“AGAIN!” Shiraga slammed her little palm on the table as she repeated her question to me. “Do you know Himuro Tatsuya?” Damn it! Himuro this, Himuro that! Himuro everywhere! Is he haunting me?! I gritted my teeth, muttering curses before looking at the small girl in front of me.

“No, I don’t” was my untruthful answer. Look, I’m not stupid to drag myself back into his life, okay? It’s better to avoid such things. Why did this girl ask me if I know him anyway? Does he like him?

Well I should say this girl is smart because she didn’t believe me. “No, you’re lying! I saw you two walk together multiple times! A-And he even kissed you at the cafeteria win in front of a crowd!” Is she stalking us or something? Wait, silly me. Of course she’s stalking Himuro. I groaned, rolling my eyes.

“Fine. I know him. But we’re in not good terms anymore. He just walks me home because he got nothing else to do! And that kiss? He just did that so my haters would go at me and they could easily capture them!” I ranted, my head heating up. The girls blinked at me innocently, showing she has no idea what happened. “If you want to get close with Himuro, I suggest you ask that big purple giant airhead that’s always with him. He’s the closest person to Himuro in the school” after I told her that, her face turned red as a tomato and steamed escaped her face. Her eye brows ceased together as both of her hands slammed the table even harder.

“M-Murasakibara-kun is not an airhead!” she defended the purple head while stuttering. Wait… “I… I know h-he’s close w-with Himuro-kun that’s why I’m asking you if you know him!” W-What? I don’t understand. If she already knows that, then she should’ve just approached Murasakibara. “I don’t know how to get close with Himuro-kun so want to ask help from you!”

“Wait, let me get this straight. You want to ask help from me, to get close to Himuro instead asking from that purple airhead guy?” I tried to clear up things but it just gets worse. This girl acts like a kid.

“I told you Murasakibara-kun is not an airhead!!!” she screamed her face blushing. “If I can approach Murasakibara-kun then I would’ve done it before!” H-Huh?

Wait, I think I get it.

“You like Murasakibara, don’t you?” I confirmed making her all flustered in front of me. I’m right. She does like the airhead. I get it now. She wants me to help her get close with Himuro so she could get close with Murasakibara. I sighed. “So after I help you, you’ll leave me alone right?” Tch. Let’s just get this over with. I want this to finish now and it might be easy. Himuro’s the friendly type of person so I guess it’ll be easy for Shiraga to get close with him.

“E-Eh! I-It’s not like that! I also want to be close with you, H-Hitomin!” What? She gave me a look of admiration, grabbing my hands in her tiny ones. “I asked you since you look like a nice person. I don’t want to leave you because that’ll look like I used or something but I don’t wanna use Hitomin!” H-Hitomin?

“W-Wait, what are you saying?” I questioned, pulling my hands from her.

She gave me an adorable smile. “You love reading shoujo manga, do you, Hitomin?” she said catching me by surprise as I gave her a shocked look.

“How did you know that?”

“I noticed you like to read the book series of my sister’s work”

“Book series? Y-You mean, the ‘Kiss Under the stars’ book series?!” Seriously?! Her sister’s… wait, Shiraga… Shiraga! “Don’t tell me you’re Shiraga Riyu’s little sister?!” she smirked proudly at me, raising both of her eyebrows cockily. I was so surprised that I even had gone on hiatus for a few minutes before Shiraga’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

“I appreciate that you’re a big fan of Riyun~ so I want to be close with an admirer of my sister!” she chirped with a happy smile. This girl… “Please call me Yumi, from now on, Hitomin!” oh she already has a nickname for me.

“Wait. So you still want me to help you?” I asked.

“W-Well, Hitomin said you aren’t good terms with Himuro-kun right? So… I guess I’ll just try to talk to him myself…” Yumi twirled her index fingers together.

“Ano… Mistress Yumi isn’t good in talking with men, so…” the bodyguard whispered at my ear. Oh, so that’s why—wait, her body guards are girls?! W-Why the heck didn’t I notice before?

I sighed and looked at the shy looking Yumi in front of me. “Fine. I’ll help you” I decided making the little white haired girl squeal in joy throwing a hug at me.

“Thank you, Hitomin! You’re really are a nice person!” she smiled at me. Me, a nice person? Not really… I just made a guy sad today, and I even fought with my best friend.

