"Nice kill! Pass!"

The shoes squeaking by the gym floor awoken her up from her short nap.The yellings of The demon coach is the cherry on top.

Atsuka pulled her grey hoodie down below her nose--head appearing beyond the bleacher's covered railings, indigo glistening orbs watching back the game in awe.

Watching her cousin in awe.

"Goodjob , Goshiki!!" Yamagata ruffled his head as the bowl cut heaf chuckled , eyes literally sparkling before earning a rolling eyes from Shirabu.

I wish it was me.

Who's there to ruffle him , i mean.

Right then and there , Semi Eita noticed her hood striking amongs the bleachers chairs , ash orbs staring stright to her soul.

"Dammit you , Semi...and your inhuman mother instinct..!" Atsuka quietly disgruntled , pulling herself to stumble backwards so she could disappear behind the covered railings before Semi called Washijo Coach or Ushijima or point her out.

Clank.

Atsuka widened her eyes as she turned to the source of noise behind her , to the opened door to the main school building.

A pair of eyes watched from the gap of the door hinges.

The girl with glasses gasped and ran away , hugging the books by her chest and dissapeared before Atsuka even reach the doorframe and slammed it open.

"Shit."

That girl was the one whose book i stepped on.

▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎
🥀T.E.W.D.S.🥀

Chapter 8

▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎☆▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎☆▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎☆▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎

"Good morning , Akatani-san !" Kosaki appeared by the classroom doorframe , waving a cafe magazine.Taking her dash towards the gloomy Atsuka , Kosaki pulled the chair in front of her and spin it to face Atsuka."Look at this cafe! It's amazing , they have unique variants of flavors on their menu!"

The other classmates silently frowned , pitying the cheerful girl as her rant totally seems to deflect from the girl who radiates darker vibe today.

Atsuka stares at the girl in front of her wih unamused glare , fingers covering her mouth as she raised an eyebrow.

"Done now..? Then leave." Atsuka harshly conveyed , pulling out her phone fron her pocket and scrolled down her feed.

Kosaki seemed to not take the hint as to how she remained still on the backward seat , pointing out whatever cafe menu on the magazine.

"Well , I'm not done yet! So here again , they have pumpkin mint?! Imagine the flavor! The sweetness and the cold sensation , wouldn't that be great?! Then--"

Atsuka had to restrain from rolling her eyes , gaze boring to the sight of the twintail styled girl excitedly looking down to the magazine.

Tell me how she got to this point again?

Yeah , Kosaki Maru has been following her since.Whether in class , canteen , library and yard...except that Kosaki were never able to find Atsuka there , so she always ran back somewhere else to look for her.

And then she would arrive at class latest as possible, so the latter wouldn't have time to speak before lessons.

This has happened for around 2 weeks.

"Oh..look , they also have melon shaved ice !"

It annoys Atsuka how her gaze instantly casted down to the pointed cafe magazine page , eyes glimmering over the picture of the melon shaved ice.

Melon is her favorite.

"Eh ? Akatani-san? You're interested in this melon shaved ice?" Kosaku widened her eyes , lifting her gaze upwards as she caught the earlier shift of gaze beyond her peripheral vision.

Atsuka made a wrong move , shifting her gaze elsewhere beside Kosaki's face.Kosaki's eyes gleamed up immediately in response.

Shit.

"Could it be it's your favorite dessert?! Melon shaved ice?! Let's go get them after school!!" Kosaki abruptly stood up , closing her magazine in a hurried slap and spun the chair back to the coordinated place.She sent a wave and hurried to her seat as the homeroom teacher opened the door , everyone in the class either ran back to their seat at the teacher's presence or gawk over what they just heard about Atsuka.

The creepy malicious Atsuka's favorite is melon shaved ice?!

"Oi! Sit down!"

While the other settled down , Atsuka sighed and slumped to her desk.

Stupid Kosaki, now the whole class knew..Why is she yelling it anyway..?!

●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

The glass door of the library opened in such force that the creaking sound alarmed the people in the library.

Atsuka's gaze lingered on the seats , finding some students deeply were in tact with the books , and caught them staring at her before some--franticly packing their books.

It's an nonwritten rules of Shiratorizawa Academy students that if you find or saw Akatani Atsuka appearing at a public place like library , canteen , auditorium , or studying room , she's about to confront and throw hands at somebody.

Or to make it simple and short-- RUN.

Ah fuck , it's almost the exam week , of course they will be more people in library.

With no further do , Atsuka lifted an arms as an apology motion before striding to Satou , who seemed to be frowning over a piece of paper.

What weirded Atsuka out was , how Satou quickly snatched the paper in two and tore it into smaller pieces , dumping them to the trashcan.

"Satou-san?"

