Chương 13: Chapter 13: Movie [Rewritten]

A/N: Probably a bad chapter. If you don't like it, please skip the chapter and read the next one. I'm not sure what I was writing here myself.

It's a Hiyori Chapter, though, however.

[18th April]

[Kurushima Pov]

As each of the lessons began, I looked at Idiot one and Idiot two with disgust and disappointment.

Nevertheless, Ryūen isn't a proper enemy for me.

He will be just one of the few courageous people who tried to oppose me.

As it was now the end of the lessons, I could see some girls approaching me, however, I avoided them effectively and walked to Class C's classroom.

I leaned myself opposite on the wall to their classroom until she would come out.

"Woaahh, look at that guy." I heard some girls conversing about me.

"Isn't he the first place in the Ikemen rankings?" one girl exclaimed in surprise.

"Yeah, now that you say it, he is," another girl affirmed the...Ikemen rankings?

Ikemen... means good-looking man. Did they... create a ranking of boys, based on their looks? You know, that's quite rude, actually...

I don't think... the boys... No, some did, but regarding other categories besides looks. Instead of looks, they compared the breast size... and... No, the boys aren't better.

Although I didn't partake, since it was a very silly competition. But, I shouldn't focus my attention on that.

"Shiina-san," I exclaimed as I walked over to her.

"Huh?" I heard her exclaiming in an absent tone. "Ah, Kurushima-kun, I was just absent. I apologize," Shiina responded in an apologetic tone.

"No worries," I said. "Let's go then, Shiina-san," I exclaimed, as we walked together in the direction of the dormitories.

However, as we were walking, I could see girls from my class following us.

I'm quite popular... it seems.

It's the thing I wanted, after all. Despite being not used to the attention, with the girls social network, getting secrets will be by far easier.

I can get them too, but...

I want to remain anonymous, so if I expel Third-Year's, I'd like to prevent being suspected by Manabu-senpai or Nagumo-senpai at all costs. Manabu-senpai will suspect Nagumo-senpai to be behind it, while Nagumo, who clearly isn't, would suspect someone else.

Although, for that task, Kushida should be the most useful person. She has her use, after all. I'll let you in peace for now, but soon, I'll make sure to use you, Kushida Kikyo.

However, I'd like to have other sources, besides Kushida, so I won't quite antagonize them, for now. It might be seen as submissive, but it's not.

I'm the one using them, after all. I have decent control over them, but in this matter, I don't think so. I had received some confessions, in the limited time I'm here, but despite being rejected, they didn't seem to give up.

I did tell them truthfully, that I hadn't any feelings for a girl, which was the truth, so they might have given themselves hope, perhaps, again?

It's not like I'd understand it though, since I don't know how you're supposed to feel, when you're in love. Love makes you act irrational, after all. Or so, I've heard, at least, from Aoki.

He said, acting irrational wasn't a bad thing, but in my opinion, it clearly was. Love, it'd simply interrupt with my revenge, in the end. Although he hoped that I might find these kinds of things, like love, but I've to disappoint him.

It won't happen. Not now, nor in my lifetime later.

The Name Kurushima... will die with me.

But Shiina-san... is someone, who didn't approach me, based on my Status, Looks, or Wealth, but rather, out of the simple hobby we shared, reading.

She's someone, who I might be able, to call a friend, perhaps?

Otherwise, I wouldn't have searched for the movie, would I?

I guess, in the end, I'd like to fulfill one part of your wish, Aoki.

Falling in love, it won't happen, but I'll try to find friends, true genuine friends, I can... perhaps even trust partially, somehow...

"Kurushima-kun, Kurushima-kun!" I heard them shouting out my name aloud, from an estimated fifty-meter distance.

"Kurushima-kun, are those your classmates?" Shiina-san asked me, curiously.

"Yeah," I affirmed.

"Is everything okay, Kurushima-kun?"

"Honestly, I'm quite annoyed of being popular, now. Usually, despite asking politely, a couple of them are even following me, everywhere I go, almost. They seem to want to know, what I'd like to do, in my free time, it seems, when I'm not in class."

