Chapter 11: The Truth of Past
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Kai's attempts to boost Tatsuki's confidence weren't going as planned, and he began to worry that his efforts might be making her even more self-conscious. He shared his concerns with Orihime, who decided to take matters into her own hands.
"I'll invite Tatsuki over to my house," she said. "We can all hang out together, and maybe it will be easier for her to accept compliments when we're all in a more relaxed setting."
Kai agreed, hoping this new approach would work.
The day of the get-together arrived, and Orihime had prepared a cozy atmosphere at her home. Tatsuki arrived, and they all settled down in the living room.
"Thanks for inviting me over, Orihime," Tatsuki said, trying to sound casual. "It's been a while since we've hung out like this."
Orihime beamed. "I know! I thought it would be nice to spend some time together, just the three of us."
As they chatted and laughed together, Kai decided to give complimenting Tatsuki another shot. "You know, Tatsuki, you have a great sense of humor. You always know how to make everyone laugh."
Tatsuki's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. "Well, I just say what's on my mind. Sometimes it's funny, I guess."
Kai nodded, smiling. "It's a great quality to have. You always lighten the mood and make everyone feel at ease."
Tatsuki blushed slightly but tried to brush it off. "I don't know about that. It's just how I am."
They continued talking, and Orihime chimed in with her own compliments. "Tatsuki, you're such a loyal and supportive friend. I can always count on you when I need help."
Tatsuki looked at both Orihime and Kai, her cheeks now a deeper shade of red. She seemed to be at a loss for words, clearly overwhelmed by their kind words.
"I, uh... thanks, guys. I don't know what to say," she stammered, looking down at her lap.
Kai leaned forward, his expression sincere. "Tatsuki, you don't need to say anything. We just want you to know that you're an amazing person, and you should be proud of who you are."
Tatsuki's face turned a fierce shade of red, her eyes narrowing as they filled with anger. When Orihime got up to go to the kitchen, Tatsuki seized the opportunity to confront Kai. She quickly moved forward, her hand pressing firmly against his neck as she hissed, "I don't know what you're trying to do, but you're Hime's boyfriend now. Get your shit together or I will!"
Kai, impressed by Tatsuki's loyalty to her friend, smiled and swiftly grabbed her waist. In a fluid motion, he reversed their positions, now holding her down with her hands pinned above her head. "Orihime put me up to this," he whispered into her ear, smirking. "She wants the two of you to be sisters. Would you like that?"
Tatsuki's face flushed an even deeper shade of red, her expression a mixture of shyness and anger. "Even if I did like you, I don't think Orihime would do—" She cut herself off, realizing what she had just blurted out. Her eyes darted away, desperately trying to escape Kai's gaze.
Before she could recover, Orihime's voice rang out, shocking her once again. "Tatsuki, if you like Kai, why didn't you say so?" Orihime asked, genuine curiosity lacing her words.
Tatsuki's eyes widened in panic, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled to find a response. "I-I didn't mean it like that," she stammered, her gaze darting between her best friend and her boyfriend.
Kai raised an eyebrow, his grip on her wrists loosening. "Is that true, Tatsuki?" he questioned gently, searching her eyes for an honest answer.
Tatsuki hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest. She bit her lip, weighing her options before deciding to take a leap of faith.
Tatsuki's eyes filled with tears as she drew her leg back, preparing to kick Kai in the shin. "Did you already forget how close we used to be? The three of us? You suddenly stopped talking to me in middle school and put distance between us. How could I tell you my feelings when a bastard like you walked away once? Huh? Did you ever think how you made me feel?" She lashed out, her foot connecting with Kai's shin over and over as she vented her frustration and heartache.
Kai snorted, trying to withstand the pain from her kicks. But as her anger continued to escalate, he acted quickly, grabbing her leg and using the momentum to pin her under him once again. "Tatsuki, I think it's you who forgot," he said, an angry grin on his face. "When I came to you that day to help you, you told me to fuck off and mind my own business. You were my friend, so despite hating trouble, I still followed you to help you. And what did you do? You ditched me and told me never to talk to you again. What the hell was I supposed to do? Follow you like a creep wherever you went?"
