A year had passed since then, and they were now in Grade 5. The relationship between Zul and the twins, Arisa and Eri, had grown closer day by day, and they now seemed like family.
Zul and Eri's relationship had developed into a sibling-like bond; they often hung out and played together. Whenever Eri felt bored, especially when Arisa wasn't available to play, she would come to Zul's house.
Despite their closeness, Zul didn't harbor any romantic feelings for Eri. To him, she was like a little sister.
Instead, Zul had recently developed feelings for Arisa. This change came about as they frequently spent time together studying.Zul and Arisa often studied together in the library, side by side. Thanks to these study sessions, Zul's grades had improved significantly, almost catching up with Arisa's impressive academic performance.
One day, Zul was walking with Arisa and Miku after visiting their school library. On their way back to class, Kudo and his gang approached them and flipped both Arisa's and Miku's skirts.
"Kyaa, what are you doing?"449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAvI0A7Lhy
"Oh, it's white."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95Ls0fz902
"And the other one is light blue."
Arisa turned back, embarrassed.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJkVwXP5o0
"What are you doing?"
Zul clenched his fists.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpdFGrHAtw
"What are you guys doing? How dare you embarrass Arisa!"
"Oh no, Kudo, that's Eri's older twin sister. We targeted the wrong person. This is bad if her younger sister finds out."
"This is bad, we'd better run away before Eri finds out about this."
As they were about to run away, Zul immediately landed a punch on Kudo's face to stop him.
"What's your problem? How dare you guys touch me?"
Zul stepped forward.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVd6zXOzTm2
"You think you can just run away after what you did to them?"
Both of them suddenly started arguing and began fighting in the school corridor while people gathered around to see what was happening.
"A fight!" said someone who witnessed the fight.
Eri, who happened to pass by, wondered who was involved in the fight. She was shocked to see that it was Zul and her classmate Kudo, while Arisa, her sister, was trying to stop Zul from continuing the fight.
Eri rushed through the hallway, drawn by the commotion.
Onee-chan? Zul-kun? What are they doing? she wondered, her heart racing.
The scene before her was chaotic. Zul and Kudo were locked in a fierce confrontation, with Arisa desperately trying to intervene.
Arisa’s voice trembled.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJ2EsnwR6p
"Stop it, Zul, there's no need to fight. I'm okay."
Zul’s face twisted with anger.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrjR94galy
"Leave me, Arisa. This idiot always does stupid things to other students. He never changes. I've had enough of him. Let me beat him."
Kudo, bruised but defiant, sneered back, "You’ve got guts, huh? You damn foreigner!"
"Watch your mouth, idiot. Who are you calling a foreigner?"
Right before the situation could get worse, a loud voice interrupted them.
"Both of you, stop it!!"449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAi7tDJImTK
The male teacher stood before them, face stern.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKatrFthkn
"Why are you fighting, Zul, Kudo?!"
The teacher turned to Zul.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYEf7gRhEE
"Zul, I heard you're the one who started the fight. Why did you hit him?"
Zul still clenched his fists.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQ9snv3Amb
"He makes me mad."
"Come with me to the staff office, you two."
As Zul and Kudo grudgingly followed, Miku stepped forward.
"Umm, sensei, can I go too? I'll tell you what actually happened."
The teacher considered for a moment before nodding. "Alright, Miku. You can tell me what happened at the staff office."
As they prepared to leave, Arisa stepped forward.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡensux7NqjB
"Miku, wait! Let me follow you too."
But Miku shook her head, giving her friend a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, let me handle this. You return to our class first."
The teacher turned to the crowd. "All of you, return to your classes now."
As the crowd dispersed, Eri reached Arisa’s side.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOVODkpz5R
"Onee-chan, are you okay?"
Arisa looked surprised. "Huh, Eri? What are you doing here?"
"I heard someone was involved in a fight, so I came to look. I never expected Zul and Kudo to be the ones fighting. What actually happened?"
Arisa sighed, watching them walk away.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrnAyE8TbN
"Actually..."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63NVO2eZYx
She began to recount the events that had led to the confrontation.
