Chapter 17: The Monday Morning Panda-monium

Monday morning.

The worst day.

I walk through the school gates, my "Bloody Twilight" aura cranked up to 11.

I slept terribly.

Half of my brain was plotting Toujo's demise.

The other half was... re-reading those stupid texts.

Why am I re-reading them?

"Good morning, Aoi-chaaan!" Rika chirps, running up to me.

"Morning," I grumble.

"You look... extra-murdery today," Toujo says, walking very carefully on the other side of Rika.

"You," I say, stopping and pointing at him.

He freezes. "Y-yes... my... Queen of... Vengeance?"

"You. Gave him. My number."

Toujo gulps. "I... I... it was a... a diplomatic exchange! A... a gesture of goodwill! To... to foster peace... between the... the two great nations of... Aoi and Fuji?"

"I am going to foster my foot... up your-"

"AOI-CHAN!" Rika squeaks, covering her ears. "No violence before homeroom!"

I take a deep breath. "You... have 24 hours. To make this right."

"How?! How do I make it-?"

"Figure it out."

I stalk off toward the classroom, leaving him sputtering.

I slam my bag onto my desk.

The classroom goes silent. Good.

I am not in the mood.

The door slides open again.

And in walks... him.

Fuji Kenji.

And the entire school gasps.

He's... not in his "perfect prince" mode.

His uniform is pristine, of course.

But... he’s got a very clean, very medical-looking white bandage wrapped neatly around his right forearm, which is peeking out from under his rolled-up sleeve.

And... he’s limping.

Just a little. But it's there.

He's injured.

I can hear the whispers explode around me.

"Oh my god! Look at Fuji-sama!"

"What happened to him?!"

"He’s... he’s hurt!"

"Wait... didn't he leave with... her... on Saturday...?"

"Did... did Bloody Twilight... do it?!"

"She... she attacked him?!"

"I heard she chased him! And... and... used a panda...!"

What.

How... how did the panda get in the rumor?!

Oh... Toujo.

Toujo, who just walked in, sees the scene. He sees Fuji limping. He hears the whispers.

And he decides to "help."

"Oh, it was definitely the panda!" Toujo announces to the entire class, way too loudly.

No...

"It was a vicious panda!" Toujo continues, waving his arms. "Just... BAM! Sucker-punched him! Took him right out!"

The class is just... staring.

"A... a panda?" someone whispers.

"Yeah!" Toujo says. "Aoi was there! She tried to fight it off! But the panda was too strong! It... it was a 'Panda-monium!'"

I am going to kill him. I am going to kill him with my bare hands.

Amidst this absolute circus, Fuji Kenji just... smiles.

He ignores the whispers. He ignores the stares.

He walks... right up... to my desk.

Oh, no. No, no, no...

He leans down. He's still got that slight limp.

He gets real close. The whole class holds its breath.

"Good morning, Isuzu-san," he whispers, so only I can hear.

His voice is... different. It’s low. And... amused.

"Thanks for the help on Saturday. My... 'nurse'..."

He winks.

HE. WINKED.

"I... uh... I... hope... you... fall down the stairs," I hiss, my face so hot it feels like it’s going to melt.

He just smirks.

"By the way," he whispers, a little louder. "That paw-print band-aid? It... really... stuck. I had to use... oil... to get it off."

Ayaka Tanaka, the class gossip, faints.

She just... faints.

Fuji just straightens up, that perfect "Prince" smile back on his face.

"Don't worry, everyone!" he says to the class. "I'm fine! I just... 'fell.' Aoi-san... was a huge help."

He walks to his desk.

I... I...

I am mortified.

I am so mortified.

I slowly sink down into my seat, putting my head in my hands.

My "Bloody Twilight" reputation... is... ruined.

I’m no longer "Bloody."

I'm... "Fuji's... Helpful... Paw-Print Nurse."

I am so going to fail my finals.