CHAPTER SIX

Kei

"Dudeee! Did you know, there are rumors about you and Aella-chan?!" Hiroshi barged in Kei's room as he was putting on his uniform since they didn't have any morning practice every Monday.

"Yeah! Rumors! Have you heard about it?!" Kenji suddenly entered with worry in his face.

Kei was the only one who had the confused face. He immediately shook his head as he puts on his neck tie then his blazer.

"Damn, I heard Aella has been confronted yesterday by the cheer squad." Hiroshi said in a low but worried face. "They were saying that you went into her dorm, and it took more than an hour before you left."

It sunk deep in his mind about the rumor. People are spreading rumors about him and Aella, but she hasn't said a word about it. It would be a problem for them and even the club.

Aella confirmed that she already had her initial decision but she hasn't said any clue about becoming the official manager. Then–what? After all her effort for the team, she'll leave because of that rumor?

Kei wished that it hasn't affected Aella's decision on staying as the club manager. They were able to adjust without any problem because of her motherly figure even if she doesn't speak much unless its connected to volleyball. They're already used with her presence then suddenly she'll leave them?

"What happened in her dorm?" Akira asked. Most of the team barged into his dorm. They still had an hour before class starts.

"Promise me, that whatever you hear right now – you'll keep it a secret." Kei said.

"We promise. Cross our Hearts and Hope you'll die." The boys said in unison. Kei made a slight laugh before proceeding to their talk.

__

"So it was her, our Cinderella." Ouji said in a low voice.

They were all quiet. Learning some parts of their dear manager. About her reasons why she kept it a secret, why she hated sports, why was she hesitant before and now – she's giving it all her best just to make the team stronger. Kei included Aella's relative who got hurt and quitted sports. He said all. Even if he broke his promise, he knows that Aella would forgive him because they need someone who'll protect them from those who made some baseless rumor.

"Aella-chan." That was all they can say. Aella has done nothing wrong. She was only indecisive. She only distanced herself from being hurt. She even encouraged the group to change for the better. She's giving out individual advice that can help them throughout their game, and then ... She'll get hurt because of the ignorance of the others.

"We should help Aella-chan." Akira said.

"I'll help you." Someone entered the room which made them stand. It was Machida Yume, the student council president.

"L-Love?!" Akira.

"P-Pres!" The boys greeted as they stood up.

"L-Love????? What is the meaning of this?!" Ouji asked. Even Kei and the others were surprised about Akira and Machida going out together.

"Ahehe~it was suppose to be a secret, but I guess nothing's wrong about you knowing our relationship. We were just keeping ourselves professional. Moving on, I'll help you prove Aella-chan is innocent." President Machida said. "I'm the only person she can rely on as she doesn't have any friends. I trust you on protecting our baby."

"Our?!" Akira exclaimed. Machida looked at him with 'are you complaining' look which made Akira agree. "Y-Yeah. Aella-chan is our daughter."

"Gross." That was the only thing that came in Kei's mind and he even said it. With that all bursted in laughing even Machida, and Akira was left their uneasy.

__

When they arrived at school, all together, Machida and the boys volleyball team, no one dared to speak about the rumor. Not even a squeaking sound of indoor shoes are heard in the hallway. Only the sound of faint footsteps from the president and the boys.

They parted ways when they were in the main building. The third years went to the fourth floor, the second years went to the third floor while the first years went to the second floor.

While Kei and the others were walking to there classroom, they saw numbers of students are outside Aella's classroom. They hurriedly walked and made sure they excuse themselves to see what's going on.

"You're not going to spill anything?!" A girl in yello hair and pink headband asked.

Kei looked at Aella, and she seemed composed, she even heaved a heavy sigh and even put her hands on her chin and closed her eyes.

"I have nothing to tell. Leave me alone." That gave chills to Kensuke, Takato and Daichi while Kenji and Hiroshi weren't be able to blink.

Aella seemed really cool about those students bothering her. It is true that Aella has nothing to tell since she told her a secret and a private matter on why she hated sports.

