"Poor Akane. She looks as exhausted as The Disciplinary Committee members do, after a long night," Miu whispered to Kimiko in their English class, before lunch. It was Monday, and Akane had forced herself to stay awake up until this point but had finally lost the battle. After she was unable to get back to sleep after Aido's surprise visit, she'd tried reading to tire her mind but didn't end up falling asleep until around 4 a.m. and then only slept until Miu arrived back at 9:15 a.m. on Sunday.
Akane and Miu spent Sunday with their wider group of friends around campus, eating lunch, talking about home, school, their favourite books and music, before going back to the dorm at 6:30 p.m. for supper and to complete any unfinished homework. So, when the alarm went off at 6:45 a.m. on Monday, Akane could hardly muster up the energy to roll herself out of bed.
The loud smack of the board eraser hitting the tutor's desk, roused Akane from her slumber with a jolt. She jumped up in her seat, her tired, puffy eyes wide in fright as she wiped away the little drool that had been trailing down her chin.
"Welcome back to the land of the living, Miss Nakamura. I think detention will be in order. See me after class." Mrs Satou was not a lenient teacher. She was short and fat, with rosy cheeks and wiry, greying hair. There was nothing remotely jovial about her English teacher. She reminded Akane of a troll, whom she felt was better suited under a bridge than in a classroom.
Akane groaned and slumped back in her chair. Detention! Argh… I'm supposed to be keeping out of trouble. Damn that Aido Hanabusa and his crazy fan club! Akane cursed the Vampire's name all through her detention, which lasted most of lunch. Mrs Satou let her leave with just enough time to eat and get to her next class, which was, thankfully, History. Sigh! Akane rushed through the door to her History lesson and quickly took her seat next to Miu as the teacher came in and closed the door.
"Akane?" Miu called worriedly, as she fell into her chair, panting after running from the cafeteria. Akane shook her head at her friend before unceremoniously, dropping it on her desk and closing her eyes. History was Akane's worst subject, and she had no desire for today to be the day she applied herself. The History teacher, Mr Fukui, was not the most attentive of teachers and was happy to teach his lessons then leave, without making much fuss over students who didn't pay attention. So Akane was grateful to at least get some rest after such an exhausting weekend. Miu didn't pester Akane further that day, but every day, after she'd been to the changeover, her questions mounted.
"Will you come to the changeover today?" Miu asked Akane, early afternoon on Friday as they packed away their Biology equipment, before lunch. The week had gone by quickly with Miu not so much as uttering a word about the Night Class to Akane, until now. Akane was surprised by the sudden question after not so much as a swoon at Aido's name from Miu all week.
"Why would I go to the changeover again?" Akane's responded.
"It's Valentine's Day! Tonight, at the changeover, the Day Class can give the Night Class students they like chocolates to express their feeling."
"I'm familiar with the concept of the holiday, Miu. But there isn't anyone I like, so why would I go?"
Miu sighed disappointedly. She had hoped that by not bugging Akane about the Night Class like she used to, that it would make it easier to get Akane to agree to come to the changeover. Apparently not, Miu thought, Plan B it is then. There was something she wanted to figure out, and if Akane wasn't going to make things easy on herself, she'd have to be more direct.
"Oh, well. I guess I'll have to explain to Idol why you're a no-show again, and on such an important event too." This caused Akane to stop in her tidying and turn to Miu with a confused look.
"What?" she asked while Miu continued to tidy, with a knowing smile.
"Nothing, just that almost every day this week, Idol's singled me out to talk about you."
Akane was taken aback by this, and rapidly became equal parts angry and terrified, at the prospect of another sleepless weekend of sleepovers. Miu seemed to understand Akane's look and quickly assured her roommate.
"He's very discreet about it, asking about school and stuff. But, eventually, he gets around to asking me about you. Like how you're feeling after what happened last week, or whether you're ever going to drop by and see him before class. He even asked yesterday if you'd made any chocolates for him. So, is there anything you'd like to tell me?"
Akane refused to answer, turning her back and continued to tidy the classroom. Miu did the same. Akane didn't go to the changeover that night and continued to ignore Miu whenever she mentioned the Night Class Idol until she left for home on Saturday morning. Akane spent her Saturday like any other. Reading in the library, walking around the gardens, listening to music, talking to the few friends she had aside from Miu and Kimiko, except for the fact that, all the while, she was apprehensive about who she'd find back in her dorm room later that evening.