The Other Side

She didn't mean to, but yet after hearing what he was about to do. Hifumi just couldn't resist following him back home, and waiting for his date to begin. Her grandmother told her to not worry, yet at the same time. That thought of him being with someone else was too much for her. What were they going to do?

So that's what she did, hiding around every corner as the two of them were making their way to their destination. One that she was very familiar with, the arcade.

"Hmm, clearly this is Arata's idea." She muttered to herself. The president never gave off vibes that she was into this personally. Though she believed that it was thanks to her that Arata was taking the lead here.

She was about to enter herself, knowing the layout here was going to be to her advantage. However, a girl's humming stopped her first. She recognized it, but it was too late to avoid it.

"Oh hello." It was Matsu, who had just finished some club activities with her friends. "You're Hifumi Onuki, right?" They hardly knew each other, only meeting that one time with Arata. Why was this girl talking with her right now?

"H-hello." She responded, stammering from the fear of being caught. It would appear strange if it was found out that she was stalking Arata at this moment. Now that she was thinking of it… This really was stalking, how could she stoop to so low? "Fancy meeting you here."

"Yep, it's funny how I always seem to run into other students." She replied. Matsu always just chalked it up to her attractive personality. "Anyway, I gotta get going." She said, beginning to leave. Much to Hifumi's relief. "I'm going to pay a surprise visit to Arata's house."

"Too bad you won't see him there." Hifumi said, then gasped, covering her mouth. She had made a grave error.

"Hmm? He's not home right now?" Matsu froze in her tracks. "If you know that, then you must've ran into him. Where was that?" This was a rather bad predicament she had found herself in. If Hifumi said this correctly, then she could play it off.

"You see, I saw him with another girl. He's actually on a date right now." She was hoping that would be enough to deter this girl. She'd probably go home after hearing something like that. Too bad that she really didn't know Matsu on a personal level.

"A date!" Matsu couldn't believe her ears. She rushed up to Hifumi, grabbing her shoulders and shaking as she asked her next question. "A date? Where? Where did you see him? Who was he with?"

A barrage of questions attack the poor girl. All she wanted to was follow someone in peace. Now here she was, getting shaken up by a girl she hardly knew. Hifumi just wanted this all to stop, so she spilled the beans.

"I… Just… Saw… Him… Go into… The arcade." She answered, the moving around made it hard to speak up. When this girl gets going, she's really dangerous to be near.

"He is?!" Matsu was about to bolt into the building, but Hifumi grabbed her by the back of her blouse. Causing the girl to fall onto her back. She knew if she was allowed in like this, then her cover was going to be blown.

"What are you doing?" She asked her. This behavior was far from what she was expecting. It's a good thing that people walking by were minding their own business. Because this was an odd sight to be witnessing. "Wait, do you… Like Arata?"

"Um, just a little…" Matsu quietly admitted. This was not something that Hifumi wanted to hear. It turned out there was more competition for her than expected. Though if that was the case, then Hifumi didn't need to hide anything to her anymore.

"That's fine…" She replied. "I like him too, so I was just…"

"Stalking him?"

"I was going to say keeping an eye on." She responded, miffed at the word choice from her companion. "Look, just follow my lead. That way, we won't get caught. Deal?" Matsu nodded her head in agreement. They may not be friends, if anything, closer to rivals. However there was a common foe here to worry more about.

The two of them entered, navigating their way through the crowd. While also using it as a way to mask their existence. Thankfully, it was loud in this building, so Arata's excellent hearing wouldn't be able to hear them as they talked.

Good thing too, since talking in this place was more like yelling at each other.

"Looks like they stopped there." Hifumi told Matsu, watching the two sit down at the racing chair. This was also the first time that Matsu finally got a look at the girl he was on a date on. One that was rather familiar to her.

"It's the president?!" She said. The sight upset her greatly. That girl already made her move?

"Yes, I realize I should've told you before we got in here." To play this facade, the two of them were hanging around one of those crane games. Placing in some coins and operating the arm, while keeping an eye over their shoulders.

They witnessed the two of them begin the racing game. Misei's failure was rather disappointing to watch from Hifumi's perspective. That girl did not know how to play video games in the slightest.

"Ha!" Matsu commented on the sight. "There's no way Arata can like a girl that isn't good with his hobbies." She was eating those words shortly after saying them. As the two of them watched as Arata aided Misei. Taking over the wheel for her.

It wasn't easy to watch, how he put his hand over hers, their faces so close to each other. For a moment after that race was finished. The two of them even had a fear of watching those two share a kiss.

