Knew You Were Trouble | KAZUJIN

Chapter 6: Pep Rally Revelations

The morning air was crisp as students filed into the halls of New York City High, backpacks slung over their shoulders and chatter buzzing around every corner. Kazuha walked with purpose, her cheerleading uniform peeking out from beneath her jacket, her face set in quiet determination. She was already dreading the upcoming pep rally, where she would have to endure more of Yunjin's flirty antics directed at every girl who crossed her path. Kazuha had been careful to keep her distance from the school's golden girl, but Yunjin's presence still had a way of unsettling her.

Meanwhile, Yunjin stood near her locker, a small crowd gathered around her. She was in the middle of telling a dramatic story, her hands gesturing animatedly, when her laughter suddenly trailed off. Across the hall, she saw Chaewon and Sakura walking side by side, their expressions serious as they whispered to each other. Something about the way they moved sent a chill down Yunjin's spine.

Yunjin's attention snapped back to her friends, who were eagerly waiting for her to finish the story. She forced a smile, masking the unease that had taken hold of her. "Anyway, long story short, I ended up running from the security guard for an hour," she finished, her laugh ringing out louder than she felt. The group burst into laughter, but Yunjin's gaze drifted back to Chaewon and Sakura, who were now headed toward the library, looking more tense than she'd ever seen them.

Kazuha, who had been standing at her own locker, caught the worried look on Yunjin's face. She frowned, a strange sense of curiosity tugging at her. Ever since the group project with Chaewon and Sakura, she'd grown close to both girls. Chaewon was warm and comforting, while Sakura, despite her intimidating demeanor, had a quiet kindness that Kazuha had come to appreciate. Seeing them so upset now sent a pang of concern through her chest.

Before Kazuha could process it, another surprise unraveled before her eyes. The intercom crackled to life, and the principal's stern voice echoed through the halls. "Attention students, please be advised: we have a special announcement to make during this morning's pep rally. All students must attend."

Whispers spread through the hall like wildfire. Special announcements usually meant something big, and rumors began swirling immediately. Yunjin's heart pounded in her chest, an unexplainable dread crawling over her skin.

As the bell rang, signaling the start of first period, Kazuha found herself walking toward Chaewon and Sakura, who had paused by the entrance to the library. "Hey," she called out, her voice gentle. "Is everything okay?"

Chaewon and Sakura exchanged a look, and for a moment, Kazuha thought they might brush her off. But then, Chaewon sighed, her shoulders slumping. "We need to talk," she said, her voice low and strained. "But not here."

Kazuha's concern deepened, and she nodded slowly. "Okay," she agreed. "After the rally?"

Sakura's eyes flickered to Yunjin, who was now trying to hide her own anxiety behind a forced smile. Something unreadable passed between the two girls before Sakura looked back at Kazuha. "Yeah," she said, her voice almost a whisper. "After the rally."

Kazuha watched them walk away, her heart heavy with worry. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong, and that whatever it was, it involved Yunjin in ways she couldn't yet understand. As she turned to head to her class, she glanced back at Yunjin, who was watching her with a conflicted expression.

Little did any of them know, the announcement that awaited them at the pep rally was about to change everything.

The gymnasium buzzed with energy as students packed into the bleachers, the colors of their school spirit splashed across every wall. Cheerleaders lined up on the polished wooden floor, warming up for their routine, while the basketball and football teams took their seats near the front, ready to bask in the attention. Yunjin sat with her teammates, her usual confident grin in place, but a persistent gnawing anxiety coiled in her stomach.

Kazuha stood with the cheerleading squad, arms crossed over her chest as she watched the crowd. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming, something big that might tear apart whatever delicate balance she'd found in the past few weeks. Her eyes kept drifting to Chaewon and Sakura, who had taken seats far from where the cheerleaders were gathered. Both girls looked tense, whispering urgently to each other.

"Hey," Yunjin called out to one of her teammates, who was cracking jokes beside her, trying to keep things light. But her mind wasn't on the banter or the usual rally festivities. She couldn't help but notice that every time she glanced in Chaewon's direction, a new pang of guilt bubbled up. How long had it been since they'd had a genuine conversation? Since everything between them had gone so wrong?

The principal stepped up to the microphone, and the gym quieted to a hush. He adjusted his glasses, looking graver than any of the students had ever seen him. "Thank you all for gathering today," he began, his voice reverberating through the gym. "Before we kick off our usual pep rally, I have some news to share. It concerns an incident that we believe impacts every student here."

A collective murmur rippled through the crowd, and Yunjin felt her heart skip a beat. She leaned forward, every muscle in her body tense.

Kazuha's breath caught in her throat. Her fingers tightened around the hem of her cheerleading uniform, and she exchanged a worried look with one of her teammates. What was going on?

The principal took a deep breath, his expression darkening. "It has come to our attention that several students were involved in a situation that violated school policy and, more importantly, jeopardized the safety and trust of our student body. I am deeply disappointed to announce that this matter involves some of our own school leaders."

Yunjin's stomach dropped. She could feel every set of eyes in the room zeroing in on the basketball and cheerleading teams. Her mind raced, panic blooming in her chest. What could they have found out?

The principal continued, his voice grave. "We will be conducting an investigation, and those found responsible will be held accountable. I am asking everyone to cooperate fully and respect the seriousness of this situation."

A stunned silence settled over the gym. Kazuha's mind spun, questions racing faster than she could process them. She glanced at Chaewon and Sakura, who both looked pale and strained. Something was definitely wrong—more wrong than she had even imagined.

Before anyone could react further, Yunjin's phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out with trembling fingers and stared at the anonymous message flashing on her screen:

"You thought you could hide it forever, Yunjin? Everyone will know soon enough."

Her heart lurched, and she clenched her fist around the phone. Beside her, her teammates whispered and speculated, completely unaware of the storm brewing inside her. Yunjin swallowed hard, her gaze flickering to Kazuha, who was still watching Chaewon and Sakura with a confused, worried expression.

Yunjin realized with a cold certainty that whatever she had tried to keep buried was coming to light.

The cheerleaders were called to perform, and Kazuha snapped back to the moment. But as she took her place in formation, her thoughts swirled, her heart pounding. Whatever secrets lay hidden between these walls, she was about to be caught in the middle of it all.