CHAPTER THREE: Bossun (Day 1, part 2)

Switch and I were still in the bus, because we decided to play rock-paper-scissors to know who is going to carry whom. Chuuma-sensei was still unconscious since he took that drug, and Himeko was still asleep. Nobody dared to nudge or shake her because of either reasons—a. She looks like a pure and innocent girl when she's asleep and; b. She might massacre those who wake her up.

"Okay," started Switch. "The one who loses will carry Himeko."

"I'm all fired up!" 'I sure do hope that I will... Hey, WHAT?!'

"Rock-paper-scissors!", chorused Switch and I.

"I'm doomed." Switch got scissors and I got paper, and I lost.

"You really do suck at rock-paper-scissors."

"You..."

"Hmm. This is tricky. How will I carry Chuuma-sensei while carrying my laptop?"

"I'll help you." I replied.

"Nuh-uh. You are supposed to carry Himeko, Fujisaki-san."

"I'll help.", chimed in Tsubaki. "After all, the Student Council helps those who are in need." He smirked at me.

"Fine, but first get rid of that smirk. It's annoying...and where the hell did you come from?" I turned to Switch. "Where's our room?"

"It's in the taller building-third floor, second door to your left."

"Thanks." I said while carrying her bridal style. "Ah, where are our bags?"

"They already placed them in our rooms."

I walked out of the bus, careful in walking so she wouldn't get hurt. In front of the parked buses, there was a delicately decorated pathway on the smooth cement. Pieces of charred and broken glass with different colours gave the illusion of crystals slowly creeping to the houses. The pathway soon faded since the sand covered the pathway with the aid of the wind. The wind was cool and light. I gazed at the sleeping one in my arms, completely fascinated by her beauty, which confused me more. I remembered what Tsubaki said on the bus; "You really don't know what's going on with a person's head, huh."

I stopped walking. I screamed. "AH! Why am I so confused? What is this feeling that's connected to her? What is it with feelings?" I stopped, realizing that I might wake her up. I looked at her again, wondering. "I want to understand." Her blonde hair flowed gracefully and her light brown skin gleaming.

I continued walking. In the distance, two buildings were in sight. They were peach and big. I walked to the building with—by counting the windows from top to down—had ten floors. The smaller building also had the same structure but it had eight floors. 'I thought it was a normal beach house but then this looks like a condominium. Bt, even with this size, it can never be compared with the Unyuu family's residence. The entrance itself is five times larger than the two buildings.'

I reached the big building and as I entered, I caught the eyes of passing teachers and students. I blushed and walked faster to the elevator to avoid the girls' dreamy sighs and boys' 'woots'. The elevator was brass, and around it were limestones randomly glued on the wall to give off a rough texture. I stopped in front of it and literally used my head to push the elevator button, since I was using both hands to carry Himeko. The elevator opened and I sighed in relief because it was empty. I got in and pressed the number three. I notice my arms were starting to get stiff and sore. 'Damn, she is heavy.'

Two floors passed without anyone else riding on it then the elevator bell rang. Ding! The elevator doors opened and I went straight our room, which was the second door to my left. I reached the door and kicked it open, thankfully though, which was open. Three futons lay on the floor and I placed her on the first one. I sat on the second futon and started stretching out my arms. After the pain and stiffness were gone, I lay down, exhausted. I faced Himeko. Her face was free of stress and she looked simply... angelic. 'I wonder what she's dreaming of...'

"Bossun..." Himeko moaned. I stood up, surprised. She smiled then turned around, blushing.

"What? Did she say Bossun?" I asked in disbelief, and to nobody. "Bossun? Me? She's dreaming about me? "

"Pelolipop?" She blurted out again and laughed frantically.

"Ah, never mind." I said and examined the room.

The room had a high ceiling, with two more rooms at the right from the entrance—that could only be the bathrooms, a normal light bulb, wooden and polished floor, and mahogany-coloured walls.