“Vilma-chan and Shirley-chan, starting today you don’t have to go to school with me since I got myself a friend now!” Yumi told her body guards who came congratulating her for having a new friend. What?

“You haven’t made any friends?” I question as we walked out of the dark room and back to the first floor hallways.

“Mm. Yumi isn’t the type of person who trusts people easily. My daddy said I shouldn’t let my guard down around people since I’m a daughter of a rich family and many people want to use me. Hehe, I guess I should say I was used already, that’s why…” Yumi… she doesn’t want to use people even though she was used before. What a great kid. What she said made curious. She doesn’t trust people easily, then—

“Then why did you decide to become friends with me then?” I quizzed, stopping from walking. She took several steps forward before looking back at me.

Yumi gave me a warm smile and said. “I don’t know why but Hitomin seems to be a good person. That’s all” Yumi… “And I promise Hitomin I’ll let her meet older sister since she’ll be helping me to get close with Himuro-kun!” she vows hugging me, her head only reaching up to my chest. Yes, Yumi is a short girl. I don’t know how she and Murasakibara would become a couple. Yeah, it’s cute if a guy is taller than you, but Murasakibara? It’s not just “taller” when Yumi’s the girl you’re talking about. I mean, look at her! Her height’s the same with some tall middle school or even grade school kids!

Sigh.

Whatever.

Height doesn’t matter in love anyways. Wait, what do I even know about love?

“Hitomin! Hitomin!” Yumi waved her hands in front of my face, tiptoeing so she could reach it. See, she’s so short. It makes her adorable though. I looked down at her red eyes staring at me.

I blinked. “What is it, Yumi?” I asked her.

“I was just asking about you and Himuro-kun” was her answer. Oh, him. “You said you weren’t good terms with him. Why though?” I flinched covering her mouth before pulling her to a place where we can talk privately. And yeah, we kinda lost her body guards.

“Yumi. I need you to never speak about Himuro and me okay? I’m gonna need you to pretend that I don’t know Himuro” I requested, bending down to her level.

“Why is that?” she tilted her head to the side with a questioning look. I sighed.

“It’s just… let’s just say, no one wants to remember me and Himuro together…” I trailed finding it awkward to talk about him.

“Does Hitomin like Himuro-kun? Are you two going out?” Yumi’s question made me uneasy, making me tense up. Ghh. “Did you two break up? Is that the reason you two aren’t good terms with each other? If so, how are you going to help me to get close with Murasakibara-kun? Himuro-kun is the only one who’s close with Murasakibara-kun right?” okay, Yumi you’re asking too much questions. Let me think for a while, please. I thought for a while before thinking about someone who’s a little close with Murasakibara… I guess.

“Anyways, why did you even like that guy?” I questioned starting to walk with Yumi again. She skipped beside me and beamed.

“Well, I admit Murasakibara-kun sometimes bully me because of my height. But…” she paused. “He can be a nice guy too. He often visits our candy shop and buys candy there every day. Also, he once saved me from bullies too. One day they were playing with me by throwing my favorite candy I got from my sister. They threw it in high places so I couldn’t reach it and made fun of me. But then when Murasakibara-kun arrived, he shooed the bullies away and took the candy out of that height for me. I also shared candies with him!” He saved her from bullies? Aw, that’s cute…

“So that’s why you started to like him?” I asked again and she nodded. Saved by bullies huh? I remember someone too. Well, he did save me too… and yeah…

“I don’t mind if he’s lazy or even stupid. He’s a nice person, and I really like him” Wow, Yumi’s an honest person. Unlike me.

We heard a bell ran, signaling that it was already next period; meaning, lunch was over. Ah, I forgot to eat too.

“Hitomin, I better go back to my class before my sensei scolds me. I’ll see you later!” Yumi excused herself after hearing the lunch bell. She skipped back to her room while humming happily while I just watch her with a sweat drop. That girl… I sighed. Well, I should go back to my class.

I made my way back to my classroom, passing by the 2nd year classrooms again where I saw Himuro flirting with a girl. Tch, I don’t care about him anymore. I sighed once again, before getting tripped by someone, sending me flying on the floor. What’s worse is that it was in front of Class D. Himuro’s class. Ugh. I looked up and to my surprise; the girl who tripped is one of the girls who got suspended because of their continuous bullying towards me. I saw her smirk when everyone around me started to laugh causing me to blush in embarrassment. This is the worse.

