Never say sorry for what you meant to do.

Apology

“Akaya, apologize!” demanded, pointing to the boy beside her. “He said you hit him, and told him not to pester me anymore?”

Kirihara turned his face, catching a glimpse of the other boy.

He snickered.

“No.”

The girl was exasperated; this wasn’t Akaya’s first time. Knowing that he would never give in, the girl bowed apologetically to the other, “Sorry, I’ll talk to him about it. I’m really sorry.”

The other boy gave a reserved smile, bowed, and left.

“Loser!” Kirihara exclaimed, “Running to you just because he got hit!”

“He didn’t come running. I asked him about his bruised face!”

“…You like him?”

“No!”

“Then who cares?”

“That isn’t the point--- Argh, never mind.”

Kirihara watched the girl as she marched away, clenching her fists tightly, fuming. He sighed.

How many times had he seen walk away like that? She’s such a nice, sweet girl that guys just couldn’t leave her alone! Kirihara bit his lips, feeling anger swelling inside himself.

She would always come back to him though, happy and cheerful. Still, he felt sad, making her lose that smile.

But, he was more afraid of losing her, to another guy.

+

never understood Kirihara’s behavior when it came to her admirers. She thought that after knowing each other for about a year, she would already have a good grasp of his character. Indeed, she did, she knew all of Akaya’s likes and dislikes, his little habits, his expressions, almost everything. That particular behavior just puzzled her, and she never found out why he would never apologize to those boys that liked her. It wasn’t like he had never apologized. He said sorry when he accidentally hit her with a tennis ball in their first year, and that was when they first got closer to each other. Well, maybe it was just that never really meant he was sorry. Other times, he would just lower his head as if giving a bow to show his apology. He had a great deal of pride.

“ -chan~ Watch where you’re going!” Someone grabbed her arm just right before the girl was about to hit a pillar ahead.

“Niou-senpai,” greeted, and bowed, mumbling soft thanks.

Niou knew right away, “Akaya made you angry?”

“He…”

“It’s about not saying sorry to those boys again right?” he smirked.

“How did you… Niou-senpai, since when did you start acting like Yanagi-senpai?” the girl giggled, while eyes still reflecting a tingle of sadness and loneliness.

“The probability that Akaya made you upset is 100%...” Niou straightened up, mimicking the data master, and then grinned.

cheered up and grinned back.

“I feel… a little better. I guess, I’ll go back and look for Akaya then!” The girl said softly, a gentle smile she revealed. “Thank you, Niou-senpai!”

He took hold of her hand, “Wait! I’ve something to say! But since you always forgive him so quickly and run back to him immediately, I never get a chance to!”

gave a light blush. She didn’t even realize herself, her actions.

+

After kicking the last stone away, Kirihara stared down at the patch of brown soil from the bench he was sitting on.

“Bam!” A loud hard thud landed on his shoulders and the elf boy widened his green eyes, looking beside him. A mischievous Marui chuckled and winked gleefully as he saw the other’s reaction. “Got you~~~” the redhead teased.

Normally, Kirihara would send a flying punch right away, but he just wasn’t in the mood, though he pretended to look fine.

“What’s wrong Akaya?” the older boy questioned, noticing that Kirihara was different from usual. He turned left and right, “it’s about her right?” The girl that always hung around Akaya was nowhere in sight.

Kirihara just rolled his eyes and looked away from his senior, acting like he didn’t care. But his lips were frowning.

Marui poked Kirihara lightly and got no answer. The ebony-haired boy was adamant and kept quiet.

Marui’s eyebrows arched, annoyed at Kirihara’s nonchalance. “Well! If you don’t want her to be snatched away, why don’t you take her away? Keep her for yourself! Stupid!” he stuck a tongue out and then left.

Kirihara stared at his shoes. How to tell her? She’s too popular! What can I do is just to chase all those suitors away! And then she’ll always be by my side!

Wait.

She’s never gone out with any of them. She always says no when I ask if she had feelings for them. She is always with me. Does she feel the same?

No.

She just treats me as a friend. Maybe the guy she likes doesn’t feel the same. But, that’s not impossible! It’s we’re talking about here!

The more he thought, the more confused he got. The boy grabbed his head, fingers pulling his curls.

He had never thought of confessing. He was too overcome by his own jealously. He sat there, biting his fingers.

+

“What I’m saying is that Akaya likes you.” Niou smiled teasingly.

just laughed good-naturedly, “Senpai, is that what you wanted to tell me earlier? Anyway, when you speak like that, it’s not convincing at all!”

“95.8%” The trickster said seriously, Yanagi style. “The other 4.2%, he’s a nutcase,” Niou returned to his grinning self.

giggled, “No no, Akaya’s not a nutcase.”

“You understand what that means then…?”

“…Eh, but, that’s not possible.”  She paused thinking for a moment.   Then slowly she looked back up at Niou, “Isn’t it?”

Niou shrugged.

thought to herself, Akaya had never shown any signs of affection for her. They acted like any pair of best friends. The fact may be that Akaya treated her different from any other girls, but that’s because they were friends right? But, he never treats boys as nicely… But guys are a whole different thing right?

“Don’t run away.” Niou whispered into the girl’s ears, and pulled her along.

+

“Talk.” That was Niou’s only advice as he pushed the girl softly to sit beside the black-haired boy. He gave the two a wide grin and waved, twirling his ponytail as he walked towards the school building.

Kirihara sulked, he wanted to ask why was with Niou-senpai, but he knew better than to anger her further.

couldn’t forget what Niou had said. She lifted her legs up and hugged her knees, sinking her face into them.

Marui’s words reverberated in Kirihara’s head, and he couldn’t ignore it. He looked beside himself, the girl was shaking. He wanted to protect her.

Standing up, he moved behind her. lifted her head, she wanted Kirihara to stay. Kirihara bent down slightly and hugged her neck gently.

“I just don’t want you away from me okay! I want you by my side. I don’t want you to have a boyfriend!” The boy’s forehead touched the back of her head, he felt her hair, and it was warm.

Then he slowed down.

“Never say sorry for what you meant to do.”

“So that’s why…” answered softly, the statement more of a comment than a question.

“Sorry,” he continued, and tightened his grasp.

smiled, wondering if the silly boy was apologizing for his actions.

“I didn’t mean to… fall for you… though.” Kirihara continued, then ending his sentence with an awkward laugh.

“I’m so cheesy.”  More awkward laughter.

felt his warm breath on her hair and down her neck, eyes widened at his confession.  She soften her gaze, moving her hands to hold onto those arms that were holding her so tightly now.

“You’re strangling me, Akaya,” she chuckled, and the boy immediately let go.

got up and moved beside him, kneeling on the bench.  She held the boy’s cheeks, leaning forward for a kiss. Kirihara was a little taken.

“Close your eyes,” said, their nose already touching. Kirihara did as he was told, and moved forward till their lips touched. Sweet. Mellow.

As they parted, grinned widely, “I’m sorry too! (For falling in love with you)”, and held onto the boy’s fingers.

Kirihara gave a confused look, scratching his curly locks with his free hand, not noticing that his other hand had already entwined with ’s naturally.

“Ah whatever!” he thought as he leaned forwards to kiss the girl on her forehead.

//Summer. 23rd Nov ’06.

Edited by Kashii