Eizan and Ome walked into the classroom to the stares of the other students. Eizan sighed, walked over, and sat his stuff down on his desk. Ome followed closely behind him and did the same thing, at his desk. They sat down and started to chat ignoring the stares of those around them. A minute later a red-haired girl, named Hattori Aika walked up to them and finally asked what all the students had been wondering. She is one of Ren’s close friends and is known to be the class busy body. She is very connected to the rumor mill around school. “Good morning, Hashimoto and Sano.”

Eizan smiled. “Good morning, Hattori.”

She smiled mischievously at him. “I wonder if you could answer something I have been curious about?”

“Whatever could you be curious about, that would involve me?” Eizan replied.

She laughed. “You know exactly what I’m curious about. What is your relationship with Sakurai?”

“At the moment I would say were close friends.”

Sano coughed thinking to himself. “Yeah, that’s one way to put it.”

She looked over at Sano. “I have the same question for you?”

Sano laughed. “I would say I’m friendly with Sakurai.”

She frowned. “You know I was asking about Ren.”

Sano smiled. “I would say we became friends very recently.”

She seemed very unsatisfied by their answers. Eizan laughed. “Sorry to disappoint you, Hattori.”

She had an unsatisfied look on her face. “I wouldn’t say I’m disappointed. I was just surprised to see Ren and Sano walking to school together this morning.” Eizan shot Sano a curious look. Sano looked at him with a look that said I’ll tell you about it later.

“Is it weird for two friends to walk to school together?”

She replied. “No, it’s only weird because it’s you two.”

Eizan frowned. “That’s kind of harsh don’t you think?”

She smiled. “I didn’t mean it like that. Ren has never mentioned Sano before. I was just surprised is all.”

“That’s not all that surprising. We only became friends very recently.”

Eizan gave her a curious look. “Was it surprising that Mio and I walked to school together?”

She laughed. “Not really.”

He gave her a weird look. At that moment Mio and Ren walked into the class. Everyone turned stopped looking at Eizan and Ome. They turned to look in their direction. Ren walked in confidently, while Mio paused slightly and put her head down in a very shy manner. Hattori immediately walked over to Ren and said good morning. Sakurai went to her seat quickly and sat down, trying to avoid the looks of other students to the best of her ability. Eizan giggled to himself. “She’s always so shy in these kinds of situations.” As Ren sat down in the desk next to Mio, Hattori started to hit them with the same questions, she was just asking them. Ren navigated the situation perfectly, her responses basically mirrored Eizan’s and Ome’s. Hattori seemed very disappointed she didn’t get to add anything to the rumors going around school this morning. Hattori and Ren talked for a few minutes, with Hattori trying to get a little more information every once in a while. Mio would blush at the questions, while trying to act like she was engrossed in the novel she was reading. Izumi eventually entered the classroom and told everyone to take their seats.

During break Eizan and Ome decided to go for a walk to avoid any more questions from their classmates. While walking toward the vending machines to buy a drink Ome commented. “Is it me or are there a few guys sending us dirty looks?”

Eizan laughed. “It’s not your imagination. To them it looks like we have suddenly become close to two of the most beautiful girls in school. Those are looks of jealousy. I hope you’ve been keeping up with your martial arts training.”

Sano sent him a worried look. “Why would I need martial arts?”

Eizan laughed. “If you really do start dating Ren. You are in for a fight, for sure. Many people will find you to be unworthy at the moment.”

Sano sighed. “I think something like that is a long way off.”

Eizan smiled at his friend. “Maybe not as far off as you think.”

Sano shook his head. “You can’t read her as well as you think. Besides, who says I’m even interested.”

Eizan raised an eyebrow at his statement. “Sano you can be honest with me. Are you gay?”

Sano punched him in the shoulder. “What the hell is wrong with you. Of course, I’m not.”

Eizan laughed. “Then I’m sure you’re interested.”

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Sano laughed. “She is quite the looker for sure. But I don’t judge people based on that.”

Eizan smiled. “That’s a good thing. But sometimes judging a book by it’s cover can get you interested in the book itself.”

“Man, you are so weird sometimes.” Eizan burst out laughing drawing the stares of more students.

In the classroom Mio and Ren were surrounded by several girls. A short black haired looking sporty girl asked Mio. “Mio, I thought you were dating Murata. Why were you walking to school with Hashimoto this morning?”

She smiled a little coldly. “Towa and I are just childhood friends.” The girls standing around felt a chill run down their spines. “And I walked to school this morning with Eizan because I felt like it.” Right after she said that, she realized she messed up again. “How am I going to explain this to them. This is why I prefer books, over people.” The girls’ eyes around her widened in surprise.

Immediately Hattori chimed in. “When did you and Hashimoto become on a first name basis?”

She smiled. “We have become close enough recently that it just seemed natural.”

Ren chimed in. “Especially since you hang out with him every weekend.”

Mio shot Ren a death glare. “Ren.”

