Chapter 25: The Prince vs. The King

Monday.

School.

I am dreading this.

My weekend was weird.

I had lunch with Daiki Hanata.

(He ate four bowls of ramen.)

(He talked non-stop about his cat, 'Mochi'.)

(He is annoying.)

(He is not as bad as Fuji.)

My phone is exploding.

It's a war.

FujiKenJerk: Good morning, 'Nurse.' Did you study for the English Lit quiz?

DaikiJerk: Yo. Mochi loves the plushie. He says 'thanks'.

DaikiJerk: Also... I'm hungry again.

I put my phone on silent.

I slam my head on my desk.

"Aoi-chan? Are you okay?" Rika asks.

"No," I groan.

The door slides open.

Fuji Kenji.

He walks right to my desk.

He ignores everyone.

"Good morning, Isuzu-san," he says.

His voice is cold.

Colder than usual.

"You look tired," he says. "Late night gaming?"

"Just studying," I lie.

"Oh?" he smiles.

It's not a Prince's smile.

It's sharp.

"I didn't know 'studying' wore a black hoodie and smelled like energy drinks."

I freeze.

I look up.

"What?"

"I went to the arcade on Saturday," he says, his voice low.

"I saw you. With him."

He knows.

How does he know?

"Daiki Hanata. 'Deception'."

My blood runs cold.

"You... you were spying on me?" I hiss.

"I was concerned," Fuji says, leaning in. "He's not school-boy material. He's a professional. He's older." (Daiki is 18).

"It's none of your business!"

"Is it?" he whispers. "Aoi. That guy is trouble."

"And you're not?" I snap.

"I'm your trouble," he whispers, his eyes dark. "He's someone else's."

Before I can answer.

The school front gate EXPLODES.

With screams.

Girls are screaming.

Fuji looks incredibly annoyed.

"What now?" he mutters.

Toujo slams the classroom door open.

He is gasping.

"AOI! FUJI! YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE THIS!"

"What, Toujo?"

"HE'S HERE! AT OUR SCHOOL!"

"Who's 'he'?"

A figure appears in the doorway.

Tall.

Black hoodie.

Headphones around his neck.

Daiki Hanata is leaning against our classroom door.

He smirks right at me.

The entire class is dead silent.

"Yo, Twilight-chan," Daiki says, his lazy voice echoing.

"You forgot your wallet at lunch yesterday."

He dangles my wallet.

My stupid cat wallet.

I... I...

I left my wallet?

Fuji stands up.

Slowly.

He turns.

The two of them.

The Prince of our school.

And the King of the arcade.

Are staring at each other.

Right in front of my desk.

My peaceful life.

Is so completely over.