Always Did Love You

“Chigusa, do you like anyone??”, Sugimura Hiroki said, taking a bite of his rice. Chigusa Takako chewed her mouthful of noodles before replying.

“…I’ve always liked someone…Hiroki…”, Chigusa gazed lovingly to the table, thinking of Sugimura, unknown to him.

“Who??”, Sugimura’s curiosity got the better of him. He noticed her face was reddening, and she was avoiding his gaze.

“Someone from our class…”, He thought for a moment before guessing.

“Nanahara??”, “Nope.”

“Mumura??”, “He’s cute, but not my type.”

“Niida??”, “Ewwww, no. He’s been after me since the 7th grade, Hiroki.”

“I give up then. Who, Chigusa??”

Chigusa shook her head. “I’m not ready to tell anyone just yet.”

Sugimura nodded in understanding. “What about you, Hiroki?? Like anyone??”

He wasn’t hesitant with his answer. “Kotohiki Kayoko.”

Chigusa figured. She was pretty and liked by mostly everyone. Someone Hiroki would like…

“Have you talked to her before??”, Sugimura shook his head. “No. I’ve tried to but…I always get nervous and walk away.”

Chigusa said nothing in response. She just took a sip of her tea and continued eating. “I guess, Hiroki will never like me the way I like him…”

A few minutes later the bell rung. The two got up, threw their trays away, and went to class.

Class went on as normally. Except that at his desk, Niida Kazushi was plotting something…

He passed a note to Akamatsu Yoshio, which read:

Guess what?? Chigusa is in love with Sugimura.

And, Akamatsu whispered the gossip to the person sitting beside him, Mumura Shinji.

Niida smiled to himself, knowing his job was done. The gossip was being passed along from student to student, and his plan was soon to be successful.

Soon, you’ll be mine, Chigusa. And, Hiroki will never be a threat ever again.

When class ended, students were looking at Chigusa with question, some giggling, and some just confused.

Utsumi Yukie walked up to Chigusa in the Hallway. “Hi, Chigusa.”

“Hello, Utsumi.”, “Um…do you really like Sugimura…I mean, like more than friends??”

Chigusa gazed at Utsumi before speaking. “What are you talking about!? Hiroki’s my best friend!!”

Utsumi backed up a little from Chigusa’s outburst but stood her ground. “I’m sorry, Chigusa, but that’s what everyone in class was saying. And, they say Niida started the rumor.”

“What!?”, Chigusa walked past Utsumi, ignoring the stares and whispers of classmates she passed by.

Chigusa spotted Niida down the hall, and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. She pushed him roughly against the wall, holding him firmly in front of her.

“Niida, what are you spreading, you disgusting, little bastard!?”, Niida looked at her innocently.

“What are you talking about, Takako?? I never said anything.”, Chigusa shoved Niida into the wall, hard.

“You know what the hell I’m talking about!! You told people I love Hiroki more than in a friendly way!!”, “What, you’re mad at me for spreading the truth?? I could tell when I saw you at lunch, giving Hiroki the ‘lovey dovey’ eyes.”

Chigusa didn’t shove him into the wall again. She instead took a deep breath then spoke. “Is this all to get Hiroki to know my secret?? Well, you know what you little brat, him knowing isn’t going to make me like you. I’d rather kill myself than go out with you, Niida.”, Chigusa spat coldly.

She let him go, and he stood with his back against the wall, as she walked out of the school. She went to the Park near her house and sat on a swing.

The Park was empty and she was alone. Lost in her thoughts, she let his name pass her lips. “Hiroki…”

She suddenly felt her swing being pushed forward gently but swiftly. Chigusa put her feet to the ground, stopping it when the swing went backward.

She turned to see Sugimura, looking concerned and worriedly at her. “Hiroki…”, she repeated his name louder this time.

“Chigusa…I heard the rumors at school…and I just wanna tell you…don’t worry. They’re just rumors. They’ll pass before you know it.”

“Thank you, Hiroki. For coming to find me and tell me that…”, He nodded.

