Chapter 2 pt 2: Miharu's Inner Circle

Miharu and Daijo continued to stroll through the hallway, and made their way downstairs to the first floor. From there, they went on to exit through the front doors of the school building.

They now found themselves standing before a large area of grass, trees, and benches outside of the school. It was surrounded by a 10 foot brick wall that had extended around the entire perimeter of the building, as well as the yard.

This was the courtyard, that Miharu had spoken of. During lunch, this was the area where most students would come to eat, relax, and hang out.

And in the very center of it, was a long semicircular bench. And sitting there, was Miharu's friends Retun, Lentia, along a few others that have yet to be introduced.

"Hey guys." Miharu greeted as her and Daijo arrived. The two of them had taken a seat beside each other on the close end of the bench.

"Hey Miharu, who's that you got with you?" Lentia asked.

"Ooh, who is he?" The girl besides Lentia asked in a flirty manner. She had long green hair and wore a school uniform that was slightly unbuttoned, leaving her cleavage to be partially exposed. "I can tell that you're new here." She said to Daijo.

"Yes, I'm Daijo." He said as he shook the girl's hand. "It's nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you as well. I'm Calce Catrea. Scholar student, future lawyer, and I'm also single." 

"Daijo, let me introduce you to our friends, and Calce here." Miharu said.

After she and Daijo took their seats at the very end of the bench, she began her introduction; starting with the person closest to her, which was Lentia.

"This girl right here is Lentia Roderici. And she is my best friend." Miharu said, as she put her arm around Lentia.

Lentia was a very skinny brunette with plain light pink eyes, similar to Daijo's. Her and Miharu had been best friends, almost sister-like, since they were 8 years old.

The two of them weren't very compatible, considering that Miharu was known the be somewhat of a rough and rude individual. Meanwhile, Lentia gained the reputation as a sweet and friendly oddball.

But despite that, they both somehow connected, and remained close, through all the years.

"Me and Lentia have been close for a long time." Miharu continued. "Once you get to know her, you will see how much of an amazing person she is. She is a true friend that will always have your back no matter what."

"Now as for the guy beside her, he is Retun Priiyo." She said as she pointed to the boy with brown hair and purple eyes. "He's a cool dude and really good athlete. But if you find yourself a girl that you like, make sure to keep her very far away from him. He's a man ***** who will try to have sex with anything with boobs."

"I guess that means that Lentia is off limits." Retun jokingly said.

Lentia, who was highly self-conscious of her small chest, became embarrassed and covered herself with her arms.

"W-Well it's not like you could have me, anyway." She replied.

"Please. I could have you and Miharu, if I tried."

*Smack!*

Retun instantly regretted what he had said, after Miharu had struck him beneath the eye with her water bottle.

"Ow! What the hell, Miharu?!" Retun complained, as he rubbed his face.

"You could never have me or Lentia." Miharu stated. "We're not a bunch of easy bimbos, like Calce."

"**** you too, you delinquent." Calce, the green-haired girl, had snapped.

"Hey, don't call me a delinquent, grass-head."

"I'm sorry, but do you two have some type of dispute going on?" Daijo questioned.

"I wouldn't call it a dispute." Miharu answered. "She just dislikes me, because I know how to restrain myself from taking my underwear off for every cute boy that I meet. Oh and by the way, Daijo, you should make sure to wash your hands as soon as possible. We don't know what type of STD you could've caught after shaking her hand."

"You can't catch STDs from shaking hands, you idiot. Not that I have any anyway." Calce informed. "And at least I won't be in a jail cell in 2 years. Unlike you."

"That's where you're wrong. Because you probably will end up in a jail cell. Only you'll be there for prostitution."

"At least guys are attracted to me. I mean, Tione is more of a girl than you are. He probably has a better chance of getting a boyfriend than you as well." Calce said.

The boy, Tione, that she had been referring to, was the individual sitting to her left. He had shoulder length light purple hair and red eyes. Many would often mistake Tione as a female, due to his short stature and feminine-like facial features. But in truth, he was indeed a boy.

