Chapter5
After a short stop at Takeo's house, the two arrived at school. Takeo and Aya walked to their first period class. As they entered Takeo was halted by Aya's fan club. Aya had gracefully made it into class.
"Sempai!" Hikagi shouted in a less than respectful manner. Takeo took a defensive position raising a hand in front of his face.
"Hai?"
"What where you doing with Aya-sama last night?" Hikagi and her followers started to advance on Takeo, who in return receded.
"Nanni?"
Hikagi held up the photo she had taken last night. Takeo turned red and almost fainted. The warning bell rang. Hikagi let her group head to class. It was just the two of them now. Takeo attempted to get by Hikagi to homeroom, but Hikagi thrust out the photo towards his face, and Takeo cowered like superman before kryptonite.
"Takeo-kun? You're going to be late." Aya said poking his head out of the classroom.
"Ohayo Aya-sama!" Hikagi spun around to give Aya her cheerful greeting.
"You're going to be late too." Aya pointed out. Takeo straightened up.
"I'll be in in a minute." Takeo glared at Hikagi. Aya disappeared back into the classroom.
"Here." Hikagi flicked the photo in the air as she started to walk towards her homeroom. "I have plenty more at my house."
Takeo scrambled to catch the photo. After retaining it he turned to say something in return, but she was gone. The final bell started to sound. Takeo bolted into class.
Takeo let out a sigh as he took his seat to the left of Aya. Takeo gave a scornful look at the picture Hikagi had flicked to him. Snatching the photo from Takeo, Aya said
"Arigatou Takeo-kun. I don't have many pictures of you."
"Aya! I told you someone saw us last night!"
"Takakura!" Their teacher shouted across the classroom.
"Hai!" Takeo stood up.
"Unless you would like to spend the afternoon cleaning the classroom I suggest you save your conversation with Aburatsubo till after class!"
"Hai, Sensei." Takeo slumped down in his seat. Some of the other students snickered at him.
"Takeo-kun!" Aya cooed down the hall. Takeo stopped walking and turned around. Aya gracefully walked up to Takeo and ran a finger down his arm. After a shiver ran through Takeo he took a step away from Aya and asked
"What is it Aburatsubo?"
"I'm going to be a few minutes late for the club meeting this afternoon, I need to speak with the tennis coach about the next tournament."
"Ok, I'll wait a few minutes for you before we begin."
"Jya ne Takeo-kun!" Aya called as he ran off. Takeo opened the door to the Magic Users Clubroom. Takeo quickly changed and began to prepare for that day's lesson.
"Gomen nasai Takakura-sempai!" Sae yelled as she ran through the door. Takeo looked up from the book he was reading. Sae was half dressed and disheveled. Her dress was barely hanging onto her shoulders, her overcape and pantyhose in hand. She had one shoe on, and her gloves and hat were missing.
Takeo blushed.
"Takakura-sempai! I'm sorry but I can't keep my feelings inside anymore! I love you Takakura-sempai! I want you to do improper things to me!" Sae ran to Takeo stripping off her dress.
"Takakura-sempai?" Sae said waving her hand in front of Takeo's face.
"Huh?" Takeo uttered as he came back to his senses.
"Gomen nasi Takakura-sempai. I'm late. It all started when I woke up late this morning and I…"
"It's ok Sawanoguchi. Aburatsubo's going to be late as well so it's no big deal."
"Hai!" Sae blushed and looked at the floor.
"Why don't you finish getting dressed while I go gather our brooms for today's lesson?" Takeo smiled as he left the room. Sae started to pull on her pantyhose.
"I'm such a klutz." She muttered to herself as she tried to pull on her over cape.
"Takeo-kun" Aya cooed as he bounded into the room… and Sae.
"Aaahhhh!" Sae cried as they tumbled to the ground.
"Takeo?" Aya said getting up.
"Uh, no Aburatsubo-sempai, he went to go get brooms for today's lesson."
"Oh." Aya said irritated.
