As how every challenges in life eventually comes to pass, the students heaved a big sigh of relief when the three days pressure of the exam came to pass. Those nights of studying and hard work are now coming to fruition as now, four days passed the exam, on a bright Monday morning the students clustered in front of their respective classrooms too see their scores and rankings.
Konan quietly waited for the crowd to thin out before she got up and looked for her name on the bulletin board. In her class, she always ranks first, in the whole campus, Konan consistently ranked. On her first year of high school she ranked 2nd while the third ranker was from second year. Last year, on her second year high school, she ranked third, the second ranker was a third year who now graduated and the first ranker was a second year like her named Mizuki Hanako who she just recently discover was none other than her club president Hana.
There, next to her name was a "C" meaning Exemplary with the equivalent of 92.9. But this time, she didn't rank first there, written, in a bold black ink is Nakajima Rui , with a grade of C and an equivalent of 93.0.
Well, seems like Konan isn't a candidate for the Yaoke Big Three. That means, if Rui's equivalent grade is higher than the first rankers than the other sections, which she doubt will be since Hana is the same year level as they are.
'So this guy has hidden intelligence behind his childish demeanor.' Konan muttered as she glanced at the board one last time before turning back and walking to the classroom. 'Well, it's not something of impossible since Rui came from Tokyo. Who knows what elite school he attended before transferring here.' Thinking about it, she never knew what school he previously attended or why did he decided to transfer here in their small town. She never did once asked.
'Congratulations Rui-kun.'
'Congratulations Nakajima-senpai.'
'You are really amazing Rui-kun.'
The class immediately broke into noises as Rui entered the classroom. He smiled, clueless of why everyone is congratulating him but still going with the flow.
'Thank you.' he chuckled and then hurried to his seat. As soon as he put his bag down, he leaned closer to Konan and whispered. 'Why are they congratulating me? What's up?'
Konan raised her brows at him. 'Seriously? This guy's clueless why? Did he ever tried to look at the board outside the classroom?' she silently asked herself. 'Well based on his reaction, seems like he didn't.' she answered her own silent question, silently.
'It's because you ranked first. You didn't look at the board outside? Our grades' already posted.' she whispered back before sitting properly at her seat.
Rui's eyes widen a bit. So he ranked first?
'I see.' he quietly said. 'I probably got lucky K-chan, you know, I really studied English since I know I am not to good at the subject.' he awkwardly laugh and scratched his nape.
'Good for you. Let's just wait for the announcement later on if you got included in the Big three.' Konan said as she fished a notebook out of her bag since the teacher already arrived.
___________
Hours passed quickly and now the students are now gathered at the school gym waiting for the announcement of the Big three rankers and also for the awaited sports day. Konan stood amidst the crowd. Rui who was approached with a girl earlier and went with her to God knows where still hasn't come back. Probably another confession.
'Konan-chi.' her shoulders tensed up for a bit when a hand suddenly wrapped around her waist, hugging her from behind.
'Hey Ami, it's not nice to sneak behind people and surprise them.' Hana said as she stood beside Konan.
'But Konan-chi doesn't get scared, right?' said, Ami who stood next to her in the other side. So basically, Konan stood in between of them now. She quietly nodded. Her heart did really skipped a beat though.
*sigh, 'Still, what if it wasn't Konan. Then that person has a weak heart? What would you do if they get a heart attack because of you? Please lessen your childish acts Ami.' Hana massaged her temples and groaned in frustration.
Pouting, Ami glanced at Konan then to Hana with guilty eyes. She sighed. ' I'm sorry, Konan-chi.'
' It's fine. Don't worry about it, I didn't get that surprised. But Hana-chan is right, you shouldn't do that.'
'Wait, so you did get surprised?' Konan turned to Hana only to see her in wide eyes.
'Hmm, did I? All I know is that my heart skipped a few beats.'
Hana was about to say a word but the emcee started talking in the stage. It is the current student council president and her classmate Satō Kakeru.
Konan diverted her attention to the emcee at the stage. The emcee said a few words of welcome and then the principal, and a teacher took over after that . By the time, they're finished with their words of welcome, Rui arrived with Haku, Ginji and Shiro. He stood behind Konan and since he is taller than her, he put his hands on her head and propped his chin on it.
' Your head's really heavy you know Rui-kun.' Konan grunted. She heard him chuckle before the weight on her head disappeared as he moved his hand away from her head.
As expected, the big three consisted of the Student council president, Satō Kakeru as rank 1. Mizuki Hanako as the 2nd rank and Nakajima Rui for the 3rd rank.
The gym were filled with applauses as the three stood in front. There isn't a first year who ranked again this year.
' Wohoo. That's our Hana-chan.'
'You're really amazing Rui-kun.'
Ami and Haku's voice stood out in the noise as they yelled their cheers for Hana, who was embarrassed for them and Rui who waved to the crowd like he just won a pageant. The two other boys and Konan were just quietly clapping their hands.
'And now for a surprise, ' the teacher who acted as the emcee said with a suspense in her voice. Just when Konan thought it was over and they could finally moved on to discussing the sports day. Her legs are starting to get sore from standing for almost half an hour now.
'.. We decided to add another slots for the outstanding students who had high grades close enough to make it to the Big three. They will be called Special Rankers.'
'Now for the Special rankers. Our first ranker is Fujioka Konan from Class 3-B.'
Oh, so she was included. She was pushed to the stage by Ami and she stood next to Rui who gave her a thumbs up and a wink. Hana also gave her an "Ok" sign.
A first year was also called aside from her. The prize for rankers will be a trip to a hot spring which will be given after the sports day event. After discussing the sports day, Konan went home with her friends, making a stop to a ramen place which was owned by Haku's family.
Rui had to walk her home again since the place was on a different direction of her house and is quite far and the group seemed to have so much fun that didn't realize the time if Konan didn't point out that its's already dark. Of course she did not meant to spoil their fun although she wished she could really take part of their fun.
'Thank you, for never letting me be out of place even if I really can't vibe with you. Thank you for bearing with me. You guys are the best.' she sent the message to their group chat.
[Amilicious]: Aww, of course Konan-chi, we love you.
[Moonflower]: That's what friends do right?
[HandsomeHaku]: Awww, anything for you Miss K.
[Amilicious]: Friends forever guys?
[Moonflower]: Forever
[HandsomeHaku]: Forever
[Shiro11]: 4ever.
Konan stared at her screen as the message appeared one by one.
[Ginji07]: Sent a sticker.
It was a sticker saying 4ever inside a throbbing heart.
[FujiokaK]: Forever.
Someone was typing and Konan wondered if it was Rui since he's the only one who didn't send a message yet. All he did was "seen" the message when usually he was the one to start a topic and the most noisy of all.
[NakajimaR]: Friends forever. Whoever breaks this promise will suffer a punishment from me.
Konan read his message and put his phone on the bedside, letting it ring because of their messages. There is a strange warm feeling in her chest every time she spends time with them and even by just merely seeing their names on messages. She stared at the ceiling until she fell asleep unknowingly.
'Why, why did you run away?'
'Why did you chose to forget me?'
'You abandoned me.'
'You cannot run away from your----'
She jolted awake, profusely sweating for the nasty dream she had not too long ago, visited her again. And now, she'll surely lay wide awake again, staring at the ceiling as the night slowly run towards dawn, and then another day will come.