My Arata Complex

Hunting time, huh?

Yukari walked with the rest of the group again just until they drop off Cora in front of her class. A group of first year students glared at the exchange student for getting so close to Arata. Then again, the presence of two more girls would not match their description of girlfriend. However, Yukari was keeping an eye on those jealous freshmen. The women in the club started that way.

Arata could notice his best friend's gaze before calling out to Cora again. With the girl walking back near him, he patted her head. "If someone causes you trouble, let me know, okay?" He casted his glance at the girls who were glaring their way. "Let me know."

"You don't have to bother, but thank you, Arata-sempai." Cora smiled and savored the patting like a cat liking the touch. She then bowed when he stopped, before jogging to her seat inside.

The man spun on his heel, and taking a hold on Yukari's shoulder like a cool man he wanted to be. The girl pouted at him, but she did turn around to walk to their class. Attori was stuck fiddling with her phone, probably getting more information or just annoying the council president. The boyfriend also got his arm around his girl's shoulder and tried to take a peek at what she was doing. He had no intentions of reading, but he wanted to know if she was watching something instead- judging from the attention she gave to her phone.

"Don't read a woman's text, Arata." She hummed, not trying to hide the screen.

"Ah, sorry. Who are you talking with? It's not every day that I see your nose buried into your phone." The guy hummed, not trying hard enough to even see the name of the recipient.

"Someone you'll see later." She then twitched and looked around. Attori then grinned at her boyfriend before poking his nose. "I gotta run. I'll see you in class!" Even though they were heading in the same direction, the girl took off without them.

"What is going on?" The player frowned at the direction she took. He turned to Yukari who was gazing at the same direction as he was earlier. "Did she mention anything to you?"

"Yeah, hunting time..."

Those words stuck to him even till after classes came. He was reporting to the council about the failed appeals, and the suggestions of the custodian for the fix. The pre-festival class exemptions would have to start next month, and so the projects must be approved before September ends. The approvals had become Arata's responsibility, and he only had to make ten more appeals pass. Since Ruby was present today, he was hoping he could go around the denied factors.

"I still have to check with the others. I will keep you posted tomorrow." Ruby ran her hand through her hair before resting her face against her hand. Even the formidable council president was being troubled by the custodian's sudden restrictions. "Do you mind sending her this report by lunch tomorrow?"

"I don't. Thanks, Ruby-sempai." Arata had to address her properly in front of the other members of the council.

After some more discussion for the budget handled by another committee in the council, the meeting was dismissed. Ruby sighed at the fact that one missed meeting had amounted to work that needed more than one afternoon to accomplish. She took her bag and noticed that Arata was spacing out as he was staring at the report from the custodian.

"What's wrong, Arata? Is Attei bothering you again?"

"The two of you always think of each other a lot. I'm getting jealous." The player chuckled along with his joke before answering seriously. "Ah, I'm sorry for asking this, Ruby, but... is there a way to sanction students for urging a club to drop someone from the team?"

"Is this about the girls' basketball team?" Ruby hummed as she walked towards him. She sat on the desk before him, but not situating herself in front of the guy. "Tohru and Attei had already asked me the same question."

"Attori did?" The player twitched at the words spoken by the president. He looked away and drowned in his thoughts that he spoke out loud. "Ah, Attori must have been talking to Ruby earlier..."

"I'm sitting right here; you can just ask me." Ruby chuckled lightly at the silly moment. She tapped Arata's shoulder and caressed the side of his face when he turned to her. "Attei is behaving strangely since earlier today. Did something happen during the weekend? She's dragging me around. But I don't mind if it was to help you... help your women." She almost scoffed at the last part.

The player pressed his own hand against hers on his face, his fingertips feeling the smooth curves in between her fingers. "I don't want to make you feel bad, but... I had already given Attori my promise, so... maybe she's doing everything she can to relieve the others? Well, she's... pretty fine with most of you."

The council president tilted her head to the side, showing him the side of her smooth neck. "I'm pretty sure that doesn't include me at all. However, I was still the first person she runs to for her supposed 'helpful' operations."

