370 Chapter three, 2017, shards: 2 (1/2)

”Kyoko, could you join me for a while?”

Kyoko rose from he chair and followed Hitomi. One of two club members who had been assigned to her class before Kareyoshi handed out expulsions like candy on a children's fair. Hitomi was also one of the few to return from Irishima High and the closest to a friend Kyoko knew in her class.

An oversight from Kareyoshi's side. The few returnees were all assigned to their old classes.

A week into their second trimester Kyoko felt happy for Hitomi's presence. The airhead had proven to be… less so. If truth be told had proven so since long before they were expelled en masse.

”What is it?” Kyoko wondered when they were out of earshot from prying ears. Out of earshot meant walking all the way to the pool.

Hitomi shook her head, waist long hair dancing around her head as she did so, and searched for somewhere to sit down.

Kyoko hugged herself while she waited. Summer had turned into autumn far quicker than normal.

”Here,” Hitomi said and patted the ground beside her.

Kyoko sat down. ”So, what?”

”Two things. First I want to thank you.”

”Thank me?” There was no reason for the beauty from Yukio's old class to thank her.

She received a surprisingly naughty smile from Hitomi. ”Yeah, thank you.” Then she scratched her knees in a most unladylike way. ”I'm grateful you showed me how to drop the pretence.”

Kyoko just nodded. There was sure to be more to come.

”You and Yukio both showed me what's important, and you're the main reason I decided to come back.”

Kyoko nodded again. She didn't really understand.

”Kuri's the other reason. Without her I don't think I could manage.”

”Kuri-chan?” Kyoko said. ”Why her?”

Hitomi pulled her skirt down her thighs and smiled. ”Yeah. She's the number one beauty of this school. I wanted to be in the beginning, but Irishima High taught me why I shouldn't.”

Once again Kyoko nodded. This time with more real understanding. Hitomi had usurped that position during their stay at that school.

”In the end I didn't like the resentment much,” Hitomi said. ”Here I can stay in her shadow and be myself.

Kyoko wondered about that. Kuri-chan might be the number one beauty here, but Hitomi still defined the traditional idea of perfect Japanese looks in a young woman. Or maybe not. Hitomi's uniform no longer followed regulations, and she had done something with her hair as well.

”I want to be me, and I prefer this me.”

”The other reason?” Kyoko said. Gratitude or not. There was a more important reason for Hitomi to drag her out here.

That brought a grimace to Hitomi's face. ”It's Ryu. I don't like what he's doing.”

'What Ryu's doing? Don't tell me…'

”Look, it's not like I'm in love with Urufu or anything, but I've grown fond of him.”

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Kyoko waited for Hitomi to continue, but the words still made her smile. Urufu was bound to attract a lot more attention now.