5. a magazine contest

Look Out! is one of the best magazines in the country. A bi-monthly magazine that features everything from the beauty you can find in the countryside to the latest fads and crazes hitting the cities. It has become such a hit that people would line up outside the bookstores early in the morning before opening time when the company releases an issue to get a copy.

The current month's issue has just been released and probably, everyone is turning to the same page. A sensational contest held by the magazine is the biggest feature of this issue. It has swept the entire country like a storm and thousands of entries have already been received since it was initiated four months ago. All the entries that have made the cut will be presented, and everyone excitedly scrutinizes each and every one of them.

The contest is said to be the biggest craze that has hit the country in years. Just about everyone is eagerly awaiting the results.

Kirisawa was running fast to make it in time to school so she hardly noticed the looks the other students gave her. She was not usually this late when coming to school but she had overslept today. But when she entered her classroom she clearly saw everyone looking at her with expressions ranging from amusement to envy to wonder. As she sat down snatches of whispered conversations reached her sharp ears.

"I thought she was a tomboy..."

"What's her name again...?"

"It's impossible..."

"She hangs out with that ninja-wannabee..."

"Isn't she the one who beat up those guys..."

What the... she thought as she heard them. Are they all... talking... about... me??? She continued listening for a bit more, and as her suspicions grew and grew, the more annoyed she became. Everybody was talking about something but nobody was saying anything! It clearly involved her, judging from the way they constantly looked at her.

"She can't be..."

"No way! What could she possibly..."

"But she's got such ugly hair!..."

That was the last straw. Slowly she stood up, teeth gritting against each other, then suddenly her eyes go ablaze as she shouts out with a raised fist, "WHAT THE HELL ARE ALL OF YOU TALKING ABOUT!?! STUPID NONSENSE! IF ANYONE WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING TO ME THEN SAY IT TO MY FACE!!!"

"Ahem..."

Kirisawa froze at the sound. It seemed that the professor chose that time to enter the classroom and thanks to his perfect timing he heard everything she had to say. A not-really-happy smile slowly spread across Kirisawa's face.

"Well, I have something to say to you, Kirisawa-san." The teacher's face was all doom. "Go stand outside in the hallway."

A chorus of laughter followed her as she stepped outside, which made her kinda glad to get out of there. The sound was quickly silenced by one look from the professor, and the class started for the day.

Argh... What's wrong with me today? she thought as she stood outside. I don't normally blow up like that... Well, at least not in front of the entire class... She had planned to look for Yanagi during break time, which would be in a few hours, and talk to her then. As she waited for the time to come she thought about how nosy and stupid her classmates were. What could they be wondering about me this time? I remember when they used to talk about me because they thought I was a weird, violent girl. Good thing that stopped or somebody would have had their face bashed in... What is it this time?!? Grrrr...

And later, during break time it was Yanagi who found her. She seemed happy about something, and she had been looking for Kirisawa too. She was carrying a magazine, which was what she wanted to show her.

"Look Out! ?"

"Yes. It's a really great magazine. And... why don't you open it to page 33..?"

"Okay..." Kirisawa turned the pages. "Thirty-three... here. Hm? A 'Cutest Couples Contest'?"

"Yes. It was started about a few months ago. I read about it then and thought it really was a 'cute' idea. It's a photo contest." Yanagi explained. "You're supposed to send in a picture of a couple, a boy and a girl together. But they must be a real couple, that is they're in a relationship – boyfriend and girlfriend, husband and wife. And the picture must not be posed. The photographer must capture them in a real moment, a natural setting. I think it's great."

"Yeah!" Kirisawa agreed. "And... I think I know why you're showing me this... You and..."

"Princess!" a voice called out.

"Recca!" Yanagi answered. Hanabishi Recca walked toward them.

"It was dad's idea." Recca explained when he had approached. "He read about the contest and said we should join. He made us spend a lot of time together, while he looked for the 'perfect shot'. Actually, it was fun, having to spend all that time with my princess."

"Hey! And he did take a good picture. Here it is... it made the top 150! And it's out of the 7876 entries that were received!" Kirisawa exclaimed. "WOW!!! You guys are in a magazine!!! This is so cool!"