Chapter 2
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At first he just stared at my hand that was stretched out to him, as if he didn't understand or something. "Hideki Ryuga." He said, awkwardly shaking my hand. Then he let go and stared at me some more, making me blush slightly.

"Well then, uh… I guess I'll be going." I said, quickly gathering my stuff and running out the door, passing Kiyomi on the way.

My next few classes flew by faster than I would have expected them to. But by the time lunch came, I was ready to leave. Me, Kiyomi, and some of her other friends (I wouldn't really count them as my friends) all sat down in the front of the school, eating lunched. Topic of the day: this morning's assembly. Everyone either sided with Yagami or with Ryuga. I, of course, was on the Ryuga side.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw the two of them walking together with tennis rackets in their hands. I stood up and motioned for the rest of the group to follow as we went behind them and waked to the tennis court.

"What are we doing?" One of the girls asked. (I didn't really know her well enough to actually remember her name.)

"We're going to watch them play!" I replied excitedly as the two entered he cage and the rest of us sat along the side lines on the outside. Everyone looked at me confusedly as I intently watched the game begin.

For all I cared, they could have been sitting and playing chess. As long as I could watch, I was happy. The match started and I fell into a daze watching the two hit the ball back and forth at each other. Before anyone really knew it, a whole crowd had gathered and they even had someone keeping score, almost as if it was a professional game. Even if it wasn't, it sure seemed like it with the way they were taking forever for one of them to get a single point. People were cheering and talking amongst themselves about what they were witnessing. There was even someone who decided to become some sort of an announcer.

Of course, the bell rang right before a winner could be declared. I sighed, stood up, and went to throw my stuff away. When I went back to the spot, the whole group had already left. Perfect. Great time to escape this hell of madness. I always kept my book bag with me in case of a situation like this one was to present itself. Making sure that no one was watching, I made my way to the school exit. Suddenly, I felt someone grab my wrist ad made me stop in my tracks.

-Oh shit! A teacher?!- I immediately assumed, preparing for a lecture, trying to think up a somewhat decent excuse I could make.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." The person calmly said. It wasn't the voice of any teacher I knew.

I quickly turned around to both Light Yagami and Hideki Ryuga standing behind me. Ryuga was the one who had stopped me. One hand was holding mine and the other was in his pocket. The two of them were staring at me. Ryuga with his normal blank expression and Yagami with a sort of hateful glare.

"C'mon, Ryuga." Yagami said, "If she wants to ruin her school life, then let her."

Ryuga looked up at him. "Light-kun, you should really care more about your school and classmates. If she continues to skip school and sleep in class, she could really ruin her future!"

"Why should I care?" He shrugged, "It's not my life, and I'm at the top of the class, so… Plus it's none of my business what she does."

"Fine. But I'm not about to let that happen." He looked back at me, "Come along, Miss Higuchi."

"Uh. Umm. H-hey…" I stuttered as he started pulling me towards the school.

"Yes, what is it?" He asked, not stopping. Yagami rolled his eyes and started to follow us.

"… N-never mind…"

The three of us walked up to our next class (which we seemed to have together). We received weird looked when we entered the room 1- because of how late we were (no thanks to me) 2- Ryuga was still holding my hand and 3- my face was redder than it had ever been. We went to the back of the classroom and took our seats. I couldn't possibly pay attention to a thing that the teacher was trying to teach us. My mind was already preoccupied with what had just happened.

Before I knew it, school was over. I found Kiyomi in the hallway and we left to her house, as we did every day.

"You… Can't stay for too long." She said on the walk starting to near her house.

"Why not?!" I asked, raising my voice slightly.

"My mom is supposed to be having guests over today, so she doesn't want any other visitors."

"Oh… Well… Hopefully Dad doesn't come back today…" I put my hands in my jean pockets and stared down at the ground.

"Mmmm… I'm so sorry. I wish I could help. Do you want to see if I can come over to your place?" She asked, patting my back.

"No." I replied, "It would just be worse if you did. But thank you."

"Always." She smiled sadly.

I stayed at her house for as long as I could, before Kiyomi's mother kicked me out. I walked lazily on the road to my house, not wanting to see whether or not my father was at work still. And even if he was, there was a high possibility that mom found out about my grades and had something to say about them.

