Two girls sat on the rooftop bench, thinking they were alone, but what they weren't aware of was that someone was listening in.
"Oh my god, did I tell you?"
"Ohh, what is it?"
'Finally…'
"Well… you know how I'm a part of the Drama Club and how we're putting on a play?"
"Yeah?"
"I have great news…"
'It's been days. Why has nothing happened? I have to think of something else!'
***
"Uekiya-chan, I can't do this," Togo yelled, pulling at his hair.
Engeika gently grabbed his hands, pulling them down. "Calm down, everything is going to be ok."
"But… but I'm not ready!"
"Yes you are. We've been studying for so long. I know you can do it. I believe in you,"
Feeling Engeika's soft caresses, Togo calmed down. "Ok, I'll do my best… for you."
Engeika's face heated up as her heart skipped a beat, whispering, "No… you do it for yourself…"
Oblivious to Engeika's words, Togo fixed his hair, saying, "Ok, I'm going in."
"Good luck!"
Togo gave her a solemn nod, turning around to walk into the classroom before sitting at his desk. His eyes darted around the room as he fidgeted in his seat.
"Ok everyone, I want to see improvement from your last exams. I want to be able to brag about you guys to the other teachers. You may begin."
Togo looked down at his paper and his vision all of a sudden went blurry. After a few seconds, he smacked himself on his face, forming a determined look. 'You can do this… you can do this. For Uekiya!'
Two minutes…
Six minutes…
Nine minutes…
Thirty minutes…
As time passed by, it felt like Togo was always going too slow, like time was running out, but at the same time, it felt like it would never be over. He constantly worried he wouldn't have enough time, that everything was going by so quickly. This caused his anxiety to go into overdrive. His leg almost shook the entire table, sweat dripping down his neck. He even bit his pencil as he worked through the exam.
"Ok everyone, you have ten minutes remaining. Finish what you can."
Togo's eyes bulged out of the sockets. He gripped the paper, peaking at what question he was on before letting out a sigh. 'Yes, I'm on the last question.' After, he used his remaining time to check over his work, fixing any mistakes he found.
"Time is up. Please put down your pencils and hand in your exams, after you may leave."
Togo dragged himself out of his seat. 'Finally… it's over.'
***
It's finally time for exam results to be released and Togo felt even more nervous than when he took the exam. He bit at his nails, thinking, 'This is it, I'm finally going to see if all that hard work paid off.'
"Class, I'm very proud of you. I've seen some great improvement in you all. Of course, that does not mean you guys can become lax. You still must work and study hard." After the teacher's small speech, she starts walking around, handing out the papers.
Togo sat near the back, so he had to sit in agonizing anxiety as he watched everyone else get their papers. However, when the teacher finally gets to him, she smiles before placing down the paper. "I'm especially proud of you."
All of Togo's nerves finally washed away, his heart bursting with joy. He gave the teacher a sweet, toothy smile. "Thank you!" Throughout the rest of the class, he clenched the test in his hand, admiring his hard work. When the bell rang, he rushed out of the classroom. He ran around frantically, trying to find someone. Once he did, he yelled after them, "Aishi-kun! Aishi-kun!"
Ayoshi turned around to face the rambunctious boy, who almost bumped into him. "Yes?"
Togo couldn't hide his excitement, "Look! Aren't I amazing?"
Ayoshi took the paper from Togo's hand, giving it an approving nod. "Good job. Have you shown Uekiya-chan?"
"Not yet, I'm so nervous."
"What for?"
"I… I told myself if I passed the test, I would tell her how I felt. I never thought I would actually pass!"
"You should have more confidence in yourself. When will you tell her?"
"At the end of school. I'm going to leave a note in her locker and ask her to meet me at the cherry blossom tree at the back of the school. I heard if you confess there, your crush is bound to say yes."
Ayoshi paused, staying silent for a few seconds. "Is this legend true?"
"I'm not sure, but it doesn't hurt to try."
Ayoshi nodded with a hum, "So how will you confess? Show me?"
"He-here?! Around all of these people?!" Togo questioned loudly, attracting the attention of the students around them. Seeing the weird looks, he looked down with a red face.
"We can go somewhere more private if you want."
Togo nodded his head vigorously. "Yes, I really want!" The two walked around a little until they arrived at the small fountain at the front side of the school. No one was around, it was quiet and peaceful. When the two sat down, he said nothing, leaving them in awkward silence.
"Are you not going to start?"
Togo ran his hands through his hair. "I don't know how!"
"Ok, pretend I'm Uekiya-chan. Start off with telling me about your exam results and try to ease your way into a confession."
Togo gulped, "Ok… ok. Uekiya-chan, I have something to tell you."
"Yes? Is it about your exam results?"
Togo had a huge frown on his face as he looked down. "Ye-yes."
"Why are you frowning so hard? Does your stomach hurt?"
Togo's face turned red with anger, "She would never say that!"
"Stop frowning so hard, you look constipated. Relax."
"Easy for you to say! You're not the one confessing, ok," Togo said with a huff.
"Just try again from the beginning."
Meanwhile…
Info-kun had secret cameras all around the school, even outside. This is what he used to watch over Ayoshi. "I haven't watched him in a while. Let's see what's going on with him." He switched around the images on the monitors until he found Ayoshi.
He was sitting with some boy he hadn't seen him with. The two were sitting very close together, and the boy had a flushed face as he talked to Ayoshi. "I've… I've been wanting to tell you this for a while, but I never had the courage…"
Info-kun sat up in his seat as his eyebrows scrunched together. "What is going on here?"
