Chapter 6

Kouji POV

I stood nervous in front of Akira's house. My thoughts kept revolving around what we talked about at school before. I kept wonder, how he could help me? Heck, what did he mean by "practice"?

"Oh, if it isn't Kouji-chan, how have you been?" Koroko, Akira's mom, opened the door greeting me with a wide smile as always.

"Hello, Miss Koroko, you're looking more gorgeous everyday!" I smiled while giving her a thumbs up, before thinking about what I was doing. Her yellow dress hugged her very nicely, that made me imagine her without it. However, the thought of Akira quickly erased that image, as I don't want him to kill me. Or worse.

"Gosh," she cupped her face, blushing, "You should save those words for girls your age, Kouji. Not an old maid like me." She said as she let me enter the apartment.

"That's absolutely not true, you're still a beauty in her prime, Koroko-sama!" I shouted. It would be a crime for a woman so beautiful to not notice it.

"Oh my, should my husband start worrying about competition?" The hot mom giggled, while smiling slyly.

"He's truly a luck man. Why if I had a wife like you, I would also be the luckiest man alive." I said earnestly, to which she blush while her smile grew more appreciative. I felt invigorated from her reaction. Man, so that's what it's like when you have game.

Seeing Akira's head poking from his room, and the dry look he gave dowse any enthusiasm that was picking up steam. Right. Akira. Sexy cute best friend. Scary as fuck. Don't piss off.

Koroko brought my attention back with a fake cough. "Well, Akira-chan is in his room, so I suppose I should leave you two boys to your studying. Do you need any refreshments?"

"We're okay, mom! I already prepared some, thanks!" Akira shouted from his room. Oh yeah, his hearing is also sharp. Akira continues to be terrifying in many different ways the more I think about it.

"Just making sure, dear!" Koroko called back. "You two study hard now, and Kouji, thank you as always for being Akira's friend." She addressed me with a kind grateful smile, that made me do everything in my power not to move and hug and kiss such a spectacular woman. I mean, I never had the courage before, but it would really be a bad idea for me to do so now.

"There is no need for thanks, Miss Koroko. Akira helps me out a lot too, I would be lost without him." I grinned while rubbing the back of my head.

After the pleasantries where done, I went to Akira's room, where the temperature suddenly felt cold. No, the A/C wasn't on. It was just that the blood left my face, and fell to my feet.

"Umm, Koroko-san is as cheerful as always huh."

Akira did nothing but stare at me with a deadpan look. For a long while I feared he was pissed off, but I didn't know why. I mean, I didn't do anything, it was just thoughts about his sexy mom, but that was it! Just thoughts.

...Unless Akira can read minds--

Akira's sigh broke my mental panicking.

"The door is closed, right?"

"...Yeah?"

"Okay. We'll talk about that later." I gulped. Damn, I'm in for a scolding. At least I hope it's only a scolding. "For now to start, tell me what plans you have for your date."

"Umm, 'plans'? Plural?"

I felt offended when Akira facepalmed.

And over the next hour I found out why he did.

I never knew that there were so many things to take into account when planning a date. Having multiple places in mind, so as to be flexible and go to a place, depending on the mood the girl you're asking out. To not complicate things, choose three locations, each for a different type of date: Formal (for romance), Casual (for talk), Fun (for fun).

"Also keep in mind to choose places you yourself would have fun at, so she would see what you're like when relaxed and enjoying yourself."

"Wow! You know so much about dating and relationships, how come you're still a virgin?"

Akira flipped me the bird.

After another half an hour where Akira quizzed me, to see how well I memorized what he said. I think he was fucking with me when he brought a pencil and paper exam. 

"And lastly, the only thing left if the confession itself." Akira rounded out his lesson. 

"Okay, so what are tips or tricks I should know, Akira-sensei?"

"You just do it." 

If I wasn't sitting I would have tripped and fell on air. 

"Seriously!? But...that's the most important part! I can't go there blindsided!" I cried out, hoping that his effeminate friend had some wisdom in reserve. 

"As I said you just do it. Look stand up." Akira told me as he stood up, and I followed suit. "We're going to roleplay a confession here, okay? Close your eyes for a second." Akira said, rubbing his hair while looking away with small blush, that looked cute despite the annoyed pout in his face. 

"Wait," I blinked rapidly as I got what he said. "Are you telling me you'll play the role of--"

"Eyes. Closed."

"Yes, sir!" I closed my eyes. I heard the sound of...clothes? being moved or rubbed on something. 

"Open them."

I opened my eyes and was stunned for a moment. Akira took out the ribbon tying his hair. He always kept it in a ponytail to keep it out of his eyes, he would say. Akira did cut it once, but Koroko cried, and from then on he kept it long, even though it did annoy him. Seeing that platinum blonde hair flowing down, past his shoulders and framing his face...I never realized how beautiful Akira look. 

