Five
I didn't know how it usually worked, but almost no one was dancing. Mostly they were talking above the way—too—loud music.
We met Mihara ƒ♪Chiharu for the rest of youƒ♪ and Yamazaki. They were dancing right then, but Yamazaki was telling some sort of story about the origin of dancing, and Mihara was getting ready to whack him (as usual).
We moved on, getting a lot of good—natured teasing from the people we met. Sakura shrugged it all off.
♪You'll never feel
All the things I can't say
And I'll never know if it's
Better this way♪
It wasn't too bad, really, hanging around with Sakura. Daidouji was speaking with some adult, and Hiiragizawa had disappeared off somewhere (I definitely didn't mind that).
That is, I was in heaven until I spotted Daidouji heading in our direction, with the largest, scariest grin on her face I have ever seen. She screamed bad news (not really, but you get the point).
"Sakura-chan, Li-kun!" she said happily.
"Yes?" I said cautiously.
"Did you know they're doing a contest?" she said in a sing—song tone.
"Really?"
I did not like the sound of that.
"Ooh, what sort of contest?" Sakura asked. She smiled. "Maybe we can win!"
"Oh, you can! I've already entered you!" Daidouji said, still grinning. "It's a "cutest couple" contest!"
"But, Tomoyo-chan, we're not a couple!"
"You should be," she said firmly.
I excused myself so I wouldn't hit Daidouji, and found the restroom. I splashed cold water on my face to bring the red down.
♪Somewhere down along the line
I guess that love became a crime
This contradiction makes no sense
This is punishment
I feel like this is Judgment Day
I'll raise my hand stand up and say
"I don't believe I'm innocent—
This is— punishment."♪
Yes, punishment. When I came up for air Hiiragizawa was standing beside me.
"Hello, Li-kun."
"Get lost," I snarled.
"You know, Li-kun," he continued ignoring my statement, "Miss Daidouji-san is right."
"About what?" I asked, not very interested but hoping that if he made his point he'd go away.
"About Sakura-san. Li-kun… it does not have to be punishment. You've done nothing wrong, after all. You have a chance."
I looked at him. He just smiled that infuriating smile. I glared.
"What do you know," I said rhetorically.
I looked away. When I turned back again he was gone.
"I Do Not Like Him," I said to my reflection, in capitals for a stronger emphasis. "And he's not right."
My last words weren't particularly convincing, even to myself. He had made me wonder… in more ways than one. To Be Continued...