Countryside could be seen for miles. It was strange, but Hikaru couldn't have been happier. She was in the car with her mother and father, heading down an unfamiliar road, until she heard a loud buzzing noise.

Without warning, the short haired girl fell out of bed and was torn from her peaceful dream by the loud alarm clock and cracking her head open on the wooden floor. She remained upside down, the bottom half of her body on the bed while the rest of her was now in the floor. With a sigh of pure frustration, Hikaru got up off the floor and rubbed the now tender spot on the back of her head. She hated these dreams, they constantly reminded her of what she could never have. Before she could become too depressed by her dream, Hikaru noticed her new school uniform hanging on her bedroom door. Shit! That's right, school!! Hikaru panicked. If she didn't get ready, she wouldn't have time to find her way around the school or locate her class on time. She withdrew her uniform and rushed to the bathroom in record time. Due to her socks, Hikaru nearly slipped and stopped mere centimeters from crashing into the bathroom door.

Once inside, Hikaru took a quick shower and dressed for school, only slightly skeptical about her school uniform's masculine appearance. It looked like something boys would wear, but who was she to judge? She didn't know a lot about Japanese fashion or the culture, seeing as she just moved to this country, and the fact that any Japanese school was interested in her was flattering. Hikaru gazed upon herself in the mirror and adjusted her bangs before tugging at the Seiyuu academy's red tie around her neck. She pulled it looser, not very comfortable with it clenching her throat. She made her way to the kitchen and quickly whipped up breakfast for herself and her grandmother, chewing her food in record time. Once she finished and washed the dishes, Hikaru shoved on her shoes and seized her luggage as she left the house. She smiled up at the rising sun, totally unaware that she had been mistaken for a boy and was going to be attending Seiyuu Academy as a male student starting today.

As she made her way down the streets, Hikaru ran her fingers through her pale blonde hair, walking calmly to the train station before boarding. She couldn't reach the straps hanging from the ceiling, so she took a seat before they were all taken by adults. She stared around at people flirting with their significant others and couldn't help but notice s group of girls giggling as they pointed at her. She smiled and waved to them in a friendly manner, only for them to giggle more. What was with them? Had they never seen a girl on her way to school before? She brushed it off as something about her foreign appearance, but their reaction generally disturbed her.

Once the train made it to her stop, Hikaru stood quickly and retrieved her luggage. She had to get off of the train before it decided to keep going, so she rushed off the platform and dashed towards her school with a sense of excitement. She had never been a new student before! She had to run a few blocks with her heavy luggage in tow, but at least her heaviest bag had wheels. The invention of the wheel was absolutely genius. Before long, Hikaru finally had Seiyuu Academy in her sights, and she had to admit the live on campus was absolutely gorgeous! She began wondering what kind of sports this school participated in, and took no time going in to retrieve her schedule. She wandered the halls for what felt like forever, but was escorted to the principal's office soon enough by a member of the faculty. Once her schedule was printed off, Hikaru found out that she was in class 4B. Apparently they did not switch classes here, nor did they have a cafeteria. She would have to bring her own lunch, a detail her grandmother had never mentioned. I'm going to starve at lunch!

The small blonde girl that was dressed as a scrawny male student shifted through the crowded hallways until she finally found her class. She had to squeeze past people, but she eventually made it to her classroom and took a seat in the main back, hoping that since it was the start of the year that no one had claims on the seats yet. She was very small, and did not wish to start a fight. She was doing well, and did not wish to trigger her anger. The longer Hikaru glanced around at her classmates, the more she seemed to realize that she was in the boy's uniform, not the girl's. This school thought that Hikaru was a boy!! This was bad. There had to be some kind of mistake. She felt nervous, but realized that she would have to switch uniforms after today, but for now she'd lay low if possible. Her chest was almost always bound down by ace bandages because she didn't like her boobs distracting her in sports, so it would be easy enough to pass as a male. She touched her chest to make sure the bandages were keeping it flat, sighing in relief when she realized that maybe no one would find out. She couldn't sacrifice her first day after all. Besides, would pretending to be a boy for a day really be that bad? What could happen in one day? Hikaru had no idea she'd be keeping this façade up a lot longer than one day, but how could she have known?

Olive eyes scanned the room until they landed on the clock. She realized that class would begin in about twenty minutes, but right now that felt like a million years away. She just hoped that no one would recognize her as 'boy' Hikaru once she wore the female's uniform and straightened out this gender mix up. Everyone thinks I'm a boy.. Wait... I can't tell them! This is s dorm school!! I'll lose my scholarship! suddenly the blonde girl was quite conflicted. She would have to pretend to be a male, or risk missing out on this prestigious school.

Reika woke up early, putting on her red rimmed glasses, deciding to go next door and wake up Yoichi. Today was the first day of their senior year of high school. If they didn't want total idiots as roommates then the had to hurry up and get to school. Once dressed in her uniform, Reika made her bento along with Kazuki's and Yoichi's. Normally she always made Kazuki's a lot nicer looking than Yoichi's but she never played favorites as far as the flavor was concerned. Once she managed that, she grabbed only her main duffle bag and school bag, realizing she could always bring her luggage to her dorm little by little. She didn't want to overwhelm herself, seeing as she actually wasn't all that strong.

Once she was out the door, she walked over to Yoichi's, and was invited right on in, considering their families had always been rather close, "Ohayo, I'll wake up Yoichi-kun for you, don't worry. Leave it to me." Reika smiled to his grandmother. She knew that their relationship was strained, so she did her best to help out whenever she could. Yoichi, being a bit of a womanizer was a lot to handle after all. She was confident around her family and Yoichi, but when around her crush Kazuki, or anyone else for that matter, she was quite timid and soft spoken. She couldn't relax around those she had not known as long, or the boy she liked.

She put her bags down and the bento lunches and went up to his room and opened the door. He's still sleeping... She thought to herself with a sigh and reach over to shake him awake, "Ooii, you won't get a dorm with Kurokawa-san if you sleep all day!" It wasn't so much that she was worried about Yoichi's preference, but if he wasn't dormed with Kazuki, she wouldn't have such an easy excuse to hang out with him anymore. Her violet eyes narrowed, and she immediately tried to tug him out of the bed. She was going to be late for classes as well, and Reika was somewhat of a goody-two-shoes, despite being a cheerleader. Just because she hung out with the popular girls didn't mean she was confident or a total stuck up bitch though. They just liked having her around because a lot of boys confessed to her and it brought extra attention to the other cheerleaders.

She never realized how much heavier Yoichi had gotten since they were kids, but all of a sudden she was forced to recognize his height and weight change, "Yoichi-kun! I'll give away the bento I made for you if you don't get up and get dressed!" She snapped in her eternally soft voice, a huff of annoyance leaving her lightly glossed lips. She hoped that the threat of lost food would motivate her childhood friend into getting ready for school, but if it didn't, the ice cube method was coming next, and she knew that he absolutely hated that. She tied up her long ebony hair into a ponytail and gave his arm one more tug, before lightly punching him in the arm, "Wake up!" No matter how hard she tugged on him, he was solid and she was a wimp. She suddenly realized just how powerless she truly was. Her coach was probably right, she should start working out some more.. While toned, her body was mostly just slim. There wasn't a lot of muscle to be had except in her abdomen. Though she never had to be strong, she was always the girl that got lifted in the cheers, she never had to support anyone, nor did she get in fights like the best friend snoozing away next to her.

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"Please tell me you were joking, I love your food. I'll do anything!"

Arms found themselves around Reika's hips and she realized his face was too close to below her belt for her own comfort as well. The easily embarrassed teenage girl found herself shivering and frozen in place. Even if she didn't see him that way, Yoichi was a dangerous force, and she had to escape, especially when she realized her best friend was practically naked, "A-Ah.. Etto.. U-Um.. Y-Yoichi.. GET CLOTHES ON YOU PERVERT!! Don't touch me there! Okay, Okay, I won't give someone else your bento!" She stammered at first in shock, her face blood red as the older male embraced her rather intimately, but she knew that was just the kind of guy that he was. Suddenly she realized just how tall Yoichi had become. He was no longer the short boy she used to pick on for being three inches shorter than her for half their childhood. Creating a lot of space when he released her, Reika covered her eyes when he stood, but a few seconds too late. She saw a LOT more of her childhood friend than she wanted to ever see in her life, turning around so that she wouldn't have to see any more of him, just in case. Why did girls like this pervert so much!? Kazuki would never agree to marry her if he found out she'd seen his best friend half naked. She'd be lucky to marry anyone if that information got out!!! Her blush began to die down now that her eyes were concealed, but she was afraid that the image was burned into her skull now. That was not exactly how she wished to see her friend...

