Hello, and welcome to Snob College! (Man, I hate that title...) And as before, the first chapter is indecently short. Sorry.
I wonder how long this story will be? Hopefully not as long… but we'll see over time, I suppose! Hope you enjoy!
"Finally!" She stretched her arms, pleased that the last exam was finally over. The sun was out, it was beautiful weather, and finally, she could go out and frolic in it. "Hayate, we're finally done! No more exams, just holidays and party, party, party!"
An uncharacteristic grin grew on her face as she turned to face her half brother, who was sitting on her right. A small half-smile graced his features, but he seemed distracted. She followed his gaze and her smile slowly faltered into nothing. An empty table, a few rows up.
"Do you think he's okay?" he asked her softly. She nodded determinedly.
"Of course he'd be fine. Stop worrying. He's an adult, well, basically. He doesn't need your mothering, you know,"
Hayate sighed softly. "I suppose you're right. His father has been so worried though. Because he hasn't shown up to any of the exams, the school has had to use the marks from the half year exams as his finals, apparently. He should have thought through this whole disappearing thing a bit more carefully then he did,"
"His father has been worried?"
"Yes. I think, all in all, Ken does care for Ryu's wellbeing. Just not always in the right way, mind you," Hayate stood up, gesturing for her to follow, which she did. Everybody else had already gone. At the doorway, however, they were stopped by the principal.
"Any word? Anything at all?"
Hayate shook his head wordlessly.
"Don't give up hope yet. I'm sure he'll come back,"
"Perhaps. Hopefully,"
Gesturing for her to follow, Hayate exited the auditorium. "Well, there're my finals done. However, you still have another year before you finish up here,"
"Don't fucking well remind me, jerk. Never mind. Who gives a shit, it's the holidays now. Nothing to worry about for another two months or so, so let's just enjoy it,"
They sat underneath the tree together, Hayate oddly silent.
"What are you going to do?" she asked him finally.
"I don't know what you mean, Ayane,"
"After you get your results back. Going to get a job? Go straight to uni?"
He turned to stare, shocked, at her.
"You didn't know? I'm going overseas. I thought I told you that ages ago,"
"What? No, you wanker, you didn't!"
Hayate ran a hand through his hair, usually something he did only when he was nervous or agitated. "Well… I'm going overseas,"
"For the whole year? Are you trying to tell me I have to put up with that slut Kasumi by myself for an entire year?"
"Sorry to disappoint you. Yes, you will have to put up with her. But look on the bright side… when I'm back, we can start college together. Be in the same year and everything,"
"That's supposed to be the bright side? That's just fucking peachy,"
"Better then a kick in the teeth. Let's go home. I don't want to spend my entire holidays lounging around this school any longer,"
She frowned. "Bull shit. You're having a year long holiday. Don't feed me that crap about your entire holidays as though we're supposed to drop everything and feel sorry for you. The only part of me that feels sorry is my foot, which is because it will be lodged up your arse if you don't quit complaining. Got it?"
Silence fell between them as Hayate turned away from her to stare beyond the trees.
"Do you think he'll come back?" she questioned eventually.
Hayate turned back to look at her, sincerity beaming from his eyes. "Yes. I know he'll come back. Eventually,"
