The rain's let up, and it's a nice morning. The rainy season's about to end, and it's hot and muggy, although it's still 7 in the morning. It's almost summer for real. I'm glad I was born into privilege allowed to be driven to school. I know from my past life, how hellish the train during the commuting rush was. The air conditioning could barely be felt between the hot air that rushes in every time the doors open, and the body heat from the passengers. And how disgusting was it when we were crammed next to each other…!
We'd already be sweating from the walk to the station when we entered the sauna during rush hour. I'd be tired every morning. Being away from the packed train and so used to the air conditioning in the car, I could never go back to that train. I didn't run into any traffic this morning, so there aren't many students here, yet.
I was wondering what to do if none of my friends were here, yet, when I saw a familiar back in the hall. Isn't that Akizawa-kun? Prey discovered.
"Akizawa-kun, Akizawa-kun." He jumped at my voice and looked around. "Over here, Akizawa-kun," I called from behind a column.
"You surprised me. What's wrong, Kisshouin-san?" he said as he approached. I grabbed his arm and pulled him off to the edge of the hall.
"Gokigen yoh, Akizawa-kun."
"Huh? Uh, yeah. Good… morning?"
"You're here early."
"I had morning practice…"
"I see," I nodded. Akizawa-kun had been in track ever since junior high. "By the way, Akizawa-kun. Sakura-chan told me, but what is this noble's procession?"
"Huh?" When I last met Sakura-chan, she told me that Akizawa-kun said that it was like a noble's procession every time I walked the halls in Zuiran. I wouldn't forget.
"You're horrible. I trusted you, and you were talking behind my back."
"Behind you back? I didn't mean it that way! Sakurako just asked me what life was like at Zuiran, and when your name came up, I just explained what it looked like normally…" Wouldn't a noble's procession not be normal?
"Oh. Akizawa-kun may have been joking, but someone who doesn't know may take it seriously."
"Huh? Joking?"
It's true that when I walk with my friends, that others make way, but calling that a noble's procession is going too far. Every so often, those who don't notice are cautioned? warned? a little by Serika-chan and the girls, but that doesn't happen very often. It's otherwise peaceful.
"Please correct that with Sakura-chan. That it was a joke, and not to misunderstand."
"Misunderstand…?"
"Isn't it?"
"Umm…."
"A-ki-za-wa-ku-n?"
"…All right." He doesn't look convinced.
"I'm counting on you," I add. Really. I'm counting on you. "To give the right of way in the hall. Basic manners."
"I don't think that sticking fast to the wall is necessary."
"A-ki-za-wa-ku-n?"
"The Pivoine, there. Acts of intimidation against students will not be tolerated."
Acts of intimidation!? I turned around to find Fellow Stalking Horse looking a bit shocked.
"How rude, calling that intimidation. We were speaking normally. How could you call that intimidation?"
"When you stand up dauntingly over a student, it can only look like bullying." What!? How insulting!
"Akizawa-kun! Tell him, Akizawa-kun. You weren't being bullied, were you?"
"Akizawa, you can tell the truth."
Surrounded by us, Akizawa-kun sighed, putting his hand on his head. "It's as Kisshouin-san says. We were just talking." Good!
"Okay," backed down Fellow Stalking Horse.
"Oh? That's it?"
"Mizusaki was kidding. He was messing with you, Kisshouin-san." A joke?! That was hard to tell. Boy's jokes are hard to tell, like Akizawa-kun's noble's procession!
"I thought you were serious."
"Well, I was partly, from that appearance. But you're friends with Akizawa, right? You went to the same cram school, was it?"
"Huh? How did you know?" And you really thought that I was bullying Akizawa-kun, even in part?!
"Akizawa told me before." Again!
"Akizawa-kun, do you always talk about me?"
"Not really. Besides, I don't say anything bad."
"Yeah. It wasn't bad. He said you were nice."
"Oh, but it's behind my back. Isn't that basically bad?"
"Your perspective is twisted…" Akizawa-kun laughed while Fellow Stalking Horse sighed. "That reminds me. Did you do what I asked?"
"About what?"
"To thank your president."
"Oh, I forgot."
"Hey!" Now that he mentioned it, he did. Sorry. I forgot.
"Thank?" asked Akizawa-kun and Fellow Stalking Horse explained.
"Ugh… I thought that you'd already have done it."
"Sorry. But, he doesn't really listen to others, so he'd soon forget even if I told him." Especially recently, now that Kaburagi's thinking about love.
"Can you really say that?"
"Oh, no. It slipped out. Please keep that to yourselves. Just the three of us."
"Talking behind people's back really is bad…"
Whoops. Better be careful. I've relaxed recently. I can't insult Kaburagi in front of people, I need to keep those only in my mind.
