Today was the last day before winter break. Before we all parted ways for the holidays, Harry planned on getting together before then. Harry’s plan included stealing Gentrei away, and getting me to get Itra so he can meet her.

I still didn’t trust him around Itra, but ever since telling him about the group study Itra helped Gentrei in, he wanted to get an idea of who was helping me study. With a curious Harry, he’s bound to question me for ages, so I decided to just give into his current demands.

So, during English class, I kept glancing over at Itra. I knew I needed to tell her sooner rather than later, as we weren’t meeting at the library until the beginning of the next semester. The class didn’t let up though, and the teacher gave me no chance to leave my seat even once to approach her.

Our teacher held a lesson in front of the class about proper habits, keeping a stern eye on each of the students. As I sat straight from his gaze, I felt more confined than I would have been in the corner. Still, I was in the back, so I could hide myself behind my fellow classmates. The dark room also helped for my stealth.

Glancing between Itra and the clock, the window of my opportunity continued to shrink. Hiding my gaze away before she could notice each time kept my heart beating fast. I didn’t want her to think I was staring at her during class.

Giving up on finding a good chance to talk to her during the class, I opted to talk with her after it ended. Telling her sooner rather than later gave a risk of getting the teacher’s attention, so I kept my focus on the lesson for the period. I just hoped I wouldn’t be pulled back by the teacher before then.

With my attention completely on the board, I let time slip by until the bell pierced my zombie-like thought processes. Stuffing my notes into my bag, I rushed out of my seat to get to Itra. Luckily for me, she was still putting her own notes away. Unlike me, she took her time with her stuff, organizing them for when she would reach for them later.

“Itra,” I called for her, with my heart beating fast, “I wanted to ask you something.”

“Hm? What did you need?” She turned to me as she zipped up her bag, “Did you have a question for your story?”

“Er, no,” I fumbled as I forgot the lines I’d planned to invite her to Harry’s gathering, “I was just thinking, um…”

Staying quiet to listen, Itra allowed for me to continue.

“M-my friend and I are doing a thing,” I explained, “where we can hang out one last time before the break, and…well, I was wondering if…you would…”

There were just three words now, but I couldn’t push them out no matter how wide my mouth gaped.

“Sure.”

Huh? I realized I was looking at the floor and turned back to Itra. She was already standing.

“I think that sounds like a fun idea,” Itra answered, “when is it?”

“Just after school,” I told her, “we’re just going to talk in the front before heading home.”

“Okay,” Itra smiled before waving, “I’ll see you then.”

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Leaving the school building, my eyes were momentarily blinded from the difference in lighting. As such, I heard Harry talking before I saw him.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Harry greeted, “are you Illate’s friend?”

A confused voice I didn’t recognize responded, “Who’s Illate?”

My eyes adjusted, and I found Harry questioning every person who exited the building. Each one of them looked at him weirdly, and treated him like a madman. There seemed to be a wide space between Harry and the rest of the students exiting the building.

“Harry! Stop!” I sprinted to Harry, “What are you doing?!”

Harry embarrassing himself like that was already shameful, but he name dropped me with every person. I could only imagine the irreparable damage he had done to our reputation.

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“Oh, hey Illate,” Harry greeted me without a break in his movements, “I was just trying to find your friend.”

“Harry…” I put all my weight into the hands I pressed on his shoulders, “Do you not see how everyone’s looking?”

Stopping for a moment, he surveyed the area. His smile didn’t fade.

“They look funny,” he commented.

“Because you’re being weird!” I shrieked. Of course, by this point, the focus on Harry wasn’t very high. My voice might have attracted a little more though.

Only at that moment did the familiar voice ask, “What’s wrong with being weird?”

Instantly releasing Harry, I whirled around to find Itra. She had her head tilt to the side, as she raised an eyebrow.

“It’s not good to call people weird, you know?” Itra reprimanded.

“I-I, what,” I found myself unable to get my words out with her around.

“Wow, this is your friend? I like her,” Harry greeted her with, “will you marry me?”

Without pause, Itra replied, “No thank you.”

“Aw man,” Harry laughed, “nice to meet you.”

They both stepped forward for a handshake.

What just happened?

Itra chuckled softly, and turned to me with, “I see you’re pretty confused, huh.”

Harry commented, “I know, right? Illate is fun to play with.”

Itra and Harry surprisingly clicked well together. As they chatted more and more, I began to learn what it meant to be ganged up on. Maybe I was actually pretty brutal when I did the same to Harry with Gentrei?

“What kind of scene is unfolding here?” said the voice of a scarily tall man.

“Injaius, meet Harry, Illate, and Itra,” Gentrei introduced, “everyone, this is Injaius. He’s the one helping me with my story.”

“Oh, hi,” Itra held her hand out, “I’m Itra.”

Shaking her hand, Injaius replied, “Gentrei said.”

“Ah, yeah, I guess she did,” Itra broke eye contact and moved her gaze away.

Gentrei added, “Our other friends couldn’t make it, but I’m sure you would have liked them, and they would at least like Itra.”

“W-what about us?” Harry questioned, “Wouldn’t they like us too?”

He received a curt, “Know your place,” from Gentrei.

His spirits fell, and he let his arms hang mumbling, “how mean…”

Suddenly scrambling with her words, Gentrei stammered, “N-not that I would know, I mean…I, uh…”

Reassuring Harry, Itra consoled him with, “I’m sure she didn’t mean it.”

“You sure are being quiet,” Injaius turned to me, “anything to say?”

“I-I have a lot to say,” I mumbled, “I think.”

Injaius responded, “I guess we have that in common then.”

“He really does have a lot to say,” Itra said, “you’ll see, he’s going to win the upcoming contest.”

“Oh? Is that so?” Injaius raised a brow, “I can say the same about Gentrei.”

“I-it’s not that good,” Gentrei added.

“You guys are so confident,” Harry struck a pose, “What makes you think I won’t win?”

““As if”” Gentrei and I refuted in unison.

Chuckling, Itra said, “I need to go now, I have to head home.”

Harry whined, “Already? But we just got to know each other…”

“My family’s going on a trip this winter break,” Itra explained, “I’ll see you guys next time, okay?”

“If that’s the case, Injaius and I are leaving too,” Gentrei added, “we had plans for the day, which don’t include you two.”

“Getting some alone time, huh…?” Harry teased.

“N-no! Don’t get your head in the mud, Injaius and I aren’t like that!” Gentrei yelled.

“Ah, but the way you two seem to…” I decided to play along with Harry, but I received a death glare from Gentrei.

“Don’t finish your sentence.”

“Y-yes ma’am,” I backed off.

Smiling, Injaius waved,” See you next time.”

Standing alone on the school grounds, I was left with Harry. The crowds from earlier disappeared at some point during our time talking together, leaving us in the empty, open grounds.

“Okay, Illate, it’s just you and me now,” Harry turned to me, “it’s time we did it.”

“Huh? Time we do what?”

“Time we take a break.”

“Oh, right.” I turned to the school

“Who knows, this break might be over before you know it,” Harry said, “I’ll see you later, Illate.