Four votes to open the door. Very well then.

Alright, I suppose opening the door won't hurt. If that's Misha, I can always slam it right before her and pray she won't overpower me. If that's Hisao or Kenji, I suppose they have some valid reason to haunt me, at least in former's case.

The knocking intensifies. I start thinking. Could it be someone else than those three? Well, it most certainly isn't Rin, unless she's banging her head at inhuman speeds. The thought makes me chuckle at first, then I start feeling terrible. Eh. I doubt it's Lilly or Hanako either. They don't really have a reason to come here. There's Shizune, but why would she be here? Finally, Emi. I think out of those people her reason would be the most logical... But then again, if I'm supposed to meet her tomorrow, what would her business be here? Besides, I doubt any of those even know where is my room...

So... Misha, Kenji or Hisao. Most likely in that order of probability. Sighing, I unlock the door, revealing... someone completely, completely different.

The girl before me looks incredibly like Hanako, but her hair does not cover her face in any way and it's more blue-ish rather than purple-ish. Her chest is also almost completely flat, but that's not an observation I should even mention. She's carrying a small camera with her and is clothed quite casually, not being in her school uniform.

"Oh..." She notices my face and looks away for a second before looking back with some certain degree of difficulty. "Good evening... Aren't you in my class?"

"Oh really now?" I doubt any girl would knock to your room after curfew just to ask that. That camera perhaps has something to do with the appropriate question.

"You're Casper... Stra-to-a-vis." She has some difficulty spelling my last name properly, but eh. "My name is Misaki Kawana." The blue-haired girl introduces herself, making a small bow. "I'm sorry for disturbing you that late, but... uh, would you happen to have spare pair of batteries?"

What.

"...You're not carrying a spare pair with you?" I asked, perhaps a little too harsh. Misaki looked away, a little shame-faced.

"I'm a bit short on supplies." She responded, making a small awkward laugh to cover up her own embarrassment.

"Besides, isn't that a bit too late for you to sneak anywhere? Especially to boys' dorm?"

"H-hey!" The girl before me burns red. "That's mean!"

"Sorry. I'm usually mean to people who disturb me that late." I manage a small smile. "Eh, no worries. I think I should have a spare. You can come in if you want to."

"I don't think it's..."

"In case someone decides to check local surroundings for some reason. My hallmate is a bit paranoid." I think it was enough to convince her. "For our own well-being, please come in." She nods uneasily and does so.

The question is, do I really have those batteries anywhere?

"So, what's the reason you're around that late?" I ask. Thankfully I didn't manage to shift into my pajamas this time so the embarrassment is a bit lesser than it used to be in Misha's case.

"Oh... I'm a part of photography club..." She says in response, sitting on bed.

"That's not really a reason."

"Of course it's a reason." Misaki seems bewildered by my apparent ignorance. "You can't make night photos at daylight, right?" She adds with a smile. I think I smiled too.

"Yeah. My bad. Finding the batteries might take me a while though... Do you want juice or something?"

"Yes, please." I hand her a small glass of apple juice. It's good to have your own supplies for a rainy day. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." I respond, going back to rummaging through my things in search of those blasted batteries. "Didn't know we have a photography club in here."

"...I, uh, I don't really flaunt it." ...Did she say "I"? I turn to look at her.

"You're the only member, aren't you?" She promptly. "Well, that sucks big time. Why's that?"

"I don't know... Maybe people just don't like that. Maybe they're finding it too boring."

"Eh, I'm sure someone will help you out eventually. By the way... Have you asked in other rooms?"

"Oh yes. That other new guy – Hisao Nakai, I think – said that he doesn't have those. And in another room there was no response." Was Kenji sleeping like a log or did he choose to simply wait out the mysterious knocking? Eh, who cares?

"Ah, there they are." I hand Misaki a pair of Duracells.

"Oh, great." She almost instantly ejects the old batteries, hides them into pocket of her shirt and putting the new ones instead. "Thank you very much."

"Don't mention it. They should endure a bit." Misaki finishes her juice and stands up.

"Well, I need to be off. Thanks for that and all." She nods goodbye and is about to leave when she turns on her heel. "Thank you again."

"You're welcome. Remind me to buy a supply of batteries so you can come here more often." I response jokingly. The blue-haired girl smiles as she closes the door.

