CHAPTER 6

"Morning, Mi-chan!" Saki's voice suddenly exclaimed during my walk to school, and her body tackled me into a hug. I nearly fell over from the impact and choked under her squeezing grasps.

"Saki!? Get off of me!" I yelled angrily and she reluctantly obeyed.

She pouted. "You're so sour, Mi-chan~"

"Good," I snapped. A groan followed. "Ugh, of course you've gotta come out of nowhere to annoy me. I'm not in the mood today."

She blinked rapidly. "Why not?"

"Because my favourite anime this season finished airing and the producers didn't even give it a proper ending! Why do they always make twelve or thirteen episode animes when they know they'll never be able to cover the entire plot in such a short amount of time?"

Did they know how disappointed I got when they did that? I watched the anime and loved it, sure, but obviously now I had to read the manga from scratch in case they decided to jump over important plot points.

I mumbled incoherent curses under my breath, leaving Saki to be baffled.

"Mi-chan?" she asked but I brushed her aside.

When a large truck fills my ray of vision, I come to an abrupt halt. My mouth fell and my head jerked left and right rapidly to make sure nobody was on the road.

"Mi-chan...? What's going on? Why are you doing that?"

Keeping silent, my guard didn't relent at all. When the truck finally passed, leaving the coast to be clear, a relieved sigh escaped my mouth. I quickly shook my head and shut my eyes tight before continuing down the pavement. "Phew."

"Mi-chan are you ill today? You're acting weird..."

Hearing Saki'scomment made me shoot a glare in her direction. She flinched, looking honestly curious. I averted my gaze. Of course she didn't get it.

"Trucks are bad luck," I explained to her simply.

"Bad luck...?"

I made a face. "So many anime characters die by getting hit by trucks. Not normal cars; always trucks. It's not even normal. That's why this is a protocol. I do not want to die the same way. So I swore to myself that as long as a truck is passing by, I will not cross the street."

Seriously, you couldn't blame me for being so paranoid. Anyone would agree trucks were bad omen in anime. That, and the side ponytail hairstyle; everyone with the do were doomed to die.

"But anime isn't rea-"

My hands clasped over her mouth before the dreaded word could come out of her mouth. I scowled hard, squeezing her shoulder. "What was that Saki?" I asked through my clenched teeth, "If you want to die that badly I'll gladly kill you.~"

Colour drained from her face at a fast rate. She shook her head stiffly. I carefully unhanded her, and she flashed me a forced smile.

"O-okay... I've... I've actually got classroom duty, Mi-chan! I'll... see you at school!" Without even a second's delay, she sent me one last wave over her shoulder before racing off into the direction of the academy.

She better regret it. Frowning, my eyes travelled back to the road the truck passed through. The wrinkles on my forehead deepened as images of a distorted traffic light and deflated soccer ball flashed through my mind.

I swallowed hard. Breathing in heavily, I dismissed the memory. A wry smile upturned the corner of my lips. I wonder if she was still doing alright.

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"And Kiri said! She said... She said..." Saki began erupting in laughter as she was telling Hiro a story inside the clubroom that day.

"Saki..." Hiro muttered, bored out of his mind. Saki seemed oblivious to his boredom and only continued to laugh humorously at the story she still hadn't told.

It was then the door to the room decided to burst open and in walked in our local happy-go-lucky redhead. "Everyone! I'm back!" Hinata announced, arms full of the stuff we'd requested from the vending machines.

Reflexively, I jumped at the bag the same time as Yuji and we ended up picking the same item: a box of Pockys.

"Yuji, let go," I seethed, tugging it my way.

He snorted, wrestling it back. "Yeah right. I grabbed it first."

As the both of us hissed and scratched at each other like cats for the box of Pockys, everyone else went up to Hinata and got what they wanted.

"How long are you guys gonna keep at it...?" Hiro called out monotonously.

The both of us snapped back to reality. Once I had come to realize that the snacks were now long gone and the only thing left was the Pockys, my jaw dropped and I fell to my knees.

"No... not the food..."

This couldn't be happening. I should've grabbed as much as I could!

"I'll be taking this," Yuji cooed as he plucked the Pocky right from my hands. Sticking his tongue out childishly, he strolled back to where he was seated before and immediately began munching away at them, only to taunt me.

I gaped at him incredulously. Then... that meant I didn't get a freakin' snack? What?

This was all Yuji's fault! Cracking my knuckles, I shot him death glares. He not only stole my favourite snack but also the last one. He definitely had a death wish!

If you inserted le anime dark and malicious aura and many animated veins twitching uncontrollably, you'd pretty much get how I looked right then.