"You're really stubborn! Enough of your silly—" the girl with blue hair tied in side ponytails was cut off when she spoke.

"Why don't you ask Tsubasa Kei? Since he's standing right there, why don't you ask him personally instead of bothering me?" She said in a monotonic voice. She really seemed composed but the boys can tell that she's also pissed.

"Of course Kei will defend you since you're their manager!" A girl with silver hair, tied in twin pigtails and has curls kicked Aella's desk.

"Bunch of bullies. Aren't you getting tired asking the same question, and having the same answer?" She asked, as she folded her arms on her chest, and slowly opened her eyes revealing her purple eyes with dark glare.

If boys were given that kind of look, they were sure that they won't be able to sunlight again. It was a very sharp glare, you can imagine if stares can kill, they are already gone. Kei and the others, looked at Aella waiting for her next move.

"You know what, if you all are envious – why don't you invite him in your dorms?" She asked. She was only defending herself, and wasn't sarcastic but it was still enough to piss the girls.

Kei felt his cheeks felt hot as Aella said words that a woman shouldn't tell out loud. She's still serene and she defended herself without hurting others physically.

"Aren't you a whore?" A girl in long brown hair asked her.

"Are you?" Aella asked back and you can see how the girl in brown hair distance herself when she asked that question. "Stop bothering me, and go to your respective classes, loony humans. You're bothering the college preparatory classes." Aella said as she picked up her desk.

"L-Loony humans?! What does that mean?!" Another girl asked, and this time she has a custard hair color with a twin pigtails hair.

"You reached second year high school, and you don't even know that? Dimwit."

After that line, teachers and even the student council body arrived in their room. They were mad about the ill–mannered girls who acted arrogant of a real lady. They were shock that they will serve a community service at the park near the school.

Aella didn't lose her composed self and maintained her first class attitude. She is after all a daughter of a rich family, which is the reason why she has unfamiliar words.

Boys from the club already know that she has peculiar vocabulary since she has no one to talk to, and you can easily find her in library – reading college books, or at the student council office, reading paper works that needs deep understanding and her opinion is a must.

__

Kei and the others are currently at the rooftop, eating their lunch. They were about to invite Aella, but she was no where to be found. They were all silent, to the point that you can't even read their faces based on their thinking.

"Kasugano Aella. Smartest student in the school. Has this outstanding vocabulary and thinking. She can be mistaken as a varsity player or a model. She has this stoic expression whether she is happy, frustrated or sad. It never changes." Hiroshi said as he eats his bento. They all made one, since the dining hall will be full of people spreading fake rumors.

"What should we do to protect Aella-chan?" Kenji asked while eating.

"Why don't you finish your meals first? " Kei said. Hiroshi and Kenji looked at him, before nodding. They hurriedly finished their meals.

As they arrive in their classrooms, they saw their upperclassmen, walked passed their classroom. Kenji, Hiroshi and Kei exchanged looks before they run of their room.

They saw Akira and the others are running. They just followed in the same pace as they reach the classrooms of the first years.

"Captain!" Hiroshi yelled. Akira and the others slowed down in front of Shou's classroom with the other first years. "Why are you running?"

"Yumecchi, said that Aella-chan is not in her room. So I was gathering you boys to help me search of her." Akira said as he scratch the tip of his nose. Shou raised his eyebrow before scratching his head lightly.

"You could've message us." Shou said.

"Are you even reading the messages?" Akira asked.

"No." Shou answered confidently before putting his hands in his pocket.

"Are you even sure that she's not in her class? Maybe she went to the restroom by the time Pres. checked on her." Kei said. They all looked at him. He shrugged his shoulders, as they heard the bell rang, as a sign that afternoon classes have started.

"Let's go to the club room." Akira said.

__

Aside from Machida, most of them skipped classes. They were all pre–occupied with all the troubles they are experiencing that time. The first years are playing tic-tac-toe, the third years are lying down the room and some of the second years were playing games, and some were dozing their mind off somewhere.