I'm tired.

And so, yesterday was my third day in this school. Today's biggest attraction is... running around like a cretin. Whoop-de-do.

It took me some time to find an appropriate clothing, but I finally got it. It still remembers the times of my junior high. I didn't really change ever since, apart from becoming slightly lankier and slightly stronger. It's a red soccer shirt from artificial stuff with a number "13" on it. Just under said number there's my misspelled surname(I never got the correct shirt) "Stradivarius". There are also black shorts, along with the same number on them, just at the end of the leg. I don't think it would be a problem to keep it.

As expected, at such barbaric hour there's no one around. I suppose Lilly could get up that early, but other than her... Well, there's that one runt who forced me to be awake at 5 A.M.

As I approach the track, I can hear the systematic sound of something clicking. Oh right, she has prosthesis. Perhaps that's why it sounds like that. Hisao is nowhere to be seen... He didn't show up? Traitor.

Emi's silhouette stops as she notices me.

"Hi there!" She greets me cheerfully.

"Morning. I was supposed to appear here today." I response to her cheerful greeting, perhaps a little too cold. "Here I am then."

"Great." There's an actual sincerity in Emi's voice. Incredible. "Well, ready for running?"

"No." I respond before I can bite my long tongue. She tilts her head sideways.

"No?"

"I mean... I'm not really a sport person. Most likely I'll give up on second or third lap."

"You can always train. Training, training and training."

"It's not that easy." Then I realize I'm talking about this to a person who lost both of her legs. "Bbut I think I can give it a try."

"That's the spirit!" Either she's oblivious to my skepticism or pretends she doesn't hear anything. "Think you can best me?"

"Why would I try?" I respond with a question. "Don't get me wrong. I can run a lap or two, but I don't really plan to come here often. I'm just not that kind of person." The girl with twintails pouts.

"Hey, maybe you'll like it?" She still tries to muster some optimism. I cannot hide the groan.

"...Sure I will." I enter the track, letting an audible crack from my neck. Then, one from my fingers. Then, one from my left leg. Yeah, my aerodynamics are top-notch.

Emi hops a little in place, her prosthesis springing. I can't help but think those give her some sort of advantage over "standard" runners, as cynical as it sounds. Prosthesis do not tire and perhaps aren't as breakable as bones.

We start running. She almost immediately darts forward in a full sprint, leaving me in the dirt. Crap. She's good. Not wanting to be any worse, I order my muscles to actually stop screwing around and move.

I can be a pretty good sprinter if I want to or if there's something that motivates me, say, a rottweiler on my tail. Back in junior high school, my method of getting back for another jolt of short sprint was to hit myself a few times in the chest. Somehow, it really worked, even if only for a brief while.

Here, however, I'm pitted against an opponent who won't slow down, won't resign, won't hesitate. I'm against a machine covered in skin and muscle.

Challenge accepted.

One hit, second, third, fourth. Works as good as ever. I manage to shorten the distance between Emi and me. The problem is, she still runs at that insane pace which I have no hopes of matching. The only hope I have is to outrun her in those bursts, as impossible as it sounds. I, however, like challenges.

Another hit. I'm starting to run out of the air. No matter, I still have enough of it to catch up with her. Six, seven, eight, nine, ten... That wasn't a good idea, but to hell with that! If I'm in, I might as well be all-in. Eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth... I'm just behind her... Fourteenth... I actually manage to catch up with her... Fifteenth... And overtake her. Yeah!

"Your shoelace's flying around!" She almost shouts. Oh no, I'm not falling for that. I speed up a little bit more. "I'm serious, dammit!" Oh yeah? Well, I suppose a brief glance will not hurt as long as I manage to be the leader of this race.

Turns out, it really is. Just a second later I find myself tripping over it.

Bollocks.

With a loud THUD! I roll a bit forwards, pretty much screaming in pain. Thankfully I took my glasses off before attempting a run. That still won't stop my face from hurting like a bitch.

"Sonuva...!" I only manage to utter before going back to incoherent outcries. It's bleeding, it's bleeding profusely, painting the track red.

"Holy crap, are you alright?!" Emi stops near me, looking pretty panicky. I suppose she has a reason for it. She most likely doesn't know how that carapace worked.

Being accidentally smacked in a tram by someone is one thing. Rolling well over five or even ten meters of gritty track is a completely another matter.

