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A loud ring blasts through Gekkoukan high school corridors. The homeroom teacher Ms. Toriumi gathers her things, getting ready to leave the classroom as other students start to chatter. The last class of the day just concluded and Kotone stretched in her seat while yawning. Maybe arriving so late last night to her new dormitory wasn’t the smartest idea.
Today is the start of a new school year. Even though this was Kotone’s first day at this school, her thoughts were occupied by strange events from the previous night and even stranger people she met in a span of an hour. From an eerie boy in striped pajamas requesting her to sign a document to Yukari pulling a gun on her, Kotone had a lot to process.
Kotone was dazing out the window, staring at falling cherry blossom leaves when a sudden, cheery voice startled her.
“‘Sup, dude!?”
Kotone quickly spun around and locked eyes with vivid grey-colored eyes. A bright, boyish smile was plastered on a tall classmate's face. A silly goatee and blue baseball cap combo slightly flustered Kotone. She could feel her cheeks faintly heat up as she stared at this boy.
“Haha, you look like a deer in headlights,” laughed the intruder with his charming smile.
Kotone took a second to compose herself and asked “Who are you?”
The cap wearing boy sat down in a stool in front of Kotone and leaned on her desk. “Me? I’m Junpei Iori. Nice to meet you!” his smile grew even wider than before. “I transferred here when I was in 8th grade so I know how tough it is bein’ the new kid… So~ I thought I’d check up on you, make sure you weren’t freaking out on your first day,” said Junpei while using his whole body to talk, flailing his arms around to emphasise what he was saying. “If I caught it correctly, your name’s Kotone, isn’t it?”
The auburn hair girl slowly nodded her head as she stared at this newcomer. Kotone was definitely not the type to believe in love at first sight but she definitely couldn’t deny that this boy’s charming grin and cheerful attitude didn’t cast a charm spell on her. She was about to open her mouth to answer but Junpei interrupted before she even started.
“Woah! Those are some cool earphones! I can probably assume you’re into music, right? Whatcha listen to?” Junpei inquired as he observed the red earphones dangling down Kotone’s neck.
Kotone glanced down to her music player and back up to Junpei. “I can’t say I really discriminate. If it sounds good, I add it to my playlist,” the auburn hair girl smiled, finally getting her composure back.
Junpei’s eyes finally left her earphones and met hers again. He was about to start talking when a familiar voice interrupted the conversation.
“At it again, huh? Honestly, is there any girl you wouldn’t hit on?” sighed Yukari. Kotone was so focused on the boy in front of her that she didn’t notice when the brunette sneaked up on them. Yukari stood to the side and was glaring daggers at Junpei. “Did you ever think you might be bothering someone?”
“What?! But I was just bein’ friendly” a cap wearing boy jumped in his seat while gapping at Yukari.
“If you say so,” shrugged the brunette with a tone that clearly indicated she didn’t believe a word Junpei was saying.
Yukari turned to Kotone with a completely changed attitude. “Anyways, some coincidence that we’d be in the same homeroom, huh?”
Startled by the quick change in brunette’s tone, Kotone answered. “Yeah, I know.”
“Funny, huh?” At this point Yukari was smiling brightly, completely forgetting about Junpei’s existence.
Junpei leaned on the table, trying to get the attention of both girls with a puzzled look on his face. “Um, hello? Did you forget I’m in this class too? C’mon, lemme in on the fun!” exclaimed the boy while waving his hand around.
“By the way, do you guys know each other? I heard you two came to school together this morning,” asked Junpei with a genuinely interested look on his face. “A couple of cuties like you, walking side by side… The whole class was buzzing about you,” Junpei leaned back on his chair as his face became more and more smug with each word.
Yukari rolled her eyes and glared at Junpei. The brunette placed her palm on the desk harshly. “Ugh… Could you just cut it out? I hate dealing with rumors like that. I mean, I’m used to it, but she just got here, you know? Don’t you feel bad, spreading rumors like that?” Yukari sighed, annoyed.
“... Well, I’ve gotta go take care of some archery team stuff. Don’t try anything funny, you got that, Junpei?” the brunette glared at the cap wearing boy. “See ya later,” smiled Yukari towards Kotone before leaving to grab her stuff from her desk.
Junpei stared agape towards Yukari before turning his head to a stunned Kotone whose eyes still followed the leaving girl. “What is she, your nanny...?” asked the boy with a raised eyebrow.
