My Everything

Chapter 3

Like always Akira had prepared a picnic outside. How she managed to get all the food to school and keep it looking not squashed, was probably one of the only things that I would never know. But I was glad that she could do it. More so, I was thankful that Akira was best friends with Hikari, which meant that I would sit and eat lunch with her nearly every day. Today Akira had laid a Blue Tartan picnic rug with an assortment of English tea cakes and sandwiches, and of course her favourite colour changing tea. Everyone was now used to Akira’s obsession over having a ‘proper tea time’, I swear she only came to school so she could have this picnic.

The beautiful long haired girl that took over my dreams was sitting beside Akira. After our last encounter she had stormed off. I suppose she was going to try the ignoring technique, not she was able to hold her grudges for long. She seemed to be venting out her annoyance of our brief meeting before, judging from the lasers that Akira was sending me with her eyes. She was practically steaming. Adorable, just from a little teasing she got so worked up. With a smile secretly playing on my lips I walked towards the grandiose picnic.

I sat myself down right next to her. Even after all this time, I still felt static electricity between us. I wonder if she felt it too. I wish that she felt it as well. I looked at her. She responded... well by being non responsive. And of course Akira was behind her throwing daggers at me with her eyes. Before Hikari, Akira and I had been moderately close child hood friends. But now her overprotection of ‘her angel’ seemed to sprout extra tensions between us. But then again Hikari was equally oblivious to the piercing glares her friend gave as she was to my feelings.

Maybe it was selfish for hoping that she would suddenly realise my position and reciprocate the emotions. To her I was only another one of her friends with the exception of being her rival.

Her Rival.

Although it wasn’t exactly the connection that I wanted between us, but it was all there really was. It was a thin line that I protected. It kept her near me. I would have to be happy with it. For now.
It was only through this fragile relationship which we talked.

“So... ni-san.... The midterm exams are coming up aren’t they?”

I said so care freely while watching for her reaction through my peripheral vision. I knew how she would. I had used all the key elements: the pet name, the mention of the coming exams and the carefree ‘I don’t care’ tone. Of course, I was just teasing her, and not intending to aggravate her. She wouldn’t be able to hold her cold shoulder grudge.

And as of my prediction her head quickly whipped around revealing a huffed red face. Eyes glinting with excitement she got up in one fluid movement to fully face me.

“Takishima! I challenge you for the next midterm exams. I will definitely beat you!”

Her voice radiated confidence, unusual for someone that had been beaten so many times. Although her words were not of affection, but rather the opposite, they did not fail to have a warming effect on me. I basked in the short attention that she gave to only me. Those short words were only for me. From her to me.

“Well, try you best Ni-san. And good luck you will need it if you want to even think about beating me”

The words flowed out as easily as the secret smiles that played on my lips every time I saw her. Beating me would grant her happiness. As much as I wanted to grant her happiness, but this was one that she couldn’t have. If she did beat me, then the rivalry would be over. And with that my special relationship with her would also diminish. I would not be her greatest rival and friend, but just another guy that happened to be friends with her friends and sat behind her in class. No, I couldn’t lose the small connection she identified between us.

Her eyes narrowed. And she promptly turned again to talk to Akira.

I guess that the ignoring would be starting again.

But again, I wouldn’t let it last too long.