A New Leaf

A few days went by since I first moved into the house with the other women. It was now Friday to be specific. As always, I would go to school and back, occasionally go to the convenience store to get something to eat. On this day, Rena stopped me at the door...

"Hey listen, can we talk for a bit?" Rena asked.

"Sure, what about?" I asked.

"It's about the rules. Come on the other women are waiting." Rena said then led me to the living room.

I followed her, curious about what we were going to talk about. Last time I checked, I haven't broken any rules or regulations. I've been doing things that I've always been doing, being isolated at the house.

I sat down on the couch and looked at everyone who was on the sofa. "What's going on?"

"So me and the girls talked it out and we've come to a definite conclusion." Rena started.

"Uh-huh..?" I said.

"We decided to take off the rules and start treating you like an actual member of the household. So far everyone has agreed that you're safe to be around and we've all colle-"

"Oh...so what made you all decide to treat me like I'm an actual human and not a prisoner?" I asked.

"Hey! Let her finish talking!" Suki said.

"No! I will absolutely not let her finish because this is some bullshit!" I said then stood up.

"Archer!" Momoko said.

"You know this is some bullshit, Rena. What made you come to this conclusion that I'm not dangerous? Hm? You thought I was going to rejoice over this decision? 'Yay! I can finally become friends with you all!' is what you expected me to think? Yeah sorry that that's not how I'm gonna think after being treated like nothing for the last few days. You can keep those same bullshit rules up. I don't even care at this point." I said then made my way to the stairs.

Rena watched me and sighed as I walked up the stairs. "I had a feeling that would've pissed him off."

"Why did he get so mad? This is a happy moment." Mitsuki said, not understanding my reaction.

"Well...I guess it could be that we forced him to be alone here for so long and had him buy his own stuff and made him feel like we didn't like him at all. We have to make it up to him with a party or something." Momoko said.

"Ugh the guy blew up on Rena AFTER we tried to take the rules off! Now we have to throw him a dumb fucking party? Yeah not happening." Aki said.

"Put yourself in his shoes for a moment, Aki." Momoko said.

"What? Fuck no! Why would I do that?! From day one I wanted him out of here. Yeah he's done nothing to us now, but later he's gonna make a move! I just know it!" Aki said. "He's going to betray us."

She said that last part softly and looked down then held her arm. Suki noticed and looked at Rena.

"Rena." Suki said.

"Let's host that party. I'll be honest...I've only been doing things that'll make us happy. Archer has been happy since he got here. I've been ignoring his feelings, but it's time I put his feelings into consideration." Rena said.

I laid on my bed, talking to my friends on the phone.

"Man that sucks. It's a shame those hunies are treating you like shit." My friend said.

"It isn't all of them, but yeah a majority. I didn't do anything to them and I honestly have no idea what the hell they expect from me. It's like some of them are waiting for me to fuck up so they can have a reason to kick me out." I said.

"Honestly I feel like you should stand up for yourself." My other friend said on the call.

"Bro. It's a seven against one. The hell am I gonna do? I might as well just hang in my room until all of them goes to sleep and just go out. I'm fine with just going to school and come home and do nothing except my laundry and stuff. After all, I am only here for the Japanese Education." I said.

"Come on. You're in Japan. The women there are top tier. You have to cop at least one of them. That Aki chick you talk about sometimes, though she's a bitch, she might be a good start to see how well your charms work." My friend said.

"My charms?" I asked. "Come on, I've made it clear that we will never see eye to eye. She hates me."

"Come on man. You're an amazing looking guy. It's nearly impossible for a woman to resist you. You're charismatic and pretty athletic. You can't possibly miss this shot. Shoot your shot like you're Devin Booker." My friend said.

I looked at my phone and smiled then rolled my eyes and shook my head. I heard a knock on my door and sat up on my bed. "Hey, I'll call you two back. Get some sleep alright?"

"Yeah for sure man." My friend said.

I hung up the phone and got up then opened the door. I noticed the hesitant look of Aki in front of me. "What do you want?"

"I...can't stand your passive aggressive tone..!" Aki growled and glared at me with rosy cheeks.

"Then walk away. No one is keeping you here." I said then walked back to my bed.

Aki watched me. "Listen. I'm sorry. I was wrong about you okay?"

I sat on my bed and looked at Aki. "And?"

Aki held her arms and looked away. "And...I was stupid to judge you just because you're a boy. You're honestly not as bad as I thought you were."

I looked at her and closed my eyes. I sighed and opened my eyes and looked at the floor. "What makes you think I'm gonna accept this apology? I mean you and Suki hate my guts. Unrightfully so. These past few days I've been getting nothing but shit from you."

"Unn..." Aki mumbles and shuffles around.

I looked at her. I had to put my foot down sooner or later. "If you honestly believe I'm going to accept your apology...you're wrong." I stood up.

Momoko and Rena listened into the conversation. They looked at each other and knew I was still mad about the rule situation.

