Manatsu Panic: Chapter 1The second semester for “Sakae Heights”, a private boarding school for girls, is about to start. Also known as “SKE”, this school is actually three schools in one. There’s the S School, K2 School, and E School.
A new student in the area, Mukaida Manatsu, is transferring to the S School. She was lost. SKE had a big campus, and the only thing that separates the three schools was the name on the front of the building.
Manatsu pulled out her phone from her school bag. Class was going to start soon. “Can I just give up now?” she said to herself as she leaned against a wall.
“Are you the new girl?” Takayanagi Akane, who wore a different uniform than Manatsu came up to her.
“Y-Yes!” Manatsu said, getting off the wall and stepping forward. “Um, how did you know?”
“Well, I never seen you around before, though it looks like you go to S,” Akane said.
“Yes, my old school is too far away so I transferred here,” Manatsu said, taking a better look at Akane.
“Do you like what you see?” Akane said with a smile.
“Eh, well, I didn’t mean to-!” Manatsu said while blushing.
“It’s fine! This is a girl’s school, and I’m used to it,” Akane said, laughing a little. “Come on, I’ll take you to the S school.”
“Thank you very much,” Manatsu bowed slightly before following Akane.
“In case you were wondering, I’m Takayanagi Akane. I’m a third year and I go to the K2 school,” Akane said.
“I’m Mukaida Manatsu… a second year,” Manatsu said.
“Nice to meet you,” Akane smiled before stopping. Manatsu looked up to see a large golden “S” mounted on top of big wooden doors. “You should hurry and find your class.”
“Right! Thank you so much, Taka… um,” Manatsu couldn’t remember the rest.
“Takayanagi!” Akane said with a pout.
“I-I’m sorry!” Manatsu blushed again.
“It’s okay I’m just fooling. Just call me Akane,” Akane said.
“Okay, Akane-chan,” Manatsu said.
“I have to go now! Bye,” Akane said with a quick wave as she ran back towards the K2 building where Manatsu was earlier.
“Bye…” Manatsu said, though Akane was already gone. Manatsu turned towards the door and put her hand on the handle. “Here I go.”
She opened the door and was a little taken aback at how everything seemed so bright compared to her old school. She walked in and closed the door quietly behind her.
Manatsu took out a folded piece of paper from her pocket, and re-memorized the information before putting it back, and started searching for her classroom.
By the time she found it, just missing the bell, she held her breath before walking inside. Everyone turned to look at her.
“Ah, you’re Mukaida-san, right?” the teacher, Kojima Haruna asked, checking her roster.
“Yes,” Manatsu said, hoping that she wouldn’t have to do an introduction.
“Welcome to Sakae Heights! Let’s see there’s an empty seat by the window you can take,” Kojiharu said as Manatsu started walking towards it.
“Hey, Kojiharu-sensei! What about her self-intro?” Ishida Anna said, while waving her hand.
“Ah, right! Mukaida-san, would you do a quick introduction before we start?” Kojiharu asked.
“Sure…” Manatsu said, noticing that Anna will be sitting right beside her. She went to the front of the class. “Mukaida Manatsu, 17 years old, and I love strawberries.”
“Ehhh? That’s it?” Anna asked.
“Hey, Ishida-san, that’s rude,” Kojiharu said. “You can sit down if you don’t want to add anything.”
Manatsu was about to but she was stopped again. Matsui Jurina, who was behind Anna, was raising her hand. “Why are you transferring in the middle of the year?”
“That’s because I had to move and this school is closer,” Manatsu said a little annoyed at Jurina, but she had to admit that she looked cool.
“Did you have someone you like at your old school?” Kizaki Yuria asked, whose seat was in front of Manatsu’s (if she ever gets to sit there).
“Eh?!” Manatsu exclaimed.
“I’m guessing no,” Jurina said, making some of the girls laugh.
“Matsui-san, that’s not necessary,” Kojiharu sighed.
“What? Yuria asked the question,” Jurina said.