"Hurts like a bitch." I manage to murmur.

"Can you stand up?" She asks me. It takes me a while to nod and slowly rise myself from bloody track. I ostensibly touch the now shattered carapace of coagulated blood and promptly wince at the sudden jolt of anguish. Crap. It will take a while for it to reform.

"Do I look bad?"

"You want me to be honest or nice?"

"Honest."

"Yeah." To be honest, this small exchange makes me chuckle. Emi appears confused now.

"My friends from old school used to use that statement whenever I crashed into something." I explain, wincing slightly from pain. So much as touching it will now result in another scream, so for now I'll just resort to bleeding from half of my face.

"Shit... How can you be so calm about it?" She seems impressed. Then again, I didn't really expect such a language coming from her. I imagine Shizune would swear an awful lot.

"Used to it. Happens every once in a while... Usually when I somersault over my bike." I respond. "Still hurts a ton, but... It's nothing really."

"Half of your face is bleeding, dammit!"

"It's more about the – gack – the impact. Once you get over the initial pain... You're free to go, even if it becomes uncomfortable after a while."

"Oh..." She doesn't seem convinced.

"That being said, I could use a handkerchief."

Emi insisted that I go visit the Nurse and it was futile trying to convince her that I'm perfectly fine. At least she was nice enough to accompany me there.

I think Nurse's smile faltered a bit. Impressive.

"How...?" He starts.

"I tripped and hit the ground." I respond truthfully. "Happens every once in a while. I'll just need a handkerchief."

Then, Nurse insisted I stayed for a small inspection. Oh well. It still is more than enough time for me to get myself together, eat something and head to class.

"So... This carapace can crumble even under the slightest of pressures?" He asks me.

"Pretty much. It can also melt down when soaked with some liquid."

"I see. I don't think it was included in your chart." I shrug. "Well, it really doesn't seem like something serious." He goes back to his usual smile. "Just be more careful and tie your shoelaces more precisely." I think I groaned.

Emi still looks worried. She looks even cuter when she's worried. Strange.

"I'm fine, Miss Ibarazaki, I'm fine." I say jokingly, this time masking my wince perfectly. She seems at least slightly cheered up by this as she smiles.

"Good to know. I really thought it's something serious." She responds.

"Nah, I'm hard to kill." I snicker silently. "Well, gotta get changed and eat something. See you around." As I'm about to turn on my heel and leave, I hear Emi's voice once again.

"Wait." I look at her curiously. "Hey, are you up for a lunch today? Made by yours truly." She adds, as if this would somehow convince me to join.

What convinces me is that I'll be able to avoid certain pink-haired someone for another hour of free time.

"Count me in." I respond. "Shall I bring something or...?"

"Please, I've already have everything for everyone." I think I frowned a bit. "Everyone"?

"...Who else is invited, if I may ask?"

"Apart from us two there will be Rin..." Oh great. "Miki..." Huh. This must be one of her friends from her class. "And two of her friends... How were they called? Suzu Suzuki and Molly something..." Alarm bells ring in my head. Suzu? The narcoleptic girl? So then Molly's the Indian girl with leg prosthesis... But Miki? I don't recall anyone like that... But if the logic of this list is to be believed, she's from our class. Who would she be then? Someone athletic, I suppose... That girl with brownish skin and one hand looked pretty fit. "I was going to invite Hisao, but he didn't show up..." Twintails girl adds with a small pout. I manage an awkward chuckle.

"Maybe he couldn't make it. I can send him an invitation."

"Can you? That would be great." Emi smiles. I smile as well.

Perhaps it's just me, but the prospect of being surrounded by no less than five girls is a little... unsettling. Makes you feel like one of those harem show protagonists... Should Hisao show up, it would evened things a bit.

That is, if Misha and Shizune are not planning on dragging him somewhere to do more of their Student Council work.

...Now that I think of it, would Misha let me go three times in a row?

"W-well, thanks for invitation." I say, nodding. "In that case... See you on lunch break."

"Yup. See you around." She responds with a wide smile.

Why all those people are so nice to me, I will probably never know.

Well, there you go. It feels a bit unfinished, but I'll be honest, I couldn't come up with anything better for this chapter. Anyway, read and review and stay tuned for more. :)