Lesson Learned

Talk to Someone!

Sugaya shot next, hitting the painted on the target. "Nice!"

She scowled. "Will you stop showing off!"

He raised an eyebrow. "You're the one who wanted to practice shooting." He shrugged. "I'm not even that good..."

"You're still better than me!!" she snapped, huffing petulantly.

"How is that my fault?"

Mitsuko sighed, aiming the gun at the tree again.

Sugaya frowned, scrutinizing her hands. "You might want to loosen up." He pointed at her hands. "You're holding the gun too tight and your hands are shaking a little."

Her eyes widened at the accurate observation. "Oh..." She stared at her hands and loosened her hold slightly and drew her shoulders back. "Okay..." She focused on the target and sucked in a deep breath before releasing.

The pellet hit above the eye.

"See. Better." Sugaya nudged her shoulder.

Mitsuko stared at the tree in surprise, lowering her gun. "It wasn't far off..." A smile spread across her face. "But I can do better." She aimed the gun again, relaxing her shoulders as she fired. "If I can get this perfect I'll actually make some headway with this assassination thing!"

Sugaya stretched, sitting on a tree stump. "Do you actually have a plan?"

Mitsuko flushed. "Well, no..." She shrugged. "I've been busy with Rio..."

"How'd the date go?"

"It wasn't a date," she replied instinctively, as her gaze shifted to the river as she lowered the gun to her side. "And it was okay, I guess..."

"You guess?" Sugaya frowned.

She shrugged, sitting down on the grass. "...How did it feel when you went on your first date?"

Sugaya looked uncomfortable, smiling awkwardly. "Uh...I'll let you know when it happens."

"Oh..." Mitsuko smiled sheepishly. "Sorry!" her smile grew crooked. "Have you ever kissed a girl?"

"Yes!" Sugaya blushed.

She grinned wickedly. "Anyone, I know?"

"It was in third grade." He rolled his eyes. "I drew her a picture and she liked it so she kissed me..."

"Aww!!" Mitsuko laughed, making him scowl. "So adorable!"

"Shut up!" He tried to glare at her but it looked more like a scowl. "So I take it you've at least kissed a guy?"

"A few times." She shrugged.

"A few?" Sugaya raised an eyebrow.

Mitsuko rolled her eyes. "It was the same guy."

"Like a boyfriend?"

"Pfft, my brother would have scared them off." She scoffed, laying down on the grass to face the sky. "It was one of my brother's friends, Ren."

"Sakikabara? Seriously?!"

She shrugged, smiling faintly at the memory. "The first time was because I was upset about losing a race, so he kissed me to cheer me up." Her smile grew slanted. "I think it made Rio jealous at some point..."

"...How long are you going to wait before you tell her?" Sugaya asked cautiously.

"What do you mean?" Mitsuko frowned, sitting up.

His brow furrowed, looking uncertain. "That you like her."

There was a long stretch of quiet.

Mitsuko swallowed, bringing her knees closer to her. "I will..."