Chalk against chalkboard had always been a horrifying sound, at least to Kiera. She sat lazily at the back of the classroom, watching the chemistry teacher draw coefficients beside element symbols. An attempt to teach them how to balance chemical equations. All it taught her was throwing a textbook at the smug teacher's face would be very satisfying.

Grumbling incoherent words she put her right leg over the desk, head resting in her sleeved hand.

"Second block of the day and I already wanna take a swan dive off the roof. More than normally," she laughed, playing off the joke as she whispered to the two students in front of her.

"Screwball, no," the boy on the right, Keisuke Baji, said, his normally loose black hair tied back without a single strand out of place. Glasses rimmed his eyes — Mikey and her had told him they'd help make him smarter — while his school uniform was pristine.

"Damn chill, I'm joking."

To some, he was a lame nerd, though that was far from the case. But to her he was her older twin. As annoying as he was, she couldn't live without him.

In front of her and to the left, a boy with blond hair falling over his natural black undercut wrote in his notebook. Specifically chosen for science because it was forest green. Around his neck, his tie hung crooked, silver earring glinting against the sun's rays.

Turning around with narrowed eyes, the small smile on his face didn't mean he was amused. "You wouldn't be inclined if you paid attention, Ki."

"Chifuyu Matsuno, are you telling me, the great Kiera-Meir, to focus on something boring!?" Gasping, she tipped her chair on its back two legs. "Inconceivable."

Rolling his eyes, a beautiful palette of blue and sage, he turned back to the board. She couldn't blame him for needing to focus. Their teacher moved through material so fast every student who gave two fucks panicked when they had to take notes.

Sighing to herself, she blew stray strands of bubblegum hair off her forehead. Grabbing her phone, two kids grinned from the lock screen. One was on the ground, "bleeding out" (It had been ketchup). The second kid was crouched over him, holding up a peace sign.

She inputed her password (6666, classy, right?) keyboard clicking away as she typed out a message.

My Key 🗝
Today, 2:33 PM

Me
Hwy hey heu!
What you up to-?
Im bored :/
|2:33 PM|

My Key 🗝
Were of to see Takemitchy~!
Wanna come w/?
ditched yesterday >:(
|2:34 PM|

Me
YESTHTBGHS
I was hanging wiht fuyu :(
Whereeeee??
|2:34 PM|

My Key 🗝
✨Mizo Middle School✨
|2:38|

Me
KK~!!
|2:38|

Grinning at her phone she hit the power button, stuffing it in her hoodie pocket.
Without a care, she scooped her books into her bag. Paper's crumbled, some from the textbook and others a booklet of different chemistry charts. She left it on her chair, snatching earbuds from the pocket.

"Bye-bye!" Ruffling Kei's pin-straight hair she winked at Chifuyu, finger gunning him. "I'm heading out for a bit. Just tell me the homework at home. Oh! And take my bag with you! Thanks, love you."

Neither of them looked shocked she was ditching in the middle of class. Keisuke and her used to do it every day. Or simply not show up at all. After their mother sobbed to them one night, upset about their failing grades, her brother had been top student material. He didn't want mom to cry again.

Sometimes...sometimes, she gave a damn, too.

Keisuke was trying to fix his hair, tossing her a dirty look. "Begone."

"See you later, Ki. I'll probably be over at your place." Something about Chifuyu's tone had her itching to invite him along, but he wasn't close to the tops of Toman like she was. She didn't think he'd enjoy it much so later it would be.

"Looking forward to it." Having disrupted the entire class Kiera made a bolt for the door, ducking out of sight with a wave before the teacher could react like last time. Long story short the school hated her for a reason.

She put her earbuds in her phone as she made her way through the halls, endlessly skipping songs until the right one came on. Searching for it would have been too much effort. It didn't take long for her to reach her bike, hopping on and making her way to the school Mikey said.

I think I know where to go, I'll get there in a jiffy!

She did not know where to go.

She got lost four times.

When she finally managed to find the school she parked her bike, stomping through the doors. The bell rang as she walked the halls, looking for her two friends. It was when she spotted the swarm of students did she find them.

