Awkward Two 3. - Japan x OC Belou. (END)

Belou faced the dark room, crushing her pillow in her arms. Kiku’s harsh, coarse words still running through her head.

Belou turned, hoping to erase the memories of what happened hours ago. She let out a soft sigh, shutting her eyes slowly. Knowing that it was impossible, she sat up in her bed – reaching for her phone. It was three in the morning.

She sent a message to Kiku.

“Are you asleep yet…?”

Belou patiently waited for a reply.

”No.”

Somehow, she should have been happier because Kiku replied, but something in her heart just sparked that she was upset.

”I miss you, Kiku.”

Belou looked over the message again, deciding to erase it – keeping it to herself.
The next morning, Belou decided she would go to Kiku’s house.

Here she was, standing in front of his door – debating whether or not to ring the doorbell.

“Oh, Belou dear! You’ve been standing here this whole time?” Kiku’s mother greeted Belou as she pulled her inside, with Kiku standing by the end of the stairwell. Belou only gave her a weak smile in return.

“I finished my portion; mind coming up to take it?” Kiku led Belou up the stairs, and into his room, where he shut the door. Kiku fiddled with a stack of paper until he found a stack clipped together in one. “Here you go,” Kiku handed the papers to her. “They should be enough for two volumes, so-“

Belou dropped the stack of paper onto the floor, not caring if they splattered in half.
“Kiku, may I ask you a question?” Kiku didn’t answer, only to look down on the floor. Belou took the chance to take his hands in her own, reassuring him. “I-I-Thank you.”

Belou mentally slapped herself.

Hard.

“You’re welcome.” was Kiku’s simple answer. He only got up, and exited the room.
…

Belou went back to Mr. Jones the following day, giving him three volumes worth of papers, all clipped and organized in piles.

“Awesome! Thanks, dudes! Oh yeah, the volumes that we printed are already on top sellers for Manga!” Belou only smiled, trying not to mind Kiku’s absence. “Where’s Kiku?”

“H-He’s not feeling well today, so I told him to stay home.”

“Oh, alright. Tell him to feel better. Also, you don’t have to submit anything to me until September. These will be enough to hold the crowd, and we’re in the process of reprinting more of the first volume.”

“T-Thanks, Mr. Jones.”

“As always, good work!” Mr. Jones only waved a good-bye as he returned to his normal business, with Belou exiting the building – alone, for a change.

Taking the taxi home alone was a first for her, and she was almost too frightened to speak.

As the taxi drove closer to home, she noticed a man wearing a tuxedo in front of her home. Belou paid the driver as she got out of the car. Getting closer to her home, she clutched tightly onto her small purse.

“K-Kiku?”

“B-Belou.” He stuttered the same way she did.

“What are you doing in front of my house?”

“I was simply waiting for you,” Kiku blushed slightly. “I didn’t cause any problems, so I suppose it should be alright.”

“Do you need me for something?”

“Ah-“ Belou interrupted him. “Also, I handed in the papers to Mr. Jones. He said they’re reprinting more of the first vol-“ It was Kiku’s turn to interrupt her.

“That’s not important right now,” Kiku sighed. “What’s more important is that you’re here beside me.” Belou was confused. Was this what she thinks it is? “I want you to stay here beside me; forever. I’ve considered moving, but it was such a silly idea. I realized that I love you, Belou and there’s no other way around it. I want to publish more Awkward Two with you, and there’s no other way around that too. Will you be mine?”

Belou threw her arms around Kiku, nodding her head madly. “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!”

And there was no other way around that either.

-EXTENDED ENDING-.

“Excuse me, Mr. and Mrs. Honda.” The secretary walked in to the shared office of two.

“Mr. Jones is here to see you, should I request him in?”

“Yes, please.” Kiku replied as the secretary exited.

“Dudes! I haven’t seen you guys in ages! I can’t believe you guys actually made a company together! And this company is already number two in America…  A best friend surely does wonder, right?!” Mr. Jones, or Alfred laughed.

“Actually,” Kiku started, holding up the intertwined hands. “We’re married.”

Alfred sat there with a stoic face, before opening his mouth to speak. “BUT I WASN’T INVITED TO THE WEDDING!”