I am on my way to homeroom.

Homeroom.

I remember homeroom being something like this. Nonexistent. I never showed up to that, and would skip the...Twenty five minutes or so that was actually homeroom. The times I did decide to show up it was always loud, with a lot of kids. There were some of the wanna be hood types, the jocks, the preps, and everything in between, and then there was me-who rarely showed up.

It had been at my first high school; my second high school I went to didn't have homeroom.

Anyways, homeroom had been about a half hour long if I can recall correctly, and honestly nobody bothered going to that in the first place. Me included. It had gotten to a point where it was mandatory to go, and if anyone was found outside the halls once it started tickets were handed out after the first warning.

Quite frankly the whole thing was just was a waste of time as nothing was being done-other then announcements and people just sitting around. Most of the people in there didn't want to be there for starters, and then it came to the point where they were forced. Yeah, everyone was just thrilled with that, but I'm not going to have the same problem here.

This homeroom will be like the homeroom in my middle school. It's where we'll be for most of the day, or where most of the work takes place as it had been way back then. It may be the class I actually have to come back to throughout the day-I'm not sure what the rules are here, but I'm going to cover all of my bases before hand. So, I get graded, have to do work, it sucks sure, but at least I'm not sitting bored like at my first high school wishing to be anywhere but where I was at that moment in time.

However...Now, I am a Kampfer, and for all I know every single person in this class-since they are girls, could very well be an enemy Kampfer that I have to fight. I really think I am meant to be a loner, and I am, but amidst this whole mess...I'm supposed to be on my own, and I guess I just take on all comers or hunt them down one by one-the way Stubby Bear had said it the Black Kampfer are rather...Pragmatic. Deft. Skilled.

They also seem to be...Freaks of nature, if that is a proper term to describe them...Me. It's not like I'm red or blue, and as far as I know Black Kampfer have always been alone in that aspect, and so I'd assume they are loners beforehand or just don't talk all that much. Like me. So, I guess it makes sense in some way that I'd be a Black Kampfer, but I don't think it's supposed to be a common thing for a Black Kampfer to be roaming around.

We are pragmatic and we leave bodies behind. If a Black Kampfer is roaming around shit is going to hit the fan quick, or already has. As Stubby Bear said, Black Kampfer have been around before.

I am pragmatic in the fact that I just try to avoid nonsense as a whole. Perhaps I should be back in my apartment, but as Shizuku is starting to prove; she will come at the drop of a hat with the crazy trio. I am pragmatic due to my avoidance of all the folly that's always surrounded me, that had surrounded me more as of late, but I continue weaving through the chaos and distress. If push comes to shove I am going to fuck someone up, bad. I am going to break someone's finger or neck, I will punch them in the throat. I spent my entire childhood fighting, every single day, and it shaped me to be how I am now.

After all, those who grew up around violence detest it when they grow up, but those who didn't grow up around violence crave it as they are older.

I avoid conflict, but if there's no other way for me...

Someone is leaving in a body bag.

Without making a peep, I press my fingers to my temples, kneading as softly as I can.

Shit, man...Let me tell you, never before have I felt such suspense just going to class. This is supremely ridiculous, and I wish I followed through on my foiled plan of taking the next plane out of this country. However, I imagine something would just by this freak chance...Like my car starting on fire...Something is going to wrong between my travel there and back, and well I'd rather not run the risk of endangering other people because of my own very just, stubbornness.

I entertain the idea of running as fast as I can. I am almost certain I can get away if I can manage to get the break on Shizuku. That will be the tricky part considering she has a good sense of perception, and is perceptive This is clear to me because the way she dealt with Natsuru, where as I was going to shut her up with force, Shiziku simply directed the dolt away.

I won't get far if she does manage to wind me. Shizuku, unlike others-though not so much Mikoto in this way, doesn't become more...Buxom so to speak. As she is already fit and strong, the only change would be her white under-curtain thing of hair. Though, maybe part of her personality changes to, as she's proven to be a little more...Aggressive when she wants to be. She's been a Kampfer longer than I have, and from what Stubby Bear told me she would be a Schwert type, close range, physically powerful; a given with her natural figure.

l am a Zauber. Multi-range, agile, nimble, flexible, and deft. I can use water, something I will have to invest more time into. I haven't tried anything drastic, yet, still, other than focusing it into a sphere within my hand, just holding it like that for as long as I can. I don't want it to be like at my old house where I busted down an entire wall, and honestly, an entire part of the house.

The scary thing is I really wasn't trying...I just focused, and well.

Boom.

However, there is one drawback with being a Zauber. It's the amount of focus it takes in order to conjure up my water, and that's not taking into account propelling actual attacks or adding shape to said attacks. This really doesn't bother me since I can laser focus, and am not an airhead in that aspect. However, I doubt I'm going to be unleashing some twelve kilometer water dragon or something crazy like that.

I ponder all of this because it helps me either concede to my fate and go to homeroom, and continue through this day, or if I escape and isolate myself somewhere in the mountains with those monkeys that spend all of their time in those hot springs. Or, something, other than having to fight-I'd just rather not expend the effort, in that extent, though I have no problem learning, training, and studying more about this stuff.

Perhaps Stubby Bear will have some tips of some sort.

I know if I really exert I can conjure water attacks that Shizuku will have to dodge. She had sliced through my attacks days ago, but it wasn't exactly effortless on her part. There was always a small furrow to her brow, as she strained against the force of my attacks. Of course, she cleaved through them in the end, but every time I had a bare second to stay ahead of her.

I did manage to stay ahead of her, until I met a dead end.

The edge of the roof.

"You wouldn't be thinking of leaving? Andrew?"

My haze is receding, and I'm brought back to the reality around me. The solid floor a reminder that I was now out of my shell so to speak-it was getting to be just a little too common for this woman to break me out of my thoughts. I really don't appreciate it. Also, she's already onto me, or has just that sneaking suspicion that I don't want to be here. Maybe I am just that obvious.

"Would it matter if I said yes?"

Shizuku mulls this over, it seems. I am just silent, waiting for an answer-and if not a little amused that she's actually giving it some real thought. Because, quite frankly it doesn't matter if I say yes or no, she's going to drag me here if she has to.