"In the school forum, I even saw... a couple of pictures of me, being spread by anonymous persons. It's not a matter I will report, but... I'd like to be asked of allowance first, before someone thinks of even taking pictures of me... Hahaha..." Painfully, I laughed it off.

I'm treated like some kind of a celebrity, somehow, by them. Not just by them, but from the girls of the Second Year, Third Year, and mostly from the First Year.

But through my popularity, I was also able to get information of some kind of encashment System after you graduate being here from the Third-Year girls, so not everything, was futile.

"Oh..." she responded in an empathic tone.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Kurushima-kun," she responded, as she understood my concerns. "Is there anything I can do to help you?" she asked, in a caring and supportive tone.

"Thank you, Shiina-san, I appreciate your offer. But I don't think you can help me on this matter. Should we postpone watching the movie for another day, then? We'll be likely bothered by them, still, even if I say something..."

Shiina-san looked slightly disappointed, until looking hopefully at my face. "Kurushima-kun, do they know your room number?"

"No, not quite. Nobody of them knows it. Why do you ask?"

"Then we can simply not let them catch up to us, can we?" she asks, in curiosity, waiting for me to agree to it, or not.

"You want to run?" I asked, completely surprised by her decision.

"Only if that's fine by you," she says, looking at me in the eyes, purely. "I don't want to postpone our meeting, because of them. It's the first time I found a friend, after all..."

I could see how it affected her, if we had to postpone our meeting. She was evidently quite sad by it, by the look of her eyes.

Relentlessly, I agreed. It was the first time, after all, I also found a friend, I guess. "Fine by me. But will you be okay?"

"Yes, Kurushima-kun. Even if I don't have much stamina, I think I should be able to run for one kilometer, at the very least. Until we got them away from us," she expressed, in a wavering tone of confidence, and a slight smile.

"Okay, Shiina-san. Let's run, shall we," I answered, with a slight hint of amusement behind my voice, to my surprise.

Strangely, it didn't feel that bad, honestly. I was amused somehow, running with her, away from them, quite honestly.

We began to run in the dormitories direction. I adapted my tempo to hers, as I didn't want to outrun her.

However...

After...30 seconds, I could hear her catching multiple breaths.

And after one minute, she was completely exhausted and wasn't able to run further anymore.

The dormitories are still around 2.6 Kilometers away and we ran at least 150 meters.

"I-I'm s-sorry, Kurushima-kun," she exclaimed, between gasps of breaths.

"I have bad stamina," she expressed, while I could see her panting heavily. Sweat was pouring down from her face, as she is quite exhausted.

"I'm sorry, Shiina-san," I apologized, in a guilty and sad voice. "I should have considered that it would be very demanding for you," I exclaimed, in a worried tone about her.

"N-No, d-don't b-be s-sorry, i-its because of my s-stamina," she said, as she was trying to catch several breaths more. "I can still run further, Kurushima-kun," she exclaimed, however, I could see how exhausted she was from 150 meters already.

"No, I don't want to demand you any further, Shiina-san," I expressed, as she sadly looked at me, as she thought we couldn't watch the movie together anymore.

However, I didn't intend to part here.

"As long as we arrive at the dormitories, it's fine with you, right, Shiina-san? It doesn't matter how, right?"

"I don't quite understand, Kurushima-kun."

Even I didn't expect what I'd do afterward, but my body was in the process of moving already. "Please bear with it, for a while, Shiina-san. Until we're at the dormitories."

"Please, excuse me," I said, picking her up in a princess carry style in my arms

"Huh?" she startled in shock upon my actions.

"K-K-Kurushima-kun?" she called my name, in an embarrassed tone.

"We'll be faster this way, Shiina-san," I said, looking back and saw the group of girls even gaining more energy.

I'm not sure why, but suddenly I noticed that Shiina-san was quite beautiful, wasn't she? Her silver long hair, her violet eyes, her gentle smile, and her embarrassed face.

I couldn't help but notice this immediately, once I picked her up.

Until now, I never really observed any girls, fairly well, but now, I just did.

