Sweet Naivety

Chapter 64: Showing Appreciation

Chapter 64: Showing Appreciation

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It wasn't until Mr. Kuchiki came home from work and saw what was happening that we were finally able to stop running. He lectured Kenpachi about destroying another person's private property and causing a disturbance in the neighborhood, therefore bringing an end to our suffering. By then, Renji had already puked in the bushes, Chad had literally passed out and been kicked a few more laps by Kenpachi anyway, Yumichika and Ikkaku had gotten beaten up again, and I had, thankfully, been saved by Grimmjow in spite of his earlier warning... but only after I had tripped over Chad. Grimmjow told Kenpachi that I had sprained my ankle and he was taking me to put ice on it, and if he had a problem they could fight about it. They nearly had fought about it... but Kenpachi got distracted when Yumichika and Ikkaku started arguing and he had to step in.

After Mr. Kuchiki chased Kenpachi away, I was sure to thank him. Grimmjow, knowing that my uncles were out of town, demanded that I stay the night with him. I did ask if I could stay at my own house for a little while longer so that we could work on our homework, and he agreed as long as I promised to remember his rules.

We were all starving but I was exhausted and did not feel like cooking, so I ordered take-out. All of us were practically collapsed in the living room, still panting and sweaty from the countless laps that we'd been forced to run in our school uniforms.

"What are we gonna do, guys?" Renji groaned. "We didn't get to practice at all."

"And I don't think we're ready to play at the club..." Shuuhei groaned. "Why the hell do you three have such a horrible sensei?"

I sighed, stretching out on the floor. "We have to figure something out."

"Let's skip school tomorrow." Ichigo suggested.

"I'd never get away with that." I mumbled, knowing that the school would call my uncle. And if I skipped school while my uncle was out of town, he'd never forgive me. I had enough reasons for him to be mad at me, as it was.

"Yeah, my foster dad would kick my ass..." Shuuhei grumbled in agreement with me.

"I have an idea." Renji grabbed his phone and started making a call.

The doorbell rang, and I lazily got up to answer it. Chad accompanied me in order to help me carry everything. By the time I'd paid the delivery guy and we'd brought all of the food into the living room, Renji was hanging up the phone.

"It's settled." He explained. "Kisuke is gonna write excuse notes for all of us and have them delivered. He's even gonna let us borrow his van to transport our instruments to the club tomorrow." He scratched the back of his head. "The only catch is that we all have to help him the next time that he has a big catering job."

"Well that doesn't sound so bad." I murmured, figuring that being a server or something wouldn't be too difficult.

Ichigo shrugged. "Yeah, that's a fair enough trade."

"But we can't practice here!" I was suddenly panicking. "If Grimmjow sees us, he'll tell my uncles!" Or worse... he'd be angry with me for spending so much alone time with my friends and skipping school with them when I'd refused to skip school on his behalf in the past. But this was important... I couldn't let everyone down. There was so much riding on this.

Renji shrugged. "We can use my garage. We'll just have to move everything over there tonight."

"Agh, but I'm sooo tired." Shuuhei was lying back in the recliner, munching on a roll of bread.