Chapter 3: First Thing that happens in the Classroom

"By allowing someone else a special privilege, you're denying me a special privilege. You're denying me the privilege of being special to you."

– PhoenixFireBlade (Yup, I made up my own smart-sounding line.)

Subaru walked into the classroom silently. The school was almost deserted. It was his habit to arrive that early. He put down his backpack at his chair and went off to get his stack of folders filled with his books from his locker. He placed those on the floor leaning against the wall. It was nice to have a side seat as the wall was yours to use however you pleased. He sat down and thought about his meeting with Naoya last day. That uncomfortable feeling was still there but he managed to brush it off again. He remembered Naoya's last words on his way back home.

What the hell did he mean by dense? He is so irritating, damn it.

Anger welled up in him when thought about him. That guy was a complete fake and had always tried to beat him but always failed. After all this was Subaru Shirogane. He was better than him. Naoya always kept up his fake smile and gentleman-like nature to deceive others. As a result, students and teachers liked him. But Subaru was better. Despite his silent nature, he was hard working and dedicated. As a result, he managed to surpass him everywhere. Teachers often praised his efforts and students respected him. He was considered best in almost all activities. Because of this Naoya tried to beat him but was never able to succeed in that. But that never stopped him. Now he had started to play some stupid games with him because of which he was getting on Subaru's nerves now. What exactly is this guy's problem? Can't he just leave me alone? Because of this he really hated him. And thus he never gave Naoya a chance to defeat him. It was not difficult, as he could always see through his games because of his observant nature.

I won't let you beat me Naoya, ever. I can never be beaten by somebody so cheap and wretched like you. Ever.

He looked out the window. And he saw the target of both Naoya and himself. Kakeru was walking into the school building as if the skies would be clear forever. In a way, Subaru hoped for it too. He is so carefree, so innocent. And that brat wants to destroy him. So pathetic, Naoya Homura. This is way too low, even for somebody like you. And still you play 'I-am-a-gentleman' in front of others. Ridiculous.

He remembered his conversation with Kakeru in the library. 'Please take of me' he had asked. Yes, I will. I won't let that brat destroy you. He felt a need to protect Kakeru from him. He thought it was his duty as a prefect. Above all Naoya had challenged him. He usually wouldn't get involved in such situations but this was different.

I've got to tell him. He needs to know as soon as possible. I can't let Naoya have his way after all. Again there was strange feeling in him, like the one he felt last night. And again, he ignored it. For now, his mind was occupied with one goal.

But things never went as smoothly as he hoped.

"Good morning Subaru!" Naoya exclaimed, drawing unnecessary attention to Subaru's snug little corner. Subaru found it quite unpleasant whenever Naoya would purposely direct stares his way when the other guy knew he simply wasn't that kind of person.

That fake faced brat. Give me a break, dammit. He just needs to interfere as always.

"How can you act so nice after yesterday?" Subaru questioned him once the looks – or were some of them glares? – subsided. He watched his moves carefully. He realised that Naoya had walked in from the right classroom door, which was unusual as their seats were on the left side of the room. Right before he sat down, his bag bumped the table in front of his, shoving it a little out of the way. He flashed him the brightest, fakest and forced smile he could, which heightened Subaru's senses. That look made the something-is-not-right bells go off in his mind.

What's with him today? Subaru wondered, quickly directing his gaze elsewhere. When he heard the classroom door open, he spared it a quick glance and saw Kakeru walk in. The boy seemed to be half asleep as he stumbled his way to his seat in front of him, although Subaru could honestly say that the action suited the boy. Once Kakeru sat down, he spared a yawn, which tickled Subaru.

Wait, what am I thinking? There is no time to waste, he quickly chided himself for even thinking about how cute and Kakeru-like the boy's actions were. He was going to go for Kakeru's chair, but right before he did, Kakeru got up and went to retrieve his books.

Ugh dammit. If only I was quicker…

When Kakeru returned from the lockers, Subaru planned to grab his attention and tell him straight. What he did not expect was Kakeru knocking into a classmate's table. He fumbled with the items in his hands and almost dropped them.

"Watch out!" Naoya exclaimed and reached out to save Kakeru's mini mountain from spilling all over the place. He steadied the stack just in time to stop it from tumbling out of Kakeru's control. Both of them seemed to be in shock for a while, Kakeru longer than Naoya.

And then he saw it.

When Naoya tried to help Kakeru get to his feet after they'd picked up all the books, Subaru noticed a slight wince from the bluenette as Naoya grabbed the area of his arm near to the elbow. It seemed that he was in pain. Why? What happened? Is he hurt?

"Thank you Naoya-san," Kakeru said, referring to the help Naoya gave him with picking up the books.

"You're welcome," Naoya replied, acting rather casual and good-natured about it. Subaru saw his chance.

I've got to tell him now, he reminded himself. He stood up and was about to call out to Kakeru, but then the bluenette ran off out of the classroom.

"Ugh, not again," he murmured softly, unaware that he'd actually said it out loud. He was about to just admit defeat to the morning when he remembered.

The table he bumped into – it was the one Naoya shoved earlier! This… this is a coincidence though, right? He couldn't have…?!

