8 Ch 8 - Daunting Air

"Osaka-kun? Are you okay?" Hikari asked as she followed Yuu outside of the classroom and along the nearly deserted hallway. However, she didn't get any response.

"Osaka-kun! Watch out!"

As if cold water was poured on her, Yuu's vision widened back to normal as soon as she felt a tugging on her arm.

Yuu looked back and realized Hikari was holding her arm. She then faced the front and saw she was just a couple of feet from bumping a teacher who had a pile of books on hand.

A sigh of relief escaped her mouth as she uttered an apology to the teacher that was forgiving enough to smile before walking past.

"Sorry, Hikari-chan."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, thanks. You saved me there." Yuu smiled at Hikari. "The consent forms, we're picking it up from the faculty, right?"

"Y-yeah," Hikari said as they made their way to the faculty office. The air was crisp, yet for once, Hikari did not know what to say. They quietly made their way to the faculty office, collected the consent forms and went back to return to the classroom.

However, the closer the room gets, the heavier the sensation engulfed her chest. Her footsteps stopped, and her heart pounded. All she could do was clench her fist.

'What the hell? What the hell is going on?'

It felt as though she was scared of going inside. Overwhelmed, Yuu asked Hikari to go ahead. She was about to turn around when a tall figure came out of the classroom, and Yuu's heart nearly stopped.

"Did you see Osaka?"

A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she put a hand over her eyes. "Ikeda."

"Osaka! I've been looking for you. Let me borrow your English notes! I fell asleep in class!" Ikeda grinned, scratching the back of his head.

"O-oh. Sure. Give me a sec."

Mustering her courage, Yuu entered the classroom and headed straight for her seat, her heart thumping inside her chest. Yuu grabbed her English notebook and gave it to Ikeda. Ikeda swung an arm over Yuu's shoulder with a wide grin on his face, hand barely resting on Yuu's chest. Eyes wide, Yuu froze, her mind totally blanked over.

It was muffled, but she heard Ikeda's invitation.

She didn't mean to, but she said yes.

Karaoke tonight. At 7pm.

As soon as his hand left her shoulder, Yuu released a shaky breath she didn't realize she was holding. Her eyes inadvertently flicked over to Kousuke, and there they had a couple of seconds stare down. His eyes were narrowed, his lips were pursed. Both broke eye contact at the same time as if a vase was broken.

Somehow, Yuu was glad Ikeda invited her. It woke her from that dreadful sensation.

What was she so afraid of, anyway? There was nothing to be afraid of, was there?

Feeling an ominous sensation as if someone was watching, Yuu looked around. And spot on, she was eye to eye with Mei Ayano. And Mei wasn't just looking; she had a smirk on her face.

The bell rang, getting everyone back to their seats immediately.

There was something in the air, and Yuu couldn't put a finger on it.

A tapping sensation over her right shoulder made her jump, and she soon realized she was disappointed it wasn't who she thought it was.

"Hikari-chan."

"You okay, Osaka-kun? You look stiff," Hikari whispered.

"Yuu-chan, what upset you so suddenly?" Kousuke mocked from behind. Then whispered, "Do tell, are you on your period?"

Surprised at his shameless taunt, Yuu's vision turned red, and before she knew it, she turned around as the door burst open and slammed her hand on Kousuke's desk. "How dare you go too far. I'm a boy, you know."

"Then why are you flirting with Ikeda?"

"Huh?!"

Kousuke only smirked while Yuu's eyes darkened. Both glared at each other for what felt like minutes when it was only for a few seconds, which was broken by a heavy deep voice.

"Osaka-kun, do you not get along with Nakano-kun?"

Koro entered the classroom and stood at the front, leaning on the table with a piece of chalk in one hand and a piece of paper in the other.

Yuu looked at her desk coolly and mumbled, "No."

"Eh? I think we get along just fine," Kousuke said loudly behind her. Yuzuki threw him a glare, but Kousuke only smirked, making Yuu's heart skip a beat.

Yuu immediately looked away. 'Stupid! Say what?! Who's flirting with who?! Ha! Idiot!'

"Oh, is that so? I wouldn't count that slamming noise as a problem as my classes had not started until I stepped inside the classroom."

"Wow, he's awfully nice today," Ikeda, who was sat two tables from Yuu, mumbled.

"Shh! You idiot!" Hikari, who was seated next to Yuu, scolded Ikeda.

Koro cleared his throat and directed his gaze at Ikeda as a warning. Ikeda cursed under his breath.

"You already know me. I'm Koro. I'll be your new homeroom teacher in the meantime. The homeroom teacher assigned to your class, Ms Elvie, had to go on leave due to personal reasons. That's all you need to know."

"Yes, sir."

"Now, let's see. I'm here to announce the yearly class trip that all first-years attend as a team-building activity," Koro said.

Mumbles erupted in the classroom.

"Really?! I didn't know!"

"Yeah, I heard from an upperclassman it was really fun!"

"Really?! I'm so glad I came to this school!"

"I heard there's this test of courage on the second day!"

"Really?! I can't wait!"

Wow. A class trip? Yuu couldn't help the excitement building up inside her chest. She never attended one before. After all, they were not mandatory. She looked over to Hikari, and Hikari made a soundless squealing gesture, and Yuu only grinned in response.

"Silence!" Koro bellowed, silencing the whole class. "The trip will be 3 days and 2 nights long. Boys and girls will be sleeping in different quarters. You will be divided into 6 groups and must complete the activities over the 3 days with the same team. Understood?!"

"Yes, sir!" The class answered in unison.

"Remember! This is a team-building activity. This is to strengthen your bonds and create a good foundation in your relationship with your peers. Understood?!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Now, for the grouping!"

Koro looked at Yuu.

"Yuu Osaka, Kousuke Nakano, Hikari Tadashi, Ikeda Sato and Mei Ayano will be in one group. Ri-"

"Huh?! Why am I in the same group as him?!" Yuu stood up and pointed towards Kousuke.

"Hey! It's rude to point at someone." Kousuke cocked his eyebrow to the side, enjoying her outburst.

"I'm sorry," Yuu said in between her teeth as she pulled her hand back, knowing full well he was enjoying the moment.

Koro cleared his throat again.

"What is this activity for again, Osaka-kun?"

"Team-building, sir," Yuu answered dejectedly, knowing full well she couldn't argue with that.

"Good."

Yuu took a peek behind her with a clenched jaw, and there he was with an annoying smirk plastered on his handsome face.

Ugh.

"Hey! Hey! Osaka-kun! We're in one team!" Hikari said in a hushed whisper as Koro divided the rest of the class into groups.

"Yes, glad to be in your team, Hikari-chan," Yuu responded with a smile, so grateful to have her in the same team. To say she was excited was an understatement.

"Hey! If you keep smiling like that, I'll fall in love with you," Hikari winked at Yuu, making Yuu blush.

Hikari simply snickered.

"Oi! Stop annoying Osaka!" Ikeda hit Hikari's head with a rolled paper.

Hikari simply glared at Ikeda, and Yuu couldn't help but chuckle at the exchange.

Looking across the classroom, a pair of heinous eyes caught Yuu's, and the daunting sensation surrounded her chest again.

Mei Ayano.