There are countless myths that surround the halls of Kaijo High, but the most popular one by far revolves around the skylight in the boy's locker room that is only to be opened during the 24th of August.
According to Kaijo's tales of old, during the aforementioned date of the year when the school was built, a falling star had shot through the roof, and was discovered by the school's founder as he made rounds to inspect for further finishing touches to be done in the area. Before the star completely lost its light, the founder clasped his hands together, praying to the celestial orb for the success of the school he had spent his entire fortune trying to build. Not long after, Kaijou effortlessly made its way to the list of schools that topped in Japan. Since then, a skylight was set on the roof and was to be opened all day and night of August 24th each year as a sign of welcome in case another star chose to abandon heaven. The remnants of the first star was said to be encased in a bullet proof glass kept in the principal's office.
There are many who claimed to have witnessed another falling star and had their wishes come true as they made offerings to the skylight during the famed 24th of August.
"This is bullshit, and you know it." Hajime Yuri said in disdain as she shoved the pamphlet back to the arms of her friend who had been pestering her the entire morning about buying offerings for the Kami-sama skylight grossly being advertised by Class 1-F. It was Kaijo's founding anniversary, and what more could squeeze the cash out of the hopeless romantics than tales of bright, falling objects to help them get the ones they love.
"Ehhhh Yuri-chan! This is great bargain! Even if you don't get to see the star itself, leaving an offering gives good luck! Sakura-senpai left a chocolate roll last year and she was confessed to by the guy she likes!" Aiko argued, wrapping her arms around herself dreamily, imagining a certain blond making a declaration of love towards her.
"Yeah, then they broke up a month after." Yuri snorted, making her friend pout. "Look, do what you want but don't say I didn't warn you."
"Maybe if I buy the large chocolate roll the relationship will last longer?" Aiko pondered while she scanned the 'Items favoured by the Kami-sama skylight' being sold outside of Class 1-F. Yuri rolled her eyes at how gullible the brunette was being.
"Are you sure you don't want to buy anything? This Mr. Ribbit keychain is only 50 yen."
"No thanks, I think I'm good." Yuri grimaced, swatting the hand that was pushing a small frog attached to a chain in her line of sight.
"Suit yourself. Who knows, maybe heaven also takes pity on the cynical and may give you the star itself." Aiko smirked, fishing a bill out of her pocket to pay for her chocolate roll.
"Then I'll tell it to fuck off." Yuri snickered, comically raising her hand in surrender as her statement earned her a glare.
"I'm so sorry, Yuri-chan! I meant to leave it with the rest of the offerings before I went home but Sensei called and I totally forgot!" Aiko cried out from the other line as Yuri gripped her phone harder in irritation.
"Screw it! I'm gonna look stupid if anyone sees me!" Yuri gritted her teeth at the thought of someone catching her red-handed.
"It's late. Everyone's left by now, I mean, I don't even know why you're still in there." Aiko grumbled, seemingly forgetting that she was still in the middle of asking for a favour.
"I was practicing! Anyway, I'm not gonna do it. Not even if you cry. That chocolate roll's probably been eaten by a rat by now considering how much of a mess your locker is."
"Please, please, pleeeeease!" Aiko whined loudly, causing her a headache, magnifying the soreness of her body. Yuri sighed in defeat, knowing that her amnesiac of a friend would never let this issue die down if she refused, given how much of a 'Fate lies among the stars' person she is. She rubbed her temples, finally giving in to the hundredth pointless request that Aiko's asked of her this month alone.
"Fine, fine. But you're buying me lunch tomorrow." Yuri conceded.
"Put it above everyone else's so it'll get the most luck, okay? Thankyouloveyoubye!" Aiko said hurriedly, hanging up before Yuri could sneak in a word in case she changes her mind.
Yuri heaved out another sigh of aggravation, smoothing the waves of her black hair and cursing silently whilst putting her ballet flats back in its bag. She retrieved the wretched chocolate roll from Aiko's ironically unlocked locker with half a mind to eat it and just tell her that she did as she was told tomorrow, but decided against it, in case Aiko sprinkled some weird shit on the thing.