Once a decent amount of time passed, she turned around. She was completely disappointed in his ability to dress himself, "You look like you had a romp in the sheets and got dressed in the dark..." She state in an irritated voice. This boy was absolutely hopeless. She was beginning to understand why his grandmother was so damn grumpy. He'd surely give Reika a few early grey hairs if she didn't learn a coping mechanism soon. When her best friend shot her a thumbs up, she put her thumb face down in response. If his outfit was part of the Olympics, she'd give him a 0.5 because his technique was all wrong. What skin was he supposed to be covered that way? He had bits and pieces of his body flashing through his clothes. It was distracting and inappropriate for school.

"Why didn't you get dressed in there too?!" She snapped at him, letting out an annoyed huff as she leaned against a wall waiting for him to come out of his bathroom. This was absolutely ridiculous. His antics got worse with age. She half expected to walk in on him sleeping absolutely naked one of these days. She admired his cologne, able to smell it without putting forth an effort while he dragged her, considering it was quite freshly applied.

"Yes, grandmother, we definitely just had a quickie in like ten minutes while you were sitting out here."

Reika's face returned to a bright red and she shook her head furiously, "No we did not! Do not joke like that! I'm not easy like those girls you sleep with." She snapped at him in Japanese, considering she was actually rather studious. Reika went as far as punching him in the arm to show she was not interested. Reika was used to showing him an angry and violent side that she kept hidden under lock and key, one she never showed Kazuki or their other classmates. She didn't want to seem so uncute to everyone else. She knew it was a joke, and she also knew her punches were little more than mosquito bites to Yoichi, but hitting him made her feel better. She honestly couldn't blame his grandmother for being skeptical. Yoichi had a certain reputation, and it was hard to give him any credit when it came to women. She was actually kind of surprised he didn't hit on her in a more sexualized manner.

"Are you ready to get going, Reika?"

With a nod, Reika opened the door for him, "Yeah, Yeah. You're the one making us late. Isn't that my line?" She mumbled at him taking the bag with the bento lunches from him. While they were practically the same, she didn't want him stealing Kazuki's. She eventually had a plan to confess to him, without actually confessing, so she didn't want Yoichi getting used to carrying them. The last thing she wanted was for Yoichi to know she confessed, because then he would know the outcome, and if it was a refusal, she couldn't face either of them after that. She wondered how he managed to text carrying those bags, but then she remembered that he was quite athletic. When did that little boy I spent the night with every weekend become a man..? sure, she was well aware he was a manwhore, but until he started carrying her bag and she couldn't tug him out of bed, it didn't feel real. It was easy to delude herself. She sent Kazuki a text as they began walking, seeing as they hadn't seen each other in ages.



She sent the text before a blush crept on her face, pocketing her phone. She didn't want Yoichi to know, or to worry. She didn't want to put him in a situation where if things went sour he would have to choose sides. She hoped he was awake, because she honestly couldn't wake up both boys, and she did not think she could manage seeing HIM in boxers. She'd faint. She knew for a fact she'd never be able to handle it. She kept walking, smiling up at Yoichi, "Have you decided on a college yet? I want to go to an art school... Maybe abroad or something." It didn't take long, before they made it to Central Hall, a bright smile creeping onto her features when she located Kazuki. Without giving it a lot of thought, she ran over and wrapped her arms around his neck, embracing him in the tightest hug she could manage. She released him after a few moments, handing him his bento lunch, "Have you been eating properly?"

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Hikaru blinked in surprise when students began pouring in during the last fifteen minutes before class. She rubbed the back of her neck when she began to receive unwanted attention from the other students in the room, her eyes lowering to her desk. She had a bad feeling about this, being in the spotlight never went well for her in the past. Apparently the fact that she was a new student was engraved on her forehead without her knowledge or something, because almost everyone was staring. She wondered how they seemed to immediately know she was new here, considering the sheer amount of students that attended this school Hikaru figured it would have been fairly difficult, but apparently everyone knew everyone here. There was no way Hikaru would be able to remember over three hundred seniors. She wouldn't even attempt it, because she couldn't remember all of the fifty at her small public school back in Britain. Did these kids all go to school together their entire lives or something?

Girls discreetly giggled at her from their seats and boys asked her if she was a leprechaun, or if she knew what puberty was, but Hikaru ignored the taunting despite how much it annoyed her. She knew that short guys were often teased like this. She had to learn to accept it, because if anyone found out she was a girl, she'd lose her scholarship. She needed to go to this school, because Japan was unhealthily focused on academics and she didn't have a lot of options. Her arm was figuratively and academically twisted behind her back, even if no one else took notice. Her life had become far more stressful all of a sudden.

She gritted her teeth, and clenched one of her fists, glaring up at the ring leader with his palm pressed on the center of her desk towering over her. She looked like a little middle school boy compared to the tall bully standing before her. She ran a hand through her blonde hair, "Do you get off on picking on guys smaller than you? Why don't you just admit you're into guys and get it over with." Hikaru spat her words out before she could contain herself, only to be jerked out of her seat by the collar of her uniform. She winced a bit, but continued to stubbornly glare up at the antagonistic jock. It looked like her temper had gotten the best of her after all. Noticing her defiance, the bully slammed her into the nearby wall, jarring the small girl, but it wasn't like anyone realized she was female, so no one batted an eyelash.

Realizing she had to stick up for herself, Hikaru decided to make everyone realize she wasn't just some small fry they could all push around like this guy was attempting to do to her right now. She narrowed her green eyes and swung before she could reason herself out of it. She wasn't going to be pushed around all year, she absolutely refused. Yep, she was getting her ass kicked once this guy's buddies realized what was going on. She prepared herself accordingly for the inevitable beating, but to her surprise, it never came. Some girl stood between her and her attackers, and she saw the blood dripping from the ring leader's lip. The girl standing before her sounded so introverted, but she was being quite brave in this moment. Hikaru had immediate respect for this girl, even though she had not yet even seen her face and did not know her name. A sheepish grin formed on her face when she realized she now had an ally at her new school, even though it was just her first day.

She hoped that Yuichi would not bring up her aspiration to study abroad in front of Kazuki. She wasn't sure if she was really going to do it, but she wanted the option without her crush knowing she was considering it. She was equally embarrassed when she released Kazuki, "G-Gomenasai!" She squeaked out in a shy manner, biting the inside of her cheek. When he mentioned heading to class, she nodded her head. Reika had missed out on almost everything Yoichi and Kazuki had said from embarrassment and staring at him. She led the way to their class, "W-We should totally meet up for lunch. I-It's been way too long, right?" She asked her gaze shifting between the two boys accompanying her. Just as Reika walked inside, she noticed that a small boy was being bullied by Kuroku, Jun. She immediately began to storm over, realizing the kid was a new boy at the school.

Before she made it halfway to the crisis, the small boy punched Kuroku in the face, releasing himself from the horrible jock's grasp. She couldn't help but smile a bit at the short boy's spunk, but she moved in quickly, standing in between Kuroku, his band of three thugs, and the blonde short boy, "E-Eh!? Leave him alone!" Her choice to stand up against a bully only earned a squeal of admiration from the entire room, and those peeking from the halls. She knew this wasn't wise, but she couldn't stand bullies. Male students had hearts in their eyes, and while many of the girls were jealous, they did not dare glare at the amateur model and cheerleader. Reika was generally untouchable at school, she had all the right friends, both male and female at this school. Her violet eyes narrowed and a pout formed on her lips as she gazed upon the bully, "Go sit down, Kuroku-San." She demanded in her wisoft and timid tone of voice. Despite it's soft quality, it was clear that she was determined to be taken seriously.