"Here, Hoshino! You could have this!" Wannabe held out a bag of chips for me, jerking my attention towards him. At the sight of his sincere and caring smile, my face fell.

"...Actually, I'm not really that hungry anymore," I murmured, standing up and making my way to the sofa.

"Is it because of me?" he dramatically sobbed. "It's because of me, isn't it? Hoshino, you meanie!"

I rolled my eyes. After collapsing onto the sofa, I pulled a manga from my bag and began reading it, blocking out the voices of my bickering club mates. It'd been rather boring lately... and too quiet. Not that I wanted to complain.

I—as much as I hated to admit it—had gotten used to this club. I still abhorred the concept of having to come, but it'd been a normal reaction to walk in through these club doors these past few weeks. And I had totally become absorbed within this club's shenanigans—reality's shenanigans.

I made a face at the thought. No, yuck, I was being corrupted! I repeatedly smacked my head. "No, Miyuki! Remember! You love anime, and anime only. Reality is evil. Screw clubs. You love anime. Reality is evil. Screw clubs. You love anime. Reality is—"

"She's chanting something under her breath again," Hiro said loud enough for the entire club to hear.

Yuji yawned, "I hope it's a chant otaku's make when they're thinking of dropping anime."

I scowled in his direction. "I'm never dropping anime!" I snapped, causing him to wince. I scoffed. Never!

I'm going to grow old, and unlike other single women, I'm not gonna become a cat person. I'm going to be the local Grandma Ota-chan(short for otaku if you couldn't already tell) and I'm going to spread and teach all children about anime and manga and change the world from the corrupted society it is into the way it should be.

Yup. Like that Arm-something astronomer said: it was gonna be one small step for otaku's, one giant leap for the otaku society!

Seems legit right?

As I snickered to myself, Saki laughed. "Mi-chan is adorable~!"

"Heh," I snorted, waving around my hand, "No way. What's adorable is an anime boy that looks really feminine yet still tries to act manly. Get it straight."

Hiro raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that—"

"Totsuka Saika, the president of the tennis club in My Teenage LoveCom SNAFU- why yes. But he is only one of the many," I said proudly, but everyone gave my dry looks.

"I was actually going to say weird," Hiro said bluntly and earned a simultaneous hum from the rest of them.

I stuck my tongue out at them in response. "You guys just don't understand."

They never did. Man, if only some really cute boy would walk in this clubroom now just to prove them wrong...

I cracked a smile, resting my head against the top of the sofa and peering towards the doorway. I began chuckling to myself, "That'd be a awesome... Hehe~! Cheers to cute and adorable boys! I want one of my own~!"

"Don't you ever worry about your sanity?" Yuji asked.

I growled at him, winding back my legs and readying myself to charge. I stopped myself before I could get too far. If I was starting to behave so much like a wild animal maybe I should be worried for my sanity.

I returned my attention back to the doorway. Still, if only one bishounen could walk in right now...

A minute passed as I waited for something to happen and I cursed under my breath when nothing did. "No luck, huh? And it usually happens when anime characters least ask for it... Maybe I jinxed myself?"

I let out a groan. You know what, screw it. "I'm going home!" I declared, picking up my bag and making my way to the door.

"But Mi-chan—" Saki started though I walked out anyway.

I sauntered through the empty hallways where other clubs were holding meetings or working, diligent looks on their faces.

I raised an eyebrow at them. "Why does it seem like the only thing the THC does is eat and sleep? Ugh... I feel so useless..." I stifled a laugh. "Yeah right, who am I kidding. Life is bliss."

As I was busy sniggering like an idiot once more, I came across a kid walking anxiously through the hallways and peering through open doors. He was wearing the middle school uniform for boys also, giving me the notice that he was younger than me.

But what was he doing here? Seisein Academy was split up into two separate buildings—the middle school, and the high school—so why was he in the high school division?

The boy kept at what he was doing before sighing in defeat. I wanted to ask what he was doing here but I was too lazy to use my voice to talk to him so I simply continued past him.

"Oh, excuse me..."

I turned around only to have my eyes fall upon the face of the cutest boy I had ever seen (besides in anime, of course). His wavy blond bangs covered over the right side of his face, leaving his left eye—which was a stunning shade of lavender—exposed.

Sure he didn't look like a girl (sorry to Totsuka Saika), but he was still adorable compared to other real-life middle schoolers I'd seen. He was literally a real-life bishounen!

"Uh... yes?" I asked, trying to maintain a straight face with all my emotions bubbling up inside of me. How was this possible? Was my wish being answered for the first time in my life?

