Maturely Immature

Inei, Azami, Yasu, Yui, and Aneko all sit at the table on the study grounds, talking about their past tests. Azami speaks first.

"Man! That test was SO hard! How did you all do?!"

Aneko shows her test, a seventy-six pasted on the top. Each girl speaks after they hold up their tests with their score.

"I did okay; I could have done better, but sometimes I have better things to do than study."

Yui shows her score, an eighty-two on the top.

"I did better than normal, but this is what I wanted to receive and what I earned."

Yasu shows her paper, a ninety-four on the top.

"I'm good at tests."

Azami examines their scores, then looks at Inei.

Inei silently holds up his test, a perfect hundred on it. Azami cries dramatically.

"My score is so bad compared to you all! Why did I do so poorly?!"

Aneko crosses her arms in a pout-like mood.

"Well, Azami, what did you get? You should show us, considering we all showed you."

Azami holds it tightly to her chest.

"No way! You'll make fun of me!"

Aneko grabs Azami's arms, prying them from her body to see the test. As they fight, they both fall, Yui and Yasu laughing at them. Aneko grabs the test and then dramatically slams it on the table, a sixty-eight on the top. Aneko gets a disappointed look.

"So, did I do poorly too? You only got six points less than me; that's not bad, right?"

As tears stream down Aneko's face, Azami hugs her from behind, trying to cheer her up.

"That's not what I meant, Aneko! I'm sorry!"

The two girls laugh more at their two friends. Inei pays no mind but sees a familiar hairstyle and color around a corner. Inei gets up, leaves the table, following that person. The person is who he thought it was, seeing Chura round another corner that exits the building. Inei observes from a distance, hoping she doesn't notice him. Finally, she stops at the bottom of a dormitory. Inei looks on from a distance, concerned. Then, his suspicions of being involved come true, for Goman comes from the dormitory doors, and he talks to Chura, who looks uncomfortable. He grabs her wrist and pulls her, entering the dormitory. Inei follows inside, keeping up with the two, putting on a hoodie, and following behind them. Goman pulls her into an elevator and presses a button. As Inei walks by, he notices he has selected the top floor. Inei runs up the stairs, passing people, almost knocking them out of the way, and running up the stairs to the top floor. When he does, the heat from the hoodie and running becomes almost overwhelming. He leans over, catching his breath as the elevator begins to open. Goman drags her down the hallway of dorms. Reaching one, he opens the door. Before he could think, Inei took Chura's hand, pulling her away from Goman and ripping the hoodie off him. Goman stands shocked, then smirks.

"Oh, you must be confused, Inei. She volunteered for this, right, Chura?"

Inei looks down at Chura, who looks down and away without responding. Inei still looks, then looks back at Goman, shaking his head. Goman now furrows his eyebrows.

"Now you're overstepping your limits. These halls are MY domain Inei."

Goman snaps and a couple of dorm rooms are open, and guys are coming out behind them. Inei studies them, realizing they are the same frat boys he fought at the party, then back at Goman with a severe look.

"Let her go, and you will be left unharmed. She's useless other than to be used for pleasure anyway. Have you not seem how dumb she is? No wonder she would give herself up because that is all she has."

The words that come from Goman snap Inei's nerves. Inei now strikes Goman first, palming him in the right side of his face, then hops back, kicking one of the thugs in the stomach, dropping him instantly. He pulls Chura towards the direction of Goman before the second guy grabs her, then palm strikes him in the stomach as well; as the two extra people try to catch their breaths, Inei picks up Chura and runs to the elevator, gets inside, and hits the button to go down. He sets Chura down, who at once embraces him in a tight hug. Inei grows in concern as he hears her begin to cry.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. I don't know what I was thinking!"

Due to this hug, the elevator ride feels like an hour. When the elevator dings, Inei wipes Chura's eyes quickly and then covers her face to protect her from people seeing her cry with the hoodie he was wearing. Exiting the dormitory, they went to the side where no one could see. Chura finally catches herself and begins to talk.

