Disclaimer: I do not own Special A. /creys
Chapter 2: Compassion, Breakout
"Takishima!" Hikari yelled as she opened the doors to the greenhouse. Hikari had been waiting all night to show her results to Kei. She got 100% at her test and she got 20 extra points for finishing early.
Basically, Hikari wanted to rub it on Kei's face.
But instead of the brunette, Hikari found the new member instead. If Kei's hobby was typing away on his laptop, it seemed that Hiro preferred books; he was seated in Hikari's usual seat. His legs were crossed, holding a novel with his arm resting on his leg.
Upon her arrival, Hiro gave her the smile that Hikari deemed to be illegal. "Good morning, Hikari."
"Good morning! Have you seen Takishima by any chance?" She asked.
Hiro shook his head, his focus now on her. "He's not here yet. I think he's on his way."
Hikari nodded. She noticed how he was occupying her seat. Did he know he was seating on it or was it an accident? Ever since what happened the previous week on his arrival to the S.A., Hikari had been wary of him, wary of his actions.
She sat across from him. She could feel his heavy stare and can't help but feel nervous. "Ah, I see. How about Akira and the others?"
"They're not here yet too, Hikari." Hiro shrugged. Hikari didn't fail to notice the way her name rolled off his tongue. There was something behind it, something Hikari couldn't pinpoint. Something she was afraid of. "It's only the two of us here." Somehow that thought made her uneasy.
"Ah, I see. Thank you Kinose-san."
"Please, call me Hiro."
"But-" Hikari wanted to object but he cut him off.
"No buts, Hikari." His tone had changed. Hiro placed his book down. He stood and did the thing Hikari was afraid he'd do at that moment: walk towards her. "I want you to call me by my name. That's an order."
Hiro's steps were slow but it only took him a few steps to end up standing above her. He took this advantage to lean forward and place both of his hands on the arm rest of the couch. Hikari wanted to run.
"Um... Kinose-san?" Hikari asked him, flustered. She was beginning to get sweaty, not knowing how to get out of his grasp. He leaned closer and placed his lips near her ears.
"I told you… to call me Hiro." Hikari could feel his breath hit her sensitive skin. She was blushing, no doubt about it. She snapped back to reality and pushed him away from her.
"What do you think you're doing?" She demanded. Hikari and Hiro began to have a stare-off. Hiro smile slowly changed into a smirk.
"How cute, Hikari."
"What are you up to?" Hikari asked.
Hiro didn't have the time to reply. Kei entered, laptop in his hands. The sight in front of him was less than inviting. There was Hikari, corned by the newbie who clearly had other intentions than he expected.
"What do you think you're doing? Keep your hands off her." Kei's voice was stern, commanding yet Hiro didn't move an inch. He let out a laugh. Kei didn't find anything funny.
"What the hell are you laughing about?"
"Kei-kun, I was just telling Hikari some things. It's really is none of your business," Hiro replied calmly.
Hikari who was silent all this time, continued to stay silent. She didn't dare to say something. Who knew, it could make the matters worse than it already was. Kei's eyes then moved to the black haired female and she gulped.
Kei moved to where Hiro was. Their eyes were levelled and it was then Kei declared war with three simple words. "I'm watching you."
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"Tea's ready!" All had gathered around the table where Akira laid the tray full of biscuits. Tadashi's tongue lashed out like a dog and leaped across the table. Before he could get some though Akira's fist was already on his face, sending him flying towards the greenhouse roof.
Kei didn't stop typing on his laptop while Hiro was nonchalantly on cookies. Hikari was in the middle of the two, unable to look at them after what happened before the rest came.
Megumi noticed this and wrote something to her sketch pad. "Are you okay Hikari-chan? You're quite pale."
Everyone stared at the trio. Hikari reassured Megumi while Akira yelled at Kei. Tadashi ate biscuits along with Hiro as if it has nothing to do with them. Ryuu and Jun watched them with curious eyes.
"Hikari-chan, you can tell me anything," Megumi wrote on her pad. Hikari tried to smile and thought of a good excuse.
"Ah, it's nothing, Megumi-chan. I just didn't get enough sleep last night. That's all, really."
"Kei! What did you do to Hikari? I bet this was all because of you wasn't it? I should've known! I swear to God blah blah and if I find out that blah blah blah…" Kei wasn't listening anymore. He was more concerned about the situation him and Hikari were in.
Flashbacks flashed across his mind during that time when Yahiro told Hikari that Kei was in love with her. He also remembered how he used any means possible to get it out of Hikari.
