Act 2-
 
Part 1- Unexpected visitors.
 
The sound of a door closing pry's my attention from the window. Its Misha, but she appears to be alone. She turns around, and begins fooling with the door. A metallic click. A click? Did she just lock the door?
 
"Good afternoon Hicchan~" She exclaims. Is she trying to hide something from me? What is going on? With devious intent, Misha saunters up to the foot of my bed.
 
"Shizune is running a little late, but I figured you wouldn't mind some alone time with me, right Hicchan?~"
 
Before I can respond, Misha climbs onto the foot of my bed. "You know, Shizune is running really~ late today Hicchan. And I don't think she has a key to that door either. That just leaves us alone"
 
I can't do anything but blink. Nothing comes out. Yesterday I froze up and could only utter various um's and er's. Today its nothing. My mind is a void on a sea of nothingness. I am the proverbial deer in the headlights.
 
Misha seems to notice this, and presses her advantage. She crawls slowly, every so slowly, on top of me and straddles my body, her hands seeking support off to both sides of my head.
 
A victorious smile crosses her face. "Waha Hicchan, I have got you just were I want you." She then leans forward, head inching towards mine. Her lips part and I smell what must be strawberries. She is mere inches from my face.
 
The alarm by the side of my bed goes off. I just stare at the ceiling. I haven't had many dreams since my first heart attack, and they are rarely pleasant ones. I guess I know what my subconscious thinks about my relationship with Misha.
 
Like all dreams, the memory quickly fades away as I wake up, eat breakfast, and realize I'm stuck in a hospital for two days. I know for a fact my mother and father will be visiting me, as well as the promised visit from the student council. Doesn't cheer me up much. Or at all. I wonder what's on TV.
 
Around 6pm, there is a faint knocking on my door. "Come on in" I reply. The door opens and someone I did not expect walks through the doorway. Its Emi. She is carrying with her a small basket that seems to be stuffed with various food items and it topped with a card. "I um.. I heard what happened to you Hisao. I wanted to see you personally to apologies!"
 
This catches me off guard "Apologize? For what?" I state.
 
"For this happening Hisao! I made a promise to the nurse that I would look after you and keep you healthy. The very first time you went to run I scared you away! Less than a week later you almost die due to the fact your in such poor condition! Hisao.... I almost got you killed...." She trails off, and begins staring at the floor.
 
"Emi, you can't possibly blame yourself for this! Its my own personal failure, don't beat yourself up over it. Hell, if anything, this has convinced me to take my health a lot more seriously."
 
I can't think of anything else supportive to say. Wait I almost died and now I'm comforting her? Is this a clever tactic to reach out to me?
 
"Alright Hisao, but you need to make me a promise. When your back in good health, meet me on the track again. I don't care if its as soon as you get out of the hospital or a week after, just go. And this time, you set the pace, and ill run with you. You can even walk the whole thing. Ill be beside you all the way... OK?" Emi punctuates this with the largest smile I have ever seen.
 
She is really taking this promise seriously, and I can't help but feel like some of her energy is rubbing off on me. "Deal" is my response. This seems to improve the mood of the room significantly.
 
Emi doesn't waste the opportunity, and hands me the basket she brought with her. Its a small thing, clearly designed to be given as a get well present. It looks like there was at one point candy or sweets inside the basket, but they have all been replaced by granola bars and dried fruit. There is a card attached to it that says "Get well soon Hisao" and a damned impressive doodle of me on it.
 
"The card.. Did Rin have a hand in that?" I ask.
 
Emi smiles again "Yep. I mentioned I was getting you a get well present and she made me this drawing. Oh, and then she said some Rin stuff, but then said she wanted to let you know to get better soon."
 
"Mind If I ask what you meant by Rin stuff?" I reply.
 
Emi seems to almost blush and breaks eye contact. "Oh.. Well she told me to make sure I don't fall asleep in your room, because you have a thing for sleeping girls and would probably do something perverted."
 
