Kaede Hinata

When club activities were over Ricardo called out to me. "Victor I have a favor. Do you mind?".

"What's the favor?".

"I have somewhere to be later so I don't have the time to buy groceries. You and I live in the same hotel so could you go shopping for me. I'll stop by and collect the goods later tonight. I will give you money too of course".

"O-Ok, just don't knock on my door past 9. I'll be asleep by then" I told him.

"Sweet! You're a life safer" he patted me on the head. After giving me the list of items he needed, he headed to the boy's bathroom to change out of his school uniform. Most students head straight home after club activities since the time is getting late. Where could Ricardo be heading? A party perhaps, sounds like the kind of thing a senior would do.

The list Ricardo gave me consists of onions, tomatoes, flour, eggs, big soda, T-square and dozen blue ink pens. On my way to the grocery store I coincidentally laid eyes on one of my schoolmates. The only girl I know with red hair, a rare sight I can't forget. That one feature of hers makes it hard for me to forget her. Kaede Hinata, a girl from Class 1A.  She was still in uniform staring heavily on her phone.

...This might be my chance...

Many days have passed since I enrolled and I haven't made many friends in different classes. Besides Aoi and the student council, who else can I really talk to?

Kaede stood by the sidewalk, reading something on her phone. She seems be reading long text messages.

.....I should talk to her....

What should I say though? I'd hate to interrupt her over nothing. Hmm, we attend the same school. The most I can say is hello, I'll see what happens after that. Took a while but I finally mustered the courage needed to approach the Class A girl.

"Hello, you're Kaede right".

"Hi, Yes I'm Kaede and your name is ... Victor".

She knows my name! "You're the guy who was caught in his underwear last week" she proceeded to mention. Just when I finally forgotten it, someone went ahead and reminded me of that embarrassing moment. "Yeah that's me. What are you doing here?".

Kaede's cheeks turned bright red upon hearing my question. She puts her phone away, beginning to rub the tip of her thumbs together. "I'm waiting for someone" she said slightly hesitant. Her face tells me she's waiting for a crush or maybe a lover. This is going smoother than I expected, she easily opened up to me even after bringing up the underwear incident. "Someone you like I bet" I said pressing for more details.

"Yes! You have no idea, since middle school I had my eyes on him. He's supposed to meet me here but..."

"He hasn't arrived yet and it's getting late. Have you tried giving him a call?" I suggested. Of course that had already crossed her mind, judging from her expression it's safe to say she couldn't get a hold of the person. "I called many times. We agreed to meet here".

"He's two hours late".

Two hours! "Safe to say the person you're waiting for isn't coming if he's that late. You should stop waiting and go home. It's dangerous for you to be out so late, especially in that uniform". Kaede did not want to admit it but she has been feeling strange while standing on the sidewalk. Almost as if someone was watching her, at first anyone would mistake being watched as paranoia but what if it isn't?

"I can't believe this. August really stood me up" she begins the waterworks. Her cry suddenly made me feel uncomfortable, should I have interacted with her now of all times? I'm starting to regret walking to Kaede, now I feel guilty for her tears and I did not do anything wrong. To try and remedy the situation I asked Kaede "Have you eaten dinner yet? It's pretty late".

In the midst of her sulking, she answered "No, I wanted to eat with August this evening but he isn't here".

"I haven't eaten dinner yet either. We should go somewhere together, like a restaurant of your choosing". Not sure how she will interpret this but right now this girl is potentially in danger. If Kaede really was waiting here for two hours then it's certainly possible her life is in danger without her even knowing. One of the biggest risks in attending All Star Academy is the high rate of kidnapping. Everyone knows the students who attends the school have rich and famous parents, there are crooks out there who will gladly kidnap students for ransom. Kaede is a beauty to say the least, she wears All Star Academy uniform, gave little care of her surroundings because of that damn phone she holds and most of all she's been here for two hours.

"Restaurant? You're surprising Victor. Never thought you are the type to ask me out immediately after being stood up by my crush. Hehehe" As I feared, she took it as a date. "Sure, I'd like the company while eating". At least she agrees to be with me now. I'll ensure she reaches home safely, a task like that shouldn't be too much of a hassle.

Kaede and I headed to a Fast food restaurant a few blocks away. Kaede bought one burger while I bought a medium box pepperoni pizza with 8 slices inside. While we ate I offered her two slices but she didn't accept. Her face screams depressed all over. Even after I finished my pizza slices, she barely took a bite of her burger. "What's wrong?"

"August should be here with me right now. We promised to meet up after school. I can't believe he didn't show up" she said full of gloom.

"Try calling him again".

"No use, my data is all used up now" Kaede replied.

Before saying anything else, I checked the credit on my phone. "You can borrow my phone for a call if you'd like. I bet he will answer next time". Suddenly her face lit up, she turned to me gratefully. "Really! I owe you one".

"Nah uh, first you gotta finish your meal" I gave her that condition. In no time the burger she was rarely biting was finished within three minutes. No way she enjoyed a bite with that speed. As promised I gave her my phone for a call.

Ring! Ring!

Ring! Ring!

"Hello who is this?" someone answered the call. Kaede was relieved to finally hear her crush's voice however she also showed signs of rage. Her right hand formed a fist while she was taking fast breaths. I can't blame her for being mad, she waited two hours for a guy who never showed.

"It's me Kaede. What happened August? I thought we were supposed to meet up today".

"K-Kaede... well something unexpected happened at my house. Morgiana and I are trying our hardest to fix it before my parents gets home. I'm sorry about this Kaede. I meant to call you but for the whole evening, my phone was missing".

I could also hear the guy's voice over the call. He sounds like a good guy who's genuinely sorry for leaving Kaede. Or at least that's what he wants her to believe. I for one don't trust his story. "I understand, I was so worried you know. I thought you deliberately abandoned me" Kaede said holding back her tears.

