Sukeban

Are you okay?

Tomomi held her phone under the desk, her eyes reading the text message she had gotten from Mami while her free hand twirled a pencil in circles on the top of her desk. It wasn’t like Tomomi to answer her phone in the middle of class but then again, it wasn’t like Tomomi to get a message in the middle of the class. Her curiosity had gotten the better of her and she had to look at who was messaging her at a time like this.

She had told herself that she’d just take a peek and then put her phone back. She wasn’t supposed to be using it in class; she wasn’t even supposed to have it on in class. She had just forgotten to turn it off before the day had begun. But when Tomomi had saw that it was Mami who had messaged her, she felt an overwhelming urge to respond. She certainly didn’t want to just ignore Mami after everything she had found out recently.

I told you I’m fine, why do you keep asking?

Tomomi quickly typed the message and locked her phone. She dropped her phone down onto her lap, leaning over on her desk to keep it concealed from the teacher or any of the students. Her eyes scanned the classroom, most of the students looking up at the front of the classroom where the teacher worked busily to explain something Tomomi didn’t understand at all. She would definitely need to borrow Mao’s notes later.

The brunette jumped a bit when she felt the phone vibrate on her lap. She huffed out an air of breath, sitting back in her chair and unlocking her phone.

Because you’re acting weird… Weirder than normal.

Tomomi glared at the message before shaking her head. There were times when Tomomi just didn’t know how to feel about Mami’s messages. It was hard to tell if her concern was genuine or not; she had an awfully odd way of showing that she cared about someone.

Very funny. But I really am fine.

Tomomi made her reply, relocking her phone again and laying it back in the spot she was hiding it in. Even if Mami was kind of mocking her, the words still made Tomomi feel an odd sense of happiness. She really did think that Mami was being genuine with her concern this time.

“Miss Ogawa.”

Tomomi jumped in her seat from the sudden voice that had called her name. Her head shot up to look at the teacher who was now looking right at her, a disapproving look on his face. Oh no. She was sure she’d been caught now, the last thing she needed was for her parents to get called again.

“Stand up,” the teacher ordered her. Tomomi nodding, doing just as the teacher had ordered. She didn’t need to be giving him any more reasons to be angry with her. “Answer this problem for us please,” he asked her, pointing to the equation written on the chalkboard behind him.

Tomomi looked at the board, her eyes widening when she saw the math problem laid out in front of her. How was she expected to solve that? All of the numbers and the letters, she didn’t even know where to begin with how to solve a problem like that one. That math problem made Tomomi feel like she was looking at a foreign language. She would just have to admit that she didn’t know what the answer was or how to even solve it. There was no point in trying to solve it when she didn’t even know where to begin with it.

“I-I-I don’t know, sensei,” Tomomi stuttered out. She could feel her cheeks heating up as she heard the whispers and murmurs around her. Tomomi usually always knew how to solve any problem or answer any question; it was rare for her to not be able to.

“Were you even paying any attention?” the teacher said with a sigh. Tomomi knew her blush was only deepening as the exchange between her and the teacher continued. She knew why he had called on her; she knew it was because he had caught her not paying attention. A lot of the teachers in the school did things similar as this in order to punish the students for not paying attention in class.

“No,” Tomomi admitted. She didn’t have much of another choice. How was she supposed to explain her way out of this one? Another student with lower grades could probably do it, but Tomomi was one of the brightest in the class. Saying she simply didn’t know the answer but she’d still been paying attention wouldn’t work for her, no one would believe that.

“I am disappointed in you, Ogawa. You’re always such a good student. Make sure to pay attention from now on, okay?”

“Yes, sensei. I’m sorry,” Tomomi apologized. She quickly took her seat, her head bowing down as her hands gripped her hidden phone tightly. She glanced up and over at Mao only to see her friend giving her a disappointed look. Tomomi sighed softly, dropping her head and unlocking her phone, expecting a text from Mami. Sure enough, there was one there.

Whatever you say. Where are you right now anyway? Aren’t you supposed to be in class?

Tomomi puffed her cheeks out in annoyance at the text message. The nerve of Mami sometimes. There were just certain times when Mami’s sarcastic ways were rather annoying and right now, after Tomomi had just gotten in trouble because of Mami, was one of those times where it was annoying.

I am in class and I just got in trouble because of you. I’m not talking to you anymore until after class.

With that last message, Tomomi locked her phone and let it slide down into her schoolbag again. She leaned over onto her desk, letting herself be supported by her arms that laid themselves on top of the wooden desk. Her eyes scanned the board at the front of the classroom, her mind waiting for the class to end.

***

“Timo, can we talk?”

Tomomi paused her actions, turning to look at her friend who had come up to her now. The class had just ended and Tomomi had been busying packing her things when Mao had called out to her.

“Sure. What did you need to talk about?” Tomomi asked her. She pushed the last few pieces of paper into her bag, pulling it off of her desk and turning around to face Mao fully now.

“I’m meeting some friends after school and I want you to come meet them, I think you’ll really like them,” Mao explained to her. Tomomi cocked her head to the side, her curiosity and confusion clear in the expression on her face.

“You want me to meet some friends?” This was a first for Tomomi. Mao never asked her to meet any friends that Tomomi didn’t already know. The two girls didn’t exactly have a very large pool of friends; both of them usually knew who the other was hanging out with so it was new for Tomomi to not know who Mao was hanging around with.

“Yeah. They go to our school but I don’t think you’ve ever talked to them. What do you say? Will you go?” Tomomi scratched the side of her head, thinking about what her answer should be. Mao was looking at her with such pleading eyes but she did already agree to meet with the other girls today again… She hadn’t been hanging out with Mao too much lately though… What was one day? She would just tell Mami to pass along the message and everything would be fine.