"I'm not ugly. I had to prove that I was not. I thought giving myself would show Goman I'm not ugly."

Inei shakes his head. Chura pouts.

"Well, obviously, I know that now! It was in the moment! I don't want anyone to think I'm ugly. All I have is being pretty. I'm not smart like the other girls are."

Inei tilts his head, not showing the score but the test.

Chura reluctantly pulls it out of her purse, showing it to Inei, a fifty on the top.

"I'm not smart. I'm not clever. I'm not funny, all I have is my looks, and it hurts when people try to take it away."

Inei shakes his head, then leans toward her. She is shocked, and her embarrassment rises, blushing hard.

"Inei, you, of all people, I wouldn't expect to do this."

Inei squints and then points to her heart. After he does, he leans back and stands up. He offers to help her up, putting his hand out. She takes it and stands.

"Inei, thank you for saving me. Is it just your mission to save us all?"

She softly giggles, covering her mouth with her other hand. Inei begins walking as they let go of each other's hands.

"Oh, and Inei."

She takes his hand and then takes a pen writing her number on his hand.

"Next time you need someone to talk to, you can text me. And don't say you can't because I know you text Azami and Yui."

Inei gives a reluctant look, which causes Chura to laugh more, her tears finally disappearing. Once they reach the study grounds, the other four wait for Inei to return but realize that Chura has come too. Yui speaks on their behalf.

"Oh! Inei, you had found Chura! Is that what you went off in a hurry for?"

Inei sits back in his seat, Chura standing with her arms crossed behind her back.

"Well, I had told him to come to help me lift something for my club. I was kind of towards the back and motioned for him to come."

Aneko now questions it, a little suspicious.

"Oh? Why so sneaky about it? We would have come and helped too, you know."

Chura shrugs with a grin.

"Inei is a big strong guy; just him alone could handle all of it."

Yui and Aneko look at each other, then say simultaneously.

"Yeah, that makes sense."

And with that, they all get back to what they were doing. Chura gives a small sigh of relief and then looks over to Inei, who is already deep in his textbook studying. She then looks down, shutting herself down and closing off her body. Chura looks back to Inei, examining his hand on the book, her number in the open. She blushes, looking at it, uneasy about it. Yasu notices, leaning over and asking.

"Chura, are you okay?"

Chura jumps.

"I'm okay! I'm fine!"

Yasu frowns.

"It's not okay. You can tell me."

Chura motions to Yasu to come close, and when she does, Chura explains frantically to Yasu, Chura's eyes guiding over, and when hers do, Yasu follows suit. Yasu understands and looks over to Inei.

"Inei."

Inei looks up at Yasu, not moving. Yasu begins to blush, then looks away.

"Your shoe is untied."

Inei lifts an eyebrow. Yasu stammers.

"I-I mean it!"

Inei shakes his head, then looks down at his shoe, moving his hand under the table, his boots already tied. He glares at Yasu, then leaves his hands in his lap, reading his textbook. Chura sighs in relief.

"Thank you, Yasu, you're so helpful."

Yasu tucks her hands between her legs.

"You know, you could have done that yourself. I don't know why you wanted me to do it."

Chura gives a concerned look, then a sad one looking at her work. As time passes, the silence disappears by a grumbling stomach. Everyone looks around, not wanting to admit it was them. Then, another growl erupts, and another, and another. They all look again, all laughing, Azami speaking.

"Sounds like all of us are hungry, aren't we?"

Yui smiles, resting her elbow on the table and head in hand.

"Yeah, I don't think I've exactly eaten well today. You know, we could all go together, Inei included."

She looks over to him, who looks at her with a glare.

Wow. Yui knows I don't have practice on Wednesdays. What a move, Yui.

Azami then speaks up.

"Huh? I thought Inei had things to do on Wednesday."

Yui smirks with a glare at Inei.