Anyhow, I saw Shiina-san talking again. "O-okay," she exclaimed nervously.

Meanwhile, I sprinted to the dormitories, with her in my arms.

Do I look like a womanizer now? I didn't have the intention at all, though.

"K-Kurushima-kun, you were holding yourself this much back?" she muttered, as she engulfed her arms around my neck, due to the tempo I was leaping through the school ground.

"Perhaps, who knows?" I responded teasingly, as she simply leaned against my shoulder, because of the fear from falling off.

Within twenty-four minutes, we reached the elevator in the dormitories, as I sprinted and pressed the button to the 4th floor.

I could have run faster, however, this should be enough, as I didn't want to run faster than necessary.

In the meantime, I saw myself sweating quite heavily. Although, I'm feeling perfectly fine.

As the elevator was moving up further from the floor after floor, I still didn't realize that I was unconsciously holding her in my arms.

Only when the elevator stopped on the 4th floor and I walked to my room, and I saw Ayanokoji who was the only one on the floor looking at me strangely as well as curious about what I was doing, I realized that I was holding her.

I also heard in the meantime Shiina-san talking.

"K-Kurushima-kun?" Shiina-san asked, as her tone was left bewildered.

"Oh..." I muttered, the strike of realization hitting me.

I immediately let her out of my arms and apologized. "I'm sorry, Shiina-san."

"No, no, don't apologize, Kurushima-kun. You carried me in your arms for more than twenty minutes, if anyone should apologize, it should be me," she exclaimed.

"Please, also don't apologize, Shiina-san," I exclaimed, having caused an awkward situation now.

Simultaneously, I swiped my keycard through and my room opened.

We're here.

In my room.

"Please excuse me," Shiina-san said, taking her shoes off and entering my room.

"Please, make yourself comfortable here, Shiina-san."

"Okay," she responded.

I breathed out of relief. "That was a nice work out, I guess..."

In the meantime, I took my necktie off, alongside my school uniform, only leaving myself with the white shirt remaining.

"Work out?" she questioned, but suddenly, she looked at me with a flushed expression.

"K-Kurushima-kun?" she muttered in a quiet and embarrassed voice.

"Is something wrong, Shiina-san?" I asked, trying to gauge why she was so embarrassed and flushed.

"Y-y-your u-upper body is v-visible," she stuttered, looking at my... wet white shirt, covered with full of sweat, making my upper body visible.

"Oh..." I muttered, immediately picking up a jacket and clothing myself.

"I'm sorry, Shiina-san. I didn't do it deliberately," I said, not wanting her to misunderstand anything.

"I know, Kurushima-kun. It's 38 Celcius outside and additionally you carried me for more than twenty minutes while sprinting to the dormitories," she exclaimed, her tone showing her appreciation.

"Shiina-san, you're also sweating a bit," I said, looking at her wet blouse, full of sweat, making her bra visible to my eyes.

It was a cerulean gradient bra, that clung to her curves and accentuated her feminine figure.

Her soft skin, with droplets of sweat pouring down from her neck, down to her upper body, was completely visible to my eyes.

Her expression, as I stared at her, completely becoming flushed, hiding her embarrassment upon my stares.

However, as I saw her completely helpless in front of me, I took one of my clothes from the wardrobe and threw it at her, as I covered my eyes.

"Shiina-san, I'm sorry. I didn't do it deliberately," I expressed, realizing that I repeated the same sentence from a prior minute ago.

"Uhm....Kurushima-kun, don't apologize. I also stared at you, so I'm also at fault," she exclaimed, her tone showing her shyness about how she admitted staring at my body.

"Okay," I responded shortly, hoping that this topic would end now.

"Uhm... Kurushima-kun, I think you should take a shower," she expressed, her voice showing her concern about me since I still wore a jacket over my shirt which was coincidentally full of sweat.

"I guess that would be appropriate if I don't want to sweat everything full here," I responded, trying to make a small joke. But the one who laughed at the end was just me in a painful way.

"Is everything fine with you, Shiina-san? You also were sweating," I indicated, trying to steer the conversation away from my failure of a joke.