"Oi, baseball for brains, you with me?" Akira snapped his fingers in front of my face a few times. 

"Aaaand the moment was ruined when you opened your mouth." I let out a sigh. 

"Is the dead man saying something?" Akira asked with an evil grin. 

"No, sir!"

After that we stood opposite to each other, ready to rehearse our roles, so I would be prepared to confess. 

"Okay, give me a sec." Akira closed his eyes.

"Uh, sure." I...held my breath. I didn't know why, but it felt like I should anticipate something. I heard Akira count to three under his breath then... 

"Mah, Kouji-chan! Today was suuuuper fun! We should totally invite Aki-chan and do this again, but with all three of us next time. Yeah~?" Akira said all that with a peppy cheer and even added a wink and a thumbs up. 

I only had one natural reply to that. 

"Ametarasu fucking Thor! What the shit!?" I jumped back to the point to tripping and falling. 

Crash.

"Boys, are you okay?" Koroko called from the living room. 

"We're fine! Kouji just stubbed his toe while standing up." Akira quickly replied and reassured his mother that I was fine and didn't need help as I was a big boy. I naturally regained my composure and stood up shouting I was a man not a boy. 

"Dude, what the fuck was that?"

"I was roleplaying as Eri." Akira shrugged, looking confused. 

"That was creepy. That was so creepy. Please don't ever do that again." I sincerely begged with all my heart. 

"Fine, fine. You fucking drama queen."

After a few false tries, we stood in our places again, I closed my eyes and visualized the end of the date like Akira told me, and mentally prepared myself. 

"E-e-e-ERI-chan, I-I-I--"

"Cut!" 

"What?"

Kouji, what the hell was all that 'E-e-e-e-ERI-chan, I-I-I' bullshit. That's just asking from some asshole to interrupt your confession and steal your girl from you."

"How would that even happen?" I couldn't even imagine why Akira thought that was a possibility. "If some asshole interrupted my confession I could sock him." 

"Good. But you should also make sure that it doesn't even has a chance to happen. Which means, don't talk like a whiny bitch. Just say what you want to say. Make it short and precise. Practice it in your mind a few times, say it, spell it out, then say it for real, so when it's time to tell her you don't freeze." 

"Okay, okay." I nodded and took a few breath. 

Eri, I've always liked you. Please go out with me. Eri, I've always liked you. Please go out with me. Eri, I've always liked you. Please go out with me.

I repeated my mantra a few times. Then look back to my practice partner again and froze. 

"Eri, I've always l-l-lov-I mean, liked, well, it's more than like, but--"

"Cut! Dude, stick to one. Yes, 'love' is a heavy word to drop, but if you say it stick with it."

"Would you please stop saying 'cut', when you want to stop the practice try? We're not in a movie studio."

"Cut your dick off." 

"That's not better, you ass!"

We had a few more false starts. I dunno why, I just couldn't focus. Whether with my eyes open and seeing Akira roleplaying Eri's kind welcoming smile, or with my eyes closed and seeing Eri in my mind, I couldn't get the world right. 

"This is going nowhere." Akira sighed. 

"Sorry," I felt like I was wasting his time. 

"No, no, maybe..." Akira held his chin, a contemplative look on his face. "No, let's leave that as Plan B." 

"What's 'Plan B'?"

"What happens when Plan A fails." I gave Akira a deadpan look, he didn't acknowledge it. "Okay, here's what we're gonna do. Kouji, close your eyes, hand on over your heart." 

"Okay." I did so, and my breath hitched as I felt Akira's hand over my own. 

"I want you to think back in pre-school. When you met Eri and I for the first time."

It was easy to do that, back then other kids said playing with girls was boring, or yucky, but Eri and Akira were different. No, it was Akira that introduced me to Eri on that playground. I thought they were pretty cool for girls, then it turned out Akira was a boy. I was...disappointed happy, having a boy who was so competitive, yet seemed wiser than anyone else, be my friend.

"Now think about when we went to primary school, and went to the baseball club. You made the furthest hit, even when the other players had third years, you ran so fast, they could hardly tag you." 

Eri was cheering the loudest. I remember her voice echoing in the whole field. I did so well because Akira made sure I know how to follow a throw's trajectory. Look at the elbow not the wrist. 

"Think back to that new years before middle school, when we went to that secret spot at the back of the shrine. The best point to see the fire works."

It was the first time I noticed Eri as a girl. Like really as a girl. She was beginning to fill out, and the fireworks illuminated her. That spot behind the shrine was a place Akira had found, I was so annoyed that he found a better spot then I did, but it was too much fun to care at that point. 

"And remember last year, when Eri sang at the cultural festival." 

