Happy New Year! I'm really sorry, but lot of stuff was going on. This chapter has a little more of Kish and Masaya's backstory, because I suddenly wondered how they became friends. But don't worry it there are other...events, too.
Love me, girl: Chapter 7
"Of friendship and love"
It was stuffyin the classroom. Kisshu glanced at the clock. Fifteen minutes left. The boy grinned to himself. He still had enough time to double check his answers, but who would do that? Definitely not him. So he stood up and lazily made his way to the teacher's desk. There were four of them sitting there. The young woman looked up from her book and smiled at him. "All done, Kisshu-kun? That was quick! Then again you did so well on the first exam!"
Kisshu raised an eyebrow at her. Their homeroom teacher, Ikumi-san, was always a little too cheerful.
"I told you, that kid's got brains, but his attitude..." - murmured their chemistry teacher, not even bothering to look up from his smartphone. "Yoshida-san" - the young woman whispered harshly. Kisshu grinned slightly. The middle-aged man was weird, looked scary (but had a wife with the look of a supermodel!), but he was funny, and didn't bother his students too much.
"Can I go now?" - Kisshu asked.
"Wait a moment, Kisshu-kun. We have to make up a date for the History exam. That will be the last one?" "Tomorrow or Wednesday, if it's fine with you".
"Are you sure?" - asked the third teacher, and fixed his glasses. Kisshu nodded. 'No way will this drag into next week. Kendo is on Friday, and then I can (hopefully) go on a date (ha-ha) with Ichigo(sigh...)'.
Pai was waiting outside. "How did it go?" Kisshu gave him a thumbs up and grinned. As they walked along the corridor, Pai asked: "So, do you have something to do today, or can we head home? I believe Taruto has prepared something to celebrate". Kisshu frowned, "But I don't know if I passed". "I'm sure you did fine, - Pai raised an eyebrow, - that is, if you didn't cheat on the original test".
Kisshu glared at him, but gulped down his anger outburst, when he saw the senior smirk. "Whatever. I hope dinner is edible". He stopped suddenly.
"What's the matter?"
Kisshu rubbed the back of his neck. "Crap. I forgot to give Masaya the present, for tutoring me," - he explained.
Pai blinked, surprised at his brother's action. Kisshu was never found for traditions, at some point he wasn't used to getting and giving presents, which led to some awkward situations. "He has a good influence on you," - noted the purple-haired man and grinned, adding: "Maybe you'll become like him someday". His brother snored, "Yeah, right. No way will I become some book nerd". "If you don't like him, why are you friends with him?"
Pai started walking, and Kisshu followed him slowly. "It's not like that. He's my best friend, even if he is obsessed with saving the planet. It's just..." He sighed deeply.
Pai waited for him to continue, feeling intrigued.
Kisshu smiled, not looking up. "We are not that different, you know. He's an orphan too, but he was adopted when he was like 5 or something. That's worse than me".
Pai's expression morphed into genuine surprise. "But...I always thought it was the most difficult for you. To be adopted at your age and into a strange family like ours. Having only two brothers". He stopped himself, feeling stupid after spilling his biggest worries. Kisshu stared him, and then sighed. "Yeah, sure I was about eleven when you took me in, but it's better in a way. I mean, we are closer than most siblings, in "normal" families, but..."
Pai smiled slightly, "I know what you mean. We know that it's just us in the world, with no one to help . We have more responsibility, but we are also reliable, we help each other. We are equals".
Kisshu pouted, "No way. You treat me like a kid".
"You are a child. And so is Taruto".
The green-haired boy sighed. "I guess it's better that way. Masaya doesn't feel close to his family. And they don't do much to change that. Hell, they don't even know what he's thinking. It sucks, really".
He thought of the times Masaya would say something strange, and become distant, with a dark look in his eyes. Kisshu hated that. But he also knew what was causing this. His buddy was tired of the good-boy image he had, mostly because he couldn't express himself like he wanted to. He always had to meet people's expectations. Kisshu always told him to be true to himself, but it was hard for the boy to drop his mask.
The worst of all this was, that a lot of people took advantage of him. Usually his fellow students, asking him to switch cleaning duties with them, or to copy his notes. Of course, being the kind person, Masaya helped them, much to his friend's irritation. But when some became too persistent, it was Kisshu's "duty" to threaten them not to mess with his friend (in severe cases, beat them up, so that they have a good reminder). They practiced this method since their first encounter.
Masaya pulled out his books and placed them neatly on the desk, next to the notebook. He thought about revising today's lesson, when three of his classmates approached him. "Hey, Aoyama" - one of them greeted him and smiled. Masaya smiled back, "Good morning, Yamada-kun". He wasn't friends with them, but had learned a long time ago that being friendly was the most important point in his survival strategy.
Yamada sat in front of him, still wearing his fake smile. "Did you do your English homework?"
Masaya blinked, "Um...yeah". "Could you show it to us?"
The black-haired boy took out another notebook and handed it to Yamada, who eagerly took it and began flipping through it. Another leaned over his shoulder to get a better look, "Man, you're really smart. I couldn't figure that one out". "Thanks a lot," - Yamada looked up. "I have a favour to ask. If you understand English so well, could you help me writing the essay for Wednesday?"
