Chapter 8

Tomoko calmly brushed her hair to the side as she strode through the doors of her school. It was practically hers now that she was friends with the class president. Komiyama followed close behind her, sighing as she tightened the straps on her backpack.

"Come on, Komiyama, lighten up. It's a new day!" Tomoko said, giving her a smile.

As Tomoko approached her classroom, she waved goodbye to her girlfriend. As she made those final steps to the door, Tomoko couldn't help but beam with delight knowing that she was finally getting some long overdue attention.

"Hello, my juniors!" Tomoko said with a flourish, hoping to make her fellow students a bit happier.

"Tomoko!" her teacher said, proudly smiling as she walked through the hallways. "Glad to see your attitude improve. Keep it up," she said, continuing her stroll through the school. Tomoko couldn't help but grin. It was finally turning around.

"Watch out!"

Tomoko's face smacked right into a passing girl's face, stunning them both. Tomoko grumbled as she gripped her nose. She could have sworn she knew her name, Uuu . . . something.

"Hey . . . girl. Sorry about that."

"I'm Ucchi, remem-"

"Yes, yes, I remember you from the class trip," Tomoko said, waving her hand.

"So, what do you think of my new girlfriend?"

The girl nervously looked over Komiyama, who was busy tapping away at her smartphone.

"She . . . looks good?"

"Thanks! I knew I could count on you for support," Tomoko said, wrapping her arm around Ucchi's neck. She knew her classmates were just begging to be her friend, and all because of her new girlfriend. Tomoko let Ucchi go after a few moments, amused by the girl's face turning white.

"I'll see you at the classroom, okay?"

As Tomoko happily strode away, Ucchi began to pant. Her breathing grew harsher and harsher as she tightly clenched her fists.

"You peep at me in the locker room, you keep following me around everywhere, and you go with HER?" Ucchi muttered as she stomped away.

At lunch, Tomoko ate her sandwich in an empty stairwell. Being popular for having a girlfriend was really stressful. Tomoko wanted to avoid the crowds of her classmates gawking at her, and took much needed alone time for her meal. Or rather, Komiyama wasn't playing ball again, deciding to eat a school-bought sandwich instead of the food Tomoko made for her.

"It wasn't my fault she got sick last time. And I even made sure to wash the vegetables thoroughly," she muttered, gazing down at the soggy salad floating in the discarded bento box nearby.

"Hey, Tomoko. Come here for a moment, will ya?"

Tomoko turned around, only to find a certain older delinquent standing a short distance behind her Ever since the trip to Kyoto months before she couldn't help but continue to be harassed by that bully Yoshida. Her mind raced as the older girl started walking towards her. Did she want money? A weaker girl to be her punching bag? Or, maybe . . . she was angry that Tomoko was dating someone?

Before Tomoko could make up an excuse, the delinquent grabbed her hand, pulling her behind her and dropping the bento on the stairs. She forced her to walk down the hallway and opened up the door to an empty classroom before shoving her inside.

"I-I'm sorry I didn't ask you out first! Please don't hurt me," Tomoko said, raising her hands in front of her face.

"I'm not angry about . . .what? I don't care who you're dating," she said, slamming the door shut behind her.

"Then what do you want?"

Yoshida placed her hand against the door, making sure it was firmly closed. She took a seat on a desk, her face curiously red.

"I . . . well, how should I put this? The class president Megumi told me to talk with you if I needed help with . . . romantic stuff."

". . . what?"

"I don't know," the delinquent said, crossing her arms across her chest. "Megumi was yapping on about how lucky she is to have a friend like you. I told her about my . . . problems, and she thought it'd be a good idea to talk to you. Presumably, to help me out."

"I'd thought a tomgirl like you would have plenty of girls around you. I mean, you're so boyish that-"

"Watch it," the delinquent said, making the smaller girl let out a tiny squeal. Yoshida growled before letting out a long sigh.

"What I'm saying is . . . I need some dating tips. Nothing over the top, just something to get the girl I want to notice me. You know what I mean? Listen, I wanna make you a deal. You help me get my girlfriend, and I'll owe ya one."

Tomoko slowly nodded. The idea of a powerful girl like her owing Tomoko a favor was interesting, plus she didn't want to end up on a missing person poster for saying no.

"Great. See you after school."

With the door slammed shut, Tomoko was left all alone in the classroom. She cracked her neck a few times, stretching out for the task ahead of her.

"Okay, no big deal, get a girlfriend for the girl who can beat me into a pulp. No problem. No problem," she said, the tremble in her hands getting the best of her.