© Sunrisepainter: Golden Skies

The AGD

The next morning as Nao walked to the gate of her new school, she was very tensed. And the fact that some of the guys whistled as she passed by, did not change a thing. She blushed in embarrassment and tried to pull her skirt down a little, but unfortunately it did not even reach her knees.

"Good morning, Katsuragi", Nao winced as someone called out to her. But she was relieved when it was just her strange new teacher Yankumi.

"G-good morning, sensei", Nao answered in a small voice and bowed her head politely.

"Wah, it's so good to have a cute girl in my class for once", Yankumi exclaimed happily, "girls are so different from guys. They are sweet and soft and all bouncy."

The high school girl did not know what the teacher meant with "bouncy", but she agreed with her on one thing: girls were different from guys.

"Cheer up, Katsuragi", the teacher slapped her hard on the back and Nao almost fell on the floor, "and don't look so gloomy. A girl has to be always cheerful, so that she'll find many new friends."

Nao wondered how she was supposed to find friends in an all – boys – school, but as always she did not say anything.

"Yankumi, you're late", a deep amused voice said behind them. The teacher looked at her watch and said some unappropriated words.

"Thanks, Ogata. See you in class, Katsuragi", and so she scatted away. Nao intended to follow her, but she was stopped when the one called Ogata blocked her way. She paled when she realized that he was the guy with the angry stare. She tried to say anything but she could not move her lips.

For a moment he just eyed her as she started to tremble. He sighed and said with an indifferent voice:

"You don't have to be afraid of us, you know."

And with that said he went away without looking back at her. For the second time she was left dumbfounded. Was that all he wanted to say? For a moment she thought that he would threaten her or something like this. She tightened her grip on her bag and stepped into the school. This time ignoring the whistles and looks.

But she soon was met with a much bigger problem. The second class this morning was P.E. and as the school did not provide changing rooms for females, she had to get a key for an idle room in the basement.

"Why can't she change with the rest of us?", one of the boys shouted and the other boys laughed dirtily.

Nao was more than relieved when she finally was alone in the small room. There was nothing besides some old desks and a small window, which she could noteven reach with her fingertips. She sighed and started changing as fast as she could. But she could not help but feel somehow watched by strangers eyes. She tried to forget the sinister feeling and went out to the track field.

During P.E. She did not join the boys in playing something between soccer and baseball and the teacher was not even angry for he was himself resting on the bench. The guys were too much for him to handle. He talked a little to his female student and seemed to be relieved when lesson ended.

On the way back to her personal changing room Nao felt the other boys staring at her more intensely than ever. They whispered to each other and laughed as if they knew something about her that she did not. Cold chills run down her spine and she fastened her steps.

Before she could reach the door she was gripped and slammed against a wall. A small scream came from her mouth which was soon suppressed by a big hand pressing against it. She was mortified when she looked in the eyes of three guys. Although they were her juniors she knew that she had no chance against them.

"Well, well, now we finally get to see you in real life after we already saw you on this photo", the one pinning her to the wall said with a husky voice. She was much to scared as to wonder about a photo.

"Go and look for the key", he ordered one of the boys, who grinned as filthy as him. Nao cold not even lift a finger as they went to her bag, found the key and opened the door to the storage room. They pushed her in and as her back met the cold floor she felt a stinging ache.

"Don't try to scream or we'll kill you immediately", said the first guy and she was not sure, if he was serious or not. She was sure that no one would hear her anyway, so she did not even try to resist. Tears filled her eyes when she was sure, she was as lost as a rabbit in a trap.

"Look, look, what a junior just sent to me", one of the guys in 3D waved his cell phone.
"Whoa, that's a nice pic of our arrogant lady", another roared as they all blushed deeply.

"What did you say? A picture of Katsuragi?", Shunsuke was very much interested. But instead of being flustered he was very much shocked:
"How did they get it?"

"Dunno, but she looks very hot. Don't 'cha think? Nice curves!"

"Let me see", Ren took the phone and got the same expression on his face as his friend before. It was a picture taken of Katsuragi Nao changing into her P.E. clothes. She wore nothing more than her skirt and bra.

