Yeah, I'm still alive, even if maybe some of you were starting to think otherwise. Unfortunately I'm in the middle of my ''exams spree'' once again (I hate this period of the year!) and I don't have much time to write. Also, in the few free time I have I'm replaying Ruka and Kouichi's routes once again in order to collect as many informations as I can... other than, of course, playing the fully translated version of TMGS2, because there's no way in hell I would let my beloved Saeki alone now that I can understand everything he says! Anyway, I'm working for you, so bear with me, 'kay?
So, back to business: I nicknamed this chapter the ''Copy and Paste'' chapter, since, other than a little personal inspiration here and there, it's mostly about events that happens in the game (except for the last part, that's completely mine). I warn you beforehand so that, if you want to skip them, you can. Still, while I don't like copying and pasting, here it was necessary, since I want to introduce all the characters that are going to have a role in the story, and I still think the better way is the original one. After all, I'm not the one who created them, right? Anyway, while I don't particularly like this chapter myself, I hope it won't bore you to death. Next time I'll write more original stuff: promised!

CHAPTER 2

Heroes and Cuties: The Modern Fairytale

As soon as she saw him for the first time... no, even before she met him, she already knew she was going to hate her maths teacher for the simple reason that he taught that subject. She couldn't deny it: she was useless in maths, as well as every scientific subjects. Back in middle school, she could have been top class, if not for her terrible grades in said subjects. And now it was even worse, for the simple reason that the teacher was him.

«...I can't solve it. I'm sorry» she finally gave up, after the worst ten minutes of her life standing in front of the blackboard, trying to figure out what the solution to the problem was.

Himuro looked carefully at the half-solved problem from behind his glasses, before turning his glance at her.

«This was the subject of our last lesson, Nomura. Is it because you haven't understood my explanation or is it because you haven't studied it at all?»

Misaki looked at him with anger and hatred, her blood boiling in her veins and making her face flush more and more.

«I studied. It's just that I...»

''I don't have the basis to solve such hard problems'' she thought, but didn't find the courage to said it out loud.

She had always had problems in maths and she probably would have always had them, no matter how hard she tried. It was also true, though, that her maths lessons in middle school didn't reach that point: she really didn't have the means to solve such complicated tasks yet.

«If you cannot solve it, go back to your place. Morimoto, come and start from where she left.»

Morimoto Megumi, the leader of the girls of the Anti-Nomura Club of her class, stood up with pride, sending an odious look toward Misaki. She and the other girls never forgot how Misaki shut them up on their first day, so whatever humiliated her was okay with them.

«Yes, sensei!» she immediately answered with that annoying, snobbish voice of hers, walking toward the blackboard to finish the problem her ''enemy'' left behind.

With a silent sigh, Misaki walked back to her place and let herself fall on the chair as if someone just shot her down. Taira, from the place beside hers, turned toward her with an understanding glance.

«Are you okay, Nomura-san?» he whispered in such a low voice that she had to read to movements of his lips to understand.

Even if she felt as if she was just run over by a full-loaded truck, Misaki made an effort to smile and nodded. Complaining certainly wouldn't change the facts, and being sad would only make her enemies glad.

For the rest of the lesson, she did nothing but silently take notes, trying to lay low as much as she could, until finally the bell of the lunch break rang, giving a little bit of relief to her tired soul.

She stretched and removed her books from the desk, while Taira and his friends sitting in front of him, Shirazaki Yusuke, turned toward her again.

«Hey, Thug Girl, you okay? Being tortured by Himurocchi in front of the whole class must be really horrible» said the latter, looking kind of concerned.

«Maybe ''tortured'' is a little too much, but... well, it wasn't nice. Still» she added with an evil grin, «I won't be the last one to face Himuro. Now or then, everyone will have to... and I'm just waiting for Morimoto being questioned about something she doesn't know!»

«Yeah, that witch...» Shirazaki glanced at the girl in question and smirked. «Why don't you just ask your friends to give her a lesson she won't forget? It will be easier this way!»

Misaki answered with a sour smile.

«I'll keep that in mind» she said, even if she wasn't really convinced herself.

There were various reasons why she didn't want to do something like that: first thing, it was her problem and Ruka and Kouichi weren't involved; second, that would just worsens their already bad reputation; and the last reason was that she wasn't even sure if they would do something just for the sake of protecting her. Well, maybe if it was something life-threatening, they would... but still, she didn't like the idea of appearing like a damsel in distress who runs to her princes whenever something goes wrong.

«Anyway, let's not think about it anymore» Taira said, noticing Misaki's dark face and deciding it was time to change subjects. «Would you like to have lunch with us today too?»

Shirazaki whistled naughtly.

«Whoa, Taira! You're becoming bolder and bolder! Maybe I should leave you love-birds alone...»

«Yusuke, shut up!» Taira interrupted him, blushing. «Don't listen to him, Nomura-san. He's just an idiot!»

Misaki felt a rush of gratitude raising up to her chest. Since her relationship with most girls in the class was terrible, she was glad that at least some of the boys treated her normally and even decided to let her enter in their group as if it was the most normal thing to do in the world. If it wasn't for them, her first week at school would be the saddest thing ever..

Still, that day she had another plan, so she had no other choice but refusing.

«Sorry, guys, but today I would like to have lunch with Ruka and Kouichi. We haven't almost talked at all lately. Why don't you join us, instead? I think they wouldn't mind.»

The two boys exchanged glances, then Shirazaki quickly shook his head in denial.

«Having lunch with the Sakurai Brothers? I thinks it's still a little too much for my poor heart. Maybe next time.»

«I'll pass, too» Taira refused, too, looking down a little lonesomely. «They are a little too... flashy for me.»