"He doesn't anymore, right, Inei?~."

Inei looks back at her with a scowl, then shakes his head as she moves closer. Once he shakes his head, she looks at everyone.

"So! Where should we eat?! I'm thinking sushi. No one can resist sushi, and it makes everyone happy!"

Azami speaks next.

"Ah! We should go to that sweets restaurant down the road from the campus!"

Aneko puts her hands on her hips.

"We all know the American Steakhouse is the best, mainly because of its cost; Inei will cover us."

Aneko glares at Inei evilly who glares back at her. Yasu whispers, but loud enough to be heard.

"I think a sandwich shop is good enough."

Inei listens but looks at Chura, who has a troubled look on her face and is closed off from the world. Inei taps the table, getting her attention, tilting his head.

"I'm good! I'm good! What were we talking about?"

Azami speaks to her softly.

"We're trying to decide where we're going to go eat. Do you have a place in mind?"

Chura sighs and gives a nervous expression.

"Uh, well, I wouldn't mind something like McSamuels."

The other girls look at each other and laugh, except for Yasu. Chura looks down and away, and Inei points to her, nodding. The other girls notice, and Yasu speaks.

"Yeah, I think that's a good idea for Chura. It's not expensive, and it's simple."

Yui then smiles, shrugging.

"Well, I want what makes people happy, I can't please everyone, but I can please the majority. I vote McSamuels."

Azami throws a fist in the air.

"Alright, chicken nuggets and ice cream!"

Aneko at once interjects.

"That's if their ice cream machine does not break! They always say it's broken!"

The girls start packing their things and walk out of the study grounds. Inei stands to follow but notices Chura hasn't moved. Inei grabs her belongings, packs them up, then puts her backpack on his back, putting a hand on her. She notices it and slowly takes it, Inei pulling her to her feet and walking beside her as they follow behind the rest of the group, who are too busy focusing on what is ahead of them.

"Why do you care?"

Inei looks over at her, tears in her eyes.

"It doesn't make sense. I hardly know you, yet you've tried pulling me up many times in one day. What does it matter to you?"

They continue walking, Inei taking out his phone and typing. Inei then closes his phone and puts it in his pocket. A buzzing sound comes from Chura's pocket. She takes out her phone and looks at it. Her eyes glow to a message from Inei, saying:

"I don't know you. But that doesn't mean you don't deserve to be happy."

With that, Chura looks at him for a long while, her eyes glowing and glimmering, for he doesn't look back, and then she looks forward, then to the side, and softly smiles. Her phone buzzes again, and she looks at it, the message reading:

"Oh, and it was pretty dumb of you to have Yasu do that. You could have just asked me to cover my hand."

Chura turns bright red, then looks over at Inei, who presents a tiny smile, then walks faster to catch up to the others who are a bit ahead, Chura stopping for a moment—then catching up with them.

They reach the McSamuels, all lining up to order. Each person orders, Inei being the last, the cashier says.

"That will be four-thousand yen."

Inei turns, all the girls giggling, looking at him. He sighs and pulls out his wallet, handing the cashier four thousand yen. Inei turns around, passing all of them their cups. They all thank him and run along to get their drinks.

If the coach saw me here and for Yui, we'd be in trouble. But-

Inei glances over to Chura, an unfamiliar frown pasted on her face.

We need to cheer up Chura. Even with the risk, Yui knew the task. And Yasu knew too. That proves that even though they are so different, they are sisters.

"Inei, aren't you gonna get your drink?"

At about that moment, Chura walks up beside Inei, intending to pass him, then stops.

"You know, it's not polite when you stand in the way of people trying to get to their seats."

Inei panics to see if he is holding people up, but no one is there. He turns back to Chura, who giggles. But this giggle seems off.

"Oh, Inei, you never learn. First falling for Yasu's prank, then mine."

She intends to try to act as if nothing happened, huh?

