CHAPTER 4: ACCEPTING YOU

"Yume-chan, you have a photoshoot today," the manager said.

"Um… Hiro-san, what about school?" Yume asked.

"I will call the school to explain on your behalf," Hiro said to her.

Yume sighed, giving in. She stepped into the car. She looked out through the window as the car made its way to town. Yume fixed her make up and took off her uniform's coat. The manager handed her a denim jacket to replace the coat. Yume started texting someone after that. She looked out through the window. A banner caught her eyes.

"Valentine's day…" she muttered.

"Ah, yes! It is around the corner. Your photoshoot is all about that celebration," the manager explained.

"Hmmm? Really?" she asked.

Hiro nodded and said, "Yes, you will have a partner for this photoshoot."

Yume froze. "A…partner?" she muttered.

Hiro nodded. Yume sighed. They reached the photo studio. The male idol was already there. Yume recognized him with his brown hair and green eyes. He was charming…in the women's eyes, but specifically not in Yume's eyes. Yume sighed when he approached her.

"So you must be my destined partner," he said.

"Yes, I am…but please be professional, Simon…" Yume replied.

She pinched his hand which was holding her shoulder. Simon cringed. He chuckled nervously at her behavior. She ignored him and went to the dressing room.

"Umm, your first costume is a varsity jacket," the makeup artist said to her.

Yume nodded. She took the black varsity jacket from the woman's hands. 'HIS' was written on the back. Yume felt like she was going to puke. She took a breath and went to change her clothes. She came out after 15 minutes. Simon was already waiting for her with a matching varsity jacket written 'HERS' on the back. Simon winked at her. Yume sighed dreadfully.

"So how are you?" Simon asked as they posed.

"I'm fine. Thank you," she replied, changing her pose.

"I don't see you outside at all," the guy said.

"Unlike you, I have education to finish," she replied calmly.

"You can just quit and stay by my side~" he cooed.

"Not even if you beg…" Yume replied rather coldly this time.

They had to change to a few more costumes after that. Yume heaved a sigh when they were done. Hiro reported that she had no more schedule for the day. She was glad.

"I'll ask the driver to send you straight home," the manager said to her.

"How about dinner with me? My treat," Simon invited.

Shaking her head, Yume replied, "I'm sorry but I have to pass. I have homework and notes to revise for school."

After rejecting Simon, Yume rushed out of the studio to wait for her driver. She was too excited to head back home. She received a phone call as she was waiting. She picked it up happily.

"Valentine's Day is almost here," Midori muttered.

"Y-Yeah…" Yuuki mumbled a reply.

Smirking, her best friend asked, "Are you thinking of confessing on that day."

The pink haired immediately blushed. "N-No way!" she blurted.

"A lot of guys would be expecting chocolates from you~" Midori cooed.

Yuuki nudged her friend. They started to laugh after that. They reached the front gate. Nagisa and Karma were nowhere to be found. Yuuki panicked a bit. A few boys were staring at her. Midori pulled her closer.

"Will you be fine on your own?" she whispered.

"I think so…" Yuuki replied.

Midori nodded. "Do you have their phone numbers?"

Nodding, the shorter girl checked her phone. "I do have Nagisa's number… Oh! He texted me…"

"What did he say?" her best friend asked.

"He'll be running late so you have to go home with me," Karma suddenly appeared in front of the girls.

Both of them were startled. Karma chuckled. Midori said goodbye and ran to the car that was waiting for her. Yuuki smiled at Karma. They started their walk to the train station. Something caught Yuuki's eyes along the way, so she stopped. Karma turned to see what she was up to. He found that she was eyeing something at a store. He approached her.

"It's cute, huh?" he asked her.

"Oh, n-no… I'm sorry…" she sputtered nonsense.

The redhead smiled. He gestured her to follow him into the store. The store had cute interiors and decorations inside, fit for girls who love such things. Yuuki's eyes brightened up at the sight. Karma stood beside her to observe her reaction. She ran around like a five-year-old.

"Everything is so cute!" she exclaimed, giggling happily.

Yuuki caught Karma walking up to what she was eyeing a few minutes ago. He grabbed the pink teddy bear strap. One of the shopkeepers came up to him.

"This one comes in pair with the brown one. You see that the pink one is wearing a princess crown and the brown one is wearing a prince crown," she explained to him.

"Ehh…you don't say…" he muttered a reply.

Yuuki came up to him. "You don't have to trouble yourself," she said.

The shopkeeper looked at them back and forth. "Are you buying for your girlfriend? Then, you should definitely buy them both…as a sign you are a couple. We have a student price," she offered.

