Asagao After

PBG 1: New Beginnings

It has been two weeks since I started dating PBG, and things couldn't have been better. We frequently played video games in his dorm (much to Jon's dismay) and sometimes we traded Normal Boots jackets, not because he could actually wear mine, but because his jacket practically swallowed my small frame, making it one of the most comfortable things I've ever worn.

Things were going well for Mai, too. She was dating Jared and they were both very happy. However, the only people who knew about it were PBG and I after walking in on them playing D&D, and the hidden block guys that also play D&D (Jared didn't really have a choice on whether or not to tell them after Mai joined the game). I asked her why they haven't told anyone, it kinda seemed against their personalities to keep something so big a secret. She faltered before answering. "There are a lot of girls here that like Jared, and some of them are a little harsher than we would like to deal with. We'll share it with everyone eventually, we're just enjoying our secret for a little longer."

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"Hey guys, wanna hear about a time when Hana was little and she cried after she ran into a tree?" PBG laughed with his arms around me. I made a face and soon the whole table was snickering. "Hey PBG," I said with a smirk. "How about instead we talk about the time I pushed you out of that very tree and you were crying so hard you had to go home?"

Jon laughed so hard Jacques almost fell off his shoulder. "Aw, poor little Peanut." Jirard chuckled. PBG flushed. "Ok, so you fall in the shower and don't remember me, but you remember that I fell out of a tree and had to go home? Really?" I laughed and shoved him playfully. While I was laughing, I glanced up from the table and locked eyes with Kakusu. She glared at me, her eyes glowing the smallest hint of red. Mimi noticed her friends pained expression and smirked. "Don't worry Kakusu, it'll be over soon." She said a little loudly. "That relationship is just a fluke, like her nasty pink hair. PBG doesn't know what he's doing anyway. He's just a dumb soccer jock dating a dumb transfer student."

I froze. Kakusu seemed unsure of Mimi's harsh words, just for a moment, but then regained her glare, holding her ground. Everyone in the lunch room was staring, mumbling. Memories of being bullied swam back to me. Mimi's dominant expression was all I could focus on, until PBG took my hand. I squeezed it impulsively. The Continue boys made a barrier blocking my view from the other girls. I heard Satch's steady voice from behind them, talking to Mimi and Kakusu about the problem. I didn't notice my breathing was irregular until it evened out. I glanced up at PBG. His expression was blank. Was he used to this kind of negative attention?

The bell rang. PBG gave me a quick hug and vanished. The Hidden Block guys gave Mimi and Kakusu disapproving glances while they joined the remaining Normal Boots guys in checking to see if I was ok. I nodded at all of them, feeling a little overwhelmed. Mai stepped in, thanked them on my behalf for the attention, and then pulled me by the hand away from the group.

Safely outside, I collapsed onto a bench. It was happening again, except this time I was pulling PBG down with me. "Mimi is so jealous." Mai said, sitting down next to me. "She just wants the popularity you have and hates that you got is so quickly." I pressed my knees together. "But I didn't ask for this popularity." I mumbled. Mai smiled. "I know, that's why you have it."

###

Later that day Mimi was very obviously flirting with Jared, clearly trying to recover from lunch. Shane sighed loudly and rolled his eyes. The rest of the club stood silently, they probably thought ignoring the problem would make it go away. Sadly, with girls, this is never the case. Jared caught Mai's attention as we rounded the corner coming out of class and she froze. Mimi saw and giggled a little, making a move for Jared's shoulder. Mai clenched her fists. She glanced at her secret boyfriend and nodded. She strut up to Mimi and Jared and dove between them. "Leave." she said firmly. Soon everyone's attention, from the Normal Boots guys to the students passing by, was her possession.

Mimi sneered. "What gives you the right to tell me to leave?" she spat. Mai smirked. Jared glanced down at her and smiled. "This does." He said gingerly. He grabbed Mai by the waist and dipped her into a kiss. Mimi was stunned, and frankly so was everyone else. PBG and I were in hysterics. Soon everyone else followed suit, laughing and cheering. Mimi turned bright red. She turned to me, her face contorted with embarrassment and anger. "You and your friend won't embarrass me twice and get away with it." she said with a scowl. And with that she sulked off.

I turned back to the others. No one else noticed Mimi's threat, they were too wrapped up in the kiss. A sinking feeling hit my stomach. So many good things were happening, but why did they all have bad consequences for everyone else? What if it was my fault Mimi and Kakusu were so harsh? Were there other girls that felt the same way? Mai called my name and snapped me out of my thoughts. I guess those questions would have to wait.