2 months ago

 
Jin was a man on a mission. As he stormed through the hallway, students were quick to throw themselves into any crevice to avoid him. Of course, Jin’s fans were more than happy to stare adoringly. Sighs of “kakko ii” and “Akanishi-sama” could be heard among the clanging of furniture as everyone scrambled away.

 
“Tackey-senpaDEARGODWHATTHE--!” Jin covered his eyes and spun around to face out from the door he had just burst into.

 
A yelp and a frustrated groan were let out from behind him. As someone cleared their throat, Jin dared to slowly turn around.

 
“What do you want, Jin?”

 
On the couch lounged Takizawa Hideaki, Student Council President. Far off at the other end of the room, concentrating hard on reading a folder upside down, stood Imai Tsubasa, Student Council Vice-President. Somewhere under a pile of shivering papers, Jin could just make out hair that looked like it belonged to Yamapi.

 
“Pi?” Jin ventured, walking closer.

 
Tackey’s eyes immediately snapped to the pile of papers, which had begun to let out muffled giggles. In a flash, he had thrown the papers into disarray and grabbed Yamapi by the back collar.

 
“What the hell were you doing there? And why, pray tell, are you holding a video camera?” Tackey said, his voice silky sweet but contained a dangerous edge to it.

 
“Mama told me to?” Yamapi offered, shooting nervous glances at Tsubasa, who was now discreetly unlatching the window.

 
“Darling? What’s the meaning of this?” Tackey asked, dragging Yamapi over to Tsubasa. Tsubasa gave a nervous smile and opened his mouth to reply.

 
“WILL YOU STOP IGNORING ME?!” Jin yelled, stomping over and shaking Tackey.

 
Yamapi took the chance when Tackey released his hold to shoot out the door.

 
“O..oh..OKAY!” Tackey gave Jin’s head a proper smack, straightening his uniform.

 
“So, what’s this ruckus about?”

 
“You’re not doing your job! How could you let a pipsqueak like that walk all over you?” blurted a fuming Jin, crossing his arms and giving his senpai a pout.

 
“Hah? I have no idea what you’re talking about, Bakanishi,” Tackey cocked his head to the side.

 
“I’m talking about the new guy, Kamenashi! He was here less than a day and he’s already captain of the baseball team? How could you let that happen?”

 
“The decision was by made by the baseball team. And I’ve spoken to him. He’s nice and seems capable enough for the job,” Tackey shrugged, ambling back over to the couch.

 
“But that doesn’t mean he can be a captain so easily! Why’s everyone taking his side? What about me? I want my curry bun! I’ve been eating red bean buns for a whole week now!”

 
Tackey raised an eyebrow at Jin’s outburst. “Exucse me? You barge in here, interrupt me while I’m dealing with important business, shake me to an inch of my life, in the process, let Pi-chan escape and it’s all because of bread?”

 
Jin’s pout remained. “It’s not about the bun. It… It’s because everyone is ignoring me now. Pi disappears randomly from class to stalk Kamenashi on the first floor, Ryo stares at him from the second floor window when there’s baseball practice, Nagase-sensei is bending over backwards for his every request, Koichi-sensei told me to mind my business, you won’t listen to me,” Jin rambled on, ticking each item off his fingers.

 
“Aren’t you judging him too fast? You haven’t even gotten to know him. Give him a chance. And get that jealous look off your face. It doesn’t suit you.” Tackey gave Jin’s hair a ruffle to emphasize his point.

 
“You really should mix around more. You had bad experiences with fake friends before, but look at the good close friends you have now. Not everyone has ulterior motives for befriending you. To receive the true feelings from another person’s heart, you have to offer your heart too, Jin.”

 
Tackey looked at Tsubasa in awe.

 
“See? Everyone wants the best for you too. Listen to your Papa and Mama, ne?”

 
Jin raised his eyes and was met with a wink from Tackey and a warm smile from Tsubasa.

 
“Oi, what are you two doing here? The bell for class rang a few minutes ago. Are you itching for detention?” a stern voice came from the door.

 
Tackey gulped, laughing nervously.

 
“Ah, I’m sorry, Matsuoka-sensei. We were just on our way out.” Tackey shoved Jin in the direction of the door.

 
Matsuoka Masahiro gave a sniff and continued down the corridor, giving his leather trenchcoat a flick ever so often.

 
“Two?” Tackey wondered, turning back into the room. All he saw was emptiness and an open window with the curtain fluttering in the wind.

 
“Damn Tsubasa. Bailing on me the instant Mabo shows up.”

 
Elsewhere

 
“Uwaa~~! This feels great!” Koki exclaimed happily, stretching out on the roof.

 
Maru tugged at the state karate champion’s sleeve. “We’re late for class. Let’s go.”

 
Koki cracked an eye open and gestured to Ueda and Kame.

 
“Get them to move first. They’re further away from the door.”

 
Maru gave a defeated sigh. He made his way over to the other two boys, currently jogging on the spot while shadow boxing.

