Haru Haru
Chapter 2 Trouble's name is Harley
The first week of school went by without much problems, Haruka and Hikari got along with some of the girls in class well and Shu and his friends were popular, not just within the class, but also within the entire school. So much so that even older girls would drop by the classroom to try and talk to him. He for his part was very nonchalant about it all, but also very polite to everyone. Haruka's awe of him soon shattered with the little interactions she had with him day to day. They weren't much, but enough to leave Haruka with a sour taste for the green haired boy. While he was polite, albeit a bit distant, with everyone else, whenever Haruka tried to converse with him he would simply flick his hair and ignore her, acting superior. Haruka soon managed to just ignore him and go about her day without having to interact with him. Shu proved rumors to be true whenever he was asked a question, he would always seem to know the answer, despite always looking out the window and never really paying any attention.
Aside from the few girls that did talk to Haruka and Hikari every now and then, it seemed as if Haruka had made enemies with the majority of the girls in the class, who were jealous of the seat that she had gotten, being so close to Shu. They also took cue from Urara, whom they seemed to flock around for the most part, who for, reasons unknown to Haruka, did not particularly like the brunette girl.
The second week of school was a hectic one, clubs and sports teams had set up booths outside the school and even in the halls to try and recruit all the new freshman. Haruka and Hikari were amazed and went around trying to see which one they would want to be in.
"Oh hey there!" came an enthusiastic voice calling out Haruka and Hikari, the girls turned around, they were outside in front of the school looking through the different booths. They spotted a girl with light blue eyes and brown hair that was tied up into a high ponytail, with side swept bangs and strands of hair coming down from each side of her face. Haruka and Hikari looked at each other and then back to the girl.
"Yea, you two, come over here!" the girl said waving them to come forward.
Haruka and Hikari approached the girl and the booth that she was running.
"Hey there, the name's Toko! How would you girls like to join the cheerleading squad?" the girl said with a glow.
"Cheerleading?" Haruka questioned.
"Yup, and not the traditional cheering squad, they're over there, we're the cheerleading squad, you know the more western style." Toko explained.
"Oh wow, you mean the type wear you get to wear cute outfits and use pom poms and do cute routines, and you fall in love with the captain of the sports team, that kind?" Hikari said with a twinkle in her eyes.
"Um…well…I don't know about the falling in love stuff, but I assure you cheerleading is more than just wearing cute outfits and doing cute routines," Toko began.
"Yea, but that's everyone's favorite part!" chimed in a voice. The three girls turned to face the newcomer.
"Yes Marina, it's a favorite part." Toko yielded. Marina was a girl with aqua colored hair tied in a strange way, two low pig tails that came up at the end.
"Hiya, the name's Marina, I'm the co-captain of the cheerleading team." The girl introduced herself, her blue eyes sparkling.
"Hello, I'm Hikari and this is my friend Haruka." Hikari greeted as she introduced herself and Haruka.
"Nice to meet you," Marina said before she turned around as called out, "Oh captain, why don't you come out here and meet some potential recruits!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming." Came the response and soon a girl with straight brown hair that came down to her bust with short lairs at the top and front bangs came by holding a cardboard box.
"Hello there, I'm Leaf, I'm the captain of the cheerleading team" the girl introduced herself as she set the box down.
"Oh, what's this captian?" Toko said as she went over to examine the contents of the box.
"Take one out and hang it up so others can see it, it's our new outfits." Leaf said proudly as Toko obeyed.
The outfit consisted of a burgundy crop top with a V-neck and silver borders and a pleated burgundy skirt with silver bands going across it at the bottom. On the center of the top was a pink cherry blossom, the sigma of the school.
"Oh wow, those are really cute!" Hikari commented as she looked at the outfit. Leaf smiled.
"Glad you think so, so do you girls wana sign up?" Leaf asked as she handed them a clipboard with a sign up sheet.
"Well, I don't know much about cheerleading" Haruka said, uncertain of herself.
"Oh don't worry about that. See the way it works is, first you we do about a week of practicing with everyone who wants to try out and then the next week we hold auditions." Marina began explaining, "Basically, we'll teach you and then we test to see how much you understood, and the best will be chosen." She finished.
"And the others?" Haruka questioned.
"Well, we can't have everyone who signs up become a cheerleader. It's unfortunate, but we can only take the best. Besides they are welcomed to try out the following year after practicing some more." Leaf explained.
"Come on Haruka, me and you can practice together, and we'll definitely make it!" Hikari encouraged the brunette, and finally giving in the two girls signed up. They chatted with the girls of the cheerleading club some more before moving on, there was still so much to see.
"Oh and f.y.i. if someone comes to recruit you for the cheer squad, just say no and get away as quickly as possible." Marina whispered to the girls before they left.
"Why?" Haruka asked curious.
"See the current captain of the cheer squad wanted to try out for cheerleading, and although cheerleading has both guys and girls, we just didn't have enough guys interested to let one guy in, besides, he wasn't very good. So he got mad and went over to the cheer squad and eventually became the captain. They all hate us because he hates us, they see us as their rivals, so just watch out for them. Even though you're not officially a cheerleader yet, they're not gonna like that you signed up and will probably try to recruit you." Marina warned before the girls left.
"Wow, sounds kinda intense." Hikari noted as Haruka nodded in agreement.
As the girls started walking, Hikari looked down at her wrist to check the time, "Oh no!" she said.
"What's the matter?" Haruka asked as she turned to the blue haired girl.
"I left my watch back at the cheerleading booth. Toko wanted to see it and I took it off for a bit. Stay right here, I'll be back." Hikari said as she ran back to the booth while Haruka stood there waiting for her friend.
Haruka looked around while she waited, still taking in all the different booths.
"Oh hello there!" came a rather oddly high pitched voice, Haruka turned around and jumped back startled. "Oh sorry darling, didn't mean to scare you like that." Continued the strange voice, it belonged to a tall boy with wavy purple hair that reached his holders and bright blue eyes.
"The name's Harley darling, and what might yours be?" he said as he extended a hand out.
"Um…I'm Haruka," Haruka replied taking his hand cautiously.
"It's a pleasure." Harley said as he shook the girls hand vigorously before letting go.
"I saw you standing here and thought to myself, wow you would be perfect for the cheer squad!" the boy exclaimed excitedly. " So whatya say darling, sign up?" he said as he practically shoved the signup sheet into Haruka's face.
"Oh no thank you, I've already signed up for the cheerleading te-" Haruka stopped herself remembering Marina's warning but it was too late.
"The cheerleading team? Why would you join those prisses? The cheer squad is so much better!" the boy shouted, getting angry.
"Um, I'm sorry, I…" Haruka stumbled, unsure what to say.
"Oh don't worry about it darling," Harley said as he calmed himself and put on a sweet face, "Those bullies probably forced a sweet girl like yourself to join them. You probably were trying to find the cheer squad and those vixens tricked you into joining them." Harley said as he got angry thinking about the cheerleading team.
"Um…" Haruka responded, unsure what to do.
"Haruka!" Hikari called out just in time , much to Haruka's relief.
"Sorry, I gotta go!" Haruka said as she dashed to Hikari's side and away from Harley before he could stop her.
"Let's get out of here Hikari, that weird guy is from the cheer squad." Harkua whispered to Hikari as she tried to tug her away
"He looks creepy." Hikari commented before they left.
"Yea, it's not just his looks." Haruka said as she shuddered and the two girls left.
"Weird? Creepy?" Harley muttered to himself. "I'll show that little twerpette who's she's messing with, Haruka, you watch you're back. I'm going to make your high school existence miserable!" Harley said sharply before walking away, swaying his hips as he did.