May 22 2002


a/n: Hello minna! Here is chapter four of ‘More than Rivals’!^^ Hope you enjoy it and thanks to everyone who reviewed!! Thank you! And please keep on and reviewing^^~


Chapter Four


Time flowed by fast, it had been more than two weeks since Rika living with Henry completely alone. They finally learnt to get along with each other, but that doesn’t mean they don’t argue anymore, in fact, they still argue sometimes, but only in a playful way, and forgot about it the next second. Ever since the first bathroom ‘incident’ they had that morning, Henry had remembered to use the bathroom downstairs and Rika use the one upstairs. Surprisingly, their ‘cooking’ problem also solved in the past few days, simply because Henry couldn’t cook and Rika just couldn’t eat any of his bad cooking anymore. They had some arguments because of his bad cooking, when they come to the solution that Rika decided to cook for both of them everyday, if only Henry’s willing to help.

Besides these small problems, Rika actually enjoyed herself living with Henry. She was surprised when she admit it to herself, but she knew that living with Henry isn’t that bad after all. Henry, however, also changed his attitude towards Rika, he stopped thinking her of a Miss Attitude, after he saw some of the good sides and soft sides of Rika. Even though sometimes both of them complains about living with each other but deep down inside they knew they enjoyed each other’s company in this hot summer break.


*****


“Henry, we are out of bread.” Rika called from the kitchen.

It was another typical morning in Henry’s house, Rika’s head popped out from the kitchen window into the living room.

“ Oh, then I’ll go get some, you wanna come?” Henry turned his head towards Rika, looking at her questionably.

“No.”

“Come on, I will show you where the bakery is.”

“So?” Rika cross her arms and raise an eyebrow.

“ I’ll introduce you to my friend, he’s family owns the bakery.”

“I’m not interested in seeing your little friend.” Rika replied.

“Um...how about... I’ll buy you a Strawberry flavor ice-cream?” After living for more than two weeks with Rika, one thing he knew about her was she likes Strawberry ice-cream, it’s her favorite.

“That... I’ll have to think about it.”

“Oh come on Miss Attitude, I don’t have all day.” Henry joked playfully.

“Oh shut up Wong,” Rika scowled, and then sighed, “Fine, I’ll come, but, you promise to buy me an ice-cream.”

“All right.” Henry smiled.

Rika smiled back.

***

“ Where are your parents anyway?” Rika asked, trying not to sound so interested.

They were walking on the street side by side towards the bakery.

“They went back to Hong Kong.” Henry replied simply.

Rika glared at him, “O...kay... that’s very informative.” she said in a sacarstic.

“ They went back to see my grandma, she wasn’t feeling well and my uncle called from Hong Kong the night before you came. He said it’s an emergency, and my grandma wanted to see us. So my dad had to go back.” Henry explained.

“Then how come you didn’t go with them?” Rika asked, but she felt regret right after the question came out from her mouth. The answer was so obvious, she couldn’t believe she asked it, now she felt regret cause she thought Henry would make a big deal out of it and will make her look bad. But to her surprise, Henry didn’t, instead he just answered the question.

“ Oh, cause my dad knew you would come the next day. And he didn’t want to cancel your trip to Osaka, so he told me to stay in Osaka and welcome you when you got here. That’s why my brother and sisters went, and I stayed.”

Rika looked at him, and nodded slowly. For some reason, she felt relief. When she was at Tokyo, because she was one of the best students in school and definitely the best in class, her teacher and classmate always expect higher of her. When ever she made a mistake, her teacher would tell her how disappointed they were, and her classmate would talk behind her about her mistake and saying that maybe she’s not the best student in class anymore. Because of all those, Rika make sure herself don’t get any mistakes, she rarely talk to her friends anymore cause she knew they weren’t her ‘real’ friends. They were her friends when she was the best, then they turn on her back when she’s nothing, and they came back again when she’s something again. Rika got really sick of those people, so she stopped talking to people in her school, and she refused to admit that she felt lonely sometimes. She wanted to push all those sad emotions away by throwing herself into books, she began to study even harder than ever. This summer, it’s different, she has Henry with her and when ever she’s with him, all those unhappy emotions disappeared. She felt happy, living with Henry.

Without Rika’s noticing, her lips curled up a small smile as she stared at the blue haired boy as she thought about the last thoughts. Henry, however seem to noticed the constant stare, also turned to her.

“ Something wrong?” he asked.

Rika suddenly snapped out from her mind, the small smile disappeared immediately from her face, “No, nothing.” she answered in an annoying tone, and turned her head away from Henry.

He blinked, ‘Why was she smiling?’ wondered Henry. But then he just shrugged and push the question away. They continued on walking in silence, both not looking at each other.

“Sometimes....I wonder....” Henry began, Rika turned her head, and looked at him questionably.

“ I wonder if what my mom said was true...”

Rika frowned, “What did Aunt Wong say?”

“She always tells me that when we were small, whenever you and your family came to visit, we are always the ones that play together and get along very well.” Henry answered, without turning his head looking at Rika.

“Weird, my mom told me the exactly the same thing before I left.”

Henry turned to look at Rika, who’s looking back at him, “Do you think that would be true?”

They stared at each other for a brief moment, “Nah!” both shrugged and shook their heads as they kept on walking. Finally, they reached their destination. Henry pushed the door open and stepped inside, Rika followed him behind also entered the small, but neat bakery.

