Assumptions | Kise x OC

04 | NOT Honest

04 | NOT Honest

I reflect back on my day while I'm getting ready to go to bed. After ten minutes of crying and throwing a temper tantrum, Kise had finally shut up and spent the rest of practice glaring at me. The coach had given me an ice pack for my head and told me about all my responsibilities as manager. It doesn't seem too hard. All I have to do is run errands, take notes, and hand out supplies.

I told Mom earlier that I joined the basketball team, but she didn't care. She was too busy gushing over how smart Hana is since she's been inducted into a decathlon team. The only thing Dad did when I told him was grunt and nod in acknowledgment.

Thanks, Dad.

I sigh and sit down on my comforter, biting my lip. It'd be nice if my family gave me some encouragement. I'm not even asking for a lot. A simple "wow, Mari, good job," or even a thumbs up would suffice. It stings when you're shoved to the back of your family's minds like a pet goldfish whose bowl never gets washed.

Maybe... maybe that's why I crave the acceptance of my schoolmates.

I clench my hands into fists.

Kise won't take this away from me.

‒‒‒‒‒

The next day's periods drag on forever just like how they did yesterday. Sensei would glance at me from time to time—I think Kobori told him I joined the basketball team. I swear I have gray hairs by the time the lunch bell rings, and I escape into the cafeteria. Hayakawa waves me over to their table. I smile gratefully.

"...keep an eye out for Moriyama. He's the third-year with the weirdly parted hair," Kobori says.

"Why?" I ask.

"He doesn't have much self-control around cute girls."

I stop chewing as I process what he said. Did he just indirectly call me cute? A blush rises to my cheeks, but I cover myself by holding my sandwich up and taking a huge bite.

"It'd be best if you don't tell other girls that you're our manager. Kise's fans are insane," Kasamatsu warns. "They made a fan club for him last month called the 'Kise is Life League;' ever since then, they've been chasing him nonstop."

The Kise is Life League club? Oh my God, the KiLL club. The kill club. A shudder falls down my spine, and I scan the area for any sign of them. If they find out that I'm out to get him, I might not live to see the next day.

"I'll be quiet," I promise.

"The only other person you have to worry about on the team is Kise himself. He slacks off and tries to get out of responsibilities whenever he can," Kasamatsu grumbles.

The bag of chips he's holding is crushed into a messy heap of crumbs. He clenches his jaw, and his neck vein flexes. I can clearly see the wrath darkening his eyes.

"Yeath, we hafta lookth outta fo hims 'cause hea runsth away a loth," Hayakawa adds.

I give myself a mental pat on the back; I actually understand what he was trying to tell me. "He runs away? Wow, he's a handful."

Kasamatsu nods in agreement, his shoulders sagging and head tilting down. Poor guy. Kise's ruining his youth.

‒‒‒‒‒

The final lecture ends in silence because everybody, including me, is half-asleep and trying to find the motivation to stand up and leave. I'm one of the first to go, and I catch the typical 'Crazy American' comments when my back turns to my classmates. My self-control's really amazing. Any normal person would've lit up those punks.