The school was always chaotic in the beginning of the year. Projects would begin, studying would get thoroughly more intense, and gossip would fly high. And that results in students getting more stressed out and angry, along with ruining friendships. Callisthenes himself is being talked about, and is of course, being mistaken for a criminal. But there's another rumor that talks about him and a girl being together, who he's only met once. And the people who are talking about this are curious about how a certain, sophisticated student thinks about this...

--×☆×--

--!--

   Yanny pattered her fingers on her desk as she listened to her homeroom teacher impatiently. She was waiting for something important to happen, so she could spread it to Lynn and Laurette. After all, it was her mission to do so.

  (Alright, this is getting annoying,) She thought angrily, tearing her attention away from the teacher. (There's got to be something at least somewhat interesting for me to spread along...)

   She looked around the classroom, using only her eyes, so she wouldn't be too noticeable. At the moment, there was only two things interesting, and that was the messy hair kid playing some kind of MMORPG on his phone, and the horse lover girl was doodling ponies on her notebook instead of studying. Yanny sighed quietly in anger, disappointed with the small amount of activity in the classroom.

  (What am I going to do if I don't find any damn info?) She thought angrily as she looked at the homeroom teacher stubbornly. (Our target might leave the school unbothered, and we won't be able to stop him from-)

   She then saw something very interesting in the corner of her eye.

   Cindy was staring at Callisthenes with a strange look in her eyes, like she was... infatuated. He was obviously oblivious to her staring, and was too distracted by the teacher to even notice her. Yanny smirked, thankful she had gotten a seat from the back of the class to see this event.

  (Oooh... Now I know what will be the topic of today's gossip.) She smiled mischievously. 

  (Cindy is Callisthenes's girlfriend!)

--...--

   Once the final class ended, lunch began.

   Students would normally wander the halls, study, help others, or just make a ruckus during lunch to kill time before club time starts. Callisthenes would normally be near his locker on one of the nearby benches after he finishes his lunch, most likely reading a book or perhaps studying in order to pass time efficiently. Right now, he was just about to head to a nearby bench.

   He had a more modern book this time since he had finished the last one, called "The Refugee's Tale". As he walked through the locker hallway with his book in hand, he couldn't help but feel pressure on his back, like people were staring at him. He could hear some whispers from under the conversations people were having, but he could barely make out what they were saying. All he knew is that the whispers were probably about him. But he wasn't going to let it get to him.

   He sat down on the nearby bench, and opened the book to read. Luckily, he is able to read the book even if it's loud.

 "Axel knew he could never come back. But he doesn't know if he can accept it. His hometown was wrecked, similar to a dead ghost town. ''It will be fine Axel,'' He heard his grandpa say, ''For now, we need to head to the station. I promise we will find help there.'' Axel wanted to believe him, "Hey you!" but he felt conflicted. Everything was happening so fast, he lost his parents, his siblings, almost everyone he knew, in a blink of an eye. ''Why...'' He whispered hoarsely. ''Why?'' "HEY I'M TALKING TO YOU!"

   Callisthenes lifted his head up angrily from his book to face the high-pitched voice that yelled at him. He saw young boy, who seemed to be a freshman, along with two other older boys by his side who seemed to be juniors. 

  "So, Mr. Criminal Bad Boy," The freshman began, teasingly. "We heard the rumors 'bout you being with her, so we wanna know." 

   Callisthenes had no idea what the boy was talking about. It had only been the day after yesterday, and there was already something new. He could only be amazed at how rumors travel fast.

  "What rumors, and... Who is her?" He asked back, getting up and putting his book away.

  One of the older boys shook his head and smirked. "Oh, you know who her is, man. You can just tell us, everybody knows already!" He said playfully, making Callisthenes even more confused.

  "I have no idea what you guys are talking about." He responded to them truthfully. The other quiet junior looked strangely at him, like he was questioning whether Callisthenes and this "her" was actually together.

  The freshman looked at him, now annoyed. "Do I really have to tell you man? Everyone knows your with Cindy from the Newspaper Club!"

   Callisthenes was surprised, but not too surprised, somehow. On the second day of school, he was already encountering rumors about himself and others. Who started this crazy rumor anyways?

  "Who started this rumor?" He asked calmly, raising an eyebrow at them. 