I can't help but laugh at that statement, which doesn't seem to make the situation any easier on Emi. I explain "That sounds like Rin. She thinks I have a sleeping girl fetish because the first time I met her I walked into the art room to get supplies and she was sleeping. I decided not to wake her.. And well.. She woke up"
 
Emi begins to giggle, so I can assume that explanation removes me from the creepy guy list. I hope.  
 
She says her final goodbyes and leaves my hospital room. Well that was productive. With zero effort on my part I made a step to improve my health. Good for me, I guess.
 
In the afternoon I get a visit from my parents. The meeting goes much like I imagined it would. It started with my mother letting me know how scared she was again and nearly crying.
 
My father then got on my case about my reckless behavior. I should really think of my mother. I should really realize how close to death I came. The typical fatherly tirade.  
 
They do eventually relent and begin asking about school. Are my studies going well? Am I making lots of friends? Any love interests? They are, if anything, what I would call your typical parents.
 
They eventually leave me to my hospital dinner. Oh boy, turkey slab with apple sauce. My favorite. The TV keeps me company until I fall asleep.
 
 
 
Part 2- Release
 
My second day in the hospital begins with a check up from the resident Doctor. Raise my hands above my head, deep breaths. Another breakfast of hospital mush. I don't even check what I'm eating.
 
I feel really bad for stay at home moms. Daytime TV is pretty terrible. I find myself switching between children's cartoons and the news. I find myself spending more time wishing something would happen instead of paying attention to whatever show I'm watching.
 
Its my final day in this hellhole at least. I've been pestering the attendees about my release. They keep telling me once my Doctor finishes his rounds and gives me a check up I will be free to leave. They guess around 5 pm. I promise to hold them to that. This back and forth happens at least 3 times before noon, each time the nurse becomes increasingly annoyed. Good. I want your time with me to be as unbearable as my time with you.
 
My lunch of hospital mush and my TV keep me "entertained" all day. I really wish someone would have brought me a book. I debate the usefulness of creating a "hospital care kit" that someone can bring me next time I end up here. Next time. That leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Im doing everything I possibly can to avoid this place again.
 
This line of thought brings me to the promise I made Emi yesterday. I really hope she helps me follow through on that. I certainly don't trust myself to keep it up. I may have to start out walking. I think I can pull that off at least. Walking at a brisk pace. The thought of Emi being forced to walk around a track brings a smile to my face. I hope the thinks the situation is as funny as I do when the time comes.
 
At around 3:45pm, my resident Doctor enters the room. I guess my annoying persistence paid off. He checks me over, gives me a final speech about my health, and releases me. Free at last. I waste no time in collecting my things. Out the front doors in less than five minutes. I use what little money I had on bus fare. Ill be back to normal life in one hour. Well, whatever passes for normal as Yamaku.
 
Time on the bus gives me time to think about my current situation. Well I guess I never got that visit from Shizune and Misha. Can't really blame them, I'm sure student council work kept them busy yesterday and well.. Today I got our eerily. I hope that's the reason. A thousand paranoid thoughts flood my mind, but are quickly pushed away. No need to dwell on the negatives. Im out of the hospital and feeling good. Maybe I should surprise them with a visit of my own.
 
The gates of Yamaku pass above me and I feel like I'm finally home again. Strange, less than two weeks ago these gates looked oppressing. I can't help but feel I've matured just a little bit. Oh well, enough self congratulation.
 
I decide its probably a good idea to visit my room first and make sure everything is still how I left it. Who knows, Kenji might have broken in and taken all my stuff to make a bigger pillow fort to fight the feminists. A shower sounds good right about now too.
 
I finish my shower, and check the time. 5:30 in the afternoon. Knowing their normal schedule, I should still be able to find Misha and Shizune working on council work.
 
I open the council room to find Shizune and Misha hard at work with their council duties. And by hard at work I mean Shizune and Misha appear to be mid way through a boardgame. I manage a small wave as they take notice of me.
 
"Hicchan! We didn't expect you to be out till tomorrow! You didn't escape, did you?" Misha shouts.
 
Shizune begins signing. "Shicchan says she will personally drag you back and stick you in a hospital bed herself if you have flown the coop!"
 
