It is lunch time and Rein, together with her friends are eating the packed lunch which Satomi made. 

 

“Uwaah! You’re such a great cook, Sato-chan!” exclaimed Hikaru as he gobbled up his food 

“Arigatou. I'm glad you liked it.” smiled Satomi 

“Eat slowly Hikaru, I'm afraid you might eat your chopsticks as well.” laughed Keito as he eats his food 

“Aish~ urusai! I'm enjoying my lunch you know.” said Hikaru 

“Mi-chan has a great cooking skill. She can make good food from scratches.” I said as I gobbled up my food as well 

“Ne, I hope you three are adjusting here at our school. Have you already joined clubs?” asked Kota which made me think 

“I joined Chemistry club.” said Chiaki who is our Science freak 

“Sugoi ne Chiaki-chan. That club is like one of the hardest clubs here in our school!” said Hikaru who looked surprised 

“Chi-chan is our Science freak ne. She can even make essential oils out of flowers” I butted in which made Chi-chan glare at me 

“I’m not Science freak. I just enjoy doing those stuffs.” defended Chiaki 

“It’s just the same!” I laughed 

“I thought you’d join music club, Chiaki-chan.” said Keito 

“Hmm. I planned to join it but I guess I cannot leave Science.” Chiaki laughed 

“Too bad ne. I thought we’ll be at the same club. Me and Kei are part of the music club.” said Keito 

“Uwaah! So this guy has social skills?!” I blurted out in surprised tone 

“I told you he just looks like socially inept, but he can talk.” laughs Hikaru 

“Urusai.” said Mr. Ice Guy as he glared at both of us 

“Ohh! So cold!” both me and Hikaru said as we laughed and pretended to be shivering 

“I haven’t joined any club yet but I feel like I'm already in one since this guy over here keeps on dragging me in the student council room to work with him.” said Satomi as she rolled her eyes 

“Hey! I'm just asking for help. You're much used at stuff like this than me ne.” protested Kota 

“Yeah right, Mr. Kaichou.” laughed Satomi 

“How about you, Rein-chan? What club are you joining?” asked Kota 

“Hmm. Haven't thought about it though. Maybe female basketball team?” I laughed 

“You should have a try-out, Rein-chan. I'm the captain of male basketball team.” said Hikaru 

“Ehh? Hontou?! Can you really play without disassembling your bones?” I laughed 

“Mou~~ I won’t be the captain if I'm not good at it.” pouted Hikaru 

 

After class. 

 

“I’ll be going now. We have club meeting today.” said Chiaki as she dashed out of the room 

“Looks like she began to get busy in Chem club now ne.” I said as I look at Chiaki as she dashed out of the room 

“Oh, you know her, once she sets her mind into something, she will really dedicate herself to that.” said Satomi as she organizes some files 

“You’ll gonna help this guy again?” asked Hikaru as he pointed at Kota 

“Well, yeah. This guy here is very busy since the sportsfest is coming.” Satomi said and with that, both her and Kota stood up 

“Jyaa ne!” said Kota who looks so busy 

“Now what am I gonna do? Hmm, should I join the try-outs now?” I said and think hard 

“Go Rein-chan! I heard this is their last day of try-out. So it’s now or next school year for you.” said Hikaru 

“Oh, souka. Well then, I think I should give it a try.” 

 

After I changed into my P.E. uniform, I went to the gym where the female basketball try-out is held. Hikaru looks so excited to come with me to the try-outs and of course, Kei is present as well. There are few girls at the bleachers waiting for their turn in the try-out. I registered first then took my seat. 

“Are you nervous?” asked Hikaru 

“Hmm. Not really. What I feel right now is that I'm hungry.” I laughed 

 

As we are waiting for my turn, a very familiar figure approached us. 

“Kei’s suitor is coming this way.” whispered Hikaru at me as I looked to where he is looking at and he is right, Harumi is indeed coming our way. Well, at the other side of the court is the volleyball team having their try-outs as well. The court at this school is very big so even if the two teams used this at the same time, it will still not be crowded. 

“Kei-kun~ I knew it was you! What are you doing here? We're having our try-outs there.” said Harumi in her ever sweetest voice as she went beside Kei who is reading a book 

“I’m here with Rein. She is having a try-out in basketball.” said Kei without even lifting his eyes away from his book. How can this guy be so rude and cold at the same time? 

