"Okay," Jun said, picking up the study paper and reading the first question. "Name the shinigami responsible for the creation of the Academy."
"Really?" Kimie said from her usual spot at the desk. "What kind of question is that? Everyone knows it's-"
"Shh. Let Miki..." Jun said, glancing over toward his friend, the rest of his sentence a moot point, since Miki lay sound asleep.
"Looks like she didn't make it," Kimie said, moving to cover her friend. "She's been trying so hard."
"I know. I hate watching her struggle. I know she's not stupid, but why can't she seem to get this stuff?"
"I don't know," Kimie shook her head. "I've tried every way I can think of to explain it to her. If she doesn't catch up soon, I don't know what they'll do with her."
He looked over at Miki, shaking his head at her light snores. "One of these days, it's just going to all click with her, and then we'll be the ones fighting to keep up."
"At least she can focus on her studies now."
"Hey, Kimie? I've been wanting to ask you something," Jun said, suddenly unsure of himself. "If you were a girl, how would you want a guy to ask you out?"
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Kimie asked, rounding on him. "If I were a girl?"
"I.. I didn't..." he mumbled, taking a step back, his eyes focused somewhere behind Kimie. "I mean. You are a girl. I know that."
Kimie glanced over her shoulder to see what he was looking at. "Oh," she said. "Oh! By 'a girl' you meant Miki?"
She let out a giggle at his nod, and as he blushed, her giggle turned into a laugh. Before long both of them were doubled over.
"Why is that so funny?" Jun said, as he gasped for breath.
"She already has someone," Kimie said, and snorted as she broke into laughter again.
"No way! You're just saying that because you want me for yourself!"
"Moron!" She smacked him in the back of the head. "And where do you think she sneaks off to every week?"
"Who is it, then?"
"That, my friend, is a secret," she winked at him, as she handed him his books.
"I don't believe you!" he said.
"Then ask her yourself," she pushed him out the door. "Because I'm not telling." She closed the door before he could get another word in.
The next day, as Miki walked back from the school's library, a stack of heavy books in her arms, someone bumped into her. She lost her balance, and fell sideways, spilling the books onto the ground.
"Hey..." she said, but stopped abruptly in mid-sentence. Daiki stood in front of her, a snooty looking girl named Riko, who had platinum blond hair and piercings all over her face, hung off his arm.
"Oh, the poor little baby lost her bawance and fell," the girl said in a whiny baby-voice. "Is she gonna cry now?"
Miki stood up, too angry at their taunts to be afraid, "You pushed me."
"I did warn you I wasn't done, didn't I? What do you think Boo? What should her punishment be for making me clean toilets?"
"You're still on about that? Give it up."
"Make me," Daiki said, stepping right into her face. Miki wondered when the last time he'd brushed his teeth was. He could have at least had a breath mint before getting in her face like that.
Miki swung forward with her right hand, and smacked Daiki right across the face with the book she still held.
"Oww! My nose!" he whined, while he retreated quickly, Riko right on his heels.
"Leave me alone!" she screamed at their backs. It wasn't until she bent to pick up the rest of the books that she realized her hand was throbbing. She grabbed up the rest of the books and tore off to her room.
She sat in her room sometime later, willing her hand to stop hurting so that she could concentrate on studying. Kimie and Jun came in, talking loudly.
"Will you two be quiet?" Miki snapped.
"What got into you?" Jun asked, then saw the way she held her hand. He walked over to her and took a closer look at it.
"Daiki. I guess he really wasn't done after all. He pushed me and I hit him with a book."
"I would have loved to have seen his face!"
"It was bloody," Miki said, with a wicked grin. "Who would have thought "History of the Shinigami" would be so useful?"
"That's my girl, she can sleep through a hurricane, and fight like one, too!" Jun said.
Miki grinned. "Let's get to studying."
"Wait. Before we do, Miki, is it true you have a boyfriend?"
"Hmm? Yeah, I do."
"Who is it?" he asked.
Miki stared hard at him a moment, as if scrutinizing him. He didn't flinch from her gaze at all. "You'll find out when the time comes."
"Hey, you can't just leave it like that! How come Kimie knows, but you won't tell me?"
"Because she wouldn't go crazy wondering, like you will," Miki said, grinning again. "And now we must study."
Kimie opened up her book and began reading aloud.
"It's a teacher, isn't it? That's why you can't tell me!" Jun interrupted.
"Idiot!" Both girls said together, and they all laughed.
Thanks again everyone for your support :) I hope you enjoyed!