"Can you guys not bring me into your daily conflicts?" Tione complained. Even his voice was more high-pitched than the other boys that were his age.

"I'm sorry Tione." Miharu apologized, before she continued her introduction. "Daijo, I almost forgot to introduce you to this lovely young lady right here."

"I'm a boy!" Tione interjected.

"Oh calm down. You know we're just messing with you." Miharu said. "But anyway, this is Tione, and he is a person that anyone will enjoy hanging around. He doesn't start drama, he's friendly, he's supportive, and he'll always have your back too. Yet, he always tells us that he's a boy. But I've never seen any physical proof, so I'm still not 100% positive."

"Why can't you just believe me?" Tione wondered.

"So there you have it, Daijo. This is the whole gang." Miharu concluded, as she disregarded Tione's request.

"Did you forget to mention us?"

From behind the bench, two more students had been approaching.

One of the boys was very tall; standing at 6'4". He had flowing brown hair and plain pink eyes also.

The boy walking alongside of him, was not as tall, but much bulkier; similar to the built of a football player. His hair was a short buzz cut, and he spouted some slight facial hairs on his chin. He too had the same plain pink eyes.

The tall individual was Duza. He was Lentia's brother, who was older by a year. And he also happened to be Miharu's secret crush.

Though, she did her best to keep her feelings of him confidential. After all, for Miharu to be zealous over a boy, was completely out of character for her.

As for the boy with the short haircut, his name was Quiru, Duza's best friend, who didn't get along well with most people, due to his "glass-half-empty" personality. 

Miharu was tongue-tied as, she watched Duza approach. She began to blush, out of habit. So she turned her head away, in order to avoid having her red face be seen.

"Well if you guys had shown up on time Duza, we would remember to mention you." Retun said to the two of them. "But now that you're here, you can meet the new guy. This is Daijo."

"Oh, a new guy huh?" Quiru questioned. "Well let's hope you enjoy your stay as this shitty school."

"Quiru, cut it out man." Duza said, as he nudged his friend. "I'm sorry about him. Quiru is a negative dude." Duza then reached his hand out and formally greeted Daijo with a handshake. "The name is Duza Roderici. Star of the basketball team, as well as Lentia's older brother. I'm sure you've noticed by now, but this school is pretty confusing. So if you ever need a guide, or someone for you to shadow, don't hesitate to talk to me."

Out of the corner of his eye, Duza noticed Miharu, who had her head turned away, and was doing whatever she could to avoid having her blushing face be seen.

"Hey Miharu, are you good?" He asked. He bent down and got closer to her, which only caused her to blush even more.

"Me? Oh, I'm doing just fine. It's um... just very hot out here, ya know?" Miharu replied nervously.

"Hmm." Calce said, with a conniving grin on her face. Duza may have been clueless, but she had Miharu all figured out, almost instantly, and saw it as an opportunity to tease her. "You know Duza, I don't think Daijo will need your assistance. It seems like someone had already beat you to it."

"Oh really? Who?" Duza asked. He and Quiru both took their seats beside Calce, as she began to explain.

"It's Miharu. The two of them have been joined to the hip ever since Daijo arrived."

Miharu's blushing faded away immediately, as she glanced over at Calce with anger in her eyes.

"Oh really?" Duza asked. "Well that's kind of her."

"Isn't it? I mean, it is kind of shocking, since she is usually so rude to others. But, then again, Daijo is very handsome. Maybe the only reason for Miharu to be acting so friendly to him, is because she has a little cru-"

*Smack!*

Calce was unable to even finish the word 'crush', because she had been cut off, after being struck right in the nose by flying water bottle. Just like what had happened to Retun.

And once again, Miharu was the culprit.

"Calce shut the hell up and worry about yourself for once." Miharu snapped. "Not everyone is willing to throw themselves at a boy, the very first moment they meet them. Unlike you. And for your information, he just arrived in 5th period. We walked from class to lunch together, and that's all. So don't start making up stupid rumors like that out of thin air."

