Chapter Five

Natsuki was laying down on the couch in the living room with Duran on her lap. She was busy re-reading the book she assigned in class earlier. She was adding post-it notes into the pages. She needed to make sure she had all the necessary parts to highlight and comment on during class tomorrow.

She looked at the clock. It said it's eight p.m. She looked down at her dog that she had had since she got into college. Thoughts of college life filled her mind. Her peers having their drinking parties and her in her dorm room with Duran studying. She was never old enough to be close to her classmates, but now, she's near their age, but she can't even really be their friend. Thoughts about the dance invaded her mind. Should she really go? She never had any "fun" social experiences before… but then why should she start now? She's been fine this whole time! She doesn't need other people to have fun. She petted the white fur. She had him. She didn't need anyone else.

After mentally debating to herself about going to the dance or not, she looked at the clock again, which said it was nine. "Where is Yohko?" she said to no one in particular. "Duran, do you think I should call her?"

Duran looked up at her blankly. "You're right. She's old enough to take care of herself anyway. I shouldn't worry. She does have her own friends other than me…, plus she'd probably bother me some more to go to that stupid dance."

Suddenly her phone started to ring. She grabbed it from her back pocket and looked at the screen to see if her cousin was calling to inform her about her whereabouts. To her surprise, it wasn't her cousin, but Mai. What could she possibly want at this hour?

Natsuki answered uneasily, "Hello?"

"Hey Natsuki-san, I just wanted to say thanks for covering me last minute!"

Natsuki-san… I have to get used to that. "Oh yah it was no problem," she said as she regained her composure. "Is everything okay?"

"Yah everything is fine, thanks for asking. By the way, the student council is setting up a Halloween dance?"

Natsuki sighed at the thought. "Yah they are."

"Sounds pretty neat!" Mai sounded excited. "Are you going to volunteer?"

"I don't think so…"

"Oh come on! Dances are fun!"

"I wouldn't know," she said under her breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing! I'll think about it, okay?" Shesh, why does everyone want me to go?

"Okay, well let me know if you're going, okay Natsuki?"

"Yah, yah, yah." They said their farewells and hung up.

She looked at her dog, still on her lap, sleeping. "Duran," the dog looked up lazily at her, "I honestly don't know if I should." She sighed.

The next morning started out very similar to every other morning for Shizuru Fujino. But there was one difference. A simple thought possessed her mind—what to do about this dance? She always had let Suzushiro-san do all the work. But she wanted this to be different. She wants to make sure that it turns out to be a great dance and actually have had something to do with it. She wanted to be involved. She wanted a part of her in there, somewhere. But why? And how?

She looked up and met forest green eyes. "Ms. Fujino, did you have a question?" Shizuru looked around the classroom and noticed their eyes all on her. She didn't even realize she was spacing out. She looked back at her professor.

"Ara… I suppose I do. Ms. Kuga, I noticed earlier today that you did not respond to the staff mail regarding about the dance. I was wondering whether or not you decided to volunteer to assist at the dance?"

Ms. Kuga regarded her with the most straining face. It looked like she was refraining with all her might to not glare at the president. But she failed in trying. It still showed. Though Shizuru did not understand where all of these negative vibes were coming from. She did not do anything wrong, well that she deemed 'wrong'. Ms. Kuga drew a big breath in. "Please tell me, Ms. Fujino, why does this dance seem so important?"

"Why, Ms. Kuga, it's just a question of curiosity. Plus I need to know. If there aren't enough faculty members to help out, we won't be able to hold the dance. And well, that would probably sadden the students." The rest of the class started mumbling and pondering the possibilities of not having a dance.

Natsuki's ears jumped at some of the whispers being exchanged in Japanese. "I hope Kuga-sensei helps out." "I bet you she wouldn't. I heard she has some kind of issues." "Issues? Oh yah! I heard about that, that she doesn't have any friends right?" "Yah and that she's a loner." Natsuki tried very hard to contain her anger. She started squeezing her pen really hard. It almost seemed like it could snap at any moment.

"Ms. Kuga, I think your attendance is best discussed after class." The teacher looked around at the rest of the students. She agreed. Their conversation was unnecessary and becoming inappropriate.

"Agreed. Please speak to me after class." Shizuru nodded her head in agreement. "Well since we have this dance coming along, we're supposed to help out in setting it up…?" She said in the most hesitant tone.

"Yes, Ms. Kuga, you should look at your email as to what this class' duties are for the dance." Shizuru explained.

Natsuki did as she was instructed. She found the email that her student mentioned which said:

"Dear Ms. Kuga,

My name is Yukino Kikukawa and I am the secretary of the Student Council. I am writing this email to notify what your homeroom class has been chosen to do. Your class has been chosen to make some decorations for the dance which focuses on the tables. Your class is required to get plate, cups, napkins, etc and table center pieces.

