Cultural Festival prep (part1)

It was the day after Reina and Futoshi had a chat. The conversation they had last night was bugging him more than ever.

"People like me don't get that privilege, do they?"
Futoshi shook his head as he smacked his cheeks with his hands. Out of everyone, why tell me? It doesn't make sense. We hate each other...right?  
                                                                                 ******

 The club was getting ready for the upcoming cultural festival. Futoshi's gaze scanned the clubroom, meeting every face head-on. "All right. I know we haven't had much work to do since forming, thanks to a certain someone." Just then, Futoshi's eyes narrowed at the petite girl, Reina. Being called out as she was, shook her fists. 

"What are you lookin' at me for? Are you enamoured with my beauty or something? How gross." As those words left her lips, Reina's gaze drifted upward. To her, Futoshi was the 'last' guy she'd want enamoured with her...right? After all, she was the club president, so she should really be doing the talking, not him. 

A smug grin had plastered itself across Futoshi's face. From his point of view, up until last night, he had seen Reina as something akin to the devil, so switching his tone after knowing the sad reality of her reason wasn't in the cards. Knowing Reina, she'd be the first one to shoot down my compliment even if I tried. "If I were your crush, I'd genuinely be scared by that ego." Hearing his slightly blunt remark, Reina shifted her gaze before her cheeks coloured red.
"Guess you should feel fear then, Stupishi...hmph." She murmured. If he had heard her say that out loud, what would he have done? Laughed? She couldn't bear that if it were proven true, so she stayed quiet. 

"Uh, Futoshi?" Just then, a slender hand waved in the air. Futoshi's gaze traced the slender arm that had risen. Of course...it was Rin who else here carried as much elegance as her?. If Haruto were here, I'm sure he'd be mad I'm getting a glimpse at his' Angel.' As Futoshi was occupied with what-ifs, Rin held her hands to her mouth.
"Futoshi!" If he were spacing out, that'd surely break him out of it- or that's what her motives would've been anyway. His eyes widened before letting out a sigh. He was right there, so why did she feel the need to shout? 

"Yes, Ojino-senpai?" He pointed a finger toward her- his response to her silly attempt at getting his attention. Just then, Rin moved her hand through her hair before tucking a loose strand behind her ear. her slender legs figeted. "Uh... with all due respect, Akutami-kun, why are we discussing this matter now-"

As she said that, Reina - who scooted beside Rin crossed her arms before her cheeks turned beet red. "Y-yeah... who in their right mind would suggest such a thing this early, ha...ha" Don't play this off like it wasn't YOUR idea! Seeing how Reina attempted to dodge the situation, she had a hand in creating, Futoshi scratched his cheek as he cast his gaze toward the heavens. If he tried so hard enough, he might've even got a glimpse at the gods. 

"Oh, someone suggested we start early to get ahead of the pack... speaking of which, where's Haruto?" Sorry to pin the blame on you, Haruto! If I said it was Reina, she'd never let me hear the end of it. So, by process of elimination, you're my sacrifice. Just as Futoshi finished revelling in his thoughts, Rin smiled. It was a smile, one that carried so much warmth, so much of the sun's golden glow that'd it'd be a sin to even reject it. Heck, if anyone did, there'd probably be riots.

"That's fine... but summer break is coming up, shouldn't we focus on what the club will be doing for that before we jump the gun? We'll have a few weeks after we come back anyway." Typical Ojino-senpai, viewing the situation with a level head. Rin was always the one who could tell the group how it was, and for that, Futoshi was grateful. If anything, she was more of a mediator for Futoshi and Reina's disputes. Just then, Reina's eyes sparkled; it was like a shining star in the sea of darkness that was the night. 

"Since it's summer, let's go to the beach. It's perfect!  Lots of people show off to the one they love their swimsuits..." As she said that, Reina nudged Rin. You are so obsessed, and anyway, weren't we literally just talking about what to do for the cultural fest? She's so high maintenance... Rin tilted her head slightly at Reina's obvious attempt at peer pressure. "What are you talking about? I mean, sure, I need a new swimsuit if we're going to the beach-" 

"That settles it. Next week, you, me, Haruto and that pervy guy over there... Swimsuit shopping." 

