Chapter 2: Wounds. It Hurts

(8.30am)

DING DONG. The school bell rang for classes to start. Reluctantly, Hotsuma forced himself to sit straight as the homeroom teacher walked into class. He looked at a few seats in front of him and saw the back of Yuki's head. He was thankful that Yuki was in the same class as him. At least he does have someone to talk to. Not many classmates talked to him since he always had an angry look.

The homeroom teacher called out names for the attendance list. Then, it was the usual routine where everyone will open their textbooks and listened out to any exam pointers. Hotsuma just stared out of the window next to him, gazing into the clear blue sky and remembering the past where he and Shusei would stargaze at night from the rooftop in the attic. He wasn't sure how long he was reminiscing till the homeroom teacher called out "Renjo-kun! Are you listening to me? Please read paragraph 12 in page 76."

Hotsuma turned and then stood up and read out loud.

(12.00pm)

Lunch break. Hotsuma was the first to stand up and was stretching. After the teacher have left the classroom, Yuki walked over to Hotsuma's seat.

"Hotsuma-kun, want to go and have lunch together? I'm meeting up with Tsukumo-kun and his friends at the cafe."

"Ah Yuki… sure, I don't mind but can you go ahead first? I'll go get Shusei and then join you guys."

"Sure. See you later then." Yuki said and then he walked out of the class.

Hotsuma walked to the other block where the second year classrooms were and walked inside class (II-I). Shusei was not inside. Hotsuma then asked one of the students in the class.

"Where is Shusei?"

"Oh, Usui is in the student council room with the President."

"AH thanks."

Hotsuma then slammed the classroom door loudly, startling a few of the students nearby and walked furiously.

'AGAIN? HOW MANY TIMES HAS HE BEEN TO THAT F**KING ROOM ALREADY SINCE HE HAS BEEN IN THE STUPID COUNCIL? SHEESH AT THIS RATE HE MIGHT AS WELL CAMP THERE!' he thought angrily.

He thought twice about going to the room and to go look for him but he decided against it. If Shusei is in that room means he is busy with duties and is definitely not going to eat lunch.

'AHHHHH SHEESH WE SKIPPED BREAKFAST TOO! AND NOW HE IS GOING TO SKIP LUNCH! NO WAY IN A MILLION YEARS AM I GOING TO ALLOW THAT!' he thought.

Hotsuma then walked towards the café and bumped into Yuki there.

"Sorry Yuki. But I'm going to make sure Shusei gets some food to eat."

"EH? Didn't you go and get him?"

"Yeah I went to his classroom but he is in the student council room. So I'm just going to buy some food for him and bring it to him. Sorry but I won't joining you for lunch. You are eating with Tsukumo and his gang right?"

"Yea I am. And you don't have to apologise. It's fine. I'm also worried about Shusei not eating properly."

"Thanks Yuki! And sorry! I'll treat you to lunch next time!" Hotsuma said as he paid for the sandwiches he bought.

Hotsuma then ran to the student council room. He was about to knock when he heard laughter inside. He paused and suddenly realized that one of the laughing voices is his partner's voice. He heard some voices through the door.

"Wow President, your jokes really are so funny! Tell us more!" a girl's voice said.

"Haha after we eat our lunch." The Pres said.

"Ah Shusei-kun! Aren't you going to eat lunch?" Hotsuma heard the Pres asked and frowned when he heard her calling him by his first name.

"No. I'm not hungry." Shusei said.

"This won't do! What will happen to my VP if he does not have energy to fuel himself up? Ahhh I know I have an extra sandwich somewhere.." the Pres said and Hotsuma heard her fiddling with her bag.

"Here it is! EAT Shusei-kun! I insist!"

Hotsuma heard Shusei snickled.

"If the President insist I suppose I have no choice," Shusei said.

Hotsuma stared at his feet. Most of the time when he insists Shusei to eat Shusei would mostly refused, but the President managed to persuade him so easily.

'It hurts' he thought.

"Shusei…" he whispered. Then, he turned and walked away from the room.

(Student Council Room)

Shusei had no appetite to eat but he was a gentleman and didn't want to refuse the President's offer. So, reluctantly he said "If the President insist I suppose I have no choice."

When he was about to bite onto the sandwich, he thought he heard his best friend's voice.

"Hotsuma?" Shusei mumbled.

"Huh? What's wrong Shusei-kun?" The Pres asked.

"Ah nothing. I thought I just heard my friend's voice that's all."

"Really?" She then opened the door and looked outside.

"No one's here. Must be your imagination."

"Maybe." Shusei said.

One of the girls asked. "Usui-kun, you heard your friend's voice? Ooo issit a girl?"

"Ah no. Its my childhood friend."

"Ohhhhh I know! It's the first year blond-haired guy who always walks with you to school right?" the girl asked.

"Blond hair…..Isn't that Renjo Hotsuma-kun? Is your childhood friend Renjo, Usui-senpai?," another boy asked.

"Yes, Hotsuma and I are childhood friends. He is in your class isn't he?" The God's Eyes said.

"Yeah. Oh my god I can't believe that. Usui-senpai do you get along well with him?"

"Yeah. As a matter of fact I would consider him as my best friend," Shusei smiled.

"Wow… amazing! I never would have thought that the scary Renjo Hotsuma is best friends with our Vice Pres.!"

Shusei just smiled. 'Hotsuma… you are being misunderstood. Well, in a way I feel like I'm the only one who understands you, which is what makes me feel needed.' Shusei thought. He then felt a stab of pain at his chest, when he suddenly thought of Yuki and Hotsuma's sudden closeness to each other. Even though Hotsuma and himself have been through a lot, and after clearing facts when Hotsuma said that he would not run away from this scar on his upper body, he still felt wounded. Knowing that the most important person in his life has another 'special' person in his heart hurts, it really hurts.