Monday.
Mimi awoke to the shrill sound of a kettle boiling. "Who on earth makes tea-" She glanced at the clock. "At five thirty in the morning!" She screeched and knitted her eyebrows in exasperation.
She rubbed her eyes determinedly and stretched her arms. A pink tongue was exposed as she yawned noisily. 'I really do hate boys,' She shook her head resentfully. 'They're such…a bother.'
The door slammed open.
"Good morning, Miss Tachikawa. Here is your daily breakfast-in-bed. I have cooked you eggs, ham and French toast. There is a cup of milk or orange juice, whichever you prefer. The salt is here- and the pepper is in this bottle. Enjoy your meal!" Yamato smiled undauntedly and placed the contents over Mimi's duvet covers.
"Eto…breakfast in bed?" Mimi's eyes widened in disbelief.
Yamato sniffed. "Hai, it was one of your aunt's orders. To give you breakfast in bed." He presented her a disgusted glance. "Don't think that I made this for you because I wanted to!"
"I didn't!" Mimi barked as she rolled up her pajama sleeves.
"Okay, okay. Stop being so defensive. Come on, eat your breakfast!" The butler clapped his hands twice and sauntered out of her room, whistling gaily.
'I-SHI-DA! MAKES. ME. SO. MAD!' Mimi yanked at the ends of her locks in frustration. She stabbed her fork into a sliver of ham and inserted it into her mouth. She chewed. And chewed.
And a scheme began to form in her little, devious head.
Seven thirty AM.
"Ja matta! I have school." Mimi hollered before marching outside. The skies were cloudless and there was a warm breeze, enlivening her spirits. Weather always had an impact on her mood.
Yamato appeared by her side. "Need a ride?" He dangled the car keys between his fingers.
She looked at him. "Um- no thanks. But thanks!" Mimi hurriedly slipped on her black school shoes and scuttled out of the gate.
'Did she just say thank you?' Yamato pondered with astonishment in his eyes.
He didn't notice that he was trying to contain the corners of his mouth from fashioning into a grin.
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"Yo, Takenaga." A boy with dark hair greeted the newest male student in Shichihenge High, who only stood five foot four with a wave.
"Oh! Hey, Takumi-san." Takenaga, the tiny new student for his age, grinned tautly at his friend as he sat down in his seat.
"I didn't know you were in my literature class…heh. Fuka-sensei is a bore so everyone snoozes in here." Takumi chuckled as he gestured to the neighboring drowsy students. He leaned forward to whisper in Takenaga's ear. "And watch out for this girl; Tachikawa. She's one evil chick."
"Evil chick? Tachikawa?" The baffled boy wrinkled his nose.
Takumi nodded. "Hai. Careful, little one."
'Little one?' Takenaga's eyebrow twitched in annoyance but brushed away his friend's comment.
Suddenly, a girl with shiny brown hair and hazel eyes stormed into the class.
"That's her." Takumi muttered.
'Wow…she's so fierce-looking. How can someone who looks so fragile and pretty be so aloof?' Takenaga mused as he observed Mimi shooting some boys the evil eye as she pursued to her desk.
"Gargh! Hikari-chan, you wouldn't believe what happened yesterday!" Mimi's high-pitched voice whined as she laid her head on the desk in fatigue.
A girl with two yellow clips in her chocolate, cropped hair patted her friend's back sympathetically. "There, there Mimi-chan. Talk to me about it after class, okay? I'll treat you with…your favorite kayu dish!"
"Really?" Mimi got all starry-eyed.
"Hai!"
"Aw, Hikari-chan!" Mimi smiled with pleasure as she embraced her classmate.
Takenaga glimpsed at the two girls who were laughing in harmony. "She doesn't seem that bad."
Takumi snorted. "Heh. Just try chatting to her and she'll bite your head off."
The other boy gazed at Mimi pensively. 'Maybe I will…'
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"So," Hikari cleared her throat. "You're living with a boy that you hardly know- who happens to be a cute butler,"
"Ah-huh." Mimi responded quickly, pushing her porridge with the spoon ceaselessly.
