Chapter 2

They were right in front of the school, which looked more like a castle. With a 4-story main building, a gymnasium, and even an indoor swimming pool. Everyone was busy arranging stools on the school grounds in preparation for the first school assembly of the year. On their way in, she couldn't help but overhear the rumors and small talk.

-Is that him? The first year that's working as a model?

-You're right! I've seen him in a fashion magazine before! I think his name is Shousuke Haku or something

-But who's that girl over there? Surely she's not his girlfriend, right?

-It can't be, she's too average for someone like him.

Even though Tomori tried to keep her distance, the rumors still went on. But what hurts more is that she knew they were right: someone like her could never be with someone like him, but she decided to put that aside for now and walked with him to the hall for the opening speech.

When they eventually got to the student hall and picked their seats, she could hear someone shouting from a distance and coming towards her.

-...ke! SHOOOOOOOOUSUKE!

The person screaming had a tall and slim figure, though shorter than Shousuke himself. He had fluffy orange hair, with a couple of green strands and some poking out from the top. His pupils were yellow. It was obvious that he knew Shousuke, 'Maybe a friend from middle school?' she thought to herself.

-You still haven't fixed your mask-wearing addiction…

-Shut up.

-…or your terrible attitude.

It was a harsh remark from him , but it was still a bit true.

-Oh? I see~ Not bad, Haku-chan~, already having a girl on the first day of school. I guess it is only natural.

-Shut…

Shousuke followed up with a chop on his head.

-Come on, you're no fun. Can't you at least introduce me? I thought we're best buddies~

-Tomori-san, this idiot here is Kunihiko Kuroki. I barely know him, but we were in the same class in our third year of middle school. Kuroki, she is Naomi Tomori, I met her on the train.

-Hey, just so you know he won't take off his mask ever so why not go out with me instead?

Shousuke hits Kuroki on the head again, but this time with much more force. Tomori has long given up on trying to understand the situation.

-All right everyone, please return to your seat, the speech will be starting soon.

They all returned to their seats, awaiting the speech from the student council president. She couldn't remember most of it, since all of her attention was on Shousuke. She was daydreaming about what was under that mask of his. 'Is it full of pimples? Is his nose super flat? Does he have braces ?', she giggled at those thoughts. Under that mysterious mask could be anything, and she was determined to find out. What's the easiest way to get him to reveal his face?, she thought to herself, and she finally came to an answer: 'I'll just get closer to him until he feels comfortable about showing it to me!'.