RUMOURS

The seasoned smell pulling your nose to the kitchen was a routine Akage was used to every morning since she lived independently. She placed the last dish on the table before she headed to Shiro’s room to wake him up for breakfast.

She knelt by the bed as she pulled the hair away from Shiro’s eyes, smiling gently at his beauty that reflected in the morning sun.

The posture Shiro laid revealed it was the first time he comfortably slept on a bed. Akage tapped him, but Shiro rolled in the other direction, revealing his back to Akage.

Oh, so that’s how it’s gonna be, huh? Akage thought with a mischievous grin.

Akage climbed onto the bed and laid Shiro on his back before she straddled him. She licked her lips before she descended her lips on his and kissed him.

Shiro opened his eyes and tried to push Akage off, but Akage was physically stronger and larger than himself.

Akage climbed off him and laughed as Shiro hugged his legs with a bright blush on his face. “Pervert.” He said as Akage walked to the door with an amused smirk.

“Breakfast is ready; if you keep hiding here, I don’t think I’ll hold back.” She teased before she closed the door and Shiro pouted.

The sound of Akage’s phone distracted her; the caller ID was mom, and she hesitated before she answered it.

“Hello Aka-chan, how are you?” Akage didn’t respond, waiting for her mother to explain her reason for contact. “Aka-chan, I don’t know, but I get a bad feeling something bad happened. If you need to talk about it… I’m listening.”

Akage sighed and scratched her hair before she stared at the bandage wrapped around her hands.

“I don’t need you to worry about me. Focus on yourself, forget me, and enjoy your miserable life over there.” Akage demanded.

Kioko felt pain, her emotions hurt, but she maintained self-control as she convinced herself not to cry.

“Kaoru will come this weekend to check up on you. I guess a hug doesn’t mean I and your dad have earned your forgiveness.” Kioko said as her eyes saddened.

“Don’t spoil my mood with all this family bullshit.” Akage said before she hanged up.

She sighed as Shiro has been peeping steps out. Akage’s blank expression after the conversation confused Shiro, and he pondered on Akage’s thoughts and emotions now.

Shiro’s eyes fall on Akage’s school uniform, which is unbuttoned revealing a black top before he approached her.

“I thought you’re still afraid of me.” She implied rudely.

Shiro lowered his head and responded shyly. “I hate it when boys approach me because I look like a girl. I usually get pushed around and harassed because I appear small and helpless, even though I’m usually lucky.”

“You wouldn’t be if I didn’t save you that night.”

“Yes, especially now that I understand you a little. I believe A-chan won’t abandon me even if you’re cold to me.” Shiro responded with an innocent smile. “Because A-chan has a heart of gold.”

Akage’s eyes widened slightly before she turned her back as though she weren’t happy with his words.

“Don’t trust me, Shiro, because I could kill you. It isn’t everyone who behaves kind is kind without a motive.” She walked to the dining table and sat down.

“I choose to believe you, even if you hurt me. I am indebted to you for saving me three times.” He spoke confidently with a smile as Akage stared at him.

What kind of kid is this? It just makes things interesting. Akage smiled before Shiro sat down and they had breakfast.

Akage headed for the door as Shiro walked her out. She was about to leave when she noticed Shiro was wearing the same shirt from yesterday.

“I’ll get back early today so I can take you somewhere and also I want to ask you how educated you are?” Akage asked as Shiro placed a finger to his chin.

“I can read and write at least, but I’m not very bright. Mrs. Sasori taught me how to use most of the devices here.” Shiro replied naively.

“That’s enough. Tell Mrs. Sasori to prepare the guestroom, we’ll be having an uninvited guest.” Akage instructed him as she made emphasis.

“Who?” Shiro stared at her with his bold blue eyes. She patted his head and left without a response before she locked the door behind her.

The moment everyone saw Akage, whispers and rumours about the previous day stirred. Annoyed, Akage covered her ears with a headphone and turned up the volume of the song she was listening.

“Senpai, are you okay?” Akage read Ena’s lips, who stood in her path with Yumi. It was rare to see so much concern for someone you barely knew, like Ena, while Yumi remained unbothered.

Akage nodded in response and placed her headphones on her neck.

“Are your hands better? Hope you are not using it too much?” Ena asked again.

Akage nodded and looked at the students, who would look away and whisper.