"Draaaaakeeeeeeeen!" Easily spotted for his height, Kiera weaved her way through the crowd. Accidentally bumping into two boys with shoulder-length black and brown hair she rushed an apology. Once she managed to reach him she jumped him, attaching herself to his back like an off-brand koala.

"Hey, I'm here too KeyKey!"

Removing his arm from Takemichi's shoulders to catch her, Draken secured her with a smile. "Hey, Ki. Took ya long enough. What happened?"

She felt her cheeks tint pink, burrowing her face in his shoulder. "I got lost..." Mikey burst out laughing, not even bothering to hide it. "It's not funny shrimp!"

"Um, well I think I need to get to class..." Takemichi said, shuffling his feet with unease.
It was then she finally took notice of the boy. His blond locks were now styled with gel, a major downgrade in her opinion, and his injuries were taped up. A spark of happiness filled her to know he listened to her advice.

Head cocking to the side she looked down at the boy in utter confusion. "But...school is boring? Why would you go?"

"You should hang with us anyways," Mikey agreed, giving the boy a closed-eye smile. "You don't need to be all nervous, we just wanna go somewhere and talk."

"Saying it like that sounds even more threatening, dumbass," Kiera chided, poking Draken in the cheek. "Doesn't it, Kenny?"

He didn't respond, instead choosing to abruptly let go of her legs so she went tumbling to the ground. She just barely managed to land on her feet. "He—!"

"Hold on!" Walking from the crowd a girl interrupted her. She was dressed in their schools uniform. Her shoulder-length, pink-tinted hair framed her face, a beauty mark at the corner of her mouth.

Cutie alert...I wonder if she's single...?

"Who are you?" Draken asked the girl, his tone ice cold. Kiera wanted to know too but most likely for different reasons.

Takemichi seemed shocked at her appearance, mouth open and catching flies. He offered her a side smile, scratching the back of his head. She could only imagine how sticky his hand must feel after touching his hair. "O..oh hi, sorry I'm kinda tied up here Hinata."

Instead of responding, the girl raised her hand, slapping Mikey across the face.

"Pfffft–" It was so sudden Kiera barely managed to keep her cool, tears of laughter bubbling in her eyes. "Oh my god, that was perfect. Can you do it again so I can get it on camera?"

Mikey didn't move from his position, but Draken was pissed as Hinata grabbed Takemichi's arm to drag him away. "Let's go, Takemichi. Don't ever let people like these guys bully you. I can protect you."

Kiera's moment of joy died at that, watching the girl — Hinata if she heard Takemichi right — with new eyes. The two of them were an odd pair, in the best of ways. She'd first met Takemichi when he fought Kiyomasa to save his friend. In turn, Hinata slapped the "Invincible Mikey" to get Takemichi away from a situation she thought was dangerous.

This is what people should be like. Fighting for those they cared about.

Protecting them.

That's all she wanted to do, too. But not everyone was like that, how could they? People like that were special, they were rare, and they needed to be protected just as much as they protected others. She could only assure herself she was like that too, that she was the person who protected people no matter what. It didn't feel that way though, considering she'd failed some of the most important people in her life.

Failed them so badly they were never coming back.

When she finally turned back to the scene, Takemichi was threatening Draken for grabbing hold of Hina's arm. "I said you take your hand off her right now you dumbass!"

"You tell 'em Takemitchy!" She cheered, the faux smile never quite reaching her eyes.

"There are some things I won't give up on again!"

...again?

Come to think of it, he'd said something like that when he was fighting Kiyomasa. Determination ran thick through his blood, where did it all stem from? What drove him to bare his teeth and bite instead of being all bark? Something about the boy intrigued her curiosity greatly.

Walking over to help smooth the situation, Kiera winked at the pretty girl, turning to Draken. "You heard the man. That's his girl."

Instead of listening to her Mikey walked over, the jacket over his shoulders capping his authority. With a small smile, his eyes sparkled mischief. "Aww. And here I thought you and I were gonna be such great friends. Instead, you've chosen to die."

