mandytl | romantic comedy - ( to every good kid, chapter 2 )

Location: Shopping District

Hajime: Hoeh~... this conversation is a bit out of my league.

Kaoru: Ahahah. It feels like some far-off world to a bunch of high schoolers.

Kaoru: Stuff like marriage... graduation. Things I want to live through even though they sound like a pain.

Hajime: Fufu. You seem a little mentally fatigued, Hakaze-senpai. Things will get better. Here... squeeze~ ♪

Kaoru: Uh? Why'd you put down your bags and grab my hand..... ?

Hajime: To cheer you up. When I'm worried about making a mistake on-stage, Nii-chan holds my hand just like this.

Hajime: Then it caught on with the rest of Ra*bits.

Hajime: Our fans were really enthusiastic about it when we did it at autograph sessions... and we were so pleased
about it that it ended it becoming habit.

Hajime: What do you think? You're not wearing gloves, Hakaze-senpai... so it feels good when I grip your hand like this, right? Squeeze squeeze. Feel better~ ♪

Kaoru: ......

Hajime: H-Huh?! Why does it look like you're about to cry, Hakaze-senpai? D-Did I do something I shouldn't have... ?

Kaoru: No... it's just that my Mom did the same thing a looong time ago.

Hajime: Your Mom?

Kaoru: Yeah. I was way more careless than I am now, like I was never watching where I was going...

Kaoru: I got upset when I lost a glove and was crying while I searched for it.

Hajime: Ahahah. So you were cute when you were little, Hakaze-senpai.... ♪

Kaoru: If by cute you mean pathetic... not that I could help it since I was just a kid. My Mom was worried about why I was so late coming home and went to go get me.

Kaoru: Before she could even start scolding me, she gripped my hand tightly and squeezed it like it was precious.

Kaoru: It kinda took me back... man. Who knew Ra*bits could do something so amazing? UNDEAD could never do that no matter how hard we tried~ ♪

Hajime: Fufu. So there are ways we can beat UNDEAD. Now I feel a little confident. You're really good at praising people, Hakaze-senpai... ♪

Kaoru: You think~? But anyone would be happier to hear praise over lecture, right?

Kaoru: I mean, usually you want to make someone feel a little happier when you want to get closer. ♪

Hajime: That's true. I feel the same way.

Kaoru: Ahahah. ... oh. If we keep standing on the street like this everyone will think something's up.

Kaoru: Crap. It feels like people're giving me the evil eye.

Kaoru: We'll be in big trouble if someone takes another photo. My hand's pretty warm now, so think we could call it quits?

Hajime: Wah, I'm sorry. But your hand was just so smooth that I found it hard to let go... ♪

Kaoru: Heheh. I do take pretty good care of my skin~ ♪

Hajime: You're an idol, so. ... wawah?

Kaoru: Oops. Her husband's beating on the car horn. Guess we can't just keep him waiting on us forever, so let's head on over.

Kaoru: I'll ask if you can hitch a ride with us, so come with me, okay?

Hajime: Ah, yes. If you would... that'd be a huge help. I went a little overboard and bought so much that I could barely move.

Kaoru: Ahahah. What made you spend so much?

Hajime: Uhm, I ended up purchasing too many household goods since New Year's is coming up. That and Christmas presents for both my little brother and sister, but that's supposed to be a secret.

Hajime: Eheheh. Ra*bits has been making decent money lately, so I wanted to surprise them with some more luxurious gifts.

Kaoru: Wow... you're really something, Hajime-kun. A really incredible big brother.

Hajime: Eh, you think so? But I think I'm fairly average...

Kaoru: Yep... ♪

Kaoru: Wait. Let me carry the heavy stuff. That's why I called out to you in the first place.

Kaoru: There's that stuff with the incident from the other day too, but... it's better to rely on others when the going gets tough, Hajime-kun.

Hajime: The other day... ah, you mean when that photo was taken. You were a real lifesaver, Hakaze-senpai. ♪

Hajime: Eheheh. To tell you the truth, I was a little afraid of you before all of this happened.

Hajime: You called out to me in an overly friendly way and then got curt once you knew I was a boy.

Hajime: I didn't understand what you were thinking at all. I just thought that you were strange and that I didn't like it one
bit. I'm probably a bad boy for thinking that way, though.

Kaoru: Not really? Not like you could do anything about it.

Kaoru: Even I have my doubts about back then. I had an attitude that was always like "what's with him?" towards every single guy, right?

Hajime: Fufu. Yes. That's why I had a hard time. But after that we had that training camp together and you managed to slide in an apology, remember?

Hajime: You recalled such a small, trivial conversation and even worried about me...

Hajime: The thought alone made me so happy. I was touched.

Hajime: So from then on... I knew that Hakaze-senpai was actually really kind.

Hajime: That's why I'm not scared anymore. Our school is full of good people~ ♪

Hajime: I'm so glad that I entered Yumenosaki Academy.... ♪

Kaoru: ... I get you. Lately I've been thinking the same thing.

Hajime: Eheheh. Then we're alike.

Hajime: W-Was that rude?! I'm so sorry!

Kaoru: Why're you apologizing again? It's an honor, really. More like, I've always wanted to be a good boy like you.

Kaoru: But I guess I'm way too twisted now to go back to how things were before.

Hajime: Uhm? I don't really understand, but everything will be fine since Hakaze-senpai's an amazing person!

Hajime: You can be anything you want to be... ♪

Kaoru: .... thanks, Mom.

Hajime: B-But I'm not your Mom?!

Kaoru: Just kidding. It's just another thing my Mom used to say to me ages ago.

Kaoru: You're probably thinking about where you stand when it comes to "that issue", Hajime-kun.

Kaoru: Just become who you want to be without hesitating around others, without having to hold it in and pretend to be
so goody-goody.

Kaoru: I'll cheer you on no matter what you do. If you're ever in trouble you can rely on me, Hajime-kun.

Kaoru: For holding my hand and sharing that bit of warmth with me... let me give you a present as thanks.