Chapter 26 (Post Mid-terms)

"Well, if it isn't second place." A taunting voice sounded behind her. Mizuki held in her groan. The morning just kept getting better. First she was late because she had missed a bruise on her arm and had to go back to apply foundation to cover it up. Now she had to deal with this menace all the way up the mountain.

"You won by 2 points." She retorted with an eye roll. What made her even more annoyed was the fact that the two points were caused by her lapse in concentration due to lack of sleep the previous week.

He smirked at her, "It's still a win. Plus those so-called friends of yours on the student council did worse than both of us. I thought you guys were supposed to be smart."

"First of all, don't group me with them. Second, I am smart. I just made a few careless mistakes."

He shrugged, "Mistakes are mistakes. Guess the Angel of class A has her flaws too."

"Don't. Call. Me. That."

He had taken to calling her that ever since he overheard some of the other students whispering about her former nickname during exam week. No matter how often she tells him to stop, he refuses. Unfortunately, she had no ability to fight back since he had technically won their silent competition during the mid-term exams.

Korosensei had taught them both the same material in his crash course study before the exam; therefore, the yellow teacher had challenged them to settle their differences through their results. Whoever won would get bragging rights and the loser would have to accept it.

Though she hated what the nickname reminded her of, she had started to get used to it with the way that Karma used it. His tone of mocking made all the difference compared to how it was used on the main campus.

"Why not, Angel-chan? It fits you quite well, actually."

Rather than validating him with a response, she simply rolled her eyes again. Halfway up the mountain, she realized the silence between them had actually been quite amicable. Perhaps reconciliation was possible for them.

"I assume you'll be alone for the class trip, Angel-chan."

Reconciliation my butt.

"For a top student, that was a rather dumb comment." She responded. "We aren't allowed to go without a group."

"Oh? I wasn't aware you had a group." His smirk told her he knew he was hitting a sore spot with her.

Besides Chiba and possibly Nagisa, she had no friends. In fact, she probably had more enemies than people she could call acquaintances.

"And you do? I don't recall you being any more liked than me."

"Nagisa-kun and I will probably be in the same group." He said confidently. Obviously, he felt his bond with the blue haired boy was strong enough that he wouldn't be left hanging.

"Ryunosuke-kun and I will also probably be in a group."

"I wouldn't be too sure about that."

His words struck a chord with her. What could he mean by that?

Before she could ask, they arrived at the top and he entered the building without her. Mizuki nervously entered after him and went to look for her friend. She saw him sitting at his desk with a worried look on his face.

Oh no.

"Good morning Ryunosuke-kun."

"Mizuki-chan…" He trailed off.

She sighed, "Just rip off the band aid and tell me."

"I didn't realize the group was full and Nakamura-san already submitted the list to the class president, but I can ask them to change groups! I'd rather be with you anyway." He offered.

Suddenly what Karma had said earlier made sense. Figures Nakamura would be the one to exclude me from my only friend.

"Thanks, but it's okay. I doubt there are any groups open for two more people anyway."

True to what she had said, they both looked around the room and it seemed there were already two groups of seven and two of six which meant Mizuki would either have to be in the same group as the sociopathic Karma or the idiotic Terasaka and his two idiot friends.

Luckily, her decision was made easier when a soft voice called to her, "Um, Hiyashi-san?"

Turning around, she was faced with Okuda Manami.

"Would you like to join our group? I asked the others and most of them are fine with it."

Mizuki would bet all her savings on who was against it. Still, she was a little touched the smaller girl asked her to join them. "Are you sure you want me in your group though?" She asked with hesitance. Though she needed a group, she didn't want to be asked out of pity.

"Of course!" The other girl said with an emphatic nod. "Why wouldn't I? We're friends, aren't we?"

Mizuki barely refrained from asking, "We are?" Instead, she gave a bright smile and nodded. A warm feeling filled her as she realized that her prank war with Karma had brought her her first female friend.

"Yeah, we are."

Chapter 26 End