This chapter will run in 3rd person limited as a trial. If I find it to work, I may progress the story in 3rd person.
Sawako coughed a bit on her way to Kitahoro High School. Just as she suspected, she did have a slight cold the next day, and even with her herbal remedies and natural treatments, she couldn't prevent illness. However, it may have been much worse without her attempted precautionary measures.
"Today, I have to get my foot in the door, I have to find a way to get in with Kurumizawa and Kazehaya-kun." Sawako thought to herself as she entered the school's front gate.
Thought the hallways, she still received all the looks of genuine fear that usually would surround her presence, but that wasn't what she was was paying attention to.
"How could I do this?" she thought to herself.
She covered her mouth to cough once more.
In the hall on the way to the classroom were Chizuru and Ayane-chan. As she passed them, they looked at her with a noticeable hint of fear, quickly turning away as she passed by. True, that sucked, however she felt that she could fix that in time. What she was uncertain of was Kazehaya-kun.
"I can't do that... I can't ruin Kazehaya's potential happiness. But I can't stay away from him either," Sawako thought, "I will become friends with him! At least, that's all I could do..."
By the door of her classroom was Kazehaya, leaning against the door frame, and with him was Ume Kurumizawa. Kazehaya was smiling and laughing with Kurumi, almost perfectly in Sawako's eyes.
The bell for homeroom rang. Kazehaya pulled Kurumi into a tight hug and let her go with a smile. On her way out Kurumi walked brushed against my shoulder, glancing at me but not really taking note, she carried a smile too big for her to care.
"G-Good morning, Kazehaya-kun!" Kuronuma spoke out.
"Oh! U-Uh... Good morning Kuronuma-chan!" Kazehaya replied.
Without consent, Sawako's body moved on its own and in an instant, she threw her arms around Kazehaya and pulled him into a tight hug.
Kazehaya flinched at this move, but couldn't help but pull her in too.
"Good morning, Kuronuma."
Kazehaya smiled.
"What am I doing?" Kuronuma thought,"I shouldn't be doing this... But... I miss- I mean, I liked this. Holding him this closely, tightly."
Kuronuma finally released causing Kazehaya to release his embrace following.
Sawako blushed slightly and glanced downward, allowing her jet black hair to drape her face from a much taller Kazehaya Shouta. Kazehaya was a little puzzled at this and brushed it off as nothing. Everyone else in the room however, saw a vision from the infamous horror movie and shivered slightly.
Kazehaya went to sit down at his desk.
Sawako turned around to hide her embarrassment from the class, and especially him. Expecting to see an emptying hallway, she caught sight of Kazehaya's current girlfriend, Kurumi. She had clenched fists and a fiery expression of anger. Kuronuma swore she could see the steam coming off her head.
Kurumi mouthed, "See me later."
Without once looking back, she turned on her heel and advanced down the hall way.
Kuronuma silently turned about and began to walk into her class.
Sawako pouted and frowned slightly without realizing it as she walked into the classroom.
"Kuronuma?" a voice caused her to open her eyes. "Something wrong? You seem irritated."
Her eyes shot wide open. "K-Kazehaya? Me? Irritated?"
"Y-Yeah..."
He didn't expect Kazehaya to notice, nor did she expect to find herself irritated.
"S-sorry," she said,"Ot really wasn't anything..."
"Oh...okay then."
Kazehaya went to go sit down.
"I was irritated? At Kurumi-chan?" Sawako herself was a little surprised. Still. She didn't like that Kazehaya was with someone who was like that. Kurumi really seemed selfish, and Sawako didn't like it.
...
The bell for the end of class rang and lunch break begun. Kazehaya rushed out of the room and to the courtyard of the school. Sawako couldn't help but notice, and got up to follow.
The couple met up in the center of the schoolyard just as they had before. Sawako hid herself from behind a concrete pillar, the same one she had hid behind before. Back at square one.
Kazehaya and Kurumi were happy appearing as always. They laughed at each others jokes and interacted playfully with each other. Kuronuma really didn't know if she could even say, "I miss this."
Smiles slowly faded however. Discreetly, Kurumi took Kazehaya's hand and they began to walk towards less populated areas of the campus. Sawako followed quietly, keeping her distance.
From around the corner, Sawako could hear Kurumi scolding Kazehaya sternly. She peeked around the corner seeing Kazehaya's face burn red, in anger.
"Kzehaya really looks mad, I've never seen this side before..." Sawako thought.
Expecting to see Kazehaya explode at Kurumi, Sawako was shocked when she saw all the red drain from his head like a steam engine blowing down steam. Kazehaya smiled and pulled Kurumi into a tight hug, silencing her outburst.
It was surprising, however what caught Sawako's attention most was how Kazehaya's face changed after he hugged Kurumi and she could no longer see his face. His brght smile quickly faded to a sulking frown and a straight face. Kazehaya's smile returned falsely as he released Kurumi from his hug.
He glanced up catching Kuronuma's eyes. Sawako stood in silence as Kazehaya turned to Kurumi. Saying something with his false smile, Kazehaya then took off with Kurumi following.
...
At the front gate by the trees Kuronuma ran into Kurumi who had now been waiting for a good ten minutes.
"Sadako-chan!" Kurumi called out,"come here for a second."
There was no one around at the moment. Sawako silently came over to Kurumi.
"I saw you with my boyfriend this morning, don't think I didn't make anything of it." she said in a condescending manner. "What exactly do you think you are doing? Hmm? Who do you think you are? Kazehaya is very popular, remember that. He is higher than your league. No. His league and yours aren't even on the same dimensional plane! Do you think he would like you? You creep him out! He told me himself!"
Sawako's heart broke in half at this line. Tears rolled to her eyes and down her cheeks. On the verge of collapsing to the ground, she yelled a phrase right into Kurumi's face.
"NO! YOU'RE LYING!"
Kurumi recoiled back a little.
"K-Kazehaya would never say that! Kazehaya... Kazehaya..doesn't even like you Kurumi!"
Kurumi gasped and with a raised hand slapped Kuronuma across the face.
The wind rushed.
With tears streaming, Sawako stood motionless, her head still cocked in the slapped direction. Her left cheek was now really red and bruised, a small but long cut was defined from one of Kurumi's sharp nails.
"H-How dare you tell me that!" Kurumi hit another slap in the opposite direction.
Sawako cried in pain, now begginging to sob.
"Keep dreaming! Kazehaya is mine! I have liked him for so long, and have worked so hard to make sure he stayed single, waiting for the right moment to confess! I have worked too hard and for too long to lose him to anyone, especially you!"
Kurumi pushed Kuronuma to the ground. Sawako landed on her back and frantically tried to get up, but was kept down when Kurumi placed her foot on Sawako's chest, pinning her to the ground.
"Don't even think about it. Don't even think about going to war with me Sadako-chan. I will fight, and I will make sure you lose."
Tears streamed down Sawako's face and cries of pain and sadness escaped her mouth.
"Kurumi-chan." Sawako managed to strongly say, "I will fight. I am your rival. I will fight for Kazehaya's love. I will win him back."
She pushed Kurumi off of her and stood up. With tears still in her eyes and a voice still crying, Sawako pinned Kurumi against a nearby tree.
"I. Will. Win. Him. Back."