Even with the slow pace I walked at, I got to my house fairly quickly, since mine and Kiyomi's houses were kind of close. Right when I opened the door, an empty wine bottle was thrown at me and shattered on the wall next to me.

"Git outta of here, you good fer nothin daughter!" My drunken mother said from the couch, shaking her bottle at me.

"Look who's talking." I said under my breath as I went upstairs to my room closing and locking the door behind me.

It was a plus for me that she was drunk. I'd rather be attacked by her than sit and listen to her bitch about how terrible of a daughter I am and how she wishes I was never born. Because I know that's about exactly how it would go… She'd start out talking about how bad my grades are and somehow end up screaming contest to see who hates the other more.

You see, my mother was raped years ago. She got pregnant with that man's child. She wanted to get rid of the baby, but my father wouldn't allow it. That's how I was born.

Mom says I am a constant reminder of what happened back then. I can't blame them for hating me… But it still pisses me off when she yells at me just for being alive. (However, one thing about this is that she can contain herself as long as she is sober.)

When I was younger, the only thing my father would praise me for was my grades. I used to try my hardest to be at the top of my class, just so I could see him smile because of me… But now… He's barely around enough for me to care anymore. Ever since he got promoted into the head group of Yotsuba, he's been avoiding family as much as possible. But, again, I don't care anymore.

Now all that matters to me is my own happiness… And the happiness of my friends-… Friend, too… They're the only things that I care about now…

Suddenly feeling tired, I pushed the stuff off my bed and laid down, not bothering to change my clothes or anything and went to sleep.

(New Chapter.)

I was late getting to school the next day. Partially because I woke up late and partially because I took a long detour through the park on my way to school. Not that I passed it or anything, but… I had the sudden urge to see flowers and look at the pond. So to the park I went.

"You're late today, Miss Higuchi…" The teacher said as I opened the door and walked into the classroom, " I certainly hope you're not planning a repeat of last year…"

"Yeah, yeah…" I said, heading to take my seat.

" Why were you late today?" Ryuga asked as I put my head down on the desk, facing him.

"That's a stupid question…"

"Stupid?"

"Yes, stupid… Obviously I don't want to be here… But being here definitely beats being at home at the moment."

"I see… And isn't this your first year here?"

"Why do you ask?"

"The teacher said 'a repeat of last year'. Were you held back?"

"Yeah. Your point? Are you going to laugh at me for it, too? Are you?!" My voice rose a little out of anger and slight fear.

"No, no… I'll do nothing of the sort."

I turned my face away from him and quietly said, "Thank you for that. It'd suck if someone else found out that my life sucks and decided to verbalize it."

The conversation stopped there, because the teacher started talking, again, and Ryuga's actually a good student and pays attention. Not that we would have gotten in trouble, unless we were too loud and distracting the other students. After all, I'm a delinquent and Ryuga's at the top of the class and probably wouldn't need to pay attention, anyway.

This day didn't go any differently before. I slept at at given chance, trying to gain back some of my sanity. I even decided to skip lunch and sleep outside on a bench at the currently empty tennis court. I closed my eyes and just as I felt myself starting to doze off, I heard a voice say,

"Even sleeping at lunch?" I forced myself to pull my eyes open to see an upside down Ryuga only inches from my face, sitting next to my head on the bench. "Miss Higuchi, aren't you hungry?" He said, not moving back in the slightest. He was so close, our noses were practically touching and I could smell the sugary sweetness in his breath.

I would have moved myself, but I most likely would have collided into Ryuga's face, and I'm sure he wouldn't enjoy that. So I simply stayed put ad heat came to my face, making me blush uncontrollably as he gave me a confused look.

"Ryuga…" Yagami (who I just realized was even there) said, sounding slightly annoyed, "Why must you be such a pest to everyone? Just leave her alone, already."

Ryuga looked over at him, "I'm not being a pest, Light-kun. I'm actually worried about her eating. She didn't eat much yesterday, either. Didn't you see?"

"No, I guess I'm not one to watch people's every move. Sorry, but I'm not a creep like you are."

Ryuga sighed, "You know I do what I do for a reason. It wouldn't be very professional of me if I did anything without having some sort of a reason."

I had absolutely no idea what they were talking about, and this was making me feel awkward. "Well, since you seem so worried about me eating," I said, pushing Ryuga away a little, allowing me to sit up, then turned to flash the two a smile, "want to join me?"

