Glean: High School Arc
[-]
I hate you, I hate you, I hate you
I like you, I like you
[-]
01: Classmate and Schoolmate
No way, she thought. Her eyes narrowed while her hands clutched the strap of her bag for dear life. As in, no no no no way!
The tall greenhead who stood in front of her looked at her in the same manner that she looked at him. Their eyes both filled with dislike and surprise after seeing one another in the grounds of Shuutoku High School. It was April that time and the cherry blossoms around the area are in bloom. The pink petals softly fell from their branches and let themselves sway with the greeting wind. The sun was high up but it was gentle to their skins. The sky was filled with immense blue and fluffy white clouds floated in sight.
"Why did you attend the same school?" the greenhead spoke first. He raised his spectacles with both his index and middle finger then returned his stern gaze on her.
"Nah, I might have attended the wrong school," she mumbled and coupled it with a distressed sigh. However, even if she reasoned that out, she's already wearing the exclusive uniform for the school. A sailor uniform with black highlights and a blue ribbon—through that there's no mistake about her school choice.
"Don't treat me as if I'm blind," he remarked sternly. "I only use glasses to help my dilemma in not seeing objects far from me."
"Geez! Why the hell did you attend the same school too?!" she wished for a happy school life since the end of her middle school days had been the worst so far. But seeing the greenhead in front of her and knowing the fact that he's going to attend the same school annoyed her.
"I already asked you that. Besides, I simply entered this school because I was scouted here. Shuutoku High School bore the name of being one of the Basketball Kings in Tokyo. Letting an offer like this pass is intolerable."
"Yeah right," she replied sarcastically with a flip of her hair. "I entered this school because I passed the entrance exams so I don't think that there's a problem to that either."
"Stop copying me."
"As if!"
From a distance, a raven-haired guy about their age was watching the scenes unfold. His gray hawk like orbs sparkled with amusement and interest at the pair. Whoa, a lovers' quarrel in the start of High School? These two sure hit it off too fast! I wonder what's troubling them…
The raven-haired turned to the school board again to check where his assigned classroom was. After his second check, he turned to the arguing couple again to get his supplement of interesting things for the first day of his High School life.
"Hey, you two~!" he called out and quickly two heads turned to his direction. They both gave him cold glares which he only shrugged off. "If you keep arguing, class will start soon~!"
Both the greenhead male and the redhead female turned to each other then looked away at the same time. Both exchanged displeased scoffs in discomfort. They synced well as if they were practicing this scene again and again.
"You better not enter my class, giant!" she retorted before she strode to the school board to check which classroom she was placed on.
"I would never do such foolish thing," he shot back and walked to the school board to check his own class also.
The ravenhead who stayed with them looked at the pair with the same amusement as reflected earlier. Aside from the peculiar hair and eye color, their personalities also match and clash. The pair was something he planned to look out for if ever he ended up on the same class with both or either one of them.
"No way…" she mumbled in distress. "Why did they have to put me on the same class? My life will be doomed if I'm with you!"
"Stop talking as if it's my fault! And it's not like my life is not affected by your very presence either!"
The ravenhead laughed while another banter started. I should befriend these two…
[~]
"Takao-kun, right?" Akane asked with a turn of her head to the left where the raven head from earlier was seated.
Takao gave her an easygoing smile in recognition. "Yes?"
"Nothing, I just want to familiarize myself with somebody…" she replied and glanced away. "Besides, you're the closest to the eye here…"
"Himeyama-san's the name, hmm… I'll call you Hime-chan then~"
The newly given nickname made Akane turn in surprise. "Hi-Hi-Hime?"
"Don't you think it's cute~ Your name sounds like it belongs to a princess, y'know? Akane Hime-chan~ the red princess~"
"No not really," she glanced away again. Her ears were beet red, which expressed her embarrassment. "And don't give me random nicknames."
"Nah~ it makes as friends~ You can call me Kazuchii anytime~"
"Ka-Ka-Kazu, w-what?"
"Kazuchii~"
"Seriously, please stop…"
Takao's persistence didn't stop even though she asked him to. It made the cerise head heave out a sigh of deafeat.
"Fine but don't expect me to call you any nickname. Takao-kun is fine…"
"Why? Would that anger your Midorima-kun?"
"Eh?"