"Hey, hey" I reply, "I was let out early on good behavior. Honestly, I think I just bothered the doc's enough they got me out of the way"
 
"Well you sure made us look bad. Shicchan and I were going to visit you today after we finished out council work. Now you made us look like jerks. Thanks a lot Hicchan!~" Misha and Shizune then both make the same face that a child would when he's caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
 
"Its fine, really. I got let out early anyways, so its not your fault. You must have been really... Um... Busy... With all the council work" To add emphasis to this I wave my hand over the unfinished paperwork and the boardgame.
 
Shizune turns a deep shade of red. Misha lets loose with her trademark laugh. Several signs are exchanged between the two.
 
"Hicchan you know very well that a break time is a very important part of council work. We would go insane from all the paper work if we had to do it non stop!"
 
Misha seems to be taking my teasing in stride, but Shizune seems to honestly be upset I just accused her of slacking off. Gotta defuse this situation.
 
"Hey, I know for a fact how hard we all work here. I was only teasing you."
 
This seems to placate Shizune, and she resumes her position by the game board. Misha takes up her place as well, and they resume the game. As I expected, Shizune quickly wins a decisive victory.
 
"Hicchan, can I ask a personal question?~" Misha asks as Shizune puts the game away.
 
"Um.. Sure I guess" How am I supposed to respond to that? Say no?
 
"Well.. Hisao.. Were friends. We care about you. If you don't want to answer.. that's fine too. But you almost died on us Hicchan! You just suddenly collapsed. We had... We had no idea why. We want to be there for you Hicchan!"
 
I think I understand what she's getting to. "You want to know the reason I'm at Yamaku? What's.. Wrong with me?"
 
Misha nods. Sunshine's stare deepens.
 
"I have a heart condition. Arrhythmia. Long story short, physical stress or increases in heart rate to be very dangerous."
 
Misha smiles at this. Shizune nods again, and begins signing to Misha. "Shicchan wants to let you know she thought it might be an issue with your heart, and has mapped out all the locations of emergency care in Yamaku that contain defibrillators, just in case."
 
"Err.. Thanks I guess. Ill make sure to keep you guys around in case I decide to get reckless again." This brings a smile to both of their faces.
 
"Well as long as we are delving into personal information, Misha.. Can I ask you the same question?"
 
Misha laughs again, and I see shizune make a gesture that can only mean "go on"
 
"Well Hicchan, I don't have any disabilities. I came to Yamaku to learn sign language. That's really the whole story. Sorry I'm so plain and boring."
 
This statement takes me off guard. "Misha, only an idiot would call you plain and boring."
 
I expect the roar of Misha's laughter to ring out. Instead, Misha blushes slightly. She almost seems taken off guard by the compliment. "Thanks Hicchan, That means a lot."
 
What's this? That really wasn't even that big of a compliment. She must be used to at least some positive attention, right?
 
This situation is a powder keg. It seems innocent enough, but I know my next sentence is going to define the continued relationship I have with Misha. Normally I would stall until someone else bails me out, but Shizune really can't do that. Not that I think she should even if she could.
 
Damn, nothing I say in my head sounds right. If I try to make a joke it just makes me sound insensitive. Judging by her reaction to my previous statement, that would be a horrible move right now. I can't really play it off either, too risky for the same reason. Well, better just be honest and deal with the results.
 
"Well I'm glad I can make you happy Misha. You deserve it." Good. That sounded.. Neutral enough. Better to play my cards close to my chest.
 
I assumed my second compliment would have disarmed the situation and set things back to normal. I guess I was wrong. Without a word, Misha briskly walks out of the room and closes the door behind her.
 
Confused, I turn to Shizune. The look she gives me could freeze boiling water. She wastes no time in producing a small pad of paper from her bag and writing.
 
"What the hell did you say to her Hisao? She stopped translating after "Sorry I'm so plain and boring".
 
I scribble back. "I told her she wasn't either of those! She then thanked me, and I told her I was happy to give her the compliment. Then she stormed out!"
 
Shizune takes the pad back, but thinks about her response for some time. She shoots me the occasional glance, before thoughtfully writing.
 
