𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐊𝐄𝐘 - 𝐑. 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐀

𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄

NINE
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It was the first of October when Zumi Hoga sat down on her usual seat in Class 3-7, staring blankly at through the window as she gazed at the swaying tree that bore pink flowers in disinterest – but it was not like anything else in class interested her anyway.

    Her dark brown eyes glazed after yawning behind her hand while their class president discussed about the upcoming festival that was happening just a month away, and was now taking suggestions from their fellow students on what they were going to do as a class.

    She could only give a small yawn once again – as long as she was going to help with decorating the classroom, then that was alright. Her eyes watched one particular flower that was sat in the middle of two small twigs. The wind started to grow stronger and she followed the flower's direction until it fell down to the place where her eyes couldn't catch because of the window sill that blocked the view.

    "Let's do a maid café! The girls can wear little maid outfits!" Her ears caught the voice of one boy seated at the back of the classroom suggest and some of the boys nodded enthusiastically. A few girls narrowed their eyes at him and a few began to whisper in irritation amongst each other.

    Zumi scoffed, accidentally mumbling her words a bit louder than she would've liked, "Why don't we make you wear the little maid costume, punk?"

    The class froze upon hearing her speak about something for the first time, staring at her with wide eyes and mouths slightly hung open then began whispering once again amongst each other, though this time, their topic wasn't about the festival; the center of attention was finally drawn towards her – and she could feel her heart drop to her chest at the feeling of embarrassment.

    "Oh, so that's what her voice sounds like..."

    "Eh, she seems really scary."

    "Why is her skin like that?"

    Kita clapped his hands together to capture their attention once again, noticing Zumi's obvious discomfort, "No, we are most certainly not going to be doing something that will be uncomfortable for anyone. If none of you have any more suggestions, then we are going with the costume photo booth since it's the most decent one. All of those who agree, please raise your hand."

    Zumi lifted her hand up limply along with majority of other people who lifted theirs more firmly. She breathed out a sigh of relief when she noticed that their attention was not directed towards her anymore, inwardly thanking Kita for his consideration.

    Her eyes glanced down at the small black watch encircled around her wrist, just one more subject period left before dismissal.

-o-

    Zumi's feet padded lightly against the cement street, the minuscule rubble sticking on the bottom part of her school shoes while her hands clutched the tight-knit straps of her bag. One of the buds of her red earphones was on her right ear while the other hung over her left ear, quietly humming to the lyrics of the song that was currently playing.

    "Imagine living like a king someday, a single night without a ghost on the walls."

    Suna was walking a few meters away from behind her in the same direction, with the twins trailing behind him as they bickered quite amongst each other, earning the attention of a few people who passed by them. Suna was nonchalant about the whole thing, acting as if he wasn't with them to avoid the look of scrutiny that the siblings were already receiving.