The raven head pointed at the back with his thumb which she followed by looking at the direction. Her celadon irises only reflected the tall green head who was seated three seats away from Takao. The green head frowned at her questionably as if she was looking at him in purpose. She scoffed and turned away in disbelief.
"We're not friends or anything… I just sort off know him…"
"Eh? Really? It doesn't look like that to me…"
She shook her head. "Honest."
Takao looked back at Midorima then glanced back at her. He shrugged and busied himself with another thing. He didn't bug her for it and she was thankful for that.
[~]
"Hime-chan~!" someone greeted from the back. Akane turned with a frown immediately drawn on her face. A few meters away was the same raven head who gave her that cheesy nickname. Takao waved and cheerfully walked to her carrying the air of a carefree human being.
"H-Hime?"
"Need help with that?"
He pointed at the stack of books that she was tasked to carry to the faculty room. His lips stretched to a friendly smile. One ready to offer for help in the sense of a gentleman.
"No need, I'll handle this myself. Thanks for the concern."
"You sure?"
"Yes."
Takao released an exasperated sigh and patted her at the head lightly. "I'll walk you then."
She looked questionably at him but didn't question him for his motives. She simply continued walking with him on tow silently.
"Basketball practice sure made my body numb today! The coach is too harsh!" he complained out of nowhere after what seemed to be a period of silence.
"Basketball? You joined the club?" she turned to him and raised a brow quizzically.
"Yeah, cool right?" he smiled at her with pride smeared across his features. "I've been playing since MidSchool."
"Oh…" that jerk is probably on the same club too…
"Anyways, you and Midorima attended the same middle school, right?"
"Hah!?"
His grin grew wide at the surprise on her face when he said that. "Did I nail it?"
"Feh… no," she cleared her throat and fixed her composure. "So what if we attended Middle School?"
"Well, you look preeetty close."
"You don't have to emphasize it and we're not really close."
"Aw, you don't have to deny it."
Takao placed an arm around her shoulder. It made her jumpy that she nearly threw all the books at his face if she didn't control herself.
"D-Don't j-just c-c-casually d-d-do t-t-that!" she pulled his arm away to prevent all the tension from swarming her body. She wasn't used to too much body contact with the male society after she last encountered Midorima. Having one male step closer to her made her too nervous to move.
Takao only laughed in response. "So, Midorima haven't made a step on you yet or you just want Midorima to do all those lovey dovey things with you?"
"What the hell are you talking about? I told you we're not like that." She complained and walked ahead. Takao quickly kept up with her and wore the same goofy expression on his face.
"So, Hime-chan isn't the type who can be impressed that fast, huh?" he observed quietly.
She batted an eyelash, "Because I don't care. I'd rather do something productive than dating."
Her tone dropped low which made her sentence less believable. The memory of what conspired during her Middle School years stroke her back. She heaved a sigh and continued to walk. She even speed walked finally getting off the hook of Takao's presence. This time she completely ignored his calls to get her attention.
Maybe it would have been better if I attended a different school…
[~]
"Oi," Akane crossed her arms and shot the taller male a glare. "What's with the supper long distance? We are cleaning but you are standing near the door way. Are you planning to leave all the cleaning to me?"
"It seems like you've forgotten about how incompatible we are, Himeyama. Ever since I got closer to you back then I kept on encountering accidents. Even in class you're still sitting a few meters away." Midorima pointed out indignantly.
"How can you be so superstitious, jerk?!" she huffed out and grimaced. "Fine, clean that sliding door until it shines!"
"Don't be ridiculous."
She ignored him and simply resumed the sweeping. She was wondering why their homeroom teacher would even reason out something incomprehensible just to partner her with the inconsiderate jerk for cleaning duty.
'You both have different hair colors than most of us, so mind partnering up for cleaning duty?'
She gritted her teeth in annoyance and released her pent up frustration on a chair by kicking it off. The metal and wood clobbered down and made a loud noise.
Before she can even release her anger further, a hand grabbed her arm and immobilized her.
"Uwah! Lemme go!" she complained while trying to peel herself away from his steely hold. Midorima didn't listen, instead he kept his stern gaze on her. He didn't look like he was planning to let her off the hook quickly.
"If you're angry don't take your revenge on my seat." He didn't raise his voice at her but the annoyance in it was too easy to detect.
"Let me go!"