"Hisao, be honest with me. I've seen the way you look at her. Did you make any statements that would make her think your attracted to her?"
 
Well time for me to go on the defensive. "No, I certainly didn't! And what do you mean the way I look at her?"
 
Shizune gives me a smirk this time before writing. "In case you forgot Hisao, I'm deaf. Which means when other people are worried about talking or listening, I'm watching. Im paying attention to body language. Don't pretend you have no idea what I'm talking about."
 
Damn, she's got me there. Have I really been making it that obvious? Did Shizune know how I felt before I did?
 
I write back. "Im sorry for scaring Misha off like this. Please tell her I'm sorry about whatever I said that upset her the next time you see her. And don't presume to see things other people don't! You only caught me staring in the hospital because of the act. If some other beautiful women were to jump around like that I would stare too, OK?"
 
Shizune reads the pad. She then begins writing a smug grin on her face.
 
"You know you just  called Misha beautiful second hand right? And your saying I'm wrong in my assessment of your body language."
 
Its my turn to blush. I mock frustration, just so I can stand and stare out the window to collect my thoughts. This conversation has turned into a boxing match, and I'm getting clobbered.
 
A tap on my shoulder is followed by Shizune showing me what she has written on the pad. "Its OK Hisao, you know I'm just giving you a hard time. Ill take your apology to Misha, and we will see you in class tomorrow, OK? Remember, we are treating her to dinner. Bring whatever money you can, I can't imagine she is going to make this cheap on us."
 
 
 
Part 3- Running from the truth.
 
My alarm clock goes off. No it doesn't. I don't have an alarm clock. My sleep addled brain attempts to place the source of disturbing sound. Ah, its my cell phone. Must be my parents, nobody else has my number. I check the caller Id. Its a number I don't recognize. Well, I'm up at least. I hope its a solicitor, I really want to take some frustration out on somebody. I greet the caller roughly.
 
"Who is this? And how did you get my number?" I try to sound tough. Do I succeed? I don't really know.
 
"Not exactly a mourn'in person, are ya Hisao?" Says the fastest thing on no legs.
 
I sigh into my phone. I really can't get mad at Emi. I made a promise, and I should have expected her to be serious about it. An old friend of mine used to say "Serious as a heart attack". I guess that phase certainly applies to my current situation.
 
"Is this a wake up call?" I pause for a second. "Um.. Mind if I ask how you got my number? Not that I mind, but I really haven't given it to anyone at Yamamku."
 
Emi responds in a sweet voice. If I could see Emi's face right now, I'm almost 100% sure should would be using her trade marked puppy dog eyes. "Well.... Your list of emergency contact information has your cellophane on it. And I mayyyy have asked the nurse to give it to me so I could get your lazy butt out of bed"
 
Damn, she's much more resourceful than I thought. My bed is a siren that calls to me. I must escape this trap and return to its sweet embrace. I hope Emi can take a joke, cause I'm pulling my trump card. "Emi, this is a bit stalker-ish, don't you think? Let me get back to sleep and ill run after class. I can tell you want to spend time with me, but take it slow, OK?"
 
A laugh rings out through the phone. "Nice try Hisao. For one, I have a boyfriend. I think your a good lookin guy, but don't press your luck. Two, I know your just saying whatever you can think of in order to go back to bed. If your not on the track in 15 minutes I'm going to sneak into your class and put gay porn in your desk."
 
Clever girl.
 
I made it out to the track in record time. We do our stretches and begin. True to her word, Emi allows me to dictate the pace and keeps stride with me, offering words of encouragement the whole way. Its hard to run with my condition. There is a fine line between the "pushing yourself you need to get in shape" and the "pushing yourself that kills you". I end up walking most of the mile, but Emi positively beams at me when I finish.
 
"See Hisao, its just that easy. Keep that up and you will be head of the track squad in no time!"
 
Im honestly too winded to reply. That took a lot more out of me than I thought. Emi takes off at a blinding pace and I go back to my room to shower and get ready for school.
 