Gosh. Oh how I've waited for this day... The day that I can touch you like this—

I mentally slapped myself. What the heck! Why the hell am I thinking about Aijima Cecil?! He said that to Haruka in the second season, second episode, but it obviously doesn't suit this situation me!

"Um, can you direct me to Suzuki-sensei's office? I need to speak with her," he asked politely, but despite having such a cute face, he wore a frown.

My face lightened up and I pointed up the staircase. "She may be in her office. It's up the stairs, first door on the right," I told him.

I knew if people saw me right now they'd be gawking like I just committed the worst possible crime by breaking my sacred otaku oath of never being charmed by a 3-D boy. And you know what, I was sorry. But there was no way I wouldn't help the kid. I'd kill myself if I didn't.

He looked exactly like a younger version of Kagamine Len okay!

The blond nodded his head. "Thank you, senpai." And with that, he left up the steps.

I watched him go with an awing salute.

I salute you, young bishounen. I hope the rest of the boy population can become as cute as you!

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The next day, everyone was lazing around the clubroom. It wasn't anything new (honestly, this repetitive lifestyle was beginning to get boring). I was just lying on my usual sofa with my eyes closed, hoping to catch up on some sleep.

"When's a new request gonna come in~?" Hinata commented, sighing.

"It has been a few weeks since Rin-chan came in..." agreed Saki.

"Who cares. We're getting more time to relax aren't we?" Hiro spoke up, rocking back and forth on his chair.

"Still..." Saki pouted.

"I suggest we get more food. Go and buy some Hiro!" Yuji grinned and Hiro raised an eyebrow, a glare plastered onto his face.

"Yeah right. Go buy some yourself."

"Aww, but that's gonna be so lonely. Come with me~"

Hiro snarled, "I know you just want me to pay for it! Get it yourself!"

Yuji feigned a hurt look, a hand to his chest. "That hurts, Hiro. I would never—"

"Shut up."

Wannabe wasn't here yet, something I was really grateful for that. It would've been hectic, and I really didn't need that.

"Huh? Mi-chan's been really quiet," Saki said, making her way up to me.

"Is she alright?" Hinata asked.

As soon as Saki approached me, she started poking my cheek. "Hey, Mi-chan. Are you alive?"

I twitched. "Of course I am! Leave me alone!"

"Yup, she's alive." Saki held up her arms with a sigh, getting back up and facing the rest. "And still grumpy."

"I'm not grumpy," I grumbled. "Let a girl have a nap in peace."

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

"If it's Wannabe, don't answer!" I called instinctively.

Saki rolled her eyes before making her way to the doorway. As soon as she opened it she gasped loudly. Then others followed.

Shaking my head, I sat upright, saying, "I told you Wannabe was up to something!" I opened my eyes to see what they were all gasping about and my eyelids shot up.

"Aww! He's so cute!" Saki cried, embracing the boy I had seen yesterday (the Kagamine Len look-alike).

He still had an emotionless expression on his face and Saki eventually pulled away from him.

"You're in the middle school division, right? What do you need here?" she asked, smiling like an idiot.

But the boy looked around the clubroom, taking in every member of the club.

"Actually... I have a request," he confessed.

Every student in the club made their way to the table in the middle of the room, while I stayed where I was, and the boy stood before them.

"What's this about a request?" Hinata asked.

The blond bobbed his head. "Um—"

"No, wait before that, what's your name?" Saki beamed, a creepy smile flitted onto her face. I usually would've reprimanded her for that, but in that moment, I truly had respect for Saki.

I wanted to know the same thing.

"Um, my name is Hayashi Tatsuya," he introduced, bowing his head slightly.

Horror promptly enveloped my face. "H-Hayashi?" I demanded. "Don't tell me—"

Before I could have the chance to finish, the door flew open, revealing the world's biggest wannabe.

"My classroom duties took longer than I anticipated. Did you all wait too long?"

Strolling into the room, Wannabe carried the broadest smile on his face. Though, his leisure pace abruptly came to a halt when he noticed Tatsuya. They exchanged a long look all the while I gulped hard, praying that it wasn't true.

"Oh, Tatsuya. What are you doing here?" Wannabe asked, blinking rapidly.

"Nothing that concerns you, Kazu-niisama. You could leave," the boy answered coolly.

Everybody recoiled.

"H-he was his brother...?" I stammered, setting my jaw back into place. Great... and right when I was starting to actually like the kid, too.

"That's mean, Tatsuya! This is your brother's club!" Wannabe pouted but the younger version of him sighed and turned the other way.

