The last bell rung, waking Ren up from his daydreaming as he stared out the window most of the time during class. He looked up at the front of his class noticing he missed most of the session. A deep sigh escaped his lips, both disappointed he missed most of his learning, and relieved he didn't get caught for his lack of focus. He packed his things away with the plan of studying to make up for the amount of studies he missed. The adolescent wondered to himself on what the cause of it was, but once he left his classroom, he found the source of it, and that being the girl he met earlier that day that just so happened to be a few feet away.

He froze, wondering to himself on what he should say and how to thank her for the positive aura she gave him earlier. Once the girl looked over and waved in his direction, he hid a jolt of surprise, about to wave back, but noticed it wasn't meant towards him as one of his classmates walked passed him, waving at the unknown girl. A sigh of disappointment left his lips quietly, but he was a bit happy once he heard the girl that passed him say her friends name.

"Shiho!" His classmate called out with a smile.

Huh... Shiho... A small smile appeared on his face, hoping they'll bump into each other again some time soon so he could thank her properly.

The teen watched the two girls walk away, feeling letdown by his misinterpretation and lack of confidence on approaching her when he had that small opportunity. Ren let out another small sigh as he began to walk, thinking to himself on if he should go to the library or head straight home.

I guess I can get a book at the library real quick to read on my way home. He thought to himself, finding his way to the library. He tried to remember the location and started heading there, hoping he was heading in the right direction. Ah, here it is. He looked above, seeing Library above the door.

"Pardon me." A young, diligent looking girl passed by, entering the library before him.

Her appearance looked as though she had everything perfectly set. Her brown hair in a bob cut with blunt bangs and a French-braid styled headband that matches her hair color. Her eyes were abnormally deep red, which surprised Ren and intimidated him a bit to where he didn't want to admit he was a somewhat startled. Her winter school uniform appeared normal but without the standard blazer. Instead, she wore a black halter vest over a long-sleeve white shirt with a turtleneck. She wore the regulation black and red pleated plaid skirt, black pantyhose and black-brown ankle boots. She looked a bit different than the rest of the students.

It took him a few seconds to process her appearance before entering soon after her. Once he entered, it was small, but looked cozy in a way. Well, until he heard the other students subtly continue the rumors. He groaned silently then rolled his eyes, heading to the front desk.

"Oh... is this your first time at the library?" The girl at the front desk questioned, "It's my job to explain the rules of the library to first-time visitors, so..." She said, explaining the rules. "You're only allowed to borrow one book at a time. Once you finish, please be sure to retur- Huh?" She paused, "That badge... Are you a second-year?" Ren nodded with concern, "...Oh, could you be that transfer student I keep hearing about?!" She asked, sounding shaken.

"Yes...?" He spoke, sounding hesitant to even answer.

"I knew it..." She spoke lowly, "Um... I don't mean to be rude, but maybe you shouldn't come here..." The librarian said with worrisome, "See, you're scaring the other students too... Oh... No, I didn't mean that you can't use the library, but..." She grabbed the book to check it out for him before physically suggesting he leaves right after.

"I understand..." He looked aside, awaiting for his book to be checked out.

The librarian gave a look of apology, but didn't say a word to him after she handed him the book.

Ugh... what a great first day. He chuckled, shaking his head, Whatever... He ignored the negativity and opened up the book, beginning to read, not even focusing on his surrounding to where he bumped into the girl from earlier.

"Oh, A-Amamiya-san, correct?" She said, surprised they bumped into each other again. "Your name is quite infamous around here."

His eyes dialated a bit from awe and a minuscule beam of relief appeared across his face, "Yeah... may I ask your name? I'd like to thank you properly from earlier."

"Hm? Oh... you don't have-"

"Suzui-chan!" A man called out with a huge smile.

The look of terror washed over her face immediately after a man called out her name. Ren was filled with concern instantly, wondering who it was that caused that sudden change of expression so quickly. He looked behind himself and noticed it was the volleyball coach.

Hm...? His curiosity began once looking back and forth at Shiho and the coach, "Is something the matter?" He whispered.

"Huh? O-Oh... no... don't worry about it." She forced out a cackle, trying to look like everything was fine, "Nothing's wrong. Just nervous about my next game is all." She lied.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite team player." The tall man spoke cheerfully, approaching them with a grin.

Ren could sense very high tension between them. The air felt so thick to where you could practically cut it with a knife. The teen felt so wary about what's going on between the teacher and student. He felt an intense aura coming from the gym teacher and a very fearful aura, almost as if it was a feeling of despair falling upon the young girl.

Shiho was so pale to where it looked like she was barely capable to breathe. Ren noticed she forcefully tried to suck in air, hoping to calm her look of nerves. She looked like she was trying her best to hide her look of terror. But the forced grin, the sudden trembling, and the look of struggling to hold back tears gave off a lot of warning signs, as if begging for help. He was about to try and escort her away from the assumingly predator, but alas, he was too late.

"How's it going, Suzui-chan?" The man chuckled lightly, "You ready for our private practice?"

Shiho compelled a grin when looking up at her coach, "U-Uh-huh... I'm totally... totally ready."

