'This is why, I think you should be more careful towards the people around you!' Yoshioka Futaba agitatedly pointed a finger at a shaken looking old lady leaning tediously on her walking stick.

The hoodlum in question put his pinky to his ear and returned a scornful look, 'I would have watched it if I could see her, she just turned the corner so ain't it obvious that the fault is not mine should I knock into someone I did not see?!' He blew off the dirt from his fingertips and towered over Futaba, his voice raised loudly the next time he spoke, 'And I don't need a meddlesome school girl telling me what to do!'

He raised a hand so suddenly that Futaba was unable to react fast enough, so she crossed her arms before her face in defense, as she waited for the blow to fall on her.

But it never happened, she waited for a few more seconds before dropping her tensed shoulders and peered upwards to check on the situation. A tall boy with flowing black hair had jumped in between the hoodlum and herself, and he was defending her with a raised fist of his own.

'Kou..?'

He turned to face her with a scowl, and Futaba knew instantly that she was in another round of trouble. Her eyes helplessly traced the features of her rescuer, with his back against the morning sun, his slender face and toned muscles formed a graceful arc. And she wondered, if someone of his size, would be of any match against that rugged hoodlum.

'Ooooooooooi! There's a mad man bullying an old lady and a young school girl here! Would somebody come and take a look at this shameless man's face!' Kou's voice travelled down the street and the busy line of human trail turned to face the mismatched group. The hoodlum immediately turned and left with shame, but not before throwing a rude gesture with a certain finger on his hand.

'Che! Gutless spine with nothing but a loud voice.' Kou's tone was trickling with sarcasm as he watched the hoodlum leave with void eyes. Futaba felt a wave of relief wash over her and added to his snide, 'He's all talk and no action, that's why.'

That's when Kou's eyes immediately flashed of anger and he turned to glare at her with such intensity, she could feel the radiation burn through her skin like an x-ray. 'YOU- INSOLENT- FOOL! A girl like you, even if you're usually less than a lady, should remember to judge the situation! That was dangerous and you would have been pummelled had I not been in the area!'

Futaba pulled her hair from the sides of her face together to form a weird bunch and hid her face behind its curtain. She knew that Kou was mad, really mad, and she wanted to apologize to him seriously but right now her face is blushing from joy. Kou stepped in and saved me, even if his words are harsh, I feel protected. Gah! I'm so happy!

'Anybody home? Oi, Yoshioka? Did he hurt you or what, you're acting strange. Retort, or something if you're alright?'

Futaba decided there and then. He was there, at the right moment, that's destiny. He may have a nasty temper, but a heart of gold, that's character. He was thinking on her behalf, even when she failed to do so for herself, that's gallantry. To her, he is her knight in shining armour.

'Kou, thank you for saving me. You were like a knight in shining armour!' Her face was blushing as she revealed her honest thoughts, in that straight-forward and unhiding manner she always carried herself. But her smile was as bright as the morning sun, and Kou felt himself hesistate.

'Ugh, what's that? You're still at a pre-school level huh? Thinking about knights and princesses, I saved you so I don't have to explain your demise in school, idiot!' He then turned away to walk down the street, resuming his way to school.

Ah, that's right. Kou won't think that way of himself. Justice, or merits or things like that, Kou had his own obstinate opinion on things. I almost forgot.

They continued their way to school and the morning ended peacefully, at last.

But when Futaba entered the classroom from the school canteen empty-handed, Kou could sense something amiss, again.

She was looking down most of the time, and her steps devoid of its usual gait and steadiness. When she reached her desk, she slumped over it and heaved a long sigh.

What with her now? The bread got all sold out, and she's depressed or something?!

He had to find out. Kou walked over to her desk and dropped his clean gym coat over Futaba's head, but gained no reaction. He repeated it a few times yet she remained passive. This worried him greatly, so he pulled her wrist and took off with her and his lunch.

Just as they were about to reach the rooftop door, Futaba recoiled from his touch and took a step back. Her eyes were fixed on the door, and her mouth gaping with her shocked expression. Kou felt his heart clenched, something was definitely wrong here.

'Why did you bring me back? How did you know?!'

Kou scratched his head with the hand that was holding her wrist, unsure of what to do or say, 'Know... what?'

'Eh? The confession, how did you-'

Confession? Kou tightened his grip on his bentou, he mouth twisted uncomfortably. Who did she confess to on the rooftop?

'Your confession failed?' He asked her tentatively.

'No, his confession fail- Ah! How did you get me to say it all out! It's supposed to be a secret!'

He sighed, unsure why was it that he felt the need to heave a long sigh, 'Who confessed to you?'

Futaba glanced at him quickly from the corner of her eye, 'I don't really want to tell you.'

He felt irritated and agitated, somehow against all common sense, he wanted to pursue on the topic. 'Tell me, you're looking too troubled to let me make fun of now. Quickly resume your normal self. Tell me.'

Futaba pursed her lips and casted her eyes down, her long lashes hiding part of her eyes, and Kou hated that. Why is she not looking at me now?

'It was the senior, the really good looking one that every girl is talking about. He said, that he liked me because I was different. I'm not sure if I understood him, but I couldn't even accept that sort of reasoning. Of course everyone's different, but that doesn't mean he should fall in love with me or base his feelings on that! So I rejected him, and he looked rather dejected and I felt bad. So I agreed on one date with him.'

Kou had to fight back the impulse to bang his head on the wall, but he continued to learn passively against the wall. 'Hmmm. So you're dating him out of sympathy. How cruel a woman you are, Yoshioka. Are you giving him a chance, or prolonging his misery?' Tell me clearly, which is it?

Futaba's eyes grew wide in horror. She knew that telling him was a mistake, maybe it was the morning's incident that made her falsely believe that he would always be a knight in shining armour. 'I'm sorry I wasted your time with this! I- I better get going!'

Before she could take two steps, Kou pulled her back with a strong hand and the dynamic of their movement caused her to fall back against his chest. Her back was warmed instantly and her heart danced at an incredible tempo. 'Kou?'

'Eat something before you go, you can't get any bread now. So I'd share my bentou with you. My silly brother always prepares too much anyway.'

Futaba glanced upwards at Kou's expression, what face is he making behind his long bangs? She wanted to see. She unconsciously lifted her hand to sweep away his bangs, and gasped in surprise when she saw his slightly blushing face. But it was a complicated expression, between the frowning lines near his brows she sensed a tinge of honesty rarely seen. 'Kou, are you helping me again out of a sense of duty?'

He straightened Futaba back on her feet and sat down to lay out his bentou. 'I'm helping you because you're full on guts but zero on wits. It's like watching a kitten try to fight a tiger, so I'm helping. But don't call me what you did this morning, I'm not your knight in shining whatever.'

Futaba smiled at Kou's words. Whether he is being kind, or not, she still cannot tell. How sly. 'Ho ho, then what should you be?'

Even with his eyes hidden neatly behind his bangs, she could detect a slight smile on his face. 'Who knows?'

- Chapter 1 End -

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