Chapter 2: Proposal
It's hard to find the right time to talk to Kasumi-chan. She runs back and forth, always in a hurry. At other times he forgets to mention it himself, since he doesn't really care much about his grades. It is not until his father discovers the last grade on his algebra test and makes his ears ring with screams until he goes deaf, that he decides he must ask for help so as not to be cut off from the family funds.
It is not until he walks down the street one Saturday, after going to the comic book store to buy a new manga, that he sees her. Gojou stops in front of a market after seeing her distinctive hair, though he's not entirely sure. He enters the store to make sure it's her and walks past the shelves, picks up a bag of potato chips and stretches his neck in her direction. Kasumi-chan stuffs an older man's purchases into a paper bag and bows to him.
"Thank you for your purchase!" She tells him in the same polite tone she uses at school.
Gojou smiles and walks in her direction.
"Kasumi-chan!" he sings, stretching out the last letters of her name, raising a hand in her direction and she smiles broadly.
"Gojou! Good afternoon," she smiles kindly. "Are you going to buy that?" she asks, referring to the bag of potatoes, and he nods.
"Do you work here?" he asks as she uses a bar code scanner on the bag.
"Yes, I work here part-time."
"Wow, between all the clubs and work you must not have time to do much," he comments and pays for his purchase.
Kasumi's smile twitches just a little, just enough for him to notice that this comment makes her a little uncomfortable. She nods again, she's already mentioned it to him; Kasumi-chan wants to go to college, and while this isn't a problem for him, he knows they are really expensive.
"I'll have time on vacation," she replies.
"Miwa, we need help in the storage!" shouts another employee from the back of the store.
"Yes!" she quickly replies and turns back to Gojou. "Thank you for your purchase! Come back soon, Gojou-kun!"
He watches her say goodbye, missing his chance to ask her to tutor him. He doesn't even have her phone number and on Monday he has his first basketball game. They were supposed to practice today, but the coach never made it to practice.
The weekend goes by too fast. On Sunday he watches a horror movie at the cinema together with Suguru and the last few hours are spent reading the manga he bought the day before. Before he knows it, it's already Monday and he wakes up in annoyance to take a shower and get his things ready for the after-school game.
He buys a bag of candy before entering class and arrives just before the bell rings, but stands by the gate as he sees her running in his direction.
"Kasumi-chan?" he pronounces as he sees her running with an embarrassed look on her face. She has the red ribbon of her uniform undone around her neck and stops a few meters away from him to catch her breath, with both hands on her knees. "Did you fall asleep?" he asks, crouching down in her direction, too close.
Kasumi gets up so quickly that he doesn't have time to move aside and hits his jaw with her head. Gojou bites his tongue and Kasumi falls to the ground, rubbing her head crown, then looks at Gojou in horror, with both hands over her mouth, stifling a groan.
"Gojou-kun, I'm so sorry! she cries out, quickly getting up in his direction.
Kasumi's things are strewn on the floor. Satoru sticks out his tongue, he's hit so hard he can taste his own blood.
"I'm sorry! I didn't see you! Forgive me!" The girl keeps shouting, lowering her head again and again.
"Don't worry, Miwa-chan. Gojou has taken worse beatings."
They both turn around at the sound of Suguru's voice, who has bent down to pick up Miwa's things.
"Still, sorry... I overslept this morning and I'm almost late, I'm a bit distracted..."
"It's nothing, it's nothing..." pronounces Gojou awkwardly and picks up some books and sheets from the floor.
"Here you go," Suguru says and Miwa bows to them again and utters another apology before turning back to the school. The bells are already ringing and shortly they'll close the school gates.
When she's far enough away, Suguru turns to Satoru and stifles a giggle at the sight of him still sticking out the tongue he just bit off.
"Have you asked her yet?"
"I didn't have time..." he replies with his tongue hanging out, slurring his words, though not enough for Suguru not to understand.
They both look up towards the entrance where Miwa, Utahime and Mei Mei greet each other, when suddenly a draft whips them around and they squeal, holding their skirts tightly. All except Kasumi, who was absentmindedly checking the inside of her briefcase to make sure she hasn't forgotten any books at home. Utahime and Miwa scream, Mei Mei has a tight grip on her skirt and just smiles.
