, so why don't you just squeak back into whatever pathetic hole you scurried out of. Oh, and make sure to leave that false confidence you built up at the door." Haruna said as she turned away.

There was something that Haruna tended to forget when it came to Kanako, because it happened so rarely. While it's true Kanako was typically quiet and borderline shy, there was something else about her. She was never one to dish out insults and preferred to just ride out any thrown at her, but... when pushed far enough, there was a fury inside her that could make Haruna on edge.

"You're insufferable..." Kanako started. "Huh?" Haruna turned back to face her and was met with a very dark feeling. "We hardly talk anymore, so sometimes I forget just how awful you are," Kanako said, now brimming with anger. "You think you can just say whatever you want, regardless of if it's something you shouldn't! You're crude, despicable and horrible!" Kanako kept it coming as she marched toward Haruna. Any time Kanako got truly angry, it always took Haruna aback. She started stepping backwards.

"You said what guy would want to go out with me, but what guy would want to go out with a girl like you? You're not nice or comforting, and I bet that when it comes to being romantic, a gorilla could do a better job!" Kanako was right in Haruna's face now (or at least as close as she could be because Haruna was so much taller than her). "I-" Haruna tried to say. "I'm not finished!" Kanako continued. "Akio-kun deserves to be with someone a lot better than you! I know I'm not super pretty or the best student or anything like that, but still... I'm better for him than you'd ever be you... y-you flat Godzilla!" "FLAT GODZILLA?!"

"Wow, I can see the fireworks from here," a boy's voice rang out suddenly.

The girls stopped mid-fight to turn and see who it was that had spoken. Before both of them stood a boy with gentle, brown hair and hazel eyes, wearing their school's uniform with a green tie to indicate he was a second-year just like them. A soft breeze rippled his white t-shirt and light grey pants as he looked at them with a pleasant smile.

"M-M-Miyashita-kun?!" Haruna stuttered out. "A-A-Akio-kun?!" Kanako said at the same time. "Oh no! I can't believe he saw me like that!" she then thought. "Hey you two," Akio said nicely. "So... this is the spot right? I gotta admit, I was pretty surprised to find two letters in my shoe locker. You even both asked me to come to the same place!" he said with a laugh. "Man, some coincidence, right?"

"U-um! Aki-" Kanako began. "Hold up," he said, putting his hand up to stop her. "You both have something you want to say to me right?" The two girls nodded. "Alright, so before you two start clambering over each other and fight again, let's make sure to take turns," Akio said with a smile. "Now I believe Haruna-chan's letter was on the bottom in my locker, which I'm assuming means she was first. So with that being said, Haruna-chan, what did you want to tell me?"

Giving Kanako a slight push backwards, Haruna stepped up toward Akio. "W-well, the thing is..." she began, her face starting to turn red. "It's just... ever since we were kids, I always enjoyed being around you... It felt like you were different than the others... You were always nice to me, e-even if I wasn't the nicest back. A-and, you were always there for me." "Oh my God, this is so embarrassing!" Haruna screamed inside.

"H-hey, Miyashita-kun, do you remember that really big storm in junior high? I think it was around our second year. The two of us had gone out to get supplies for a project, even though our classmates said we shouldn't. On our way back, the rain hit and we had to take cover under the climbing dome in the playground along the way," Haruna said reminiscently. "Huh?! I never knew that!" Kanako panicked. "W-w-what did they do in there?!"

"We sat there while the rain thundered down around us. I remember you were so close to me because the two of us barely fit inside. Our wet shoulders were pressed right up against each other and I could feel your breath on my cheek. The longer it went on, the more and more different I was beginning to feel. Like the view I had of you was changing from good friend to... something else..." Haruna's face was redder than before.

"Once the rain finally let up enough for us to head back, I didn't want to leave that spot. You thought I was just stuck or something, and I guess in a way, I was. I was stuck in place by my own feelings. So many times around then I felt my heart leap out of my chest or I'd get all nervous when you showed up. Being close to you and being with you felt so nice, but I couldn't figure out what it meant. But then, you reached out your hand, offering to help me get out. It was that moment that I remember thinking, 'So that's what it is. I'm in love with him.'"

"Ever since then, I-I've been in l-love with you, Miyashita-kun... I love that you're still so kind, and I love that you're still willing to be friends with me, even though I can be pretty brash. But, after being friends for so long, I... I-I want to be more than that!"

"So please, Miyashita-kun, go out with me!"

The first thing Haruna heard wasn't an answer. It was clapping. Clapping from a single individual. When she looked up from the bow she had gone into, she saw Akio with his hands together. "Well done Haruna," he said. "To be honest, I wasn't really sure if you were capable of saying something so heartfelt." "Gee, thanks..." Haruna thought. "However, before I can answer you, I think there's one more person that has to go," Akio said.

As Kanako stepped forward, Haruna glared back at her. "Just leave already! There's no way he's picking you!" she thought. Ignoring her, Kanako took a deep breath, let it out and then began. "Akio-kun," she said. "I've loved you for a long, long time." "Huh?! W-wait, what? What does she mean a long time?" Haruna panicked, as she had only realized her feelings recently in comparison.

"Do you remember how we first met?" Kanako asked. Akio thought back. "Yeah, I do," he said with a smile. "For me, that's one of my most precious memories. I remember I was so nervous at the beginning of elementary school and I was too shy to try and make friends. But then, one of your friends came over to me and asked me if I wanted to play with all of you. At the time, I was so happy that anyone even talked to me."

