Chapter 3: Almost There

The bus finally stopped at its destination, Iwate-san Mountains. Izumi was very relieved after staring at the ceiling and counting how many screws there was on the ceiling for two hours straight. She was also relieved because she could get away from Miyamoto and Yanagimoto-sensei. Everyone walked out quickly. Izumi waited for everyone to leave, being one of the last to leave the bus. As soon as she stepped out of the bus, Yanagimoto-sensei was explaining directions.

"Okay, I need you guys to be in pairs. There are three bases around Iwate-san Mountains that are preset already. I am handing out maps for all teams. The faster you get to the end, the better grade you get for this group class project," Yanagimoto-sensei said at the top of her lungs.

She began picking partners as Izumi kept saying through her mind, "Not Miyamoto, not Miyamoto…" Unfortunately, since the class was an uneven number, and Miyamoto, Kouji, and Izumi were the only ones left, so they became a group. Miyamoto squealed with joy as she ran to Kouji's side and grabbed his arm, while pushing Izumi into the snow. Miyamoto smiled with bliss as she dragged Kouji away, but Yanagimoto-sensei interrupted her stream of joy.

"No wait, Miyamoto. I did a miscount. You will join Asami," she said.

Miyamoto groaned, glaring at Izumi, who was still in the snow since she pushed her. She walked away to Asami pompously. Izumi still sat silently on the snow since Miyamoto pushed her down. Kouji held out his indigo glove-covered hand and helped her up. "Can't she get herself up?" he thought, as he helped her up.

"Thanks," she said gratefully.

"Anyway, we need to follow Yanagimoto-sensei's directions. We have to climb the mountain. You have your gear, right?" he said very seriously.

"Yes."

"Well, let's hurry. We need to be there by a certain time or get a low mark."

"Uhh… yeah, sure."

Miyamoto was grumbling to herself as she walked up with Asami up the trail. "Stupid Izumi and her stupid luck to be with my Kouji!"

"What did you say?" asked Asami.

"Nothing!"

"I hear you say something about Kouji…"

"Shut up!"

"Give it up. The whole class knows you like him and he doesn't."

"WHAT!" she said furiously as she bonked Asami on the head.

Asami rubbed her hand on her head and said, "You know what, if you're going to treat me like this just because of something so ridiculous, I am going to join that group over there and leave and you can do this lousy assignment by yourself! And also, you were never like this before Orimoto Izumi came. I think its because you're jealous of her!"

"Oh that is it! Good-bye! Miyamoto said as she stormed off. She tripped over a rock and fell flat on her face in the snow. She groaned as she pulled herself up and saw Kouji and Izumi walking up the path. Miyamoto, now by herself, grabbed a nearby rock, and began advancing towards them.

Kouji walked slightly ahead of Izumi up the steep path. Kouji also began wondering to himself. "People are getting suspicious of me. I don't wish to make any friends and I don't need any. I can get along on my own and would've if Orimoto wasn't here. Well, it's better than being with that god-awful Ryusaki Miyamoto. Well, I guess Orimoto is okay, since she's going though what I go through practically everyday of my life." Then he heard a thud behind him. And it wasn't Izumi.