Chapter 54: The "Official" Announcement (Toujo Style)

The next day.

I am panicked.

What is the 'protocol'?

Do I wait for him? Do I walk to school alone? Do we... 'meet'?

This 'liking' a 'boy' thing is a logistical nightmare.

My phone buzzes.

FujiJerk: "Good morning, Aoi. I am outside."

I look out my window.

HE IS.

He's just... standing there. On my street. In his uniform.

My mom sees him.

"Aoi-chan! Who is that 'handsome' boy?! Is he your 'boyfriend'?"

"NO!" I shout, my face on fire. I grab my bag. "He's just... a 'jerk'!"

I run outside.

He is reading a book. While standing.

What a 'dork'.

"Hey," I grunt.

He looks up. He smiles.

That *stupid, dazzling smile.

It's 7 AM. It's too early for that 'level' of 'brightness'.

"Good morning, Rival," he says.

My heart does the stupid 'flip' thing.

We walk to school.

Together.

I am so awkward. I don't know what to say.

He is just... 'calm'.

We walk into the school gates.

Silence.

The entire courtyard goes silent.

We walk into the classroom.

Silence.

Everyone... freezes.

We are not 'holding hands'. We are not 'gazing' into each other's eyes.

We are just... walking together. And 'talking'.

For 'Bloody Twilight' and the 'Ice Prince'.

This is the 'apocalypse'.

I sit at my desk. He sits at his.

Toujo is vibrating. He is literally shaking. He looks like he is going to explode.

Rika is just staring. Her mouth is open.

Lunchtime.

I pack my bag.

Fuji stands up. He waits for me.

The class 'gasps'.

We walk to the cafeteria.

Together.

We sit at our table.

Rika and Toujo are already there.

They are staring.

"Aoi-chan...?" Rika whispers.

Toujo can't take it anymore.

He jumps. He stands ON THE TABLE.

"IT HAPPENED!" he roars.

The entire cafeteria goes silent.

"IT FINALLY HAPPENED! THE ICE IS MELTED! THE TWILIGHT IS... 'DAWNING'!"

"Toujo, get down!" Rika hisses.

"ATTENTION, STUDENT BODY!" Toujo screams, using a soda bottle as a microphone. "'BLOODY TWILIGHT' AND THE 'ICE PRINCE' ARE OFFICIALLY... A 'THING'!"

A girl in the front row... faints.

"THE APOCALYPSE IS NIGH! I REPEAT! THE 'FUJI-AOI' ERA HASBEGUN*! MAY THE GODS HAVE MERCY ON OUR SOULS!"

"TOUJO!" I roar. "I AM GOING TO MURDER YOU!"

I am bright red. I am 'humiliated'.

I look at Fuji. He is going to be so mad.

But I am 'Bloody Twilight'.

I am not 'just humiliated'. I am 'angry'.

I grab Toujo's ankle.

"Hey! Aoi-chan! Wait! It was a 'public service announcement'!"

I am strong.

I am *very, very strong.

I do not 'pull him down'.

I 'launch' him.

With a move I learned in 'Judo'.

"YEEEEEEET!" Toujo screams.

He flies.

Right off the table.

Right across the cafeteria.

CRASH.

He lands in the 'dirty dish' cart.

It is silent.

And then...

Fuji just... sips his tea.

He looks at me. Over his cup.

He smirks.

"He's not... entirely wrong, is he, Aoi?" he asks.

I choke.

On 'air'.

I am 'choking'.

The 'Bloody Twilight' fan club... is crying.

The 'Fuji Kenji' fan club... is wailing.

Toujo groans from the 'dish cart'.

It's a disaster.

My 'peaceful life'.

It is so far 'gone'... it is in a 'different solar system'.