"Well, I do appreciate honesty."

My snort doesn't sound and my glare doesn't meet her at all. I don't even turn to her in order to acknowledge that she exists. I'm sure this woman appreciates honesty-when it is from the person she is speaking to, while she isn't completely honest herself and literally lies through her teeth. Something would be simple for Shizuku, she could play the part, be convincing enough, and to top it off even if I did figure it out she'd be just that convincing.

I also know she just loves to manipulate things. A classic would be the recent curry incident. That whole thing had been due to the machinations of Shizuku, Mikoto's incessant insistence, and lastly because of myself and my rather good manners. After all, if I didn't eat the curry then it'd be rude, and I'm almost certain Mikoto would have flipped her lid quite literally, and then I'd have to throw her out of my apartment with exacting force because she just wouldn't leave.

In turn I will then have to throw Akane out, because in her Kampfer form-at least-she will be anything but compliant. I can see her shooting up to her feet, a glare in her eyes, that half wet snarl that'd sound from her lips before she decided to point her gun. 'Put the dumb bitch down' I can hear those very words leaving her mouth in the moment I have Mikoto either over my shoulder or hogtied to a steel pole escorting her out of my room.

Oddly enough, I don't think much of Natsuru or what...She'd do. She was more likely to sit there and watch in silence than do anything else, if she really wishes to intervene than she'd go about a talking route. I can see her mouth moving ten million miles a second and it is already giving me a migraine. I know now that she has a mouth on her-not in that sense, but in the sense that she doesn't know when or how to shut up, nor to let something drop, or to even take the glaring hint to do one of things mentioned.

Amidst all of my thoughts I've yet to respond to Shizuku. I can see her gaze on me, feel her eyes trying to bore into me. Though, I am not looking at her even the slightest, I am a perceptive person-I was feeling nervous and awkward before, but now I am feeling a bit uneasy. Maybe it's a little wrong of me to even be thinking this, but I don't want her taking me by the lips in the middle of this hallway.

All of that was so...

So...

"Andrew. You do know it's rude to keep a woman waiting."

My risk is just that-a risk, and by chancing a glance I peer into her piercing eyes. They wish to hold me, make me freeze, make me go completely still, but I fight back against the oppressing sensation. Unfortunately, that means I am looking straight into Shizuku's eyes, and since I am not going to walk into a door like a dumbass, I stop my strides and root myself to the floor.

If my...Friendship...Relationship...

Jeez is this frazzling!

As long as Shizuku and I are on good terms like this I will need to lay down the law. Draw the line. Stomp my foot and cross my arms and then clap my hands. I must do something, and will do something to assert myself as the alpha. Because, quite simply I will not bow down to anyone and I'm not going to back down from anyone due to size or anything else. I like to think that I am humble, as I am a very quiet person. I'm not loud or abrasive, I don't let people walk all over me, but I'm not excessive in any way.

I am also honest, and well if she wants an honest answer from me then she will get it.

So, naturally my first answer is. "We're not going on a date, and I'm not meeting you anywhere. I'm standing right in front of you."

"I see that."

She inches up to me, neck craned up, and for some reason clasps her hand behind her back.

I find myself shaken, but not at all in a bad way Shizuku's piercing eyes soften, and there is a...Strange look to them. They're big all of the sudden, like she's pleased, or she's got something that she's wanted for an eternity. I...I don't know how to describe it, and considering Shizuku-I find it doubtful that she wants to indulge what's going on in that weird...Weird head.

I'm also shaking because Shizuku is every centimeter of a woman...

I really, really, really...Can't take this!

"Shizuku, please." I draw my arm forward, palm open, but at the same time I take a few steps back. Everything cools down-my eyes focus back into their normal clarity, and the fuzzy feeling I felt before subsides, but doesn't go away entirely. My heart continues to beat quickly, and I hope that Shizuku can't hear it beating its frantic beat or feel it.

"Can we talk, seriously?" I lower my arm partly, but still keep it fully extended-I just don't know if she's going to be more inclined to listen to me, or try something rather obscene right here and now.

Shizuku makes a face similar to something of a pout. She pulls me with surprising force, so much so that I stumble twice before regaining my balance. Before I can even ask where we're going she shoves me into an empty room, shuts the door, looks around twice, and then locks the door. While she does all of this I maneuver myself so I don't go crashing over three desks, flip over, and end up slamming my leg through the wall, another desk, or by some freak chance the window just ten feet away.

I can't escape unscathed. My knee crashes into a desk. But, I do manage to not topple over on top of the desk or knock it over.

"Son of a bitch!" I snap, massaging my knee with vehemence, my teeth gritting from the dull pain. I guess it couldn't be the side of my knee that took the impact-it had to be the center of my kneecap itself. "Why'd you do that?"

"Sounded important and urgent." Shizuku has that weird look in her eyes again, a look that I am quickly starting to dread.

However, that dread pales in comparison to my rage at being tossed around like a rag doll by this woman's hand. It was bad enough she wrapped me up like she did before, but swinging me into this room was taking it a step too damn far. Did she lack any and all control? The sheer speed and strength behind her yank and toss was surprising, and the mess of desks turned this way and that way are proof of that.

I count to ten, close my eyes, and heave one long tired sigh. I don't even know why I care other than the fact I banged my knee-Shizuku-banged my knee off one of these stupid desks. "Why did you throw me like that?"

"Ohh, well I can't waste time." Shizuku folds her arms across her chest. "Is this about what happened with the curry?

I do not look at her. It's because first and foremost I am annoyed, and I am not going to give her the satisfaction of seeing me annoyed. Second reason is, well, it is because of that incident. I don't want her getting any ideas here of all places to do some crazy shit like that again. I've no doubt there's some newspaper club before, like at every other high school, and I will not be on the front page of said newspaper like some prancing idiot. 'Shizuku has a secret lover' I can already see the headline for the entire stupid thing.

'Andrew jumps off Mt. Fuji after losing her mind.'

I can't believe I'm about to confirm this, but I must. "Yes, it is."

