Love Me! (Like You) Hate Me!

"Hey, Lily! Wait up!"

Lily paused mid-step as Koji jogged up beside her, his bag slung lazily over one shoulder and his usual grin plastered across his face.

"Where are you rushing off to?" he asked, falling into step with her as they headed toward the door.

"Just… getting some air," she said softly, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

Koji gave her a side glance, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Getting some air, huh? Sounds like someone's trying to escape."

Before Lily could respond, a cluster of students suddenly blocked their path.

"There you are!"

Lily froze as four classmates surrounded her, their expressions a mix of curiosity, excitement, and something she couldn't quite place.

"You're Aikawa-san, right?" one girl asked, her voice high-pitched and eager. Her ponytail swayed as she leaned in closer. "I have to say, your hair is sooo pretty. Is it natural?"

"Yeah, and your eyes," another chimed in, adjusting her glasses. "They're so green! Do all Americans have green eyes like that?"

"Is it true you're from Seattle?" a boy asked, tilting his head. "Do you guys really drive everywhere and eat burgers every day?"

Lily's throat went dry as she struggled to keep up with the barrage of questions. "I, um…"

"Do you have a boyfriend back in America?" another girl blurted out, her tone more accusatory than curious.

Lily blinked, caught off guard. "N-No, I—"

"She doesn't need a boyfriend," the girl with the ponytail interjected, flipping her hair dramatically. "She probably had guys lining up for her."

"Not surprising," the boy added, his gaze flicking over Lily. "She looks like someone from a magazine."

"Or a drama," another whispered, though her words carried a slight edge.

The comments swirled around her, growing louder and more overwhelming. Lily tried to smile, tried to respond, but every time she opened her mouth, another question or comment came flying at her.

Her palms began to sweat, and she clutched the strap of her bag tightly.

Koji, who had been standing quietly beside her, finally stepped forward.

"Okay, okay, let's take it easy!" he said, clapping his hands together. His grin didn't falter, but his tone carried a subtle firmness. "Lily's only been here for, what, a day? Give her some space!"

The group hesitated, glancing between each other and Koji.

"Come on," he added, his voice light but insistent. "You'll have plenty of time to ask her stuff later. Right now, we've got places to be."

The ponytailed girl huffed, flipping her hair again. "Fine. But don't think we're done, Aikawa-san."

The group dispersed slowly, though a few of them shot lingering glances over their shoulders as they walked away.

Once they were out of earshot, Lily let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

"Thanks," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Koji gave her a crooked grin. "No problem. I mean, I couldn't let them swarm my new seat buddy, could I?"

She managed a small smile, though her chest still felt tight. "Do they always… ask so many questions?"

Koji shrugged. "Eh, it's the new-kid syndrome. You'll get used to it. Or, you know, you won't, and I'll just keep saving you."

She laughed softly, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "You really don't have to."

"Of course I do," he said, puffing out his chest. "It's my duty as the coolest guy in 2-B."

She rolled her eyes, but her smile lingered.

By the time they made it to the courtyard, the warm afternoon sun was casting soft shadows across the school grounds. Koji plopped down onto a bench under a tree, gesturing for Lily to join him.

"Finally," he said, dropping his bag beside him. "Lunch time. The best part of the day."

Lily hesitated, her hand tightening around the strap of her bag.

"Uh…"

Koji raised an eyebrow. "What's with the hesitation?"

She sighed, sitting down beside him. "I, um… forgot my lunch. I left it on the counter this morning."

Koji stared at her for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Oh no! Rookie mistake! You were so nervous that you left behind the most important part of the day? Classic."

Lily's cheeks flushed. "It's not funny…"

"Oh, it's a little funny," he said, grinning as he reached into his bag. "But don't worry. Lucky for you, I'm always prepared."

He began pulling out an array of snacks: rice balls, melon bread, and even a few small containers of rolled omelets.

Lily's eyes widened. "How… how much food do you carry with you?"

Koji shrugged nonchalantly. "Enough for a small army. Or, you know, for emergencies like this." He handed her one of the rice balls, his grin softening. "Here. Consider it a loan. You can pay me back by, uh… not forgetting next time."

She took the rice ball carefully, her smile shy but genuine. "Thank you, Koji."

"No problem," he said, unwrapping his own food. "Now, tell me. Did you seriously think you'd survive a full day here without snacks? Amateur move, Aikawa. Amateur."

Lily laughed, the sound light and unrestrained.

(>'o')>

Lily unwrapped the rice ball Koji had handed her, glancing over as he tore into a piece of melon bread with gusto. His round cheeks puffed slightly as he chewed, giving him an almost chipmunk-like appearance.

