Different Kind of Beautiful

Chapter 3

He knew my name. Well not quite. He didn't know my name but it wouldnt be long before he knew.

Rumors were already drifting around the school about Oikawa looking for a girl with dark hair and glasses. As such, every single girl with dark hair or glasses couldn't help but wonder if she was the one.

Of course, no one bothered to ask me about it. It was for the best anyhow. I had no desire for the recognition. Girls would swarm me asking for details about the setter that I wouldn't be able to give.

"You're lucky," Rinko groaned, pulling me from my thoughts. "I have classes with Iwaizumi, but every time there's a break it seems like Oikawa is there, moping and complaining."

"Ah, sorry," I replied. "I'm not sure why he's making such a big deal about this. I thought he would have forgotten by now."

She scoffed, brushing a lock of blue behind her ear again. "As if. He's constantly begging me to tell him your name. You're lucky I like you, or else he would be your problem already."

I smiled. "And I appreciate your sacrifice Rinko. But I'm sure you know every 'dark haired girl with glasses' at Seijoh. You could probably send him on a wild goose chase each day until the end of the year," I mused.

Instantly she sat up straighter. "I'm definitely going to do that now."

My brow furrowed in confusion. "Wait- seriously?"

I could already see the gears turning in her head as a familiar sparkle of mischief filled her eyes. "Of course. And he'll have to keep trying what I say in order to find the right girl."

Once Rinko has her mind set on something, it was hard to change it. There were many flaws in this plan, and there was no way it would last as long as she would hope. I couldn't help but hope it lasted a decent amount of time, simply to see the panic that would ensue.

Then again, that could cause just as much trouble.

"Rinko, it probably won't last as long as you hope. Especially since I think he's watching through the window right now," I stated, my eyes staring at the brunette attempting to peer through the window despite the crowd blocking his view.

"What?!" Rinko exclaimed, quickly turning to look.

Suddenly, I felt a tug on my arm. I gasped as I was suddenly pulled from my chair and onto the ground.

I watched as Rinko hid, trying to avoid being seen.

"Do I torment him and be stuck with a pain, or leave him be?" she muttered.

"Do what you want," I sighed. "I really just want my book back."

She blinked, turning to look at me with a look of surprise. "He has your book?"

"Why do you think he's trying to find me? I could have had it the other day, but I don't appreciate being blackmailed as a type of flirting."

"Oh, the things I could do to him..." she grumbled darkly.

I shook my head. "Don't, it's fine. I need to pull my head out from in between pages sometime, right?"

I watched as her face morphed through her thoughts. Rinko was an open book, but I could read the hidden messages that not very many knew. Her face always flipped and changed with her emotions but she was just as adept at plastering on a smile for the crowd. Even so i always managed to find the kinks in her armor. I guess it was one of the reasons we got as close as we are.

"Hmph, I've made up my mind. I've got to give that pretty boy some grief for all of the trouble he causes-" her piercing blue eyes caught my own as she winked, a smirk sliding onto her face- "and it couldn't hurt to mess with a few girls anyhow!"

Rinko stood and stretched her hands over her head, cracking her back before marching towards the hallway where Oikawa had just been.

A sigh left my lips and I rested my head against the floor, still partially sprawled out from the sudden tug. Barely into the year and it already seemed like so much had gone down. My eyes slid shut. Everyone should be rushing from the building for practice, work, or otherwise. I could feel a dull throbbing behind my eyes.

There was no hurt in laying here for just a bit longer, right?

The sound of someone clearing their throat quickly reached my ears. My eyes opened to see a somewhat familiar face leaning over me.

"Ah, hello Matsukawa," I said, calmly staring up at his messy black hair as he towered over me. A small smile pulled at the edge of his lips.

"Michishio, everything alright?" he asked.

I'd been in the same class as him for the entirety of our high school career, but like most people hadn't shared much of a conversation. He was kind enough, so I had nothing against him.

"Yes."

"Hmm, alright. And don't worry about Oikawa, I don't mind messing with him to keep him off your back for a while."

I blinked, a bit startled, before I smiled. "I appreciate it. Thank you. Have a good practice."

"Thanks. See you."

And with that, he walked away.

Left alone to my thoughts once more, I couldn't but sigh. It seemed like I was dragging a lot of people into this mess.

Was it really worth it?

Oikawa was popular, there was no doubt about it. And while she never actively participated in any kind of gossip, he was recently single. That fact would have been hard to miss. With girls flocking to him like flies, who knows how he would react to a basic shutdown of interest.

She wasn't interested in him. But she had caught his attention by not responding to blackmail, so maybe he was some kind of masochist.

Perhaps he was a sadist with an odd taste, because he must be finding some pleasure from causing her trouble.

As I climbed back to my feet and grabbed my things, I tried to shake him from my thoughts. If it wasn't bad enough that he was holding my book hostage, he had now taken over my thoughts.

I sighed as I passed the lingering students or the ones in clubs. I should probably wait for Rinko to finish whatever activity she was doing this year. At least it gave me more time to wander the campus.

Maybe I would find a secluded spot to hide from the rest of the school. That would be nice.