Running After You

#1: For A Long Time

He cut his hair.

Those bangs are no longer covering those pretty blue eyes.

But, why?

Why do I feel saddened now that he cut them?

I had been looking at his gloomy face. I had been listening to him click his tongue.

He's already surrounded. He's laughing with those who surrounded him.

Why? Why do I feel so cautious now?

"Class Rep? Are you listening? We're in charge of stapling the handouts later", the blonde short haired female student patted her shoulder. "I see, Mikami, you can go ahead of me", Erina, same blonde hair and amber eyes, smiled and walked the other way. "You're going to stalk that senpai again, aren't you?", Mikami Hana teased. Erina felt shiver and violently shook her head. She stopped walking and looked at Hana's face. She had a teasing expression. "What are you saying?", Erina regained her composure and tried to put a calm face. "From the first day up to now, you've been passing by the Senior's room. It's been the 3rd month now", Hana pointed out. Erina marched towards her and covered her mouth. Hana was startled and even the first years around them. Erina grabbed Hana and they ended up at the window area. They were looking down at a sea of female student.

"Is he a transfer student? I haven't seen him around", Hana made her hands as binoculars. "Don't stare too much. We might get notice", Erina panicked and moved around so much. She also cupped her face. "Really. With all those females crowding around him, he wouldn't be able to see two ants here in the third floor of the building", Hana sighed and leaned on the window having her head stuck out. "Hmm? So Class Rep is interested with a school prince?", Hana chuckled.

Class 1-1

Hana and Erina entered with two other girls waiting for them. "Not yet done with school work", the tall ponytailed blonde asked while having a card game with the long raven haired. "Ai, Mio, sorry. I have to stay a little longer", Erina bowed her head. "Yeah. I also got recruited by volleyball team. They said my height is a good advantage for them", Ai yawned and dropped the cards. "I also listed in arts club. We'd be meeting just later", Mio smiled. Hana hid behind Erina because of Mio's sinister smile. "Are you trying to take our Erina away?", she said with a dark aura around her. "Nope. She's all yours", Hana waved her hands.

Ai patted Erina's shoulder and drag Mio away.

"You have a peculiar group", Hana sighed and dropped the papers on the teacher's table.

"Thanks for helping me out, Mikami", Erina sat in front of her. "I'm scheduled to do the duty. Don't mind", Hana winked and started stapling. "This way, I get to talk more with you and found something interesting", Hana smiled.

"Mikami, about senpai..can you-", Erina was interupted when the door bang open wide. "Erina! Time to go home!", a loud voice echoed inside the room. A tall blonde male student entered. He's wearing a red necktie indicating he's a senior student. His good vibe brought brightness in the dark dull room. "Rei-san. I'm doing my class rep duty", Erina sighed and ignored him. "Hey, Who is he?", Hana whispered. "He's the school's basketball captain", Erina answered. Hana gasped and looked down on the papers. No argument, he's got a pretty face. Erina nodded and continued stapling. "Eh~! I even made some excuse to go home with you", Rei sighed and sat on the chair next to her. "You're the captain, you shouldn't be skipping your practices randomly", Erina finally looked at him with his puppy eyes. "Alright, I'd just finish this and we'll go home together", Erina sighed.

After sometime, Erina went to the faculty room and dropped the papers for tomorrow's class. She went out and saw a senior female student in front of Rei. She's pretty and her eyes are dazzling as she talked to Rei. The raven head pointed at Erina and so with the female upperclassman. Erina wasn't sure what to do so she bowed to give a greeting.

Street

Rei stretched. "Wahhh! For three months, it's the first time I walked you home again. Remember when you were in preschool. I would carry you on my back", Rei reminisced. "But then, you're going to destroy your name. Your teammates will be mad with what you did", Erina elbowed his stomach. He winced in pain and laughed. "Where did you learn such brute strength?", Rei messed with her hair.

"There's a renovation happening in the gymn. That's why we have some time off", Rei explained. They passed by a convenient store and someone happened to go out. He's wearing the same uniform. Erina's eyes widened as she sees him again. Unlike a while ago, he's now wearing his glasses. She hid behind Rei's back and burrow her nails on the guy's arms. "Hey, what are you doing?", Rei was puzzled. He laughed at Erina's weird reaction and looked at the male student in front of them.

He somehow gave him a threatening look. It sent shivers to his spine. Finally, he disappeared. Erina breathed deeply.

"Wasn't that Fushimi-kun?", Rei hummed. Erina covered his mouth and shook her head. Rei saw how red Erina's face is. "Oy! Don't tell me you're also a fan of that dude?!", Rei couldn't stop laughing. "But then you see, Fushimi-kun wasn't that..", Rei wasn't able to finish his sentence. "I know! I know...", Erina repeated. Rei patted her head. "Good luck, then", Rei winked.

The next day...
School ground

Erina walked on the school ground and saw a familiar spiky hairstyle. She was about to approach him.

When you were gloomy and dull, it was easier to talk to you.

Erina saw group of females swarm towards him. She sighed. "Maybe next time".

"Hey... Erina. Good morning. What a good day to live", Ai waved and hugged her. "Eri-chan. What did you have for breakfast?", Mio also join them. "Eggs and fish", Erina answered. The two had their eyes teary. "You already learned how to cook on your own", they said like a proud parent.

They separated classrooms.

Class 1-1

"Did you know? We're going to have a joint cleaning duty for the pool. Guess who we are partnered with.", Hana whispered. She's just behind her seat.

"Who?", Erina opened her bag. "Class 3-1", Hana whispered slowly. Erina dropped her bag. "No way!", Erina stood up. "Do you have some problem, Class Rep?", the teacher asked.

After Class
Locker Room

"Why aren't you changing your clothes?", Hana asked. "I'd be wearing jogging pants. Will he think I'm weird?!", Erina shook. Hana. The girl watched her in amusement. "He'll be swarmed with girls again, don't worry", Hana flicked her forehead. "You're right", Erina sighed in relief. "So, you're fine with that? You're okay with him not noticing you?", Hana raised her brow.

Erina nodded. Hana squeezed her cheek. "You're weird", Hana commented.

Pool

Since the school has two large swimming pool. Female and male students from class 1-1 and 3-1 will clean it respectively.

Erina saw the female upperclassman who was talking to Rei the other day. Their eyes met and she waved and smiled.

"Toka-san told me that you're an important person for him", she walked towards her. Erina was just at the same height as her. She's a tall first year student. "We grew up together", Erina informed. "I see. He meant it that way", she sighed in relief.

Erina was confused. Hana pulled her and show what's happening in the male pool. Some girls are surrounding the area taking photos of the upperclassmen.

Erina peeked into Fushimi and met eyes with him. She flinched and averted her eyes right away.

He's really different.

Chapter end.