Koji wasn't tall—actually, sitting side by side, she noticed that he was probably a little shorter than her even when standing. His stocky frame and broad shoulders gave him a sturdy, grounded look, and his arms, though soft, had a certain strength to them, like someone who might surprise you with how much they could carry.

His face, however, was gentle, framed by dark, slightly messy hair that fell into his glasses every now and then. He had a warm, boyish charm about him, the kind that made him instantly approachable.

"You know," he said suddenly, breaking the silence between bites, "your hair reminds me of someone."

Lily blinked, tilting her head. "Someone?"

Koji grinned, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "Yeah! You ever watch Sailor Moon? You totally look like Usagi. Well, except your hair isn't in odango buns. But still—same vibe. Blond, pretty, kind of otherworldly, you know?"

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she looked down at the rice ball in her hands. "I don't think I've ever been compared to an anime character before," she said with a small laugh. "But… thanks, I guess?"

Koji nodded enthusiastically. "It's a compliment. Trust me. Usagi's, like, iconic. If I were a villain, I'd lose to her on purpose."

Lily giggled, shaking her head. "Well, I'll take your word for it."

"You should," Koji said, puffing out his chest dramatically. "As your seat buddy, it's my duty to boost your confidence."

Lily smiled, the tension in her shoulders easing more with each of his playful remarks.

"Oh, uh, Koji?" she said after a moment, her voice soft.

"Yeah?"

"Do you know where the bathroom is?"

Koji paused mid-bite, then nodded. "Of course. You see that building over there?" He pointed toward a smaller structure adjacent to the main school building. "Ground floor, just to the left of the vending machines. You can't miss it."

"Thanks," Lily said, standing up and brushing off her skirt.

"No problem!" Koji replied, hopping up from the bench as well.

As she started to walk away, his voice called out behind her.

"Hey, don't worry—I'll be right here when you're done, okay?"

Lily turned back, raising an eyebrow.

Koji grinned and waved his hand in the air dramatically.

"Right here, waiting for my brand-new seat buddy!"

Her lips curled into a laugh despite herself. "Got it, Koji."

He gave her a thumbs-up, his wide grin never faltering as he plopped back down onto the bench.

As Lily headed toward the bathroom, her chest felt lighter than it had all day. For the first time, she found herself thinking that maybe this school wasn't so scary after all.

And maybe, just maybe, Koji wasn't just her seat buddy—he might actually become her first friend here.

v( '.' )v

Koji was halfway through his second onigiri when he felt it—that shift in the air.

It wasn't loud or obvious, but it was unmistakable. A faint silence fell over the courtyard, the kind that signaled trouble for anyone caught in its path. He stiffened, his grip on the rice ball tightening slightly.

He didn't need to look up to know who it was.

"Well, well," came a low, familiar voice. "Look who's eating alone again."

Koji turned his head reluctantly, his eyes landing on the group approaching him.

Arata Takashiro stood at the center, his tall frame casting a long shadow over the bench. His expression was calm, indifferent, but his sharp eyes carried a weight that pinned Koji in place.

Behind him, Rika Sugimoto twirled a strand of her glossy black hair around her finger, her lips curled into a smirk. To her left, Tsubasa Kuroki stood silent as always, his arms crossed and his gaze cold. Hayato Mori brought up the rear, grinning like a fox ready to pounce.

"Yo, Koji," Hayato said, stepping forward with exaggerated friendliness. "Having a feast all by yourself, huh? Didn't your mom teach you to share?"

Koji forced a grin, though his chest felt tight. "Oh, hey guys. Didn't see you there."

"Yeah, right," Rika said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "You probably saw us coming and prayed we wouldn't stop by."

"Aw, don't say that, Rika," Hayato chimed in, snatching one of Koji's snacks off the bench. "Koji loves the attention. Right, big guy?"

Koji's smile faltered. "Hey, could you not—"

Hayato ignored him, tearing into the snack with a dramatic bite. "Mm, not bad. Maybe you've got good taste after all."

Koji opened his mouth to protest, but before he could, Arata spoke up.

"Enough," he said, his voice quiet but firm.

The group fell silent instantly, their eyes flicking toward their leader. Arata's expression didn't change, but the air around him felt heavier.

He stepped closer, his gaze locking onto Koji's with an unsettling calm. "How was your summer, Nakamura?"

Koji's throat tightened. "It was… fine," he managed, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Fine?" Rika echoed, tilting her head. "You mean boring, right? What could someone like you possibly have done all summer?"