 
“Oi, we’re leaving. Break time’s up.”

 
Both boys nodded, giving a final 30 second sprint before heading over to the door.

 
Heading into the building, Kame was surprised to see Yamapi standing at the bottom of the stairs. The second year senpai was around the first year classes too often for his liking. Ever so often, he would catch Yamapi peeking from behind pillars. But since Yamapi never did anything strange, he just let it slide.

 
Hopping down the last few steps, he found his way blocked by Yamapi’s hand on his chest.

 
“Yes?” Kame asked, raising an eyebrow at his senpai.

 
Yamapi gave a friendly smile. “There’s something we need to talk about in private.”

 
Kame was suspicious but what could possibly happen in the middle of a corridor in school?

 
The other three boys stepped closer to the pair. Kame’s nod gave them the assurance that he could handle the situation. They each gave Yamapi a warning glare before continuing down the hallway to their classroom.

 
“So?” Kame pushed Yamapi’s hand off, dusting his uniform.

 
“PLEASE!! PLEASE!! Please don’t eat curry bun tomorrow!”

 
Kame’s eyes shot up at the sudden outburst. Yamapi had gone from cool and composed to begging and looking like a kicked puppy in 0.01 seconds.

 
“Hah?” was the best reaction Kame could come up with.

 
“You see, you’ve been eating Jin’s curry bun for a whole week now. He’s getting crankier by the day. Grumpy Jin isn’t fun to hang out with. Grumpy Jin makes Ryo-chan grumpy too, and no one wants to be in the same country as a grumpy Ryo-chan. And and and… and it’s Jin’s birthday tomorrow, so he’d be really happy if he got to eat his curry bun tomorrow,” Yamapi let everything out in one breath.

 
Kame took a few seconds to digest Yamapi’s hurried explanation.

 
“If he wants it so bad, maybe he should get to the cafeteria faster,” Kame replied, totally ignoring Yamapi’s watery-eyes and strutting back to his class with a nonchalant wave of his hand.

 
Yamapi plastered himself to the nearest wall. “I’ve failed you, Jin!”

 
********

 
Jin woke up to a beautiful morning. The birds were chirping. His mother prepared a Western breakfast especially for him. His father had promised to get him a new bike soon. His younger brother was not teasing or annoying him. Ah, life was perfect.

 
Grabbing his bookbag, he met Yamapi and Ryo a few blocks away. Yamapi’s mood, however, was not as hyper as it usually was.

 
Opening his shoe locker, Jin was surprised at the amount of cards and little presents that fell out. He sighed. It was always like this. People would leave presents in his locker. He never knew who these people were. It was much too complicated, in his mind. If they really wanted to give him something or approach him, why did they never do it face to face? All this hiding and pretending gave him a bad impression of those people.

 
Scooping up the fallen gifts, he dumped them onto Yamapi. Pi needs gifts more than I do, judging from his mood, he thought, heading over to class.

 
********

 
Today, Akanishi Jin was determined to get to the cafeteria before that copper-haired nuisance called Kamenashi Kazuya. Akanishi Jin would get the curry bun! Akanishi Jin would win the battle today!

 
With those thoughts in mind, Jin sprinted off the second the bell rang for lunch. Zooming past everyone and practically bowling Nagase over, Jin was brought to an abrupt halt by a hand on his shoulder.

 
“No running in the halls,” was the warning given. Jin’s face paled considerably.

 
Bowing deeply, Jin hurriedly apologized to the leather boots in front of him. “I’m very sorry, Matsuoka-sensei. I’ll never do this again, I swear!”

 
A part of Jin was fearful for his life, another part of him was irritated that he had gotten held up by the school’s most feared discipline master. Both parts of him were eager to get to the cafeteria and his prize.

 
“Make sure you do,” was the reply he got and the boots left his vision.

 
Jin took a peek, and as soon as he confirmed that Matsuoka-sensei had his back to him, he took off once again.

 
Skidding to a halt, Jin barreled into the cafeteria, only to see Kamenashi holding his prize and walking away from the lunch queue.

 
Losing all appetite, Jin slumped down next to Yamapi and Ryo, who raised their eyebrows at him. “Didn’t you leave the class first? How’d you get here after us?” Yamapi questioned.

 

“I bet he got lost on the way,” Ryo offered, shooting a smirk at the depressed boy.

 

Jin could not find it in him to retort, so he decided to sulk instead.

A hand holding a bun appeared right in front of his face. Focusing too hard, Jin’s eyes immediately crossed. Shaking his head and looking up fast enough to cause himself whiplash, Jin’s eyes widened at the sight of one Kamenashi Kazuya.

Is he here to gloat? Jin’s eyes narrowed at the boy standing before him.

“Happy birthday, Akanishi.” Kame put the curry bun in front of Jin.

 
 

A/N: OK, I think I became too long-winded in this chapter. Is the pace alright?

And I think I’m going to get another account for my fanfics, so the author might change in future, ne?