The obnoxiously blond hair caught her attention the moment she walked into the classroom that morning. She had not attended school for the first week of school, since she had a mahjong training camp for U-18. It wouldn't be a big deal if she had taken a mahjong scholarship, but she hadn't in consideration for her grandfather's health. She had reported in the day before to get information regarding her class and seating position, however had not even paid the slightest attention to the class register. She had never even tried to initiate communication with others before, not after primary school. That is why she had not known that Kise Ryōta was in her class.
She sat down at her desk, taking out the tile records from her training camp. She had received a few messages from her middle school teammates that morning, asking her how the training camp went, however she had not given any of them a reply. They were not her friends, she knew that much at least. All they had wanted to do was to know the middle school champion, everyone did since she dominated three years in a row. The swarm of messages she had received after her interview revealing her school choice had taught her the real annoyance of people and media. So as she walked into Kaijou, she was resolved to not draw attention to herself.
A seat removed from her own in the last row sat the blond, who seemed somewhat bored while he conversed with a few other boys in the class. Why did he have to sit diagonal from her? Her entrance had caused quite a few pairs of eyes to set on her, but a soft half smile and nod later, it was as if everyone had forgotten Kikue's existence. As she planned.
"Ah, you're the girl from before-ssu!"
There went her peace and quiet.
Kise Ryōta got up from his chair, and walked over to her. Kikue resisted the urge to sigh and leave, instead opting to look up with the same half smile at the blond.
"We ran into each other before if my memory serves right," Kikue said, knowing fully well her memory would never fail her. "Kise-san?"
"Yup, I didn't think I would be seeing you again though-ssu." He said, the same obnoxious smile from before making Kikue suppress a grimace. "I never got your name, did I?"
"Matsui Kikue," Kikue replied, hoping her tone could end the conversation.
"Matsui-san, what were you doing at the office before-ssu?" Nope, conversation did not end.
"I had an interview to attend to," Kikue replied, seriously questioning herself for not opting for a mahjong scholarship. "I hadn't expected Kise-san to remember me."
"You're the first person I've seen to have classical music as your ringtone-ssu, even Midorima-cchi doesn't do that-ssu." He smiled, perhaps a more genuine smile than her own, but Kikue could still recognise the forced friend-making smile. Or was that how he got all his fan girls to swoon? Kikue couldn't tell, but she understood one thing - Kise Ryōta was the same type of person as herself. "Ah, I didn't mean anything bad by that by the way-ssu!"
"I gathered," Kikue replied with a softer smile, slightly amused by the blond. "People often tell me such,"
"Kise-kun! How about going to karaoke with us this afternoon?" A girl yelled from outside of the classroom. Kikue swallowed a smirk and watched as the blond moved so he could communicate with the girl and her friends, shooting her an apologetic smile before he did so.
"Sorry everyone, I've got basketball practice this afternoon," He chimed, his face apologetic. However, Kikue could hear his slight relief he could get out of the situation. Did someone like him also get sick of fans sometimes? Kikue didn't want to know. She heard a collective sigh of disbelief from the girls, but they did not press him. The freed Kise turned him attention back to Kikue. "Matsui-san, you don't seem to believe me-ssu."
"You don't seem to believe yourself either Kise-san," Kikue replied teasingly, then turned her attention away from the frowning blond as her phone began to ring. "Sorry, I'm going to step outside and take this."
"Ah, sure-ssu," Kikue stood up promptly and made her way out into the corridor, catching the muttered, "Matsui-san, you're going to get told off by the teachers."
"Miyuki-nee, I didn't think you would contact me out of the blue like this!" Kikue answered excitedly as she picked up the phone, settling herself on the roof top that not many people visited due to the unstable spring weather. "I thought you forgot about me,"
"Of course I'm not gonna go and forget you Kiku,"
"How have you been lately?"
"Not as well as you apparently Kiku, champion again?"
"They were all weaker than me, there's nothing wrong with winning," Kikue replied, pouting slightly at the teasing. "I regret not taking a scholarship right now, I've got an ultra annoying person in my class."
"Oh come on, can't be that bad."
"He talked to me, and he's ultra popular with the other girls."
