I walked into the classroom, fidgety and nervously sat back into my seat. I put my head down, knowing that when Izuki came back in, he'd say something to me again. As expected, Izuki came rushing into the class after me and made his way towards me.
"Setsuno-san," He started. I didn't budge, too afraid. He got stuck at behind a little web of chattering students. He grunted, trying to get past. I felt a sharp kick from behind an yelped. I turned around, looking at the student.
"There's someone talking to you. Stop trying to fish for attention and pity and just answer him," He said. I blushed and kept my head where it was, no longer feeling any reason to move.
"Did you hear me?" He threatened. My eyesight blurred over and I felt one side clear up and then the other, feeling my cloth on my arm become wet. I began sniffling and blinked harshly, clearing my eyes of tears.
"Setsu-" he started. But the student had already beaten him to it. The student picked my up by the back of my shirt and I grunted in pain and surprise, the collar choking me.
"You little shit, thinking you can just ignore me? I'm being a good person and here you go, just ignoring everyone. You think you have a special pass to ignore people? Because you're special?" He taunted.
I never thought that.. I thought to myself.
"Hey!" Izuki called out, trying to pry my cloth from his hands. The other kept his nails dug into my shirt though and as Izuki pulled him off, a piece of my shirt tore off with him. I blushed and covered my back immediately and turned around. I looked at my seat to see if I had my blazer with me. I panicked when I saw my empty chair, remembering that I left it at home because I did not want it(hates warm weather/being hot). I kept my hand back there and hoped my hair would do the rest of the job. I looked at Izuki, who was glaring at the other person. I put my hand on his forearm, tugging on his shirt.

"Izuki, it's fine," I said. Izuki looked at me and sighed.

"Just go sit down," the basketball player said to the other. Izuki then turned to me and looked at my face. He frowned and pulled his sleeve up to his thumb, rubbing the corners of my eyes.

"Why were you crying?" He asked quietly. Mu lowered my head in response, not wanting to tell him.
"Why won't you tell me?" He lowered his head and angled it to look at my face. I turned away again. He sighed and he patted my head.
"If it's what I said, I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything to offend you," he tried to reason. He walked around me and moved my hair out of the way. I yelped and covered my back, blushing. I felt where the hole was and it was exposing my undergarments. I cursed for not wearing an extra layer under my clothes. He left me alone and had gone outside. I sighed, troubled now by the fact that he hates me. I sat down, staying in a position I knew my hair would cover my back. A minute later, Izuki came back in with and came directly to me again. I looked at him, expecting to see a glare or at least the remains of one. Instead, he had an emotionless face on and held out his blazer. I looked at the black jacket in surprise.
"Put it on, for today," he said. I hesitatingly reached out for it, but he took back the jacket in time.
"You can only have it if you tell me what I did to make you upset," he said, holding the jacket to his side and out of my reach. I retracted my hand, once again deceived.
"There's only an hour left of school.." I said, turning back around to face the front of the room. Izuki grunted and he sighed again.
"Fine. Take it anyways, then. If you refuse to tell me anything, I won't bother with you anymore," He warned. I bit my lip nervously, contemplating whether or not I should tell him.. Tomorrow..maybe..
"It's now or never," He interrupted my thought. My jaw clenched up and I looked at him sadly. He stood there and instantly smiled, knowing he got his way already before I said anything. I stood up and held his arm as I took him outside into the hall with me.

"How are you making me do all this? No one has bothered with me for more than ten minutes," I said, agitated. Izuki was taken back, not expecting a question like that.
"What do you mean? I just talked to you," he said. I shook my head.
"Even now, it's rare I even talk this much at home with my mother."
"That's not what we came out to talk about. Tell me why you were upset."
"Because... you talked to me like a friend and didn't make fun of me the moment you saw my eyes up close. I got lost in your friendliness, forgetting that I had to keep my place and not expose myself so broadly. Yet in the end, you mocked me anyways for almost opening up to you," I said, already sniffling.
"But I wasn't mocking you," he countered.
"Then what was with that ridiculously mocking statement?" I said louder, balling my hands into fists.
"It was really only a question. I only wanted to know if you were actually happy around me. If you were, maybe I would talk to you more, but if you didn't, then I would leave you alone."
I immediately shook my head fiercely before I knew what I was feeling.

"So you don't hate my company?" He confirmed. I paused before shaking my head again, slowly. He smiled, relieved and pulled me into a hug. I tensed up already flailing around. He rested his chin on top of my head despite the struggle.
"I'm sorry for upsetting you."
I felt the vibrations of his voice ringing as my pulled my face closer to his chest. I calmed down as his heartbeat became audible and the vibrations of his voice kept ringing throughout his chest. He let go in a couple of seconds and I looked back up at his face quickly. He was calm and happy once again, smiling. I kept looking at his face unconsciously and frowned a little. He chuckled slightly and pulled me into another hug.
"You're more like a dog rather than a cat, you know? Your facial expressions really tell more about what you're feeling more than anything else," he said, still laughing. At this, I finally realized what gave it away and pushed him away, scurrying quickly back to my desk in the classroom with a red face. I heard a faint and familiar laughter outside and I immediately wanted to kill myself in embarrassment.

