12 Roses

20 | What Kind of Girls Do You Like?

"Damn it!"

You looked away from the wound on Toge's shoulder and watched Maki storm into the classroom, following by Yuta.

"What happened?" Panda asked.

"They won't let me participate in the goodwill event!" she exclaimed, kicking the nearest desk and knocking it over. "They're letting Yuta participate but they told me I'm not ready."

"Salmon."

You nodded. "They know you can do it, they're just prejudice."

"Exactly! This is nothing like the battle with Geto, they weren't even there! No one is that strong, not in Kyoto. I can beat them!"

You glanced at the open door, watching the second and third years walk by, smirking into the classroom as if barring Maki from participating in the goodwill event was some sort of achievement.

You kissed your teeth and finished with Toge's wound before poking your head out into the hallway. The others joined you as the second years walked out into the yard, then screamed and hollered as trees began to reach out at them and grass suddenly towered over them.

With a few scattered giggles from your friends, you stepped back into the classroom. "Looks like they won't be able to handle it either."

•••

You stirred in your sleep until you opened your eyes, staring at your ceiling as light leaked through the window, elongating the branches of the trees outside.

You slipped out of bed and glanced at the clock, realizing that you had to be at school in half an hour to help set up for the sports event.

Was it called the goodwill event as well?

Once you finished getting ready, you walked into the kitchen to see your dad standing in front of the stove, making pancakes. "Good morning," he signed when he saw you. "Want breakfast?"

"No time. See you." You kissed his cheek and walked downstairs, passing your mom and waving before leaving and rushing to the bus stop. You met up with Tsumiki and the both of you went to the bus stop.

"You're not in uniform," she observed.

"I have an event today. I'm one of the volunteers."

You saw Tsumiki's mouth make an "o" shape. "Well, have fun!"

You got on the bus and a few stops later, Panda joined you. Well, you believed it was Panda.

He walked onto the bus and you could see athletic clothing sticking out from under his sweater, but he didn't fashion his usual panda head and instead had a black medical mask on and sunglasses.

"What's with..." You motioned to his face.

"My dad told me that I'd get too hot in the panda head so he gave me this instead."

His sunglasses didn't quite fit his usually friendly demeanour and better fit his muscular body. You had seen his build while at the cabin and it was a certainly interesting pairing with his friendly panda head.

You watched him shift uncomfortably in his seat and play with his scruffy black hair that fell over his ears that were pink with burn scars. He kept trying to pull his hair down over his exposed skin.