Well that turned out well. I guess I can add another friend to my very small list. Maybe its just her nature, but Emi really does seem concerned for my health. Its nice to have someone who's trying to shape you into a better person. I think I may start enjoying these runs.
 
I shower in record time. Fresh clothes, brush teeth, style hair. Time to return to normal school life.
 
I arrive in my classroom to find it missing two key figures. Namely, Misha and Shizune. I ask around to see if anyone heard anything about why, and get several shrugs. Nobody really seems to care. Honestly, Im getting the impression Misha and Shizune may not be the most popular people in the school.
 
Classes end for the day, and still no sign of the dynamic duo. The reasons for the absence have been weighing on my mind all day. Its obviously my fault. I did.. Something. I mean sure, Misha seemed to choke up and leave, but to miss a whole day of school? And to be so distraught you cause your best friend to miss it as well? What the hell have I done?
 
Im not an idiot, and I know searching the school or the women's dorms for them would probably only worsen the issue if I find them. I decide to give them a gift, per say. I remember the pile of unfinished paper work in the council office. I bet if I put a couple hours in, I could finish a lot of it. Can't imagine that would hurt my case when I finally confront them.
 
I steel my mind for the hours of paper work to follow, and head up to the council room. I fling open the door and find... Misha and Shizune. They appear to both be hard at work too. This is.. Unexpected.
 
I greet them. "Um.. Hi? Missed you guys in class today."
 
Misha responds on her own accord. She does not stop to sign for Shizune, who doesn't even look up from her paper work. "Heya Hicchan. Give us 15 minutes, please."
 
And.. that's it. She resumes her paper work. Am I getting cold shouldered here? I plop down in a empty chair and wait. Misha and Shizune plug away at papers like robots. Their determination is incredible. How long have they been here? As I look around the room, the thought occurs to me. Have they been here all day? They skipped class to do paperwork? For what reason? Why are they so...robotic In their duties. Any other day they would have stopped for a break or a time wasting game at the drop of a hat.
 
Eventually, Misha and Shizune run out of papers to go over. They are silently stacked in the corner, and filed. Much to my surprise, the end of paper work is heralded by a very enthusiastic high five. Both girls then plop down in seats opposite me.
 
Misha cracks her neck and then speaks. "Wahahah I'm pooped. Sorry you had to see that Hicchan. We hoped it would be a surprise."
 
"Um.. A surprise? You were skipping school to surprise me?" I respond.
 
Misha thoughtfully puts her finger on her chin. "Well I guess it doesn't make a lot of sense from your point of view., so lemme explain. While you were in the hospital, Shizune and I sort of.. Put off our council duties. Shizune made the argument that you shouldn't get out of the work that easily, and that it could be habit forming."
 
I look to Shizune. All I get is a shrug.
 
Misha begins again. "Well, we realized how big of a jerk that made both of us, so we started working extra hard on all the paperwork. We started yesterday, and took all of today off as well to work hard for you. We even finished a lot of work that we would have typically put off till the last minute. So in the end, we did so much that we shouldn't have to do any real student council work for about a week! Isn't that great Hisao!"
 
Im touched, probably more so than they know. Lets face it, my initial suspicion was that I was being press ganged into the student council so I could do all the work for them. With that fear destroyed, I may just take the council a little more seriously.
 
Shizune signs to Misha. "Shicchan says that that leaves only one more thing to do tonight! Wait, we have more to do? What do you mean "how could you forget?" Oh yeah! My victory dinner! Yayyy!~"
 
Misha's ability to suddenly snap into a cheerful mood in commendable. Judging by the look on Sunshine's face, I think she's thinking the exact same thing.
 
They both gather their things and tell me to meet them outside the girls dorms in 30 minutes. Afterwards, we are taking a bus into town. Misha has found a small cafe she is dying to visit. The name is in French. My wallet cry's just hearing the name.
 
30 minutes later, I'm outside the girls dorm waiting for the girls. Im wearing the only clean city cloths I had. A button down white polo shirt, pressed slacks, and my favorite sweater vest. People always hate on the sweater vest. Let them. I look damn good in it. Ten minutes later, still no sign of the girls. Speaking of the girls, nobody has mentioned the events that lead Misha to storm out on us last night. I guess I'm just going to let that one be a mystery unless its brought up.
 