"Izuki, why're you laughing to yourself like that alone? You look like a psychopath," Hyuga said as he walked in. Izuki followed him after, rubbing tears from his eyes. He stopped in front of my desk, looking at me, then laughed again. I frowned uncomfortably. And he came by, ruffled my hair and left again, leaving my messy. I looked at my desk, a black jacket there without me even realizing it. I looked at Izuki, who Hyuga was talking to. Izuki looked at me back, smiled and pointed to his back, then the jacket. I put the jacket on and was overwhelmed by the scent, though it was faint. It smelled of a bit of sweat and cologne. It made me think back to a minute ago when he was embracing me and I wanted to rip the jacket apart. I cleared my throat, clearing my mind at the same time and took out a textbook from my desk and opened it up.


As the bell rang once more to signal the end of the school day, I went to the shoe lockers where I changed my shoes. I found Izuki and walked up to him, taking off the jacket.
"Thank you," I said, handing the jacket to him.
"Hm? Oh, just keep it for the rest of the day," He said, waving it off.
"But-"
"It's fine. You can just get it back to me tomorrow morning."
"Are you sure?"
"It's no big deal," he smiled. I 'okay'ed him and I left the school, still wearing the jacket.

I walked into my house, lights on and I was met with a flurry of footsteps, then a fluffy white dog running at me, and leaping at me.
"Hi, Kou!" I giggled as the white Samoyed licked my face. It gave a smile, as I recalled to its nickname of "smily sam." I rubbed the area between its ears and it rolled over, signaling me to rub his belly. I obliged, rubbing his belly heartily. He got up and started sniffing my curiously. He sniffed the jacket for a minute, confused.
"Ah, he's getting Izuki's scent confused with mine," I laughed. I took the jacket off and made my way up to my room, my dog following close behind. I hung the jacket up behind my door and stripped myself of the ripped shirt. I put it on my bed as I put on a T-shirt from my closet and put a pair of pants on while taking my skirt off. I fell onto my bed on my back, my dog then joining me. Kou circled around me, then sat on my stomach. It curled up into a while ball and scratched itself with his leg. I helped him and scratched the area behind his ear for him. He panted contently and yawned in a high-pitched voice. He licked his lips, then moved up to near my face, and curled up again, sleeping this time. I watched his body rise up and down with each breath. I smiled and got up quietly, moving to my desk. I heard my phone vibrate audibly. Kou sat up, fully awake, jumping off the bed clumsily and poking my bag with his nose.
I picked the bag up and took my phone out as Kou whimpered. I smiled at Kou, ruffling his fur and picked up my phone.
"Aki-chan?"
"Yes, mother?" I replied.
"You're home? Why didn't you call me?" She asked.
"Sorry, Kou insisted on me playing with him," I said, laughing as the said dog crawled onto my lap, barking at the sound of my mother's familiar voice.
"Aki? You sound really happy. Did something good happen today?" She asked, and I already heard her voice deforming with the smile forming on her face.
"..nothing.." I said nervously.
"You sound nervous. Was it a boy?" She giggled.
"Mom! It's nothing. It's just Kou's company," I lied.
"Sure.. We've had Kou for two years already. Why are you sounding happy now?" She asked, suspicious.
"It's nothing, just I'm in a good mood," I countered.
"You never talk back with such energy unless you're reasonably happy.." She continued.
"Did you need something?" I sighed, changing the topic.
"Not really.. Just walk Kou for me, please? I'll be coming home an hour and a half or so," She informed.
"Okay, work hard, then."
"Okay. Bye, Aki-chan."
I shut my phone and placed it on my desk. I started taking out my work from my bag.

After about an hour, I heard Kou whimpering, scratching the wall. I looked away from my last few papers of work and smiled. I took the hair clip out of my hair and took my glasses off. I opened the door to the hall and Kou ran out, running down the stairs. I walked to the closet and got the leash for my dog. Kou was circling at the door, barking happily and scratching the door.
"okay, okay." I grunted, kneeling down and buckling the leash to the dog's collar. I checked for my phone and keys, and a few bags, then left the house.
Kou jumped a little, excited. He perked up, then ran in a direction. I yelped, not expecting a sudden burst of speed from the dog.
"Kou's getting big.." I said, holding back the dog a little. He kept tugging though, and I went along, afraid I would hurt his neck. He started running and I had to tug on the leash and I heard Kou yelp. I frowned and I walked up the dog who was now sitting. I petted his head and scratched his ear, then massaged his neck. He regained his energy again and insisted on our earlier play. I sighed and followed him. Soon, he stopped and barked a little. He looked behind at me, proud. I looked at him confused.

