Chapter 7

(Sophia's POV)

The news that my brother was back sent me reeling. I'd been going to school and practice but sitting in class felt weird. I couldn't remember anything that was said and I often brought a recorder to school, taping my lessons to watch later. When I wasn't at school or practice I was in the hospital. Some anonymous donor had paid for all the expenses and thanks to hospital policy I wasn't allowed to see who. Well, that's what doctor Kureha insisted anyway... I wasn't sure what it was but Takeda didn't like him and often accompanied me to the hospital. I felt bad dragging him around but my stoic teacher insisted that he had nothing to do and was more than happy to accompany me.

Dad was still overseas. He was chief executive at his firm and couldn't leave in the middle of his projects. He had come home for three days, spending all of his time with my brother and me if I was there before he gave me a kiss on the head, a long hug and an order to call him if anything changed. I watched him slide into the yellow cab like some many times before and watched till it disappeared. I'd had a few people circle the hospital, waiting outside the room or bringing me food but doctor Kureha didn't want many people in the room. Should my brother wake up, the sight of twenty people he may not remember would be too much? He didn't anyone in the room with me either, only family but Takeda and Kinuyo only smiled before nicely asking which people planned to keep them out. Takeda could take care of himself and Doctor Kureha didn't dare do anything to Kinuyo with Baki looming around the corner.

I sighed, grabbing my books off the shelf and turn, walking through the crowd of people. I gasp, dropping my books as I hit someone. "Oh, I'm sorry," I state quickly and pick up my books. I glance up to catch a flash of brown hair.

I'd cleaned up my mess and made my way to science class. On the way into class, I tripped over someone's bag, barely managing to catch myself

"Hey, would you watch it?" an angry voice states and I glance up at one of my classmates, her long brown hair now tucked behind her head.

"Sorry."

The class went smoothly and I managed to take some of the lessons. I had my phone screen down on the edge of my desk, I'd told the teachers about my brother and I would be called should he wake up. Some of the students weren't happy about it, stating I was getting 'special treatment' because I was a foreigner. Well, they didn't say the foreigner part but it was easily implied. I had to fight the urge to glance at the screen and forced myself to write down my notes. We learned about the periodic table and the contents of that before the bell rang.

I grabbed my phone and slipped it into my pocket, double-checking the speaker was on high beforehand and grab my bags. I was determined to make it out of class without running into anyone and thankfully managed to do that. I walked to my locker, pulling out my lunch bag when I got hit in the back. My body hit the locker beside me and I fell to the floor. A few people stopped to stare at me and I glance up, seeing –yep you guessed it long brown hair walking down the hall.

I narrow my eyes as she turns the corner. Okay... I had let it slide because I'd been more distracted than usual. One time was on me, two times was on her but three times in one day?

A bit of laughter comes from my left "Damn Sophia, I know I'm drop-dead gorgeous but this is overkill don't you think?" I didn't have to look to see Kozue standing beside me, her laughter stops when she notices my frown "Hey, you look ready to kill someone, what's up?"

I feel her arms pull me off the floor but my head was still looking down the hall "I'm not sure... but I think I'm being bullied?"

"Bullied? In what way?"

She reaches down to grab one of my books and we walk to the lunchroom. I explain to her my problem and Kozue nods every so often, adding in her input.

"Do you know who it is?"

"No."

"She's hit you three times today and you didn't see her face?"

I shrug "That's the problem. Many people in this school don't like me, so I guess I just got used to it." We make our way up to the roof, double-checking no one was there "After a while, the faces just blend." We step up onto the roof and I smile, feeling the air blow through my hair "though this is the first time someone's gotten physical with me."

Kozue and I sit, leaning on the cool metal fence and open our bags. I move a few books around and reach for the bento my second mom made. Ironically I wasn't talking about Takeda, though the man had been in the kitchen every morning with a fluffy pink apron on... Kinuyo had made these lunches today. I carefully unwrap the pink cloth around the box and smile when I look inside.