"Alright, let's go then." The teacher stood behind her and escorted her away.

Before they even took a step away from him, Ren grabbed Shiho's hand without a single thought. He was surprised by the sudden attempt of holding them back. He knew he had to think fast, so he spat out whatever the first sentence was going to be, leaving it a surprise for the both of them.

"I'm humbly sorry for taking my girlfriend away from such an important task, but as a boyfriend, I must take care of her health before she pushes herself over the limit." He forced a grin, gasping and face palming himself mentally, feeling like a complete idiot. What the hell?! When he looked at Shiho, he felt like he was looking in the mirror when he sensed they were both shocked by the sudden words.

"I beg your pardon?" The teacher looked afflicted, "There's no way you could be her boyfriend." He burst out an annoying laugh, "You two have just met, how in the world-"

"I'm deeply sorry as well, Coach, but my boyfriend is right." She giggled, "If I'm wanting to be the best, then I should take care of my health before anything else." She slipped away from him, trying to hold back her trembling as she hid behind Ren, grabbing a hold of his hand to try and make it convincing, "We should head home." She tugged on his hand, trying to step away hastily.

Ren's eyes opened slightly wide that she followed along, but tried to hide it as he placed a considerable smile on his face, gripping her hand firmly, showing he's here to help her. "You're right, love. I'm sorry for stealing her away." He chuckled, "If you'll excuse us." Ren bowed.

He placed his arm over her shoulder as they turned their back on her teacher, escorting her away. The teens could sense a deathly glare focused on them, but it disappeared when they were out of that teachers sight. Ren sighed with relief, putting a firm, but gentle grip on her shoulder. Shiho suddenly felt safe in his hold as they walked away from the scene. A small smile ran across her face as she closed her eyes, finally breathing.

"Thank you..." She whispered softly, peeking up at him, giving him the same delicate smile she exposed to him prior that day. Ren looked over with a nod, smiling back at her.

They walked as far away as they could, off school grounds. Most of the way through it's been nothing, but awkward silence. Ren wanted to break the ice, but he didn't even know where to begin. He felt nervous when still having his arm wrapped around her. The teen wanted to release her, but he felt they were being followed, so he kept hold until they reached the station. When they reached the station, he finally released her from his hold, looking around, before looking at her.

"It looks like we're safe." He said with satisfaction, "I'm sorry about that sudden grab and escort." He laughed uncomfortably, "I just couldn't leave you alone with, I'm assuming, such a dangerous per-?!"

"Thank you so much!" She hugged him tightly, burying her head in his chest, "I'm so relieved that I can actually finally breathe."

Ren tensed up by the sudden grasp to where he didn't even notice his face turned crimson. His heart beat hard against his chest that he couldn't understand why it felt painful, yet also comforting. A small laugh slipped through his lips as he rested his hand on her head. He felt a jolt when he placed his hand on her head, but felt like she seemed to have relaxed within a second after.

"Well, I guess we're even now then." Ren cackled softly.

Shiho tensed up after realizing what she was doing, "I-I'm so sorry." She cackled, "Um... I..." She breathed out a small laugh, looking up at him with a relaxed beam, "Thank you again, Amamiya-san."

"Thank you, too Suzui-san." He grinned faintly back at her, "I bet if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have brought myself to do what I did back there." He rubbed the back of his head, looking away, trying to hide his blush. "Oh! U-Um... I'm sorry on such a stupid excuse back there. I didn't mean to place you as my girlfriend, it-it just came out. I'm sorry I wasn't thinking." He panicked, noticing too late.

He froze when seeing her smile still plastered on her face. "Don't worry about... if anything, I'm sorry I went along with it." A laugh escaped along with a look of relief and slight worrisome.

Ren stared at her like an idiot, feeling as though an arrow struck his heart. He felt lost on how to feel after what just happened. The teen ended up placing his hand on his chest, not understanding what exactly it meant. He buried the ridiculous thought and placed focus on the situation they ended up in.

"So... what do we do now?" Ren questioned.

"Good question..." She sighed, "Might as well keep this going." She joked.

"If it means helping you, then I'll be just fine with that." He spoke instantly, his eyes growing again, shocked of what left his lips, "Th-That's only if you want to. I didn't mean- I- Sorry..." He slumped with a groan, feeling like an idiot.

The air filled with silence again, but was broken once a stifled laugh escaped. Ren looked up at her, seeing a genuine smile glide across her face.

"How about we wait and see what lies tomorrow?" Her smile turned gingerly as her tone turned soft as though filled with complete happiness. "Okay?"

"O-Okay..." He breathed out, not knowing what to do next.

"Oh, this is my train." She noticed by the announcer, "Well, I'll see you tomorrow, Amamiya-san." She waved as she entered the train.

"Yeah..." He waved her off, watching her leave as the door closed, and the train left.

The adolescent sighed deeply, lost on how to respond towards what just happened. Stupid? Happy? Pathetic? The kid didn't know what was to come, but he felt confident on jumping through the obstacles that he knew he was going to face in the near future. And all of that was thanks to that young woman that helped him with just few little words on such an eventful day on his first day at school.