Satou flinched , almost dropping the pen and stacks of paper she was about to move somewhere.The library seemed pretty clean today , given that Satou seemed to have finished repairing documents and putting books away these weeks.

"Hello Acchan! Sorry , i forgot to remind you , there are some students here," Satou apologized , telling Atsuka to sit at the usual place.As Satou turned to the tables , the students seemed to stay there , gaze widened in suprise as they looked over to Atsuka."Wait , Acchan , what did you do? They usually just ran out from library when they saw you.."

Atsuka raised an eyebrow.

"I just excused myself? You know , this," Atsuka muttered , doing the apologetic manner of motion she did.

Satou widened her eyes in suprise , approaching Atsuka by the counter as she drop back the file on it.

"Wait , really? Wow , you never did that! You always just glare or ignore people..Are you trying to change?" Satou gasped , quickly grabbing the nearest stool and sat facing Atsuka who confusedly munched on her chicken katsu.

Atsuka pondered , gaze floating away with warmly seeping sunlight by the window as the first attractor , recalling her behavior these past years.

I'm not being myself anymore , aren't i?

"No , i don't. I'm just in a good mood," Atsuka excused , Satou sweatdropped as she saw no change of expression by the earlier statement."Yeah ,but your face says otherwise..."

Atsuka gazes to Satou , then to her lunch.To the students who secretly sneak a peek on her and to the huge book shelves richly filled by books.

"I have a good and bad mood.First , i found a cafe with authentic taste.They have melon shaved ice," Atsuka gulped before replying , Satou happily listened with her motherly smile."And second," Atsuka took another bite of katsu gently.

"The bad mood is, that people are starting to creepily staring at me lately,"

Satou blinked several times.

"Not on my watch," she rolled her sleeves jokingly.

"No no no no , hear me out , will you Satou-san?" Atsuka flinched and held Satou down on her seat , even though she knew she was just joking around."You know how i watch Tsutomu's practice , right? Some members are starting to manifest a habit to know when i come and start to watch Goshiki like a freak," Atsuka slurped on her smoothie.

Satou rolled her eyes.

"Well they are not wrong."

Atsuka stared with a deadpan expression, before rolling her eyes as well with a chuckle.

"Then , the jumpy girl always look for me everywhere, like--do i look like some free Mcdonalx kids meal or something?" Atsuka groaned, slowly finishing her lunch as Satou laughed.

"Then that one old janitor by the first floor.Whenever i pass , he always stare at me undescribably.Like he planned some shit," Atsuka closed her lunch box , setting it aside as Satou calmed down from her laugh."He looked like he want to talk to me , but then , although i hate to admit it-- Kosaki always appears right in time and called me / take me away," Atsuka folded her arms.

Satou raised an eyebrow.

"Hikizono-san?" Satou recalled."He seems like a creepy one , but he's nice you know.He often helped me carry book crates upstairs, and he's pretty observant, " Satou chuckled.

That observant part is disturbing me...

"Oh right , i see you got yourself a friend at the yard last week? I forgot to mention that," Satou sheepishly grinned , while Atsuka knitted her eyebrows together.

"...what?"

Satou groaned.

"You know , the guy with ash hair and black tips , saw you two talking a bit last week,"

Atsuka flinched , recalling back to the incident a week ago.

「 "Fuck." Atsuka muttered to herself as realization dawned on her , her earlier will to immediately jump down for the tree discarded that moment.

But she has to go down now.

"Close your eyes," that came out more than a hissing threat , but effective and understandable looking from how Semi quickly looked down , hand harbouring by his forehead covering his sight from below.

Atsuka groaned and jumped down , landing in a perfect stance with her lunchbox gripped on her right hand.

She uncomfortably looked back to the fellow third year , who slowly pulled his arm down and bowed slightly with a gaze lazily meeting Atsuka's eyes.

"I-I'm sorry , i didn't mean t-to--"
"I know." Atsuka cut quickly, staring at him with a poker face.

Semi Eita , a fellow third year in the same volleyball team as Goshiki but currently , is not a regular.Setter and a pinch server.

The blush across his face didn't fade away , but he had this gritted teeth and a frown to cover it.

"Could you be careful next time? That's innapropriate," Semi started somehow , scolding, his arms on his sides.

Atsuka couldn't care less , turning to her heels to head to class , given how the bell had rang and she doesn't want to be late again.

"Oy! Don't ignore people when they talk!" Semi hissed , starting to chase after her.

The audacity.

Atsuka turned to face him suddenly and caught him offguard , before leaning to his face with a scoff.

"Oh please , save that for someone who cares.Definitely not me , because I'm trying not to be late to class , not like you.Goodbye , and here's a fucking apology so please stop mothering and bothering me," Atsuka pulled out a milk bread from her pocket which she actually saved for afterschool , taking Semis hand in hers and put the bread on his palm , before closing it with his other hand and left.

