[Chapter 6] - The First Step

{Ne, Ai-san, I’ve passed my second auditions! And I’ll be going into the training phase for the final showdown in two weeks time!! - Risa} Ai read  off the screen of  her mobile phone. She blinked lightly at the information in front of her, before typing in her reply.

{Congratulation to you, Risa-san. I’m glad that you’re a step nearer to your dreams. - Ai}

Almost instantly, Ai received her reply from Risa. It always felt like Risa was holding on her phone, replying her instantly most of the times. She opened the message. {Would you like to join us for celebration tonight? It’s going to be just me and Eri around. - Risa} Ai glanced over to the calendar to check her schedule.

{Yeah, I guessed I’m cool with it. Is it really just gonna be just the three of us? Where are you all celebrating? - Ai} Ai asked, with fear that there would be a large crowd present on the celebrations.

{Yeah.  Just the three of us at Eri’s apartment. Eri had promised that she would cook for me if I ever passed the second audition. And I did. So she's cooking tonight. But just a gentle warning, be aware of it. I’m not sure how it would turn out to be . . .Why did I asked for it in the first place? AHH!  – Risa} Ai laughed lightly at the reply Risa gave. Risa had never failed to lighten up her day with her messages every day. No matter what kind of message Risa sent to Ai, Risa will always include humour in it, never failing to put Ai in a good mood, though Risa knew nothing about her ability.

{Is Eri-san okay with me going over? I mean . . . It's weird, isn’t it? - Ai} Ai replied. Throughout the past few days, Ai had gotten closer to Risa, with Risa messaging her every night. She did not understood why was she so comfortable with Risa, someone who she had met less than 2 months. Maybe it was because Risa was straightforward, truthful about her emotions and everything she shared with Ai.

{She will be fine with it, trust me. I am the boss today. hahaha - Risa}

{Alright then. . . How do I get to Eri-san's apartment then? - Ai}  Ai asked.

{What time are you ending your work tomorrow? I can pick you up at your work place. - Risa}

Ai read Risa's offer. She thought for a while before typing. {6 pm. Is that okay? - Ai}

{So late? But it's okay. I will see you at your workplace then! Shall not disturb you night already. Sweet dreams! ^.^ - Risa} Ai read Risa's reply which brought a warm fuzzy feeling to her heart. 'What's that feeling?' Ai thought as she placed her phone back on the bedside table. Looking at the digital clock beside the phone. 'It's time to sleep to get enough rest, before I get awaken again at 316 am again.' Ai told herself. With that, she switch off the lights and pulled the blanket over her should, closing her eyes, and slowly, falling into a light sleep.

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Risa was seated at the couch in the living room, with Eri by her right side. She smiled sweetly at her phone as she sent her last message to Ai. 'Yes! I am going to see her again tomorrow.'

"There you go again, smiling alone stupidly at your phone." Eri insulted as she fixed her eyes back to her book after peeking at Risa's action for the past 10 minutes.

Risa narrowed her eyes at Eri. "If you had the guts, say that again." Risa challenged as Eri turned away from Risa and pretended to be reading her book.

"I said, you are smiling stupidly at your phone again." Eri replied while she placed the book on the table, looking straight into Risa's eyes, as showing Risa that she had accepted her challenge.

"Fine, you win." Risa retorted. "You have the guts." Risa finished off as she shifted her attention back to her phone, reading back the messages she had sent to and received from Ai for the past few days, with smile sneaking up on her face every now and then.

"Risa, you know what?" Eri started off.

"Hmmm?" Risa responded, not even bothering to look up from her phone.

"I really regretted believing in you that night. I should have just check the phone myself instead of waiting for you to tell me willingly." Eri finished off, pouting in the progress.

"You will know soon. Really." Risa reassured.

"You know what Risa." Eri continued, hoping that Risa would look up from her phone and look at her at that moment. However, Risa continued to had her attention on the phone instead of Eri. "Risa, look at me. I have something serious to tell you." Eri ordered, harshening her tone to let Risa know that she was really serious.

Risa finally looked up from the phone and at Eri when she noticed the change of tone. "Yes Eri? What do you want to tell me?" Risa asked.

"Don't let this to be another Sayumi case. Don't probed too deep into this relationship. I don't want you to be hurt anymore." Eri finished off, showering her true concerns for Risa before standing up. "I'm turning in now. You too, sleep early."

Risa stared blankly into the space as Eri began to move away from the living room. She never thought that Eri would ever brought out Sayumi. 'Sayumi . . . I wondered how is she now?' Risa thought sadly in her mind, as she remembered the old high school days back in Kyoto.

'Sayumi!' Risa called out as she patted the buns of Sayumi's hair playfully.

"Risa!" Sayumi responded, swiping Risa's hand off her hair in the playful manner as well.

"What are you doing today? Do you wanna to go to the arcade to play?"Risa mustered all the courage to ask. Risa had been so attracted to Sayumi since the first day she had landed her eyes on her. Risa was not sure why was she attracted to this special girl. She felt so comfortable around her, as Sayumi had never failed to brighten up her day with the dazzling smile she always carried with her. Just being with Sayumi allowed Risa to temporary forgets about the bitterness she felt about her family.