"Those rules were there to keep us apart. You all got what you wanted and now you all agreed to take them down because you noticed I was 'safe'." I said.

"That's-"

"Shhhh." I said and looked at her then stood up. "The words that will come from your lips will be a lie. I know it. From day one you've expressed your frustrations with me being under the same roof."

"Can I talk?!" Aki yelled.

"What could you possibly say? It was clear from your own words you want nothing to do with me. Five days of just pure torture. We have nothing more to say to each other." I said then walked by her and left the room.

Momoko watched me leave with a surprised look. She walked ahead and looked at Aki.

Aki walked out of the room and walked towards the stairs. Momoko and Rena followed her.

"Surpri- Wait, Archer! Where are you going? Why are you grabbing your keys?" Mitsuki asked.

"Why? Well because I'm going out. I don't need any of y'all's pity. Taking off the rules after getting exactly what everyone wanted." I said.

"Come on why are you getting bitchy with Mitsuki?! She didn't do anything to you!" Suki said. "She cooked all of this for you!"

"Yeah you're right, Pastel Girl. She didn't do anything to me. In fact she and Momoko were the only ones who actually TRULY trusted me because they know not every book is meant to be judged. They are the ONLY friends I have in this house. Now look who's having the last laugh. Do you all understand how condescending that was for me? I don't even consider Rena a real friend. She's the one who set up those dumbass rules." I said.

Suki had nothing else to say.

"Archer." Rena said as she walked down the stairs. "I can understand why you're mad."

"Do you really? Have you lived in isolation like I have? Those rules prevented me from doing anything with you all. Rule number 5, I couldn't participate in any activities with any of y'all. Yikes, must've forgot about that leader. I bet all of you were happy, but I wasn't! You think a party is going to fix this? WOOHOO! The Rules don't apply anymore because I'm...'safe'." I said then walked to the door and put my shoes on. "Don't come looking for me."

They all watched me leave the house.

"Well that went according to plan." Orime said and blew a bubble with her gum.

Everyone looked at her then Sayaki plucked her head.

"I can't leave things like this. I'm gonna go look for him." Aki said and walked to the counter then grabbed her keys. "You all can eat without me!"

I walked down the street and headed to the train station. "I can't believe they thought getting rid of the rules would make me happy. That I'd let something like that slide. The nerve...the absolute nerve. Aki thinking I'd just accept her apology. No. No. She made it clear she wanted nothing to do with me and now...now she wants something to do with me? Piss off."

Aki ran down the street and looked for me. She knew I wouldn't be headed to the school since it was now closed. As she ran down the street she noticed me. "Archer!"

I heard her calling out to me and stopped walking. I looked back at her. "Listen, we both made it clear we want nothing to do with each other, Aki. Give up the act."

"Archer, just listen please!" Aki panted and held her knees as she looked at me.

I fully turned around to face her. "What..?"

"I'm genuinely sorry okay..? It's literally only me here. I'm saying sorry as myself. The last time...Momoko told me to do it, but I came to say sorry by myself! I...I really did you wrong. I treated you like dirt. No I treated you less than dirt." Aki said and stood up straight.

I crossed my arms and rose an eyebrow.

It was like Aki read my mind because she replied with a perfect statement. "You don't need to say it because I know what you're thinking. Yes...my hatred for men has to do with Raidon...I'm sure Rena already told you and you figured it out from Raidon himself. I see you two talking and stuff at school. I recently broke up with him because I found him cheating on me with one of the cheerleaders. He told me he wouldn't cheat or break my heart and he just went back on his word."

"And you hate all guys just because of him?" I asked.

"The way you ask me makes me feel so dumb.." Aki said.

I looked at Aki then crossed my arms. "It's wrong that he cheated on you, but it's not right for you to group all guys into one category just because of what he did to you. Still-"

"Archer, come on! I poured my feelings out! That's still not enough for you to accept it?" Aki complained.

I looked at her and closed my eyes. "Tell me what's going to change if I do accept it? Because the rules are gone now. What's going to change?"

"I'm gonna turn over a new leave. I'm not going to treat you like trash anymore. You don't deserve the treatment, honestly. I'm gonna make the effort of hating you less until I can fully trust you. I'll allow us to be acquaintances!" Aki said.

I looked at her then placed my hands in my pockets. "Really?"

"Really.." She nodded and held her hand out at me. "I promise that 100%."

I looked at her hand then shook her hand. "Alright.."

Aki smiled a bit at me. "Hey...since we are already out here, we can have an acquaintance dinner at McDonald's or something."

"Mmm, I'm in the mood for a burger I guess." I said.

Aki and I have come to an agreement. A new leaf was turning and already, we have agreed to become acquaintances and grow from there. It felt strange having Aki apologize to me genuinely, but nevertheless she apologized by herself and not by the request of Momoko.

"They aren't coming back within the next five minutes are they?" Sayaki asked.

"Nope." The other women answered as they ate their food.

"Awesome. More fried chicken for us then." Sayaki shrugged and smiled.

To be continued...