What Rules Cannot Hold (A Naekusaba story)

Chapter 16

Students murmured excitedly as the coach finally halted. Preemptive shuffling sounded soon after, the driver telling everyone to calm down and to leave the coach one by one to prevent unnecessary problems. The students quieted down and began to leave. 

Makoto awoke. His left side felt strangely numb, so he opened his worried eyes and they immediately darted towards Mukuro who seemed to be still asleep while leaning against him. Certain that at least several students sitting behind him witnessed this, he nudged Mukuro gently. 

''...Mukuro? We have to leave...'' He whispered, nudging her again. 

Her eyes opened and met his. They stared motionlessly and seemed blank. Fearing that this was caused by her head injury, Makoto grasped Mukuro's arm and hastily checked her pulse, ignorant of what else he could do if she were to revert to her previous state. Suddenly, Mukuro's cheeks bloomed with a deep red and the girl moved away from Makoto rapidly, continuing to stare at him with her mouth slightly agape. 

''...What happened? Did we...do something?'' She asked, her body grasped by unnatural motionlessness.

''N-No...we-'' Makoto stopped when someone grasped his shoulder. He turned around and saw Yasuhiro. 

''So that's why you left me! What a bummer. My prediction was oddly low when I thought about you having a girlfriend, so this is very unexpected! But, come to think of it...maybe I mixed your results with Kazuichi's or Hifumi's?'' He said. 

Makoto scanned the bus for other students who could've heard his comment, but there was only Nekomaru who was still asleep.

''T-that's not it! She's my friend!'' Makoto shouted, waving his hands, although calling Mukuro his 'friend' felt uncomfortable - as if he was rejecting his own advances. 

''Don't worry, bro, it's all-'' 

''A-Anyway, let's leave before the coach gets angry,'' Makoto said, playfully pushing forward Yasuhiro who was rambling about friendship predictions and such and, on his way, he also awoke Nekomaru who apologised for failing to moderate his sleep. Makoto reckoned the apology strange, but his attention returned to Mukuro who was right behind them. She was walking rather slowly, as if waiting for him to go, and her head was lowered, though not low enough to conceal from him her thoughtful expression.

Outside, they retrieved their belongings from the luggage compartment and joined the students swarming the area before the school. 

The building itself was unimpressive; a large circular portico propped by rows of columns and topped with a pediment decorated with the logo of Hope's Peak Academy was its most notable feature, the rest of the building being plain and uninspiring. The structure clearly wasn't new and looked older in some respects than Hope's Peak. Yet the extensive football pitch, tennis courts and swimming pool stationed nearby distracted many students from despairing at the miserable look of their new school. 

Going inside the building was much more uplifting, as a large, crystal chandelier greeted everyone entering with a resplendent shine; potted exotic flowers flanked doors leading to ultimate labs and classrooms; a crimson carpet patterned with gold spiraling snakes running along its border worked well with the vestibule's dark-wooden flooring. Several armchairs and a sofa near a window overlooking the portico quickly saw many students fighting over a chance to sit on them. 

The headmaster told everyone that this school was also equipped with a spacious basement; there the students could find a small theatre, game room and library. He then directed everyone's attention to the hallway leading to the dormitory, stating that each dorm was designed to accommodate two students instead of one. This having been said, all the students scattered as they searched for someone to share their dorm with.