Chapter 7: School – What a Drag

The summer did come to an ending after all the excitement and fun to Saya's disappointment. She did not want to be recognized as a girl who relied on her boyfriend to pay her expenses. However, she could not get a decent job without finishing high school first. She was certain all of the staff members at her school were replaced and wouldn't recognize her. Perhaps, they would recognize her as she resembles Aoi and Akane, but for any other reason, presumably not.

Easily, Saya enrolled using Kai's last name so her relation with Aoi and Akane was somewhat visible. Unfortunately, she could only pass for sixteen or so and had to start with her sophomore year.

Haji walked hand in hand with her along the sidewalk to the music shop with his signature cello case slung over a shoulder. For the first day of school, Saya sported her school uniform, the same as it was thirty years ago. The shop was not too far away from the high school, to their relief.

"I'll see you later," she told him, stretching to place a chaste kiss on his lips.

"Have a good day," he called out after her as she sprinted down the sidewalk.

She waved goodbye and disappeared into the distance.

--

"Oh, you must be the new girl. Saya Miyagusku, right?" a girl with long brown hair and emerald eyes asked, beginning to walk alongside her.

"Mmhmm, right," Saya timidly spoke.

"I'm Miki. I moved here a year ago from Italy and a few years before that we were living here," she introduced.

"Nice to meet you, Miki."

She pointed out, "Wow, you really know your way around here."

"Uh, yeah, I'm good with directions," the Queen quickly lied to dodge further interrogation.

Saya, along with a new friend, shared the same first class in the day, Math. Their schedule did happen to intertwine later in the day as well frequently. She was glad that she had someone to talk openly with unlike the other girls whom she was not able to talk freely amongst quite yet. While switching from class to lunch outside, she caught sight of a familiar figure from the corners of her eyes.

Standing at the gate was her beloved Chevalier, patiently waiting for her. All of these girls were crowded around him asking about the person he was waiting for and if he was their boyfriend. He ignored all questions and continued to wait with his cello secured to his back.

"Look at that hottie," one girl gushed flirtatiously.

Miki added, "What would a handsome guy like him be doing here?"

"I think he's waiting for me," Saya assumed, stepping closer to the crowd of fan girls.

"What?!" all of her new friends shouted in unison.

"Er… what?"

"Seriously? How old is he?" another girl questioned.

"Uh…" She looked at Haji to make a rough estimate of what age he looked to be. "Twenty-three?"

The all exclaimed in disbelief, "You're dating a twenty-three-year-old?!"

Ignoring anymore confrontation, Saya finally approached the crowd and pushed through it to reach her lover. He pulled her through the last row and kissed her softly on the lips.

"Haji, what are you doing here? I don't get out now," she spoke confusedly.

"I'm aware of that," he acknowledged with a sincere tone. "May I take you out to lunch?"

She blushed, slightly uncomfortable with him asking her out in front of half of the girls in school. "S-Sure."

Content, he kindly smiled down at her and took her hand in his. Once they cleared a block from the school, Saya was able to relax. She wearily propped her head up against his arm.

"I had no intention of embarrassing you. Please forgive me," he apologized.

"Embarrassed? If anything, you should be embarrassed of hanging around me."

Haji turned to her with wide eyes for only a moment before his lids lowered themselves and reverted back into their default position. "Never Saya. Why would you think that?"

"I don't know…" she sighed. "I don't remember school being this tiring."

"Would you like to go home?"

"Haji! You're supposed to encourage me to go, not encourage me to ditch!" she scolded.

Courteously, he responded, "I apologize, you're right."

After eating a serving suited for two people at a nearby café, Haji led her back to school and didn't leave her before a brief goodbye kiss.

The remainder of the day consisted of mainly questions and more questions from the fascinated girls of her high school. Just before last period came around, she was called down to the guidance office. Did they figure out who I am? Saya nervously mused.

A woman, dressed professionally from head to toe, sat behind her desk and offered the Queen a chair. Silence. The stillness lingered for several moments.

"Saya, do you know why you're here?" the woman began.

"Er… no?" she responded with all honestly.

"I'm sure there's something you would like to share with me. There's nothing troubling you at all?" she pressed further. The interrogation was causing Saya to shift uncomfortably in her seat.

"Why? Do you think there is?"

She offered, "How about we discuss you and your life. You're new here so I wouldn't mind hearing a few things about you."

"Uh… where do I start?"

"How about… your boyfriend? He came to school today, didn't he? Tell me about him," the counselor suspiciously questioned.

"Okay… uh, what do you want to know?"

"Anything is fine. Where did you meet? What does he do for a living? What is he like?"

"My father introduced him to me," Saya answered, the truth to some extent. She stammered on, "He… plays the cello at the local music store and… he's a very sincere… protective… man."

"Is he? Saya, I find it hard to believe that a twenty-three-year-old would choose to date a sixteen-year-old or that your father would introduce him to you. Don't be afraid to tell me if something's wrong."

"Wait… what?"

"Is he abusing you? Threatening you? Nothing will happen to you, I promise. It'll be between just you and me until we can take the appropriate actions," she assured the student.

"No! Of course not!"

"Are you positive?"

"Yes! He's not like that at all!"

"Alright, if you say so," the woman sighed. "But Saya, if you do ever need help, I'll be here to listen."

"Thanks for the offer," Saya grumbled with a seemingly irremovable grimace upon her face as she stepped out of the office.

She mentally fumed, the nerve of that woman! Thinking Haji was some lowlife jerk. I'll have her know that– Her maroon eyes widened. I'm late for class!

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Sorry! I'm so late with these updates. I've been focusing on school, drawing, and my story so I did not find the time for fanfictions. I hope you enjoy this chapter and sorry if it's not up to par with the previous ones.