Yeah, that was the moment I understood I like more than a friend. Her voice, her passion. She was too dazzling, yet even if I can't reach her in talent, I still wanted to stand next to her. 

"Kouji...you like Eri, right?"

"Hmm," I nodded. With every memory, it felt like there was a glow in my chest. 

"What you're feeling right, don't forget it. Don't think about anything. Just voice that feeling." The hand over my own went away, but the warmth stayed. "Now, let's try again." I heard a breath being taken, and a voice spoke. "Kouji, is there something you want to tell me?"

I took a breath, "I love you," and let everything out. "Before I even knew what this feeling in my heart was, I knew I always felt it toward you." When I opened my eyes, the image of Eri overlapped on Akira. I didn't focus on either. I just spoke. "No matter how far ahead your talents took you, I still wanted to be by your side, because at the end, your smile, your happiness infect me. That's why, if you would allow me the chance, I will endure to make you happy, everyday of your life for all the joy you gave me, every day of mine." I smiled, I was content. 

We stood in silence for a while. It didn't register how my words sounded like, until I saw Akira's red face and replayed the words in my head. 

Oh fuck, what I just said sounded like--

"Eri." Akira tapped me with his fist in my chest. 

"What?" I felt his closed fingers, rest against my chest.

"Eri." He repeated, looking away while red faced. "You should...say her name in the middle of that. People like to hear their name and...tone it down, it sounded like a marriage proposal."

My face was so hot, I wondered if I was seeing steam rise from it. 

"One last addendum for dating and stuff, everything that I said applies only to Eri. Anyone else, don't bother."

"...Okay?" I didn't get why, but alright/

"Oh and before you leave, about how you looked at my mom." 

"Oh? Oh, shi--Look Akira, you know I would never even think about--I mean nothing beyond thinking at least--"

Akira tripped me. I felt to the floor, and then he sat on top of me, I could feel his chest against mine, his arms locking my face from turning away. 

"Kouji, my mother is happily married, that means if you even think of anything untoward about her, I'll..."

"No! Please! Mercy!"

Chomp.

I began to scream, only to realize my shoulder only mildly hurt. After a few moment, Akira removed his mouth from my neck. 

"I'll bite you."

I had the most confused boner ever.

We were done for practice that day. Even if Akira hadn't said so, I don't think I could continue to face him after that.

The next day I asked Eri out, and she accepted. She wanted to bring Akira, but he made an excuse and made sure everything was cleared us for Eri and I to head out on the first day of Golden Week.

Practice the next few days till, it was time. I prepared everything just like my and Akira planned. Now, it was just a matter of going throw with it. 

I failed completely.

The date went perfectly. Everything went great. From the location choice, the stalls, the food, the festival games, the motorcycle ride. And of course the spot for the confession by the stair fountain at sunset. 

"I'm sorry, Kouji-kun. Feelings like 'love' or 'like' in a romantic fashion, I don't understand these feelings yet. At the moment all I can say is that you're important to me, but my answer will have to be 'no' for now. Teehee?" 

It was always the possibility that she won't feel the same. Akira warned me about that. I drove her home after that, and headed straight back here. To Akira's house. 

"What you did was still pretty brave, Kouji. I monitored your cellphones. You spoke clearly and without hesitation, then acted like a gentleman, taking the rejection in stride. Not many guys could have managed that." 

"...You're still scary, Akira." I mumbled. 

"You put up the brave front long enough." I felt my face press against Akira's soft chest. "It's okay, you can let go now. Just let it all out, Kouji, I won't laugh or belittle your pain." 

I couldn't hold it anymore. I cried. I know Eri said she was only saying no "for now", but it was still a rejection. My very first one. 

I did everything right and I still lost. This is what failure feels like, and it sucked. 

I cried and wet Akira's shirt with my tears. As he said, he didn't joke at me, he hugged me and rubbed my hair. I held onto him till I didn't feel weak anymore. 

After I let out a good cry, I felt better. Not happy, but I was okay now. I didn't feel so heartbroken anymore. 

"You're feeling better now?"

"Yeah...Yeah, I am. Thanks for being here for me, man." I nodded. 

"Anytime, Kouji. I'll always be here for you. Um..." Akira trailed off, curled his lips and looked away, scratching his head after he said that. 

"Everything okay, man?"

"I..." Akira struggled with words for a bit, which is bizarre on it's own, then he throw up his hands, and muttered 'fuck it'. "Look, I need a favor. In a way, you can think of it as a 'cheer you up' thing." 

"Akira, you know whatever it is, like whenever you plan stuff, you can always depend on me. Just like you helped me out, I'll help you. So just spell it out."

"Well..." Akira looked down, sighed, then look back up, meeting my gaze. "I need you to fuck my aunt."

"...Huh?"