I shiver unintentionally. Shizuku licks her lips before pursing them, and her eyes narrow. Now, it's not that sadistic lip licking that they do in certain animes when they get cut or a person's blood on their face and they do that quick lick before spitting it out or grinning. It's not the slow and seductive lick of lips that I've seen in movies and certain animes-usually the ones that are harem based, though I have trouble understanding those.

Anyways, back to the focus of this whole thing. Shizuku's lip licking and pursing is sultry and sensual. I don't find myself grossed out by it or even weirded out, if anything I must use all of my willpower to not stare at her lips. It's not excessive or obnoxious on her part, but subtle, and I must really watch in order to see her doing what she does best. Unfortunately, I can't work up the nerve to tell her to stop.

"I was hoping you'd say that. I...Thoroughly enjoyed that, in fact I couldn't sleep a wink that night."

It takes only three seconds for me to distance myself from her once again. My first thought is that it is a good thing that I don't allow her in my room or anywhere near it. The second thought is that it's a good choice on my part to have stayed out in the living room with them. Third, and most pressing at this moment is how am I going to be able to escape or get through to Shizuku-at this moment she looks pretty...Driven. "Listen, Shizuku..."

"Yes, Andrew-sama."

I cringe. "Don't do that. Listen, I don't want you trying anything, doing anything, manipulating anything, or anything like what happened with the curry in my apartment. That means I'm not kissing you in public or anything like that."

"So, you'll kiss me in front of Natsuru, Mikoto, and Akane, but you won't kiss me in front of three hundred other girls?"

"I had to do that. You were going to suffer just like I was at that moment. I know your tongue was burning."

"Not for the same reasons."

I groan, exasperated.

"So, you'll kiss me in private? Just the two of us?"

I understand, completely, wholly, and totally that I dug myself into this hole by opening up my big stupid mouth. Why, oh why did I have to be so ridiculous as to say 'let's talk serious, Shizuku?' It just shows another one of my genius feats of being a Kampfer. Other than the most obvious and I can conjure water from my hands-and the environment around me if I wish to-though I don't know how to do the last one.

Yet.

Maybe Shizuku will train me if I prove myself, in time. She must know a great deal, as her fighting style would prove that much. I'm not a black belt or anything, but I know when someone is very trained or is just brawling-as I've seen people stand in place and hit each other over and over. Maybe, by spending more...Private time with her, not necessarily where her head is at, but doing things with just the two of us...

I don't shake my head, but rather sigh internally.

"I am not as...Against it." I finally say, feeling like a great weight has been lifted from my shoulders, but at the same time another has come to replace that, and has now slammed me onto the ground, so hard that my chin snaps up from the force.

However, I have to lay down the law because I am the alpha, and not Shizuku. "I am not as against it in private, because in private nobody else sees us. I also don't have to worry about someone trying to snap a picture, or someone having a panic attack because they see you and I...Anyways, that's my point. You're not going to make this any more worse than it is for me being here, like I am. I don't want to see an article in the school newspaper 'Shizuku has a secret lover' or 'Shizuku and Andrew could be secret lovers' because the headline will be 'Andrew has jumped off of the tip of Mt. Fuji because he's had enough'."

"Well..." She takes a seat on a desk locking her eyes with mine, before crossing one of her long legs over the other. "Sounds fair."

I blink, titling my head. "Huh?"

"Even though you don't know where Mt. Fuji is...I do believe you'll jump off of it. So, I'll concede."

I'm so happy that she understands. That she didn't make things too awkward, more than I already have with my big mouth. I'm also thankful that she won't be up to her folly here at school and keep it contained within my apartment, or wherever we may be at that point in time. Point being, I won't need to be such a wreck here at school, well more than what I am with watching over my back and trying to sense if any single person is a Kampfer.

My thrill increases before crashing down. Shizuku's lips, warm and soft, meet mine in a tender yet passionate kiss. She wraps her arms around my waist, and pulls me close, and I don't even fight back. I'm too shocked, too much at a loss, and I can feel my body giving in to this sensation. I want to close my eyes and give myself to this kiss. Slowly, I do just that.

Shizuku's body is so firm yet soft, athletic yet shapely. Her arms feel strong against my waist, not quite pressing, but they are secure. It takes all my mental prowess to not let out a small 'eep' or some strange sound as she pulls me even closer, her mouth starting to open. Once I cave in, she envelops me just as I enveloped her on the couch, and it's nothing short of electric on my tongue.

I realize that I'm getting into the kiss. My body betrays my mind, my hormones betray me, and last but not least my mind betrays me by blanking out completely. By not sending shocks of force through me like it should be with our contact. I relax, my breathing becomes more shallow.

Shizuku is really, really soft.

"It's time we go to homeroom, Andrew. I can't play with you all day, at least not here."

Shizuku parts away from me, and I feel cold.

Strange.

I take a shaky breath, almost frowning at the loss of her lips on mine, the warmth that surrounded me, the tight feeling on my waist from her strong arms. I take a small step away, wiping some sweat from my brow, while trying to ignore the implications of Shizuku's statement that just hits me with the same force that all of her statements do.

"What was that just now?" Of course, I can only ask two questions. "What if someone seen what you were doing just now?"

"Reciprocation from last night." Shizuku smiles a sharp smile, and her eyes get that weird super piercing look again. "Sorry if I can't be as aggressive and passionate as you are, but I'm just a demure woman."

"You're crazy! Demure my ass!" I throw my hands in the air.

"It is a joint effort, Andrew, and I know you were enjoying that. Besides, you don't have to worry. There's no lights on, the door is closed, and we're closer to the back wall than anything else. The only way someone would be able to see us is if they came in, and I did lock the door."

She smiles. "It'll be our secret."

I scratch at the back of my head...Sometimes I just can't help myself, and Shizuku just decided to go and do it. She has really soft lips and smells good.

I'm losing my mind.

"You better not tell anyone, I mean it."

Her smile widens. "It will be our secret then."

I nod, relieved-but her smile really puts me off, but I am still happy that she won't be telling another living soul about this or us.

"Fine by me-"

My voice heightens.

Shizuku just...

"You smacked my ass." I rub at the spot-it didn't really hurt, but I jolted me for sure.

