"Sorry," Aoi jumped slightly as one of her classmates placed down a carton on the corner of her desk, "someone said to give this to you!" She glanced down at the dirtied box, then back up at the girl, and she smiled slightly, nodding. The student then vanished to her seat, and Aoi picked up the carton, curiously looking over the dented surface until she saw the words scribbled on its larger sides:

"Milk helps with studies! ^ 0 ^"
"So do smiles!!<3<3"

Aoi felt her eyebrow twitch again, and with sudden rage she slammed her free hand into the desk. Those within earshot turned quickly, then burst into a flurry of curious murmurs. She blushed furiously, and then the milk carton was opened and drunk down quickly, just as the teacher walked in and began the first lessons.

---

Tsukimi kept an eye on Hayato, watching with curiosity as he munched on one of the many sandwiches he had brought to the class. Her mind groped for reasons on how this stupid, bread eating, later arriving, transfer student could beat out her genius friend.

But none could be found. Tsukimi grinned a devilish grin before turning back to stare at the front of the class, which had started only a few minutes before.

---

The final bell rang, and the sudden chatter of school-wary teenagers filled the room. Aoi slowly began to pack up her belongings, a tired sigh escaping her lips. She had little time to dawdle, as the student council was having a rather minor meeting about student appearances and how they should handle all of the piercings and hair dye. It was a rather serious topic to most of the children on the council, which was basically why Aoi set up the meeting in the first place, but Aoi herself could careless. Caring was something she had found difficult to accomplish.

"Kiriyama-san!" A familiar voice caught her attention, and the perky vice-prez, Iki Yuko, waved her over from the classroom door. Aoi rose, snatched up her bag and the empty milk carton, and then ran over. They spoke about the meeting, nodded continuously, shared glares at certain students, and then made their way to the student council meeting room.

Or, they would have, if not for the three familiar figures standing in their path. They were all almost identical, and seemed to be grinning at something funny. 

"Katsu triplets." Yuko hissed, her perkiness forming into utter disgust. Aoi stared blankly ahead, and the triplets seemed to find this hilarious, breaking into a flurry of laughter.

"She's so...!"

"And... Right, right?!"

"Yeah! Hahaha!"

They spoke as if there were words in between their jumbled phrases. Such strange children. Aoi was just about through with their giggles of idiocy, but just was she took a step forward one of them clenched at her hair and pulled. A cry of surprise and pain filled the hall and more laughter followed after.

"Stop that, harassing females is against the rules!" Yuko yelled, just as Aoi threw her head back and nailed the one clutching her hair with a headbutt. Blood spurted and the laughter quieted,

"Hey, idiot triplets," Aoi snapped, clutching her now beat-red forehead, "move on before you get in actual trouble." And with one final glare the three stumbled off, clinging to their fallen comrade, smiling their never faltering smile.

"Come on, Iki-san." She sighed, and entered the room as if nothing had gone wrong. Yuko sighed, grinned secretly to herself, then followed.