Transition and restart, book seven: High School Days

Chapter four, 2018, white Valentine, part five

Tomasu and Yukio left the house and made Kyoko company. Both had cups in the hands, Yukio's with instant coffee powder and Tomasu a tea bag just like Kyoko. Shortly after, even before the silence grew uncomfortable, Jeniferu joined them with water boiler in one hand and a cup in the other.

Each of them got something hot to drink and then Yukio drew for breath.

"Sorry," he said. "I know we were supposed to wait until White Day, but Noriko told me it was better this way."

Jeniferu nodded. A thin smile that almost reached her eyes slowly spread on her face. "If you're trying to save our relationship, yeah, she's probably right."

Kyoko looked down into her cup. What other reason was there for this kind of subterfuge?

"Are you interested in trying, or at least one of you?" Yukio said. His deadpan tone surprised Kyoko.

Both shook their heads.

"That's it then I guess," Yukio said and sighed.

Yukio!

Tomasu smirked. "I think you lost Kyoko," he said. "Better explain before she panics."

Kyoko stared at Yukio. Somehow she'd just been had.

"Don't be a jerk," Jeniferu said and slurped down some watery excuse for what some Americans still defined as coffee. "We're not interested in trying," she continued after her cup joined Kyoko's on the table.

"Look, you nabbed one of our birthdays." Kyoko let her irritation get the better of her. "Explain in a way I can understand."

Tomasu grinned. This time it was an honest grin. "I love her. We'll stick together after a fashion."

Jeniferu looked at him and Kyoko heard the girl draw for breath. "You're an idiot, you know that?"

"That's what you like about me, isn't it?" Tomasu responded.

Kyoko stared at the strange verbal ping pong match. And that was easy to understand exactly how?

"If you don't kick me out I'll cling to your life for as long as you live."

The grin faded a little. "If you love me then just say so," he muttered.

"Love you."

"Love you as well. Let's break up."

"Yeah, let's."

What?

Across the table Yukio grinned so widely Kyoko feared his face might split.

What?

"I'm not all that interested, but I promise I'll give it a try," Tomasu said.

What's going on?

Jeniferu turned and faced Kyoko directly. "We found a way that might work. I want to have sex with Tomasu, but I'm still too scared to be alone with him."

"Yes?" Kyoko said. She still had no idea where this was going.

"So I'll try sleeping around a little. To get rid of that fear. If you know any sex friend material you trust please tell me."

"Whoa!" Kyoko never guessed it was going in this direction.

"I'm not happy about it, but I'm willing to give it a shot. Besides I already had my wild years myself. We broke up now so no one can accuse us of cheating."

"I don't understand," Kyoko said. "What did you just promise?"

Tomasu smirked. "I won't look for it, but I promised Jennifer I'd go along with one nights if the opportunity comes. Guess she wants us to be on a level field or something like that."