Stumbling Over Love | ✓

Chapter 34

_Chapter 34~ Treasure Me_

"Reina," Daichi sighed as soon as we met up after the bell for lunch, Erika off prancing around the school by herself. "We're not in the same class anymore!"

"It sucks, right?" Miyabi pouted. "I was hoping we'd all be in the same class too. Iwasaki's so lucky!"

At the mention, I fixated my gaze on the said guy for a brief second before immediately looking back at them. He luckily didn't notice.

"Then again," Daichi began, tilting his head, "Reina's not really the best classmate. She's always daydreaming in class."

"Really? I was so sure she'd be super dedicated," Miyabi said in surprise. "Well, Iwasaki isn't any better so I guess we both suffered equally for a year, haven't we?"

"What a long year too."

Miyabi beamed, swinging an arm around his shoulder. "Thank goodness I have you now!"

Daichi winced at the contact, gingerly placing his finger by his cheek. My eyelids rose in shock to the band-aid he had pasted there.

"Daichi, are you all right?"

He quickly forced a smile at my question. "Yeah, fine. Just had a little accident."

"Jeez, you gotta be more careful, Daichi," Miyabi scolded. "Were you working in your shop or something?"

"Yeah... I got splashed in the cheek with hot tea." He awkwardly laughed. "More importantly, are you okay, Reina? I heard about Raidon Tsuki and Keisuke Yamasaki's visit to your class today. Didn't they get dragged to the principal's office sooner or later when Mrs. Hamada arrived?"

"Yeah, yeah! I heard that too!" Miyabi said, throwing up his arm.

"Thank goodness Mrs. Hamada arrived," I breathed, recalling the very scene. The two delinquents were dragged out of room by the terrifying old lady we called a principal and Mr. Matsuda was finally able to begin a normal class.

"I was so worried about you, Sheep! I wanted to race out of my class so I could protect you!" Without warning, Miyabi brought my body to his for emphasis.

"Oh, did you hear my cry for help?" I went along with it, wryly smiling as I did.

"Of course! There's no way I didn't hear your heart cry for mine!"

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah... Can you let go of me now?"

"Yeah, you're being rude Miyabi," Daichi interjected with a frown. "I never get to hug Reina."

I deadpanned.

"And you think I do? She's typically so vicious!" Miyabi defended. "She tried to bite off my hand the last time I tried! Bite it!"

No I didn't. I tried to push him away from me. "Hey—"

"Leave her alone." In a split second, Ryu pried both Miyabi and Daichi away from me and forced them to keep their distance. As always, he had come to my rescue. I let out a breath of relief.

Miyabi sheepishly chuckled, holding up his arms as Ryu continued to glare at them. "Sorry, sorry," he apologized as Daichi bobbed his head in a bow as well. "Iwasaki... you really treasure Sheep don't you?"

His hostility slipping, Ryu blinked at the question. His countenance matched my baffled one.

"He... does?" I asked, glancing up at him for an answer.

Ryu met my eyes, and like an innocent puppy, tilted his head to the side. "I... do?"

Daichi shook his head the same time Miyabi let out a laugh.