Chapter 91: Birthday gal 5
"What are you doing?" Ishi was in awe about her sudden action. Why would anyone be crazy enough to climb this large Christmas tree in the middle of the mall. Well, if you asked him before this day, then he would've said Ryugi was the one girl insane enough to try. Still, that didn't mean he actually thought she'd go out and do it.
"I have to do this." She yelled back to him, without actually explaining what was going on to him, which left the boy in confusion. Thankfully, there were her friends coming in to help him out for once.
"She's gone cray-cray." Ritusko and the others came up behind him. Most boys might feel a little nervous about being surrounded by a group of girls that hated their guts. However, it seemed that there was a different energy coming from them now after Ryugi's act. Were they fine with him now?
"Yeah, she told all of us that she likes you." Nayaka and Non explained things further. It was already one thing that she just confessed to the entire class about her feelings. But there was more she felt that she needed to do before telling the boy everything. Which is why she was in the middle of climbing the tree right now.
"So she's trying to get one of those ornaments to get for you. Honestly, if she really likes you, then I'll support her all the way." Finally, after Nayaka's words, it was clear what was happening here. Ishi would call himself one that didn't believe in these weird superstitious acts revolving around anything. Especially if it had anything to do with love. Obviously people don't have their romantic feelings changed just because something outside of their relationship occurred. But Ryugi was precisely the girl to believe in every single one.
After all, why else would she have bothered to kiss him during their school festival? She knew that if she allowed Rinse to get away with it, then there was the high change the legend would come true and it would be over before it began for the gyaru. She also believed that was why Chinae did it that day, even though it looked like her sister was the one to confess first. Not to mention that it really upset her to see him ask Youna to do it. Maybe he was lying and actually believed in it too, so he wanted the girl he liked to give him a peck on the cheek.
Anyway, it didn't matter in this moment. All she cared about was climbing on these branches, which hurt and scratched up her hands the higher she got. The worst part of this was that it was ruining her manicure.
"Ryugi, can you please stop?" He yelled up to her now that he was aware of the full story. "You're friends told me everything."
"I can't stop now." She yelled back to him in defiance. "Not until I grab one of these ornaments."
"Well, first I think you'll get into a lot of trouble if you did that." The first thing he had to say to her had to be the logical course of action. "But, secondly-"
"No, you listen to me." She refused to have another lecture from him. Not until she made her feelings clear. "I'm in love with you, okay? Are you happy now?" The boy was taken aback that she would scream from up there out to everyone about how she truly felt. "I was too scared to tell you because I knew everyone would make fun of me." After all, how could such a beautiful and popular girl ever want to date a boy like him? Ishi was grumpy, and mean, and rude, and… Well, he would probably say that this was more than enough to get to the point, but there was more to it. The two of them acted like they were from different worlds. He was brash and out there with who he was. While she wanted to be more girly, Ryugi also hid the parts of her that he didn't mind exposing for everyone's benefit.
The gal just wanted to be viewed as the way she presented herself. That's what she thought after going to high school, but he was always there to seek out who she really was underneath the makeup and playful act. "And I'm not even the type of girl you're looking for, but I'm not going to give up! I promise you that you won't regret giving me a chance. That's why-"
Her sentence was cut off as her hand slipped out from the prickly branches. Ryugi was in a free fall towards the hard mall floor now, and she braced herself for the impact and pain. Which never came as she felt her fall stopped as her body still remained weightless. "I-Ishi…" Fortunately, he was quick enough to catch her and allow for a safe landing.
"You're really bad at listening, you know that?" He had on a look that she had never seen before. It wasn't like he appeared to be mad at her. This was more of a face of someone who was concerned about someone they cared deeply for.
"I'm… Sorry." She apologized as he continued to hold her up in his arms. Ryugi couldn't understand why he hadn't put her down yet. "Um…"
"I was going to tell you that you don't need that stupid superstition." He continued to speak. "Because… I like you too."
"Eh!?" Everyone watching, from their classmates to the near strangers from the crowd that emerged from her showing, was in complete and utter shock with his answer. There really was a girl that could get into his ice cold heart, and it was a gyaru?
"H-how?" Despite having all that drive, Ryugi still couldn't believe what she was hearing from him. "I'm nothing like-"
"I know what I've said." He cut her off. People were always trying to rationalize why someone wouldn't like them instead of just accepting their feelings. "But, I can be wrong about things too." Just like he was wrong about how everyone else viewed him. And just like she was wrong about how everyone else would view their relationship.
And she was tremendously wrong about how he was going to feel about her having a crush on him. It was hard for him to explain to her, but to go out and confess to him in such a public manner despite being afraid of how she was going to be viewed. That was what he was truly looking for. The boy had been actually searching for a girl that would be willing to openly say she was in love with a boy who always had his shields up. "Rogi…"
"…" She blushed at him saying her first name loudly in front over everyone they knew. "Don't call me that." Her gaze averted from him and the others as the girl was still in his arms. "I hate that name. It's an ugly name."
"It's a beautiful name." He never could stop arguing with her on the little things like this. But for them in this moment, it was the biggest thing in the world. "Because it's your name." Ishi took her head with one of his hands and turned it back towards his. With that, his feelings for her were sealed as his lips touched her in a kiss.
The entire audience had their jaws dropped with how bold he was with a girl who had just confessed their feelings for him. But it really shouldn't come as a surprise, seeing as it's Ishi. After all, that was a boy who was never one to hide how he felt about any topic. "I hope that's prove my answer." He said as the boy put her back onto her feet.
"It does." She was on cloud nine after hearing him accept her feelings. There wasn't anything tonight that could ruin her birthday, and it certainly was the best Christmas present she had ever received. However, things weren't finished up just yet.
"You know, you did always want to sing in front of a crowd."
"Now!?" Her face got even brighter red from his suggestion. It was already a heightening experience just to finally get together with him. "But you said that I stunk the last time."
"I'm sure you've gotten a lot of practice after then." Judging from how she reacted to most of his challenges, she was always up for proving him wrong. "And besides, everyone here's always wanted to hear me sing." Ishi went and sat down at the piano and played a little tone. As a young child, he had taken lessons to become rather good, but it had been years since the last time he touched one of these. Though just like riding a bike, he certainly never forgot the skills.
The crowd gave out a cheer to show their excitement over getting a wonderful Christmas show. That was all Ryugi needed to take the microphone to finally show off her training to the world.
"I hope you know how to play all I want for Christmas." She told him as she tested the mic.
"Heh, of course you'd pick that one." Why wouldn't she choose a romantic Christmas song about only desiring that one person? Though it made perfect sense. After all, despite being showered by gifts from her peers, all that girl wanted was to be with him.
With that, Ishi began the performance and Ryugi showed off the fruits of her labor. She truly did spend a lot of time honing her skills at singing as even he was blown away by her wonderful voice.
Not to be outdone, even the pianist had his own vocals to add onto the song. For the first time in everyone's lives, they were able to finally listen to Ishi's singing voice. Somehow, despite being someone who never cared for the bright and cheerful music of the world, he had the voice of an angel. It was even good enough to compete with well known boy bands too.
So this was what he was waiting for all along to show something off like this. While it might seem odd that he would hide something, since that wasn't his style. Those closest to him knew that he was looking for a reason to do this, as he always wanted one to give him the push he needed.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone