their new school uniforms. Arriving at a new school, with students from other elementary schools, there were many new faces to see, as well as familiar ones. Standing at the gates, gleaming in the morning sunlight in their pressed clean uniforms. A black blazer, snug to the hip over an ivory white dress shirt, topped off with a black silk tie and a gold tie pin, and long slender black pants that matched the blazer. There was a small hole on the collar for the identifying class pin that they would be receiving in homeroom. Maruki had smiled up at Ai, who had grown taller than him over the summer. Both boys nodded to each other and headed to the class board to see what classes they were in.


Surrounded by dozens of other students, the class board was hard to get to, or so the two boys thought. Attending a mixed school, boys and girls intermingled to gain confidence around each other. Away for the summer holiday, most students didn’t come in contact with each other, due to most attending different camps and activities. A small voice came from the back of the crowd, asking permission to get through to the front. The first few times, the voice called out, it was ignored. Finally after a tap on the shoulder to a student in the crowd, the voice was no longer ignored. The chatter of the students slowly died down to a silent crowd. Each obnoxious student stopped and stared at Maruki and Aiya.


Maruki tilted his head and looked around at the crowd of silent spectators. His full pink lips parted in utter confusion. Silent squeaks came, yet no words could be uttered. Maruki couldn’t figure out why everyone was staring so intently,
“May we pass?” the small boy asked softly with a small stutter. With that, the silent crowd parted quickly in a scuttle.


Maruki made a small sound and bowed his head to multiple students as he passed them to get to the board. Aiya and Maruki scanned over the list quickly, nervous with all the eyes on them still. A finger gliding down the paper, name after name, Maruki finally found his and Aiya’s name. Maruki clenched his fist and smiled at Aiya
“Yosha” the young teen cheered, looking up at his friend “same class again Ai chan!” the two boys walked out of the crowd quickly and headed off to the classroom they were assigned.


Throughout the day, and it was not yet noon, Maruki and Aiya received many envelopes and invitations. Maruki ducked his head down at ever possibility behind walls to hide from crowds of peers. Still young in the day, and both were exhausted from running around. Maruki and Aiya’s last stop of refuge was in the school auditorium lighting room, a place were no one would think to look.


Sitting silently as they could, mere soft breathing could be heard to each other, it was nearly an hour before Maruki decided to finally speak.
“Ne, Ai chan, what is with everyone today?” in nothing but a mere whisper, Maruki asked his friend softly “everyone is acting very weird” concluding his thought himself, as well as answering his own rhetorical question, Maruki looked away to a darkened black wall. The idea of middle school was exciting, but if school would be like this everyday, Maruki thought to himself that he might not want to continue.


Aiya ran his hand through his jet-black hair, a light groan leaving his rose bud shaped lips.
“I don’t know Maa chan, I have never seen anyone act like this before.” Confused about the entire situation, for Aiya was never one to be the center of attention for good reasons, all he could do was huff at the thought.
“The only place I have ever seen this was school Dramas on the Television”


Maruki couldn’t help but laugh at Aiya’s cute remark about the drama. To Maruki, this was not a drama, it was more like a nightmare, for he never liked have attention on himself. Throughout the day so far, getting to meet teachers, walking through the halls, drinking water from the fountain, was more awkward then annoying due to all the google eyeing students.


The bell for class change was barely audible in the almost sound proof, secluded room. Both boys looked at each other and sighed softly, this was their last chance. A moment of silence past before they both rose to their feet and dusted off their uniforms of any possible wrinkles. Exiting the auditorium, one brave girl approached the two from a passing by crowd. Not even having left the doorway of the auditorium, Maruki and Aiya were left standing there with their hands in their pockets.


The young girls eyes darted from boy to boy, though Maruki was short, the girl was still shorter. Feeling subordinate, the young girls face lit up in a bright rose blush. Her eyes now darting to the floor, as well the boys’ faces, a small slender finger twirled the small strand of hair that hung in her face.
“Hello Hitomi kun, Kaore kun. Did you two enjoy your vacation?” a small quiet mumble escaped the girls lips, in an apparent shaky voice.