Thank you for your cooperation,

Yukino Kikukawa
Student Council Secretary
Fuka Academy"

"Hm, okay I guess our job isn't hard. We just have to make things for the tables. I guess let's brainstorm on color coordination for the table, plates, and everything else." During class, they decided to go with a typical black and orange theme for the tables. But they didn't come up with anything for the center pieces just yet, "Let's just leave the center pieces for tomorrow's issue. Everyone is dismissed now."

Students started to file out of the classroom. Shizuru waited for her teacher to be done with packing and cleaning up. As she was waiting for her teacher, thoughts of her previous conversation with a certain someone was recalled. A favor she owed had been finally claimed. Though she did tell this person that Ms. Kuga would not attend the dance.

"Why don't you think she will attend?" A voice on the phone questioned in an alarming tone.

"Ara, ara, please calm down. Her cousin has informed me that she is a bit anti-social and avoids social events ever since she was young."

"Well you better make it happen, Fujino. Don't forget, you owe me."

"Of course, I don't go against my word." She heard a click on the other end.

"So what do you say, Ms. Kuga? Will you please attend?" Shizuru said in the most caring tone she could give.

Ms. Kuga finished packing her things. "Why should I?" she asked without really expecting an answer as she was looking at her student straight in the eyes. They're so piercing. It felt like they were slowly peeling her open.

Shizuru was a little startled from the eye contact. She didn't realize that they were the same height. Her teacher would always wear heels of some sort, but Shizuru didn't even noticed her very slacked look. Her teacher was wearing a basic t-shirt and skinny jeans with Converse shoes instead of her semi-formal dressy top with jeans and a blazer. And her hair was kind of unruly, as if she just gave it a quick brush and left.

Ms. Kuga sighed in defeat. She seemed like she was in complete turmoil. She did just go to school in the most unprofessional outfit possible in her closet. "What do you think I should do?"

"Why do you seem like you're having such a difficult time in deciding, Ms. Kuga?" Her teacher looked at her as if she doesn't know what she was talking about. "It is pretty obvious that something has gotten you out of your flow." Shizuru gestured towards her outfit.

Ms. Kuga smacked her head in frustration. It seems that she didn't even mean to dress like that. "Wow… I guess it has frustrated me a bit."

"Why?"

"Why? Because! I've never hung out with people my age, let alone hang out with people. It makes me uncomfortable. On top of that, going would be kind of weird for me. I'm your guys' teacher yet I'm the same age as you? That doesn't make any sense."

"I see your frustration in the awkwardness the situation could present you, Ms. Kuga, but I believe you should still go. People aren't meant to be alone." Shizuru looked towards the clock. "I'm sorry, Ms. Kuga, I wish I could stay and chat about this, but I have to get to my next class." Her teacher nodded her head in acknowledgement. "I'll wait for your email."

Poor Ms. Kuga. Her reasoning holds some ground. But it doesn't matter about whether she's uncomfortable about the fact that we're her students and she's close to our age, she is just making herself awkward. No one else is going to regard it the same way.

Natsuki laid on the couch in the teacher's lounge sprawled out while Mai observed the young teacher. Yohko came into the room to visit her favorite teacher. "Natsuki!... You look dead. What's wrong and why are you dressed like that!"

Natsuki slowly turned to see her cousin. "That stupid dance has been bothering the fuck out of me."

"Natsuki dear, it's just a dance. Speaking of which, have you finally decided?" Her cousin exclaimed.

"Yah, Kuga-san, have you?" Mai added.

Natsuki sat up and combed her fingers through her hair. This dance has consumed too much of her time. Fuck it. "Hmm… I don't need a date right?"

"No of course not," Youko added. "You'll just have to help out with some things at the dance like checking students in, helping take pictures, that sort of stuff."

Natsuki abruptly sat up. "Wait, then why should I go if all I'm going to be doing is work?"

"Because it's fun and we'll be setting an example for the students," Mai interrupted.

"What did you think you were going to do, Natsuki? Besides that after the dance, the staff will be headed to my house and continue the party there!" Midori jumped in.

"When did you come in?" Yohko asked.

Midori hooked her arm around Yohko's neck. "Come on, Natsuki-chin, remember it'll be at my house! And you know my parties are craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazy fun!"

If Natsuki didn't know any better, she'd say that Midori was already drunk. But Midori had a point. Her parties were fun, from what she observed in college. The parties were never held in their dorm room specifically, but the dorm building and Midori would always be the one to set everything up. She would usually go all out and hold one every week. Sometimes Natsuki wondered how the girl even passed college since all of Midori's tests were on Monday. But she did have to admit, once Midori graduated, her college life seemed very dull.

"…ALRIGHT! I'll go!" Natsuki felt like a ton of bricks were lifted off her shoulders and that she could finally breathe.

The three other girls yelled out yay in response. "Can't wait to see you at the after party, Natsuki! I expect Yohko to give you my address..!" Midori said uncertainly until the doctor affirmed. "Okay! I gotta take my leave now… to do headmaster types of stuff! BYE!" As she was about to rush out of the door, "Make sure Natsuki-chin sends the email to confirm that she's going!" Then out the door she went.