"I'd never d—" the guy was interrupted by another voice in his background. The voice of a girl asking questions. "Who are you talking to August?".

"It's Kaede, I'm apologizing to her".

"No need for that. Just hang up, she understands your situation".

"But...." the call ended right then and there. From the sounds of it, the girl in August's background ended the call. "Morgiana, I bet she's the one who hid his phone" Kaede said biting the tip of her thumb. Kaede went on to explain the situation better to me.

"The guy I like is named August. He's blind  you see, so he normally needs help getting around. His childhood friend Morgiana tags along with him everywhere he goes like some sort of bodyguard. I can't tell if those two have romantic feelings towards each other but I know for a fact that Morgiana hates my guts".

"Morgiana probably likes this August fella and sees you as competition. That guy sure is lucky" I said carefree.  "By the way Kaede, please never do this again. It's dangerous and plain ignorant to stand out in the open for two hours in All Star Academy's uniform. Don't take this the wrong way but you're kidnap material for sure. Where are your parents?".

"Singapore".

"And we're in Italy. Us teenagers have to be aware of our surroundings if we want to survive. Throughout history there has been many All Star Academy kidnappings. You don't want to be one of them do you? Earlier today a senior of mine named Ricardo changed out of his uniform before leaving school grounds because he knows he won't make it home quickly. Follow his example". Kaede nodded at everything I said. "Oh! So you think I'm in danger and got worried. Is that why you decided to keep my company?" she asked.

"Yes, your love life shouldn't be prioritised over your safety. I want to walk you home, you're OK with that right?" I asked her. Just in case something happens on her way home, I would prefer to be there. Almost everyone is deceived into thinking I can't fight, but I Master kung-fu.

"Thanks for your concern but I'm OK. Look there" Kaede pointed at my chest. To my surprise a red dot was there, caused by a laser far away. "I have bodyguards everywhere. If anyone tries to kidnap me, snipers will just shoot them. My father has been pretty strict about my safety since I was a baby. I am also wearing a wire under my clothes, my snipers can hear everything when I turn them on. Currently they are off". The red laser moved from my chest to my forehead.

"Could you tell him to stop".

"Hehehehe, Victor will you be my friend? I know we're in different classes but you're someone I don't mind being around. You acted on your hunch to protect me from potential kidnapping, I can't thank you enough".

I made a new friend today, slowly and steadily I am making improvements. By taking the initiative, I somehow befriended Kaede Hinata, a girl from Class 1A. "Friends... I could use more of those. Kaede, as your new friend I strongly suggest to change out of your uniform as quickly as you can once school is over. Snipers or no snipers, I'm still worried".

"Hahahaha, how cute"

....

Later on we figured out that we lived in the same hotel. First Ricardo and now Kaede, who else lives here without my knowledge. "What are the odds?" Kaede grinned.

"No kidding.... Damn I just remembered something" I said taking out the list Ricardo gave me. Kaede leaned over to read the list as well. "No worries, I have all of those. I can sell you them" she assures me.

"Thanks a bunch, the stores are most likely closing now". The time was 8:11 pm, Ricardo should be on his way any minute now. After selling me the goods needed, Kaede and I waved our final goodbyes to each other. Half an hour later Ricardo pressed my door buzzer.

"Hey, did you get what I asked for?". This guy appeared absolutely wrecked. I became more concern for his appearance than the groceries. Ricardo's head was bleeding, his right eye was swollen and his clothes was muddy. He was huffing and puffing out of control. "Were you just fighting?"

"Yeah, there was some dispute between All Star Academy and Penwood High. Something about one of my students bullying another guy from there school. I just resolved it" he said wiping his face. "As a student council member you shouldn't fight".

"All Star's Student Council consists of six members. Each having different reasons for being chosen. Not all of us are chosen for the position to act disciplined" he told me.

"An Organizer, A Resolver, A Fighter, A Counsellor, A Supporter and A Mastermind. The School Board use these titles to choose Council members".

Now I know why Ricardo was picked. He never showed interest in disciplining students and he rarely wears his armband. A guy like him normally would not be picked but All Star Academy did the abnormal approach. To have a member strictly there because he can fight is unheard of. "Let me guess, Stephano is the Organizer. You are The Fighter and Alice is The Resolver. What about the other members? I haven't seen them yet". Ricardo neglected to answer that question.

"Fighting is my purpose in the Student Council. I try to solve conflict of our school with violence and fear. No one cares about my methods as long as it gives good results. Even if they have a problem they would be scared to confront me since I'm the strongest man there" he told me. The injuries he received hardly seemed to faze him the more he talked. It's almost as if he is healing while having a conversation.

"You should see a hospital".

"No need, all I need is some sleep and I'll be fine" Ricardo said rubbing the back of his neck. He collected his goods then slowly walked upstairs. With every step, he could feel huge amount of pain.

Before going to sleep, I checked tonight's news. Apparently the reporter was talking about fifty high school boys being found on a basketball court. All of them are in serious condition, some had broken bones while one of them developed amnesia from the repeated slap to the head. "Only A Monster Is Capable of doing this to so many children. How cruel!?" the reporter grieves. The victim's uniform was Penwood High, Ricardo just finished a fight with that school. Put the puzzle pieces together and the shocking truth comes forth. "Ricardo beat up 50 people"

He looks strong but I did not know he was on that tier. Wait... maybe he had help. Yes that nust be the case, he was not fighting them on his own. The news reporter began to question a witness.

The witness states "One teen around the same age as the other boys fought all fifty students and won. He didn't wear a uniform so I'm not sure which school. They were fighting because of a bullying situation"

....

"Ricardo beat them on his own".

"What a day"