V. Bellicoso (Warlike, Aggressive)
Haruka rubbed her eyes with the heels of her palm before looking back down at her bed. Her empty bed. She blinked hard before turning to look at her alarm clock. 8:25am.
"Shit, I'm late!" she shouted. Haruka muttered to herself as she scrambled out of bed, her legs getting tangled in the sheets. She paused when she heard the bathroom door opened. Haruka let out a sigh of relief as Ayaka stepped out, dressed in one of Haruka's button-down shirts.
"Gosh, you're so loud in the morning," Ayaka commented.
Haruka finally untangled herself and slowly got to her feet. "…Ayaka-san, why…what…"
"Calm down, we didn't do anything," she insisted. Ayaka walked over to a chair in the corner of the room and picked up her folded clothes. "I had to make sure you were okay. You were pretty out of it last night."
"I didn't drink anything," Haruka said. She crossed the room to her closet and pulled the door open. She pulled out a hanger that held her school uniform and tossed it onto the end of her bed. "And where did you sleep?"
"The couch, obviously," Ayaka answered. She held her pants out and began to step into the legs. "Anyway, you must have drunk or taken something because you called me after the concert and you sounded bad," she commented.
Haruka rushed into the bathroom and turned on the shower. "I don't remember anything that happened last night."
Ayaka snorted. "Yeah, that tends to happen when you're-
"Ayaka-san, I'm serious!" Haruka slipped out of her pajamas and stepped into the shower. She let the water run on her for a few moments before grabbing a bar of soap and began to lather up. "You know I don't drink a lot, especially not to the point of blacking out."
"Well, when did all of this start?"
"Hmm…around the time I first met…"
Ayaka slipped out of Haruka's shirt before placing her own back on. She then took a seat on the chair and began to put her shoes on. "You think your blackouts have something to do with Kaioh-san?"
"Something weird has been happening ever since." After cleaning up, Haruka turned the water off and stepped onto a padded rug. She pulled a towel off of the nearby heated towel rack and wrapped it around her body. Haruka then pulled open a drawer by her sink and grabbed a comb, running it through her hair.
"Like what?"
Haruka exited the bathroom and rushed over to her closet, pulling out a pair of brown shoes. "…I've been having these dreams. They feel…real."
"That happens to me all the time." Ayaka said. She gathered up the shirt she borrowed from Haruka and placed it into her nearby hamper. She then began to make up the bed, careful not to rumple up Haruka's uniform.
"You don't understand."
"Clearly, I don't but you don't have time to tell me anyway since you have to get to school." Ayaka grabbed her keys and purse from the top of a dresser. "I'll leave you to get dressed and head out. I'll contact you about your upcoming racing schedule."
"Okay, thank you," Haruka said. As soon as Ayaka closed the bedroom door behind her, Haruka dropped her towel and began to get dressed in her school uniform.
Upon fastening her tie, she moved to look at herself in the mirror but jumped back in shock when she spotted Michiru sitting on her bed in the reflection. Haruka turned around to find her bed empty. She then looked back in the mirror and found only her reflection.
8:42am
Haruka checked her watch and sighed in relief as she stepped through Mugen Academy's gates. A teacher walked by with a group of pre-school students in tow. They all took turns waving to Haruka and wishing her a good morning as they passed. Haruka waved back before stooping down low and quickly tying one of the children's shoelaces. Upon standing, she spotted a dark purple haired girl walking by herself up the front stairs, her purple eyes cast down to the ground. A small group of girls pointed towards her and laughed. One of them waded up a piece of paper and threw it at her, striking her in the back.
Before Haruka could move, Michiru walked up to the young girl's side and placed a hand on her shoulder. A hush fell over the school yard. Michiru whispered something into the young girl's ear, who looked up at Michiru, a light flush coloring her pale cheeks.
Michiru then bent down and picked up the crumpled piece of paper before turning to look at the group of girls. Her aquamarine eyes trailed over their skirts that were a few inches higher than regulation, their arms lined with bracelets, and the heavy makeup lining their eyes and lips. She also caught site of the end of a cigarette in one girl's sock.
