Relationships are Scary

"I think we should go out..."

Kei repeated, seeing Subaru was in rather a fair amount of confusion and surprise.

"As in... outside, now?"

"No - as in us go out... dating and stuff..."

Geez... Do I have to spell it out like that... it's majorly embarrassing...

Subaru was deep in contemplation for a moment, but eventually had a tiny smile with his words.

"Well I don't mind..."

"Then, that's a yes?"

Kei asked impatiently and, for some reason, also covering her partial relief and slight joy.

"Yeah."

They watched each other for a minute after he made sure of the commitment.

"Okay... then that's settled, we're going out - for everyone else to know at least."

She hastily said, as embarrassment won over all the whirl of emotions inside her.

"So... just for show then?"

"Entirely - yes; that! Just to keep... people off our back, and our covers safe, okay?"

Subaru nodded, and looked a little disappointed then, as Kei firstly played it down, but realised the impression she'd led him on, that she'd suddenly swept away, quite unintentionally too.

I've bungled this up haven't I...? But I've said... what I have now... Aw...! I didn't mean... Uh... now it's getting awkward... again...

"We just tell them all, and that'll settle all this dating nonsense everyone else's been throwing around down."

Subaru didn't quite follow on, but had a thought then, which he voiced.

"Uh, how do we tell 'them'?"

Kei turned into a statue as she dwelled long and hard on that.

He's got a point there... we can't just announce it... or do we? How dose news about relationships get out..?

"Uh... I don't know..."

Was all she came up with, and blinked his direction looking for added assistance, while he only gave a small shrug too.

"Anyway... just figure it out will ya... I've got something I need to do."

Kei quickly ducked out of the door and was away, with nothing to do at all, not even football practice was on today, she just needed some space to settle down, after getting almost exactly what she wanted.

I said it; well... mostly... But Subaru agreed... I almost can't believe it...! I really hoped he would... so this works out amazingly well... at least I hope it will...

Kei didn't say a word to anyone else, all the way home, as she was quite pleased with herself.

Walking under an umbrella during a light morning shower, Kei met up with Jiro at the station, and they wandered along the quiet street's side to school, chatting a little about their upcoming matches. Closer to school, they stumbled upon Seto and Hiroki, but didn't announce their approach from behind, as the two were already mucking about, and apparently dissing some of the girls from their class.

"Hah - total bitch..."

"Really?"

Since Kei and Jiro had gone quiet, they could begin to overhear the others distant, louder and ruder conversation.

"They're always jutting out to poke us though."

"Her butt is certainly up there though..."

I wonder... no, actually I don't... Why do those two fixate on lewd topics so much...?

Kei and Jiro slowly gained on them, and started to hear more.

"Toyano's a nice and quiet one... which means she probably loves some rough and tumble?"

"Up for it anyway - and in any hole she can get it... except she's a dirty farm girl... probably gets off on the animals in the barn."

Oh - that's so gross...! What's wrong with Ishikawa... really...?

"Plus she's only got a small handful up front."

Suzuki pondered for a second and brought up another classmate for consideration.

"If it's bigger and better, then I bet ya ten-thousand yen Takashi's hiding a huge pair of knockers."

"No bet there... I'm sure they are absolutely massive... but she's such a tight-assed pride, she'll never show em off..."

Seto leant over to Hiroki and not so subtly added.

"Not willingly at least."

Kei shivered mid-step, repulsed by the blonde's creepy words.

Seto sneered and changed targets.

"Now Okamoto, that's a big pair-"

"Nah, she's too fat..."

Hiroki slapped his arm with some detest.

"Hey don't knock it till you've tried it, all the more to grab, good sir. Besides she couldn't run away."

"True that."

They laughed together.

Uh... could they get any more... obscene...?

"Plus she's as stupid as a cow... probably wouldn't know what was what till after a couple dozen rounds with the long..."

"Hey Suzuki... Ishikawa."

Kei had really had enough, and they were almost next to them now, so she called out to them.

"Oh hey. We feeling ready for next week's match?"

Seto immediately switched topic, probably hoping Kei hadn't heard the slanderous talk, which had been so loud that it wouldn't have surprised her if half the other students also nearby had overheard parts of it too.

"Yeah... I'm pumped."

Suzuki also went along with it, although he at least had a look that knew he'd been sprung.

I'll definitely have words with Seto... later on I suppose...

"Big talk from someone who has never beat them before."

Jiro joined the new discussion.

"Our time is due then... and we've got our star in peak form anyway."