"Sure! School's definitely getting boring and tiring for me!" Sayumi chided childishly. "That sounds fun and inviting!"

"Let's go then!" Risa finished, grabbing Sayumi's hands into hers as they ran out of the school gates.

"RISA!" The both of them heard a familiar voice shouting out for Risa.

"Risa, Eri is shouting for you, shall we stop?" Sayumi asked as she turned back slightly, catching the glimpse of Eri standing at the school gate, arms tucked at her waists, showing her infuriation.

"Nah, don't bother about her. Let's go!" Risa answered as they continued to stride in big steps away from the school. 'I've decided to be truthful about my feelings for you today. I don't want Eri to be there.' Risa thought in her mind.

Eri had all along knew that Risa was interested in Sayumi, as Risa would confined Eri about her feelings and thoughts that were always in her mind at that point of time.

"I see. . . "

As they were approaching the entertainment centre, Risa stopped in her steps.

"What's wrong, Risa?" Sayumi asked innocently.

"You shall go to the arcade first? I will grab us some drinks. What do you want to drink?" Risa explained.

"Alright! I want . .. " Sayumi started off.

"Azuki ICE!" Risa and Sayumi finished in unison. Risa ended off with a cheerful laughter, while Sayumi pouted. "Since you knew the answer, why did you even bother to ask ?" Sayumi finished, slapping Risa hardly and her back playfully.

"It's a courtesy!" Risa whined comically, walking away from Sayumi. "See ya later!" Risa shouted out as she ran back the street they walk down from.

Entering into a flower shop, she grabbed three red roses from the counter. "Thank you!" Risa shouted to the florist as she ran out of the shop and down the streets to get the drinks.

Once she was back to the entertainment centre, she was welcomed by a sight that had broken her heart. She saw Sayumi whispering into the ears of a guy, placing a small peck on his face. Risa clenched the flowers in her hands, causing the thorns to pierce through her skin and blood began to flow out.

"Risa!" Sayumi realised Risa was back. She ran towards Risa with her hands interlocked with the guy she had kissed just now. Risa hid her injured hands behind her back. "Risa! Let me introduce to you, this is Chiba Momotaro" Sayumi started off loudly before continuing softly and lightly at the end. "He's  . . . my boyfriend.

Sadness blinked in Risa's eyes. 'She had a boyfriend. . . I never knew.. . " Her heart throbbed painfully in her chest. "Nice to meet you, Chiba-san." Risa tried to act normally, hoping her voice will not crack by her will to cry. "I remembered I have something else to do." Risa stuffed the Azuki ICE into Sayumi's hand and with that, she turned and ran away, away from the arcade, away from the heart break.

Back to the reality, Risa found tears tickling down her face. She never knew that this memory would trigger her tear gland to work. 'Eri's right. . .' Risa thought sadly. She wiped the tears off her face with the back of her hands and stood up from the couch. 'Maybe I shouldn't let my heart to fall in love again. . .'

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Risa stood at the foot of the building where Ai was working at. She looked at the time on her watch. '5.55 pm. 5 more minutes to go.' Risa thought excitedly as she looked up. She turned her head around, watching her surrounding as she waited the time to past. Then she saw a familiar soul crossing the street, towards the building. 'Ai-san? Why is she opposite the street? Didn't she said that she is ending work at 6 pm?' Risa self questioned as she moved nearer to the edge of the pavement, hoping to catch a clearer glimpse of the person she thought she had saw.

But it was apparent to her that she had lost sight of the person. Then a pat on her shoulder had startled her.

"Ah!" Risa let out a soft cry. As she turned around, she saw Ai standing behind her, smiling. "Ai-san!" Risa let of a sigh of relief. "You got me there." Risa continued.

{Gomen. Konbanwa} Ai took out her phone and typed in.

"Konbanwa." Risa returned. "Let's get going. Eri is expecting us to be back in half an hour time." Risa continued, guiding Ai to walk in the direction to Eri's apartment. "Anyway, why did you come from that direction?" Risa continued asking as she pointed in the direction she thought she saw Ai came from previously. "Didn't your work ends at 6 pm?"

{Gomen, Risa-san. I lied when I said I'm ending work at 6 pm. I actually ends work at 5. I told you I'm ending at 6 pm because I was thinking about getting something for you.} Ai typed in her phone and showed it to Risa. She then made Risa to hold onto her phone while she fumbled through her bag, taking out a nicely wrapped box. She passed the box to Risa and took back her phone. {This is for you. Congratulations for getting through your second audition.}

"For - me?" Risa stuttered. She did not expect a gift from Ai. "Thank you . . ." Risa continued awkwardly as she tried to fight off the blush that was forming across her cheek.

