The midday sun reflected off the white concrete of the school roof top bathed the area in a white glow contrasting the vibrant blue of the sky. The roof was a large expanse of concrete surrounded by tall net fences enclosing the space.Just past the fence you could see the solar panels situated on the rest of the roof. As well as the entirety of the school campus. The track field, the Gymnasium, and the cherry blossom tree on the hill. The very one that Kagari had dreamed of confessing to Yuuji under.
Kagari breathed a long sigh into the fresh air. She definitely needed it today. This was the only place in the school where she could be truly alone in her thoughts.
She instantly tensed up upon seeing Yukari in the distance, silently peering through the net fence.
Ugh! You've got to be kidding me! Everywhere I go there she is!
Kagari turned around, ready to make her silent escape. However as soon as she turned her back to the scene, Yukari's cool, biting tone followed her.
"Akemi-san. What are you doing here?"
Kagari whipped her head around and huffed. "What do you mean 'what am I doing here?' This is my secret spot! But of course you would steal it!"
Yukari raised an eyebrow "your spot? You've been here before then"
"Of course!" Kagari crossed her arms looking up at Yukari.
The Student council president was only 5 feet and 7 inches tall. Definitely no amazon, yet in comparison to her own 5'1 stature she made Kagari look like a middle schooler by comparison. It didn't help that Yukina's model-like proportions made her easily one of the most stunning girls in the school.
Yukina shouldn't have had any trouble fitting in with the rest of her class, but her cold attitude has always kept people at a distance.
If she wasn't such a damn snob maybe she'd actually have lots of friends - then again she does always seem to view cute fashion and makeup as "childish"....hmph.
Kagari looking down, twirling a strand of hair from her twin tail around her finger.
It's not childish idiot….what's wrong with looking cute?
"Only those in the Gardening club & and the Science club are allowed access to the roof. You realize this is against the honor code don't you?"
Kagari's face fell asleep she snapped from her thoughts ,her eyes shooting wide open.
"I-uh…" she sputtered before shaking her head and exclaiming annoyed
"You're here too you idiot!-don't lecture me about rules!"
"I'm the student council President," Yukina replied. "I am allowed to use this area to survey for any delinquents"
"Yeah right," Kagari rolled her eyes "What were you even looking at?-"
Kagari stepped past Yukina to see what she was looking at through the net fence. Looking downwards to see far down towards the front of the school to see Yuuji sitting alone under the shade of the exterior hallway eating a bento - no, HER bento!
She suddenly felt her cheeks turning a shade pinker, and an immediate surge of delight seeing Yuuji enjoy the bento she made this morning. A new small smirk on her lips Kagari turned to face Yukina with a proud look.
"Heh, looks like Yuuji-kun is enjoying the bento box I made for him! What was that you were saying this morning? Something about my 'sloppy leftovers'? Take that you spoiled nepo baby hehe~"
Kagari crossed her arms with a smug look on her face, looking up towards Yukari with content.
"Hmph," Yukina let out a curt huff in response, looking down at Kagari. "It is in Yuuji's nature to be kind to others and preserve people's feelings. I doubt even if he did despise it that he'd ever tell you directly."
"Don't try to lecture me when you were the one up here watching him like a stalker!" Kagari retorted, turning back towards the fence to look down at him.
"I don't understand what you even like about him, he's not rich or athletic…or really that bright, he's so stupid sometimes…"
Yukina raised an eyebrow, crossed her arms under her chest. "How hypocritical"
Kagari face turned red as she sputtered "I-i-its not like that!! Er- well- it is b-but-"
As she watched Kagari stumble over her words in a flustered storm Yukina couldn't help but see her like a kitten hissing and bearing it's claws. A bit dramatic, but ultimately unintimidating and actually being…quite cute.
It was no wonder she was popular amongst classmates. Even if Kagari had flung the most horrid of insults towards her classmates, she was so cute no one could ever take her words to heart.
A part of Yukina envied that about Kagari, though she's never let her know that. Yes, she had quite the reputation at school, being the student council president, the heiress to a wealthy company, and was on track to be valedictorian. Outside of student council meetings and talking to teachers, she didn't have the kind of high school life that people wrote stories
"Hmph!" Kagari huffed, crossing her arms "you know what I mean! You've got a bunch of guys who have liked you to choose from!" Kagari looked downwards with a glare and muttered "So why do you have to obsess over the one boy in school who I can actually tolerate?..."
Yukina looked down at Kagari and sighed "I couldn't give you a real answer even if I wanted to."
"Hmph, that's such a cop out!" Kagari pouted. For a moment, she thought she could see a small smirk form on Yukina's lips before it suddenly disappeared.
"Well, I suppose if I had to give an answer…" Yukina looked up thoughtfully for a moment.
"You're a very lucky girl Kagari. You're very popular in school, always surrounded by friends, wearing cute clothes, always being invited to karaoke and cafe trips…"
Kagari narrowed her eyes, unsure if this was a veiled insult or not. "Well thank you, I'm sure it's not as nice as being rich and set up for success though."
"Perhaps" Yukina hummed. "I need to not only be grateful for what I have, but also prove I deserve to have it…it's made me a very cynical person" Yukina looked down at Yuuji, her pale fingers trailing against the netting of the fence.
"When boys confess their feelings to me, I know they are only in love with the image of 'taming the ice queen' to fuel their own egos…whether they are aware of it or not." Yukina turned towards Kagari, who was now looking up at her, quite intrigued. "In a way, they are like cats. Clinging to those who ignore them…Yuuji-I mean, Yamada-kun is not like that though." A small smile appeared on her lips.
"He's much more like a friendly hound…good natured to everyone. He treats me like I'm a normal girl, not a trophy or a monolith. Ever since I first met him…I knew he was worthy of my trust. "
"You did?" Kagari asked fascinated "how did you meet him"
"I'm not telling you" Yukina said bluntly, her expression immediately reverting back to its usual neutral state.
"You idiot! You got me invested in the damn story!" Kagari exclaimed angrily. "Just tell me so-ah!"
Kagari jumped a little as the class bell rang, immediately realizing the lunch break was over.
"Shit shit shit! Now i'm gonna be late! It's your fault Yukina! Hmph!" Kagari huffed and turned on her heel, storming off to her class before her teachers could reprimand her.
Yukina watched Kagari rush away, while she had been able to talk with the others today it didn't fix the issue at hand. Yukina waited a moment before calmly following Kagari's lead, descending the stairs of the roof back into the school.
It was only when the cool air of the school's third floor hallway hit her that she heard a gentle voice ask "Murajima-san?"
Yukina turned towards the voice, the vice President of the student council stood with a gentle smile on her lips. There was a soft smile on her lips as she asked "I can tell there is something bothering you…would you like to join me for some tea?"