"Me? I didn't even run for more than a minute, Kurushima-kun. Also I don't think I'm as much affected as you," she said.

"Is it really fine? Your clothes were also a bit wet."

"Yeah, in any case, I can just go to my room and come in fifteen minutes again."

"Yes, that's true," I responded.

"Well, Kurushima-kun, I'm coming in fifteen minutes again," she replied, walking to the door.

"Okay, Shiina-san," I responded, walking with her until the end of the door.

But just as she opened the door to a small fragment, I could see her body freezing.

"Shiina-san, is everything alright?" I asked.

"K-Kurushima-kun, they're here," she responded, indicating that the girls...are on this floor.

"Oh..." I muttered in a depriving tone.

"Kurushima-kun, they're even more than before," she exclaimed, making me even feel worse.

"How many?" I asked, scratching my head in awkwardness.

"Uhm... It's more than forty girls from what I'm seeing," she expressed in a sense akin to surprise.

"Ahahaha, good joke, Shiina-san."

But her facial expression didn't change even a bit, indicating that this wasn't a joke from her side.

"It's not a joke?" I thought aloud, hoping in my mind that Shiina-san is just someone who is able to deliver good jokes without changing her facial expression.

"Uh-huh," she affirmed, nodding her head.

I could see the horror written over her face.

"Oh, dear god..."

However, I quickly composed myself again.

"Ahem. Shiina-san, I think you should stay in my room until they're gone. Because if they find out that you're also here, it could cause your safety to be compromised," I exclaimed, thinking about the possible consequence if Shiina-san is being seen walking out of my room.

"Uh... some girls are like that, right?" she muttered, the strike of realization hitting her, that this isn't a far fetched off scenario which might happen.

I nodded.

"I'm in your care then, Kurushima-kun," she said, expressing her gratitude with a bow.

"No, no, Shiina-san, it's my fault, so please raise your head," I was startled, because of her sudden manners of doing a bow.

"Okay," she replied.

"I think we should wait until they're away," I exclaimed, painfully laughing while sweat is pouring down from my face. I just hoped that they would never find my room.

"Uhm...Kurushima-kun, I think you should take a shower, nonetheless" she said, feeling partially guilty about this situation, hearable from her guilty voice.

"After all, it's partially my fault, that you're even sweating until now," she added.

"Uhm...I won't take that long. Please, be free to take whatever you want out of the refrigerator or the kitchen cabinet."

I hoped with all my heart that they wouldn't find this room.

However, I also thought about a potential excuse of how I could sent them away if they do find this room.

I didn't let any additional time pass further and took some of my clothes from the wardrobe and entered the bathroom.

I finished showering after seven minutes, just at the precise time when I heard the ring on my doorbell belling.

I clothed myself at a fast-paced speed, walking out of the bathroom with the singular thought that the person who rang the doorbell is in fact Ayanokoji and not the forty girls in this floor.

"Kurushima-kun, they're here," Shiina-san said, her voice unsure whether to be anxious or fearful. I could see how she stood tiptoe with her feet to look at the door peephole.

For a small moment I thought about the possibility if they could hear us, but that was just an unnecessarily spontaneous thought of mine since I'm well aware that everything here is soundproof.

Should I just wait until they walk further?

No, if they rang doorbell after doorbell and some people who had arrived here already or were at home for the whole day told them that this is my room it won't bring any use to open this door not now.

It would alternatively only cause more disadvantages than advantages to me, from not opening that door.

Yeah...

It could cause me to lose my reputation, and some Influence...

Suddenly, I could hear the doorbell ringing aggressively, in an inpatient demeanor.

Shiina-san who was just looking at the door peephole looked at me.

"Please hide yourself, somewhere. I'll deal with it," I said.

She nodded.

Currently, my hair was quite wet, so it should be evidently that I came from the shower.

She hid herself in my room, while I walked to the door.

With a long and deep sigh, I prepared myself to open this door.

Shiina-san who heard my deep sigh from the bedroom couldn't help but chuckle for a moment.

"I apologize."

"No worries."