"What is it, Atatsuma-kun? Is something wrong?"
With a shake of his head, he said, "No, it's… it's…"
Info-kun's jaw clenched as the grip on his mouse tightened.
"I like you! Please… please go out with me!"
Crack!
Something inside Info-kun snapped. Unbearable anger and anxiety bubbled up inside of him. He shot out of his chair, knocking it over as he rushed out of the room.
Others watched as an unknown student with bright red hair sped through the halls.
Info-kun finally made it to where Ayoshi was, his heart racing. He didn't know why he had run all the way here, but once he saw Ayoshi nod at the boy, he felt like it was too late. For the first time in his life, he did something impulsive. "Ayoshi, you can't date him!"
Ayoshi and Togo turned around to face Info-kun, Togo giving him a disturbed expression.
"What the hell are you talking about?! I don't want to date him," Togo yelled in a fit.
Info-kun's eyes turned cold with a frown as he walked over. "Don't try to lie, I heard you ask him."
Fear struck Togo's heart. He became hesitant, but still yelled, "I don't want him. I have someone I like!"
Info-kun came up to Ayoshi, grabbing his hand and holding it tight. "Ayoshi… what is going on?"
"Atatsuma-kun likes someone and I've been helping him try to confess. I told him he could practice his confession on me."
Info-kun turned to face Togo, giving him a dark look. "Leave…"
"Gladly! I want no part of this," Togo yelled as he ran away.
Once Togo was out of sight, Info-kun dropped against Ayoshi, sitting next to him. "Kashiko-kun, what's wrong?"
Kashiko let out a tired sigh, "I don't know. I just feel so… stupid."
Ayoshi looked at Kashiko's hand, asking, "What happened? You're bleeding?"
Kashiko looked at his hand, finally realizing it was all cut up and bleeding. "Oh yeah, I accidentally broke my mouse in my hand."
"How?"
Kashiko avoided eye contact, embarrassed by the reason. "Umm… it was just an accident."
"Does it hurt?"
"Just a little," Kashiko said, giving Ayoshi a little frown, hoping to get sympathy.
Ayoshi just nodded, not asking any more questions. He reached into his bag, taking out a little first aid kit. "I bought it after those encounters with those delinquents. Give me your hand, I'll clean it up." Kashiko presented his hand and he gently started wiping off the blood with disinfectant. He then showed off two different types of band-aids. "Strawberry or plain band-aid."
Kashiko let out a small chuckle, "Strawberry, please."
Ayoshi gave the other a nod and started covering up the cuts. His head slightly bent down and his long eyelashes fanned over his beautiful black eyes.
Kashiko couldn't help but stare. 'I really am an idiot. How did I never notice myself… falling in love with him? He was just supposed to be entertainment to amuse myself with, but… he's just so wonderful. Nothing like how I expected him to be. So sweet… so cute. I've been watching others fight for him, but it never occurred to me that someone would ever actually confess. So when that boy did, I felt such an awful dread. The sight of him being with someone else is just too much. Haha… I'm such an idiot. I'm so far behind.'
"All done. Does it still hurt?"
Kashiko looked at all the cute little band-aids covering his hand, his heart filling with warmth. "Couldn't be better. Ayoshi, can we stay here a little longer, just the two of us?"
"I don't mind."
Kashiko laid his head on Ayoshi's shoulder. "Thank you…"
***
Togo stood under the cherry blossom tree, pacing back and forth. "Ugh! What if she doesn't come? What if she doesn't see it? What if–"
"Atatsuma-kun? You're the one who left the note in my locker?"
Togo could see the confused look on Engeika's face, causing his nerves to go into overdrive. "Yes! I mean… yes. I wanted to talk to you about the exam."
"Oh! How did it go? Did you get your results?"
"It was awful, but I got through it. And yeah… I got my results."
Engeika looked at Togo with a bright smile. "That's great! Can I see it?"
Togo gave her a small hum, taking the test out of his bag and handing it over.
Engeika launched towards Togo, giving him a tight hug. "Oh my goodness, Atatsuma-Kun! You got 80%! I'm so proud of you."
Togo's entire body went hot as his brain short-circuited. "Please go out with me!?"
Engeika backed away from Togo, "What… what did you just say?"
Realizing what he had just said, Togo became a stuttering mess, "I… well, I ju-just, ugh! Uekiya-chan, from the moment I saw you… I fell in love with you! And… and I got us these anime convention tickets! I want to take you on a date and thank you for all you've done for me. You've made me want to be a better person and because of you, I was able to pass my exam. Uekiya-chan, you're the most wonderful girl I've ever met and I would love nothing more if you… if you would just give me this chance," Togo yelled, presenting the tickets to Engeika. The two just stood there, saying nothing, his out-of-breath panting filling the silence.
Engeika was in utter shock, but after processing everything, she couldn't help but chuckle. "Atatsuma-kun, you passed that exam because of all your hard work. I barely did anything."
"No! You did so much. Without you, I would have never had the motivation to learn. You're such a great teacher. Such… a wonderful person."
Engeika gave Togo a soft smile, gently taking the tickets from his hands. "You're a wonderful person and I would love nothing more than to give you a chance."
With tears and snot running down his face, Togo enveloped Engeika in his arms. "Thank you! I promise I'll make you happy!"
Engeika took out a handkerchief, wiping away at Togo's face with a doting look. "I know you will."