"Nothing gets me going like a good sprint. One foot htting the ground quickly after the other, the buildings and plants around me seem to fly past. My breaths short but measured as I throw myself forwards with glee."

"Guard" "Stop! I'm telling you, stop right there!"

mik "Ah ha ha ha ha!"

"I can't help but laugh at the fool. There's no way that old man could outrun someone like me, no matter how carefully ironed his poncy uniform is. He looks more like an office worker than security, not that it's easy to see him in this darkness."

"To his credit, he is managing to keep up, going by the circle of torchlight swinging to and fro on the ground just before me as he frantically gives chase."

"One problem with living in the country is that if you miss one train, the effect ripples down as you end up missing the next few connections as well. By the time we finally got back to Yamaku, it was well past curfew."

"Not that I mind. After all, I'm having the time of my life right now."

"The plus side to the nighttime darkness that's fallen over the school grounds is that it's trivial to sneak in. With me acting as a decoy to draw the guard away, Hisao and Suzu should be well on their way to their respective dormitory buildings by now."

"The security guard yells out some more, but it only makes me go faster. My hair and shirt billow in the wind as I run through the grounds, the night air feeling wonderfully refreshing against my skin as I move."

"Hello again, Yamaku."

# Timeskip

har "Yo, Miki."

"Haru raises a hand in greeting as he notices me walking down the hallway towards class."

mik "Hey. Unusual to see you here so early."

har "Had plenty of time to recharge over the holidays, after all. Ready and rearing to go."

mik "Didn't you work in your family's bakery? How's that gonna recharge you?"

har "Baking is fun, you know. Besides, it's not like I worked for free."

"He reaches into his back pocket, pulling out his smart brown wallet. The number of bills he pulls out makes my heart skip a beat."

mik "Dude..."

har "This is what it's all about, girl. Fat stacks."

mik "Gimme. Gimme, gimme. I want to touch it."

"He gingerly hands it over, my hands instinctively snatching the wad of cash from his fingers."

"So this is what it feels like to be rich. I rub the notes between my fingers, taking in their texture before bringing them underneath my nose and taking a whiff."

mik "Smells like... capitalism."

har "And part of capitalism is paying the worker, so give me that back."

"I frown as I dutifully hand him back his money. That was probably the most cash I've ever held in my hands at once."

mik "Sounds like you enjoyed yourself, at least."

har "Sure did. You didn't kill Hisao and Suzu, did you?"

mik "Haha, nah. They're still kicking around."

"As we walk into the classroom, my point is made for me. Suzu sits at her desk while Hisao talks to her while standing in front of it. Everything really is back to normal."

"Giving a hearty stretch, in part from lack of sleep, I walk over to the two as Haru takes a seat."

suz "So you managed to avoid the guard, then?"

mik "C'mon, who do you take me for?"

his "Thanks for doing that, anyway. We'd have all been screwed if you didn't draw him away."

mik "Eh, it was a nice run."

mik "And besides, it's kinda hard to refuse you, now."

"He just smiles and scratches his head. If I really wanted to torture him, I'd give him a big ol' kiss in front of the class, but I'll save him the embarrassment. For now."

"Suzu just gives a sigh as she starts getting her things out for the day ahead."

his "I probably should have asked, but are you okay with this, Suzu?"

suz "It's not up to me."

suz "Besides, I largely expected it. I just hope the influence you have over one another runs in one particular direction more than the other."

"I stick my tongue out at the cheeky girl. I'm glad she doesn't seem to mind, though it would probably be best not to be too touchy feely around her, going by her reactions to it."

"As we talk, I look back to see Mutou striding into class, the day's teaching material held under his arm. As good as catching up with others might be, I suppose school wouldn't be school without the pain of classes."

"As he deposits his folders and books on the desk, Mutou's head perks up as he notices that I'm here."

mut "Ah, Miura. Good morning."

mik "Mornin'. All rested up after the holidays?"

mut "Teachers don't get holidays."

mik "Seriously?"

mut "We take training, mark tests, and prepare lesson plans the next semester. As much as I'd like to rest, there isn't much time for it."

mik "That's terrible. How can anyone live like that?"

mut "It's the life I chose, so it's not that bad."

mut "You seem quite tired, though. Not enough sleep?"

mik "Ah ha, yeah. Got to sleep pretty late last night."

"He doesn't say a word, content to simply stare at me intently. I keep smiling, but I know damn well that I just dug my own grave."

mik "Shit..."

# Timeskip

mik "Shit damn bloody shit."

his "Swearing's just going to get you more detention if a teacher hears you."

"I continue grumbling under my breath as we walk, both of us loaded down with thick textbooks as we walk down the hallway to the library, the sounds of people outside enjoying their lunch break making this all the more dreary."

"In the end, there just aren't that many girls here brazen enough to try outrunning the security guard at night, let alone doing it while laughing maniacally. Waltzing into Mutou's trap didn't help my case, either."

"At least I'm not alone in my punishment, with Hisao having volunteered to take a load down there as well."

mik "Thanks for offering to help me with these."

his "To be honest, that was just because I was going to the library anyway."

mik "Nerd."

"I keep watching him as we walk, losing my self-awareness a little as I do."

his "Is there something on my face?"

mik "I was just wondering how I ended up going out with a dork like you."

his "What about me? A dedicated student hanging around a total delinquent's not a good look."

"I bump him with my hip, earning a sigh. He might have roped me into a relationship, but I'm not gonna make it easy for him."

"Walking into the library, it looks just as it always has. Students quietly read away, with the odd sign that this is unmistkably Yamaku lying around, like the cane propped against a desk, or braille book being scanned over by the fingers of a pretty blonde."

