Chapter Four: First Time For Everything
Kotori looked up and glanced at the bluenette furtively, dropping her head to her desk when her head tilted towards the front, eyes on the words scrawled on the whiteboard while her hand moved at an effortless pace, writing notes in her own perfect handwriting.
When Sonoda Umi had been introduced as a transfer student that morning, it had caused quite the commotion. Guys were asking her for her number, the girls talked excitedly among themselves, and Kotori found her own heart thumping quickly at the sight of the stoic but gentle-looking beauty, and even she couldn't deny the fact that she was rather charming.
Even when she wore the same school uniform as everyone, it looked sharper, smarter on her slender figure, the blazer at a fitting angle. Her long, dark blue hair cascaded down her shoulders like a graceful waterfall, and when Umi spoke, it was like music to her ears. The ashen-haired girl was head-over-heels for the new student at first sight. The fact that she was distant and aloof made her even more mysterious and desirable.
"Alright, that's all for this morning."
That was the cue for everyone in class to go running towards a startled Umi, who was already half-way out of her seat, and bombarded the hesitant girl with questions.
"Sonoda, do you do sports?"
"Wow, you're really pretty~"
"Let's hang out sometime?"
Only Kotori remained in her chair, watching the helpless Umi being surrounded by her classmates. It was a scene she envied: being able to bask in the spotlight and attention of her friends. As usual, she heaved another soft sigh and tried to ignore the hullabaloo that was going on, but when the image of Nozomi and the laughter of the bullies rang out in her ears returned to her brain, she straightened up in her seat. Did she really have to leave Umi like that?
Slowly, she turned to face the troubled student, both shades of amber meeting each other. Help me, Umi's eyes seemed to plead, trying to wriggle out of the uncomfortable predicament she was in.
Kotori paused, not breaking eye contact with her. They were so deep, as if she was staring into the anxious pits of her soul. Dragging her chair with a screech, she strode stiffly towards Umi's seat and grabbed her by the wrist.
"The Principal needs you to get some documents. I was told to accompany you on the first day to her office," Kotori said, lying through her teeth with a small smile. No one could doubt that; she was the Chairman's daughter after all, and that was a known fact.
Umi blinked, and stood up almost too quickly, Kotori dragging her along as she trotted off clumsily in tow, leaving her classmates in a state of jealousy and confusion.
The ashen-haired girl didn't stop until she was sure they were a distance away from their classroom, and spun around to face Umi with an apologetic smile. "I'm so sorry, you must have been startled..."
"Ah, it's okay," Umi's lips lifted into a sheepish grin. "By the way, how do you do that?"
"Do what?"
She cocked her head to the side curiously, surveying Kotori's face with a strange mix of interest and caution. "You're a pretty good liar. It's almost like you're an actress or something. You can even feign such impressive smiles."
The ashen-haired girl suddenly went limp, the smile sliding off her face instantly, and the hand that gripped onto Umi's wrist loosened. For a year she the mask she had deceived everyone with, was now crumbling away, threatening to expose the weakness and fragility of her true self.
Before she could open her mouth to speak, a blonde girl wearing the third-year's designated green tie tapped Umi on the shoulder, not giving Kotori a look in her direction. "Umi, let's get something to eat. I'm starved."
"Sure," Umi shrugged and turned away with her, but not before curving her smile into a mysterious, yet spine-chilling smirk that sent Kotori stumbling onto her knees, quivering with fear.
"Ahhh Umi, you shouldn't have been so blunt. The poor girl must be shaken by now," Sang Eli. She had never been the most carefree of people, but she did enjoy teasing her friends sometimes just to see their cute reactions, and Umi was her most frequent victim; she was already scowling and the tips of her ears went red, something that happened to her when she was embarrassed or sheepish.
"Oh? How's it going with Tojo, then?"
The blonde vampire smirked. "No worries, I observed her as instructed. She's apparently everyone's favorite target of bullying. It's honestly getting a little out of hand to just watch."
"Still, who would have thought that the two of us would have bumped into her? Were you playing the role of the nice guy in the pharmacy while I was Prince Charming who rescued her in the nick of time?"
They shared a small laugh, relaxing peacefully under the shade of a looming tree in the courtyard. Eli had already bought bread and drinks at vending machines behind the school, while other students around them had lunchboxes and all sorts of food items and drinks. As both of them believed, "When in Rome, do as Romans do", following the philosophy to blend in with their fellow schoolmates.
"Speaking of which, I wonder how Maki is doing?"
The redhead's first day of work turned out decently well. Most of the staff at the hospital turned out to be outgoing, friendly and passionate people, offering her help and advice to the beginner, and even going out of their way to buy her lunch as Maki sat at the receptionist counter during her shift, sipping a warm liquid called coffee which she had taken a liking to. In fact, she was addicted to it. Now if only it was about as delicious and effective as blood...
"Nishikino?"
