"Italicized" = Signed

"Regular" = Spoken

Italicized = Yō typing

= Someone else typing

----- = A spoken word Yō can't understand (or at least not lip read)

...

Yō's POV:

We had spent a good hour doing some sign language practice. Chika was getting better at it. Maybe she'll be able to catch up now.

Chika paused from her work and looked at the door. It was closed so I assumed someone was on the other side. Chika's mouth moved quickly, too quickly for me to read it.

"Dinner is ready" Chika shakily signed.

"O-K" I signed back.

We got up and exited the room. We went down to the kitchen. Chika's mom was there as well as someone else.

"Who's the other girl?" I asked Chika.

"My sister" Chika replied, "One of them at least."

We entered the room and sat down at the two empty seats. Chika started talking with them. I watched, trying to keep track of the conversation. It was hard. They all talk really fast. Now I see where Chika gets it from.

I noticed that occasionally they'd look at me, as if waiting for a response. After it happened again, I looked at Chika. She seemed to understand and nodded.

"Hey... uh, she's deaf. She can't hear you. And uh, if you talk too fast she can't lip read you either." Chika said.

The two of them made an 'o' shape with their mouths. They both apologized and started speaking slower. Now I could actually join in. It was still hard and all, but I felt included. They made an effort to help me after all.

After we ate, Chika and I went back to her room. Chika flopped down onto the bed and motioned for me to join her. I hesitated, before slowly climbing in after her.

Chika snuggled into my side. I laid there stiffly, unsure what I was supposed to do in a situation like this. Should I hug her? Should I pull away? What do I do?

Chika tapped my chin, causing me to look down at her. She smiled at me and sat up for a second, grabbing her phone. She laid back down and started typing on her phone. She had the back of it in my face, making sure I wasn't able to see what she was typing.

After a minute, she showed it to me.

I shook my head. Chika typed out something else on the phone.

"Every relationship I've been in ended badly. I don't want to try anymore." I stated.

Chika frowned, "But, why?"

"This is a small town. There's no other deaf kid for miles. Half of the town probably hates me." I replied bitterly.

"Would you date me?" Chika asked.

I shrugged, "Maybe?"

"I wanna date you, if you don't mind..." Chika said.

"You want to go out with me?" I was surprised.

Chika nodded, "Yeah. I love you, Yō-chan."

I sighed, "Chika, are you sure about this? There are things you'll have to deal with that you wouldn't have to if you dated a hearing person."

"Like what? What haven't I gone through with you that you're worried about?" Chika asked.

"It's just... people will ask inappropriate questions if they find out we're dating. That happens a lot to me already, and if you're dating me, they'll ask you too." I stated sadly.

"I don't care. I'll do whatever I have to. I don't care what people say about us. They don't know anything." Chika stated, her posture taking in a confident look.

I was surprised. She really was going to do this?

"Please, Yō-chan! I can do it." Chika promised.

"Alright. We can try it." I agreed.

She wasn't going to give up anyway. I guess it won't be that bad. She isn't a bad person at all. Sure, she's a little dumb at times and offends people by accident, but I can live with that.

"Thank you!" Chika hugged me.

I hugged her back. I'm not sure exactly how to do stuff like this. She's gonna be a hyper one. All the others I've dated have been calm.

We stayed like that for a while. I was the first to pull away. Chika backed up and smiled at me. I gave her a lopsided smile back.

"It's getting late. We should probably get ready for bed." I pointed out.

"Okay!" Chika got off the bed.

I followed her off the bed. Chika left me to go to the bathroom. I waited around, playing games on my phone and texting my mom.

When Chika came back, I went to the bathroom. After a few minutes of staring at myself in the mirror, I went back to her room to find her asleep already. I chuckled and climbed in beside her.

Chika mumbled something I couldn't make out and then turned into my body. I pulled the covers over us and tried to sleep. Chika was a very noisy sleeper. I could feel her snoring it was that loud. And she kept moving.

This will not be a good time. I wasn't able to fall alseep for over an hour. So, note to self: don't sleep in a single bed with Chika.

...

I woke the next morning to Chika shaking me. Well, I guess that was the only way she'd get me up. I couldn't hear any alarms if she even had one.

"Good morning." She signed as I sat up.

"Morning." I replied.

We got off the bed. Chika handed me my uniform and then grabbed her own. I started changing. Chika blushed as she tried to look somewhere else.

"Are you changing or what?" I teased.

Chika blushed even brighter and started changing. Is she really that embarrassed about seeing me almost naked? Is it only me?

"Why are you so embarrassed about seeing me indecent?" I asked.

"I don't know." Chika shrugged.

"Well, try and figure out a reason." I said, before going and opening her bedroom door.

Chika trailed behind me as we went to the dining room. It seems her mom had made food for us all. Chika took a seat and pointed to one beside her. I sat down in it.

We ate breakfast slowly. Her mom and sister joined us after a few minutes. Then someone else came in.

"Who?" I tapped Chika on the shoulder and asked.

"Other sister." Chika responded.

I nodded and continued to eat. After we finished we said goodbye and headed off to go to school. Along the way we picked up Riko. She had gone out earlier than us.

"Good morning." Riko greeted us.

We replied back with the same thing. The three of us walked to school.

"Hey, Riko, have you adjusted to school yet?" I decided to start a conversation.

"Somewhat. It's still a little strange. I can't get used to how little students are at this school." Riko replied.

"Well, we could change that! Please, can we?" Chika begged.

"No. I'm not joining your club." Riko stated.

"Why not?" Chika asked.

"I don't want to."

"I'll change your mind." Chika declared.

I just rolled my eyes at them. Chika really wants to be an idol. I'm not sure Riko would do very well. She doesn't seem like that type. But, she might be able to. I guess she doesn't want to for her own reasons though.

"What about you? Will you join?" Chika now directed her questions to me.

"If you can't find two people willing to join you for the full experience, I don't think I would join." I said.

"Aw..." Chika pouted.

"Sorry. But, if no one wants to join you to be idols, I don't think it'd be worth it." I replied.

"Fine... I'll find people to join." Chika huffed.

...

After school had ended, Chika came up to Riko and I with a defeated look on her face.

"No one wants to join..." Chika sighed.

"Told you." Riko said.

"Meany!" Chika pouted.

"Chika, you do realize how hyper you are, right? You might be scaring them a little." I offered as advice.

I could care less how this plays out, but I want her to have some hope. She can do it if she tries.

"Okay! I'll try being calmer." Chika nodded.

"Good luck at that." Riko replied. I could see she was just teasing her.

"I'll show you guys." Chika stated.

We all laughed about it. Chika was not going to give up this ambition. She would see it through until the end.

"Come on. We should get going?" Riko said after a little.

"Alright!" Chika agreed.

I nodded along. We started walking away from the school.

"Hey, ----- -chan invited me to a party tonight. She said I could bring a guest." Chika started up the conversation.

"I'm busy, so not me." Riko said as she waved us goodbye and vanished into a store.

"What about you?" Chika asked me.

"Who invited you?" I asked.

Chika suddenly seemed to realize why I asked, "K-A-N-A-N."

"I guess if you want me to, I can go." I said.

"Really?!" Chika beamed with excitement.

I shrugged. She's really excited about this. I'm confused.

"When is it?" I asked her.

"In three hours." Chika replied.

"Alright."

"Do you wanna meet at my house and then go?"

"That sounds good."

"See you then!"

What have I gotten myself into?