The Journal

Part One

 

First Entry, August 4^th-

 

Today I found her.  Analytically speaking, she is perfect for me. We are the two top students in the class, and she has the same ambitions as I. .  Tall, red hair, not too popular to completely refuse me, but popular enough to ensure that I am high enough on the metaphorical food chain to collect the data that I need.

 

I was walking the halls today, as the chaos of the other students helps me think, and I saw a flash of red walk past me. It caught my eye immediately as red hair that color is a rarity around this school. I turned around and saw that she was walking the other way with a few girls. My fingers wrapped a few strands of my hair, another rather annoying habit of mine that helps me to concentrate. I abruptly changed course, needing to know right then where the girl was going. Her friends left her at the stairwell, and she started up with a wave over her shoulder.  I waited until she was halfway up the steps before I too began my ascent. We walked the hallway a short way before she came to her classroom. It was the biology room. By using my knowledge of the classes, and the time of day, I ascertained that she was going into advanced biology, a class that was taken by few, and only by third years. This gave me two pieces of information. First, was that the girl was a third year, and second was she was very intelligent.

 

I needed to know who this girl was, and why I hadn’t seen her before, as she was in the same year as me. I went into the computer science room and sat down in front of one of the machines in the back of the room. Nobody would be in this room during this class, and my own teacher wouldn’t even miss me in class, so I felt fairly safe here. I began to hack into the administration files of the school. I looked through the third year files, and most of the names were familiar. The ones that weren’t, I put aside to go through later. I reached in my bag and pulled out a blank computer disc. (I carry a few with me because, let’s face it, who knows when information is going to fall into your lap?) I slid the disc into the computer’s drive and copied the information on all the students that weren’t familiar to me. When that was done, I took the disc out and slid it back into my bag. I was just signing off the computer when the door opened and I my heart almost stopped.

 

There was the redhead girl, right in front of me. She hadn’t noticed me yet, as I was sitting in the back corner. She sat down at a computer in the front of the room and began to click the keys. I watched her for a few minutes, unbeknownst to her, or course, when I saw something extremely curious. This girl had reached up her hand and began to absently twirl a lock around a long finger as she read the page. I felt my eyebrows rise up as I watched. She didn’t even seem realize she was doing it! How perfect! I stood up, leaving my bag where it lay, and very quietly(I have mastered the art of silent motion, seeing as how I can’t  hardly bound through the bushes and make my presence known to the people I am scouting right?)and made my way up until I was 1 row behind her. I looked at her screen, and I saw...ME! It was all I could do to not yell out indignantly. How dare she hack into the school computer to look me up. Within seconds, however, the anger was replaced with something like curiosity. She was looking me up, and that meant she was interested in me. In a split second, I decided to make my move. I closed the remaining gap between us, and cleared my throat.

 

“It is unbecoming of a student to be hacking into the school files, you know.” I said, an eyebrow raised, a smile on my lips. She jumped, not having known someone was that close, and she turned to me. I watched the shock in her face fade after a few seconds, and she rolled her eyes.

 

“You are one to talk, Mizuki-san.” She said smoothly.

 

“So I see that you know who I am, but I know nothing about you.” I said, wishing now that I would have looked at the files before saving them. I have always hated being one up’ ed when it comes to data.

 

“I seriously doubt that, Mizuki-san.” She said, throwing her hair behind her shoulders. “If I am correct, and I know I am, you are a data freak, and that means there is no way you don’t know about me.”

 

I felt myself flinch slightly at the word ‘freak’, but I held my calm. She was spunky all right, and that just served to make me desire her by my side all the more.

 

“I wouldn’t use the word ‘freak’, but I can honestly say that as of now, you are an enigma to me.”

 

“Well, this one will be written in my book.” She said. She gathered her things, and shut off the computer. I watched with mild interest as she walked toward the door. Once there she turned back to me.

 

“I’ll be seeing you around, Mizuki Hajime-san.” She said, a smile playing across her lips. She turned, and was gone.

 

After the door clicked shut, I realized that I had been holding my breath. Who was this girl. I had never been so intrigued in my life. I retrieved my bag and walked quickly from the room, hoping to find her again, but when I went into the hallway, she was gone. After school, I went home, and got onto my laptop. I put the disc in, and began to sort through the twenty or so people that had still to evade my data. Thirteen in, I found her. .

 

 

Second Entry, August 5^th-

 

The next day, I walked the halls, looking for a flash of red hair, or any sign of her, but she had disappeared again. It was almost like she had never existed at all. I went to the place I had seen her go into class the day before, but she wasn’t there. I walked the hallways, trying to look in every direction, she was no where to be found.

 

“Mizuki-san?” I heard from behind me then. I spun around  and was faced with Fuji Yuuta. He raised an eyebrow, probably at the way I looked at him.

 

“Yes, Yuuta-kun?” I said, probably a little too roughly, but at the moment, I didn’t care, I was too busy to be bothered with this kid.

 

“I was asked to deliver this to you.” He said, holding out an envelope. “Are you alright, Mizuki-san? You are looking rather strange.”

 

“I am just fine Yuuta-kun, thank you for your concern.” I reached out and took the envelope from him and opened it.

 

I started to read, but I noticed that Yuuta had not gone about his business. Was he really trying to find out what this was about? How presumptuous of him to think he could meddle in my affairs just because he was my favored kouhai.

 

“Yuuta-kun?” I said, looking him directly in the eyes. I began to twirl my hair, not because I was thinking, but because I know it intimidates him for some reason. I watched his eyes dart from my eyes to my fingers in my hair, and he swallowed audibly.