She didn't even realize how she was inadvertently tugging Yoichi and Kazuki into this heated situation between the new kid and Kuroku. Though she did take notice that Kuroku's lip was bleeding. It seemed the short blonde kid could pack a punch despite his childlike appearance and short stature. She was impressed that he did not back down in the face of adversity. Something about the unknown blonde told her that she liked this guy already. She could see the anger is Kuroku's eyes and also how much he and his gang wished to tear into the boy she was protecting, but Reika stood her ground. She was constantly doing this, despite the fact that she could get hurt. She wasn't like the bitchy girls she spent time with. Reika cared about everyone, especially the small, weak, and downtrodden. She knew what it was like to be stepped on. She was constantly bullied as a child when kids found out her parents were famous and that she was a budding model as well. She knew how this felt all too well, because until she grew a pair of large boobs, she was this boy. Even though she was friends with Yoichi, when he moved away she was constantly picked on and beaten up. It died down when he returned, but it happened on occasion when they were apart until she hit puberty and the cheerleaders took notice of how male students admired her.

Today was turning out to be rather eventful, what with Yoichi embracing her half naked and now she was even standing up for a boy she had never met until now, "Take your seat, okay?" She told Hikaru, not once lowering her arms that blocked the bullies from getting to the boy despite her obvious fear. Kuroku and his gang were among the guys that were NOT in love with her after all, so she had no idea what could happen.

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"O-Oi... It's not like I can leave you to deal with this all by yourself!" Hikaru responded to Reika in a lresistive manner, dogmatic determination in the short girl's eyes as she spoke. To her classmates, Hikaru was a boy, she couldn't let a feminine girl fight her battles, because the teasing would only be that much worse in the long run. However, due to her short stature and male uniform, Hikaru came across as a little boy trying to prove that he was tough. Hikaru prepared for attack if any of the boys decided to try and lay a hand on the girl that was currently bravely defending her. though the moment of peace ended rather quickly after Jun recovered from the punch Hikaru had delivered to his jaw, because a tall blond haired male interrupted with several choice profanities. Looking at him, Hikaru couldn't help but notice that he was quite attractive by nearly all definitions of the word, but this was neither the place or time for such distractive thoughts. Man.. Why does my brain choose now to have girl thoughts?

Plugging one ear due to the tall blond's loud tone, Hikaru blinked in surprise that yet another student came to her aid without knowing her at all. She was surprised by his height, but tried to not gawk for long, considering his violent demeanor and foul choice of language. She did not wish to turn her current ally into an enemy, that much was certain. When the tall blond dropped the bags in tow Hikaru knew that something was about to go down, only to be verified when the blond grabbed the bully by the collar. While Hikaru was eternally grateful for the rescue, she began to worry about the others getting in trouble because of her. This skirmish was not over, and the teacher would arrive at any moment. Then her tall savior received a blow to the gut, and Hikaru's eyes widened. That bully had the guts to throw a punch at the tall senior that accompanied the ebony haired girl? Hikaru wasn't even sure if she could stand up to someone with that intimidating of a presence. She shivered when the tall blond seemed barely effected by the hit he had received, not wishing to end up on this guys bad side after all...

Once the fight became heated, Hikaru froze, remembering what had happened back in Britain. She had nearly killed that boy.... but if she didn't do something, the guy that helped protect her would get his ass kicked, royally. Thankfully a timid looking male about eight inches taller than herself clobbered the ringleader with his bag, earning a smirk of approval from Hikaru and it definitely was enough to bring her back to reality. She burst into action after her initial shock and twirled Jun by the shoulder, redirecting him from his pursuit toward Kazuki. After whipping the thug around to face her, Hikaru thrust her right knee into direct contact with his gut. The dark haired ringleader crumbled to the ground, and someone shouted that the teacher was coming. The bullies scrambled for their seats along with all of the students cheering on the fight. Hikaru adjusted her tie and dusted off her male uniform, "Thanks for the assistance with those guys, I am Yoshika, Hikaru by the way." She grinned, introducing herself to Reika, Kazuki and Yoichi before returning to her seat in the back of the room. Little did she know, she'd be getting to know this group a lot better. In fact, she would be spending a lot of time with two of them in particular.

Without the tomboy realizing it, she was peeking to see where the students that fought alongside her chose to sit. Class was starting, but she wished to properly thank them and ask a few questions about this school. Her olive orbs widened when she realized she would have to speak to the class, and would be assigned a dorm. This would be interesting.. The teacher came in, a short and docile man with large rimmed glasses. He began roll call, completely unaware of the fight that had taken place. The teacher began attendance check, but also announced the dorm mates as well. When he came to Hikaru's name, he motioned for her to come to the front to introduce herself and she tensed up. Being in the spotlight was not something she enjoyed in this context. She shuffled to the front, rubbing the back of her neck nervously, "I am Yoshika, Hikaru... I moved to Japan from Britain... Yeah..." She bowed politely afterwards, even though her introduction had been painfully casual despite Japan's formal customs.

Yoshika-kun... You will be dorming with.. Kurokawa-kun and Yamada-kun in room 405. Please take your seat, class shall now begin." The teacher stated, writing down his choice, giving none of them a say in the matter.

Hikaru wasn't too sure who those two were, so she returned to her seat in confusion, ruffling her messy blonde hair as she attempted to figure out which guys were her dorm mates. She only hoped it wouldn't be the bullies from before. She wouldn't last long at this school, especially if her dorm mates were buddies with Jun. She didn't even want to consider what would happen if one of the bullies found out she was a girl. This choice was becoming riskier by the minute. She wanted to fess up, but her voice was failing her. She couldn't ruin this kind of education for herself, even if she would end up spending the entire year looking over her shoulder.

"O-Oi... It's not like I can leave you to deal with this all by yourself!"

The boy's words were admirable, especially due to his short stature. Reika couldn't help but giggle at Hikaru's insistence on not leaving her to deal with the bullies on her own. The small blond boy's fiery determination was something she envied, "Suit yourself" Reika responded with a grin. She was standing up for him out of kindness, but this small boy showed actual bravery. He could have easily fled and left her to deal with them alone. At the sound of cracking knuckles, Reika peeked over her shoulder to see that none other than Yoichi had joined her. A large smile formed on her lips, starting to forgive him for the perverted embrace and half naked catwalk. It was times like this that reminded her why she enjoyed being around Yoichi so much. He was just....so heroic. Despite all of his faults, he had a major soft spot for the downtrotten and she absolutely adored that about her best friend.

"Hey, Jun! What's up, you ugly fucker?! Picking on little boys because you can't handle someone our own size?"

What she did not adore? His foul mouth. It immediately broke his charming spell, well, at least in Reika's case. She knew that several other girls were drawn even more to Yoichi for his 'bad boy' behavior, but she was far too timid for all of that. She noticed that Hikaru plugged his ears and she bit her bottom lip. It was true that Yoichi was yelling unnecessarily, but she was used to his tendency to favor a loud volume by now. She sweatdropped however when Yoichi seized Jun by the shirt, and she cringed. This could turn out really bad if a teacher showed up.. Reika was fairly goody-two-shoes, which surprised teachers every year when they realized she was quite close to the delinquent, Yamada, Yoichi. On the flip side, it didn't raise any eyebrows that Reika was close to Kurokawa, Kazuki, seeing as both of them were straight laced students.

"Nice to know you're still a little pussy!"

Reika's violet eyes blinked several times in disbelief when Yoichi was struck by Jun, her fists clenching tightly. Yoichi managed to create some space between himself and Jun, so her panicked heartbeat calmed for the moment. She couldn't help but be frightened for her friend. It was her fault that he was in this situation, however something told her he would have stood up for the small boy no matter what.. That knowledge soothed her mind, but at the same time she couldn't shake off her guilty feeling. Yoichi was always getting hurt for her sake. She wanted to ask him why, but she wasn't sure if she could handle the answer either.

"Is that really all you got?"