This situation was no exception. He got it out of her before. He'll just have to do it again.
Determined, Kei stood up and grabbed Hikari's arm and stormed out of the greenhouse. Akira's eye twitched, a sadistic smile forming.
"You must really not value your life, Kei Takishima."
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"T-takishima . . . Where are we g-going? Can you please s-stop running! I-I'm all out of breath!" Hikari was panting heavily but Kei wasn't listening to her.
He wanted to know the exact words that Hiro said to Hikari; he was determined to do so. He reached their destination: the gym. No one will disturb them there since it wasn't Friday and the gym was closed. Like magic, Kei entered the gym without any trouble. He pinned Hikari on to the wall resulting to Hikari's face going red.
"Now. . . Tell me what that bastard told you."
"Hey! Don't call him a bastard!" True, Hiro kind of harassed Hikari in a way but it didn't give Kei the right to call him whatever he pleased.
"Why are you suddenly acting this way? If you have something to say, then say it." Hikari urged him. "You can trust me you know."
Kei studied her.
It wasn't about trust.
The way Hikari was looking at him with those eyes, it made him want to kiss her right there and then.
"I'm sorry, Hikari. I-"
"You what?"
"I was jealous."
"W-what?"
"Of course I am. He might steal my place on the top," Kei managed to say as he walked towards the gym door. "Oh, and just so you know. . . I'm not talking about that kind of jealousy."
He chuckled on his way out but once she was out of sight, he sighed. "Or am I? Aha, I'm so pathetic."
Back at the gym, Hikari was dumbfounded. What just happened?
She thought that he would confess to her, prove Yahiro right. But turned out he only cares about his position as first. Hikari didn't know why but she felt a stabbing pain somewhere along her chest. Was it disappointment? She wasn't sure. But she was glad that he didn't confess as she thought he would. Hikari wasn't prepared and won't have a clue what to say if he did.
Hikari wanted to forget what happened in the gym by indulging herself in books so she headed for the library.
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An hour before home time, Hikari was awoken by a familiar voice shouting her name. It was coming from the corridors.
"Hikari! Where are you?! Heekaaaareeeeeee!"
"Akira?" Hikari exited the library to find her friend charging at her with full force.
"You need to come with me. Now." Akira grabbed her arms and led her out of the room.
"Akira, what's wrong?" Hikari asked her. This time it was ignore-Hikari-day. The pixie-haired female ignored her. Hikari could see the greenhouse in sight. Suddenly she began worrying. Is someone hurt? Is everybody okay?
There was only one way to find out.
The girls entered and Hikari couldn't find the words to say.
Akira pointed ahead and said, "That's... what's wrong."
Hikari remained quiet and took in the scene that was infront of her. The table was sliced in half, all the tea cups were shattered, the trees were painted in black and loads more vandalism. The others were there, also examining the crime scene.
"You're finally here," Ryuu said as he looked up. Everyone watched as Hikari's eyes filled with horror. Hikari's eyes maneuverer at Kei. He wasn't saying anything.
Hiro was the last one to arrive. The others ignored his entrance until he was right beside them. "I heard what happened. Is everyone okay?"
Akira nodded. "Fortunately, everyone's okay. Nobody was here when it happened. The alarm rang a few times but nobody heard it because it had been switched off." Akira explained. Tadashi placed his arms around Akira's shoulder.
"You know what would make everything alright? Tea and cakes." Tadashi grinned but surprisingly, Akira didn't say anything. She didn't even hit him. Tadashi gasped and backed away from Akira. "What have you done to the real Akira, you demon!"
Akira gave him a glare. "Now's not the time for jokes, Tadashi."
Hikari frowned, storming outside the greenhouse. She couldn't handle the image of the destroyed greenhouse. Who would do such a thing?
"Whoever did that, I swear-" Hikari's sentence was cut off by a hand on her shoulder. She looked back to see who it was. "Takishima."
"Say Hikari, what would you say about a challenge?" the male proposed, his face stoic.
"A challenge? Really? How could you think of that right now?" Hikari scowled at him.
"You didn't let me finish. The challenge is to find out who did that to the greenhouse. Whoever finds the culprit first wins."
"But Takishima-"
"Think about it Hikari. You might win this time."
Hikari thought about this. If she succeeds, not only the culprit would be found but also she would finally beat Kei. "Alright! I'll agree on this."
"Good. May the best one win, Miss Rank Two."
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"Challenge, eh? How foolish."
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Thank you for reading! Reviews are greatly appreciated.