Princesses and Paupers

As it always tended to happen, time moved forward and the holidays came to an end. The Chiyaha family said a very long and emotional goodbye to the small Nojiri family. The little ones were crying that they had to say goodbye to their big brother. Eizan shook both of the Nojiri men's hands in thanks for an enjoyable time. Akane gave Benjiro a tender hug and told him, "We're never very far if you need us. Never forget that."

Returning the hug, Benjiro nodded wordlessly. Mine was also a little bummed, but she was holding together just fine. Giving him a hug of her own, she told him, "Don't worry, I'll back again soon enough. We can all get together when summer break rolls around again and live it up like there's no tomorrow."

Giving his friend an affectionate rib crushing squeeze, "I'm going to hold you to that."

It was always a peculiar feeling right after company left the house. Just a few hours ago, it had been full of people, full of life. But in the span of just a few minutes, it was back to just the father and son duo. There was that feeling of almost eerie stillness as Benjiro readjusted to being back to feeling alone in the house. Silence was always appreciated, but that was usually after he had finished dealing with people he didn't like. Which is why, despite his apprehension, part of him was glad to go back to school.

Almost as soon as he got settled into classes, Benjiro was faced with the angry and sadistic glares and jeers of Hiromi's fans. In his head he was recanting that earlier loneliness and just wanted to hole up at home again. When the lunch hour graciously rolled around again, he returned his thoughts to the future. Now that the new year was complete, and spring was arriving, the stage play was arriving sooner and sooner. He would probably go to see President Saito about the newest looks he had experimented with. In truth, he was for all intents and purposes, essentially finished with the looks. He just had to wait for the 'all clear' from Saito. If he was going to get enough supplies for the actual play, he needed to make sure that he ordered enough.

'Ah, isn't it nice to do what you love when it's on another person's budget', Inei chuckled.

'You say that like we're part of some big time movie studio and not some obscure high school that gets funding from a teenager's allowance, part time jobs or panhandling food at a festival of some kind.'

Thinking about the drama club made him think of Akiko. He had tried going to her house once or twice during the holidays to see if he could hammer out some of the details of what needed to get done sooner than later. But each time he tried looking, her mother said that she was out for most of the day. Apparently, she just decided to go out and spend more time with her friends. That excuse had held up for only so long though. Benjiro had tried reaching out via text and phone calls, but he had received total radio silence.

He saw Akiko sitting at the table with her friends. She caught sight of him for a second before a flash of anger, disgust and disappointment came across her face and she went back to talking once more. Quickly turning away, he recalled the argument over something that happened before winter break had even started. Benjiro was still unsure as to what the argument had really been about, but it had been bad enough that on the days when Akiko and Daitan were in the same room, you could cut the tension with a knife. At the end of the day, Benjiro was trying to think of a way to approach her to give her the not-Christmas present. With the look he had given her, that was looking like a gradually widening chasm.

'This is just one of those damned if you do or don't situations', Inei surmised, 'Do you know how she'll react?'

'We both know the answer to that', Benjijro replied walking with a slump, 'Even Daitan is far too unpredictable right now. She's every bit as frosty as Higaki with the added bonus of having the temperament of a Buzzsaw.'

Benjiro was about to slide open the door to the music room when from outside, movement could be heard. Thinking it was probably just Daitan trying to concentrate, Benjiro slid into the music room as quietly as he could.

'That can't be right', Benjiro pondered, 'Today was one of the days that Haruoka was allowed to attend soccer practice. I know for a fact she wouldn't miss that for anything.'

To his lack of surprise, there was Hiromi again. Unlike other times however, Hiromi wasn't expectantly waiting or practicing whatever she felt like making him listen to like she usually was. Instead, she had her back turned to him with headphones in. As if that weren't odd enough, he could see her bobbing her head and lightly humming. He wasn't sure whether to be impressed or a little envious of how melodic even just her humming sounded.

Curious as to what had her attention, Benjiro quietly padded forward. Even from a few steps away, he could audibly hear her music. The mop haired boy tried to stifle a laugh as he picked apart what he heard. Without a doubt, Hiromi Domon, the school's Madonna, straight A student and daughter to a prestigious, traditional family was listening to a K-pop song. It was a genre he never really cared much for, but heard enough that certain songs that were instantly recognizable.

