It's been 3 months, hasn't it?

Just a smile

She growled in pain…

It would be no use struggling, she'll just reserve her remaining strength to get out later. The only way she could stand was because two girls were holding her up at her sides. She couldn't break free nor could she move.

She looked up…

There was only the scorching noon sun to greet her. She closed her eyes as another wave of pain shook her body.

This is too much of a punishment…

She let her head fall and let the trail of blood running down her cheeks drop to the ground. Little droplets of blood, tainting the hot cement floor a dark red.

It shouldn't have escalated to this…

Another blow. She wants it to stop, she begs for it to stop. They wouldn't listen. She felt a hand snake around her neck then she felt it lift her stare from the ground. Her vision was blurred but the beauty was still there. How could someone so beautiful do this kind of cruelty to her fellow being?

But she could not do it…

No matter how much they hurt her, no matter how much pain and ridicule they give her, she would be firm and strong in her decision.

She would never let go…

She'll be willing to risk it all. For a friend, for a classmate, for her tower, for him.

Just for one smile to last…

"I love him."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"I did not do it! I swear, I didn't!"

These words echoed in her mind after she blurted it out loud for the whole class to hear. Cold sweat trickled down her forehead to her cheeks as she tried her best to keep face in the situation. She looks around to find the accusing stares of her classmates and the glare of the teacher in front of her.

Through all her years, she never cheated. She never hurt anyone, to the best of her knowledge. She worked hard, studied hard, just for this midterm exams. Everyone probably knows that, because she practically shot down her social life in order to concentrate on her worse subjects. Everyone should know that, especially him that she did not know anything about the piece of paper their teacher is currently holding between her fingers. It was found beneath her desk while the exam was going on. She even happily picked it up from the ground when the teacher asked for it, oblivious that its contents would bring her to his situation.

"Nakajima-san, follow me to the principal's office," then the teacher picked up Akari's unfinished exam and crumpled it, "Your exam for this term would be considered null and void, as the rules apply,"

"B-but I didn't! I did not know anything about this! Believe me, I did no such thing!"

The teacher only looked at her, and she knows she had to explain herself in front of the principal. They made their way out to the wave of whispers of her classmates.

I did not expect her to cheat…

Do you think she'll get suspended?

Poor Akari-san…

See? Don't mess with me…

Akari's eyes widened and she looked back to see where the voice came from. She met ruthless, cold gray eyes before the image disappeared when she completely went out of the room, her trust shattered, her head down.

What have I done to you?

0oo0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Akari sat below the Sakura tree in the school backyard. Since it was still class hours and the students are taking their exams, there was no one around. Though not allowed to go back to class, she can't go home since it's not yet dismissal time. She had to wait four boring hours hovering in the school grounds until dismissal.

The past thirty minutes of her life was the hardest time she ever faced. She forced herself not to get bothered by the stares every class she passes by throws at her. Everyone knows what walking down the hallway during exams means. She cheated, she was caught, was sent to the dreaded principal's office…

Her life had gone awry ever since that fateful day.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

There was a new girl in class by the name of Matsuda Hinako. It was evident in her first day in class that she likes the tennis prodigy, Fuji Syusuke.

She forced Akari to give up her seat, which was just behind Fuji's and because she tried to be polite, Akari gave it up since there are two other vacant seats, though away from Fuji.

Because she was beautiful, Hinako quickly gathered up friends and admirers. There was not a doubt when one week later, it was rumored that she was dating Fuji.

Of course, they both denied it but still Hinako dropped snide comments that the rumor might just come true.

Akari, like she always did since pre-school, always sits with Fuji in the Sakura tree at the back of the school. There they would talk about what's happening in their lives. She had once asked him what his relationship with Hinako was.

Well?

She's a classmate and she sits close to me…why?

Nothing else?

She gave me cookies yesterday…it tasted not so good though…does that count?

That must mean it's very bad…you never complained with my cooking before…so hers must be a lot more awful.

With a smile, she kissed him on the cheeks, which stopped him for a second, and ran away.

A few hours later, Akari was found in no state to go home. She was in the girls' c.r…unconscious with a mop on her head and her clothes soaking wet. She never got the chance to see who attacked her but one thing's for sure…someone wants to get rid of her. She made sure her attack would not come to Fuji's knowledge so she had the janitor who saw her not to tell another soul what happened.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o0o

The next morning, when she entered the classroom, not expecting to see Fuji coz he had this training camp for photography in Kyoto, she was appalled.

The board was full with gossips and lies, most of it obscenities, and some of her classmates were just laughing and teasing her about it while some remained quiet in their seats. Willing the strength to hold back her tears, she ran all the way to the board. Her classmates had thrown away the erasers so she would have a hard time erasing it.

