Working With Phantoms

Secret Admirers

May 14th

The week of exams had finally arrived to a gentle close on Saturday, and Madran was very happy to finish up the day. However, as she went to school with her friends and Akira's group, she noticed that Ann began to look shifty.

"Hey, Ann, what's up?"

"Oh, uh, nothing much. Hey, have you seen anyone following us?"

"Uh, no, not really. Is something bugging you?"

"Uh, yeah, I have this feeling of being watched. Um, there he is!"

Ann pointed at someone standing perfectly still amidst the crowd on the bus. Madran saw that he was about their age, with blue-black hair with a part of it covering his left eye, a white dress shirt, and grey eyes. He was slightly taller than most of the people on the train, with a shifting glance at Ann and Sheila.

"Um, I see him. He's kinda cute..."

"Madran, not right now!"

The train stopped, and the group got off and began to head towards school. Once they were going up the escalator, however, Ann checked back again and groaned.

"He's still following me! Ugh!"

Ryuji and Akira grew concerned, and Ann told the story to them. Suga also piped in.

"Hey, why don't the boys and I wait a bit away, while you, Sheila, and Madran just walk normally? Then, we could, like, surprise the guy and get some answers."

"Uh... ok."

The group separated, and Madran went with Ann and Sheila.

"I wonder why a guy our age would follow you. He doesn't seem to be from Shujin, either."

"There he is! Act! Normal!"

The group all faced away and walked on to the school. However, after a bit, Madran could hear quickened footsteps as someone approached. She then whispered up to Ann and Sheila.

"He's almost here!"

"Ann, face away from him and we gather in a circle, and talk about normal things."

Ann, Madran, and Sheila all gathered in a small circle.

"Wow, I can't believe it's the last day of exams. Like, this has been wild!"

"Yeah, I really hated that one question."

"Hey, we aren't allowed to talk about the exam questions until after."

Madran spotted the same person out of her peripheral and began to turn around. Then, she saw that he had caught up to the group and had reached a hand out to Ann. However, Akira and Ryuji appeared, with Suga coming in from behind him.

"Who are you, and why are you stalking our friend?"

Madran fully turned around and glared.

"It's rude to stare!"

The person stuttered.

"O-Oh, I'm sorry about that. I just wanted to ask you, um..."

He turned to Ann.

"W-Would you, uh, please..."

"Oh my God, is he asking her out?"

"The plot thickens."

"Please be my art model? It's my passion, and I've been in a drought recently! Please, help me out-"

"Woah, woah, woah there, buster, you don't just..."