She closed her eyes when Yoichi's fist collided with Jun. A shiver ran down her spine just thinking about the pain that Jun experienced in that moment. She knew first hand that Yoichi was incredibly strong, and that his punches were no laughing matter. When she opened her eyes, it was clear that Yoichi was being jumped and her eyes widened in horror. She immediately began searching for something to throw at the hooligans, but to no success. As she fumbled for projectiles, she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye, looking just in time to watch Kazuki swing his bag at Jun. She was surprised that he chose to join in on the action, but she was glad that someone had Yoichi's back. ..Kazuki was pretty cool just then... She shook her head in attempt to refocus her thoughts. Now was not the time to gawk like a fangirl at Kazuki... A light blush formed on her cheeks and she returned to searching for a weapon. Just when she located her metal ruler, Hikaru landed another blow against Jun, protecting Kazuki from his retaliation. It was announced by the other students that a teacher was coming, and Jun scrambled to his seat followed by his goons. Every other student began to file into their seats and Reika shook her head at their cowardice. She rejoined her friends where they stood, giggling as Hikaru attempted to tidy up his appearance.

"Thanks for the assistance with those guys, I am Yoshika, Hikaru by the way."

"Takeru, Reika. It's a pleasure to meet you, Yoshika-Kun." She chimed in a friendly manner. The boy was at least four inches shorter than herself, but perhaps he just had not hit his growth spurt? Besides, his short stature made him all the more adorable, like the little brother she'd never had. Reika sat down in front of Hikaru, waving for Yoichi and Kazuki to join her. She began pulling out pencils, highlighters, her literature book and a notebook to take notes in. She took school quite seriously, and if she didn't take notes she knew that Yoichi wouldn't graduate. She was roomed with two girls from her cheerleading squad, so that was nice. At least she would know her dorm mates. She remained quiet as the teacher announced everything, doodling in her notebook until Hikaru's name was called. When Hikaru went up to the front, she could tell that the boy was nervous, and he had all right to be. He was jumped on his first day, and she knew how tough that could be.

"I am Yoshika, Hikaru... I moved to Japan from Britain... Yeah..."

Reika bit back a laugh at Hikaru's very informal introduction. She could tell that it was irritating to the teacher and to some of the students, because it came across as disrespectful and rather cocky. She glanced to Kazuki and Yoichi to gauge their reactions, but she did so a bit too soon, considering the teacher was not done. The next words from their elderly Sensei's mouth made today very, very interesting.

"Yoshika-kun... You will be dorming with.. Kurokawa-kun and Yamada-kun in room 405. Please take your seat, class shall now begin."

Reika smirked at her two friends, "At least you already know each other, ne?" She teased, sticking her tongue out playfully at both Kazuki and Yoichi as she awaited their reaction to their living arrangement. She knew the two had never had another dorm mate before, so she was looking forward to their response to this news. The fact that no one was given a say in the matter only made Reika more amused by this turn of events. When Hikaru sat back down behind her, she glanced over her shoulder, "At least you're roomed with Kurokawa-Senpai and Yoichi-kun." She chimed in a friendly manner. She was definitely going to enjoy this year, Reika was sure of it. Watching these three boys would supply her with endless amusement, and perhaps, just maaybe, she would be able to confess her feelings to Kazuki before the school year ended.

Yoichi Yamada
|| 18 years old || Student || Heteroromantic // Pansexual ||
Dialogue Color: #848482 Thought color: #B6B6B4

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When Yoichi can finally pull his beat up self to his feet, he sees Hikaru defending his best friend with great strength and feels oddly attracted to his violent side. He pulls himself to his feet, ashamed that he didn't get a few more kicks in before the bullies all run back to their seats and also wished he could've defended his friend better. Honestly, being caught fighting by a teacher wouldn't have been too terrible of a thing for Yoichi, as it had happened many times before.

Thanks for the assistance with those guys, I am Yoshika, Hikaru by the way.

Yoichi doesn't have time to introduce himself to the surprisingly short male before Reika does and the boy leaves. He shrugged and quickly gathered all the discarded bags, piling them up at the back of the class as he didn't have time to put them in his dorm room. He followed Reika to a seat in front of Hikaru as class is near beginning and suddenly tastes blood, becoming aware of the fact that the corner of his lip is bleeding from the fight. Yoichi groans and licks the corner of his mouth in irritation, suddenly becoming hyper aware of all the other sore spots on his body; Mainly his jaw and abdomen. However, he doesn't say anything in fear of worrying his friend so he simply slouches over in his seat. Yoichi watched Hikaru attentively as he went up in front of the class, barely blinking because of how focused and intrigued he was by this new stranger. At the sound of Hikaru coincidentally rooming with him, he shot the boy a peace sign and winked at him, grinning to himself afterwards.

At least you already know each other, ne?

Yoichi returned the favor by sticking his tongue out at Reika as a reply and turned around in his desk to face Hikaru.

I didn't get the chance to introduce myself earlier, but hey.

he started charmingly and held out his hand to Hikaru to shake.

I'm Yoichi Yamada, also known as the hottest guy you'll meet at this pretentious, overrated school.

Yoichi teased and turned back around, not paying attention in the slightest to the lesson. He yawned, moved some of Reika's hair from her shoulder and lied his head down on her shoulder. Yoichi was already bored.

"At least you're roomed with Kurokawa-Senpai and Yoichi-kun."

Hikaru was once again awed by Reika's bright and bubbly nature. Her friendly tone made up for the horrible welcome that Hikaru had received earlier, and it was almost completely forgotten. Hikaru tilted her head in confusion, as if she was supposed to know who those two were. Hikaru wasn't the brightest crayon in the box obviously, but in her defense she didn't know anyone's name aside from her attacker's and Reika's herself. However, that fact was short lived.

"I didn't get the chance to introduce myself earlier, but hey."

Olive green eyes blinked when the blond male turned around abruptly. She wasn't sure why he suddenly felt the need to introduce himself, but Hikaru did her best to remain calm. Suddenly she was very aware of his bloody lip, but said nothing, as it wasn't any of her business to. Besides, if she said something it would alert him that she had been looking at his lips, and since she was dressed as a dude and pretending to be a boy, that probably wouldn't sit well with the blond. Hikaru decided it was best to be as non-conflictive and as inconspicuous as possible if she wished to survive the year, "O-Ohayo.." Hikaru stated in a surprised manner, unsure of what else she could say. She accepted his handshake, squeezing his hand with firm confidence, but just enough to make a good impression, avoiding using too much pressure. She didn't want to come across as a challenge. He seemed to be an ally, so she tried to come across as one as well.

"I'm Yoichi Yamada, also known as the hottest guy you'll meet at this pretentious, overrated school."

Hikaru sweatdropped a bit at Yoichi's self proclaimed status, shaking her head a bit, "If I didn't know better I'd swear that you're coming on to me..." she stated in an equally teasing manner. Hikaru was equally disinterested with the lesson, but she at least attempted to jot down a few notes. She didn't understand the equatiom that the teacher was explaining, but Hikaru was sure that writing it down would be good practice and that someone else would be able to explain it to her later. Though she was immediately surprised when the blond male plopped his head down on the ebony haired girl's shoulder. A-Are they dating...? Hikaru thought to herself in the midst of her shock, finding it a bit difficult to believe that the two of them could be more than friends, but it would make sense, considering how quickly he had come to Reika's aid. Even if they WERE dating, it was none of her business, but imagining the two overly attractive people sitting before her as a couple was more than Hikaru could handle at that given moment. She wasn't prepared, and she was too intimidated by the possibility to even ask. She continued to jot down hit and miss notes to avoid looking suspicious, but she began to wonder how she would survive the year if she was sharing a dorm with the blond.. He seemed like the kind that totally disregarded the personal space of others... Will I really be able to keep him from finding me out..? Hikaru thought to herself, chewing on the edge of her pencil nervously as she glanced to Reika and Yoichi every so often, amazed that the teacher didn't even seem to care at all. Was this an every day thing between them? Typically Japanese girls were a little shy about such advances, were they not? Hikaru was in complete culture shock. Had she studied outdated material? These two didn't seem very conservative by Hikaru's standards.

