The Story of the Seven

CHAPTER 8 - My Brain Hurts >_<

-12:00 at night-

Damit! I wasted so much trying time trying to decode those manuscripts! They certainly were interesting, but I still don't get how it's supposed to be "clues". And since I spent so much time reading, I still have all my homework left for school tomorrow.

I was frantically scribbling down my homework. Since I was out of school for roughly 2 months due to "The Incident," I had so much catchup to do as well.

Ugh, I feel so nervous. I hope the kids at school don't pressure me about "The Incident" and make it a huge deal.

Swallowing up my fears and doubts, I continued with my work. Ugh, why were there so many questions on dates and names and those kinds of junk? I whipped out my phone and started G**gling the answers.

If this goes all southward, and I end up a social outcast at school, maybe I can transfer to the "public schools" that The Organization runs?

I jotted down some more answers.

But why does the government forsake some areas in Tokyo? What forced The Organization to take on the role of a mini-government that operates within Japan?

I gazed down at my homework.

Question 30: When was the Vatican City founded?

Speaking of Vatican City, The Organization kind of reminded me of that nation. Vatican City is a nation within Rome, independent but maintaining friendly ties with Italy. Maybe The Organization is something similar?

After another hour of frantic scribbling, I decided to call it a day and crashed on my bed.

Or so I wanted to, but my pounding heart prevented me from dozing off. I ended up staring at my ceiling for god knows how long. When I finally started to snooze off, my alarm clock signaled me to get out of bed and dress up for school.

I pulled on my school uniform and made my hair. No need for breakfast – it only wasted food and money.

It's 8:15 right now; roughly 15 more minutes until school starts. I run out of my house and barely manage to catch the bus.

After ten minutes the speakers on the bus announce: Meiji-Koukou, Meiji-Koukou

I promptly get off the bus, and walk through the campus. I make it to class and sit down at my seat exactly ten minutes before school starts.

No one even batted so much as an eyelash at my appearance, despite the fact I was gone for two months.

Since I wasn't at all popular before "The Incident," I guess this is expected.

Just when I was sighing and resigning my dream of being those "cool guys" with dozens of students orbiting around them, I hear a dreaded voice.

"Hi Haruto."

I involuntarily shiver. That voice belongs to Amane, who frankly looks more like a boy than a girl.

I turn around.

Yup, her appearance hasn't changed at all. A medical eyepatch (dyed red) on one eye, scruffy school uniform and pants, beat-out leather shoes, and a permanent scowl on the face.

"Amane, how may I please you?"

Amane was notorious in school after she managed to beat up the three "cool/perfect/handsome/strong" aces of our baseball team.

"Didn't know that you were one of us."

"Pardon me?"

"I mean, I saw you with Toukichi just the other day. Didn't realize you dealt with those people."