A/N: Another short chapter~ OuO Well, at least I updated in less than a month, right? XD It feels easier to update this way. OvO

And I'm sorry if this is turning a little cliched. I kind of planned it to go this way to make way for more (hopefully) interesting stuff. *bows*

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"You are dismissed," announced Akashi-kun, and our group stood and split up. I put away the piece of notebook paper where our summarized topic was written into my bag. Pretty sure that someone else would be occupying my seat once I leave, I arranged my things and placed my bag on the side of my table. I took some money and started to walk out of the classroom, my mind already in its own dimension of Vocaloid music composition.

I already finished composing the song itself, but I still have to make the arrangement for the instruments I planned to use. Also, I need Yuki-chan's opinion on the lyrics I made for the same song. I was also debating on which Vocaloid I should use; would it still be Hatsune Miku or Yuzuki Yuka--

"Saki."

"Gyah!" I immediately jumped away from the voice's owner out of shock, and I could've sworn my heart was thrown ten thousand feet into the sky. You see, the moment I stepped out of the room, someone suddenly called my name. And it only took me a few milliseconds to realize who the owner is -- the person I was trying to avoid due to this unstable heart of mine. Who wouldn't be surprised if they're in my situation?

Akashi-kun crossed his arms and looked at me with an eyebrow arched. I probably looked stupid. I bowed my head, my hair hiding my face, and muttered an apology.

"If you meet Kanato, send him to me. I'll be in the library," he ordered, and I nodded, my eyes focusing on my white indoor shoes.

"Play The Entertainer to wake him up if he's asleep," he added. I looked up at him in confusion. The Entertainer rung a bell in my mind; it was one of the piano pieces my mother played whenever she felt cheery back then. Her fingers danced through the piano keys whenever she played for her little fun, and there was always this content smile on her face. There were also times when we played together. I felt myself smile a little at the fond memory. I immediately snapped out of my reverie when I realized that he was still in front of me.

As if seeing the question in my eyes earlier, he was frowning. I then remembered that he didn't like his decisions being questioned, so before he could say anything expressing his disdain, I nodded then bowed lowly to excuse myself. I turned around and went to the opposite direction of where I assumed he would go.

From there, I found an alternate way to the school's cafeteria. Since our perfectionist leader asked for a brief meeting the moment our lunch break started, there were already a lot of people inside. I took a deep breath and went in, hoping that I wouldn't take long inside. Their service wasn't really slow, so I was expecting to get into the front of the line in at least five minutes. I looked around guardedly.

Make-up could change one's appearance, right? For the past few days, I was safe. Despite that, I couldn't count on it to stay that way for long. There was always this constant fear that what happened back then would repeat again.

I bought two curry breads and an orange juice in a tetra pack. I dodged everyone in the crowded room, and soon found my way out of the cafeteria.

Someone then poked my shoulder. I turned around and was met with two golden orbs. Mariya-san, the girl who put make-up on my face last Monday, grinned at me then waved. I waved back before she tuned away and joined the other rich-looking girls she was with.

Clutching on the two breads and juice I considered my lunch, I walked in the hallways on my way to my little space under the three. I carefully avoided each person that came my way, my eyes on the ground the whole time. I watched out for incoming legs and feet to steer clear of them.

Then it happened.

A girl's foot suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and the next thing I knew, I was falling to the ground and completely out of balance. My reaction time wasn't quick enough to evade it, as it seemed like the owner intentionally did it. I fell on my knees and my palms, the sudden impact causing pain to emerge from the said parts. I picked up my juice and one of my breads. When I found the other, I was about to scoop it up from the floor when someone stepped on it and didn't let it go. I stood up properly, planning to politely ask that someone to get her foot off it. When I looked up at them, I stepped backwards and shifted my gaze, fear and anxiety flowing all over me.

"So, she's back~" said the girl with the curly blonde hair, raising her eyebrow and smirking lopsidedly.

"And she had a makeover! How cute~" mused another tauntingly, flicking her black hair with highlights away from her face.

"Come play with your seniors again, won't you?" the tallest of the three requested with a hint of mischievousness in her voice.

I did my best to look emotionless and unaffected, but all I wanted to do was to run away. The latter was proved to be impossible to be done months ago. Their treatment would only worsen, and that'll give them the satisfaction I didn't want them to have.

"Please leave me alone," I said weakly, looking down. I quit school for a long time; what more did they want?

"Awww~ But we just wanted to bond with you..." 

I didn't answer and took another step backwards. They went closer, surrounding me with their towering height.

One of them grabbed a lock of my long brown hair then pulled it, jerking me forward to her. "Be our doll once again~"

I held my breath and looked to the side. It was hard not to cry. All the trauma they caused was coming back to me. 

"Let me go..." I muttered.

"Haaa? Is she ordering us around?"

"Seems like it~ She needs her punishment."

"Yeah, and we really did miss you~"

"S-Seniors!" a familiar male voice came. They all turned around and one of them let go of my hair. "Bullying is prohibited in this school! You know that!" he scolded, but he seemed uneasy himself. I peeked from their backs and found out that my guess was right. It was Kanato-kun.

"And what are you going to do about it, first year?"

"I'll tell President Akashi!" he announced, and that silenced them for a moment. "I'll let this go if you leave her alone!"

"Tch. Fine. Let's go." And with that, they left. 

Kanato-kun immediately went to my side. "Are you okay, Cinna-chan?!" he asked worriedly, his hands gripping on my arms. "Were you hurt somewhere?!" His voice sounded sincere and pannicked, so I looked up at him and and forced myself to smile thankfully. Though I knew that it wasn't enough to express my gratitude, I hoped it conveyed my message. I didn't realize than I was already tearing up, the tough front I tried to establish breaking down. 

"Uwaaah~! I'm sorry!" He bowed apologetically. I quickly wiped them away, for I didn't want to make a scene. "I didn't come immediately! I thought you just tripped and I didn't realize they were--"

"I-I'm fine," I told him with the calmest voice I could muster, cutting him off. "Thank you for that, though..." 

"B-But I--"

"Akashi-kun wants you to go to the library, by the way," I changed the topic. "You know he doesn't like waiting..." 

"Crap...," he muttered. He then looked at me worriedly. "Are you going to be okay...?"

I nodded. "Don't worry. I'll be fine," I lied. "Just go." I pushed him away gently. He complied for a few steps then looked at me with concern in his brown eyes. With one final fake small smile, I turned away and walked away to my little sanctuary.