Before Hikaru knew it, lunch time rolled around and she decided to roam the halls, to get used to her new school. She didn't know where to buy food from, so she figured she could just search until she found the right location... There wasn't a cafeteria, but she was hoping there would at least be some sort of vending machine. The lack of food in her stomach was practically killing Hikaru already and lunch had just begun. What good is my Japanese grandmother if she can't warn me about stuff like this..? I'm from Britain! I never had to pack a lunch before! Hikaru thought to herself irritated, but she was more frustrated with herself than she was actually angry with her grandmother. The only one she could truly blame was herself for being ill prepared, but being so far away from home it was simply easier to place the blame on someone else. She was already in extremely unfamiliar territory, and now it would be ages before she would see her grandmother again... This school life, it was already incredibly intimidating, especially now that she had such a cocky and flirtatious dorm mate. I'm doomed... Hikaru thought in a pessimistic manner, leaning against a wall in the boys bathroom, attempting to hide from her peers. The last thing she wanted was to look starved, lost, and lonely. However, Hikaru decided to go check out her dorm room since she had time to spare. Perhaps she would be able to work out some kind of game plan once she saw the dorm? If not, she'd at least pick the room closest to the bathroom. She made her way up the stairs until she met their floor, and the door. She used her Student ID card to get in the room, placing her bags in the room nearest the bathroom that she would now share with Yoichi and Kurokawa. With time to kill and no lunch to eat, Hikaru began setting up her room, putting clothes away in her closet and dresser, and making her bed neatly. Hikaru flopped on the mattress, feeling a bit feverish after it was all said and done, so she decided to take a little nap. One little nap would not hurt, would it? Her entire room was furnished now, after all. How many other students could say they accomplished that already?

Reika only smiled when Yoichi matched her childishness, then shook her head. She was taking notes shortly after that, letting Yoichi interact with Hikaru without her interference, but that didn't mean that Reika did not eavesdrop a little to see what the two boys were saying to each other. She found it incredibly interesting that there was a new addition to the little ragtag team they had built. Thanks to Yoichi's loud demeanor, Reika was able to write and listen into a conversation seamlessly. Who said having rambunctious friends didn't pay off?

"I didn't get the chance to introduce myself earlier, but hey. I'm Yoichi Yamada, also known as the hottest guy you'll meet at this pretentious, overrated school."

It seemed to be going well enough. Reika glanced up at the chalkboard now and then, brushing her long ebony hair behind her ear as she appeared to be enamored by the lesson going on, but in reality she was only half listening. She already knew this equation from the summer homework, but that meant she could afford to pay more attention to Yoichi and Hikaru, without either boy knowing she was listening in.

"O-Ohayo.. If I didn't know better I'd swear that you're coming on to me..."

Their introductions were of completely different sides of the spectrum, but at the same time very similar. The irony almost caused Reika to laugh, but she managed to bite back the temptation and remain composed. She doubted they would be so genuine if they knew she was still studying them so closely. She wanted to see how Yoichi would respond to the new member of their little friend circle, but also wanted to know more about the new student with reckless bravery for a little tyke. It was rare for such a small statured boy to stand up for himself. She couldn't help but be a little curious about who Hikaru Yoshioka truly was. Her thoughts were interrupted when Yoichi's head landed on her shoulder, and he brushed her hair out of the way to make himself comfortable. She shook her head, but continued writing, ignoring the whispers of jealous girls, and the glares. Yoichi was her best friend, it was only natural that he react this way, given his personality, but after his half naked hug to her hips, even Reika couldn't help but blush a little.

To make matters worse, she could smell his cologne again. It was the one she liked, and she could smell it so effortlessly. She was only human, and after that experience it was difficult to see him as the little boy she had grown up with. Whether she liked it or not, he broke out of the mold she tried so hard to keep him in. He was no longer a harmless child. They weren't little kids anymore... everyone was within their rights to question what Yoichi was doing, because now that they were teens, it didn't look innocent anymore. Everyone assumed romance was behind every little action. His warmth and pleasant scent made it hard to focus on the notes, but Reika thankfully managed to jot them down without making a mockery out of herself. She only hoped that Yoichi didn't get the wrong idea. She was certain she would recover, return to normal once she got the image of him out of her head from that morning.

When the lunch bell rang, Reika was about to invite Hikaru to eat with her Kazuki and Yoichi, but it seemed that Kazuki and Hikaru had disappeared. She looked for Kazuki for a few minutes before standing up with her bento in hand, "We should go ahead. If he's hungry he'll meet up with us." Reika stated to Yoichi before leading the way. She went to the roof top, a place where her, Kazuki, and Yoichi often spent their time, getting them away from their noisy teachers and classmates for a while. Thanks to Yoichi's reputation, no one ever bothered them up there. Reika sat down on the bench, next to the chain fence at the far end that kept students from leaping to their death. She didn't think suicide was a problem here, but apparently the staff was not taking any chances. She opened her bento, then tapped the spot next to her, knowing Yoichi was likely far more eager to chow down than she was. The only image in her head was his body wrapped around hers, in just his boxers.

She knew that she needed to vanquish that memory, but the more she avoided it, the more it stuck in her mind. It was plaguing her brain, refusing to let her live it down. A light blush formed on her cheeks, unable to look at him directly. She began quietly eating, unaware that she had given Yoichi the wrong bento. Yoichi and Reika were in for the surprise of their lives that would set their entire world off axis. One little mistake would change everything. One small moment redefining years of friendship, "I hope you like it. I've been working on new recipes." Reika stated with a small smile, still not meeting his gaze, but for reasons entirely unrelated to the bento mishap. However her flustered nature would only increase the misunderstanding when he opened the boxed lunch she had given him earlier that morning.

Yoichi Yamada
|| 18 years old || Student || Heteroromantic // Pansexual ||
Dialogue Color: #848482 Thought color: #B6B6B4

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Yoichi hadn't been aware of it himself but during the horribly boring lesson, Yoichi had dozed off and been awaken by the sound of the ringing bell. That whole time, he had been oblivious to any of the questioning glances or stares he was getting from either Hikaru or jealous students in the room. He shot up in surprise but composed himself quickly, running a hand through his hair and stretching his arms out.

About damn time...

he muttered quietly and looked over to the corner of the room, remembering about all the bags he had to carry around and groaned.

We should go ahead. If he's hungry he'll meet up with us.

Yoichi snapped out his dreaded thoughts of carrying the bags when he heard Reika's soft voice and nodded at her.

Sounds good to me.

he walked to the corner and grabbed the bags, then was greeted by a familiar bag. They chatted idly for a few moments before he said his goodbyes to her and followed his raven haired friend. In the halls, there were girls watching him and guys watching Reika, however Yoichi couldn't help but notice the guys more than the girls, despite his ego.

Yoichi saw a guy push one of his friend's towards them, obviously convincing him to approach Reika but froze after receiving a deadly glare from Yoichi. Honestly, the nerve of these assholes! Here she is, walking with me and they try to come on to her? Please! Yoichi thought frustratedly to himself and sighed, side glancing at Reika. He did understand why she got a lot of attention from boys though, she was very beautiful. So beautiful that she was even a model, despite her clear disgust with that lifestyle. He wished more than anything that she would tell her grandmother that she didn't feel comfortable with that so she wasn't so sad after her shoots, but he did secret admit to himself that he really loved her photo shoots.

When they got upstairs, Yoichi placed all the bags down beside the door and exhaled, still annoyed that he had to carry these damn bags everywhere. He made note to ask Reika if they could make their way back to his dorm so he could drop all his stuff off. When the blond looked at Reika, he saw her tapping the spot beside her and he eagerly made his way over to her. She knew that he wasn't a big fan of junk food and he adored when she made him food because she often made healthy yet cute food. He didn't know before that food could be cute, but somehow Reika made it that way.

Yoichi unboxed his bento and noticed that she was acting awfully shy and refused to look at him, raising his curiosity. She normally never acted this way in front of him, unless he has teasing her or saying vulgar things. He was a very blunt boy, everyone knew it, but he was more sensitive to Reika's feelings than other people and had to bite his tongue to not question her strange behavior. Yoichi looked down at his unboxed lunch, finally noticing it's contents and how specifically it was arranged in hearts.

Yoichi blinked down at the bento, completely speechless and at a loss for words. Could it be..? Is this why she's acting all sketchy? Should I say something?! he was flustered and confused, but got an incredible boost of confidence after those feelings passed. He wasn't entirely sure if he returned her feelings though. I mean, I do love Reika-chan for sure, but do I... Love-love her? Yoichi wondered to himself and bit his lip. He didn't know whether to ask Reika about it or just eat it and pretend like it was nothing, but realized that she might get offended if her did that.

