SUMIRE
Monday 1st May
After spending a blissful weekend with Toh and having a peaceful morning at school. Sumire should have known that something disastrous would happen.
"What happened to that boy we saw the last time? Did you throw him away like the other boys?"
Sumire kept her head down, intending to keep quiet. Had she noticed the presence of these girls from her last company sooner. She would have been able to escape. Unfortunately it wasn't until half way through her meeting with Mikaze, did she realize someone. Or rather a group of people were staring. She had to send her friend away to fetch some materials from the library on the other end of the street, hoping to buy time.
The minute Mikaze left, those girls surrounded her table. Despite seeing the studying materials splattered on the desk. These girls were saying terrible things about her being a slut,
She clenched her trembling fist.
Don't hit them, don't cause a scene.
"We even counted three boys coming up to you in the past fifteen minutes. There could be more, am I right?"
'If only they knew those boys were members of the underworld.' The boys that had gone up to her were her two information brokers, and Aki's assistant who was quite distressed since Aki disappeared again.
If she knew it was going to be like this, she would have studied with Mikaze-kun in the school's library. But neither of them had brought lunch with them, and she wanted to try eating from this new place that opened at the bottom of their school.
This girl slagging her off and calling her a slut is Maki, a girl who has debuted. But hasn't made a name for herself these past few years. Meanwhile there is her, she hasn't debuted yet and has only released a few snippets of her voice on the radio. But she is already gathering more attention. It's normal for Maki to feel bitter.
However, does she truly think calling her a slut will do anything?
"Ibuki, you're such a—"
Before she could lose her temper, a shadow falls into place. Sumire's gaze fell on the back of the person's shoes. Basketball shoes.
"If you finish that sentence with anything degrading, you'll be sorry."
The person standing before them now was none other than Iwa Ran,
It isn't just Maki and Risa who freeze; Sumire could feel the chill down her spine when she hears the icy tone Ran used. When Ran gets angry, he's cold, but even then, this level of coolness is new to her.
"But Ran-sama she-"
Risa sniggered. "I heard rumors about it, but she even seduced Ran-sama. How despicable."
Sumire frowned. She also heard those rumors. It seemed the Ran assaulting her story turned into her seducing him. She sighed deeply. It shouldn't surprise her. Any rumor regarding her always ends up twisted one way or another.
A cheerful voice cuts in before she knows it, and Sumire realizes there is somebody beside Ran.
"You shouldn't be doing this, especially when you're still in your uniform."
Seeing Asuka, Sumire blinked. What an odd pair, she didn't even know they knew each other.
"Shit, that's Kiragi Asuka."
"The one who works for the government?"
Sumire didn't know when she got behind Ran, but at some point she started to tug on the edge of his shirt.
Maki raises her hand to stop Risa from saying anything. She was glaring at her harshly. "You win for now Ibuki, but just remember this. The more you hide, the more fun it will be when your exposed much later on. You can only pretend for so long. When these people realize what you are really like, they will leave you."
At those words Ran steps forward. "You can think what you like, but even if she ends up being a monster. I will never leave her."
Her eyes widened hearing those words. She knew even without looking at his expression, that he genuinely meant it.
When those girls scurried away. Asuka turns to her.
"Are you getting yourself in trouble again?"
Sumire sighed. "What trouble? I came here to study, like a good student would during their free lesson."
Asuka sighed. "I can't imagine Alto getting much studying with you around. Or rather," She picked up one of the text books and out slips some music sheets. "-you call this studying?"
Sumire laughed nervously. "Well you know what it's like when I am with them. Inspiration just hits."
Asuka rolled her eyes. "Your grades won't suffer from this slacking but his will."
"Uh right." She should have known better than to get into a discussion about a potential new song. It wouldn't surprise her if Mikaze gets distracted and focuses on working on his half of the song.
She should message him later.
Asuka squeezed her hands, and Sumire managed a small smile. Despite her state of mind.
"Regardless, I am relieved you are okay. If Futaba-san saw that she would have come in here raging like a bull."
Sumire laughed. She could imagine that.
Ran suddenly extended his hand out, and hands her a towel. and she could only stare incredulously at the gesture. She isn't alone on that.
Asuka was also staring at him but staring at him disapprovingly.
"Ran! You don't give a towel to a girl to wipe her tears away!" Asuka exclaims.
Ran shrugged. "Who goes around carrying a handkerchief these days? Plus I don't really have any tissues on me either, so the towel is the best option. It's clean too since I didn't go to practice."
Asuka sighed deeply. "You'd think having a female as a childhood friend would make you more attune to what girls need. But your useless."
"H-hey, I'm not that bad."
Sumire wipes her face with the towel. Ran was right, this was clean and unused and yet she could feel his scent lingering there.
Asuka's phone suddenly rings and Sumire looked around immediately alert, she spotted a few people running off quickly.
Asuka slips on a long blue jacket, which she had been carrying previously. Her friend raises her hand. "I'll deal with it."
"But-"
This is her jurisdiction, if someone is causing problems she ought to deal with it.
*Unedited*