Chapter 9: Mixed Emotions

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I ran for the counter but I didn't get very far because like an idiot I forgot to open my eyes and so I face planted into one of the wooden pillars that were in the cafe to make it look a little fancy, I stumbled back feeling the pain on my nose and feeling the warm liquid oozing from it. I was sure I'd fall onto the floor but instead felt myself being caught by a pair of warm arms, strong arms. They weren't struggling to hold me up at all, if anything I was like a piece of paper for them. I gradually opened my eyes looking up at my catcher only to find the amber eyes looking down at me and feeling my face heat up like a fireplace.

"Are you alright?" His soothing and silky voice made my heart jump and I couldn't do anything but rip my eyes away from him looking at the ground and ignoring the heat on my face, ignoring the gushing of my nose. His body seemed to tense when he saw the look of both shock and horror on my face. He slowly set me down on the floor and I thought that would be the end of it until he was in front of me at my level wiping the blood from my nose with a cloth that he had gotten from his pocket.

My heart stopped-or at least that's what it felt like. His eyes stayed on me and I knew the other people in the cafe where looking at me but I couldn't get my body to move, it's as if his eyes had taken control of me, my body couldn't move. He blinked looking at me concerned as if he could tell what I was thinking. "You okay?" He said a second time as if that would get me to answer.

I tried to speak, I really did but the words where caught in my throat..how could I talk to him? I wasn't ready for this...I-I needed more time...I didn't want to be around him.

I heard him let out a sigh as if he were disappointed and my heart felt like it tensed up. He spoke in a soft voice, only soft enough for me to hear him, "I'm sorry for what I did the other day. It made you uncomfortable, I," He paused his eyes seeming to drift from mine for a split second so fast I doubted if it even happened before returning to meet my puzzled gaze, "I don't want you to hate me so, I'll be on my way. I'm sorry for giving you a scare."

My mouth was glued shut as he stood up and my heart sped up just by his movements alone. He glanced down at me, giving me a warm smile before turning away from me…..

My eyes stayed on him….the world around me seemed to dim, as if nothing was there, nothing but him and his being and the door he was inching towards like a clock ticking away with every second-every chance that was slipping through my fingers. My eyes and ears were focused on his being. My legs pushed me up and my hand reached forward, what was I doing? Why am I doing this?

My hand connected with the back of his black V-neck shirt. He looked over his shoulder and for the first time….I'd seen how cute he'd looked when he was surprised or taken off guard. His mouth was slightly agaped like he was about to say something but closed it as if letting me make the next move.

I opened my mouth feeling like the words were choking me-suffocating me but I pushed myself to say something-anything…

"I-Ha-have a g-good d-day s-s-sir.." I sounded like an idiot.

He stared at me for a moment and then slowly smiled. "Thank you," My gripped loosened on his shirt and I couldn't hold onto it even if I wanted too. He slipped from my grasp and apart of me wanted to hold onto him again, to hold him again.

I watched him leave, the bell echoed in my ear signaling his absence now and it was the thing to bring me back to reality. "Nagisa," I heard Isogai's voice behind me and his familiar gentle touch on my shoulders. I turned to look at him, "Are you okay? What happened?"

Even though Isogai was here in front of me the person still on my mind was Sergeant Akabane. "Yeah," I said not even trying to force a smile knowing he'd see right through it. Isogai and I have known each other for awhile since grade school and while I've always found him to be an attractive person I never actually liked him in that way.

"Yeah," I repeated trying to sound as relaxed as I could possibly be even though on the inside I was screaming and wanted to cry and punch something at the same time because I felt frustrated.

….I didn't know what to do anymore….

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"Nagisa? Hello?" I blinked looking up at Nakamura who was standing in front of me folding her arms. We were currently outside and it was another hot day 90 degrees today.

"Huh?" I said confused. She was folding her arms giving me that annoyed look again that she usually gave me when she had to repeat herself. With a roll of her blue eyes the wind blowing her blonde hair she looked intimidating, she spoke with a slight attitude.

"I said, what happened yesterday? You never texted me back. Did something happen?" I sighed not wanting to talk about it so I just said, "No," glumly.

Suddenly someone shoved us and me and Nakamura looked up to see Okuda. Her hair was up in a high ponytail today, and her purple piercing eyes were glaring at the pair of us. I heard rumors that she had glasses but she just wore contacts. She was annoying, and mean. Me and Nakamura didn't like her, she knew how to fool the others though.

