Coming Back From Break

The rest of the break passed really fast and it is now school again. However, I won't be going back to school as the old Juni. I will be going back to school as the person who went to the aquarium with Tochaki-san. That person from now on will be Ayanami Juni. I woke up before my alarm clock and went straight to my closet. I put on the school uniform and headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth. I swung my hair to the right and put on some gel so it stays that way. I went downstairs and Tochaki-san was already waiting for me to eat breakfast. She gave me a smile and admired the new me.

We finished eating breakfast, got in the car, and headed to school. As we got to school however, we no longer needed to leave the car separately. Although I was nervous, I took Tochaki-san's hand. She didn't mind at all and smiled. We both got out of the car and walked towards school while holding each other's hands. There were murmurs already and I can already tell without looking, there were dozens of eyes looking at us.

"It's him, the male dancer."

"He goes to our school?"

"How come I've never seen him before?"

I was followed by a bunch of people, a lot of them were boys, inside the school. Because Tochaki-san's classroom is closer, I stopped by her classroom.

"Alright, have a good day Tochaki-san."

"You too dear…"

I  softened my grip to let go of Tochaki-san's hand and she seemed to be a little disappointed, but she knew she had to let go since class is starting so she reluctantly let go and went inside her classroom. She gave me one last wave and a smile before I also left towards my classroom. I was still followed by a lot of people after me and Tochaki-san separated.

After I got to my classroom, the people inside must have heard groups of people walking because once I entered, everyone was facing towards the door. I ignored those stares and went immediately to my seats. I sat down and I could see Kanjiro, who was hanging out with some of his other friends, smiling at me. After a while of waiting for class to start, a boy walked up to me. I didn't know who he was but it was clear he didn't look very friendly.

"Who are you?!"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean what I said. You danced on the stage with Kinai but I've never even seen you before."

Is my new look so different to the point that even if I was at my own seat, people still  couldn't tell it was me?

"Whose seat am I sitting at?"

The boy looked at the seating chart on the board and turned back towards me.

"Ayanami-kun's seat."

"Then I am him."

"Wait what??!!!!!!"

It was clear that everyone else in the room was eavesdropping on our conversation because the moment I told the boy who I was, there was a loud roar in the classroom.

"You're telling me the male dancer was Ayanami?!"

"There was no way he was selected as a candidate with his previous gloomy look!"

"Why is he so different from before!?"

The boy I was talking to was genuinely shocked and walked back a few steps. Was this identity really that hard to notice? A few more boys walked up towards me.

"If you are indeed what you say, then you were the male dancer?"

"Yes I was."

"Were you also the boy who went to the maid cafe alone with Tochaki-san personally offered to serve you?"

I didn't know this story spread in this school. I thought everyone was so busy with their class that I didn't think anyone would have noticed except for the few people in the classroom while I was there.

"Yes I was."

"Does this mean after the midterm…"

"Yes, I was the one that went to the aquarium with Tochaki-san. The guy in her instagram post was me."

"Tochaki-san… Kinai's given name…"

It seemed they were more shocked I was calling Tochaki-san by her given name and not family name.

"I thought you didn't have any relations with our school idol!"

"You guys never talked after she unexpectedly kissed you right?"

"Even then, it was just to protect herself! Kinai herself even explained to us before the midterm that they have nothing to do with each other! That kiss was just to kill Tachi's ego!"

"We've never even seen you two talk in school before!"

Statements and complaints were thrown at me with no end. If they would just let me talk I would! What saved me was the bell that rang which means class has begun. People were going back to their own seats and many, who weren't students in this class, also left. I remember someone mentioning Tachi's name and looked at him. He wasn't one of the boys who approached me a few minutes ago. He looked like a normal student who just comes to school because he was forced to. I wonder if he changed. 

After the first period ended, we got a break. I again was bombarded with questions about my relationship with Tochaki-san. I was honestly getting tired until I saw someone walking towards me.

"Quit it, would you guys? Can't you see that Ayanami is uncomfortable with you guys surrounding him? You guys should give him some personal space.

"But Tachi! Aren't you curious about their relationship? I mean, didn't you have a crush on–"

"Do I have to repeat what I said? I can report this to the staff and all of you guys will get in trouble by troubling Ayanami himself."

All of the boys questioning me were now leaving one by one until it was only me and Tachi, who for some reason saved me.

"Ayanami, if you don't mind, can you follow me outside for a second?"

"Uhh… sure?"

We both walked outside and found a place where no student was around. He looked really nervous for some reason and after seconds of what seemed like contemplating, I saw his  mouth open.