“Sure! I’ll go,” Tomomi replied to her brightly. Mao clapped at the agreement of her friend, she was happy that Tomomi was agreeing to do this for her.

“Thank you, Timo! Let’s go get something to eat now,” Mao said. Tomomi nodded as the two of the girls set out to leave the classroom. As they walked through the halls, Tomomi fetched her phone out of her purse, unlocking it and checking her messages.

Haha well I’m always glad to be getting you in trouble.

Tomomi glared at her phone; Mami was such a smartass sometimes. It must be where Sumire learns it from. The brunette noticed how her friend had looked back at her, raising an eyebrow at Tomomi’s actions. Tomomi just shook her head, giving Mao a sweet smile before looking back down at her phone. She typed her message, looking up every few seconds to make sure she wouldn’t bump into anything and that she wasn’t losing Mao.

Mami, don’t be mad but I’m not going to come today. I have plans with Mao.

Tomomi held the phone in her hand after she’d sent her message to Tomomi. The two girls weaved their way through the crowd, making the path out to the courtyard where the two girls would always have lunch together. As they neared the usual spot they would always be at, Tomomi felt her phone vibrate in her hand. She quickly looked at the message she’d gotten.

You’re serious? Fine. I’ll pass along the message but you’re dealing with Haruna’s wrath alone if this makes her angry. I’m not covering for you and I’m not responsible if she punches you again.

Tomomi gulped after she read the message, her mind going back to the first day when she confronted Haruna. She could remember all of the pain Haruna’s hit had caused and she didn’t want to feel that again. For a girl as tiny as Haruna was, she hit really hard. But Tomomi also wanted to know who Mao’s friends are and she hadn’t been spending much time Mao lately as it was. Spending time with her would be worth facing Haruna’s potential wrath later, she was just hoping that Haruna would go easy on her when she saw her tomorrow.

As Tomomi sat down on the ground next to Mao under the large tree, she typed out her final message to Mami.

Thank you.

***

“Mao, where are we going?” Tomomi asked as she followed her friend down the sidewalk, the two making their way in and out of the crowds that surrounded the streets of Tokyo. When Mao had said she wanted Tomomi to meet a friend after school, she thought that they would be meeting at the school, but that’s not what was happening. Mao was leading Tomomi down the sidewalk, never having told the brunette where they were going.

If it were anyone else, Tomomi might have found it a bit suspicious. Maybe even a little scary, but this was Mao. There was no way Mao was getting involved in anything bad; she just wasn’t capable of it… Then again, everyone always thought Tomomi was never capable of doing anything bad and look where she stood now.

Tomomi shook her head at the thoughts. Tomomi’s situation was different, she had a reason for doing these things but Mao didn’t have that same reason. There wasn’t a reason or a cause for Mao to take the path that Tomomi had and the brunette student believed her friend would never take that path.

“Don’t worry, Timo. You know how the teachers kick students off school grounds if they stay too long, so we’re going to meet them at a karaoke bar just down the street. It’ll be easier that way,” Mao explained. Tomomi nodded in understanding even if Mao couldn’t see her.

“Who is this friend of yours anyway, Mao?” Tomomi asked. She still hadn’t been told that, Mao seemed to be avoiding the subject of telling Tomomi who her friend was. Tomomi didn’t even see why Mao was bothering hiding it anyway; there was probably a pretty high chance of Tomomi not knowing whoever Mao wanted to introduce her to.

“Patience, Timo, we’re almost there and then you can have your answer.”

“That’s so mean,” Tomomi pouted. She reached out her hand, grabbing onto Mao and beginning to walk closer to her. They were getting into a busier part of Tokyo and Tomomi didn’t want to lose Mao in all of these people, she didn’t exactly fancy the idea of being in such a busy area lost and alone. She did this a lot and Mao never seemed to mind when she did. She had done it enough times that Mao was used to it, she even expected it now.

“It’s not mean, it is called having a surprise for you,” Mao commented playfully, a small laugh following her words.

“And who said I liked surprises?” Tomomi challenged her. She could hear Mao scoff, her elbow leaning back and hitting Tomomi softly.

“If anyone likes surprises, it’s you. You’re practically a sucker for them.”

Tomomi laughed at Mao’s comment. She didn’t have a comeback to that, it was pretty spot on. Tomomi did like surprises and she was quite the sucker for them. She couldn’t help it; it was just sort of her thing. Surprises made things a lot more exciting and fun. Knowing things could get predictable and boring, so that’s where surprises came in.

“We’re here!” Mao announced suddenly, stopping in her tracks and causing Tomomi to bump into her. She felt Mao break her arm out of Tomomi’s grasp before her friend turned around to face her. “Are you ready?”

“Of course!” Tomomi responded with a bright smile. Mao nodded, letting Tomomi grab onto her arm again before the black haired student led Tomomi into the building. Tomomi looked around, taking in the scenery of the inside of the building. It really was very pretty, such a serene place to be meeting new people at.

“Mao, you finally made it!” Tomomi heard someone call. She felt Mao yank her in a different direction, pulling her off to the side. As the girls walked towards the voice, Tomomi let her eyes travel in the direction that the girls had been walking. When Tomomi’s eyes finally laid on the group in question, her eyes widened as she felt the fear creep into her body.

Tomomi was hoping and praying that her eyes were playing some kind of sick joke on her. There was absolutely no way that Tomomi was seeing this correctly; Mao would never be leading her over to them. How did she even know them? They weren’t the type of people Mao would ever speak to. This simply couldn't be reality.

Somehow, Tomomi had found herself face to face with Hana again.