A/N: I'm sorry for updating really late~ UvU

AAAnd I'm sorry for this chapter's ending. *hides in a corner* This chapter was already longer than it should've been (I intended this story to have 800-1500-word chapters only. This one has 2500+ words. Don't get me started on chapter six. XD) and I thought it would be better to place the other idea into another. XD Sorry~

So... yeah. I hope Akashi didn't turn OOC here. XD

Comments are <3 ? XD

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 My everyday life was turning into some cliched shoujo manga story right before my eyes.

Well, let's start off with me waking up thirty minutes just before school starts - pretty late if I say so myself. It approximately took me an hour to get my lazy and sleepy butt through all those morning school preparations months ago. And now, I had to squeeze an hour of preparations into a couple of minutes.

How did I wake up? Take a guess. Nope, it wasn't obnoxious high-pitched chiming of the alarm clock. Heck, it's broken! And no, it wasn't my cellphone. I set the phone's alarm two hours before school would start and I, who wasn't in the right mind due to being able to sleep for only two to three hours, most probably had turned off the alarm when it went on and went back to sleep.

I woke up with a heart attack. Don't worry, it's not literally a heart attack. I have good health. Or I think so, at least.

I woke up to the alarming and sudden crashing sound of a ceramic plate breaking into pieces as it hit the wooden floor of my room. I immediately got up from my bed and grabbed what was nearest to me out of impulse. When my sight and my mind were free from the clutches of sleep, I realized I was about to use a lampshade as a weapon against . . . an enraged Akashi-kun. His eyebrows were furrowed deeply, his lips forming a thin line. Worse of all, his eyes were lucent in an eerie aura in the room's morning darkness and his balled fists looked as tight as ever. That was enough for my body to forget that I was sleeping three seconds ago and to feel like I just drank three bottles of an extremely effective energy drink.

I frantically bowed and apologized, before he took a deep breath to calm himself. "Five minutes. I'll be waiting outside," he commanded after a few seconds, before leaving the room. All this time, I didn't have a single idea how he managed to get inside my house.

Amazingly, I did squeeze an hour of preparation into five minutes. My hair would be miraculously easy to comb and to manage, but I'd do that on the way to school. In the bathroom, the only thing I was able to perform was to brush my teeth. I wasn't able to apply any beauty product on my face; nobody has the time for that! Not even when I have an hour of preparation. I prepared my uniform last night, so I threw all of them on in a jiffy. Good thing I picked a sweater of the same shade of the uniform's button-up blazer; it'll take me a long time if I didn't. Over my underwear, I wore short shorts under Rakuzan's black skirt. I didn't trust any skirt, and I'd never will.

Woah. Look at that. A "Dress Up with Akiyama Saki" portion. How girly. Ew.

Then came breakfast. Since I didn't have much time, I had the most cliche breakfast in the history of Japanese culture ever - toast. The hot hardened bread trapped between my teeth, I pulled my bag and slung it over my shoulder before going through the door and locking it. I quickly dashed down the stairs. 

In front of the apartment complex was a shiny black luxury car you often see in anime as the car that drives the rich character to and fro the school. Leaning on its side was my red-haired classmate, who, upon seeing me, checked the time on his wristwatch. "You're thirty-two seconds late."

Seriously?! Instead of saying anything else, I took the toasted bread away from my mouth and  muttered a soft apology accompanied by a low bow. I heard him sigh before I stood up straight again and met his ruby and topaz eyes. I suddenly felt a tight clenching feeling in my chest, my cheeks feeling as if they were to combust due to too much warmth; it was as if I stopped breathing for that second we looked at each other. It was him who first turned away and opened the car's doors like a gentleman. My gaze completely glued to the paved ground, I felt his eyes on me. "Get in."

I nodded in response as I complied. I didn't dare speak. The hammering in my chest would might as well cause me to shamefully stutter a simple 'yes'. As I sat on the vehicle's comfortable seat, I tried to discreetly take heavy breaths to calm my racing heart as I combed my hair and tried to finish the toast as fast as I can. I was also hoping that the car's cool air-conditioning would get my face's temperature to go down. However, all my efforts were put to waste when I sensed his body less than a meter away from mine. 

God, of all guys, why do I have to like him? my chest asked.

Wait, what the heck?! You actually believe those people's advice in the forum that you like him?! replied my reason. You're just scared. You're just scared of him.