He stood there with a bread in his palms , like a statue at the quiet yard as the corridor starting to lose noises.

Took him a second to recover before cussing silently and ran to whatever direction his class is to.

Atsuka managed to get to class in time.

Semi didn't. 」

Atsuka ended the short flashback , a sigh leaving her lips as she got the urge to delete the embarassing memory.

Satou flinched.

"Judging by your face...he's not a friend?" She awkwardly stood up again , moving the paperworks aside.Once again , her gaze met with a piece of paper slipped in the paperworks , and she tore it quickly and dumped it to the trashbin.

"No.." Atsuka squinted her eyes.

"What is that?"

Satou flinched , taking the papers with her.

"Just some random notes student left slipping book pages after lending , sometimes stray and really random," Satou laughed , striding directly to the further shelves of books.

Atsuka stared at the pieces of torn noted by the trashbin.

Sounds like a pain in the ass to check each books and collect them..

●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

"The fuck."

Atsuka's will to turn back to class rocketed when she saw the ash haired fellow who clashed with her last week appeared at the same bench , same place , same spot , eating his fried chicken.

But walking back to class and staying there is troublesome..

Atsuka groaned at the thought of Kosaki , greeting her again by the classroom doorframe.

Nuh uh.

Not today.

Semi busily looked to the volleyball team club regulars group chat , unnoticing the coming footsteps from his left.

CROAK CROAK MOFOS
( 8 members )

Chicken Nuggie

Semisemi , where u at ?
ψ( ' ∇ ' )ψ
Are u hiding from meee?
10.02

Semi Eita

Hell yeah i fucking am.
10.02

Chicken Nuggie

(⊙_⊙)
Semi semi , we have Tsutomu boy here!
10.03

Next ACE☆☆

Yeah yeah!
But then why?
10.03

Benkei Mom

Tendou , are you chasing Semi again?
Also , who changed my name again?

:)
10.04

Chicken Nuggie

I oop--
10.04

Chicken Nuggie changed Benkei Mom 's name to Oh-Hi-Ra Reon!

Oh-Hi-Ra Reon!

At least better.
But Author will be struggling to remember my username , Tendou.
10.04

Yagami Yato >:D

LMAO THE 4TH WALL 💀
10.05

Semi Eita

What.
10.05

Atsuka quietly went behind the tree , hanging her bag of plastic on one of the upper branch before hopping to the lowest branch , climbing up easily afterwards.Her gaze curiously peaked to Semi's phone screen , currently chatting.

Whatever then.

Atsuka sighed contently as she wriggled , looking for comfortable position.She started unwrapping her lunch , munching silently while her eyes actively observing around.

Chicken Nuggie changed Semi Eita 's name to Se-Mom Eita.

Se-Mom Eita

W h a t
10.06

Yagami Yato >:D

Everything in this group chat is an entire circus.
10.06

Cow man.

This groupchat is for volleyball club , not a circus? I don't see any resemblance or circus properties or participants , Yamagata.
10.06

Next ACE☆☆

is
..

Is cow man
10.07

Chicken Nuggie

Yeah , it's Wakatoshi , now you can rate the username i made for him!
ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ
10.07

Shirabu
Replying to Next ACE☆☆

How about you check your own username first.
10.07

Yagami Yato >:D

LMFAO COW MAN I- 💀
10.07

Cow man

And what are you chasing Semi for Tendou? Is Semi doing something bad?
10.07

Se-Mom Eita

I didn't do anything , HE TRIED TO DO SOMETHING AT ME
10.08

Shirabu

Chile , grandma.
10.08

Se-Mom Eita

Fucker.
10.08

Yagami Yato >:D

Let's fucking watch our language, okay?
10.08

Taichi-pole

But your language--
10.09

Yagami Yato >:D

Ever heard of sarcasm?
10.09

Shirabu.

10.09

Taichi-pole

Yes but i don't think it works that way.

Also , i saw Semi-san sitting alone at the back yard when i passed the back corridor earlier.

@Chicken Nuggie do what it needs to be done , I'm waiting for the result.
10.09

Se-Mom Eita

KAWANISHI

Aight bye 🏃‍♂️
10.10

Chicken Nuggie

IM COMING SEMI DARLING
10.10

Oh-Hi-Ra Reon!

What is actually happening.
10.10

Taichi-pole

I'm paying Tendou-san to make Semi-san wear maid dress at school.
10.10

Shirabu.

For once i like where this is going.
10.11

Taichi-pole

Fuck it , I'm coming to corner Semi-san too.
10.11

Atsuka heard a loud cussing down below , noticing how the fellow third year stood up from his seat , packing his lunch in hurry.