Takemichi's face was priceless, but he held firm, unwavering. "Just promise me. Just promise me you won't hurt Hina."

"Huh?"

"Don't you dare lay a finger on her!"

Mikey's smile was as fake as hers was the majority of the time. Raising his fist at the boy, he drove it toward his face, saying, "I do..what I want."

Takemichi pinched his eyes shut, waiting for the inevitable. He stayed that way for a few seconds before peeking an eye open, Mikey's childish attitude returning. Both of his arms were raised, this time in surrender instead of a threat.

"Haha sikeeee, just kidding. You're so gullible man! Relax pal." Slapping the stunned boy's shoulder, whose eyes watered with tears, Kiera wondered why she hung out with them sometimes. Mikey's voice took on a softer tone. "Like I'd ever hit a woman."

"What the fuck am I then," Kiera huffed, thinking back to all their sparring matches. Sparring matches that left the both of them in bruises. "Hey Mikey, did y'know 'gullible' is written on the school roof?"

The boy didn't hesitate to look up. "Really? How'd it get up there?" It took him a couple of minutes to realize she was lying to him.
Snorting, she elbowed Takemichi. "Got him back for ya, blondie."

"..Thanks?"

"Of course, you're my friend, right? Anywho I'm seriously impressed you threatened Kenny like that! That takes some serious guts." Pretending to whisper, she made sure Draken could hear her every word. "I bet you could've taken him."

"I don't think so," he blushed, awkwardly looking away. "My bad, Draken."

"Don't apologize to him Takemitchy! You're the one in the right here y'know?" There was a hint of a threat in her tone.

Draken just draped his arm over Takemitchy's shoulder. "It's cool, some things you gotta fight for. Guys today don't stand up for girls like that. That's old school. Probably why this fiasco—" he gestured to Kiera, who was skipping towards Mikey— "turned out like she did. Your alright Takemitchy."

After that encounter in the halls, the group of five wandered outside, explaining the situation to Hinata who was greatly confused. She couldn't blame the girl. Usually when you slap someone who's supposed to be a bully things don't play out like that.

Bowing to Mikey, Hinata apologized. "I'm so sorry about that! I really had the wrong idea about you." A blush covered her cheeks in embarrassment Kiera didn't think was necessary.

"It's no problem, that was one hell of a slap though," Mikey responded, touching the red spot on his cheek.

Standing beside the girl Kiera gave her a wide grin, flashing her pointed canines. "Hey, don't apologize. You were just defending someone you love. If anything you should be proud you didn't sit back and watch."

Her cheeks grew even warmer when Kiera said the L word. "But it was totally uncalled for!"

"I think you get a free pass. Protecting the people who matter always comes first, right? Just be careful with picking fights. Some dudes are real nasty. I bet you could handle a lotta assholes though, easy. I'd love to be friends with you! Wanna swap numbers?"

Hinata's smile was so precious. Just like with Takemichi Kiera felt a need to protect her. "Sure!" After swapping digits, and sending a text to make sure it worked, Hinata excused herself. "Ok, I'll be going now."

"Oh, alright. Wait! Aren't we going out?" Takemichi asked her.

"We can do that another time. Your friends came all this way to see you, so you should go with them."

She's literally an angel???

Mikey waved at her. "Bye-bye! Next time don't slap me~!"

Elbowing the shrimpy blond Kiera waved as well. "Text me anytime, love!" Once Hinata was gone, she looked to Takemichi. "You better take good care of that one, you here me? Or else I'm stealing her."

"O..of course! Please don't steal my girlfriend.."

.

.

.

❦

"ℍ𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕔𝕣𝕠𝕨𝕤?
𝕎𝕙𝕪 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕀 𝕠𝕟𝕝𝕪 𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣... 𝕤𝕖𝕖 𝕠𝕟𝕖?"

A/N: I always hate my own books even if I like my plot ideas so please please give me your honest opinions. I want to improve and It's hard when I hate it no matter what. Thx <3