Kotone glanced back at Junpei who slowly started to smile again. “Well, just to clear something up, I seriously didn’t come over here to hit on you or anything.”
It would be a lie if Kotone said that she didn’t feel slight disappointment at that statement right now. The auburn hair girl looked down to her intertwined hands that were resting on her desk as she felt her cheeks heat up once again.
However, the girl couldn’t simmer in this weird disappointment for much longer since she felt her desk move slightly.
“If you ever have a problem, you can tell your ol’ pal Junpei about it!” proclaimed the boy while standing up from the seat he was occupying just a moment ago.
Kotone followed him with her crimson eyes and thanked him.
Junpei looked down at Kotone one last time and flashed another goofy but charming smile. “No prob! My door’s always open. So to speak.”
And with that the cap wearing boy left Kotone rooted to her spot. As Junpei walked away to speak with their other classmates, Kotone’s cheeks got almost as bright as her eyes.
Slowly the auburn haired girl leaned on one hand and sneakily glanced back over her shoulder to examine the boy from afar. Junpei was loud and animated. He laughed brightly and expressed his emotions with his whole body. Kotone turned back to look at the cherry blossom leaves again. Suddenly the thoughts of all the weird things that happened yesterday were overwritten by this new acquaintance.
It was later in the evening when Kotone was grabbing her shoes out of their locker only to be startled by Junpei.
“Hey! Let me walk you home. It might not be safe to walk alone for a cutie like you,” declared the boy with that goofy smile once again.
“No need,” Kotone deadpanned.
“Ouchies! Don’t hurt a guy’s pride like that. C’mon, do this a favor and let him avoid going home a little longer,” joked Junpei with puppy eyes.
Heat started to rise inside Kotone’s cheeks again so she turned back quickly to her shoe locker. “Fine but you better not get any weird ideas!”
Kotone took a peak from a corner of her eyes as Junpei fist bumped the air. “C’mon! Let’s get going then. Let’s get you home before it’s too dark,” said Junpei with excitement.
The girl took a deep breath and turned fully towards the boy flashing a genuine smile his way. For a moment it looked like Junpei’s whole body stopped as he looked Kotone’s way but just a moment later he spun and started to lead the way.
It took some time for them to reach Iwatodai dormitory but if they were being honest neither of them took a fast pace to get there. They took their time chatting about school clubs, some gossip that’s going around school and sharing opinions about their favorite video games. It was a pleasant time which seemed to end way too quickly for Kotone’s liking.
As they reached the steps to the dorm both of them stopped. “My house is actually not far from here so there’s no need to worry about me,” said Junpei with a smile which looked different from all the other ones he showed today. It was obvious he was trying to hide something behind a fake smile, however, Kotone didn’t feel like it was her place to pry.
Despite that the girl was happy to have spent this time with him. “Thanks for taking me home. Maybe you’re not as bad as Yukari made you out to be,” laughed Kotone as she started walking up the stairs.
“Hey! I swear, I’m not some creep!” Junpei panicked, his whole body looking as if he’s fighting to regain his pride.
Kotone let out a loud laugh and waved shyly. “Bye bye Junpei. See ya tomorrow!” The girl quickly opened the door and dashed from the boy’s view.
Junpei stood there stunned for a moment with the tips of his ears turning red. ”Yeah, see ya…” It took him a few more moments to gather his bearings before walking away, turning towards Paulownia Mall rather than his house.
“Please tell me that was not Junpei’s voice I just heard outside that door.”
Kotone jumped to see Yukari looking at her with a deadpanned face. “Would you be mad if I said maybe…?” asked the auburn hair girl with a sheepish smile.
“He’s not a bad guy but he can act creepy sometimes. I’d say be careful around him,” Yukari sighed loudly as she was turning around.
“Wait! I have a question for you if you don’t mind,” exclaimed Kotone, forcing the brunette to stop. “You and Junpei seem to bicker a lot… Are you two close?”
Yukari looked like someone just told her the biggest insult she ever heard. “If you’re asking if me and that creep are a couple then the answer is a big no! I can’t believe you even thought that for a moment! I’ve known him since middle school and we always somehow end up in the same class. It’s like fate is testing me every year…” groaned Yukari. “Come on. Enough Junpei talk. It’s late and we have school tomorrow again so you can go wash up first.”
Kotone watched as Yukari walked away. The memory of today’s events lingered in her mind. With a shy smile the auburn hair girl went to her room, hoping to see her new friend in her dreams.