"Simple, but exquisite. As expected from Momoka." I gazed at Himeko. "I guess i'll wake her up now, otherwise she'll kill me for letting her sleep for the whole day."

I reached out to her shoulder, then her hands flew to my hand, pulled me down beside her and she wrapped her arms around me. I was too much in shock that I couldn't move at all. Her strength was another factor, though. I gave in, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her head to my chest, giving her a peck on her head. 'What am I doing?' She clutched my shirt tight and buried her head deeper to my chest. 'Leave it be... This feels right.'

Minutes passed and we were still in this position. It felt like seconds ago, I was going to wake her up and now, we're hugging each other and no one wants to let go. The thought of Switch arriving entered my mind. 'I can't let myself get anymore embarrassed than I was awhile ago.' I broke free from Himeko's tight clutches and shook her.

Her eyes fluttered open. "Poppman?" she asked.

I laughed. "No, it's Bossun."

"Ah..."She blushed."Ne, Bossun, can I tell you what my dream was?"

"Sure... are you going to tell me scary stories that aren't scary at all?"

"No! It's a dream of myself...with you. We were in this futon," My eyes widened. 'She was conscious? No, I think she was half-asleep. She just didn't realize it.' "... and we were hugging each other so tight, then—"

"Then what?"

"You kissed me on the head." She answered, blushing then she laughed nervously.

I felt all the blood in my body run to my cheeks. I laughed shakily. "I-I-I-I won't do that to you, don't worry, that won't happen! I promise!"

She looked at her feet. She smiled again but I know that this time it was forced.

"I'm sorry."

"I know. After all, we are just friends, right? Nothing more?"

It was my turn to feel down, though I have no idea why. I tried to change the subject. "How about we change into our swim gear?"

"No, thanks. I don't feel well. I think I'll just stay here and rest a bit."

"Okay..."

I left the building, and looked for Switch. Then, as if he knew I was looking for him, he appeared. A dolphin-looking robot trailed along him.

"Did something happen?", he asked.

"Do you know everything?"

"Not completely. Hey, you want to talk somewhere else? Let's enjoy the waves and the sun."

"Whoa. Since when did you like water?"

"I'm glad you asked." He smirked. "Time for Switch's corner!" He said, his voice changing its pitch from low to high. "Today, our invention is Dolphinus!"

"Did you just make up the name on-the-spot again?"

"Dolphinus is a suitcase for laptops, and is completely waterproof! It can withstand water pressure with the same limits as an average human can, and it can transform to a submarine for one person on voice-command. The price is still the same! 580,000 yen."

"Cool, it can transform?"

"I just told you, deaf dude."

"Yeah, I heard that one from Tsubaki earlier."

We walked near the rocky yet sandy part of the beach. It was near sunset and the waves were becoming tame.

"So, what happened between you two?", He started.

"Again, do you know everything?"

"Again, not everything. So?"

I talked very fast. "Well, we were in the room already then I decided to wake her up, then she caught my hand and hugged me so tight, I cannot move, then I gave in and hugged her and pecked her forehead. Then—"

"Whoa, you hugged her? Another one, you kissed her?"

I opened my mouth but Switch talked faster.

"I heard each and every word you said, Fujisaki-san. You kissed her? Did she know?"

"She thought she was dreaming. And it wasn't a kiss! It was a friendly peck, nothing else."'Now, I'm seriously confused.'

"Are you confused? And don't ask me again if I know everything."

I just nodded.

"Here." He said, handing me a thin book. "And oh, you dog! Hyu-hyu~. Bye!"

I went back to our room after screaming my lungs out. When I opened the door, a mouth-watering aroma slapped me in the face. Himeko lunged at me and hugged me tight.

"Where were you? I was worried!" She said. Then she started whispering. "I'm sorry about earlier."

I whispered back. "Me too."

"Shall we eat?" asked Himeko, breaking off the hug. "I cooked 'em myself."

"Yes!" answered Switch and I.

"Bossun," called Switch. "You stink so wash up before eating."

"Sure, sure."