Chura walks off to sit with the other girls, and Inei grabs his drink, going to sit with the other girls as well. However, there is a table of four, and then next to it is one for two. Yasu, Yui, Aneko, and Azami sit in the four, and Chura sits alone in the two. Inei walks up with a faint red on his face, sitting across from Chura. He looks to the side and down, Chura noticing, then smirks.

"Not used to sitting across from such a pretty girl for food, Inei?"

Inei doesn't look, still looking away, not letting her antics get to him.

"Come on, Inei, it's just me, Chura. It's no different than dating someone like a supermodel!"

She bursts out laughing then Inei looks her straight in the eyes. Chura's phone buzzes, and she takes it out, looking at it.

"You are pretty, but acting like that makes it unattractive."

Chura's face turns red, and Yasu leans over to look.

"Chura, why are you so red?"

Chura slams her phone down in her lap with a shriek.

"Nothing, nothing, nothing! It's nothing! It's just hot in here!"

Yui laughs.

"Come on, Chura; it's McSamuels. You know it's not hot in here."

Chura panics more.

"Well, some guy said something I'm texting, so it doesn't matter! Continue!"

Now the girls, being enraptured, start questioning her. Aneko speaks first.

"Oh? This guy must be attractive if he makes you this hot about it."

Inei raises an eyebrow. Azami speaks up now.

"Yeah! You're usually so calm or easy about it."

Yasu, looking at Inei, begins catching on to who it is, smiling to herself. Yui asks questions now.

"So this guy must be someone you like since you're acting so crazy, right? Who is it? How old is he?!"

Chura stands up, fists by her side exclaiming in a flustered manner.

"I don't like anyone, and you all don't know what you guys are trying to assume! I need to use the bathroom!"

And with that, Chura runs to the bathroom. Aneko looks over to Inei.

"Now, look what you did."

Inei gives her a look that speaks for itself. "What did I do?" Aneko responds.

"I don't know; it feels right to blame you."

The cashier yells the order number, and it is their order. Inei gets up to get their food, grabs it, and returns it to the tables, handing out everyone's food. Once Inei takes a seat, Chura returns, her cheeks wet from the water.

"Oh, yay! The food is here!"

She starts opening her things, opening her ten chicken nuggets with sweet and sour sauce. She begins with her fries, finishing them at once. Inei notices, only eating half of his nuggets and a small part of his fries. Chura is the first one to finish, looking at the other girls.

"You all are always so slow to finish your meals. I'm always the winner!"

The other girls don't respond, focusing on eating their meals.

Now I know what will keep them quiet whenever I try to think.

Then, a stomach growls. Inei looks up, seeing Chura put her arms over her stomach.

"Dang, I'm still hungry. Maybe I'll go buy more for myself."

As Chura gets up, Inei slides his food over to her. Chura gives a confused look at the food, then back to Inei.

"But, are you not hungry?"

Inei shakes his head, then lays it down on his arms resting on the table. Chura thinks about it for a moment, then smiles.

"Thank you, Inei."

Chura begins eating Inei's meal, the other girls finishing before her. Yui tilts her head, seeing Chura eating again.

"I thought you said you finished Chura."

Chura chews and then picks up a half-bitten nugget.

"Inei gave me the rest of his, which I'm grateful for."

She throws the half-eaten nugget in her mouth, chewing happily and swallowing.

"I'm grateful he did, especially since he paid for us all."

The other girls look at her with concerned looks, Chura now tilting her head confused.

"What? Why are you guys looking at me like that?"

Aneko tries to explain the situation, pointing to Inei's area, then Chura's to highlight the key elements.

"If you were eating his food, you just ate a half-eaten nugget, so did you not just indirectly put something in your mouth that his mouth already touched?"

Chura stares blankly, looking down at the carton, then back to her friends, slowly grabbing her drink and gulping it down.

"I, uh, didn't think about that."

She then turns to Inei, scolding him.

"You idiot! Why didn't you tell me there was one you had already bitten?! I should skin you for playing that trick on me!"

