We had both agreed not to let any romantic feelings develop between the two of us. I agreed easily. I was only focused on getting one person’s attention; Goto Maki’s. You had been the same.

Looking back, I realise that it was because of that one episode…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Jajang…couple.” Abe said after she flipped over a piece of paper on a stand next to her, “Okay, let’s start!”
Reina wore a long blonde haired wig and Yossie wore a short brown haired wig. Both sat down on a prop bench, Yossie placing her arm around Reina’s shoulders. The Morning Musume girls’ could be heard squealing.
“In a relationship for six months, an envious couple.” the narration voice spoke out “Today, the two of them came to the beach.”
“The ocean’s so beautiful,” Yossie commented.
“Yeah, it is beautiful,” Reina agreed.
“There’s only the two of us here.”
“Yeah.”
“Are you shivering?” Yossie asked, turning to Reina. Reina wiggled. Again, the girls squealed.
“But it’s because we’re so close to each other,” Reina explained. Yossie took Reina’s in her own, smiling.
“The girlfriend accidentally found out now that he’s a playboy. Those two started to fight on the side of the ocean.”
Reina released her hand from Yossie’s and turned to face her.
“I want to clear things up with you,” Reina said in a slightly harsh tone.
“What, what, what?”
“You cheated on me didn’t you?”
“Me?”
“Last time I saw you walking with another woman,” Reina accused.
“You probably saw the wrong person,” Yossie weakly defended.
“No, I saw it!”
“Than how about I show you my cell phone?” Yossie proposed.
“No need.”
“There isn’t a single girl’s name in here except for yours,” Yossie stated.
“No, I wanna break up with you.”
Yossie placed her hand on Reina’s shoulder and said, “Wait a second…”
“No.”
Reina stood up.
“Why?” Yossie asked.
“I hate you. Let go of me,” Reina demanded. Yossie repeatedly tried to hold Reina’s hand but was always shaken off. Standing up, Yossie began to look down at Reina.
“It’s found out that this is the girlfriend’s only suspicion. Those two went back to being intimate with each other.”
“Having you worried, it’s my bad,” Yossie apologised to Reina. Holding out her hand and taking Reina’s in her own, Yossie hugged Reina. Laughter rang out all through the studio. Holding each others hands, they faced each other.
“You’re the only one I like,” Yossie stated.
“You’re the only one I like too.”
“The boyfriend then finds out that she’s a playgirl.”
“Is there something wrong with me?” Yossie asked angrily.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Last time, you and that guy… in the convenient store… In the convenient store, drinking from the same can, right?”
Reina placed her hand over her mouth in shock.
“I did not do that,” she defended.
“That counts as an indirect kiss!”
“So what if it’s an indirect kiss?”
“I don’t accept that!” Yossie folded her arms, turning away from Reina.
“During this fight the fact that he is moving to Hokkaido is made. The sudden breakup…”
Reina laughed, the situation was getting more ridiculous. Yossie turned back to Reina.
“Sorry…truthfully, I don’t want to go either…”
“You’re really going?”
“I have my own dream,” Yossie replied. Laughter.
“Actually, here is Hokkaido. The two of them live closer to each other than before, as neighbours.”
Yossie stood there, finding the right words to say. A short silence passed.
“Hotaru,” she said, giving Reina’s character a name.
“Because having you come here with me… Let’s have a small coffee shop, just the two of us.” Yossie again held Reina’s hand and held it up.
“Yeah,” Reina agreed.
“Then, we’ll take care of “him”,” Yossie continued, making it like they already had a kid. Staring at one of her hands as the child, Yossie said, “We’ll take care of him together. Our baby.”
“From relationship to marriage, it’s been 3 years. Right now, having absolutely no feeling towards each other, the husband and wife.”
Reina and Yossie were in an embrace, but separated at the new situation. Yossie walked away from Reina and sat down on the bench.
“Food, is the food done yet?” Yossie asked, crossing her legs.
“Why don’t you go make it yourself?” Reina demanded.
“Bring it out already.”
“I’m tired as well.”
“Stop being so annoying. I work so hard and then come home.”
“Why don’t you eat outside then come home,” Reina suggested, annoyed.
“Newspaper, how about the newspaper?”
“We don’t have a newspaper at home.”
“Hurry up and go get it.”
“Go get it yourself.”
“Miso soup isn’t hot either,” Yossie complained.
“If you don’t wanna drink it then don’t drink it.”
“Then, I’m leaving this family,” Yossie stated.
“Go ahead,” Reina said.
“Really?”
Yossie stood up.
“Then you get out.”
“Why?”
“Time’s up!” Abe announced.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Even if it wasn’t exactly a major moment, it had been because of that scene that I began to feel differently about you. Suddenly, it wasn’t Maki’s attention I wanted anymore; it was yours. I wanted us to be exactly like the couple we acted out that day. Okay, maybe not exactly; who the hell would want such a dysfunctional relationship?!
I wanted to the one you held; the one you loved. Our secret practise dates became more to me. My heart would always race whenever we snuck to the movies. I was so happy that you were paying attention to only me. When we would say goodnight to each other after you walked me back to my house, I could really see the Mr. Moonlight part of you coming out. But my happiness was short lived. You and Maki became even closer and we stopped going on dates. Then, one day, you confronted me.
“Reina, we can’t date anymore.”
I felt my heart breaking right then, but I wasn’t going to cry in front of you.
“Let me guess, she’s going out with you,” I said, not letting any emotion show.
“Yeah, how did you know?”
“It’s obvious to tell by the way you two have been acting around each other lately,” I stated. A short silence followed.
“I’m sorry, Reina,” you apologised. I could feel tears trying to break free, but I wouldn’t let them; not yet.
“It’s ok, your better for her than me. Anyways, I’ve fallen in love with someone else,” I said. You looked at me in shock.
“That’s great! Can you tell me who it is?”
I shook my head.
“Well, I’m always open ears whenever you want to tell me. I wish you the best of luck with this person, hopefully they’ll return your feelings,” you blessed, smiling. I inwardly winced.
‘If only you knew…’
“We can still hang out though. Want to go the movies or something?” you offered.
“I can’t, I’ve got some business to attend to,” I declined. You pouted.
“Aww, that sucks, but I understand. Let me know if you want to hang out though.”
“I will.”
“I’ll go and see if anyone’s free since you’re busy. I’ll see you on Monday!” you called out. I waved as you left. As soon as you were out of sight I ran. I didn’t care where I was going just as long as I was by myself. My eyes and throat burned, but nothing compared to the burning in my heart. The more I thought about you, the more the pain increased. Even if I tried to get you out of my head, my heart wrenched from the lack of you. It was a no win situation. I fell to my knees in an abandoned park. Our chapter of life together was now over. It was the end of our little game.