Aya got up and leaned on a table in wait of Takeo. Sae finished getting dressed. An awkward silence started to fill the room.
'I should say something…' Sae thought.
"Aburatsubo-sempai…" she started when Takeo entered with the brooms.
"Takeo kun!" Aya smiled.
"Ah, Aburatsubo, you made it. Here." Takeo said handing out brooms. "But where are Nakatomi-kun and Aikawa-kun?" he questioned.
"Um, excuse me Takakura-sempai, but Nanaka wasn't in school today, I think she may be ill." Sae fidgeted with her cape.
"Oh really? Well that's too bad. I still wonder about Aikawa…" Takeo took a thoughtful position.
"Konichiwa!" A soft voice filled the room. It was Akane…and she wasn't dressed for the Magic Club.
"I'm sorry I'm late but I can't stay! I just came to ask if I can be excused from today's meeting…you see I have a date this afternoon."
"Um, sure." Takeo uttered.
"Arigatou!" Akane thanked them and left swiftly. Takeo sighed.
"I don't know if we should have a meeting today." Takeo said depressed.
"Takakura-sempai!" Sae called with determined eyes. Takeo looked up. "We can still do something, over half of us are still here and I'm willing to practice and I'm sure Aburatsubo-sempai is willing to practice too!" Takeo's eyes glittered.
"On with the lesson!" He raised his wand in the air triumphantly.
"So, what's our lesson today?" Aya questioned with a sly look. Takeo's arm drooped.
"Uh…" Sweat beads started to form on his head. "Uh…"
Suddenly the chimes of an announcement sounded.
"Attention all seniors, please don't forget about the farewell party tomorrow evening after the tennis tournament, no underclassmen allowed. Have a good evening!"
"Oh! I had completely forgotten!" Takeo said scratching his head.
"Saved by the bell." Aya uttered under his breath.
"Aburatsubo-sempai, are you going to be in the tennis tournament tomorrow?" Sae questioned seeing more in the announcement than Takeo did.
"Hai, that's why I was late today. I had to talk to the tennis coach about the tournament, he wasn't happy that I was missing practice this afternoon." Aya sighed as he leaned on the table in the room.
"Demo…" Aya appeared behind Takeo. "You'll be there to cheer me on, ne?" Aya twirled his finger around Takeo's hair.
"I'm sure the whole magic club will be there cheering you on Aburatsubp-sempai!" Sae announced.
"H, Hai Aburatsubo, I'll take the magic club to come and see you tomorrow. Demo, shouldn't you practice?" Takeo asked stepping away from him.
"Hai…"
"Well, since Nakatomi-kun and Aikawa aren't here, we'll have independent study today and you can go practice, k?" Takeo smiled. Aya looked at Takeo, then at Sae.
"Good luck Aburatsubo-sempai!" Sae smiled. "I'm going to go practice on the horizontal bar." Sae went to get her belongings when she tripped over her broom flying into Takeo. Aya's face twisted with anger.
"A ha a ha ha ha……" Takeo uttered as his glasses went foggy and a small drip of blood emerged under his nose.
"Takeo-kun!" Aya said frustrated with his constant mishaps with Sae. Sae got up and apologized to Takeo.
"Gomen nasi Takakura-sempai."
"It's ok Sawanoguchi-kun," Takeo said getting up.
"Takeo-kun, what was that?" Aya said still upset. Why did Sae constantly fall into Takeo?
"It's ok Aburatsubo, it was an accident." Takeo tried to explain.
"It was an accident Aburatsubo-sempai, gomen…"
"You did that on purpose!" Aya yelled fed up with her.
"Aburatsubo-sempai…" Sae started.
"You are constantly falling into, knocking into or somehow causing yourself toland on Takeo!"
"I know I'm clumsy and I try real hard not to fall, demo, I always…" Sae started to fiddle with her cape as her eyes sparkled with tears.
"Aburatsubo!" Takeo said taking control. "It was an accident I swear!" Aya gave Takeo a nasty look.
"I have a tournament to practice for." Aya turned and left the room.
