Boys For Hire!!

Chapter 10: I Love You

"Arian, let's go! Use that otaku speed of yours."

I pant as I near the end of the race track, the dozen other girls in my class already at the end, looking impatient. Beads of sweat drip down my face as I put in my best effort to finish this stupid race.

"That's what you get for walking half the time, Arian." My coach pesters me from behind, having to walk behind me the entire time to make sure I'm motivated. When I reach the end I bend over and lean on my knees, my heart beating out of my chest and my ears ringing.

"Ugh, she's always bringing us down. Why do we always have to waste half the lesson on her?"

"I know right..."

I look over to the girls waiting impatiently on the sidelines who look at me in disgust, as if I was some piece of gum stuck under their shoe. Now calmed down, I hug myself and try to ignore the situation like I always do. I can't let myself get down, Katsu even walked home wet so I could keep the umbrella and stay dry. I need to make this day worth something...

I smile at the memory. Katsu was being so kind to me this morning, maybe when I get home I'll pester him more about the girl he was talking about.

"Ew... Look at her smiling all to herself. Think she's thinking about something dirty?"

"That's so gross!"

The girls behind me giggle and I clench my fist. It's irritating. Every inch of me wants to turn around and sock the girls in the face while spitting hellfire into the empty shells they call brains. When I'm about to take a step around, there's a hand on my shoulder.

"Just ignore them Arian, they're not worth it. Trust me." I whip my head up to see Takashi Yozu, otherwise known as Taka. He's a real nice guy, to be honest... Well, nice enough to even converse with me.

"Ugh... Taka...! You're just too nice to everyone, even her..." A girl groans, accompanied by more sniggers.

"Stop guys. Arian's a good person." Takashi rebuttals in my defence, but it turns out to go down on him.

"What? Do you 'like' her? You do I bet!" The whole P.E class giggles in a chorus of laughs and shouts. "Get in, Taka! Hahaha!!" I look back to Takashi who's blushing with his arms folded. He must regret coming to save me, don't blame him.

***

"So tired..." I yawn and stretch, the confines of my 5 kilo bag weighing down my movements and tugging on my back. I pass the court yard along with other students as if I'm in my own little world, separated from everyone else.

"Yo! Arian!!" I hear rushed footsteps zooming towards me and I turn around bracing defensively.

"Takashi?" I lower down my defence when I see it's only Takashi. When he stops in front of me, leaning down on his knees to pant, I smile a little. "Thanks for coming to my rescue today, like my knight in shining armour."

He stands up straight and grins. "It's always been like that, huh?"

"I hate to admit it, but yup." I nod in agreement. Ever since I was little, Takashi had always come to save me from whatever trouble I was in. When that boy died... He would always come to my defence, he was like my only friend... My mind flashes back to the Boys For Hire and I smile.

"A-Anyway... You wanna go somewhere on the weekend, Arian?"

"Go somewhere?" I look up into his warm, brown eyes. "Oh, do you want help with your science again?"

"No, like as in..." Takashi bites his lip nervously and smiles sheepishly. "Like to the pool or something. I hear they have a weekend discount for patrons under 18."