My Bittersweet Love {Harai}

[Faye]

His favourite part of the day was lunch time. Meant he got to eat and spend time with his lovely girlfriend, Haruka~~ He couldn't wait to see her, almost as much as he wanted to eat a mountain of food at that moment. He felt so hungry, it made him feel a little weak with how his stomach kept growling at him.

Today his uniform was a little neater and his hair didn't look like he just got out of bed. He felt like he was a bit of a slob for not caring about his appearance and wanted to impress Haruka a little. He walked into the cafeteria, taking in a deep breath, smelling the sweet aroma that was food.

Rai took chose an empty table near the window that was a clear view out into the open where a few other students were lounging on the grass, enjoying the sun that was shining down on them. Once at the table, Rai sat his bag beside him and unzipped it, pulling out his obento that he had made for himself that morning. He made sure it was fully packed to his sister's demands.

Opening it, he awaited his girlfriends arrival.

[Nicolette]

Honestly, she probably wasn't going to eat that day. She just didn't have to will to eat. Let people think of her as they would, but her slight eating disorder wasn't something she had control over. At times, she felt like it controlled her, while at other times, she could overcome her problem and actually force herself to eat. But now wasn't one of those 'overcome it' times.

She didn't bother to pack a lunch. She had a small bag of pretzels in her bag for if her stomach felt better, but she hadn't eaten anything all day. Her stomach wasn't making growling noises, but it was still feeling uneasy at the smell of food. She wrinkled her nose as she walked into the cafeteria, her eyes seeking out a certain person.

He'd requested they use the cafeteria that day, and she figured it would be a good idea to use the cafeteria a little more, as to make them seem more natural and less suspicious as Student Freedom Force members. She decided to come along, and she eventually found herself approaching the eleventh year's table.

"Hello..." She said as she pulled out the chair. She took her backpack off and set it next to her chair, her briefcase leaning up against it. "How were your classes, Rai-kun?" It was the typical question she asked.

[Faye]

Rai was about to take a mouthful of his food before he realised he had nothing to eat it with. Blinking a few times, he registered and turned back to his unzipped bag, reaching inside for a pair of black chopsticks to eat with. Now completely ready, he took a bite out of his food, sighing with content at the taste.

As he was about to eat another, someone turned up to his table. The smell of lavender wavered about his nose and he glanced up, melting at the sight of Haruka. He smiled, "Hello, Haru-chan~" He said merrily as he leaned forward to kiss her cheek, "Classes were okay, I guess, how were yours?" He returned the question, his hand making its way to hold hers.

[Nicolette]

Haruka flushed a little when he kissed her cheek and her eyes fell to the table. Rai was pretty much her first real boyfriend, and everything just felt different... She wasn't used to the public displays of affection. And so, her natural instinct was to shy away. When his hand touched hers, she slid it back just a little, almost as if she flinched at his touch.

"They weren't too bad, actually. A little dull, but not too bad." she replied smoothly, ignoring the uneasy feeling in her stomach.

[Faye]

When Haruka flinched a little as his hand touched hers, he glanced down. At first he worried about it and wanted to protest but then he decided to let it slide, what if she just wasn't expecting it? It wasn't a major issue anyway. Instead, he managed to get her hand, holding it gently in his own. It felt nice, warm yet thin and frail. He knew why she felt like this at times but he knew better than to say anything about it.

"Classes are always dull," He joked, his body had now moved so his legs were on either side of the bench, facing towards her. "You had a good day so far, though?" Classes weren't the only things that happened in her life and he was curious to know what she was feeling. If she.. opened up at all today.

[Nicolette]

She tensed lightly when he captured her hand in her's, holding it gently and lacing his fingers with hers. Why did it feel like the whole world was watching them? The uneasy feeling continued to bubble in her stomach, but she let it slide... She needed to stop being so paranoid.

"My day has been fine." She replied, unsure really of what else to say. She wasn't much for opening up about herself. She couldn't help that she was so defensive... Did that bother him?

[Faye]

Something about her response irritated him. He hated that reply of hers, she always used it and it was as if she was either hiding something or snapping at him. But just the way she was, she was an independent, formal type of person and he had fallen in love with her and wasn't about to try and change her.

Although, something about the way she was acting was beginning to really get to him. She seemed so anxious about something, and was barely holding his hand back. It was limp and lifeless. He glanced up at her, his eyes meeting hers, "Do you not want me to hold your hand..?" He asked her softly, his hand slowly leaving hers, feeling the warmth disappear.

[Nicolette]

Haruka's gray eyes immediately snapped up from the table to look at him, her heart stopping at the soft, almost hurt, tone that he'd taken on. She hadn't meant to upset him by the gesture or anything. She honestly just felt a little uneasy. But she couldn't tell him that... That would hurt him. And so, she bit down on her lower lip and reached out to hesitantly touch his hand.

