2/28
Cast:
Misumi Ryouta - Cure Black's brother - age 13
Hyuuga Minori - Cure Bloom's sister - age 14
July, 2010
Who notices an ordinary person in a classroom of twenty-eight?
That is the problem as Ryouta sees it. He is young, and it is spring, but whether it is rose-colored or indigo or saffron-colored, the ones who seem to be in the springtime of youth are only the ones who stick out. The boy who skips lunch to practice guitar. The girl who bleaches her hair and darkens her skin. These, along with one or two others, seem to be pursued endlessly by suitors and rivals, while Ryouta, whose most unique memories might be a certain person's Cobra Twist, is the one left to actually sweep the floor while two of his friends play-fight with the brooms.
"Guys, would you cut that out? I wanna get out of here before night."
"Eh, don't spoil our fun!" "Yeah, the sun sets late this time of year!"
It's not that his friends are always jerks, or that Ryouta himself is always the responsible one. He just happens to be the one positioned to see their jousting shift in the direction of the door while a girl carrying box so large that her face is hidden behind it enters from the hallway.
"Look out!"
His warning comes too late. One boy thrusts. The other parries to his right. Broom strikes box. Girl stumbles backward. She falls. Box falls. Shouts and screams. The two culprits bolt. Ryouta rushes to the girl. She clutches her leg while crying.
"Class rep! Are you-" Of course she's not okay. "Can you get up?"
She takes his hand and tries to stand, but-
"I can't. I'm sorry." Her cheeks are wet with tears.
"It's not your fault! Those jerks- Maybe I can carry you?"
He moves to get his arms under her so he can lift. She blushes, but wraps her arms around his shoulders and doesn't resist. It is similar to the maneuver known as Princess Carry, except that he is kneeling on the floor and isn't able enough to lift her any higher. Seeing her face up close and framed by her braided brown hair, Ryouta thinks for the first time that Hyuuga Minori is actually really cute.
"Are you alright?"
It is his turn to blush. "Don't worry about me! You're the one who's hurt!"
Ryouta tries to think of another plan to move her. The need to get Minori to the infirmary being the most pressing concern of the moment. However, they are spared any further attempts by the arrival of a teacher, who lifts the injured girl without any visible strain.
It is the second time Ryouta has envied another man.