Inei sits in the classroom, listening to the teacher lecture about a partner project. Inei looks around the class, realizing that all three girls he has met are in his style. Azami is over to his right, Yasu is a couple of chairs to his left, and Aneko is ahead of him. The teacher continues to lecture as Inei renews his focus on them.
"You, as students, will present your presentations towards the end of the semester. You must have a theme that relates to something that one of you has learned throughout the year and must transition into two other projects. Do we have any volunteer pairs?"
Great. I will more than likely be last, as usual, paired with someone I do not know, like usual. No one ever wants to be my partner anyway. I will just put my head down and wait for whatever sorry individual that has to deal with me and end up doing all the work.
Inei puts his head down, daydreaming for a minute while pairs volunteer.
There is no way it is her that I am dreaming about. She hurt me! I should not be dreaming about wanting to help her.
Then, Inei's daydream was cut off by a loud bang from a desk one chair ahead and three to the right, Inei looks up to see Azami standing with her hands on her desk, shouting to the teacher.
"I want to be partners with Inei!"
Inei's eyes shrink with shock, and his cheeks glow with embarrassment. A serious-looking Azami stands with her hand up in the air with one on the table. The teacher raises their eyebrows, surprised, as the class begins to chatter amongst themselves.
"Um, Azami, are you sure? You know he does not talk, meaning you will do all the work and he will just get a grade off of you. You also usually always partner with Yasu."
Yasu turns, looking at Azami, surprised.
"I am sure, sensei. Besides, Inei is my friend, I know how to communicate with him, I know that he will help me do his part."
The teacher stands for a moment, then shrugs.
"Well, if you insist, however, do not say I did not tell you so. It is your funeral Azami."
The teacher takes their pen, jotting down Inei's and Azami's names on the paper.
This cannot be happening to me, I cannot be in a pair with Azami; she will drive me crazy!
Inei looks at Yasu, who looks towards him with deep resentment, angry that he had taken her partner. She snaps the top half of her pencil off with just her thumb. Inei baffled by Yasu's attitude and looks away, slightly fearful of her.
Why are you mad at me?! It is not even my fault! There is no reason you should be that scary!
Inei then watches Azami as she sits, then turns to smile at him with a radiant feeling of joy coming from it. Inei then looks away, still shocked, stressed, and freaked out.
"Aren't you excited?! We are partners for the rest of the year! What do you think, Inei?"
Azami cheers herself on as Inei sits in his regular seat on the study grounds. Inei angrily focuses on his notebook and textbook, writing down notes from a couple of his classes.
No, not exciting! This is quite the opposite of how I wanted to spend the semester!
He refuses to look up at Azami, who consistently tries to get his attention, then she sighs.
"Come on; we are partners, and more than just I rely on you. You got to talk if you want us to do good."
Inei still does not look up, jotting and writing notes. Azami pouts in frustration.
"Hey, Azami!"
Azami and Inei look toward the direction of the sound, seeing a group of four girls, Yasu, Aneko, and two others approaching the table.
Hell no, this is too much for me, I need to get out of here!
Inei goes to get up to leave, but as he gets halfway out of his seat, he comes to a halt by Azami glaring at him aggressively with a smile remaining on her face.
"Sit."
With one word, Inei sits quickly with slight fear then down at the table thinking to himself in disbelief.
Did I really just get intimidated by a small joyous girl?
Azami smiles at him kindly now with a giggle.
"See? You are just like a dog."
Inei pouts at the statement Azami made as the four girls approach the table, sitting with a couple pulling up a chair. Inei looks down, closing himself off entirely from the world, looking at his textbook. Suddenly, a hand moves over his text, grabbing the edge of the cover and closing it. He looks to his left to see a smiling girl with sky-blue hair with royal, purple-colored eyes. The color of her eyes and hair are the swap of Yasu, her body is still mature but not as much as the others, and she seems to be small in height. She was still a bit taller than average, her hair in two pigtails reaching down to her knees, bangs above her eyes.
"It's not nice that you ignore all of us."
Inei looks at her, then at everyone else, still amazed at the mass amount of people sit with him at his table. Another girl, with dark moss-green hair and mossy brown colored eyes, looks at him suspiciously. Her body is by far the most mature, and her hair is long and straight, with two strips curling at the bottom above her chest.
"Inei, meet Yui, Yasu's twin sister, and Chura. All six of us are going to work on the projects together!"
Inei's eyes become blank, not believing what he hears, seemingly that his soul has left his body.
How, within three days, did my life turn into this?
Azami begins speaking again, nervous this time.
"Come on, Inei! It's not that bad, and we're all nice! Except for Aneko, at least."
Aneko grunts, turning her head with her arms crossed upon her chest. Chura begins to speak while pointing to where Aneko's heart is.
"Oh, come now, Azami, I'm sure Aneko has some heart in her."
