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Chapter 8: A New Term

-Liz's POV-

I wake up to my alarm, right on time. Ana grumbles, "It's fine, you don't have to get up yet. Go back to sleep" snores, at least she asleep again. I walk out into the conjoined living room and kitchen. I look over at the sofa, Maki is crying? Wait! Maki's crying! "Maki, are you alright?" I ask her. She looks at her, I hate seeing her like this, just what exactly fucked her up? "Maki, you've been crying...hey, I won't tell her, it's fine" I smile at her. I can tell when she's super upset is the tears, it's hard to read Maki, unlike Ana but something forced Maki to be like this. I hug Maki, she compelled me to keep this secret from Ana, I guess she doesn't want her worrying. I just comfort people how I usually would, that is when their crying. We stay like this until I suggest that we should probably make breakfast.

We pull apart and head to the kitchen, Maki walks off to her cupboard and I grab my ingredients. Ana and I nickname it. 'Maki's Cupboard' or 'The Japanese Cupboard' cause it's loaded with the nation's food. I grab pans and spatulas and other stuff; I start by cooking off the meat. I love the smell of meat cooking. I notice Maki making instant ramen but fancier. I mean, I don't mind it as long as she has breakfast but that's the main thing, she has for breakfast most days. Someone walks out the bedroom, they closed the door so it can't be Ana, she always slams the damn door. "Good morning Harper", "Good morning Green-san" Harper and I greet each other. "Ohayo Nelson-san", "Ohayo Togami-san" they greet each other. "Do you want some Nelson-san? I have enough for two". "Please Togami-san!", I hear her grab bowls and chopsticks and they both sit down as I continue to cook.

"Itadakimasu" they say and eat. "Shouldn't you go get Ana?" I ask Maki. "It's her fault if she's late again" she replies. "Sometimes I start to wonder if you ever care for her" I feel her roll her eyes at me. I know I nag her all the time but it's the good kind of nagging most the time. I take the food out the pan and place it on the plate. I eat mine quickly as it isn't much and I see Ana stride in. "Is she a zombie?", "Whenever is she not a zombie", "Maki!". "Shut up, your so loud" Ana scolds us while seating herself down. I place Ana's breakfast in front of her. Her head moves so she can stare at her food and opens her eyes to some extent. She closes them again, stands up, grabs the plate of food and leaves. How does she never make a mess? I guess that's a skill she developed over the years.

"Togami-san? Why do you and Potter-san have different surnames? Like I know some cousins don't and some do, but why not you two?" Harper asks Maki. "Ana took her dad's surname, and my dad said my mum could pick my surname" it's a rarity when Maki mentions her mum. I wonder why she never mentions her. "Does your mum live with your dad?" uh oh. The first and only time I asked that Maki flipped on me. She hates when someone asks that.

"It's complicated, I'd rather not say" she, didn't get angry. That's new, I guess she learnt to control herself when someone asks that question. I wonder what's the real reason, Ana and Maki always become secretive when it comes to Maki's side of the family and her childhood. They have opened to me about some stuff but they're vague about what they say. Do they think Principal Carson can hear them talk? I'll soon learn about this all one day...Hopefully. "You mentioned Potter-san being late?" Maki gets up and places her dishes in the sink and leaves the room.

A loud smack is heard thought the dorm and another one happens. "Maki! Don't hit her!" I holler at Maki, "(Japanese) You're not my mum and never will be. Also stop trying to stop what me and Ana do, this shit usually happens. You know, it's fun speaking in Japanese because that face of yours you make when I speak is absolutely hilarious, almost makes me want to smile". Dammit, I hate when she speaks Japanese, I don't understand a single word. Whatever, I'll just deal with it and damn that emo kid! I must've been making my face cause Harper looked at me, whoops! I bet Maki is just enjoying this.

Maki walks out the bedroom with the now empty plate of Ana's food in one hand and in the other, Ana's wrist. I look at her disappointed, she always drags Ana out of the room, at least on the first day of each term. "So, we have a new homeroom teacher? Have any of you met them?" we all shake our heads, actually just me and Maki, Ana's still sleepy. "How far away are we from campus?" Maki drops Ana's arm and places the plate in the sink. "10-minute drive or a 30-minute walk. I'm ready early so I go but I noticed that Ana's car is here, and she can drive herself to school. I can take you Nelson-san if you want", "Sure! Do you think you could give me a tour before we go to class?". "We have some free periods; I'll take you on a tour then". "You're being so nice Maki; I think you're possessed". "Are you ready to go Nelson-san?". "Just let me grab my stuff and then, yep, I'll be ready".