Romantic Relations (12)
Rena, having quietly made her vow alone, turned away from Tae-il and gazed up at the ceiling.
Right on cue, she heard footsteps approaching.
Beep!
With its distinctive alarm chime, the lock disengaged, and the door slid open smoothly.
Rena lifted her head.
"What, you're already up?"
Sakuraba Sakuya, fresh from her shower, looked at Rena while drying her hair with a towel.
In her hands was a tray holding the melon soda Tae-il had requested—and the oolong tea she'd gotten for herself.
"Tae-il still out?"
"...Yeah."
"Haha. Guess the poor guy's wiped, even if he's pretending not to be."
Sakuya slowly and carefully closed the door so as not to wake Tae-il.
Every time she twisted her body, her breasts jiggled.
Her ponytail, usually swaying freely in the air, was undone after the shower, drawing the eyes inevitably toward her chest.
Like Rena, she was dressed casually.
Dolphin pants that blatantly exposed her athletic thighs, paired with a loose sleeveless top that revealed her cleavage.
It was the kind of lewd outfit that Ayane would have immediately branded as a morals violation.
Rena sucked in a sharp breath.
She had thrown her school jersey over the tank top, but even so, it was blatantly obvious that this wasn't appropriate attire for a net cafe—unlike at home.
What's her deal? This isn't even her house.
Was it that typical athletic club openness?
Rena's glare at Sakuya grew increasingly sharp.
Whether she noticed the hostility in Rena's eyes or not, Sakuya flashed a cheeky grin.
"If I'd known you were up, Honjo, I'd have grabbed something for you too."
Sakuya set the tray of drinks on a shelf and asked,
"Want me to go get one now?"
"No thanks."
Sakuya shrugged with a casual well, if you say so, then leaned against the wall and slid down to sit.
"Haaah. Nothing beats a post-shower blast of AC in summer, right?"
Sakuya savored her relief from the sweltering humidity, her face flushed with contentment.
Ignoring the old wives' tale about catching a cold from drying your hair in the cold air, she gently rubbed and tugged at her damp locks with the towel.
Sensing Rena's gaze, she made a casual suggestion.
"You've gotta be sweaty too, Honjo. You sure you don't wanna shower? Hot water's fine here."
"No. I'll wash up at home."
"Gotcha."
When Rena shot down the offer bluntly, Sakuya didn't push.
What could she do? Forcing it would be rude if the girl wasn't into it.
Sakuya closed her eyes and really got into drying her hair.
Wealthy young ladies who avoided public facilities for hygiene reasons weren't exactly rare.
Sakuya figured Rena was one of those types.
As the tangles in her long, loosened hair finally started to smooth out, Sakuya asked,
"Did you have fun today?"
"...Yeah."
Rena admitted it readily—that today had been enjoyable.
Sakuya visibly relaxed.
"Phew, good. I was worried Tae-il might've had fun without you."
"Worrying about the weirdest things."
Rena's eyes drifted to Tae-il.
His face was half-buried between his knees, expression hidden.
But the way he shyly poked at Tae-il's side with his tiptoes suggested embarrassment.
"Nngh..."
"Tch."
As Tae-il groaned uncomfortably, Rena clicked her tongue irritably, then shot to her feet and strode toward Sakuya.
Sakuya paused her hair-drying and stared at her.
But Rena breezed right past her.
"Huh?"
She snatched up the melon soda Sakuya had brought and chugged it down.
The fizzy carbonation made Rena's body shiver.
Sakuya blinked in surprise at the sudden move.
"Hey, that's Tae-il's..."
"He's sleeping. Just get him another when he wakes up, duh."
"Well, yeah, but..."
Haha.
Sakuya let out a dumb laugh at Rena's bold audacity.
If Ayane were here instead, she'd have puffed up her cheeks and protested.
Something about her just rubs me the wrong way.
Rena shot Sakuya an odd look.
For some reason, looking at her lately kept stirring up this unpleasant feeling.
She's not some gloomy chick, just an athlete...
If hostility surged every time she faced someone, there had to be a reason.
But Rena couldn't pinpoint it.
Even trying to feel it out through talk felt like it'd unleash the same aggression as with Ayane.
This is just like back then.