“She’s cute so I thought she would have dated someone!” Yuria said.
Manatsu blushed. She wasn’t used to getting compliments out of the blue. Especially by a girl.
“Yuria, you’re embarrassing her,” Goto Risako said who was beside Yuria.
“Ah, I’m sorry, Mukaida-san!” Yuria said.
“It’s fine,” Manatsu said before slowly walking to her seat.
“Thanks, Mukaida-san. Now everyone, take out your summer homework,” Kojiharu said.
After a few more classes, it was lunchtime and Anna invited Manatsu to sit with her. Risako, Yuria, and Niidoi Sayaka were with them.
“How do you like SKE, Mukaida-san?” Yuria asked.
“It’s a really nice school. Everyone seems nice, and I think I’ll like it here,” Manatsu said.
“Who’s your roommate?” Risako asked.
“I forgot,” Manatsu said, searching her pocket for her paper.
“It’s me!” Anna said.
“Ishida Anna-san?” Manatsu said, reading the paper and not exactly thrilled.
“Isn’t it great? You don’t have to live with a complete stranger,” Anna said.
“Annya, you’ve only known Mukaida-san a few hours,” Saya-chan said.
“Therefore, I’m not a complete stranger,” Anna said before turning to Manatsu. “I’m in your care from now on.”
“Likewise,” Manatsu said, awkwardly smiling. Anna seemed like a good person just a little annoying which remind her of someone. “Um, Ishida-san?”
“Annya is fine, too,” Anna said.
“Annya-san, what you can tell me about Matsui-san?” Manatsu said.
“She’s really popular,” Anna said.
“She’s a flirt,” Risako said.
“I-Is that so?” Manatsu asked.
“It’s true, but she really is a nice person,” Yuria said.
“Do you like her, Manatsu-san?” Anna asked.
“What? No!” Manatsu said.
“Jurina-san sits over there with some third years,” Saya-chan said, pointing to a table nearby. Jurina was with Oya Masana, Nakanishi Yuka, Yakata Miki, and Abiru Riho.
“Look, Gorisa, she’s with your precious Mikitty-san,” Yuria said.
“Shut up!” Risako blushed.
“You see that girl with the pretty smile? Gorisa likes her,” Anna said to Manatsu.
“Eh… really?” Manatsu said.
“Yeah…” Risako replied.
“Poor Gorisa is too shy to confess,” Anna said.
“I will eventually!” Risako said.
“That’s what you said last semester,” Saya-chan said.
“Hey, all the schools eat together, right?” Manatsu asked.
“Yeah, why?” Anna asked.
“I was just wondering if-“
“Manatsu-chan!” The girls turned around to see Akane.
“Ah, Akane-chan!” Manatsu was glad to see her again.
“You made it to class on time?” Akane asked.
“Barely. Thanks again,” Manatsu said.
“No problem. It was nice running into you again,” Akane said before walking to her table.
Manatsu turned around and noticed everyone was looking at her with a shocked face. “What?”
“You already know Churi-san?!” Anna asked.
“Churi?” Manatsu asked.
“Takayanagi-san’s nickname,” Yuria said.
“Yeah. She helped me this morning when I was lost. What’s wrong?” Manatsu asked.
“Nothing’s wrong per say. It’s just that Churi-san is K2's top,” Risako said.
“Top?” Manatsu asked.
“It’s like this, in the 3 schools the 3 most popular students are considered the top,” Risako said.
“In our school it’s Jurina-san, in K2 it’s Churi-san, and in E it’s Rena-san,” Yuria said.
“Rena-san and Jurina are single, and Churi-san has a girlfriend just so you know,” Anna said as Saya-chan, Yuria, and Risako groaned.
“Akane-san has a girlfriend?” Manatsu asked a little disappointed.
“Furukawa Airi-san,” Saya-chan said.
“Oh…” Manatsu said.
“You sound sad, Manatsu-san~,” Anna said.
