Spring is shining over Habataki City, and as the snow melts and the blossoms at the park start to shily return, a dark cloud drift over the high school students of the area.
It is time for the final exams.
The stress and anxiety of their upcoming tests was more than enough to set Bambi on edge. For the week leading up to it, she is a train wreck, more than once messing up at her part-time job at the flower shop or during volleyball practice.
Her friends were quick to realize what was going on, and they did, for their benefit, try their best to calm her down and get her to relax on the days preceding the exams. However, she is soon to catch up that none of them really cared or were at all concerned with their results. Ruka has his eidetic memory, Kouichi does not really care either way, Karen is set on studying abroad and Miyo is confident that her occasional study sessions would be enough.
Seeing them tranquil and resigned to their fates only made her feel worse, and so all of their attempts only seemed to be short-term fixes. As within a few hours, the girl was back into her panicked state, if not even worse for wear.
Ruka had caught on to what was going on, and was especially preoccupied over his friend. She usually performed exceedingly well in tests, but the emotional cost is becoming unsustainable. He also notes with grave concerned that none of them were in the same class: he and his brother were at 2-B, Miyo and Karen were allocated at 2-C and Bambi was in 2-A. Therefore, there was no-one to take care of her during lessons.
Alas, he began preparing himself, should something happen. He went to the library, using the computers and the expertise of the school nurse to do some research on anxiety and panic attacks. Things he knew by just looking at her, things she was prone to do.
After he exhausted those sources, he began asking around. Miyo was happy to teach them some meditation techniques, while Karen had an array of incenses and aromatherapy products to lend. For more practical advice, Seiji and his friend at the Class Council had also plenty to say.
The days went on and Ruka was preparing for war. Be what may happen, he felt equipped to deal with any situation.
However, the hour and a half before their test, Bambi panicked and found herself at the rooftop. She attempted to take some breaths to calm her nerves and stop her hands from shaking, but it seemed her impending doom was always somewhere in the back of her mind.
Despite being lunch hour, it was fairly empty, as students busied themselves in the library, hoping to cram as much content in the little time that remained. The only students that hung around the roof were the slackers, to which she was not acquainted, but that had little interest on her, in any case.
The rooftop is, these days, the prime spot to find a slacker, and it is a particular slacker she is looking for. She hoped that, if she spent a little time with Ruka, she would be able to calm herself enough so she could get her test done and out of the way.
Kouichi looked up as she approached, nodding to her in greeting. Ruka shot him a confused look before turning, finding her walking over. He stood from his seat, meeting her halfway with a concerned look.
"Bambi? What's wrong?" His hands flew to her upper arms, steadying her as he looked her over.
"I... I just need to relax for a little bit, and I couldn't do it downstairs." A few tears slipped from sher eyes unwillingly. "Is it alright that I stay here for a while?"
Ruka wiped the escaping tears with the pads of his thumbs.
"Of course! Of course, it's alright, Bambi. I have no problem with that." He pulled she into a hug.
The girl rested her head against his chest, hoping to hear the rhythmic beating of his heart.
"Is this about your test today?" Ruka asked, concerned.
He felt her nod against his chest, tightening his grip on her body.
"Yeah..." She mumbled out.
"Don't. Don't feel stupid, baby. Everyone gets testing anxiety." He responded, rubbing soothing circles into her back in an attempt to calm her down. "Kou looks at his math tests like they're going to eat him."
"Seven did eat nine." He stated, causing a roar of laughter from the surrounding students.
"That's so bad." Bambi mumbled, having her speech smothered against the lean figure of the blond boy.
Ruka chuckles, turning his attention back to she and placing a sweet kiss on the top of her head.
"You have nothing to worry about." He whispered in convinced assurance into her short hair. "You're going to knock it out of the park, as usual. Or… What's the equivalent for volleyball?"
"Score a set point." She provided, tiredly.
The boy nodded, excitedly. "Yeah! You'll score a set point on these tests."
"This test already caused me to have a panic attack this morning." Bambi grumbled. "I'm tired, and I'm hungry. I couldn't eat."
Ruka pulled her back, staring down at her eyes with concern. "You didn't tell me that."
"I was scared. This test is everything." The girl argued.
