An Unheard Voice - Chapter 16: Chapter 16

"Guys, Mizuki's class has a new student today!" An rushes in, and we all look at the door. "Welcome, Airi Momoi!"
"What the-?!"
"Ed Sheeran?!" She exclaims, and everyone stares at them. They grow embarrassed, hiding their faces. It's lunch break, not everyone is here, though. Ed Sheeran still makes me giggle after An showed me who that was. Wait-
"Yeah, she's from the theater club!!" An grins, and I blink. Great. Just great. "Come come, grab a seat next to Akito!" She says, inviting herself. Again.
"U-Um.." She grows shy, hesitantly sitting next to him.
"I don't bite. You should know that by now." Akito laughs, and she scoffs.
"Yeah, right."
I can't stop glaring at Momoi. I know he just sees her as a friend- does he? He does, right? Right??
"Toya? You okay?" Kusanagi asks, and I snap out of it, and nod.
"Toya, huh? Nice to meet you! Akito spoke a lot about you, I didn't get to properly greet you last time." Momoi grins. I nod.
"So, your name is Airi? Nice name." Akito rests his head on his hand, and she blushes.
"Sh-Shut up. Your name is Akito? What a dorky name." She insults him. Seriously, how did they not know each others names?!
"I like the name." I stare at her. She awkwardly laughs, and he goes close to me.
"She's not actually bullying me. It's just what close friends do, they make fun of each other sometimes." He whispers, and I nod, but confused. He doesn't bully me. Are we not close? I think. An calls him this.
"So does that mean I'd call you a carro--"
He stops my hand, and looks me dead in the eye.
"I would never insult you and I'd like for you not to either. It hurts my pride just by reading that in my head. We're close differently, okay.?" He squeezes my hand, before letting go. .. Did I hurt his feelings? Oh, no.
"So, Airi, tell us about yourself! I thought you said you went to a different school?" An asked.
"Well, I did. But I.. I got transferred here because I actually quit as an idol, and I went to an all girls school. I was supposed to come here last year, but.. I don't know. I got into a fight which led to me being kicked out." Momoi mumbles, and we all look at her.
"Didja win?!" An asks, and Akito smacks her head.
"No, it- it wasn't a physical fight, I just go slapped. I have.. these problems where I can't control my anger at times. I just speak my mind without thinking. I also quit because.. they didn't see me as an idol anymore. I just did commercials and meet and greets, I never sang or anything anymore. My old friend from the group tried comforting me and I snapped, but I said something without thinking twice, and she slapped me which I guess I deserved.." Momoi's voice cracks, and I start to feel bad. She looks up with tears in her eyes, and we all get shocked.
"I'm sorry, I-- don't feel bad, I messed up. I have trouble making friends because of this. Nobody wants to talk to me, I'm lucky enough An did." She cries, and Akito sighs.
"Don't even worry about that. Who cares what other people think? I have the same problem. But I stopped acknowledging them, they feed off your reactions. Stop crying, you've got us now." He lifts up her head, and she looks at him.
I never did ask Akito about his past.
"Th-Thank you, everyone. I don't know what I'd do without you." She sniffs, smiling. I still envy her. Kusanagi tugs my shirt, and I look at her.
"Not to be rude, but are we still going..?" She whispers, and I nod. She sighs in relief, and goes back to her game.
"S-Stop it! Nobody said you could call me cute, either!" She shoves Akito's face, who laughs. He what..?
"Why? You being an idol is funny to imagine, just dancin' and stuff."
"Nah-ah, no flirting with anyone except Toya." She sighs. I'm too distraught to even realize what she says. I get up, saying I'm going to get a drink. An follows, worried.
"You okay?" She asks, and I nod. She continues to stare at me, and I sigh. "It's Airi, isn't it? Come on, we're lucky she got kicked out and she doesn't have to kiss your boyfriend anymore. It'll be fine, and he'll date you, I'll make sure of it. Cheer up!" She squishes my cheeks, close to my face. We hear a crack, and look behind. Akito cracked the wall with his grip..?!
"You should know by now I don't leave Toya on his own with you, nor do I allow you to touch him knowing your nasty motives. Time to learn that, let's go teach you a lesson." He grabs her by the shirt, and she tries reaching out for me to help. I stand in confusion. "Excuse us."
