Ko Kimuki jolted awake. "Shit! I'm late for school!"He jumped out of bed, brushed his teeth, and without breakfast, bolted out the door. "Lucky the school is close… otherwise, I'd be late every day."
When he entered the classroom, his eyes immediately found Akano Karumi, sitting in the corner with her friends. Their eyes met for a fleeting second, but Karumi looked away without acknowledgment. kimuki muttered under his breath, "Hate her so much… and yet… she's… cute. Snap out of it."
He slid into his seat in front of his friends, Ako Gintama and Sama Tanaki.
"Hey what's going on," kimuki greeted.
"Nothing much," Taneki replied.
"After school, want to hit the game club?" kimuki asked.
"Want me to destroy you in soccer again?" Gintama teased.
kimuki scowled. "You always pick games I'm bad at!"
"Look who's coming," Taneki said, nodding toward a figure approaching the desk.
"It's Eni Gancho," Gintama said, his voice dripping with disdain.
"Disgusting," Taneki muttered.
Eni Gancho sat quietly as Gintama and Taneki mocked her, elongating her name with exaggerated disgust. Kimuki only watched, trying not to laugh.
Suddenly, Karumi stood and strode toward them. "Stop bullying her!" she demanded, her voice sharp with irritation.
"No one's talking to you, Karumi. Sit down," Gintama sneered.
"If she really minded, she would have said something," taneki added.
Karumi knelt beside Eni Gancho. "I know they're bothering you. You have to speak up, or this will never end."
Eni's voice was soft. "It's fine, Karumi. They're right. This doesn't concern you."
Gintama laughed. "See? She doesn't mind."
"Go to hell," Karumi snapped. "And you, Kimuki… not a word, huh?"
Kimuki froze. "I… I didn't say anything."
"Sure didn't stop them either, you jerk," Karumi shot back.
Taneki leaned in. "What's her deal?"
Kimuki could only smile to himself. She's always like this—always trying to protect someone, even at her own expense.
"Dude, why does it sound like you're praising her?" Gintama asked.
Kimuki's face flushed. "I'm not… no way I'd praise her."
His gaze met Karumi's briefly before he slammed his forehead onto the desk. "I don't deserve to live," he muttered.
"What the hell are you doing?" Taneki exclaimed.
"Don't mind me. Just… sleeping," Kimuki said.
When school ended, Kimuki asked his friends to wait while he grabbed his bag.
"Want me to come with you?" Gintama asked.
"Let him go by himself. I don't want to wait alone," Taneki replied.
"You two stay here. I don't need a guardian to get my bag," Kimuki said, rushing back to the classroom.
Inside, Karumi was searching through her things.
"What are you looking for, Karumi?" he asked.
"It's none of you're business. Don't talk to me," she snapped.
Kimuki took a deep breath. "I wanted to apologize."
Karumi stepped closer, eyes serious. "When you apologize, you have to know what you did was wrong. And when you make a mistake, you must try not to repeat it."
"I know… but listen—"
"This has happened too many times," she interrupted. "So many pointless apologies. When Gintama and Tanaki bad-mouth me, you do nothing. You don't protect me. That's why I hate you."
Kimuki froze, feeling the weight of her words. Karumi turned and left the classroom without another word.
Outside, Gintama saw Karumi leaving the school and he nudged her. "Hey, karumi. Someone over there needs protection—why don't you help?"
"Go to hell, Gintama," Karumi called as she passed.
"will u bring me to heaven because you're such an angel" Gintama yelled, but Karumi simply flipped him off.
Taneki shook his head. "How can anyone love someone like that? Just thinking about it creeps me out."
Gintama said "where the heck is kimuki at."
Taneki said "ill check on her"
Taneki went inside the classroom and saw Kimuki frozen , the words I hate you echoing in his mind. Taneki shook him.
"Hey, hey! Are you okay?"
Kimuki blinked and nodded. "I'm fine. Got my bag. Let's go."
At home, Kimuki collapsed on his bed, staring at the ceiling. His thoughts tumbled uncontrollably. When does someone really fall asleep? Is it when they stop thinking, or do they drift away while still caught in their thoughts?
And then he saw her face in his mind—Karumi's angry, determined face. I can't hide it anymore. The girl I used to hate… I've fallen for her. Even if my friends despise her, I love her. If I told her, they'd never let me hear the end of it. Maybe I can hide it… stay close without revealing anything. But no, if I lie, she'll hate me more. What should I do? What do I do?
After an hour of tossing and turning, Kimuki finally drifted into a restless sleep.