Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Few days have passed.

"This is your last day for this semester, everyone. Enjoy your summer vacation to the fullest, and make many wonderful memories! I know you're all getting impatient, so I'm going to formally end this term. See you again next school year!" their Class Adviser finally ended the class, and left the room.

The students enthusiastically cries out and went to their own group of friends to make plans on how to spend their summer vacation.

Van suddenly approached me, with a serious look on his face.

"I need to tell you something. But promise me first you won't get angry." he started.

"What's with that look on your face? Is there something wrong?" I asked him.

I curiously frowned when Van started to walk backwards. He wants to tell me something, but he's trying to walk away from me.

"What's his deal, anyway?" I thought to myself.

I took a couple of steps towards Van until I cornered him at the wall.

"What's wrong with you? You're acting really weird! Tell me what's going on!" I interrogated him.

"I just have one favor to ask you. Just stay in this room, don't go anywhere, and just listen at the school speakers, okay?" Van said it all in one breath, while looking nervous.

"What the heck are you planning to do?" I demanded again, and I'm slowly getting irritated.

"Ah! What's that?" Van suddenly exclaimed, while pointing at a certain direction.

Just like what people normally do, I turned towards the direction where Van is pointing his finger at, but I didn't see anything at all.

Before I knew it, Van already scurried off.

My nose is flaring in anger as I watch him run away.

"You're a dead meat,Yamashita!" I muttered under my breath.

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Van anxiously entered the school's radio broadcast room. His younger brother Ren

waved at him through the glass window from the DJ's booth, signalling him to go

inside. Ren is with the President of the Broadcasting Club.

Ren is a member of the Broadcasting Club, and he asked his brother to help him with his plan.

And now, this is the day they will finally execute their plan. He's feeling nervous and excited at the same time.

"This is it, Van. Are you ready?" Ren asked him.

Van took a deep breath before he spoke again.

"Let's do this!" he answered.

Van turned his attention to the President of the Broadcasting Club and gave him a thumb's up as a go-signal.

The Club President cleared his throat before he moves towards the microphone.

"Hello,everyone! This is the last airtime of our Broadcasting Club for this term. I'm sure everyone are already making plans for the summer vacation... Whether you spend

it with your family, friends, with your girlfriend or boyfriend, I hope you'll make wonderful memories! Anyway, we are now doing a special airtime as we officially end this school term... We have a special friend here who wants to say something to a very special person." afterwards, he gave the microphone to Van...

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The Swimming Club just finished their mini-celebration because they won at the Nationals Swimming Competition.

"Reiko, why are you still here? Aren't you going home yet?" asked the Vice-Captain of the Swimming Club.

"Not yet. I'd like to swim more." Reiko replied.

"Okay. See you next school term!" she waved at Reiko.

"Enjoy your vacation!" Reiko waved back at her.

And finally,she's all alone.

Reiko smilingly looked at her reflection in the water. She is happy because they won at the National Competition, and they've been winning for two years straight since she became the Team Captain.

Reiko's smile became wider as she remembers her deal with Van and Nao.

"---if we win the Championships, we'll go on a summer vacation trip!"

What's left for her to do now is to make plans for their upcoming trip. She's thinking of going on a vacation at her Aunt's summer house in Karuizawa, which is one of the famous summer spot in the country.

"And this might be the perfect time to confess my feelings to Van." Reiko said to herself.

=====================

Back at the Radio Booth.

After taking a deep breath, Van finally mustered all her courage to talk on the microphone.

"Nao, this is Van... I would like to take this chance to go on a date... Let's enjoy the summer festival together!" he finally said what's on his mind...

====================

Meanwhile,at the 3-B Classroom.

I almost fell on my seat in utter shock after I heard Van's voice from the school's speakers.

I can't believe that Van confessed in public, and everyone in school have heard it!

He's crazy to ask publicly ask her on a date!

"It was a stupid move, alright, but you have to admit it, you still find it romantic..." her mind teases her.

I shook my head wildly, as if shaking all of my thoughts.

=======================

At the pool area.

Reiko's deeply hurting when she heard Van's love confession towards Nao.

It took her a few minutes to recover from shock. A tear suddenly fell from her eyes.

Reiko stubbornly brushed the tears away.

She quickly stands up and she dived into the pool. She tirelessy did a few laps,as if the pain in her heart will be washed away by the water...

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I decided not to wait for Van to come back to our classroom. I just want to go back home and take a rest. I was about to go out but I suddenly stopped when one idea popped into my mind. My eyes went over Van's desk. I made my way towards his desk.

I pulled out my pen and wrote something on his notebook.

Once I was finished, I decided to go home.

======================

Nishikawa Residence.

"I'm home." I called out, as soon as I stepped inside the living room.

My eyes roamed around the house, expecting to see Mama and Mika. I went straight to the kitchen, but I stopped in a halt when I heard Mika's excited voice.

"--Van asked Nao to go on a date with him at the Summer Festival and everyone heard his confession!"

I rolled my eyes heavenward as I heard her. She was already giving our mother the latest news...