What If I Said I Love You? [Chapter 3]
Title: What If I Said I Love You? [Chapter 3]
Author: Ani
Genre: AU, slight angst, drama, eventually fluff
Rating: PG
Pairings: Chiitaro, Yamachii
Summary: Best friends don't always fall in love.
Disclaimer: I don't own JE
I can’t say which one of us was more shocked at that moment. Saya pushed him into the seat next to me, and I scrambled back to make space, my mind still reeling.
“Ah, see? I knew you two would look cute together.” Saya smiled contently and it jolted me awake.
“Wait, nee-chan, what are you thinking?!” I stood up, not caring I was attracting the attention of everyone else in the cafe. “Morimoto-kun can’t be my b-boyfriend, I don’t even know him, we just met today and-”
“Calm down and let me explain, Yuuri.” Saya placed her hands on my shoulders and forced me back down.
“Yes, please explain, Saya-san. I thought you said Yuuri was your sister?” Ryutaro asked curiously.
Saya just shrugged. “He looks like one anyways.” She ducked as I swung a punch at her.
“Yeah, that’s true.” I hissed at Ryutaro as he smirked. “If you weren’t wearing a guy’s uniform, I would have thought you were a girl.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be at your part-time job?” I asked.
“I am. I work here.” Oh, that explained how he knew Saya.
“Wait, you two know each other?” Saya cut in.
“We’re in the same class,” we both answered at the same time.
Saya’s eyes lit up like stars. “Oh that’s even better then. Yamada-kun’s in the same class too, isn’t he? He’ll see you two and then stop pestering Yuuri all the time, so the problem’s solved!”
Ryutaro frowned. “How is my cousin involved?”
“Ryo-chan...likes me, but I can’t return his feelings,” I told him reluctantly. For some reason, it felt like I was betraying Yamada by confiding in Ryutaro. “I don’t want to hurt him either, so nee-chan thought-”
“- if Yuuri gets a boyfriend, Yamada-kun will leave him alone,” my sister finished.
“But nee-chan, Ryo-chan and Morimoto-kun are cousins! That’ll just -”
“ - make things even better! If they’re cousins, it’s a lot easier for Ryutaro-kun to talk to Yamada-kun and convince him to stop constantly trying to ask you out, right? Come on, Ryutaro-kun told me he was interested in going out with you, too.”
“Only because you told me Yuuri was your cute but apaprently non-existent little sister.”
“Well, you guys don’t have to date seriously. Just pretend you’re going out until Yamada-kun starts to leave Yuuri alone.”
“I’m sorry, nee-chan, but I can’t agree to that. I think it’ll just hurt Ryo-chan more, if I start dating his cousin and I can’t hurt my best friend.” Before my sister could protest further, I stood up and squeezed my way out, planning to ignore Saya for the rest of the day.
“Ryo-chan, good morning!” I forced myself to smile brightly when Yamada walked in, hoping he would return my greeting because that meant our fight was over. Unfortunately, he just walked by without even glancing at me. This had turned out to be our longest fight; it was now nearing its third week.
“Ryosuke, that was rude.” I jumped, not noticing Ryutaro had come in after his cousin. Oh yeah, they lived together, makes sense they would come to school together too. “Ryosuke,” Ryutaro growled, apparently irked at being ignored.
“Leave me alone,” Yamada snapped before lying down on his desk, head buried in his arms.
“Idiot.” Ryutaro rolled his eyes. He shot me an apologetic smile and I felt something squeeze my insides. “Sorry he’s acting like a little kid.”
“I-I’m used to it.” Yuuto came in and I quickly distracted myself with talking to him instead
I never told anyone else about my sister’s failed attempt to get me together with Ryutaro and it didn’t seem like he told his cousin either. For that, I was glad because I was afraid how Yamada would react to the news.
Ryutaro fitted in easily with the rest of the group. I suppose the best thing he did was that Yamada talked more whenever he was around. Maybe because they were related, but Yamada seemed to feel more comfortable opening up. Sometimes, I could almost imagine things were back to normal. But then when I tried to talk to Yamada, he’d just turn a death ear to me.