"Hanako, as always is just visible in her little corner, burying her face in some novel or another while she sits on that big beanbag of hers. It's too bad the couple of times I tried to get closer to her failed so utterly."

"Hisao quietly calls out that we've come with the textbooks, given that nobody's behind the counter to take them. Before I suggest we just dump them for the staff to sort out, a loud thump from under the counter gives us both a jump."

"Yuuko slowly emerges from the ground, rubbing her sore head as she stands. The poor girl never seems to have very much luck."

his "That sounded bad."

yuk "That's the second time today..."

mik "Maybe you should start wearing a helmet."

"The quip doesn't go over well, the librarian becoming even more depressed. I feel like I just kicked a puppy."

"Having had enough of standing around with this weight in my arm, I sit the pile on the counter. Hisao quickly does the same, putting his stack beside mine."

yuk "Ah, these are the ones Mutou borrowed for class?"

his "Yeah. They should all be accounted for."

"As Yuuko begins to count up the books, my interest in staying here starts rapidly dropping, my eyes drawn towards the door. The fact doesn't escape Hisao."

his "You could show at least try to hide your lack of interest."

mik "I can't help it, I'm allergic to paper."

his "Oh really?"

mik "Yes, really. I break out in a rash. The only cure..."

"I shuffle a couple of steps towards the door."

mik "...is to go..."

"A couple more steps. I've nearly managed to escape."

mik "...Outside."

"I feel the tips of Hisao's fingers brush against my arm, but I slip from his grasp and slide out the door. I'm finally free."

# Timeskip

"Wandering past the trees to the track, all the usual suspects are hanging around. Emi and the track captain pelt around at high speed, as if they had any other speed they go at, while most of the others are stretching and chatting between themselves."

"As much as I'd like to call this familiar scene home, it's only going to last a few more months. When that time comes, this will all be gone, just like my life at the farm."

"Not wanting to get caught up in my angst, I give a big stretch to try and ward off my tiredness before walking across the track and up to the assorted club members."

mik "Yo."

yuk "I was wondering when you'd show up here again."

mik "Is that in a good way, or a bad way?"

yuk "Guess."

har "Can't you two get along just for a single day after the holidays?"

mik "It's his fault."

yuk "What? No it's not."

har "Now, now, children. Stop fighting."

mik "Fine. Too tired for this shit, anyway."

yuk "Tried to keep your holiday going a bit too long?"

mik "Something like that. I think I need a holiday just to recover from my holiday."

har "A lot happened, then?"

mik "You have no idea."

"Yukio's gaze shifts over my shoulder. Turning to see what's taken his attention, I see Hisao striding up. Guess he got bored of his precious books."

mik "Speak of the devil."

his "Hey, guys."

yuk "You managed to survive, then?"

mik "Why does everyone say that?"

his "After what happened? They're not exactly wrong to wonder."

har "Can't leave us hanging, man. What's the story?"

his "Uh, well..."

"He looks to me with a slightly questioning face, as if asking how best to break the news. It turns to a look of concern as the corners of my mouth curl upwards."

"I grab his tie with my hand, yanking his face towards mine. Our mouths meet, my heart skipping a beat as I feel his soft lips press to mine. He gives a muffled mumble of surprise, but it only makes me kiss him all the harder."

"Letting go of his tie, he stumbles back and gasps for air. I can't wipe the toothy grin off my face, smiling so hard that my cheeks almost hurt."

yuk "Well, well."

har "You're a braver man than I."

"As Yukio is left scratching his head, Haru steps forward and pats Hisao on the shoulder. Hisao finally manages to recollect himself after a few moments, though it's obvious his heart's still racing."

his "She's not that bad."

yuk "I hope it works out for you. If anyone could civilise this savage, it's you."

mik "I'm right here, dude."

yuk "I know that."

"Someone a few yards away calls for Yukio, and with a quick wave, he leaves us. Haru turns on the ball of his heel, about to follow."

har "Good luck, you two."

"He gives a wink, and with that, walks away. Hisao stays silent as I wave him off."

mik "Got bored of the library, huh?"

his "Yeah."

"The silence between us is all the more noticable thanks to the noise from the other club members. Hisao's cheeks look slightly rosier than they did before, leading to only one conclusion."

mik "You're not all embarrassed from that kiss, are you?"

"His face flowers into a scarlet blush as he buries it in his hands. I just laugh, partly at him, and partly to shrug off my own feelings. The feeling of his lips against mine still lingers in my mind, after all."

mik "You're too soft, boy."

his "That was our first kiss..."

mik "And it was a good one, too!"

"The weariness in his eyes as he looks to me tells that he's finally coming to realise what he's got himself in for. Taking pity on him, I reach forwards and rub his hair."

his "Why do you keep doing that? It's embarrassing."

mik "'Cause I like doing it, why else?"

"Hisao frowns, but I can tell he secretly enjoys it. He tends to be cutest when he's trying not to be."

his "There was something I wanted to ask you. Before you ran away from the library and left me standing there like a goose, that is."

mik "Go on."

"He clears his throat and takes a breath before continuing on."

his "Do you have anything planned on Sunday?"

mik "Not a thing. Why?"

his "Then it's a date. I'll pick you up late morning."

"Oh, right. We're going out now. That means dating."

"I know what that entails, in a rough sense. Romance movies aren't really my thing, but I've seen a couple that show characters dating. It's just spending some time with you person you love, really. Time with the person you love. Person you love. Love."

"That damn word keeps echoing around in my head. It actually feels kinda nice to think about, like rolling a tasty piece of candy about in my mouth."

"Feeling a smile on my face, I know there's only one answer I can give."

mik "Cool."