I opened my eyes. It's 5 in the morning. It is already in my body clock even though it's a Sunday. I opened the window and let the air come in. I looked at the basketball ring.

Ah~ I want to play.

I looked for a ball inside my room wishing that there is one. I went downstairs and saw Aunt preparing breakfast.

"Good morning, Aunt."

"Good morning, Mirajane-chan."

"Aunt, do you have any ball here?"

"I see. You're into basketball also. There's one outside. There's a small cabinet there where Akira keeps the ball."

"Is it fine if I'll play?"

"Sure, don't be shy."

"Thank you."

I opened the cabinet and saw three polished balls inside. I grabbed one and closed it.

I started by dribbling the ball then after sweating a bit, I proceed to shooting. I looked at my watch and it's already past 6 in the morning. I guess that's enough for a bit of exercise. I was about to put the ball back when I saw how dirty it is compared to the others so before putting it back, I cleaned it first with a piece of cloth I saw beside the cabinet. After cleaning it, I put it back and went inside.

Aunt and Sendo-kun is already at the dining table.

"Mirajane-chan, breakfast is ready", Aunt invited.

"But I'm still drenched in sweat. I'll take a bath first", I said.

"It's fine. We don't mind", Aunt replied.

I sat opposite Sendo-kun while Aunt is sitting by the edge of the table.

"Itadakimasu!"

"Aunt, I'm sorry that I didn't help you serve breakfast. I was just to excited to play again but I'll help you next time", I said.

"It's nothing. I'm actually happy that you're looking fine."

"What do you mean?"

" I mean, with what happened to your parents. I was expecting that you'll be quite uncomfortable to be with strangers."

"I can't be dragged by that thing forever and you're not a stranger. My parents trusted you which means that I can also trust you."

Aunt started crying.

"Eh? I didn't mean to make you cry."

"Keiichi and Mei raised you well. I'm so happy that they have such an independent daughter."

I just laughed to stop the drama.

"Thank you for the food", Sendo-kun said.

"You're finished already, Akira?"

"Yes. I'm going outside."

"Ah. Sendo-kun, I played basketball before eating breakfast. I used one of the balls in the cabinet and I cleaned it after using it."

"It's okay. You can borrow it all you want."

He said and he went outside.

"Akira is always like this."

"Hm?"

"He finishes his breakfast early just to play basketball afterwards."

"Is he good at it?"

"He's one of the starting five of their team and they call him Ace. I might sound that I'm bragging but I just heard that from the ladies that sometimes pass outside our house."

Ladies outside? He even have stalkers?! He's really popular.

I helped Aunt do the dishes and clean the house.

"Mirajane-chan, you can take a bath now. You might catch a cold if you'll keep on wearing those drenched-in-sweat clothes", Aunt said.

"Hehehe. I'll take one then."

It's a good thing that they have bath tub. I need some time to rest.

"Mirajane-chan, I'm going outside for awhile!"

"Yes!", I replied.

I heard a small noise coming from the door but I didn't mind it. Maybe it's the wind.

The curtain moved to the side and Sendo-kun is there.

"S-Sendo."

"M-Mira-"

I was too caught up with the situation that I can't even scream.

"S-Sorry. I'll g-get outside now."

He closed the curtains and I heard the door closed.

What just happened? I didn't react at all. Why didn't I shout? Normally, that's what happens right? He might think that this kind of situation is something normal to me. That's totally wrong!

I finished taking a bath and I went back inside my room. I don't want to see his face. It might become awkward.

Someone knocked and opened the door.

"Mirajane-chan? Are you busy?", Aunt asked.

"No, Aunt. Why?"

"Can you go with Akira to the market? I forgot some ingredients for our dinner tonight. Akira is not really good in shopping."

"Ah. It's okay. I'll just change my clothes."

"Thanks. Akira's already waiting downstairs."

I wore a black shirt with gray jogging pants. I went downstairs and saw him waiting outside. We talked while walking.

"It's a good thing that you're not wearing a skirt", he said.

"Why?", I asked.

"We're riding a bike there."

"Really? It's been awhile since I rode one."

We stopped and I saw the bike. Sendo- kun is in the pedal while I'm sitting at the back, holding his shoulders.