There were two boxes on top of each other. The first one was three-quarters full of fried rice and diced vegetables. The other quarter was separated with mini tomatoes, cucumber and steamed spinach. The bottom box was larger and filled with three stacks of breaded chicken, bean sprouts and thinly sliced cabbage and what looked like a quinoa salad with more tomatoes, cabbage, cucumber and leftover chicken.

Kozue had already dug in, glancing at me with a mouthful of food "Do you know why she's doing it?"

I place my hands together, thanking her mother before eating and shrug once again "Not sure. With everything that has happened, I have no idea. School and the people in it have been on the back of my mind."

Kozue opens the small container of sauce and dips her chicken in it, shaking it in the air carefully "Do you want me to talk to Baki about it?" she sticks it in her mouth "I remember when I was kidnapped. Baki came to save me. He was all angry and pow!" she elbows the air beside her and I lean to the side to avoid her chopsticks "One hit and the guy's wrist was smashed. Smack, crack! The other two went down."

I move away from her slightly and swallow more food "Okay slugger, I'm just hoping to talk to her." Kozue looks at me and blushes "If I can figure out her problem maybe I can help her."

"Statistically speaking ninety percent of all bullying is done out of jealousy."

I glance at her, watching her smugly put another piece of chicken in it "Come on Kozue..."

"I'm serious! I'm not sure why but you have something or have done something that someone else wants and now you're being attacked for it. It's not right at all but it makes sense."

I sigh, leaning back on the fence and quietly think about her words. You have something or have done something that someone else wants. Now you're being attacked for it. So much had happened in the last two months I had no idea where to begin. The shooting, the front gate, almost dying at school, the police showing up –three times, my temporary expulsion, the use of my phone in class, Takeda showing up after school to walk me home. And let's not forget the highly talked about incident with Iwoa-san where she openly declared war on Hanayama and had to drag me into the middle of it...

Some much had happened in the last sixty days I seemed to be the headline for school gossip. I couldn't go three days without something happening. I sighed again, deeply and set my food on my lap.

A few seconds after I feel Kozue's hand on mine "Hey... We'll figure it out okay?" she smiles softly "You'll be more aware from now on and I'll meet you after class if you want. I'm in most of them anyway."

I smile softly "It's not the bullying Kozue, it's just one more thing on my plate that I don't need right now..." I move my hand to my pocket and glance at my phone "All I want to do is go to school, kendo practice and wait for my brother to wake up."

Thankfully Kozue didn't push further and we fell into a comfortable silence. The sound of chewing and birds filled the rest and after lunch was over we laid there, staring up at the clouds. I had my head resting on my bag and stretched my hand out, pretending to run my fingers through the clouds. Kozue smiles, pointing out different animals she sees and occasionally I would add my own. It was a nice distraction from the stress and I found myself smiling despite my pain.

After a while, Kozue glances at her wrist "Okay... we have to go back."

I nod, rolling onto my stomach and force myself off the floor. Kozue sits up and I reach down, pulling her the rest of the way up. We both grab our bags and head to the door. I feel her hip gently hit mine and chuckle as I grab the handle.

Clang!

Kozue and I share a look and I pull on the handle again.

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

I stop, pulling back again and hold it. The door would open the slightest and stop. I had a momentary panic when I thought it might be locked but I remembered that the lock was broken, taken apart by a few students wanting to sneak onto the roof. The lock had stayed open over the years because it didn't look broken from the outside. The only way this door was staying shut as if someone had deliberately put something -Oh my god...

I pull again, my arm straining against the metal and finally let go. My fingers were red; indents from the metal were pressed into my flesh.

"Okay..." Kozue laughs "I hate to admit it but this was pretty clever."

..

..

A loud scraping noise was heard behind the door. The bending of metal and we wait in slight fascination as the door opens, Baki was standing there holding a bent chair with ease.

"Uh... Kozue? Why do you have a chair on the door?"

