Akari's POV

The sun shone brightly as I walked my way to school. The cherry blossom trees are starting to be dry again and each day is getting warmer and warmer.... Summer's getting near.

That bastard still haven't come back to school yet. I hope he never does. Oh well my punches are strong after all, I'm glad I attended martial arts lessons when I was younger. It might take him about a few days or so for the bruise to heal--plenty of time for peace.

Just as I walked into the school gates, my hopes were crushed. He was there; talking to girls, who surrounded him and were swooning over him as he sweet talked to them.

Disgusted, and panicking a little, I covered my face with my bad and rushed into the school. Gladly, he didn't notice me and continued flirting. Eck, he really is disgusting.... Ughh, that guy, he's so troublesome. I shouldn't go near him. Bad things always happen when I meet him. Is he like a curse someone put on me??

I sighed as I took my seat and settled down. There's still around 15 minutes before homeroom starts. I took out a book and began reading. Soon, the class started, I went to other classes, eat the lunch at the rooftop, it was all normal until--

"Whatcha doing up here?" I turned around to see him standing there with a grin. I choked on the food after seeing his sudden appearance. "Oh? Too happy to see me?"

I wiped my mouth and ignored his as usual and continue my lunch.

"Come on, I told you to answer when someone ask you a question," he gave his puppy eyes.

I cringed and muttered, "I'm pretty sure you have eyes. Or are you just blind?"

"Eh that's mean~ I was only trying to start a conversation."

"What? We have nothing to do with each other. I'd rather not be involved with a guy like you. Now, go away," I said without any mercy.

"You're so cold. Don't be like that~"

I didn't answer.

"You were avoiding me, right?"

"What, no? Why would I even avoid you?"

"Hmm?~ Maybe because you're shy about what happened the other day?" He stuck his tongue out.

"Huh? What's that gotta do with this??" I could feel my face starting to heat up...

"Hmm, I thought it was because of that you avoided me."

"I wasn't even avoiding you," I lied.

"Then why did you cover your face with a bag while you were passing me this morning? Also, our eyes met during break in the halls but you quickly averted your eyes and disappeared," he smirked, "So? Was that enough for the reasons?"

I didn't know what to answer.

"Cat's got your tongue?" he smirked.

"Why are you lingering around me? Don't you hate me for punching you? Or is that why you're annoying me right now?"

His eyes wandered around as he remembered what I did do him. "Well, yeah I dislike you, but that doesn't mean I can't annoy you right?" He smirked.

'What's with this guy? He's so strange' I thought. He sat beside me and got closer.

"Get any close and say goodbye to your arm," I calmly spoke and ate my egg roll.

"Eck...you're really scary, elephant girl," he said.

"Shut up."

There was an awkward silence for a while. I became nervous and finally said, "Why are you still here?"

"Hmm? I don't know, I'm bored."

"Then go hang out with your friends."

"Nahh, they're busy right now. And I'd rather be with you since you're interesting."

"Well, that's brave of you to risk your life to just talk to me."

"Come on, what about you? Why don't you hangout with your friends? You're always alone."

"That's--" I hesitated, "none of your business is it?" I packed my lunchbox. 'Again with this topic I don't want to talk about this anymore! Why is he even hanging out with me in the first place? I better leave soon.' As I stood up, I suddenly froze.

"It's not here..." I whispered to myself. I looked around to see if I had dropped my bracelet around here, my heart began to beat  faster each second.

"Hm? What's not here?" Ken asked. I immediately got up and took my lunch box and stormed back inside the school.

My eyes searched every single corner as I walked along. I tried to recall all the places I went today and went there looking for it. 'That bracelet was so important to me...I can't afford to lose it.'

"Not here.....not here....not here," I stopped, gasping for air. I didn't even noticed the pain in my stomach from running so much.

"Geez, who expect you to even be this fast?" I turned around to see Ken, who also looked a bit tired.

"Were you following me?"

"Yeah, and you didn't even notice. So? What happened? Lost something?"

'Why does this guy wants to know every single thing I'm doing? '

"You're not gonna know so why should I say? Nothing's gonna happen if you know."

"I could help search it with you?" I stayed silent. "So, what is it?"

"....It's a bracelet. A thin pale blue bracelet with a couple of gold beads in the middle." Ken's expression changed as if he just remembered something. "Wait, do you know? Have you seen it??" I asked.

His gaze fixed on me and I looked into his eyes, hoping he knew something about the bracelet. He quickly averted his gaze and stuttered, "Umm, yeah. In fact, it's with me."