A second before the bell rung, the board was completely clean, but her palms were bloody in some parts and she thanked God none of it stained the board.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Fuji watched Akari as she had problems writing with her bandaged hands. She seemed to wince every now and then that she clenches her hands when writing. It makes him feel uneasy every time Akari had some difficulty with something. She wouldn't even talk to him as cheerfully as she did a few weeks ago. There were changes. And it was putting some distance between him and Akari.

Ohayou, Akari-chan.

Shu-kun…w-what are you doing here?

What's that?

N-nothing! Ja ne! I forgot my homework!

--

Hi!

Shu-kun! You startled me!

What happened to your hand?

I slipped in the school garden, I somehow landed on these rocks…

But it looks like-

Time to head to class!

--

Are you okay?

Yeah…

How did you fall?

I just wasn't looking where I'm going…

And now, not seeing her again cheering the regulars for their upcoming match made him a little bit worried. It kind of grown into him that she would always be there…like Ryoma is to Sakuno.

"Hoi! Hoi! Fujiko-chan, what's wrong?" Eiji pouted, glomping Fuji from behind when he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"Saa…who knows?" he smiled.

They went back to running again when a girl stood in front of Fuji causing him and Eiji to stop again.

"You have to help me…" the girl said, panting as she tried to regain her breath from running.

"Michiru-chan…help with what?" he asked gently.

"I think Akari's in trouble," she said. "I bumped into her in the corridor and she was saying that she had to settle some things…I don't know what…but I think you ought to know…she's desperate, that Matsuda, she's been hurting Akari since she discovered that you were pretty close."

"Where did she go?" Fuji asked.

"To the high school building rooftop…"

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"I love him…"

Fuji stopped in his tracks. He was surprised when he heard Akari say the words. She loves someone? Who could it be? He slowly opened the door to the rooftop, Michiru just behind him mumbling something like a prayer. Eiji was with him, he nodded and they both peeked through the small gap they made through the door.

"You're just a normal student…a nobody…you could never match him…while I, the senior's Queen, am the perfect match! He deserves nobody lesser than me!" Hinako blurted out after Akari's confession. "Forget him…"

Akari let out a laugh, "Where's the fun in that?" then she glared at Hinako who took some steps backward after seeing her glare, "You don't love him like I do, even if he doesn't love me as long as I could see him happy, that's fine by me. I don't need to hurt others to get close to him…nor spread false rumors…"

"What?! You bi-," Hinako poised her hand to slap Akari when another hand stopped hers in midair.

"Shusuke…"

"Matsuda-san, is there really a necessity to strike her?" Fuji said with his eyes open. He was standing behind her. Hinako's eyes was wide open with fear of what the tensai might do. He said nothing more then gently put down her hand.

The girls who were holding Akari dropped her as the Fuji approached them. She fell to the ground, unconscious. The tension had subsided.

"Why do you love her?" Hinako asked through her tears.

"She's one of my reasons to keep smiling…and I'm glad for that…" he said, holding the unconscious girl in his arms, "We could have been friends if only you asked me first," he said then left the three other girls.

Eiji met him at the exit, "What happened to her, nya?"

"Let's take her to the nurse's office," Fuji said as he went down the stairs carrying Akari. But after two steps, he turned back to Hinako, he smiled, "Please be careful, Matsuda-san…somebody might do something do you these days…" then he opened his eyes and glared at her, "so you might as well watch your back…"

After they had taken Akari to the clinic, Eiji went back to the courts to explain to their captain why Fuji would be missing practice that day. So him and Akari were left alone in the clinic.

He seated himself on a vacant chair near the bed where Akari slept.

So the accidents weren't really accidents at all. Someone was hurting her and she was well aware about it. But still, she said nothing. Even to him. She doesn't want him to worry that much that she kept everything from him. He should have known more than to just observe her.

Akari had awaken.

She felt a sharp throb in her head which caused her to wince. "Where am I?"

"You're in the nurse's office, are you feeling better?" he asked.

She jolted out of bed when she recognized the voice, she looked at his smiling face then she relaxed her hold on the sheets. "I'm sorry…"

Fuji let out a chuckle, "What for?"

"I-I know y-you heard what I said back there…I-I didn't mean to…but I just did…" she said with her head bowed down while she tried to suppress the heat that was coming on to her face.

She felt him encircle her with his arms and pull her close to him. Her eyes widened.

"I think I just did too…"

She wanted to laugh but she can't help the tears that ran down her cheeks.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0

I know it's somewhat cheesy, OOC and too much…but I did my best…

And if you're confused with the ending...As of Akari's last statement, when she said "I just did" she was referring to what she said "I love him"...and Fuji answered that maybe he just did love her too...ok?--yosh!!

Next: Eiji and Riko!

-Eiji hears a rumor that Riko would be leaving again…And so! Eiji's Delaying tactics begins!