'Is this how rich kids rebel when their parents aren't the spoiling type', Inei wondered.

As if by some sixth sense, Hiromi turned around and the color of her face drained as she saw who was there. Quickly pulling her headphones from her ears, "It's not what you think.

Grinning Benjiro said, "I d-don't know wh-what you're t-talking about."

Hiromi sheepishly glanced off to the side, "How much did you see?"

Benjiro shrugged, "N-Not much. J-Just you h-having a good time wh-while listening t-to what I'm g-guessing was 'Blood, S-Sweat and Tears."

The young man swore he could see the color drain from her face. Before he could comment on it, he found himself blushing from coming face to face with his crush.

"Now you listen to me", the elegant girl forcefully whispered, "If you tell anyone and I mean anyone about this, I will find a way of making your life miserable."

Instinctually, Benjiro knew she was most likely completely serious, but with everything that led her to threatening him, he just couldn't help but start giggling. Refusing to relent, Hiromi slightly shook him, "Do you or don't you understand."

"Y-Yes, I understa- hahahaha-"

He couldn't help it anymore, it was just too much. The fact that Hiromi was being so secretive over something so inane and the absolutely adorable way she was trying to cover it up, it was too much. With all the added stress of the day, it just made the ridiculousness of the situation all the more funny to him. After getting the giggles out of his system, Benjiro wiped his eyes, "Whew, sorry about th-that. b-But seriously, I w-won't tell anyone."

Returning to her usual mask of impassivity, "Good."

Benjiro couldn't help but laugh a little more at seeing the duality of Hiromi's actions. What he certainly didn't expect was a pensive look to pass over her face, "D-Do you think it's weird? Me listening to such trashy music."

After regaining his composure and trying not to get too lost in the moment, "Why d-do you th-think it's trashy?"

Hiromi sat down on the piano bench, "It's just that... I don't know. It's so foreign to me. I didn't even know such music even existed until a few months ago."

Coincidentally, this was around the time that she had her argument with the current boy about music. Not that she'd ever tell him that.

"And the first time I saw it, it almost disgusted me, but I just couldn't get it out of my head."

Nodding, "M-Music videos of g-good looking guys dancing t-tend to have that eff-fect."

Hiromi's face tinged pink, "That is not what I meant."

Benjiro noticed that she looked him in the eyes a little too directly when she said that.

"But, the music, it just had this... energy to it. Like it just didn't care. Like it was living just because it wanted to. Not really to say anything, just ...there."

It took a few moments for Benjiro to comprehend what he heard, but he nodded in understanding.

"Y-Yeah, it's good to h-have stuff like that. Where it j-just makes you happy. H-Heck, that's what m-most of the stuff on th-the internet is f-for. Just s-something to take y-you out of everyth-thing and do r-random s**t."

Hiromi's face creased a little at his language but recognized the merit of his words.

"So, you don't think something like this would affect how people see me?"

All Benjiro could do was smile through the grimace, "Y-You could pr-probably w-walk into school wearing stilt-ts, and everyone would f-follow suit."

Without thinking much of it, Benjiro sat down at the piano bench and plinked at the keys, "Here's an example."

He couldn't remember the title of the song, but he remembered some of the words. It was a song about a kid who ran into problems when he tried to keep a rabbit or something in a box.

"This song is so stupid, but it never failed to make me laugh."

An amused smile broke out on Hiromi's face as she watched this odd young man take such simple pleasure in such a mundane matter. It was a moment later that Hiromi realized what was happening and abruptly stood up and turned to leave.

"Like I said", she announced before she walked out, "If you mention this to anyone..."

She let the threat hang in the air as she slid the door shut. A quick phone call and five minutes later, she was in the back of her car being taken home. Tapping the glass, she couldn't get that stupid song out of her head.

'Damn him. He's already infecting my thoughts with such drivel about ordinary matters', a thoughtful look crossed her face, 'Just some uncomplicated fun, huh. Is it really that easy?'