Pink Cashmere (Original Concept of Cast The Die!)

Pink Cashmere

Kazuki Araya walked thoroughly throughout the tainted halls of Taikutsuna High School. His hands fiddled in his pockets as he strolled past students in their own worlds. He himself was too, his semi-bulky headphones throwing him into a neon wonderland as well as eyeing one of the many girls in his view. Kazuki smiled, not paying attention to his surroundings, the one thing he always strived for others to do ironically. This was only further played for irony when he bumped into a redhead, knocking over his and their books simultaneously. Some students snarked and laughed at the white-haired boy, knocking their bags against his head as they began to walk off to their classes.

"Hey!" the girl yelled at Araya, making the crowded laughter and now blushing boy more noticeable, "Watch your step!"

Despite his nervous state, Kazuki immediately apologizes, bending down to pick up some of the books the girl dropped. "I-I'm sorry, miss!" he tells her, scrambling to get everything together.

"It's fine, new kid.", the girl responds with a sigh.

As he hands her the items, a look of shock and further embarrassment covered his blushing face. "C-Cheri...is th-that really you?"

The redhead gathered her belongings, sighing as she glanced at Kazuki, a spark of excitement glowing in her eyes. "Kazuki!?" Immediately she dropped her things, hugging the boy tightly. "Is it really YOU!? What're YOU doing HERE?"

"Kireina, let's go—"

"In a minute, David!" Kireina hissed at her classmate. "Kinda in the middle of something important."

David sighs, "Never knew that nerd was so damn special to you. Just as I was starting to enjoy the quietness." He walked off, bag around his left shoulder as he headed off to their homeroom.

Kireina returned her gaze at Kazuki, intensifying his rapidly beating heart. Only natural considering their history together, Kireina being his first best friend along with the apple of his eye for 2 years now. Ever since 6th grade year, they've been nearly inseparable, and Kazuki adorned any time allotted between the two of them. Unfortunately for him, over the summer of their 8th grade year, the Araya's had moved to the States. Limited in communication, the ways he could interact with his Cheri were more than sparse. Though recently, the teen was placed back near Shizuoka Prefecture, though not to reasons of his own. Although bringing a few surprises back with him, Araya had more or less stayed the same.

"Kazuki? Are you even listening?"

Kazuki, lost in his thoughts like usual, awoke from his dreamlike state to a playful Cheri knocking against his head. "Ow.", he shyly said in a low voice, "C-Cut it out, Cheri."

Cheri simply smiled, ruffling his spiky hair. "Are you alright, Kazuki?", she asked with genuine concern.

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine.", Araya softly replied, picking up the redhead's books and papers once more. "I-I just wasn't expecting to bump into you." Kazuki blushed at his statement, dropping her books in embarrassment as he waved his free hands rapidly. "N-N-Not l-like that, C-Cheri! I-I-I meant a-a-as in—" Before he knew it, he was silenced by Kireina's index finger. The soft sensation sent chills down his spine, yet ultimately warmed his heart.

"I know what you meant, silly.", the joyous girl giggled out a reply, "And really? How were the States?" Cheri's smile melted instantly melted Kazuki's heart like honey.

Suddenly, at the sound of the response, a female with long dark braids and a yellow skull cap appears out of the shadows. Despite having an equally bright yellow hoodie, blue skirt, black knee-socks and white canvas shoes, she hid herself pretty well. Popping the bubblegum she was chewing on, she enters a red and white lollipop inside her mouth. "Eh, it could've been better."

The two teens jump in fear, Kazuki screaming in a high-pitched squeal, much to the chagrin of the students passing by. Fortunately, after getting a closer look at the dark-haired female, he recognizes the standoffish girl. "Yuri", he starts, "where'd you come from!?"

Kireina gives a quizzical glance at her friend. "Yuri?"

"Yurushima Megami, but everyone just calls me Yuri, or Megami if you're old-fashioned." The quiet girl then extends her hand for Kireina to shake.

"Er, nice to meet you. Kireina Cheri.", she murmurs, grabbing her hand as she spoke. "But is all that 'popping out of the shadows' stuff REALLY necessary?", she asked using air quotes to add emphasis to her words.

Yuri quirked an eyebrow at Cheri's question. "But that's always been my whole shtick. I don't think many people understand my introductions for some reason."

"I wonder why that is...", Kazuki and Kireina nervously say in a horrified tone. Just then, an ear piercing bell sounds throughout the halls, most of the students covering their ears as they run to their homeroom classes.

"Well, that's our cue.", Megami dryly stated, walking away from the duo. "See ya around, Araya." Both were still shaking from her more than ominous appearance, barely getting a hold of themselves.

"Is...is she always like that?"

"Mostly", Kazuki stated, "but you'll get used to it." He then gave off a sly smirk as he himself headed for his own class. "Nice seeing you again, Cher'.", he waved off before seeing the redhead disappear from his view. Walking around the ironic and blinding hues of colorful greens and pinks, reds and whites and more, the teen had made it to his homeroom class. "Hm, this is it, huh?", he wondered to himself, looking at the room number for reassurance. "Class A-13?" The white-haired teen chuckled to himself, stepping in the classroom. Instantly, the class of about 20 looked in Kazuki's direction. "Um, hi?", he replied shyly. "A-Am I late?"

The teacher glances over in Araya's direction, but before they can get a word out, someone within the class recognizes him, much to their surprise.

"Kazuki!?" the student screams at the top of their lungs. The timid boy's face flusters up immediately as he soon realizes the student's voice belonged to Kireina. "Don't tell me...we're in the same class!" Her face lit up with excitement, all eyes returning over to the now trembling Kazuki.

"I-I-I guess s-so, Cheri...", he sputters out before struggling to find an empty seat in the back. Fortunately and unfortunately, the only seat left was behind Kireina herself. However as he made his way over there, Kazuki was shocked once more to discover Yurushima in the seat beside his. "Y-Yurushima too!?" he unintentionally says aloud.

"What's up?", the introvert replied with a deadpan expression plastered on her face.

Araya sat his belonging down, getting himself in the seat soon after. Shyly, the white-haired boy asks, "What're you two doing here? Not that I mind or anything."

"I believe I can help answer your question.", their teacher replied out of the blue. From what her name tag read, her name was Ms. Yunibasura, full name Ai Yunibasaru. The curvaceous woman made her way over towards the young trio, orange hair flowing as she did so. "Ain't that what we both wanna know, young Araya?"