"Time for us to get the class, and I always get the last word."

She may have smacked my ass, but...

"I get the last word.


I write my name in Japanese.

Andrew Ambrose.

My penmanship isn't extremely bad, at least.

Correction.

Now I am losing my mind.

I stand in front of homeroom, fucking shit. Do I hate this. I feel so awkward and just...Weird that I want to kick a hole in the floor and go hide in what crater I manage to create. There's about thirty four girls, all girls, staring at me. And, to make matters all the worse Shizuku is at the center of the class looking so amused, that I am surprised she isn't laughing.

You see, the thing is I've never liked public speaking, presenting, talking in front of large crowds, or anything of the like. If anything I am always the one not doing the project just because I don't want to present it, or I take a lower grade, because I don't present it to the class, which is fine with me because then I don't have to present it in front of a whole bunch of people. I know some people actually like to present things, and like to speak publically, but I am not one of those people-like ninety five percent of the population, I dread public speaking.

I dread standing in front of large crowds.

Amidst my despair at this moment, I take in one...Important...Light blue note. And, two more notes, one brown, and the other purple, next to the light blue note.

You have to be kidding me.

No.

NO.

This really isn't happening.

No, it's not.

Hitomi isn't sitting right there.

Those two girls sitting next to Hitomi are not her friends.

Hitomi isn't here.

It takes exactly a second for me to grasp Hitomi is here. Another second to grasp her friends are with her. And, another second to note that Shizuku is giving me that sharp eyed look that is telling me to stay put. I really contemplate what it is that I've done in my relatively short life here on earth that I'm being punished like this. I'm not killing babies or animals, I'm not cruel to people or animals. I'm not going around robbing people, harassing them, and I'm not shooting people just for sport and nothing more.

So, again...Why is this happening to me?

The fuck did I do?

I mean really-sometimes existing is bad enough, with all the bullshit and other crazy shit in the world. But, now on top of the usual lunacy that pollutes earth-that I'm swarmed by, now it gets worse. Now Kampfer are involved, something I know little about, who are part of a proxy war for lack of a better term, which I am not a part of. Okay, technically I am a part of it, but I've chosen not to fight, so that leaves me as alpha.

You're damn right I'm alpha.

The first thing I force myself to do besides high tail it out of here, is observe the girl to Hitomi's right.

She has a shapely body, I think-I can't get good look at her...And, I try not to ogle too much in order to see her shape. She fair skin, amber pools for eyes, and long, long blonde hair that must go to the middle of her back if not a bit lower than that, but since she isn't standing I won't begin to guess. Her eyes almost look like mine which are like a cream gold, sort of, but her eyes also remind me of Shizuku's and the keen intelligence that shine in them, though this girl's eyes shine from book smarts and not experience, like Shizuku.

I know Shizuku eyes shine of experience because they're a bit...Harder. She's suffered, and has done everything with her own two hands, relying on wit and cunning.

While blondie just has her smarts from books...If she were out in the wild she'd try to do everything textbook rather than hear and see. Listen and watch. Feel.

I turn my focus onto the second girl, and boy is she a picture opposite of blondie.

She doesn't seem to be as tall or shapely, more buxom and curvaceous. Ahh, voluptuous is the word I'm looking for-I can't say if she is more so than me, not like I'm bragging but I am taller. Enough about me though-Her skin is fair, a bit darker than blondie's and her hair is purple-ish with bangs coming down evenly over her forehead, with the rest of its length trailing down her back. She looks very neat, but her large indigo eyes have a meekness to them that I don't see in a lot of people. Perhaps she's just shy and quiet like I am; maybe she's been hit on so many times because of her figure.

I mean, she does have curves...Just saying.

Of course I do this all in the span of four seconds while remaining silent, struggling to muster up the courage in order to introduce myself to the class. I just don't like being in front of so many people, or being stared at by many so people. It's worse when I have to speak, as compared to when I walk into a room and like robots-everyone turns to me in unison.

Oh hi there!

The fuck you looking at?

"H-hi, my name is Andrew A-Ambrose." I curse hearing my stutter, but don't grimace.

My Japanese-speaking wise is still questionable, but everyone understands me...

I think.

Everyone just stares at me, eyes wide, silent.

I see some girls smile, ever so slightly.

They tilt their heads.

Here it comes again.

I don't know what it could be...Maybe it's something on my face? Though, I am certain I have a rather stone face at this moment, even if I am rather nervous. I don't see hearts in anyone's eyes so that's a good sign at least. I'd hate to have to run out of this class, and the school in order to escape such madness. I won't hold my breath though, girls here are weird. And, as I've learned girls are ten times weirder at this school than anywhere else, and it's more than just this school being a hotbed for Kampfer.

"You may sit wherever you want, Andrew-kun."

"Thank you, Sensei." I nod at the teacher, looking over the rows. I'm not sure if what I said is correct, but I'm not about to call her sama or dono. She is not my lord or anything like that, and I think dono is pretty much implied with the fact she is a teacher. So, it only makes sense that I call her sensei before anything else. I also am not going to say sama because that is what Shizuku addressed me as.

"Yo! You can sit over here." Hitomi taps a desk-well the chair right in front of her, just two seats away from Shizuku who is not even looking at me.

I just thought I'd point this out.

It's the only desk open for me to sit in, so I really have no other choice, but Hitomi saying things in the manner that she just did makes me a little annoyed. It's like she's telling me to sit there, rather than it being a suggestion like she is wording it. However, I just swallow my annoyance and make my way to the seat, plopping down when I get there and rest my back.

I wait for the teacher to speak, because obviously this isn't like my first homeroom where I an the kids can basically do whatever we want as long as there's not too much noise or anything like that.

"You can talk quietly, work on any assignments, and continue the class project. The class project is due at the end of the month. But, there must be minimal noise."

I blink hearing that, and realize that all the girls in the room go into their own little groups, and me, well I stay right where I am because I have nowhere else to go, and I'm not part of anyone's group. So, I turn my focus around me, and note that I have the second dynamic trio on one side of me, and Shizuku just one seat away from me, though she's not talking to me. She's not even looking at me.

I wonder...Did I do something wrong?