"It was just a joke," a girl called out with a shrug.
"Oh? I thought jokes were supposed to be funny," Michiru commented. She flattened out the piece of paper and glanced at the crude drawing. "You may want to work on your art skills as well. Your perspective is a bit off." She then walked over and handed the piece of paper back to the girl who originally threw it.
"I see you've found the place, Kaioh-san," a deep voice called out. Haruka's eyebrows rose as she watched Dr. Tomoe walk down the front stairs. While he was the head of the school, it was rare of him to make an appearance outside of school assemblies and graduations. Those were usually led by his assistant Kaolinite.
"Good morning, father," the girl said quietly.
"Hotaru, my darling daughter. Is everything okay?"
Hotaru looked over at the group of girls, before shifting over to Michiru, who rejoined her side. "Yes, father. I just met Kaioh-san."
"Oh, wonderful. I was hoping that you two would meet." He reached out a placed a hand on her head. "Seeing as Kaioh-san is an esteemed scholar of the classical music and the violin; I deem she'd be the best to be your new teacher."
"I'd love to," Michiru said with a smile.
"We'll work out all the details later. In the meantime, how about I show you around?" Dr. Tomore stepped to the side and gestured towards the lobby of the building.
"I'd greatly appreciate it, sir." Michiru said. Hotaru gave her a wave before rushing up the stairs and disappearing inside.
"As for the rest of you," Dr. Tomoe called out across the courtyard, "class is about to start."
Haruka watched as everyone began to rush into the building. The group of girls who were messing with Hotaru began to straighten their skirts and remove their jewelry as they made their way up the stairs. A member of the group with a short bob cut rushed up the stairs and joined Michiru at her side. Michiru reached into her school bag and pulled out a folder filled with sheet music. Haruka widened her steps, to hear the conversation.
"Anyway, I'm a big fan," the girl said breathlessly. "I play a little bit of violin too. I've been playing for seven years. May I see what you're working on? I'd love to play with you one day."
"That sounds nice," Michiru said. She stepped to the side to allow the flood of students into the lobby. The girl with a short bob stepped closer. Michiru then began to shuffle through the packed folder. The longer she moved in silent, the more the girl's smile faded.
"What are you doing?" the girl asked.
"I'm trying to find a piece for you to play," Michiru answered. She moved towards the back of the folder before plucking out a two-page sheet. "Is this to your level?" she asked. The girl huffed and rolled her eyes before storming away.
Haruka watched as Michiru carefully titled her head to the side, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion. Haruka chuckled to herself, gently shaking her head before heading towards her homeroom.
As soon as she stepped inside a girl rushed up, offering her a bento box. Haruka was ready to decline the gift, but quickly remembered she forgot to pack a lunch due to her haste this morning. She thanked the girl and complimented the time and care that must have gone into putting the box together. The girl blushed before hurrying away.
Haruka quickly took her seat and faced the front room, frowning when she didn't spot the teacher. Shrugging, she lifted the top to her desk and pulled out a magazine. A moment later the door flew open, and Yuko Arimura rushed into the room. She straightened her uniform before making her way to one of the empty seats two rows back from Haruka, her log red hair billowing in the air behind her. Michiru soon stepped into the room. While she felt her aquamarine eyes on her, Haruka kept her attention to the magazine in her hands.
The other students paused their conversations as Michiru made her way to the empty seat next to Yuko. Once seated, the sounds from the room continued at their normal level. A group of boys were playing with spinning tops in the back corner of the room, three girls were at the front drawing on the chalkboard, and a group of five girls were seated at their desks going over their homework assignments.
"Ten'oh-san, want to give it a try?" a voice called out. Haruka turned in her seat to see one of the guys holding the spinning top in their hand, waving it in the air. She quickly shook her head.
As she turned back around, she noticed Michiru looking at a gold and aquamarine watch with a star on the bottom a trident shape carved into the lid. Shaking her head, Haruka turned her attention back to her magazine, but couldn't help but pick up on Yuko's and Michiru's introductions to each other.