"Then could you please leave the clubroom, Kazu-niisama? I have something important to tell the rest of the club." Pouted Tatsuya, cheeks puffed up like a chipmunk.

My stomach flopped. Ugh, Kagamine Len's cuteness always got to me. Why did he have to share his face dammit.

"W-Well... if you're so serious about it..."

Sharing a look with everyone else, Wannabe laughed awkwardly then left the clubroom at that. Once he was gone, the boy's previous expression returned and bowed.

"I apologize that you have to take care of my useless brother all the time."

"N-no! He's not all that useless!" Saki defended.

"Don't try to sugarcoat it, Saki," Yuji laughed and asked, "So, what's the request Kazu Jr?"

Tatsuya frowned at the nickname. "Actually... I want you to help me find something."

"Find something?" Hiro asked.

He nodded, extending out his hand. "The truth is, I lost an important ring a few days ago. I've searched around the whole academy but I can't seem to find it."

My memory trailed back to yesterday. Maybe that was why he was looking around so passionately...

"This ring is very important to me and I want to find it no matter what. Can you help me?" Although he pleaded, his expression was still. His words didn't seem to match his expressions at all.

The boy sure made it hard to believe he wanted it.

"I... I don't think helping him out won't be that bad," Hinata spoke up.

I fell back onto my back and sighed.

"Why not? It's just helping right?" Saki smiled.

They all bobbed their heads in approval while Tatsuya took a moment to glance over to me.

"Oh, don't worry! Mi-chan will help out too!" Saki said, pulling me up.

I pushed her arms off me. "When the heck did I say I would? There's no way I'm participating in some search party!"

"You aren't?" Tatsuya asked with a dejected frown.

My eyes widened.

"See!" Saki hissed and I huffed, looking away. She grinned and cheered, "Okay! She agreed!"

Tatsuya smiled. "Thank you." His expression dimmed, but only momentarily. "I really appreciate it."

——————————————————

The bums in the club spent the past few days searching for the ring Wannabe's brother was looking for. I kind of liked the empty clubroom all to myself so I wasn't complaining.

"Is anyone in here?" somebody asked, walking through the door.

I glared the teacher I hated most, sitting upright. "Who said you could come in here?"

"I did," Suzuki-sensei replied, finding a seat. "Now where are the others?

"I wonder that too," I drawled.

She scowled at me. "Miyuki! Out with it! Or else I'll get it out of you!"

"Sensei...that sounded very lewd. Are you planning on harassing me?"

She gave me a death look.

"Fine..." I exhaled, giving in, and falling back down onto the sofa. "They spent the past few days helping Kazuya's younger brother look for this ring he loves. Though I don't get why they'd do some labour like that for him, even if he does look like Len... I swear that family has a problem with looking like anime characters."

She laughed, "Oh, that kid? Did you possibly know Tatsuya before?"

I shook my head. "Why?"

"Well, a few days ago he came to my office and told me he's been getting pushed around a lot lately."

My eyes shrunk back.

"He said that others get fed up with his lack of facial expressions and how cute he is despite that. He's as popular as his brother I tell you," she continued, making me frown.

"And?" I questioned.

She sighed, as if disappointed I didn't catch on. "The boy's like you."

"Huh?" I demanded from disbelief. "What are you taking about?"

"He likes being left alone and I could tell that something happened in his past too... Like you."

I immediately sat upright and glowered at her. "What are you talking about Suzuki-sensei. I'm just a lonely otaku, right? A demon straight from the depths of hell. The daughter of Satan; Rin and Yukio's triplet-"

"Shut up." Suzuki-sensei rolled her eyes at my words, cutting me off and rising to her feet.

I crossed my arms firmly.

"So he apparently lost his ring huh?" she added as she headed towards the doorway. "It must've been really important to him~" Glancing over her shoulder, the hag smiled. "If you're curious, just go and check up on them."

Before I could reply, she was already out the door.

I snorted, closing my eyes. "Curious huh...?"

Great, I thought, closing my eyes shut. I actually was.

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I didn't know how to word this chapter's title so I'll probably come back to change it... And according to my old A/N, it was this chapter I reached #428 in humor & 300 reads! Lol it's still the highest rating THC has ever reached.

Anyways, what do you all think of Tatsuya so far? I think the next chapter or so will still center around him... Oh and if you were interested, the picture up in the media is what inspired his character. And the ring he's wearing is the ring he's "looking" for... >:D

Any who, as usual, thank you all very much for the support! If any of you read my other stories, they've all been updated today so check 'em out! Love you all ❤

-Misty