Chapter Text
"Oh no, oh no, oh no!"
What an unfortunate turn of events, at least in Ichigo's mind. Today again, she was late for school. She didn't even bother checking her clock in which she didn't hear ringing. The redhead only had time to take a quick shower, arrange her head, and pick up the winter school uniform. Tomorrow, she thought to herself, no more being hot under this uniform! Hello, summer! At least, she took a few minutes of her time to take at least something to eat.
It was only the last day of May, the sun was hitting hard, and she was running her way to school. If she ran a bit faster, she might get in here in time. Her new homeroom teacher was not a chill one, so it would have been in her best interest not to show up in class late. To be fair to the teacher, they gained a very chaotic class. Aoyama-kun, Moe, Miwa and Ichigo landed in the same class. Already, Masaya was still the most popular boy in the school, so break times were a mess. There was, however, another popular student in this class. Shino Tadase, from the kyudo club, may be one of whom Aoyama consider as friends since they were in the same class last year, but this man was having a little bit of fun with his popularity with women. What a womanizer. With twice as many fangirls near the class, of course the homeroom teacher might lose it early. What a rowdy class.
It might be because the class was excited about the rumor that has been circulating for a month now. It was said that there was an incoming new student seeing teachers and passing exams. All that was known was that the student is a girl and that she might also be in the senior year of middle school. Which means that she might as well land in this class because the other class had two more people and the teachers wanted to make it even. At the very best, it was just a rumor, because they rarely succeeded in catching her in the act.
Ichigo thought of the rumor and was hoping it wasn't just some random ghost instead.
Way ahead of her, a young girl was trying to tie her hair in a ponytail, humming the name of a school. Ichigo didn't register the voice and crashed on her. A scream was heard and both fell down.
"Ah! I'm sorry!" Ichigo apologized on the spot.
"I'm... I'm okay." The young girl's eyes looked up while she was picking the tie she dropped due to the sudden fall. "How about you? You do look like you're in a rush."
While the stranger took her time tying her short brown hair into a ponytail for good, Ichigo stared at her. She was cute-looking, not that much small, maybe just a bit shorter than her, of same age, wearing the Daikan winter school uniform –
Oh no, SCHOOL!
Ichigo, actually not answering her question, quickly stood up and took the student's hand.
"Let's go!" She hurried the poor girl. "Or else we'll be late for school!"
"W-wait, what? But it's only–"
She didn't get to finish her train of thoughts. Not letting her waste more time for her own sake, Ichigo dragged her to school, making her run all the way from point A to B. They made it in a matter of a few minutes. Ichigo got a feeling of doom coming into her. There was almost no one on the front. She was already getting ready to get punished by her teacher.
She suddenly felt a heavy stare behind her. Oh. Right. The girl. She was already on her knees, panting. She was trying to regulate her breathing but it might take some time. Her eyes seemed neutral to her, but Ichigo might have feared for her life for a straight second.
"Oh God I'm so sorry again! I really didn't want us to get in more trouble!" The red-haired girl tried to justify her actions. The brunette looked at her, confused, then bursted in laughter. "Huh? Did I say something weird?"
The girl simply took her phone on her backpack and checked the hour. Her laugh got louder. "It's… it's only 7:10 AM."
Ichigo was dumbfounded. She didn't believe it. She took the young girl's hand that held the phone. They were, indeed, 50 minutes early. Whoever was in the sky was mocking them, Ichigo in particular. That feeling was a little bit worse, knowing the new acquaintance was also laughing at her (or at herself). Ichigo realized she never saw her around here. She was about to ask, but a supervisor came in the nick of time while the brunette was still sitting, recovering from her burst of laugh. He looked up and down at the girls, and turned to the brunette, recognizing her face.
"You must be Mitsuko Oko," he said. After the brunette's silent nod, he added; "You're early."
"Well, uhm, I did say that I would come early," she replied while playing with a strand of hair. She did say that, but nobody thought she would be that early. Thanks, Ichigo.
"Very well then, that allows me to assign your locker and make you meet your homeroom teacher. Please come with me."
"Yes, sir."
The brunette slowly stood up, smiled Ichigo goodbye and left with the supervisor.
Ichigo immediately realized the rumor was actually true and she could put a name on her first. Lucky cat.
Back of the classroom, near the windows. That was the most popular area of the day and there was only one reason behind it; it was where the newcomer was seated. Normally, the students in this class were to be seated alphabetically, but the teacher allowed them to sit wherever they wanted for once since they were seniors. Biggest regret of their lives.
If anything, Ichigo could still hear whatever the students tried to ask Mitsuko during break, all because she was seated in front of her. She had a feeling that the teacher will end up with a kind of headache due to how chaotic the class is. Aoyama-kun, the most popular senior of the school, Shino Tadase who couldn't keep his eyes on his sheets as he kept glancing behind, and today's unlucky star of the day, Mitsuko, who just wanted a break at this point, but still answered to random questions. Ichigo at least caught the fact that she was homeschooled. That explains the multiple exams she was rumored to do.
Ichigo, Moe and Miwa were watching in pity the poor girl still not being left alone even after school. Aoyama already left for the kendo club.
