Chapter 2

Rumors and Dates

It's been a few days since Hakuno-chan encountered Sakura. And all Sakura wanted was to become Hakuno-chan's friend and vice versa. Even though the beautiful brunette didn't want to, she reluctantly accepted the offer. Heck, they even exchanged numbers yesterday. Hakuno-chan was honestly surprised Sakura was so willing as to go and exchange numbers after a few days of getting to know each other. Sakura also continued to want to hang out with the beautiful brunette as much as possible.

Another few days passed and Hakuno-chan begins to hear rumors...and most of them are about Hakuno-chan and Sakura hanging out. They were talking amongst themselves while Hakuno-chan was walking along the path to school today.

"Kishinami's finally hanging out with somebody?"

"Wow. Who knew that the quietest girl would be hanging out with the very shy girl?"

"Don't you mean that two quiet girls are some kind of a pair?"

"Who knows, dude? They seem like a perfect match to me."

"Meaning they could become lesbians?"

"Hahaha! Fat chance on that, bro! Kishinami is not interested in anybody remember?"

Hakuno-chan huffs and keeps on walking, ignoring people's comments. She heads straight for the classroom and sits down at her desk to get out her materials.

*Meanwhile*

Sakura is on her way to her own homeroom when she herself is starting to hear the same exact rumors. She already shyly told everyone that they were just friends and nothing more. But everyone keeps on ranting about it, which means there is nothing she can do here.

Unbeknownst to Sakura, a girl with long dark hair tied in partial pig-tails and wearing thigh high stockings on her legs, hears the rumors as well. And she is watching Sakura from a distance, back against the wall with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face. She gives a huff and leaves.

*Later*

School ends and Hakuno-chan is headed to the library once again to study. Sakura just so happens to catch up to her.

"Sempai!" The purplenette calls and finally catches up to her. "Sempai, let's hang out again!"

"I'd rather not..." Hakuno-chan closes her eyes as she keeps on walking. "People will gossip about us again..."

"Y-yeah, I heard about that too," Sakura laughs nervously. "But that doesn't stop me from wanting to hang out with you!" She runs ahead and gets in front of the brunette. "Please, Sempai! Just this once and then I will leave you alone as long as you like!"

Hakuno-chan sighs. "Fine. Where do you want to go?"

Sakura brightens and nods. "A bakery, of course~!"

*Later*

At the bakery, the two order two pieces of chocolate cake and Sakura takes the first few bites, which tastes delicious. Hakuno-chan just eats one piece.

"So..." Sakura tries to think of a topic. "Have you...had any boyfriends before?"

"None," Hakuno-chan simply replies. "Not even one real friend..."

"Awwww! That's a shame!" Sakura says. "What made you like this, I wonder?"

"Hard to say," Hakuno-chan replies. "I just...feel like everyone's life is just the same. I have no interest in anyone of the sort. I just go about my day, honestly."

Sakura eats another piece of cake. "I see. Being alone can be really harsh though."

"Not to me," Hakuno-chan says.

"Well...not for you, of course," Sakura says. "But I'm just saying...it can be really difficult being alone."

"What do you mean?" Hakuno-chan raises an eyebrow.

Sakura gives a weak smile. "Let's just say that I have no friends either because of how I act. And that resulted in me being an easy target...especially a certain someone." She gasps and looks up at the brunette. "U-umm...you haven't met him yet, don't worry! But all I can tell you is...he was the reason why..."

"Sakura!?" A voice calls from behind the two girls.

They turn to see a girl with long dark hair tied in partial pig-tails and wearing black thigh high stockings approaches them.

"Sakura, what in the world is this!?" The girl says, pointing at Hakuno-chan.

"Ah...Nee-san," Sakura smiles nervously as she looks toward the brunette. "I forgot to introduce you to my older sister. This is Rin."

"Rin Tohsaka," The girl corrects.

Hakuno-chan raises an eyebrow. "A...pleasure...?" Why do they have different last names?

"Now then, Sakura!" Rin slams her hand on the table and leans toward the purplenette. "Why are you hanging out with that girl? She's not a good fit for you!"

"N-Nee-san, I'm hanging out with her because I wanted to," Sakura says. "She's the only one who can understand me!"

"Understand? Her?" Rin glances over at the stoic brunette and then turns back to her little sister. "She looks understanding to me."

"Um...it might be a little difficult to get used to..." Sakura says. "But trust me. If you get to know her, maybe it wouldn't be so bad."

Rin rolls her eyes. "Sakura, I'm only saying this because I care. This girl, Hakuno? She keeps to herself all the time. Plus that, you're getting her involved into something even bigger than this."

"I don't understand why you feel threatened by someone different from you and I," Sakura frowns.

Rin gives an exaggerated sigh and turns toward Hakuno-chan. "You there. Hakuno. If you ever lay hands on my sister in any way, just be ready to face my wrath."

Hakuno-chan just shrugs. Rin huffs and turns to leave the bakery.

"S-so sorry," Sakura says. "My sister and I go to this bakery almost every day. I guess I wasn't aware that she was coming today."