But why did my heart race when he slightly smiled?!

That's just---

I was dragged out of my inner turmoil when the reason for it spoke and gave me a mini-heart attack. "Were you intending on skipping today?" His voice was stern; I could tell that his annoyance didn't simmer down. 

"I-I wasn't! I made a m-mistake because of my h-habit!" I panicked and stammered stupidly. Nice way to humiliate yourself, Saki. The car stopped in front of the school, the oh-so-familiar entrance of the prestigious and high-class Rakuzan High with students in black and gray uniforms making their way inside. The blonde driver in front got out of the vehicle and opened the door for his master. 

"Get rid of it, then. I'm not picking you up tomorrow, but if you skip, get ready for the consequences." With that, he got out of the car but he only stood in front of it and sent me a look that meant I should follow. His driver, who seemed to be not older than twenty, peeked at me with a reassuring smile. Darn it. Even his driver's good-looking.

I took a deep breath then stared at the outside world. With a sigh and a wavering resolve, I stepped out of the car. The suited guy closed the door, and, before returning to the driver's seat, whispered to my ear, "Don't be so scared of the young master. He just doesn't know how to do things gentler. He actually wants what's good for you." I turned to him and he only smiled with a wink, before getting in and driving off.

Yeah, right. He just didn't want to do the process of forcing me into going to school all over again. It doesn't take a psychologist to know that.

Akashi-kun was already a few steps ahead of me so before I could even lose sight of him, I rushed through the walking students and soon found my place just a step behind him. I kept my eyes on the wide beige brick path towards the school's main and front building, the one where most first years were most likely to be assigned in, and did my best not to make any eye contact with my bangs and my hair hiding most of my face. It'll only make me uneasy.

After changing our shoes into our indoor ones, we walked into the bustling and noisy corridors of the school, but it seemed to quiet a little down whenever we passed by. It was probably because of him being Akashi, the student body president. He could actually be a dictator or something. And because I was following their president like a lost pup, I knew some of them actually spared me a glance.

Each second that passed only made me want to run off and go back to my shut-in life more.

He stopped in front of Class 1-C, much to my confusion. Out came a pretty doll-like girl with long auburn hair curled at the ends and golden eyes carrying a small bag. I could tell that she spent a lot of effort to achieve her look. The two exchanged looks and when her eyes fell on me, a mischievous smirk made its way to her lips and and it made me instantly uneasy. All of a sudden, she grabbed my hand and dragged me towards the girls' comfort room, shouting to Akashi-kun "Wait for her in your room!"

When we reached the comfort room, she faced me and cupped my cheeks with a huge smile. "You're already so cuuute!" She said in a high-pitched voice. "I don't see what I should do with you!" Neither do I.

I had a bad feeling about it. I forced a smile, having no idea what she was up to and thinking if I should run for it. 

As if noticing my unease, she released my face from her hands and grinned. "Don't worry, don't worry! I'll just put makeup on you! ...though I don't really see why I have to... Ah! I'm Natsukawa Mariya, by the way. Call me Mari! Nice to meet you~" She winked at me.

I looked away, though it wasn't really polite. But since she went out of her way to do something like this, I forced a smile to mask my worry and introduced myself. "...Akiyama Saki... Nice to meet you..." the words came out as a half-whisper, but I assumed she heard it.

She giggled, pinched my cheek, and went to work.

It lasted for only a few minutes and when she made me look at myself at the mirror, there was really an improvement in my appearance. My eye bags were gone, anyway. She reminded me of Mizuki when she grinned at my reflection. After a few seconds, being reminded of something, she asked me if we could already go to my class since she had to finish her homework. I nodded and apologized softly. I didn't think she heard it, though. I said it when she was once again dragging me through the hallway. She called Akashi-kun before leaving me there. Never had I felt like a toddler who needs a guardian all the time until today.

Akashi-kun didn't say anything. He just stared down at me, before walking away to which I assumed that I should follow. I looked down as I went inside. The class started to get silent as I made my way to my seat at the back. I want to go home. Akashi-kun looked at me as if I was doing something wrong once again before turning away and returning to his seat. I kept my eyes on the white plastic table, hoping I'd vanish into the background. I put on my headphones and listened to my favorite music to hopefully calm myself down until the teacher arrives.