Aneko's eyes shoot open, slapping away a finger from Chura, poking at her chest aggressively.
"What do you mean SOME?!"
All the girls laugh, bringing attention to their table, Inei trying to hide his head and face away from people, hiding behind his textbook.
They are so loud; this is very bad. People will look at me weirder than ever, "talking" to FIVE different girls when I have never talked to anyone?! That's too suspicious! If guys did not hate me before they will now! I need to get away!
Inei raises his head and turns, grabbing his backpack. However, when he turns back, the textbook is no longer in front of him. He slowly looks up, looking at a radiant Azami holding the textbook to her chest, shaking it from side to side.
"Are you looking for THIS, Inei? I'm sorry, but you must stay and help us on the project if you want this textbook back."
Yasu looks down shyly.
"Is that not mean, though? To hold him hostage like this when he obviously does not want to be here?"
Aneko looks at her with sly eyes.
"Did he not take your project partner?"
Yasu has a shocked expression, then looks up, a slight blush on her face.
"You're right. Inei did take my partner. Therefore, I have no remorse for this action. Keep him here as long as possible!"
Yui smiles gently, her smile almost as radiant as Azami's.
"I'm sure he has a sweet soul and would not run away if we gave him his book back. Poor thing, he does not look mean at all."
Chura laughs and then points at Inei.
"Are you sure about that one, Yui? Look at him."
She looks at Inei with a smile, only to fade into a nervous smile. Inei reveals a face of stress and concern as sweat lightly drips off him.
I need to get out of here.
He then takes his notebook and pencil, writing something down on it aggressively. All the girls except Aneko, who seems more interested in what is on her phone, watch as he writes in his notebook. Inei pulls the paper out of his journal and slams it in the center of the table, finally drawing Aneko's attention. They all look over the form with interest, then have faces of disappointment, for the paper has a fancy written "got you" on it. They all look to where he is sitting to find him gone. Azami stands with a confident smile, placing her hands on her hips and lifting her chin and her eyes closed.
"Ha! He ran, and I still have his textbook!"
As she lifts her hand, she is holding another piece of paper that says "got you twice" on it. Yui points with a forced smile.
"I don't think that's his textbook Azami."
Azami looks at the paper, pouts, then gives an exaggerated growl.
"How is he so good at getting away?!"
Inei lays in his bed, the exhaustion that he has acquired higher than usually shown through his posture, thinking deeply about his past couple of days.
Every day since Azami volunteered to be my partner for the project, those girls have come making a ruckus in my peaceful areas more and more.
Inei thinks back to different days throughout the week of things the girls had done to him.
First, they start talking to me at my study grounds, causing noise and attention. Then they bother me before class, causing classmates to give me weird or mean looks. Then SHE starts "accidentally" running into me in the hallways, trying to talk to me and make noise. Why can't they see that I want to be alone?!
As Inei thinks back to these scenarios, he covers his eyes in disbelief at himself and what his life has become. He then rolls over, falling asleep in an instant.
"Inei...Inei..."
Bright light sharply blocks Inei's vision; then it dims into a vibrant red. Static begins ringing in the space.
This dream I have not had since about a week ago. Why is it back?"
"Inei...please wake up..."
There are fewer than the last time, fewer words.
"Inei...I need your help...Inei..."
That voice, it's familiar now, but I can't put my finger on it. I cannot remember...
"Inei...please..."
The red begins to fade into white from before.
Please don't go. I need to know who you are.
Everything goes to white. Inei slowly opens his eyes, seeing the ceiling above him look down upon him.
He sighs as he gets up, going through his routine of leaving his house. He walks his usual route to school, then stops frustratingly at the front of the school.
Are you serious? Why are you right here?
Inei stands with both hands gripped to the straps of his backpack, looking at a beaming Azami standing right in front of him.
"Good morning Inei! I'll assume you slept well, I would ask, but you don't talk. Well, listen, I need your help with something."
Before Azami can realize it, Inei has already turned and started walking into the school. She runs and catches up and gets in front of him.
"Seriously, it's something essential!"
Inei looks at her, then up, and back at her with agitation.
What could be so important?!
"Well, I'm thirsty, and I forgot my money at home. Do you mind if I have one hundred and fifty yen to get a drink? I promise I'll leave you alone for the rest of the day if you pay it!"
Inei's eyebrow lifted, not believing what he had heard. Finally showing emotion, Inei gives the tiniest of tiny grins, reaches into his pocket, pulls out his wallet, and hands her one hundred and fifty yen. Her eyes glow with joy taking it happily and running off.
"As I promised, I will not bother you today! Thank you, Inei!"
Inei stands and sighs, then continues to walk toward class. A little more happy than usual. Before he reaches the door, something brushes past him, almost knocking him over. Inei sees a couple of thugs going about as fast as Azami. Inei hears one of them, saying quietly to prevent himself from being listened to but with urgency.