As if on queue, the girls appear. Shizune is wearing a blue skirt with matching black top. Misha is wearing a similar get up, but her skirt is black and her top white. Misha's choice appears to be much more.. Form fitting. I would go as far to say it may be slightly too small for her. I would never dare think of complain about that fact, however.
 
Misha greets me. "Sorry for makin ya wait, Hicchan! I couldn't find anything I liked so I borrowed one of Sunshine's outfits. It doesn't look too terrible, does it?"
 
Crap. Another question I have to answer carefully or be forever doomed. I decide to go the route of flattery that isn't necessary outright flirty.
 
"I think you would look great no matter what you wore." I try to make that comment seem casual.
 
Misha roars. "Wahahah Hicchan you big suck up. Your not gonna get out of buying me dinner with just a little flattery."
 
I shrug my shoulders in my best "well I tried" gesture.
 
Sunshine's eyes glitter with a dark cunning. She looks at Misha, and then slowly to me. I don't know what she's trying to imply, but the look succeeds in making me both embarrassed and afraid at the same time.
 
Luckily the wait for the bus is short enough no real conversation happens between us. However, the bus itself prevents a new problem. Its jam packed. After careful searching, we manage to spot two unoccupied seats. Shizune immediately plops herself down in one. Her eyes gleam with that same evil look.
 
"Its OK Misha. Take the seat. Ill stand. Its no big deal." I say.
 
It appears the bus driver heard me. "Sorry lad, this bus doesn't have any hand rails so its against regulations for me to let ya stand. You gotta find a seat or take the next bus."
 
Shizune begins to sign in rapidly. "Well Shicchan says one of us is going to have to sit on the other's lap. She's not getting up, she got the first seat fair and square."
 
Oh.. So that's how its going to be. Well if Shizune is going to play the malevolent matchmaker, that's fine by me. I need all the help I can get. Maybe she thinks I will chicken out? Ill show her.
 
"Not much of a discussion then is it?" I sit down. I fold one of my legs over the other in attempt to make my lap as chair like as possible."
 
"Wahahaha how chivalrous of you Hicchan." Misha says. She looks at Shizune with a questioning glance. Shizune nods.
 
Misha then takes her seat on Sunshine's lap.
 
Well.. I did not see that coming. Misha appears to be.. Smiling? I even detect a small blush. What does this all mean?  Behind Misha's back, Shizune looks as smugly triumphant as I have ever seen her. What is this game she's playing. Is she trying to tell me something?
 
We exchange unimportant gossip on the bus ride. I tell them of my hospital stay, they tell me the latest school news. The bus ride is bumpy and long. Maybe its karma, or maybe Shizune didn't think very far ahead, but it becomes quite obvious that Misha is becoming a painful weight to bear for Shizune. Misha finally catches on to this fact. Several signs are exchanged.
 
"Despite her saying otherwise, it looks like Shizune is at her limit. Alrighty Hicchan, I'm comin over." Misha then unceremoniously plops herself onto my lap.
 
Im not a guy who had a lot of experience with the ladies. So this is pretty much the best thing ever. She's sitting right on my lap. It feels.. Nice. She's completely weightless to me, and I get lost in the smell of her hair. It really does smell like strawberries. That's gotta be intentional. Is it her shampoo? A special oil? I don't really care. Its magic.
 
Sadly, the bus ride ends and Misha gets up. We all straighten up and head towards Misha's eatery of choice. As we arrive, the place seems to be more of a breakfast diner than anything else. The sign outside reads "Omlette du fromage", whatever the hell that means. Misha wastes no time in entering the establishment, and we follow suit. We are seated by a waitress and handed the menu. It becomes clear why Misha chose this place. The menu is breakfast and dessert. That's it.
 
Misha speaks up. "I hope you two can find something you like, I heard this place had the best sundae's in town and had to try it!"
 