"They must have taken it when she didn't notice", Yamato presumed.

"Poor Katsuragi", Ichi had a deep blush on his face as the phone was handed to him, "isn't it a crime to take pictures of girls changing."

"Of course it is and I think it is something guys shouldn't do", another voice said and everyone nodded in mutual understanding.

"Whoa, Yankumi!", Kura was the first one who realized it was their teacher talking.

"Don't pop up out of nowhere", Ren complained.

"Sorry, sorry, but I couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. I'm didnt not if you can get along with a girl", she told them.

"Look, that happens with an only girl in an all – boys – school", Yamato said angrily, "didn't I tell you?"

"What should we do? If Katsuragi sees this picture she will faint", Ichi mumbled for he already imagined her to be a very sensible girl.

"We have to look for her. If they have taken pictures, they might even do more to her", Shunsuke presumed. It was the first time that the guys actually wanted to protect the silent girl and Yankumi was very proud of them.
"Where is her changing room?"
"According to the picture it must be somewhere in the basement", Yamato reasoned.

"Yosh, let's go", Yankumi shouted and started running. The guys could nothing do, but follow after their teacher.

"Your picture was already so cute, that we couldn't help, but wanting the real thing", the guy whispered while his face hovered above her own.

"P-please don't", she stuttered as more tears filled her eyes.

"Oh, she's crying", the guy just laughed and tightened his grip on her arm.

"And look how she's shivering all over", another boy said. The third guy which for know was more in the background grunted:

"I heard that she is very silent and arrogant. Look how scared she is now!"

"She thinks she is better as us and that this school is inferior!", the second guy exclaimed.

"Well, I would think the same if I would be in the same class as this stupid guys", the one holding her said.

"Yeah, they are the scum of this school!", the third one agreed. Even if she was terrified Nao shook her head.

"What do you mean, princess? They are not? But you were the one who would not even speak a word to them. So you must also thing that they are worthless!"

Again Nao shook her head.

"Don't be stupid. They are scumbags! And now we'll get to the real fun", he leaned in closer and Nao closed her eyes. There was a loud crash and she heard the three guys screaming in surprise. She dared not to open her eyes until she heard the dangerous voice of her own homeroom teacher:

"What are you saying? My students are worthless? Scumbags? I'll tell you something: You are the scum of the earth! My students might be stupid and childish, but they would never to something like this to a girl!"

Nao looked at her teacher in amazement as she stepped into the room with self – confidence.

"And now I would like you to let my cute student go or I'll show you what I'll do with people like you!"

That was enough for the guys to let their victim go. But as they wanted to leave the room, they were stopped by Yamato and his friends.

"One moment, didn't you forget anything?", Yamato asked. The three stalkers looked at each other questionably.

"The pictures", Ren took a step forward and grasped one of the guys by the collar, "delete them or we'll mess you up, understand?"

The guys nodded and handed them their cell phones. Ren took them and under the horrified look of the owners stepped on them until they weren't usable anymore. After that they ran away in sheer panic.

When they were gone, Yankumi went to check on the still trembling girl.

"Are you alright?"

Nao nodded and wiped the tears from her eyes. She still could not quite explain what just happened. She was almost...

She gulped and started crying again being pulled into her teachers arms where she felt much safer.

"Tha – thank you", she sniffled and could not even express how grateful she was for being saved.

"Don't cry", Yankumi said in a low voice, "now you see that we'll always help you. Me as a teacher and the boys as your classmates. So have more trust in us. I'll know it will be hard for you at this school but try to rely more on your classmates, okay?"

Nao nodded again. Then she stopped crying and it was the first time that she looked at the guys properly. They looked at her a little shy for seeing a girl cry. And she couldn't help but smile at them also for the first time:
"Thank you very much for saving me!"

It was the first time the guys realized how beautiful she looked and they all except for Yamato blushed.

"Well, don't mention it", embarrassed Kura scratched the back of his head.

"Okay, let's go back to class", Yankumi said and pulled Nao back on her feed, "we have much to learn today."

