Spring. Again. It is an exiting new start actually. Well... probably more refreshing than new, as school isn't really anything new, but now that I'm walking towards Seigaku-high does give me a refreshing feeling. Just a couple of weeks ago we said goodbye to our junior tennis club members, wishing them luck in the tournaments, telling them to stay strong in every situation. ''I hope Momo and Kaidoh aren't arguing too much. It's fun to watch them, but it might be bad for the rest of the team. Ahh well...'' The school was already in sight as I slowly paced towards it, wondering when someone I knew would appear.

''Fujikoo!''

''Hello Eiji'' already anticipating the readhead I moved a bit to the left, making him run right past me. ''Mou... Fuji!'' he turned around with a sulky face, which was just as hilarious as his failed surprise-hug.

''So what did you do in the holidays?'' my teammate asked me.

''I had some adventures. What about you?''

''It was just awesome. You know I went to this one place where [..] and it was just so fun!''

''Ah...glad you enjoyed it then.''

While talking we didn't notice how we nearly passed the notice-board. It was a good thing that so many people had noticed it and made a big fuss out of it, attracting our attention as a result.

''We're in the same class! Yess! And so is Oishi and Tezuka! Lucky!'' Eiji jumped up, obviously pleased. At some point during his jump Inui appeared. ''A truly miraculous coincidence'' he muttered, while searching for his own name. I noticed his slight frown as he found his name.

One way or the other I finally found myself standing in the classroom I was supposed to be in, looking for people I knew. The class itself wasn't actually anything special, just some girls and some boys who were in the tennis team, then there was the rest of class. Actually there was only a really small amount of people who had anything to do with tennis. The rest didn't really interest me as this school didn't have a photography club. But that's going off target. Eiji was off looking for Oishi and Tezuka still hadn't appeared ''It's strange that he isn't at school yet.'' I just shrugged and took a seat in the third row from the back, a window seat. As I passed trough the class I felt several girls turn their heads towards me. No kyaas. Thank god. I don't think that would be a good way to start this school-year. Most of the time I try not to care for girls, knowing full well that they want to date me only because..well it's me. I have no wish to sound like a narcissist, but it is the way it is. I've had countless confessions of girls who tell me that they like me. How can they like me when they don't even know me? The bizarre way in which a girls mind works will probably always stay a puzzle to me.

The teacher came in and my days as a high-schooler had officially started.

Days passed and I became more familiar with my classmates. Tezuka, to my dismay was seated in one of the first rows, so I couldn't manage to talk to him during the breaks. Oishi and Eji sat close, actually right behind me. This seat-arrangement had actually been a lucky one, despite that one girl on my right who seemed to stare at me whenever she could. Uncomfortable.

In the first week the class had already divided in several groups- girls, boys and others. Small surprise. Usually the ''others'' consisted of socially inactive people, students, which didn't try to attract attention, or just didn't care for it. Some seats in front of me sat two girls who were, in my opinion, a striking example of the latter.

One of the girls name was Amai Haru, who was in the girls tennis team, and a regular already. It was pretty obvious, to me at least, that she had a certain somebody from the boys tennis team she liked. It was cute to watch her try her best, just so he would notice her. A funny girl too. When she turned to look our way, probably feeling me looking their way, she noticed my stare and quickly turned back and mumbled something to her friend, who to my surprise, turned her head to look in my direction and locked eyes with me. Just to add - she had pretty eyes. The green which reminded me of spring grass. We looked at each other for a couple of seconds after which I heard someone mention my name and turned my head backwards. Out of the corner of my eye I could see that she had turned away as well. Pity.

As days went by I unconsciously watched over her, wondering. That girl was an odd one. The way she moved reminded me of Tezuka – a bit stiff, formal, simple, yet the way she talked was a complete opposite to that. She talked like any other student. Sometimes loud, sometimes quiet. She laughed, smiled, frowned. Sometimes I would see her become mildly annoyed with the blond sitting on her right. Her face and voice was full of emotion, which her movements didn't posses. Very strange. The green-eyed girl wasn't a popular one, meaning she didn't have a reason to act like she was someone else. She seemed to be just a normal everyday girl. Normal. A medium. Ordinary. Yet she was extraordinary. No one besides Tezuka had her neat movements, straight composure and military-way of walking. It was stunning to see the same person say words like ''I don't feel like doing it'', ''I might as well skip English'' , ''What's the point?'', ''Noooo way!''. Every single time I heard her talk, every time I saw her walk I was overcome with confusion. Why does she talk like she doesn't want to do a thing when her movements hide a concentrated ball of energy just ready to burst out? It was a mystery. Midori Hoshiwa was a mystery and I seemed to be the only one to notice it. Strange.