"What are we going to do now?" Matsu asked. "This date's going too good."

"Whatever you do, don't even think of trying to ruin this." Hifumi was aware of how bad of an idea that was. "He'll hate the two of us if we do anything." The two lovebirds have made their move now. So it was time for the two stalkers to make theirs as well.

It looked like after their little game. Misei and Arata were going to grab something to drink and eat. There was bound to be a place they'd stop at, so the other two found their own table to sit at. Lucky for them that they didn't sit far from their targets.

"I'm surprised she didn't get a drink." Matsu commented on the fact that only Arata picked one up. The two of them grabbed the same food, some fried skewers.

"Just wait." Hifumi was certain about what the plan here was. Without question, she could tell that Misei asked him for a sip from his drink. For a moment, he hesitated. Though if it was because of the implications, or because he didn't think she'd like his drink was uncertain. However, Arata slid it over to her without incident.

"What? But that's like an indirect kiss!" Matsu covered her mouth in shock. Though neither of them were aware if he was the type to really care about that concept. Without saying anything, she got up from the table.

"What are you doing? Did I say-"

"I'm leaving." Matsu responded to Hifumi. "If we're not going to do anything about it, then I don't want to watch it." This was frustrating for her to see. Yet at the same time, Matsu understood this was partially her own fault. That she hadn't built the courage to confess to him.

"… Then how about the two of us have some fun?" Hifumi offered. "I mean, you know, if you don't mind hanging out-" Before she could finish her offer, Matsu grabbed both of her hands in excitement.

"I'd love to." She smiled, never wanting to miss out on making a friend. The two of them exited, trying to leave what was happening in there out of their minds. "So where did you want to go?"

"Hmm? Well, I actually didn't think you'd join me. So I was hoping that you had an idea." Hifumi admitted to her. Spending time with people for fun isn't something she was experienced with.

"Then what are your hobbies?" She asked, realizing that the two of them knew nothing of the other. "There any places for what you like doing?"

"Well, usually. I go to the otaku shop that's nearby." She answered. "But I doubt that you care about that type of stuff."

"Otaku?" Matsu took a moment to think it over. "We should go there then. I know that Arata's an otaku, so maybe I should try and see what type of stuff he likes." While the reasoning wasn't what she would've liked to hear. Hifumi was fine with taking another opportunity to shop for her favorite things.

"So, have you ever read any manga, watch any anime?" Hifumi asked, as they entered the store.

"The last time I ever saw one was when I was a little kid." Matsu answered. The only anime she watched was the one where the girls got magical powers to fight evil. That was a very long time ago though. "What about you?"

"Oh, I spend any free time I have in the library reading manga." She replied. "I'm more of a reader than a watcher though, so I can't say that seen too many anime." The store owner waved to the two of them. Hifumi was quite a regular here, even to the point of seeing Arata at the store sometimes. However, she never made her presence known to him, as that would probably get him to look for a different store to shop in.

"These toys looks pretty cute." Matsu shoved her face over the glass displays. In awe of the detail that some of these figurines had. "Do you have any money on you? I promise I'll pay you back."

"Heh, I guess it's pretty easy to get people into this stuff." Hifumi chuckled. "But no, I won't buy it for you."

"Aww, but I'm worried they won't have it when I come back." Matsu pouted and stomped her foot once.

"Don't worry about it, I doubt they'd d run out of stock." Then she leaned in and whispered something in her ear. "After all, wouldn't it be better as an excuse to get Arata to come with you?"

"I, uh…" Matsu took a step back in a panic from hearing that. "I can't ask him."

"Why? He's an otaku, so I doubt he'd judge." Hifumi tilted her head in confusion. "But if you won't, maybe I might ask him." She teased, knowing that it probably wouldn't happen anyway.

"Why would you give me advice? I mean, aren't we rivals?"

"We are." There was no arguing that fact. "But I'm not really one to fight dirty."

"But then why did we-"

"Follow him on his date?" That did sound like a strange thing regardless of the context. "Well, I was… weak. But I just wanted to observe him, not ruin anything." The truth was, that she wanted to see what type of girl he liked. Then perhaps, she could be that for him.

"Yeah, I guess that was a mistake." Matsu laughed nervously. That was when the door to the store rang. Signaling a customer coming in. However, it should've been a warning alarm for the two of them.

"Huh?" Arata came in, with Misei right behind him. "I didn't think I'd see you two here."