Hood
Chapter 01: Meeting an Old Friend
Summer vacation. That means there's no school. That also means the Hiiragi sister will go shopping.
Which means, it's the worst day for Serena.
Going shopping for clothes isn't her strong suit. She'd tend to buy and wear the same thing. Unless stated otherwise.
"Hey… can I go?" Serena asks her sisters who's busying themselves trying out clothing.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," the youngest of the Hiiragi sisters, Rin, said without batting an eye to her direction.
Serena nodded and made her way to the entrance/exit.
"Don't forget to meet us at the usual at 7!" The oldest of the Hiiragi sisters, Ruri, said before Serena disappeared from view. The indigo hair waves her hand in response.
Walking around the shopping mall is kinda boring if Serena's being honest.
I should probably get something to eat, Serena thought as she heard her stomach rumble. Now where is the nearest—eh…? Serena turns her head quickly to look at the hooded figure that just walks by.
Now, any normal person would just ignore this, but this is Serena. He seems familiar, so Serena quickly follows him.
She continued tailing him for a few minutes when there's a sudden surge of crowd. Serena tries to push her way to continue tailing him, and when she reaches the end, he's nowhere to be seen.
I lost him, Serena groaned with frustration as she scratched her head. Before she could turn around, a familiar voice caught her attention.
"So, why are you following me around, miss?"
"Why are you here…" Serena started to say at the familiar hooded figure, her voice mixed with confusion and delight. "…Yuri?"
Memories of their childhood spending together with their siblings—
"Answer my question, why are you following me?" Yuri now glares at her—one she never knew was possible.
Serena's going to be honest.
He's still a jerk.
At the very least he apologised for glaring at her. The school did improve his personality. I think.
"Now tell me, why are you following me," Yuri glare at her, again, but the malice she feels is less than when they met. "…and why do I need to pay?" She can hear the bafflement in his voice.
"Be a gentleman, would you?" Serena said as she sipped her coffee.
After Serena punched his head and he apologised—which Serena did think is weird but chalk it up to Academia teaching him to be decent. Serena decided to drag him to a nearby cafe, which she decided he would pay for. He complies, although begrudgingly.
Both of them sat in an uncomfortable silence as they continued to sip their drinks. Can't bear it much longer, Serena decided to break it first, "your brother didn't tell me you were coming home."
"That's because I didn't tell them," Yuri said.
"Why?" Serena pressed further.
"Didn't feel like it." Yuri simply answered.
Serena let out a frustrated sigh. Great, how am I going to continue this conversation…
"How's your school life?" Serena decided to ask after much consideration. At this simple question, Serena noticed that Yuri started to fidget uncontrollably. "H-hey, are you okay?"
That seemed to snap him out of his thoughts as he let out a nervous giggle and scratch the back of his neck. "My school life, huh?" Yuri seems to be really contemplating this simple question. "It's okay… I guess."
Serena looks at Yuri weirdly when she notices that he's still wearing gloves…outside…on a hot day. Now that she looks closely, his neck and face are covered with bandages. "Did you get into a fight recently?" Serena asks.
Now it's time for his turn to look at Serena weirdly. "What?" The genuinity in his voice brought a thread of hope to Serena.
"Your neck and face are covered in bandages."
"Did you just notice?" Yuri's voice returned to his younger self which brought Serena some sense of joy before quickly turning serious-casual, "I just got hit when playing soccer."
Oh, that explains it. "I really thought you got into a fight or something."
"What, that's stupid!" Yuri let out a laugh.
Serena let out a small smile. "That school really helps you grow, huh…"
The uncomfortable silence returned. But this time Yuri decided to break it.
"Why do you think the school's been acclaimed for years? …I'm also older now, and I need to act like it…" Yuri let out a chuckle but can't help but feel it's insincere.
But…he seems to be more comfortable now. So that's good.
"Hey—" a phone ring cut Serena off. She looks at the caller ID and grimaces. "Y-yuzu, why are you calling me?"
"What's with that tone?" The other side said. "You haven't answered our phone calls and it's past 7!"
Serena looked at the clock on her phone and sweatdropped. She's right…
"Alright, alright, I'm coming," Serena groaned as she hung up the phone.
"Yuzu's still the same, huh?"
"Yes, yes she is. I need to go now. See you later," Serena waves.
"We'll see. Oh wait!" Yuri pulls Serena's hand.
"What is it?" Serena asks as she shakes his hands' off her.
"Don't tell anybody I'm here. Not your family or mine." Yuri glared at her. His words were laced with malice. But this time, the glare makes Serena uncomfortable—something she thought wasn't possible.
Serena nervously nodded and the malice quickly disappeared.
"Thank you." Yuri quietly whispers.
Serena looks around, searching for her sisters at the designated meeting point. When she saw them she waved her hand. "Sorry I'm late!" She apologised.
"It's fine," Ruri assured her. "But where were you?"
"I got hungry but then got distracted," Serena answered with a wave of her hand.
"Distracted by what?" Yuzu asked.
Deciding to honour his request, especially after paying for her drink, Serena answered. "It's unimportant," Serena decides to make him pay for their next meal if they meet up. Looking at her sister's hand, Serena grimaced. "You guys…actually decide to buy something?"
"How can we not?" Yuzu said in bafflement. "These clothes are too cute too pass up. Plus they're on discount," Yuzu says with a tint of proudness.
"We also bought some for you, please try them on later," Ruri said with a chuckle.
"Don't forget to pay us back," Rin cut in. "Our monthly allowance almost rant out to buy you this."
"I rather not," Serena answered flatly.
"Eh?!" Rin let out a comically loud gasp. "How dare you—"
"Now, now," Ruri cut in before the two of them argued and attracted the crowd. "How about we continue this conversation at home. It's already late." To prove her point, Ruri showed them the time.
20 minutes before they break curfew.
Everyone nodded and started making their way home. As they walk, Ruri taps Serena's shoulder. "Is something bothering you?"
Serena widens her eyes. Is it obvious?
"No…what makes you say that?" Serena asks.
"Well, after you return you seem out of it…? I wonder if you want to talk about it…" Ruri let out a soft chuckle. "It's okay if you don't!" Ruri quickly amends. "I could be wrong too though…"
For the briefest of moments, Serena wonders if she should tell her about the encounter but decides against it, afraid that the oldest might tell Yuto since the two of them are dating.
"Don't worry," Serena says with a smile. "Like I told you guys, it's nothing important."
Ruri wanted to question her more but after she noticed that they lag far behind the other, she dropped it. Much to Serena's delight.
As they catch up with the others, Serena wonders about Yuri—on why he seems so on edge, his weird behaviour, the bandages…
After arriving home she decided to forget about it. Thinking too much isn't her strong suit, and it might be her brain. Plus, it isn't her place to wonder what's going on.
sorry if it seems rush