"It wasn't long before I knew it was love. And with each passing day, I could feel it grow stronger. It was so much fun playing with you, both as my friend and as my crush. Anytime I heard you were going to be at one of our family events, I made sure to dress up extra special and look my best for you, though I'm not sure if you ever noticed, haha..."

"Growing up together, I was also nervous when I saw you talk to other girls. I always thought, 'What if they're dating?' It'd make me so anxious and it felt like my heart was going to break. But, whenever I asked you about it, you'd always say the same thing: 'We're just good friends!' I was always happy to hear that, but it made me sad too. It always left me wondering if you'd say that to me too if I told you my true feelings."

"After thinking about it for so long, I finally decided nothing was going to change if I just kept this to myself. I knew I had to tell you, even if it meant it was at the cost of our friendship. These feelings I have for you Akio-kun, they're so strong it feels like they'll just fly out of me if I don't hold on tight. But, I just can't help it."

"Akio-kun, I've been in love with you for so long, so..."

"Will you go out with me?"

Kanako stood there with an odd expression on her face. All it was was a pleasant smile. Her cheeks had become a heavy pink, but there was no panic, unlike Haruna. "I'm so happy I practiced that in the mirror!" Kanako sighed in relief. "It sounded better than all that stuttering and mumbling Haruna did," she thought smugly.

"Wow, Kana-chan, that was beautiful," Akio said with admiration. "I can tell you really put your heart into those words." "So does that mean you'll date me?" Kanako asked hopefully. "Hmm... well, it could work out..." Akio said. Kanako started to beam with delight. "Or it might be a disaster..." Akio said softer. Kanako sulked.

"On the one hand, there's Haruna-chan. Sure, she's a little rough around the edges, but overall I know she has a good heart. I bet a relationship with her would be full of love and passion," Akio said. Haruna's face went beet-red. "Buuut, it's always possible too that Haruna would be overly aggressive and a killjoy..." "K-killjoy?!" Haruna shouted.

"On the other hand, there's Kana-chan. I know we'd have loads of fun and she's so small and cuddly too..." Akio said to himself. "C-Cuddly?" Kanako wondered. "Buuut, Kana-chan doesn't always speak her mind, so we might end up fighting. Plus there's that friend of hers, Fukuhara-san, and she can be a lot to deal with. If Kana-chan and I went out, she'd probably threaten me or something..."

"Then of course, there's the two of you," Akio said to the two girls. "Huh? Us?" Kanako said. "You both forgot a key component of those past stories," Akio said. "What're you talking about?" Haruna asked, beginning to get annoyed. "There was no mention of each other," Akio said bluntly. "All three of us grew up together and you both made it sound like the other wasn't there."

Haruna and Kanako both froze. "Is he serious?" Haruna wondered. "I know that, but she has nothing to do with this!" Kanako thought. Akio continued. "I remember the two of you being the best of friends all through elementary school, and then junior high hit and it was like you both hated each other's guts." Neither of the girls had a response. Akio was right.

When they were all kids, the three were in different classes in elementary school. Through their parents getting together, Haruna and Kanako were already acquainted, but it wasn't until the beginning of school that they both met Akio. Over time, the group of them became good friends and together they played a lot and did all sorts of things like bug catching or building pillow forts. But for some reason, it all changed once junior high started.

"Look, I don't know what happened between you two and I'm not even going to try asking anymore because I know neither of you will tell me. But still, to see two of my best friends go from close to at each other's throats overnight, it's still so unsettling. W-wait... it's not because of me right?! Y'know, because you both-"

"It has nothing to do with you," Haruna said sharply. "Just drop it, okay?" Akio went silent, then sighed. "Well, I won't keep pressing the issue, if that's what you want. However, this is still quite the predicament. If I'm being honest, I don't want to choose either one of you."

Kanako let out an involuntary "Huh?" while Haruna had a look of bewilderment plastered on her face. "Miyashita-kun, are you serious? Two girls confess to you and you're going to turn both of us down?!" Haruna yelled. "Hang on, I wasn't finished," Akio said. "I just have a singular question for you two. You don't have to answer it, I just want to point it out."

"How can I be expected to believe either of you would be good girlfriend material when you were so quick to turn your backs on someone you called your best friend?"

Neither Haruna nor Kanako had an answer. "B-but, that's that and this is this!" Haruna exclaimed. "They have nothing to do with each other!" "No, he's right..." Kanako said quietly. "Haah?!" Haruna glared at Kanako. "He's right," she repeated, staring straight back at Haruna. "Are you stupid?! Our past between us has nothing to do with our confessions!" Haruna screamed at Kanako.

"Exhibit A," Akio said simply. "Urk!" Haruna said, forgetting for a moment that Akio was still there. "Or maybe it'd be more accurate to call it Exhibit B... or C... or D... or-" "Alright, I get it! You've seen us fight a lot!" Haruna said, exasperated. "But I swear I'm not normally like that! It's just that this pipsqueak really gets to me!" "Pipsqueak?!" Kanako repeated.

"Enough," Akio said. The two girls turned their full attention back to him. "While you two have been arguing, I think I've come up with a solution." "Please don't say you'll date both of us," Haruna sighed. "Haha, no, no, nothing like that! However, it does have to do with dating," Akio said. "Huh? But I thought you said you didn't want to choose?" Kanako asked, confused. "I said that on the basis of seeing how you and Haruna-chan treat each other," Akio began to explain. "But, if the rift between you were to be repaired, I might be more inclined to make a choice."

"So what, you want us to be friends again or something?" Haruna spat, feeling sick about the idea. "No, that'd be too easy to fake," Akio said. "Instead, here's my proposal: for one year, date each other instead of me."

"..."

"HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH?!?!"

End of Chapter Two