Their grades won't be affected just by skipping classes for a day. Also, they're still very worried about Aella. They weren't be able to talk to her the whole day. She was also gone in her class, ever lunch break – at least, that's what the third years said. They don't have solid proof that she disappeared but that's what they heard.

"Where on earth will she even stay?" Akira asked. 

"Who has her number?" Ouji asked the team. The boys did exchange looks on each other before shifting their gaze to Ouji. "We don't have her number, don't we?"

"What kind of captain is Akira-senpai?" Shou smirked on the captain who was dozing off earlier.

"Aren't you an underclassmen? Why don't you have your manager's number?" Akira snorted. Shou rolled his eyes before looking at Kei.

"I don't have her number." Kei lied. He has her number, but she knew that she won't reply since it was an unregistered number in her phone, and if he registers it – it could record his previous message.

"What kind of colleague are we?" Ouji whispered.

It was already time for their dismissal. They went to their respective classroom to get their stuffs. They all met in the hallway where the music room is. As soon as they passed through it, they heard a sweet voice and a faint sound of piano, they stopped walking and silently they peeked on the room.

"All alone on an anxious night

I am humming a song

The darkness that seems to tremble

I can feel the power within it

Every word and every note are

A piece of a miracle

If you hum

Spread your arms wide sharara

That is the melody that rings to the future

From my heart I will sing

I want to send my voice to a faraway place

As of that day hope turns

The phrase is flapping its wings

Carrying this wish I will sing tomorrow too

As long as my precious person is here

It will be more dazzling than yesterday

I want to meet that smile again"

As she ends the playing of piano, all of them clapped their hands making her look at their direction. She still has this stoic facial expression but when you stared at her, her eyes reflects exhaust, pain and sadness – but mostly, longing for something.

They felt that the atmosphere was heavy, so they smiled at her. She was stilled for a moment after seeing the team smiled at her, but she did smile at them also — a faint smile.

__

"How are you, Aella-chan?" Hayata asked Aella as soon as they arrived in the gym.

They chose that place because they all fit there, and they had the gym all by themselves. They didn't have any practice, but they felt the comfort in that place.

"I'm fine." She answered.

"We heard what happened, we still want to hear what happened between you and Kei in your room." Akira said in authoritative voice. Aella looked at Kei, asking for permission to say all that they've done in her dorm. She sighed.

"Kei talked to me about giving him techniques, or advice that he can improve as the team's ace. He ate dinner, then left." She simply answered.

'She did tell partly the truth, but kept the secret about her being the team's Cinderella and her professional relative.' the team thought. Maybe it wasn't their place to step in to her privacy. They still had respect, and they don't wish to step on to her private space.

"That's all?" Akira asked.

"Yeah. What're you expecting?" She asked back. Innocently.

"Things." Hayata said in a small voice.

"Things? Like what?"

"You know, it's weird to let a man enter a woman's room." Ouji commented.

"How so?" She asked again.

"You know people think differently. So maybe the girls thought that it was weird for him to enter your room." Kido said as he scratch the tip of his nose.

"We just talked."

"Yeah, we know you both talked – but the others doesn't." Kenji gave his opinion.

"Then why won't they accept my reason that Kei and I have done nothing, but talk?" She asked as she slightly tilted her head.

'She's so cute that she's innocent in this things.' Kei thought to himself.

"Even I, thought that you both would do things inappropriate to your age." Hiroshi said as he laughed on his own idea.

"Inappropriate to our age? Ahh se—" her words were cut off when Kei covered her hands with his rough and calloused hands. She held it, so that she can't feel the tightness of it.

"What're you thinking?! You idiot!" Kei raised his voice on Aella which made her furrow her eyebrows. She tried her best to remove his hands, but it has too much grip so she has to pinch him.

"We didn't have sex, why are you so defensive?" She asked with a little irritation in her voice.