During lunch break, Yamada excused himself and left. I debated whether I should go after him.
“Leave him.” Yuuto placed a hand on my shoulder. “He just needs some space.”
“I feel so bad.” I looked down at the bento Saya had prepared for me, which consisted of my favorite gyoza, but my appetite was lost.
“Don’t bother about him, he’s just being selfish.” Ryutaro had taken over Yamada’s desk in order to join our conversation.
“You’re his cousin, you should worry more about him!” I don’t why but Ryutaro’s lack-of-care-attitude really bothered me.
“He’s older than me, he should be able to look after himself,” Ryutaro snorted. “If you care about him so much, why don’t you just go out with him? That’ll solve the problem completely, wouldn’t it?”
“Fine, maybe I will!” The words were out of my mouth before I could think.
“C-chii, you’re not serious?” Yuuto gaped at me and even Ryutaro looked a bit surprised.
I was already regretting it but I couldn’t take back what I just said. “Yes, I am, I’ll go tell him right now.” And before my nerves failed me, I got up and left the room.
I asked around and learned Yamada was seen going up to the roof, so I headed up there as well. “Ryo-chan, are you here?” I pushed the door opened and saw his lonely silhouette leaning against the wire fence.
He saw me and started to leave, but I determinedly strode over. “Ryo-chan, stop this, I have something I need to tell you.” Yamada continued to ignore me, so losing my temper, I grabbed his arm and pulled him around so we were face-to-face. “Yamada Ryosuke, stop acting so stupid!”
His eyes widened for a second before narrowing angrily. “What do you want, Chinen? Did you decide to come reject me again? I haven’t even said anything to you.”
“Neither have I!” My blood boiled at the unfair accusation. “Why can’t you understand? I want us to be like we were in the past, when we used to laugh and hang out together like the best friends that we were. Why can’t we just go back to the way we used to be?”
“Because I like you.” Suddenly, Yamada’s voice cracked. I could hear the sad frustration in there and my heart twisted with guilt. “I like you so much, Chinen. I don’t even remember when it started, but before I knew it, I fell for you.”
Tentatively, I reached out and petted his head. “Ryo-chan, I’m sorry-” I tensed as he suddenly hugged me. “R-ryo-chan-”
“Please don’t push me away anymore, Chinen,” he begged as I struggled to squirm out. “I like you, more than anything else.”
I looked into his eyes and saw the pure affection it held for me. It broke my heart in two as I started to shake my head. “Ryo-chan, I-I can’t-”
“You haven’t even tried!” For the first time, I felt a twinge of panic as he pushed me up against the cold fence. Closing his eyes, I could only watch helplessly as he leaned forward. Even though I knew it would only hurt him more later, I didn’t have the will left to push him away.
Yamada was so close now, I could feel his breath on my lips. “D-don’t...” The next second, I felt his grip on me loosen as someone separated us. I blinked with surprise at the person blocking Yamada from me. “M-morimoto-kun?”
“What the hell, Ryutaro?” Yamada snarled at his cousin and it was only Yuuto holding him back that stopped him from punching Ryutaro.
“That was going too far, Ryosuke.”
“It’s none of your business.” Yamada retorted.
“Actually, it is my business.” An arm slipped around my waist and I found myself pressed against Ryutaro’s side. “Since the one you tried to kiss just now happens to be my boyfriend.”
“WHAT?!" Three voices exclaimed in disbelief.
“That’s not a funny joke,” Yamada narrowed his eyes.
“Chii, when did you and Ryutaro start dating?” Yuuto was looking back and forth between the two of us.
“W-we’re not! I don’t know what he’s-” The rest of my words were cut off as Ryutaro pressed his lips against mine.
My mind was a raging storm of counter-commands. Push him away. Don’t push him away. Stop kissing him! But he’s a good kisser... No! This isn’t right! Even though he tastes good, addicting almost - Slap him! Slap him! Why should I? Because Ryo-chan’s watching! So? What do you mean ‘so?!’ RYO-CHAN’S YOUR BEST FRIEND AND YOU’RE KISSING HIS COUSIN!
