Lesson Three

***Taichi***P.O.V.

The next day at school, Karasuma greets me at the shoe lockers.

"Hey Taichi." He says and I reply hey back.

"So, I've been thinking..." He says with his voice trailing off.

"What is it?" I ask concerned.

"Well, since you're so convinced Hinata isn't anything like the rumors. I think I'll be willing to meet her properly." I smile at this. Finally Karasuma is listening to me.

"Thank you, Karasuma." I say before I head to my homeroom.

***

In class I see Hinata gazing out the window like normal. I sit in my seat next to her and take out my things.

"Hinata, what do you say about meeting my best friend Karasuma?" I ask turning towards her.

She looks over at me with a blank expression before speaking. "No thanks." She says before focusing back on the window.

"What? Why not?" I ask with a hint of irritation in my voice. Why does Hinata have to be so stubborn?

"Look, I appreciate what you are trying to accomplish here, but it's a waste." she says bluntly.

"Oh come on, I kn--"

"Just drop it. Besides, what will talking to him prove anyway? That I'm not a dog? Get real, things aren't that simple Taichi." She coldly states. I feel a lump in my throat.

Is this what Karasuma meant by hurt? No, I can't think like this, Hinata is only acting this way because she doesn't like to open up to people and receive help. I don't have time to waste on thinking about her being as bad as everyone believes. I should continue focusing on helping her.

***

When class is over I notice a group of girls standing outside a classroom talking about something. I see that one of the girls was the pink haired girl that dumped trash on Hinata from a while back. I listen in on their conversation.

"So rumor is, there are actually people hanging around the dog now. Not only that, but some people want to help her with the stupid school garden." A girl in the group states.

"Yeah, well don't worry, all we need to do is make sure she slips up so she can get suspended." The pink haired girl replies. I can't hold back my anger anymore.

"How pathetic. Do you girls really have nothing better to do but to torture another girl?" The whole group of girls focus their attention on me.

"Hey I know you. Taichi right? You hangout with the dog. I must say, I pity you really, but in the end, it's your choice." The pink haired girl says.

"What do you girls have against her anyway? What has she ever done, that's so bad and so terrible, that you want to make her life harder than it already is?" I ask them. They all exchange glances.

"You mean you don't know?" One of them asks.

"Know what?" I question.

"Since it appears you don't know, let us be the first ones to tell you the harsh reality of the dog," The pink haired girl states before continuing. "A while back Hinata beat up a guy and he ended up in the hospital."

"Yeah I know that, bu--"

"Where he later died." She says cutting me off in a cold tone.

"Impossible, she would of been in jail due to evidence." I say denying it.

"Oh, it's true. Hinata got out on bail because her little rich daddy paid for her bail and for a good lawyer." She adds.

By then I was feeling dizzy, the whole world was spinning. I just couldn't wrap my head around what I was hearing.

Hinata killed someone?

"Sorry, you had to find out this way. We figure since you hang around her so much, you would of known by now, our mistake." The pink haired girl adds.

"I can't believe it she--" I say still in shock.

"Guess you don't know her as well as you thought." The pink haired girl adds before walking away with her group following close behind her.

I can't maintain my balance. I am barely able to stand up. I knew Hinata did things in the past, but it never crossed my mind that she may have murdered someone.

I couldn't take it anymore, before I knew it, I fell to the floor, and my world starts to fade into a deep dark black.

***

When I wake up I notice that I'm in the infirmity. I try to sit up on the bed, but my head throbs in pain, so I lay back down.

Why can I still not get Hinata's past out of my head? Even so, she doesn't seem like a murderer, she's been sweet to me, for the most part at least.

"Taichi." I hear a voice say, and now I see Karasuma. "What happened? All I heard was that you suddenly fainted." He adds clearly concerned about me.

"Yeah I did, but I'm ok now, thanks." I say to him with a forced smile. Some silence passes before Karasuma speaks again.

"Hey Taichi, did the dog have anything to do with this?" He asks not making eye contact with me anymore. I think for a second, did this have anything to do with Hinata?

"No, and stop calling her a dog." I say to him.

"I'm sorry, l'd just hate to see you get hurt." He says still looking away.

Eventhough I'm not happy about Karasuma's assumptions right now, I still consider Karasuma a really good friend. I've known him since kindergarten, so why wouldn't I? There's also something I'm dying to ask him despite his feelings towards Hinata.

"Karasuma, about that guy you said ended up in the hospital because of Hinata..."

"Yeah, what about him?" He questions.

"Did he die?" I ask. He looks a bit caught off guard by my question, but he sighs before answering.

"I assume so, he never did return to school." Karasuma explains. I hate to admit it, but now I'm starting to believe that Hinata might have killed a person.

"Now that you know this, do you get why I believe she is dangerous Taichi?"

I don't want to believe this. I don't want to believe any of it, but I know what must be done.

"Yes, I understand. I'll stay away from her now that I know she's dangerous." I say looking away. I can't believe it's come to this.

"Good, now lets go to class. Everyone is asking about you man." Karasuma says and I get up.

As I'm walking out of the infirmity, I see her. I see Hinata leaning against the wall, emotionless.

She turns and looks at me. She looks hurt. A tear goes barreling down her cheek. How long has she been there?

"Liar! Taichi, you traitor! You're just like all the rest of them. Well, screw you!" She yells at me, and she shoves something into my chest before running away.

"Hinata!" I yell after her and Kurasama puts a hand on my shoulder.

"Just let her go." I watch her as she runs away.

I then focus on what Hinata had just shoved into my chest, it's a flower. She must of grown this in the school garden.

I guess she was planning on visiting me in the infirmity, which means she heard everything Kurasama and I said in there.

I think I made a mistake. Hinata isn't a dog... I'm the real dog.