Stifling and awkward, like when Tae-il had stepped out and left just the three of them.
Inexperienced as she was, Rena had no clue how to break the ice.
As she fidgeted her lips, searching for an out—maybe scoot away, curl up by Tae-il, and scroll her phone—
"Honjo."
Sakuya's sudden call made her jump.
She nearly dropped the melon soda cup but sighed in relief at the intact drink.
Rena licked the dribble off her hand and snapped,
"Almost spilled it. What?"
"Haha, sorry. Want some tissue?"
"Ugh, no."
Rena licked her hand like a cat.
Thank god it hadn't splashed her freshly changed clothes.
"Haha, you got spooked bad. That awkward hanging out with me?"
"What're you on about."
"Haha, lemme rephrase."
As Rena set down the melon soda, Sakuya asked,
"You like Tae-il, right, Honjo?"
...
Rena froze mid-motion.
Like Tae-il?
Tae-il.
Shin Tae-il's name.
Iris called it so often that even his Korean name felt familiar now.
Though it bugged her a bit that Sakuya, who'd always said "Taichi," was suddenly using "Tae-il."
Anyway.
Like (suki)?
She knew the word.
Dictionary definition: harboring positive feelings toward a person, thing, or activity.
Wanting it more than usual.
Wanting to engage with it more.
Wanting to cherish it more.
What had Sakuya just said? Do you like Tae-il?
"Like him? Me? That guy?"
Rena shot back in a voice laced with anger.
Her tone rose sharply, furious.
It was a glare that would make anyone wary of her flinch, but Sakuya just nodded calmly.
"Ha! No, I'm just... this is ridiculous..."
Rena fanned her heated face frantically.
"Sorry. If not, I apologize."
"Apologize my ass—your eyes broken or what? What makes you think I like him..."
"Dunno. Anyone could see it that way."
Rena was at a loss for words.
Sakuya twirled a damp strand of her white hair around her finger.
"You might not wanna admit it, Honjo, but to me, it looks like you like Tae-il. You're obvious about it..."
"Me? Him?"
Rena flapped her mouth like a crucian carp.
Truth be told, she had a guilty conscience and couldn't flat-out deny it.
Her towering pride just hated admitting her inexperience in front of others, so she clamped her lips shut.
A few seconds.
A few minutes.
Head bowed, Rena trembled, fists clenched tight.
"For real... it looks that way...?"
"Yeah."
Sakuya gave a wry smile.
"Kinda weird saying this while the guy's asleep, but... I like Tae-il a little myself."
The "little" was a defensive hedge.
A way to lower the other's guard, implying she could back off anytime.
It wouldn't work on Ayane, whose eyes spun whenever Tae-il came up, but maybe on Rena.
"We're not dating yet, but you get sensitive about anything involving him. That's how I noticed."
Of all people, getting called out by her—good luck or bad?
Bingo, huh.
Sakuya studied Rena's confused face closely.
She had no idea what sparked Rena's feelings for Tae-il.
What magic had he pulled? It made her curious too.
Could make for a good manga plot.
Sakuya thought positively and probed naturally.
"Honestly, you and Tae-il seemed on bad terms before. One-sided, sure."
"That was..."
Undeniable truth.
Rena had clearly hated and antagonized Tae-il.
Everyone took it as normal, so even Sakuya hadn't meddled in that subtle dynamic.
Yet in under two weeks, it had shifted.
Unable to curb her curiosity, Sakuya had looked into Rena separately.
The girl had risen to fame young and endured plenty of scrutiny.
Reading overly obsessive articles about her, Sakuya got why Rena might hate men.
But actually...
The issue isn't Honjo...
It's Tae-il.
Sakuya wondered why he'd never shown displeasure toward Rena.
Rena was like a porcupine girl.
Super picky, bristling at everyone but Iris.
Didn't those quills sting Tae-il? Sakuya pondered.
"You might not realize, Honjo, but I'm pretty good-natured."
"What, mocking me for being bitchy?"
"Nah. Point is..."
Sakuya was good-natured, but subtly ruthless toward those who antagonized her.
"I'm nice, sure, but not that nice—grinning at people who hate me."
It happened at Interhigh.