 

“Umm, well Mizuki-san, I need to get going. I have to get to class.” He said, turning around and walking away. I giggled as I watched his back, then I remembered the envelope.

 

I examined it for a second. It was just a plain envelope, there was no writing on it.  It had been sealed not only with the glue on the back, but also a piece of tape, meaning whomever sealed it, really wanted it to be sealed. I turned the envelope on its side and tapped it against my palm. I then ripped the edge off and slid the paper out. I slid the envelope into my bag, prepared to fingerprint it later if needed. I carefully opened the paper and let out my breath when it said only these 7 words.

 

“Meet me in our place after class.”

 

‘In our place.’ I thought, a smile spreading across my face. ‘ -san, you are too much.’

 

How did I know the letter was from her you ask? Because I am Mizuki Hajime, that’s how. Who else would write an anonymous letter? Nobody.

Fufufu, , I got you.

 

I went about my normal day and was being unusually impatient in my English class, which is my favorite this semester. I kept glancing at my watch, and scowled as it seemed to tick backward.

 

Finally it was the end of classes. I gathered up my things, and put them in my bag. Usually I have a very meticulous way of organizing things so that I may find them easily when I get home, but today I just slammed things in without regard. My papers were atrocious when I got home.

 

Anyways, back to the subject, I put my bag over my shoulder and began to walk. I assumed that when she said ‘our place’, she was referring to the computer lab on the second floor, and that meant I had to cross the entire building and go up a floor.

 

Four minutes and thirty-nine seconds later, I was walking into the darkened room. The darkness rather took me off guard as it was never quite dark in this room. The computers had been shut off for the day, along with the light. The only reason I could see at all was because of a small window above the door which was bringing in light from the hall.

 

“You made it, Mizuki-san.” I heard from the corner of the room. I looked in that direction, but I couldn’t see her.

 

“Indeed I did, -san.” I said in her direction. I must admit, I was in a very incommodious, yet exhilarant situation. On the one had, I hate surprises. I hate not knowing what is going on around me. On the other hand, I was alone, in the dark, with the woman I wanted to be with. What a miscellany of feelings.

 

“Where are you, -san?” I asked into the darkness. I began to walk backwards, ready to flip the switch, to turn the lights back on. I had been to distracted to think of this before.

 

“Don’t turn the lights on, Mizuki-san.” She said softly.

For reasons, even unknown to me, I complied. I stood in the dark, my arm raised toward the light switch, and I stopped. I lowered my arm and took a deep breath.

 

“Is there a reason you wanted me to come here, -san?” I asked, beginning to get rather irritated. Who did she think she was?

 

She didn’t answer. I asked again, still no answer. Then from inches away.

 

“Calm down, Mizuki-san. I just wanted to know more about you.”

 

Had I been faint of heart, I probably would have passed out right then.

 

However, it seems this time I settled for just completely jumping out of my own skin.

 

“ -san!” I said, angry at the hoarseness in my voice. “Don’t sneak up on me like that!”

 

“Did you not sneak up on me like that just yesterday?” She asked, reaching beside me and turning on the light.

 

She had me. Damn it all. She had actually bested me in a game of wits. Me! Mizuki Hajime!

 

 I looked at her, and she was looking at me with a very smug look on her pretty face. She knew it too!

 

“Check, Mizuki-san.”

 

“Indeed it is, however that doesn’t mean the game is over.”

 

“That is true, but you had better think hard about your next move.” She said, her smile widening.

 

“I will do that. Good day -san.” I said, turning to leave. I heard her breath hitch, as if she was going to say something, but she remained silent. I left the room, satisfied with the outcome of the game. She had called ‘check’ sure, but there were plenty of moves for me to make still.

 

I walked from the school. I was soon aware that someone was following me. I rolled my eyes. This was getting rather annoying now. I turned and saw there, once again, Fuji Yuuta.

 

“Hello there, Yuuta-kun.” I said, my temper dropping.

 

“Hi Mizuki-san.” He said, nodding his head. “Could I ask you a question?”

 

“Of course you may Yuuta-kun.” I said.

 

“What would you do if a person you cared for was being unfaithful?” He asked, seemingly unable to look directly at me.

 

“Well, Yuuta-kun, that would depend on a few things I suppose. What are the circumstances?”

 

Yuuta blushed brightly at this. “I don’t really want to get into it.” He said quietly.

 

“Oh, come now Yuuta-kun, what kind of senpai would I be if I didn’t help you with your problems?” (Sure I said that, when really I was just interested in who Yuuta was seeing. What great data! And given completely willingly at that.)

 

“Well, it is about the girl I am seeing.” Yuuta said slowly, and still not completely sure of himself. “She is nice, and smart and great, however I don’t know why she is even with me. She doesn’t seem to be very interested in me.”

 

“Then who does she seem interested in?” I asked, already beginning to loose my interest. I had become so impatient of late.

 

“Well, I don’t know if I should say or not.” Yuuta said with more than a little hesitation.

 

“Of course you should say!” I yelled. There was a slight tugging of unease in the pit of my stomach, and I was beginning to wonder if I had already guessed whom Yuuta was talking about.

 

Yuuta flinched, and I softened my features. I hadn’t meant to yell at him, but I had to know!

 

“Well, she asked me specifically not to tell you we were dating.” Yuuta said, looking around, as if he was sure the girl would be watching. “She is always asking me questions about you. What classes you were in, what you were like, if you were seeing anyone.” Yuuta blushed again.

 

“Who is it? Tell me Yuuta-kun.” I said, my voice cracking.

 

“She is in your grade...” Yuuta began. ”Her name is...”