"Ah, good luck Kiku, I've got something now, I will see you this Sunday in Tokyo ok?" Her friend did not wait for a reply before hanging up the phone and leaving Kikue sighing. But Kikue smiled genuinely to herself. Miyuki was one person she could get along with. Making her way back into the school building, she heard the bell ring just as she exited the third years' floor. She was late. However, the fact that she was late did not stop Kikue from taking her sweet time to get down the stairs. She knew if she said it was an important call, the school wouldn't question her. It was the arrangement after all. She walked into homeroom perhaps five minutes late, drawing quite the attention, however, she gestured to her phone and the teacher motioned her to sit down. She did.
"Matsui-san is it?" Kikue nodded as she greeted the girls that swarmed her table during class intermission. "You weren't here during the first week, did something happen?"
"I was at a training camp," Kikue started, then seeing the excited faces of the girls, decided to downplay her achievement. Though she would've done so either way. "It's nothing big, just something I've been doing since junior high, mahjong that is."
"Mahjong?" One of the girls questioned. Kikue nodded with her half smile. "That ultra complicated game?"
"Once you get the hang of it, it's not too difficult." Kikue replied curtly, giggling slightly at the reactions of the girls surrounding her. "My grandfather plays it quite a lot, so I must've subconsciously learnt."
"Matsui-san, did you have an interview in Monthly Sports before?" Another of the girls asked. Kikue tilted her head slightly, and smiled when she remembered, and nodded. "You said it's nothing big as if you haven't gained the title of the strongest middle school mahjong player and the strongest world junior division player for three consecutive years!"
"I mean, it's not as if many people play mahjong."
"And your grandfather is a world ranking professional."
"Wow, that's amazing!"
"Matsui-san is so modest!"
"And she's super cute!"
"Like, the perfect girl!"
Kikue smiled, somewhat glad that the world had forgotten about her primary school achievements. Except, unlike her grandfather and her father, she was by no chance used to people, she took after her mother in that sense.
"Matsui-san, if I remember correctly, you scored quite high in the entrance exam didn't you?"
"I didn't score that high, I mean, there was a girl who scored perfect," Kikue smiled, wishing desperately that the girls would lose interest in her soon. She doubted so however.
"Ah, Nakazuki sits right next to you Matsui-san." The lack of suffix drew Kikue's attention as she turned to see the girl that sat next to her. Large glasses that were, Kikue noticed, flat; and a fringe that covered half of her glasses. Timid aura with an underlying tone to not draw attention to herself. Kikue almost smiled. That was someone she could be friends with. Given that the other wished so. "But Matsui-san, is there anything you're bad at?"
"Plenty, no one is perfect after all." Kikue replied just as the intermission bell rang. The girls quickly said their goodbyes before returning to their perspective seats. Kikue looked into her school bag and almost grimaced - she had forgotten her history text book. Smiling to herself, she turned to the black haired girl, and found the girl looking at her.
"I forgot my text book."
"We can share," Came the response with a genuine smile, which was returned with a genuine smile of Kikue's. "I will move my desk over."
"Nakazuki-san, is there a place that's not populated with people?" Kikue asked as the lesson drew near, writing the question down onto her notebook, pushing it slightly over so that the other girl could see it.
"We've got an unused music room on the same floor." Came the reply a few seconds later.
"Could you please show me the way?"
"Sure."
"Matsui-san is actually bad with people is a fact that no one would've thought was possible," Was the first thing the girl said to Kikue after they closed the door behind them for peace and quiet. "You're so well-liked by the media as well."
"Because I say what they want to hear." Kikue replied as she took a seat in the empty seat.
"That takes quite a bit of skill too Matsui-san."
"People call my father and grandfather that," Kikue sighed. "Kikue is fine, Hacchan doesn't seem like a bad person."
"No one else is a bad person you know Ma-Kikue-san."
"Kikue."
"Then, Kikue-chan?"
"Fine," Kikue relented. "I'm somewhat vexed that I didn't take a scholarship now."
"Why?"
"The blond in our class." Kikue replied simply, which Hatsuna seemed to understand without further explanation.
"Kise-san seemed to have taken a bit of interest in Kikue-chan this morning," Hatsuna said, then added as Kikue looked at her, slight confusion masking her features. "Kise-san is rather cold towards people he doesn't have interest in."
"Do you reckon if I take a scholarship now they would still want me?"
"I'm sure they would Kikue-chan, but-" Hatsuna was cut off abruptly as the door opened and then only to be closed again within seconds. The person who had came into the music room was the person Kikue wished to see last - Kise Ryōta. "Ah, Kikue-chan, for someone who plays a luck based game, your luck isn't overwhelmingly good."