“With that girl again? So she’s planning to join the female basketball team. Didn’t you warned her? That their captain is so strict. That's why only the best among the best are selected.” smirked Harumi as she looks at me 

“We don’t need to warn Rein-chan because I know she can make it.” butted Hikaru 

“Really? Have you seen her play before? How can you be so sure about that?” asked Harumi and with that, I heard my name being called 

“Mou~~ gambatte, Rein-chan!” shouted Hikaru as I looked at them and saw Mr. Ice Guy closed his book and watches me 

 

I took a deep breath. What we are about to do in this try-out is to score 10 points and beat their team captain. It's a one on one game with the team captain. Harumi is right, looks like the team captain does not gonna let her time get wasted at this try-out. Our game began. It was hard to score at first because she is a bit larger and taller than me. She can easily block my shoots. The score now is 6-0. Yeah, I'm the one who scored zero. 

 

“See! I told you.” laughed Harumi as she watches us 

“Rein-chan gambatte!!!” said Hikaru as I looked at him, he has a worried look on his face. My eyes then reached Mr. Ice Guy. He is just there, staring at me. No expression on his face or whatsoever. All I know is that he is intently watching our game. 

 

I thought that I can’t lose my last shot. Be serious now Rein. I started to watch her moves. It’s easy to read as ABC, then I started to move. I can now read her next move so dodging her defense is easy. I faked a shot then launched forward and was able to score. I saw the surprised look at the captain’s face when I did that. Next, I easily able to shot two consecutive 3-point shots. It's now 8-6. I'm advanced by 2 points. 

“Gambatte Rein-chan!” shouted Hikaru 

 

Since I can read her moves, I was able to steal the ball from the team captain. Her face looked horrified when I did that. And with that, I took my winning 3-point shot. It went inside the basket! Yatta! 

 

“Yatta! See, I told you she can!” boasted Hikaru as he went towards me and hugged me in happiness “Omedetto, Rein-chan!” said Hikaru happily 

“I’m impressed ne. Congratulations, welcome to our team.” the team captain smiled at me and shook my hand 

“Omedetto, Rein.” Mr. Ice Guy said as he puts a towel over my head 

 

“That girl!!!” Harumi thought as she glares at Rein 

 

 

Meanwhile, Keito was done practicing at the music room. He is about to go home as he saw Chiaki went to the school’s greenhouse. 

 

“I wonder what is she doing there? She seemed to be in a hurry.” thought Keito and followed Chiaki to the greenhouse 

Keito founded Chiaki looking for some herbs and flowers. 

“What are you doing, Chiaki-chan?” asked Keito 

“Ahh! Oh my. It's just you, Keito-kun. You startled me.” said Chiaki as she looked startled and holds onto her chest 

“Gomen. I didn’t mean to startle you.” said Keito as he scratched the back of his head 

“Daijoubu. Oh, I'm here to pick so herbs and flowers. I wanted to make some essential oils for everyone.” smiled Chiaki 

“Essential oils? Sugoi. May I help you? It will be much faster if I help you.” said Keito 

“Anoo, are you sure? Do you know what the herbs and flowers look like?” asked Chiaki as she tilted her head on the side 

“Well, I can try.” said Keito 

“Ok then, please find these herbs for me.” said Chiaki and gives Keito three specific herbs and went into finding some flowers herself 

“Ne Chiaki-chan. Are these correct?” asked Keito as he shows Chiaki some plants that he randomly picked 

“Keito-kun, these are not it.” said Chiaki as she looks at the plants then at Keito 

“Oh, gomen. It's harder than I thought! For me, all the herbs just look alike.” pouted Keito 

“Daijoubu, I'm almost done.” smiled Chiaki as she gathers more herbs and puts them inside her container, “There, I'm done.” said Chiaki as she turns at Keito 

“I don’t know about herbs but I do know some flowers. So here.” said Keito as he gives Chiaki a daisy 

“Wha..what’s this for?” asked Chiaki as she felt her cheeks heat upon seeing Keito holding a flower for her 

“Let’s just say that’s my way to make it up to you since I just became a nuisance in your herbs and flower picking.” laughed Keito which didn’t fail to make Chiaki’s heart go doki doki 

 

 

At the student council office. 