"I uhh… wanted to say this a long time ago but… I apologize for what I did back on the rooftop… I realized my own arrogance and figured that I don't deserve someone like Tocha–... Kinai-san…"

He was apologizing? One of our school's most handsome guys was apologizing to me?! However I wasn't too surprised. After his suspension, it seemed like he didn't really talk to anyone and was always going home right after school was over. If I recall the days where I would spend the time before leaving with Tochaki-san to go home, I would always see him as the first few people leaving school. Although I didn't expect someone like him to ever apologize, I knew it must have taken a lot of courage to come talk to someone you had a grudge against.

"Tachi, I accept your apology, I understand that you may have changed since the last time we talked so please use this change and spread it to not just me, but everyone else. I'm sure your past arrogance might have made many people angry."

"I know, of course. I plan on doing that sooner or later. But there is just one question I want to ask…"

"Ask away."

He looked really nervous but I can understand his feelings.

"If you don't mind… could we become friends?"

Something I didn't think he would say. I thought that after our conversation today, we would only ever interact with each other if we needed to, but it seemed like he really was changing for the better. He looked more kind and approachable.

"Of course… but under one condition."

"What's that?"

"After school today, follow me and apologize to Tochaki-san about the incident on the rooftop. Your actions back then made her really mad."

"Of course!"

"Then we have a deal."

"Thank you… and also, may I call you Juni?"

"Of course, and I'll call you Kenji for now on since we are friends, right Kenji?"

I gave him a smile and he smiled back. He looked really happy. He gave me his thanks again and left. This could be interesting. 

All of my morning classes were over and I found myself again, faced with countless questions thrown at me about my relationship with Tochaki-san. I thought that if I just didn't leave the classroom today, no one would bother me about this matter, but it seemed like many of the people that initially followed me this morning came running right back to my classroom, and this time, with more boys. The rumors must have spread bigger. I can see Kanjiro and Kenji trying to help but their voices were barely heard as the crowd was so loud. However, amongst the loud voices of people, there was one voice I could distinguish.

"Dear!"

The face of everyone in my classroom immediately shifted from me to a beautiful girl, who is proclaimed as an idol by everyone else in this school, standing right there. Tochaki-san, my cheerful and cute girlfriend, was standing right there.

There were even louder noises to be heard now, mostly consisting of people questioning why the school idol just said dear.

"Did I hear myself correctly?"

"Did she just say a word that is only said if that person is in a relationship?"

"What is she doing here in the first place?"

Tochaki-san seemed to be ignoring everyone because she would only stare at me the whole entire time while others were questioning themselves.

"Dear? Want to have lunch together?"

Although with the huge amount of people blocking my vision, I got up from my seat and walked out of the crowd. Soon many of the stares were shifted to me and Tochaki-san. I smiled at Tochaki-san and held out my hand.

"Of course, let's go."

Tochaki-san smiled and blushed a little while taking my hand. It seemed like she was working hard to not get embarrassed with this many people watching. Every boy who was looking we're drooling due to Tochaki-san's cuteness. Tochaki-san seemed to have noticed this and immediately turned away. She really is cute. As we were about to leave, I felt something on my shoulders. I stopped and Tochaki-san looked towards me.

"You got some explaining to do Ayanami-kun…"

It was a boy, the same boy who approached me first this morning.

"What do you want me to explain? Isn't it pretty obvious?

"Like Kinai called you dear."

Oh he was referring to that? I thought it would have made it even more obvious if it came out of her mouth alone.

"Yes, she called me dear. If you still haven't taken a hint at everything yet, yes me and her are in a relationship. Is that the answer you want?"

The boy, in disbelief, couldn't say another word. He must be a blockhead if he still hasn't realized we are dating given everything that happened from the school dance to this morning when me and Tochaki-san held hands. Another boy stepped up and asked questions.

"But you have never seemed interested in romance before. You never seem to be interested in the school idol either."

"I wasn't."

"Then why are you dating her if you aren't even interested?"

"That's because I am in fact not interested in the school idol. The only girl I have my eyes on is a girl named Kinai Tochaki."

There was no lie in that sentence. The person I love wasn't the school idol Kinai Tochaki that was cheerful to everyone. The person I love is the Kinai Tochaki who is needy and cute, who gets jealous easily and is a bit of an airhead. Although this might seem like I was naming stuff that are negative, it is these negative traits that she possesses that made me fall for her. It is because this is the side of her that only I know about and would only express to me that made me feel special. 

It seemed like I satisfied everyone with that answer so I turned back towards Tochaki-san.

"Shall we go then?"

"Yes dear…"

She gave me a gentle smile and we left the classroom while holding hands. It seemed like what I said about her must have made her happy as she was smiling the whole time while we walked.