Reika-chan?

he asked slowly and carefully.

...Are you confessing to me?

While Yoichi's struggle was far from humorous, Reika couldn't help but laugh as she was reminded of all the bags that Yoichi managed to carry. She really wondered where he found the stamina, but remembered he was a bit of a hell-raiser, and athletic. She knew that she wouldn't have been able to carry half of that nearly as long, finding herself impressed. She wondered who her dorm mates would be, but all in all she primarily wondered how far she would be from her two friends.

Birds were chirping and the sky was so blue. She had to admire it for a moment. Cherry blossoms flew through the air and she took in a deep breath, the scenery absolutely beautiful that particular morning. and Reika couldn't have been more relieved that Yoichi managed to fall asleep during class. That meant all of her awkwardness would remain her little secret. Just knowing that was a relief and a half. When Yoichi sat beside her however, she couldn't stop herself from reflexively tensing up. I know I can't linger on this feeling, but that's never happened before... Reika thought to herself, letting out a quiet breath before taking a bite of her rice. She chewed very quietly and swallowed gently, eating very politely. She was almost the picture perfect version of a classic Japanese girl, except for her profession. Modeling was seen as a little too racy and scandalous to be 'traditional'. In fact, Reika was well aware that she had a shoot coming up the following weekend.

Suddenly Reika found herself all too aware, whether it was their difference in height or muscle mass, it was obvious that he had changed quite a bit without her fully realizing it. She wasn't entirely sure when the change began, but all of a sudden she could barely picture Yoichi as the little boy she grew up next door to. There was some time when they were apart, but they had grown so close before that time that it felt as though nothing had changed, at least that's how Reika felt about it.

At this moment she felt that Kurokawa, Yoichi's best friend and her crush, would likely be opening his bento and realizing she was confessing to him, and that made her almost too nervous to continue eating, her bites of rice becoming less frequent as she went. Her violet eyes shifted to Yoichi, glad that the three of them were not eating lunch together after all. If she was going to be turned down by Kurokawa, she didn't want an audience. She didn't want to make the trio's friendship awkward. She honestly hoped Kazuki would be mature enough about it to never tell Yoichi, but she knew it would be wise to prepare for the worst.

However, she couldn't help but take notice that Yoichi did not immediately dig in. Considering how much he praised her boxed lunches, and his larger appetite, that immediately raised a red flag in Reika's mind. Her violet eyes shifted to where his were, staring down at the bento she had prepared. Then realization struck her like a brick. I MIXED UP THE LUNCHES!!!! If embarrassment could kill, Reika would have died instantaneously. This was not supposed to happen, yet here they were in this situation all by themselves to deal with the aftermath of her mistake. Reika's cheeks lit up as she tried to think of what to say to him. She was so flustered that she felt a little lightheaded, but she had to persevere! W-What should I do? I can't tell him it was meant for... No, play it off. He's not interested in me anyway... He's always with different girls. We can move past it if he rejects me, right? Reika closed her eyes as she tried to calm her racing heartbeat, wondering how she always ended up in situations like this one. Thankfully Yoichi spoke first, so all she had to do was reply..

"..Are you confessing to me?"

Taking in a deep breath to prepare herself, Reika's lips quivered nervously before she spoke, "H-Hai..!" Reika responded to his question in her usual soft tone, albeit slightly louder and far more nervous than usual. She gazed to the ground, letting the sound of the birds flying by distract her for a moment as she tried to decide on what else to say to her childhood friend. She couldn't simply leave it at that, he'd want an explanation, right? She always got an explanation from the guys that confessed to her, even when she never asked for one, "You have always been there standing up for me.. Even if you were hurt because of it.." She almost whispered, smiling a bit as she reflected on childhood memories. The memories eased her nerves a bit, and she kept her gaze low to keep from losing what little confidence she was clinging onto, "G-Gomen... I should not have been so forward..." She apologized, licking her lips to keep them from getting too dry. She took a small sip of strawberry flavored juice from her thermos, sitting her bento aside. It wasn't like she could actually eat yet, not with her stomach in knots like this.

Silence in any amount made her feel awkward, leaving her with too much time to mentally self destruct. All of a sudden doubt peeked it's ugly head out and Reika became terrified that this would be the end of her friendship with Yoichi, as a confession sometimes changed or even ended entire friendships overnight. What if he was so freaked out that he never wanted to speak with her again? Insecurity began to plant its roots within her thoughts, and tears soon filled her eyes, "J-Just ignore it if you want to..." She stammered softly, trying to hide the fact that she was crying. Her slender fingers gripping at her knees when her body trembled. Her teardrops eventually hit concrete and she rose from where she sat slowly, dusting off the back of her skirt after standing, "I should have kept this to myself... Right?" She managed to force a laugh, doing her best to allow her long black hair to hide her facial features from him, hoping that he did not notice she was crying, "I should probably go..." She added, starting to box up her own lunch with shaking hands, now very clearly flustered and upset.

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Hikaru slept, dreaming about better days when both of her parents were still alive. Times when she lived in Britain with her older brother, before she ever dreamed of visiting Japan, before she even met her grandmother. Her family had been happy. They weren't rich or anything, but they had everything they needed and that was enough. They loved each other dearly and spent plenty of time bonding as a family. Her older brother would walk her to get ice cream on their way home from school and her father would take the kids to the park every Sunday while they waited on their mother to get off of work, then they would have a picnic.

However her pleasant memories were ruined when images of their car crash engulfed her dream turning it into an unpleasant nightmare. Hikaru tossed and turned on her bed, until she fell out. Thankfully falling out of bed tore her from the horrible flashbacks her nightmare reminded her of, "Mom!" Hikaru shouted out in English, her British accent pronounced as she desperately called out in her grogginess, completely forgetting for a moment that her mother had been dead for quite some time. Reality soon returned to Hikaru, reminding her where she was and that her mother was beyond her reach. Her chest tightened, as it did every time she had that nightmare. It was like losing her mother and father all over again on a constant loop. She only hoped it would never wake up her dorm mates. She didn't feel like explaining to them that she had no parents. Mom... Dad... I still need you... This place is so different... I... I miss you so much... her entire body trembled as she sat in the floor, staring down at the wood beneath her. It was cold and hard, her body still aching from her unexpected impact with it.

There were tears in her eyes as she sat up on the floor and Hikaru wiped them away on her sleeve, doing her best to recompose herself. She wasn't sure where her dorm mates were, but they could always arrive at any time so she didn't want to be found crying like a baby. She'd never get to live it down, especially since she was supposed to be a guy. In the male community, guys were NOT allowed to cry, it was weak. She couldn't afford to come across as weak. It would put her at risk in so many ways.

Hikaru went to the dorm's bathroom that the three bedrooms shared, splashing her face with cold water in attempt to pull herself together. While she wasn't crying anymore, she was still feverish, and if anything she felt like she was burning up even more after her nap instead of less. She felt she was likely experiencing a cold, but she didn't have the time to accept such a thing. Classes would resume in nearly twenty minutes. Since going to the nurse was out of the question, she would have to brave it or skip class entirely. Mom... It's times like this that I wish you were still here more than anything... She thought to herself, collapsing on the sofa in the dorm's living room that Yoichi, Kazuki, and she would share. At this point her fever was beginning to cloud her judgement, but she was alone in the dorm so it seemed safe enough to take another nap there. Her breathing was slightly forced, and she loosened her tie and unbuttoned a few of her shirt's buttons exposing her collarbone. It felt nice to have a little air hitting her skin, even if it was only a little.

Yoichi Yamada
|| 18 years old || Student || Heteroromantic // Pansexual ||
Dialogue Color: #848482 Thought color: #B6B6B4

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To say that Reika's response shocked Yoichi would've been an understatement. He was completely blown away that she confirmed her confession to him and half-expected a different response. Although, he wasn't sure why because he was normally quite a confident young man but he did acknowledge that things were different when it came to Reika. He cared about her more than any of his other hook-ups or even past girlfriends, but really wasn't sure if his feelings towards her were the same that she apparently had for him. Despite this, he nodded along carefully with Reika's explanation and tried his best not to embarrass her or make her feel uncomfortable.