I quietly stood up, ignoring the people surrounding me and continued to limp back to my classroom. I think I bruised my knee. I heard their classroom door open which possibly made me even walk faster even though my knee hurts. Finally reaching our door, I almost fell on the ground when someone opened it then caught me. I looked up to see it was Liu, our Chinese exchange student classmate here in Yosen. “I-I’m sorry” I apologized pulling away from him as I almost fall back but good thing he grabbed my arm.

“Y-Yo… You okay?” huh? He’s talking normally now; unlike his old fashioned style.

“Ah, finally you’re speaking normally!” Kaichou’s little sister, Nanami Iguru cheered walking over to us. “Ah, Yoshio-san was it?” she smiled at me so I nodded.

Nanami glanced down at my knees, noticing the small bruise I got from tripping over. She asked me what happened but I just brush it off walking pass them, then onto my seat. I slumped on to it seeing Mayu just sitting quietly in front of me. Should I talk to her? I think she’s still mad about earlier. Sigh. I shrugged, looking out the window with my cheek on my palm. Great, I’ve got no one to talk to. If mom and dad were still alive, they’d probably tell me advice on how to make up with someone; especially with Mayu. They’ve known her since we were little so they kinda treat her like a daughter too. Man, just by thinking about them makes me sad.

I grabbed onto the jacket I was wearing; the one dad gave me before. I buried my face into my arms, ignoring everyone around me.

I wish my parents were here. I feel lonely.

“Yoshio-san, Yoshio-san!” called their sensei noticing the girl in a purple hoodie all slumped in her seat, her head resting down on her desk. You can tell the teacher looked pretty mad since this is the first time Yoshio had slept in her class. Normally, Yoshio was one of the good student in her class, but seeing the girl right now—“YOSHIO-SAN!” that was her final call so Akihiro being the closest one to Yoshio tapped her on the shoulders to wake her up.

The green haired girl raised her head while unconsciously sobbing. She wondered why was her jacket sleeves soaked and went to raise her fingers under her eyes, discovering that she was crying in her sleep. “W-What…?”

Akihiro’s eyes suddenly went from wondering to worry on her best friend. Yoshio was crying the whole time. Why? Many reasons. One was she was starting to feel lonely. No one understood her, and she felt like everyone stood against her just because she doesn’t want to admit her feelings. Two was the bullying she still received from other class. But the foul treatment wasn’t that all bad, it was just indirect and she could still feel people talk behind her back whenever she’d walk through the hallways or even came in contact with Himuro.

Akihiro turned around to face her best friend; about to ask was wrong when they heard the bell rang. It was dismissal. Relieved, Yoshio grabbed her bag and sprinted out of the classroom, escaping the stares she gained from her classmates. Akihiro couldn’t do anything but worry.

When the blonde finished fixing her stuff, she immediately went for the door only to be greeted by the little white girl about to enter their classroom. Shiraga Yumi stood here, staring up at her with big red wondering eyes causing for her to step back. “Is… Is Hitomin there?” Shiraga asks, peeking behind the tall girl before her, looking for her new friend.

“Hitomin? Hitomi?” Akihiro wondered receiving a nod from the shorter girl. “I… I don’t know. I’m going to find her. W-Who’re you?” and with that question, Akihiro slapped herself mentally. Out of worry about Yoshio, she completely didn’t recognize the little mistress of the Shiraga’s before her, so the little girl introduced herself.

“I’m Shiraga Yumi, and I’m Hitomin’s new friend! I came here to ask her if she wants to walk home with me!” said Shiraga happily. “Are you her friend too?”

With that question, Akihiro suddenly felt guilty. She knew it was her fault why Yoshio snapped like that. She knew how her best friend could say untruthful things whenever she was upset, annoyed or pressured by her. Yet, she blamed it on her friend.

“I’m supposed to be her friend. But…” Akihiro’s yellow eyes stared down at the ground sadly. “There’s no time for sulking. Shiraga-chan, please help me look for Hitomi” was her request giving the girl hopeful eyes.

“H-Hitomin’s missing?” Shiraga suddenly sounded worried. She grabbed Akihiro by the wrist and ran. “We’ve got to go look for her!”

