_Chapter 17~ It's On_

"Ooh, a bus!"

"I know."

"It's such a weird thing!"

"It is."

"It's so rectangular!"

"Get out. This entire time I thought it was a sphere."

Miyabi met my eyes. "You too?"

I deadpanned. What? Please don't tell me he seriously thought that.

"Wait," Miyabi said out of nowhere. "I've always wondered, though—how does it turn? It doesn't have a curve."

I smiled dryly at him. A reasonable question.

"Magic," I answered.

"Can we just get on already?" Ryu snapped, glaring at the two of us.

"We aren't going to die, right?" Miyabi asked me, biting his thumbnail.

"We're not. Why are you so afraid anyway? Have you taken it before?"

"It was only once—and I was chasing after Iwasaki. I didn't pay proper attention." He pouted. "Now that I am, I'm so lost. My heart's not ready for this unfamiliar mode of transportation."

"Then get it ready."

"Sh-Sheep—"

Rolling my eyes, I blocked him out and followed Ryu onto the front of the bus. Right as I tapped my bus pass against the sensor, Miyabi latched onto me from behind, cowering.

"Don't leave me behind, Sheep!"

I jerked around, mouth dropped. "For heaven's sake, it's just a vehicle!"

Without warning, the bus lurched forward. I lost my balance and reeled sideways. Miyabi's hold on me vanished. I expected to come crashing to the ground but instead I collided face-first into somebody's back. I withdrew immediately, wide-eyed.

"S-sorry!"

"It's all right," the teenager told me, adjusting the beanie on his head.

Feeling all eyes on me, I cleared my throat before scurrying to the seat next to Ryu. I flopped down into it, keeping my gaze downcast.

"Smooth walking there," Ryu commented.

The blush that claimed my cheeks was intense. "Everyone loses their balance at least once."

"You always lose your balance."

"No, I don't."

He snorted. "Might I remind you you're the one who purposefully sat on my lap?"

Mortification socked me in the gut. Reddening further, my mouth moved wordlessly for a good while.

"I-I— It was an accident," I sputtered.

"Whatever you say."

"I-It was!"

He didn't respond. I scowled, but with how red I was, the effort was futile. Time and time again... he always made me feel like an idiot.

To settle my overwhelming embarrassment, I focused my attention outside the window and toward the passing scenery. If anything, I'd have loved to stay holed up at home, binging shows and manga considering it was Sunday. Though, unluckily for me, Miyabi alongside Ryu showed up at my house this morning informing me we had to go out to plan for the charity fundraiser I'd agreed upon.

I promptly refused and slammed the door on them, but Miyabi was persistent. He continually rang my doorbell until my parents decided to step in and get involved. And when he told them the cause (acting all charming and Vice President like) my parents immediately obliged to making me participate. They kicked me out of the house for the day at that.

We were heading to the library. Only the library. We hadn't even gotten there and yet we were having this much trouble.

"Wait! So I put this money in there?"

"That is how it works, boy."

A scowl in place, I peeked upwards to see Miyabi still standing near the doors, conversing with the bus driver. His fingers hovering over the slot for coins, he carefully dropped the change I'd sorted for him into the container.

"But how do you know if I put the right amount?" Miyabi asked after dropping it in.

"Are you telling me that you didn't put in enough?"

Miyabi froze like a statue. "I-I-I-I don't know! Sheep gave me the money! She has all the money!"

"Sheep?"

"Yeah! Look! Right over there! By the window by the scary giant! She's all fluffy like a sheep! Take as much money you want—no, just take her! Shave off all her wool and sell it! I-I'm just an innocent boy. Please don't hurt me!"

The bus driver locked gazes with me in the rearview mirror. Colour drained from my complexion at a fast rate. I hung my head in embarrassment.

"Did we really have to bring him?" I asked.

Ryu's chin was resting on his palm as he peered out the window. "It's already too late to regret this."

"I regretted this the second you two showed up at my house."

"I regretted this all the moment I met the guy."

My lips clamped together. An understandable argument.

Breathing out, I reclined in my seat. Silence overcame us and I shifted uncomfortably. I peeked up at him.

"Oh," I said the moment it came to mind, "do we have to go to community service today?"

"You forgot?"

The way he scoffed made me flinch. "Did not," I said, sending him a dirty look. "I was just asking."

"Why would you ask if you didn't forget?"

My cheeks warmed for the second time. "To start a conversation? Jeez."

Rolling his eyes (or really eye because his other one was injured), Ryu returned to gazing out the window. Seeing that and registering the silence that once again overcame us caused my pursed mouth to downturn.

He was such a puzzling case. Until recently, we didn't get along. But now that we (sort of) were, that still didn't shake the discomfort I got while talking to him. Well, he was definitely more friendly than I deemed. Less hostile, too. I wonder why that threw me off a little? It was like I was waiting for him to scowl or snap something at me so I had all my defences up. But, he never delivered, which left me in a heap of confusion.

"Is your eye okay?" The question tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop it—a usual occurrence when it came to me.