"I didn't need to hear that Hacchan," Kikue replied as the two girls stared at the boy who had burst in. "I'm presuming, Kise-san, you're here to avoid fans?"
"Correct-ssu," Kise replied. "Matsui-san is the same right?"
"Yes, but they're not exactly my fans."
"Come to think of it, Matsui-san, what do you play-ssu?" Kise asked.
"Search it up, I'm sure I'm all over the news." Kikue sighed, no longer bothering with her façade which she was sure Kise saw through in the morning. "If not, one of my family is bound to be."
"Matsui-san, I'm being disliked aren't I-ssu?"
"Yes."
"Kikue-chan."
"Too popular, the fans are always really loud," Kikue replied. "Too tall, and we're somewhat alike."
"Matsui-san is strange-ssu."
"And so I am told," Kikue replied as she reluctantly set her eyes onto the piano, then quickly looked away. She did not notice Kise's gaze on her as she stood up and walked towards the window, where Hatsuna stood. "I dislike excessive human interaction."
"I think I know why Kise-san is interested in you now, Kikue-chan." Hatsuna told Kikue as they walked to the first gym after school. Hatsuna had informed Kikue beforehand that she was not one of Kise's fans, and Kikue had teased Hatsuna about liking someone else from the basketball club, which Hatsuna had not denied.
"Why?"
"Kise-san is well liked by girls right, but Kikue-chan shows open hostility towards Kise-san."
"Open hostility?"
"Well, if you look past Kikue-chan's nice girl façade, then yes."
"Should I tune it down a bit?"
"I think Kikue-chan is fine as you are though."
"Only Hacchan would think so," Kikue sighed, then took out her phone. "Nee Hacchan, I can't stay today, show me the guy you like next time."
"Ah sure, sorry I kind of just dragged you along."
"It's fine, I'm used to being dragged around."
"Then, see you tomorrow Kikue-chan."
"Sure Hacchan."
"Visitor for Matsui-san, is that right?" Kikue nodded at the smiling receptionist, who had already remembered her. "Here is your pass."
"Thank you." Kikue replied with a genuine smile and made her way to her grandfather's room.
Once she reached the room, she knocked, and heard the familiar voice of her grandfather.
"Come in."
"Grandpa~" She chimed as she walked in. "Sorry about last week."
"How was the camp?"
"Bo-ring, there was no one I could have a decent game with," Kikue complained truthfully. "And listen to this, I've got a minor celebrity in my class, and all the girls are always squealing. It makes me wonder why I didn't take the Rinkai scholarship."
"Do you have your eyes on him?" Was a good-natured smile and joke from her grandfather. Kikue pouted.
"I do not. But on the other hand, I made a friend."
"Which you haven't done since primary school." Matsui Mikage pointed out to his granddaughter, who narrowed her eyes at him jokingly.
"Grandpa, you're being mean!" Kikue whined, then the two burst into laughter.
Returning from the hospital, Kikue passed a SevenEleven, which she decided to visit quickly to get dinner. She was not in the mood for cooking, and it was late anyways. She walked into the convenience store and immediately wanted to back out. Except, Kise had already seen her.
"Ah hold on-ssu Matsui-san~"
"Another one of your fan?"
"Matsui-san from my class-ssu, she's probably on the same social standing as I am-ssu." Kise replied to the shorter, but stern looking male next to him. Kikue had no choice but to greet them, she couldn't be rude to a senpai now could she. "Matsui-san, why are you out so late-ssu?"
"Getting dinner?" Kikue replied uncertainly, feeling entirely too uncomfortable standing next to two people much taller than she was. Thankfully the stern looking male chose to stand next to Kise, looking slightly more rigid since Kise called out to Kikue, as she noticed. She turned to the male, and introduced herself. "Good evening, I'm Matsui Kikue."
"Kasamatsu Yukio, third year. This idiot's captain."
"That's mean-ssu Senpai~"
"It's the truth." Kikue watched as Kasamatsu whacked Kise on the back of his head. They had followed her as she walked towards the bento section. She picked up the first thing she saw and made her way to the check out - she was not picky about food.
"Well then, I've gotten what I needed. I will, see you again, Kise-san, Kasamatsu-senpai."
"It's late, I'm heading home," Kasamatsu said, then to Kise. "Kise, send her home."