"Only if you're willing to fix the mess that you have—"
*pitter….patter… pitter…patter*
Fast and loud raindrops hit the windows and called out to their attention. The two of them turned their heads outside and watched as the raindrops slowly trailed down the glass.
His hold on her slightly loosened. "I told you bad luck will befall me when you're close. Honestly, give me a break…"
He released her and fixed his chair up. After doing so, he turned to her direction. Even after her release, she didn't make an effort of moving from her face and getting away from him. She stood there frozen. Her celadon irises focused on the rain outside.
He raised an eyebrow, "Finally back to your senses, huh?"
"N-No… a-actually… w-w-weather…" she scrambled through her phone with shaky hands. She hoped that she could at least distract him with it so to prevent him from asking about her condition.
"Midorima, the senpais are calling for you already. Your cleaning duty sure took long," a foreign voice uttered followed by footsteps that stopped as soon as it stepped inside. "Ah… am I disturbing you?"
"Shut up!" the duo synced together which annoyed them at once that they bickered at each other once again.
"I enjoy watching the two of you but Midorima they're going to scold me…" Takao complained to disrupt their outburst. His tone sounded genuinely troubled.
Midorima scoffed and picked up his bag before heading to the door silently. Akane stood there looking lost after the green head disappeared.
"Sorry Hime-chan," Takao apologized in hopes of consoling her.
Akane quickly shook her head, her face beet red in embarrassment. "H-Huh no, it's not a bother at all. I'm sick of his face already."
"You annoy me as much as you are annoyed," Midorima shot back. He placed a folded umbrella on a nearby desk and turned swiftly.
"Ah, see you later then, Hime-chan!" Takao went after the greenhead who walked out faster as soon as he uttered those words.
Ugh… that jerk… Akane breathed in and continued cleaning despite her shaken state. The current weather might send thunders piercing through her ears and she couldn't let that happen.
[~]
Akane hugged herself and shivered due to the cold. Since she didn't know whether she should pick up the umbrella that Midorima left there, she ran out of the school. She barely made it to the waiting shed without having her uniform dripping wet from the downpour. Hopefully, it was only raining. The thunder that she was afraid of doesn't look like it would strike anytime.
"Geez… third day of school and this happens…"
"Himeyama-san?"
She looked to her side and blinked for a second before releasing a blood-curling scream. "K-Kuroko-kun! Stop surprising me like that!"
She quickly shifted her gaze from left to right hoping that there's no other audience for what she just did. So far, it was only pokerfaced Kuroko in front of her and no one else.
"I'm sorry Himeyama-san… I just noticed you now…" Kuroko apologized blankly. "Besides, you need to change soon. You will catch a cold."
"A-Ah… I'm fine… I should be the one apologizing too… sorry," she bowed low to the bluenette and forced a smile that would make her look like she's okay.
Nonetheless, it doesn't look like the bluenette was planning to buy any of her excuse despite the blank countenance on his face. He stared at her for a while and she kept her façade by smiling properly. However, she wasn't sure if her expression was enough to make her sentiments believable.
Kuroko reached out and pressed the back of his hand with her forehead. Akane quickly stepped back in surprise at the sudden actions of the bluenette. He then offered a helping hand to her.
"Himeyama-san, how about letting me help you…?"
"Eh?"
[~]
"Ah… I'm done…" Akane stepped out of the comfort room. She was wearing a clean set of clothes provided by Kuroko's grandmother who happen to be present in the bluenette's home.
She was blushing in embarrassment because she might have been burdening someone by bringing in trouble. She had felt anxiousness ever since she entered Kuroko's humble abode. Especially when his grandmother immediately tended to her without questions asked.
"Himeyama-san, this way…" Kuroko noted as soon as he caught sight of her and guided her to the hallway.
She nodded and trailed close behind. Kuroko's home was a traditional Japanese one with wooden floorboards and dirty white sliding doors. However, it was kept clean and rich in history with the traditional Japanese furniture around. It also carried the air of modesty and honesty with its neat and spacious atmosphere.
Her home was simple but it never felt this way. Not once when she started going to school and started thinking deeper on things.
She cleared her throat and regained her composure swiftly. She can't let herself fall to her own sentiments yet.
"So… um… it's a very modest home, Kuroko-kun."
"Thank you."
She shifted her gaze from left to right and tried her best to remove the awkward air looming over her head. It has been long since she last saw the pale bluenette. It had been the last of their second year at Teiko.