Chigusa stood up from the swing but stopped a few feet away from it. Her back, however, was still turned to Sugimura.

“What’s wrong, Chigusa??”, She bit her lip before replying.

“It’s not the rumors that are bothering me. It’s that…the rumors…”, She couldn’t seem to get the words out.

“What is really bothering you?? Please tell me, we can get through it together.”, His words…she couldn’t help but smile. He was always so kind to her.

“The rumors are true.”, Chigusa spoke this time without hesitation. Sugimura was confused by this. “What do you mean??”

Chigusa turned to him, gazing straight into his eyes with her own. “It means I love you, Hiroki…I always did love you…ever since we become best friends in the 5th grade.”

“Chigusa, I-“, Chigusa cut him off. “No. Please don’t say it. I can’t handle those heart-breaking, painful words right now.”

“And, I know you love Kotohiki…so it’s not like you’d ever love me, right??”, She let out a small chuckle as tears rolled down her cheeks.

“G-Goodbye…Hir…Hiroki.”, She turned her back to him once again, and took off at top speed for her house. He only stood there, his body stiffened, and his mouth not knowing the right words to say.

“I’ve got to go to her. But what do I say?? How do I really feel about Chigusa??”

Kotohiki appeared in Sugimura’s mind. She was so pretty with her shoulder length hair and her amazing smile.

But Chigusa…she was beautiful. Her long hair, going past her shoulders, her angelic smiled she was always flashed at him.

And, Sugimura had to admit…Chigusa and himself were best friends for a long time, and he couldn’t help but harbor some romantic feelings for her.

Also, it’s not Sugimura had ever talked to Kotohiki. He didn’t know a thing about her. He was just attracted to her.

Chigusa, he had known since elementary school. For the most part, he knew her inside and out. And, she knew him very well, too.

He began walking to Chigusa’s House. Once he arrived there, he knocked on the door. Chigusa’s mother answered, smiling.

“Hello, Sugimura. Would you like to see Chigusa??”, He nodded in response.

She let him in, and he walked upstairs to her room. He knocked on the door twice.

He heard a sniff, and then a tearful sounding reply, “C-Come in…”

Sugimura opened the door and sat on the floor beside Chigusa who sat on her bed.

There were a few tissues on the bed beside Chigusa, Sugimura noticed this.

He got up and sat on the bed beside her, placing his hand on her shoulder. This caused Chigusa to flinch, startled by his warm touch.

“Chigusa…I’ve been thinking…I don’t really love Kotohiki. I mean, I am physically attracted to her. I don’t know her inside and out like I do with you. And, after realizing I didn’t really love Kotohiki, I also realized that…we should give each other a chance.”

Chigusa finally made eye contact with him. “Hiroki…”, his name came out of her mouth in a hesitant whisper.

Sugimura leaned his face closer to hers, his mouth evenly lined up with hers. After a moment of silence between the two, he swooped in, his lips mashing with hers. Chigusa was taken back in shock from this. Sugimura, her best friend, and the boy she secretly loved for a long, long time…was kissing her.

Chigusa wasn’t at all shy to return the kiss. The two’s tongues swirled and danced together, exploring every inch of the other’s mouth.

He ran his hand through her long hair, the other resting on her back. She felt shivers go down her spine at his touch.

She cupped his cheek with her right hand while her left was on his leg. Sugimura felt a rush of warmth run through his body.

It seemed like a blissful forever until the two parted for air. The two didn’t make eye contact. They instead gazed at things in her room, breathing heavily.

“I love you, Chigusa.”, Sugimura grabbed her hand and intertwined their fingers before continuing. “…I’m sorry it took me so long to realize it.”

Chigusa looked up at him. “I love you, too, Hiroki. I always have.”, He let go of her hand and wrapped his arms around her in a warm, loving embrace.

She took in the scent of his cologne as she buried her face into his chest. “You smell good, Hiroki.”

He chuckled at this. “That’s cause’ I have you in my arms.”

Chigusa couldn’t hide the smile forming through her lips. She pecked Sugimura on the lips and hugged him closer to her.

The End!