About a week later at school, the students were buzzing with gossip. Asami unsure of what everyone was so excited about asked Hime. Just as she walked into class, she saw Hime wave at her. She walked over at the same time Fuji did. She was curious as to why he looked half excited and half concerned. He walked over and said to Hime in a quiet voice, "Hey Hina, Akita is back." Her best friend that was usually a bundle of joy reciled in shock. She looked shocked, then worried, then happy, then upset again. Seeing the emotion visibly change on her face Asami couldn't help but be even more curious as to who this Akita was. What was his relationship with her two friends that they were so emotional about his return. Also were was he returning from? Asami didn't know the details but she knew he must be super handsome seeing all the buzz about his returns. The girls were practically jumping out of their seats. Anyway back to Himes shocked state.
"What?" Asami began questioning the two, unable to hold her curiosity.
"Whose Akita? Why are you both so shocked?" The two looked at her, exchanged a glance before Hime replied a little too quickly for it to not be suspicious.
"Um, no one just a friend. He transfered abroad in middle school and now he is back I guess." She tried to act nonchalant when talking about him but Asami could tell something was up with her. Fishing in dark waters she teased her friend for a reaction.
"oh, were you close." she gave a sly smile. Hina blushed, flustered by the teasing she shook her head and quickly denied the claim.
"well fuji and akita were, me and him were close because of our families." Asami gave the girl a break and replied casually. "I see." but I'm guessing the look of suspicion in her eyes wasn't reeled in properly because Hime questioned it.
"why are you looking at me like that?"
She smiled at her still blushing friend, she found her reaction adorable. She looked forward to meeting the man that was apparently best friends with Fuji and supposedly her best friends secret crush.
"no reason." she remarked, playing it cool. Her friends in turn looked at her suspiciosuly. Not convinced by her playing it off she gave her a warning.
"don't get any ideas." I guess she knew me well. She wrapped her arms around her friends neck and teasingly stated, "i wouldn't dare." Her dramatic display made Hime chuckle and Fuji looked at the two in amusement. Both were suprised by her slwoly opening up to them. They were glad she was finally starting to genuinely smile again.
"man you've changed." Hime shook her head at the rare sight of her friend teasing. She smiled before giving a witty reply.
"its your influence."
Hime just rolled her eyes. The trio seated themselves as the teacher walked in.
After class was dismissed Hime went off to grab lunch from the cafeteria. Both having lunch from home, Fuji and her sat together and she sparked a conversation.
"so Hime and Akita?" He smirked at the curious cat. She found her eagerness to gather info cute.
"their engaged." he gave out a little info to amuse her. She almost chocked at the revelation. Now this was definitely beyond anything she was imagining in her head.
"fiances?" she whisper yelled at the boy who smiled, amusement in his eyes. He gave the details to her before her questions exploded out.
"yeah, they come from noble families, so they got engaged young in a marriage alliance." She still didn't calm down from the new detials given. She was shocked that high schoolers could be engaged. Marriage alliance, noble family? What was this a romance novel?
"and they were OK with it?"
"well I mean neither had a say...but Hime likes Akita."
Fuji shrugged her shoulders, not minding the girl in gossip mode next to him. He continued eating his lunch. Asami not satisfied continued her interrogation.
"anyone can see that but what about akita? does he like her?" She had completly disregarded her lunch at this point. While Fuji was wondering what was taking Hime so long? Nevertheless he continued kindly answering Asamis' questions.
"im not sure, he's usually indifferent towards her. But he is originally the type to not express his emotions on the surface so I can't say for sure." She sighed at Fujis comment. She hadn't met the guy so she couldn't decide if he was good for her friend or not.
"I really hope he doesn't end up hurting Hime." Fuji reassured her worries, "he wouldn't." She began questioning his stance on this.
"so you'll take his side, since your bros for life." He smiled at her half teasing, half serious remark.
"well yeah, even if he is in the wrong i won't give up on him. You'd do the same for Hime too wouldn't you?" She took a second to reply not expecting a question back. Chewing quickly the rice in her mouth and swallowing before she replied, "yeah I guess your right." Fuji chuckeld at her, she looked like a cute chipmunk chewing like that to him. Asami continued her saying her opinion to the boy.
"but let's try to make sure it doesn't get to that point."
Fuji looked at her with a raised eyebrow. Having a slight suspicion he asked, "so were playing cupid." She grinned, mischief present in her eyes.
"guess we are." Fuji smiled at her. He wouldn't deny her of her joy, it was rare after all. He quickly joined in as her pleading eyes were impossible to say no too.
"well then whats the plan mr.cupid?" she questioned.
"I have no idea, Mrs. cupid." he replied
"ofcourse, boys don't plan these things." she rolled her eyes, the smile not leaving her face.
"hey don't diss." he jokingly shoved her shoulder. She stuck her tongue out.
"it was a valid point not a diss." she smirked arrogantly at him. He chuckled at her antics.
"if you say so." Hime soon joined the two, saying the line was long and she couldn't get her favorite red bean bread. The two acted like they weren't making plans to matchmake her. Playing it cool the two talked about hanging out over the weekend. Asami asked if Akita would hang out with them two since he was coming back tomorrow. Fuji said he would ask him once he had returned. Hime stayed silent during this part of the conversation making the two siting across from hwr exchange a glance. They knew they were getting together after school to create a plan that would be a success for their two best friends.