"Still, you shouldn't talk like that! There are first years!" Kei said with a mix of irritation in his voice.

"You boys are already exposed in this kind of things in the internet, why bother covering my mouth?" She furrowed her eyebrows more.

It was an amusing sight for the third years, as if they were seeing a 'Lover's Quarrel'. While the first years, furrowed their eyebrows, seeing their upperclassmen argue in stupid things.

"That doesn't count! A girl like you shouldn't say those things carelessly!" Kei defended more.

"Why is that?" She asked in a monotonic voice trying to maintain her irritation.

"Well," he scratched the back of his neck and turned his gaze to the left. "It was weird for you to say the word 'sex' easily, when you're surrounded by guys, 14 guys." He said.

"Oh, is that the reason?" She asked innocently as she put her hand into her mouth and covering it, like she said something embarrassing.

"It's not the only reason, but consider it as a reason." Ouji said with a smug face with made Aella be confused.

"Are you innocent, Aella-san?" Tamotsu asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Are you for real?" Aoi asked again.

"I don't understand." She said.

"It's confirmed, she's innocent." Daisuke said, as he looked at his upperclassmen.

"Mind if you explain?" Aella put on a confused facial expression which made the group stiffened. It was a rare opportunity for them to see their manager have different expression.

"Are you sick?" Ouji asked.

"No, I feel normal."

"You just changed your facial expression." Akira said as he stared at her. Aella frowned more.

"No, I didn't."

"You just did." Hayata said, as he pokes Aella's cheeks. He found it so soft, that he has to pinch it. "You're cheeks are so soft~."

"Stop." Aella said, as she removes his hand on her cheeks.

"But you're too cute to be true." Hayata said as he tried to get closer again to Aella but she moved away.

"You all are creeping me out." Aella said. She stood up, and picked up her bag. "Also, why did y'all skip class?"

The boys stiffened as they slowly looked at their precious manager. She sighed and crossed her arms.

"You shouldn't skip classes. Maybe once can't hurt your grades but avoid it." Aella said as she gets her phone in her pocket.

"You also skipped classes." Akira said. That made Aella looked at Akira, which made her look perplex.

"I didn't."

"Yes you did, Yume told me." Akira defended himself.

"I never skipped class."

"We looked into your class earlier, but you weren't there." Ouji said, defending Akira.

"I went back to my dorm to get my textbook. Maybe that was the time you passed by my class."

"But you were at the music room by the time of dismissal." Hayata answered.

"I was there because our class ended early."

"You mean, you never skipped classes?!" The boys shouted in unison. She nodded slightly.

The boys lost their strength to stand up. They thought that she disappeared because of the bullies but they were wrong. They all misunderstood her disappearance. The boys can't blame Yume since she was also worried.

"I was able to record the half of our conversation. From Akira's question until Ouji's comment saying 'It's not the only reason, but consider it as a reason.' Is this enough proof?" Hayata said as he handed his phone to Akira.

"You even included our nonsense argue?" Kei asked.

"Well, it is some proof that you two didn't do anything." Akira said again as he did something on Hayata's phone. "Alright, we can send it to Yume."

"Aella-chan, can we have your mail and number? So we can just message you in Vibe." Ouji said as he handed his phone to Aella to insert her number.

Most of the members handed their phone to insert her number, and they were all excited to have hers. After all of them had Aella's number, they called her one by one since she still has to save theirs.

"Thank You. I don't have anyone's number except President Machida." She said in a low voice and you can see a faint smile while staring at her phone. "I never had friends in my class, since I had problems in approaching others. Thank You."

"Mizuki Kisaragi?" Kei asked.

Aella looked up to Kei who suddenly spoke.

"What about her?" Kido asked.

"I just saw her in video recommendations, and she's a lefty." Kei said as he showed his phone to the group with Mizuki's video.

As they looked at it, Aella put on some distance. She knows that video so well. It was the last official match Mizuki played, and it was the finals at the Nationals.

"I feel bad to Mizuki." Hiroshi said as they watched the video.

