"Squeak—"
"Huh? Why is someone lying here? Hey! Get up, don't sleep anymore!"
A group of upperclassmen kicked open the rooftop door and found Kaede Rukawa lying on the ground, fast asleep. One of them walked over and nudged him with his foot.
"...Um?"
Kaede Rukawa rubbed his eyes, let out a long yawn, and sat up slowly.
"Right, right, let's go. The seniors are coming here soon to take care of business... Wait, who is this guy!?"
Rukawa rose to his full height, hands tucked into his pockets, and looked down at them coldly.
"He's huge!"
The delinquents flinched instinctively. The sleepy-looking boy standing before them towered over them with a quiet, menacing air.
"W-What do you want?!"
Rukawa took a step forward, eyes narrowing.
"I don't let anyone disturb my sleep. Ever."
"You bastard! Get him!!"
"Ohhh!!"
Four of them charged at once.
...
Ding ding dong dong—!
The bell rang, signaling the end of class, as the door to Class 7, Grade 1 burst open.
Oliver, Sakuragi, and the rest of their gang marched out with dark expressions.
"What's going on?"
"I heard about them. They're from Wako Junior High! The infamous gang! What are they trying to pull?!"
"It's only the first day of school!"
Students along the corridor parted fearfully, whispering as Oliver and his group passed. Shohoku High was off to a chaotic start this year.
BANG!
Sakuragi kicked open the rooftop door. Oliver and the others followed behind.
"...Huh?"
To their surprise, only one person was left standing.
Kaede Rukawa, head bleeding, stood silently as four upperclassmen lay crumpled around him.
"You... you beat all of them?"
Mito asked in disbelief.
Rukawa glanced briefly at him, then nodded when he spotted Oliver.
"Whoa! Didn't know you had it in you, kid!"
Sakuragi clapped Rukawa on the back, laughing heartily.
"What's your name?"
"...Kaede Rukawa."
"!!!"
Sakuragi froze. Everyone's heads turned toward him, then to Rukawa, then back to Sakuragi.
"Rukawa? As in that Rukawa? The one Haruko always talks about!?"
The group looked like they were watching a bomb about to go off.
"Rukawa... Kaede? You're that Kaede Rukawa!?"
Sakuragi's face turned red with rage.
So this was the guy Haruko always thought about!
He pouted and circled Rukawa, inspecting him from head to toe.
So what if he's pale and can play basketball? This genius isn't inferior in the slightest!
"?"
Rukawa raised an eyebrow, clearly confused by the attention.
Oliver stepped in.
"Rukawa, I went to check on you in class. Why're you here?"
"Oliver, you know him?"
Mito asked.
"Yeah. We played against each other before."
Rukawa shrugged.
"My teacher didn't let me sleep in class. So I came up here. But then those guys woke me up. I can't forgive that."
How much does this guy love to sleep? Oliver thought. Even during their match, Rukawa had overslept and arrived late.
"Go to the infirmary and get your head patched up. You're bleeding."
"...Fine."
Rukawa turned to leave, but Sakuragi stepped in and spread his arms wide, blocking him.
"What's your deal?"
Rukawa narrowed his eyes.
"You look so smug! Answer me! What do you think of Haruko?!"
...
Meanwhile, in Haruko Akagi's classroom...
"Haruko! Did you hear? Some first-years from Class 7 got into it with the upperclassmen!"
Her friends were gathered around, gossiping excitedly.
"Class 7? That's Oliver and Sakuragi's class! Are they involved?"
Haruko looked worried.
"Are they involved? Girl, they are the problem! Your Oliver and Sakuragi are the center of all this!"
"Haruko, maybe you should keep your distance. They sound dangerous..."
"Dangerous? That's not true. They're good people."
Haruko tilted her head innocently.
"Sakuragi-kun is always looking out for me. And Oliver gives off this big brother vibe. He's calm and mature... Sometimes I forget he's just a student."
"You are seriously hopeless," one friend groaned.
"Even I've heard of them! Sakuragi and Mito are legends from Wako Junior High! And Oliver? My classmate saw him take down five delinquents at once using martial arts!"
"You're way too chill with them!"
Her friends all nodded emphatically. Haruko, however, remained unconvinced.
"You guys judge too quickly. They're really not bad people."
"Look! Look at the rooftop across! Isn't that them? Sakuragi, Oliver, and Rukawa!?"
"Huh?"
Haruko turned and saw Sakuragi blocking Rukawa, who appeared ready to leave.
"Why is Sakuragi-kun confronting Rukawa!? Don't tell me..."
Her face turned red as she suddenly realized something.
"Is he going to tell Rukawa I have a crush on him!?"
Panicked, Haruko jumped from her seat.
"No!"
"Wait, Haruko! Where are you going!?"
But she was already racing down the hallway toward the rooftop.
To be continued...
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