"I'm trusting to two of you."
"I won't say it."
"Yes. You don't need to worry."
"Yes, I believe you, of course. But if it does get out, it would be one of you."
"…I said I wouldn't say it."
"You can say anything, so should I draw up a legal document?"
"You don't trust us at all!" That's not true. I trust you. But just in case. Let's have proof.
As I raised a racket with Fellow Stalking Horse, "What are you doing there?"
"Huh?" This voice…! Please be someone else, I prayed but it was in vain. Heading this way down the hall with a harsh expression was Kaburagi, who we were talking about. GYAA!
When did he come!? What did he hear!?
"Kisshouin."
"Gokigen yoh, Kaburagi-sama. You're early this morning. I take it you didn't hit any traffic like me." I smile at him, but he looks suspicious and remains silent. Sweat trickles down, thinking he heard my insult. It's about time students arrive. What was I doing talking in the hall like this!?
Kaburagi grabbed my arm and drew me to him. "What were you talking about?"
"What? Nothing much…. Right?"
"Yeah." I looked at Fellow Stalking Horse and Akizawa-kun. Don't you dare say anything.
"Why hide it. Something shameful?" Plenty shameful. Kaburagi unleashes an intimidating aura. Ugh… my stomach…
I glance at Akizawa-kun sidelong, and he's standing there normally. Wow… in this situation? Maybe he's actually a big shot.
I start to think about Sakura-chan. When she was little, she visited her childhood friend whom she loved on holidays and to the cram school, so she's not much different from Kaburagi in how forceful she is.
Aside from cram school, she went to cheer him on at track, and intimidated others with her presence at the school festival… Unlike Kaburagi, Sakura-chan lets Akizawa-kun know that she's coming, but if she makes one false step, is she a stalker…?
No, no, no! There's no way. Sakura-chan's love is pure! If Sakura-chan found out that I thought of her as a stalker for even an instant, what would she do to me…?!
"I'll ask one more time. Kisshouin, what happened?" I fled from reality by thinking about the pure love between Akizawa-kun and Sakura-chan, until Kaburagi dragged me back. His voice is lower than usual. Did he hear my insults? But I can't admit it. Those two swore that they wouldn't tell. We'll get through this, Reika!
Kaburagi turned to Fellow Stalking Horse. "What do you want with Kisshouin, Mizusaki?" Huh? Fellow Stalking Horse?! Kaburagi's harsh gaze was directed at Fellow Stalking Horse instead of me, who insulted him. "This is a Pivoine member. If you have a problem with her, say it to me."
Huh…? Did he think that the student council that opposes the Pivoine was attacking me!? I guess it could have looked like that. Did Kaburagi come to save me? Huh!? Now that I think about it, he's positioned himself between me and Fellow Stalking Horse…
I quickly broke up the misunderstanding. "Kaburagi-sama. Mizusaki-kun merely asked me to thank you."
"Thank…?" Kaburagi squinted, not understanding.
"That incident, the other day. Right, Akizawa-kun."
"Yes," nodded Akizawa-kun.
And Fellow Stalking Horse continued, "I'm grateful that you settled the commotion the other day."
"There's nothing for you to thank me about." Shot down. Just accept it. He thanked you, but he's miffed, being cut down like that. Feels bad…
Students are arriving, shouldn't we end this? As if he read my mind, Fellow Stalking Horse left after saying, "Well, that's all, then." And "Hello, Takamichi."
"Oh, Mizusaki-kun, hello." He walked up to Wakaba-chan coming up the stairs and got next to her. "It's hot again today. I tried to avoid the rush by shifting my time, but it did no good. I'm thinking about buying a mini-fan to hold."
"As if a toy would work."
"Really? But using a folding fan on myself is tiring."
"You plan on using it as you walk?"
"Yes."
"You'll stand out, so don't."
"Eh!"
Wow, they seem to get along.
"…" I turn around in trepidation and Ugh! The fool is incensed seeing his rival in love!
"Kisshouin, let's go." A pissed off Kaburagi motioned me with his chin. Hey! You're treating me like an underling!
I follow, not being brave enough to resist, and Akizawa-kun says, "See you later." He could have come with us…
"Why would Mizusaki ask you to pass that message?"
"We work together at times as the student council president and a class representative," I answer as we are greeted by a line of smiling faces by the wall. In truth, very early in the morning we cleaned up and looked for a vandal. Oh, one more thing. "Kaburagi-sama, thank you for worrying about me, and coming to save me." Though it was completely unnecessary.
"Humph…"
With legs that were 20cm longer than mine, he left me in the dust.