Chapter 7 : An Irregular School Day

They had finally left the outside gates and made it to the school corridor. Waiting just outside of their homeroom, while the ever-suspicious Ozu badgered them with questions.

“So what you're saying to me is that she's your non-blood related cousin…?

“Well, no, not my cousin per se. My uncle from….” Haru paused in thought. “.... Manchester, whose Dad's old friend basically asked for a favor so now Celia’s staying with me.”

Celia nodded innocently, joining up with this blatant cover up.

“Hmph, Hmph, I'm Haru’s friend from England.”

Ozu looked suspiciously at Haru. “I didn't know you had friends from abroad… Something seems fishy. Ahah, I got it! Celia!”

He pointed to the awkward girl.

“Well—”

“Shush Haru, I'm not asking you.” He put a sloppy finger to Haru’s lips, stopping his retort mid-sentence.

“Celia.” She nodded in response.

“Are you his secret girlfriend? Speak truthfully!”

Her mind wandered in innocent ignorance at the title of ‘Girlfriend’. She noticed a small crowd gathering around her and Haru’s anxious face.

She thought to herself. Am I his girlfriend? I suppose that means a female friend, but are we even close enough to be friends, considering how he treats me so nicely I suppose so…

She looked at Haru’s nervous expression, he seemed to be casting glances at a pretty brunette girl who was watching with her own group of friends curiously.

The pressure is on. I cannot allow my liege to be embarrassed here. Earlier I was called a hottie so I suppose he assumed I had a rather fiery temperament. I must correct that with my next actions.

She put a hand to her chest gracefully and smiled warmly, causing all the teenage males around to look upon her like a gentle sunflower and the girls to look upon her with the utmost jealousy. Only to grant them an even greater shock by saying:

“Of course, I'm Haru’s girlfriend.”

“Ehhhhh.” A choir of surprise lit the corridor. Haru had the same reaction internally, but managed to play it off carefully.

“Uhhh, yeah, she's a… My girlfriend.” He did not feel a single bit confident in saying that.

“Why didn't you just tell me?” Ozu asked, surprise and happiness for his friend on his face.

“Cause… uhhh…”

“What’s the commotion over here boys?”

The sound of footsteps could be heard accompanying the authoritative voice.

“Kasiba-sa—I mean sensei!” Ozu startled out.

Miss Kasiba stood tall, overlooking the situation with a kind sovereignty. Her almond eyes peered at the new ‘transfer’ student.

She smiled, looking at Celia suspiciously. “And who might you be?”

“My name's Celia Marisol, I'm a new transfer student from um…” Celia recollected her thoughts. “The UK!” That was the nation she was supposed to be from, right?

“Ah, apologies but I wasn't aware that we were having a transfer student from the UK in our midst.” Her face was riddled with confusion. Celia’s face froze from the tension.

“Ahhh…” Haru’s mind — lit up with panic — carefully examined the situation at hand. Damn, if our homeroom teacher doesn't ‘remember’ her we're so screwed!?

“Kasiba-sensei! Don't you remember her, we've been setting up her arrival for a few weeks now?” It was none other than their student president, Aoko Himeno who had spoken to save the day — her brown eyes sharp, as if annoyed that all her ‘preparing’ had been forgotten — but unfortunately for Haru, she was also the girl that had rejected him just the other day, making this situation a little more awkward.

She's definitely going to think I'm some sort of two timer scumbag, but at least she's saved my behind from certain doom! Thanks, class Prez!

He would have to think of a suitable explanation later but for now…

“Ahh, of course, how could I have forgotten. Marisol-chan it's a pleasure to meet you.”

She put her hand out for a handshake and Celia responded in kind.

Haru could only assume that it was some weird, unknown reality-warping magic saving them once again.

“She's also Haru’s girlfriend by the way, Sensei.” Aoko said, adding insult to injury as Miss Kasiba’s eyes widened in shock.

Damn. People sure do have low expectations of me, huh…

“I see…” Miss Kasiba regained her composure from the earth shattering revelation.

“Well as it is your first day, and you're from the UK. Ozu-kun!”

“Yes Sensei!”

“Do you mind showing her around?”

“No Sensei!”

“Good, I'm excited to speak to you again Marisol-chan.”

Celia simply nodded back, letting Ozu escort her. But Haru could tell by her eye contact that she was worried about leaving Haru by his lonesome — he mouthed her ‘it's okay’ — somewhat satisfying her worry.

“Alright students, time for homeroom.”

“Yes Sensei!”

Everyone followed along, as Haru could still feel the looks of suspicion from everyone around him.

