The blow never came. If it had, you likely wouldn't even be still standing here, body tense but all in one piece. So you stood there confused not because he didn't hit you, but because, with your eyes still closed, you felt something on the top of your head. A soft touch coaxing you to open your eyes and see for yourself where it came from. You obliged, hesitantly peering through a single eyelid before opening them both to the sight before you.

Mikey's face was mere inches from yours, definitely invading your personal bubble just as you are, unintentionally, in his. Unlike you, who's still as a statue, he didn't seem the least bit bothered by the distance between you two. Or the lack thereof, that is. Instead, his hand gently tousled your hair with a warmth that doesn't quite match up with his expression, fixed in an indecipherable smile.

"Just kidding!" His grin widened as he gave you one of those classic closed eyes smiles.

"Huh...?" Sounds of confusion echoed through the area. Your own voice was lost somewhere between your throat and your lips, never making it out.

Smoothing your hair back down, he finally pulled back.

It was only when he turned to his right, that you saw Takemichi was poised to strike, probably in hopes of landing a hit on Mikey before he could supposedly punch you. Except that never happened, so the boy was left hovering in an awkward position with a dumbfounded look on his face.

"Takemicchi, you dummy." Mikey chuckled as he patted him firmly on the shoulders, "There's no way I'd lay a hand on a girl."

.

.

.

You wound up mindlessly following the group outside, half out of your free will, half dragged by Hinata. Try as you might, you couldn't think of any reason whatsoever for you to tag along. You weren't the one who owed an apology for jumping to conclusions and slapping a stranger. But perhaps she finds security in your presence as you did hers. That was a nice thought.

"I am so sorry!! I must have misunderstood something..."

Hinata was apologizing fervently to Mikey who looked as if he had already long forgotten about the incident.

"It's okay, don't worry about it." Then on the side, he commented, "It was an amazing slap."

That only spurred her into another bout of frantic apologies, which was met with Mikey's laughter, removing any trace of nervous tension in the air.

When the last of his outburst died out, the corners of his lips twitched upwards in a smile that didn't reach his eyes. It never really had. You can't remember if he had ever smiled with flushed cheeks, dimples and light in his eyes.

"It's fine to do your best for the man you like, but don't get carried away." He raised a finger to accentuate his point, "Things would have been bad if you'd hit someone that'd fight back, you know?"

"Yes!" Hinata stood attentively, taking his words to heart.

"And you,"

You jolted when he turned to you, hoping he hadn't noticed you staring all while he was lecturing Hinata.

"Huh...?" The sound you should have made earlier when he patted your head. A delayed reaction.

"You were really brave back there, but it's alright to be cowardly sometimes."

You were tempted to correct him about calling you brave. You didn't jump out because of whatever latent inner courage you had, you simply moved before you knew what you were doing. But if Mikey, the same Mikey that recognized the strength within Takemichi and Hinata, called you brave, then maybe you can believe him for a short while. Just maybe.

"Alright..." Your answer was lackluster and pales in comparison to Hinata's enthusiasm, but you hoped the smile you pasted on would make up for it.

He returned the smile, before stepping back, satisfied with the parting lessons.

"We... will be going then. Come on, (Y/n)-chan." Hinata spoke up, vouching for you too.

"Eh? What about our date?"

She grinned at Takemichi, "We can postpone it for now, since your friends went out of their way to come hang out."

Missing the slight disappointment that crossed his face, she bowed once again to Mikey before turning to head back to class. You were about to follow her before Mikey called out.

"Bye-bye!"

Pausing in your pursuit, you turned to give one final wave to the three in farewell, before hurrying after the girl.

"Hinata-chan!"

"Hm?"

"It was really nice of you to give him some time with his friends."

"Hehe... it wouldn't be right of me to hog all his time just because he's my boyfriend."

"But I'm kind of surprised you let him go even when school hasn't ended yet."

"..."

"...Don't tell me you forgot-"

____

With you and Hinata out of sight, the school entrance was only occupied by the three delinquents. The other curious onlookers had already flocked to their classrooms at the sound of the bell.

"It's rare to find nice girls like that." Mikey mused aloud as he turned on his heels.

