Chapter 11

Even before concert meeting started, Ryo was already yawning. Uchi noticed that, and while waiting for the meeting, asked, "Why so tired?"

"Too much going on yesterday night." Ryo yawned again.

"Uwa! Don't tell me you two have gone that far!" Uchi exclaimed. He received a smack on the head for this. "Itai!"

"No we haven't! Don't let your imagination run wild, Uchi Hiroki!" Ryo scolded.

Uchi laughed. "I was just teasing you. Yappari, she means a lot to you ne."

"As long as you don't steal her from me."

"Eh?"

"She keeps praising you for being adorable!"

"Are? Ryo-chan is jealous~" Uchi teased.

"Shut up!"

--

When Moriko got back to the hotel room, yappari, she was home earlier than Ryo. She set her things down, heading for a shower. As the cool water ran over her figure, she pondered on what she had said last night. She was not sure if her impulsive nature could pull the couple through obstacles, and it very possible could lead to arguments worse than what they've had before. And even worse were her rash actions... But she had been too worried last night to express herself clearly.

Moments after her shower, Moriko's ketai rang, and she picked up the call.

"Ri-chan? Is this Ri-chan? Where are you now? We are so worried about you. Hiro-chan said he didn't know where you were too! And you two are supposed to be the closest..." It was oka-san.

"Oka-san I am fine! Well..." Moriko racked her brains to find a decent enough lie, and then continued, "I'm staying over at a friend's house. Umm, you see, we have a project to do, and I thought since she lived so far, it was better if I stayed over at her house to do it. Gomen oka-san, to let you worry."

"..if you've really become this diligent, then that's good." Oka-san replied. Moriko felt a pang of guilty hit her hard when oka-san said that.

"Kaa-chan, how is nii-chan?" Moriko asked.

"Ahh Hiro-chan ne..." Oka-san answered slowly in a worried tone.

"It's so quiet in the background. Is nii-chan angry?"

"Your nii-chan has been in his room, silent, ever since last night. He's at the Jimusho now though. I don't know what's come over him, and I don't know what's between the two of you, but I hope you two are old enough to settle any petty little business between yourselves." Oka-san answered. "Well I hope you finish that 'project' of yours soon and come home. We all miss your loud arguments with Hiro-chan."

"Hai, oka-san. Gomen to let you worry." Moriko said silently, then put down the phone. No wonder she had felt weird the whole day -- she hadn't shouted or ranted at Kusano!

--

"Uwaa~ After the NEWS meeting we can go home already! Then we can go on that shopping outing with Moriko-chan..." Uchi was in his chair, looking at the ceiling, first pursing his lips then saying aloud his plans for the outing. "...and then we can go eat at that ramen store...Then the aquarium..."

But Ryo wasn't listening. Uchi had just reminded him that there was a NEWS meeting later. It meant seeing Kusano.

But Kusano had not even attacked Ryo. He did not even shoot one glance at him. They were rehearsing positions for another dance. And...

"... ah and I suggest Kusano should stand here.. Nishikido-kun should be on his right..." the dance choreographer said.

"Ano!" Koyama broke in. "Shouldn't it be that Ryo is beside Uchi? They're always together."

"Uchi-kun is on the other side, the opposite end of Nishikido-kun, so it'll be alright."

While Ryo stood beside Kusano, Kusano suddenly asked, "..how is Ri-chan? Did she sleep well last night?" Ryo turned to face Kusano in surprise. "...From now on, yoroshiku na! Ri-chan is sensitive and rash, so please understand."

"...not angry anymore?"

"But I warn you, don't try anything funny with my imouto." Kusano said in a low and serious voice. Then he brightened up suddenly and said, "Are?? Where is the music?? Are we going to perform without the music?" He and his thousand-expressions face started getting in action, and he started jumping about, waiting for the music to come.

"I'll provide the music!" Uchi exclaimed excitedly, then started singing 'I.ZA.NA.I.ZU.KI.'. Yamapi laughed, grabbing a pole nearby to act as a guitar, playing it with absolute exaggeration. Kusano joined in the fun, trying to dance hip hop along to the song, until the music really started, and they each ran back to their positions.

--

"Moriko-chan! Moriko-chan!" Uchi excitedly called, knocking on the door. Moriko opened it immediately, a pen stuck in her hand. "Haven't finished your homework?" Uchi asked, disappointed.

"I just finished the last bit." Moriko flashed him a wide grin, and Uchi poked Moriko's cheeks gently, laughing.

"Yosha! We can go off now?" Uchi asked, flashing his big eyes at her.

"Sure, after I get changed." Moriko answered.

Moments later, she emerged in a pink T-shirt and navy blue jeans. "Ikou!"

On board the bus, the three were laughing, while Uchi held his stomache. The rest of the bus was very silent except for the trio.

"...ah but Kusano looks good in those lifeguard clothes ne!!" Uchi commented, sitll laughing. (A/N: internal joke between me and Sky!)

"Ha! He can never be a lifeguard, for goodness sake, not even at the baby pool!" Moriko replied, laughing, until suddenly she realised they were talking about her nii-chan.

Ryo saw the worried look on Moriko's face, and said, "Kusano's alright now. He's approved."

"Are? Hontou?" Moriko asked. Ryo nodded.

"Mm."

After their meal at the ramen store, Uchi excitedly said, "Ja, I am going to announce the travel plans of the day!" He clapped his hands together once. "We shall visit the mall now of course... There's a new store there, that sells a lot of bedtime stuff! Mitai na! And then we shold go to the aquarium too!"

Ryo groaned suddenly. "The AQUARIUM?! How many times have you been there?"

"Oh but this one's a new aquarium! It only opened last month! Aww come on Ryo-chan, look on the bright side! Imagine walking hand in hand under the sea~" Uchi looked over to Moriko, who was laughing at Ryo's annoyed expression.

