Sky

When classes were over, everyone was surrounding Hiroisora. Well, mostly by the guys.

"Hey, Takaiyama! Let's go talk to her." It was Jirai.

"Not interested. You should go if you're really interested."

"I'm telling you, you're a fag."

"What the-" One more and I'll hit this guy. "Hmph. I'll be going then. See you tomorrow."

"Oh, come on. Don't be such a scared-y cat. We'll just talk to the beautiful girl. Who knows? Maybe she falls for me, and then we'll get married and have twelve kids. Hehehe..."

"Twelve?"

"It's a soccer team. The additional one is a substitute; you never know who may get injured or what. Hehehe. Hey, are you listening? Where are you going? Come back here!"

"Ah, whatever. Bye." I wasn't paying attention to his explanation. I think I'll go to the library to read. I don't feel like going home early.

---

While I'm reading in the library, there are always girls who hide behind bookshelves while observing (stalking) me, whispering from the other table talking about me. If I have to guess, they are figuring out when and how to confess to me.

"Correct."

See, I knew it. Wait. Did someone just answer me?

"It is true that they are planning to confess to you."

There it goes again. Who the hell is that?

"Um, who are yo- Woah!" When I turned to see who it was, it was a woman dressed in a butler uniform. What is she doing here? "Who are you? Why are you dressed like that? How did you get inside our school?"

"My name is Elizabeth. This is my uniform. I went through the front gate."

Did she just answer my questions directly?

"Uh. Ok? Wait, wait. Something's wrong here. How did you read my mind?"

"I didn't. You were talking out aloud."

"I was?"

"Yes."

"But I'm pretty sure I wasn't tal-"

"You were."

"But-"

"You were." She's definitely weird.

"Ok. Um, Elizabeth-san? What are you doing here? Do you need something from me?"

"Yes. I will go straight to the point. Please be Kari-sama's boyfriend."

…Huh?

"Huh?" I'll say 'Huh' many times and what this person just said will not make much more sense that it already has.

"Was my words not clear? Ok, I'll repeat my request. Please be Kari-sam-"

"That's not the point here! Why the hell are you asking me something so outrageous, and out of the blue for that matter? And who the hell is Kari-sama?!"

"You're in the library. Please don't shout."

"Don't give me that crap!"

"Hey, no shouting in the library!" But you just shouted, you hypocrite librarian.

"Whatever. I'm going home. Whoever you are, please don't bother me again." I left the library.

Wow, this day went from ordinary to crazy. I just hope I don't run into that weirdo again. What the hell is security doing letting someone like that inside school? What if she was a serial killer, or even worse, a person who recruits good-looking teenagers, such as myself, to be a 'model' but instead you do it without clothes and thru the internet. Nooo! My purity will be defiled! I must bring this matter to the student council and-

"Ouch." Oh, I bumped into someone. It was a girl.

"Oh, I'm sorry." I reached out my hand to help her stand up.

"Don't worry. It was my fault, I wasn't paying attention." She held my hand as she stood up.

"Oh…" She was the transfer student in our class. I really don't remember her name.

"Thanks for helping me. I'll be on my way now." She started running and calling for someone. "Eli! Where are you?"

I guess I misjudged her. I thought beautiful girls like her are stuck up and all. Or maybe she's just a yandere.

---

The next day, I came early to class. I needed to water the plants in our classroom. While watering, I saw some of my guy classmates placing something under a table one after another. I think those were letters or something. Love letters maybe? Oh, it's for the new student. She might rival my record for number of confessions. Haha.

I went to the bathroom to refill my watering can, when suddenly…

"Have you reconsidered my request?"

"Waahhhh!" It was her again. The butler. "What are you doing in the boys CR? What if someone sees you in here with me?"

"I was following you. I would scream 'Help. He's raping me.'" What the heck? I don't know which is scarier, the fact that she's following me around, the way she straight up answers my questions, or that she'll use the word 'rape' without hesitation just to save her skin.

"Anyway, I don't think you'll stop bothering me unless I hear you out. Let's talk somewhere else."

"You are correct. And if you're taking me somewhere else, please don't try to rape me."

"Stop using the word 'rape' already!"

---

We went to the rooftop. There are less people that will go up here, so there are fewer chances of others seeing me with this weirdo. But it is also not a safe enough place to rape someone without the risk of being caught- Wait a minute, now I'm using the word rape unconsciously. Damn it!

"So, what is this request again? I honestly didn't understand what you wanted from me."

"Please be Kari-sama's boyfriend." She said it with a straight face.

"Ugh. It still sounds weird every time I hear it." And stupid, too. "Ok, answer me this. Why should I do what you want?" I feel like I stepped into a landmine by asking that. She will definitely have an answer that I will not like.

"You will lose your house." Huh? "Your mom sold it to me, and I will take it if you don't do what I request."

"One moment." I called my mom. "Mom, did you sell our house?"

"Hahaha. How did you know?"