"Mizuki-chan's crying." Kenji added.

"Did they lost?" Kensuke asked.

"They lost. Their ace was injured and I think because of that they lost concentration. And she never revealed herself again. Most of the new players doesn't know her, but for the professional players, some do remember her – I think." Aella answered. The team looked at her, as she said too much information once again. She's full of information about volleyball.

"Aella-chan, once again is a human Wikipedia!" The first years clapped their hands, as they saw something amazing. Well, she's always amazing.

"Let's go to in the student council's room and present the proof. The student disciplinary teachers are also there, as they're trying to get the both parties' opinions." Akira said, as he tapped her shoulders. She felt relieved that the boys volleyball team that she used to ignore and decline, are now standing behind her back.

Shortly, they arrived in the student council office with the whole student council body and five students disciplinary teachers are present as well. The boys were nervous, but when they stared the back of Aella which was calm as hell, they felt relieved that she's alright even after the teams fan girls bullied her.

"Kasugano-san, please seat with Tsubasa-san and Takishima-san, the captain." The first teacher said as she points the empty seats across them. They obligated, Kei sat first then Aella at the middle, lastly Akira. "I'm Kousaka-sensei, one of the student disciplinary teachers. We heard the disturbance that your schoolmates are accusing you."

"And we wanted to know that if Tsubasa-san here really did enter your dorm. By the way, I'm Minami-sensei." She said as gave her warm smile to the students. Both Kei and Akira looked at Aella, as she was silent and serene the whole time.

"Yes. Saturday, in the evening. I invited him in my dorm." She answered without stammering. Akira and Kei heaved out a sigh when they heard they answer.

"What is your purpose that you have to invite him? I'm Sonoda-sensei." She asked. Aella looked at Akira, giving him a sign to let them listen to the recorded audio that they talked about earlier.

"Excuse me, Sonoda-sensei." Akira said as he raised his hands to get her attention. "Kasugano-san, doesn't like speaking to much. We have a recorded audio that we all talked about before heading over here. If you would like to listen?"

"She doesn't like talking, she's peculiar." A teacher said as he put her hair behind.

"Hoshizora-sensei, don't be like that. I'm Koizumi-sensei, of course. We'll listen." A kind teacher said.

Akira took his phone out, and he played the audio. It may sound embarrassing, but still it's a proof.

["How are you, Aella-chan?"

"I'm fine."

"We heard what happened, we still want to hear what happened between you and Kei in your room."

"Kei talked to me about giving him techniques, or advice that he can improve as the team's ace. He ate dinner, then left."

"That's all?"

"Yeah. What're you expecting?"

"Things."

"Things? Like what?"

"You know, it's weird to let a man enter a woman's room."

"How so?"

"You know people think differently. So maybe the girls thought that it was weird for him to enter your room."

"We just talked."

"Yeah, we know you both talked – but the others doesn't."

"Then why won't they accept my reason that Kei and I have done nothing, but talk?"

"Even I, thought that you both would do things inappropriate to your age."

"Inappropriate to our age? Ahh se—'

"What're you thinking?! You idiot!"

"We didn't have sex, why are you so defensive?"

"Still, you shouldn't talk like that! There are first years!"

"You boys are already exposed in this kind of things in the internet, why bother covering my mouth?"

"That doesn't count! A girl like you shouldn't say those things carelessly!"

"Why is that?"

"Well,— It was weird for you to say the word 'sex' easily, when you're surrounded by guys, 14 guys."

"Oh, is that the reason?"

"It's not the only reason, but consider it as a reason." ]

Then the audio was cut. Aella and Kei were kinda blushing since they were talking something inappropriate but it was also stating the fact they they've done nothing wrong.

"Well, it does say that they just talked, what the other girls are saying are unreasonable." It was Kousaka-sensei who talked.

She was looking at her co-student disciplinary teachers some randoms looks. And as well, the other teachers gave out looks to the student council body.

"What do you say, President Machida?" It was Sonoda-sensei who asked.