My eyes widened, "What?! Why do you have it??"

"You dropped it yesterday when you ran off! Stop making it sound like I stole it or something. Geez..." he ruffled his hair.

"Where is it?" He reached to his pocket and took out the bracelet. He dangled it in front of me to show it.

"This is it, right?"

I nodded my head, "Give it back," I reached for the bracelet.

"Woah, not too fast," he kept the bracelet high up in the air so I wouldn't be able to reach it. "Is that how you ask for something? Especially when they kept it safe for you?"

My brows furrowed, "Why do you always do that?? Give it back."

"At least say please or thank you," he pouted.

"............please." His hand with the bracelet came within my reach but as I went to grab it, he retrieved his hand back.

"Hmm....I'm curious. Elephant girl, what does this bracelet mean to you? Is it from someone special?"

"Wha---what're you doing? Give it back? It's none of your business," I gave out my hand and asked for it again.

"Let's make a deal. Why don't you become friends with me and I'll return this to you.You probably don't have any."

"Don't be absurd. Friends? Pfftt. I don't need friends...especially with people like you."

"Ah is that so? Then I might not be returning this then~"

"Who are you to--" Just then the school bell rang signaling us that lunch break was over and to go back to class.

"You better decide fast or you won't be getting this back," he winked and went to his class.

>>>>>>>>>>>

'What should I do?? It's been two days since then and I couldn't approach him at all, he's either surrounded by girls or with his friends. He already has lots of friends.....Why would he want to be friends with me?' I tried approaching him once but he totally ignored me! Is it because I told him I don't want to be his friend?

Ughh this bastard is so troublesome. It was hard to approach him and get a chance to talk to him but he had to ignore me. I can't even talk to him but he can come and talk to me anytime. How annoying...

Another day passed by and I was worried if the bracelet was still safe. 'I have to get it back today. It's been bothering me a lot and I can't even focus on anything.' I sighed, "Out of all things I had to lose..."

Once lunch time arrived, I went around the school to search for Ken. I found him in the yard, sitting under a tree with his usual two friends.

'Ughh, if only he was alone. But I can't let this chance go away. I must talk to him' I thought and advanced towards him.

The three guys noticed my presence and looked up. The two guys whom I don't recognized, put on a confused face while Ken's expression didn't change.

"Is there anything you need?" The guy with brown hair asked.

"We need to talk," I stared at Ken.

Just then, Ken stood up and said, "Guys, mind if you leave us alone?" The two guys beside Ken nodded and left us.

I heard one of them said, "Ah man, that guy should stop womanizing already. I feel bad for that girl."

I got annoyed when they thought the wrong way of me but I didn't care about that right now.

"So? Have you thought about it?"

"No, I-"

"Oh, then it seems that we have no business here," he spun around and walked away. 'Is it just me or did our roles just got reversed.'

"Wait!" I called out and he turned back around. "Um...please give that bracelet back to me. It's a really important treasure for me. I got it from someone who I really cared so please...give it back," I begged.

"Someone who you really cared for....?" he repeated. "Who? A family member? Your past lover?"

I shook my head, although I didn't wanna tell him, I had no choice, "It's from a friend..."

"...but I thought you have no friends," he looked surprised.

"Well, I used to...he gave it to me before he left," I looked away as the memories flashed back. I guess Ken seemed to notice my uneasiness.

"Here," I raised my head up, I saw the bracelet on top of Ken's palm. I reached for it and wore it on my left wrist.

"You're just going to give it to me like that?"

"What? You don't want it?"

"No, it's not like that..."

"How could I not give back a bracelet that a girl got from her crush?" 

"C-CRUSH?! I-It's not like that!!" I waved my hand around in panic.

"You say that but your face is getting bright red. Plus, why would you keep this with you all the time if it isn't from your crush," He bent down and inspected my face. "Heh...who would've thought someone like you would possibly have a crush."

"S-Shut up!" I yelled as he began laughing. I tried to forget what he said and focus back on the bracelet.

"......thanks" I murmured.

He broke off his laugh and said teasingly, "Hmm? What was that~? I didn't hear you."

"Nothing!" I turned around to walked away then I stopped and faced him again. "About the deal....out of all the things, why did you make a deal to become friends with me?"

"Hmm? Why? I wonder why myself? I don't know either," he shrugged.

"Ah I see then please don't try to become friends with me. It's for both of our sake," I muttered the last part. "Bye then."