Yuna had skipped her morning bath to avoid her sister. She had quickly slipped into her school uniform, had done her hair and then left the pension hastily. Even Wataru was avoided by her because she couldn't tell him that her oni could control her. Absent, she made her way to school.
When she reached the schoolyard, only few students were present. She went to the same place where she had been waiting for Hikari and sat down.
My life is a nightmare.
She scanned the yard until she noticed Rin Masatada chatting with two other girls from Kendo training.
Right. I wanted to go back to Kendo training.
As she pondered the feasibility of this endeavor, the eyeglass wearer came over to her. "Morning, Yuna-chan."
The blue-haired wrestled for a smile. "Morning, Rin-chan."
"Unusual to see you here so early."
They went to middle-school together, where Rin had been the captain of their team last year. She had something stoic and insurmountable about her, which gave her a huge advantage in Kendo. Rin put away her opponent's blows without batting an eye and won practically every fight, as she simply didn't make mistakes and never gave points to her opponents. She was immediately asked to join the Kendo team at this school, which was highly unusual for first-year students. Yuna, on the other hand, barely qualified for the team because she was not a strong-willed fighter. And at High School West, she couldn't qualify for the Kendo team. But now with her power she might be able to change that.
"Yes. I had stress and just wanted to get away," the taller girl admitted.
"With the boyfriend?" Rin smiled knowingly.
Immediately, the blue-haired girl replied, "I have no boyfriend."
"I see." The eyeglass wearer pulled out her cell phone and tapped on it. "Will you come back to Kendo training?"
"I'm thinking about it. I just don't know if I have enough time."
"No pressure, okay?" Rin gave her a warm smile. "When you're ready, I'm looking forward to train with you. I like your quiet style. You are hard to read."
"Thanks." The Masuda girl had to smile.
"I've noticed how distracted and absentminded you've been lately. Especially before the school holidays. I figured it might help if you had something that kept you busy. Also because of ... you know."
Understanding, Yuna nodded. "Monday, Wednesday and Friday?"
"Yes."
The taller one frowned. "Why do you expect me to have a boyfriend?"
"Gorou-kun had mentioned something once. And yesterday Wataru Shimada was here and met a girl from this school." Rin raised an eyebrow. "And I don't mean Sasaki-senpai."
A deep sigh came from her interlocutor. "Nisha told you?"
"I asked her, and she didn't deny it," the Kendo fighter corrected.
With her red eye, the blue-haired girl looked at the other girl. "Can you keep a secret for yourself?"
"Sure. Even if it's quite the news." Rin looked across the yard. "You go out with Wataru Shimada! A real rock star!"
Embarrassed grinning, Yuna waved off. "That's not so wild. He's a normal boy."
"Now ..."
"Now?" the taller one asked.
"Yes, sure. Wakamino has great potential. Supposedly even talent scouts were at their shows. Once they are discovered and get started, they will be real stars."
"I knew nothing about that," Yuna admitted.
"I don't want to boast, but I know Sasaki-senpai. She lives in my neighborhood." The glasses wearer grimaced. "Although ... you're with Shimada-san. I believe you are ahead of me."
"Don't say that all the time. At some point someone else hears you," hissed the blue-haired.
"What? They all stalk around like zombies." Rin laughed calmly. "Now I understand why you rejected Gorou. I had to console the poor guy."
Yuna grimaced. "You've been friends since childhood, right?"
"Yes. He's like a little, dorky brother to me."
Amused, the other girl snorted. "No love interest?"
Giggling, the eyeglass wearer raised her hand over her mouth. "Oh please. I'm interested in the team captain of the men's team."
"Very ambitious."
"I want to be at the top. Maybe I'll even go to the police to train and fight in the World Cup."
Amazed, Yuna blinked. "You really have to love Kendo very much."
"It's a family thing. My parents were both successful fighters. Fighting is in my blood, you know, Yuna-chan?"
Almost the blue-haired had to laugh, but she could pull herself together. Since training with Yoshiro and battling the oni, she knew that Kendo had nothing to do with a real fight, but she didn't want to rob her friend of the illusion, so she agreed with a nod.
"I'll drop by tomorrow," Yuna suggested.
"Cool."
"Excuse me, Masuda-san?" a girl asked, approaching them.
Rin and her classmate looked at the newcomer. The girl wore the same school uniform as both of them. The dark brown hair was styled into a bob. In her hand she held a notebook and a pen. With her dark brown eyes, she absorbed all the details of her interlocutors.
"My name is Anzu Mononobe. I'm a reporter from our school newspaper blog."
"Hello, Mononobe-san," the others greeted her.
"Um ... can I ask you a few questions, Masuda-san?"
Immediately, Rin built up protectively in front of her friend. "I don't think so."
"It's alright, Rin-chan. What do you want to know, Mononobe-san?"
Smiling, the reporter stroked her hair behind her ear. "May I sit?"
"Sure." Yuna offered her the seat next to her, so Rin stepped back slightly.