No, I couldn't have. Shizuku is a straight A-4.0 and nothing less, total nerd of a student. She hasn't missed a single day nor has she been late to any class, at all, for the whole sum of this year. So, it is only logical that she spends her time focused on her academics and getting her work done in school rather than focusing on me and trying to irritate me. But, I feel a little off not talking to Shizuku like I usually do. I don't talk or associate myself with people all that much, but I'd like to consider Shizuku a friend.

It's strange because while Shizuku is ignoring me all of these girls are either staring at me, or looking every few seconds.

"You fall again, klutz?"

There's Hitomi, too.

"Why?"

"I don't know, you fell that one time with me. You fell outside of school because of Senou-san."

I look at her, feeling my eyes narrow. "Natsuru?"

"Yes, Natsuru." She looks exasperated.

"What?"

"How hard is to say Natsuru's last name?"

I shake my head. "I just say Natsuru, no honorifics, why say his last name?"

"You still didn't answer my question and never mind." Hitomi laughs, shaking her light blue hair all over the place and which way. "You're stubborn.

I muster enough energy to scowl at Hitomi. I see that her desk is empty, and she looks rather bored having to be in here, but tolerates it because two of her friends are in here, and now that I am in here...Well, it's loads of endless entertainment. "Don't you have any homework to do? And, no I haven't. Not because of you. And, not because of that dolt. No."

She snorts at this while shaking her head. "You're never going to let that go."

"Never."

She laughs, amused. "You sure are stubborn."

"Repeating yourself there.I'm proud of my stubbornness, thank you."

"Anyways," she continues on, uncaring of the way I continue to scowl at her.

"Don't you have homework?"

"No. I finish all of it at my father's restaurant after school, usually." She waves her hand dismissively, but the cocky smile remains on her face.

"Leaves me free time."

I suppress my groan-this means Hitomi's sole focus is grinding my gears at this moment.

It goes from Shizuku.

To Hitomi.

Lovely.

"These two are my friends."

I suppress my annoyance with Hitomi, turning to the two girls that are her friends. Man, they must be some pieces of work being Hitomi's friend, I know I'm not an easy case, but at least I'm a simple person. Given how these girls look they are rather complicated. It's just a feeling that I'm getting, but as long as they don't step on my toes I am all good. The second someone really, really, really makes me angry all bets are off, and someone's head is going to get busted. That's as simple as it gets.

"I'm Sayaka. Nice to meet you." The blonde says.

"It's nice to meet you, too."

"I'm sorry."

I look at the other girl, and I tilt my head. Is there any reason why she is saying sorry to me? I hope she isn't strange!

"Why?"

"I was going to introduce myself, but then I froze. My name is Ryōka."

"It's nice to meet you."

I blink a few times, looking at Ryōka with mild surprise.

"I'm sorry."

I almost regret asking this. "Why?"

"I said it's nice to meet you in unison with you."

"It's no big deal."

"I'm still sorry."

I look at Sayaka, noting she looks a little conflicted about something. Now, I know I'm not social butterfly, but I can have a conversation with people. This girl, right here, is a mess. A certified mess.

"What?"

She looks at me a bit more, then turns away from me.

"Okay, what the hell is going on?" I voice my thought.

"Stubborn ass." Hitomi sighs, giving a shake of her head.

"I'm just trying to understand this is all..." I look at Ryōka with as much keenness as I can, trying to understand what makes this girl tick and why she says I'm sorry, and then just completely ignores me while not even bothering to answer my question. And, why does she always say I'm sorry for no reason, it doesn't make any sense to me.

"Why does she say sorry like that? Why is she ignoring me?"

Hitomi and Sayaka trade looks, all the while the other girl doesn't look at any of us-but her homework.

"Don't mind her. So I heard you signed up for the Track and Field club, and that you also skateboard." Sayaka speaks up, she has this smile on her face that's more confident than cocky, she follows this up by crossing her right leg over her left. My answer may not have come like I wanted it to, but I won't pass up the chance to confirm that I do skateboard, though I do a lot of other stuff, too.

"Yeah." I give a nod, surprised my tone sounds so chipper.

Maybe this is a part of it...

"That's pretty cool, I'm not much for sports. That's Hitomi-san's area. I've watched the X Games a few times, though, and the one last year. Hitomi tells me you're really good, you landed this crazy looking trick before falling. I prefer reading though, drawing too. I work in the library, too. It can be difficult sometimes remembering some things, and there's always misplaced or last books, but I get to read in silence so..."

She shrugs gently. "I have no complaints."

I keep my focus on her, but mentally I'm somewhere else for a moment. I see everything before me, and it is there, but it's just there and bears no meaning. I'm getting an extremely strange feeling-like a pulse or nudge, that lingers, and I don't know what it is. Maybe it's because Sayaka is...She seems very normal, and amidst all of this lunacy it's nice to meet someone that isn't on an overdose of crazy.

Sayaka is...Nice. A simple teenage girl.

Then I look at Hitomi-how dare this little cocky girl just put me on blast like this. It was Hitomi's fault for getting in my way in the first place, what person just turns a corner without looking around-hello I'm going at least twenty miles on a skateboard!

Can you not hear my polyurethane wheels smacking into the lines of the cement?

"You must be really satisfied." I grumble, not bothering to hide my glare at the moment.

"Seeing you scowl like that makes it all worth it." Hitomi waves her hand. "Besides, you were the one just flying down the street like a bat out of hell on four wheels."

Normally, I'd cross my arms, but I'm not going to do that this time around. "You really grind my gears, Hitomi."

"I know."


Everything passes by in a blur until it's finally time for lunch. Interestingly enough, Sayaka is in my Japanese Literature class, and she wasted little time in having me sit by her and beginning to talk about random things. Clothes. Shoes. The books she was reading. Her librarian duties and how much she loves those duties. The most recent game show on TV-something that Akane had put on when I gave up control of my TV.

I will say that Sayaka is normal, if a bit on the talkative side, but it doesn't really bother me. However, it doesn't stop me from feeling...Weird whenever I'm around her, I can't put my finger on it, nor am I able to explain the feeling that I get...But, it's subtle and persists, and really it begins to annoy me, because I just don't know what this feeling is or why I'm getting it.