The guys were not really amused, but Nao couldn't help but smile a little. Although she was still a little confused and ashamed she felt that the guys perhaps were not as bad as she thought.

"Maybe she has something like AGD?"

"What?", everyone looked at Ichi questionably. The six guys were spending the late afternoon at their favorite takoyaki stand. After saving their new classmate she seemed a little less scared of them, but their was still a certain distance. She was still as silent as ever and tried to avoid their eyes. The guys tried to figure her out. It was Ichis turn to give a proper explanation of his assumption.

"An Anxiety of Guys Disorder", he threw light on them, "many people are afraid of certain things. For example of thunder, small rooms or animals. They worry about everyday things and they can't help it. A phobia is some kind of anxiety disorder."

The other guys stared at him with blank faces.

"Really Ichi, sometimes I think you're from another planet", Kengo shook his head.

"Would you please enlighten us, Professor Ichi? What does it have to do with our Nao – chan?", Ren asked impatiently.

"What Ichi tries to say is that Katsuragi is afraid of guys in general. It's something like an illness", Yamato mumbled.

"That might be the case, so I wonder what the reason is. Something must've happened for her to react like this being near guys", Ichi seemed to think about it for some time now.

"Maybe she was pestered before", Kura proposed.

"Ah, she is a girl full of mystery. I like that", Shunsukes eyes started to sparkle.

"Don't you think we should start investigating?", Ren asked as excited as Shunsuke, "maybe we can cure her and help her to open up a little."

The others nodded in agreement.

"The next question would be why she started going to our school while she is afraid of guys", Yamato started to be interested as well. It was the first time he wanted to know more about a girl.

"I wonder, too", Ichi mumbled. There seemed to be more Katsuragi than they could imagine and the six guys were determined to get to know more about her.

A little later that day Nao was walking to the drug store. She still needed to eat something after her part- time – job in a family restaurant. It was a good paid job with friendly co – workers. Nao liked to serve little kids and families for she herself was living by herself.

She did not like being in her lonely apartment, so she often walked to the drug store to get a cup of ramen although she knew that it was dangerous.

After she filled her stomach with something hot, she went back deep in thoughts. She still could not forget what occurred in school this morning. Suddenly she bumped into someone. When she looked up she saw the face of an older woman. She must have been not older than twenty – five and was breathtaking gorgeous.

"I'm really sorry", Nao apologized and bowed her head.

"Don't be", the young woman laughed and the girl realized that she seemed to be a little drunk.

"Oh my, how much I drunk this time. I am ashamed of myself. What will my dear brother say", she stumbled a little forward and fell onto her knees. The people around her just looked at her and shook their heads. Nao felt a little bit of sympathy for the woman.

"Are you okay?", she asked civil.

"Ooof course", the woman grinned at her and pinched Naos cheek, "listen girl, don't become someone like me, understand? Don't be fooled by the wrong guys. Just marry someone who, reaaaally treasures you, okay?"

Nao did not know what response to give so she just kept silent. The woman tried to stand up but fell back on her knees and started talking:

"Oh, stupid woman. What did you think? That he'll love you forever? Don't be stupid. Guys are all the same...all the same..."

First Nao wanted just to walk away, but after taking two steps she stopped in her tracks. No, she could not leave this helpless woman all by herself. After what happened to her today, she knew what kind of guys were running around town...

She sighed and tried to help the woman back on her feed.

"Where do you live?", Nao asked and had serious troubles supporting the woman.

"Oh, you'll take me home? Good girl...good girl..", the woman patted her head, "my lil' brother will be very grateful...very...", she said more words that Nao could not quite understand, but she was glad that the woman was still able to tell her where she lived.

Her appartment was not far away from Naos, so she knew the neighborhood at least a little. It was a township where a lot of common people with few money lived. Just like herself. After ringing the bell and no one there to open it, Nao was forced to left the woman on the door step. Nao felt a little uneasy with this, but she could just hope for the woman's brother to come home soon.

After putting her jacket over the woman, who was dressed very openly, she went home herself.

End of Chapter Two.