 

“Gomen for dragging you here.” said Kota as piles of documents surrounds him and Satomi 

“Daijoubu. I know how pressured you are since the sportsfest is just in a few days from now.” said Satomi as she sorts the documents 

“I know right. Geez. Did you also feel like this when you were the student council president back in middle school?” asked Kota who looks so helpless 

“Hmm. Not really, since I do my tasks before due date.” Satomi laughed as she teased Kota 

“Mou!” pouted Kota as he took the folder and a document flew out of it and was going towards Satomi’s direction 

“Oh, a document flew!” said Kota as he tried to catch the document which is about to fall to the ground “Got it!” smiled Kota and was frozen at his place when he realized his position; his arm was at Satomi’s shoulder catching the document while his other hand was holding at Satomi’s backrest for support. He was almost hugging her and their faces are like centimeters away from each other 

“Anoo...” uttered Satomi as she can feel Kota’s breath at her ear which sends a hot sensation at her cheeks then they looked at each other, she saw Kota blushing as well 

“AH GOMEN!” panicked Kota as he realized their situation and immediately fixed himself 

“Gomen, gomen. I didn’t mean to make you feel awkward.” said Kota 

“Da...daijoubu...” uttered Satomi as she was still blushing from what happened 

 

 

Days passed and it was now their school’s sportsfest. All the students are excited for the said event and all are hyped up for the games that the student council had prepared. 

 

“Yosh! Let's win all the games, Hikaru!” exclaimed Rein as she was so hyped up 

“Ok! Good thing we’re teammates. Now I’m confident we can win the games.” said Hikaru who looks hyped up as well. 

 

Kota started to make the opening speech to formally start the sportsfest. After that, it’s time to begin the games. First game is tamaire, wherein each team will throw bean bags into an overhead basket. The winner is determined by seeing how many balls can be thrown into each basket within a certain time. 

 

“Yosh! Let's do this!” said Rein as she and Hikaru gets the bean bags and throws them up. 

“Let’s throw more! Hold the pole tight!” shouted Hikaru 

“Let’s change our strategies! This isn’t working! We still have lots of bean bags left!” shouted Rein as she looked at the other teams 

“I know! Rein-chan, I'll throw you up in the air and go dunk the bean bags in the net, ok?” said Hikaru 

“Eh? Nani?! Hmm. Wakatta!” grinned Rein as she took as much bean bags as she can and ran towards Hikaru and jumped on him. Hikaru then used his strength to throw Rein up in the air making Rein reach the net and dunk all the bean bags she is holding. They did this until all the bean bags are inside the net. 

 

“Ah. Anoo. Looks like there’s no need to count for us to see the winner. Red team filled their net while Blue and White teams only filled one-fourth of their net.” said the emcee who looked surprised 

 

“Yatta! We won!” said Rein and Hikaru happily as they high five 

“These two shouldn’t be in the same team together ne.” said Satomi who looked exhausted by the first game 

“You betcha. We can’t even shoot that much.” said Chiaki who looks exhausted as well 

“Gomen ne. It's not our fault that we’re competitive.” laughed Rein and Hikaru 

“Demo, I have to protest! This guy here won with us but he didn’t even do a single thing!” protested Hikaru while pointing at Kei 

“You two did all the work, why would I even lift a single finger and get tired and sweaty?” sneered Mr. Ice Guy 

“Aish! Why did you even participated when you won’t cooperate?!” I hissed at him 

 

Next game is mukade kyoso which is like a three-legged game but involves more participants. Each team will be divided by six, their legs tied together. The team who’s all the members get to finish the race first wins. 

 

All the teams got ready and then the game started. It was easy for the Red team because Hikaru and Rein are teaching them the technique. However, on the Blue team wherein Kota and Satomi are members, they are having a hard time. 

 

“Ichi, ni, san!” shouted Kota so all of them move in perfect sync. They are almost advancing when suddenly, Satomi who is the least sporty, fell down making her feet sprained. 

 

“Ahh! Ittai!” shouted Satomi in pain as she holds onto her ankle 

“Sato-chan!” shouted Kota and looks so worried, “Don’t move! You might hurt yourself more.” he said worriedly 

“Daijoubu. I can still take the pain. Let's finish this. I don’t want to be the cause of delay.” said Satomi as she tried to stood up but it was obvious in her facial expression that she is in great pain. 

“Hold onto me.” said Kota as he holds her at the waist, supporting her and they get back to their base. Upon getting back to their base, Kota immediately untie his leg from Satomi’s leg, carried her bridal style to the infirmary 

“Kota-kun what are you doing? Put me down.” protested Satomi as she tried to get down 

“Stop being stubborn, Sato-chan. You cannot move your feet. It will only worsen your sprain.” said Kota as he looks at her. Satomi admit defeat and just encirle her arms around Kota’s neck and let him carry her to the infirmary 

 

At the school’s rooftop. 