Just as her friend said, everyone else had already left for home, leaving Yuri with only the echoes of her footsteps as she made her way to the gym. It looked awfully spacious without the usual ruckus of the basketball team. Props to them for keeping it neat, though, she though as she caught a glimpse of her blurred reflection on the polished floor.
A light blush crept on her cheeks as she stood outside the boy's locker room. She gripped the door handle, slowly turning it and poking her head in to make sure the coast was clear. Countless gifts littered the spot beneath the skylight, ranging from mangas, a small cupcake basket, an odd-looking potato stuffed toy, and some were just too borderline creepy to mention.
Yuri placed her ballet flats near the door, rummaging for the chocolate roll on her bag. She positioned it on top of a box of what seemed like shogi pieces. Why those were being offered was beyond her.
She looked up at the skylight, and strangely enough the stars were too brightly lit for her cynical comfort. Deciding to make a joke out of the ridiculous tradition, she closed her eyes and pressed her palms together in mock prayer.
"Dear Kami-sama skylight," Clearing her throat, she began. "First of all, I am so sorry for the awful named that was bestowed upon you. But I suppose in our defense, it is better than calling you Kami-sama celing window.
Second, I hope Aiko gets bitten by bed bugs tonight for not doing all this herself because I have done a lot of embarrassing things in my life, but this definitely brings home the bacon and every type of meat available to mankind.
Third, but this is more of a question than a prayer, really, before the 'mysterious force' that comes at midnight to take the offerings away ((a.k.a. the Kaijo school guards)) would you mind if I take home the box of melonpan that's been ogling at me for the past minute since I strongly believe it'd be much more of use being digested in my stomach, rather than rotting sadly beneath your pile of offerings? But then again, it could be poisoned so never mind.
Oh—and lastly, because I am a most compassionate being who constantly looks out for the good of others, please give Kise Ryouta the strength to admit to the world that he is gay because his army of fan girls are terribly annoying, but Kise, the giant goldilocks, is even more so. That is all."
Yuri laughed to herself given the ludicrous spot she was in. Thankfully, no one was around—
"Where the hell did you get the idea that I'm gay?"
Yuri froze at the irked voice that suddenly reverberated in the locker room. Slowly, she turned her head, seeing an angry-looking Kise towering behind her. She took a reflexive step back, knocking the pile of offerings stacked on the floor.
"K-kise?" Yuri squeaked, her discomfort rising at the startlingly close proximity of the tall blond. To make things worse, he was half naked.
Knitting his brows, he bent down placing his face in line with hers. "I know you. Aren't you from my class? What are you doing, sneaking around in the boy's locker room?"
Kise's eyes widened in realization, "You're an underwear thief, aren't you?!" He accused, scratching his head in frustration. "Maaan, if you just asked properly I would have given you mine, you know? You seem like a nice girl, no need for all this."
Somewhere in the mountains where monks reside, the peace that surrounded their holy ground was broken by the booming sound of the vein that popped in Yuri's forehead.
Shoving Kise's face away, her embarrassment was reverted back to her usual tenacity, making her immune to the fact that Kaijo's ace still wasn't wearing a shirt.
"I'm not an underwear thief, you stupid oaf! I was forced to deliver an offering, and it wasn't mine, if that's what you're thinking. My friend forgot so I'm here… offering on her behalf."
"Doesn't explain why you think I'm gay, though."
"Well, aren't you?" Yuri crossed her arms.
"That's mean! I'm all man, can't you see?" Kise smirked, gesturing to his body.
"Not really, I left my glasses at home, so show me another time, maybe?" Yuri said smugly, making Kise splutter. In spite of all the airs he's putting, Kise Ryouta's unexpectedly innocent, making her want to make fun of him even more. She has three brothers, so lewd jokes really don't have much of an effect anymore.