“Wait!” Akihiro stopped, pulling the little girl back. “We have to inform her cousin first. Fukui-senpai”

“F-Fukui-senpai?” Shiraga wondered at the unrecognized name she heard.

Akihiro nodded. “Hai. He’s Hitomi’s cousin, and he’s currently practicing at the basketball gym with his teammates.” Shiraga flinched after hearing that, her face starting to redden. “We should go there and tell him what happened. C’mon—”

“B-B-Basketball gym” stuttered the white haired girl as Akihiro pulled her to where Fukui was. Like what Akihiro said, he was practicing for the upcoming Winter Cup competition, but it was suddenly cut off when the two arrived.

“Fukui-senpai!” called Akihiro catching every player’s attention. She can be a heartthrob. “Hitomi’s missing!”

Fukui’s eyes widened. “What?!”

“Sensei though she was sleeping during last period and when I woke her up, she was crying” Akihiro informed, with a sad tone. “After that, she grabbed her bag and left. I don’t know where she went”  

“Maybe she went home already?” Fukui guessed, pulling out his phone to call his aunt where Yoshio was staying and asked if the girl arrived home already. He got worried when his aunt said that Yoshio still hasn’t gone home. He thanked her ending the call, making Akihiro worried even more when he shook his head. “She’s not at their house”

“E-Eh?! H-Hitomin! Where did she go?” Shiraga looked worried as well. Even though she just talked the girl today, she’s been observing the girl for a few weeks with her body guard. Call her a stalker, but she really found Yoshio a nice person and wanted to know her more. Like what does she do in her spare time? Now that they were able to talk earlier, she was glad that Yoshio turned out to be nice and even promised she’d help Shiraga with her crush. “We have to find Hitomin!” she tugged Akihiro’s sleeve.

“Wait a minute, where’s Tatsuya-kun?” Akihiro looked for the guy who was absent. Liu informed her that Himuro had skipped practice for today for some reason. The blonde wondered. “Why?”

I lay down on the soft grass underneath me, sniffing the fresh hair winter provided. It was cold. Good thing my dad’s jacket gave me warmth. Externally I was warm, but inside, I feel cold and lonely. I know I’m being dramatic right now but since my parents died, I couldn’t find someone I could be honest with.

Mayu? I’ll end up getting make fun of even though she’ll understand me. She’s a great friend but she’d not that good of a listener.

Kensuke? He’s too busy on his third year. Basketball business and he’ll be studying for college entrance exams by the near end of the year.

I’m not close with any of my aunts either.

Kaichou? She’s a nice person and we’re good friend but we’re not THAT close.

Yumi? I just met her today. I hope I can get close to her. She seems like an honest girl but I think she has more issues than me. She’s a daughter of a rich businessman for God’s sake; she has more things to focus on instead of my own dramas.

Himuro?

Why the hell did I think about him? We’re not friends or anything. He says he likes me but I have a hard time trusting people I barely know.

Maybe it’s my fault for not even trying to know him. I keep pushing him away. What’s wrong with me?

“Came to watch the sunset?” a voice asked as I felt a presence sit beside me. I didn’t bother to look since I already know his voice and just nodded my head.

“I like Winter’s Sunsets” I said, sitting up to see a clear view of the scarlet sky above us. “It’s beautiful” I whisper, admiring the gorgeous sight above us.

“I finally get to watch the sunset with you” he says in a happy tone. I glanced at him. “Thank you, Hitomi” I mirrored the smile he gave me.

“Thank you too, Himuro” I thanked. Okay, this time I’ll be honest. “Ne, Himuro” I called him, looking up at the sky again. “Sorry for earlier. I didn’t really mean that” O-Okay… I feel awkward now.

“What do you mean?” he wondered giving me a questioning look. Damn it, I just realized he’s this handsome up close.

I twisted my body so I was facing him, giving a sly smile. “I like you. You’re a nice person” I say with a grin. This is the ever first time I gave him a smile and a grin.

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Oh yeahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!! >:D Hahahaha long chapter here peepes! Hope you like it! :D Yes, yes, Hitomi, it's better to be honest~  

So what do you guys think? :) 

Any comments on Shiraga Yumi and her crush Murasakibara Atsushi? XD And what do you think will happen with Tatsuya and Hitomi? 

SHIP! SHIP! >:D Okay sorry for my weirdness and enjoy the chapter~