Chapter 11: Sheltered Girl / The Handsome Hero, And His Heartbreak.

“Neko! What are you doing! I've been waiting for hours! Why are you holding hands with that girl!?! ” The voice asked, slightly taken aback.

Leaf turned around. The one who was yelling at Neko was a cute blonde with curly hair, hands on her hips, cheeks puffed out in anger. She wore a beautiful white dress, sandals, and a distinct lack of jewelry.

“Rebecca, we aren’t dating, and I don’t like you. I’ve said this a million times.” Neko said, holding Leafs hand tighter.

“Oh, come on. I like you. So we’re dating.” Rebecca said.

Leaf gaped at her, in awe of her flawless logic.

She pulled out her board.

“Who is this, anyhow? I’ll admit she isn’t ugly, but she isn’t close to me, beauty-wise.” Rebecca said proudly, not thinking her words through.

Neko scowled.

“Rebecca. Some people love someone for who they are inside, rather than their exterior appearance. You don’t know anything about Leaf.” Neko said, annoyed.

Rebecca realized what she had said.

Realizing how shallow she was being made her unable to breathe from anxiety and regret. She wished she hadn't said that. She knew she could never take it back.

“True...Sorry-.” Rebecca mumbled, getting cut off. Unfortunately, her words would have been inaudible even if she wasn’t.

A pair of guards appeared from behind Rebecca.

“How dare you make our lady sad!” A guard said.

They began to advance towards Neko and leaf, Rebecca being too quiet to protest or ask them to stop anymore.

She couldn’t even mumble anymore, a pressure seeming to weigh down on her suddenly. She remembered this feeling, and it filled her with a sense of dread. She started to tremble.

A young man stood in front of the two guards' path, blocking them.

He had blue eyes and black hair. He was pretty, and almost seemed like a girl. A gentle upturned grin that was colder than ice was frozen on his face, with sharp, narrowed eyes that seemed to scowl whenever you looked at them. His black hair was of medium length, save for one long strand of hair dangling in front of his face. One of his bangs, which made his eyes sparkle even more, with a bright, icy blue color.

He seemed like the exact opposite of the warm and friendly Neko, from his sharp and handsome looks to his serious aura, he felt bone-chillingly cold.

But despite the cold, he looked like a hero from the stories. He seemed handsome, yet untouchable by anyone, other than a princess.

A boy who seemed to have walked out of a fairy tale, his otherworldly beauty catching the eyes of anyone who even glanced in his direction.

“Who the-Oh. Hello, young master.” The guard said politely.

“What are you doing, Rebecca? Beating people up?? You wish to tarnish our reputation even further? Me and father will have a few words for you later. Do you understand me?” A boy asked.

“I...That-” Rebecca started, unable to speak to her brother.

She started to cry silent tears, but nobody seemed to notice. Or, if they did, they didn’t help.

“Young master….We did it without any orders. We were caught up in the heat of the moment. Please, don’t take it out on Rebecca again.” The guard said, pleading.

“No. They D-didn’t...” Rebecca tried, the ability of speaking still trapped in her head.

“Rebecca, it’s clear as day that he’s telling the truth. I also didn’t see you give them any orders.” The boy said.

“I-I….I told them about it before we arrived at school.” Rebecca said, after a few seconds.

“Jesus Christ, you suck at lying.” The boy said, pinching the bridge of his nose from stress.

“N-No! Brother..ple-ple-please.” Rebecca stuttered.

The guards picked Rebecca up and moved her aside.

She couldn’t move, and just sat there curled up in a ball.

“You two were going to beat up a civilian. You know the punishment. I’ll have you two locked up later.” The boy said.

Leaf poked the boy, writing something down on her board.

“Yes?” The boy asked, somewhat arrogantly, intrigued at her fearlessness. She didn't even flinch, drawing his attention even further.

“I’m not a civilian.” Leaf wrote.

“...You’re just some random person as far as Rebecca knows. Same with me, I don’t recognize you at all. So you can’t be someone important enough to be considered involved in Yakuza or Japanese organized crime. Otherwise, I would recognize you.” The boy said, closing his eyes and trying to recall any instance of ever having met her, but failing.

“She isn’t a part of Japanese organized crime, no. But she’s not someone you should take lightly, Shin. She’s more influential than you by far. It’s not a good idea for you to get involved with her. Especially you. Specifically you.” Neko said.

“What? Does he mean that I shouldn’t even talk to you?” The boy asked, becoming even more interested in leaf.

Leaf shook her head.

“That’s a relief. I would have been devastated if I wasn’t able to talk with such a beautiful lady anymore.” The boy said devilishly.

“Hey! That’s my girlfriend you’re talking to, Shin! Watch it.” Neko said.

“Heh. The kitty thinks he’s a lion, does he? I’d say it’s up to her. I have the ability to give her a better life. I’ll give her whatever she wants. I’m the successor of my family, unlike you. What do you say, pretty lady? Would you choose him over me?” Shin asked flirtatiously.

Leaf nodded.

Shin froze.

Neko laughed, fluttering the hearts of the girls watching.

“Am I not good enough?” Shin asked, confused. He was caught off guard.

His previously cold smile melted into a genuine frown.

For a minute, he seemed vulnerable, no longer perfect.

But only leaf seemed to notice.

“Nope.” Leaf wrote, despite seeing his vulnerability.

He had nothing to do with her, after all. She couldn’t care less.

“Then all I have to do is get better, right? I can’t believe that there's something that the cat can have which I also can't get any more. If I get to that point, you will go out with me, right?” Shin asked.

Shin wasn’t used to not having things go his way. He felt embarrassment at being publicly denied, and shame for not being able to surpass Neko when it truly mattered, yet again.

Leaf thought for a moment.

“No.” Leaf wrote, smiling like an angel.

“Well... that doesn’t mean I can’t try…I’ll win you over. No matter what.” Shin said. You could hear his heart breaking audibly.

He left, the cold expression returning to his face once more, his chilling yet small smile freezing the moment he stopped looking at leaf.