01101: Calm before the Storm

The early morning sun was still rising. It was Saturday and at this early time the campus was completely empty. I hadn’t had a good night’s sleep – still needed to get comfortable with the new bed … and all the impressions that had run through my head. Even though I was really tired and also a bit restless now, I think I saw clearer than ever. I really was here at this school and just a step away from the girl I once lost.

It was not long after 6 AM when I looked onto the clock on my phone and just gave up on trying to find into a fragmented sleep once again. I needed to get onto other thoughts right now before all the thinking fried my brain and the test even started. It was Sunday and just about time for my morning jog. Today the fight against the cozy warmth of the bed was even harder, but once stood up I rummaged through my still not emptied suitcase. I could have also taken the school’s sport suit I obtained yesterday, but there was probably nothing uglier than schools sport’s clothing. But I wouldn’t wear it unless I absolutely had to.

Once found I put on my spots clothing and went out of my room. I tried being as silent as I possibly could to not wake up anyone at this early hour. The wooden floorboards squeaked lightly under the sports shoes. I got down the stairs when I saw lights being on in the common room. I got in and saw Naoki-senpai sitting there at his laptop.

He looked up when he saw me entering through the door. “Good morning, Isato-kun!”

“Good morning,” I replied and gave him a smile. “What are you doing up so early?”

“The early bird catches the worm. No honestly, I just like working early. I’m most productive in the early morning hours.” He gave me a wide grin. “You however seem like you are not that much of an early bird.”

“Didn’t sleep that well and I wanted to use the nice weather for a little jog.”

“So, no spinning thoughts that kept you up …”

I swallowed. Sometimes I wondered if he had the ability to read thoughts. But his words were not strictly phrased as a question. “I’m off then!”

“Isato-kun!” Naoki-senpai called.

I remained in my position but did not turn towards him.

“Maybe you should really ask yourself if chasing a one-sided ideal will lead you towards happiness or hold you back from ever experiencing it.”

His words echoed deep into my unconsciousness. Somehow, I did not really understand, but I felt what he meant. Afterall, he figured me out completely.

“What you said yesterday,” he started. “Maybe I was a bit too aggressive in setting you and Rukami-san up. I’m sorry if that was the case. Maybe you don’t believe this now, but in the second you said the first words to us, I was certain: You could someday make Rukami-san really happy. I know that she can be a bit exhausting at times, but when you start being honest with her you might break the wall to find what she actually is like. The school’s number one will not be as approachable as her.”

I clenched my hands. That was not the kind of advice I was searching for at the moment. I exhaled and went through the door outside. Ear buds in, music play and on I went. I first jogged towards the inner depths of the island, heading for the swimming pool. I was not intending to use it today, since I had to arrive in time to the appointment for the white hood club, but later on I might as well make use of the opportunity.

I really did not know where my head was. Naoki-senpai was really eager about his opinion from Rukami-senpai. She was nice, yes, and pretty as well, but I wanted to be just her friend and not her boyfriend. She hadn’t made any advances on that, and I hadn’t either. So, why did there always have to be love between a boy and a girl who get along with each other? With Lynx it all was completely different. We had met through fate, and if it was really meant to be, we would meet through fate once again.

I jogged a bigger round across the main campus, past the swimming pool, tennis courts and the entertainment center, behind the school buildings, along the beach promenade and back to my dorm. It was a rather short round for my terms, but a good start. Better not exaggerate it on a test day. Next time I would try to explore the forest paths a bit more, but for now I guess I earned myself a refreshing shower and a good meal for the morning.

The canteen was still empty at this early time. I thought about going with Naoki-senpai, but he told me that they normally ate at 9 AM on weekends and would go there after the test was done. This was no option for me, however. Due to the test at the café, I had skipped dinner and needed something to calm my stomach.

I saw a sole blonde girl sitting with the back to me at a table right at the wall. After I got my breakfast, I walked around to her. She sat with her head leaned against the wall. A soothing breathing came from her mouth. “Hey! Kayami-senpai,” I whispered and placed my tray carefully on the seat in front of her as she didn’t react. Was she really sleeping?

I put my hands together. “Thank you for the food.” Then I started eating.

I took the first lump of rice and stuffed it into my mouth. My gaze wandered surreptitiously to the girl right in front of me. She looked awfully cute the way she slept with her head rested at the wall. As it looked, she was not used to getting up so early. Yesterday her sudden appearance got me by surprise but seeing her now in front of me was quite different. Our meeting surely was another reason why I only found sleep after turning around several times. I didn’t really know what to think of her … if I could actually trust her or if my stupid ideals made me run right into a trap from the Black Flags. I hadn’t told anyone about her, not even Naoki-senpai.