With that realization, we pulled apart simultaneously, panting and flustered, in time to see Yamada leave. “R-ryo-chan, wait! I can explain-”
“Don’t come after me.” I froze at the cold tone. His emotionless eyes slid from me to his cousin, then back to me again. “There’s no need to explain anything.”
Helplessly, I watched my best friend disappear and I couldn’t stop him. Furiously, I spun around and slapped the one who caused it all. “The hell did you do that for!? That was completely unnecessary, how could you, Ryo-chan’s your cousin, and you - you -” Anger clouded my mind to the point where I couldn’t even think anymore. “Go away! I hate you, I don’t want to see your face ever again! Why don’t you just go and die?!”
Someone placed his hands on my shoulder and I heard Yuuto telling me to calm down, but I shook him off. Ryutaro tried to say something, but I wasn’t in the mood. “Leave! Now! If you’re not out of my sight in three seconds, I swear I’ll kill you!”
Ryutaro hesitated for second before walking past me. I heard two sets of footsteps leave and knew I was alone. As soon as the door closed, my knees gave out and I collapsed, the tears flowing out freely.
The bell rang for the end of lunch, but I didn’t leave my spot. It was still too soon, I didn’t know how I could face Yamada just yet. His hurt face kept floating into my mind and it just made me cry harder. But even more preeminent than Yamada was what Ryutaro did. It didn’t matter how hard I tried, my mind kept slipping back to the way he...he...
I touched my lips and my body went hot as I remembered how soft and warm his felt - and I just cried harder because I shouldn’t have enjoyed it so much. I shouldn’t have liked it so much and I shouldn’t have wanted more. Inside, I knew my anger was really directed at myself.
A/N: /SPAZZES OMGIGOTAEMAILFROMMYCHINESEPROFESSORANDTHEWORKSHEETDUEONMONDAYISALLSIMPLIFIEDICAN'TREADSIMPLIFIEDIONLYREADTRADITIONALWHATAMIGONNADOOOOO?! @.@ And I changed the summary cuz the original one was too long.
Author: Ani
Genre: AU, slight angst, drama, eventually fluff
Rating: PG
Pairings: Chiitaro, Yamachii
Summary: Best friends don't always fall in love.
Disclaimer: I don't own JE
I can’t say which one of us was more shocked at that moment. Saya pushed him into the seat next to me, and I scrambled back to make space, my mind still reeling.
“Ah, see? I knew you two would look cute together.” Saya smiled contently and it jolted me awake.
“Wait, nee-chan, what are you thinking?!” I stood up, not caring I was attracting the attention of everyone else in the cafe. “Morimoto-kun can’t be my b-boyfriend, I don’t even know him, we just met today and-”
“Calm down and let me explain, Yuuri.” Saya placed her hands on my shoulders and forced me back down.
“Yes, please explain, Saya-san. I thought you said Yuuri was your sister?” Ryutaro asked curiously.
Saya just shrugged. “He looks like one anyways.” She ducked as I swung a punch at her.
“Yeah, that’s true.” I hissed at Ryutaro as he smirked. “If you weren’t wearing a guy’s uniform, I would have thought you were a girl.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be at your part-time job?” I asked.
“I am. I work here.” Oh, that explained how he knew Saya.
“Wait, you two know each other?” Saya cut in.
“We’re in the same class,” we both answered at the same time.
Saya’s eyes lit up like stars. “Oh that’s even better then. Yamada-kun’s in the same class too, isn’t he? He’ll see you two and then stop pestering Yuuri all the time, so the problem’s solved!”
Ryutaro frowned. “How is my cousin involved?”
“Ryo-chan...likes me, but I can’t return his feelings,” I told him reluctantly. For some reason, it felt like I was betraying Yamada by confiding in Ryutaro. “I don’t want to hurt him either, so nee-chan thought-”
“- if Yuuri gets a boyfriend, Yamada-kun will leave him alone,” my sister finished.