''Flashy?'' she thought, perplexed, but, noticing her questioning look, Taira just shook his head and smiled kindly.

«Another time, maybe.»

«If you say so...» she said, just a little disappointed, but not willing to insist and going against her classmates' will. «See you later, then.»

After saying goodbye, she took her lunchbox and raised from her seat. This time she was sure there was nothing she disliked inside, since she prepared it herself. Of course it didn't look as good as the ones her mother prepared, but it was edible. Ruka in particular seemed to have appreciated her onigiri, considering that last time they ate together her stole half of them away...

Her thoughts were interrupted when, passing beside the desk of the guy with spiky hair she met on the first day, she realized he was looking at her thoughtfully. Strange enough, since he barely ever talked to her. She still didn't even remember his name.

«Need something?» she asked, perplexed.

He didn't stop looking at her, not in the least embarrassed by the fact that she caught him staring.

«Nothing, really» he answered, his eyes still glued on her.

''Weird...'' she thought, but then just shrugged. It's not like he was the weirdest person she met in her whole life, after all.

«Goodbye, then.»

She left him be and quickly stepped out of the classroom, taking a deep breath as soon as she was outside. It wasn't as bad as the first day but, even if a week had passed, the air in there was still pretty heavy. Maybe it was just her impression, but still...

''Come on! Let's go see if Ruka and Kouichi are free'' she thought, chasing the uneasiness away.

She had been a student there for only one week, and she didn't even attend middle school there! It was normal that everything seemed hard! Still, while things were a little though, it wasn't true that everything was going the wrong way. Things would settle, eventually: she was sure of that!

After getting her courage and her smile back, she walked toward Kouichi and Ruka's class and, as if to prove that, when you think about someone, they would appear, Ruka went out of the classroom right in that moment. And he wasn't alone.

«Ruka-kun, would you have lunch with me today?» a girl said.

«Oh, don't listen to her! I did my best to prepare a special lunch especially for you, Ruka-kun. Shall we eat it together?» a second girl interrupted her.

«You two are unfair! I asked him first!» a third girl cried.

Misaki stopped dead on her tracks, watching the scene from afar. It did look like the scene of manga: there he was, the ultimate bishonen of the story surrounded by his fangirls! From her point of view, she could see only Ruka's back and hear only the girls' voices, since they talked very loudly. She had no idea whether he appreciated their attentions or not, but one thing was sure: his new fangirls didn't seem to mind. Whether he liked it or not, they would stick around.

''Looks like I was right, then'' she considered by herself.

Ruka had that something about him that attracted people. Maybe it was also related to his good looks, but it wasn't only that: it was more like an aura. It was hard not to be charmed by him. No wonder that his charms managed to break the barrier of unpopularity fast enough, especially with girls. And even more especially if said girls had a weak spot for bad boys!

Her heart skipped a beat and her stomach growled in disappointment, giving her a very unpleasant sensation as she turned around and walked away. She felt that not getting close was the right thing to do: Ruka was perfectly able to deal with his fangirls on his own, and she didn't want to expose herself to the glares of his Fan Club. Still, she couldn't help but feel a little jealous: she didn't realize it up to that moment, but maybe she was starting to consider both Ruka and Kouichi as ''her own private property'', and finding out that, after all, they didn't belong to her...

''So that's what it feels like when a sibling find a lover, or something'' she thought with a sour grin, as she walked away toward the courtyard. ''Maybe I should just leave those two alone for today. It's a shame, though: we barely spoke this week. I really wanted to have a chat...''

Oh, well, looked like she had no choice but spend the lunch break on her own. Maybe it wasn't such a bad thing: after Himuro's torture at the blackboard, she still had a slight headache. Sitting back and relax would surely help.

When Misaki reached the courtyard, though, she realized much to her disappointment that that day a lot of other students had her same idea and decided to spend the break there. There was not even a corner where she could be on her own and relax. She looked around for a while, looking for a quiet place to spend her break, but in vain. She was starting to consider going back to inspect the rooftop, but right then she heard some voices coming from behind the main building. Male voices, and quite threatening ones.

«So don't think that, just because you brothers arrived, you'll have the monopoly in here, got it?»

''Brothers?''

Lately, she happened to jump every time she heard that word. Again, she knew they weren't the only brothers in Habataki High, yet it was as if they were the brothers around there. If someone said that word, it was damn sure they were talking about them; and, when she heard a familiar voice answering, she had the confirmation she needed.

«So what?»

''Kouichi?''

For the second time in a few minutes her heart skipped a beat and her stomach growled, but this time the feeling was much more unpleasant. She didn't like the tone of that conversation at all.

Without thinking, she headed in the direction from where she heard the voices until, as expected, she found herself in front of the tall, dark figure of Kouichi, face-to-face with two other guys. Judging by the two strangers appearance, they must have been third year students and they were both kind of well built. Still, compared to Kouichi, they didn't look all that impressive. He was taller and far more scarier than them.

«I'm not saying we want to pick a fight with you» one of the upperclassmen said, trying to act both diplomatic and threatening, «but you arrived here last, so...»

«So what?» Kouichi repeated with an annoyed voice, as if he was waiting for the other guys to get to the point.

«Since you arrived here last» the other upperclassman said with a far more aggressive tone compared to the other, «you have to pay respect to us. Understood?»

Spying from behind the corner, Misaki couldn't see Kouichi's face well, but she could have sworn that a little grin appeared on his lip. Then, suddenly, he jumped onward and grabbed the one who just talked for the front of his uniform.

«And if we don't, what will you do? Huh?» he hissed piercing the upperclassman's eyes with his own sharp and scary pupil.