"Wow Miharu, you sure don't hold back." Tione commented.

"I just speak what's on my mind." She said, as she went back to eating her lunch. "I'm sorry you had to see that, Daijo."

"Oh, it's fine." Daijo timidly replied. "Coming from where I'm from, I'm pretty use to violence."

"Because you're from Shinpo, right?" Duza asked. 

"Yeah. How did you guess?"

''You didn't even have to say it. I could tell by your eyes."

Shinpo, was the name of a State that was adjacent to Bensana. Most Shinpoens tend to have similar physical features, such as plain pink eyes, and dark colored hair.

Like Daijo, many citizens of Shinpo had immigrated to Bensana for various reasons. The most common reason, was to escape the overwhelming crime and violence that went on in within their State.

Because of typical lawlessness, the Shinpoens have developed a false stereotype of being criminals; despite only a very small percentage of them actually being so.

This had led to them suffering discrimination in Bensana. So much, to the point where the Bensana State Government had even required all Shinpoen immigrants to wear a necklace with a serial number on it, in order to keep track of them. Lentia, Duza, and Quiru currently were currently wearing their own necklaces as well.

"You're right. I am." Daijo said, answering Duza's question. "I just moved a couple of weeks ago. Once I was officially settled in, I was able to start my first day here."

"How are they treating you so far?" Quiru asked. "You better get use to the discrimination. Because it's going to-"

"Quiru man, come on." Duza complained, as he nudged him again.

"Actually, this place has been very welcoming to me." Daijo answered. "This school as well. I'm enjoying everything, and everyone, so far."

As Daijo's eyes shifted over and glanced at Miharu, he flashed that charming smile of his once more.

"Okay, this is guy is getting too comfortable with me?" Miharu's spoke to herself. "I think it's time for me to head out now."

After taking one last bite of her snack, Miharu grabbed her book bag, and stood up.

"Wait, where are you going? Lunch isn't over yet." Retun said.

"I'm going home." Miharu answered.

"But the day isn't over yet."

"Has that ever stopped me before?"

"You know Miharu, you need to start putting more effort into school." Calce suggested.

"And you need to put more effort into keeping your legs closed." Miharu replied.

"I'm just saying. If you keep slacking off like you always do, then you'll just end up dropping out and end up like your-"

Before Calce could finish her comparison, Miharu shot her a with a threatening death glare. A glare that nonverbally challenged her to finish that sentence, if she was willing to face the consequences.

"Never mind. Just go and do what you want, delinquent. Don't come complaining to me when you're homeless." She muttered.

After Calce retracted her comment, Miharu threw her bookbag over her shoulder and turned towards the entrance of the courtyard.

"Daijo, it was nice meeting you." She said. "I hope you can survive the rest of the day without me."

"I'll try." Daijo kidded. "It was nice meeting you too."

"I'll see you guys tomorrow." Miharu finally said before walking off.

Daijo stared at Miharu as she walked off. His eyes were glued to her for every single step, until she exited through the courtyard entrance and was completely out of sight.

"Hey Daijo." Calce said, to get his attention. "Take my advice when I tell you, Miharu is bad news."

"Oh cut her some slack." Duza interjected. "She's not all that bad. Sure she's got a little bit of a hot streak. But once you get to know her, she's a cool person."

"Well I have gotten to know her. Longer than all of you, in fact. And for most of those years, she's shown me that she is nothing but lazy, short-tempered, and rude."

"For most?" Daijo repeated. "Was there a time, where she didn't behave like that?"

"There was..." Calce answered, as she stared at the ground. "But she went through something, that changed her forever." There was a long silence in between sentences. Almost like she was nervous to explain the reason why. 

"Calce, don't say it." Lentia butted in.

"You're right. It's not my business to tell. But just know, that you're better off not talking to her."

"I don't know." Daijo replied. "There's something about her. Something that I find...intriguing."

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