No, don't apologize, Reika-chan. I want you to be as honest with me as you have to be, okay? I will never invalidate your feelings or opinions, no matter what they are.

Yoichi kindly assured her and looked down at his clenched fists, just now noticing that they were balled up as tightly as they were, then relaxed them and stretched out his long fingers. He bit his lips, unsure of what to say next and felt slightly awkward, which wasn't a usual occurrence for Yoichi Yamada. However, he soon realized that his awkward silence was a mistake as Reika was obviously crying and trying to leave. Yoichi stammered for a moment before getting himself together and clearing his throat. The blond stood up quickly and stepped in front of his raven haired friend.

Please don't, I'm really sorry, Reika.

Yoichi reached out and grabbed her smaller hands in his and glanced around, biting his lip. He often referred to Kurokawa and Reika by only their first names because of how close they were and also because his first language was English, so he's more used to calling people by only their first names than not.

Look, I'm gonna be honest with you, like I always am, 'kay?

Yoichi warned her softly and gripped her hands tightly.

I really love you, Reika, but I'm not sure if it's the same as the way you feel about me... I need time to think about this, alright? I promise that this doesn't change anything between us, but I don't have an answer for you right now.

After Yoichi's soft spoken explanation, he grinned at the shorter girl and pulled her in for a tight hug.

Please don't be sad and please don't regret telling me this. I always want you to be honest with me and even with Kurokawa because we're always here for you and we both care about you dearly. Even if what you have to say is difficult.

Yoichi pulled away and smirked down at her.

And I don't blame you for falling for me, I mean, look at me.

He teased and gestured down to himself, chuckling softly before clearing his throat and silencing himself.

You don't have to leave, I'm gonna give you some alone time for a bit though and I'll eat my lunch in my room.

After telling her this, he repacked the lunch and walked over to the pile of his and Kurokawa's things and grabbed them, groaning as he did so. He looked back at Reika and smiled brightly.

Thanks for the lunch by the way, I'm sure it's awesome, as always.

And after giving her his signature wink, he left and his heart was beating at an incredible speed. However, as soon as he entered the stairway, a figure caught his eyes and he looked beside him, seeing Kurokawa. He gulped and bit his lip, realizing that his best friend totally saw all of that, but tried playing it off coolly anyways.

Hey, Kuro. Why don't you go in there and hang with Rei-chan for a bit? I-I'm gonna bring this stuff to our room, 'kay?

He said quickly and smoothly before racing down the stairs before his friend could say anything.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Yoichi obnoxiously and breathlessly bursted into his shared room with Kurokawa and Hikaru and dropped all of the bags (except the bento) loudly before he realized that Hikaru was sleeping or trying to. He inhaled sharply and bit on his lower lip, hoping he hadn't woken the boy by accident because of his naturally loud behavior. He then noticed the redness on Hikaru's face, his uneven breathing and opened shirt. His brows furrowed worriedly and he set down the bento on a nearby end table and slowly stepped towards the couch, sitting beside Hikaru.

Dude,

he started slowly in a concerned tone.

Are you okay?

Another nightmare about her parents and the wreck, it was always the same. Ever since the wreck, Hikaru couldn't get a night of sleep without being plagued by painful memories that at this point she felt it would be easier to just forget. Even dreams about the happy times were painful because she would never see them again. It was teasing her with images of people she could never talk to again, a mother that wouldn't be there to fix her hair, and a father that would never get the chance to be protective or scare the shit out her first boyfriend would never be there to give her away at her wedding. However, the voice of someone began to stir her from her sleep. Someone's talking... Who is it..? she thought herself as she began to wake up, groaning softly.

"Are you okay?"

Groggily Hikaru sat up a little, using the arm of the sofa to pull herself up steadily. Her olive eyes blinked a bit trying to readjust to the light of the room. In her daze, it took Hikaru a moment before she realized that she wasn't alone. After taking a moment Hikaru finally woke up completely, and with clearer vision realized the person sitting next to her was Yadama, Yoichi. Immediately she nodded once she realized it was him, "I think it's just a cold... No big deal." She responded, running a hand through her hair, laughing a little afterwards. Her voice was softer than before, and a little weak. The way she was sitting she was facing Yoichi on the sofa instead of facing forward at the TV. Her head was still really fuzzy, and she felt really dizzy, but she did her best to stay strong. The last thing she wanted was for Yoichi to contact a teacher or the nurse, "Though I did finish setting up my room." Hikaru bragged a bit, seeing as she knew that Kurokawa and Yamada had not even begun. Hikaru then remembered her shirt was slightly unbuttoned and began fumbling to button it back up. Being alone with a guy in this state was embarrassing enough without her clothes being askew.

Though she had to admit it was nice having someone around. The fact that he cared enough to ask if she was alright was heartwarming. Hikaru stood, feeling a bit awkward now, "Which room do you want? I called dibs on the one next to the bathroom. I'll help you get your bags in." Hikaru offered. There were two rooms, one next to her's, and one closer to the steps. All three were upstairs, but the location was everything to Hikaru. The shorter her path to the bathroom, the better. The last thing she needed was to drop a bra in front of the other guys on her way back from her shower. That would raise some interesting questions that she did NOT want to answer. Would they get mad? Freak out? Would they tell the principal? She didn't want to get expelled... This was her only chance to get into a good college and escape the lower class. A diploma from this school would open doors for her. She needed this.

Hikaru checked the names on the bag tags and grabbed one of Yoichi's, and one of Kurokawa's, "I suppose Kurokawa-san gets the short end of the stick. I'll help you get his bags up there too." Hikaru laughed, stumbling a little after she lifted the bags over her shoulder. She managed to balance herself out enough. It wasn't that his bag was too heavy for her because on a normal day she could handle that. She just wasn't very surefooted with her fever. Without waiting for his answer, Hikaru went toward the stairs. She really didn't put her health into consideration, she just wanted to prove that she was okay, at least enough that he would be convinced that telling a nurse or teacher wouldn't be necessary. It is way too hot in here.. Is it the fever..? Hikaru thought to herself, starting up the stairs despite her dizziness.

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"No, don't apologize, Reika-chan. I want you to be as honest with me as you have to be, okay? I will never invalidate your feelings or opinions, no matter what they are."

As he spoke the word 'honest', Reika felt her stomach wrenching, Honest..? She couldn't even attempt being honest at this point. She was already so deep in the lie that she told, thinking it would bring a little damage control to her mishap, she couldn't possibly tell the truth now... Reika had her lunch packed up and ready to go, but she was surprised when Yoichi intercepted her retreat. Unable to glance up at him through tears of embarrassment, Reika stared at the concrete below their feet instead. She felt humiliated. It wasn't so much because it felt like she was being rejected, that was what she wanted him to do after all...

Even so, although Yoichi wasn't the person she had originally planned to give the lovey-dovey bento to it still stung when he responded in such a way. It was comparable to blunt force trauma to her pride regardless of who was turning her down. She wasn't used to rejection or confessing for that matter. There was only one boy Reika had ever gained the courage to confess to... and it was still very traumatizing to think about. This wasn't very different... The only thing that kept her together was the fact that unlike the boy she confessed to in middle school, Yoichi actually cared about her feelings. That, and there was also the little-known detail that she had a crush on Kazuki. It was through a series of misunderstandings that she was here confessing to Yoichi. How could she confess to him that she liked Kazuki when she wasn't even sure if Kazuki would accept her feelings? Reika wiped away her tears on her sleeve, trying to pull herself together. She knew that she would eventually get over this humiliation, but it didn't change the fact that this was embarrassing. If Kurokawa-Senpai doesn't feel the same...that would put Yoichi-kun in a very tricky situation... He'd be in a very awkward place... If he didn't know, perhaps it would spare the friendship. Reika couldn't help but believe that.

"Please don't, I'm really sorry, Reika."

Violet tear filled eyes widened when Reika felt her hands enveloped by Yoichi's. She immediately shook her head when he apologized. If anyone should apologize, it should have been her for being a coward, for pretending she was confessing to him to spare putting herself out there. Reika was used to Yoichi calling her by her first name without honorifics because they grew up together, but it was a lot more embarrassing when anyone else did it. Yoichi was her only childhood friend after all.