"You're the most powerful and influential. Whether I tested waters with you or not, she's still going to seek the help of the council president, I think..."

"How can Attei surrender herself to so much devotion? She isn't the type to love unconditionally either." Ruby closed her eyes and turned away from him, seeing how the sun started losing its painful rays. "Maybe this is the difference between us. I have learned not to trust even the most important person to me with my all. As a woman, I don't wish Attei to go through the same." She turned back to Arata. "I only know you as a charmer, and I don't mind being getting manipulated by you. Then again, I want to know how she sees you really."

"There must have been things that she knew that you don't just yet." He could only pack up and pick up his bag. "I want to drop by the basketball club today, and see if Yukari really came. Do you want to come with me? You can pick up Tohru."

"I'd rather not. She'll probably ask money from you again to treat me." Ruby waved her hand in dismissal. "That rascal becomes shameless in order to make ends meet."

"I guess I'll be going now." Arata waved and left the council president in the office.

Ruby watched him close the door after smiling at her one last time for the day. With the lock clicking, she whipped out her phone from her pocket. She typed down a message while still sitting on the table. "I would have held him longer if I heard him say things that you did. He's going to the basketball club now."

A text was sent in reply, seconds after Ruby sent hers. "It's okay. I still have lots of time to prove it. Also, can you do me a favor for the nth time? Can you check if they were not in the session today?"

The president raised a brow. "Do it yourself. I'm at the other end of the school."

"Oh well. I'll just listen the rumors then~"

"What in the world is Attei doing? Maybe I should go find out before it gets used against me." Ruby took her bag and walked in haste towards the gymnasium. She might even catch up with her king at that pace she took.

In the gymnasium, the basketball club was already concluding the session. Tohru and Yukari sat next to each other, and the latter was puzzled why more than half of them were not around. The flooding brought by the weekend's rains had already subsided, and she was sure those girls were in school earlier. Then again, she had no idea how flawless their attendance was- since she was not there for almost two weeks.

Tohru hummed as the canceled player was caught looking around. The practice was way better without those semi-popular girls who just wanted to get the attention of the male players. With the coach done with her leaving speech, they were all free to go home. The star athlete walked towards the lockers to change, only to be called by some of the male players. She only shrugged and went to talk to them at the side.

"Hey, Hamada. Are you free tonight? We were hoping you can come with us somewhere." One of the boys asked; his grin was nothing short of anticipating and perverted. "It's just for one night after all."

"What? Is that a concert?" The girl raised a brow and brushed them off of her shoulder. "Sorry, I don't have a favorite band right now."

"N-No, it's not a concert. It's something way better." The same guy chuckled nervously. He licked his lips as if it would help his words be more enthralling. "It's something you should see for yourself to enjoy. Or, you might not know how good it feels like until you're there."

Tohru glared at the man despite her smile. She then glanced to the left and right to see that the other two guys were blocking her path. She sighed and waved her hands in front of them. "Fine, fine, alright. Get away. I still need to get my stuff."

"You already said 'yes,' Hamada! Don't forget that. We'll wait for you at the gates." The man grinned in a way Tohru would throw up on his face. He led the men away, leaving the girl with a soundless growl.

"Is everything okay?" Yukari went to her, already in her school uniform. She was curious what they were talking about earlier.

"Actually no. Where's that stupid knight when you need him?" Tohru only laughed as she gestured to Yukari to wait for her. She turned her back and ran off, not paying attention to anyone else anymore.

The two walked towards the main building to get to the school lockers when they ran into Arata and Ruby. In contrast to the plan earlier, Ruby asked the two school athletes if they want to hang out with them. A rather tensed banter between Alex and Thais ensued as they got to the gates. The men waiting for Tohru dared not to call out to her as she ignored them, while Ruby glared at their totalities. Arata placed a hand on Tohru's shoulder as if an act of possessiveness in case they chose to ignore the council president's predator eyes.