Supersharu Nakama

Chapter 2
Tsubaki

I went near the person who called me.

I smiled and grinned while looking at him.

He was still the Tsuji Ryuu I've met 12 years ago.

He's still the ever-smiling person I've met.

He still has this cool demeanor, but with a caring atmosphere.

"Hissashiburi, neh Ryuu-kun," I said,

"Hai. Wakatta desho. Demo, you did not change at all," he replied,

"You, too, of course," I smiled and we both chuckled,

then someone coughed,

I turned to see Toudou-san,

"So, Ryuu, Kudo-chan, you know each other?" she asked,

"Eto, hai, Toudou-san." I replied,

then Karino-san sneered at Ryuu and whispered something that made Ryuu blush,

"Iiieeeee! It's not like that," Ryuu replied,

I wonder why.

"Neh, Ryuu, why don't you introduce us to her?" asked a girl with black hair,

"Ah sure, Hikari, ah minna-san, this is Kudo Tsubaki, an old friend of mine,"

he said, emphasizing on the old friend part, especially to Karino-san,

I sighed silently but then smiled immediately.

An old friend only.

Only.

I'm disappointed...

Oy, what's with me!

Why am I disappointed!

Probably because he introduced me as an old friend and not a best friend.

Yes, that's it.

"Ohayo gozaimasu S.A. Watashi wa Kudo Tsubaki of 2-A desu." I told them

they smiled and a blonde guy said, "Ore wa Takishima Kei,"

a black-haired girl said, "Watashi wa Hanazono Hikari desu ka,"

a brunette said, "Ore wa Yamamoto Jun,"

another brunette scribbled on her notebook, 'watashi wa Yamamoto Megumi'

I smiled and said, " Dozo yoroshiku," then bowed,

and soon the bell rang,

Uggghhhh... The 1st bell rang.

"well then, minna-san, I have to go now," I told them

"Ah sure, Kudo/Tsu-chan," they replied,

"Kudo-chan, can you drop by later at lunch?" Toudou-san asked,

"Eh? Sure. I'll try," I replied with a smile,

then Ryuu went near me and whispered to me,

"Akira would really cook some things for you."

"Ahhh, sou ka. I would expect that now, would I?" I replied

as he chuckled,

"Well then, ja neh Ryuu," I told him

"Ja, Tsu-chan," he replied and I left,

practically cramming up to reach the 2-A classroom before I become late.

I smiled, looking at the greenhouse at the window, and I ran up,

LUNCH...

Ryuu's POV

"Ryuu, is Kudo-chan already here?" Akira asked me,

"Eh? Well, the bell didn't ring yet, neh?" I asked Jun,

he shook his head,

"Well then, since she's from 2-A, well, she must still be in her classroom, listening to the teacher,"

I replied to her,

she nodded and sighed, looking at the cakes and watching out from Tadashi, who was practically finding
a way to steal and eat her cakes,

I sighed at their actions,

Minna-san would always be minna-san.

But, Tsu-chan, she's somehow different,

her hair grew long,

her body figure became ,anou, eto, more womanly, I can say,

but it's only her physical features of course,

she's still the same Tsu-chan, no matter what's she's like,

the bell rang,

I smiled, looking at the door,

I shook at my action,

She'd really come,

I know her,

But, what if she doesn't come after all...

What if she met some friends and had lunch with them...

What if she forgot...

What if she's shy...

I sighed at my thoughts

"Minna-san," someone called,

I turned and saw the girl I've waited for,

Speaking of the devil.

"Kudo-chan!" Akira called and went near her and hugged her,
"Ah, Kudo-chan you're back!" said Hikari as they both smiled,
"Ah hai, I told Toudou-san, and oh, Tsubaki would do, although Tsu would really have to be for Ryuu," she said,

I blushed on what she said,

Am I that special to her?

"Naze?" asked Tadashi,

"Of course, he's an old friend of mine," she replied,

a stab to my heart,

I sighed.

What did I just think a while ago...

Probably because I thought I was her best friend,

I smiled and said, "Arigato Tsu-chan,"

"Iiiieee, betsuni Ryuu-kun," she replied and sat beside me,

"Neh, still the animal-lover neh Ryuu," she asked,

"Hai, as usual," I replied,

I have always been an animal-lover ever since.

"Sou ka," she replied,

"Did you know that while we were waiting for you, Akira was protecting lunch from Tadashi, since he wanted the
lunch so much," I told her while she laughed,

"Neh? Finally, first day of school and I have lots of new friends," she said,

"Neh, sugoyi." I said, but sighed afterwards

"Hai. demo you'll always be my best friend Ryuu!" she said and smiled at me,

Her smile that has always captivated and captured me throught the years,

I smiled at her and we both ate lunch: cake. and some pastries with tea

"SUGOYI! My favorite cake: Black Forest!" she said and took a slice and ate,

"KAKKOI! OISHI! OISHI! OISHIIIIII!" she commented as she took another bite,

"Oy, Tsu-chan, eat slowly or you'll choke," I teased,

"Neh, Ryuu, you know that this has always been my favorite cake ever since." she replied and pouted,

I chuckled at her action,

"Just joking," I added

and she continued eating her all-time favorite Black Forest Cake,

"Tsubaki-chan, I am so glad you love my cake," said Akira,

"Iiieee, betsuni. It was really oishi you know. Delicious but not so sweet, just right," she replied,

" Neh, Ryuu, how do you write this? Dou itamashte watashi wa nakama," she asked,

I snickered at her question,

"Eh, Tsubaki-chan doesn't know how to write?" asked Hikari,

"Ha-hai," she replied, blushing,

"It's because she came from another country," I told Hikari,

"Eh?" they asked,

"That's why when she said Black Forest, she pronounced it well," said Kei,

And that was a rare compliment from Kei.

"Ah, sou ka." replied Hikari,

"De-demo, I'm fluent in speaking, but not with writing," she said as she felt a stab on her heart,

I chuckled,

then the bell rang,

Stupid bell, always ruining the moment,

"Ah, gomen nassai minna-san, but I really have to go. Gomen ne, demo Akira, I love your Black Forest,
teach me sometime. Ja neh minna, Ryuu," she said

"Ja Tsubaki!" they said,

"Ja neh Tsu-chan," I told her,

she smiled and left,

I sighed and looked at my side,

the spot where she sat down,

I smiled and stood up from the chair,

I laughed at her earlier actions and attended to the animals,

leaving the other puzzled.

They just did not know the reasons why I have a Kudo Tsubaki as a very close friend of mine.