A player from another school who disliked Sakuya kept picking fights relentlessly.
Familiar face—she racked her memory and recalled: back at Inter-Mids, this girl had hated her for some reason, deliberately spiking at her face.
Decent skill, but...
Sakuya kept forgetting then remembering, retaliating thoroughly each time.
Eventually learned why: her boyfriend liked Sakuya, neglected their relationship.
Sakuya was baffled.
No need to understand or be her emotional dumpster.
So she beat the thought out of her.
With a volleyball.
"But Tae-il doesn't seem the retaliatory type."
Unlike Sakuya, Tae-il never struck back at attacks.
Gender difference?
"Anyway, he's definitely considerate of you."
"Considerate... of me..."
Something clicked for Rena; she lowered her gaze and bit her lip.
"Got me curious."
When Tae-il first showed his bass skills, Rena alone wore a bored expression.
Among those gathered, Sakuya could swear Rena was the furthest from him.
"Yet there you were, showing interest in him. Bickering like awkward kids in love."
"I didn't bicker!"
"Really? Looked like you were fishing for his attention."
"Y-You seriously blind?"
Rena raised her voice, then yelped softly and lowered it.
Glancing back, Tae-il was still fast asleep.
Sakuya smirked.
"See? Sneakily minding Tae-il even now."
"Just... don't want him hearing this nonsense...!"
"Suure?"
Any reason it'd be a problem if he heard?
Unless she liked him.
Sakuya grinned slyly, savoring Rena's reactions, vividly recalling the expression Rena wore when she'd entered: feigning calm but clearly viewing her as an intruder.
Wild.
Stuck in a cramped room alone with the Tae-il she supposedly hated, yet no freakout.
The Rena in Sakuya's memory would have recoiled and bolted—or kicked Tae-il out.
Which is why I rushed my shower.
But Rena hadn't.
Stayed by his side post-wakeup, even resented Sakuya's arrival.
Sakuya had one solid guess.
Something really went down on the last day of school.
Tae-il returned to class late, near end-of-ceremony, changed into gym clothes.
What sorcery?
Sakuya marveled at his unpredictability, dying to know Rena's emotional arc.
"I..."
Rena forced out the words, but Sakuya stopped her.
"Hey, no need to force an answer."
"Huh?"
As Rena reeled in confusion, Sakuya's chest pressed against her back.
Sakuya gently hugged her from behind.
"Feelings are tricky like that. Hard to put into words."
Sakuya had started with mild interest herself.
It bloomed into fascination, then affection, evolving into love over time.
Even now, she'd occasionally question her taste seeing his pathetic sides.
Eh.
Those pathetic bits could be cute too—that's love, right?
Sakuya wryly smiled, stroking Rena's hair.
"Dunno if you know, Honjo, but Tae-il lights up most talking about stuff he loves."
His usual dazed eyes sparkled like stars, stirring indescribable emotions.
That glow drew the gaze relentlessly.
Yet so fragile, like a variable star that might lose its light anytime—impossible to ignore.
Love goggles on tight.
Sakuya chuckled self-deprecatingly.
Whatever.
She hugged the perfectly fitting Rena a tad tighter.
"Honestly, you don't need a reason to like someone, right?"
"...Making up a reason for me?"
"Who knows~?"
Sakuya grinned mischievously.
"Anyway, got a proposal for you, Honjo..."
Whisper whisper.
Hearing it, Rena's eyes went wide.
Sakuya smirked like a kid who'd pulled off a prank.
"Whaddya think?"
Sakuya's suggestion was simple enough, but for Rena, it carried scary aftershocks.
"W-What do I get out of that...?"
"Hmm. A precious photo memory you'll never forget 'til you die?"
Of course, depending on Rena's choice, that "one" photo might multiply.
"Ah, uh..."
Her face said no, but her ears perked eagerly at the tempting idea.
Hooked already.
To Sakuya, Rena seemed blatantly childish.
Socially immature, the type who wouldn't rest until she got what she wanted.
Be it an object... or a person.
Whatever it was, Sakuya was certain Rena would bite.
Her lips curled slyly upward.
Heh heh. How should I tease Tae-il with this?
Sakuya could already picture the scene when he woke—pure anticipation.