"Why are you even here?" She asked. Yuri and Kise were from the same class but neither had spoken to each other since the blond was constantly basking in the disturbing adoration of his fan girls or playing basketball, whilst Yuri never really found any reason to interact with him aside from when she had to distribute exam papers.
"Practice. I just finished showering—must be why you didn't notice me. And you? Why are you still loitering around so late?"
"Same as you."
"What, you were showering? Believe me, I would have noticed." Kise grinned slyly.
"No, you idiot. I was practicing too." It took most of her strength to not plant his fist in the blond's pretty face. Sure she didn't like him as a person, but even she won't deny that he was attractive.
"What exactly?"
"None of your business. Now if you'll excuse me, I've had enough of you to last my entire lifetime and the next, so I'm going home." Adjusting the strap of her bag, she tried to walk past him but Kise caught her by the wrist.
"Your name?"
"Uzumaki Naruto." She deadpanned, but her lips broke into a grin when Kise pouted.
"I'm serious! Tell me." He whined.
"We've been in the same class for months and you don't know? You really are the center of your universe, aren't you?"
"C'mon, just say it." Kise tugged on her wrist with the persuasive prowess of a petulant child.
"It's Hajime Yuri. Happy?" She pulled her hand away, rolling her eyes at his misplaced clinginess.
"Nice to meet you, Yuri-chan. Take care of me from now on." Kise smirked, and Yuri swore she saw a predatory glint in those golden eyes.
"Like hell I would." Yuri barked, making Kise laugh as she shoved him on the shoulders before walking away and slamming the locker room's door behind her.
The next day, Yuri went to school expecting Aiko with a bagful of treats to compensate for the massive migraine she got from encountering Kise Ryouta of all people. What she did not see coming is the same blond tree sitting casually on her seat, chatting away as Aiko gawked at the light-haired menace.
Finally noticing her entrance, Kise happily waved her over, oblivious to the dark aura surrounding Yuri at the moment.
"Good morning, Yuri-chan!" He greeted with too much enthusiasm at 8 am in the morning. Aiko looked at her questioningly. Yuri-chan?
"Get out of my seat, Kise!" Yuri ordered, hitting him lightly on the arm with her bag.
"Ow! How cruel, Yuri-chan." Kise stuck his bottom lip out while rubbing the spot she hit. "I just wanted to return this. You left it last night. I doubt that belongs to the basketball team." He motioned to the bag containing her ballet shoes.
"Oh. Uhm. Thanks?"
"You do ballet? I never would've guessed!" Kise beamed.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" She curled her hand into a fist, ready to smack the daylights out of him forcing Aiko to stand up and try to placate the situation.
"Yuri-chan don't be rude!" Yuri cursed at both of them silently. "And yes, Kise-kun, she's a great ballet dancer! You should come see her this Sunday!"
"Aiko!" Yuri screeched in horror. The thought of Ryouta Kise and the amount of trouble he could cause on such an important day almost made her choke.
"Oooooh how exciting! I'll definitely be there! What place and what time?"
"10 am at Sainō arena. She's competing, and if she wins she may get the chance to go to Nationals!" Aiko squealed while Yuri looked at her, still in shock.
"Hello? I'm still here, if you haven't noticed?" Yuri turned to her friend helplessly.
"Don't be nervous Yuri-chan! I'll support you with all my heart!" Kise said proudly.
"I'm not nervous, I don't need your support, and I most definitely don't need your heart!" Yuri cried out.
"Now, now Yuri-chan, you mustn't say such things. I'll see you on Sunday." Kise winked then patted her on the head before returning to his seat. Yuri stood there still dumbstruck.
"What the hell just happened?" She whispered dreadfully.
"Didn't I tell you, Yuri-chan?" Aiko smirked. "Heaven has indeed taken pity on your cynical bum, so without you knowing, you got the star itself. And what star could be brighter than Kise Ryouta?"
Oh god. Yuri thought.
Oh god.