Kotoko Strikes Back! 

Chapter 13 – Giving Up?

" You two really knew each other?" Miki asked, wondering how on earth would Reiko know such a jinxed friend.

" Yep, we are in the same school. But she is from the F class." Reiko replied, emphasizing on the letter 'F'.

" What…what are you doing here?" Kotoko stammered because if Reiko knew where she lives, Naoki would know it too.

" Naoki doesn't know about your whereabouts. Anyway, even if he knew, he wouldn't have bothered to come here too." Reiko seemed to be able to read Kotoko’s mind.

" Who am I kidding? Naoki would sure rush over if I were to give him the address. But then, Naoki might just come back to me after I had gotten rid of this pest once and for all."

Miki just stood one side observing the two girls.

" Reiko must be really in love with this Naoki. Look at that statement, as if she is going to eat up that Kotoko."

" Well, I guess I better leave the both of you to settle your scores." Miki shrugged her shoulders.

" I will be in the room if you need me." Miki informed before proceeding back to Kenrou's room.

" Young girls." Miki shook her head.

" Reiko-chan, you are right." Kotoko agreed, much to Reiko's surprise.

" Then, perhaps you should stay away from him forever since he had already made up his mind." Reiko informed while she retrieved something from her bag.

" Made up his mind?" Kotoko exclaimed.

" Stay away from Irie-kun forever?"

Reiko's words kept flashing across Kotoko’s mind as she walked along the school corridor.

" Would I be able to do that?"

Kotoko started questioning herself.

" Naoki!" Reiko shouted when she saw Naoki walking in front of her.

" Yes?" Naoki asked.

" Nothing, just wanted to walk together with you. So, how's your searching going on?" Reiko asked.

" What search?" Naoki asked even though he knew what Reiko was referring to.

" Nevermind." Reiko replied and clung her right hand around Naoki.

" Why must she always do that?" Naoki silently protested but never did anything to stop Reiko.

" Oh no! It's them, I better hide."

Kotoko quickly ran behind a pillar as she watched the coupling walking past her.

" Irie-kun looks so happy when he is with Reiko-chan. I never see him so happy before. I guess Reiko-chan was right after all. Irie-kun would be better off without my presence."

Kotoko had a blank statement on her face while focusing her glance on the two figures ahead.

“If that’s what Irie-kun had decided on, I shouldn’t stop him from pursuing his own happiness. Reiko-chan was right; I am nothing but a burden to Irie-kun. I should leave it as it is. Irie-kun had made the right choice by accepting Reiko-chan’s love. ” 

Kotoko's eyes reddened as she took out a piece of paper from her bag and stared blankly at the content

" Eh? " Naoki looked around the area.

" What are you looking for?" Reiko asked.

" Nothing." Naoki replied.

" I am sure she is somewhere near, I can sense it."

Naoki frowned when he failed to find Kotoko lurking around the area.

" Don't think too much, let's go. Class is about to start." Reiko pulled Naoki away while casting her eyes at one shadow behind the pillar.

" If that letter wasn't convincing, this would probably make that baka give up on Naoki."

" Kotoko?"

" Satomi? Zinko?" Kotoko was so happy to see her two best friends standing behind her.

" You are back!" Satomi and Zinko quickly pulled Kotoko back to their classroom.

" What? You mean you are going to stop schooling?" Kinnosuke screamed so loud that even Kotoko had to cover her ears.

" Why? Is it because of that Irie Naoki again?" Kinnosuke started rolling up his sleeves.

" I am going to kill him!!" Kinnosuke declared.

" No. Why would I stop schooling because of that baka?" Kotoko stopped Kinnosuke.

" Kotoko…you call him a baka???" Kinnosuke stared at Kotoko with puppy eyes.

" Hai! If I am a baka, he would be a bigger baka!" Kotoko said.

" Are you all right?" Satomi quickly puts her palm onto Kotoko's forehead to see if Kotoko was having any fever.

" Irie-kun had finally found his happiness and I don't want to spoil it. I had been giving him nothing but troubles." Kotoko explained.

" Hai! Hai! That's the way, Kotoko! Don't worry, I can give you the happiness that you want." Kinnosuke assured and tried to pull Kotoko into his arms.

" Stop that!" Satomi and Zinko managed to push Kinnosuke away before he could do that.

" What happen to you during the past few days? Where's the original Kotoko?" Zinko gave Kotoko a tight slap across her face.

" Zinko?" Kotoko did not understand why Zinko had did that for since she was the one who kept discouraging Kotoko from pinning any hopes on Naoki.

" What happiness were you talking about?" Zinko asked.

" Are you going to give up just like that?" Satomi added in.

" Hey, are you guys my friends or what?" Kinnosuke tried to stop Zinko and Satomi from changing Kotoko's mind.

" Kin, do you think Kotoko's heart would be with you even if she was to accept your love?" Zinko gave Kinnosuke a hard stare.

" I…I don't mind…" Kinnosuke murmured out.

He was well aware of the answer.

" Zinko, Satomi…" Kotoko was loss for words.

" Kotoko…Ganbatte…you mustn't lose to that Reiko!" Satomi encouraged.

" But…but…I saw him so happy right now, I couldn't bear to burst that bubble."

" Kotoko!!" Zinko and Satomi grabbed hold of Kotoko's shoulders.

" We want the old Kotoko back! Prove it to us!"

" But…" Kotoko was in a dilemma.

Kotoko wanted to be with Naoki, but after listening to Mrs. Kurozawa's story about Keiko, she could see herself from Naoki's point of view and she hated herself for behaving that way too. Furthermore, Reiko had informed her about Naoki accepting Reiko's love by showing her a letter that Naoki had written to Reiko.

" Kotoko…"

" Let me think about it first." Kotoko replied.

" Ganbatte!" Both Zinko and Satomi shouted.

" Hai!" Kotoko formed a 'V' sign with her fingers before exiting the classroom; she had no mood for lessons.

" Haiz~~~"

Kotoko let out a soft sigh after turning her head around.

" I need to go somewhere." Naoki suddenly stopped walking.

" Where?" Reiko asked.

" You go first, don't wait up." 

" Phew! For a moment I thought she was going to give up." Satomi said.

" Then, we would be loosing our bet to those two bitches in Class 3-A." Zinko added.

" So you two…" Kinnosuke overheard their short conversation.

" Kotoko! Wait up!" Kinnosuke tried to chase after Kotoko but was pinned down by Satomi and Zinko.

" Kotoko…"

" She is not in the class?"

Naoki frowned again when he could only see Satomi and Zinko pinning Kinnosuke down onto the ground.

" Why? Why would he choose that baka over me? Why?"

Reiko could taste the saltiness of her tears while watching Naoki standing outside Class 3-F from behind.

To be continued…