"Girls," Miwa started, turning to Ichigo and Moe. "Are we sure she's going to be okay on her own?"
"Well they could have stopped by lunch, but with all the gossip that was circulating since the beginning of the year… of course it would end in anarchy in one way or another" Moe sighed, then threw a glare in Shino's direction. "But this is especially Tadase the problem today!"
Ichigo got the best idea ever in her head. "Then, you all allow me to kidnap her for us?"
"Don't you start work in like, 10?" Miwa raised a brow, but that didn't discourage one of her best friends forever. Not one bit, actually.
"And this is why I'm gonna be quick! Wait for me, ladies!"
She stood up and conveniently placed in-between Mitsuko and Tadase. Tadase let her do it, but had a feeling he might regret very soon. Mitsuko's eyes perked up. Ichigo had her attention.
"Hey, Mitsuko, would you like to eat strawberry cake at a cute and great café?"
Miwa and Moe, nearing the door, were looking at her flabbergasted. So that's your plan!? It ain't going to work!!
Mitsuko didn't hesitate to the offer. "Uhm? Yes, of course." That must be the call of the cake. Or the biggest escape plan.
Ichigo beamed. "So let's go!" She quickly took her hands, and quickly dragged her out of the classroom. A few of the male classmates noticed Tadase's face falling. Good. Today again, they were running again hand in hand, away from possible trouble.
"Wait for us!" Moe and Miwa ran behind them in unison.
The run outside the school was a quick one, but they all made it to the corner of one street. All girls were panting, already tired.
"What the hell, it really worked??"
"Aw, come on, Moe, don't doubt my great ideas!" Ichigo almost pouted, then looked at Mitsuko, already on her knees.
"Thank you.." she barely muttered between two breathes.
Once they all regulated their breathing, the girls started to walk to the café together. Ichigo decided not to run there. She was already late as usual, anyway.
"I've been wanting to ask a bit earlier," Miwa turned to the new friend. "It's our senior year, so why didn't you wait for high school?"
Mitsuko hid a little smile. "That might sound silly but… the uniforms."
"....wait. Seriously? The uniform?" Ichigo was shocked, but Mitsuko simply nodded.
"The uniform." She repeated with a big smile. "Well, in fact, someone very dear to me was the one who gave the suggestion to Daikan, but when an uniform strikes your fancy, you might as well want to wear it, no?" She turned around, happy. "Don't I look cute in it? Well, I'm sure a darker color is better on me but still!"
"Would be easier to hide accidental stains," Moe noted.
"Well yeah, that too, but I would avoid that in the first place."
Everyone was having a nice time, chit chatting a lot while walking their way to the café.
"Which makes me think," Miwa said aloud. "I heard Daikan do have a related high school and it would be easier for us to go in."
"Oh, I heard that one!" Ichigo exclaimed. "Apparently, we still do have to take exams, but they seem to be chill on the ones already in Daikan."
"You think with all the exams I did this past month I would be exempt?" Mitsuko had a grin knowing the answer but she could still try.
"Keep dreaming about it." Everyone laughed.
Mitsuko quickly found out that they were nice friends to have fun with this year. She really had fun today.
So why was there an incoming bad feeling on the back of the head?
Ichigo felt dread for a whole other reason, but could feel Mitsuko's nervousness. She brushed it aside, thinking that was because it was a new place she was coming at. Nothing can beat Ichigo's being chewed out alive for being late after opening the door. Starting with Aizawa Mint.
"Ichigo! You're even more late than usual!" The blue bird was already attacking her and scolding her on the spot, but stopped when she noticed her friends behind. "Oh, you were with your friends."
"And a client, so be happy!" Ichigo told her, taking Mitsuko up front, hands on her shoulder.
"So, a kidnapping for profit. I got kidnapped for profit." Mitsuko looked neutral, but her tone was definitely in the amused category.
"No it isn't, no it isn't, but you still can sit down while waiting for the good cakes!"
Mitsuko blinked. "... Is Momomiya-san always like this?"
"Yeah, but it is part of her charm," Miwa replied with a big smile.
"Girls, I'm right next to you."
"And this is now you're coming, Ichigo. Late as always, aren't you."
A masculine voice was heard, and right then and there, Ichigo got a little bit irritated. Today again, Shirogane Ryou graced the café with his presence, already ready to annoy her just because she was late. Again.
He was going to go to her, but suddenly stopped midway. Ichigo read his face. He was surprised, almost as if he saw a ghost. This was not normal, Ichigo thought to herself. She was pretty sure she was not herself a ghost. Then her eyes turned where his eyes were looking.
Mitsuko perked her eyes up, recognizing that voice a little bit too well. Her face quickly lost all colors, two realisations came by in her mind, and the fight-or-flight instinct already kicked in when their eyes met.
A few words of choice were quickly blurted out in pure disbelief; "H-huh? Wait, h-hold on a second– Ryou!?"
Ichigo, not even a few minutes ago, thought that her being chewed live in front of her friends and the new student was way more embarrassing than Mitsuko starting to feel nervous for she-didn't-know-why.
Well then. She was wrong.