I touched the doorknob with my left hand and opened the door, trying to appear annoyed as I'm interrupted midway from taking a shower.

"Who is ringing the whole—time."

My voice sounded annoyed, but later, I adjusted it to one of shock.

"K-K-Kurushima-kun?" I heard a familiar girl startling, because they could see my black shirt being wet and my hair being wet.

The girl who startled was none other than Matsushita-san from my class, alongside some girls of my class, as well as from C, B, and A.

"Well, how can I help you, girls?" I asked with a charismatic smile.

"Uhm...Kurushima-kun, who was the girl next to you half an hour ago?" A certain other girl from my class asked whose surname begins with Sato.

"Yeah, Kurushima-kun, who was that silver-haired girl next to you?"

"Is she perhaps your girlfriend?" one of the girls asked, as I could hear everyone now asking me this question.

Matsushita-san, Mori-san, and Sato-san had an expectant look, just like the other girls who were present.

"You mean Shiina-san? No, no, we aren't a couple. We're simply just friends," I responded to their most lingering question in their minds.

I could see suddenly almost everyone becoming relieved upon my reply.

"If that's so, why did you suddenly carry her?" Matsushita-san asked, with a hint of suspicion behind her voice.

"Shiina-san injured her ankle, so I decided to carry her to her room," I exclaimed, my tone indicating gentleness and care for her.

"Ahh, I see," she responded, buying the lie I thought about ten minutes ago which I repeatedly repeated in the shower.

"I'm sorry for doubting you, Kurushima-kun."

"No worries, Matsushita-san," I expressed, causing her to relief a bit.

"Ahem, I would like to continue showering, so if you excuse me," I said, indicating that our awkward conversation ends here.

"Ah, yes, please do that, Kurushima-kun," Sato-san answered for all of the girls.

"We're on our way then," she said, walking away from the awkward scenery that just happened with a flushing expression.

I closed the door, repeatedly sighing in defeat.

High school girls... are really something else... I didn't think they'd even come to my room.

"Kurushima-kun, my ankle is injured?" she asked, her tone furrowed in surprise.

"Ah, well, something else didn't cross my mind..." I muttered.

"No, no, everything is fine, I was just surprised. Well, I most likely won't be able to go to my room now."

"Ah...yes, that's true. I'm sorry Shiina-san, for this whole chaotic situation."

"Don't worry, Kurushima-kun, I'm not mad at you. I would have used a similar excuse in this situation, most likely," she responded, trying to reassure me.

"I'm just glad that you aren't angry at me. You certainly have the right to be. And also Shiina-san, you're still sweating," I exclaimed, seeing sweat pouring down from her face.

"Ah, it's pretty hot here, so I can't help but sweat."

"Yes, true enough," I responded, seeing her critically affected by the heat.

"Shiina-san, please feel free to use my shower. After all, I'm the one at fault, so I should also bear responsibility."

"Huh?" she asked, bewildered in surprise.

"Your shower? No, no, please don't feel obligated to do that, Kurushima-kun."

"Don't worry, it doesn't bother me. And besides, it's the least I can offer you, considering that I'm responsible for this situation."

"O-okay, Kurushima-kun," she said, accepting my offer.

"Here is one of my shirts. You can change yourself in this."

"Thank you, Kurushima-kun," she nodded in embarrassment, taking the black shirt out of my hand.

"Also, in the bathroom are some towels, so feel free to take whichever you like. Here is also a bag, where you can put your school jacket and shirt. I'd have suggested to put them inside the washing machine, but my sweatpants are in there..."

"No problem, Kurushima-kun. I'll wash them, when I'm in my room," she said, smiling brightly.

Immediately when she went into the bathroom, I started cooking as I heard the shower noises and wanted to distract myself.

Within ten minutes, I heard the shower noises stopping, and I could assume Shiina-san was finished.

Two minutes later, I heard the bathroom door opening and saw her wearing my black shirt, being too long for her.

It's a bit awkward, seeing her with my shirt on, however, I guess it's also okay.

[Image:]

"Kurushima-kun, you can cook?" she asked, bewildered in surprise.