The guy freaked out and Misaki together with him, so much that she jumped out her hiding spot and, always without thinking, rushed toward the three guys.

''What the heck is that idiot thinking?'' she thought, furious.

«Kouichi!» she called his name out loud.

He didn't release the guy, but quickly glanced at her from over his shoulder.

«...What are you doing here?» he said in an annoyed tone, like a kid who's been deprived of his favourite toy.

«That's my line. Let him go! Right now!»

For a few long seconds, Kouichi considered Misaki's angry face, then the scared guy he was holding. In the end, he sighed and approached his face to the upperclassman's, as if he wanted to be sure he was hearing him well.

«Leave us alone, and we'll do the same. Got it?»

Both the other guys nodded quickly, and finally Kouichi let go of the one he was holding. After giving him a couple of freaked out glances, the two of them quickly ran away, passing by Misaki's side as if they didn't even see her.

As soon as they were out of sight, she approached him, still staring at him furiously.

«Are you completely crazy?» she yelled, her heart still pounding faster because of the scare she had. «Have you any slight idea what could the consequences be, if you pick a fight here at school? And with two upperclassmen, no less! Do you want to be suspended? Or even worse...»

«Hey, chill down a little, Nomura!» he interrupted her, rolling his eyes. « First thing, we weren't fighting, and second they were the ones who started.»

«I figured that much, and I assure you I don't like it either» Misaki answered, massaging the side of her head to avoid an explosion. She was starting to think that ''Sakurai Brothers'' and ''headache'' were synonymous. «Still, you can't just threaten them as you please. You could end up in serious troubles, you know?»

Kouichi shrugged.

«As if it was the first time!»

Misaki glared at him and gritted her teeth.

«You make me want to punch you in the face, when you say that» she hissed, and he answered with one of his werewolf smiles.

«Wanna try?»

She refused.

«...I get the feeling I would be the one getting hurt, if I did. By the way, what were you doing here, before those two came?»

Kouichi shrugged again and pointed toward the rear of the building.

«I wanted to lay low for... ya know, various reasons, so I decided to take a look at the church, but those two idiots popped out of nowhere and stopped me.»

«The church?»

Misaki gave him a questioning look and, when he realized she really didn't understood, it was his turn to be puzzled.

«Hey, you know it well: the church where we used to play when we were little! You've been there not more than a week ago!»

Misaki's jaw dropped and she stared at Kouichi in disbelief.

«Wait a second: you mean the church is in this school ground?»

He nodded.

«Yeah. There are a bunch of threes around so you can't see it if you don't go near it, but it's definitely there.»

«So, when I got lost a week ago... I got lost in my own school ground?»

«So it seems» Kouichi nodded again, choking a laughter.

GA-N!

A sudden silence fell between them. At first, she just stood there, looking blankly at an empty spot , then she turned green and started looking around frantically.

«Hey, what are you looking for?» he asked, even more confused.

«I'm looking for a dark corner. I need a place where to get depressed.»

«Huh?»

«That's just stupid! And embarrassing, too! How could I get lost near my own school? And I came to visit it before, too! I'm an idiot! Idiot! IDIOT! What a poor figure I did!»

Seeing how desperate she looked, Kouichi couldn't hold his laughter anymore.

«Yeah, that's absolutely stupid! I mean, not only it was your own school, but we used to come here quite often when we were little. Don't you remember?»

«HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW? We never came from the gates: we always came from the trees... Ah, then I should have remembered when I came a week ago! How could I forget such a thing? I always make fun of my cousin Nami for forgetting about her own boyfriend, and now I find out I'm worse than her! The forgetfulness must be in our family DNA!» she cried, while Kouichi smirked naughty, as if he was enjoying every second of the scene.

«Oh, well, I'm not surprised. You were forgetful even back then. Ruka was right: you haven't changed at all! Always the usual brat from before.»

Hearing Ruka's name, a dangerous look flashed through Misaki's eyes as she realized something.

«That's why he has been having that amused look for the whole week!» she said, her voice shaking dangerously. «He knew from the very beginning, and didn't tell me anything! He was making fun of me all along!»

«Knowing Ruka, it's very likely» Kouichi agreed without any hesitation.

From green, Misaki's face became blue and the veins of her forehead started pulsing.

«Before the lunch break ends, someone is going to die

Without another word, she turned around and started walking toward the front courtyard like a warrior ready for a massacre.

«Hey, Nomura! Where are you going?» Kouichi called her back, smelling troubles from miles away.

«To kill your brother! Before the day ends, you'll be an only child, Kouichi!» she answered without turning around, shaking her still untouched lunchbox as if it was a sword and soon disappearing behind the corner.

When she reappeared in courtyard, the lunch break was almost over and people were quickly returning inside, heading toward their classrooms. Still, Misaki barely noticed them at all, her mind focused only on finding Ruka and messing up that pretty face of his! Now she kind of understood what Kouichi meant when he said his brother was annoying! You had to be his target once to be able to understand!

«Excuse me... Sorry, I'm in a hurry; I've got to murder someone!» she said to everyone who happened to stand in her way, leaving behind a bunch of confused faces and whispers.

She was already beside the doors, when suddenly she heard someone, undoubtedly a girl, scream and, soon after, another girl yell even louder:

«Someone stop him!»

The voices were coming from upside.

Surprised, Misaki raised her head to see what was going on. At first, the only things she saw were some girls looking from a window at the second floor with pale and scared faces... then, from the window right above her head, she heard a familiar voice calling out to the people down there.

«Careful, down there!»

And then, in a matter of seconds, a blond haired shadow jumped out of the window.