Hiroki lightly shook Kei's shoulder, possibly trying more to distract her, or get rid of the scowl she had on 'his' face.

"As long as we stick to the plans... we'll crush them."

Kei went along with them, for now.

Who does he think he is... first Subaru the other day... now this poor first-year...

Seto had gone down one flight to 'discuss something' with a couple of the first-year players they had on the soccer team, but he'd obviously been more keen on chasing skirt - after at least one student, despite them looking like they wanted none of his attentions.

Eventually she evaded him, but as he went to follow her, Kei got in his path.

"We need a talk."

"Can this wait...? I'm busy..."

"No."

Kei stamped her authority and led him away, to the nearby but more secluded back walls of the main building, and Ishikawa had followed, all be it very reluctantly.

"So...?"

Kei turned back to face him and gave her best impressions about being peeved off, not that she needed to act at all.

"Your whole attitude really sucks, and I for one have had enough of it."

"What's it to you?"

He replied gruffly with disinterest.

"Normal people aren't so demeaning and hateful to everyone you know... It's causing serious friction around here, and it's all coming from you."

Kei gave him some hard truth, which he apparently found difficult to swallow.

"Why are you always talking smack, being so cruel and horrible... not just to the girls either, well?"

He stayed silent, with irritation across his face.

"You need to knock it off... I'm serious here."

He almost smiled, and then turned away to leave.

"Whatever..."

Kei swiftly grabbed his loose jacket, pulled him backwards and jutted her leg behind his, making him fall, both suddenly and heavily on his back, knocking some wind from his lungs.

"I'm not done with you!"

She held back a few names she wanted to call him, as her leg moved onto his ribcage, and lightly, but firmly pressed him to the dirt behind the school building.

"You better curve your attitude, or shove it - I don't care where...."

She had Seto's undivided attention, as she shouted down at him while he lay there in utter shock.

"But this whole thing you've got... of treating girls like objects or less - with total disregard for them... it all comes to an end. No more! All the bad-mouthing, disrespecting or degrading - I'm calling that crap out... and I want it to stop - you hear me?!"

He blinked in still stunned silence, so she put some weight on her pinning foot.

"I said; do you understand Ishikawa?!"

"Uh... yeah..."

"If I hear a single word about it again... or even a rumour... You won't just walk away next time!"

"...yes I..."

Kei stepped off and stormed off, not needing to hear anything else, since their tenuous friendship was probably done now, as she left him laying on the dry dirt a while longer, still internally fuming.

It better sink in through that thick skull... or next... I'll beat it into him...

She turned the corner and nearly bumped into the three standing just out of sight.

"Oh...?"

Huh..? What are they doing here...?

Subaru almost looked scared as Kei halted before him, while Ritsu showed concern with Shiori Tachibana, who spoke up first.

"Akashi, while I agree that that needed saying, did you really need... to be so violent?"

"With guys like him... yeah, you kind of do..."

Kei answered bluntly as she looked over her shoulder to see Seto had only just picked himself off the ground.

"I really should report this..."

Shiori received looks from the others, but continued.

"But there is something more important I need to know..."

She looked at Subaru, then Kei.

"Are you two really going out?"

Word had got out obviously, which was a good thing.

"Uh yeah..."

"Well... prove it!"

What...?!

Kei looked at Tachinana with disbelief.

"I think you've pressured Sekiya here into saying that, for whatever reason."

The class representative held Subaru's shoulders lightly and stepped behind him, firstly giving concern toward the disguised guy, before casting an unfriendly look at the hiding girl before them.

"No... We really are..."

"Are you two truly going out?"

Shiori turned back to Subaru and asked him, as Ritsu watched on quietly from the sidelines.

"Yeah it's true."

Subaru said delicately, but it still didn't seem to sway the protective teen, who lightly pushed him over to stand right next to Kei, before backing away.

"Well go on show us."

What - show you... how...? And why exactly...? Isn't our word good enough...?

Kei realised she was then standing real close to him, looking into his slightly concerned face and got more nervous and slightly agitated.

"Why should I... we're going out and... that's all you need to -!"

Subaru suddenly leaned over and gave Kei a tiny peck on her cheek, before turning away and going bright red.

Ah...! He just... we just...!

Kei also looked away, feeling her face go hot.

"Well... that settles it..."

Shiori sounded quite content.

Kei couldn't bring herself to see Subaru at all, for the rest of the day, even though Shiori made sure Subaru was escorted by her after that, beside him for the entire slow walk all the way to the station, where they finally separated under watchful eyes.