Both boys glanced at each other for a few moments, locking eyes in a silent conversation. Nodding in agreement, they silently answered the girl’s question. Slowly, their gaze returned to the girl and crowd in front of them. She lowered her head, and took a calming deep breath,
“You two look different from the last time I saw you” Dancing around the subject was not a normal action for a popular student.


Once again the boys looked at each other, her words seemed to have caught their attention. Not only was she talking to them, an occurrence that never happened in the prior school year, but she was also attempting to compliment them. Aiya nodded his head in a questionable manner
“I got a hair cut not too long ago?” the young black haired boy said, hopefully answering her question.


Quickly the girl clapped her hands together, making a small noise. She agreed with Aiya for only a moment before letting her brows furrow, contemplating what Aiya had just said. The girls round, almost black eyes fell to her fiddling fingers. Nothing ran through Maruki’s and Aiya’s head but confusion. A small nervous chuckle came from the girl as she tossed her hair and looked back up at the boys. She knew if she didn’t say anything in the next three seconds, they would most likely leave.
“No, its not that.” The girl paused in awe for a moment “it’s just that.” The girl could not finish a sentence from sheer embarrassment.


Maru placed a hand on his hip, he knew what was going on and it began to frustrate him. A gentle toss of his thin hair, and a quick lick of Maruki’s full lips allowed a small sigh to pass. With his hands at his sides, Maruki tapped Aiya’s thigh with the back of his hand to catch his attention. He silently noted to Aiya he was leaving, knowing where the girl was going with her thought, Maruki didn’t have time for her.


The girl needed to stop Maruki from walking away, she reached out for his shoulder to stop him, but refused herself to touch him.
“You both are very handsome now” the girl was obviously nervous now, her rapid, high-pitched squeak spoke more then she did. She quickly stepped back to her group of friends, not feeling as safe anymore. Her thoughts of what the two would think of her now were going crazy.


Aiya looked at the girl, stunned. His narrow, lined eyes were wide with surprise. Quickly he looked to his friend with the same look of confusion. The suggestion of the haircut was much less awkward then this, why could she not just agree to it? Ai was still shocked at the girl’s statement, knowing now why everyone was acting weird all day. Ai was never good with compliments, even more so if they were coming from the popular students. The group of peers that hated these two the prior year, were now following them around like a fan group.


Constant insults of appearance and intelligence, rumors spread from the last school. The year’s before memories would not be erased so easily from such a simple compliment. He took Aiya’s forearm and pulled him along. Looking back at the girl, his round eyes narrowed darkly. Maruki’s hand slid down to Aiya’s when he looked forward again
“Thank you for your honesty, Miyuki” Maruki’s shoulder shifted slightly, brushing the girl off. He almost roughly pulled Aiya off to their last class of the day.


Having turned the corner and walked a little ways, Aiya ripped his arm from Maruki’s grip.
“Maruki!” a silent whisper so no others would hear, a voice chased after his only and best friend who stood ahead of him/ he looked sternly at Maruki, waiting for him to turn around.


Maruki slowed his step before coming to a complete stop.
“Do you remember what they said about you last year Ai?” a small sigh and soft eyes, took Aiya’s breath away. It was back, the one thing Aiya loved so much about Maruki, his care and protection.
“Now they notice you? Because of what, you’ve grown taller? You gained muscle and are losing your baby look? No. Aiya, you deserve better than that” Maruki’s stern, yet tender tone came from the heart, he didn’t want anything bad to happen to his only friend.


Aiya froze, it was difficult to keep from tearing up. Maruki was right, that group of friends threatened him badly the year before. Now that they called him handsome, they want him to be their friend. Aiya was an easily trustworthy person, he trusted everyone for their word, up until he was given a reason not to, even then he would still trust them in fear of losing them. Aiya was like a puppy, even if he was yelled at or hurt, he would still keep coming back.


Aiya sighed softly, looking down at Maruki. He slowly placed a hand on his shoulder and took a step passed him, talking over his shoulder
“Thank you Maa chan” Saying anymore then a simple thank you couldn’t be done, fighting back from crying was hard enough as it was. Maruki was right