Chapter 41

HOTEL ROOM

Risa was standing  at the balcony,resting her arms on the corridor walls,staring into space.

Risa : I should have stayed at the States.

Suddenly the door to the suite swung open and the first person to appear is Ichirou.

Ichirou : Risa-chan!!

Risa : (shocked)Ichirou?

Ichirou : How are you feeling??

Risa : I am just fine.

Kaname : Why are you so happy Ichirou.

Ichirou : Here!

Ichirou placed a plastic bag filled with food on the coffee table .

Ichirou : Eat up Risa!

Risa : Why--

Ichirou : Just eat them.

Risa : When did you arrive?

Ichirou : Around 5 like that.I took a later flight since I need to settle some stuffs.

Kaname : Ichirou and I are gonna discuss some work so you go ahead and eat up.

Ichirou : We’ll be  at the lounge area if you need us Risa!

Kaname just shake his head looking at Ichirou before going out of the room,Ichirou bid Risa goodbye before closing the door behind him.

Ichirou : What work, Kaname. (smirking)

Kaname : Come,I need to talk to you.

Ichirou : I bet this is about that Kudo Senri (excited)

Kaname : Lower your voice Ichiriou.

Ichirou : Chill Kaname,chill (tapping on Kaname’s shoulder)

SUITE

Risa : Why am I even worried that he will see me here (rubbing her head)

Risa took the rice ball and began filling her tummy with all the food Ichirou bought. She is so hungry that she cant think straight at all at that moment.

Risa : Alright,let just suck it up

LOUNGE

Ichirou : What!?

Kaname : (staring at his drink)

Ichirou : Wait wait,that Kudo knows Risa?

Kaname : Yes.

Ichirou : Now now now, what relationship does he have with Risa?

Kaname : I don’t know.I don’t know if I want to find out.

Ichirou : Don’t you want to find out?

Kaname stopped playing with his drink and turn to Ichirou.

Kaname : You know something.

Ichirou : I didn’t say that.

Kaname : Don’t lie to me Ichirou.I have known for almost 5 years.

Ichirou : I didn’t say anything.Its just you might need to talk to Risa. Get to know whats going in her life. Its not hard.

Kaname :Its hard for me.

Ichirou : I’ll tell you why its hard.

NEXT DAY

Risa was already up early that morning that she decided to walk around the hotel lobby. She was feeling a bit stiff that she needs to walk around she thought.

Risa : This hotel has such good arch design I suppose. (looking around)

Isane : You are up early.

Risa : (shocked)

Risa quickly turn around when she heard Isane’s voice.

Isane : Good Morning (smiles)

Risa : …Good…morning..

Isane :Did I surprise you?

Risa : Karin didn’t tell me you were coming.

Akira : Changed of plan, all of us decided to come.(winks)

Akira suddenly appeared beside Isane and he was only wearing a pair of jogging pants and a tshirt.

Risa  was still digesting the fact that both of them are here,infront of her acting all casual while she cant even breath when Isane appeared. But, as she was thinking, she saw a figure she recognizes the most and that made her heart stopped for a while.

Risa :… I need to go.

Isane was fast to catch where Risa’s eyes are looking and he quickly turned to the direction Risa was looking before she fleed.Risa didn’t even wait for Isane and Akira to response and she just went straight to the ladies toilet .

Akira : Did we ..

Isane : (eyeing the man)

Akira : Did we like surprised her till she need to run away(confused)

Isane : Come Akira,the conference starts at 9. We need to go and change.

Akira : Fine fine.

LADIES TOILET

Risa : Oh my god.Risa,you have to gather your senses.

Risa washed her face several times before finally wiping it.She stared at the mirror and subsequently trying to stabilize her breating. She cant even breath properly with this kind of things happening all at once and so sudden.

Risa : Alright,lets go.

Risa peeped before going out,ensuring that Senri is not there anymore. Bumping into Senri here would not be a sound idea and she must not let him see her here.

KANAME’S ROOM

Kaname  : She is not in the room .

Karin : What did you say!?

Karin was screaming on the phone when Kaname told her that.

Karin : What  did you do?

Kaname : I didn’t do anything.Look,Im trying to get ready for the conference here.Would you at least talk about this later?

Karin : I’ll see you at the 2^nd floor in 30 minutes.

Kaname hung up and placed his phone on the table. Kaname took his navy blue tie and went outside of his room to check if Risa has returned.He was shocked to see Risa leaning on the door,looking troubled and worried.

Risa : (breathing hard)

Kaname: (staring at her)

Risa lifted her head up when she realized Kaname was there and she tried her best to look normal.

Kaname : Did a dog chased you here?

Risa : shut it Kaname.You’re going to be late.

Kaname : (wearing his tie)

Risa : I saw Akira and Isane at the lobby just now.

Kaname : They’re here? That’s fast.

Risa : (nodding)

Kaname : I’m going to the conference. Make sure you bring the room card if you’re going anywhere.

Risa : Okay.

Kaname : And

Risa : Yes?

Kaname : Just order the room service if you don’t feel like going out.Order anything you want.

Risa : Noted that.

Kaname took a last look of him on the mirror before leaving Risa alone in the suite.

Risa locked the door and exhaled loudly before leaning on the door.She slided to the floor and  stayed still for a while.

Risa : I shouldn’t have come back here.

CONFERENCE ROOM

Many delegates from various companies have started filling the big room and Karin was there greeting everyone.

Karin : (looking around)

Kaname : Karin.

Karin : There you are!

Kaname : Akira and Isane?

Karin : They insisted they follow me to the conference.

Kaname : Really.

Karin : What about Risa?

Kaname : She’s in the room.

Karin : Did you guys fight?

Kaname : No. Save it Karin.Im going in.

