You Belong With Me

Disclaimer: I don't own Spiral. So stop stalking me.

Ponchimaya: I can't believe that yet again I left this for so long. Sheesh, I better make up for it now, huh…

Kousuke: I've officially given up on you.

It was supposed to be a good day.

I was nervous getting ready for school that morning, still not quite believing the girl standing in front of me. Just last Monday I was lamenting on how much I hated my appearance. And here I am, not minding how I looked at all.

I took extra care in what I'd wear, stuff that Rio chan had laid out for me. I didn't touch most of it, because they looked a little too girly for my taste. I settled for the simplest thing: a blue plaid skirt which fell just above my knees and a white tank top. I combed my hair(it seems combing my hair has become a priority now) and sighed as it fell in light long curls.

Though I wasn't used to it yet, I was glad to find that I no longer winced in putting on my contacts. I gave myself one last look in the full length mirror, and was about to walk out my bedroom door—

When I hear a knocking at my window and I see my boyfriend prying it open to get in, all dressed and ready for school and carrying his schoolbag.

Boyfriend. Narumi san, my boyfriend.

I still can't get over it.

He eats breakfast with my family, and my mother is completely charmed by him. Father is still quite protective of me, but he is polite nonetheless, and I couldn't ask for more.

Afterwards, Narumi san and I went to his garage, where he had his bicycle waiting for him.

"I didn't know you took a bike going to school." I said.

He chuckled as he brought it out. "I wouldn't think you would, seeing as Komari has taken it upon herself to pick me up in that sickening pink car of hers."

"You've always hated it?"

"I wouldn't say hate. But wait, does wanting to shrink and die while you sit in it count as hate?"

I giggled. "Quite close."

He rode on his bike. He cleared his throat.

"Oh! Right!" I exclaimed, getting on too.

"FINALLY." Said Rio, as soon as Narumi parked his bike. The school was noisy as always. I got off and straightened my skirt.

"Good morning to you too, Takeuchi." smiled Narumi san.

"Ayumu." We all turned. It was Keito. Aka, BoiNxtDoor. He looked bored. "I should have known you'd take that dastardly bike to school."

"It's not dastardly if it's in tip top condition." Said Ayumu proudly.

"We'd better get going, guys." Said Kousuke. "Homeroom starts in half an hour."

"And I've got prep for soccer." Remembered Ayumu sadly.

"And I'm late for early morning duty." Yawned Keito. "Looks like I've got this period free."

"You can't just skip class just because you missed early morning cleanup!" I scolded.

"You'd be surprised."

In the end, Ayumu ran off for prep, Keito said he'd see us for lunch(maybe) and I stuck to Rio and Kousuke the whole way to class.

I hated it when people stared. It's different when they watch me sing, they have no choice. But regularly, no one took the time to actually look my way voluntarily. And now…

"Yuizaki san!" I turned. It's one of those socialite girls that I never bothered to learn their name. She was pretty and perky and her clothes screamed wealth.

Kousuke was stunned. Only Rio had enough wits about her to flash a polite smile. "Shizeka. How are you this morning?"

Shizeka beamed. "I'm doing good." She turned back to me. "Hiyono! Oh, it's okay that I call you that, right? Cause you can so totally call me Shizeka. Anyway, I'm having an afterparty on Friday after the game, and of course your boyfriend Narumi san is invited. He's your boyfriend, right? Of course he is, I can only assume. But anyway, it'll be totally rad if you could come."

"I…" I stuttered.

"She'll be glad to go." Beamed Rio. I turned in surprise and Shizeka cheered.

"Awesome! Rio chan you're totes welcome to come. And you." She said, looking at Kousuke. With that, she gave us a flying kiss and bounced on her merry way.

And as the day went on, people were noticeably warmer towards me. It all made me uncomfortable, and when I finally had the time to myself, I sat with my sunflower and gave it water. My eyes were teary. It was supposed to be a good day, not a day full of fake smiles and shallow kissing up.

"You know, Sunflower san, everyone's being a lot nicer to me because I look different. If I didn't look like this, would I—"

That's when I noticed something different. My tall sunflower stood tall, but when my eyes travelled down to the base…

"The cloth is loose…" I muttered, not quite believing. Slowly, I untied the cloth and took away the stick that was meant to support the weak flower.

And there my sunflower stood, tall and healthy. I cried in happiness.

"Sunflower san! You did it! You're healthy and strong!" I took several pictures and immediately made a new blog post.

And that's when I realized: I didn't need all the attention everyone gave me to make me strong. I'm strong because of the belief my friends had in me. They'd always stuck by me even without the looks. And that alone made me smile and gave me courage.

I made my way back to the main grounds, and noticed a sleeping figure on the bench in the school's grassy resting grounds.

Excellent.

All those times BoiNxtDoor pranked me with scary screamer links, seemingly innocent comics he sent me where it suddenly turned to animation to scare the bajezus out of me.

I quietly approached Keito, was about to jab him in his sleep when I stopped.

I've never seen him look so peaceful. Huh. Was he always this serene. He almost looks….like a nice person.

"Staring at me? You've got bad habits." He let one eye open. I glared.

"Oh that's rich. As a matter of fact, I was about to warn you about the hairy spider creeping at your side."

His eyes widened as he jerked and fell off the bench. I cracked up, and he glared daggers.

"You're in big trouble, PinkKat." He threatened. I was just about to run when a sweet silky voice dripping with venom was hearf from our side.

"Aww, what an adorable scene." Komari, dressed in her cheerleading outfit, approached. Keito stood and brushed himself off.

Komari ignored him an approached me. "I expected better of you, Hiyo-chan. Accepting that invitation to Shizuka's party. You've really got a thick head. As if someone like you could EVER mingle well with those socialites. Shizuka's parties are the highlights of the school year, and you think you can just effortlessly make your way pass her bouncers?"

She pushed me to the ground and my pocket felt lighter. Whatever it was that fell, I could pick up later. I was too mortified. Keito helped me up and clicked his tongue.

"It saddens me really, Komari, how pathetic you are."

Komari flipped her hair. "I try to be."

But Keito wasn't done. He looked like an angel of darkness as he approached her.

"It's also pathetic how you work part time at a strip club."

My eyes widened, and so did Komari's.

"It's unfortunate that Ayumu didn't find out."

"What the fuck are you saying?!" screamed Komari. I almost felt bad for her.

"You forget my grandfather's actual legacy." Keito continued. "We know things, and with a click of my mouse I can find out everything about you. Think your secrets are hidden? What will your rich daddy think of you? Surely he can't be thinking that you bought your car with the allowance he gave you, considering how much you spend on clothes."

Komari backed away.

"Maybe I should tell Ayumu how you got on your knees and got familiar with—"

"STOP!"

Komari and Keito turned, shocked at my outburst.

"Stop!" I repeated. "She's a horrible person but if she's got secrets to keep it should be kept a secret! I'm not saying it's right but it'll all come back to her someday!"

It took a while, but Keito's eyes softened at me.

"Let's just go." I pleaded.

Keito's eyes turned back to Komari. "Next time I see you mess with her, I'll be having a word with the school paper." And with that he pulled me away.

I didn't look back.