04: Friends

A few days had passed since Kazuma started attending this school. And since then, he hasn't been able to adapt here very well. He thought things would have settled down once all the gossiping about him was done. To his luck, he was wrong. Soon after he became the talk of the school, the students started to pick on him and call him names and such. Coming to his classes was now becoming a chore and sitting in the same room where all those people were, made the atmosphere that much more uncomfortable. The only person he had really was Terumi... And he was a ghost. Of course, there was his classmate, Trinity. She was perhaps, the only one in the entire school who was willing to talk to him. But, because of that, Kazuma wasn't sure how to deal with her. Maybe it was the fact that he wasn't quite used to someone approaching him, but there was something about her that he couldn't quite 'get'. She always seemed so kind to him, And she always seemed nice to her friends as well. The girl had a gentle aura around her that made him feel...strange. It was something he never quite felt before.

Thinking about her, he decided to sneak a glance at her while they were busy with their classwork. She seemed focused and hard-working. She felt her glasses slowly going down the bridge of her nose and then pushed them back up before continuing her work. Not realizing Kazuma was looking at her all the while. He never realized it until now but, she was actually pretty cute.

'Cute...?' He never said anything like that before. Let alone thought someone was cute. 'Did I really just think that?' The word seemed alien to him.

"Are you actually checking a girl out?" The sound of Terumi's voice made Kazuma quickly look away from her while his face slightly turned red from embarrassment. "I guess she is kind of cute. But, personally, I find her a bit annoying." The bell suddenly rang and it was time for lunch. Once again, the students scattered about. Kazuma gathered his things before getting up from his seat and started to head out too. But, just as he walked away from his desk, one of the students sitting further up front stuck his foot out causing Kazuma to trip over it and fall face first to the floor. Everyone started to laugh with the exception of Trinity, Celica and Konoe who were not too pleased with what just happened.

"Are you okay?" Trinity went over to Kazuma and reached her hand out to him. Kazuma just looked at her hand for a bit before getting up on his own, refusing her help.

"I can take care of myself..." He immediately walked away from her and then out of the classroom feeling nothing but annoyance. Konoe watched him as he went before letting out a sigh.

'I had a feeling things would turn out like this...'

Everything was quiet. That was what Kazuma liked about the library. That, and the fact that it was quite huge. He could hide himself here to indulge in all the books that surrounded him and no one would ever bother him. He didn't have to worry about people talking about him or bullying him. It was his own little getaway from all that.

"Hiding back here again eh?" Terumi watched Kazuma looking through the books remaining silent the whole time. "I guess they really put you in a bad mood today. You don't seem as calm as you usually do."

"No one put me in a bad mood. I'm perfectly fine." Terumi snickered at Kazuma's response.

"Are you sure you're as fine as you say?" Kazuma felt a bit confused by his words. Just what did he mean by that? Of course he was fine.

"Look, I said I'm fine so...can we just drop it?" Silence filled the air until Terumi spoke once again.

"You're lying..." Kazuma turned to look at Terumi but saw he had disappeared again.

'What's his problem?'

"There you are." A soft and gentle voice startled him and Kazuma looked to his side to see none other then Trinity walking towards him before coming to a stop.

"Trinity?"

"I had a feeling you were here." She smiled and Kazuma soon looked away feeling his face getting a bit red. But, why was he blushing in the first place?

"W-What do you want?"

"I just wanted to check on you and see how you were doing." Check on him? He felt a bit puzzled by her words.

"...Why?" He asked curiously.

"Well, you've seemed to be having a hard time here ever since you started so...I thought maybe you could use a friend." Did he hear that right? She wanted to be his friend? Kazuma couldn't help but feel somewhat surprised by it. But, at the same time, he felt a strange sense of relief. As if he'd been waiting for a long time for someone to finally acknowledge him.

"...I-I see." But, it still didn't help the fact that he was still feeling somewhat awkward about it. "I'm sorry... I'm not...really used to these sorts of things so..." His voice trailed off and his whole body started tensing up. He didn't know what he should do and Trinity took notice of his behavior and let out a few giggles. Kazuma looked at her wondering why she was laughing.

"I'm sorry. I just can't help it." He started to wonder if she was perhaps making fun of him in some way. But, it turned out, that wasn't the case at all. "Please don't misunderstand. I'm not teasing you or anything like that. I just can't help but notice your reaction to some things. I think it's cute."

"Cute...?" there goes that word again. Only this time, someone else was saying it about him which made his face become red once again. 'She thinks I'm cute?' That just confirmed his suspicions about her. She was truly weird.
The school's bell sounded, interrupting the moment between the two classmates. Lunch was over and it was time to go on to their afternoon classes.