***

It never crossed my mind that I had to undergo some problems when our lunch break came. I just bought some melon bread, curry bread, and chocolate drink from the cafeteria filled with chattering students. When I came back to the room, my seat was already occupied by a girl. Two other tables were already connected to mine, both occupied by two others who seemed like her friends. I couldn't find it in me to ask them to give me my seat back; it's my fault, anyway. Plus, they might've been doing this eating arrangement during the time I was gone.

Unconsciously, my eyes scanned the room and found not the slightest sight of his crimson hair. Upon realizing what I was doing, I stepped away and slapped my cheeks with both of my hands as punishment. I was acting like some stupid love-struck shoujo manga heroine and I didn't like it. I should get him off my mind. Fast. I willed my thoughts from the heterochromatic-eyed dictator to the place where I should eat.

The cafeteria and the classroom crossed out of my list, one of the most cliched venues to eat your lunch popped into my mind: the rooftop. In the manga and anime I've read, it's the place where I could be alone with peace and quiet. Since it wouldn't hurt to try and despite being cliche, it'll help to calm myself from being around too many people, I went to the highest floor and soon reached the rooftop. My extremely high and hopeful expectations were let down the moment I slightly opened the door and peeked through the small gap; despite the outdoor temperature getting a bit cooler, there were at least three groups of friends eating lunch on the floor.

With a sigh, I turned away to continue my conquest of looking for an eating venue. Through the window of one of the hallways, I found the perfect place. Clutching the stuff that I bought as my lunch, I rushed towards the place using what remained of my memory of the school's basic shortcuts and soon found the place. 

It was the spot below the large leafy tree that was just beside the school building. The area where the tree was grassy, though it was kind of turning a bit brown since autumn was drawing near. I bent down and took a feel of the well-kept grass, and it felt just like a thick carpet. A smile crept to my lips. Though I think the outdoors are troublesome and absolutely detest it, I have a soft spot for places like this. It never fails to put me at ease as it also brings back really good memories.

I sat on the grass, my back leaning against the tree. I checked it earlier and it wasn't dirty to be leaned upon. I set the drink on the ground, the curry bread on my lap, and opened the melon bread's pack to dig in and help my grumbling stomach. It was sweet in this kind of way I liked it, but I've definitely tasted better. I suddenly started craving for the bread the bakery that's two blocks away from the apartment I'm saying in. They make high-class baked food that could actually fit in my daily budget. Darn, I should've just bought something there last night to bring to school. I shouldn't be having these unnecessary cravings if I---

"Why are you here?"

A bomb exploded in my chest. I turned my head towards the source of the oh-so-familiar voice. Upon meeting his captivating eyes, more bombs exploded. What the heck.

Looking at me through a window of the closest room to the tree that I was sitting under was the red-haired student body president, his eyebrow slightly raised. I nearly spit the food my mouth was busily munching on. He was probably thinking I was nuts for eating outside under a tree like some shoujo heroine wanna-be or I was stalking him like a little puppy because of some sort of attachment. I forgot; the student council room was somewhere in this area. Blame my months of not attending school.

I swallowed the bread with the help of the chocolate drink and tried my best to answer when I was able to. "Eating..." Of course he knew that! I made a mental note to bang my head to the wall for being so stupid. "I couldn't find a good place to eat so--"

"You could've just ate in the classroom," he answered, giving me a deadpan look.

"There wasn't a place for me there..." I replied softly, setting my gaze on the half-finished melon bread in my hands. Even that response would sound stupid to him. He'd say that I should've just asked them to give my seat back. 

"Then tell them to--" he suddenly stopped, probably finding it pointless to even continue the conversation with me. I stole a glance and saw him looking down with a small frown. Gosh. He looked adorable. Wait, what? He then looked up at me, our gazes locking for a moment before I decided to break it out of impulse and look away. Another freaking bomb just exploded.

"Do what you want. Just don't disturb me." He disappeared from the window and went further into the room.

Upon watching him leave and end the conversation, I let out a relieved sigh and took another bite from the bread. My mind wandered off to the stuff that happened these past few weeks, starting from that unexpected visit up to the point when this weird sensation emerged in my chest. I didn't like it, but a part of me did. If listening to heavy metal for ten days straight would get rid of it, I'd probably do that for even twenty more days. 

Great, I scolded myself, Even your mind's turning into that of a shoujo manga heroine in-love.

And everything was all his fault.