Running After You

#2: Seven Colors Of The Rainbow

Pool

Hana is using her hands as binoculars again. "So, he's also a class 1 student. What's his rank?", Hana asked. Erina looked at her with a blank look. "You still don't know", Hana chuckled.

Erina folded her sleeves and started to scrub. Some girls are playing with the water hose. "They're noisy", Hana clicked her tongue. Erina stopped and looked at her. "What?", she asked. Erina's eyes glittered. "Can you teach me how to do that?", Erina held her hand. "Do... what?", Hana made a distance.

3 years ago,

Train Station

The last trip already passes by. Erina panicked since she needs to be at home before 8. She needed to stay for remedial class. She's been absent for almost a week.

She heard someone click his tongue. His bangs were long and his eyeglasses are almost covered. Erina sighed and walked outside disheartened. She looked at her phone and saw its already 7:45. There's no way she'll reach home before 8.

There were also different kind of people in the station. She grabbed on her arm and gulped.

She feels like throwing up because of anxiety. The other student whom he guessed was a high schooler also went outside the station.

Bus Station

Some drunkards are sitting on the bench so Erina decided to stand far from them. One of them is already looking at her. She flinched and held unto the person next to her. It was the high school student.

"You can stay next to me until we get into the bus", he allowed. Erina was still gripping on his arm.

"Why are you out this late?", he asked.

"I needed to attend our remedial class", Erina answered. The male student just nodded. "Here comes the bus", he informed. Erina let's go of him and walked towards the bus. "Thank you", she nervously smiled and waited for him to enter as well. "I'll be on the next bus. Study well so you don't need to attend your remedial classes", he informed.

Present

"Do you think he remembers you?", Hana asked while the two of them scrub the tiles. "Who knows? He changed a lot. Did he possibly had amnesia?", Erina shrugged. Hana chuckled.

The upper-class man female student joined them. "I forgot to introduce my name. I am Chou Nami", Nami smiled. The two looked at her long legs since she's wearing the P. E shorts.

"Mikami Hana".

"Aisawa Erina".

"You first years are so lively", Nami laughed watching the freshmen. "Senpai, say. You wouldn't really talk to us with no reason", Hana said with a poker face. "Mikami", Erina looked at her. "Ah. I see. Well, I'll go straight to the point", Nami said with a serious voice. Erina gulped. What could be the matter why she's talking them?

"I'm actually the president of swimming club. Would you two like to join? I see that you're both tall", Nami smiled. Erina and Hana turned into stone. As far as the class is concerned, they had always been left out in the shades since they don't know how to swim.

They heard someone laughing. "Erina will drown in no time", Rei commented. They're already done with their task so everyone is leaving the pool already.

"Toka-san", Nami was startled. "Erina, your fair legs is gonna go to waste. Why are you wearing jogging pants?", Rei held the hose and splashed it on her. Erina tried to run away from it. She slipped and fall flat on her face. She raised her head and saw Fushimi looking down on her. She flustered and mentally blamed Rei.

The blonde went down and checked on her. Erina was about to punch him in the face but she realized the female students gritting their teeth. She faked her laughter. "Are you okay, Aisawa-chan?", Nami went to check on her. "Fine", she smiled. Nami stared at Rei's hand holding gently Erina's shoulder.

Train Station

Erina carried her paper bag. She just finished buying her groceries. She saw a familiar figure and covered her face with the paper bag.

She entered and looked around if he was around. Suddenly, her paper bag got ripped off and the items one by one dropped. She panicked and picked them one by one.

She knelt down and grabbed everything. Good thing she brought extra bag. She placed it there. "The cabbage", she looked around. A hand offered the cabbage. "Thanks", she smiled and slowly looked up.

Her heart is near at falling on the ground. "You're welcome", Fushimi responded. Erina was formulating what would she be saying next. She doesn't have anything in mind. "Ah..", she said softly.

"Oh, Erina", Ai went in between them and Fushimi made his exit.

Erina felt downhearted.

"I saw you wearing jogging pants a while ago. Are you hiding something?", Ai said with a scary look. Erina gulped. Ai grabbed on her hand and saw some burns. There were also small cuts on her fingers. "I will call Mio over. Between her and me, she's the better cook", Ai said with a sad tone. "Thank you, Ai. I'm fine. Just a little more, I'd be the greatest cook", Erina chuckled.

Erina's Residence

She entered and removed her shoes. "I'm home", she informed. There was no one to greet her back. She went to the kitchen and started to cook. She tried to fry some sausage but kept on burning her arms on the side of the pan.

She heard a doorbell.

She opened it and saw Rei. "I just came from training. Areh? Are you cooking? Amazing. I also brought some ramen", Rei raised his take out.

After cooking, Erina served it on the dining table. "Your mother will be waiting for you, Rei-san", Erina sat in front of him. "Thanks for the food", Rei-san dig into the food. In his first bite, he was just silent as a stone.

"You don't have to force yourself. You have your ramen", Erina tasted the egg as well. She turned to stone. They both ended eating the ramen.

"Erina, the house is still wide for five people. Also, my younger sister would like to have a sister as well", Rei smiled. "Thank you, Rei-san. I don't want to be a bother to anyone", Erina replied.

3 years ago
Public Library

Erina stayed at the library for some reason. It was holiday but she doesn't have someone to spend it with.

She wasn't able to have breakfast. She looked at her wallet and saw that she doesn't have enough to buy a meal. She just continue studying.

For sometime, her stomach growled. She looked around to see if someone heard it. She sighed and ignored it. It growled again. At the shelf, a raven head is reading political books as well to kill some time. He couldn't handle the noise and peek into Erina.

Fushimi saw her and sighed.

A bar of chocolate dropped on the table.

"I told you to study well but that doesn't mean starving yourself", Fushimi clicked his tongue. Erina flushed and looked at Fushimi. She couldn't see his full expression because of those emo bangs. "Thank you but I can't accept it", she bowed very low.

"It's not open. It's safe", he said then left.

Erina looked at his back. It was peculiar. He's emitting such scary aura but he sound gentle and kind.

Chapter end.