Chapter 64

Miku.

"Okay, Kaito, you hold the rope from that end!" I ushered Kaito over to once side and looked around. It was still only the start of lunch, so there was still time to get everything ready.

I spotted Mew and Miriam in the distance, coming closer. My mind flashed back to the scene between Mikuo and Meiko, but I knew that it wasn't their fault. I wasn't planning on telling them that I had a crush on Mikuo, at least, not yet. It would result in unnecessary hurt feelings.

Besides, I had Kaito, and he would always be there for me. I smiled to myself for a moment. I really was lucky to have him.

"Miriam, can you grab the other end of the rope?" I asked. She nodded and did as instructed.

"What's keeping Rin?" Gumi frowned at Yuma, who shrugged.

"I'll call her," I pulled my phone out and dialled her number, "Once she's down here, you two go and find Len."

Len.

"I really do, Rin," I added as she picked up her notebook and put it in her bag.

"Okay," she whispered, "I was just afraid."

I frowned. "You need to rip that sheet out of your notebook. None of those reasons are true. I just need some time alone."

"Then why are you so afraid of me all of a sudden?" Rin asked suddenly, "Like on Monday."

"I-I'm not afraid!" I stammered, "I'll make it up to you later, okay?"

She sighed. "Okay," she said, turning away, "I'll wait for you."

"Thanks," I let out a slow sigh of relief.

"And Len?" Rin turned just enough to look at me.

"Yeah?"

Rin looked down at her shoes, shifting her weight and shuffling uneasily. "Will you ever tell me what's bugging you?"

Before I could reply, a ringtone filled the air around us. Rin pulled out her phone.

"Miku," she said into the phone, glancing at me, "Yeah, I'll be right there. Sorry."

She hung up and stared at me. I stared back, unsure of what to do. I wanted to tell her so badly, so that I wouldn't have to hurt her like this anymore, but telling her would be just as bad. I really was stuck in between a rock and a hard place.

"I need to go," she finally spoke up.

"Okay," I said, "I'll...I'll see you at the meeting after school."

Rin didn't answer. She just turned and walked away. I turned and headed in the other direction, heading upstairs to the roof to sit and eat my lunch in solitude.

Oliver.

Ms. Yowane was already in her room when I knocked. Huh. For once, she wasn't late.

"Hi," I said awkwardly, waving to her as she flipped through some sheets. A cup of coffee sat on one side of her table. Steam strewed from the top, dusted by the sunlight spilling from the half-open blinds.

She waved back. "Oliver, do you have a question, is that why you came by?"

I swallowed slowly. "Sort of," I said, "C-Can I ask?"

"Go ahead," she said, taking a sip of the coffee.

Sitting down on the chair beside her desk, I put my books down in my lap and sighed.

"Ms. Yowane, are you in trouble?" I asked. She froze.

"What do you mean?" She asked, eyes darting around the room.

"D-Did you get in trouble because, you know...you're under the influence sometimes?"

Haku sighed. "Sort of," she said slowly, "I wish I didn't have this habit, you know."

"We all have our bad habits, miss."

She looked at me. "You know, I've made a promise to myself that I'll never drink on Fridays or Saturdays."

"That's good," I tried to smile.

"I haven't broken that promise in ten years," she continued, "But I guess it'd be better if my father wasn't so crazy for the stuff."

"Your...father was an alcoholic?"

She nodded. "Ruined the entire family, along with my life. I'm a slave to the stuff now, and now I've lost my job to it. Well, almost. I'll probably get formally fired at the end of the school year."

"But you're a good teacher!" I said, hugging my books to my chest, "They can't fire you!"

"I may be a good teacher, but I can't curb my drinking habits," she said solemnly, "And that's not good enough."

I scowled. "I want to help you," I said.

"Huh?" She took another sip of her coffee, "Help me do what, get fired?"

"No!" I shook my head, "I'm going to help you restrain your drinking habits! In fact, maybe we can get you to drop alcohol altogether!"

Ms. Yowane threw her head back and laughed. I froze in my seat.

"It's not that easy, breaking a habit," she said once she was done laughing, "And besides, it's too late."

"It's not too late!" I yelled, storming up, "You have to let me try! You want to keep your job, right? I know you like to teach, I can tell that you do, but that poison is just hindering you! It's taking away what you really love by pretending to be your lover!"

Haku was quiet. I sat back down quickly.

"Sorry," I said quietly.

"No, no, that's good," she shook her head, "You're very passionate, and you're persistent. If this was an oral evaluation, you'd get over ninety percent."

"So...," I wasn't sure what her final say would be.

"Okay, Oliver," she nodded, "Let's try to kick my drinking before the end of the year."

I don't want to say much, but, er, Oliver's parts aren't exactly filler material, if anyone is thinking that...OKAY I'VE SAID ENOUGH! There's too much stuff I need to hold back, and it's really hard to keep these things secret! *locks mouth and throws away the key*

//Done through sign language: See you next chapter!