Thirty One: Replacement

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(Tuesday)

'I don't want to go to class today. But if I don't, my teacher will call my parents. And if I do, Yan-kun and Ayano will start asking about my behavior. Ugh... What do I do?' I thought. 

I nibbled on my toast as I wondered what to do. I was currently behind the school as I let the stray cat rub itself against my leg while I still had a few minutes before class starts. 

"What do you think I should do, cat?" I asked, glancing down at it. The kitten meowed in response and continued to rub itself against me. 

I sighed and ate the rest of my breakfast. I think I'm at a lose-lose here... unless an incident were to occur. My eyes went from the cat to the Gardening Club, noticing it looked a little deserted. 

"Yeah... That was my fault. Because I killed the club leader, the whole club disbanded." I mumbled to myself. "You okay, Aishi?" Shiromi asked, making me glance at her. 

"You seem a little under the weather today. What's got you all gloom and doom?"

"You really wanna know?" I asked. "Not really. Just trying to make conversation. Anyway, make sure you're not late for class." Shiromi reminded. 

"Whatever." I mumbled, and she walked away, continuing her duty. I decided to hide myself away on the roof so Megamo wouldn't have a chance of finding me.

(Lunchtime)

"Are you the girl who's been beating up on my guys?" Osoro asked. "Basically." I answered as I continued to eat my sandwich. 

She stood in front of me while I sat on a bench. "You're pretty good. At fighting that is. I heard my brother asked you join the delinquents. Why did you refuse?" Osoro asked. 

"Because I didn't feel like joining. I'm in enough trouble as it is. If I screw up again, I could be expelled," I explained in an emotionless tone. 

"I just wanna eat in peace. Could you please leave me alone?"

Osoro stared at me before walking away, probably to join her fellow delinquents. I continued to eat by myself and it sucked. 

I miss eating with Nemesis-kun, and I miss how he'd tease me whenever there was food on my face. "Nemesis-kun..." I said, depressingly. 

I closed my lunch box and went back to my classroom to put it away in my bag. I walked down the hall to go back to the fountain, then paused to look at the Occult Club. 

As expected, everyone was sitting down with a book in their hands. Oko and Oka weren't there, so I can only assume they were spying on the Basu sisters. 

"Excuse me, but could you move? You're in the way," I glanced over as Borupen Saishiki sat in a chair. "I'm trying to draw, but you're in front of the skull." He said. 

"Oh. Sorry," I moved out of the way and he went back to drawing. I looked at the skull, then at him. 

"I noticed you draw a lot of dark and morbid subjects. Why not join the Occult Club?" I asked. 

"I prefer to draw than perform pointless rituals. It's sad, really. They try every day only to achieve nothing in the end." Borupen stated.

"I see... You still draw, but the Art Club was shut down." I mentioned. "Yeah. A shame to what happened to Efude. Just because she's gone, doesn't mean I should stop what I love," He replied. 

'So dark and mysterious... Those dark red eyes and beautiful black hair... He also reminds me of Nemesis-kun...' I thought. 

My heart began to race a little, making me place a hand over my beating chest. This feeling... It's the same as when I'm with Nemesis-kun. 

"Your name's Amaya, right? Amaya Aishi?" Borupen asked, making me break my train of thought. 

"You're the girl who keeps starting fights with those delinquents. You either have guts or you're just plain stupid. Either way, it's brave of you. Brainless. Reckless, even. But brave."

I blinked before blushing slightly. "Hey, Borupen..." I said, and he stopped moving his pencil to look at me. "Would you mind telling me more about your art and other interests?" 

Borupen stared at me with a surprise and confusion. "You're really that interested in my morbid interests?" He asked while mocking me. I nodded my head. 

"Very well. Pull up a chair and I'll tell you about it."

"Thank you."

(After school)

When my therapy session with Genka ended, I gave her a small bow of thanks, then walked down the hall. 

Yan-kun was with Taro and Ayano was probably with Budo, giving her lessons in Martial Arts. 

As I walked past the Gaming Club, I heard Midori repeating YandereDev's name, so I can only assume she's emailing him. 

Maybe I should go home early and play some videogames to kill time. "Ah, there you are. I've been looking for you, Amaya Aishi." Borupen said as he walked over to me. 

"Hello, Borupen." I greeted. "I'd like to show you something, Would you mind taking a look at it?" He asked. I accepted his offer and he led me into the Art Club. 

"It's over here. What do you think?" I looked at him as Borupen gestured towards the art piece he had drawn. 

"Wow

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"Wow..." I said in awe. "This is amazing work, Borupen. You certainly have a talent."

"Really? You like it?" He asked, in which I nodded my head. "Why did you want only me to look at your art?" I asked. 

"Well... Originally, I was going to ask one of the members from the Occult Club, but they're all busy. But I saw you standing there and I remembered you from our conversation from earlier so..."

"No need to say anymore. I understand. I really find your art fascinating, by the way. It's... as you would probably say, desolating."

Borupen looked at me for a moment. "You have to be the strangest girl in Akademi High School." Borupen stated.

"I'm going to take that as a compliment." I replied. We stared at each other, then both of us chuckled. "Say, would you like to join me for lunch tomorrow?" Borupen asked. 

I blushed while my heart began to race again. 'Senpai...'

"I'd be delighted to join you, Borupen-senpai."

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