The other two faculty members looked at her. "Okay, okay, I'll do it right now. Shesh. You guys are lucky my laptop is on." She logged on and sent a reply message to the Student Council about her attendance. She showed them to give them proof as she clicked 'send'. "Satisfied?"

Both nodded with small smiles on their faces. "Okay I got to get going, so if you'll excuse me I have to get to my English class." Natsuki got up and started walking over to her class. But what seemed a bit off is that people started staring at her again. She knows she's wearing a very casual outfit, but it shouldn't be something to stare at her for. But she overheard someone say, "Yay, Kuga-sensei is going to the dance."

What the heck? How did news spread so fast?

When she entered the classroom, she scanned the class to find the chestnut haired girl. She wasn't in yet. She prepared for her class session as she grabbed some books from her bag. Natsuki managed to only get a few copies on such short notice. They'll have to share, that should be fine. She remembered yesterday's event afterschool.

She went to the local bookstore on her motorcycle. When she arrived, she felt a little tingle in her stomach. She had to admit, she was excited. This was the first time she bought something for her class. She never thought this day would come so soon, the day she would actually be teaching. She went to the section she thought they'd be in, but had no luck. So she asked the bookstore clerk where they were. He said, "Sorry miss, but I've never heard of that book. You might have to go into the city to find it."

Are you kidding me? And here I was so excited. FINE! Natsuki walked out of the bookstore and started Google searching for the nearest bookstores and called all of them to see if they had any of the book in stock. She had to go to three different locations because each location only had three to five in stock.

When she finished passing out the books, she realized that the Student Council president was sitting in her seat. "Ara, Ms. Kuga, I see the rumors are true," the Kyoto-ben filled the room as the president checked her phone.

Natsuki positioned herself in front of the middle of the classroom. "I'm starting to wonder how that rumor spread so quickly, Fujino," she said coolly.

"Rumors are a very mysterious thing, ne?"

They stared down at each other. Neither letting go of the tug of eye contact. "Moving on. I laid out the book I was talking about yesterday. Sorry guys, but your bookstores here suck on inventory so you guys will have to share. Let's start by popcorn reading."

"What's popcorn reading?" One student asked.

This will be a long day.

As everyone was about to leave, Ms. Kuga exclaimed, "Now that you guys learned the different types of poetry forms, please make a poem about anything substantial for next week's class and be ready to present it." Moans and groans filled the class. "Yes, yes I know. It sucks to have to do that right before the dance, but it's better to get it over with. And when I mean substantial, don't make it about food or about a piece of paper. You get my drift."

During PE class, Natsuki and Mai were talking at the side of the court while the students played basketball. "So Natsuki-san, what made you decide to go?"

"Is it that big of a deal that I'm going?" Natsuki tried to pay attention to the students' games.

"Well it's not like it's a secret that you kind of have this lone wolf thing going…"

Natsuki shot her a dumbfounded look. Come now. She may have the dog, the bike, the leather, but she didn't think she shouted that title. At least it isn't Ice Princess… "It was bothering me too much."

"That's it?"

"That's it."

The redheaded first at the two teachers. I wonder what they're talking about. As she continued to glare at them, she failed to focus on what was happening in the game. "Yuuki!" One of her classmates yelled at her.

She quickly turned around and yelled, "WHA-" A huge smack hit her face instead of her finishing her question. It left her face beat red and her on the floor.

Natsuki rushed to student's side as she whistled into her whistle to stop the other students from continuing the game. Natsuki got down on her knees to assess the girl's possible injuries. "Yuuki-san? Are you okay?"

Nao slowly sat up. "I'm fine." As she got up, Natsuki assessed that her only injury was that she had a big red mark in the shape of a circle on the majority of her face.

"Do you want to see Sagisawa-san?" Natsuki offered her her hand to get up. Nao looked at it slowly. Her heart was beating faster. She slowly took it and got up.

"Uh, no thanks. I'm fine," Nao said in awe. She was slowly taking in the fact that she had just touched Kuga-sensei.

Natsuki walked back to Mai. "I'm surprised. You didn't even move." Natsuki commented.

"I knew Yuuki-san would be fine. Plus she never is one to take help. If she got injured, which is rare, she'd quickly get up as if nothing happened. So my aid would have been useless." Mai explained herself.

Natsuki thought it made sense. Yuuki-san did seem like that type of girl. "By the way, Natsuki-san," Natsuki looked at her, "would you like to have dinner with me before the dance? As a way of paying you back for that favor?"

Natsuki was taken aback by the offer. No one really asked her to hang out. This was such a new feeling and unexpected. "I don't know what to say Mai."

"I'm a really good cook!" she tried convincing her co-worker.

"Hmm… okay."

"Really!" Mai replied in the weirdest smile. It was combined with confusion and glee.

"Yep." Natsuki said simply. She rationalized to herself 'why not?' She was already going to go to the stupid dance, so that means she was already going to go out. There seemed no real reason to say no, other than the fact that it would make her seem a little uncomfortable.

A/N: I know it's been long, no need for excuses. I also fixed a few things in the other chapters, nothing big so not necessary to re-read unless you forgot what this story was about XD yah I had to reread it