THE FACT THAT SHE hadn't seen Baji the whole day before was rather suspicious. It was Tuesday, meaning Baji's suspension was over. She had half-expected him to approach her the moment he came to school the day before, but maybe she should be glad he didn't.

Maybe.

Y/n sighed as she straightened up, just having tied up her sneakers. P.E. was definitely not her thing - she was born to sit down in a comfortable chair and write, not do laps or score in games.

Walking in the gym, Y/n noticed there were more people than there was supposed to be in her class, half of who she didn't even recognize. Did they have a joined lesson today? That means . . .

''Listen up, everyone!" the teacher spoke, grabbing most of the teenagers' attention. ''Shimizu-san is sick today, so class 1-3 is gonna join us for class today!''

1-3 . . . That sounds familiar . . .

''Feel free to play anything you want since I can't teach this big of a group. Class 2-2, do prepare for grading next week!''

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''Baji-san, this is starting to get weird. If you want to talk to her so bad just go over, she's alone anyway.''

Chifuyu was starting to get tired of Baji. He had declined playing football with the other boys and now they were stuck throwing basketballs. At least, Chifuyu was. Baji was simply standing next to him and holding his ball to his stomach, watching as Y/n repeatedly threw and failed to score with her own basketball.

'''M not being a creep, Chifuyu.'' Baji finally snapped out from his trance, quickly getting into position and throwing, scoring a point. ''I'm just watching her fail miserably.''

Rolling his eyes, Chifuyu spoke. ''Then go help her out so she doesn't. What's your deal with her, anyway? Why do you want to hang out with her so much?''

Baji remained silent for a moment. '''Cuz she's easy to annoy and it's funny.''

Chifuyu gave him a suspicious look before dropping his ball on the ground. ''Then go and annoy her and I'll go join the others and play football.''

Before Baji can even think about protesting Chifuyu ran away, telling the other boys he was joining the game. Turning back around, Baji looked at Y/n, who had once again missed the hoop.

Ah, might as well. Baji dribbled his ball as he made his way to her. Once behind her, he got into position and threw the ball, scoring a point in the hoop Y/n was using.

Y/n, in turn, slightly jumped as a ball was thrown over her head and into the hoop. She turned around, clutching the ball she was holding as she faced Baji, rolling her eyes at the sight of him. ''You don't seem too happy to see me. Don't you think it's cool to have the same P.E. class?''

''Not necessarily.''

''That hurt, L/n.''

She dribbled her ball as she asked her next question. ''Why don't you go play football with the others?''

Baji shrugged. ''Don't want to. You're more fun to annoy.'' Y/n scoffed and threw her ball again, once again missing. ''You suck at this,'' he remarked.

''I'm well aware, thank you very much,'' Y/n answered. Even if she tried to defend herself, her obvious skills would not speak in her favor. ''What, you came here to show off or what?''

Baji chuckled. ''Yeah, pretty much.'' He got in position and threw the ball up, but this time, instead of it going inside the hoop, it ricocheted off the hoop and flew right back at Baji, hitting him on the head and causing him to stumble back slightly. Baji winced as he rubbed the spot where the ball hit, while the ball itself rolled further and further away.

Y/n stayed silent for a moment, watching as Baji kept his eyes closed from the pain, then suddenly burst out laughing, dropping her own ball on the ground as well. She put her hands on her knees to support her, barely being able to breathe.

Chifuyu, having witnessed the scene from afar, face-palmed.

''It's not that funny!'' Baji said while laughing as well - if it had happened to Y/n instead of him, he would probably be laughing as much as she was.

He had to admit one thing to himself - her laugh was loud and obnoxious, but that made it quite . . . attractive.

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Tapping her foot to the beat of the music, Y/n stared at the notebook in front of her, the words 'RANDOM SCENES YOU COULD INCLUDE' written on top with a bold, pink pen. She had a few noted down and was trying to think up some more.

Her mind drifted off to the P.E. class they had today, when Baji tried to show off and ended up hitting his head instead. Laughing, Y/n picked up her pen. That sounds funny to include.

After finishing the note, Y/n leaned back in her chair. Now that she had come up with one scene, she let her thoughts wander off again. Why did Baji even decide to come bother me earlier? He should've gone play with his friends. Weird.

This is too cliché to be what I think it is. Yeah, it wasn't possible, right? That only happened in books. She'd rather it not being true, anyway.

Her head was starting to hurt. It was time for a hot chocolate.

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You know, now that I think about it, maybe Baji isn't that bad to hang out with, Y/n couldn't help but think as she walked down the street. I mean like, yeah, he does tease me, but he doesn't take it too far. You know, maybe I'm thinking too much into this. Maybe I'm deluding myself.