The other thing which managed to catch me by surprise were her nails. I caught a glimpse of her neatly manicured right hand when she handed me some material, which the teacher had asked to distributed. Her hand was slim and long, so the nails suited her perfectly. She really did have beautiful nails. They disturbed me a bit. It was clear as day that she went to a beauty salon and got her hands treated. There are some slight changes in her hairstyle every once in a while as well. It's strange because she doesn't seem as the type to go to a beauty salon so often.

At some point I realized that I might as well interact with her, somehow. How? No idea? But as the last lesson ended I suddenly got an idea. It had been a week since she had looked my way, now time to make her do it again. I had heard that she was in no clubs at all, yet the teachers didn't nag her about it. That gave me an idea. Let's see how she'll act when forced to become the manager of our tennis team. It was like playing around isn't it? The grin came out on my lips, but I tried to restrain it from becoming too wicked. Let's play shall we? Was the message my eyes gave her as she walked out, obviously not noticing me.

Well I could always go up to her and start a normal civilized conversation in which I wouldn't try to tease her. I could. Yes. She'll reply back to me in her acted-out way and so we would talk. Like normal people. Yes...that's an option. Only problem is – that's boring. I can have a talk with anyone whenever I want, but I can't play around with someone like this. Not needing to fear the consequences. ''Now then...All I need is to set it all up''.

The next day would be the start of everything. I walked up to her and started the conversation, amused at how surprised she was at me talking to her. Her light nod relived me somewhat. 'Moving on the phase three then,'' I thought and turned away, her friends question nearly had me burst out laughing as I moved back to my seat.

''When did it happen?''

Watching her leave made me think how wrong I was about her.

''Ne...Fuji, why did that girl snarl at you?'' Eiji asked as he Tezuka and Oishi came towards me.

''Ah...she just wants to tear my hands off and stuff them into my mouth, so I can choke to death.'' I answered

The way the threat had just come out of nowhere made me grin.

''I think I'll go change'' and without further explanations I went past them towards the locker-room. While passing Tezuka told me not to get carried away with Hoshiwa-san. I answered his request not to damage her psyche with a light smile. As I walked in the locker room I kept thinking. Her pure dislike towards me was amazing. I don't think I ever remember a girl disliking me so much. And just because of one innocent prank. I continued to suppress the laughter bubbling in me. ''This'll be a fun year.''

The first year passed by unbelievably fast. The hate my playmate kept sending me kept growing bigger and bigger. I guess she really doesn't like to play games. Pity. Well as long as I'm having fun I guess it's okay.

One day, I believe it was the start of March I noticed something strange about Hoshiwa-san. She was glaring at Tezuka, instead of me. Hmm...After class I asked him about it, yet he just frowned, and said something about her not studying hard enough. When I learned that he had just challenged her in order to make her study harder made me wonder again. I had to add ''competitive'' to all the previously named characteristics.

Who is she?

From the teachers I heard that she moved from the North to Tokyo to live with her brother at the start of the year and that's it. She only had her brother in Tokyo and no one else. Not a single person in school knew her when she first turned up. Amai-san and Itazura-san became her friends only in the first year. There was probably only one person who knew anything more, but it wasn't really comfortable to ask him. If I did he'd automatically assume that I'm either stalking her or that I'm in love with her. So asking the data-man is a automatic no.

''Judging from her movements she was probably practising some kind of either martial arts or something of the kind. I guess I should try out the internet.'' What I found out was something unbelievable, and it made me wonder again why no one had noticed it before. The Headline was:

A Junior-highschooler the national tournament winner. A Second year receives the champion title

Without reading the whole page I saw her name in a second Midori Hoshiwa from Morioka high is the new kyudo national winner.

I was a bit dumbstruck actually. Her practising kyudo would explain her formal and reserved way of moving. But the way she acts? Still a mystery. Sighing I turned to computer off and went to bed. Tomorrow would be the last day of my freshman year in high-school. Let's see what the future brings us.

~~ Back to the moment shortly after Fuji left Midori on the roof. ~~

3rd person POV

Fuji could admit that she had changed. Her movements weren't as stiff and there were actually hints of freedom in them. That much, at least, had changed. Probably thanks to her brother and Naoko-san. But in reality, the Hoshiwa behind the mask hadn't changed at all. Still reserved, still doubting, still sad.