Ren giggled at her pain. Hattori’s eyes became full of curiosity. “You hang out with him every weekend?”

Mio sighed. “It’s not that big of a deal. We just play video games and sometimes he cooks me dinner. We went to the library once.” Trying to draw attention away from the fact that she’s basically living with him. “Did you know he dresses in a punk rock cosplay when he goes to the public library? Would you like to see a picture?” Little did Eizan know she had snapped a picture of him leafing through a book the day they went to the library. Hattori immediately jumped at the chance. Mio took out her phone and started to show the girls in the class pictures of Eizan at home and his library cosplay.

A short quiet girl who was sitting next to Mio chimed in. “I think I have seen him dressed like this before. He walks past my family’s flower shop almost every Sunday. I always wondered why he seemed so familiar.”

Hattori got even more suspicious. “You sure do have a lot of pictures of him Mio.”

Mio stuttered. “U-uhm we do hang out a lot.”

Hattori’s eyes narrowed. “I even noticed you had a picture of him sleeping.”

Mio was cursing herself on the inside. “How in the hell do I explain this?” She thought for a few seconds before replying. “He saved me from the typhoon. I had to stay at his apartment because all of the public transportation shut down. My parents were very unhappy. But luckily the rumors about him being a womanizer are not true. He was a perfect gentleman the whole night.”

Hattori’s suspicion only grew more. Ren decided to butt in finally to save Mio from digging herself into a deeper hole. “I can assure you they are just friends at the moment.”

Hattori turned towards Ren. “Ok, that explains Mio and Eizan but what about you and Sano?”

Ren smiled. “What about Sano?”

“When did you become friends?”

“We actually only started talking last night for the first time. He came up to me when I was sitting in a park. We just started talking and we became friends. That’s all there is to it.”

Hattori looked at Ren and smiled. “Are you sure he’s not trying to trick you?”

Ren laughed. “I think he might be a little too honest for that. He already told me he was infatuated with me at one point. I don’t think he could hide anything, even if he wanted to. Plus, he was really kind, the whole time we talked.”

Hattori gave her a weird look. “He told you he was infatuated with you?”

Ren laughed. “He said he used to be infatuated with me. I kind of dragged it out of him.”

“What so he’s not interested in you?”

Ren smiled. “He just said he changed how he views people. Something about judging people on who they are not just their outside appearance. He’s so funny. He actually admitted he thought he was in love with me at one point.” Ren laughed. “Like I said he’s too honest for his own good. It’s kind of cute.”

Hattori, Mio, and the other girls were in shock at her last statement. Mio thought. “Did she just say Ome was cute? Does she like him? Did he brainwash her. I know Eizan said he was playing matchmaker but this seems too quick.”

Ren continued. “Besides that, he’s pretty brave. He even jumped, in front of me, to protect me from a demonic old man in an alley.”

Mio tilted her head at this last sentence. “Is she talking about Eizan’s grandpa? He seems kind of overprotective. But I wouldn’t call him a demon. That sounds like a nickname Eizan would give someone.”

Hattori was in shock. “What were you doing in an alleyway with him?”

Ren put a finger on her chin and thought for a second. “I think going for a walk is the best way to put it.”

While Mio and Ren were dropping metaphoric bombs in the classroom Eizan and Ome were chatting blissfully walking down the hall. Returning to the classroom, they were surprised when a bunch of girls ran up to them and started to question them. Eizan looked over at Mio and Ren they had apologetic looks on their face. She mouthed. “Sorry.” Eizan thought. “What the hell just happened. We were only gone for ten minutes.”

Hattori’s first question was directed at Eizan “I heard you dress in some kind of punk rock cosplay when you go to the library. Why do you do it?” Eizan glared at Mio and Ren. Mio looked the other direction trying to act innocent.

He looked at Hattori and smiled evilly. “Who said it’s cosplay? I am known as a delinquent, aren’t I?” His vibe changed completely a couple of the girls took a step back. From behind them a sweet stern voice could be heard. Mio reprimanded. “Eizan be good please.”

He relented and his normal demeanor returned. “I’m just messing with you. I’m not really a delinquent. I got into a big fight at my last school and that’s how I got the reputation of a delinquent. The truth is I didn’t even start the fight and I never have started a fight. I’m pretty much an intellectual who dabbles in martial arts and soccer. Until a month ago I even considered myself a pacifist. The whole delinquent cosplay thing, is just me messing with people, for fun. It was hilarious, the other day, when Mio went along with me. The looks on people’s faces were priceless.”

Many people in the class were surprised how Mio controlled him so easily. Especially, Izumi who was listening from the hallway. The boys in the class were all frowning. Every one of them was thinking the same thing. “Eizan’s to good looking. If he loses his status as a delinquent were all screwed. And why the hell are all the girl’s paying attention to Sano.” The girls continued to question Eizan and Ome again until Izuki came in and put a stop to it. Eizan was exhausted and he fell asleep soon after she started her lessons.