Satoru feels a sudden current rise up from his chest to his face and blushes at the sight of Kasumi-chan's underwear for an instant, until the fabric comes down and she runs inside the school.
"White..." Suguru comments.
"With pink hearts..." completes Satoru.
Getou ends up laughing softly as Gojou makes an attempt to calm his raging teenage hormones. By the time they reach the classroom, Kasumi is still a nervous wreck, her head slumped and shoulders raised, hiding her face. She's still holding the edges of her skirt and doesn't seem to be listening to the girl's consolations.
"No one saw anything," says Utahime, "Don't worry."
These words don't seem to do any good, the girl doesn't manage to raise her face when she realizes that the boys have entered the room.
When Gojou sits behind her and Kasumi hears the creak of his chair, she seems to become more hermetic. Her face is tinged with a deep burgundy hue and she doesn't dare turn around. Suguru notices faster than Gojou; Kasumi knows they probably saw her underwear and she doesn't have the courage to look them in the face.
"Kasumi-chan," Gojou says with a different smile, it won't be so easy for him to erase that memory. "Kasumi-chan..." he says again when she doesn't answer him.
The teacher enters the classroom, to Miwa's relief, who still can't manage to lift her chin and turn around to the pair of boys who have probably seen her underwear.
Gojou desists once again, the teacher gives him a sidelong glance and he stops himself before he shouts his name. He sits heavily on his chair, still not understanding the embarrassment that prevents Kasumi from looking him in the eye. He waits until the first class is over and when he's about to call Kasumi-chan's name again, she bolts up without saying anything at all.
"But, what's wrong with her...?" Gojou mutters as he watches her leave.
"You don't know?" Getou asks, "Or are you surprised that a girl doesn't want to show you her panties?"
"Oh? Is that it? Nonsense... Kasumi-chan is too modest. Maybe if I show her my underwear she'll feel better," he answers with a mischievous smile.
"How did yo get to that conclusion? You'd better try tomorrow, and don't mention her underwear. Sure, if you want her to agree to tutor you."
Gojou's lips twist. He's not very used to waiting, though he doesn't find the idea of studying too appealing either. He pulls a box out of his pocket, a raspberry juice, pokes it with a small straw and pops it into his mouth before walking out with Suguru into the hallway.
"You look frustrated," the other says to him, walking beside him down the hallway.
"Well, I am!"
"Maybe you're not used to women ignoring you."
"I'm not interested in Kasumi-chan. I just want to pass my classes... If they leave me without money I won't be able to buy manga... How can I buy the blue-ray of the last season of Kimetsu no Yaiba?"
"You'll have to work like the rest of us mortals."
"That's not an option."
"Then let the poor girl recover from the embarrassment she went through and ask her. Give her some space... Don't harass her. Miwa-chan seems like a shy girl."
"I'm not used to dealing with shy girls."
He struggles, but when the bell rings again he makes an effort not to disturb Kasumi. He watches her from behind, concentrating on the class and her books. She doesn't once turn in his direction and he finds himself smiling now and then as he remembers the hearts of her panties. They strike him as rather cute for a girl her age, he wonders if she bought them or her mom and the idea makes him chuckle. When the day is over, he gets up from his desk to warm up before the game along with Suguru. He'll find another time to talk to Kasumi about tutoring.
On the court he finds the first-year boys, warm-ups have already started without them and Fushiguro-sensei watches them, folding his arms, wearing a black sweatshirt and a classic expression of constant boredom. He observes Gojou entering the court in his uniform and makes a grimace that Gojou manages to notice, for some reason his sensei hates him since the very first day.
He raises a hand and has the boys gather by the benches at the side of the court. On the bleachers, several students from the school and from the school of their opponents, the Asuka Metropolitan High School team, are already sitting.
"Satoru," Suguru murmurs in his ear, "Look who's there."
Gojou turns to the benches and finds with surprise the blushing face of Miwa Kasumi. She has taken a seat next to Shoko, who often watches their matches and she smiles in his direction. Satoru raises a hand and waves at her, smiles back in kind and before he can wink at her, he feels his cheek burn. Toji drags his face towards the rest.
