I walk quickly to my classroom, feeling tired already. My head is filled with my jumbled-up feelings, and my brain quivers worriedly as I remember Hana's face when she was with Yuri. Don't tell me…Hana likes Yuri?
I shake my head to clear my brain of these strange thoughts, and concentrate on finding my class. I seriously wonder where it is…
"Karin-chan! Is that you?" I turn my head to the direction of the jovial voice calling me. My eyes widen in surprise. It's Narumi-sensei.
"Good morning, Narumi-sensei." I greet him. "It's nice to see you again."
"Yes, isn't it?" He laughed with glee and begins walking down the hallway, somehow towing me along with him. "I have something for you." He hands me a small white envelope.
I stare at it, then stare back up at him with an inquiring expression on my face. "What is this?"
"You'll see." Narumi-sensei gives me a wink. "Take good care of it. You might need it today." Before leaving, he stops with a startled expression, as if he had just remembered something. "One more thing, Karin-chan. Please do not open the envelope until the right time."
"When is the 'right time'?" I ask quizzically.
Narumi-sensei chuckles and gives me the same vague answer as earlier. "You'll see." And then he dramatically leaves, with a gigantic smile on his face.
When I looked around, I found myself right in front of my classroom. Earlier I had followed Narumi-sensei impulsively, so I didn't realize that he was walking me to my classroom. Thank goodness for that. I know for sure that if he didn't help me, I'd still be wandering around lost.
I walk into the classroom, murmur a quiet "Good morning" to Misaki-sensei, and sit down in my seat. I look at the white envelope, wondering what is in it. But then, I sort of promised not to look in it until the "right time". Well, I didn't really promise, but it seems like I did. And I do not break my promises.
Soon the classroom began to fill up with my classmates, and class finally began. Misaki-sensei began lecturing about cells and DNA and such, and I was doodling aimlessly on my paper. I had already learned all this stuff, so this was pretty much review to me. Talk about boring.
Next to me, Hayate was sneaking peeks at his picture of Imai-san and trying to take notes at the same time. Behind me, Tsubasa appeared to be the perfect student, bent over his paper and scribbling furiously, but he was actually just drawing a funny comic of this unfortunate man who was apparently taking a dump on a new high tech toilet (the toilet actually looked like a little blinking slab, but in captions next to it was written "High Tech Toilet"). In the next panel, the man had the misfortune to stand up before the high tech toilet could clean his bottom for him, so therefore, the man emerged from the bathroom looking like he'd just pissed all over his body. What a work of art.
I look for Mitsuki and Hana. Hana is by Yuri's side…of course…I confess…I'm a bit jealous…Mitsuki is sitting silently in her seat, diligently taking notes.
Suddenly, the door slams open, and a blonde Peter Piper steps in, followed by his gang of elementary school kids. Misaki-sensei's mouth drops in astonishment, and the biology book slips from his hands. "Narumi…"
"Hiya kids! Long time no see!" Narumi-sensei is entirely decked out in a medieval-looking costume, with a feathered cap on his head and a woodwind instrument in his hand. Man, when Narumi-sensei dresses up, he really goes the whole nine yards! I wonder if this is a daily occurrence…
The swarm of kids assemble themselves into the classroom while Narumi-sensei begins talking to Misaki-sensei about something. Misaki-sensei looks extremely exasperated and annoyed, but then eventually sighs and appears to give in to whatever Narumi-sensei was proposing. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Mitsuki sneak out of the room. I wonder what she's doing…Perhaps she felt the call of nature…
The whole classroom is laughing at Narumi-sensei and the kids. Mostly the kids. I can only gasp in astonishment. What. The. Hell?
All the girls are wearing red plaid shorts, and all the boys are wearing red plaid…
SKIRTS. Oh God. Is the world coming to an end?
I recognize Mikan and Natsume from the crowd of excited and embarrassed kids…and almost fall over laughing. Natsume…IN A SKIRT! And he doesn't look that happy about it either, a resigned yet determined expression on his face.
