Strawberry Milk [COMPLETED]

❧Chapter Twenty-One

It sounded really stupid, but being pretty made me smarter.

Without the constant negative attention and feeling like I was insignificant and small with absolutely no chance of excelling in class, I had time to focus. Focus less on me, and more on the lesson.

I was answering questions left and right when the teacher called on me — I even raised my hand a few times! I learned so many facts all at once, so many formulas....Who knew school could be so interesting?

I found it rather interesting, my attitude at this school versus the one I had at my old school. Walking into the run down building with rundown teachers who taught rundown lessons to rundown students with rundown mindsets really made everything seem...well, down. The teachers gave up on you before you could even give up on yourself there. Most of the time I would walk into class and do nothing. Or just skip altogether if I felt like I had something better to do.

But here..regardless if the teacher liked you or not, they didn't seem to see failure as an option.

In fact, my teacher realized I was more attentive to her lesson and started praising me.

Good job, Manabe-San! That's correct.

As sad as it sounded, I hadn't heard a teacher compliment me probably since elementary school. It's probably why I felt like a little kid and started beaming every time it happened.

Everything was coming up Ichigo.

"Can anyone tell me the answer to this problem—"

"It's 45." Kotoko answers.

"That's incorrect, Fukuoka-San. Have you been studying?"

"What!"

The class started to snicker, and I raised my hand up high. The teacher called on me almost immediately, smiling as if she wanted to tell me I was correct before I even said anything.

"It's 73, I believe."

"That's correct, Manabe-San! You're on a roll today!"

I smirked at Kotoko as she turned around to glare at me again. It looks could kill, I'd be 10 feet deep by now. Amazingly enough, she didn't bother or intimidate me all that much now. It was like my entire transformation had become a barrier of immunity to her cruel antics.

When the bell rang for lunch, I stepped out of the door the moment a foot came out to trip me. I was about to fall flat on my face, but I was caught by one of my classmates — Aki Takahashi. He was quite the charmer with his adorable curly brown hair and soft brown eyes.

Every girl in school practically chased after him.

But you know, I had my sights set on a certain blond, so I wouldn't be in Aki's crowd anytime soon.

"Wouldn't want you to fall on that gorgeous face of yours..." his eyes twinkle back at me admiringly.

But it looks like he might be in mine...

"Isn't that right, Sato-San?"

Aki turns and sends a frightening glare at someone behind me. When I whip around to see, one of Kotoko's close jock friends is leaning outside the door of the classroom, making him an obvious suspect in tripping me. He looks at Aki blankly before folding his arms across his chest and walking away.

When I turn to thank Aki, I realize he's still holding me by my upper arms. When he realizes this, he drops his hands from me carefully and starts to blush.

"Sorry about that."

"It's alright. Thank you for saving me. That woulda been a hell of...I mean, quite a nasty fall." I readjust the bag on my shoulder and glance away awkwardly. Man, and after I'd practiced all my grammar and junk over the weekend.

"Listen, Ichigo..I'm friends with Hajime and we often eat lunch together with a small group of ours. I know you normally eat lunch alone, but I was wondering if you'd like to eat with us?" Aki asks. I look at him in surprise. I ate lunch alone somewhere because I was often too ashamed to sit in public. Hajime had asked several times last week if I'd like to eat lunch with him. I refused, however. The thought of eating with Hajime had crossed my mind, but then again I knew I'd feel like an outsider amongst his friends. Plus, I had always feared maybe he'd get teased for being friends with me.

But now...maybe things were different. I was so much more confident..and if I could see Hajime throughout the day from now on, things would get so much better!

I nod excitedly at Aki and he comically takes my arm to escort me to an area in the school courtyard where Hajime was sitting with a group of people from my class. Excitement spread across his face as he saw me, and the two of us walked quickly toward each other.