Tatsuki's face flushed with shame as she recalled the incident Kai was talking about. She had been so focused on her own hurt and confusion that she had forgotten how her actions had affected him as well. She stared up at him, her eyes wide with a mix of anger and vulnerability. "I... I didn't mean it like that," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I was just... scared."
Kai's expression softened, his anger dissipating as he took in her tearful face. "Scared of what, Tatsuki?" he asked gently, genuinely wanting to understand.
Tatsuki bit her lip, hesitating for a moment before deciding to be completely honest. "I was scared of... losing you," she admitted, her voice barely audible. "You were getting close to Orihime, and I... I didn't know what that meant for us. I thought if I pushed you away, it would hurt less when you eventually left me behind."
Kai stared down at her, a mixture of emotions swirling in his chest. He sighed, releasing her wrists and sitting back on his heels. "Tatsuki, I never wanted to hurt you. But when you told me to stay away, I thought that's what you truly wanted. I didn't want to make things worse by insisting on being in your life when you clearly didn't want me there."
Tatsuki shook her head, her tears spilling onto her cheeks. "I was just so scared, Kai. I didn't know how to handle my feelings, and I didn't want to lose you. But I ended up pushing you away instead."
Orihime, who had been watching the exchange from the doorway, stepped forward, her eyes filled with concern. "Tatsuki, I never wanted to come between you and Kai. I just wanted us all to be happy together."
Tatsuki looked up at her best friend, her heart aching with regret. "I know, Orihime. I'm sorry I let my fear and jealousy ruin our friendship."
Kai reached out, gently wiping the tears from Tatsuki's face. "It's not ruined, Tatsuki. We can fix this. We can all be friends again, like we used to be."
Tatsuki looked at the ground, tears threatening to spill out. "How can we fix that? Two of you are now a couple. How can I hang out with you guys?"
"You can date Kai too. That would solve it," Orihime walked up to her friend and tapped her head softly.
"What are you saying, Orihime?" Tatsuki asked, shocked by her friend's suggestion.
Orihime smiled warmly, trying to lighten the mood. "You know how I like to mix different foods together, right? Everyone thinks it's strange, but to me, it's the best way to enjoy my meals."
Tatsuki raised an eyebrow, unsure where Orihime was going with this. "Uh, yeah... What does that have to do with anything?"
Orihime's eyes sparkled with excitement as she explained. "Well, think of our love for Kai as different ingredients. When you mix them together, you can create something amazing and delicious! Something that's even better than any one of us could have alone."
Kai, who had been silent until now, furrowed his brows, trying to process Orihime's analogy. "So... you're saying we should all be together? Like, romantically?"
Orihime nodded enthusiastically, her eyes filled with determination. "Yes, exactly! We all care about each other so much, and I truly believe we can make this work. We just need to be open and honest with each other, and mix our love together like my crazy food combinations."
Tatsuki stared at her friend, her mind racing as she tried to process the idea. "Orihime... are you sure about this? I don't want to come between you and Kai."
Orihime reached out and grabbed Tatsuki's hand, her eyes sincere. "Tatsuki, I love you. And I love Kai. I want us all to be happy together, and I think this could be the way. But only if you're comfortable with it."
Kai looked at the two girls, his heart swelling with affection for both of them. "I'm willing to give it a try if both of you are. I care about both of you, and if this is what it takes to make our friendship work, then I'm in."
Tatsuki hesitated, her eyes darting between Orihime and Kai. She took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. "Alright. If you both think we can make this work, then... I'm willing to try."
Orihime grinned, pulling Tatsuki into a tight hug. "Thank you, Tatsuki! I know we can make this work. We just have to trust in our love for each other."
Kai watched the girls embrace, his heart filled with warmth and hope. He stepped forward, wrapping his arms around both of them. "We'll make this work. Together."
As they stood there, wrapped up in each other's arms, a newfound sense of understanding and acceptance washed over them. It was a bold and unconventional step, but they were willing to face it together, united by their love and friendship.
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