The mind can forget... but the heart never!

Chapter 22

Shingo swung open her bedroom door. "Bunny! Mom has already woken you up three times now! Today is school again. If you don't get up, you'll be late again."

"Mmm..." Bunny grumbled back, rolling over to the other side. After a while, she blinked sleepily at her alarm clock. Suddenly, she jumped up and hurriedly rushed to the bathroom. "Why does no one ever wake me up!" she yelled downstairs while struggling with her school uniform.

She quickly grabbed her backpack and slipped on her shoes. Ikuko grinned from around the corner. "Bunny, you will never change. Here, don't forget your lunch."

Bunny grabbed the lunchbox, thanked her mother, and ran off. If she hurried, she might still make it on time. She didn't want to be late on the first day again. Just as she reached the school gate, the bell for class rang. Bunny accelerated on the last meters. She just had to make it to the classroom before Ms. Haruna. This year, everything was going to be different. She wanted to be punctual and get good grades.

Damn, the classroom door was already closed. Bunny cautiously opened it and peeked through the gap. Since she couldn't see Ms. Haruna, she slipped in and tiptoed to an empty seat next to Naru in the back row.

"Bunny, nice to see you. How were your holidays?" her friend greeted her.

"Quite good. And yours? By the way, is Ms. Haruna not here yet?"

"Yes, she just went to get the registration forms. You came at the right moment." Bunny felt relieved that no one had noticed she was late.

"What registration forms?" Bunny asked in surprise. She had only been a few minutes late.

"Oh, you didn't hear about it. Today we have a sports event, and we are supposed to form pairs."

"Alright, then we can team up," Bunny laughed, but then Naru started to hesitate. In that moment, Ms. Haruna returned.

"Well, I hope you've used the time wisely, and everyone has a partner. I will now read out the list, and you tell me whom I should write down as your partner."

"Naru." "I'll team up with Makoto," came Naru's voice from the front row. Naru looked at Bunny apologetically. She knew how bad Bunny was in sports, and Makoto was her best chance for a good evaluation.

"Amy." "I have Taiki as my partner," Amy's voice echoed from the first row. Taiki? Bunny's head shot up. This couldn't be true. From the back, she immediately spotted Taiki, Yaten, and Seiya. She slid down in her chair, with only her nose peeking over the table. Seiya, he was really everywhere.

"Bunny, what's wrong?" Naru whispered, observing Bunny's reaction.

"What are the three of them doing here?"

"Who?" Naru didn't understand what Bunny's problem was.

"Taiki and his brothers."

"They've been in our class since last year. Did you have any issues during the holidays?"

Bunny felt that familiar flutter in her stomach. He could have at least told her that they would see each other at school today.

"Bunny! Naru! Quiet back there. Yaten, who is your partner?" Ms. Haruna's stern voice silenced them. "I'm paired with Minako."

"That leaves us almost done. Seiya?"

"I don't think I have many choices left. I'll take Bunny."

Bunny had to swallow, did he just choose her as his partner? So much for keeping her distance. He must have done it on purpose.

Yaten and Taiki couldn't help but laugh.

"Seiya, are you sure? Don't you remember the softball disaster?" Taiki asked him skeptically.

Yaten burst out laughing again. "Let him be, his ambition is enough for both."

Seiya said nothing, just put on his self-satisfied grin and ignored the others.

"Hey! Will I also be asked? I don't want to team up with Seiya," Bunny protested loudly across the classroom. What did he think he was doing?! Deciding something like that without even asking her.

"Bunny, I'd be glad to find someone who voluntarily wants to be your partner. Well, that leaves only Umino and Ryo," Ms. Haruna's voice allowed no objections. "Alright, get changed, we'll meet on the sports field in 30 minutes."

As soon as Ms. Haruna left the classroom, Bunny rushed to the front to confront Seiya. He was sitting there relaxed, hands behind his head, and legs stretched out.

"What's wrong with you! What was that about? What part of keeping my distance didn't you understand?!" she snapped at him.

He couldn't help but grin, he had missed seeing her get angry like this. It was even kind of cute, how she always got worked up.

Then he stood up and leaned over to her. "If you don't like it, you can still switch with Ryo or Umino, but trust me, with me, your chances of doing well are much higher." His words echoed in her head. Umino and Ryo were just as bad at sports as she was. Seiya was at least well-trained; he had a point. She desperately needed good grades this year; it was her graduation year. This year was crucial. "Alright, I'm your partner. But only for today, for the sports grade," Bunny grumbled. Seiya winked at her over his shoulder.

"Then see you later, my darling."