Hello, everyone! Chapter 7 is up! Hope you enjoy and review!

~Monkey-chan


"Rima, are you okay?" Nagihiko inquired.

We were back at school after the skating trip. Nagihiko and I walked back to Ms. Ran's classroom, my eyes on the ground. In my head, I recalled the events that just happened previously and felt a wave a sadness overwhelm me. I should have known that Amu was mad at me about Nagihiko, I thought. Lately, I did feel a sense of unease between us. However, I decided to ignore it because I didn't want the happiness I had to be shattered. Looking at the purple haired boy at my side, I saw him staring at me with such concerned eyes. I gave him a faint smile.

"It's nothing, Nagihiko," I answered with a fake smile.

He stopped walking and gave me a glare which told me he didn't fall for that. Of course, I should have known. He's my best friend after all. Preparing myself for the worst, I waited for him to ask the question that I dreaded the most at that time.

Nagihiko shrugged. "Well, if you don't want to tell me, I'll leave you alone." I blinked in surprise. That was it?

The two of us reached Ms. Ran's classroom. Normally, I would be happy to enter that classroom. I feel completely comfortable when I'm in that room. Ms. Ran, my language and reading teacher, was my favorite teacher. Not only did she bring Nagihiko and I together, but her class is always fun. I laughed at her funny stories, participated energetically in her many games, and read books, which was my favorite past time. Nagihiko and I always called her period the "sanity class". It was the last class we had to take. But at that time, I didn't even want to be outside her room. I took a deep breath and opened the door.

My classmates were already in their seats, waiting for the lunch bell to ring. I walked to my seat and saw the person that I was scared to see. Amu, clearly on edge, looked about to explode. Her glaring honey eyes stabbed daggers in my heart. I sat down nervously in my seat, and I still felt her glares behind my back. What did I do to deserve this, I thought.

It continued like that for the rest of the day. Nagihiko left me alone for myself, and I am relieved of that. Clearly, I didn't want him to face Amu's wrath. Still, I couldn't concentrate on anything. I messed up on my experiment in science class, leaving me with a stained shirt that looked like I had blood all over it. I heard giggles as I walked around with it because I couldn't change into a new one. I felt my heart sink down further, and my throat hurting in pain. Oh please don't let it fall before I get home, I silently wished.

But my wish never came true. As I walked to Ms. Ran's class, I saw a crowd blocking the way. Irritated, I sighed deeply and stomped my foot. I heard energetic chants of "Fight!" echoing around me as I walked closer to the scene. I told myself that I should better get out before any teachers notice. I didn't want to get involved. Only when I heard the familiar voices did I checked out the scene and was horrified at the sight.

The two boys circled each other, poised to throw the next punch. The concrete was stained with drops of blood and sweat. I don't how long they've been fighting, but I knew I had to do something. But it was too late to do anything.

"What's so good about you, huh!" the red haired boy yelled. He had bruise starting to form on his cheek and threw a punch.

"I don't what you're talking about, Kirishima!" Nagihiko retorted. He had a bruise already, its color matching the color of his hair. His nose was bleeding, and he had an angry yet confused look on his face. Nagihiko moved to block his punch, but he was not fast enough. I saw him fall to the ground with horrified eyes.

"NAGIHIKO!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. I pushed through the crowd and kneeled at beside him at the concrete. Nagihiko was unconscious, his eyes closed.

"Nagihiko, please! No! Oh my gosh, this is my fault! All my fault!" I cried out. Weeping my heart out, I finally broke down. I put my head on his chest, dropping tears on his blood stained shirt. "Why did this have to happen to me?" I yelled out. "Why me!"

As I was crying, his eyes opened. He faintly turned his head at my direction.

"Ri...Rima? Are you crying?" he whispered. I stopped crying, my eyes turning to Nagihiko instantly.

"Nagihiko!" I exclaimed.

Slowly, he moved his hand to my hair and patted it softly. "Don't cry, Rima. Don't cry."

"Nagihiko!" I sobbed. I couldn't help my tears even if Nagihiko told me not to.

A few minutes later, a tall figure with magenta hair approached us. When she looked at me and Nagihiko, she was shocked. It was Ms. Ran!

"Rima, go to the nurse and inform her what happened," she ordered in a quiet voice. I have never seen her like that.

I followed her orders and went to the nurse, Mrs. Delman. She called up the ambulance and they hauled him away. Ms. Ran ordered everyone to go back to homeroom, for the last class was canceled. I felt the tension building up as my classmates exchanged nervous glances at each other. Thankfully, I was not interrogated yet with what happened, for I was too upset face it. I sat on my chair, my head on the desk. When I got up to go home, I saw a pool of water on it. I quickly wiped it down, wishing this day was over. However, I know now that it was not over yet. Already, dark clouds are beginning to form, and I know that the tears I shed on that day were not the last ones.

That was the start of the storm.