"Y-yeah." Takemichi found himself agreeing.

"Be sure to take care of them."

____

.

.

.

The following day proved to be much more duller without the presence of two specific individuals. If anything good came from them not intruding on school property yet again, it would be that you were less preoccupied during class time. Without any important events to be expected, you were able to rein in your, less than average, attention span to focus on the lessons. If the teachers were shocked by your sudden devotion to school, they didn't show it.

Classes ended without a hitch, and you had sent Hinata off to her study session with Takemichi, with a promise that she'd spill the details later. When you had teasingly called it a study date, she chided you, though unable to hide the telltale smile and rosey cheeks. You held back a snicker for both her sake and yours.

The train jolt to a stop, pulling you into its swaying motion before settling you back upright. As always, an automated message played over the speakers, calling out the name of the station, then telling passengers to beware of the closing doors.

You stepped off, your house being just a short walk away. There was no reason in particular why you took the train, the only thing separating your home and school was a 20 minute walk, 30 if you felt like strolling. So there was no real decision making when it came to picking your route to and from school. You just felt like taking the train, that was all there was to it.

There was a light skip to your steps as a familiar tune attached itself to your mind, yet it's name eludes you. To say you're irritated would be an understatement, but it's in times like these that you tried to focus on the positive, and not let a missing name foul your mood. After all, you hadn't had another alarm, to send you off somewhere doing who knows what, since the one that bagged you some food to fill up your otherwise empty fridge. And inadvertently led to you being thrown headfirst into the plot. That was the absolute highlight of that shopping trip.

Perhaps taking a trip down memory lane, while walking carelessly, wasn't the smartest idea you've had.

Lost in your thoughts, you were unaware of your surroundings, much less the trio of boys up ahead, who's looks alone spell trouble. You could blame your luck when you inevitably walked face first into one of them, but no amount of stupidity would allow you to deny the fact that it was entirely your fault. A careless mistake on your part. You let out a subdued "oof" at the impact, which quickly brought you back down to earth. Stepping back, it only took you a fraction of a second to realize what had happened, and what will happen if you don't apologize quick.

"I'm so sorry-"

"Hah?!"

Too late.

The one in the middle was clearly the leader, you deducted just by how he held himself high with overconfidence and an inflated ego. His other two lackeys stayed behind as he took a step forward in your direction. You stepped back. He took another step, and you backtrack again, as if there were a magnet repelling you two.

You glanced behind, silently praying for there to be some bystanders to interfere. Your prayers were ignored. Why are these streets always empty?

Before the cycle could repeat itself, he closed the distance in two large steps, clearly annoyed as he grabbed you by the collar. You didn't have to fake your surprise at his brash actions, to a girl no less. Perhaps you shouldn't have expected the "Mikey treatment" from everyone. He snarled in your face, ugly on the outside as he is inside. But now wasn't quite the time to be internally insulting someone that could beat you to a pulp.

"Look, I said I was sorry-"

"You think I care?! If everything can be solved just by saying 'sorry', the world would be a less shittier place!"

Those were some surprisingly smart words from a mouth so foul. You had no doubt he would have continued preaching his enlightening words if not for the fact that he was a man of action rather than words. How did you know? He had shifted your weight to one hand while pulling back the other, clenched in a fist. It was a fight or flight situation, except your body chose neither. You froze, eyes clenched knowing he wasn't "just kidding" like Mikey had been, and you braced yourself.

"Hey!"

A glimmer of hope set your heart aflutter at the new voice. It seems the streets weren't truly empty beside you and the three delinquents. There was someone else there. Someone to help you. You opened your eyes and turned to look behind your shoulders.

The newcomer was a boy in a school uniform, tie and all, that looked untouched by wrinkles and stains. Long hair was smoothly slicked back and tied in a low ponytail, not a single strand left behind. And the glasses he wore obscured his eyes due to how the sunlight was reflecting off it. In his hand, he clutched a school bag tightly, as if his notes and books were worth its weight in gold. His appearance was the very epitome of prim and proper.

Your Prince Charming is, simply put, a nerd.

Your hopes crashed and burned.

____________________

✧≖≖

____________________

In a world so unfamiliar, I found you.