Chapter IX

"Why did you throw a book at my face earlier?! And what's more, it's a thick book! Can you imagine the pain that I felt the moment the book hits my face?!"

Keiji ask, pinching Aoi's cheeks.

Aoi couldn't speak because of her pinched cheeks, but Keiji could hear gibberish apology. He also didn't failed to notice the sobs leaving her lips.

'I'd better stop before I crossed a line, she's pitiful.'

The blonde couldn't help but to let out a before letting Aoi's cheeks go and the brown haired girl immediately rub her cheeks vigorously to ease the pain and take few steps away from him.

Aoi didn't said anything but glare at Keiji through her teary eyes as sobs escapes her lips.

'Stupid blonde! I wish that book just knock you out earlier!'

"We finally found you."

Aoi and Keiji look behind her and saw Kiara and Nite walking toward them while carrying their bags.

"We were looking for you everywhere, you know-Huh? Aoi?!"

Kiara exclaimed as she quickly cup the brown haired girl's cheeks the moment she notice its redness.

"What's the meaning of this, Keiji, huh?!"

Aoi and Keiji flinch at Kiara's venom-filled voice.

Keiji was about to ex plain but she was cut off by Aoi.

"He pinch my cheeks, Kiara-san! And it hurts!"

Aoi sobs and Kiara glare daggers at Keiji causing the blonde boy to take a couple of steps back.

"T-That's because s-s-s-she throw a b-b-book at my face! A-And besides, d-didn't y-you also make her k-kneel y-yesterday! What's the difference?!"

Keiji exclaimed as cold sweats run down his nape.

Kiara didn't said anything and starts cracking her knuckles.

"I thought that we already talk about this matter, that I'm the only one that's allowed to bully Aoi, hmm?"

Kiara smile sinisterly causing shivers to run down Aoi and Keiji's spine while Nite only watch while standing still.

'This is bad! I don't have a choice but to run, but if I run, I'll still get caught… What should I do?!'

"Praying, I see. But that's useless, because it doesn't affect me."

Keiji snap out of his thoughts and immediately starts running the moment Kiara take a step toward him causing Kiara to pop a vein.

"Wait, you dumbass!"

And with that, it's now Keiji's turn to run away while being chase by his own twin sister.

'Ah, there they left… Forgive me, Keiji-kun for doing this, but it's your fault in the first place. I'll pray that you'll survive despite having some broken bones.'

Aoi thought as she closed her eyes and hold her hands together as if she's praying while fighting back the smile that's threatening to come out.

"You know that praying for Keiji's safety won't work, right?"

Aoi's eyes shot open upon hearing Nite's voice behind her and quickly turn around and saw him towering over her since they have a quite huge height difference.

"N-Nuwamari-kun!"

Aoi shriek as she take a couple steps away from Nite.

"Are you still embarrass about earlier?"

Nite ask, holding back a smile.

"H-Huh? W-W-What are y-you t-talking about?"

Aoi ask, avoiding eye-contact while fiddling with the hem of her skirt.

'There she goes again… Fiddling with the hem of her skirt every time she's being cornered.'

Nite smile and let out a light chuckle causing Aoi to look at him a little surprised.

"Don't worry, Aoi. What happen earlier, I'll keep it a secret between, I promise."

Nite smile, holding out Aoi's bag toward her.

"Don't say it like that, because I feel like we did something very wrong."

Aoi chuckle nervously before grabbing her bag from his grasp and muttering a small 'thank you'.

"Sorry."

Nite chuckle and Aoi couldn't help but to feel giddy at his chuckle and couldn't hold back her smile.

"You should smile and laugh more, Nuwamari-kun. It suits you."

Aoi smile before grabbing Keiji's bag that was thrown on the ground by his twin sister before she went to chase after him.

"Then, I'll do that, I'll smile and chuckle every day."

Aoi's smile widen and she was about to said something, but Nite cut him off.

"That is only if you starts calling me by my first name."

Nite smile and Aoi could feel her cheeks getting warmer.

She was about to say something, but Nite cut her off again.

"The Izunari twins are already fine with me calling them by their first names, and you're also fine with it you said."

Nite paused as he walked passed Aoi who is standing still on her place.

"But if you're not comfortable with it, then it's okay, you can call me by my last name. But I'll also call you President."

Aoi quickly whip her head toward Nite's direction and saw him smiling playfully at her.

'I refuse! I don't want to be called President!'

Aoi glare at Nite which he just shrug off.

The brown haired girl starts to feel embarrass before heaving out a sigh and finally giving in.

"F-Fine then. S-Starting f-from now on, I-I-I'll call you by y-your first n-name, would t-that be o-okay w-with y-you, Nite-kun?"

Aoi's face flushed as she called Nite by his first name and the black haired boy couldn't help but to also flush.

'Ah! What an embarrassing moment! Ah, I just want to bury myself alive somewhere.'

Aoi could feel her eyes starting to turn watery because of the embarrassment the moment she heard Nite's respond which is a loud chuckle.

"See? You did it! Good job."

Nite smile, his cheeks dusted with red.

"T-That w-was e-embarrassing."

Aoi whisper and Nite chuckle again.

"I think that was adorable though. The way you said it."

Nite tease with a playful smile causing Aoi's face to flush and pop a vein before glaring daggers at him and walk away hastily, leaving Nite who's chuckling at her behavior with face flushed a little.

Nite look at her disappearing form with a smile plaster on his face and chuckle again when he saw how she almost trip over herself.

'Ah, the day isn't over yet, here I am, feeling like my day is complete already. I agree with the twins, Aoi is really a bunny, an adorable and funny one. I feel like my life would be healthy again with this laughing and care.'

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________