One Shot

Sena taps her pen on her notebook in sync with the hand on the clock. Her room is quiet. Her desk cluttered with books.

"Rui is late. What is she doing?" she sighs. "Did she get into trouble or something? I'm worried."

She hears her mother talking to someone downstairs followed by loud footsteps coming up the stairs. A petite, twin-tailed girl barges into her room.

"Rui!" Sena perks up. " Thank goodness. Where were you? I'm almost done with my homework."

"Sena!" Rui cries as she gives Sena a tight hug, her head behind Sena's back.

"Woah! What's wrong?"

"Sena... I think I'm going crazy."

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"Uhm..."

"What happened? Should I call for help?"

"No."

"Then what?"

"I think... my heart is gonna burst." Rui's hug gets tighter. "Aghhh!"

"Are you in love or something?"

"What should I do?"

"I... wouldn't know. Who is it, anyway?"

"Hiro," Rui whispers.

"Hiro? From the class next door?"

Rui nods.

"Did something happen between you two?"

"He suddenly offered to walk me home after the meeting."

"And?" Sena inquires further.

"That's it."

"I see," she tries to remember what Hiro looks like. "That guy looks a bit too plain, don't you think?"

"Right? I thought so, too. But he's surprisingly really cool. I think he was blushing the entire time!"

"Maybe he likes you too. Maybe he's waiting for the right time to confess."

"You think so?" Rui's eyes gleam with hope.

"I don't know. I wasn't there."

"H-He likes me?"

"You said he was blushing, right?"

"Yeah... No... I couldn't see it clearly. But I think he was." Rui looks down. "I'm acting crazy, aren't I? What should I do?"

"Rui's first crush, huh?" Sena chuckles. "That's adorable." She turns to face Rui. "Listen, Rui. There's nothing to be embarrassed about. It's up to you what you want to do. I'll always support your decisions."

"Really?" Rui shyly replies.

"Of course! I'll cheer you on."

"Thank you, Sena!" she gives Sena an even tighter hug. "You're the best! I love you so much!"

"Okay, okay. You're too close." Sena giggles. "So, what do you want to do?"

"I... want to get to know him better."

"Bold."

"Not good?"

"No, it sounds just like you," Sena smiles. "Just tell me if you need my help. But for now, we've got homework to finish."

...

The next day, as Sena's walking to school, she hears someone call out her name.

"Hm?" She turns and sees Hiro running up to her. "Hiro?"

"Do you have a minute?"

"Sure. Uhm. If it's about Rui, she might be running late today."

"No. I wanted to talk to you."

"Oh? Okay. What is it?"

"I... I wanted to tell you this yesterday, but I didn't know you and Rui went home separately."

"Huh?" Sena tries to recall last night's events as Rui described them. "She... had a meeting so I waited at home."

"Sena..." he stares right at her.

"...Y-Yes?"

"I..." Hiro takes a deep breath. "I really like you. Would you go out with me?"

"Huh?" Sena is dumbfounded, confused by what he meant. "...... Huh?"

"... Please," Hiro adds.

"What are you talking about? You..." Sena is starting to piece it together in her head.

"You don't need to give an answer right now."

"... Why me?"

"Do I need to give a reason?"

Sena, taken aback, looks down and clenches her bag's strap.

"So?" Hiro insists.

"If... If I say no, what would you do?" 

"Then I'll try my best to not appear before you again. Ever. You have my word." Hero promises in a confident, determined voice.

"That's..."

"So it's a no, huh?"

"Wait! I..." Sena's voice starts to crack. "You said I don't need to give an answer right now, right?"

"I did."

"Then... I'll think about it."

"Really?" Hiro curiously asks. Sena sees the same hopeful eyes she saw from Rui the night before.

"In the meantime, I have a selfish favor to ask."

"What is it?"

"Could you go out with Rui?"

"Huh?! Why should I?"

"Rui... She really likes you, you know. She's a really sweet person. I'm sure you'll grow to like her too."

Hiro looks down to the side. "Just say no if you don't want to."

"Please. I don't want to hurt my best friend. I owe her everything." Sena waits until Hiro is looking back at her. "Can I count on you?"

"..." Sena can see the frustration in his eyes. "Why can't it be you?"

"Please..."

"Will..." Hiro relaxes his body. "Will this make you happy?"

Sena shyly nods.

"And you said you'll think about it, didn't you?"

Sena shyly nods again.

"... Fine."

"Please don't tell Rui about this."

"I know."

"Thank you."

Hiro looks away. "Well then... I'll look forward to your answer."