 

“So here you are.” a manly voice surprised Chiaki who was watching from the rooftop “Keito-kun. It’s you.” she said as she saw who the owner of the voice is 

“What are you doing here? I've been looking all over for you. I noticed you went gone after the first game.” said Keito as he sits down 

“I don’t like sportsfest. Like Sato-nee, I'm not sporty. So I just usually participate on the first game, after that I'll sneak and hide away from the crowd. At least I participated on a game.” laughed Chiaki as she also sits beside Keito 

“Geez. I didn’t know you can be a sly ne.” laughed Keito “Sportsfest are fun, but I think I’ll enjoy here today rather than joining those games.” he said and with that, he felt Chiaki’s head on his shoulder 

“She fell asleep.” he chuckled, “Kawaii na.” he smiled and wraps his arm around Chiaki’s shoulder and lets her sleep peacefully 

 

It was lunch time and everyone took break from the exhausting games. I had fun this sportsfest. This is my peaceful sportsfest so far because back in my previous school, once one student felt pissed with the other team, surely, the sportsfest will turn into royal rumble real quick. I walked my way towards the drinking fountain and freshen up myself. Then I felt people coming towards me. 

 

“Come here!” one of the five girls who are surrounding me said. The other two dragged me both in the arm 

“Who are you?! What do you want from me!?” I said while trying to get away from them 

“Shut up and just come with us.” said another one as I felt her slap me. They dragged me at the storage room of our school which is far from the crowded school grounds. There, I saw Harumi. 

“Harumi?” I said 

“Good thing you remember my name. Because after this, I'll make sure you won’t know even your own name.” smirked Harumi as she signals the five girls. They dropped me at the ground and kicked me 

“What...what do you...want?!” I managed to ask 

“Stay away from Kei. You’re such a nuisance. It irritates me seeing you always with him. And who do you think you are for making him your bodyguard? Are you a goddess or something?! Ha! You're disgusting me.” said Harumi as they keep on kicking me. I felt them pulling my hair as well 

“Don’t even think about shouting. No one will hear you because all of them are at the school grounds. And poor you, Kei was asked to go to the faculty room so he does not know where you are.” smirked Harumi 

 

As Kei went out the faculty and meet with Hikaru. 

“Where’s Rein?” he asked 

“She said she’ll just gonna freshen up herself and drink some water at the drinking fountain.” said Hikaru 

“And you let her go there alone!?” said Kei 

“Yeah. What's wrong with you? Stop overreacting will yah? She'll be back soon.” said Hikaru 

“Tsk!” said Kei as he stormed towards the drinking fountain 

“Oi Kei!” said Hikaru as he follows Kei 

“This is her towel!” said Kei as he saw Rein’s towel lying on the ground 

“But where is she?” asked Hikaru 

“That’s my question as well. Now you know why I don’t want to leave her side?!” said Kei as he dashed in searching for Rein 

 

I can’t feel anymore. All those kicks and slaps made me numb. Now they’re forcing me to kneel by pulling my hair up. I'm like a doll who can’t control herself. I saw Harumi getting the steel chair and going towards me. Is this wrestle mania? Geez. I need to hold myself back. As much as I want to break their bones for doing this to me. I can’t. I need to protect grandpa’s name so I should not make a scene here. I'll just going to accept all the slaps and kicks. The bruises and scratches will heal soon. Harumi strike me with the steel chair at my back and I fell down the ground. 

 

“Die, !” I heard Harumi shouted. I anticipated another hit but was surprised when I heard a very familiar voice 

“I won’t let you hurt Rein anymore, Harumi.” it was him. That guy who has the icy aura. His voice is colder than before. I managed to look at them and I can see angers in his eyes 

“Kei?!” uttered Harumi in surprise 

“Why are you doing this to Rein?! You have no right to hurt anyone! You, you disgust me Harumi! Get lost!!!” shouted Kei his voice is full of anger, not the monotonous voice he had before he is really, really angry 

 

I saw Kei get the steel chair from Harumi and throws it to the ground. I saw Harumi crying and shaking in fear. She and the other five students ran away. I saw Kei going towards me. He caressed my face as he gently lifted me at his arms. 

 

“Baka. Why didn’t you fight them? I know you can even beat a guy like me but why didn’t you fight back?” his voice is cracking and...is he crying? 

“I...can’t. Need to...protect...grandpa. Can't...make...a scene.” I weakly uttered and with that, everything went black