The school day began like any other. The female students gathered around him, asking him all kinds of questions, and attempted to start up a conversation- though every time he hardly answered. The sun shone brightly but the air was cold, the classroom was a bit noisy, and the students went on care free with their lives. Only, today he was being stared at very intently by his seatmate, which brought him great discomfort.
"Um... Something the matter?" He muttered, after the bell had saved him from the throng of girls that had crowded him.
"Hm? No, nothing," Hikaru shrugged, casually resting his chin on his palm, and continued to stare quite intensely. "Why?"
"Uh... you've been staring at me for a while now," Akira said, furrowing his brows and attempting to hide his unease. He had been gawked at by many others before, but he couldn't figure out why Hikaru's gaze gave him such discomfort. "Please stop."
"Oh?" Hikaru mused, not breaking his strong gaze. "Are you maybe a low-key delinquent?"
"Pardon?"
"Yeah," He continued. "When we talk in school, you act all silent and meek, but I know that's not how you really act. I mean, I've seen you in problematic situations twice already."
Akira forced himself not to click his tongue and ignore him after the statement, but he could not deny that he had been caught in such situations by this guy twice already now. All the more reason he caused him such unease, but he had already decided to give up his attempt to avoid him. There was no point now anyways. He just had to put a little distance and the situation would sort itself out, is what he thought.
"You're odd yourself, aren't you?" Akira retorted, recalling all the actions he'd made since they met.
"Ha! I guess you're right." Hikaru stated with a laugh before finally breaking his gaze.
"Oi! Hikaru," A voice from behind them called as he approached down the steps to were the two were seated.
"Mamoru," Hikaru muttered with a sigh of exasperation. He knew he was going to get nagged at. Mamoru only approached him when there was a lecture to be made.
"You're the one responsible for what happened to the students of Kunigawa High yesterday, right?" Mamoru questioned, tugging a strand of Hikaru's hair, and showing him the images of a brutal scene on his holo-tablet. "It's all over the school's blog now you idiot."
"Tch! They started it," Hikaru retorted, clicking his tongue as he rested his back on his chair.
"You realize this is why the teachers make me keep an eye on you under the guise of 'tutoring', even though you only place a few ranks lower than me in class, right?" Yamaguchi Mamoru, the class president, and current holder of the number one rank academically in the school stated, lightly smacking Hikaru on the head. "Can't you at least, pretend to behave? Is that too much to ask?"
"Yes," Hikaru stated sarcastically just to piss of his 'parole officer', earning him another smack on the head.
"You're really unbelievable," Mamoru scoffed, folding his arms in frustration. "Tell me why I have to deal with you everyday."
"Go and ask your father why he was born my mother's brother," Hikaru sighed, turning back to face Akira, as Mamoru continued to nag behind him.
"Honestly," Mamoru gave an exasperated sigh as well. "Just because we're related doesn't mean I have to be your babysitter. Geez!"
"Sorry, sorry," Hikaru said, only half meaning it. "Anyway, have I introduced you to my new friend here?"
"Your new friend?" Mamoru muttered, flinching at the statement. He was surprised that Hikaru had actually referred to someone he'd just met with a clear distinction term as 'friend', and not the usual words of ambiguity like 'pal' or 'classmate' or 'buddy'. "Wait, you're not bothering this person are you?"
"No, no, of course not!" Hikaru exclaimed playfully, shooting Akira a mischievous grin. "We're really friends. Isn't that right Lily?"
The expression on his face was enough to let Akira pick up what he was implying. 'Because we went through that sort of experience, we are now closer than friends, huh?'
"Sure," Akira shrugged, not completely sure what being friends entailed. Other than the members of his team, he had never socialized with any other person, or gotten close enough to another to be considered a 'friend'. It was the first time that term was used to describe him to another.
"Well then, nice to meet you Lily," Mamoru said politely, as he flicked his glasses higher up his nose. "My name is Yamaguchi Mamoru, let's get along."
"Ah," Akira started, shifting his body to a position better placed to receive a handshake. "Hinote Lily, pleased to meet you."
"Lily, you're Japanese is really good," Mamoru complimented, comparing his odd appearance to his manner of speech. "Were you taught?"
"Oh, no," Akira stated as he opened a fresh packet of his favorite Samizume milk candy that Lucien had left for him. Unwrapping one, and popping it into his mouth, he continued. "I used to live here before. When I was younger."
"Mm," Hikaru hummed, tipping his head as he watched Akira's actions intently. Then stretching out his hand, he said. "Can I have one?"
After a small pause, Akira placed one wrapped candy on Hikaru's palm, and watched as he slowly unwrapped it and stuff it into his mouth. It was also the first time he had ever shared this candy with anyone other than Lucien.
"Where did you live here before then?" Mamoru inquired, gaining a new found curiosity in Akira.
"..." After a long pause, almost as if reflecting and revisiting a sore memory, he muttered. "...Kyoto."