"It's... fine," he replied after a pause.

I gave him a look. "You are icing it, right?"

He curtly bobbed his head but didn't meet my eyes.

"Is that a yes or no?"

Nods.

"Are you lying to me?"

Shakes head.

"Iwasaki?"

Looks away.

I stared him down hard. "You better be icing it. When you get home you hear me?"

He groaned. "You sound like my mom."

I gaped at the complaint. "I do not sound like a mom."

"Yes, you do."

"Do not. I'm just looking out for you."

"You don't have to."

"But—"

"I already told you that was my fault, not yours."

"But..."

Ryu turned his head to me, dropping his arm from the window and allowing it to rest on his lap. Though his gaze was soft, his obviously injured eye made my stomach churn with newfound guilt. I turned down my head at once.

"Don't worry," he said. "I've gotten a black eye before."

"You have?" I demanded.

I faced him but he was no longer looking my way. He'd yet again fixed his gaze on the outside scenery. Nevertheless, the frown he wore and his entire countenance in general, was strained.

"You have?" I reiterated since he didn't answer. "Is this because you actually are a delinquent?"

Ryu recoiled as if he'd been shot. I jolted at his sudden movement. He bitterly frowned at me, brows scrunched in a fierce scowl.

"I am not a delinquent."

Swallowing hard, I bobbed my head. That exaggerated reaction would never change. If he didn't want to be mistaken as one so badly, then why did he have to be so effortlessly intimidating?

"Sorry," I said.

He harrumphed, twisting away from me even more. He no longer wanted to talk, that much was obvious.

Sighing, I stared ahead at Miyabi who remained cowering by the doors. My exasperation expanded.

I really wanted to go home...

*           *          *

"No way. Absolutely no way."

"I only suggested that it'd better if we invited other schools."

"To kill them?" I asked incredulously. "Do you know how many delinquents attend our school? And just how girl-hungry they are? Ones who are after my very head right now?"

I crossed my arms, jutting my chin.

"And you said I'm incapable of coming up with good ideas."

Ryu glowered, the first I'd seen aimed at me in a while. I was scared shitless, sure, but there was no way I was going to let him gain the upper hand.

"It was just a suggestion," he enunciated.

"A pretty stupid one."

The grip Ryu had on his pencil was ominous. He was squeezing it so hard it looked like it was going to break in half—

Never mind, it just did.

I resisted the jitters of my limbs the best I could. He's not going to punch you, Reina, I quickly consoled myself. He's not going to do to you what he did to the pencil...

"I think Iwasaki's idea was pretty good," Miyabi commented, waking me from my internal mantra.

He currently had his face implanted on the table we were seated at, twirling a pen between his index finger and thumb like a pro. Typically, I'd have been in awe to how was able to do so, but not now. From the moment we entered the library and arrived at the most vacant area near the back, he'd done nothing to properly aid in forming a concrete plan. Instead, he carried the list of suggestions he'd received from various classes and consulted with the other Student Council members in hand, wasting time idly while Ryu and I argued.

Apparently the final decision was left to him and he wanted, no matter what, to hear our input. But that had only led to conflict, and here Miyabi was, stepping in at the last second only to take his side.

"See," Ryu said to me. "There's nothing wrong with inviting outside students to a fundraiser."

I sent Miyabi a dirty look before saying, "Besides the fact that they'll be getting themselves killed!"

"Nobody's going to be killed," Ryu scoffed. "Man, you're hella paranoid."

"It's called being cautious," I snapped, leaning forward in my seat.

He followed in suit. Until we were staring eyes to eye—the term 'eyes' belonging to moi of course.

"Pa-ra-noid," Ryu sounded out, seemingly through with me.

"Cau-tious."

"Pa-ra-noid."

"Cau-tious."

"Pa-ra-noid."

"Cau-tio—"

"Mi-ya-bi!"

At the sudden chant, Ryu and I swivelled his way, and our argument dispelled. Miyabi was now sitting upright in his seat, grinning from ear to ear. Upon receiving our bitter expressions, he shrunk his body.

"Um," he said.

"Why are you still here?" I demanded.

"Leave," Ryu agreed.

Miyabi's mouth dropped from complete and utter shock. His hand went to his chest and he clenched his shirt. Then, ever so melodramatically, he slid from his chair and onto the floor.

"Somebody! It hurts! Call an ambulance. M-my heart!"

We both stared at him blankly.

"O-ow!" he said even louder. "Those looks. They're burning into my soul. I c-can't breathe! The light is taking me...!"

"Shh!" a sharp snarl drifted from the front of the room.

Regardless of the shout, the librarian was situated behind the main counter. From our distance, only the top of her head was revealed. I deemed the reason she hadn't interjected before was most likely due to fright. I was accompanied by two rather intimidating looking boys—one with a hair colour that was nothing short of menacing. While Ryu's countenance was constantly locked in displeasure, Miyabi's appearance completely contrasted with his personality. Which was why when she possibly realized what little threat he posed, she had no problem directing a yell-one-more-time-and-I'll-kick-you-out glare his way.

