Chapter 3-New enemies are so strange!
A week had passed since the Deguchi siblings had enrolled in the prestigious Kinomoto Academy-ranging from preschool to university -and their popular had only increased. Shiro-despite her shy nature-enjoyed frequenting the nearby cafe and accepted an invitation to the Poetry Club. Though Sora was initially seen as a closet pervert-girls still shyly asked for dates and swooned over his mysterious persona and shirtless physique in the Swimming and Track teams. Of course-it could be debated if people genuinely liked them for they were one of the most powerful families in Japan and overseas.
There was one first-year in the same class as Shiro who didn't like them or their presence in Kinomoto. Midori Yoshida sat in the back row of third period cooking class sending silent death threats to Shiro who was laughing with Ayako and Shuli-in the middle row-putting the finishing touches on their adorable bunny-shaped cake that overshadowed Midori and Akane's own red polka-dot cake topped with candied cherries. Midori had a bone-or ten-to pick with the younger Deguchi sibling. Before her arrival-she-Midori Airi Yoshida-had been the most popular student in the Middle School Section and top in both classwork and test marks. Yet this tiny slip of an eight-year-old with an overbearing IQ managed to deduct her pride and respect from others-even in her own circle. Her name when exam results were posted in the corridor was always just under Deguchi-san's! (her inferiority complex and trivial hatred mirrors Mello's from "Death Note.'Onward with the story! (^_*))
Midori reflects on yesterday when their Biology exams were handed back…
(flashback….20 hours and 3.26 minutes ago…)
The halls were swarming with students as they fought their way towards the exams' results-praying their names were near the top. Sighs of relief and contrasting reactions could be heard.
Midori waited for the thick crowd to thin out and clopped over briskly in her in-style slip-on boots in the shade of coffee cream. Her calculating eyes sweep up the top five ranks and pause-almost popping out of their place on her face (hee-it rhymes!) When she finally spots her rank. Second. A. 100. She slowly darts up to the first rank. Shiro Deguchi. 103.
Akane and Noriko-her two lackeys try shaking her out of her trance as she turns fifteen shades of purple-anger-fury-and a touch of-jealousy? Midori storms in the direction of the teachers' lounge where she knew Sensei Hoshiko enjoyed afternoon tea every day while grading papers.
Hoshiko Utau sat alone on one of the plush leather sofas that occupied the left corner of the room. Cheerful gardenias and ferns grew in clay baked pots from the Advanced Art class, their colors standing out against the dark apple green wallpaper. The dark wooden floor made walking without a sound impossible. There were several tables on the other side of the room set up with fresh pots of seasonal coffee or hot chocolate or tea. White wicker baskets of just-baked raspberry muffins- French pastries-cream-filled doughnuts. The trash can standing nearby is almost three-fourths full with paper cups-used napkins-coffee stirrers-all of which indicated that the majority of the staff had stopped by at least once during the day.
Midori's biology teacher-Hoshiko Utau-san was looking over lesson plans for the next day while drinking chai tea0her engagement ring made of a gold circlet inlaid with a heart-shaped emerald twinkles- when the door is thrown open and two of her students barge in. She glances at the trio briefly before returning to fix a sentence. Despite Midori-Akane-and Noriko all being from successful and respectable backgrounds and their own hard work-she had never personally been fond of them. Utatu was the eldest shrine maiden daughter at the Fujikawa Temple in the town close to the Torn Cover Library and ran a series of notable charm shops which is why she could see the unpleasant auras from the three of them-Midori in particular. And from their behaviours demonstrated-Noriko and Akane were no better than loyal pawns to hang on their queen bee's every word. She knew that they were here to complain about her new pupil-Deguchi Shiro-san.
"Deguchi-san earned those extra points through her own hard work-" she cuts off Midori's incoming verbal attack. "She was able to provide accurate models color-coded and explained what would happen if a cell membrane was lacking in either two types of cells." Utau hardens her gaze upon the troublemakers. "I suggest that if you lot have so much time harassing others to take this small blow to your overinflated egos to study more and act less of divas. You study and cram for the best even if you're not interested in academics. You buy the latest miniskirts even if the color is not flattering. You accept love confessions with no honesty internally or externally."
She leans closer-taking great satisfaction in the fear reflecting off her teacup. "People like you are known as monsters."
(end flashback-FADE TO REALITY)
Midori scarcely heard the bell ring its usual short classical music like Gertrude's Waltz that she pulled her trendy vintage bag over one shoulder and began her speed-walk toward the nearby ladies' room around the corner with Akane close on her heels. She fumble through the front compartment for her cosmetics bag shaped like a puckered cloud. She is poked by her house key and compass and is cooled by a hotel-sized bottle of scented cedar and blood orange hand and face lotion before finally grasping hold of the bag. Akane does the same-with her panda face bag.
Midori frowns at her reflection in the well-lit rectangular-shaped mirror surrounded by a border of fifty or so fluorescent light bulbs. Exposing the first compartment of her thick clutch purse-she pulls out a few cotton swabs and makeup removal. A princess always had to look impeccable no matter what the activity was-according to her stepmother. She carefully removes her mascara and lipstick-chewed off and resembling a smudge- and reapplies them before touching up on the heavy foundation on her neck covering a few love bites from her boyfriend's cousin. Couldn't go on a dinner date with those. But back to the current issue-Midori whipped out her new phone-a sleek silver with a gem sticker pattern forming a fierce snow leopard and brings it to her right ear after pressing speed dial on someone she knew very well. The small collection of phone charms jingle as she speaks. "Miss President of the Newspaper Club-I have the latest gossip for you to publish…"
Author's Note: It is rather cruel to stop at this cliffhanger-but that defines me as a person. No, there will be no ***e as one of my readers was concerned about-or violence save for reputation tarnishing-shoving-etc. You may be able to draw a few conclusions from the last sentence tho, so feel free to send me some rumors to make up about either Deguchi sibling. The next chapter should focus on Sora and the Newspaper Club. Hint:This club is much like the one established in Ouran HSHC and like most gossip magazines with 99% false info. I wonder if sometimes the only accurates are the names of the celebrities...