Chapter 195: From Satsuki to Nami

The talk between Satsuki and Sakuma lasted for 10 minutes.

As soon as Satsuki left the room her head turned from left and right to scan and catch my figure. When she did see me, Satsuki was almost running as she closed the distance separating us.

Even from afar, I could see that her eyes were about to burst to tears and that was enough for me to get worried. Due to that, I didn't wait for her to arrive at where I was. Instead, I also walked towards her, catching her in my arms.

"What happened?"

I asked and she answered while shaking her head.

"I just wanted to be in your arms like this. Hug me, Ruki"

With her unusually lowered voice, Satsuki tightened and buried her face on my shoulder. Soon enough, I could feel it getting wet from her tears, her soft sobbing filling my ears.

Hearing that, I couldn't help but feel a little pain in my heart. For her to feel like this after that brief talk, maybe they poured out what has been bottled up for years. It's something I couldn't deny for her, that was a part of her life after all. 

Sakuma was probably still in the classroom. As to the result of their talk, I wouldn't ask for now. Satsuki needed my shoulder to pour whatever it was she was feeling through her tears. I know that she will tell me what happened after calming down.

From the School Building, I took her somewhere we could sit and not be disturbed by anyone. There's a lot of spots like that here. Given how large the school ground is, there's a lot of desolate places which fit what I wanted.

The game will start at 2pm and she needs to be there by 1pm. We only have an hour left before I escort her to the Gymnasium where the practice game will be held.

"Here. How are you now?"

I asked Satsuki again as I handed her a canned lemonade.

"Better."

Satsuki looked up to me and nodded. Even until now, her eyes were still a bit red from crying earlier.

I took out my handkerchief and sat next to her before turning her face towards me.

"Close your eyes."

A slight smile flashed on her lips as she nodded and did what I asked. And just like that, I started wiping the dried tears off her face.

I was the one who told her to talk to him and also the one who told her to tell him everything she wanted to say so in a sense, these tears she shed were partly because of me.

I know I am blaming myself again but I don't regret it. Their talk that has been delayed for 4 years needed to happen. For all of us to move on.

It's true that there were things that were better kept hidden but what happened to their relationship wasn't one of those things. Soon, Nami also needed to do that with Ogawa, to let him know what happened between us. He was probably still hoping that everything was just an act even if it was already laid bare in his eyes.

We only had one acting session to date and maybe it would end when the second one happened. Knowing Nami, she was surely thinking of what to do. 

"It's not even a month and a lot has already happened between us."

Seeing that I was not asking her about what happened to them, Satsuki opened her mouth first. She already opened the lemonade and slowly sipped it.

She's right. This is just the 3rd week and a lot has already happened, not just between us but also to everyone around us, especially those around me.

If I hadn't changed, probably not everything would've happened. Knowing my previous self, I would surely continue focusing on my targets one at a time without understanding anything. Like a machine who only moved to steal someone.

That sounded like a lot different than what's happening to me now but looking back, I'm glad that things happened the way it did. Being aware of things was a lot better than before.

"Right. We went from not knowing each other's name to calling each other's name intimately."

"Ruki… Do you think we could've gone slowly?"

For her to ask this now, did their talk affect her?

"Yes, we could've gone down that route, do you want to slow down?"

To slow down means to limit ourselves to what was currently acceptable. It might've worked for others but for me or us, it would surely be difficult. I wanted to tell her everything since there's not only her in my life. I wanted her to know and whether she accepted it or not, I also wanted to know.

"No. I like the way we are now. Sakuma, he…"

"You don't have to tell me if it's hard for you, you know? In your story, I am the villain who took you away from him. I will never give you back again."

Never eh? But I kept that choice open for her. It sounded contradicting, really. But I already explained why it was there in the first place and since there was still no precedent, I was probably thinking lightly of how it would affect me.

However, as things stand, I could only be that optimistic right now.

"Idiot Ruki. I will tell you. Just like how you want to tell me everything that is happening around you, I will do the same."

Satsuki shook her head and put her hand over mine. Her words were filled with conviction.

Clasping the hand she put over to mine, I used my arm to pull her closer to me. 

"Then I'll wait for that. For now, let me accompany you like this while waiting for time."

She will tell me but it doesn't have to be today. It can be later or tomorrow or when she's fully ready. Tomorrow we'll be meeting Sakuma in class again and surely, things will not go back to before.

Well, I probably also need to talk to him again but since he just finished his talk with Satsuki, it's not the time yet.

-

-

"Are you sure you'll be fine?"

After waiting for an hour, we're now at that side door of the Gymnasium. Well, there's already a bit of a crowd coming in from the front especially her club mates and those who will watch the game.

"Haa... You're always a worrywart. I will be fine. You'll be watching so I will do my best."

She punched my shoulder while showing me her cheerful smile. Unlike the somewhat downcast Satsuki from earlier, seeing her like this was certainly much better.

"And I will be cheering for my Satsuki. Beat them alright?"

"Of course, watch me."

With shining eyes full of determination, Satsuki confidently raised her fist.

"I knew how hard you worked for this game. Show them your worth, alright?"

After saying that, I closed our distance and for the nth time today, I took her lips into a kiss which she immediately responded to. No matter how many times we kissed, we will never get tired of it.

When our lips and tongue separated, Satsuki's face was fully red again. The trace of what happened with Sakuma earlier was once again gone from her mind. And with that kiss as her last memory before switching to her game face, Satsuki will surely be at 100%.

"Un... I'll be going inside then. Pick Nanami up now, she's probably waiting for you."

"Right. See you later. We'll be up there cheering for you."

I watched Satsuki disappear from the side door first before leaving to pick Nami up from the bus station.

Since Satsuki said it's fine and was even happy that someone else will watch, I told Nami to leave after 1 pm. It's just a 15-minute ride for her after all.

And just like I thought, when I opened my phone, Nami's message about her leaving her house had arrived.

I immediately replied and told her I will wait for her at the bus station before making my way towards it.

20 minutes later, I watched how Nami in her casual dress excitedly ran up to me after getting off the bus. However, she's not like my other girls who will just jump in my arms. She stopped in front of me and showed me her beautiful smile

"I miss you, Ruu."

Nami immediately opened up with those same words she said on Messenger while giving me her most beautiful smile to date.

"Un. I miss you too. You looked really beautiful in that, Nami."

I smiled and complimented her outfit which made her smile bloom further. Just by seeing that, it already gave me the urge to kiss her.

I wonder, what will be Ogawa's reaction if he finds out Nami went out to meet me today. He's probably at his home right now.

He's already her boyfriend in name but his indecisiveness is still there. He's really hopeless, eh?

"Let's go?"

I reached for Nami's hand and clasped it on mine. After our days of practicing in that empty room, our hands being clasped was already something normal for her.

"Ah. Right. Shizu-nee is at the Student Council Room. I'll go to her later after the game. You probably planned to be alone with Satsuki, right?"

Eh? Then that means Shizu-senpai saw us again. I can imagine her grumpy face tomorrow for my secretary job.

"Yes. But if you want you can come with us."

"No. Ruu, I won't take Satsuki's time. I'll wait for my turn. Besides I also have something to talk about with Shizu-nee."

"Alright. I'll pick you up after it. How was Shizu-senpai?"

"Still the same but you know she will get used to it soon. However, she will stay scary to others. Only to us will she open up."

Well, even Aya couldn't really open up to just anyone. For now, that's enough for Shizu-senpai. At least that's a start.