Chapter Seven

It's hard to trust people who 'fell in love at first sight' with you.

Only a week left before the summer break in August. Being a student who strangely transferred schools before end of the first semester, Kazuyoshi Yuki now has to take special term-end examinations.

This Monday is the first day. During class hours, Kazuyoshi is pulled out from the lectures to take her exams in the faculty room. Once the lunch time is called, she heads to Class 3-5 to eat.

Yume slides the door near the back open. She sighs. "Everyone's still lively as usual." She closes the door and goes to her seat.

Some of her classmates turn to look at her, but no one approaches her.

"How are the examinations, Kazuyoshi-han?" Ishida asks.

She groans. "Japanese literature almost killed me." Yume takes out a sandwich from her bag. "I'm starting to regret why I chose to grow up overseas."

"You're not good with literature?"

"Not really. I'm only good speaking the language, but I find it really difficult to read and write and Japanese." She sighs. "I should've studied more."

Ishida looks at her. "Kazuyoshi-han, is there something else troubling you?"

"Oh, how did you know? Are the dark circles on my eyes that visible?"

"Were you not able to sleep properly?"

She sighs and points to her eyes. "These are not from studying. I have no idea why, but I stayed up all night, just staring at the blank air."

"Sleep is important to the body, you must remember, Kazuyoshi-han. It rejuvenates our physical body and mind."

Yume bites into her sandwich while she listens to her seatmate.

"Your mind is not in its peaceful state. You must let yourself be at peace so that you could have a good sleep."

Yume sighs. "Heartbreaks are the worst. Don't you think so, Ishida-san?"

"If you ask me... I think there are things worse than heartbreaks."

"Just what I thought."

"Is this what troubles you, Kazuyoshi-han?"

"Kind of." She slams her head into her desk. "Ishida-san, are there anything I could do to forget all the bad things?"

Ishida looks at her. "Let time heal you."

"But that's a long-term thing, right? How 'bout something that could take the pain away right now?"

He shakes his head. "You need a peaceful mind to ease emotional pains. Only you can obtain peace for yourself. Reconcile with your inner self and you'll be released from your troubles."

"Ishida-san…" she says with teary eyes.

"For now, though…" Ishida looks at her. "… you should also focus on how to pass your end-term exams."

"Ishida-san… you think I can do it?"

"The examinations?"

She shakes her head. "My inner peace."

Ishida nods. "I think you can manage well."

"I think…" Yume frowns as if she is about to cry. "… that's probably everything I need to hear."

He glances at her and bows, closing his eyes. "I'm glad that I am of help."

"Ah... one, two... ah, mic test, mic test."

"Oh." Yume sits up. "The broadcast will start." She finishes up her sandwich.

"Greetings, fellow students!" an energetic voice talks over the speaker. "We will now start with our lunchtime broadcast! I am your host for today, yours truly, Kyoshi-san."

Cheers are soon heard from the students just after the broadcaster's introduction. Noise from the hallways worsens.

"Haa... people from the Broadcast Committee sure has many fans. It's a little annoying," Yume mumbles.

"Before we go on to our program proper... let me tell you all something. Today, for the first time in the history of our Broadcast Committee, our beloved Speedy-kun is late. Can you believe it?!"

"Hmm..." Ishida looks up to the speaker. "Kenya-han is late?"

"What is it, Ishida-san?" Yume asks him.

"Kenya-han is never late. He is always ahead of everyone and usually hosts for the lunchtime broadcast."

"Is that so?" She tries to recall something. "Kenya... he's the one with creamed coffee hair, right?"

Ishida blinks as he looks at his seatmate. "Yes. He bleaches his hair." He looks again at the speaker. "From what I heard, he was rejected by a girl." Then, he glances at Yume. "Probably also heartbroken, just like you."

She sighs and chuckles faintly. "Is this the season of heartbreaks?"