But before he could walk in, Miss Kasiba stopped him.

“My condolences Tadashima-kun, if you ever need to speak with me. My door is always open, got that?”

She was referring to Akaji, of course she was. But she doesn't know the real truth…

“Thank you sensei.” He nodded and entered the classroom, but not without noticing a saddened smile on his favourite sensei's face.

But how does she know that I'm related to Akaji…?

He looked back at her as she went to the front and started the register.

Probably Ozu? I did tell her that i was at Takeba street last night, so she probably filled in the blanks. I'm gonna have to tell Ozu to keep his trap shut when revealing private info going forward, can't afford to get my teacher killed as well.

His mind refocused back on the class, answering his name as looked out from his window seat in contemplation.

Who was hunting him? Why him? Was he actually a prince? Who else was in danger?

Those thoughts plagued him for the rest of the day.

— — — — —

Ozu continued showing Celia around, his nervousness apparent at talking to a girl that was way above his league. As she only gave simple responses back, trying to be as courteous as she could to her lieges friend.

“So… Marisol-chan, right?”

“You can call me Celia if you wish, Ozu-kun, right?”

“Sounds good, Celia-chan. Don't worry about the honorifics though.”

“Okay.”

“.....”

The silence was deafening.

“So how do you know Haru? I mean—uh, sorry, a bit nervous. I mean how did you meet him?”

“Well, I saw him at the train station yesterday on my way home.”

“Oh! So, you were the girl at the station yesterday that Haru was talking about. He said you had elf ears and armor and stuff.”

A sweat dropped down Celia’s temple. “Ahhh, how interesting. Haru must have been joking, he is quite a good jester.” She was proud of herself for making that one up on the spot.

“Interesting, then did you like… meet later…?”

“Yes… we met at his home.”

“HIS HOME!!!”

“Yes. Is there something wrong with that.”

“You're a boy and he's a girl, in an empty house?”

“Well, I had nowhere else to stay.”

“Makes sense then. You were forced to stay with him, sorry for making conclusions Celia-chan.”

She hoped that was the last of the questioning. She was very wrong.

“But then how did you become boyfriend and girlfriend so fast!?”

She wasn't quite sure how to respond to that. She assumed boyfriend and girlfriend were just friends. I suppose they must be closer…?

“Well… It was clear at first sight.” That was the only excuse she could come up with.

“Damn. Ultimate luck! Gets rejected by a pretty girl and then accepted by an uber-hottie, that's my guy!”

She wasn't sure what uber-hottie meant but considering he said ultimate luck and pretty girl beforehand, she assumed it was a compliment related to her ‘looks’.

Is he implying that I'm considered attractive here in this world… How strange?

She couldn’t quite comprehend that thought but then another, even more pressing question rose to her throat.

“Rejected…?”

“Ahah, did he not tell you? Well it makes sense, probably a bit embarrassing for him to tell his new girlfriend. Should I tell you?”

“Please tell me!” She begged. Ozu was quite surprised by her high interest.

“Alright, alright, I will tell you but promise to keep it between me and you?”

She nodded.

“Well let's see… where to start. You know that brunette girl you saw confronting the teacher?”

And with that, Ozu confided all of Haru’s secrets to her; even the ones that were not connected to that already embarrassing event.

If Haru was here, he would have punched him for being such a rat, but to be fair to Ozu. He at least tried to make them seem more like accomplishments than failures.

“And that's how he ended up, upside down on a tree!”

Celia giggled heartily from these silly stories, her eyes swelling with tears of laughter.

In her mind, Haru had clearly had a very fun upbringing, nothing like a prince was expected to have, but something real and oddly authentic.

Their conversations only continued as Ozu — being knowledgeable on the events of Great Britain — continued to ask random questions on Celia’s apparent ‘home’ country and told the stories of his own trip there. To which she only gave open answers, as to blend into Ozu’s expectations of her.

Although she was able to learn quite a lot of the English culture through Ozu’s rambles. It would surely come to help her later.

“Oh! And by the way, thank you for being there for my bro right now. I bet it means the world to him that he has a girlfriend as great as you, to comfort him after another loss like last night. I plan to talk to him about it later but still… Thank you. I mean it.”

Celia was surprised by his sincereness, remembering Haru’s tears as he fell asleep into her chest last night. But one word seeped into her mind like none other.

“Another?”

“Oh, did you not know? Haru’s parents died only a few years ago.”

No matter how obvious it should have been. It only now dawned on her how empty that house was. Which could only mean…

He's lived in that house alone for a very long time…