Chapter One: The Hangover

Today will be a gloomy day, especially after last night with Aoi. His words got me thinking – tossing and turning all night. He says I'm too dense about everything: from how I always think about competition, to Takishima's feelings towards me. I did some thinking.

Guess what?

He's right…

I am too dense because of competition. But not about Takishima's feelings. Right? I mean, we're just friends nothing more. But why do I get this sick feeling in my stomach when he goes near me all the time? When he touches me…It's too weird.

Anyway, the school gates are near. I don't want to put on a frowning face for everyone to see. Especially the S. A. – Especially Takishima.

"Ohayou Hanazona-san!" Three girls greeted me in unison.

"Ohayou!" I say with a half-hearted smile.

They didn't seem to mind though. I guess they just got used to me smiling at them so happily all the time that they don't notice. Good.

I walk to the greenhouse, still immersed in last night's meeting. Why did Aoi say all those things? I'm so confused now! Everything I believed in – gone…

The greenhouse is always empty when I get there. I'm the first one to get there every day. Ha! Take that Takishima! I'm finally ahead of you in something!

But still, not even that can raise my spirits – although it did a little bit! – But not entirely.

I drop my bag on top of Akira's coffee table – although Tadashi paid for it, but Akira keeps it tidy.

I sit down on the chair and place the cushion on my face, pretending to strangle myself.

"Hikari-chan!"

If I know that voice it's –

*Thud*

She just glomped me.

"Ohayou Akira!"

"Hikari-chan! What are you doing my precious angel! You could suffocate and die! Did Kei put you up to this? Where is that bastard? I'll make him wish he was never born!"

Funny, Akira never addresses me as -chan, unless she's really worried about me, or is scolding me.

"It's okay Akira, I was just thinking about something."

"Well," she sits on the sofa next to my chair, "tell me all about it!" She said smiling happily.

I give a half-hearted smile and shrug it off, "it's nothing, just another math problem I need to solve, hehe."

"Hmph, if I know something," she said her head bowed down, "My Hikari can solve any problem right?" She said now looking at me and holding my hands.

"Right," I assured with a smile. I smile that I mean this time.

"Okay! Then I'll go make some tea and we'll wait for the others, wanna join me?"

"Oh, I'll stay here."

"Oh, and Hikari," she turned to me, eyes glaring, and a dark aura emitting from her – scary! "Don't try to kill yourself while I'm gone, no matter what Kei says okay?"

At times like this, it's better to agree with Akira – except when you're Tadashi.

"Okay."

She went off to the kitchen.

The glass doors opened revealing a three headed shadow. No, wait! That's Ryuu, Jun and Megumi! Those three are always stuck together.

"Ohayou Hikari!" Jun and Ryuu called.

Megumi scribbled as usual.

"Ohayou!" I greeted them back.

I place the pillow on my head, not trying to suffocate myself this time, but just to shield my eyes from the blinding sunlight that hits my face when I look up. And then, I fall asleep.

The colors move around and I feel like I'm spinning. I wanna vomit, but I can't. In the distance, I see Takishima, surrounded by blinding light, holding his hand out to me. Why?

I see Aoi behind me. Nothing unusual but rather, his face, it seemed more demented than usual. He walks towards me and embraces me from behind. It gets tighter and tighter until I couldn't breathe anymore. I struggled. I kicked. Nothing!

Then suddenly, back in the REAL world. Somebody touches my shoulder.

Due to the unbearable nausea I have, I do not know who greeted. Must be Takishima. Oh, yeah well. TAKE THIS!

I stood up; the pillow still stuck to my face, and punched the guy that touched my shoulder.

"You want more of that?" The pillow slid off my face.

I see Tadashi, sprawled-eagle on the grass.

"Tadashi!"

I run to his side and helped him up.

His eyes spiraled and he was drooling. He looks that same way when Akira hits him.

"Hikari, is Akira training you to be the same devil woman as her?"

"No, hehe, I just uhmm –"

Akira came back. Bad timing.

"Devil woman, eh Tadashi?"

"No, Akira! It's too early!" Tadashi said shielding himself with cross formed by his fingers.

"You're right," Akira seemed to cool down, "I'm giving you till one to ten to start to run and hide. Okay, it starts – Now!"

One…

"Akira, please be reasonable –"

Two…

"I have to say, you look really pretty today."

Ten…

Her last word echoed throughout the whole greenhouse. It made the earth feel like it was shaking. Everything went in slow motion.

"RUN TADASHI!" Jun called out.

"Bye!" Tadashi called back. He closed his eyes while running.

"Oh, by the way," Akira started to roll up her sleeves, "You can eat some of the cakes while I beat the hell out of Tadashi. 'Kay?"

Nobody dared to disobey her at such a destructive state.

"You're not eating," she said, "start eating!"

"Oh right!" the three of us said in unison.

"Except you Hikari! You can eat when you want to okay?"

"Now, Tadashi where are you?"

"I'm not telling!"

"Aha! You just gave away your position! Behind the bushes!"

Akira dived in. I don't want to mention the details.

The greenhouse doors open again, revealing the last person of the S.A. The last person I want to see today.

"Ah, ohayou Kei!" Ryuu greeted.

Takishima greeted him back. Expressionless, like always. He turned to the rustling bush. Still expressionless.

"What's with that bush?"

"Tadashi," Jun answered.

"The usual," he said. He dropped his bag next to mine.

I grasp the edge of my skirt. I look down on my fists. I don't want to see him. I don't.

"Ohayou, Hikari," he says in his usual tone.

I bite my lips. My bangs cast a shadow on my eyes, hiding them from his glance.

Takishima's eyes narrow on me, I can feel it.

"So," he touches my shoulder. It made me jump, "How are you?"

I bite my lips harder.

The rustling from the bushes stop, I turn around to see Akira carrying a carcass – no it's Tadashi.

"Sorry for that everyone! I just had to teach Tadashi a lesson, haha!"

She drops him like a dead animal and cleans herself. She diverts her attention to me and sees Takishima's hand on my shoulder.

I saw the same look she had when she saw Tadashi.

"Kei! Get your hands off my Hikari!" She said surrounding me in a tight embrace. Glaring at Takishima, emitting the same aura to kill.

"Are you okay my Hikari? What did he do to you? Is he the reason why you tried to suffocate yourself with the pillow earlier?"

"Eh?" I look at everyone. Takishima's head was turned away, as if I hurt him for some reason. You are too dense to notice the feelings of those around you – especially Kei-sama's…

Aoi's words ring in my head again. This did not happen the last time. Last night was different. He hurt me more then, than before.

"Ah, no, it's okay! Nothing to worry about Akira!" I hug her back, it usually makes things better.

"Ah! My Hikari is so sweet! Ooh! I love her so much!" she rubbed her cheeks against mine. "Well, if Hikari's fine, then okay dig in everyone!"

"Yeah! Food!"

"Tadashi, how'd you get so conscious?" Jun asked.

"'Food!'" he yelled happily.

"Insolent pig," Akira whispered.

I don't touch my food. Or my tea. I just sit there, still holding the edge of my skirt.

Takishima stands next to me again.

"Hikari," I jump again. "Look at it me."

I hold on tighter.

"Hikari," he places his hand gently on my face and directed it to his. "What's the matter?"

I felt my face go red and my body heat up.

The bell chimed noon. And I had an excuse to go.

"Ahaha, sorry, Takishima! I have to go to Chemistry today! Haha, I forgot, I was gonna sit in with the class."

I grab my bag and run for it.

I got out and leaned my back against the glass doors, breathing heavily, that was close!