So, this school is pretty big, and I'm being a little too light about it. We have a campus, which no high school has. In warmer states like California they have their lockers and hallways outside, same in Florida, but they don't have campuses. Campuses would be strictly for college, because colleges are so damn big-miles big even and have a million different things along that stretch. It can all be a bit much to take in seeing for the first time, and while I've seen this many times at this moment in time the settling of being lost is hitting me.

I got turned around in three halls, had to back track down this one hall until I got to an elevator, and finally after getting off the elevator I was on the bottom floor of the one building I had been in, and slowly make my way out. There's so many girls all over the place, it looks so severely crowded and jammed that I am debating if I should sprint to Mcdonald's or a Ramen place and come back here before lunch is over. I don't think this school has an open lunch, unfortunately. I should just be thankful that no boys are on this side.

I'd hate to see what kind of mess that would be at this point in time. I have little doubt that some couple would be getting it on right here against their locker, just sitting there locking lips and licking tongues. I seen it happen at my first school-people would just be standing in the hallway making out like it's no big deal, and a lot of them did it with so much fervency that it didn't take focus to pick up on the smacking sound. Never mind that fact they were having sex in the bathrooms-at least in there I didn't have to see or hear them.

But, there's only girls here. The second I step out of these doors though, they're all going to turn and look at me. And, unlike the girls in my homeroom, some of these girls would be screaming and have hearts all in their eyes. I would really like to know how they do heave hearts in their eyes, because it is the strangest thing I've had to witness besides Akane and Mikoto arguing about who was going to be going in my bathroom to wash up first. I had to shove Mikoto into the bathroom by her head, literally, and yank Akane back to the living room.

Honestly, my life has gotten way too eventful.

"Well, this is interesting."

"Shizuku."

I stare at her, feeling my lips starting to pull into a smile, but I stop myself from smiling. It's not that I'm mad at her or anything like that, I just never really smiled much as a man, and well those traits have carried over, naturally. However, I am happy to see her, because now I'll be able to get through this herd of girls to the lunchroom-wherever that is. Shizuku is like a royal queen her, everyone parts a path for her, and if I'm not mistaken there's some club on the boy's side, of course, that has to do with dominating.

Or was it her feet?

"Why are you just standing here?"

I point to the outside.

"Ah, how cute."

I turn to see why Shizuku made that comment, and I am just baffled to see all of the girls, and I mean alllll of them start to scream and run towards one building-presumably where the lunchroom is screaming something about Natsuru-sama. If I didn't know any better I would think they were going to hogtie or something and haul her off for their own amusement-that's just how fanatical and obsessed they sounded.

Of course, I defend myself. I cross my arms over my chest and fix the slightly shorter woman with my best glare while nodding towards the outside. "They were just milling about and clogging every other way before you came!"

"Oh?"

"Yes, they were."

"I find your modesty to be rather enticing, Andrew. I've rarely come across someone, man or woman, that is so modest and reserved as you." Shizuku sizes me up, again, eyes flicking down and then back up.

I don't look at her. I turn away, looking at a row of lockers just several feet ahead of me. And, after a second of thought I push the doors open-taking a deep breath. Perfect, there's no crowds or groups, no girls, no people around.

It is vacant, basically-on the campus at least. Natsuru has seemed to do me a good one, which is ironic considering how close she came to pissing me off just this morning. But, if I am not mistaken Natsuru is very popular here, but the Natsuru on the boy side-damn is that kid stupid, is rather bland and nobody cares about him.

Anyways, that dolt aside; I'm just happy that I can walk without having to weave and sway.

"Shizuku?"

"Yes?"

I chance a glance, relieved that she doesn't have that sharp and sly smile on her face, but a curious look instead. I wonder if she is truly curious about what I'm about to say, or if she's just curious about how this whole thing is about to play out. "Why were you so quiet in homeroom?"

She smiles, slightly. "Simple. I have the highest average in this school. I don't have time to be wasting talking to you, or anyone else during my class time. It's nothing personal."

"I guess that makes sense." I nod slowly.

For a second there I thought she had been upset with me-as inane as it is.

I really don't want to see Shizuku lose her shit and flip her lid-she'd probably go Kampfer and start sending heads rolling. Or, she'd just strangle the person or people that are the cause of her losing her shit, giving them a slow and agonizing death. Those chain links, every single one-hurts when she tightens them whenever she does, and I had them around me like a cocoon. Even my fingers, and the digits of my fingers had been locked in place.

"Are you worrying, Andrew? I didn't take you for a worrier."

"No, it's just you usually grind my gears and frazzle me."

Her smile widens, becoming a little sharper than before. "Is that your way of saying you're fond of me?"

For some reason I can feel my heart pick up its pace. Why, I have no idea, but I assess this carefully.

"Sure?"

I mean, her quirks aside Shizuku is pretty cool, if a bit...Forceful at times. She can also be a little wily, but from what I've observed it is not for nefarious reasons, though if I could the Chile peppers it'd be in a league more of devious. Had she been a little troublemaking child growing up?

I can see Shizuku tripping a boy she liked or playing pranks on her parents.

Little troublemaker, and now she's moved onto frazzling me.

"I'm fond of you too, Andrew."

I smile awkwardly.

"What about Natsuru-san and the others?"

I consider the question, humming softly. "Natsuru annoys me. Akane is okay, even in her Kampfer form-though she has a knack for getting under my skin when she is in her Kampfer form. Mikoto wants me to teach her skateboarding, so she's my protégé. I guess."

Shizuku simpers, gently bringing her fingers through her curtain of hair.

Why do I feel like something happened-that something is happening that shouldn't be happening?

"What about Sakura?"

"The same as before."

Shizuku gives me a look before opening the doors for me, but I hold them open for her.

"Do you guys have open lunch?" I try to break the awkwardness-though for the most part it is just me feeling this way. Shizuku has a small pep in her step, and if I didn't know any better she is just overflowing with joy.

"No, but I think you'll find the food here to be more palatable than McDonald's."

"I like their fries, and the teriyaki burger is pretty good."