Hikari sagged her shoulders in defeat. "You must realize that you are the luckiest girl in the world, Mimi-chan!"
Mimi's eyes flared in dismay. "No, no! I hate…to live with a boy." 'Hikari wouldn't understand…' She blew out a breath before shoving a spoonful of rice into her mouth.
"Ch! It's like you and him are husband and wife!" The younger girl giggled girlishly, poking Mimi in the ribs at the same time.
"Iie!" Mimi countered, a frown gracing her lips as she shook her head. "I really dislike him, Hikari-chan. Believe me."
'I hate boys. All boys.'
Her friend shrugged nonchalantly. "Whatever you say, Mi-chan. Anyway, are you done with your food yet?" She tapped her watch impatiently. "Class is about to start."
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"Here are my forms, sir." A tall boy carefully handed over a stack of papers to the principal of the Shichihenge High, waiting patiently for admission.
Kasagawa-sensei smiled grimly and extended an arm. "Welcome to Shichihenge High, Ishida Yamato."
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"Eeee! Did you see him?"
"Yes-, he's so lush!"
"I'd spy on him while he's in the bath!"
A group of girls in class 3A chatted animatedly, tittering with glee as they shared the latest breaking news.
"What's with them today?" Mimi jabbed a finger at the girls with a grimace.
Hikari clapped her hands excitedly. "He's here! Mimi-chan, he's here!"
"Who? What on earth are you talking about?" The brunette scratched her head densely as she surveyed the room with interest. Every female student was glowing with anticipation; their cheeks flushed and eyes shining with eagerness.
'Am I missing something here? Hopefully they didn't add something funny to the porridge today and caused everyone to go nuts.' Mimi considered.
"Class- seat yourselves down. We have a new student today." The principal walked in dragging a tall boy by the shoulder. "Please- introduce yourself."
"Ishida, Yamato. Nice to meet you all."
Mimi's head instantly glanced up, alarm clouding her brown eyes.
The boy caught her eye and tried to hold back his grin. "Hello, Tachikawa." He mouthed and the whole female population swerved their heads toward Mimi, firecracking in their eyes.
The girl's cheeks reddened and buried her face into the palms of her hands. 'Oh god. Oh god. Oh god. Ishida-san. Here. School! What do I do now?"
Hikari prodded Mimi with her index finger. "Oi, oi. He's cute, isn't he? Do you know him?"
Tachikawa Mimi glowered. "No…I don't."
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"Why are you so angry?" Yamato crossed his arms in defense as he and a pretty brunette stood behind the walls of the school, engaged in a heated argument.
Mimi dusted a tear from her eye. "It's nothing. You wouldn't understand. But I don't understand why you're here!"
The boy shrugged offhandedly. "Because Aunt Tomoko and your 'kaa-san needed me to look out for you?"
'Breathe, Mimi. Breathe!' Tachikawa inhaled slowly. "Okay. But don't make a scene, okay? It was hard enough in class when all the girls glared at me after you said hi."
He chuckled and nodded in agreement. "Deal."
Unnoticed, a pair of glasses glinted evasively from behind the bushes. "He he he…"
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"For twenty-yen only! Excusive snapshots of Tachikawa-san and the mysterious handsome student, Ishida-san!" A boy with heavy-rimmed spectacles cried out as he fanned the photos in the air with one hand.
Kyohei Shiko, fourth-year student. Is the King of Gossip and is excellent at taking scandalous photographs.
A flock of students teemed around Kyohei as he passed out the photographs of Mimi and Yamato conversing.
"Ooo! That bitch. She's such a boy hater and now she comes on to Ishida-san!"
"What a fake slut!"
"Let's go confront her!" Narita, the 'popular girl' of Shichihenge, who has the courage to wear the shortest skirts and most loose-fitting socks, rolled her fists into balls.
'I want Yamato for myself…' She sneered as her crafty emerald eyes examined the glossy photo.
"GO! GO! Go Narita!" Narita's sidekicks cheered, jumping up and down.
Narita flicked her honey blonde hair over shoulder with a smug smirk dancing across her gloss-coated lips. 'Watch out…Tachikawa Mimi!"