She wasn't sure why she was having these thoughts when she could be thinking about going shopping for new pens and notebooks. When she could be thinking up new plot ideas. When she could be doing anything else but think about Baji.

Stop it, brain. Now's not the time.

Her running thoughts failed to let her hear sounds of pain coming from one of the turns she was about to pass. Just as she was about to pass the street did she hear a yelp and stopped, looking inside the alleyway.

This was the second time she sees Baji in an alleyway. The first time, he was alone and feeding kittens. This time, however, he was with Chifuyu and the two were throwing punches left and right, three people already laying on the ground when the other two fell down.

Baji and Chifuyu stood above them, each of them panthing with droplets of blood littering their clothes and cheeks, but grins stretched over their faces. She wasn't sure why, but she simply couldn't look away as the two boys panted, feeling slightly scared at what they've done.

Now Baji mentioning he was in a brawl made more sense.

''Hey, Baji-san, isn't that L/n?'' Chifuyu tapped his friend's arm when he noticed the girl standing there and simply watching them while clutching a notebook to her chest.

Baji looked in the direction Chifuyu was pointing at and the grin from his face fell in an instant. ''Fuck.''

Upon realizing she'd been caught looking, Y/n simply turned around and continued on her way, trying to flee as quick as possible. Baji cursed under his breath as he stepped over the guys he'd just beat up; he accidentally stepped on a hand, but he couldn't really care at the moment.

''L/n, wait!''

By the time he left the street, Y/n was out of sight.

Chifuyu caught up to his friend, both of their backpacks thrown over his shoulders. He looked around as well, noticing the same thing as Baji. ''You know, maybe you should just talk to her tomorrow . . .  You have blood all over you.''

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So he's a delinquent? That makes so much sense. Y/n didn't know why she was so bothered by what she saw. It's not like they were friends or anything, why did she care? But she had to admit, it was scary to know that the guy she'd visited in his house, the guy with the sweet mother, can beat up someone to a pulp like that.

Why am I thinking as if I know everything about him and this is some secret he kept from me? She had to let it go.

''L/n!''

She stopped walking for a second, immediately recognizing the voice. Quickly, though, she continued, not really wanting to talk with him. Baji, however, quickened his pace and placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks.

''L/n, let me explain.''

Y/n shook her head. ''You don't owe me an explanation, Baji. We're nothing to each other, so I don't care what you do in your free time.''

Baji stopped, his expression falling. Oh. So she didn't want to be around him. ''Yes, but-''

''I have to go, I'm gonna be late for class.''

He wanted to stop her, to explain himself and make her stay, but the only thing he could do was stand in the semi-full school hallway and watch as she maneuvered around the people. For some reason, he felt an ache in his chest. As if he just got abandoned.

We aren't anything to each other . . . right.

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Mitsuya was, once again, observing Baji's odd behavior before the Toman meeting started. This time he wasn't all smiley and dreamy, but looked rather sulky. His shaved eyebrows knitted in confusion, though soon rose up in realization. It's because of her, isn't it?

''Yo, Baji!''

Baji could tell he was feeling a sense of deja vu as Mitsuya walked up to him. ''What?''

''What's got you all down all of the sudden?'' Mitsuya asked his friend, leaning on the fence that lined the shrine they usually used for meetings.

Chifuyu, having been close to the duo, overheard what they were talking about and turned around to join the conversation. ''Is it because L/n saw us? Didn't you talk with her?''

Mitsuya chuckled. ''Is that the 'cute girl' from before?''

Baji nodded, letting out a sigh. ''She saw Chifuyu and me fighting some leftover Moebius members that tried to pick on us. I tried to explain what happened to her but she was like 'we're nothing to each other you don't owe me an explanation' and left.''

Chifuyu and Mitsuya couldn't help but share a glance and each crack a teasing grin. ''Aw, Baji-san has a crush!"

Baji's head snapped up to Chifuyu before shrugging his shoulders. ''I don't know. It's weird, why did she tell me we're nothing to each other? We've been hanging out recently, isn't that something? I got suspended because of her!''

''The suspension was kind of your own fault.''

''Yeah, but still!'' Baji protested, running a hand through his hair. ''This isn't like me, can't believe I'm whinin' because of a girl.''

''That's because you have a crush on her, Baji,'' Mistuya reasoned. ''You've never had an actual crush before, have you? That's why you're in denial.''

Baji remained silent for a few moments before letting out another sigh. ''I don't know what to do.''

Mitsuya gave him a grin, his eyes closing and his teeth showing. ''Show her you don't wanna be nobodies to each other.''

Baji knew Mitsuya's advice was usually good, but this one was probably the cherry on top.