A familiar, childish voice piped up, the vampire recoiled in surprise at the sight of a twin-tailed girl dressed in a pink cardigan and a white mask over her nose and mouth. She couldn't recognize this person, yet she knew her name. "Pardon?"
"It's me, you dimwit. Yazawa."
Maki choked on a spoonful of rice, taking a closer squint at the short girl, who was once in the form of a protective, raven-furred werewolf. Recovering from her shock, she scanned through the waiting list until she caught sight of a 'Yazawa Nico' on the schedule for an afternoon checkup. Which happened to be on her shift.
"What on earth are you doing here?" Hissed the redhead, making sure the other staff and patients couldn't hear her, but she couldn't conceal the hostility and shock in her voice. "No, scratch that. Why are you here?!"
"Aren't you a bundle of joy, Doctor," Nico rolled her eyes as she continued sarcastically. "Of course I'm here for a normal full-body checkup like a normal human being with a normal, gentle, nurse. Just kidding," She said with a laugh when Maki choked again. "Well, not about the full-body checkup part though. See you in the clinic room."
And as she walked away, the only words Maki could process until the end of her counter shift were 'full-body checkup'.
Nozomi tried to ignore the burning stares of Erena's furious turquoise eyes from behind, confused at the unusually-angered delinquent today. She had been in one of the foulest moods Nozomi had ever seen since the beginning of her school years at school. And that couldn't ever be good for her, seeing as Erena liked to vent her frustration on the twin-tailed girl on a daily basis.
Meanwhile, she couldn't help but notice the blonde girl staring at her blankly at times. And when their eyes met, Eli would tilt her mouth into a crooked smile, returning her gaze to the front or when Nozomi broke eye contact shyly. Why was Ayase Eli looking at her so much? She patted her uniform down self-consciously and concentrated on her new textbook, already scrawled with rude doodles and profanities written by her classmates.
"Hello," Nozomi jumped in her seat lightly, turning to face a smiling Eli, who had dragged her chair over to her table. "I didn't get my new books yet, so is it alright if I share yours with you?"
Her face burned with embarrassment and discomfort, breathing heavily under the scrunity of everyone. They were clearly shocked that the tall, handsome, transfer student wanted to share textbooks with the bullied victim of their school.
"I take that as a yes?" The girl chuckled softly, pulling closer to Nozomi's beet-red face.
When she had, at least stopped the redness from flooding her face, the third-year suddenly realized how pale Eli's complexion was. It looked as if she had showered with foundation. Nozomi would have thought someone as fit-looking and somewhat healthy as her would have had tanner skin.
"Hey, he's erasing the notes," Whispered Eli, tapping Nozomi on the shoulder. "Don't worry, I helped you copy them down."
"Oh... Thank you..."
She looked down at her textbook, and on the corner of the page were the formulas written in her flawless handwriting. However, she could see a frown creased on Eli's forehead as she stared at the doodles on her textbook.
"Did you write this?" She said with an arched eyebrow.
Nozomi shook her head vigorously, and yelped softly just as she did so. A sharp point had jabbed straight into her back, and her fearful eyes turned to meet Erena's flashing eyes, blazing violently. In her shaking hands, she held a penknife, the pointy end outstretched towards Nozomi.
Her face was twisted into a mask of fury and ugliness, "You think you're hot stuff aren't you, Tojo?"
"Shut up, you imbecile," Was all Eli said briskly, putting a protective hand over her back. "And keep that thing before you're charged with murder, accidental or not."
"Imbe-what?" Erena scrunched up her face in confusion, searching up with word with the aid of modern technology before making a swing at the blonde, who avoided it easily. Her chair clattered to the floor loudly, and the teacher stopped writing immediately, cowering away. Such incidents that happened in the most violent third-year class were best avoided.
The smile on Eli's face grew wider, still casually leaning into her chair. "Ooh, the imbecile has gotten angry, I'm so scared. Were you smart enough to look it up, idiot?"
Everyone gasped softly; others edged away. No one messed with Erena Toudou, known as the notorious tyrant, and yet here she was, already attempting to shame her on the first day of school. Ayase Eli sure was an idiot in their minds.
"I will kill you, new kid," Hissed the oppressor, flinging the penknife away and positioning herself in a boxing stance. "Are you ready for your pretty little face to be smashed in?"
Eli merely stood up, but that one action caused Erena to flinch at her height. It was sort of an intimidating tactic; standing up made you look powerful, taller, and not saying anything meant you were unpredictable with your movements. Pulling her leg behind, knees bent slightly, Eli flashed a rather strange expression that blanked Erena's mind instantly. In fact, it made her dissolve into a bag of nerves.
She wasn't ready. She had been distracted.
And when Eli landed the first blow on her, it was all over for the maroon-haired delinquent.
A/N: I has come back alive~ Thank you for reading, I apologize for the incoming late updates as I, as many others, do not have the luxury of time to sit at my desk and listen to weird music on repeat while writing :) But thanks for your support, see you next chapter!