Eri's eyes widened in surprise.
Wow, he dared to land a punch on someone now. Am I influencing him to do that? He changed so much from back then, she thought.
After their brief conversation, Arisa and Eri returned to their respective classes. Arisa slumped into her seat, exhaling deeply as she replayed the earlier events in her mind.
After some time, Zul and Miku returned from the staff office. Arisa looked up, worried.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡso0WsZN4t3
"What happened? Are you guys okay?"
Miku approached Arisa's desk, her expression a mix of relief and concern.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPm7DZd1J1X
"I already explained to the teacher what happened earlier. Kudo was yelled at and fined for what he did. Zul also got a fine and has to write an apology letter for starting the fight."
Arisa's face fell, guilt washing over her. She turned to Zul, her voice soft and remorseful. "Zul, I'm so sorry. You did all this for me."
Zul shook his head, his demeanor surprisingly calm despite the ordeal.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5p5bld2Fs6
"Don't worry, Arisa. I was actually really mad at that guy before. Don't worry about it."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡto84c1Eo95
He gently placed his hand on Arisa’s head.
Arisa's eyes met Zul's, and a small, grateful smile spread across her face. "Zul, thank you for doing that. It means a lot to me."
Her smile caught Zul off guard. He felt his cheeks grow warm, and suddenly, his heart skipped a beat. In that moment, something shifted inside him, and he realized he was falling for Arisa.
A few days later, during a class session, Zul suddenly passed a folded paper to Arisa's desk.
"Hmm, Zul, what is this paper for?" Arisa wondered. She opened the paper discreetly underneath her table and read the message: "Let's meet on the school rooftop during lunch break."
Arisa's curiosity was piqued. "What does Zul want to talk about?" she wondered to herself.
As lunch break arrived, Zul was waiting on the rooftop as promised. Shortly after, Arisa arrived.
Arisa tilted her head, curious.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDz7pE8dLY6
"Zul-kun? Why did you want to meet here? Is there something you need to discuss with me without anyone hearing?"
Zul took a deep breath, his expression turning serious.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfWFofEFo0
"As I expected, Arisa-chan. They don't call you a genius for nothing. Um, Arisa-chan, there's something I've wanted to say for a while... I like you. Will you be my girlfriend?"
Arisa’s cheeks turned pink. "Eh? Why is this so sudden?"
"Actually, I..." She hesitated.
When Arisa didn't respond right away, Zul's smile faded. He looked down, his face turning red. "Uh... it's okay if you don't feel the same. Maybe you’re not ready for something like this right now."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJ2lIC7dyQ
He fidgeted nervously, looking a little sad.
"See you later in the classroom." He turned to leave.
He started walking past Arisa, but suddenly felt a tug on his clothes from behind.
Arisa grabbed his shirt. "Zul-kun, wait...!!"
Zul turned, shocked. "Huh!? What's wrong, Arisa-chan?"
Arisa’s voice trembled.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDsZhYORYu
"Where are you going? I haven't actually replied to your question yet."
Zul blinked, confused. "Huh, I thought you weren't interested in me."
Arisa took a deep breath.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrbi0N56yk
"No, that's not it. Listen, Zul-kun. The truth is... I like you too. I've liked you for a while, but I was afraid to say anything. I didn’t want things to get awkward between you and Eri."
The rooftop fell silent once again, but this time the air was charged with a mix of surprise, relief, and joy as both Zul and Arisa realized their feelings were mutual.
Zul fidgeted with his shirt.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QDHzbhO9d
"So... um... Does this mean we're... you know... friends who like each other now?"
Arisa nodded shyly, then realized Zul couldn't see her nod since he was looking away. "Y-yes, I think so."
They both turned to face each other at the same time, their eyes meeting. Zul, caught up in the moment, thrust out his hand for a high-five. Arisa, surprised, misinterpreted it and went for a fist bump instead.
Their hand and fist collided clumsily, causing them both to recoil slightly.