Momoi steps out, startled.
"Um.. How have you been?" She asks, standing next to me. I shrug, and she nods. "Akito sure is a weirdo, huh?"
I keep myself from defending him again, and smile.
"I was going to make chocolates for him on Valentine's day, but guess I came too late, huh..?" She blushes, and I stare at her. I take back everything nice I said about her.
"Help.." I hear An say in the back, as Akito opens the door. I look behind him, and see her handing upside down by the foot. What the..
"Uh.." Momoi laughs, and I go to help her down. Lunch break is almost over, so I sit at my desk.
We stay after school for a while, Kusanagi had to discuss something with Tsukasa, Kamishiro, and Otori.
"I have a fun game to play!" Akiyama smiles.
".. Why are you here, again?" Akito and An ask.
"Hey--! Anyway, Toya, here's a fun game! You tell someone in the room you like them, and if they blush, stutter, get embarrassed, they owe you money! If you go for someone and you fail to make them flustered, you owe them money!" They say, and An slams the table.
"I'm in."
"Sure." Momoi sighs.
"Okay. But only for the money." Akito grins. I.. I'll do it if Akito is in.
"Toya! I love you~!" Akiyama smiles, and I give them a blank stare. Akito breaks a pencil, and glares at them. "... Heheh.. uh.." I don't really want money, though. I decline it.
"Li'l bro, I love you!" Akiyama ruffles his hair, and he smacks their hand away. They sob, handing the money.
"An, I love you." They say to An, who just freezes. They side eye Akiyama, and they give money in defeat. An doesn't seem happy. "I'm going broke.."
"Airi, I love you!" They say to Airi, who awkwardly looks around. ".. Wow."
"Um.. An, I love you." An smiles, taking her money.
"Akiyama, I love you..?" She ended up handing them money, too.
"Toya, I love you." She says, and Akito's eye twitches.
"Akito.. I- I love you!" She looks down, and he shrugs. She hands him money in defeat.
"My turn! Akito. I- I.." She gags, covering her mouth. "I- I can't say it like that. I hate you. Take my money." An coughs, and I handed her water. A for effort, though.
"Toya, I love you!" An smiles, and Akito stabs her with his finger. "OUCH!" I really hope Azusawa doesn't get mad at me.
"Airi, I love you~." She hums, and they blush. An cackles, taking her money.
"Akiyama, I like you.." She grumbles, and hand them money before they can even say anything.
".. Anyway, nobody was able to make Toya blush here. Akito, you try!" Akiyama suggests, and we both turn red. I shake my head, and he stutters.
"I-I'm- I'm not doing that-! I'm sure he doesn't want my money, either--!"
"Who said he'd be receiving money?" An smirked, and I looked at her with the please stop look. "Come on, just for fun! The students want more flustered Toya pictures, anyway."
She turns his head to face me, and we both stare at each other. He's too flustered to speak for a few seconds, but clears his throat. My heart is beating loudly.
"I- I... I love you-, Toya.." He mumbles, and looks away. I blush, with my eyes widened. I handed him the money, and ran out. "Toya--!!"
The next day, we walked to the arcade awkwardly.
"See you, text me when you're leaving." Akito waves, dropping me off at the location. I go inside, and look around.
"Toya! You're here." Kusanagi runs up to me, with a huge stuffed animal in her hands. "Sorry, I got here early and wanted to pass the time. This is for Emu, she said she wanted it the other day. Thanks for understanding I wanted to do something for her, her face lit up when I gave her the chocolates." She smiles, and I nod.
"So.. uh, you were really popular on Valentine's day." Kusanagi blushes, and I shrug, inserting a coin to win Akito a plushie.
"Did you read any.. letters..?" She asks, and I nod. Her face lights up. "Really?! Which ones??"
"Something about someone wanting me to meet them on the rooftop. I don't think I will, since I'm not- nevermind." I smile back, and she looks at the ground.
"O-Oh.. Okay.. Uh, why don't we go play the shooting game? Whoever loses has to buy more points." She invites, and I nod, confident.
Once we get there, a girl walks up to us with her friend, giggling.
"Are you two dating? You look so cute!" She compliments. We're not. Kusanagi grows red, and I tilt my head.
"Sorry, she gets too excited when she sees a cute couple, please ignore her! But also, you two are adorable!" Her friend drags her away.