Subaru couldn't help but doubt. As he looked to the side, however, he saw Naoya smirking to himself. Then, he saw those emerald eyes flutter close.

"It didn't work out for you, did it?" Naoya said triumphantly. "You couldn't get those few simple words out of your throat. If you'd just lowered your silent pride and called out to him you could've said something. This'll be fun," Naoya declared, flaring up some kind of frustration and – although Subaru would never admit it – embarrassment within the shorter prefect. Subaru just sat down in his seat in an attempt to calm himself.

Control yourself. He's just trying to get into your head.

After sometime, when he regained his control, he looked around for Kakeru. He still had not returned to class.

It's been a while. Perhaps I should go look for him.

Naoya watched the other prefect leave the class. After some time he went out of the class. He saw Subaru going towards the ground and smirked. You are so dense Shirogane, you don't even know what you are doing. Or why. And it is the good for both me and you. Now you better stay that way. But if you don't you will be devastated. This is something in which you will fail.

Suddenly his expression changed. And it was such an expression that would make anybody forget his current reputation and think that he was completely crazy. I won't let you touch my Kakeru, Shirogane. Never. Or you will disappear. I won't hesitate at all. You are just an obstacle, a hurdle in my way and will destroy you if I have to. By now his face was so evil if someone saw him, the person would run for their life. Good thing that the corridor was almost empty as it was time for class. He soon composed himself. My, my. After spending so many years building my reputation, I can't destroy it now, right. After regaining his fake smile and innocent look, he went inside the class.

Subaru skimmed through school grounds quickly but found no trace of Kakeru. Had he gone off earlier he might have had more time to search. Perhaps Kakeru was even back in the classroom by now, waiting for class to start. It was pretty close to first period.

"I should head back soon," he muttered to himself as he walked through the canteen. He spared a glance to the back of the school, and he was lucky he did.

He saw Kakeru there, but he wasn't alone. There was a girl with him. She seemed rather nervous and fidgety, and Subaru knew of only one thing that could possibly take place behind the school building which involved a girl and a boy.

A confession.

He knew he should probably walk away and leave them alone, but he simply couldn't peel his eyes off the scene in front of him. How long had it been since Kakeru transferred to the school? A week? There was no denying the fact that Kakeru had this friendly, charming aura surrounding him, but wasn't it a little too soon to get girls falling in love with you?

Subaru wasn't totally oblivious to the things happening around him. No, far from it. Occasionally, he'd hear some whispers on the wind about how some underclassman liked him, but that was just that. Merely a whisper on the wind. No girl ever confessed to him or anything.

It's probably because I'm just stone cold. They don't even dare confessing.

As he looked both of them again a strange feeling, one he could not understand, filled him. For all he knew that some of it was anger. And some …Jealousy?

But why? There is no reason for it.

Even from the canteen, with the angle tilted a little, he could clearly see Kakeru rejecting the girl's love, but probably nicely. And then he held her hand, and her face lit up. She actually looked happy.

And then he retreated. He didn't want to see any more of that. Hadn't Kakeru rejected her? How could she be happy?

Unless… he didn't and accepted her love?

At this thought he was again filled with a strange feeling. It was strange and it made him uncomfortable. He felt like hitting something for no reason at all. Ugh, what is this happening to me? It's their business and I have no reason for interfering. This is ridiculous… Get a hold of yourself, come on. He sighed. Today was just not his day.

As he thought about it again, he realised that it was highly likely that Kakeru had accepted her. He probably didn't want to hurt her feelings so he might've said yes. Besides, how was he so sure that Kakeru rejected her in the first place? For all he knew, the chances were 50/50.

Wait, why am I thinking so much about it? This does not involve me. Why am I even watching them? I am not supposed to do this. I am actually not supposed to be here. Spying on a newcomer? Damn this is way too low.

"Eh, Subaru-kun?" Kakeru suddenly called out to him when he was close enough. The girl that just confessed to him ran past Subaru and left the two of them alone.

"What are you doing out here?"

"Oh nothing. Just finishing up my rounds to make sure no wannabe delinquents escape from their classes," Subaru replied, easily lying through his own teeth. He had to admit that holding the prefect position did come in handy once in a while. It helped that Kakeru didn't know that the prefects weren't tasked with such a job either.

"I'm sorry. I should be heading back too, right?" Kakeru said and Subaru realised that he probably sounded annoyed when he answered Kakeru. And it didn't help with their suddenly-awkward situation either. It probably seemed to Kakeru that he was breaking school rules and that Subaru was here to discipline him for it.

"Yeah, but it's alright. I was going to head back anyways," Subaru answered and led the walk back to the classroom.

Inwardly, he vowed to himself that he would never breathe a word about what he saw or heard, lest Kakeru found out that he was spying on them.

And, in all of the confusion, he forgot the purpose of the Kakeru-hunt and a rather important piece of information.

Well, that should do it for this chapter. I feel like there's nothing much to say this time around, so I'll just cut this note short. Sorry for updating so slowly though. Life is tough.

Tell me if you guys like/dislike me putting in my own lines as quotes (well they wouldn't actually be quotes) for the chapter. Bye-bye!

~PhoenixFireBlade~