{You are welcome. Open it up and see if you like it? I'm not sure what you like. Not sure whether will it be your liking anyway.}

'I will like anything that is given by you, Ai-san.' Risa thought silently as she opened the box. A glass crystal guitar model reveal before her. "This is so beautiful . .." Risa commented as she took out the guitar model out, admiring it at all angles. "Thank you." Risa thanked Ai once more before realisation struck her. "Ai-san, you need not get that for me. This must be real expensive and . . " Before Risa could finish her nagging, Ai held onto Risa's hand to stop her.

{I'm glad that you like it, Risa-san. And no worries, I am actually working now. It doesn't really matters.} Ai smile off as to assure Risa. 'And it enthuses my heart to see that you like the gift.' Ai thought.

Risa allow a gentle smile to escape at the corner of her mouth. "Thank you." Risa mouthed.

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Eri heard the opening of the front door as she was running around the kitchen, getting the dinner prepared. 'Remind me again, never bet with Risa about things. She always wins. What kind of mess did I got myself into this time round again.' Eri thought angrily as she ran her flour-tainted hand through her hair before she realised it. 'GOSH!' Eri exclaimed in her mind.

"RISA!" Eri grounded out as she stepped out of the kitchen, knowing that Risa was home from the closing of the front door. "You said you will be back at 630 pm, it's 7 already and you finally got you butt back home." Eri continued as she reached the living room, only to see two shocked faces staring at her.

"Ai-san, you’re here?" Eri asked stupidly.

(Risa-san invited me here, saying that you are cooking her celebration dinner for passing the second audition.) Ai signed to Eri.

Eri burrowed her eyebrows, lost in the fact that Ai had just told her. Before she could ask Ai what she meant in her sentence, Risa burst into a huge fit, no longer being able to hold her laughter. "What are you laughing at, baka?" Eri shouted at Risa, narrowing her eyes at her.

"Your - - Hair . . ."  Risa managed to speak in between her laughter.

Eri shot her eyes big in realisation. Her fringe was tied up in a childish way, with tinge of flour sticking on them. "I'll be back in a moment." Eri spoke softly to Ai as she took off the apron she was wearing. She then threw the apron straight into Risa's face. "Stop laughing! It's all your fault!" Eri grinded, stomping back to her room to wash up.

Ai looking amusingly at Risa, who was still laughing. {You okay?} Ai asked.

"Yah. . ." Risa answered as she tried to get herself to all calm down. "It's just that it's difficult and rare to catch Eri so off guard in her appearance." Risa explained before breaking into a huge laughter again.

"Stop it RISA!" Eri screamed out from her room when she heard Risa started laughing loudly again.

Risa covered her hands over her mouth to prevent herself from making any noise. Ai just stared at Risa with amusement.

"Let's get over and sit down over there." Risa suggested, holding onto Ai's bag as they walked side by side to the couch.

{You didn't tell Eri-san that I'm coming?} Ai asked.

"Not really. But I know that she won't mind, trust me." Risa assured. Just at that same moment, Eri got out from her room, hair groomed nicely and a changed garment.

"Sorry for the tardiness just now, Ai-san" Eri apologised as she stood before the two of them. "Why are you here again?" Eri asked again.

(Risa told me that you are cooking to celebrate her passing of second audition.) Ai signed once more, looking very innocently.

Eri eyed at Risa playfully while Risa looked away sheepishly. She saw the phone Ai was holding on, with lots of words and typing in it. "Ai-san, can I have your phone?"

(Why? I may need it to talk to Risa-san. Or do you have any papers for me to write on?) Ai signed as she passed her phone to Eri.

"You won't need to. She understood sign language now." Eri snorted as she placed Ai's phone back to her bag. "The reason why am I cooking today is because I have lost my bet in her failing the beginner sign language exam and not her second auditions. I won't be that stupid to bet with her auditions when I knew that she would pass definitely. But for the exams, that is definitely unexpected." Eri continued.

"Shut up, Eri!" Risa growled as she threw the apron back to Eri. "Dinner!"

"Whatever! Enjoy chatting!" Eri finished off as she step back to the kitchen once again.

Ai turned around to look at Risa. (So you actually can understand me now?)

"Hehe." Risa laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of her head with her hand. "Sort of?"

(Why didn't you tell me then?) Ai asked.

"It - was meant to be a surprise. Yes. Not that I thought it would end up this way, with Eri telling you the truth for today's dinner." Risa answered. Risa could sense the slight displeasure of Ai. "I'm sorry for lying that it was for my auditions. I really did got through the second auditions, but I thought the passing of my sign language exam would be a more celebrate-able event as compared to my auditions. Well at least, we can chat more freely now, not being bounded by papers or phone."  Risa continued.

(No, I wasn't upset by that. I'm just lost for words. Thank you, Risa-san) Ai signed, assuring Risa that she was not angry with her. 'If only you know how happy my heart was to know that you had passed the exams, such that we can communicate freely . . . when you first voiced out that you hate having these lessons. It almost felt like you took the language for me, though it was not. It was just a bet to win Eri-san, but I really appreciate that, Risa-san. Thank you, Risa-san. Are we really friends now? Just like Asami-chan, someone who won't mind hanging out with someone where silence is always persistent?