"Is Tohsaka always like this...?" Hakuno-chan asks. "I mean, her trying to protect you?"

"Oh that," Sakura's eyes dart down to her dessert. "She is like that...most of the time. She's a good sister, but she loses her temper pretty easily. I would be careful around her."

"Got it."

After eating the last piece, Sakura speaks up again. "Would you mind going to one more place before we head home?"

Hakuno-chan shrugs. "Sure, fine. Where do you want to go?"

*Later*

Hakuno-chan finds herself in between a row of cherry blossom trees with the petals just scattering around her and Sakura with the light wind blowing. The brunette turns toward the violet haired girl, who clenches a fist to her chest and looks up at the trees, swaying in the wind. Her long, purple hair sways gracefully as well as her frilly skirt.

Sakura has never looked THIS beautiful before. Hakuno-chan's heart skips a beat, just seeing the purplenette like this as she enjoys the view of the cherry blossom petals. Sakura tucks a few locks behind her ear and then looks toward Hakuno-chan, smiling a beautiful smile.

"I came here with my parents a long time ago," she says softly. "This is the place for great cherry blossom viewing. I can remember this place now because I want to see it again."

Hakuno-chan gapes at Sakura's lovely speech.

"Cherry blossoms," Sakura holds up her palm and catches one of the petals. "The trees grow these petals when the weather gets warm. My mother told me that I was just as beautiful as a cherry blossom. And that was when she gave me the name 'Sakura'. I grew up beautifully just as she wanted."

"Sakura..." Hakuno-chan breathes.

"S-sorry," The purplenette smiles nervously. "I've been talking about myself a lot. I never got a chance to hear you say something."

"I do not think there is anything you need to know about me," Hakuno-chan says.

"Well let me ask you this: you said you weren't interested in anybody," Sakura says. "So, why aren't you interested in them exactly?"

"I guess it's because no one is interested in me," Hakuno-chan says. "Like I said earlier, I just go about my day and then that's it. Life is just the same, really."

Sakura bites her lip. "I see. You really think so?"

"Yeah."

"I see," Sakura looks up and gives her best smile. "Well...the more you hang out with me, the more you will learn how life really is." She looks at her watch. "Um...I have to go now. I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?"

"Sure," Hakuno-chan says.

"Thanks again!" Sakura waves and then trots off.

Something about Sakura seems a bit off. First of all, why talk about being lonely is pretty difficult? Why did she look so sad when she said that? And secondly, if she and Rin are sisters, how come their last names are different? She is keeping something from Hakuno-chan that she doesn't want her to know about. But...why does she care? She lives to be alone, yet, something deep inside her tells her that she is worrying about the purplenette. Hakuno-chan doesn't understand why that is.

*Next Day*

Before lunch, Hakuno-chan stands against the wall, eyeing her phone when someone approaches her. The brunette looks up to see a funny looking young man with blue hair and wicked eyes.

"So you must be Kishinami," he says. "I've heard so much about you."

"And...you are?" Hakuno-chan lowers her phone and frowns.

"We're classmates," He says. "I'm Shinji! And I thought this would be the chance to get to know each other properly." He holds out his hand.

But Hakuno-chan shakes her head. "Sorry, but I don't want to get to know YOU properly. Besides, why do you want to talk to me?"

"Sempai?" Sakura calls out and looks around. She then finds the brunette and trots toward her. "Sempai, there you are! I wanted to see if...oh..." She stops in her tracks and timidly turns away as Shinji eyes her.

"So the rumors were true," He says.

"I, um..." Sakura shuts her eyes tightly and turns to run away.

"She and I are nothing more than just friends," Hakuno-chan says with a serious expression.

Shinji glares at her. "You know let me give you a heads up. You are to not go anywhere near her, you got it? She is mine and mine alone. You shall not interfere."

"What are you, her boyfriend?" Hakuno-chan raises an eyebrow.

"Hahahaha!" Shinji bursts out laughing. "Ohhh, Kishinami! That's a good one! You could call it that. That's why she is mine!"

"I don't really care..." Hakuno-chan turns her head away.

"Haha! Good! And it should keep it that way!" Shinji turns to leave. "Remember that, Kishinami."

After he walks off, Hakuno-chan gives a soft sigh. "Where do all of these people come from...?"

Before she turns around to leave, she sees Rin leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. She pushes herself forward and approaches the brunette.

"I warned Sakura about this and now it's too late," Rin says.

"What are you talking about?" Hakuno-chan asks.

"If you got involved with her, HE would try and come after you," Rin points out. "There's no way out of it except for leaving Sakura alone. So I suggest you do that."

"Why...should I?" Hakuno-chan cannot believe she asked that question.

"Why should you?" Rin says. "It's simple: because you pose as a threat to him now. So I'm telling you right now: protect yourself and stay away from Sakura."

With that, she turns to leave. Hakuno-chan is left with an agony of choice: return to the person she used to be or remain friends with Sakura and risk her and Sakura's safety?