The girls at the window screamed, some other people in the courtyard did the same, and Misaki held her breath and jumped backward, thanking inwardly her quick reflexes when the figure landed in front of her, exactly in the same place she was standing less than a second before. Then, with a gracious movement, the figure straightened up, his face only a few inches away from hers. Two beautiful brown pupils, that looked almost green under the light of the sun, stared at her with the sly curiosity she knew well... too well.

«Hey there, Misaki-chan. What brings you here?»

«R-r-r-ruka? Are you all right?» she stammered, her voice still shaking because of the scare. «I was dreaming, right? You haven't just jumped from the second floor, have you?»

Ruka's big eyes opened wide, making him look like a very cute and naughty kitten.

«No, I'm positive I did it for real. Unless we are both dreaming... and that would be an interesting possibility.»

Misaki, who up to then felt as if someone stole all her blood away, now felt it returning all together, and her pale face became bright red for anger and worry.

«Are you completely crazy? Y-y-you... You could have died right here, in front of me! What if you got hurt? What if...»

He interrupted her with a gesture of the hand, as if to erase everything she was saying.

«It's fine. Because I'm an immortal hero.»

«Immortal... hero?» she slowly repeated his words, and he nodded like a teacher with the student who just gave him the right answer. Then he tried to take a step forward but, right then, his left leg shook a little and he staggered. Instinctively, Misaki held out her hand to grab him, but he regained his balance before she could reach him.

«I think I landed on the wrong foot, though» he considered with a crooked grin. «I should practice more on the landing.»

«Practice? You mean, by jumping again from the second floor?» she asked, stunned, not really sure if she had to get angry or admire that particular ability of his.

He shrugged.

«So what? Once I jumped from the third». Then, when she noticed that Misaki was growing pale again, he quickly added: «Well, there were bushes under the window, that's why.»

«Bushes or not, you did jump from the third floor all the same...» she muttered, her voice still shaking. «Why the heck...?»

He looked up toward the window where the girls were still watching at them in surprise and raised an eyebrow in an expression that was both amused and annoyed.

«You see, looks like I'm suddenly becoming popular. Until a couple of days ago, they ran away as soon as they saw me, and now they would follow me even in the bathroom. It was funny at first, since I got to steal their lunches, but lately it's getting kind of annoying. So...». He opened his arms and gave her a wise and mysterious smile. «I've been forced to use my heroic powers to run away from them.»

«Heroic powers...» Misaki repeated again. She realized she started to look like a parrot, but she couldn't help it. What he was saying was so crazy that she couldn't even find a proper reply.

He nodded.

«Because I'm a hero. I already told you.»

Were heroes made ''heroes'' based on their madness and recklessness? In that case, Ruka was indeed one and his dear elder brother was on the right path to become one!

«Is Kouichi an hero too, then?» she asked sarcastically, but Ruka just answered with one of his sweetest gaze, looking cutely surprised.

«Kou? Of course not! He's just my sidekick! Every hero has one. Do you want to be one, too? There's still one place available.»

«...Does being your sidekick implies jumping from the second floor like you do?» she asked cautiously.

«Probably.»

«And do all the reckless and stupid things you do?»

«Most likely.»

«...Then I think I'll pass.»

Ruka shook his head and shrugged.

«Oh, well. As you please. If you change your mind...»

He never got to finish the sentence, because right then they heard the voices of some girls not far from where they were.

«Hey, isn't that Ruka-kun?»

«Yes, that's definitely him! Let's go greet him!»

Ruka jumped and turned toward Misaki with a tense smile.

«Looks like I'm wanted, so... See ya!»

After quickly waving at her, he dashed away really fast, considering that he was still staggering because of the hurt leg. As she watched his figure getting smaller and smaller, she couldn't hold a sigh. Why of all the unmanageable childhood friends in the world, she got the most unmanageable ones?

Well, that was probably part of their charm. True. Take Ruka, for example: he landed in front of her from the window almost without a scratch exactly like a ninja in disguise, came out with that cute smile of his and that weird story of the ''immortal hero''... and there she forgot about the fact that she wanted to kill him.

''Aaah! Why me?'' she thought to herself, half sighing and half smiling, and turned around to get back in the building... but she was once again interrupted by a roaring voice calling a name that (unfortunately) she knew very well.

«SAKURAI! DON'T RUN! COME BACK HERE!»

Himuro appeared like a ghost on the entrance, walking as fast as he could. Once outside, he took a quick look around from behind his glasses and, when he spotted Misaki near the door, approached her with two quick footsteps.

«Perfect timing, Nomura! Right the person I was looking for!»

«Me, sensei?» she asked, trying not to sound too sour, despite being still kind of angry for what happened during the lesson.

«Yes, you. Have you seen Sakurai around here?»

«...Which one?»

Himuro thought about it for a second, narrowing his already sharp eyes, and then answered:

«Actually, I was looking for the both of them, but right now my target would be Sakurai Ruka. He ran away from me when I saw him trying to ran away from the classroom, a few minutes ago. He is probably trying to avoid the lesson... again.»

«He passed by a minute ago. If you've been following him for some minutes, sensei, you should have see him, too.»

Himuro cleared his throat and his expression became, if possible, even more strict.

«That would be it, if I ran after him. But since it would not be proper for a teacher to violate the rules of his own school and run in the corridors... Anyway, tell where did he run to!»

So he didn't run after Ruka for some minutes; he walked after him! And, considering that Ruka was pretty fast even with his leg injured, Himuro would never get him that way.

Misaki felt like all of her ribs broke while trying not to laugh in his face.

«Over there» she answered, pointing at the opposite direction from the one Ruka ran toward. Nobody could take her away the pleasure of killing Ruka herself; not even Himuro. Especially not Himuro!