She had been too absorbed with the track and field practices to keep her mind of off things. That time, Kuroko seemed to disappear and melt into the crowd of Teiko students too.
To her, they weren't able to establish what people usually refer to as one of youth's greatest achievements: friendship. She didn't know how it was to him though.
"Himeyama-san?"
"Y-yeah?"
He turned to her and gave her a small smile. His eyes sort off lit up in amusement too after it. She raised a brow questionably to question his actions. His response took her aback though.
"I'm glad that we're able to talk again…"
"Eh?" her eyes widened slightly but soon it narrowed when she smiled.
"I'm happy too… it seemed like a long time had passed…"
"It's not really that long… I guess…"
"But still it's comforting."
He turned to the halls again. He looked more relaxed and relieved now. "So how are you doing now, Himeyama-san?"
He pushed a sliding door open and led her in. The room led to the kitchen's dining table where two steaming foods were prepared.
"I'm fine except for the fact that I ended up having to become Midorima-kun's classmate too."
"Midorima-kun?"
"Yeah… b-by the way where's your grandmother?"
The pale bluenette pulled a chair for her in which she uttered 'thanks'. She sat down while he settled on the seat adjacent to him.
"My grandmother rested on her room now. She gets tired easily these days…"
"Then… can you please thank me for her?"
"Sure…" he pushed the bowl that contained the steaming bowl of beef stew to her. "Please eat this, it will help warm your stomach also."
"Thanks again."
"Don't mention it."
She picked up the spoon beside the bowl and started consuming the meal before her. The warm soup crossed her throat and warmed her stomach. "This is delicious… and warming…"
"My grandmother would be happy to hear that."
"I hope she will get better too."
Kuroko rewarded her sentiment with another small smile. "You haven't changed at all, Himeyama-san…"
"E-E-Eh? I haven't? How come? I'm pretty sure that I did change! After all I was able to be calmer around other people except for Midorima and I'm friendlier to others!"
"That's not what I'm talking about Himeyama-san." Kuroko took his spoon to his lips and gave her a gentle look. "You seem livelier than usual once again."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I think that it's because you're closer to Midorima-kun again."
"HAH?!" How is that even possible?!
[~]
Akane was walking along the cemented pavement to the school gates of Shuutoku High School. She kept her gaze on the ground and ignored most of the people walking alongside her.
Her mind was still boggled with her conversation with the pale bluenette yesterday. Since in the first place she wasn't even sure if she and Midorima were friends at all.
He just told her that she should stay away from him due to their incompatibility in his superstitious beliefs. He also told her that she was a serious pain in the ass before. According to that, it ruled out the idea of friendship between them.
"Hime-chan, good morning~!" a hand patted her shoulder making her flinch and turn quickly.
"T-Takao-kun… don't just surprise me like that," she heaved out a sigh of relief.
"Sorry, you okay?" he asked with a soft and gentle smile on his face.
She nodded. "Of course, I'm fine. Why?"
"It's a downpour yesterday so I was worried… and he's worried too."
"Who?"
"Midorima duh," he patted her shoulder again with a teasing smirk planted on his features. "He went back to the classroom after practice. He was pretty devastated to see the umbrella that he left earlier. It looked like he left it for you to use."
"Huh? Why would he do that?"
"Ask him yourself."
Takao held her on the wrist and called out to Midorima who happened to be walking ahead them. "Midorima! Himeyama's here!"
The greenhead turned silently and eyed them. Without saying a single thing, he turned back again and walked faster.
"Huh? Ignoring you now?"
She pulled her wrist back from him and shook her head. "Seriously, leave the guy alone. Nothing good would come from trying to get his attention."
"Eh? What are you—"
She simply shrugged again. "Fine, I believe you. But I don't think that it could change anything."
"Nuuuh, Hime-chan. You got it tough with Midorima, huh? I wouldn't say that I don't understand though…"
"And why is that?"
They resumed walking along the other people whose destinations are different from theirs. The morning breeze was calming to their veins and the cherry blossom trees nearby let their petals fell gracefully.
"Well… that guy always stays late to practice you know? He shoots baskets silently on the corner and he never really talked to any of us other than general answers. It seems like he's trying to keep others away from him too…" Takao said with a worried and puzzled sigh.
"I can't disagree with that… but he's pretty close with his team mates back at Teiko." She replied with a nod in recognition of his definition.
