You do like him though, don't you?

October 7th - Kimura Kiyomi

When I woke up I looked at my phone and realised that it was only two in the morning. I tried to go back asleep, but it just wouldn't come. On a whim I tried to stand up and walk around a little and it worked quite well, even though I still felt a little bit weak. I was thirsty and decided to go down to the kitchen to get something to drink. When I was walking by the living room I could see a faint glow on the couch. Was someone still there? Suzuki? Or Reiko? I went to the couch and it was Reiko who was sitting there, staring at her phone. When she noticed me, she tried to hide away like she didn't want to see me, but I still sat down on the couch next to her. For a while we both sat there in silence. Which was somewhat unusual since Reiko never missed an opportunity to tease me or at the very least talk to me about some obscure interest she had picked up recently. But I didn't mind it either, sitting there with someone in silence was nice. But then Reiko apparently couldn't take it anymore and started talking.

“I heard you slapped him. Your mom told me,” she began.

“Oh yeah, twice even.”

“Did it feel good?”

“Oh, yes. Very much so.”

“He wasn't wrong though, was he.” She looked down at her hands which were folded in her lap as she said it. I thought about what I should tell her.

“No. probably not. But I still don't want him to talk this way to my friend. I mean we have to spend time together at school at least. So I want you two to get along.”

“I want that as well. But now I don't even know how to face him.”

“Maybe you should slap him as well.” We both laughed after I said that. That felt better than just sitting there and feeling miserable for sure.

“You know what Reiko. When we're at school I'm gonna pesture Suzuki to hang out with us and then we're gonna do something fun and get along.” Reiko laughed even more after I said that. I made an irritated face.

“Sorry Kiyomi, but that sounded so sincere it made me laugh.”

“I mean it though.” I was still irritated, but I knew Reiko didn't mean any harm by laughing at my suggestion.

“Do you think he will go along with it?” Reiko asked, now being serious again.

“Well, I'm not sure to be honest. But I think his whole stoic persona is just an act he puts on and I would like to get through to who he really is.”

“That sounds way too philosophical for you Kiyomi,” Reiko said, now with her typical teasing voice. At least my plan to lighten her mood seemed to be working.

“And you are not just using me to get closer to your prince charming?”

“Why would I try to get another girl close to him? Not even I'm that stupid.”

“You do like him though, don't you?” Now Reiko was the one that sounded so sincere that it was unusual, but I didn't feel like laughing about it. What were my feelings for him exactly?

“I-I think so?” My voice was shaking, which surprised me. Reiko used it right away.

“Oh, it's that bad already. I may remind you that I asked to be invited to the wedding.”

“You think there's any chance of you getting an inviation now?” I said, trying to tease her for once.

“I wouldn't want to get in the way I guess. But what do you like about him?”

“I mean his looks for once. You saw how everyone reacted to him the first time we saw him. I wasn't any different.”

“It was a bit embarrassing to be honest.” Reiko said laughing.

“But I like the way he talks as well, at least when he isn't insulting my friend. And he was looking pretty cool on the roof fighting that ice thing you know.”

“Well, wish I could have seen that. But I guess those are good reasons.”

Were they? Not that I would know, I never liked anyone like this before so my feelings for him might just be a fleeting infatuation or caused by the fact that he was a guy who paid at least some attention to me, even if he had ulterior motives.

“Do you want to ask him out?” Reiko hit me right where it hurt. How should I answer that?

“M-Maybe. But not right now.” My voice was shaking again. It was that bad already indeed it seemed.

“Well, he's the guy so it's his job anyway.” Reiko replied.

“I don't even know whether he has any feelings for me. Well, I saw him smile at me once, but I don't think that meant anything.” Now Reiko was on full alarm.

“So he can smile? And what did you say to him to cause that?”

“Just that I wanted to know more about the whole fighting the ice demon thing.”

“Oh, so that was it. But still, he seemed to be happy to interact with you, that's something.”

Maybe it was something, it was so hard to tell with him.

“I think I try sleeping again now. I can't wait for the future to come where you are going out with Suzuki.”

“That's a good idea. Don't get any ideas and dream about him or something. He's mine you know.”

“Oh, okay, I hear you Kiyomi. Don't worry, I'm very discreet.”

After that we both laughed again and I went back to my room. Of course I didn't catch an ounce of sleep that night and surely it was the same for Reiko.