He nodded, pleased.

«Good, then I'm...»

He didn't finish the sentence, because another voice caught their attention.

«KOUICHI! WHERE DID YOU DISAPPEAR TO?»

Right then, the small figure of Osako-sensei appeared in the courtyard exactly from where Himuro appeared a minute before, running wildly and shaking a fist like a madman. When he spotted Misaki and Himuro, he approached quickly, breathing hard.

«Nomura! Here you are! Exactly the one I wanted to meet... ah, and you are here too, Himuro-sensei!»

«Osako-sensei, how many times do I have to tell you not to run around this way» Himuro scolded him. «What kind of example will you give to the students, if you behave this way?»

He panted and tried to straighten up, but in vain. He was completely covered in sweat.

«I'm sorry, sensei, but I was running after Sakurai Kouichi and you know that, with that long legs of his, I would never be able to keep the pace if I didn't run. Anyway, he disappeared while I was running after him, and I think he's hiding somewhere around here. Have you by any chance seen him, Nomura?»

«No, I didn't. I'm sorry, sensei» Misaki answered as innocently as she could, while the little devil on her left shoulder smirked naughtily. She didn't agreed with Ruka and Kouichi's habit of making troubles and avoiding lessons here and there, but one thing was sure: she didn't want to miss the scene of Himuro and Osako-sensei running -or walking- around in their desperate search of the two brothers.

The younger -and shorter- teacher sighed in a depressed way.

«Then I can't help it, I guess. I'll have to keep searching.»

«Actually, I was looking for the Sakurai Brothers myself, Osako-sensei. We can split and look for them together» Himuro said, looking just a little bit relieved himself. «I am going toward the gym, you keep looking around the courtyard.»

Osako-sensei smiled brightly, looking even more childish than usual.

«Yes, sensei! I'm with you all the way!»

With a warlike expression on his face, he did as Himuro said, walking as fast as he could and screaming with all the breath he had:

«KOUICHI! IT'S USELESS TO HIDE! I'M GOING TO FIND YOU!»

''If he keeps screaming like that, he'll never find him. Kouichi will hear him from miles away'' she thought.

Himuro gave her a resigned gaze and sighed, as if he had just read her thoughts and perfectly agreed with them.

«Anyway, Nomura, you go back to your class. The lunch break is almost over.»

«I will» Misaki answered, and the teacher finally joined the colleague in his search, in a more silent, but still kind of useless way.

She amused herself watching them for a while, until it was really time for her to go back to class. In the end, she couldn't even have a rest, meaning that she'd have to deal with an even worse headache than before. Maybe, if she managed to take a nap during the lesson... But how could she do it without getting caught?

She was so lost in her plans that, when a girl suddenly appeared in front of her, she didn't manage to stop fast enough and the two of them bumped against each other.

«Wah!»

«Ouch!»

Despite they knocked against each other pretty hard, none of them fell on the ground. For a long second, Misaki's vision blurred and she felt as if a million little planets were dancing in front of her eyes. Then, when she finally got back to her senses, she saw the girl she almost knocked out in front of her, massaging her head. It was a tall, pretty girl with very short dark brown hair she was sure she never saw before.

«I'm sorry! I wasn't looking at where I was going!» she quickly apologized, perfectly knowing it was her fault for walking around without watching were she was going.

«It's fine, don't worry! I'm...» the girl answered, smiling kindly... before she suddenly interrupted, looking at her face in amazement.

Misaki sighed, annoyed. Always that reaction: why did people have to get always so scared around her for no reason other than...

«Oh, wow!» the girl suddenly exclaimed, still staring at her face with unusually bright eyes.

«...eh? What...»

Already surprised by that unusual reply, Misaki became completely stunned when suddenly she grabbed her hand and shook it, smiling from ear to ear like a child at Christmas.

«Don't mind me, I just realized something. By the way, I'm Hanatsubaki Karen of 1-B! Pleasure to meet you!»

«Nice to meet you too. I'm Nomura Misaki of 1-A. By the way, by ''Hanatsubaki'' you mean...?»

There was only another person she knew of with the same surname, and that was a famous stylist named Hanatsubaki Goro. He also had a web page...

«Yes, he's my uncle» the girl answered. «You like fashion?»

Misaki shrugged, not really sure how to answer. She did like fashion in a way, but Goro's style was a little... eccentric, maybe? Last time she checked, he wrote that wearing gloves in summer was ''in''!

«Well, kind of... maybe we can talk about fashion some other time. And now, I should go to...»

She tried to sneak away, but the girl called Karen didn't let her, jumping in front of her and blocking her way.

«Oh, so you're the shy type too!»

Shy type, her? And what with that ''too''?

«Anyway, no need to be shy around me! I'm not trying to hit on you, you know? Not yet, at least!»

And, after saying this, she showed her a mysterious and charming smile, that, for some reason, reminded her of Ruka.

«That's not what I was thinking» Misaki finally answered with a sigh. «I just didn't want to tell you that I find Goro's fashion rather... er... eccentric. I thought you might get offended.»

«Eccentric...»

Karen repeated the word as if it hid some magic meaning behind it, and then her smile reappeared, even wider than before.

«Yes, that's it! I knew you had a nice taste! I mean, just look at how cute you are! It couldn't be otherwise?»

«...Huh?»

She nodded enthusiastically.

«You said exactly what I would expect from someone with a good sense: fashion is eccentric. It must be, or else it wouldn't be anymore! It's all about originality, creativity and charisma: that's the essence of it all!»

Misaki let her talk, staring at her with her eyes opened wide in disbelief.