The president gave her sweet smile as she walk towards the three students who are seating in front of the five disciplinary teachers.

"Aella-chan, is a very disciplined student as she's a student representative, since her first year. She's also a top student for 2 consecutive years. She's a trusted student. She's only doing her responsibility as a student. And as far as I heard, Aella-chan, was giving them advice, techniques and even strategies to the team; she even prepared different training drills individually, partners and as a team. I believe that Aella-chan, invited Kei-san because they ran out of time to explain things during their practice, that's why she invited him in her dorm. There's nothing wrong as long as they're following rules in the dorm." She said as she walked behind them and then sat at her seat. "It's still up to you though."

"I guess, Machida-san has a point. We'll make sure that those students will serve their one week, community service at the park near our school and—" Koizumi-sensei was cut off when Aella raised her hand.

"Can we just let them off? I don't mind them anyway, as long as they mind their own business." Aella said as she shifted her to Machida who was also shocked by her suggestion.

"But love, they deserve punishment." Sonoda-sensei said with her authoritative voice.

"I don't actually mind them doing wrong things or even saying bad things about me since none of those true. All I want is to leave me alone, like before." She said. She may have been hurt, but she doesn't want anyone would suffer. She's not a cold hearted person. She's just awkward around people.

__

"Are you really sure about that?" Kei asked as they were heading back to their dorm.

Aella nodded. She was silent the whole time. Kei tapped the back of her back which made her stop walking. All the members looked at her, and they also stopped walking.

"What's wrong?" Kei asked once again.

"Aren't you being extra kind today?" Aella furrowed her eyebrows on Kei. Kei on the other hand looked very confused on the words that Aella said.

"Don't you think that they look good together?" Akira whispered.

"I actually agree, but isn't a love story between a player and a manager – cliché?" Ouji asked.

"Well, that's where Akira and Yume started." Kido commented.

"Well, wanna bet who's gonna fall first?" Hayata asked.

"We'll join!" Hiroshi, Kenji, Kensuke, Takato and Daichi said. "We'll make it falls first and confests first. Kei will fall first, then likewise he'll confess first."

"We choose, Aella-chan whose gonna fall first, but Kei-senpai will confest first." Shou, Tamotsu, Aoi and Daisuke said.

"Our bet is Kei will fall and confest first. Since Aella-chan is kinda numb and she's clueless in things like this, so better safe than sorry." Ouji said. The third years agreed on him.

"The winner will pay up, with a barbeque dinner."

The boys agreed and looked at the cute soon-to-be-couple exchange rude looks on each other. First on, they have to work the proper conversation between the two so that they'll be close to each other.

"Ahh!" Akira picked his phone from his blazer, since it was ringing. "Guys! Emergency meeting in coach's dorm, excluding Aella-chan since you're exhausted. Have a nice rest! Let's go!" Akira started running then the others followed.

Kei was the last one to run, since he walked Aella to her dorm. When she's already infront of her door, he put his hands on her head. She looked at his olive orbs who was also staring at her purple galaxy.

"Rest. That's not a request, but an order. We'll pick you up tomorrow. Goodnight." He said in a low voice.

Aella felt his presence and it was becoming hot. She looked at his ears and it was kinda turning red, as well as his cheeks. She didn't what to do, so she just nodded.

"See you tomorrow."

She turned her back on the young man who was already walking towards, their meeting. It wasn't a pleasant day to all of them, but she deserves rest more than them. Plus, it looked really urgent that the coach can't wait to tell them the next day since they have practice.

Is it more important than rest?

"Mizuki Kisaragi."

"They lost. Their ace was injured and I think because of that they lost concentration. And she never revealed herself again. Most of the new players doesn't know her, but for the professional players, some do remember her – I think."

Kei doesn't know but his heart was beating rapidly. His thoughts couldn't stop replaying all the words that Aella said about Mizuki. There's something that connects Aella and Mizuki that they're all missing.

What could it be?

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