Yoki shinai chapter 5
A/N: Hi school! This will be my last year in highschool! Yatta! Just sayin' XD
Warnings: This is chapter 5. In case my story interests you, go read from the very beginning. Also, I have to switch POVs until the characters will meet in the later chapters.
It has been an agonizing two-day absence. Arturia felt the pressure as soon as she was discharged from the infirmary. She almost forgot that exams are on the upcoming days. She just realized that her torture is still not done yet. And now, she's back. She barely read anything on her two-day leave. She spends most of her time recovering her strength and healing her minor but painful injuries. Now, a dull throb in her stomach is all she felt.
"I can still make it even though I only read a little. I've got my stock knowledge anyway." She positively reminded herself.
Arturia has always been and will ever be a straight-A student. People often praise her because she always find time for everything and balances them. Even though she's a kendo club captain, she can still manage her time and study when she can. So this time, she can't afford to fail. As she passed by Fate academy's garden, Rin called her. Arturia turned around and found her friend running with her twin tails bobbing up and down.
"Arturia!" She came to a halt.
"Rin. Good morning." Arturia greeted.
"Good Morning! How are you? Did you eat? Did you sleep well? Are you feeling anything? Do yo-"
"I'm fine, I'm fine." Arturia chuckled in reply. "Just ask one question at a time!"
"Sorry about that. I can see that you're doing well." Rin smiled as Arturia smiled back. "The only problem is-"
"Oi!"
Rin was again cut off by a familiar voice. Both girls turned their heads at once to see Gilgamesh making his way toward them. Rin face palmed and Arturia frowned.
"Of all the people, why him?" Arturia thought as Gil approached closer.
"You know? I don't want to start my morning badly, so let's leave." Arturia mumbled absent-mindedly. Rin immediately understood what she meant and the two started to walk away.
"Oi! Wait! That's rude." Arturia glanced and could see Gilgamesh taking swift and long strides. Of course, he has the height advantage. He came to a stop and smirked. Arturia glared at him.
"What now?" Gil asked innocently.
"I've got things to do, so if you have something to say to me, you better make it quick." She crossed her arms and waited impatiently.
"Uhh, Arturia I better go first." Rin pointed towards their building.
"Umm. Okay…" But Arturia's face screamed "don't leave me with him!"
"See ya later!" And so, her friend trudged off.
"So?" She remained her composure despite the heavy load she's carrying, which of course, consists of books and school stuff.
"I just heard that you're coming back today. So I decided to check you out and ask how you're doing, "He smirked. "You should feel honored you know. I've wasted my energy on such a sluggish Thursday morning just to see you."
Arturia scowled. "Check me out?!" It takes no genius to figure out that phrase's meaning and last time she checked, the check-me-out phrase means… dating. But she decided not to voice that one out.
"No one even asked you to do it. And yes, I'm fine. Now move. I've got studying to do." She moved sideways, but Gigamesh countered in her way.
"Always the diligent one, eh, King of swords?" He bent down to whisper in her ear.
"Whatever." She moved again, faster this time to get away from him. She doesn't want to start her morning with a mob of fan girls dying to kill, just seeing her and Gilgamesh in that position. She thought all of this that she didn't realize Gil was still talking.
"—but good luck! I know you'll make it."
She turned just in time to see him winking at her. She continued walking, surprised at the encouragement she just heard.
"Well, that's a first."
From a distance, Gilgamesh eyed Arturia as she headed for their room, her small frame carrying those heavy loads.
"Ahh, Saber. You never fail to amuse me." He walked off too, masking his signature smirk.
XX
Arturia was greeted by a chaotic scene. No, chaos is an understatement. It's pandemonium. She scanned her eyes across the messy room. Her classmates seem to be too relaxed at the fact that today is the freaking exam. She made her way to her seat and settled down. She took out her math textbook; the subject she hated the most.
"Well, it's not like I have a choice." She thought sullenly. Exams start in the afternoon so she only got like, 4 hours to study. She found Rin sleeping soundly on her armchair. That's a given, since Rin is a surprisingly intelligent student. She stopped surveying her attention around the room and continued to focus on what she's currently in.
