"Remember. Ten meters from me."
Junko, pointed at Kurono with her finger, warning him to follow the agreement.
"Yes. I understand Missy."
"Good." She turned, ready to leave through the back door.
"Have a safe trip!!!" The gang members shouted. Sato and Shinji were there as well.
"Boss. Sato-san. I'm going." Shun told them, bowing his head.
"Oh. Have fun at school." Shinji told him, then returning into the house.
"I leave Missy in your hands." Sato said reminding him about his real mission.
"Yes." Shun turning towards the door but Junko was already gone. Clearly she isn't waiting for him. Kurono immediately exit the place, keeping his distance from her, not leaving her out of his sight.
Junko could feel the pressure and stress despite the distance. Knowing that someone is following you, yet it was you who gave them permission to do so. It's like giving stalker a free pass to eyeing her all day.
"Calm down Junko. Only for school." She told herself, taking in a deep breath. She continues her walk to school, reaching the gate where Kageura Nene, her friend is waiting for her as usual.
"Good morning Nene."
"Junko good morning." She reached her friend by the gate, but something else caught Nene's attention. She looked over Junko's back, noticing that Kurono was standing there at the distance.
"Ah. That Kurono came from that distance just like you."
"Uh...really? Heh... Guess I didn't spot him." Trying her best to act dumb, she grabbed Nene by the hand.
"Let's go." Only after Junko dragged Nene inside that Kurono continued his walk. Inside the class, the two girls greeted Minami Akaboshi.
"Good morning Minami."
"Yo, Bakaboshi." Nene, greeted him with her own calling.
"Os. Morning."
It was alright, the atmosphere was like usual. Until Kurono walked in the class, some of the students tensed up, small talks and gossips disappeared.
Shun was standing there, not moving, and his eyes is on the floor of the class since Junko told him to not stare at her. Minami's expression changed from normal to slight frustration. He didn't like the guy one bit since he arrived. What happened at the roof proved that he's trouble.
"Don't just stand there at the entrance. People are trying to go through. Go to your seat" Junko, spoke up, catching everyone by surprise.
And just like that, Kurono followed her order and be seated at his place. Junko also went to her place, getting ready for class, but now instead of him, the whole class are eyeing her this time.
No one dares to bring up the matter seeing that Kurono is there, but the way she ordered him and his reaction, means that something is up between the two.
'Ah. I forgot about the don't talk to me part. I shouldn't talk to him either. Idiot Junko.' Rubbing her temple, Nene turned around from her seat, facing Junko.
"Hey. Is something interesting going on?" She whispered in a low voice.
"What do you mean?" Junko returns the question.
"Yesterday, Kurono apologize to you after you scolded him. Now, he didn't even talked back to you after telling him to sit down."
"It's the right thing to do. He hurt Minami yesterday, and just now he's blocking the class entrance, someone need to remind him of basic manners." The both girls turned to look at the boy who's looking outside the window, in his own thought.
"I would never apologize to anyone that picked a fight with me." What Kurono told her, is bothering Junko. Looking at Minami who's at the front, staring down at him.
'I need to do something.' Thanks to the homeroom teacher's arrival, the tension in class are depleted. Not gone. Just less than before.
Homeroom goes smoothly. But then PE arrived. Changing their attires, the class were brought to the indoor basketball court where the game for today is, dodgeball.
"Today, we're doing dodgeball. Now pick your team." Junko, of course, would always team with Nene.
"Finally, about time I teach that prick a lesson." Minami cracked his knuckles, eyeing on his prey, Kurono. Speaking of which, the boy has been standing there lifelessly like a corpse.
'Given his history and personality, no one would want to team with him. Did he even know what dodgeball is?' Junko soon approach the lonely boy, surprising everyone.
"You. Have you played dodgeball before?" No answer. Now Junko is frustrated.
"I'm, not supposed to talk to you." He told her.
'Did you take everything literally!?' She let out a sigh.
"Fine. Answer me when I'm asking you questions. That starts now."
"No. I haven't played it." He answered.
"Do you know the rules?"
"I, have seen it on TV. Throwing ball at someone else." At least he knows the basics.
Junko spend some times explaining to him about dodgeball. Nene and Minami, are confused. The two of them stopped stretching,just stand there watching their friend having such a casual conversation with Kurono.
"Weird." Nene starts.
"Yeah." Minami continues.
After explaining the rules to him, Junko begins questioning other things.
"Why did you got sent to juvenile centre?"
"I, beat up someone...back then..." He muttered.
"I don't suppose you're going to throw the ball so hard it cause some concussions right?" Junko isn't liking this. Kurono doesn't looked like the kind to control his strength. Then there's Minami who's been itching to pay him back.
"What's a concussion?" Junko give up asking. She turned towards Nene, waved her hand at Nene, who reached her side after the calling.
"Shun is joining our team. You don't mind right?"
"Eh?" Nene confused, switching her glance from Junko to Kurono. The boy just bowed his head at her.
"Well, it's a pain actually. But, things happened. Have Minami ready, we're in the same team."
And Nene did informed Minami of this sudden change of news.
"Ehhhhhhh!!!!!?" Minami can't believe what he's hearing.
Junko, on the other hand, trying her best to prevent her bodyguard from further conflicts, especially with Minami.
"Minami is with us, so no fighting among teammates. Also, being hit is apart of dodgeball's games. So don't go and beat up whoever hit you. Is that clear?"
"Yes Missy. I understand."
"And don't call me Missy in the public. It's freaking annoying at home already. Either call me by my surname instead." Junko stopped for a moment, thinking about how weird it is to be called by him 'Arashiyama', which is her family name.
"Actually, don't call me anything. That's for the best."
"Yes. I understand."
"Now then. Let the game begins."