Heart Beats (Ootori Choutarou) 03: Once in a Lifetime✶

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A very obnoxious ringing brought you out of dreamland and onto the border between awake and asleep. Your hand shot out from under the covers, fumbling around on the bedside table for the annoying item that had disturbed your peaceful sleep. Grabbing the cell phone in your hand, you flipped it open before pressing it to your ear.

"What?" you grumbled, eyes still closed as you attempted to fall back asleep. Screw the person on the phone, you were tired.

"Is that how you always answer the phone?" The voice was familiar, but your brain was still in dreamland and incapable of placing it to a face.

"Only dipshits that wake me up."

"Arn~ Ore-sama is not pleased," he paused. "However, Ore-sama has called with a special invitation. Despite your rude nature, the offer still stands," Another pause, "Ore-sama and the Hyotei Gakuen regulars are heading up to the Atobe family cabin for winter break, and he has decided to invite you to come along,"

"Yeah. Sure. Whatever," you muttered. You hadn't even really heard what he said, you just wanted him off the phone so you could go back to sleep. You would end up regretting it later.

He chuckled. "Call Ore-sama back once you've had time to think it over,"

The line went dead.

"Uh-huh," you muttered again, letting the phone fall from your hand as you fell back into dreamland.

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"I think you should go," An encouraged as she walked at your side.

Kamio scoffed from the other side of you. "It's a terrible idea! There's no telling what that damn Atobe is planing!"

You sighed deeply, following the pair as they headed towards An's house. After finally waking up, what Atobe had said over the phone registered in your mind. Of course, you immediately went looking for the pair, in hopes that they could give you some advice on whether or not you should or shouldn't agree to the offer. So far, they haven't been much help.

Was it pathetic for a high schooler to go to two middle schoolers for advice? You didn't want to know the answer.

"This is Y/N's chance to spend time with their boy toy!" An scowled at the male as she pushed the door to her house open, stepping inside. You and Kamio were close behind, following the younger girl to the living room.

" Please . I guarantee you, Atobe is expecting something in return. That man doesn't do things like that for free!" Kamio scowled, sitting down on the couch. You sat to his right, on the end, while An took the other side. All three of you failed to notice Kippei Tachibana, An's older brother, sitting in the recliner.

"The whole team is going. How can he try something?"

"It's not difficult!"

"Ugh! Shut up!" you groaned, throwing your head back. You had been listening to these two go back and forth about the topic for the past two hours and it was wearing down your nerves.

"We'll get you some soda, Y/N-chan, to calm your nerves," An sent you a smile before grabbing Kamio's wrist and practically dragging him into the kitchen with her. You let out another groan, eyes narrowed in a glare at the coffee table that sat in front of you. A few seconds later, you felt the couch beside you sink in, indicating that someone had taken the seat.

"What's wrong?" Kippei questioned, glancing at you.

"Tachibana... can I get your opinion on something?" you turned to face the younger male. He was just a year above the other two, but he was knowledgeable, and very good when it came to giving out advice.

"Of course," he nodded, turning his full attention to you, concern clear in his dark eyes.

Taking a deep breath, you explained the situation to him. He sat, listening intently and nodding to show that he was still paying attention. You let out a deep sigh after you finished, looking at him with an almost desperate look; he was your last hope at getting a real opinion, one that could actually help you.

No offense to Kamio or An, but they weren't very helpful at all.

"Do you want to go?" he asked.

"Well... yeah, kind of."

"Because of that boy."

You hesitated. "No... maybe..."

He chuckled. "I think you should go. I don't think you'd end up regretting the decision to go, but I do think you'd end up regretting not going."

"Maybe you're right... Thank you, Tachibana," you smiled, pulling the boy into a tight hug. He chuckled in response, wrapping his arms around your middle.

"I'm glad I could help."

This was a once in a lifetime opportunity to spend time with Choutarou without raising any questions and, deep down, you knew Kippei was right. You would regret it if you didn't go, even though you still had a lot of doubts floating around in your head.