XX
Arturia must've been so absorbed by what she's doing; which is studying, that it took her 2 rings of the bell and a light tap from Rin to avert her eyes from her English textbook.
"Wuh- what?" She asked, a little annoyed at the presence.
"Are you gonna go or what?" Rin asked incredulously, "'cause you've been sitting there for like, forever!"
This took a few moments to pass for Arturia to catch up. Rin continued to glare funny at her with those aquamarine eyes. "Oh… Wait a minute. I'll just eat my lunch. "
"WHAT?! A MINUTE?! And you haven't eaten yet? Arturia, it's time for the exams to start already!" She motioned her hands for Arturia to see an eerily quiet classroom before her. An indication that she was, indeed, very focused. As if on cue, her stomach growled. She earned a blank stare from Rin.
"Ah… Haha." She sheepishly laughed, "Wait a sec, I'll just take my medicine then." Rin rolled her eyes.
"Faster. The teachers are closing the doors."
Arturia took out a pain killer and drank it. 'I hope this still goes well with an empty stomach'. After drinking the said medicine, she catched up with Rin at the doors and they just got in time before the assigned teacher close the doors at the classroom he was assigned to. Arturia sat down and closed her eyes as she uttered a silent prayer before uncapping her pen and started answering. It's pretty easy at the beginning, but halfway through the paper, she felt her head ache.
'Oh no, the medicine's starting to take effect," She thought, 'I shouldn't have just taken it without eating something!' She mentally slapped herself. Arturia rested her head down the armchair and the complex formulas swirling inside her head didn't help either. She groaned in frustration as she decided that she needs to finish the exams fast. After a few hours of agony, the test ended. Arturia shakily handed her test paper to the teacher as she took a peek of it one last time. She got ready and left her other classmates, who clearly have difficulty in answering.
As soon as she got outside, she was greeted by multiple questions of how the test went from other classes. She said it's okay and was answerable.
"Well, the perks of being the top student."
Someone tapped her back. Arturia turned and found herself facing Mizuhara Haruka. A smile as plastered on Haruka's face. She was ranked second throughout the whole campus; that meant she's next to Arturia.
"Pendragon-san, how was the test?" She asked innocently.
"It went well, although some parts are hard, I admit." She smiled sheepishly. Haruka tilted her glasses and smirked.
"Well, I wish you good luck, Pendragon-san," she curtsied, "I can't wait to see the results."
"Uh, yeah. Me too. Good luck to you as well, Mizuhara."
Haruka brushed a lock of purple hair and walked away. "See you, Saber."
And with that, she's out of earshot. Arturia shuddered. That girl intimidated her. Funny, she has fought many barbaric-looking men but Mizuhara gets on her nerves. There's something eerie with the way she said Saber. And she's pretty sure that there's something more behind those glasses than just a rich girl known for her politeness.
"Oi!"
She was snapped out of her thoughts as the familiar voice of a certain someone pushed her lightly. She staggered a little and several books fell down from her hands. She groaned and glared at him.
"What?" Gilgamesh held his hands up.
"For God's sake, would you stop disturbing me?"
"I didn't do anything."
"You did. Just now."
"Well, I didn't do it on purpose."
"You did. And please, shut up."
"Nope. What made you hate me so much? You gotta admit, I'm quite a looker and I'm a good ca-"
"Shut up."
He stopped. Maybe that's the cue.
"Y'know? You look pretty serious for someone who's small."
That hit a chord and all the frustration Arturia wants to let out earlier that day emitted a dark and deadly aura surrounding her body.
"Okay." Gilgamesh stopped once again.
Arturia calmed herself as she restrained not to do some deadly moves to Gilgamesh. She bent down to pick up the books. As she was on the last 2 books, a bigger hand helped her and it was Gilgamesh's. She was taken aback at his sudden action but shrugged it off as one of his charms to fall for him.
'That's not gonna work on me.'
As she was about to pick up the last book, both their hands brushed together. She flinched at the sudden skin contact. Arturia looked up and saw Gilgamesh staring back at her. They both locked eyes for a moment but she quickly looked away and stood up, picking the last book.