"Hurry up! She is going to get away."
Inei raises an eyebrow, following them with a high level of sneak. As he watches, they turn an empty corner. When Inei reaches it, he peaks around the corner, his eyes open with concern. The two boys quietly approach a lonesome Azami, who is slightly bent, too interested in the vending machine to be aware of anything else.
What do I do? She's in trouble! I can't say anything, and if I go in there, we'll get in trouble. What do I do? She will get hurt, and she'll feel bad if I get involved because she said she wouldn't bother me. What do I do? And why is there a vending machine placed in this spot?! The device is right here in horrible placement!
Right before one of the guy's hands touch Azami's shoulder, a large clattering comes from behind them. The guys and Azami turn to see a fallen Inei, science plates scattered across the floor. Azami runs past the guys going to help Inei to his feet and pick up items.
"Oh my God, Inei, are you okay?! Here let me help you!"
As Inei picks up the plates, the two guys walk past, one of them knocking the specimens back out of Inei's hands. Azami stomps, yelling at them.
"You bullies! Keep walking because-"
Before finishing, Inei puts a finger over his lips, picking them all up from the ground. He turns and walks back down the corridor, rounding the corner and placing all the plates on a cart, and walking away. Azami, puzzled, follows behind Inei to class.
"Were you not doing anything with those plates for one of your classes?"
Inei doesn't respond, still walking forward.
"If you were, then why are you leaving them there? Why did you make all that racket when those guys were behind-"
Once again, before Azami finishes, she puts two and two together, understanding what had happened.
"Inei, did you protect me?"
Inei stops, turns his head to give her a side eye, then continues walking forward. Azami smiles, catching up to him after standing for a moment, and hugs him from behind.
"Thank you, Inei. I knew there was good in you."
Inei keeps walking, talking to himself in his head as pink begins to show on his cheeks.
Why did I do that? Now she isn't going to leave me alone. I just had to help her. But if I wouldn't have-
Inei pauses his thought, still walking; he turns his head to side-eye her again. Azami smiles with her eyes closed, walking behind and to his side after letting go of him. He looks back forward.
Well, at least I did the right thing, and regardless of whether she's annoying, she is safe, and harm will not be her fate. Regardless of who anyone is, I will try my hardest to keep them from being harmed.
They reach the classroom and walk in, take their seat, and quietly prepare for class. The next thing that happens is a hand slam against Inei's desk.
"Why did you walk into the room with Azami by yourselves?! Your blush gives you away! What did you do?!"
Inei looks up to see an attempting-to-be-intimidating Aneko. Inei looks her in the eyes with no concern and then down to his textbook. Aneko takes his book and slides it to the floor, and she takes a finger lifting his chin for him to look at her.
"Answer me, or I'll give you a different reason to be afraid of me."
Azami gets between them, putting her arms out.
"Inei did nothing wrong! He honestly protected me. You should get the full story before accusing people of things."
Aneko looks at Azami.
"I get it; he has you brainwashed. He has you THINKING he's good, but he's not! People like him are always evil and have a past that results in death! You need to stop this, Azami!"
Azami shakes her head.
"You're the wrong Aneko. I was getting a drink, and without knowing, two guys snuck behind me and were probably up to no good! Yet Inei protected me, he was grabbing a few science dish things and making a lot of noise to scare them off! You, Aneko, are the one in the wrong. If you can't accept him, mind your business, right, Inei?!"
When Azami looks back for confirmation, she is shocked, seeing that Inei has already grabbed his textbook and is studying. Aneko scoffs, then turns around with her arms crossed.
"Yeah, a good person doesn't back up what someone said. The silent is always the most violent."
She walks off to her desk. Azami sighs, then turns.
"I apologize for that, Inei. I will continue not bothering you."
Azami quietly goes to her desk, reviewing her work throughout the class. After the course dismissal, Azami waits for Inei and walks beside him with a smile. As they make their way to the study ground, Azami pokes Inei's arm, and Inei looks at her.
"I'm not supposed to bug you today; however, we still have to work on our project. And the other girls will be there, so I may be unable to bug you, but they will."
Great. Thanks for the notice in advance.
Azami slightly skips beside him.
"But even though they annoy you, it will still be fun! So don't worry, everything will be fine!"