After her scolding, she notices Inei is asleep, not hearing a word she says. Aneko snickers, pointing at her.

"This just isn't your day, is it, Chura?"

Chura cries, clenching her fists and pulling them in tightly with her palms up.

"Every day is never my day! I guess the worst happens to the prettiest, right?"

The other girls shrug, gathering their trash and throwing it out. Chura, with a very light blush, looks down on Inei, thinking to herself. Then she picks up the last bit of trash, throws it out, and returns, shaking Inei.

"Inei. Nap time is over, and it's time to go home."

Inei wakes, standing, and walks beside her. They stand at the entrance of the McSamuels. Azami is speaking.

"Okay! We should ensure that at least a pair forms together before we all go! Get on the side of the direction of your home! Three, two, one, go!"

The six scramble. Resulting in four and two draws. Azami, Aneko, Yasu, and Yui on one side, and Chura and Inei on another. Chura stomps.

"Oh, come on! Not that I don't like Inei, but I'm always left with him today!"

The other girls begin saying their departures. Going from Azami, then Aneko, then Yui, then Yasu.

"Well, it's okay, Chura. You two be careful!"

"Don't think about doing anything to her, Inei; we'll know."

"Be safe and have fun. Hurry home, though; even though it seems to be getting darker, I don't think the time is the only thing making it that way."

They begin walking off, then Yasu speaks.

"Thank you, Inei. Please, both of you, be safe."

Yasu turns and then catches up with the other three, them laughing and having a good time. Chura turns, looking at Inei.

"Why did Yasu thank you?"

Inei shrugs and then turns around.

I promised Yasu not to tell she told me. So, I won't say anything. I will not even tell Chura herself, especially the secret being about her.

Inei begins walking, Chura following beside him.

"Hey, Inei, how far away do you live from the McSamuels?"

Inei texts on his phone, sending the message to Chura.

"Quite far. Maybe double the distance it took to get here from the college."

Chura nods.

"Yeah, I live a little bit of a distance, not that far, but still. It looks like we'll be walking together for some time. Hopefully, it will not be too long, though. I don't want people getting the wrong idea about us."

The reoccurring buzz strikes her phone.

"No one would think that because of my personality, don't worry about it too much."

Chura sighs.

"Well, I can't say I disagree. Why is it you don't talk? We are friends now, right? So, I'm sure you can tell me."

The buzz strikes.

"I rather not talk about it."

Chura looks up from her phone.

"Sensitive subject, huh? You even made an ironic statement about it. Well, I won't bother you about it if it's something that hurts you and you rather not remember. But do know, not just me, but all five of us are here to listen if you ever need to talk about it, yes, Aneko included."

She giggles and then continues walking, smiling.

"You know, my prayers came true earlier today."

She looks back down at her phone, looking at the message.

"How so?"

She stops, looking at Inei.

"I was hoping someone would stop me from doing what I would do earlier. But I did not expect it to be you, Inei. Today has just been a crazy day for me. Thank you, though, for coming through and noticing."

Inei looks at her and nods. They continue to walk silently, going on for a couple of blocks, then stop.

"Okay. I go this way, and based on your body's positioning, you go that way."

Inei nods. Then Chura looks down, slowly walking up to him.

"Hey, can I tell you a secret? I don't know who could be listening, so you need to lean down so I can whisper in your ear."

Inei rolls his eyes and does as she explains, then Chura whispers.

"If you think I'm pretty, then take this as a thank you for earlier."

Suddenly, Inei feels something soft press against his cheek, then both pull away, blushing over each other's cheeks. Chura smiles big.

"Bye, Inei! I'll see you tomorrow at school!"

She turns and walks off, bending at the first house down the road and going inside. Inei is left standing in shock as raindrops begin falling on him, and the night passes over before he reaches his house.

I don't know what that was about, but hopefully, this doesn't grow into something much further than a thank you because if it does, the lord only knows what will happen.