"Save your flirting for another time, Gojou Satoru," she tells him, teasing him with his cheek still clenched between his fingers.
When he lets go he feels the boy's eyes sparkle, and this seems to cause him more amusement than it should for a sensei.
"Is that the new girl?" mutters one of the boys on the team.
"She's pretty..."
"I saw her underwear today."
"So did I."
"What? When?!"
"In the morning, she's got nice legs and an ass that..."
"Okay, well, when the game's over you'll have plenty of time to talk about your classmates' panties. Right now I want you to stay focused. Maybe scoring a few points in front of the girls will do you some good, if that's what it takes to motivate you. You have to win with a twenty-point spread or I'll lose a substantial sum of money. You know what that means, don't you?"
"Yes, sensei..." the whole team answers, some more tired than others.
"Uhm..." Suguru lets go. "Sensei, the whole team hasn't arrived yet."
"Huh? Who's missing?"
"Your son..."
"Oh, him. Right, the brat's missing... Well, if he doesn't make it in time, one of the substitutes can replace him."
"That won't be necessary," says Gojou, watching Megumi Fushiguro run onto the court together with Itadori Yuuji.
"Gojou-sempai!" Yuuji says and Gojou smiles at him.
He has always liked this boy. He likes him because he idolizes him just for being the best player and constantly tries to learn from him. For a first year student he learns too fast and even fears that at any moment he will snatch the first place from him. Maybe by the time he does he will have finished his studies.
"You two are late," says Toji.
"It's your fault, you told me the wrong time for the match," Megumi replies, his face twisted into a frown that twitches his brow.
On the other side, in the stands, Kasumi watches the group of students. It has taken her a lot of willpower to drag herself to the gym after school, but it would have taken more work to ignore Gojou Satoru's invitation.
Kasumi has always had an obvious weakness for cute boys. Before arriving at Kokusai Metropolitan High School, she had a crush on Hideki Takada, the kendo star. Before him, there was Ryoga Nakamura, the top swimmer. So it was not unusual for Satoru Gojou to be at the center of her radar just days before entering this new high school.
"They're already arguing," Shoko comments. "It's always the same, Fushiguro-sensei will tell them what to do and Satoru'll do whatever he wants. The team just ends up following his lead."
"I'd heard about Gojou-kun at my previous school."
"He's quite popular."
"Getou is more popular, the girls at my school used to argue about which of the two was more attractive," Kasumi comments and laughs; a soft blush tinges her cheeks.
"And you, Kasumi-chan, what do you think?"
"Huh?"
"Which of the two is more attractive?"
"Huh?!"
"Don't worry, I won't tell them. Their egos are already too inflated to mention them. I think Suguru is much more attractive than Satoru."
"Well... I don't think I can tell which of the two..."
"Don't you like men?"
"N-no! It's not that!"
A horn announces the start of the game and from the start it's obvious that they won't stand a chance. One can see it on the face of the visiting team, they are nervous. Gojou is even able to pivot arrogantly, something Kasumi didn't think possible until she saw it with her own eyes. He smiles at the stands from time to time and she hears female screams. The freshman girls sigh at every step of player number 23. The high-pitched ringing of the girls cheering for him manages to stun her from time to time. But something about Satoru's whole condescending attitude toward the opposing team makes Miwa sigh and think how great he is.
Maybe because she envies him, envies the confidence she doesn't have about herself. Kasumi needs no more reason to glue her eyes on him for the entire match and allow herself to step out of her busy schedule for a moment.
Suddenly she finds herself screaming, both arms in the air as he scores a three-point basket. Anyone would have thought that her scream would go unnoticed among the harem of cheerleaders and fans, but it didn't. Gojou turns directly in her direction and smiles at her from half court as he trots back to his position. Kasumi paints herself crimson red and sits down so quickly that she slams her butt against the wooden bench.
"So you like basketball?" Shoko asks her in an animated tone.
"Y-yes, I like it very much..."
Fushiguro-sensei can rest easy tonight. He smiles mischievously as he looks at the scoreboard. He has won the bet and as the boys celebrate he mentally counts bills.