"REINA SLOW DOWN!" If you wanna talk about 'jumping the gun,' take it out on that romance-obsessed freak with pink hair. "And anyway, who are you calling pervy? At least I'm not some weird, hopeless Romantic like you!"
"Oh please... don't act like you can't wait to leer at us in our swimsuits, horndog!" Never expected that coming from Reina, if I'm honest. Just then, Rin pushed her finger against her lip. "Uh, hm. You two, keep it down! And anyway, Sakura-"

"Reina!"

"Uh... fine. Reina, I don't know if I'd be comfortable going to the beach, especially in a swimsuit. What'd Nakamura-kun think?" He'd-
"Trust me, he'd love it. All guys do. Isn't that right, Futoshi?" Reina's gaze met Futoshi's as a devilish grin ran across her face. She knew what she was doing; you could tell that with a glance. You're such a bad influence. In the face of her offer to be her alibi, Futoshi's cheeks wrinkled. Would he side with Reina or Rin? 

It was like choosing between a game that had so much care poured into it or a game whose sole purpose was to be a cash grab- or to put it simply, it was obvious.

 "Ojino-Senpai, you do what you're comfortable with. I'm sure Haruto would love you just as much either way. And heck, this trip is a good bonding experience for both of you."

 Rin put a hand through her hair. Be herself? 
But how? Isn't impressing the other person the point of the chase that is love?
"...I know Nakamura-kun isn't the type of guy to do such a thing." Reina turned her head to Futoshi and stuck out her tongue. If this was her way of being a sore loser, then she had failed. Futoshi folded his arms. She can be really childish when things don't go her way, huh?  

Sensing the conversation had reached a deadlock, Rin clapped her hands. "Enough about that for now, wearn't we talking about what to do for the cultural festival.?" Standing in front of the whiteboard at the front of the room was Futoshi. As Rin said that, he let out a small - albeit victorious sigh from his lungs. 

Finally, the conversation had gotten back on track.

"Yeah, I was hoping to  get some ideas." Rin's eyes widened at Futoshi's suggestion. In that moment, she pushed a finger to her lip. 

"In that case, what about a confession service?- since we're the confession club. Plus, it'll allow us to actually work and not goof off. Isn't that right, Reina?  The smile she emitted wasn't of evil intent, but the sheer power of it made Reina cower in her shell.

 
"Uh..yeah," Knowing Reina, all her good ideas had run dry, so she resorted to sitting on the sidelines. Was this a way of avoiding Rin's bad books? Seeing as Haruto wasn't around, the trio decided on that. 

"Finally, a decent idea for once. Anymore of Reina's ideas and I probably would've died." Futoshi slumped his shoulders as he said that-
"Anyway, I'm gonna find Haruto to tell him about what we decided. You two can cool off by yourselves?"

As she heard those undermining words, Reina clenched her fists. They were perfectly capable of handling themselves, so why even ask? "We aren't five, y' know? We are very capable by ourselves. If anything, it's you I'm worried about. Who knows, you could go in a empty classroom-"

Just then, Futoshi's hand traced an arc before hitting Reina on the head. "Ow! What was that for?"If she were to tell Ojino-senpai about the position I found her in, she'd seriously find me weird!
"Anyway, see ya later, Ojino-senpai!" With that, Futoshi rushed out the door, seemingly making a quick escape.

The two left now... were Rin and Reina.

                                                                             ******

Rin placed her hand atop Reina's head before rubbing it. "You ok? He didn't hurt you, did he?"
Reina flashed a smile - one that tried to mask the slight discomfort she felt.
"Don't worry, it was just a l-love tap, is all." Rins's eyes widened as Reina shook off the steam that formed above her head. In that moment, Rin turned.
"Uh... Reina, apologies if this comes off as a bit forward, and I don't mean to pry, but..."

"Do you like Akutami-kun?"