«Actually, I didn't really mean it that way. I just meant that sometime I don't really understand how he decides what's in and what's out. That's it» she tried to explain, but Karen, not in the least bothered, grinned again and tapped her shoulder confidentially, as if she had been knowing her for a long time.

«Well, it's normal: you are a beginner, after all. That's why I'm here!». She pointed at herself with air of importance, before making a charming thoughtful expression. «So, how about we set your first lesson in fashion for... let's say... after school! We can walk home together for a while, while I fill you in on the basic stuff. What do you say?»

Was she inviting her? Misaki blinked in surprise but then, as she looked at Karen hopeful face and her puppy eyes, she couldn't help but laughing. She looked like a strange girl indeed... but she was also the first nice girl she met in that school, and realizing that not all the people there were stuck up snobs was indeed a relief.

«Fine with me» she accepted, feeling a little more cheerful. «So, uh... where should we meet, Hanatsubaki-san?»

«Yay! I was sure you would say so!» Karen said, looking even more enthusiastic than before. «Then, we'll meet near the lockers, okay? And, by the way, Karen is fine. Formalities aren't my cup of tea, especially with friends.»

Friends? She already decided that they were going to be friend? Well, it didn't sound like a bad idea.

«I see... Karen. I'll meet you there when lessons are over, then.»

She agreed with a nod but, before Misaki could say goodbye, she stopped her again as if she suddenly remembered something really important.

«One more thing: can I call you ''Bambi''?»

Misaki froze and her jaw dropped. She took a while to realize that she was talking seriously and, even when she did, she still couldn't believe it.

Bambi? Her?

«Er... I don't mind, I guess?» she answered, without sounding very convinced herself. «But why?»

«Because it sooo suits you» Karen answered, her eyes twinkling like little stars. «You're so small and cute, with those big brown eyes! And the colour of you hair looks like the fur of a deer, too! Bambi is the perfect nickname for you!»

«Bambi...» she repeated, feeling again exactly like a parrot.

People said a lot of things about her, but no one ever said that she looked like a deer. NEVER.

Taking her perplexed silence as an agreement, Karen smiled from ear to ear.

«It's decided, then! From now on, you'll be Bambi!»

...After all, it was embarrassing. As much as she didn't want to, when she called her new nickname, she couldn't help but look around to see if someone was listening. Thankfully, no one was passing by. Probably everyone was already in their classrooms...

As if to confirm her words, the bell started ringing, announcing that the lunch break was officially over.

«Oops! I think we have to go back in class, don't we?» Karen said, a little disappointed. «Well, see you soon, Bambi! Don't try and go home without me!»

«See you... Karen» she answered, blushing again because of that weird nickname, while Karen waved at her and dashed toward her class, looking as bright and energetic as if something very nice just happened to her.

When she disappeared from her sight, Misaki got on her way too, still spacing out a little.

Was it just her, or she just gained her first girlfriend?

In the afternoon, at the end of the lessons, Misaki went, as agreed, to meet Karen near the lockers. She hadn't arrived yet, so she stood there, waiting for her.

After all, waiting for a girlfriend was nice! Since girls usually didn't like her, she was forced to always hang out with boys. Not that she disliked boys, of course. She liked them more than most girls. Still a girl is a girl, and women always stick together somehow. She knew Karen only a few hours before, but she really hoped they could be friends in the end. She was an interesting girl, and it would be nice to hang out with her.

While she was considering those things, she spaced out a little and, when someone tapped her shoulder, she gasped, startled.

«Waah!»

She quickly turned around, kind of expecting to see a ghost or something... but she found herself in front of a little girl.

...Well, maybe she wasn't such a little girl, since she wore her same uniform, but she surely looked like one: she was shorter than her, with shoulder-length brown hair with the fringe and she had a cute, round face that made her look like a child. Still, her expression was too serious to be the one of a kid. And she was looking at her.

«Er... Yes?» Misaki asked. «You needed something with me?»

The girl said yes with a nod.

«Tell me your name» she said with a thin, almost ethereal and a little absent-minded voice.

«My name?»

Misaki frowned, suspicious. What was with that girl, so suddenly? She appeared out of nowhere, talked to her just like that without knowing who she was and asked her name all of a sudden...

Well, as long as it was only her name...

«Nomura Misaki. But why...?»

She didn't finish, because, as soon as she heard her name, the girl closed her eyes as if she was deep in thoughts. When she finally opened her again, she looked straight at her face and started listing:

«Nomura Misaki, fifteen years old, born on the 13th of September, star sign Virgo, blood type B. Is it correct?»

«EH? HOW DO YOU KNOW?» Misaki gasped, staring at the girl with a mixture of confusion and suspicion.

Her surprised reaction, thought, didn't bother the girl, who seemed to have expected it from the very beginning.

«I knew you would ask that. And, by the way, I'm no stalker.»

Misaki gasped again, because that was exactly what she meant to ask a second before. How else she could explain how she knew her birthday, star sign and even the blood type, if she hadn't met her before not even once.

«Then what? How did you find out?»

The mysterious girl sighed, as if she was preparing for something; then, still looking at her straight as if she was saying the most normal thing in the world, she explained.

«The stars told me.»

«HUH?»

For a moment, Misaki just looked blankly at the girl, who looked absolutely sure of what she was saying, then let out a nervous laugh.

«I got it. You're joking.»

«...You don't believe in what the stars say, do you?» she asked slowly, but she looked already aware of the answer.

Apparently, Misaki didn't disappoint her.

«No, I don't. I don't believe in horoscopes and stuff. It's just something they use to fill the pages of the magazines, or to cheat people who believes it.»

