She rested her wobbly arm by the class door before she dragged it open, huffing. This wasn't exactly how she wanted to arrive to school after her leave in the middle of the semester. Glancing around, she wasn't bothered to say anything. She dropped her bag by the nearest empty seat.
"Excuse me?"
the teacher called, tapping his feet. She finally realized where she was now, drenched in muddy water, in a classroom, the eyes of her classmates towering her. The teacher frowned before pointing at the door by his desk saying "go change into your gym clothes if you don't have an extra uniform".
Nahiko nodded slowly and skidded down the hall as fast as her slippery feet could take her. She could feel it pulse from the pain of running for so long as she stopped to wriggle her toes in her soggy socks. (Maybe I should take a break..?) she pondered for a moment before violently shaking her head. If anyone saw her then they probably would've dialed for the nearest hospital. A mental hospital.
"You're a wreck, you know that right?"
a voice chuckled, his deep voice remained sweet even through his hoarse breaths.
Nahiko perked up in recognition, faced with a boy scratching his ruffled hair who looked like he just plowed a whole farm. His shoulders were broad and drooped, still his figure stood tall and rested his tight arm on his hip, sleeves pulled back. He rubbed his left cheek, dirt and freckles and all.
"Look who's talking, Mochi!"
She flicked his scratched up forehead before brushing the dirt off his wrinkled uniform. "For the last time don't call me that..!" he exhaled, slightly playful in his tone.
"What happened huh? Your mom gave you an ass whooping?"
She wheezed as she clenched her stomach while bursting into laughter. He rolled his eyes and threw his arm around her shoulder to 'choke' her neck a little, Nahiko twitched her head to the side in shock as she saw a figure moving at the corner of her eye.
Nahiko swore she could've seen someone
was she being watched?
Her thoughts went interrupted.
"actually I got into a fight with some losers, how would you like to end up the same way?" he smirked, his scarlet eyes blazed in the light.
"Oh you mean end up the way they beat you up good? Too bad I couldn't join 'em" she smirked too, as she smacked his back.
That face didn't last for long before he gave her a hard noogie, the halls now echoing with their restrained laughs.
Suddenly, Nahiko heard an insidious approach of footsteps growing louder and louder. "Who's there?" a disembodied voice pierced through them like a knife. A teacher, she confirmed.
He grabbed her wrist and dashed down the hall, dragging her with him with a limp and groaned before shoving her in a door and slammed it. Nahiko sighed, slumping on the nearest lime green sofa. She shot him a look, pouting. He fiddled with his fingers as he spoke,
"Sorry for handling you that way, we coulda gotten caught"
he bit his dry lip and sat next to her, taking in his surroundings for a bit.
"Where are-" "and what are you two love birds doing here? You can't skip class unless you came here because of an injury dear"
a nurse interrupted, she bent down, tucking her brown hair behind her ear as it fell from her bun. They were in the medical aid.
"Miss you must be mistaken! We're not-"
"I don't think it'd be such a bad idea" Machihara cut her off, giggling. (I'm sure it was a joke).
The nurse bent down inspecting his tattered clothes and Nahiko's drenched hair before shaking her head.
"Tsk tsk, kids these days. Always getting into all sorts of trouble. Come this way boy,"
she beckoned him towards a sick bed, finally turning to Nahiko, her azure eyes trailed down from Nahiko in drenched clothes to her poor soaked couch.
The nurse reached for a towel on the shelf beside her, wrapping it around Nahiko.
"Girl do you have anything to change into?"
the lady knitted her brows in worry. Nahiko raised her index finger,
"Oh well..I've been given permission to change into my gym clothes" she suggested.
Hearing this, the nurse tapped her finger on her chin, thinking to herself before looking over her shoulder at Machihara.
"Well class is almost over so you better go quick, I'll be looking after this one over there"
gesturing to him. Nahiko thanked her after bowing, leaving the medical aid and hastily making her way to the changing rooms.