"Kenya-han's heartbreak is quite untimely. National Tournaments are only a few weeks away."

"He's a regular, right? Everyone must be worried."

He nods in agreement.

"I feel bad saying this, but… I'm happy I'm not the only one." She sighs. "But I guess, everyone get has their moments of heartbreak."

"I just hope you and Kenya-han find your peace."

She smiles faintly. "Thanks for the concern."

Classes are already over. Yume walks along an empty hallway after leaving the faculty room, having finished her exams on that day.

She pauses and stares outside the window on a baseball field where students are hitting balls and running to bases. Seeing those players laugh and play with each other, she remembers her friendship with Atobe Keigo and Kabaji Munehiro. The scene of yesterday keeps on rewinding on her head.

"I should be heading home," she says with a sigh. "And, I should be worrying about my exams." Yume closes her eyes for a while to take a breath.

Suddenly, she feels something bump into her. Yume soon finds herself lying on the floor with stinging pain on the back of her head. She sits up, rubbing where the pain is felt. "Ouch..."

Another female student lies in front of her. The girl rubs her back as she sits up, mumbling words Yume cannot hear. Papers are scattered all over the floor, probably belonging to the girl.

"Uhmm... are you okay?" Yume asks worryingly.

However, the girl ignores her as if she's not there. Shock is flashed on the girl's face after her eyes wandered to the floor. "Damn! The papers…!" She begins picking up some papers and stacking them onto her arms.

Yume starts picking up some papers as well just to help the other girl. When no more are on the ground, she hands them to the girl. "Here you go."

"Tch. How clumsy."

Yume hears the other girl click a tongue and mutter some words. She immediately feels irritated but keeps her cool. She picks up her bag on the floor and glances at the other girl.

The other girl gives her a stern glare at first. "You-!" She suddenly stops when her eyes travel to Yume's face. Her glare is turned to a smile that creeped her out.

"Uhm... are you... okay, Miss?" she asks, taking a step back.

The eyes of the other girl seem to be sparkling while she stares at Yume. "I... I'm Shizuoka Fumiko."

"Uh," Yume replies taking another step back. "I'm Kazuyoshi Yuki. Nice to meet you." Another step back. "I have things to do, so... I guess, I should be going on ahead. See you around."

Fumiko walks to her with a smile that creeps Yume out. "I love you. Go out with me, please."

"What?" Yume looks at her with disgust. "No!" She takes another step back.

"I'll do anything for you, Yuki-sama. Just date me!"

"Don't call me 'Yuki-sama.'" Yume chuckles nervously. "And, I don't care. Get away from me."

"But you're so charming, and I like you." Fumiko leans nearer towards her.

"Well, I don't." Yume looks away. "And, don't you have other things to do?"

"Ah! I almost forgot," Fumiko says in a small childish voice. "I have to deliver these to Kubo-sensei at Class 3-2." She giggles then looks at Yume. "Would you like to go with me, Yuki-sama?"

"Are you… perhaps, trying to look cute?" Yume mutters.

Fumiko blinks. "Is it working? Are you thinking that I'm cute?"

"It's not working." Yume frowns. "And… no, thanks. I have no interest with your affairs. You can go by yourself."

Fumiko pouts. "That's no fair!" she protests. "It was your fault that I... that I..." She blushes while looking at the ground.

"I am not to be blamed that you fell to the ground."

"... your fault that I..." Fumiko looks at her. "... fell in love with you!"

Yume's eyes twitches in disgust and disbelief. "I don't believe this is happening to me," she mutters to herself. With a sigh, she turns away from Fumiko and begins to fly from the scene.

"Wh-Where are you going, Yuki-sama!"

"Home. Don't you dare follow," Yume replies without looking back.

"Hmph! No one rejects me like this," Fumiko exclaims.

"Not until now, though."

"Do you know who I am?! I'm the Queen! The reigning Queen of Shitenhouji. You come back here! Or else I'll..."

