Recovery

Breaking out in cold sweat, Danzo continues to watch the student council president, Watanabe Hiroshi, approaches Samie.

"I can't believe this," Danzo starts whispering to himself. "What are you doing here, Prez? Please tell me you're not the one who called Samie-chan here."

"Sorry for calling you out here all of the sudden," Hiroshi apologizes to Samie.

"Wrong answer, damn it!" Danzo is becoming frustrated. "Agh! What the hell is going on here?!"

Samie is looking at the ground. "N-No. That's okay, Hiroshi-kun."

"Well then, without further ado," Hiroshi's smile disappears. He gives Samie a serious look, and she braces herself. "Samie-san, I've always liked you. Since middle school. I told myself that I will let you know how I feel at all cost before we graduate."

"Man, this just took a crazy turn all of the sudden. To think that Prez would confess like this," Danzo calms down a bit. He's more worried about Samie who appears shaking.

"He doesn't beat around the bush. I respect that kind of courage," Danzo waits for Samie's response after hearing Hiroshi's confession.

Samie looks Hiroshi in the eye. Her face is beet red and it looks like she's about to cry. "I... really think of Hiroshi-kun as a great friend..." She pauses for a moment. I've prepared for this the whole day, but I still can't get myself to say it.

Hiroshi's eyes wander to the side.

Samie gulps. "I-I'm very sorry." She lightly bows and forces her eyes shut.

Hiroshi takes a subtle deep breath then gives out a pained smile. "I'm glad. Thank you, Samie-san. I'm sorry. Making you go through this and all."

"N-No... I'm sorry. I..."

"It's fine. I know how much you like Oume-san," Hiroshi interrupts. "That's why at the very least, I wanted you to give me a proper rejection. It gives me peace of mind in a way."

Samie loosens up a bit after hearing that. Her eyes are open, but she's still too embarrassed to look at Hiroshi.

"But still... you're really a kind person, Samie-san."

Confused by what he meant, Samie lifts her head up.

"You've been trembling this whole time. You're scared of rejecting me because you didn't want to ruin our friendship, right? I can tell. That's just the kind of person you are..... That's why I fell for you," Hiroshi says in a softer voice. He then holds his head up high and smiles. "But you don't have to worry. I want you to know that I'm not that kind of person. I genuinely just wanted you to know how I feel. So if it's not too much to ask...," He reaches his hand in front of him. "I hope we can still be good friends. Like how we've always been."

Samie's face brightens and she quickly grabs Hiroshi's hand. "Yes! I still want to be good friends with you, Hiroshi-kun!" Samie laughs teary-eyed. The tense atmosphere disappears.

-----

"I'm glad it worked out well, Samie-chan," Danzo says while walking home with Samie.

"I am, too! I really appreciate you being there, Danzo-kun. I owe you one," Samie replies with an unwavering smile.

"Even I got really nervous back there. Still, I didn't know you were that close with the Prez."

"He's always been in the student council since middle school, and I help them here and there."

"Oh! Then are you close friends with the Vice Prez, too?" Danzo asks enthusiastically.

"Miki-chan? Of course, I am."

"Yes! Kashiwagi Miki-san! I can never get enough of that cool beauty. She has a nice body, too!"

"Do you like Miki-chan, Danzo-kun? I'd keep it to myself if I were you. She's going to be a tough one."

"...Thought so." Danzo sulks and sighs. "Finding a girl is really tough."

"Hm," Samie tries to think of someone. "What about Eiko-chan?"

"Eiko-chan? Ah, the secretary? Hmm...," Danzo is giving it a lot of thought. "But she's too plain."

"How about Fumi-chan? You always help her out, don't you?"

"Also too plain."

"You're so picky! It's the personality that matters, Danzo-kun!"

"I don't wanna! I want to have a hot girlfriend! Someone with big boobs! Or nice ass!"

Samie sighs. "Well, if you ever find someone you like, I'll help you out as much as I can. As thanks for today."

"Then I'll pick you, Samie-chan!"

"Can't."

"Then the Vice Prez."

"Impossible."

"Gee, thanks for your help."

"Pick someone else. I promise I will help you."

"Fine. I'll look for someone else."

-----

They eventually reach the corner where they separate.

"See you tomorrow, Danzo-kun. Remember, don't tell anyone what happened today. Especially Kou-chan."

"I won't. You have my word. See ya."

Samie starts running towards Koutarou's house which is right beside hers. She lets herself in without even knocking.

"Good evening, Kaori-san and Katya-chan!" Samie greets Koutarou's mother and little sister while they are cooking dinner in the kitchen.

"Sacchi-nee-san!, Good evening"
"Good evening, Samie-chan,"
Kaori and Katya greet her back.

"Is Tetsu-san not home yet?"

"He's working overtime today," Kaori answers. "Would you like to stay for dinner?"

"No, thank you. I just want to check up on Kou-chan."

"My, how sweet of you. Kou-chan is upstairs. Help yourself."

"Well then, please excuse me," Samie rushes upstairs.

-----

"Kou-chan!" Samie shouts as she enters his room. "How's your fever?"

She sees Koutarou lying in bed. He appears to be in a good mood. His blanket covers his body from feet up to his mouth. "Oh? If it isn't Sacchi. How do you do?"

"I thought you were sick," Samie drops her bag and sits on Koutarou's bed.

"Hmph," Koutarou smirks. "This is nothing compared to the greater good."

"Is that so? What happened, anyway?"

Koutarou sits up. "I've saved a maiden," He looks at Samie with a big smile and eyes filled with passion.

"O...kay?"

"Last night, on my way home from the bookstore, I saw a beautiful maiden. She was too scared to walk down a street because a dog was barking loudly at her. So I escorted her," Koutarou finishes his story with a sort of evil laughter. "How's that? Very manly of me, isn't it?"

"I see. But how did you get sick from that?"

"I was so excited that I started running and accidentally fell into a canal," Koutarou keeps the smug on his face. "But that's beside the point! A maiden was saved! Kuuuuuh. She was really cute, too! Princess-tan!!"

"Princess-tan? That's her name?"

"No. I just call her that."

"You... You forgot to ask for her name, didn't you?"

Koutarou looks away. His smug shrinks. "What can I do? I was really nervous that time."

Samie sighs. "Whatever. It's good that you're feeling well now. You better not miss school again tomorrow," She grabs her bag and stands up. "Well then, see you tomorrow, Kou-chan~"

"See you."

Samie closes the door and heads down.

Koutarou lies back down. He covers his face with his blanket and starts fidgeting.

"Ehehe~ Princess-tan~"