[Kikyo’s POV]

With everyone’s help setting up for the club fair, in front of the school, everything was ready in no time. And being that it’s so cold out, I only thought it right to reward them. 

I clap my hands, to get the students' attention. “Alright! Good work everyone! Snacks on me today at lunch!”

“Thanks Madam Vice!” Happily exclaims one of the student council members.

“Yeah! Now, I can’t wait for lunch time!”

“Nonsense, Kikyo!” Nana says suddenly. “Let me get snacks for everyone today! My treat!”

Surprised by the sudden offer, I think, ‘Well, this is the first time that Nana’s offered to buy everyone snacks. I wonder, what’s the occasion?’

“Thank you, Madam Pres! Aren’t we lucky to have two caring leaders!”

“Yeah well, it’s the least I can do, as your President.” Nana wears a humble smile, showing off her perfectly straight-white teeth.

Nana Suchi. On top of being our house's beautiful icon and Student Council President. She's the most popular girl in school. Not as much as me, of course. I’m on a different level of popular, but that’s neither here nor there. I, forone, actually earned my popularity. Nana, on the other hand, forces people to see her as such. She’s honestly second to me in everything: looks, intellectuality, as well as social and leadership skills. The only reason why she has the President title, while I’m Vice President, is because I allow her to have it. If anything unfortunate were to happen, being the President, the penalty will fall on her shoulders.

To each other's faces, we’re friendly. But realistically, we don’t like each other. She has her reasons on why she doesn’t like me and I have mine. I’m just happy this is the last year I have to deal with, “Ms. Wannabe Perfect”. 

Everything that comes out of her mouth has a hidden motive, and not buying Nana’s actions, I think, ‘I know there has to be a reason behind her offering. Is she just trying to show me up?’

“So, Kikyo,” Nana says smoothly, “your brother’s returned home, right? He comes back to school today?”

‘There it is.’ I think, feeling annoyed. 

“Oh wow, Senpai!! Really?!” Yells a student council member. 

“You must be really happy that your brother’s home.”

“Right! So, that’s why you were in such a good mood so early in the morning!”

Feeling suddenly attacked and embarrassed by my classmates, I quickly defend myself. “You guys don’t know what you’re talking about! The club fair is just fun, that's all.”

Nana suddenly pinches my cheek. “You’re blushing, Madam Vice. Everyone knows how much you care about your brother. He’s the only one that gets you blushing like that.”

Nana releases my cheek and I gently brush away the lingering feeling of her fingertips, with my knuckles. 

“Could it be?” One of the student council members exclaimes. “That Madam Vice President Kikyo really does have a brother complex?”

“I really don’t like it when you call it that,” I say firmly. “This isn’t an anime, okay.”

Responding under their breath, so I can’t hear, the council member says, “But it could be.”                                 

“I can still hear you!” I remind them but don’t turn towards them.

“Come on guys!” Inputs Nana. “Don’t tease Kikyo about her brother, okay. She cares about him, and that’s all we need to know.”

‘Yeah, this is definitely about my brother,’ I think. ‘She’s never this nice for no reason. I’m surprised she doesn’t know that he came with me to school today.’

“Oh yeah, Kikyo? Did you know that Kaname is going to be in the same class as us?”

“Yeah, I did. How did you know that?”

“I’m the Student Council President for the third years,” Nana says proudly. “It’s part of my position to find out who all the new students are—even if they’re not exactly new.”

‘She’s never actually cared before. Her determination never ceases to amaze me.’

“Speaking of ‘not exactly new’. Where did Yue go?” Asks a council member. 

Before I get the chance to reply, Nana says, “She's gone? I hardly even noticed since she’s so quiet all the time.”

“Haha. So true!”

“Good one, Madam Pres. Haha!”

“Anyway, I’m sure she’ll turn up.” Nana says. “If not, Kikyo can get in touch with her. Right, Kikyo?” 

I only nod my head, not really wanting to engage in the conversation.

“Good point, Madam Pres! Madam Vice is the only person that Yue will talk to.”

“You’re right! I wonder why that is?”               

No longer listening, I look through each window at the front of the school to see if Yue is anywhere to be seen. ‘That is a good question though. Where have you gone?’ After no luck in spotting her, I suddenly think about my brother, ‘Hmm, I wonder….’

