"Hey, I'll have you know...." "Hm?" She tilted her head, wondering what he could possibly have to say in his defense. She couldn't imagine a response, but he somehow managed to exceed her expectations.
"...that that is true and I can't really think of anything, but it's still irritating me."Himeko just stared at him for a moment, mostly in disbelief. Did he really just admit defeat? Himeko tried to hold in her amusement, even pressing a closed fist to her lips to prevent a snicker from escaping, but she couldn't hold it in much longer. Himeko couldn't help it, despite trying her absolute best to hold it back, she burst out into giggles, but composed herself quickly. She couldn't let anyone find her laughing with or at Kurou, because to onlookers, there was no difference between the two, "Don't tell me you just realized that you're an entitled trust fund dependent?" She asked, quirking a brow and allowing a smug smirk to form on he face.
"Kuu-nii, Katsukawa-san. I didn't know you two are acquainted.""I've said it once and I'll say it a thousand times if I must, he's a stalker." Himeko responded with a sigh, completely content with her explanation. Part of her truly believed that was all, mostly because Kurou didn't seem to remember her. She knew that this could be used to her advantage, but she didn't want to get revenge on him. Revenge wasn't her style, she just couldn't forgive him for accusing her of having a crush on him after everything that he forgot had taken place. In fact, it was probably why she couldn't be nice to him, at all. Though she was shaken by one fact, slightly blushing,
"My job brought me here though, so I guess that it wasn't his doing this time." She mumbled with a defeated sigh, but refused to drop her guard. She couldn't afford to.
"Only a little bi-- Wait... Katsukawa....?"She took a step back when he began examining her, then realized that he might recognize her, immediately turning her back to both boys,
"It's actually a common surname." She responded defensively, crossing her arms, rubbing her upper arms. On the inside she was freaking out, despite her much calmer demeanor.
Oh no.. Crap.. Don't worry.. He.. He doesn't remember you.."Kurumi-san and Nemui-san wanted to have group and play a game, back at the house." She had no idea who Kurumi was, but Nemui-San was his sister, so she assumed Kurumi would have been the oldest girl. Suddenly she felt very conflicted. She wanted to hang out with Nemui, but that also meant going to their house, Kurou's house. Just as she was about to cordially decline, Yukito spoke up, revealing his hook.
"Nemui-san, would like you to invite you to come.""E-Eh!?" She was completely surprised, frowning a bit when he revealed that Nemui was the one who wanted to invite her. Though she then saw Shin,
"He isn't going, is he?" Himeko asked tilting her head towards Shin's direction, one hand on her hip as she inquired. Her anger shifted focus from Kurou to Shin, who was complete across the room within an instance. The poor model wasn't even aware of her ominous vibes that she was shooting his way, but she was still angry about the media and reporters she had at her home due to her run in with him,
"If he isn't going, then I'll come...." She responded in a matter-of-fact tone, but a shocked expression took over her features, remembering something important that she had not made clear,
"O-Only for Nemui-chan though!" How could she have forgotten to add such a crucial part to her reply?
"Want to join too Kuu-nii? It could be fun."Why did his words bring a chill down her spine all of a sudden? Then she remembered something, but she waited for Kurou's answer. Even though she wasn't meeting his gaze or looking in his direction, she was curious about whether he would attend.
"....I'll think about it." Could he be any more vague? He might as well have said maybe.. she thought to herself, finally turning back around to face the two brothers. She doubted that Kurou would remember her anyway, because she had completely changed physically, but her personality completely switched sides of the spectrum as well. It was highly unlikely that he'd make s connection, unless he started digging through yearbooks. Then she realized that he was still staring at her, which almost made her jump out of her own skin,
"Quit staring at me, Kitomura! I-I'll punch your lights out if you don't stop!" She snapped, a dark blush on her face, only further verifying that she was losing her cool. She couldn't relax under his observational gaze. It was unnerving and she felt as though she was unraveling.
"Well, see you.""Bye." She mumbled softly, waiting for Kurou to leave hearing range before returning her attention to Yukito. She was only half serious as she uttered her next words, but it was a curious thought,
"Can we retract our agreement to attend?" She inquired without even a hint of joking. Though she knew she couldn't refuse to attend, she didn't want to disappoint Nemui, especially if the shy girl personally chose to invite her. Why did her life always end up in a collage of choices that were always double ended blades? For once she wished that she could just be happy in life, without some sort of disclaimer always popping up it's ugly head,
"Where is this thing happening?" She asked Yukito in a defeated tone, not having the faintest of ideas where Sakura Square was located. She wasn't rich, so she did not partake in walking down rich kid streets, so she had never laid eyes on the extensive plot of land surrounded by the large gate, or the surrounding town.
"Get on with it, Ne-chii!"She could tell that Nemui was the more mature sibling, but it was none of her business to judge the two girls, even if she found the older sibling to be a bit immature. The girl was cute, so it kind of worked for her, but Himeko wondered if she was truly that dependent on Nemui or if the girl was simply playing dumber than she truly was. Himeko had changed clothes, now wearing a less formal attire. She wore a white and black jacket over top of a ebony square neck long sleeved fleece shirt. Her skirt was brown with blue tights underneath and chunky black boots covering her feet.
"O-Okay.. O-One... Two... G-Go!"Himeko withdrew a stick from Nemui's hand, biting her bottom lip. She wasn't sure how this game worked, or the rules, but she had a gut feeling that this would not be nearly as fun as she was promised it would be. She wondered what the sticks were for, but her's had the number two written on it in red ink. She wondered what that meant, but she was too prideful to ask..
"Don't show your sticks everyone, not unless you're the King of this turn!"Himeko nearly froze solid, quickly clinging her popsicle stick to her chest. She didn't realize that she had to keep her number a secret, but she didn't go out of her way to flaunt it, so she hoped that nobody peeked. Now that her number was concealed from everyone else among the group, Himeko found herself growing quite nervous again. Then Nemui began to speak, and she appeared equally nervous, somewhat reassuring Himeko.
"E-Etto... The King demands that number two and number four participate in Seven Minutes in Heaven. W-We will know if you c-cheat... you have to use...e-etto... you have to use t-t-tongue or it doesn't count." Himeko's eyes immediately widened in a cocktail of shock and complete horror. She had never had her first kiss, and she was supposed to willingly give it up, to a practical stranger no less? What if it was a girl?
What if it is KUROU!? She immediately shivered at that thought, shaking her head in attempt to recompose herself. She knew she had to get a grip, but with the startling news, she felt absolutely sick to her stomach. Who had stick number four?
"Everyone reveal your number."In a robotic manner, Himeko revealed her stick, albeit quite hesitantly. She had to lose her first kiss, and it had to be a french kiss with someone she barely knew?! Could this get any worse!? She clenched her entire body, refusing to show just how nervous she truly was, but she couldn't conceal her expression or her nervously darting eyes. Suddenly she was glad that she changed into an outfit that concealed more of her body.
"Not me.""L-Lucky." Himeko tried to calmly respond, although failing miserably. Himeko's eyes landed on the boy from their class that sided with Yukito when she snapped at the youngest Kitomura for making Nemui so uncomfortable that she was literally sinking in her seat. He wasn't the one that she ended up with, so that left the exotic female stranger (Aina), Kurou, Yukito, Nemui's older sister, and Ogawa. She didn't want to kiss ANYONE here!! She always thought that she'd form some kind of emotional connection to her first kiss... and she was sworn off romance at the moment, so this arrangement only terrified her that much more. What if another rumor started?!