“But nee-chan, Ryo-chan and Morimoto-kun are cousins! That’ll just -”
“ - make things even better! If they’re cousins, it’s a lot easier for Ryutaro-kun to talk to Yamada-kun and convince him to stop constantly trying to ask you out, right? Come on, Ryutaro-kun told me he was interested in going out with you, too.”
“Only because you told me Yuuri was your cute but apaprently non-existent little sister.”
“Well, you guys don’t have to date seriously. Just pretend you’re going out until Yamada-kun starts to leave Yuuri alone.”
“I’m sorry, nee-chan, but I can’t agree to that. I think it’ll just hurt Ryo-chan more, if I start dating his cousin and I can’t hurt my best friend.” Before my sister could protest further, I stood up and squeezed my way out, planning to ignore Saya for the rest of the day.
“Ryo-chan, good morning!” I forced myself to smile brightly when Yamada walked in, hoping he would return my greeting because that meant our fight was over. Unfortunately, he just walked by without even glancing at me. This had turned out to be our longest fight; it was now nearing its third week.
“Ryosuke, that was rude.” I jumped, not noticing Ryutaro had come in after his cousin. Oh yeah, they lived together, makes sense they would come to school together too. “Ryosuke,” Ryutaro growled, apparently irked at being ignored.
“Leave me alone,” Yamada snapped before lying down on his desk, head buried in his arms.
“Idiot.” Ryutaro rolled his eyes. He shot me an apologetic smile and I felt something squeeze my insides. “Sorry he’s acting like a little kid.”
“I-I’m used to it.” Yuuto came in and I quickly distracted myself with talking to him instead
I never told anyone else about my sister’s failed attempt to get me together with Ryutaro and it didn’t seem like he told his cousin either. For that, I was glad because I was afraid how Yamada would react to the news.
Ryutaro fitted in easily with the rest of the group. I suppose the best thing he did was that Yamada talked more whenever he was around. Maybe because they were related, but Yamada seemed to feel more comfortable opening up. Sometimes, I could almost imagine things were back to normal. But then when I tried to talk to Yamada, he’d just turn a death ear to me.
During lunch break, Yamada excused himself and left. I debated whether I should go after him.
“Leave him.” Yuuto placed a hand on my shoulder. “He just needs some space.”
“I feel so bad.” I looked down at the bento Saya had prepared for me, which consisted of my favorite gyoza, but my appetite was lost.
“Don’t bother about him, he’s just being selfish.” Ryutaro had taken over Yamada’s desk in order to join our conversation.
“You’re his cousin, you should worry more about him!” I don’t why but Ryutaro’s lack-of-care-attitude really bothered me.
“He’s older than me, he should be able to look after himself,” Ryutaro snorted. “If you care about him so much, why don’t you just go out with him? That’ll solve the problem completely, wouldn’t it?”
“Fine, maybe I will!” The words were out of my mouth before I could think.
“C-chii, you’re not serious?” Yuuto gaped at me and even Ryutaro looked a bit surprised.
I was already regretting it but I couldn’t take back what I just said. “Yes, I am, I’ll go tell him right now.” And before my nerves failed me, I got up and left the room.
I asked around and learned Yamada was seen going up to the roof, so I headed up there as well. “Ryo-chan, are you here?” I pushed the door opened and saw his lonely silhouette leaning against the wire fence.
He saw me and started to leave, but I determinedly strode over. “Ryo-chan, stop this, I have something I need to tell you.” Yamada continued to ignore me, so losing my temper, I grabbed his arm and pulled him around so we were face-to-face. “Yamada Ryosuke, stop acting so stupid!”
His eyes widened for a second before narrowing angrily. “What do you want, Chinen? Did you decide to come reject me again? I haven’t even said anything to you.”
“Neither have I!” My blood boiled at the unfair accusation. “Why can’t you understand? I want us to be like we were in the past, when we used to laugh and hang out together like the best friends that we were. Why can’t we just go back to the way we used to be?”
“Because I like you.” Suddenly, Yamada’s voice cracked. I could hear the sad frustration in there and my heart twisted with guilt. “I like you so much, Chinen. I don’t even remember when it started, but before I knew it, I fell for you.”
