CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4 - Project Yamamura

The next day. . .

---First bell chimes--- As the hallways quickly clear and everyone are now in their respective classrooms, the clear windows turns tinted - contagiously from the top to bottom, bringing complete darkness to each classroom. Then an enormous screen gently sinks down from the ceiling in front of them, displaying the image of their student council president, sitting on a chair, clutching her hands on the table with a long face.

"Minna sama," she said sorrowfully. "Summer vacation is approaching but I am sad to say that someone has already left us before we even get to have our summer fair. . she died of cancer this morning"

Everyone's surprised with the sudden announcement from the student council president that they began gossiping, wondering who is that student. "that's so unfortunate, I wanna cry," says a girl tapping her under eyes as a girl next to her comforts her.

"who do you think she is?" Mikki asks Fubuki.

"Yumi was not here yesterday sooo---"

"NO---- WAY!" Nao chan interrupts. "No no no noooooo"

While they're gossiping, Seika stayed quiet at her desk, facing down, and start whimpering.

"what's the matter Seika chan, daijoubu?" Mikki asks, tapping her back.

"I-I got a text from-"

"from who?"

"from Kobayashi's," Yumi swiftly replies as she shows her phone screen to them, revealing the same text message Seika received. "isn't she, your younger cousin?" talking like a detective.Seika nods and then burst into tears just as the student council president reveals the name -- 'Kobayashi Koharu'.

"Haru chan," Seika whines.

"how did you get that text message Yumi chan? cause we didn't received any" Nao asked.

"because Kobayashi san is a close friend of my papa," she answers. "and Haru and I goes to the same hospital for our treatments" she said in her mind.

Everyone gasps from shock, can't believe what they've just heard. Koharu is known for her jolly personality, optimism, and activeness so they never knew about her having cancer all those times. Moving on, the rooms come back to normal after the announcement and their homeroom teacher comes in. They greet him as normal, stand up, and bows down in synchrony.

"Ok, well I know you guys are sad about the announcement a while ago. . so as I," then a brief silence fills the room. "well anyways, I have good news for you all"

"what is it?" a guy from the back shouts as he lay his feet on the his table throws his head backwards.

"Thanks that you asked young man. . . well, I now, have here the results of who won the book hunting activity we did last day" he replies as he pulls a paper out from his folder. "but before that, may I call in Miyamoto and Yamamura san here?"

Though having no idea of what it is, they both go towards the front and stand next to their teacher. Hiro is standing like a statue looking in just one direction - blank face.

"well here ladies and gents, is the only team who gathered no books by the last bell that day"

--silence--

"does that mean they didn't get grades sensei?"

"Noooo---," he replies. "they, instead got the perfect score"

"wwwhhhhhhaaaaatttttt?" they all say.

"well. . to be honest, that was your exam,"

"wwhhhhaaaaattttttt?!!!" they all yell in surprise. "how can we pass with those few books?"

"well that's not just about how many books you've gathered. . it's about compassion to the lower ranks. We want to test you guys if you still see those guys of lower ranks as someone like you. . if you still respect them like how they do to you," he replies. "and as what we saw, plenty of you guys are still overpowering them. . taking advantage to your ranks to obtain their books"

The class remains silent, thinking through everything he said, and then he hits the table with a rolled paper and continues to talk.

"that's why Miyamoto san and Yamamura san won the game," he joyfully said. "they gave out their books whole-heartedly to those of the lower ranks so they can get points after the others took it from them"

Yumi could not believe what she heard, her eyes widen, giggling as she stretched her arms towards Hiro.

"kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!!!" she screams then wraps her arms around Hiro's neck.

"hey what are you doing?" Hiro said while pushing her away.

"we won! we won! yeeeeyyyy"

"whatever," he said while pushing her, trying to let go. "get off of me!!"

No one did passed the exam other than Yumi and Hiro, who passed because of Yumi's natural kindness. Though Everyone feels happy for them - winning the game unexpectedly. They sit and chat while waiting for their next teacher, while Hiro's minding his own business, Yumi, on the other hand, is surrounded by her friends and asking her question.

"hey heartbreaker, what's up huh?," Fubuki asks.

"what do you mean?"

"You know what I mean" glancing at Hiro, sitting by the window. "what're you planning this time?"

"nothing!" she replies, resting her chin on her palm while looking at Hiro.

"come on, I know you Yumi chan. . you're up to something when you wanna get close to a boy"

"welp. . Fubi chan. . this one's different I promise"

"oohhhhh. . don't tell me Yumi chan's in love now" she jokes.

"hmmmmm. . . can be?" she replies and then laughs. "

"gurl. . I'm telling you, that one's a hard one"

"I dont care. . I will befriend him whatever it takes" she said as she crust her fist and nods with determination.

"wanna bet?" Mikki jokes.

"game" Fubuki accepting the challenge. "what will you bet?"

"If Yumi don't succeed, you get my pent house" Mikki respond with confidence.

"cool, I'll bet my rest house then,"

"guys what are you doing?," Yumi said attempting to stop them. "stop it, you two"

"that's a deal then" Mikki said.

"Project Yamamura, here-we-go"