Once again, the girl didn't look surprised. Still, her still expression seemed to soften a little.

«I must give you a point on this one; but not everything is a lie. What the stars tell me isn't a lie.»

Misaki braced herself, feeling interested in spite of her own sense.

«Then prove it» she finally said, deciding to give her a chance. «Tell me something only I know. For example... what's the name of the mother of the cat of my cousin?»

The mysterious girl sighed as if she found that little game extremely stupid, then she closed her eyes for a second and, when she opened them again, she answered without hesitation.

«Her name is Miki and she's called like you elder cousin. Her boyfriend called her that. Also, the name of the kitten you mentioned is Nyaa.»

«Wow!» Misaki whispered in shock, impressed and not really sure if admire that girl's ability or think she was scary.

«Do you believe in the stars now?» the girl asked, and she nodded faintly.

«I'm not really sure yet, but... I guess I'll give them a chance.»

Apparently pleased, the girl finally smiled.

«I thought you would say that... and, yes, the stars sometimes tell me what will be the subjects of tests. But I'm not going to tell you: that would be cheating.»

Misaki gasped for the third time in 10 minutes, surprised that she once again answered her question before she could even ask it.

«But you are cheating too!» she replied after getting over the shock.

The girl didn't answer, simply smiling her mysterious smile, and before Misaki could say further, a cheerful voice interrupted the bizarre conversation.

«Bambi! Sorry for the delay!»

They both turned around in time to see Karen walk toward them at a quick pace. When she arrived close enough to notice the girl beside Misaki, her smile grew even brighter.

«Oh, Miyo-chan is here too!»

In a second, the faint smile on her face disappeared and she glared at Karen as if she meant to kill her with her gaze.

«Karen, I already told you not to say ''chan''!»

Karen didn't seem to notice her killer gaze, though, and not only approached her, but also patted her head like she would do with a child.

«Bambi, she's Ugajin Miyo. Don't mind her if she looks a little rough around the edges sometimes: she's little shy, but a nice kid all in all.»

«Don't call me ''kid''!»

Miyo's cheeks turned pink because of rage and she glared at Karen even harder. She was puffing her cheeks so much that it looked like she was going to explode soon. That way, she really did look somewhat like a kid.

«Karen, maybe you shouldn't make her angry, or the stars could announce your death soon enough...» Misaki warned her, half amused and half scared... which became ''completely scared'' when Miyo's pout turned into a frightening grin.

«I can't control what the star say... but they could still hear my prayers.»

Both Misaki and Karen froze and for a few seconds an awkward silence fell between them, before Karen started laughing nervously.

«I was just joking, Miyo. J-O-K-I-N-G! No harm done, right?»

Miyo's lethal grin flashed once again toward Karen, before she turned once again toward Misaki.

«Anyway, if you'll change your mind about the stars, you can ask me. Got it... Bambi?»

Misaki sighed, blushing slightly and quickly checking around if someone heard her calling her brand new nickname.

«So you'll start calling me that too?»

«Of course she will!» Karen intervened before she could even answer. «I already told you: it suits you! Right, Miyo? Isn't she cute exactly like Bambi? If you knew her before I did, wouldn't you call her that too?»

«I would, because the stars already told me you were going to call her that anyway» she answered calmly.

«...You are saying it as if it was fate...» Misaki muttered with a crooked smile, too shocked to even feel embarrassed.

The other two girls exchanged glances, then answered together:

«IT WAS!»

Why did she have the impression that, whatever she said, they weren't going to stop calling her that? So, since the battle was already lost anyway... At least ''Bambi'' was a somewhat cute nickname, better than whatever people called her up to that moment.

«Okay, then. If it was Fate, it was Fate. Can't change that. So...erm... what are we going to do now?»

At her words, Karen's cheerful face turned into a charming, almost manly smile.

«Isn't it obvious, my beloved Bambi?» she said in the same tone from before, the one that kind of reminded her of Ruka. «Can't you guess it?»

Misaki raised an eyebrow, then turned toward Miyo.

«Miyo, could you ask the stars what's passing through Karen's mind?»

«They already told me. She's going to... Mgh!»

She couldn't finish the sentence, because Karen jumped toward her and closed her mouth with the hand!

«Bambi, that's called cheating!»

«The easiest way is always the best one» Misaki answered ironically, with her usual crooked grin.

Karen snorted and let Miyo go, probably a little disappointed that her act got spoiled, but her pout soon disappeared, replaced by her brightest smile.

«What I was going to say is: now that the introductions are done, our own newborn group, the ''Cutie 3'' is going to go and grab a bite together! And I don't accept ''no'' as an answer!»

The other two didn't answer her enthusiasm, though, and just stared at her blankly. For once, even Miyo looked surprised.

«''Cutie''?» Misaki whispered in shock.

«''3''?» Miyo repeated, almost as shocked as she was.

Karen grinned and grabber their wrists, pulling them toward the exit.

«The name isn't changeable!» she announced cheerfully. «This is the most suitable names for the Karen-Bambi-Miyo trio! Rejoice, my loyal followers! This is just the beginning of our sisterhood! Soon the Cutie 3 will take over the school! And now, let's go, cute ones! We have yet to taste the Tea of Friendship!»

«Fine then» Miyo gave up, and then whispered at Misaki. «Feel free to order whatever you want: the stars just told me that Karen will pay for everything!»

The both of them exchanged glances and laughed naughtily, letting Karen lead them.

