You Belong With Me

Ponchimaya: Thank you so much y'all for forgiving me!

Kousuke: Their patience for you is amazing. 4 freaking years…

Ponchimaya: Shut up. Shut up shut up shut up.

I'm in school, helping get ready for the festival. There are so many things to do, but the atmosphere is great and it's a non academic day. There's laughter everywhere and a big basket of sweets on the teacher's table for just anyone to get.

"Bump, bump, bump…making sure I don't hurt my thumb…"

Rio rolls her eyes.

"Oh my God, Kousuke. Not the working song. Uh-uh. No. Not this year."

Kousuke isn't listening.

"A hammer then a nail...telling myself a nice tale…"

I laugh. The three of us are building a huge sign bigger than me. It's for the Maid Café, I think. Or the Sports Shows. But I highly doubt the Sports committee want their sign pink.

"I don't hit my eye, cause I'm not a character from Popeye…"

Rio has decided to give up and leave him alone.

"Oh, oh yeah….gonna build this thing high-'

"Asazuki, when you're done just literally showing the world what a bona fide freak you are, can you keep it down please? I'm trying to review my entrances on the Grand night." Comes an icy voice.

Three of us look up and see the beautiful and spiteful Komari and her herd of followers. She glares at us as if we're a group of hideous life forms.

Rio won't be brought down though.

"Oh yeah? Why? Your own voice so terrible you can't stand even Kousuke's?"

"Takeuchi, there you are. I'm sorry, the whore house is on the other side of town."

"L-O-L, ice diva. So you know the directions to your own birthplace, then why aren't you there? Mommy's waiting."

Rio obviously wins this round. You can see it all over Komari's face. Finally, Komari glares at me.

About time.

"I'm watching you, Yuizaki. You're not as sweet and innocent and pathetic as everyone in this entire school thinks you are. Just remember: I. Am. Queen."

And with that, the Queen left.

"I hate her." Says Rio. "I hate her I hate her I hate her."

"Yeah?" grumbles Kousuke. "You and the angels of light seaching for her so they could send her down where she belongs."

And just like that, the mood is gone. The Ice Queen has ruined it.

I've decided. I'm going to sing. Sing my heart out and do my best. I will MAKE them respect me and what I can do.

I will make Ayumu know how much I love him.

Oh dear. All this dreaming for a detective show has boosted up my confidence somehow.

Anyway, Komari will pay for hurting my friends. Wait, I don't want to wish her horrible things…

I stand.

"I'm going to get more paint." I say. I walk out of the classroom and to storage. Storage is huge, and there are usually lots of people, getting the stuff they need, but I'm the only one right now.

There! I spot it! Wow, so much paint cans. I bet they're gonna be real heavy..

I try to grab one, but I'm not that tall, and it's all piled up high…I reach for the handle and pull down, but it triggers the one below it to fall too..oh no…it' all gonna fall on me..

I scream, but before they can collapse on me, Someone pulls me away.

And someone else takes the brunt of the collapse.

I run. Oh God, Narumi san…

I kneel in front of him. He's not hurt, thank God….

"Na-narumi san! I'm so sorry…so so sorry…" I'm fussing over the places he could have been hit. If I look at his face, I may never stop looking.

"Yuizaki san, I'm fine. I'm not-"

"No!" I say. "This is my fault.."

"Hiyono."

I stop.

"Look at me."

Slowly, I look. He's got that gentle smile on his face. He rests his hand on my head.

"I'm okay. I play soccer. I'm not even hurt. I'm really good at evading stuff. The paint cans didn't even hurt me at all."

I flush. "I am so sorry. So so sorry…"

Ayumu laughs. "If you're sorry, then the purpose of me jumping in front of you will be on. Smile."

I do. He always knew how to make me feel better.

"Thank you, Narumi san."

"Ayumu."

Ayumu and I look up. Keito. Oh God, HE must have pulled me away just in time.

I flush again. "Tha-thank you.."

Keito holds up a can of paint.

Ayumu speaks for him.

"Oh, sorry Hiyono. I'm keeping you from your activities." I realize we're still on the floor and his hand is still resting on the top of my head. Slowly he slides his hand down the side of my head, twirls a lock of my hair with his index finger very briefly, untwirls it again, then hesitates on my cheek before pulling away completely.

Oh God, this is a dream come true.

I bet you can fry eggs on my face. It's burning.

Ayumu tries to stand but winces a bit. I'm about to react when he smiles brightly automatically and stands, his full height. He holds out a hand and pulls me up.

Keito hands me the paint bucket. I take it, feeling lightheaded. I suddenly droop from its weight. It's heavy.

"B-bye…and thanks.." I bolt out of there, even faster than I would in gym class.

The day goes on and I can't stop thinking about the incident. Even when Rio and Kousuke have already returned to their cheerful air, I'm still lightheaded and reeling.

When everyone has left, I went to my sunflower.

"What do I do, sunflower san? I just keep embarrassing myself back and forth! Why? Why why whywhywhy?"

I foolishly waited for a response. I sighed and gave it some water. Then I turned for home.

I was running, wanting to get as far away from school as possible, and upon reaching the side of the school, unknowingly, I bumped into something leaning against the wall. I heard two voices, one surprised and one outraged, but both sending shivers to my spine.

"Yuizaki san!"

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

I look up and see Ayumu, surprised that I was there, and none other than his girlfriend, Komari, angry and shooting daggers into my skull.

"I..I'm so sorry!" I stutter. I'm just in such a rush I didn't see, I didn't think.."

"That's right, you didn't think!" Exclaimed Komari. I was terrified.

"That's enough, Komari." Said Ayumu sternly. "Don't talk to her like that." Then to me he smiled gently. "It's okay, Yuizaki 's okay. You can go."

"Uh..s-I'm so sorry!" And I just bolt.

Oh my God. I have just humiliated myself out of the next century. I'll never be able to live this down. Oh God, oh no…

I reach the park of my neighborhood. I sit on the swing and try to breathe.

Impossible. When I left the two, I think I also left my lungs.

Jeez, Yuizaki…back and forth..you humiliate yourself…God, twice in one day…It's not like you're trying to set a record or something..

I suddenly felt something lick my foot. It's the kitten I saved yesterday. It's looking up at me. I suddenly very warm for it. I smile.

"Hello there…would you like to join me?"

The kitten meows and jumps to my lap. I'm looking over the railway of the park, where you can see the city below and the sunset. It's an amazing view. I feel the soft breeze in my messy hair. I'm also petting the kitten. I've grown rather fond of it…

"Do you want me to keep you?" I coo, rubbing its tummy. It purrs fondly.

"Alright," I say. "I'll call you Spiral."

Fine, I'll admit. That's the name I want for the detective show. Don't ask. It just came to me, like probably that show is watched in some other weird dimension.

I put Spiral down and he follows me home. I've always wanted a pet to follow me around.