"Oh…" Takao breathed out a sigh. "So he doesn't trust his current team now?"
She shrugged it off, not wanting to concern herself with Midorima related problems at the start of the day. "Let's just head to class or else we'll be late…"
He teasingly smirked at her in response. "See? You do know a lot about him. So it's true that you two are pretty close then?"
"NO!"
[~]
The greenhead raised his head when the door leading to the rooftop opened. His light green irises reflected a certain petite girl with cerise streaks of hair and a tall raven head beside her. The raven head had his hand on the girl's arm showing the fact that he simply dragged the girl to come with him.
"Oh, good aftie, Midorima! I didn't realize that you'd be here~"
Annoying… "What is it to you if I wanted to eat on a place more peaceful than the classroom?"
"I told you… just leave him alone…"
Akane looked stressed out that one push would make her burst quickly. Takao was still lively than usual and it doesn't look like anyone or anything could put his enthusiasm below the belt.
"C'mon don't say that~ I specially brought Hime-chan along so we can all eat together!"
"I don't remember agreeing with you, Takao-kun. You pulled me along."
"Just ride okay?"
Midorima raised his glasses and heaved out a sigh. "It does not matter now. You should probably find your own place now…"
"He's not going to drive us away, see?" Takao cheerfully chirped and pulled Akane forward to Midorima's direction.
"You're misunderstanding me, fool." Midorima uttered with a sigh. "The rooftop is not mine. Therefore, I am not holding any right to holding you back if you want to eat here. I hope that you stay as far from me as possible though."
"Thought so…" Akane said in defeat. "I told you right… He wouldn't—"
"Come on just let it be." Takao pushed her to a seat next to Midorima and sat beside her so she would not have any choice but stay. Midorima's lips twitched in annoyance. He was even too annoyed to produce a single proper sentence.
"So then, let's all have a nice lunch together~"
This guy… who does he think he is? Midorima thought and was about to stand up only to be held back because a hand clasped his elbow tightly.
"Where the hell do you think you're going?" Akane asked through gritted teeth. Her eyes looked like she was pleading for him to stay so she wouldn't be stuck alone with Takao.
He shook his head in refusal and tried to get off again but this time, her hold only tightened. He could already feel her nails digging in the softness of his clothing.
Having no other choice because even Takao was giving him a suspicious gaze, he sat back to his seat and released a displeased sigh.
Why do I have to be stuck with these two of all people…? Cancer's rank third today. It doesn't mean that I'm too close to bad— his gaze shifted to the quiet Akane beside him and it made him take back what he just thought off.
This Aries beside me would always be the harbinger of my bad luck… I give up thinking about it hardly…
The color duo ate in silence while Takao kept on talking about different things. Both Akane and Midorima simply replied with the general answers of 'Yes', 'No' and 'Maybe'.
After what seemed like a long while, Takao stood up causing both pairs of irises to focus on him. He looked like a cold bucket of water was thrown on him and hit his head.
"Ah! I forgot something! You two stay here and I'll go get it!"
"Hah?"
"OI!"
The raven head was already closing the door behind him before they could even stop him. The door slammed shut leaving only the arrival of the wind that gently blew some streaks of their hair.
"He left…" Akane mumbled with a disgruntled sigh following after.
"Don't state the obvious, fool."
"Stop calling people fools, you hopeless jerk."
"What is it to you?"
Her left brow rose quizzically at the attitude that he's showing her. He didn't looked back at her, instead he resumed eating what was left on his bento.
"You know…" she breathed out but he still kept his gaze low in ignorance. "I continued practicing the piano that summer before we started our third year in Teiko… I can at least play three to five songs now without messing up."
He finally raised his eyes to her. His spectacles reflected her serious form while her eyes waited for his recognition. He must admit that he was surprised to hear that she continued her practice with the piano. However, he would never hurt his pride by stooping that low.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"I'm just talking to myself…"
"Huh?"
She picked up her bento and turned back. "What I mean is that you shouldn't drive people away like usual. You're already in High School. At least mature a bit."
"I am matured than any of our classmates here. Even more than you."
She glanced back at him and she muttered something with gritted teeth. "Die a slow painful death, jackass."
She strode away and slammed the door shut behind her. His lips were parted but no words are enough to describe what he felt inside. Inside him, something simply started to stir. He felt somewhat relieved.
A/N: Soon...