The Disconsolate Maiden

Chapter Six

"Miss Homura?" the nurse asked, gently shaking the girl's shoulder, awakening her from her brief slumber. "Would you like me to get you something from the cafeteria or do you feel well enough to eat there yourself?"

Homura yawned a little, slid off of the bed, and smiled at the nurse.

"I'll be fine now, but I appreciate your offer," Homura bowed to the nurse, once again, thanking her for taking care of her that morning.

"Oh, really it was nothing!" the nurse chuckled. "You're too kind, Homura. Far too kind. Really, it's an honor to have someone like you to bow to me in such a polite manner."

Homura's cheeks turned a soft rosy color as she lifted her head, laughing a little out of embarrassment.

"Well, you better get going," the nurse said kindly, leading Homura to the door that led into the school's hallway. "It was nice to have your company this morning. I'd say I hope to see you soon, but then again, I wouldn't want you to be ill if I happened to see you. Stay safe, kid!"

Homura nodded her head, grabbing her school bag on the way out.

As she walked at a fast pace down the hallway, she noticed Naomi and Totoko not too far up ahead, walking together.

"Hey!" Homura called out, trying her very best to at least not feel so alone in her school. She didn't want to have to lie to her mother, saying she had friends. She wanted it to genuine. "Guys wait for me!"

Naomi stopped walking and turned around at the sound Homura's voice. Snorting a little, she turned back around and kept walking, laughing about something with Totoko.

Walking at a faster pace, Homura managed to maneuver past the other kids, soon walking right beside the two girls.

"I can't believe Osomatsu was sent to our class today!" Totoko exclaimed, giggling excitedly. "His teacher sent him over for being a distraction, and I can see why now! He's so hot, Naomi! I wish he would notice me like I notice him!"

Namoi snorted and shook her head a little.

"The idea of a boyfriend interests me, but if you'd ever want to join an idol company, you're not allowed to be in any sort of relationship, from what I've heard. Doing things in secret could get you in huge trouble, too," Naomi said sharply.

"Well, if I could have tons of people fawn over me..." Totoko began, pulling out her phone, quickly taking a selfie of herself as the three girls stopped at the doors leading into the cafeteria. "Maybe Osomatsu would notice me then! And if he ever really started to like me back...ohhhhhhh Naomi! You have no idea how happy I would be! I love Osomatsu so much! If anyone dares mess with my boy..." Totoko stopped and glared at Homura, "...I'm afraid I can't associate myself with them ever again."

"I-I still didn't mean to r-run into him!" Homura exclaimed. "R-Really! I-I don't like him! Really, a-all of those people scared me!"

Naomi began to laugh and slapped Homura on the back, a huge smirk on her face.

"If you come with me after school today, I can get you fixed up so you actually look pretty for once. That way, all the boys will want you. Ignore what Totoko says. She might be hot, but I can make you even hotter," Naomi whispered into Homura's ear as Totoko began to post things on all of her social media.

"Excuse me!" a boy's voice suddenly yelled out, pushing past the three girls, bursting into the cafeteria. As the door was swung open, it revealed one of the longest lines Homura had ever seen.

"Hey! That's cutting!" Totoko screamed angrily, storming into the lunchroom. "NOBODY CUTS IN FRONT OF ME. DO YOU HEAR ME?!"

Totoko found the boy and grabbed him by the collar of his school uniform, beginning to shake the brains out of him.

But as soon as she stopped, she felt horrible when she noticed who the person was.

"Osomatsuwhy are you in here so late?!" Totoko screamed, then proceeded to punch him in the face. "You moron! You were supposed to save me a seat!"

Osomatsu stumbled to the ground, groaning in pain as he rubbed his cheek which was now beginning to swell up.

"Sorry, but who are you?" Osomatsu said, staring blankly at Totoko.

Totoko was mortified.

Naomi grabbed Totoko's hand in her and squeezed it tightly.

Once again, despite what had just happened, Homura felt extremely left out. She just couldn't help it.

Even if Osomatsu had been getting beaten up, deep down, she wanted to be in his place.

"Even if it meant I got hurt very badly...they still wouldn't be ignoring me so much..." Homura thought to herself, staring at the floor.

At that moment, she felt someone tap lightly on her shoulder.

Homura turned around, finding that it was one of Osomatsu's freakish lookalike brothers.

"Hey, you're Homura right?!" the boy said loudly and excitedly.

"Y-Y-Y-Yes....!" Homura stammered nervously, her palms instantly growing sweaty.

"Sorry if we scared you earlier!" the boy said, laughing a little, smiling just as happily as he could. "We were just as surprised! Osomatsu's never had a girl run right into him like that!"

"S-Sorry!" Homura whimpered slightly, bowing very low, so low that her hands were almost past her knees.

"I'm Jyushimatsu!" the boy said randomly, laughing again before he ran past her, going somewhere into the cafeteria where his friends or brothers were possibly at.

"J-Jyushimatsu...?" Homura accidentally said out loud. Just something from his name brought a sense of comfort to her heart, and she had no idea why.