—

[Kaname’s  POV]

After taking a nap in the gym, I decide to take a stroll around the school to make myself at home. 

I was only a first year when I was last here, before being admitted, but the school is pretty much how I remember it: there’s an outdoor pool, plenty of fields for sports as well as a track field, 3 gyms, an auditorium, and a pretty big cafeteria that’s as big as a 4 basketball courts.

Inagakuen High is a spacious 2 story school. Too spacious, in fact, that the school is separated into 6 houses. And each house has their own academic specialty and based on the house the student is in their logo on their uniforms will be the color of their designated house. 

Houses 2-6 are made up of the High school students of the school. And as I mentioned before, they each focus on a specific academic and each have their own house color. Kind of like Harry Potter. House 2 specializes in foreign languages, having their house color as the color yellow. House 3 specialize in social studies with the logo being white, or orange with a white background. House 4 deals with mathematics, with the house color being green. This is the house Kikyo and I are in. For obvious reasons of course. This is the house where most of the top tier students of the whole school attend.  Houses 5 and 6 are made up of those who specialize in science. With their color logo being light blue for house 5 and dark blue for house 6. These two houses did have the smartest students in the school until Kikyo and I came here and decided to change the course of things, joining mathematics instead. And yes, me included because I might not have done my homework, but I always passed whatever test was given to me. The school work itself just never took an interest for me to get it done.

That leaves House 1. Which is solely for the middle school kids who have their own separate building across from the high school. Obviously it’s set up that way to keep the lower class away from the upper class, but of course, students always seem to find themselves where they’re not supposed to be: Middle school kids always wander around the high school building and vice versa. 

Moving forward, each house has their own Vice Principals, but only one Principal oversees the entire school. And I’m sure each one is aware of exactly who I am. Or, who I was in this manner. I’m sure they expect me to be the same juvenile kid I was 3 years ago, but surprisingly enough, I’m done being that angry little boy. 

After passing by what looks like a sign saying, “Club Floor”, I find myself idling standing in front of a closed sliding door. I glance at the sign to the left of the door that read, ‘Band Room’. 

‘Figures.’ I think to myself. ‘It’s probably just the lingering musician in me that brought me here.’ 

I start to feel nostalgia as I continue to stare at the door. All the years of learning how to play the guitar from my grandfather, then joining the band club once I started middle school. I remember how I wrote songs in the very room, right in front of me. Performing them, and then becoming the band leader of the club in just a matter of months.

 My life made sense when music was involved. But somehow, knowing that girl from the accident doesn’t have her violin, I can no longer bring myself to even touch another instrument. I can’t. Not until I know that she’s still playing, and I’ve returned what’s hers. I owe her that much after all that happened. 

‘Should I even give myself the luxury of going inside?’ I ask myself, still staring at the door handle. 

Feeling a wave of guilt about to crash, my phone goes off in my pocket, telling me I’ve received a message. I reach in my pocket, and quickly take out my phone, as if it’ll stop the guilt from hitting me. Seeing I received a message from my sister, I read it right away.    

<Just checking in. Since I haven’t heard that something is broken, I’m sure that means you found a good spot to take a nap lol. The student council and I are finishing up. P.S. It looks like you already have some fangirls looking for you too, just wanted to give you the heads up.>

After reading the message, I can’t help but smile. “ ‘Since I haven’t heard that something is broken’? Was that her trying to be funny? And ‘fangirls’, huh?’

“Oh my gosh, did you hear?” Says a student in a excited tone. “The Student Council Vice President’s twin brother is starting today?”                                 

“Wait, twin brother, as in, they look alike?”

“Yeah! I’m pretty sure they’re identical!”

“If that’s the case, he’s most likely very handsome. I can’t wait to see him.”

After hearing their conversation approaching from down the hall, I swiftly open the sliding door to the band room and close it as quickly and quietly as possible.                                 

‘That was close. They must be in the same house as us since they’re referring to Kikyo as Vice President.’ I let out a long sigh. ‘At least, I can hide in a room that interests me.’ 

Sensing that the coast is clear, I notice cherry blossom petals fluttering on the floor around my feet. I also start to feel a cool breeze push against my back, through my Jean jacket.  I turn around and find myself completely mesmerized by what I see amidst the instruments. There’s a girl sleeping peacefully next to an open window.