  "It was some girl named Yanna, or Yanny from that weird-ass club, I don't know, and she basically caught Cindy staring at you lovingly! Like seriously, she was DAYDREAMING 'bout your ass!" The more noisier junior yelled, grabbing attention from a few students.

  (And he just had to draw attention to us...) Callisthenes grumbled within his head, feeling more pressure from the crowd.

   He couldn't help however that the name Yanny was familiar to him somehow. Perhaps he had overheard her name somewhere? He couldn't remember, but he needed to confront Yanny, and stop her from making these false rumors.

  "Well, all you need to know is that the rumor is false. I've only talked to Cindy once, after all." Callisthenes said truthfully.

   The freshman opened his mouth to say something, but the quiet junior shut him up before he could say anything, and whispered something in his ear. The freshman's eyes widened for a moment, and he nodded back.

  "Fine, we'll believe you for now, Callesthenehs... or- whatever." The freshman said, becoming more timid for some reason.

  "Just stay clear of Prez though. I heard he had a thing for Cindy," The noisy junior said more casually.

   Callisthenes was a bit surprised by how they had suddenly backed off, but was also thankful. He no longer felt any pressure from the crowd.

  "Well, me and my brothers better head to Volleyball. See you never, kid." And with that, the boys left, some people staring at them as they walked away.

   He sat back down and sighed, looking down at his hands. His mind was now comprehending what he had just heard. 

  (Yanny spread the lie about me being with Cindy... But why?) He thought thoroughly, but nervously. (But where can I find this "weird-ass club" and confront her about this? I'll have to ask around... But I wonder, why would Arthur be into Cin-)

   He abruptly felt a hard tug on his arm, and was being dragged by someone. He looked over at who was dragging him with a shocked expression. 

  "Arthur?!" He said loudly in surprise.

   Arthur gave him a forced smile back, like he was in someway, frustrated. Callisthenes did feel frustration emanate from him. Arthur lead him to a secluded part of the floor, and he let go of him, his forced smile now an angered frown.

  "I know this might be just some other silly rumor, but I want to confirm this," He stated roughly, before Callisthenes could even say anything about Arthur dragging him around. "Is it true that you are with Cindy Fiore?"

  Callisthenes shook his head, putting the dragging at the back of his mind. "This whole rumor about me and Cindy being together is fake. I've only spoken to Cindy once, and that was yesterday." He responded firmly. "Besides, her personality is not what I'm into."

  Arthur paused to lock eyes with , his eyes filled with doubt, belief, and frustration. "Fine... I'll trust your side of the story for now." He responded, now serious and stern.

   Right after he had responded, the lunch end bell rang. The sound of the intercom turning on made Arthur and Callisthenes look up.

  "It is now time for Physical Education Clubs. Please head to your Physed Club." The intercom blared, immediately turning off once it was finished.

  Arthur looked back at Callisthenes and sighed. "Well we shouldn't dwell on this for too long," He said sternly, turning around, his back now facing him. "I will take you to the Dodgeball Club, as an apology from myself. I've been excused of Physed Clubtime, so I'll watch you and your club while I study."

   Callisthenes was quite surprised on the leeway Arthur gets for being Student Council President, but he decided not to question him.

  "Alright... If that's okay, then let's get going" Callisthenes responded, as he began following Arthur. "By the way Arthur, why are you concerned about me being with Cindy?"

"If you are assuming that I like Cindy in any way and I am jealous, then you are wrong. I am simply looking out for her." He responded roughly, now walking faster.

  "Just admit it!"

  "Sh-shut it!"

--!--

  "H-Hello i--is Yanny there?" The radio in Yanny's hand blared, it's audio glitching somewhat. "Yes, crazy eyes, I'm here hiding in the back of the school. Whatcha want?" She responded stubbornly.

  "W--well, ch-chief has --signed an important miss--n for y-y-you." The radio said. Yanny raised her eyebrow and grinned. "Specify Leucroc. I'm curious."

  "He w--wants you to do the h-honors. G--get him from D-Dodgeball Club, th-- ch--f  i-i-is there." Yanny grinned widely with happiness and nodded at the radio. 

  "Good... I'll let Lynn get him so it isn't suspicious. Tell Chief I said thanks. Harpy 1, out." Yanny turned off the radio quickly and smiled devilishly. 

"It won't be long before our avenge." She whispered as she put the radio away. "That imposter will pay for killing Chimera."