in between ?.? jo togame???

i. vending machine incident

Even though today's my first day in this high school, I thought to myself how familiar I am with girls like her, your typical beautiful meanie who hypnotises the boys under their spell and toys with people lesser of their status.

"Ah-ha," I replied bluntly, setting an unfriendly demeanour that is until I realized she could be a good help. My manner changed drastically into a friendly and a cheerful one that matched her.

I nodded with a newfound burst of energy and a smile. "Yes, yes, that's right!"

"That's so cool, [NAME] can I meet your boyfriend one day?" She held my shoulder and shook me back and forth followed by another giggle.

Damn, its sure one damn of an annoying giggle but I followed her and let out a bigger one than her.

"Sure, sure I'll totally introduce you to him." Another fake giggle.

"I never took you for someone to have a boyfriend." She said.

I hid another offended expression behind my facade of all sunshine and rainbow.

Her words sparked jealousy among the boys who instantly sneered at us.

"Oh yeah, a boyfriend from a gang like geez nothing to be proud of." Their leader said, running a hand through his blonde messy hair as he placed his feet on Taiga's back.

I snickered at his ego.

"Oh, why is that so Ryo?" Hina asked with a melodious voice, hand over her mouth.

"Hundred per cent bet we can take him on a fight." Ryo shoved his hands into his pocket, avoiding Hina's eyes and gazed at the horizon ahead instead.

Hina laughed sweetly at him. "Oh you, geez."

I looked at Taiga who tried to slowly, steadily pick himself up, I rushed to him and held him there, searching for more bruises of his.

"Oh yeah? Want me to prove it." Ryo suggested with hands still in his pockets.

"Sure, why not!"

Damn it.

"Hey, you!" Ryo pointed at me and I gave him an annoyed look. "Bring your so-called gangster boyfriend here by tomorrow night."

Damn it, damn it.

"And If I don't?" I pressed on while putting up a bored expression.

Damn it, damn it.

Ryo kicked Taiga once more, his face meeting the ground again.

"Or you and your little side chick finds out."

He gathered his group of empty-headed friends and with his back on us, they entered the school without ever looking back.

After they were out of sight, Hina approached the door but spared us one glance.

"Hope you aren't lying about your gangster boyfriend, someone really needs to teach Ryo some manners."

┉

"ATTICUS MY GOOD BOY, I MISS YOU SO MUCH, LOOK AT YOU SO PRECIOUS AND HAPPY, TELL ME, WERE YOU A GOOD BOY TODAY, WHO'S A GOOD BOY?"

I aggressively petted and stroked Atticus as he became more jumpy. He circled me, tail wagging, before howling and crying.

"You're such a good boy!" I said, bending down to his height, he started licking my face.

"Uh [NAME]" I looked at Taiga to see him frozen at the door of Dad's cafe.

"Oh...don't tell me you're scared of dogs." I gave him a teasing smile.

"I-I-I." He stuttered.

Atticus, still wagging his tail approached him to sniff him, Taiga not being able to hold in his fear anymore yelped.