"Setsuno-san?" I jumped and looked up.
"I-Izuki!"
"Ah, is this your dog?" He said, smiling and kneeling down. Kou made his way to Izuki. He sniffed the human and sat down in front of him, panting. Izuki laughed and ruffled his head.
"Yeah.. His name is Kou," I said.
"Kou?" He smiled. "Kou's kou is ajar," He said. I looked at him, confused.
"Do you get it?" he said hopefully. I shook my head slowly.
"'Kou' means mouth in Chinese.. I think," He informed. (It does)
"o..kay.. I, well, don't really speak Chinese.." I said.
"haha, neither do I!" He smiled. Kou looked up at him and licked his hand.
I kneeled next to Izuki and Kou turned to me and leaped onto my lap, licking my face. I laughed, turning away from the dog, but he found my cheek again anyways. I shook my face and the dog jumped to the floor, barking again. My face was all wet by now and I used my arm to rub off some saliva.
"Setsuno-san, do you live near here?" He asked. I looked at him and nodded.
"I live right down the street," I said and pointed behind me."Why don't you come over to pick up the jacket?" I asked.
"Hm? You sure? You can just get it to me tomorrow." He said.
"Just come get it now before I forget," I said while shaking my head.
"You just want your God in your home," he said proudly.
"Bless my humble home," I said, giggling.
"I shall indeed," he replied, smiling and I turned around, back home with him following.

"Can I hold the leash?" He said suddenly, a minute away from my house.
"I want to walk him. I love walking dogs," he admitted.
"Did you, now? God has no wants, though."
"Man, you're really loosening up around me," he said confidently.
"No need to get so excited about it. I shouldn't be afraid of my own God right?" I said, quoting him.
"..you're a clever one."

I laughed and realized we were outside my house already. I watched as a car pulled up the driveway and into the now opening garage.
"Uh.. Just wait here," I pointed outside the door to my home. "I'll get the jacket."
I ran in, almost running into my mom.
"Woah! Where are you going?" She said, grabbing my arm.
"Room, I just have to get something." I said, and sidestepped her.

I ran into my room, and behind my door was Izuki's jacket. I took the jacket and held it in my arms. As I ran back down the stairs, not wanting Izuki to wait, my mother waited at the bottom.
"What are you doing?" She asked in a stern voice.
"Nothing. I'm just returning a jacket to a friend," I said while fixing my hair from the rush up and down the stairs.
"Hm? Isn't that jacket a bit big for a girl?" She asked.
"Guy" I corrected and went to the door.
My mom was about to say something, but I opened the door and Kou barked. I had forgotten him with Izuki.
"Ah," he started. He then saw my mom and smiled.
"Hello, I'm Izuki Shun. I'm a friend of Setsuno-san's," he said while bowing to my mother.
"Eh? Are you the reason why Aki-chan has been so happy today? You certainly seem like the type to be able to make someone happy easily."
"MOM"

Izuki laughed at my reaction. "Here," I said, handing the jacket to him.
"Thanks. Have Kou's leash back too," he said, handing the leash back to me. I took the leash and the dog came to me, panting and waiting for a ruffle on the head. I smiled and pet his head, taking the leash off and hanging it on the coat hanger.
"Would you like to stay for dinner?" My mom offered.
"Hm? Oh no, it's alright. I've got to get going anyways."
"Alright, then. Will you be leaving now?" She asked again.
"Yeah."
"Aki-chan why don't you go see Izuki-kun off at the corner?" She said, nudging me. I frowned, embarrassed and irritated.
"Let's go," I said, rushing past Izuki.

The said boy came by me and stood to my right, and yawned.
"I'm sorry for such an eventful day," I started.
"It's alright. It was fun anyways," he laughed.
As we neared the corner, I asked "is this far enough?"
He walked ahead and turned around, stretching his arms out.
"What?"
"you seemed to like them before, so I'll give you a parting hug," he smiled.
"..no thanks," I said turning around. He came up from behind me, though, and crushed me into his arms. I yelped and put my hands on his arms, trying to pry him off.
"Izuki!" I yelled. The boy laughed loudly over my yelling. He swung me around a little and I blushed red, weakening already from embarrassment. I slumped, out of energy.

"You. Get embarrassed easily. Your face is very red right now," he pointed out.
"I know.. So leave me alone!" I tried to push my way out of his embrace with no luck. He only tightened his grip.
"Why do you keep doing this?!" I grunted.
"Because you're fun to tease like this," he laughed.

I sighed, out of breath and rested the back of my head on his chest. I felt him shelling over me and I was blanketed with comfort and warmth once again. I squinted and saw my mother peeking over the gate and turning her head towards us. I squirmed uncomfortably, telling Izuki that my mom was watching.
"It also seems kind of fun to make your mom misunderstand some things like this," he let go of me waved to my mom. She waved back, unashamed.

"Bye, Setsuno-san," he said while waving goodbye.
"Thank the gods," I said.
"You're welcome." He flashed a thumbs up. I couldn't help but to laugh a little and I turned around once again, walking back home.
I looked down, smiling and placed my feet around the cracks and separation of the cement tiles.

"I guess he was the reason for your happiness today?" My mother said, while opening the gate for me.
"..not really.." I said, mumbling and rushing in.