"Okay for this once. But not for what you said just now!" Ryo gave in, but Moriko was still laughing.

"Are! Are!!!" Moriko squealed, pointing at the row of pyjamas. "KAWAII~"

Uchi was equally hyper that day. He ran over to Moriko's side, going, "OHH!! Kawaii~"

"Ne, ne, Ryo-chan, I can't believe there's actually a store here that specialises in pyjamas and all those cute nighttime stuff..." Moriko was tugging on Ryo's sleeve, like a little child who had just gone on a first-time holiday.

Ryo looked at them in amusement. They were the genki people. The ones who enjoyed basking in the cuteness of the store. Under Uchi's recommendation, Moriko went to try out a set of sky blue pyjamas. Uchi was looking at the male section of pyjamas. "Uwa, Ryo-chan you should get one." Uchi said, browsing through the row of brightly-coloured ones.

"For what?"

"It'll match you with Moriko-chan!"

Match? Ryo suddenly considered this. The cute and somewhat childish Moriko, how had they come to be together? She seemed to be someone who would be Uchi's girl instead of his, and all of a sudden, a pang of jealousy and feeling of loss hit Ryo, and he missed what Uchi had just said.

"Ryo-chan? Ryo-chan? Did you hear me?"

"Huh? What?"

"Go see if Moriko is done with the fitting?"

As Ryo walked towards the fitting room, Uchi stared after his best friend, suspicious that Ryo was hiding something. Ryo leaned his back against the wall outside the fitting room, until Moriko unlocked the door and found him there.

"Ah, Ryo-chan, is this nice?" Moriko asked, smiling, holding her arms out to show Ryo the set of pyjamas.

Ryo bit back a laugh. "You look little in it!"

Moriko pouted, walking back into the fitting room to change back. That was cute, he thought. Both her expression and her in pyjamas. Ryo enjoyed teasing her for the sake of watching her curious, excited face turn into a pout.

Moriko ended up getting that set of pyjamas. Next stop, aquarium.

"Mite mite! That blue fish! Hey it reminds me of that fish in that movie..." Uchi commented, sticking his face close to the glass of the aquarium. "Kirei, kirei..." Ever since the trio had stepped into the aquarium, Uchi had started praising the fish non-stop, and Moriko and Ryo were looking at him in amazement. The silent fish had such a startling effect on Uchi, who was usually very genki already. "Mite!!!" He pointed again.

"Clownfish!" Moriko's hand shot up as well, pointing to a fish above them. "Uwa~~"

"Kirei desho?" Uchi asked.

Moriko did not know when, but Ryo's hand had found his way to linking with Moriko's. Moriko secretly smiled. They had never held hands like this before. It was ironic. They had kissed, but not held hands in public. They walked down the aquarium, Uchi leading the way, looking at the fishes with his curious, big eyes. Moriko's hand suddenly broke free as she ran forward towards Uchi, peeping from behind, her hands on his shoulder. They were talking animatedly about the fishes, and Ryo slowly made his way towards them, though he suddenly felt lonely.

"Ne, Ryo-chan, the fishes are so beautiful..." Moriko said.

"Mm."

And that was all Ryo would say.

--

"Ahh~~ Tsukare!" Moriko shouted, falling down onto the bed. Ryo was still very silent. "What is it?" Moriko asked, concerned. She sat herself up on the bed, her legs tucked under her chin, her hands on her knees. Ryo made no reply. "Ryo-chan? Why so silent?"

"Because you and Uchi wouldn't let me in."

"Huh? You're...jealous?"

"Well, it appears you enjoy your time with him better than with me." Ryo commented, standing some distance away from Moriko, folding his arms.

"Come on, don't be so petty. It's just... fun to be genki with him."

"Well then why don't you be with him instead?!" Ryo finally burst out.

"...Ryo-chan." Moriko said in a soft voice, barely audible. "You doubt my love for you."

"Well you doubted my existence." He retorted, then later regretted. He still could not hold his sharp tongue against even his loved ones. He watched Moriko hug her knees closer, her eyes downcast. He knew he had angered and hurt her at the same time. But jealousy had taken over him at that moment.

"Ryo-chan." Moriko repeated his name, her voice already trembling. "Don't you need a shower?" She was attempting to make him go away, so she could let out her feelings.

Ryo did not move. He did not want to conform to her hint, and yet he didn't know what he could do. Moriko tilted her face even further down, then continued, "If you're not going to shower, then I am going to. Now." She got up, walking to the shower slowly, but Ryo suddenly caught her hand. Moriko pushed his hand away, her back to him once again.

"Ri-chan, I didn't mean to-"

"Yea right, you didn't mean to. I know." Moriko said, her tears already silently rolling down, but she didn't want Ryo to see them. "I'm hurt." she finally said. "Why can't you hold back a bit?"

Both Ryo's arms reached out, embracing Moriko from behind, and he rested his head next to hers. A hand rose to brush her tears gently away, and Moriko did not struggle from his clutches, even though she was silently angry at him.

"Why won't you let your feelings out and cry out now?" Ryo asked, worried that Moriko was suffering immensely, silently inside. "I'm here for you."

"...I don't want you to see me crying." Moriko answered, already starting to show signs that she was going to cry anytime soon.

Ryo turned Moriko round. Looking into her eyes, he said, "I can already feel you crying." Moriko looked down at her feet, but Ryo quickly lifted her chin. "Ri-chan, gomen!" He kissed her again, tasting the tears that had run over her delicate lips. After this, Moriko broke down entirely, crying in Ryo's embrace, her hands gripping the front of Ryo's shirt.

"...I don't want to come back to this room only to have bad memories everytime." Moriko said between sobs.

And at that the phone rang.