Masaya frowned. "I'd help you, but I have a lot to do". Yamada leaned closer to him, "It won't take too long, it's just an essay". Aoyama averted his gaze. One of the boys clapped his back. "Come, on, help us out, man!"
The boy was about to give in, when suddenly the guy standing next to him was pushed away. He stumbled and landed on the floor. Yamada and the other jumped to their feet. Masaya turned and saw a boy with green hair and yellow eyes. He was around his age, and Aoyama recognised the new student, Takumi Kisshu. He looked from Masaya to the other two with a bored expression. "Are you too dumb to do your own stuff?"
Yamada smirked," You got a problem?"
Kisshu glared at him, "Get lost". The boys laughed. "Do you know who you're talking to?"
Kisshu turned to them with a smile. "No, sir. But you know who I am, don't you?" He took a step closer, his grin widening and looking creepier. "So better run, before I tear out your guts".
Yamada didn't flinch, although his buddy backed away. They stared at each other for a moment, then Yamada chuckled and walked off, followed by his two friends.
"Thank you", - murmured Masaya not looking up. Kisshu huffed. "Those bastards wouldn't mess with you, if you had more backbone. Or do you get off on that?" Masaya flinched. Meanwhile, Kisshu sat across from him, and rested his head on the palm. "Seriously, what's wrong with you? They're just using you, you know that?" Masaya briefly glanced at him, then looked out the window.
"Wait. You know, but still let them do that? Trying to keep up the "good boy" image?"
Masaya's head snapped towards him. The green-haired boy was smirking at him.
"It's not like that. I'm just occasionally helping them out. What's wrong with that?"
The other boy sighed. "Nothing wrong with that. But the more you help, the more they use you, because you feel obligated and can't say no ". The dark haired teen kept silence.
"You're just too nice. That's why those jerks mess with you. And that's why you get beaten up".
Masaya's eyes widened. No one was supposed to know about the bullying by several upper-classmen. But then again, this new student was seen fighting someone last month. It wouldn't be much of a surprise if he was involved with these guys too.
"Besides, you have too many fangirls". Aoyama looked up, confused.
"Yeah, all the girls go crazy when they see you. It's a frightening sight." Kisshu grinned at him. "Can't blame some guys, when even their girls shriek like mad over someone like you".
"What do you mean by that?" Masaya sighed deeply. "They are irritated, but it's not like I keep their hopes up. I'm not interested in them."
Kisshu leaned back in his chair and stared at him. Slowly his grin disappeared. "Oh, - he said, - well maybe you should tell them you don't like girls and then they'll leave you alone". He scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Or they'll have another reason to beat the shit out of you". "Huh?"
"Hey, man, you shouldn't be embarrassed. I mean, I know your country is all traditional and strict, but-" He saw Masaya's confused expression, and raised an eyebrow sceptically. "Wait. Why are you looking at me like that? If you got any foul ideas, then, hell no. I'm-" His ranting was interrupted by Masaya's laughter, which he desperately tried to hide by biting into his hand. His whole body was shaking. At Kisshu's angry growl, he tried to calm down but couldn't quite wipe his large smile away. The green-haired teen, who had by now probably realised his false assumption, glared at him.
"You're funny, Takumi-kun." Kisshu immediately grinned and extended his hand. "Cut the formalities". Masaya looked puzzled for a moment, but then grabbed his hand, his smile as broad as Kisshu's.
For some reason, the upper-classmen stopped bothering the kendo-prodigy.
Pai sighed, "You should really think before you talk. It's hardly imaginably that you became friends after this encounter ".
Kisshu shrugged. "We became really close, when he told me about his adoptive parents".
"He still regards them as strangers?"
"It's...difficult to adjust". Pai nodded, not wanting to pry.
"He was surprised when he heard about our patchwork family. But then suddenly started talking about himself". Before Pai could lash out because of the label Kisshu gave their family, the green-haired boy shouted something about picking up his things and ran off.
He sprinted down the corridor, suddenly feeling would have jumped if this action would be enough to ruin his "cool" image. He rounded the corner and heard a squeak. He took a drastic turn so not to crash the person, but stumbled and fell face first. ' .all. to. Hell!'
Before he could, however, light and burn down the whole school in his rage, he heard an oh-so-familiar voice. He glanced to his side and saw the strawberry-haired girl stand there. "You are not hurt, are you?" - she asked. Kisshu jumped to his feet and cast her his best wana-be charming smile. "Nope. I'm totally absolutely fine. Sorry, didn't want to scare you".
Ichigo smiled shyly. "Oh, no. I-"
"Well, then, I'must go".
The girl froze, unprepared for this change of attitude. Kisshu was about to run off, when he heard her sweet voice: "Good luck for the competition. I-I'll come cheer for you". Trying to contain his hysteric laughter he only grinned - "Sure. Thanks"- and took off. Ichigo was left alone, utterly confused.
Running through the school once more, the green-head whooped in delight. He had thought of trying out a new strategy, and wondered if this one would work. 'But we did bump into each other for...the second time? Yup, this is fate. Who cares, soon she'll be mine!'
Self-control was entirely forgotten, as he erupted in malicious laughter.
