((I think what astounds me about this fanfic is that not only am I updating it, I'm being decently consistent about it. I've managed to put up something new once every few days or so instead of weeks with no new chapter.

...I say as if someone cares. Anyway, this chapter was kind of hard to write. I really hope I'm not going too fast with this. ^_^"

All characters belong to their owners.))

Sometimes, Miku would watch high school movies.

Ever since she started middle school, she watched movies and animes about high school whenever she had time. Not only did she find them entertaining (which was something that few things did), she watched them especially for their optimism. It gave her hope - while it always proved to be false - that school wasn't as heartless, torturous and boring as she thought. For all she knew, her chance to blossom into a beautiful, worthy girl and meet her true love were just around the corner.

Miku stared at her shaking, bruised knees as she sat on the cold gym bench.

So much for any of that.

She didn't bother to look up when the gym teacher blew his whistle, making sure her matted teal hair made curtains around her face. She scowled at her lap, frustrated by the noise.

Why couldn't I share this class with one of the few people that care?

"Okay, kids!" said Coach Al, flipping through a bunch of papers on a clipboard. "Today's going to be pretty easy for you. We're playing a simple game of basketball, alright? I know quite a few of you like it, but don't get too rough, got it?"

A useless statement. Miku knew people would be rough with her no matter what.

Maybe I should pretend to be sick again…

But to her chagrin, everyone got up to grab one of the dusty orange and black-lined balls from the cart. Miku stood firmly off to the side of the room as she spotted Neru, Tei, and Ling snickering at her, balls in hand.

Miku sighed.

Coach Al gave another whistle, and the class began. Miku did what she did every time the class played any kind of ball game: she ducked, dodged, and kept out of the way so those who could play well wouldn't bump into her. Plus, it saved her the pain of getting something thrown at her or patronized for her incompetence at playing.

Just focus on not messing up, like you always do…

"Hey, Hatsune!"

Miku looked up just in time to see a ball flying towards her. She was knocked back as it connected with her face, and she stumbled down to the ground.

Disoriented, she managed to sit up and looked around frantically for the perpetrator, though she knew who it most likely was.

Sure enough, Akita Neru waved from the court next to them. "Sorry, Hatsune!" she called, though the smile on her face was anything but sorry. "Must've passed in the wrong direction!"

Bull. But out of force of habit, Miku mumbled a shaky, "don't worry about it" and stood up. She then stumbled around the court to give the illusion of play again, ignoring Neru whisper to her possé behind her.

What are they planning for me now?

Just then, Coach Al blew his whistle again to get the class's attention. He was standing near the door. "Kids, these two ladies need my help in the softball fields," he announced, pointing the electric blue and dark green-haired girls standing in the gym doorway. "I'll be gone for just a few minutes. Don't do anything crazy, or it'll be detention for you." With that, he left.

Miku could feel her face pale. As soon as Al was gone, Neru walked up to her court. "Hey, Flower!" she called.

No, no, no…

"Do you think we could trade Hatsune for Xin over there?" Neru pointed to the purple-haired girl in braids inside her own court.

Flower gave Neru an icy stare, and then looked back at Miku. Flower's eyes gave Miku chills. When she turned back to Neru, she said, "I don't see why not."

"Great!" Neru said happily, and her hateful eyes turned on Miku. Miku felt her body run cold with dread. "C'mon, Hatsune, let's play."
And Miku ran.

Miku flew straight out of the back doors of the gym and into the hallway, "no leaving the classroom" be damned. She could hear Neru and the others laughing behind her in the gym, basketballs bouncing after her. Miku's sneakers slapped across the tile of the school floors, and within minutes she was locked into a stall in the girl's bathroom.

My heart is still pumping…

How she lied to Mikuo. The bullying would never end, would it? She couldn't keep switching schools forever. She was going to be stuck hiding and running away because if she didn't, all they would do is strike her and hurt her and step on her again…

Crouching on the bathroom tile, Miku began to cry.

She hadn't cried like this in a while. She cried loud and hard, big sobs rippling through her as she futilely tried to stop the onslaught of tears. For once, she didn't care if someone heard or not. She needed to let out this pain.

I don't care…

"Miku?"

Miku hiccupped, and cupped her hands over her mouth in shock.

That voice.

He couldn't be…

"Miku? Is that you in there?"

It had to be him. His voice wasn't low enough to be Al's. Miku managed to swallow her despair and quickly wiped her face, brushing her hands on her gym shorts as she slowly made her way from the stall to the door. She opened it, and she was met with familiar lime green eyes.

"Y-Yuuma?" she mumbled. "Sh-shouldn't you be in class?"

"I forgot my transfer papers in my locker. Had to bring them to the office. Are you okay?" Yuuma asked. A look of deep concern was plastered on his face.

"I'm okay," Miku lied through her teeth. Habit. "I...I needed to go to the bathroom."

"You're a terrible liar," said Yuuma. Miku flinched. "Do you need help? Do you want to go to the nurse?"

Miku opened her mouth to answer. No, I'm fine, nothing happened to me…

However, all that came out was a new wave of tears. Yuuma's eyes widened, and he slowly put an arm around her and led her from the bathroom to an empty classroom. He shut the door and sat in front of her.

"You can start from the beginning," he said simply.

So Miku did just that. Before she could stop herself, she told Yuuma everything, from first grade with Ritsu to the events with Neru. About the moving from place to place to escape the torment. About the threats and the occasional flower on her desks. About the beatings and the gossip and how every time she tried to act a certain way, they found a flaw to pick at.

"I don't know what to do anymore," she whispered, looking into her lap instead of up at him. "I'm tired of moving. I'm tired of having to pull Mikuo away from his friends and Mom and Dad away from their jobs because of how I feel. I'm tired of being hated no matter what I do. I just wish I could...I could…"

"Die?"

Miku's head snapped up to gaze at him. His expression was placid. "That's what you want to say, right?" he asked calmly.

Despite the alarm written all over her face, she nodded.

Yuuma looked out the window of the classroom into the grounds, apparently deep in thought. Miku grew increasingly restless as the silence droned on.

"I'm sorry," he said eventually.

"What?"

"I'm sorry," he repeated. His eyes were fixed firmly on hers again, and Miku's pulse quickened. "I'm not good at comforting people, but...I can say one thing." He leaned towards her, and Miku felt the blood rush to her face. "I'm going to help you."

"Help…?"

"Yes, help you," he said again. "I know I haven't known you very long at all, but I can say now that you're my friend. I don't know how these people can do these things to someone who never hurt them, but it's wrong. Sick, even." His hand clenched into a fist beside him. "So you're not alone, okay? Don't even think about dying. I'll do what I can to make sure you're not going to be hurt anymore. Alright?"

Miku shrunk from his intensity, but a strange, wonderful wave of relief crashed over her. He would help. He was going to help her. She could see the sincerity, the determination, inside him.

It's just like in the beginning…

After that, Miku let Yuuma take her back to the gym. She apologized when Al scolded her for leaving, and gracefully took her detention. She even made an effort to play as the class rolled to an end and everyone was called in to change.

She had come to a conclusion.

Yuuma Yamada is my hero.

Yuuma Yamada is my protector.

Yuuma Yamada is my one true love.

((As I said, I'm trying my best.

I really hope I'm not going too fast, but given that Miku isn't the most stable person on Earth I guess I don't expect her to take a while before things get weird.

Review if possible.))