Karin : Ichirou is inside.He was searching for you.

CAFÉ

Aya : My life is never gonna be at ease .

Aoi  : And why is that?

Emi : With Risa stuck in Kyoto with Senri and Kaname.I cant even sleep last night.

Aoi : Senri wants her back?

Aya : More like I don’t know.

Emi : Oh wait look!

Emi was flipping the ViVi magazine of the month and she spotted her photos. She took the photo and showed it to Aoi.

Aoi : Is that you?

Emi : I told you. I went to ViVi last week.

Aoi : That’s was fast

.

Emi : They told me they’ve been wanting me to be in their magazine. So so..(flipping her hair)

Aoi : (nodding)

Aya : Im gonna give  her a call.

Emi : Risa?

Sho : Just give her some time to think Aya. Who knows she can figure it out.

Aya : AHHHHHHH THIS IS FRUSTRATING.

KYOTO

Everyone bowed to each other and bidding their goodbyes after the conference has finally come to an end.All the delegates exchange handshakes and all of them are heading towards the hotel’s restaurant for lunch. While on the other side,Akira and Isane were still seated on the chair minding their own business.

Kaname : Why are you both still  here?

Isane : Nothing.

Akira : Lets go out for lunch?

Kaname : Ichirou and I are meeting Kudo Senri for further discussions.You both go ahead.

Isane : Kudo Senri?

Ichirou : Kudo Senri,the new architect assigned under us.

Akira : What do you mean under us?

Ichirou : The Kudo Company decided to organize some inter relation work with us therefore,they sent him.

Akira : So?

Isane : Which means,he’ll be under Kaname?

Ichirou : He is a new architect,1 year experience.

Akira : Really.

Ichirou : There he is!

Senri were greeting others when he spotted Ichirou and the rest at one corner.

Akira : (turning to Ichirou’s direction)

Ichirou : This is Kudo Senri

Akira and Isane stood up so that they can shake Senri’s hands and both of them exchanged smiles.

Akira : Ishikawa Akira(bows)

Isane : Ishikawa Isane.

Senri : Kudo Senri.My pleasure meeting you guys here.

HOTEL’S LOUNGE

Senri : So,that would be the agreement and I’ll discuss with the board of directors next Monday.

Kaname : (nodding)

Senri : Is there anything else?

Kaname : I think that would be all.

Senri : I shall take my leave then.

Ichirou : Flying back to Tokyo?

Senri : My flight is tonight but I need to head somewhere first.

Kaname : I see.

Ichirou : Take care Kudo!

Senri : You both too. My pleasure to be doing business with the Ishikawa Company.

Kaname : The honour is ours.

Senri bowed a little before leaving Ichirou and Kaname alone at the table.

Ichirou : So, are you done judging?

Kaname :Shut up Ichirou.

Ichirou : Have you asked Risa?

Kaname : I haven’t.

Ichirou : Damn it.I would never tell you who is him until you ask her yourself.This is the chance.

Kaname : What I know is, Risa and Kudo is not just normal friends.

Ichirou  just let out a small laugh when Kaname said that.

HOTEL’S LOBBY

Risa was walking towards the the entrance door when suddenly somebody grabbed her  left arm and pull her to the side.

Isane : Don’t move.

Risa was still in state of shocked when she found her self in Isane’s arms  and her face was so close to Isane’s chest but she cant even move.It was quite a while until Isane loosen his grip on Risa’s hands and create a space between both of them.

Isane : I apologize for the sudden action

Risa seemed to sense something that she quickly turn around to find that it was Senri walking towards the other end of the entrance and thank god Isane pulled her,if he hadn’t, she would have bumped into Senri.

Risa : (turning to Isane)

Isane : I may not know what you have with that guy but I know you would not want to see him.

Risa : How did --

Isane : Now that’s a man secret.Where are you heading?

Risa : I was just trying to get fresh air,I was not aware the conferece has ended.

Isane : Kaname is still at the conference room.

Risa : (nodding)

Isane : You look pale.

Risa : I need fresh air that’s all.I think I’ll go to the garden.

Isane : Karin is here.

Risa quickly turn to Karin whome were walking towards her direction.Karin had a big smile on her face when she saw Risa.

Karin : Risa-chan!So good to see you here.How are you?

Risa : Im fine as always. (smiles)

Karin : Have you eaten?

Risa : I--

Kaname : You haven’t?

All three of them turn to Kaname whom appeared out of nowhere and that does not help Risa to calm down.She was too dizzy and too disturbed to even digest whatever are they saying. The last thing she knew that all three of them were looking directly at her before she pass out.

RISA’S ROOM

Risa was still unconscious when the doctor finished the check up on her.The doctor took her leave after ensuring that Risa is fine,she was just stressed and she needs to rest.

Karin : Stress?

Kaname :…

Karin : Did something happen,Kaname?

Kaname: Nothing happened,Karin.

Karin : (sigh)

Kaname : She’s been acting quite weird when we arrived.

Karin :Is there anything I don’t know Kaname?

Kaname : I cant never lie to you,can I.

Karin : Spill it out.

Karin was staring right at Kaname when she knew Kaname is hiding something from her.

Kaname : Is that guy named Kudo Senri. He was the guy Risa met at the café few days ago.

Karin : Wait,the friend..is him?

Kaname : yes, I think she must have found out he was here and probably her mind is just disturbed after meeting him that day.

Karin : Disturbed?

Kaname : She’s been acting all weird since that meeting. And weirder when we arrived here.

Karin : Who is this Kudo Senri.

Kaname : Well, Karin,this is the time you do your magic.

Karin : Come,lets leave here alone in the room.She needs to rest.I’m going back to my room to clean up.Call me if she wakes up.