"Look at me." He demanded, and Bambi lifted her eyes. "Do you trust me?"
"With all my heart."
"Then trust me when I tell you that you are going to pass this test. I have no doubt in my mind. You'll do great."
She hugged him again. "Thank you, Ruka."
"Anytime. I'm a hero, after all." He inflated his chest. "Why don't you sit with us? We can listen to Kou make a fool of himself."
Ruka wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her to sit down against the concrete railing. As with the many other times she spent her lunch upstairs, the boys from 2-B quickly fell into conversation with one another.
Soon, Bambi felt that the stress and anxiety were quickly falling away as she talked, snuggling closer into the blond Sakurai's side. Then, as she started to feel better, the bell rung.
"It's time for me to go." She whispered.
Ruka quickly picked up on the fear laced in her voice.
"You are going to do great. Do you want me to walk you back to your class?" He offered, moving to stand up before she caught his hand.
The schoolgirl smiled sadly. "No, I'm good. Enjoy the rest of your lunch."
"OK, then. Good luck and remember what I told you."
"I will. Thank you again." She forced a smile, as she stood.
However, Bambi thinks that she might have stood up too quickly, as she found black dots spotting her vision as she walked closer to the stairway door.
"Bambi?!"
It was the last thing she heard before she blacked out.
Ruka turned, just in time to watch as her knees buckled. He shot up, running to grab her body before she hits the floor. His arms quickly wrap around her upper body, cradling her to his chest.
"Bambi?!" He yelled, worry seeping into him in waves.
The blond boy gently shook her, finding her unresponsive. He sank to his knees, still holding her close to his chest as Kou ran to the two of them.
"She must have fainted…" Kouichi whispered, as he quickly checked her pulse and finding the rhythm of it much faster than normal.
The other could not hear anything. He is in despair, he is panicking, and he is not sure what he is supposed to be doing. He has not prepared for such a scenario
"How's her breathing?" The tallest boy asked Ruka, who just stared down at their friend with complete fear.
"Ruka! Don't zone out on me!" Kouichi yelled at him, gently pulling her from his arms.
Resting her on the floor of the cafeteria, the brunet rested his ear on her thin chest. From this position, he could gauge that she was barely moving her thorax, but she was still breathing, even if very shallowly.
Ruka just stared down at Bambi in utter fear. His hand trembling as it came to rest in hers. He leaned forward moving the hair from her face and placing a kiss on her forehead.
Kouichi quickly unbuttoned the first couple of buttons on her blouse and the belt she had wrapped around her waist. He placed his ear on her chest again, finding her breathing started to even out. The other 2-B students, in turn, helped clear out a small perimeter, allowing the girl to keep her modesty.
A moment later, her eyes opened, winking for focus. Ruka sighed with relief, wiping the tears from his eyes as he kissed her once more on the forehead.
"What happened?" Bambi asked, wondering how she ended up on the floor.
"You fainted. It scared me half to death. I saw you fall and I didn't know what to do." Ruka pulled she into his arms.
The girl looked confused. "I fainted?"
The blond chuckled. "It's okay, Bambi. It's probably from all that stress about your test."
He brushed back some of her hair, buttoning up the two buttons on her blouse while she was still a bit out of it, so she would not stress over that as well.
She gripped his arm, moving to stand when Ruka stopped her. "I wouldn't stand up immediately. Are you feeling alright?"
"A little funny, but I feel fine." Bambi mumbled.
He nodded, kissing her temple.
"I know you'll be missing your test, but I think it would be best if you just went home." He suggested, "I'll take you home on the bike. I'll ask Karen to pick up your stuff from your classroom and bring them back to your house later."
"I guess that's for the better, too. Thank you." Bambi nodded toward Kou as his brother pulled her from the ground, his arm securely around her waist for support.
"Get better, little sis." The tall teen responded, serious. "We can't have you falling around the school like that."
Ruka guided the girl toward the back door, damn the rest of the classes he had today. As she made it to the entrance gate, the blond helped her up on the bike. As he moved on to sit on it as well, she stopped him, pulling him back closer to her face.
"Thank you, Ruka." Bambi said, her expression embarrassed. "I really appreciate what you did today. This month, really."
"Anything for you." He winked. "Let's get some food on your stomach and take you home."