"I am also the administrative head of the Psychology and Etiquette classes," Yuko said. "Only the elite attend Mugen Academy, so it may benefit you to pick up other skills instead of just violin."
"Thank you for your input," Michiru said with a half-smile. She placed her watch into her school bag before clasping her hands together and placed them into her lap. Yuko lifted the top of her desk and made a clicking sound with her tongue. She sighed heavily before reaching in and rummaging around. Michiru leaved over and frowned.
"How can you live in such a mess?" Michiru asked.
"Excuse me?" Yuko asked angrily.
"I was just wondering. If my desk was that dirty, I'd be embarrassed," she said. "You should always present yourself in the best way possible."
"And what's your best self? A bitch?" Yuko asked. Michiru raised a shoulder but remained quiet. She opened the lid to her desk and began to fill it with various contents from her school bag. She carefully placed her violin case inside, making sure not to scuff the lid.
"Watch out," a voice called out. Haruka turned to see one of the boys rushing towards her. She then looked down and spotted one of the spinning tops moving near her feet, and hitting the side of her school bag, knocking it over. Papers, notebooks, and pencils scattered across the floor. Haruka waited for the boy to rush by before bending down to pick up her items.
As she gathered up a few of her items, she picked up her schoolbag and set it upright on the floor. Something slid against the inside of the bag and slipped to the bottom with an audible think. Frowning, Haruka reached into the bag and pulled out a gold and cobalt watch with an interesting symbol near the top. "What is this?" she whispered.
Hearing footsteps approaching, Haruka dropped the watch back into her bag and placed the items she already gathered into the bag as well. She reached out to grab a pack of pens but stopped when Michiru grabbed it before she could.
"Here you go," Michiru said, holding out the package.
"Thanks," Haruka muttered, taking the item from her.
"I also wanted to thank you for coming to my performance the other day," she added. "I appreciate your support."
"I wouldn't really call it support," Haruka said with a shrug. "It's not like I paid for the tickets."
Michiru reached over and picked up a few more of the loose papers. "All the same, it was nice that you were there." She grabbed a few of the pencils that rolled away and a pack of erasers from underneath a nearby desk.
"No problem."
"Did I do something?" Michiru held the items out to Haruka, who accepted them while deliberately avoiding touching her hands.
"I don't know what you're trying to get from me, but I'm not interested," she insisted.
"I just thought…maybe we could be friends," Michiru said, "…you seem lonely."
A mixture of annoyance and anger hardened Haruka's face. She quickly got up to her feet. "What?" she demanded.
Michiru looked up at her from her crouched position on the ground, before turning her attention back to finishing collecting the rest of the items on the floor. "You seem like…you keep people at a distance. As if you're running from something. Or from yourself. The more you pull away the harder and more painful it will be."
"Or you're projecting," Haruka answered. "Maybe your lonely. Not too many people try this hard for companionship. I'm not a kept woman."
"I never said you were."
"I can afford my own things, and I work for my money," she added.
"So do I."
"You're right, as a party mermaid and a violinist. That must be pocket change to you, the child prodigy who has put on performances since she was eight, to try and join the rest of us here down on Earth." Michiru left the rest of the items on the floor and looked up at Haruka, locking eyes. "Though. I wouldn't expect much from a sheltered rich girl," Haruka commented. Michiru continued to look at her, but her eyes turned sharp. "You probably don't even know what it is like to struggle."
Michiru glared at Haruka. She would be lying if saying that the harsh look didn't faze her but the darkening of her aquamarine eyes sent a chill down her spine. Straightening back up, Michiru regarded her with a fierce expression. "You don't know anything about my life, or what I've seen and been through," she said firmly. "You don't know what's it like to fight."
"And what are you fighting?" Haruka asked.
"…I'm fighting to save you," Michiru answered. She then reached down and plucked Haruka's school bag off the ground and stuck her hand inside. Haruka snatched the bag away as Michiru withdrew her hand. Held tightly in her fist was the gold and cobalt colored watch. "You're welcome."