The bell hasn't rang yet , right? Or did i drown too deep in my daydream to hear?

"SEMISEMIIIIIIII!!!!"

Booming voice echoed from the nearest corridor , and both Semi and Atsuka immediately recognize the owner of the voice.Her head snapped to Semi , who held terrified gaze as he looked around , finding something.

Her mind clicked.

"Ooooooooi , Semi-saaaaaan," another voice resonated from the other corridor path , and Semi sweats coldly.

Both the voice owners hasn't spotted him yet , both walking to the end of corridor where the sun starts meeting the cold ground and revealing the sight of the quiet back yard.

Atsuka sighed at the pathetic sight as Semi almost considered jumping to the pricky bushes.

Not my fucking business.

●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

"Semiii? Semisemi??! Where are you?" Tendou finally walked out of the corridor , almost at the same time as Kawanishi Taichi , the second year blocker at the other corridor.

Seems like all this time's volleyball practice watching paid enough to memorize the players names and positions.

"Hmm? Semi-san's not here?" Kawanishi groaned , lowering down his stance."I swear i saw him earlier,"

Tendou and Kawanishi explored the bushy yard and greenhouse , with a hanger of maid dress in Tendou's grip.

I think i understand what they're trying to do to Semi...

"These bushes are pricky , i don't think Semisemi jumped in here," Tendou pouted , sighing dramaticly as he scurried out of the bushy yard.

Atsuka rolled her eyes , glancing at the searched third year behind her who hid at the blind spot part of the tree , up on the strongest branch surrounded by lush leaves which doesn't get any sunlight.

Well this dumbass almost actually threw himself in there.

He replied her glare with a gulp and a stubborn glare back , even though he was supposed to thank her.

Atsuka had put aside her lunch and pulled , morelike rudely--pulling the male up to the tree before he could even decline or say anything before Tendou and Kawanishi appeared.

Why did i do that again..?

The thoughts of Goshiki and Kosaki haunted her mind.

Yeah , because i got myself chased often by them so i somehow--pitied him...

Atsuka shook her head.

Her gaze were taken to the library window , the same hairlocks that belong to the girl who peaked on her silently watching volleyball practice this morning swayed near the window , to the counter part where students usually write down in book of presences in library.

She's bugging me , for real.

Well everyone do bug me at this point , but she's always seen at the library evertime i was not there.

And there's Satou in the library , she's been acting strange lately too--

"Oh! Akatani Atsuka!"

Atsuka's glare at the library window snapped and broke to pieces when Tendou's yell reached her ears.

Kawanishi seemed to flinch at the mention of name and the spot of Atsuka up on the tree.

"..what." Atsuka showed her usual annoyed glance.

Tendou laughed. "what's with the pissy face?!" While Kawanishi shrunk under Atsuka's mild glare."Anyway , did you happen to see Semisemi?"

Atsuka raised an eyebrow as she drink her melon juice box , gaze straight forward to the distance without bothering to look.

"Who the hell is Semisemi,"

Tendou shrugged.

"I thought you'll know pretty well given how diligent you watch our practice match everyday," his pout lopsided to a smug smirk , while Atsuka internally gawked and flinched.

How did he?!

Semi , behind the lush leaves , seemed to be suprised too.

"I'm not in mood for your jokes , Tendou.The semisemi guy you're probably looking for ran like an insane person to that way before you appeared and ruin my lunch time," Atsuka rolled her eyes and pointed to the path where the Kawanishi guy came from earlier.

"Okay okaaaay," Tendou sing sang , and motioned Kawanishi to follow him.They both dissapeared from sight in a minute , before Semi let out a long exhale.

Riiiiiiiiiiiing!!!

Perfect , i don't wanna be here any longer.

Without saying anything , Atsuka crumpled the wrapping plastic in her blazer pocket and prepared to jump down--after looking around in alert of course--and strides reluctantly to the nearest trashbin to put away her plastics.

Semi flinched.

"Hey , oy , wait!"

But before he could jump down and chase her , she already dissapeared behind the corridor wall.

"What the hell...sometimes she's weird and sassy as hell , then she switched to a lil saint and changed back?" Semi muttered incoherent noises.

"What the hell, i don't get her!!!"

And as Semi stomped out of the yard through the same corridor to the school , a pair of eyes gazes at him eeriely from the library.

"Semi Eita , Tendou Satori , and Kawanishi Taichi huh?"

the person's hand reached to their pocket , fishing out their phones and called with their deep voice.

"Find about these names i sent you.I want the result this night,"

"..yes boss."

●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

I-- wow.

This is the longest chapter I've written in this book so far , isn't it?

Hehe☆

I'm kinda satisfied with my writing this chapter :D

See ya next chapter!
☆Kuu☆