"All sorts of things happened to you in the past six months." The blue-haired girl nodded carefully. "I must confess that I admire you very much, Masuda-san."
"How come?"
Anzu became embarrassed. "Well ... what happened to your family. That was so tragic, but you never let yourself become a victim. You have always been strong. I admire that deeply."
The glasses wearer cleared her throat. "I don't think she wants to talk about that, Mononobe-san."
"Oh ... of course. Actually, I also wanted to know something else. We thought long and hard about interviewing you about the incident, but it seemed intrusive, so we decided to stay away," the reporter admitted.
Helpless, Yuna shrugged. "It's an extraordinary situation. So it's understandable that people are curious."
"Do you mean your family?" the girl with the dark brown hairs pursued.
"What else?"
Blushing, Anzu chuckled. "Well, there seems to be a lot of extraordinary things about you."
Alarmed, the blue-haired girl pricked her ears. "What do you mean? What did you want to ask me?"
Rin stepped closer and pushed between the other girls. "I think this interview is over."
Intimidated, the reporter backed away. "So ... um ..."
"What did you want to ask me, Mononobe-san?" Yuna demanded.
"Are you going out with Wataru Shimada, the singer of Wakamino?"
Surprised, the tallest girl opened her mouth. How could that have gotten around? She had made sure that no one noticed anything. She didn't know if Hikari read the school newspaper blog, but if anyone from the Wakamino fan blog did, he'd link that message immediately. And then her best friend would know.
She glanced at her classmate, who grimaced and shrugged. "Um ... I ..." Yuna stammered.
"No comment," Rin interjected.
The Masuda girl looked at her and then nodded quickly. "I agree."
Anzu Mononobe smiled gently. "You realize this is a confession, right?" She scribbled a few words on her pad.
"Are you a newspaper or a tabloid? Shouldn't you research your articles?" With eyes narrowed, the glasses wearer stared at the reporter.
"Oh ... we have several rubrics. If I can't confirm it, we'll bring it in the rumors." She looked at Yuna again. "You have to admit that this story is pure gold. A girl who has never been noticed falls victim to a tragic accident. Her whole life seems to be completely devastated, but then she fights back and falls in love with one of the city's most desirable young men. It's like one of those ridiculous romance novels."
"You're not allowed to bring any stories about people," Rin claimed.
"That's called freedom of press."
The blue-haired girl inhaled audibly. "Listen, Mononobe-san. At the moment I would prefer, if no one would know. I have to get even with that myself. Will you do me this favor?"
The reporter smiled wryly at her. "I'm sorry, but I can't ignore such a story. Can you imagine how good this will be in my CV? All that's missing is some dark secret that could be uncovered."
"I ask you once more politely not to bring the article, Anzu Mononobe-san," said Yuna energetic.
"Yuna-chan. She can't do anything to you," Rin claimed.
"I'm sorry, Masuda-san. I can't do that."
The blue-haired's hand shot up and grabbed Anzu by the collar of her top. She pulled the reporter in front of her, who dropped her writing utensils to the floor in horror and stared at her with dilated eyes. Yuna's left eye glared threateningly.
"If you bring this story, you will regret it, got it?" She noted with satisfaction that the other girl was shaking. Even Rin had flinched, as she had never expected such a reaction. "Do you understand me, Anzu?"
The girl nodded so strong that her dark brown hair disheveled. "Y-Yes."
"What will you do?"
"I-I will not bring the story."
Yuna bared her teeth. "Or?"
"I'll regret it," Anzu mumbled.
"I don't hear so well. Can you say that louder?"
The reporter said, "Or I'll regret it!"
"Good." The blue-haired girl released her. "Now get lost."
Anzu jumped as if stung by the tarantula and left hastily.
"Wow. She even forgot her pad. You really scared her." Rin squinted at her classmate. "Even I almost wet my panties."
She noticed Yuna's eye and winced. There was something truly hostile in that red eye she had never seen in a human being. Rin remembered that Yuna originally used to have blue eyes, but she certainly would not ask about that now.
Then suddenly the blue-haired face became friendly again. "Damn it. Why does everyone have to bother me all the time?" the taller girl grumbled.
"I'm sorry, Yuna-chan."
"It's not your fault." Yuna noticed Nisha walking into the schoolyard. "Hey, Nisha-chan!"
The cat girl grinned and came over with quick steps. "Hey, Yuna-chan. Masatada-san."
"Hey, Narusegawa-san."
"How was it yesterday with Wada-san?" the gray-haired girl inquired.
"It was okay. Wa..." Yuna looked at Rin. "... You-know-who was very nice to her and has built her up."
Grinning, Rin leaned forward. "Come on, I'm also initiated."
"I haven't admitted anything," defended Nisha.
"It's alright. I can rely on Rin."
The glasses wearer raised her right thumb. "I agree. I'm a rock in the ocean. Like in Kendo."
From the school building the first school bell rang. "Come on, rock," the blue-haired laughed. "It's time for the lesson."