Her face had echoed back in my mind. Her face that now was right in front of mine. I laid my head to the side to look at her. Today her eyes were not that heavily made-up as yesterday. A few light freckles showed on her cheeks. Her hair was long enough to lay around her body almost like a blanket. It was a bit fuzzy, especially around her head. The light golden blonde transitioned to a darker, chocolate brunette at the tips. Even though the colors were obviously dyed, I noticed a slightly less vibrant blonde stemming from her hairline. She looked like an actual angel. A very sleepy one, but an angel after all.

At the next moment however, I backed away. Peeping at a sleeping girl was next level wrong. I didn’t even know her good enough. What the hell was I thinking? I better woke her up.

“Kayami-senpai!” I tried calling her a bit louder than before. Now she startled, jerked her body to the side a bit and looked at me with small eyes. It took her a second to recognize what was happening.

She straightened up and a sudden redness flushed her cheeks. “Good morning, Isato-kun!”

I smiled. “Good morning.”

“You didn’t watch me, did you?”

I chewed the rice up and swallowed. Better evade this one. “You didn’t react when I called out for you, so I assumed it was okay to sit with you.”

“Just because we teamed up yesterday does not mean that we are best friends now! Also, this does not answer my question!” She leaned onto the table, giving me an angry expression. Seems like even she needed a few moments to build up her temper.

I nodded. “Sorry, I was not intending to intrude your private space. You just looked so innocent when you sat there, sleeping. Would you like me to sit somewhere else?”

She clenched her hands but shot me a wry smile. “You can be grateful that only so few people are here. You wouldn’t want to be responsible for ruining my reputation.”

I guess this was her way of saying that I could still sit here. “What reputation?” I asked.

“My reputation of …” She stopped for a second. And another. Her eyes slowly glazed over. She looked up at me, took a breath, her voice got softer. “Of not needing anyone.”

I smiled. “You certainly don’t, but I really enjoyed working together with you. It was awesome having someone with your skill level at my side. You’re a good one!”

Her eyes stared into mine, then sacked off until they reached my tray with the food on it. Her hands wreathed as if she fought for words. “I … uh … How are we going to approach today? I guess this will be the decision about who of us wins the place inside the club.”

She seemed to be uncomfortable with my compliments. I nodded. “I’m fine as long as you are. No bad blood, okay?”

A wide grin formed on her lips, then she nodded. “Okay. You should know that you won’t stand a chance against me anyways.”

A few moments of silence. The thought went through my mind. She did mean it in a mocking, not serious way but for just a moment I thought about what if she would have. I looked at her. “We both give our best and what needs to happen will happen.”

She nodded in agreement. The sun slowly rose over the island when we both got on our way to the mentioned conference room. It was located on the second floor of the main school building B. The door stood open when we arrived. I knocked at the door frame. “May we come in?” I asked.

“Yeah, please come in,” a very familiar voice said. “Wait … we?”

I let Kayami-senpai go first. She bowed briefly at the entrance. “H-hello.”

I did the same thing after her and entered the room. It was a medium sized conference room with a table for ten people in its center and a big TV screen at one wall. A desktop computer and a network switch with cables were wired up on the table. It was not as messy as during the Kibansentou yesterday, but the cable management had a huge potential to improve. Naoki-senpai and Airii-senpai, sat in front of the big screen. There was the paused image of an anime. Both had stood up as we entered the room. They looked … surprised. Well, mainly Naoki-senpai did. Airii-senpai had the same unshaken expression as always on her face.

“I hope you don’t mind, that I picked up a little stray cat off the street,” I explained and made a wry grin.

“Who’s a stray cat here? If anything, then I picked you up out of pure philanthropy.” The blonde girl crossed her arms.

“That is Kayami-san!” Naoki-senpai noted. “She is member of the Black Flags!”

Kayami-senpai went to the opposite side of the desk and bowed deeply in front of the both of them. “I want to leave the Black Flags and join the White Hoods. I’m done with my brother and his mislead ideals. I … want to pave my own roads.”

The whole room went silent for a moment. It was Airii-senpai who first cut through the uncomfortable void. “But we only have one place left.”

I exchanged a look with Kayami-senpai. “We want a fair duel. A Kibansentou if you will. Whoever performs better, receives the place,” I said.

She nodded in agreement.

Naoki-senpai came around the table. “Sorry to disappoint you, but no Kibansentou.” He patted onto the desktop PC on the table. “All participants have to break into this little machine, and it is up to you if you cooperate or if you try it on your own. This is no race, however. Speed certainly is a factor, but there are other things just as important.”

My gaze wandered to Kayami-senpai who slowly straightened up again. “We’ll do it together!” She looked at me. Did I not have a saying in this decision?

“Good.” Naoki-senpai pointed to the tables. “Then prepare your devices and get ready. We’ll just have to wait a few minutes for Ouzen-senpai. He just wanted to take a shower and will be here right after that.”