"Look, I'm gonna be honest with you, like I always am, 'kay?"

A nod was her initial response, but Reika knew that she owed him more than that. This was a serious issue, and she was dropping all of this on his lap to save herself. She felt incredibly selfish for doing it, but at the time she had been so afraid of how her best friends would respond. Even though Kurokawa had been late, she knew Yoichi would have told him eventually... At least this way Yoichi could turn her down and later on down the road once this was all forgotten she would be able to try again with Kurokawa. Preparing herself for the rejection speech, Reika let out a soft sigh and put on a strong face, "O-Of course." Reika responded, determined and ready for the harsh response. Though the way he clung on to her hands made her nervous. Just how brutally honest was he going to be? She couldn't help but wonder, but she knew he'd get to it very soon. He didn't beat around the bush very long, and she really appreciated that about Yoichi.

"I really love you, Reika, but I'm not sure if it's the same as the way you feel about me... I need time to think about this, alright? I promise that this doesn't change anything between us, but I don't have an answer for you right now."

At first, his words gave Reika a heart attack, but as he continued she understood he meant platonically. Or...not. Wait...He had to think about it?! Reika gazed up at him, then at the city down below them her blush deepening. This was not what she had anticipated. Did he really have to think, or was he trying to spare her feelings..? What if he accepted her confession!? Her entire face turned a dark shade of red. How was she supposed to handle something like this? She never even thought there was a remote possibility that Yoichi might accept the accidental confession, "I understand. Just.. Don't go easy on me because we're friends, okay? I won't hate you if you turn me down. " She assured him, hoping that he would not change his answer out of feelings of guilt or pity for her. Reika wiped her eyes again. How did something that was supposed to be a simple and subtle confession to Kurokawa ever get to be this complicated!? Was the universe so opposed to her confessing to him that it would sabotage her like this?

"Please don't be sad and please don't regret telling me this. I always want you to be honest with me and even with Kurokawa because we're always here for you and we both care about you dearly. Even if what you have to say is difficult."

The hug left her very flustered, remembering how the LAST time he hugged her, he was lacking a shirt....and pants.... Ugh! This isn't the time to be thinking of things like that!! Of course I am starting to regret telling you this. Y-Y-You were supposed to say you don't like me like that! Jeez! Guys like you are never interested in girls like me! Reika thought to herself with a pout on her lips, cheeks a bright shade of pink as she timidly patted his back in the hug, participating a little at least. Why did he need time to think about this? He witnessed all of her awkward stages. How could he possibly have feelings for her like that? Shouldn't it have been easy..? Though when he mentioned honesty again, Reika wanted to crawl into a hole and die somewhere. She had something difficult she needed to say to both him and Kurokawa, yet the words wouldn't come out. She always felt like someone had cut her tongue out whenever it came to confessing how she felt about Kurokawa. I know you both care... but what if he doesn't care in the way I want him to...? Reika thought to herself, nodding her head at Yoichi. She couldn't think of anything to say. She knew she should have told him the truth, that she wasn't trying to confess to him... but then he'd immediately realize who her real target had been all along. Would Yoichi get mad at her for lying? Why did I lie in the first place!? I just made things a lot worse!! Reika you're so stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

"And I don't blame you for falling for me, I mean, look at me."

While she had a delayed reaction from the shock of the hug, she managed to recover quickly enough to respond to his arrogance, "B-Baka! Wipe that smirk off your face!" Reika snapped at him, shoving his shoulder slightly. fuming with irritation. While she normally could look over his cockiness, she hardly believed this was the time. After getting her point across, Reika crossed her arms over her chest, still pouting, "I-I'm not perverted like that! Get over yourself!" she insisted in a flustered manner. Her tears were no longer flowing as heavily or nearly as frequent.

"You don't have to leave, I'm gonna give you some alone time for a bit though and I'll eat my lunch in my room."

Great.. I ran him off... So much for preserving the trio... Reika thought to herself, emotionally beating herself up for even making that bento. If she didn't decorate one and not the other then she would never have gotten into this mess in the first place. If she didn't try to move her relationship with Kurokawa to the next level, there never would have been a misunderstanding to be had. Why did I have to try and change things? I should know by now I can't have things like that...

"Thanks for the lunch, by the way, I'm sure it's awesome, as always."

"Duh..." Reika responded in reference to her food. She knew that she knew how to cook, and she prided herself in her ability to choose fresh vegetables, "O-Oi..." Reika complained when he winked at her. Why was he still doing that, even after she dropped such a heavy topic into his lap..? Was she overthinking things too much..? After she was alone on the roof Reika let out a soft sigh and the tears began flowing freely again. She wanted to fight herself, to punch herself in the mouth for not admitting what was truly in her heart. Though she heard someone else trip on the rooftop, spinning around immediately after she wiped her eyes.

"A-ah, hello Reika-san,"

As if on cue, life was throwing her yet another curveball. She felt like breaking down then and there. She wanted to confess her feelings, yet in her own cowardice she had already done so to Yoichi... she couldn't do that... She knew it would belittle her feelings for Kazuki. Her words wouldn't hold any weight if the two boys called her out. She was stuck between a rock and a hard place. It felt like there was no way out, "O-Oh, hey Kurokawa-Senpai." Reika closed her eyes and smiled brightly at him, even though tears still lingered in her eyelashes.

"I ran into Yoichi on the way up. I guess I was late...? I'm really sorry about that! I had to complete some notes, and I thought I'd go get drinks for everybody, and... er..."

Reika blinked a bit when he began explaining himself. She remained quiet, patiently listening. However, she was kind of glad he did not show up sooner. If he had witnessed any of that with Yoichi, she would have probably thrown herself off the roof, protective fence or not. Finally, she was beginning to understand why the faculty felt the need for such things. While she knew she wouldn't actually jump off no matter what happened between the trio, the temptation was there. She felt so helpless.

"Umm... I guess you're already done... but... umm... we don't have anything else on our schedules for at least another hour, and..."

Was he asking her to hang out with him..? Reika did not want to assume anything, but it felt like that was what Kurokawa was trying to say to her. She bit her lip, glancing to the scenery below to clear her mind. Her heart was racing like it always did in his presence. He wasn't a 'bad boy' like Yoichi, nor was his appearance considered 'model like', but she didn't mind any of that. It was moments like this that made Reika fall for Kurokawa, not his physical appearance. His shy personality, it was something she could appreciate.

"And I really missed you over summer! I wanted to get the chance to talk more, but after that fight this morning, well... umm..."

What she heard just then really brightened up her mood. She gawked for a few seconds completely in shock, He..missed me..? Reika smiled a bit, her cheeks turning fairly red. The tears finally fell from her eyes, but her smile and laughter changed the mood entirely. She may have been crying, but at least it was from happiness, right? He missed -me-... This isn't fair...[/i][/color] She thought to herself, wiping her eyes again. She didn't want him to see her crying, but when she looked up she noticed his blush. They were both so painfully awkward, she couldn't help but laugh a bit, "I missed you too, Senpai." she practically sang out. It was very easy to say knowing he felt the same way.

"A-anyway, if it's not too much of a bother... would you be willing to... uh... hang out for a while?"

"I haven't really ate yet so I'd love to, Kurokawa-Senpai. What kind of drinks did you get?" Reika inquired as she slowly made her way over to the fenceline, sitting on the ground this time leaning against the thin metal. She didn't want to sit on the bench she originally sat on with Yoichi. She didn't want to think about that awkward moment again so soon. She couldn't change anything right now, and he didn't accept or deny her. The fact that he had to think about it made Reika think he was still going to say no, so perhaps she wouldn't be in a mess after all? Would I even have the courage to tell the truth...? If he... NO! He wouldn't. Isn't it obvious I like Kurokawa...? He's been with so many girls... I think it would be.... Well.. I hope it isn't...but... UGH! Her thoughts were way too noisy! She opened her bento which only lacked a few bites, looking over to see if Kazuki was going to join her on the concrete. Being alone with him, she was really nervous... There weren't many times when they were together without Yoichi, especially not for over an hour!

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