Disclaimer – I do not own Amagami SS

*Chapter 07 – Hot Pink Letter*

Running late to school after an exhaustive event with the members of the swimming club, Junichi was catching his breath and was berated by Miya, his petite flat-chested sister, for his lack of stamina and advised him to seriously look into joining a sport activity.

He pondered about it but realized the benefits of being a steady manager for the swimming club. He promised to make the best out of it.

Junichi crouched on his exhausted knee and breathed heavily under the red scarf which caught Miya's attention. "Nii-nii, is that from a girl? Is it your girlfriend?"

He rubbed its soft texture on his chin and lips. Oh, he wished what Miya said was the truth but sadly it wasn't and he realized it was probably the his curse fault that Maya Takahashi gave him such a lucrative gift but still he couldn't helped be excited thinking about it.

Sure, romance between student and teacher was a no-no in the society but if both parties were happy then the society shouldn't bother them about it. It's not like he was asking for their permission for his every action anyway.

"What? Junichi-kun, is that true?" Junichi rose to bump head at Rihoko Sakurai's chin. She fell flat on her skirt while Junichi curled back complaining about his swollen forehead and a nice view of Rihoko's white bear panty.

Miya simply laughed at Rihoko's clumsiness which didn't change at all. A familiar face caught her attention and that was the end of her laughing fit. "Whoa! That's Sae-chan, Nii-nii I'm going ahead. Riho-chii come by the house sometimes and bring some melons ~nishishishi."

She rushed away leaving her brother marvel at playful laugh of Rihoko, his childhood friend, somehow those lips of her reminded him of the time they used to play together. They were in the same year but didn't end up in the same class. "It would've been fun."

"What fun, Junichi-kun?" she gazed at him puzzled.

Junichi stood up first, offered his hand, and watched the natural amber glisten in Rihoko's eyes and her unrivalled melon bounce under the uniform. Her caramel-coated hair was shorter than before. He would have preferred it longer but decided to brush off the thought as it won't be fair to Rihoko who treated him as a dear friend for so long.

But that was where he was so wrong, if only he has the ability to decipher the passion Rihoko had in her eyes, not like anyone would need that while looking at the glances she threw at him but Junichi's case was of course an exception. These was one of the few annoying but enjoyable scenes Kanae Ito had hoped to see in her way to school.

She sneaked behind her best friend, Rihoko, and tickled her side. She played the day being merciful and allowed her a breathing room after her surrender.

Kanae raised a hand at Junichi, acknowledging his inconsiderate existence and offered a hand. "What are you guys doing? You can't be lovey-dovey on the street. Come on, let's go or we'll be la-"

It was true that she doesn't normally interact with Junichi but she only wanted to tease Rihoko a bit, only she appeared to be the one on the receiving end as her amiable gesture was ignored by Junichi who stood on his own. Kanae was furious, oblivious of the fact that Junichi chose to not touch her due to the curse he may inflict him with, but that was a story he decided not to tell.

Still it wasn't overkill to be cautious. He silently pondered about it, the list of girls he had physical encounter with since coming to school. Maya Takahashi was his first and then Hibiki Tsukahara came to mind. He held a fists thinking about both ladies and decided not to be caught off guard again.

He looked back on the empty street hoping to apologize to Kanae, it was rude, yes, especially to the beauty next only to Haruka Morishima, but only dust sweeping the street remained.

"See you around, Junichi." He found Rihoko dragged by hand by a really pissed Kanae. He unknowingly humiliated her but still it was better than making a victim out of her. That was what at least he thought staring at his hand until a loud slap from behind took his attention.

"What are doing boss? Hurry up!" Masayoshi was already running ahead before he got back on his feet.

Out of breath, the duo reached the school almost at the borderline of being late. They hurried to the closet for their wabaki. Masayoshi slipped his quickly and noticed Junichi staring off again. "Taicho! Hurry up or well be late… crap that's the bell. Come on!"

They got in the nick of time just as their names were being called. Junichi Tachibana and Masayoshi Umehara were safe and staring at the ceiling from their seat, exhausted from the running, but not Junichi. Well, he was every bit as tired but he has something in his mind.

