𝓘𝓻𝓲𝓼 | ʜɪɢʜ & ʟᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀꜱᴛ

Chapter 5: An Alliance?

"It's okay. There's a guy named Zen at my work and a guy he knows messed up an order," Motoaki laughed, "A ton of food showed up! He asked if I knew anyone who would eat it so I figured I would give it to you guys."

The Oya High students cheered, thanking Motoaki for the food as Todoroki, Shibaman, and Tsuji showed up.

"Look at all you carefree knuckleheads eating yakisoba," Tsuji commented, smirking at them.

Kiko smiled as she crossed her legs, glancing at her sister who was already looking at her. The two shared a smile as they shook their heads in amusement.

"You guys want some?" Motoaki offered.

"We saw some Kama High guys on the bus this morning," Shibaman said, ignoring the male's offer of food.

"Kama High? Why would they be here?" Kiko questioned, frowning.

"They're on the other side of the mountain in Tendo, right?" Yasushi said. He stopped stuffing his mouth with soba noodles.

Nozomi frowned as she remembered the conversation with Tsukasa and Todoroki a few days ago. Also, the Senomon students lurked around the area from that time.

She glanced at Tsukasa as he nodded and gestured for her to stand up.

"I'll have some, Motoaki," Tsuji said as Tsukasa offered his seat and Nozomi's to him and Shibaman.

"You guys won't have any?" the male with cornrows asked.

"No, we're good," Nozomi replied and turned to her sister who had a questioning gaze. She shook her head and gave her an assuring smile.

Tsukasa held Nozomi's hand as he gently pulled her with him towards Todoroki who sat at the other side of the pool area.

"Why don't you take a break and have some, too?" Yasushi asked, "I'll cook for a while."

"No, it's fine. My stomach isn't that strong," Motoaki said, causing them to stop eating. Kiko glanced at them with a big grin on her face.

"Huh?"

"Ah, the noodles expired a long time ago," Motoaki stated, and as if on cue, the guys spit out the noodles in their mouths.

Kiko started to laugh loudly, "I knew it was kinda sus!"

"You gave us rotten noodles!" Yasushi shouted.

Meanwhile, Tsukasa and Nozomi joined Todoroki as they sat on the bench.

"First, Senomon, and now Kama High," Todoroki began.

"That's fishy," Nozomi muttered, "You think they're forming an alliance?"

The two males didn't respond as they both wonder the same thing.

—

The twins decided to go to a family restaurant with Erika, Kazuto, and Nao. Somehow, the five of them found themselves hanging out more often. Nao and Erika went to the same school together; they were acquainted. They just became closer when they found out they both knew the twins. As for Kazuto, he and Erika seem to get closer after what happened a few months ago.

When the twins arrived at the restaurant, they sat down on the vacant seat across from the trio. Nozomi greeted them with a smile while Kiko engaged in a conversation as they told the waiter about their order.

"Well, yeah. We hung out just a week ago," Nao said, referring to her and Yasushi's relationship.

"Just hanging out? Not a date?" Kiko questioned, raising an eyebrow.

Nao thought about it for a second. They never mentioned that word again so she doesn't know where their relationship stands now, "I don't know."

"Yasushi's a bit of an idiot. You need to ask him directly, Nao-chan," the older twin stated.

Kazuto and Erika chuckled, the former noticing the unusual quietness of the other twin. Nozomi was fiddling with her fingers, her eyes staring at the window of the establishment. Kazuto knew her mind was completely elsewhere.

"What's up with you, Nozomi?" the said girl was taken back to reality as she turned to the male who was frowning in concern.

The three girls stopped their conversation and turned to Nozomi who blushed in embarrassment.

"It's nothing," she muttered, smiling sheepishly.

"You're usually quiet but not like this," Kazuto stated, knowing there was something in her mind.

"You okay?" Kiko questioned, looking concerned for her twin.

Nozomi slowly nodded, contemplating if she will tell them about the Oya High issue. It's not like they were new to it, anyway.

"I think other schools in SWORD are ganging up on Oya High since Murayama stepped down," she told them.

The four glanced at each other curiously and then turned to the younger twin.

"How do you know?"

The girl cleared her throat, "It's just a thought. I noticed Senomon lurking around the area," she turned to her sister, "Then, earlier, Todoroki and the others said that they also found Kama High students."

"Aren't they too far from here?" Nao asked, frowning.

"Yeah, that's what we thought. It's unusual," Nozomi replied.

"It's probably nothing," Erika said, shrugging, "I mean, it's normal that they brawl with other schools, right?"

"But they never start a fight without a reason," Kiko replied and bit her lower lip in thought, "This is suspicious, though. How do you know about this, Zomi?"

"I was talking to Todorok and Tsukasa earlier," the younger twin replied.

Kiko frowned, "So Fujio doesn't know?"

"Probably," Nozomi shrugged, "They don't want to make a big deal out of it. Well, not yet."

Kazuto glanced at the twins, sighing as he realize something, "Don't tell me you two are going to join when Oya High fights?"

"No!" the twins exclaimed, vigorously shaking their heads.

"It's not our fight," Kiko told them, "But when things turn for the worst..."

"You two, seriously..." Kazuto let out a tired sigh, shutting his eyes closed for a moment.

"We're gonna be fine, Kazu," Nozomi said in a gentle and assuring tone. The male looked straight into her eyes and he knew she was sincere.

Erika and Nao glanced at each other, they were also not convinced by the twins. However, they have no choice but to believe them, anyway.

---

Hello, everyone! How're you all? I was still writing the draft for the act three and doing it slowly since the school started already. So, my updates might go slower than before.