"I apologize... There's just so many people around, and..." She sounded almost professional in her apology, but seemed the trail off as she couldn't figure out to say. She couldn't just flat out say, 'I don't want people to see us', because that wasn't the truth... But she couldn't seem to explain it. She wasn't a very touchy person in public. She was raised differently, as if there was a defect in her brain...

Though, she thought cynically, she wouldn't doubt something was wrong, after all the mind fucks she went through in her youth.

[Faye]

As she looked back at him, Rai saw the shock in her as he had mentioned it, she looked very focused in what she was trying to say. Her eyes showing that she was calculating what might happen with each possible idea that could be said, only to become very vague as she tried to articulate her sentence.

Rai swallowed at the reply, however, his mind jumping to the worst conclusion he could think up. He glanced down at her hand so hesitantly touching his and then his eyes lifted back up to her, "Are you.. embarrassed about it or..?" At the time he wasn't aware that now he was prying, but he was curious. He felt a ping in his heart every time his mind replayed her words and he wanted to know what was causing all of this flinching.

[Nicolette]

Embarrassed? Was that the right word to use in this situation? Haruka honestly didn't know. She didn't mind being seen with Rai, and she didn't mind saying that she was his girlfriend, so she was sure it wasn't really embarrassment of holding his hand or being around him... Maybe it could just be the embarrassment of the public affection. She was perfectly fine when it was just the two of them alone.

"I'm just... not really good with... public display...." She carefully said, pausing every few words to try and think of the right thing to say. This was something difficult for her, something she wasn't used to.

[Faye]

Well Rai knew that just by looking. Haruka was nearly the polar opposite to what he was, he was more outgoing and forward while she would rather keeping to herself instead. Though Rai didn't mind, he wanted to be able to express himself through physical affection without all this... trouble.

But he couldn't get mad at her for it, how was she supposed to control it? Didn't mean it didn't bother him a tiny wee bit..

"I'm sorry, Haru-chan, I just.. I like to kiss you and show you how much... how I feel about you," Something didn't feel right about saying how much I love you since Haruka was unable to return his love at this moment but at least he knew.. she cared.

[Nicolette]

Haruka knew that wasn't what he had originally planned to say. It tore her up inside that she couldn't say those three words back, but she had to be absolutely sure that it was love she felt, and not just the need for companionship.

She looked down at the table, unable to think of the right thing to say. Silence fell between the couple, and it would have continued, had someone not come over to the table. He was a student council representative, judging from how he held himself and the paperwork he was holding in his hand. He looked at Rai and looked back down at the paper before nodding and looking back at the boy.

"You're Rai Aikaryu, right?" The young man asked, patiently waiting for a response. He'd slightly mispronounced the name, saying "Ay-kah-reeyoo" instead of "Eye-kah-reeyoo". This was something Haruka related to.

[Faye]

Rai had leaned forward, his eyes intently watching his girlfriend as they remained in silence, it was awkward but he was waiting for her to say something. Anything at all. However, when she continued to stay the way that she was, he felt his eyes drop from her face down to the floor.

Until, of course, their silence was interrupted by a boy asking if he was Rai Aikaryu. He swallowed at the slight mispronunciation of his last name but he had learned to live with it, it was futile trying to get them to pronounce it correctly. "Yes, I am, why?" He asked curiously, was he in trouble? Were they going to make him fill out a form? Oh no better not! He'd rather get detention, which seemed likely at the moment. His mind automatically went over his day, trying to see where he could get a detention.

[Nicolette]

"Miss Walters up in the front office wishes to speak to you. There's a new student and your schedule matches up with hers... And there's a little more to it. Would you mind coming up with me to the front office?"

A new student? Haruka glanced up slightly, taking in the appearance of the male. She immediately recognized him, considering he was a Council member, and she had complete files for each member, main member or representative. He was a sort of meek boy, but he did try hard to be a help to the Student Council. She admired his loyalty, though she did wish he gave it to the Student Freedom Force instead.

[Faye]

Rai listened to the boy, only to have his mouth gape open. A new girl? A new girl whose schedule matched up with his? Well he knew with this was going and certainly didn't like it! He didn't want to have to divide his time up for Haruka, the Student Freedom Force, Finals, Theatre AND now a girl who needed to be escorted round. Did they not check his grade average? Psh.

"Hm, alright," He replied, turning to Haruka, "You coming?" He asked her, his voice taking on a more softer, sweet tone compared to the one he used on the boy. He packed up his barely touched lunch and placed it in his bag, zipping it up and slinging it over his shoulder.