"So you actually did?! And why are you laughing? This is serious! What the hell happened?"

"Well, you see, I was out last night with my friends drinking. Afterwards, we went to a casino to have fun. I sat down at a poker table and I was winning, but some lady joined my table and suddenly I was losing. I had nothing else to bet and she suggested my house. Since I wanted to win, I did bet our house. The rest is history. Hehehe…"

"And how are you planning to get back our house?" I feel like this is another landmine, and the answer I'm about to get is something I will not like. Again.

"Well, she was nice enough to not take it at once. She said she'll contact me on how I can retrieve the house' title. Don't worry, I'll handle it. Hahaha. Leave it to m-" I hung up. I realized what was going on.

"So, will you do it now?" She asked with a straight face. "Don't worry. If you do it, I won't take your house."

"I feel like I have no other choice… I give up. So, why me?" You better have a good reason.

"I've observed the school Kari-sama was going to transfer into. According to my observations, you are 'popular' with girls. I thought it will be easy for you to attract Kari-sama's attention and interest." What am I, some cute animal to be chosen as a pet?

"Well, that is logically sound. Wait, why am I agreeing with you?!" I feel dizzy. This is too much to take early in the morning. "Wait a sec. 'Transfer into'? You mean that 'Kari-sama' is the transfer student?"

"Yes."

"What?! Why do I need to be her boyfriend? She's already beautiful enough she can find her own. I'm sure she'll be popular in our school, so there's bound to be some-"

"No." I don't think I can get out of this that easily.

"Ok. Last question. So why do all of this?"

"Because her father is worried that she will be lonely and that she will live her whole life by herself, thus he will not have any grandchildren." Huh?

"That's so selfish! And lame! Ahhh. What have I gotten myself into." Really, what have I gotten myself into?

"Since all is settled, I will be leaving now. The time limit is before you graduate high school, and I will not be interfering with what you will do. I leave her in your care. I'll contact you again when it is necessary and /or if you have failed. Goodbye." Why do I suddenly feel like I'm in a 'Mission Impossible' movie?

---

It's been a week since that conversation at the rooftop with Elizabeth-san. Even though she said the time limit is until we graduate, I can't take my sweet time. I've barely talked to Hiroisora this past week as well. I feel like I'm going against my beliefs if I do this, but I also have to think of Mom and Uryou. They won't have a place to live if I don't do this. Sigh.

As I was walking towards school, a car stopped by in front of the school gate. It was Hiroisora. It must be nice having a driver take you to school. Just as I was nearing the school gate, I heard screams from girls. I hurried to see what was up, and then I saw students circling around something. I went through the crowd to see what the fuzz was about. A guy was on his knees, holding a bouquet of red roses and offering it to… Hiroisora.

Everyone around me was cheering, like it was some sort of sporting event. She was just standing there, looking at the guy. She didn't seem surprised or happy. Then she bowed her head and shouted.

"I'm sorry!"

Then she ran off towards the school building. Everyone was shocked. The girls pitied the guy, while the other guys were rejoicing in happiness. Their hopes are still alive, it seems.

"Hey, did you see that?" It was Jirai out of nowhere.

"Yeah. I feel sorry for the guy."

"What?! He was about to take away the school's angel! No, goddess! He is a blasphemous vermin that needs to be crushed and returned to dust!" Now they worship her?

"I just understand how he feels right now."

"You're talking nonsense. A guy like you? What, did you confess to a girl but then hurt you? Hahaha. I doubt there are any girls like that-"

"I'll go on ahead, I'll be late." I'm not angry at him. It's just troublesome to explain to him.

"Hey wait up! You're trying to make a move on Hiroisora-san before me, aren't you? You sly bastard!" No I'm not… Oh, right.

---

After that little commotion, classes started almost immediately. Ever since this morning when classes began, I was staring at Hiroisora. I was thinking how I was going to start this 'mission impossible' thing. When lunch break started, I started to realize that my classmates were whispering about something.

"Hey, look, Takaiyama-kun is staring at Hiroisora-san."

"Yeah, I've noticed that since this morning."

"Don't tell me he likes Hiroisora-san?!"

"That's unfair! He can have all the girls in the school."

"That lecherous scum. Salivating over our goddess. Unforgivable!"

Their eyes started to burn. I can feel the pressure inside this classroom; if I make any unexpected movements, I'm dead.

All of a sudden, Hiroisora stood up, walked towards me and then talked to me.

Now, I'm officially dead.

"Um, Takaiyama-san." I can literally feel the piercing stares of my classmates.

"Ye-yes?" Hmm, did I just stutter?

"Since you got the highest score on our quiz earlier, um, I was wondering if you can lend me your notes. I would really appreciate it, since I'm really not good in that subject." She was asking nicely while smiling at me.

"A-ah. Ok. N-no problem. Here." What is up with me? Am I nervous?

"Thanks! I'll be sure to return it as soon as possible." She happily went back to her seat. Now all the guys were casting some sort of curse upon me.