"Probably just ate all day," Hayato added with a laugh. "I mean, look at him. Nothing's changed."

Tsubasa, silent but watchful, let out a quiet scoff, his arms still crossed.

"Come on, guys," Koji said, forcing a shaky laugh. "It's not like I spent the whole summer eating…"

"Oh, really?" Hayato said, grabbing one of the remaining onigiri. He tossed it up in the air, catching it lazily. "Then what's all this? A diet plan?"

"Hayato," Arata said, his tone unreadable.

Hayato froze, looking back at Arata expectantly.

"Do it," Arata said simply.

A slow grin spread across Hayato's face as he looked back at Koji. Without hesitation, he let the onigiri fall to the ground, grinding it under his shoe with a deliberate twist.

"Oops," he said mockingly. "Guess I dropped it. My bad."

Koji's chest burned with frustration, but he didn't move. He knew better.

"Don't look so upset," Rika said, leaning in with a cruel smile. "We're doing you a favor. Less food, less weight to carry around."

Hayato laughed. "Yeah, consider it charity work."

Koji's fists clenched under the table, his nails digging into his palms. He wanted to say something, to push back, but the weight of Arata's cold gaze kept him frozen.

Koji knew better than to hope they'd leave after just a few jabs. This wasn't how things worked with Arata and his group.

"Hmm," Rika hummed, looking around the courtyard before her sharp eyes landed back on him. "You know, there's still thirty minutes left of lunch. What do you say, boys? Should we spend some quality time with our favorite little piggy?"

Koji's stomach twisted, his palms growing clammy.

"Great idea," Hayato said, plopping down onto the bench beside him and slinging an arm around his shoulder. "You didn't think we'd just leave you to stuff your face in peace, did you?"

Koji forced a nervous laugh. "Come on, guys. It's the first day back. Let's not—"

"Let's not what?" Rika interrupted, stepping closer with a wicked smile. "Embarrass you? Ruin your perfect little picnic?"

Tsubasa stood behind her, his arms crossed and his expression as unreadable as ever. He didn't say a word, but his presence was enough to make Koji's chest tighten.

"Rika, please," Koji tried, his voice softer now.

"Aw, he's begging," Hayato mocked, shaking Koji slightly by the shoulder. "I love it when he gets all desperate. It's cute in a pathetic kind of way."

"More like gross," Rika said, wrinkling her nose. "Seriously, Koji. How much did you eat this summer? Looks like you gained weight."

Koji's hands balled into fists on his lap, but he kept his head down.

"Did you even do anything productive?" Hayato continued, leaning in close. "Or were you too busy raiding your mom's pantry all day?"

"I—"

"Wait," Rika cut him off, her voice dripping with faux curiosity. "Do you even have a mom? Or did she run off when she realized what a waste of space you were?"

The words hit him like a punch to the gut. His throat tightened, and he bit the inside of his cheek to keep himself from reacting.

"Oh, come on, Rika," Hayato said with a laugh. "You know it's his dad who left. Probably couldn't deal with the shame of having a son like this."

"That's enough," Koji muttered under his breath, his fists trembling now.

"What's that?" Hayato asked, cupping a hand to his ear. "You want us to stop? Sorry, didn't hear you, piggy."

Koji shot him a glare, but before he could say anything, Rika snatched his last onigiri off the bench.

"Rika, please—"

"Relax," she said, holding it up like a trophy. "It's for your own good. You should thank me for keeping you from eating yourself into an early grave."

With that, she threw it onto the ground, crushing it under her heel. Again. As always.

Koji's breath hitched, but he didn't move. He couldn't.

Hayato let out a low whistle. "Ouch. That was your last one, wasn't it?"

"Such a shame," Rika said, dusting off her hands. "But hey, look on the bright side, Koji. Maybe this year you'll finally learn some self-control."

"Or, you know," Hayato added, grinning, "maybe you won't. And we'll still be stuck looking at your disgusting face every day."

Tsubasa finally spoke, his voice low and cold. "You're pathetic."

The word hit harder than anything else. Koji's head dipped lower, his shoulders hunched as he tried to make himself smaller.

Rika sighed dramatically, turning toward Arata. "This is boring. Aren't you going to say anything, Takashiro?"

Arata, who had been standing quietly the entire time, finally stepped forward. His cold eyes swept over Koji, who still sat frozen on the bench.

"Why bother?" Arata said flatly. "He's already exactly where he belongs."

Koji flinched, his nails digging into his palms.

"True," Rika said with a smirk. "Still, it's nice to remind him sometimes."

"Koji!"

The unexpected voice cut through the courtyard like a blade.

All heads turned toward the source.