Chapter 8: Improvements Or Not?

My days have been passing by quite ordinarily, and soon the time for parents' school visitation came. I am quite nervous since this is the first time that BOTH mom and dad will come together. I know that my grades are very high and it is something I am even proud of but still, things don't go according to plan as they say.

[I hope everything will be okay today…]

I came to school like usual since mom and dad said that they will catch up, I think there was a problem at the company but they promise to really came so I will wait. Anyway it didn't take long before everyone came and sat down while the parents were at the back, and it was quite a sight since you can really tell who belongs to who family.

Everything is going smoothly, only the down side is that my parents still not yet here. Well Rin-ji and Laire-nee is here so I guess it is not so bad but I guess a part of me is a bit disappointed and hurt.

While I was in my own thoughts, my previous parents came to mind but I quickly erase the thought since I know that my current mom and dad are not like them. I am sure that something unavoidable happened for them not to be here now.

As I try to keep my spirits up, time tick by and until the end my parents didn't show. Rin-ji told me that the company is having problem which needed both of my parents to be present. Just hearing that made me think that it might really be a big problem for them to be needed since my mom rarely engage herself to the company unless necessary for her to do so.

Though I am disappointed, it is not like I am mad at them or anything.

Class is already over and my classmates are all leaving with their parents when I see mom and dad pop out at the door looking like they have run a marathon. I see them looking at the room before landing their sight on me. By then I felt warmth surround me, I hear mom and dad apologize over and over. As for me, I don't exactly know the reason but I suddenly burst into tears and clutch at both of them like I don't want them to leave me.

Well due to my excessive crying, I felt very drained and soon fell asleep. The next thing I knew I was at home in between mom and dad at the bed.

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The next day, I woke up very refreshed. I guess crying once in a while is needed, well anyway I went down and what greeted me are both of my parents and Sou-nii waiting for me at the table. This is one of the rare cases that happens to us and that is to dine together as a whole.

After breakfast, both mom and dad send me to school before they go to work. It would seem like the problem they had at the office yesterday isn't solved yet so they still need to oversee it but they promised to bring me to an amusement park as an apology for yesterday. So I send them off with a smile while I spend my day at school.

.

.

.

Well as you all know, I am now at school but there seems to be a problem since as soon as I step foot at the classroom, I can clearly feel the avoidance and secret gazes they are giving me.

The last time I felt this was when I was introduced to my family on my mother-side. Though mom's family is very warm like her, I can't say the same with the other guest that was invited. All of them gave me mean looks and scrutinizing gazes the whole time, while they fake smile at my mom, dad and Sou-nii.

I tried to ignore what is happening but it is still very hard, until lunch time when Chika couldn't take it anymore and he burst out of anger screaming at my classmates.

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE!! DON'T YOU HAVE A LIFE!! STOP LOOKING AT SEI-SAMA OR ELSE I'LL TEAR YOU ALL!!!" (Chika)

Well you can clearly understand the message and I bet he also meant it literally. Luckily I still have Kazu to tame down my wild dog….

And I spoke too soon….

I guess I didn't take into account that even Kazu is also pissed off by the atmosphere and instead of stopping Chika, he just let him be while he gives our other classmates sharp gazes. To be honest, I feel touched that they truly care for me to this extent but I do feel sorry for our classmates, though I still don't understand what I did to be given this kind treatment but I am not that heartless to just let them be bitten by my do-… what I mean is friends.

So I stood up, and it seems like my action made everybody stopped moving especially Chika. But now that I made my move, I have no idea what to do next… what do I say?!!

There was a long pause and I could clearly cannot hear a sound from everyone. Then I ask…

"Why?..." (Sei)

I am not entirely sure of the reason but I can tell that everyone is in shock as soon as I spoke. I waited for at least one of them to say something and just as I am planning to leave, since I really can't take the atmosphere, a short haired girl stood in front of me. I can see that she is feeling very nervous and it took her a lot of courage to stand in front of me since I am a poker face child and rarely speak. (equation for awkwardness)

It seems like she is having a hard time saying what she wants to convey but I still waited. I mean it is better to get this over with now rather than make it worst later on. I just hope that this is a misunderstanding.

"Umm…. Ah-… Y-You s-see… Wh-what I-…" (girl)

"Say what you want to say!! Grrrr" (Chika)

"Chi-chan calm down… let her talk…

Fukase-san, just say what you want to say and we will listen to it… right Sei-chan" (Kazu)

"Un… Talk…" (Sei)

"*breathes in and out* A-Ano… You s-see y-yesterday… Yu-Yukimura-kun w-was crying… a-and w-we were wo-worried if s-something have h-happened… s-so we thought of a-asking him b-but w-we don't k-know how…" (Fukase)

My mind went blank, to be honest I wasn't expecting an answer like that since to me, it looks like they don't even care for me and would rather stay away from me but I guess I am wrong this whole time. Maybe, just maybe, they could be my friends as well. But for now I need to respond to her… to them and do it in a way that I can show how happy I am that they cared for me.

"I see… I… okay… thanks… concern.." (Sei)

After trying my best to say my thanks, I also showed them my smile that only my family and friends (Chika and Kazu) see. Then after the ruckus, the day end very refreshing.

[I am sooooo happy~~]

But the next day, most of my classmates, especially the girls, stayed as far away as possible to me though some of the guys do give me greeting but that just it. And here I thought that we are all friends now, but I guess I'll just be satisfied with this improvement… Sigh~

What Sei didn't know that he created a Legend among the 1st grader as the "Snow Prince that can thaw the coolest of ice with a since smile" though he won't know about it until the later future.