"Hai hai Senpai~"
Kikue paid for her food and walked outside, Kise right besides her. She walked slowly, and once she was sure Kasamatsu was no longer in sight, she turned to Kise.
"You can head home if you want, I can manage fine without someone sending me home."
"That's cold-ssu Matsui-san," Kise smiled. "You're a girl, what if there's some stalker lurking around-ssu?"
"I've made it home every other time," Kikue replied, looking down at the road. She had not been pampered to such an extent for a long time. "It's an inconvenience to you."
"Matsui-san, its common sense to send a girl home at this time-ssu. You should accept gentleman acts."
"Then, do as you please." Kikue replied. Silence fell between the two.
"Matsui-san?" Kise started, breaking the short silence.
"What is it?" Kikue asked.
"Do you like classical music?" Kise asked, and noticed the slightest flinch from Kikue. But before he could say anything else, Kikue spoke.
"I do, why do you ask?" A slight tremulous note, but otherwise normal.
"Before, at the office, your ring tone was classical music-ssu," Kise replied. Kikue looked up at him with surprise all over her delicate features, as if asking silently how he remembered. "It was so weird I just kind of remembered you know-ssu."
"I seriously don't want to be called that by you." Kikue sighed, as if she was relieved of something. Before he could filter his words, Kise asked Kikue the next question.
"Then why did you avoid looking at the piano this afternoon-ssu?"
"That's none of your business." The reply came so fast that Kise stopped in his tracks. There was no trace of the soft-spoken tone from the morning, either was there a trace of the resigned way of speaking she had used in the afternoon. Replacing the two sides of Matsui Kikue he knew was a nervous sounding girl who acted as if he had just trodden onto a landmine. He probably had. Then her tone softened, and she looked at him with a somewhat annoyed expression. "Sorry, that was a little snappy. But, I don't want to talk about it."
"Sorry-ssu."
"You didn't know." Was all Kikue said.
"Hacchan, it's seriously as you said, I've got horrible luck." Kikue said as they walked back to the music room after getting their lunch at the cafeteria. Kikue ran a hand through the ends of her chestnut coloured hair, feeling as if they were knotting up.
"What happened?"
"I ran into Kise."
"Kikue-chan, we're still out in the open."
"I am aware."
"Maybe tone it down a little when we're out in the open."
"Why? If it's the fans, about half the year is on sports scholarship, just use that against them." Kikue said nonchalantly. "I memorised the spreadsheet with all the information and stuff."
"And how did you get that spreadsheet?"
"I didn't get it, I was in the staff room before, greeting teachers, they had it out in the open," Hatsuna heard her friend say. "I took a look at it."
"For how long exactly?"
"Two seconds?" Kikue replied as she turned to face Hatsuna.
"Kikue-chan, what place in the rankings were you?"
"For what?"
"The entrance exam."
"Fifty something?"
"Did you try?"
"Is that a trick question Hacchan?"
"No," Hatsuna sighed as her friend opened the door to the music room, revealing Kise, who was probably on the run from fans, again. "Hello Kise-san, also Kikue-chan, I want you to answer me honestly."
"I slept through half of the exam because I was so incredibly jet lagged." Kikue replied and waved at Kise.
"Matsui-san, Nakazuki-san, am I intruding-ssu?"
"Yes." Kikue replied.
"No, it's quite alright," Hatsuna said in time with Kikue. The two girls looked at each other and Kikue shrugged. "Kikue-chan, I bet you're the type to score perfect if you tried."
"I'm not you, Hacchan."
"Kise-san, since you're here, please listen to this girl!" Hatsuna said, perhaps purposely involving Kise in their conversation, knowing it would make Kikue annoyed. "She slept through half of the entrance exam, yet still got in the 50s."
"It's not even that good."
"I think that's amazing-ssu!" Kise exclaimed. "I'm bad at academics, so I would never be able to get that kind of ranking-ssu."
"Then how about Hacchan," Kikue started, ignoring Kise with only a side glance to acknowledge his words. "Explain why you wear those glasses."
"Kikue-chan, no mercy whatsoever huh?"
"They're not for vision-ssu?"
"They're flat, Kise-san." Kikue replied.
"Come to think of it, they are a little different from what Midorima-cchi's glassessu."
"Kise-san, you just bailed Hacchan out of an answer." Kikue sighed as the bell for class rang. "Oh well, we will know sooner or later."