We place our orders. Misha doesn't go as crazy as I anticipated, but still seems to be ordering for two. I settle on a coffee based malt. The food arrives and Misha appears to have heard correctly about this place. My malt is amazing, and Misha wastes no time in gleefully digging into her treats. Shizune picked a strange mint shake with an exotic sounding slice of pie.
 
Unfortunately, no real conversation is exchanged during the meal. Misha hardly stops to breath while Shizune and I watch on. I want to at least be friendly and say something to Shizune, but I don't think forcing her to use the notepad would be a good idea now. We finish and me and Shizune split the bill. Its not cheap, but its much less than I prepared to pay. Life's little surprises I guess.
 
As soon as we are out the door, Misha turns to us both. "Wahahahaha, I don't think ill ever eat again! Im stuffed on junk foods! Thank you so much for doing this for me you guys, it means a lot!"
 
Shizune and I both smile and make "it was nothing" gestures at Misha. She laughs again and steps between us. She locks arms with both of us and begins the walk back to the bus stop. More casual contact with Misha. I could get used to this. Shizune seems to sense my thoughts and sneers at me knowingly when Misha isn't looking.
 
Unfortunately for me, the bus ride home has plenty of space. As I sit down in my seat, I begin to realize just how tired I am. Its about a hour ride back to Yamaku, might as well catch a few winks. The girls seem to feel the same way. We don't even bother with friendly conversation, and I slowly begin to drift to sleep.
 
Somewhere along the way a bothersome noise wakes me from my nap. It takes me several seconds to remember who I am, why Im on a bus, and why I feel heavy on my side. Why do I feel heavy on my side? I glance over to find Misha, sound asleep, resting against my shoulder.
 
Now, that's not the right word for it. When I say resting I don't mean "Her head is touching my shoulder". I mean her torso is turned to face me, her hands have found themselves slightly around me, and her face is smooshed into my shoulder. I've never seen someone able to sleep with such reckless abandon on a moving vehicle before. I must have stirred slightly, because I cause Misha to awake as well.
 
She slowly takes in her surroundings as well. Realization dawns on her, and her cheeks turn a violent shade of pink as she removes herself from me. She looks to Shizune, who is still fast asleep, and speaks
 
"Sorry Hicchan. I didn't mean to lean all over you like that. Guess I was just having a good dream."
 
Ok Hisao, moment of truth. Lets get the fact straight. You do like Misha. A lot. More than a friend, if possible. Shizune knows this as well. The window of opportunity for you to make your feelings known on your terms is shrinking rapidly thanks to Shizune. Right now, she's out of the picture.
 
"That dream happen to include me?"
 
Misha's blush doesn't fade in the slightest. "Hicchan... that's not something a friend would say."
 
"Maybe I want to be more than a friend Misha. Maybe I can't deny the way I feel about you any longer. Let me treat you to another dinner. This time, just the two of us." I respond.
 
Misha expression morphs into one of complete sadness. "Don't joke like that Hicchan, its not very nice. We all know it was you and shizune from the start, just as she planned it. Im going back to sleep."
 
This isn't happening. What the hell IS happening? Im not standing for this. This is bull shit. What the hell is causing her to think like this? To treat herself like this? She is always so cheerful and full of energy. This is not the Misha I know.
 
Maybe I don't really know Misha. I certainly intend to find out.
 
I gently grab the side of her chin and turn her towards me. Our eyes lock together and Misha face seems to give up on its sadness. I swiftly lean in and place my lips on hers. For what seems like an eternity she remains frozen. Then, I feel her come to life in my hands and she begins to kiss me back. She's actually kissing me back! The image of fireworks goes off in my brain.
 
Our mouths eventually part as we continue to stare into each other eyes. Misha lets loose a loud sob and buries her head in my chest. "Hicchan, Im so happy! I never thought someone like you could ever like me! And I never thought I could like you back!" Whatever she had welling up in her has been unleashed like a floodgate. She continues to sob into my chest. My move is to contort her in this moment. I rest a hand on her head and hug her with my free arm.
 
I hold Misha this way all the way back to Yamaku.