He did hit the wall several times after he left. The frustration was let out. He hadn't meant to do it, but the damage she was creating for herself was just too much. After calming down a bit Fuji had wanted to talk to her after school again, but on discovering that she hadn't returned, the boy couldn't decide whether he felt angry or guilty. ''Neither'' and he walked towards the tennis courts in a sour mood, without even noticing it.

''Ne what's wrong with Fuji-senpai?''

''No idea, he seemed to be in a bad mood ever since he came to practice.''

The quite dialogue of the two innocent freshmen was overheard by several senior bystanders, who just happened to also be in the tennis club and who just happened to also be regulars of this club.

''Ne Fuji...'' Oishi began, but the brutal way he was moving told him to step back and talk to him later on. The usually smiling tensai had a frown on his face and he kept on bashing the ball against the wall too roughly. During practice his hits were too out of control, so in result he ran laps.

After practice none of his team-mates managed to have a word with him. He just vanished from their sight. Oishi, concerned about his friend called him up. To his relief Fuji answered. When asked whether something was wrong he just replied ''I'll be better tomorrow, thanks, bye'' and hung up. At this time he was walking slowly towards home, still thinking about the girl he had probably hurt pretty badly. 'And it wasn't even a prank' He thought back to their conversation and realized what made him so mad

''You're not even my friend.''

''Ah that hurt .'' he mumbled

Did he or did he not, regret the words he said to the girl he had liked for such a long. He liked her without even noticing it. No, he finally decided. He did not. She needed to wake up. She needed a taste of the bitter truth. For too long he had had the feeling that the girl had been living in her world dream land. No. Fuji shook his head. Not in her dream land She had been living in her past, and trying to run away from it at the same time. She had needed the push. .

If what he had done had been right...why was he feeling so down about it? Probably because she hadn't managed to say anything back. Or because she hadn't tried to smash in my face. 'Yeah...that's probably it. I guess I'll have to go and find her tomorrow.'

WARNING: Ridiculously long authors note. Read at your own risk. Read if you want more information, I'll try no to blab.

[..] - means I cut out a large amount of unnecessary text...lol...sorry Eiji, your lines were cut.

First thing- Sorry, I won't be able to update weekly anymore as I have a ridiculous amount of school-work to get rid of .

Second thing- got enough of Fuji yet? It's tricky business to write a chapter which mostly consists of a non-OC talking and thinking. Sorry if I went off somewhere and if I did tell me where :D

I feel like I have to explain some stuff. I see Fuji as a watcher. NO NOT A STALKER *takes a gun and is ready to shoot anyone who thinks otherwise 3* ...khem. Anyway I see him as an observer, so in my opinion that makes him the type to analyse things. Soooo...if I just level that skill up a bit then he can also put things together and understand that the way Hoshiwa moves doesn't match with the way she acts. Makes sense? He's also the type who hates to see people dear/near/close to him get hurt/be hurt/in pain/ohtheagony... Yeah well that leads us to the fact that he's mad at Hoshiwas because she's living in the past and causing herself pain (no emo). I realllllllly don't want her to seem emo with all that pain and past thing... it's just that there are some things which people can't get over in a snap, those things need to be cured with time and the right people. Like when you get cheated on by the person you love, it takes time before you can fully trust someone again. It's something like that here. I don't think it's all that unclear, but if you have questions ASK. It'll get more complicated from here on because I'm going to try out my skills in writing psychology. Next chapter will be full of...umm psychology-drama? Idk o.o I don't want to say what's it gonna be as I'm not sure yet. Anyway I'll try to get humour back on track as it has been lacking a bit...I want it back! Psychology x humour? Ah hell no .-.

Still thinking anyway.

And about that pranking and stuff – those are innocent pranks which Fuji knows won't harm her...just annoy her (hey it's better than scaring the hell out of your team-mates (referring to the episode where he sent Kaido running out of the room because he had a no-face mask on...you sadist!)

By the way

HAPPY NEW YEAR...and I don't care that it's mid-January. What surprised me (in a really good way) is that about 50 people looked at this story (as I don't know if they read it) despite the fact that I hadn't updated. Love to you all!

The spell-cheker is a hilarious thing

Inui-san – Nuisance

Tezuka – Tequila

Hoshiwa-san – Hospitalisation (LOL...think about how Fuji always calls her that.)

eijilover18 – English isn't my main language. You can't believe how much it boosts my ego when someone asks that. :D Huge Thanks!

...You get a cookie on a golden plate if you review (not the plate...just the cookie)...

~~Hope you enjoyed!~~

flies of butter