"How about a celebratory meal?" Suguru asks, but Satoru looks distracted. He's been looking up into the stands since the horn sounded to signal the end of the last half and cranes his neck in search of her.
"Maybe another day," he replies and runs off, but a small group of fans gets in his way and he ends up losing sight of her.
Kasumi leaves at a fast pace after saying goodbye to Shoko, she has lost a little more than forty minutes and still has several assignments to do.
After getting rid of the girls, Gojou walks out the door, pushing several boys as he apologizes for mere formality. He comes to see her turning around in a corridor and runs out after her.
"Kasumi-chan!" he calls out to her as he trots and as he turns the corridor takes her in front of him.
Kasumi, who had stopped when she heard her name, barely made it to turn around when she had his chest on her face and fell to the ground with him on top of her. Gojou feels Miwa's small body beneath him and opens his eyes, horrified. He steps aside and gets up as fast as he falls to the ground. He grabs her by the waist and lifts her off the ground like a feather. Before she realizes she has been knocked down, she feels her feet touch the ground and Gojou's hands touching just below the curve of her chest.
Understandably, she makes that panicked expression. She lets out a shriek and Gojou immediately raises his hands and looks down at her legs. Suddenly he bends down and at that instant she notices. She groans and bends as she feels an electric current on her knee.
A drop of blood falls on Kasumi's white skin and she bends to see the damage.
"I'm sorry, Kasumi. I'm making a habit of pushing you... Are you okay?"
"Yes...it's nothing."
Miwa's words lose validity as she takes a first step and bends down again.
"No, you're not," Gojou replies and Kasumi feels her feet lift in the air.
She is petrified. Satoru lifts her in his arms and carries her as he walks.
"Don't worry," he says, "I'm holding your skirt so no one else will see your underwear today."
Kasumi's face incinerates, she lowers her gaze and becomes unable to utter a word. But he smiles in such a warm way that she ends up smiling, even manages to laugh a little at the morning's event.
"Where are we going?" she asks after a few meters.
"To the infirmary, or did you want me to take you somewhere else?"
Kasumi denies vehemently; her face still ablaze with flames.
"Right, you like another boy, don't you?" Kasumi's tongue sticks in her throat, and although she doesn't understand what this comment is about, she neither denies nor affirms it, but simply remains silent until they reach the infirmary.
The nurse, who is inside the infirmary, watches them for a moment. She observes the girl carried in his arms and signals him to put her down on the stretcher. He obeys immediately. Perhaps he should leave, but he decides to stay while the nurse disinfects the wound and then places a bandage on it.
"How did the game go?" asks the nurse suddenly.
Satoru smiles and his arrogant look is an answer in itself.
"We won."
"I'm glad to hear it," she replies with a warm smile that creases the corners of her eyes.
Kasumi listens to the interaction and watches Gojou out of the corner of her eye.
"There," the nurse says suddenly. "Are you sure you can walk?"
"Of course. Don't worry."
"Please walk with her," she says to Satoru and he nods.
Just by walking out the door, it becomes clear to Gojou that Kasumi can barely walk. But she is determined to do so. Every couple of steps she bends her bandaged leg again and winces in pain, which she poorly conceals.
"I'm fine, Gojou. No need to follow me... I mean, I don't want you to think that I mind your company, it's just that I don't want to waste your time, you must be excited for having won the game and maybe you want to share with your teammates."
"It's nothing, it's just the first game of the season. I'll have time to celebrate many victories. Besides, it's my fault for running you over like that."
"No, no, it's my fault; I stopped suddenly."
Kasumi and Gojou's footsteps can be heard in the corridors of the school, which in a few minutes has become deserted. He is still wearing his basketball uniform and should go right now to get some clothes to change into, however, he is still walking behind Kasumi and really has no intention of leaving her alone. Not only because he is responsible for the wound that bends her leg every two steps, but also because he still has a proposal pending.
Kasumi trudges to her locker and takes out her backpack, then turns to Gojou and smiles shyly at him. He knows she's about to tell him again that he can leave her alone so he hurries to say something before she even manages to open her mouth.
"I'll be right back. Wait for me here, don't go anywhere."