"There's nothing wrong with short hair", he said out of nowhere.

"Huh?"

"While you're in the bathtub, you have a short hair."

"Ah. This? I'm wearing hair extensions. My mother wanted this. She said that a long hair is the only thing that can help others identify that I'm a woman."

I laughed.

"Since my features are more than the normal woman; tall height, short hair and a straight body without any curves. She told me that at least with a long hair, they can see that I still have a feminine feature", I added.

"Why do have a short hair?"

"I decided to cut it. I played basketball back in my previous school and it was uncomfortable to play with a long hair."

"I see."

He suddenly stopped that I almost fell.

"The market is just straight ahead. Can you do it on your own? Mom, actually, gave me another errand", he said.

"It's okay. We'll just meet here."

We went our separate ways. When I went to the market, some of the older women kept on looking at me.

"My! You're tall", they remarked.

"You're height is fit for a man", another one said.

I chuckled.

"Uozumi-san, helping your father?"

"Yes."

I turned back and a monstrous man stares at me. I saw Sendo-kun waving behind him. I walked towards Sendo-kun but I unintentionally bumped with the monstrous man.

"Ah. I'm sorry, Uncle", I said.

"Uncle?"

The older women laughed around us.

"Kid, I'm still in high school!", he shouted.

"I see. You're late. Well, it can't be helped."

"I'm late?! Even if you're a woman, I won't hold back. Hey! I'm still 17 years old."

"What?! Really? I'm sorry."

"Uozumi? Mirajane? What's happening here?", Sendo asked.

"Sendo-kun", Uozumi and I said at the same time.

We went outside the market and stayed at the park nearby.

"Mirajane, this is Uozumi Jun. He's our team captain in the school's basketball team."

"Nice to meet you. I'm really sorry for what happened earlier."

"As long as it won't happen again."

"Sendo, who is she?", he asked Sendo.

"Ah. She's Cross Mirajane. She will study at our school starting tomorrow."

"I see. Sendo, Cross, I'm going."

"Yes. Please take care", I said and then I bowed.

We're on our way home. Sendo-kun asked about what happened awhile ago.

"Ah. That? I called him 'Uncle'."

Sendo-kun suddenly stopped and I almost fell again.

He laughed.

"You called him 'Uncle'?"

"Yes but I apologized when he said that he's 17 years old."

He pedaled again.

"Uozumi is quite conscious about his age since he doesn't really look like a 17 year old student."

"Well, he really doesn't look like one."

I chuckled.

6:00 AM

I knocked at Sendo's door.

He opened the door. He looks so sleepy. He's wearing a white shirt and boxer shorts. His hair's so messed up , it looks like a bird's nest. I tried to look at other things.

"What is it?", he asked.

"Isn't it time already to prepare for school?", I asked.

"Sorry. I normally go to school late."

"I see so, are you going to be late today?"

"Maybe."

"I'll go ahead then."

"Wait. You still don't have your uniform?"

"Not yet. I'll go to school for a week without a uniform."

"See you in school then."

He closed the door while I went to my room to prepare. I decided to not wear hair extensions. It might become a big issue if they'll find out I'm wearing one. I'm wearing a white polo long sleeves and black fitting pants.

"Aunt, I'm going to school. Do you have any other bicycle?", I asked.

"We have another one by the basketball ring", she said while preparing food.

I was about to go out when I heard her speak.

"My! Is that you Mirajane-chan?"

I forgot that she doesn't know that I have a short hair.

"Ah, yes. I was actually wearing hair extensions when I arrived here."

"Oh. I see."

I looked at my watch.

"Aunt, I'm going."

"Wait!"

She handed a bento box to me.

"You don't really have to this but thank you", I said.

She kissed my forehead which was shocking to me. I just smiled and waved my hand. I searched for the bike and saw it by the basketball ring. I'm riding the bike and it's been 20 minutes already but I haven't reached my destination yet. Fortunately, a man wearing the Ryonan uniform is also riding a bike. I suppose, he's going to school. He's wearing earphones that's why he can't hear my name that's why pedaled faster to stop him in front. After I did, he looked at me with an angry face and removed the earphones from his ears.