Miyabi paled from where he was. He scrambled to his knees, ducking underneath the table in a manner so that the lady wouldn't see him rocking back and forth. Though I couldn't see him either, I inferred he was sucking his thumb like a baby. The guy was terrible when it came to other people yelling at him.

Regardless, doing the only thing that was needed, I refaced Ryu with an apathetic expression. Although it was meant to lift the mood, Ryu's scowl remained fixated on his face. He twisted in the other direction in an uncooperative manner.

Pursing my mouth, I folded my arms. "I'm still right, y'know."

"No, you're not."

"I am."

"Doesn't matter. I'm Class President. I'll decide what we do."

I slammed my palm into the tabletop. "And I'm the one you two dragged here against my will. I think I deserve to choose."

"Your ideas won't raise money at all."

"They will! And they won't kill anybody either."

Glaring me for a brief second, Ryu clicked his tongue. "Paranoid."

"I'm not being paranoid!"

"Excuse me..."

Popping a nerve once again, Ryu and I whipped our heads downwards to see Miyabi poking his head out from under the wood.

"He's still here?" Ryu asked in exasperation.

I rested my chin on my hand, spitting, "Leave already."

Visibly hurt, his lips quivered. "Sheep!"

"My name is Reina."

He snuffled. "Sheep! You're being so mean to me! And here I treated you so nicely! Why do you have to continuously hurt me?"

"If you haven't noticed, Iwasaki's been slandering you too."

Miyabi dramatically wiped away his tears. "But I know Iwasaki's words are coming from a kind place. You just hate me."

"I don't hate you."

He shook his head like a child. "You do. I know it. That's why even though I was going to tell you about a solution to your argument, I'm not anymore."

My brows knitted together. "Solution?"

He buried his face into his palms. "I'm not saying. You two can fight for all I care."

"Just tell us."

"No."

"Miyabi."

"Sheep doesn't deserve it."

"My name isn't Sheep!"

"Sheep is Sheep!"

"Miyabi, I swear—"

Sick of this all, Ryu snapped, "What did you mean by solution, idiot?"

His grouchy delivery of words caused me to gape. Was he serious? There was no that that'd make him—

"I wanted to let you know that if you don't want to work together, you can set up separate booths."

I whipped my head toward a still sniffling Miyabi. My gawking increased tenfold. He told him so easily.

Resisting the urge to comment about that, I processed what he said. "Wait, we can?"

"It'd be better if we did that," Miyabi replied without the huge baby fit this time. His nose remained slightly red, eyes still watery. "More variety in booths means more people will stay to contribute. So, Iwasaki can do his idea and Sheep can do hers too, and by the end of the day we'll give our fundings to the hospital like we decided."

The corners of Ryu's lips upturned. "That's the smartest thing that's come out of your mouth."

Miyabi beamed. "I know— Wait, hey!"

"That means I don't have to work with him," I said, digesting the idea. "I can do what I want..."

"Did you just figure that out?" Ryu scoffed.

I aimed a dirty glare his way but my expression swiftly dissolved into a simper. "Act all high and mighty now but my booth will be way better than yours."

"You wish," he shot back.

"I don't need to wish because I know."

"You—"

"I'm sticking by Iwasaki's idea!" Miyabi cried, shooting his arm into the air.

I stared at him in disbelief. "You're helping him?"

Miyabi sent me an apologetic smile, hauling himself to his feet and placing a hand on Ryu's shoulder. "Sorry, Sheep. Iwasaki and I have an unbreakable bond."

Ryu peeked at Miyabi's hand. He then looked up. "You have three seconds to take your hand off me."

Miyabi didn't even waste a second.

"See," he told me, albeit weakly. "Unbreakable."

"Wait," I interjected, my lips downturning into a frown. "Who's gonna help me then?"

Both males turned to address me.

I ducked my head. This entire thing would require a load of work and thought. Working alone would be...

"If you don't want to work solo then you can just help with Iwasaki's idea," Miyabi suggested with a smile.

My focus flitted onto the guy who seemed satisfied with the thought. Anger welled up inside of me. There was absolutely no way I was working on his idea.

"No," I refuted, rising to my feet. "I'd rather do this myself than go with that stupid idea."

Ryu glared at me. "It's not stupid."

I held my chin high to answer that. Whatever. Let them work on this for all I care. I was doing this myself. Besides, if it was help I wanted I could ask Daichi. He'd aid me in a heartbeat. And with that smart head of his we could come up with the best idea possible.

Facing the males who were in front of me, I beamed brightly at them. They blinked rapidly, gauging my odd reaction, but I could only laugh.

They thought so highly of themselves because of their prestigious titles. Psh. If they thought they could raise more money than me they had another thing coming. They underestimated me too much.

Next week it would be me who'd emerge victorious. It was on.

_______________________

I'm getting into that habit of updating every other day again... Yay. Just watch me jinx it, lol.

Oh, and tell me what you guys think of Miyabi!  Do you want more/less of him???

PS. I have two more exams to write and then freedom!!! ^^

-Misty