"Would you like to walk with me to class?" She asked with her warm smile. Kazuma wasn't sure if he should though. But, they did have the same classes together. If they're going the same way, then he might as well walk with her. And, well, she didn't seem like a bad person, so associating with her shouldn't be too bad. After debating for a bit, he agreed to go with her even though, he did stutter a bit before he finally got his words together to say 'yes'.

The day was dragging. This is what he hated the most when he wasn't busy with anything else. Being alone in his apartment with absolutely nothing to do. Boredom was his greatest enemy. At least, for the moment it was. It won't be another while before Saya got out of school. And it won't be til much later for Jin. Hopefully, to make the time go by faster, Ragna lounged about on his couch and turned on his television. It had been a while since he watched anything on it. Mostly because there was never anything on. Perhaps today, he might be lucky.

"Enjoy steakhouse, quality beef at Tom's long, thick-"

-CLICK-

"-KAPOOYAH, KAPOOYAH!"

-CLICK-

"Me mentiste pero... Por que? POR QUE MARIA!?"

"Siempre he sido honesta contigo Enrique!"

-CLICK-

"Good weed, bad bitch

Got these hoes on my-"

-CLICK-

At this point, Ragna decided to give up on T.V. So he turned it off. Shame on him for thinking there might have been something good on.

"Goddammit..." He sighed and then closed his eyes. "Maybe I should just sleep the day away..." The idea was tempting. And frankly, he wasn't doing anything today. But, a sudden smell caught his attention. It was an overwhelming scent of roses. And at this, Ragna sighed once again. This time, in annoyance.

"Rabbit..." He looked over to his window and saw a young lolita looking girl standing there with a smirk going across her face.

"So this is what the infamous Bloodedge does on his free time. Lazing about all day without a care in the world; browsing through idiocy on what you people like to call 'entertainment'. Indeed Ragna. You are truly a pathetic man." There she goes again, giving him shit.

"What are you doing in my apartment anyway? I don't remember ever asking you to pay me a visit."

"Oh, I would hardly call this a home. But alas, even this place is too good for a man such as yourself." What the hell? Did she really come all the way here just to insult him?

"And what the hell is that supposed to mean?" The small petite girl just giggled in a playful tune. Clearly, she enjoyed harassing him. But there were more important matters that needed attention.

"Enough of that. I have yet another task for you."

"Another job huh... I wonder who's the poor guy this time."

"Oh, I'm afraid you're mistaken. I do not require Bloodedge for this mission. Only Ragna will do." He looked at her confused.

"What are you talking about? What kind of mission is it?"

"Why, it's just a simple investigation. That pathetic little spec of a man you took care of last time, I've received word that the item he stole may have been dropped not too far from it's original location. I need you to go to a school located just outside of town and see if you can find it."

"A school outside of town? Are you talking about Ayatsuki Academy?"

"Yes." Ayatsuki Academy. It was a very prestigious school and very hard to get into. At least, that's what Celica told him. Celica and her sister Konoe were the only people he knew that were attending the school. Konoe is a teacher, but she did attend as a student before up until her graduation. He also knew both sisters were the offspring of the original founder of the school, Shuichiro Ayatsuki.

"Wait a second Rabbit. If it's just investigating then why not have your old, man-servant, guy do it? These sorts of things aren't exactly up my alley."

"I'm quite aware of your skills and what you are capable of. After all, I'm the one who made you into such a being. But, nevertheless, I need you in particular to do this because you're the only one who can."

"The only one?"

"A seal was placed around that school forbidding myself as well as Valkenhayn entry. It blocks out anyone who isn't human in other words. Which is where you come in my dear Ragna."

"Heh... I'm not exactly human myself. I'm not really sure what the hell I am anymore..."

"Maybe not fully, but it's enough for you to take on this task. But, do heed my warning Ragna. Do not stay there any longer than you have to. I cannot guarantee the seal will not notice you if you prolong your visit." For a moment, Ragna could have sworn he saw a look of worry on her face.

"What happens if it does notice me?"

"That I do not know. Maybe it will poison you, killing you off slowly. Maybe you will spontaneously combust. Or perhaps you will simply go...'poof'. Never to be heard from again. Such a tragic tale of the short existence known as Ragna the Bloodedge." He takes it back. She wasn't worried about him at all.

"You know, I think it's about time you left."

"Indeed." A strange portal appeared behind the young girl with an overwhelming scent of roses pouring out. "I want this job done post-haste. As always, I expect great results from you, my dear Ragna." And with that, she entered the portal and vanished before him.

"Rachel..." He looked over to where she just stood only seconds ago. "I should have asked her more about that stone she wants me to find so badly."