"Well…" Yagami said with a smile (which I could tell was fake), "Since we woke you up from your nap, why not? Ryuga?"

"As much as I'd like to," He said, "I doubt they'll have anything to fit my tastes for the students."

"Well, what do you like?" I asked.

He tilted his head to the side, "Cake?"

"Cake? Why would you have cake now? It's the middle of the day!" I stood with my hands on my hips, facing him.

"Your point?"

Light stepped between us, blocking him from my view, "Just never mind him, Higuchi. C'mon, let's go get food for ourselves." He put an arm around me, leading us to the cafeteria.

"W-wait! Light-kun!" Ryuga called, following behind us.

When we reached the cafeteria, people were still gathered around the counter, trying to get whatever was left for the day. Yagami forcefully pushed my through the loud and hungry crowd, loosing Ryuga somewhere in the middle. We popped out on the side and Light sighed, telling me that he did that on purpose.

"Aren't we getting food?" I asked him, putting my hands on my hips, again.

"There probably won't be anything left by the time we get up there, anyway." He said matter-of-factly.

"Well, if you knew that, then why did we come here still?"

"Even if there was a low possibility, it was still worth a shot. Oh, and it's an easy way to get away from Ryuga for a change. Did you know that all the classes he has, he specifically got them so that he could have the exact same schedule as me! And in all of them, he asked if he could have a seat close behind me so that he can keep an eye on me. What is that supposed to even mean?! What is he, my stalker?!"

"I wouldn't complain." I said under my breath.

"What was that?"

"Nooothing~."

At that moment, Ryuga came tumbling out of the crowd, as if they pushed him out.

"About time." Yagami said, folding his arm across his chest.

"You know, that wasn't very nice of you…" Ryuga said, slowly standing up.

"Are you okay?" I asked, lending him a hand.

"Light-kun," He said in a whiny voice, completely ignoring me, "can we leave, now?"

"Why don't we go and try to finish where we left off yesterday without match?"

"That sounds like a great idea, let's." The two started walking away, leaving me behind. I wasn't about to invite myself to go watch them. That'd be rude. Then, just as I was about to go sulk in some corner, Ryuga turned and called out to me, "Aren't you coming with us, Miss Higuchi?"

"Hmm? Aah, yes, of course!" I said, running to catch up with them.

When we arrived back at the courts, there were already people playing, leaving the guys tennis less. I wanted to escape, again, but Ryuga prevented that, dragging me along, again. Only this time, I actually resisted, making us a little more late for class than the last time.

When we entered, the teacher stopped in the middle of what he was saying, looked at me and said, "Aah, Miss Aiko Higuchi! Nice of you to join us!" Maybe he missed the two geniuses I came in with. "Good timing, I need to talk to you." He pulled me behind his desk and continued, still ignoring the fact that Ryuga and Yagami were there, too, as they moved on to their separate desks. "You currently have not only the lowest grade of all my classes, but one of the lowest grades in all of the school."

I folded me arms across my chest, "And?" –Oh, and thanks for talking about this in front of the whole fucking class, asshole.- I thought.

"Well, I'm concerned about your future! I think you need a tutor. I'm going to assign someone who can hopefully help you." He lifted his head and started looking around the room, "Yagami! You two seem to be friendly. Do you have anything planned for this week?"

Yagami looked up from the paper he was writing on and said, "No, I don't, really. I as just going to study up a bit." A perfect answer, of course.

"Would you mind if Higuchi joined you?"

"That would be acceptable." He said bowing his head slightly.

"Good." He looked at me, "I already know you have nothing planned. Now go sit down."

I grumbled and rolled my eyes, tempted to walk out right there, but I held back the urge and took my seat. The teacher continued where he left off and Yagami turned around to face me (he sat directly in front of me in this class) and said, "Would you like to come over to my place, today? We could start your tutoring there."

"Eeh, whatever… Not like I have anything better to do…"

Randomly, Ryuga (who was in front to the right of me) quickly spun around and said, "I think I would like to join you, Miss Higuchi. Would that be alright, Light-kun?"

"Yeah, whatever." Yagami sighed, turning the correct way in his seat.

Knowing that Ryuga would be there, too made me smile. I started to actually look forward to after school for a change. This simple fact also made the rest of the day go by a little quicker as the excitement built up in me.