"Watch where you're going." Nakamura said the first words. Okuda lowered her eyebrows and then rolled her eyes.

"Whatever, you were in my way." She said sharply turning her curvy hips with a twirl and making her way over to the Sergeant who was taking attendance.

As soon she started talking to him I felt something in my chest like a weight was just dropped on it.

"She's such a prick." Nakamura mumbled under her breath while folding her arms. I heard her but my eyes where on the pair. He was laughing at something she said he was smiling,

"Just…" I began choking on my words, "Just ignore her." I glanced at Sergeant Akabane. He was dressed in his camouflage green army uniform again. I remembered his outfit from yesterday now as if a lost image came back,

Blue jeans that fit him nicely while showing off his legs, the stylish yet casual black sport shoes and the black V-neck...he looked….like…

A teenager. I liked that look, I liked seeing him look like that, it made me feel less shameful about crushing on him….I wished that person I ran into yesterday, wasn't my teacher but a teenager names Akabane who liked coffee….for now...believing that was the only thing keeping me from going nuts.

"Alright class," He spoke, posture straight, arms crossed, he was so perfect...so damn perfect...he was on a whole other level compared to me, he was a god and I was just a meat sack. I know he was giving me space but to see him purposely avoid my gaze it….it hurt...it felt like my heart was being stabbed.

I'm so damn selfish…..I want him to pay attention to me but I don't want to be near him...what's wrong with me, why can't I just make up my mind?! Is this why people hate me?

"-Okay you all have ten minutes I won't go easy on you." Wait what's going on? Before I could comprehend what was going on Nakamura grabbed my hand and pulled me into the forest along with the other students running.

As we were running under the shade of the trees-which felt nice on account of how hot it was-I asked her, "Nakamura what the heck's going on?!"

"Did you space out again?" She asked without looking over her shoulder, instead looking around for a place.

I blushed a little embarrassed, she knew me so well. "Yeah," I admitted knowing there was no point in hiding it.

"Short version where playing man hunt essentially and we have to pair up. Your my partner and we have now five minutes before Sargeant Akabane comes looking for us." I looked around now understanding the situation.

"Up there," I said pointing to a tall tree where the leaves blocked anyone sitting on those branches.

"Good eye," Nakamura said running for the three, me right behind her.

We got to the position just in time to hear the whistle being blown signaling our hunter was let loose. We sat on the branch which seemed pretty stable, we were both pretty quiet not wanting to attract the attention of Sergeant Akabane.

"So do you love Sergeant Akabane?" I almost fell off the tree branch because that question was so blunt. I get Nakamura teases me all the time about it all the time but I never expected her to ask in a serious matter like that.

I looked at her through the shade of the trees, small spots of light where peeking through the leaves and the serious look in her blue eyes stood out even more. I scratched the back of my neck blushing a little,

"I…" I began, my voice cracking from the nerves.

"Oh no you found me~" Me and Nakamura both looked down at the same time.

"Okuda…" Nakamura hissed through her teeth. I felt how she looked,

Okuda was pressing herself up against a tree much like an anime girl would on a body pillow, Sergeant was inching closer to her, was he…..

No….he didn't….like her….right? "You should work on trying to get away. If this where a real fight you would have been dead." Sargeant Akabane spoke.

I heard Okuda giggle, my chest became tight. "Maybe I wanted you to catch me. Your a really nice looking guy, you can't blame me for being fooled right?" Her voice was so innocent….so innocent it pissed me off.

"I suppose I can accuse it this time but you need to try harder." Suddenly she moved forward clinging onto him and I felt my teeth smash together in anger. She had her arms wrapped around his neck as she stared up at him.

"Maybe you could give me so private lessons~" His posture didn't falter.

"That bitch…" Nakamura whispered but I could barely hear her over the white hot rage of my mind telling me to jump down from this tree right now and stop this! But just as I was about to he spoke again,

"Maybe. However," He said placing a hand on her head. "Your out," She sighed,

"You got me, alright I'll head back. But you better keep your promise." She said teasingly…..she's so annoying...does he really like someone like that?

Once she left he went off in another direction.

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In the end he ended up not finding us but,

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I wish he had.

Hello readers~ Yes I know you hate me for this but trust me I know what I'm doing. Anyway, I have a question for you all, would you like me to do a character QnA? Let me know below.

Thanks for reading!