The Disconsolate Maiden

Chapter Thirteen

After the first half of the day was nearly over, Homura's teacher decided to make an announcement that always made her feel sick to her stomach. There was going to be a prom.

"I want to make sure every student has the chance to go this year, so I'll be renting out a few dresses and suits at lower prices than in the stores!" the teacher had said, her words repeating over and over again in Homura's mind.

"Hey," Naomi said, poking Homura with her pencil, the shy girl not having noticed that the teacher had just dismissed them for lunch. "Are you feeling okay? Everything seems a bit off with you today. Not that you're a normal person, don't get me wrong, you're just as weird as they come. But your normal weird is kinda blurry today."

Homura rested her head on her desk, the cool, slick paper from her Japanese history book bringing upon a sort of "calming" sensation. Anything to distract her from her father, her dreams, and now the prom seemed to soothe her weary soul.

"Are you listening to me?!" Naomi huffed, raising her voice just a little. Totoko snorted as she left the classroom, still salty with Naomi from earlier that day.

"I'm sorry..." Homura sighed, still keeping her head down, not facing Naomi. "I'm not feeling well today..."

"You can talk to me about it if you'd like," Naomi said, scooting her chair a bit closer to the depressed girl. "I know I don't know much about you, but I'll gladly listen to learn more. You might be strange, but that's alright with me. You're my friend after all."

"F-Friend...?" Homura stammered, everything else Naomi said vanished from her mind. No girl her age had ever called her that, but somehow, she didn't believe it. "I've made no effort to do anything...I always have to head home immediately because of my mother's weak body..."

The room was completely quiet now. Only Naomi and Homura remained.

"Come on," Naomi said, gently grabbing Homura's hand from her lap, squeezing it a little. "Don't be upset because of that. Life is life. I think you're a really nice person, Homura. Maybe if your mother doesn't mind, I can come over sometime so you can still help her and be with me!"

"T-Thanks..." Homura sighed, lifting her head up the moment the six brothers passed by the classroom, strolling along towards the cafeteria.

"Hey!" Jyushimatsu exclaimed, his eyes resting on Homura. "It's you!"

Homura's heart began to pound insanely. She had no idea why, but the cheerful boy's sudden appearance began to make her anxious.

"What if he asks me to the prom..." Homura thought to herself nervously as Naomi sighed and stood up.

"I'm going to go get lunch now," Naomi said with a slight smirk. "I'll see you later."

Jyushimatsu ran in the room, all of his brothers looking confused when he threw himself at the shy girl, hugging her while laughing. They barely knew each other, and most students would have found this offensive or just outright strange. But, to Homura, it meant everything to her.

Her pounding heart began to slow down as she inhaled, taking in the boy's surprisingly fresh scent. Clearly, he took showers in the morning, or he just didn't have physical education until later in the day.

"Hey," Jyushimatsu said, still resting his head on Homura's a little, his voice getting much softer. "What's your name?"

Homura smiled a little in spite of herself, knowing that her cheeks were quite flushed, and she couldn't understand why.

"You're pretty," Jyushimatsu went on, finally getting off of Homura, allowing her to breathe much more easily. "I think you're really sweet too!"

"He's so honest..." Homura thought, burying her head in her arms so Jyushimatsu couldn't see her (what she thought) 'gross' face. "I love that about him...but he's probably not always like that...I don't know this Jyushimatsu person...I don't know their deepest secrets or what they like to do...this could all be a hoax."

"What's your name?" Jyushimatsu asked again, and Homura heard on of the poor boy's older brothers sigh out of irritation from out in the hallway.

"K-K-Kan-Kanojo H-Homura..." Homura quietly, her voice cracking in the process.

"Homura chan?" Jyushimatsu asked, as Homura looked up, her eyes filled with dread.

"Already using 'chan'..." Homura thought to herself. "End my misery..someone please...I'm not the one meant to even be here."

"Do you want to eat lunch with us today? Me and my brothers!" Jyushimatsu asked, beginning to wobble back and fourth in the chair he was sitting in.

"Yes," Homura replied almost immediately, not even thinking about what she had just gotten herself into.