Tentatively, I reached out and petted his head. “Ryo-chan, I’m sorry-” I tensed as he suddenly hugged me. “R-ryo-chan-”
“Please don’t push me away anymore, Chinen,” he begged as I struggled to squirm out. “I like you, more than anything else.”
I looked into his eyes and saw the pure affection it held for me. It broke my heart in two as I started to shake my head. “Ryo-chan, I-I can’t-”
“You haven’t even tried!” For the first time, I felt a twinge of panic as he pushed me up against the cold fence. Closing his eyes, I could only watch helplessly as he leaned forward. Even though I knew it would only hurt him more later, I didn’t have the will left to push him away.
Yamada was so close now, I could feel his breath on my lips. “D-don’t...” The next second, I felt his grip on me loosen as someone separated us. I blinked with surprise at the person blocking Yamada from me. “M-morimoto-kun?”
“What the hell, Ryutaro?” Yamada snarled at his cousin and it was only Yuuto holding him back that stopped him from punching Ryutaro.
“That was going too far, Ryosuke.”
“It’s none of your business.” Yamada retorted.
“Actually, it is my business.” An arm slipped around my waist and I found myself pressed against Ryutaro’s side. “Since the one you tried to kiss just now happens to be my boyfriend.”
“WHAT?!" Three voices exclaimed in disbelief.
“That’s not a funny joke,” Yamada narrowed his eyes.
“Chii, when did you and Ryutaro start dating?” Yuuto was looking back and forth between the two of us.
“W-we’re not! I don’t know what he’s-” The rest of my words were cut off as Ryutaro pressed his lips against mine.
My mind was a raging storm of counter-commands. Push him away. Don’t push him away. Stop kissing him! But he’s a good kisser... No! This isn’t right! Even though he tastes good, addicting almost - Slap him! Slap him! Why should I? Because Ryo-chan’s watching! So? What do you mean ‘so?!’ RYO-CHAN’S YOUR BEST FRIEND AND YOU’RE KISSING HIS COUSIN!
With that realization, we pulled apart simultaneously, panting and flustered, in time to see Yamada leave. “R-ryo-chan, wait! I can explain-”
“Don’t come after me.” I froze at the cold tone. His emotionless eyes slid from me to his cousin, then back to me again. “There’s no need to explain anything.”
Helplessly, I watched my best friend disappear and I couldn’t stop him. Furiously, I spun around and slapped the one who caused it all. “The hell did you do that for!? That was completely unnecessary, how could you, Ryo-chan’s your cousin, and you - you -” Anger clouded my mind to the point where I couldn’t even think anymore. “Go away! I hate you, I don’t want to see your face ever again! Why don’t you just go and die?!”
Someone placed his hands on my shoulder and I heard Yuuto telling me to calm down, but I shook him off. Ryutaro tried to say something, but I wasn’t in the mood. “Leave! Now! If you’re not out of my sight in three seconds, I swear I’ll kill you!”
Ryutaro hesitated for second before walking past me. I heard two sets of footsteps leave and knew I was alone. As soon as the door closed, my knees gave out and I collapsed, the tears flowing out freely.
The bell rang for the end of lunch, but I didn’t leave my spot. It was still too soon, I didn’t know how I could face Yamada just yet. His hurt face kept floating into my mind and it just made me cry harder. But even more preeminent than Yamada was what Ryutaro did. It didn’t matter how hard I tried, my mind kept slipping back to the way he...he...
I touched my lips and my body went hot as I remembered how soft and warm his felt - and I just cried harder because I shouldn’t have enjoyed it so much. I shouldn’t have liked it so much and I shouldn’t have wanted more. Inside, I knew my anger was really directed at myself.
A/N: /SPAZZES OMGIGOTAEMAILFROMMYCHINESEPROFESSORANDTHEWORKSHEETDUEONMONDAYISALLSIMPLIFIEDICAN'TREADSIMPLIFIEDIONLYREADTRADITIONALWHATAMIGONNADOOOOO?! @.@ And I changed the summary cuz the original one was too long.