"Yes, yes, reigning Queen of Shitenhouji." Yume plugs her earphones into her ears while walking on.

"Oi! Remove that on your ears. I'm talking to you!"

She speeds up her walking pace to get away from Fumiko as fast as possible. Yume does not try to look back, wishing that she will not encounter the annoying female again anytime soon.

"Four games to love. Koishikawa leads."

The regulars of Shitenhouji tennis club are having practice matches amongst themselves. Oshitari Kenya and Koishikawa Kenjirou, the vice-captain of the club, are rallying against each other.

Kenya's palms are resting against his knees while he gasps for air and sweats heavily. Koishikawa watches him with pity from the other side of the court.

"Kenya..." Koishikawa calls to his friend as he approaches the net. "... that's enough. Please go home and rest."

"I'm... fine," Kenya answers breathing in between words. "Nationals... is already... coming. I can't... afford to... miss practice."

"You're not in good condition. So please-"

"I told you, right?! I can still play!" Kenya protests.

Everyone turns to look at him. Shiraishi, who has been observing their match, approaches his friend. He places a hand over Kenya's shoulder. "Kenya, go home now."

Kenya gives him a surprised look. "What?! Shiraishi, I'm not done yet."

"You're in no condition to continue the match. Take a rest, Kenya."

Kenya stands straight. "But-!"

"Kenya!" Shiraishi exclaims, pressing the other fellow to compliance.

Osamu Watanabe, the club advisor, approaches the commotion. "Kenya, you take a break now. Can't you get a clue that you're already losing?"

Kenya lowers his head and sighs. "But I can't just-!"

"Do you really think your head's in here?"

"Of course!"

Osamu sighs and takes a glance at the other regulars. "Everyone else thinks otherwise." He looks at Kenya. "Your body is here in the courts but your mind isn't."

"But…"

"Oi, oi, oi." Osamu clicks his tongue thrice. "Have you forgotten that we're a team? Even if you fail, you have your teammates that you can count on."

Kenya's face brightens up and he looks at their advisor. "Osamu-chan..." His teammates are all grinning and smiling. "Everyone..."

"You better recover soon. For now, Kenya, you go home and rest. Come back when you can play tennis better."

After being urged to go home, Kenya packed his things up and walked out of the tennis courts. Approaching the school gate, he sees a familiar figure.

"... You always find an escape. Just running away from all of the ones who love you..."

"Kazuyoshi?" he mutters to himself. He takes a deep breath and runs to familiar figure he spotted near the gates. "Kazuyoshi. Kazuyoshi! Kazuyoshi Yuki!"

The person is leaving the school and singing with a pair of earphones plugged into her ears. Yume does not notice him until Kenya taps her shoulder.

She stops in her tracks and turns around to see him. "Huh? Oshitari-san? Is something the matter?" She removes the thing plugged in her ears.

"You're... Kazuyoshi from Shihan's class, right?" Kenya asks.

"Shihan?"

"It's what we sometimes call Gin."

"Oh... Ishida-san." Yume nods. "Yes. Do you need something from me?"

"Not really," Kenya replies. They continue to walk outside. "You're going home now, right?"

"Yes." She looks at him from the corner of her eyes. "Do you happen to need some company?"

"Well..."

"Ishida-san kinda told me something about a heartbreak. I'm not trying to interfere though. It's just..." She glances at him. "... if you need someone to talk, I can lend you my ears."

"... Thanks." He sighs. "I feel like a big loser after getting rejected. Even my teammates won't let me finish a match, saying that my head's not in the game."

"Heavy thoughts do sometimes interrupt physical activities." She pauses. "Nee, Oshitari-san. Do you want to have some ice cream? I know a place."

Kenya glances at her.

"Let's forget our troubles together. What do you think?"

~ End Chapter ~

A/N: Another chapter for this week, yay! Please leave a review and tell me what you think about this chapter. Adios!