We stay silent the rest of the way, and I think Shizuku really doesn't approve of my fondness of fast food, even though I do not eat it every single day of the week, and for that matter for all of my meals in a day. The cafeteria is well...It is just something else completely-the first thing is the size. It can easily fit all of us girls inside, and there's still more than enough room to actually move around and such-there's desk-like tables situated everywhere, but there's also the long tables like they had at my grade school, and there's even round tables as well-like the ones they had at both of my high schools.

The second thing is the aromas wafting all around me-causing my stomach to cave in, a pain I don't welcome. Hunger is something I don't like, the feeling of needing nourishment is something I've never liked, and hunger pains are the worse.

I can smell bacon, burgers, chicken, pork, steaming vegetables-I think there's some squash mixed in all of this. But, I can't even begin to name all of the dishes that are here for my enjoyment, which brings me to my next point. The food selection that they have here is ridiculous-I see sushi, fruits, vegetables, nachos, onigiri, burgers, nachos, spaghetti, fries, tacos, I think I see tofu even. If there's tofu than nothing else is out of bounds. There's soda, juice, chips, tea, water, energy drinks, hell there's even a thing that serves Ramen, though it's not like the fancy places in the city.

Shizuku and I enter slowly, both of our own volition. She looks through the room just as I do, but my eyes go to the food after a few moments, while her eyes remained trained on our surroundings.

I give a quick look around-okay no girls are eyeballing me like before, so I am good.

They seem more focused on Natsuru, wherever the idiot may be.

I go make myself a plate picking some of everything. I don't need to look behind me to feel Shizuku trailing behind me, not picking every single thing that sees like I am. She's accustomed to this selection, so for her it's just another day. But, there's a lot of things here that aren't Japanese strictly speaking-like cheeseburgers and fries, but there's also Japanese dishes like Oden.

Never before have I seen such variety in food, at one single place. Of course there's always buffets, but they tend to have the same thing-this is like those blocks that have restaurants, but instead of being individual restaurants they'd combine with each other-fusing their foods in the process.

Shizuku leads me to the table where everyone else must be sitting, and not so much to my surprise I see Sakura front and center with the dynamic trio. They all seem to be enjoying themselves, and I can't really blame them.

"Shizuku-chan! Andrew-san!" Sakura greets us in the same bubbly tone as always.

"Hey." I give a lazy wave, not wishing to be rude.

"Rough first day, huh?" Sakura looks at me. There's an understanding in her eyes, or is that sympathy?

"Yeah." I nod, while indulging in my fries first.

"It's hard adjusting to the workload here, it even gets to me sometimes." Sakura admits.

"Mmm." I nod, just enjoying the food that I have. They start talking among themselves about their day so far, Sakura constantly inching closer to Natsuru only for Akane to do the exact same thing-which is a little strange, Mikoto going on about her curry and a hard project she had due in just three days in her history class. Apparently it is an oral report, as well as a research paper-though the paper counts for about eighty five percent of her grade, from what I'm able to gather.

Akane and Sakura eventually stop their bid for power over Natsuru and talk normally, with Natsuru chiming in whenever she felt it is necessary or when she is feeling awkward-which is a lot. Akane is swamped with her library duties and has to work twice as hard, as there were a lot of books being taken out, and a lot of books being returned, as well as the few that seemed to just get lost-she definitely has her hands full with all of that.

Shizuku and I don't really contribute much to these conversations other than a few words at a time, but nonetheless she enjoys all of the interaction between us, and I just observe everything while remaining relatively silent.

"I'm sure Sayaka will help you." I speak up-Akane brings up her workload again.

"She's really indecisive at times, though." Akane frowns this cute frown.

"So, how do you like the food?" Sakura asks, I think cutting Akane off completely.

Judging by the look on Akane's face, this has been a common thing, and still is.

I look at Shizuku for a second. "It's great, actually."

Shizuku appears smug.

"But, I like McDonald's fries a lot better.


I feel like my statement about the fries didn't really fit into Shizuku's or Sakura's criteria of what food is, but I don't care. It's not like I'm that guy on Super Size Me-eating it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and supper. I'm not super sizing everything he did in that movie either, and if I'm not mistaken-I am pretty sure I am not mistaken, one can't super size anything anymore. No fast food restaurant chains do the super size.

I'm not wearing those stupid slip on black shoes anymore, either. The stupid things make me look silly, and more importantly my skate shoes are a lot more comfortable and familiar to me. I'm also heading out the door.

I've always felt so damn good whenever school is over with. I am always one of the first people, if not the first to be out of the building within the span of a minute flat. Even if there were flights of stair and all that other junk it really did little to stop me. This school is no different, and if anything I pick up my pace as the hordes of girls start to herd together.

I finally have enough, and finding a place where no girl is-I jump out the window, and quickly run to the entrance. Skateboard under my arm, my stupid black shoes in a bag, which is gripped tightly in my hands. One thing I don't understand is how can people, and these girls here more specifically can be so lackadaisical as the end of the day bell rings and school is done with. They talk, they laugh, and worst of all they get in my way.

"Andrew!"

I spot Mikoto, she has one arm above her head waving, and her feet leave the ground like a blur as she jumps up and down. I suppress my laugh and manage to smile just a little bit; Mikoto is a vibrant girl, animate, funny, and last but not least energetic. In fact I will say she's one bundle of energy. Shizuku, Natsuru, and Akane are with her, though they aren't as vibrant as she is.

"Hey!" I smile, tilting my head as I'm just centimeters away from her now.

I set my board on the ground and jump on, shifting my weight, moving my hips.

POP!

I do a simple Ollie-an extremely high Ollie, but still an Ollie.

Okay, that's better.

I note the silence I'm enduring at the moment, and take note that everyone is rather amazed with my trick.

I look at Shizuku first, then Akane, and lastly Natsuru. They all look-well I don't know, but they don't have the excitement as Mikoto.

"That was high." Natsuru remarks, almost like she's in a daze.

Akane nods in agreement.

"Let me try!"

I don't know how it happens but Mikoto is really trying to push me off of my board. I get off of it, of course, and grab her by the shoulders to shove her back and away. If I acted just a second-a frigging second later Mikoto would have taken me down so hard and fast that the back of my head. Cement. Well, it wouldn't be pretty and I would be enraged, because pain does that to me.