Narumi-sensei silences us all by blowing into his flute, producing an ear-splitting shriek. He turns to his class of elementary students and says, "You may now open your clue envelopes! See you later!" And he departs, pulling an upset Misaki-sensei with him. As he was pulled out of the room, I could hear him muttering, "Now I have to go inform all the teachers that their students will be busy with a stupid little scavenger hunt for the day…goodness…it's all your fault…uck you Narumi…" Before Narumi-sensei can completely pull him from the room, Misaki-sensei manages to shout, "You're all excused for the day!"
The kids rip open their envelopes eagerly, and all read their clues at once. I hear snippets of words being read out loud while the whole class of upperclassmen looks bewildered. A blond boy standing beside Natsume reads out loud, "…a boy with dark hair and an orange hat…star on his cheek…"
Not far away from them, Mikan stands with a girly-looking boy and a girl that looks vaguely familiar. Have I seen her before somewhere? Hmm… Mikan reads out loud, "…a girl with long black hair, black eyes…holding a white envelope…special star…" I look around for the girl described. Wait a second…Mikan and company are coming towards me…
Wait…IT'S ME?! I look down at my hands, where I am still holding that envelope Narumi-sensei gave me. Dang. It is me.
The kids walk to up me, and Mikan says cheerily, "Good morning, Karin-senpai!"
"Yo." I give a little nod to show acknowledgement. "Who're your friends, Mikan-chan?"
"Oh!" Mikan moves over and begins to introduce the familiar-looking girl. "This is my best friend, Imai Hotaru!" The girl has purple eyes and black hair. I think I've seen her somewhere before…
"Oh my! I remember now!" I look around for Hayate. "You're that girl in that picture that Hayate-kun has! Cool Blue Sky, I believe. Nice to meet you, Imai-san. I am Sakurai Karin." I bow down slightly.
"Nice to meet you." Hotaru says calmly and quietly. Hmmm…she reminds me a lot of someone…but I wonder who?
"And who might you be?" I smile at the girly-looking boy with round glasses.
"Nice to meet you! My name's Tobita Yuu!"
"Nice to meet you. You know my name already, so no need to reintroduce myself." I stick my hands into my pockets and look around the room. I give a low whistle. "Sure is more chaotic in here than usual. What's the deal with today?" I pointedly look at them, requesting an explanation.
Mikan begins to explain by saying perkily, "We're having a scavenger hunt today!"
A silence fills the air around us. I wait for someone to break it. No one breaks it. I think I'll break it then.
"So…" I start awkwardly. "What's this got to do with me and the other high school students?"
"Narumi-sensei handed us a set of clues." Hotaru hands me a little slip of paper. I read the calligraphy on the paper. "We're on number three; the last one."
I skim down to number three on the list. It says, 'Your elders are much wiser and well-rounded. They'll help you a lot on your journey. Find your high school student!'
"How do you know I'm your high school student?" I ask testily. Hotaru wordlessly handed me another slip of paper. Gosh people, be environment friendly!
I read in my head, 'Clue Number Three: Your high school student is a thirteen year old girl with black hair and black eyes. Don't underestimate her childish charm however; this little girl can create terrifying fire if provoked.'
I feel like laughing. Me, a little girl? If only they knew the deeds I've done, the sins I've committed. And also, I'm a bit bigger than the average Asian girl…maybe it's my personality that's like a little girl?
I find I had missed a little sentence tacked on at the end. 'Also, she's holding a little white envelope that will be your next clue!' Whaaa??????
I slowly open the white envelope. "I'll read it out loud for you guys." Taking out a little slip of paper, I read, "'a snake from a male Medusa.'" I look around at the assembled children. "Anyone know what that means?"
Mikan and Yuu look at each other, both with clueless expressions. But Hotaru has a certain mischievous sparkle in her eye as she says, "I think I might know…"
A question pops up in my head and I voice it. "Why are you guys even participating? Is there a prize if you win?" I sneak another peek at Natsume and his blonde friend and stifle a giggle.
"Yes!" Mikan cries. "And it is such a very good prize too!"
"If we win…" Yuu begins slowly. Hotaru cuts in before he can say anything else.
"We get to keep everything."
A brief silence ensues before what she said registers in my mind. Speechless, I point a finger to myself questionably. Hotaru nods her head and says with a hint of maliciousness, "Yes, even the high school student."
What the hell is with this twisted game Narumi-sensei?!