"Uh… Thanks."
'Awkward'
"No problem."
A moment of uncomfortable silence passed but Gilgamesh broke the ice.
"You're falling for me."
He said it out of nowhere and Arturia restraint herself not to stumble. "Um, pardon?"
Confusion was clearly painted on her face and Gilgamesh just sighed.
"I don't know why you're so dumb when it comes to things like these," He shook his head in dismay, "I said… You're falling for me."
He smirked as realization dawned on Arturia's face. She took her katana out of god knows where and quickly swung it to Gilgamesh's face. His smirk disappeared from his face as he quickly ducked to prevent himself from greeting the blow face-on.
"Oi! Do you want to ruin this beautiful face?"
"Like hell I care."
He was surprised. He isn't expecting the attack and because of its speed, he can only hear the faint whizz of the wind drawn out by the katana.
"Hmmp. You might be wondering why you didn't see that attack coming. It's called the Invisible Air Technique." She scoffed as she shared the piece of information with satisfaction. All the brave faces she wore suddenly disappeared as both her stomach and head synchronized in pain. Her knees wobbled and she has to maintain her balance to avoid looking pathetic.
"H-hey, easy there."
She felt strong hands scoop her up and carried her bridal style. She soon came to her senses and blushed furiously.
"P-Put me down!" She screamed.
"Not gonna."
"W-why you!" For some reason, she found herself stammering and at loss for words.
'He seems to be enjoying this'. Arturia quickly scanned the surroundings and felt relieved that no one, especially girls, is around. They went like that for a few more minutes, unaware of the presence that clearly recorded everything that happened.
XX
Haruka's POV
The twins, Tsukiko and Toshiko Ikeda watched as their leader paced back and forth at 'The Hideout'. Haruka seems anxious about something and this made both the twins more confused.
"A-anou~ Haruka-sama?..." Toshiko, the shy one of the both, speaks.
"Let her be. She's busy thinking something." Tsukiko whispered to her older twin. Toshiko just nodded. And so, both of them continued their watching session. It wasn't until then, that Haruka slammed both her hands at the wooden table as if a very nice idea just caught her off guard and that made the identical twins yelp in surprise.
"We need to stop her!" she yelled defiantly, "she's making a move towards Gilgamesh!"
"Uh. Yeah. We know that already." Tsukiko countered, "The question is, when did you saw her make a move?"
"Just now. After the exams. They're both being lovey-dovey and all and it's irritating to watch. I might claw my eyes out if it were possible."
"It is possible." Tsukiko mumbled.
"What did you say?!" Haruka glared.
"Uhh. Nothing." Tsukiko rolled her eyes.
"A-anyway. Haruka-sama, you were saying?" Toshiko interrupted with politeness.
"You really love to stammer, don't you?" Haruka said, "Anyway, the recent scene I just saw was unbearable. And I have to muster every strength I have to maintain my composure in front of her."
"So? What are you planning?" the twins asked in unison.
"Hmmm. A week from now, the test results will be up right?"
The twins nodded.
"And you always knew how I wanted to be ranked first, right?..."
The twins nodded again.
"And, you always knew how I hate Arturia because of the things she did with our Gilgamesh and how she acts all mighty and demanding around, right?"
"Uhhh. Where are you going with this?" Tsukiko groaned.
Haruka smirked once again as a crazy idea just entered her intelligent mind. It looks like she needs money again for this possible task.
"Well, it's hitting two birds with one stone." She continued, "It looks like I have to do the dirty way again. Arturia will surely be devastated with her exam results."
The twins raised their brows questioningly, but the cunning Mizuhara Haruka patiently explained to them what'll happen. The twins nodded in agreement as they heard the perfect plan.
"Arturia really picked the wrong enemy to fight with." Haruka eerily exclaimed with glee clearly seen on her eyes.
A/N: Woah. My OC, Haruka is really taking things to the next level! Well, can you guys guess what she'll do to Arturia? Review! And sorry if there are OOCs LOOOL. Stay tuned for the next chapter!
Thanks for reading the second chapter of Yoki Shinai! Don't forget to review ;)