What could this mean? Is it really…?

No matter how hard he whacked his brain, he still couldn't believe that something out of ordinary would happen today. It wasn't his birthday. It's not even close to thanksgiving but for someone to give him alms of joy. What he found in his drawer was definitely, a hot pink love letter addressed to him.

Unbelievable happiness showered over him inside the class the entire morning. Many times he wanted to escape the lecture or improvise providing false excuses to check on the letter now sleeping in the folds of his note but he persevered.

The bell rang hard to end the morning class but Junichi failed to sneak out once more. Stupid! He cursed his lack of resourcefulness at his failure to thwart the vivid plan of Kaoru and Masayoshi who paired up to ingeniously slave Junichi into buying for the three of them.

Junichi sighed wastefully while walking down the hallway toward the cafeteria. Of course, he would have been able to read it from his seat but that would be a violation against his very own code of conduct. It was his first so at least a quiet and free from prying eyes must be in order but it invited a mixed feeling now that the noises from the cafeteria has reached him.

"Those two, really… I can't even read my love letter in peace."

He protested, of course, but then, he has no intention of prolonging the inevitable outcome and so he stood, took the letter and safely hid it in his pocket. And now set on his mission, he focused at the crowd in front of the bread station.

Sigh! Junichi spotted a lost soul in the corner. He recognized her and it took no-brainer for him to approach her. "What's up? You're Miya's friend right? I'm Junichi Tachibana, Miya's brother…"

Sae Nakata's voice almost escaped unnoticed but Junichi knew her type, soft-spoken and timid. Times like this required an assertive man or so he thought, and he quickly offered his help. She was standing near the bread station so her reason for being there was obvious.

"Let me buy it for you, I know a trick when it comes to buying bread." He grinned with a smug on his face, "tell me… what do you like?" If anything, her eyes didn't lie when she tip-toed toward the crowd only to regress back to her starting position.

Still, she wasn't able to decide, fidgeting under her shadow and trying hard to look away from his gaze.

Junichi looked over his shoulder at the growing crowd, he has to go now, but no way he'd just leave a cute shy girl by herself like this. He clenched his fist and threw it over his head. "I knew it! You can't decide because almost every bread in the cafeteria were so delicious it can make you scream… but leave it to me. I will sure find something that will suit your taste."

And he was gone. Sae watched him go in and out with two paper bad, one on each hand.

"Here for you." Junichi handed the bag on his left hand.

Sae hesitated a bit but truthfully, it excited her, and the bloomed red rose on her cheek was proof enough. Junichi's magnanimous introduction in her timid life overwhelmed her that she wasn't even able to say thank you to Junichi, just a thrift smile, and before she realized it he was gone, leaving a curiosity on her face as she opened the bag.

Junichi's a couple of step away to his class when a commotion started. Something crashed followed shortly by angry voices of boys but Junichi recognized another. It was Kaoru and there was Masayoshi as well. He rushed the door and found a group of boys snarling at Kaoru, pointing a finger at her and to Keiko and Masayoshi.

It was brewing trouble and Junichi somewhat felt that he has the right to butt in and defend Kaoru, not that she actually needed it. He stood beside them, asking about the trouble they were in.

"What? We're just having fun…" They claimed, showing a pink letter that was quickly recognized by Junichi. It was definitely his letter.

He turned his pocket empty and knew from there that it was definitely his. "You as*h*le. Give it back to me."

"Don't even try to be hero this time Tachiba-" whatever insult or threat he was supposed to deliver was lost, along with his front teeth that went flying after a solid punch from Kaoru. Junichi noticed the hurried shadow behind the crowd of student outside and switched places with their heroine.

Junichi had a good idea about the coming shadow and he knew just how to protect Kaoru. He pretended to attack the rest of the bully. Goading them to attack, calling them cowards who would attack a girl something that brought color on Kaoru's face and realized what he's aiming for, an act which gained him further respect from Masayoshi.

"What's going on here?" The three musketeers and the opposing force shied away at the ogre that blew the door wide open. It was the class representative, Tsukasa Ayatsuji, with the empress of the class, Maya Takahashi.

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