Karma took a glimpse at Yuuki. She looked troubled. He grabbed a brown teddy bear strap too. Yuuki panicked even more as she watched him walking over to the counter. The shopkeeper was giggling at the sight.

"He must love you so much," she whispered to the pink haired girl.

Yuuki froze at the words. Biting her lower lip to hold her blush, she nodded to the shopkeeper. Karma came back to her with the two teddy bears. He placed the pink one on her bag and the brown one on his.

'There. Now, let's get going. Nagisa will be asking me about your safety soon," Karma said to her.

"Thanks. I'll pay you back for it," Yuuki said.

Shaking his head, he replied, "No need. It's on me."

The girl blushed again. "Thank you…"

Karma smiled and nodded. He offered his right hand to her. She gladly took it. They held hands as they made their way to the train station.

Yuuki spent the whole night reading cook books and tried making chocolate the best she could. She wanted to surprise Karma and Nagisa, too.

"I can do this..." she whispered.

It was finally Valentine's Day and a lot of girls were expressing their love with their homemade chocolates. Yuuki was getting nervous by minutes. She popped her head at Nagisa's classroom early in the morning. Nagisa was there but she could not find Karma. She handed Nagisa a box of chocolate.

"Thanks," Nagisa smiled.

She looked around, "Where's Karma-senpai?"

"Karma...was called by the teacher," her cousin said.

Yuuki blinked at her cousin because of his hesitance. Nagisa chuckled nervously. He told her the direction to the staff room. Yuuki made her way to where Karma was. When she got to the room, she could hear shouts and scolding from inside. The teacher's scream was heard in the end. Yuuki froze at her spot. The door was opened and Karma came out. The girl froze when she saw his expression. It was something she had never seen before. Karma heaved a sigh. He caught sight of Yuuki. She hid the box of chocolate behind her.

"What's the matter?" he asked, trying to keep calm.

Scared, Yuuki stuttered, "I w-was looking for you…"

"Really? I'm sorry; a lot has been going on…" Karma sighed again.

Yuuki looked concerned. He noticed her expression. Smiling, he patted her head. The girl bit her lower lip. She shoved the box of chocolate into his hands and ran away. Karma wanted to call out to her but he didn't get a chance to. He stared at the box in his hand.

Yuuki reached her classroom. Midori was waiting for her full of excitement. The pink haired girl sat at her chair. She was quiet the whole day and Midori knew that something was up.

"Did he say something to you?" Midori asked.

"I heard from the teacher…that he will be suspended due to bullying one of the top seniors…" Yuuki muttered.

"Did you ask him about this?" her best friend asked.

Shaking her head, she replied, "I'm scared. I sensed a dark aura from him just now and it scares me to death…"

Midori smiled. "I'm sure that's just another side of him that you have to get to know… Trust me."

Yuuki looked into Midori's eyes as she nodded. The pink haired nodded to her words.

Evening came at last. Nagisa and Karma were not seen at the front gate that day. Yuuki gulped as she could feel stares all around her. She received a text from Nagisa saying that he had to go on ahead first. She searched for Karma's number.

"Hey there~" a male voice was heard.

Yuuki turned around to see five boys, including Asahi. She forced a smile, backing away.

"Oh, don't be scared. I came here to claim my chocolate," Asahi said confidently.

"I…don't have any…" Yuuki mumbled.

"What? I can't hear you…" Asahi joked.

"There is no way she would have any chocolates for other boys than me," a familiar voice was heard.

"Akabane-senpai!" Asahi exclaimed.

Karma pulled Yuuki into his arms and asked, "Were they bothering you?"

The girl nodded once. Karma glared at the boys. They panicked and scattered away. Yuuki pushed away from Karma's hold. She was trembling in fear. The redhead could see that. He gazed into her eyes. She was about to tear up.

"I'm sorry. I thought what I did was right but it turned out the teacher didn't like it at all…" he explained.

"You were in a fight…" Yuuki muttered.

Nodding, Karma said, "Yes. I wanted to help a bullied senior by…beating up another senior…"

The girl backed away from him. "You're a bully too…" she whispered.

The boy looked away from her. She didn't move, taking a glimpse at his face. They could feel eyes on them. A couple of boys were whispering about and some were eyeing Yuuki. She hesitantly took a grab on the hem of his shirt. He glanced up at her. She blushed but she didn't say anything.

Karma sighed and said, "Let's get going…"

Yuuki looked up to him. He smiled at her; his usual smile. Somehow, she felt save again.

Give me some reviews~ ;P - (Moonfire, 24 MARCH 2018)