As they enter the study grounds, the table is already in use by the four girls, Yui, Yasu, Chura, and Aneko. All four of them have small football-shaped objects made out of paper. As Azami and Inei go to take their seats, one of the football-shaped pieces of paper flies right above Inei's head. All of them are shocked that he did not react, then look where it came from, eyes landing on Aneko. Her eyes aim sharply at him, a finger hovering above the table, and her other hand had seemingly flicked it. Inei looks down with his eyes closed, taking out a notebook and slamming it against the table. Aneko doesn't back down, but the others start backing away in fear. Inei opens it, tearing out a piece of paper and folding the shaped paper quickly. The other four girls watch in astonishment as Inei intends to take part in Aneko's antics. He places it on the table, one finger holding it down against it and the other flicking it. Without effort, Inei flicks it, and it nails Aneko right between the eyes, knocking her back and out of her chair. The other girls' eyes sparkle in amazement, then look back at Inei, who slumps over his textbook—Azami smirks, thinking of a scandalous plan.
"Inei, how about this, you versus us? If we win, you have to speak; if you win, then we'll be quiet for the rest of the day."
Inei looks up immediately, ripping out a page and folding a paper football again. All the girls smile happily.
"Furthest from the table is the winner."
Azami goes first, lining up hers. She flicks it, going only a small distance. She rubs the nape of her neck. "Dang, I hope you all can do better than me."
Next up is Yasu, who nervously places her paper football. She shakes, and as she goes to flick it, it slips and falls off the table. Her soul leaving her body, she falls back with embarrassment. Next is Chura, who takes Yasu's place and flicks hers, going a little further than Azami's.
"Yes! I've made it the furthest! Will Yui be able to beat mine?"
Yui, with a confident smile, takes Chura's place, readying her paper football. Azami leans next to Inei.
"Out of all of us, Yui is the best."
As Azami says this, Yui flicks it, going three times further than Chura's, impressing Inei ultimately.
Damn, she is good at it, but still not better than me. But I'll make it look close for the dramatics.
Inei takes Yui's spot, who winks and sticks her tongue out at him, trying to get into his head. Inei flicks it without effort. The football flies through the air, all the girls' faces displaying disbelief as Inei's football lands an inch past Yui's. Yui, of all of them, takes notice of Inei, who begins reopening his textbook.
"You know, that's quite impressive for a guy like you. But as promised, we'll be quiet. Although someone should do something about Aneko."
They all gaze back to Aneko, lying on the floor. Inei reaches into his backpack, then pulls out a shakable ice pack, shaking it and placing it on her head. He sits back down, then Yui notices a symbol on the ice pack.
"Say, why do you have an icepack from the basketball team supplies?"
Inei looks up and looks down back at his textbook. Yui leans into the table, head in her hands and elbows on the table.
"You may not talk, but only basketball players can access those ice packs. You are on the basketball team?"
Inei looks at Azami, who then looks at him, sensing what he wants her to do. Azami looks at Yui.
"Hey, Yui, don't you and Yasu have hair appointments today?"
Yui and Yasu both look at her, Yui speaking on their behalf as she backs down away from Inei.
"Oh, you're right! And just in time, too. Thanks, Azami. Come on, Yasu!"
Both girls pack their belongings and leave. Chura stands next and begins to speak sarcastically.
"Well, I have a date later, and I should probably help Aneko home since that paper football seems to have hit her so hard and precisely."
Azami and Chura exchange a look, trying not to giggle, knowing that Aneko can sometimes be dramatic. Chura helps Aneko to her feet, who slowly wakes a little, holding the ice pack to her head, and then Chura grabs both her and Aneko's belongings, and they leave together, leaving Inei and Azami together. Inei looks at Azami, bowing to say thank you, and continues looking at his textbook. He notices that Azami hasn't said anything and then looks up, seeing her swooning over herself for what she had done. Inei rolls his eyes, then keeps working throughout the day with Azami by his side until it is time to go to practice. Inei stands packing his bag, and as he does, Azami speaks.
"Inei, where do you go after this? If it's home, I can walk with you."
Inei shakes his head, then turns, walking away, leaving her at the table, her shouting behind him.
"Was that you don't have anywhere after or don't want me to walk with you?!"
As Azami continues frantically trying to get Inei's attention by asking questions, Inei begins walking away, not looking back.
Azami is super annoying, but I cannot be mean to her for what she has done today. She may have caused me a bit of an issue and is still loud and obnoxious, but she did keep her word; for the most part.
Inei slightly turns his head, only enough to glimpse Azami, who now only stands at the table with her head down and slumps over her bag. Inei turns back forward to turn around the corner of the door to continue to the gym.
She may be my exact opposite, but she at least does mean well, and I know she does at this point for her to try so hard this long. Maybe she isn't so bad.
When Inei gets in his room later that day, he grabs his textbook, returning to the earlier page he was on before he left. He reaches into the pocket of his bag with his pencil but feels an unfamiliar texture. He pulls out a slip of paper and unfolds it, finding a note from Azami.
"Hey Inei, on the back of this slip is my number, so hopefully, we can finally talk that way. I'm not giving up on you. Thank you for today once again."
Inei flips the paper, looking at Azami's number, then looks at his phone with contemplation.