Kasumi sees him running in the opposite direction. And even though she's already late, she decides to stay and wait for him. Her heart was about to burst out of her chest a few minutes ago when he lifted her up in his hands and carried her to the infirmary. In fact, she's still a little shaken and can still feel a slight warmth on her cheeks. That weakness she has for popular boys is putting her to shame and it embarrasses her.
Satoru doesn't take too long to return and is wearing a casual outfit; a white t-shirt and dark pants. Kasumi gasps at the sight of him, but she tries to hide it as best she can, smiles in her usual friendly way and waits for him to come to her side, although she's still not sure why she's waiting for him.
"I'll walk you home," he says suddenly and she seems to panic for a moment, "and I'm not going to take no for an answer. I already told you; it's my fault you'll get hurt and it's my responsibility to take you home and make sure you're okay."
Gojou is usually not so nice, but he has to behave himself if he expects Kasumi to accept his proposal.
"You are very kind Gojou."
After leaving the school, it takes little time for Gojou to get annoyed by the slow pace of Miwa's feet. It will probably take them twice as long to reach their destination at this pace.
"You played very well today, it was a great game," she congratulates him.
"I mean, it was no big deal. The other team was very unlucky that the first game of the season was against us. Our team won the championship last year."
"I don't doubt it," she replies, still smiling.
"How about the clubs?" Gojou asks. This kind of casual conversation usually bores him. He doesn't know her too well; he only knows that she's a brainiac and that she's usually very nice to everyone. That she works part-time and wants to go to college, perhaps what his father would have expected of him.
"They're fun, I have a great time... Especially in the science club."
At this point Satoru remembers the comment Shoko made to him, the one about the boy Kasumi likes. Her comment only serves to cement that idea in his mind. Kasumi has shown almost no interest in him, or Suguru, several girls have crushes on him in their classroom. Maybe it's because she has a great interest in her studies and probably found someone like her in that club.
"I'm taking too long, aren't I?" she comments, as if she had read his mind. "I'm sorry, you can leave if you want, you've already accompanied me most of the way."
"Well, yes, we are taking a long time, but I can give you a solution to that."
Without warning, he quickly bends down and takes her in his arms again, but this time Miwa is more alert and squeals as she feels his hands on her legs and back.
"Gojou-kun! It's not necessary, please!"
"Don't yell so much, Kasumi-chan. I don't like screaming women..."
Miwa's lips seem to sew together immediately. She stays quiet, her back stiff and tense, her arms folded in her lap holding her briefcase.
"It's not necessary..." she repeats with an embarrassed face.
"Agh... we're going to be an hour late at your pace, Kasumi."
"I'm sorry, I don't want to waste your time."
"You don't, in fact, I have a favor to ask you."
"A favor?" asks Kasumi, untying the tense knots in her back. "What kind of favor?"
Kasumi has no idea what a girl like her could give to someone like him, so his words arouse great interest.
"I need a tutor. Could you give me some private lessons to catch up with my classes?"
"Oh... I'm sorry, I can't help you with that."
Gojou stops in his tracks. He simply can't believe that the new girl would be so pleased to turn him down. Private lessons with him? Any other girl at school -one who doesn't know him too well- would be happy to spend time alone with him. But as his expression becomes unhinged as he looks at Kasumi's face that has lost its blush from embarrassment, he realizes. Kasumi must really like someone else.
"Why not!?" he shouts, despite having complained about her shouting.
"I don't have time; I have a lot of work to do."
"I'll pay you," he answers immediately as soon as he finds his chance. If Kasumi won't help him because she is simply immune to his charms, perhaps she is not so immune to money. He notices that this time she takes longer to answer his proposal. This is Miwa's weak point. "Much more than what you get paid at your part-time job. Well, my dad will pay you. How about it? If you quit your part-time job to give me some classes then you'll have more free time for your clubs and, who knows, maybe you can even socialize a little more."
"Okay," Miwa replies with conviction in her voice, "I'll do it, I'll tutor you."
Note: I'm looking for this fic to have a very light pace, as I already mentioned I need some fun after ripping my heart out to write Disenchantment. I hope you liked this chapter and from the next one you can expect content not suitable for minors. So kids, please don't blame me if you keep reading.