"Back off!"

"I just want to try once!"

It is a clash of wills.

"Just once!"

I grit my teeth, pushing and pushing. "No! Back off!"

"Stop this senseless fighting!"

I feel myself come to a complete stop, and Mikoto does as well-which is partly the reason why I stop. We are locked in mortal combat, and I will not be tasting the bitterness of defeat.

The other reason I stop is because I have the sudden impulse to throw Mikoto right into Sakura-who is running up to us with this...Priggish look pruning her face into this frown, that let me tell you, just rubs me the wrong way. There is an old saying-mind your own damn business. If I want to wrestle with Mikoto over my skateboard-my skateboard, then I will do just that.

Sakura takes it a step further, however, and actually touches me-pulling Mikoto and I apart.

"You're young women, right? Stop acting like brutes."

"Mind your own damn business." I snap.

I hate rhetorical questions.

I can feel Natsuru's glare honing in on me, and I cut my eyes at her. "You got something to say, too?"

"You don't need to be so temperamental-"

"Shut up, Natsuru!"

Why'd this little dolt always defend Sakura-why is Natsuru so absorbed with this...

"That's enough. Mikoto, this morning Andrew already agreed to teach you, granted you buy your own board. Andrew, I've already told you once..."

Mikoto scratches her head, looking sincerely sorry for what she's done. "Sorry."

I can hear the unspoken word in Shizuku's statement.

I've already told you about your temper, Andrew.

Sakura makes a sound similar to a huff, crosses her arms in a priggish manner, and smiles. I find the action to be a little irritating, I feel like I'm about to bristle, and I do my best not to say something to her, because I really want to get the last word, but am choosing to be the bigger person at this moment. I have this feeling something is going to come out of this girl's mouth that goes against everything that is about to happen after this, if that makes any sense.

"It's fine, nobody got hurt. So, are we all going to my house to hang out? Natsuru-san, will you come?"

"S-sure."

I give Natsuru a dry look, my eyes narrowed in perpetual annoyance. Normally, I wouldn't be so annoyed, but since this moron said yes, Akane is going to go with, and in turn that means Shizuku is going to go with. Which leaves Mikoto and I, who have plans, to ditch them-I'm not going to try and sugarcoat the fact I do not want to be in Sakura's house at all, and I have much better things to do than entertaining her. I know people are courteous here, and I am myself, but I have my limits.

I feel like I'm at a stand off with Sakura, because despite her speaking to Natsuru her eyes dart to me, and I swear...For just s fricking second they get extremely sharp, and she looks mad.

I'm not fazed by it, but I only resolve myself more to not partake in this.

"Come on, Andrew." Mikoto looks at everyone, but me in particular.

"Sorry, Sakura-san. But, Andrew promised he'd teach me if I buy my own skateboard. You will have to try my famous curry another time!"

I almost freeze in place. Mikoto. It is her voice. And, she's said those words. Words I didn't think I'd hear, because like the three women standing in front of me, she'd follow Natsuru around in a sort of weird way that really didn't and still doesn't make any sense to me. However, it's just the overwhelming fact that Mikoto is saying this to me, and as these words leave her mouth, she's already striding several feet ahead of me-everyone for that matter.

I also freeze because she mentions that horrible curry-which I'm sure would be the bomb diggy for someone who is used to the spiciness. But, for me, it's just too much.

"We could all go with Andrew-san and Mikoto-san. I think it'll be interesting to see this." Shizuku comments.

However, Sakura shakes her head. I feel relief gush through me-I really didn't want this girl coming along, running her stupid mouth, and killing the whole vibe of excitement.

"I'm not really all that interested in skateboarding, and since it's a weekday it'll be night time by the time we're done doing that. I thought we'd all study."

"Yeah, I'm not doing that." I remark blandly.

"Come on, Andrew!"

I turn to Mikoto, barely able to hide my exasperation. The only reason I can is because I have to a gaze with Shizuku, and I can't let myself falter the slightest, and I have do the same with Sakura. I slowly turn back to the two mentioned girls, holding each of their gazes for just a few seconds before I turn away-suddenly flustered because I am wearing a skirt.

Don't ask.

"I'll see you guys tomorrow then." I say it bluntly while running a hand down my stomach, feeling the soft fabric of my shirt and the way it was skin tight.

"Mikoto is going to blow my ear off if I don't get a move on."

Which is by all means, very true.

"Okay, it's a promise then." Sakura says, tone still bubbly-I barely grimace.

I can't help but feel like battle lines are being drawn at this moment...Sakura and I are at a standstill, not willing to budge, and everyone else-including Shizuku is on the fence.

Sakura and I are enemies...

Or, so it seems...

Why am I even thinking this right now?

"Andrew!"

I whirl on Mikoto. "Quiet!"

She huffs loudly-as I can hear her from where I stand, and she marches up to me right after that.

Seeing Mikoto trudging forward, Natsuru is quick to jump in-at last.

"We'll be seeing you guys then." She says, smiling uneasily. "Maybe we can all study this weekend, or something?"

"Maybe," I shrug a little bit, not quite comfortable with in-I will always listen to my instincts. "I'll probably be teaching Mikoto, so yeah."

If Sakura and I are enemies where does that leave Shizuku, Natsuru, Akane, and Mikoto...I don't think Mikoto cares too much, but the other three...I can't say the exact same.

I sigh, massaging my head.

"You shouldn't think so much, Andrew."

I ruffle her hair, putting some force into it so I shove her head down.

Of course, Mikoto swats at me, but she isn't the least bit angry.

Her and Stubby Bear are no different, now that I think about it. Now that I've seen them both in action.

"You don't think enough, Mikoto."

"So?"

"You're an idiot." I shake my head.

"You are."

I bite my tongue, giving her a hard look.

Be the bigger person.

Don't say anything.

Turn the other cheek.

"You are."

To hell with turning the other cheek and being the bigger person.

I get the last word, damn it.

I also realize that I must discuss a few things with Stubby Bear, pertaining to this...Lunacy.