"Oh! I thought you were..." Arisa started.
"I was trying to..."
They both broke into nervous giggles, the tension easing a bit.
Just then, the bell signaling the end of lunch break rang loudly, startling them both.
Arisa smiled shyly.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3EqSKJOmO
"We should... probably get back to class."
"Yeah, we should."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDN1S2TpPti
"Um, Arisa, do you want to hang out with me in town this weekend?"
Arisa blushed.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY85Gydem3d
"Hanging out? Is it... a... date?"
"Um... yes, something like that."
Arisa grabbed Zul’s hand. "Okay, let's do it. Let's go on a date."
"I'm looking forward to it."
They walked towards the door back into the school building, both red-faced and stealing shy glances at each other, their new relationship off to an endearingly sweet start.
"Eh, he confessed to you, congratulations, Arisa-chan!" Miku said. The two of them were discussing Zul's confession in Arisa's room at her house while doing their homework together.
"Yes, but it shocked me a bit too. I never expected him to say that."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUm4MZhI1P
She blushed.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAb9FZvph7G
"He also asked me on a date this weekend."
"Eh, he just confessed to you and already asked you on a date? How manly he is!"
"Um, Miku-chan, can you suggest how I should dress properly for the date?"
"Don't worry, just leave it to me. I'll help you prepare for your date later."
"By the way, where's your little sister right now?"
"Oh, Eri's at Zul's house as usual, playing some games."
"Does she know about this?"
"I guess she doesn't know. Also, she hasn't asked anything about this. If she knew, she'd probably want to come along too."
Meanwhile, at Zul's house, "Zul, this game is boring. Do you have another game?"
"Sorry, you've already played all the games I have. There's nothing left."
Eri lay on Zul’s bed.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQI7DQ8iXKw
"Ah, this is boring. I don't have any more games to play."
"Hey, Zul, you've been doing your homework since earlier. Why don't you stop it and play with me now?"
"I always finish my homework first before playing."
"Hmm, you're the same as Onee-chan, always finishing homework before playing."
"How about you? Have you finished your homework?"
"Me? I usually do it at night. I hate doing my homework during the day."
"Well, that's your studying style. I can't say anything about that."
Eri flopped onto Zul’s bed, her tone playful but probing. "Hey, Zul... when you and Onee-chan were on the rooftop, you looked super nervous. Were you talking about me?" She grinned, but her eyes held a sharp glint. "Or... maybe something else?"
Zul blushed.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUjsc7N04X
"Huh, you saw that?! Did you hear what we talked about?"
"Not at all. I just saw you from the floor below. Did something happen between you and Onee-chan?"
Zul laughed nervously.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBKuqsZgIU
"Nothing happened. We were just talking about studying, hahaha."
Eri glared at him.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezPqREubnX
"Really? You seem strange. You're not hiding something from me, right?"
Zul kept his face neutral.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLuCOXQSCr
"Hiding something? Don't be ridiculous. I'm not hiding anything from you."
"Well, if you say so, there's nothing I can do."
Eri grinned.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCM8lVsinMj
"Hey, Zul, let’s go to town this weekend! Let’s hit the game shop and arcade."
This weekend? That's the same date I promised Arisa, Zul thought to himself.
"I'm sorry, Eri. I can't go this weekend. I have something to do."
Eri pouted.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLHV0V71q7
"Ah, you're so boring. I just wanted to play with you at the arcade this weekend."
"Sorry, Eri. Maybe next time."
Eri crossed her arms, her grin turning sly. Hmm... Onee-chan’s ‘busy’ this weekend, and now you’re ‘busy’ too? What a coincidence. You’re totally hiding something. I’ll figure it out soon, shethought.
Zul looked up. "Eri, what's wrong? You suddenly look distracted?"
"It's nothing. I'm just pouting because you don't want to hang out with me."
"What's with that face? Here, this is a new manga I just bought earlier. I know you'll like it."
"Huh, a new manga? Let me see that too."
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To be continued…………….. Futagomonogatari IV
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and then Add to home screen.