"And...it smells even so deliciously..." she said, drooling over the smell of my cooking.

"A bit," I responded, reminiscing myself that I learned cooking for a certain crybaby.

"Ah, please excuse me, I was lured by the smell."

"No worries, Shiina-san. Please, wait for two more minutes, until it's finished."

"Okay..." she murmured, looking at the food intensely.

"The food is ready," I said, serving the plates on the table.

"Let me help you, Kurushima-kun."

I nodded. "Sure."

Within the next couple of minutes, the table was served, with our plates on it.

"Shall we eat, then?" I asked,

"Yes, please," she said, with a hint of excitement behind her voice.

I opened the Television, put the DVD in.

"I saw her taking a bite from the food.

"Umm, it's so delicious. It's completely different from mine."

"How so?"

"Well, I can't cook. Because every time I cook, it somehow gets burned," she murmured.

"I see. That can also happen, I guess."

"Yeah..." she muttered depressingly.

Trying to steer her depressingly mood away, I suggested something.

"Should we watch the movie while we are eating?"

"Yes, let's do that," she nodded.

Immediately, I opened the Television, put the DVD in, and started the movie.

For the remaining time, we watched the movie in awe, which surprised me honestly.

Despite knowing the contents of the novel, I didn't feel any ounce of boredom. Is it because the movie conveys it well, or is it because another person is sitting next to me?

"It's a bit different from the novel, Kurushima-kun," she said.

"Yes, it certainly is. In contrast to the novel, the movie had an open ending, as the viewer himself is judging whether Andrew decided to do the lobotomizing procedure intentionally or not."

"It's unexpected, however, I think it's a good finish with the ending," I added.

"I feel the same," she said.

Once again, we were on the same wavelength, considering the novel and movie.

"That was a good movie," she said, completely satisfied.

"But the actor was the best. Being able to portray Andrew so well, it truly is something praiseworthy," Shiina-san exclaimed, completely surprised by the acting.

"How was his name again?" she asked, curiously. "The one who played Andrew, I mean?"

"If I'm remembering myself correctly, it should be Leonardo DiCaprio. He also plays in the movie The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald."

"In the Great Gatsby?" she exclaimed in surprise. "I never knew that the Great Gatsby was adapted into a movie."

"Me neither, until a year ago," I said.

"Did you perchance already watch it?" she asked.

"No, I didn't get the proper chance to watch the movie until now. I was a bit busy, with other things."

"I see. Then, do you mind watching the movie too?" she asked, with a motivated face.

"I don't mind," I responded with a small smile forming on my face.

"Then it's settled, Kurushima-kun," she said.

"Yes, it is, Shiina-san," I replied.

"Ah, please simply call me Hiyori, if that isn't too much to ask," she exclaimed.

"Okay, Hiyori," I responded, emphasizing her name.

"In return, please call me by my first name Kaoru. It would be awkward otherwise."

"Will do, Kaoru," she muttered my name in a low and quiet voice.

"Hiyori, do you mind if I'm bandaging your right ankle? After all, I told the girls, that you have injured your ankle. It would be better to be careful, as I don't know if they might question you upon today's events."

"Ah, yes, please do that."

Once I bandaged her ankle, I spoke up. "Finished."

"Thank you, once again, Kaoru. For everything, that you've done for me today."

"Nothing to worry about, Hiyori," I replied.

"I think I should go now. It's almost 8 a.m after all," she said, walking to the door.

"Yes," I said, as I parted her off from the door.

"Goodbye, Kaoru."

"You too, Hiyori," I said, closing the door.

That was quite the—unusual day.

But also a surprisingly relaxing and amusing day.

A/N: Don't ask me what I have written here. My finger's moved automatically without listening to my neurologic commands.

Anyways, I hope you liked this rather long and unusual Chapter. It's the second lengthiest Chapter I have written so far surprisingly with 4582 words.

Well, I would like to hear your opinion? Is it good or bad? I would appreciate any comments about this Chapter and naturally also the following ones too.

I might also perhaps rewrite this Chapter. Although I am not sure. Well, that's all.