the Ibaraki Incident part 2

“ Thanks, I could really use your help. She's under the stairs.” I look down at the ground solemnly.

“ Oh no! You’re coming too. She's our best friend, she just hasn’t realized how much we care about her.” Mio grabbed my hand and smiled. I stood up and walked beside Mio to the staircase. When we reached it, Akane was sitting on the step drinking the green tea.

“ Oh it’s you guys…Look i’m fine that you’re dating it was just a shock y’know.” Akane chuckled hollowly. “ You don’t have to lie and say you’re just friends anymore.”

“ Remember what I told you when we first met Last friday I meant it.” I look into her eyes thoughtfully but she stares back dead eyed.

“ I don’t know why but it’s tearing me up inside the thought of you with someone else.” She starts crying.

“ Ken, give me some space. I got this.” Mio pointed me to the door with a huge smile across her face. I walk back over to the couch and wait for them to get back.

***

“ So Akane tell me what’d you fall for?” I sit down next to her and hug her.

“ Well I mean shouldn’t you know what makes him attractive? He's your boyfriend…” Akane says as she sinks down into the hug. “ What he said to me the first day we met I think that’s why. ‘Well you're pretty scary but you're also good looking.’.” Akane smiles a little before staring up at me coldly.

“ I get what he meant, you can be scary when you want to be but seriously there’s nothing between me and ken. “

“ Liar! You liar… I mean no I'm happy for you two.”

“ Remember our chat last night. I didn't go into detail but I'm pretty frail. That's because I recently recovered from A chronic illness about five months ago. Ken was being nice and offered to carry me back here.” Akane starts crying.

“ So I've made one big fool of myself, you and Ken probably hate me now right? Earlier he didn’t even speak, he just left this green tea… No way does he remember that too.” She seems to spring up after realizing this. “ The day I met Ken we ate lunch together and we went to a vending machine and out of all the options I chose this exact green tea brand.”Mikawa starts squeezing the bottle tightly.

“ You really love him don’t you.”Mikawa starts blushing and smiling.

“ Yeah I guess so I mean we’re not even dating and I had this reaction… Well Ken is actually my first crush so I guess I'm finding out now… that I can be very jealous.” She says and hugs me even tighter. “ I…Think I need to see him… I don’t exactly feel ready though.”

“ With something like this you’ll never feel ready, just go at it with all you’ve got!” Akane I know you can do this. You've shown me great things, things that make you strong. I believe in you. “ Good luck.” She smiles at me before closing the door and walking off.

***

“ Akane, hey is everything okay now?”

“ Ken… I- i’m very sorry….” Akane bows on her hands and knees.

“ Hey don’t worry. It's not that bad, please raise your head.” Akane smiles and hugs me.

“ You two seem like the real lovebirds here.” Mio comes over holding a water bottle and taking some medicine. “ Oh right we still have to take our showers right? If that’s the case I’ll go first, Pass me the room key Akane.”

“ Wait it’s on the top floor so we should all head there right? That way we don’t have to wait for someone to get dressed then come all the way back here.” Akane seemed confused why Mio wanted to go up there alone. “ Mio do you… Streak.” Akane suddenly sounded very cold.

“ NO! I just have a hard time showering when other people are around so I just want a little privacy.” Mio grabbed a pair of sandals, a change of clothes and towel from her bag then grabbed the room key and headed up the elevator.

“ What does she need the sandals for? It's a shower not a beach… Wait, is the floor that disgusting! Oh crap I don’t have any flip flops…” Akane started to panic. She frantically searched her bag for something to wear in the shower in case the floor was very dirty.

“ don’t worry we probably don’t have anything to worry about she might be doing that because of her illness…” Man this is awkward I consider myself sociable usually but given all that’s happened my mind can’t think of anything to say.

“ Oh that makes sense so um I know I just embarrassed myself and I can feel the tension so I’ll get us a snack alright.” Akane quickly ran towards the vending machine area. Well I’ll do my best so it’s not as awkward… In the end I relied on Mio. I couldn't even fix this by myself! I’ve got to clear my head before Akane gets back. One…Two…Three…Four I laid out on the ground and started doing push-ups.

“ Mister, can you help me find my mommy?” I look up to see a girl who looks no older than six years old.

“ I don’t mind where did you last see her?” The girl looks panicked and on the verge of tears. “ Is something wrong?” Akane comes back and sets the snacks on the bench.

“ Hello little girl are you lost?”

“ Mommy!” The girl dove at Akane and hugged her tightly. Akane started to panic and wave her arms in the air. “ If you’re mommy then is that nice guy daddy?” Akane goes bright red.

“ WHat do you mean? I’m not your mom, I'm still in high school and he’s not your dad!” Akane got very flustered to the point her face was red as a tomato. “ So you’re looking for your mom right, how old are you?”

“ Does my stunning blonde hair and amazing blue eyes not give it away? My mom is famous so hurry up and find her. I hold more power than you.” Me and Akane turn the other way and start muttering to each other.

“ Stupid brat who does she think she is.”

“ Wait, I'll throw in a reward if you find her, you can have a role in her next movie.” Mikawa plugs her ears and starts mummering, acting over and over she appears to be traumatized from her role on Trial of the second queen.

“ Fine but we don’t care about doing the movie so you don't have to offer a reward.”