"Wh- It- It's not like that-!" Kusanagi shouts, flustered. I sigh, and finish her off. "Hey-!!" She cries, and I laugh. "Cheater!!" She giggles, pushing me. We walk around and play more together, but I keep winning.
"Why are you such a pro at this..?" She slumps, tired.
"You're pretty good yourself. It's almost time for me to go home, do you want me to win you anything?" I offer, and she blushes. Kusanagi nods, and embarrassingly points at the big polar bear pillow. That does look comfortable to cuddle with, I'll admit.
"I tried getting it so many times before you came, but I couldn't.." She mutters, and I enter a coin. I got it on the first try, and handed it to her. She hides her face in it, and thanks me.
"What are you going to do with the rest of the stuffed animals you got..?" She asks, and I shrug.
"Probably give one to my mother, and the rest to Ena and Saki. Saki has a lot from me already, only because my father doesn't like me bringing stuff home."
"I'm a little jealous of Saki, then. Also, I never got to meet your dad. I assume he was at work on new year? Bet he wanted to spend it with you and your mom." She softly laughs, and I sigh.
"He sure did." That was supposed to be sarcastic, but it's hard to put sarcasm into letters.
"U-Um... I've been wondering, would you.. want to do this again sometime?" Kusanagi stops, looking to the side, blushing. Why is it so embarrassing to ask me to hang out?
"Sure. I can bring Akito and you can bring Otori next time, too." I smile, and her face lightly drops.
".. Okay." She sighs, and I see Akito. I wave goodbye to Kusanagi, and run up to him. He seems startled by the amount of plushies I have.
"Woah.. we should get going to Tenma's house before it gets dark, then.." He scoffs. I nod, and look through the pile, getting the one I won for him. He stares at it, and back at me. "This.. Is it for me?"
I nod, excited. Does he like it?
"I.. I don't like dogs, Toya. In fact I'm terrified of them." He says, and I stare at him in regret, putting it away. Toya, why are you so stupid?! If he's afraid of them then obviously he wouldn't--
"But I'll take it. Thank you." He says, and takes it. My eyes light up, and I smile. He looks away, embarrassed.
After we drop off most of the stuffed animals at Tsukasa's house, we walk back to mine.
"I'll take the ones you want to give to Ena. I'll thank you on her behalf." He ruffles my hair, and I blush. "Also, you didn't text me a lot.. I got worried about you." He sighs, and I remember. I was supposed to text him every now and then-! I got too caught up with the games! My mother comes out, and says hello, then going to my ear.
"Give him a goodbye kiss! Remember how Saki did that?" She grins. But this- She's full of energy and not shy at all! "Come on, he seems sooo sad. Cheer your friend up!" I mean.. I broke my promise..
"Is something wrong?" Akito asks, and I take a deep breath. I give him a peck on the cheek, and hide my face. This is normal for friends, right-?! I do remember Saki doing this, so it has to be-- I hug him out of embarrassment too, flustered.
"Th-Thank you for w.. worrying about me today. I.. I will bring you- next time. And- Sorry I didn't t-text you." I whisper, and let go. I see him frozen and red all over. Is he dead..? I don't know why I'm more comfortable talking around him, but I keep stuttering.
"He'll wake up eventually. Come on, let's go inside! Bye, Akito! Thank you for bringing my baby safely to me again!" She thanks him, and drags me inside.
I blush, and hold my notebook to her face.
"Why would you make me do that?!"
"I didn't, you did it yourself! You looove Akito~!" She giggles, and I push her away, burying myself in smudge's fur.
When I walk in the classroom, I see Tsukasa. I walk up to the door, but pause when I see him talking to Akito. I thought Akito didn't like Tsukasa very much? I'm so glad they get along now.
I open the door, and Tsukasa jolts, running out.
"Good morning, Toya!! Bye, Toya!!" He shouts, dashing. Huh?
"What were you two talking about?" I pull out a chair. Akito tries to think of something, but can't.
"Uh- Nothing, good morning. Oh would you look at that, An's here!" He runs out the door, wrapping one arm around her neck, and runs while she's choking.
.. What? Why is he so awkward? Was he teasing Tsukasa again? I have to scold him for that. But then again, I kissed him.
.. I KISSED HI--