“Oh, hi Henry.” A woman’s voice called his name. Both teens switched their gaze towards a woman standing in front of a counter, she smiled at Henry as they walked towards her.

“Good morning Mrs Masuki.” (a/n: I’m using the English name remember...^^) Henry replied politely with a smile on his face.

“ Oh, who is this pretty young lady? Is she your girlfriend?” Mrs Masuki suddenly noticed the Rika standing behind Henry, a big grin appeared on her face. Both teenagers blinked, then, they felt their faces burning.

Henry blinked again, then waved his hand in front of him like crazy, “No, no! Of course not. She’s just my friend, she came from Tokyo to visit my family. Her name is Rika.” he explained, his face still burning.

The grin on Mrs Masuki’s face got wider, “Oh that’s what they all say.”

Rika frowned, her face got even redder of embarrassment, and anger. But she tried her best to control herself not to explode in front of the lady. Henry looked at Rika from the corner of his eyes, he could tell Rika was getting angry, then looked back at Ms Masuki laughing nervously with her, face burring like fire.

“Um.... I’ll look around with Rika, we are looking for some bread.” Henry change the subject quickly.

“Well, help yourself, all the breads are fresh.” the lady said with a smile on her face. Henry nodded, then started looking around the small bakery with Rika.

“ Hey Henry!” another voice came, but it was a very energetic and excited voice. Henry looked up to the direction where it came from, and his face turned into a big grin.

“ Hey Takato!” Henry exclaimed.

The browned haired boy ran up to him, “Are you here buying bread again?” he asked. Henry nodded. Takato then looked behind Henry’s shoulder, he saw Rika was standing there watching them. “Who’s that?” he asked in a whisper, eyes looking at Rika.

“Oh, that’s-”

“It’s that your girl friend?” not letting the boy finish, Takato cut Henry off.

“No! Of course not!” Henry protested nervously, he’s face began to burn again. Rika frowned, then looked away pretend not to hear what Takato asked.

Takato switched his gaze back to Henry, “Heheh....sure...I believe you.”

Henry began to sweat, “Really Takato, she’s just a friend. It’s not what you think.” he replied back, trying to keep his voice down, not wanting Rika to hear him.

Takato chucked, and looked over at Rika once again, “ Lucky guy, why do you always get the pretty girl?” Takato asked, somewhat jealous.

“No! She’s not my girlfriend! And what about Jeri?! She’s pretty! AHH why do I even bother! She’s not my girlfriend!” Henry hissed.

Takato ignored him and went one, “So how long have you guys been dating?” Rika’s face went redder and redder as Takato kept on going and going. She dropped her head down, staring at the bread in front of her angrily. Henry peeked at her from he corner of his eyes, and began to blush even more.

“Shut up Takato! For the last time that girl is not my GIRLFRIEND!!” Henry yelled out loud, causing everyone in the bakery to look at him, including Rika. Takato stared at his friend surprise, and blinked couple of times. He had never seen Henry so angry before. Rika on the other hand, also freaked, her eyes stared at Henry, her face was blushing and burning. Then she frowned and walked out from the bakery angrily.

Henry turned around, “Ri-Rika!” he called, but it was too late, Rika had already walked out from the bakery and slammed the door angrily behind her. Henry turned to give Takato an angry look and raised up one foot ready to catch up with Rika. But Takato suddenly grabbed his arm, making Henry to stop on this track and turned back to see Takato.

“What is it?” he asked in an angry voice.

Takato just tighten his grid on Henry’s arm and grinned, “Come, I have things to tell you about.” he said as he dragged Henry with him.

“Wai-wait, I need to go after her.” Henry explained, and try to get rid of Takato’s grid.

“Ah, don’t worry, I’m sure she’s just going home, you can talk to her later. Call her when you get home or something, (a/n: Takato never knew Henry and Rika were living together...^^) she will be all right.” Takato convinced as he dragging Henry to upstairs where his room was.

Henry sighed, looking helplessly at the bakery door where Rika walked out from, ‘Yeah, maybe I should talk to her when I get home. Man, she sure get angry easily....’ he thought, then unwilling followed Takato to his room.

***
Rika walked silently on the street, her face were still red and it still has that angry look on. For some reason she’s mad at Henry, and that guy who she didn’t know who it was yet. She should be mad at Takato, that’s normal, but why was she mad at Henry?

‘That stupid Henry, who does he think he is...!? Talking about me with his stupid friend like I wasn’t there! He sounded like he would rather be an ugly monster than being my boyfriend! And WHO wants to be HIS girlfriend anyway!?’ Rika thought angrily, Henry’s words in the bakery began to return to her head...


-- ‘Shut up Takato! For the last time that girl is not my girlfriend!’

‘No! She’s not my girlfriend!’--

-- ‘It’s not what you think!’

Remembering those words made Rika even more mad, she frowned and gave a hard kick on some can laying on the ground, causing attention from people around her. But she didn’t care, she kept on walking, and didn’t care where she was going.

***

End of Chapter four

a/n: well finally! Chapter four is done! Sorry for the delay! First my Internet was disconnected for two weeks and I have to update my page prepare for my exams!
Hope you liked it, and please review!^^ And sorry for any grammar/spelling mistake!^^;;