“Seems school is a little more active today.” Akage said as she stared at the students with a straight face.

Yumi and Ena stared at each other and then stared at Akage. “Senpai, haven’t you heard the rumours?” Ena asked.

“Isn’t it obvious he hasn’t? He’s a mean, cold and a loner… The worst of the trio.” Yumi replied as the stoic expression on Akage’s face changed to a calm but cold smirk before she walked past the girls.

Akage stopped when she felt someone grab her blazer before she turned back and saw Ena’s hand clinging to her blazer.

“They say that you did that to Miss Ryoko because she kept repeating that you were the devil without explaining her reason.” Ena said as she released Akage’s blazer. “I was really hoping you wouldn’t come to school until the rumours died down because what they might say might hurt your feelings.”

“I don’t care about whatever they have to say. It’s amazing to know how many fans I have when my name is mentioned. Me? Hurt?” Akage chuckled. “There’s absolutely no reason to be hurt by people who hold no value to me or my family… Unless you believe them?”

“I choose to believe senpai till the end! I know senpai is a good person even though senpai is different.” Ena retorted as Akage turned her back on her.

“I’m not a good person, Ena Hideki.”

Akage placed the headphone on her ears before she headed towards her class as Ena and Yumi stared at her.

If you weren’t, you wouldn’t have helped me. Ena thought as she watched Akage leave.

Yumi stared at Akage as she remembered Akage’s expression when she held that bloody mirror and the fear she felt at Akage’s eery smile.

At least his honest. It makes me wonder how my brother met someone as dangerous as him and why Ena likes him. The best advice to everyone is to stay away from him, especially with a smile on that face.

The moment Akage walked into her class, every sound, and activity stopped. Akage walked to her seat, unaware of her mates staring at her because of the music playing in her ears. She stared at Yuuta’s chair as she sat down before she sighed.

I guess Yuuta’s gonna be late knowing fully well I’m now in school. Akage thought as she placed her head down on the desk.

Mr. Saki began homeroom, calling the attendance and concluded with four students absent. The school bell rang, and the first period started.

A man entered and wrote his name on the board.

“Hi class. My name is Mr. Kazumi Tetsu and I’m your new English teacher.” He announced excitedly with a grin on his face.

Class 2E ignored him.

“I understand now why Mr. Saki said Class 1-3E are a handful.” He mumbled and pondered on another effective method to grasp their attention.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

He slammed his hand on his table. “If you students keep behaving nonchalantly towards learning, you can leave my class but know you have failed English for the semester.” He warned.

Everyone excluding Akage, who stared outside the window with her headphones, stood up and headed for the door.

“Our grades already suck, so why bother?”

“It’s not English is my first language.”

“Who does he think he is to tell us what to do on his first day?”

Mr. Kazumi jolted. The entire class made a collective decision without hesitation. Their resistance caused him to panic.

“W-wait!” He yelled and everyone stopped in their steps.

Mr. Saki, I don’t know what to do, so all I have is your strategy. He inhaled and exhaled, then focused intently on the students.

“If you students don’t sit and I fail this class, I’ll request for Mr. Saki to supervise summers makeup class and exams after a week field trip to the temples in the mountain with coach Matsuda.”

They headed back to their chairs, muttering and whispering among themselves. They feared coach more than the loss of a great summer.

Coach and their homeroom teacher, Mr. Saki, were a terrifying duo, and their problematic nature didn’t faze or frustrate them – ‘The iron tigers of discipline.’

Akage checked her phone again for any text, but nothing came from Yuuta. Mr. Kazumi noted Akage, stealing glances at her with curiosity over the rumours he’d heard.

Bright but distant.

Strange.

A tough nut to crack.

The bell for the next period rang and the school speaker switched on.

“Akage Akazawa of class 2E, Akage Akazawa. Please come to the student council room right now.” A male voice announced through the speaker.

Miko, the girl in front of Akage’s seat, pink hair, green eyes, and fair skin, tapped Akage to get her attention. Akage took off her headphones and raised a brow.

“You were called to the school council. My advice: don’t be blunt as you usually are and be very careful about the council president.” Miko informed Akage.

Akage wasn’t tensed, her disposition too calm Miko didn’t worry.

The science students left for the chemistry laboratory while the art students stayed behind.