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Tomoe tore into her strawberry-flavored bread, while Matoko drank the last of his peach tea. Tomoe’s attempts at conversation had failed miserably and lunch was just about over.

“I’m sorry.”

Tomoe nearly choked on her bread. “H-Huh?! What are you saying so suddenly?”

Matoko stared blankly at the grass. “About yesterday. I’m sorry. We’re supposed to be dating, and I acted that way.”

The breeze over the grass filled the silence between them. The bell rang just as Tomoe regained her ability to speak, but he had already sprinted off leaving her slightly confused, yet beaming.

______________

“Heeey! Nakushita!”

“Hah? Uwaagh~!”

The volleyball impacted with Makoto’s face the moment he turned his attention to the bleachers, sending him sprawling to the wooden gym floor. After a few moments of unnerving silence, the shrill of his teacher’s whistle brought him back to consciousness.

She had begun shouting over all the murmured side commentary of his classmates.

“Hey! Nakushita Matoko! Are you alright? Weren’t you paying attention?”

Matoko groaned, resting his hand on his head.

“Good,” she said, standing up from her knelt position. “Now then…”

Her entire countenance turned bloodthirsty. “…Toshiki Kenta, you hit the ball much harder this time…Why is that?” The students had parted to reveal the student now scared stiff.

“N-No reason! Honest!”

Sakami raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Hmmm? No reason, eh?” She flipped her black ponytail over her shoulder. “Nakushita! Did that feel like it was for no reason?”

Matoko had already sat up, though the corner of his eye glared directly at the real culprits.

Damn you…Natsuki…Taka…

Sighing loudly, he responded. “It doesn’t matter, Misou-sensei. I’m fine.”

Sakami raised her eyebrow in a quizzical manner.

“Nakushita-kun? Are you sure your head is alright?”

“Yeah…” he mumbled, staring at Kenta’s fearful face, disgusted. “I’m getting changed early.”

“Sure…”

Everyone watched him disappear through the doors. Blowing her whistle, she broke the silence.

“Alright! Everyone help clean up and get changed!”

Natsuki and Taka remained irked.

______________

“Hey hey! Did you hear about what happened to Nakushita from Class 1-B?”

“I didn’t hear! What happened?”

“They say that he got knocked out by one of students!”

“Really? A fight? That’s rare.”

Tomoe clenched the broom in her hand, unable to focus on after-school cleanup. She could overhear the animated voices behind her.

Matoko..There’s no way…

“Class Rep! Come quick!”

Startled, Tomoe and a few others jumped a few inches.

“W-What in the?!”

A boy in round glasses appeared panicked, as Tomoe stepped forward.

“There’s a fight going on in the courtyard!”

“WHAT?!”

“Let’s go watch!”

“STOP RIGHT THERE!”

Tomoe had halted the students before they could reach the door.

“All of you continue cleanup duties! As Class 2-D’s Representative, I will handle this myself!”

Tomoe bolted through the door with the messenger trailing behind. They could hear shouts as they drew closer.

“Please don’t let it be true…! Either way…”

“ANSWER ME!”

That voice..!

Pressing forward through the small circle that had formed in the courtyard, Tomoe mustered up her strength.

“HATOKI SHIMA! What the heck are you doing?!”

Hatoki held Kenta in the air by the collar. He blushed, a blank stare upon Tomoe, unfitting for someone with a broad physique.

“I wanted to find out why this guy had messed with Nakushita. That’s all.”

“By threatening him?!”

“Well…uh…”

“Put him down!”

Hatoki dropped Kenta on his butt, appearing apologetic. “I wasn’t gonna hurt ‘em, Tomoe.”

“That’s not the point! It’s–”

“Akayami-senpai!” Matoko’s voice reached her ears.

By now, the crowd was dispersing. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing that I can’t handle of course!”

“Ah..I see.”

Matoko’s eyes turned sinister at the sight of Hatoki, as did his. “I’ll go on ahead then. Bye.”

Currently Listening To: KOTOKO – being – “Sekka no Shinwa”