We both start laughing as Baki places the chair on the side of the building. We had been sitting up there for fifteen minutes. The last ten minutes of lunch and five minutes of class. Kozue had left her phone in her locker and I didn't have Baki's number so after much debating about calling Takeda for help we decided to wait. Kozue had the fourth period with Baki and she was certain if we waited long enough Baki would come looking for her. He knew she was at school today and that we often sat on the roof on Thursdays. Just when I was starting to doubt her Baki arrived.

"We have a chair on the door because Sophia has a bully who locked us on the roof." She smirks, kissing him on the cheek in thanks.

Baki's hand wraps around her waist protectively but his eyes were on me "A bully?" his eyes narrow "Sophia, is someone picking on you? Because I can make them stop."

Only his eyes had narrowed but I could help but shiver. Angry Baki was someone I'd never want to fight "It's alright Baki. I'm hoping I can catch her before she does something again. If I can figure out her problem I might be able to stop it."

I could tell he was reluctant to back off but seeing as I'd said no and no one had gotten hurt Baki agreed "Okay, but if it gets worse I want you to tell me."

I place my hand on my head, giving a mock salute "Yes sir,"

I got back to class and apologized to the teacher, I got detention and a look but he didn't push it further. I made my way back to my seat and pulled out my books.

..

..

The last period was a study period and I grab my books. I place my textbook into my bag and stop when my fingers touch my red notebook. Math. My eyes move from it to Hanayama. Like I thought his red math book was on his desk, the same confused yet frustrated look on his face. Like he knew his eyes rise to meet mine. The shock was evident on them and I blush, pulling out my red book with a suggestive shrug. His eyes move from it to my face and after a moment nods.

I grab my bag, moving towards his desk and stop beside another male. He was pretty skinny and short, soft brown hair with thick black glasses. I also notice the way he refuses to look at Kaoru like he was some beast and meeting his eyes was a silent challenge. I hadn't talked with him much but he was one of the few people in my class to not hate me for my blood.

I place a hand on his shoulder "Hekori-san?" I ask gently, causing the male to look at me "I was hoping if you were just studying if you wouldn't mind switching places with me? I would like to work on math with Hanayama-kun."

The male looks up at me and for the briefest second slides his eyes to Kaoru. Had the giant not been looking at him already he might have avoided the squeak of surprise. He blushes madly and nods, scooping up his books like he was thankful for the opportunity to move. I thank him and sit down, carefully sliding the desk over to Kaoru with a little help. I grab my notebook and math book, setting us up like we had the last time.

I listen patiently for him to explain what he did and didn't understand. I force the blush from my cheeks as he leans in, quietly whispering his words as we were in class and others were trying to study. Thankfully I didn't let my nerves get in the way and we had forty-five minutes of uninterrupted study time.

Keyword being had.

In the last five minutes of class, a girl stands, quietly making her way down the row to us. At first, I hadn't paid her any attention, thinking she would plop down on a seat before us with one of her friends.

"Hanayama-kun?" A sweet feminine voice whispers. I awkwardly stare at my page as she continues; now holding Kaoru's attention "Do you have time to talk tomorrow at lunch?"

I forced my eyes to look at my math book and not at the woman in front of me and silently prayed she'd go away. Kaoru didn't seem the least bit bothered by the attention "Yes."

She hands him a small note and turns, walking back to her desk. I shouldn't have looked but I couldn't help it. I feel my stomach drop when I notice the same long brown hair gently swishing down the aisle. I feel my eyes move from her hair to the note Hanayama had shamelessly opened beside me.

-Hello Hanayama-kun!
I'm so sorry to bother you but I would like to meet you behind the gym to talk if you'd let me.
I'll wait until 12:30.
Sugiyama.

I noticed the little heart beside her name and found myself looking back up at her. Her phone was hidden in the middle of her book and to my surprise, she was staring at my reflection in the screen. I felt myself swallow and turn away.

When class was done I shoved my books into my bag in record time and left the classroom. Sugiyama let me.