Following her new friends, Misaki still wasn't sure if she wouldn't ever meet someone normal in that school: both Miyo and Karen didn't look ''normal'' at all! Maybe it was fate for her not to be able to get along with the so called ''normal people''. But, there she was, together with two girls that, despite being a little eccentric, were some of the few nice enough to talk to her normally! Also, for a second, the images of Kouichi sneaking behind the buildings and Ruka jumping through the window crossed her mind, and she couldn't help but smile. All those people around her were completely weird, eccentric, crazy... but she wouldn't change anyone of them for all the ''normal people'' in the world!

Who knows? Maybe she was a little weird too!

While Misaki was walking out of the school gates together with Karen and Miyo, two silent shadows watched over her from the other side of the street, unseen.

Two boys. One blond and the other black-haired. Two boys wearing the same school uniform, somewhat in contrast with the black motorbike beside them.

«Looks like there was no need to worry, Kou. She's managing.»

Ruka tapped his finger on his brother's shoulder to catch his attention, pointing at the three girls walking out of the gates. The other shrugged, as if he didn't care.

«Don't say it as if it was my idea. You said we had to follow her.»

«You accepted, though» Ruka replied with a little grin.

Kouichi shrugged again.

«Only because you'd annoy me all day long about it, if I said no.»

«Possibly.»

Ruka didn't say any more than that, but gave him one of his quick, sly glances, before turning toward the girls once again. A glance worth more than a million words.

Kouichi sighed as silently as he could and looked toward them himself. Actually, he couldn't say he wasn't worried when Ruka told him what those crazy witches of their friend's class were talking about her in less then nice terms. Especially what they were planning to do to her once the lessons were over. Ruka himself was as pale as a sheet when he told him. That's why they decided to wait for her, just in case.

But she was alright. She wasn't alone, so that's probably why those witches gave up. For the moment, at least. Still...

Well, he would never, never, never admit it, but he would go crazy if something happened to that girl; especially if something happened because of them. And he was sure Ruka thought the same thing, at least judging by his complex and serious expression while he was looking at her from afar.

Ruka never looked serious, not even in the worst situations: there was something about his expression that always made him look as if he was smiling. So, when he was really serious, it looked kind of strange... and somewhat scary.

«Say, Kou...» he suddenly said, frowning slightly as he looked at Misaki's back becoming smaller and smaller at the bottom of the street. «Do you think we did the right thing?»

Kouichi raised his thin eyebrow, puzzled.

«About what?»

«About storming into her life once again, just like that.»

There, he said it! He said exactly what he thought he would say.

«What the heck are you saying? It was your idea!»

«I know, I know. But what happened today is all because she's our friend; and, unlike us, she's far more defenceless.»

That was right indeed. From were their were, they couldn't see her anymore, but Kouichi could perfectly picture her: she wasn't tall, she wasn't strong and she looked like she wasn't able to really defend herself if someone attacked her. Not even if the attackers were girls. And all of this because she was their friend.

«Well, we can't go back now, can we?» he finally answered after thinking about it for a while.

«...Yeah.»

After that half-hearted answer, Ruka fell silent again, that complex expression still on his face. Kouichi wondered what he was thinking: they had been together from as far as he could remember, but at times he really had problems understanding what was passing through his own brother's mind. And what was worse was that Ruka probably did know that, and seemed to like it that way. If people knew better, they'd probably change their mind about was was the scary one between them.

Then, suddenly, the serious expression disappeared, replace by his usual, eternal grin.

«Then I'll have to protect her. After all, defeating the evil guys to save the damsel in distress is a hero's duty!»

Hero, yeah...

Kouichi grinned, amused by the sparkle that had appeared in Ruka's eyes.

«Do as you please, but don't call me in.»

His brother's eyes narrowed and his smile became, if possible, even wider.

«''Don't call me in''? Kou, maybe you forgot a teensy, tiny, little detail: you're my sidekick, so I can call you in whenever I want. Following the hero is the purpose of a sidekick's life!»

Kouichi's grin disappeared in less than a second, replaced by his usual, scary frown that made a lot of people run away, but had no effect whatsoever over Ruka.

«Why do I have to be the sidekick here?»

«Because the strongest one has to be the hero, and the weakest has to be the sidekick. Isn't it obvious? So, since I'm stronger than you...» he explained patiently, only to be interrupted by Kouichi's low growl.

«Hey! Who said that? It's the most stupid thing I've ever...»

«And, since I'm the strongest here...» Ruka interrupted him. «...I'll drive!»

«HEY!»

Before he could say anything, Ruka had already dashed away, jumping on the motorbike like an athlete.

«You idiot! You don't have the...!» Kouichi started, grinning, but his smile disappeared when he heard the roar of the engine and, touching his pocket, realized that the keys weren't there anymore.

...Ah, that idiot, naughty BRAT!

«RUKA! I'LL KILL YOU!»

«First you'll have to walk all the way home, though, if you don't get a move on!» he laughed.

With a growl even louder than the engine of the motorbike, Kouichi ran toward it and managed to jump on it right as it started moving, landing heavily behind Ruka.

He didn't know yet, but he was already dead! He just had to wait 'til they got home. Once there, he'd pay for that. He definitely would!

...Maybe.

TO BE CONTINUED...

The corner of answers: As usual, the answers for unregistered users are here!

Darkness01: Ahahah! I'll keep your advice in mind! Certainly Kou seems to have quite a bit of fans... Well, no wonders. I love him too. The problem is that I love Ruka too! As for the ogre joke, if you think about it, you'll see that he really does have kind of a Shrekish attitude at times! Anyway, I'll keep adding the other guys (or character in general) to the story because some of them have certain roles in some of the events I'm going to write about. Even important roles. After all, I want to make this story as similar as possible as a ''book'' of sort, with interrelated chapters and a real storyline, especially compared to my first one. Anyway, thanks for reading!