“Mou, Annya-san!” Manatsu said, blushing as the other girls laughed.
When lunch was over, Manatsu had gone to the bathroom before class started and was now washing her hands. While she was getting a paper towel, Jurina had walked in.
“Mukaida-san, right?” Jurina asked.
“Right,” Manatsu said before throwing the paper towel away and was about to leave until Jurina grabbed her wrist.
“Wait,” Jurina said.
“What?” Manatsu asked, remembering Risako’s comment on her being a flirt, she was prepared to shrug it off. Or so she thought.
“Do you know what your next class is?” Jurina asked.
“Um, Science?” Manatsu asked.
“Wrong~. We have a free period,” Jurina said.
“Oh,” Manatsu said, feeling a little uneasy. Manatsu found herself backed to the wall as Jurina moved closer to her.
“Why are you moving away?” Jurina asked.
“Why are you coming closer?” Manatsu asked.
Jurina placed her hand by Manatsu’s head. “Look, I’m sorry if what I said in homeroom earlier offended you. I’ve been in a bad mood all day so…”
“It’s fine. It’s true about me never dating anyone,” Manatsu blushed since Jurina was only inches away from her.
“Why not?” Jurina asked.
“I guess I’m still waiting for the right person,” Manatsu said as she felt Jurina playing with her hair.
“Sorry, but it looked so soft,” Jurina smiled a little.
“I-It’s fine,” Manatsu said, smiling back. Maybe Jurina wasn’t that bad.
Jurina removed her hand and stepped back. “Well, I just wanted to apologize, Mukaida-san.”
“Right, thanks,” Manatsu said as the two awkwardly stared at each other for a few seconds. Jurina then walked back to Manatsu and kissed her, holding her waist.
Manatsu was shocked, it being her first kiss, but she didn’t pull away. In fact, she put her hands on Jurina’s shoulders and started to kiss back.
In the hallway, Anna and Risako were wondering where Manatsu is.
“Didn’t she go to the bathroom?” Risako asked.
“Ah, right. It’ll be rude if we rushed her then,” Anna said.
“Come on, let’s just check on her,” Risako sighed as she took Anna’s wrist and opened the bathroom door. Both girls were shocked to find that Jurina and Manatsu were leaning against the wall kissing.
“Ahhh!” Anna gasped, making them stop and turn around.
Manatsu was really embarrassed. After she just said she didn’t like Jurina, she was caught kissing her.
“Hey, Jurina! Don’t play with Manatsu-san like you do other girls!” Anna said stepping forward.
“Anna, wouldn’t you think Mukaida would have stopped me?” Jurina asked as everyone looked at Manatsu. Manatsu said nothing and kept her eyes on the floor. “See?”
“I really hate you sometimes!” Anna said as she rushed to open the door and leave. Jurina followed her.
Manatsu covered her face as Risako walked to her. “Mukaida-san… what happened?”
“Can we go somewhere else?” Manatsu asked as Risako sighed again, dragging Manatsu out the bathroom, much like she did with Anna earlier. Risako pulled her near their classroom, peeking through the door.
“What are you doing?” Manatsu asked.
“Shh! Look,” Risako pointed at Anna and Jurina who were arguing inside.
“I can’t believe you!” Anna said. “Manatsu-san just came here! You forgot about Rena-san already?”
“Since you don’t know, Rena-chan and I talked this morning,” Jurina said.
“Eh?” Anna asked.
“She rejected me,” Jurina said.
“Again?!” Anna asked while laughing. “That’s why you’ve been sulking all day!”
“Shut up!” Jurina exclaimed, blushing.
Manatsu smiled. Jurina and Anna were alike. “Ah!”
“…I’ve been in a bad mood all day so…”So that’s why… Manatsu thought, surprised that someone rejected Jurina. And she was sure she heard the name Rena before earlier.
“I’ve given up,” Jurina said. “I can’t change who I am.”
“But Rena-san doesn’t want you to change, just take other girls’ feelings more seriously,” Anna said. “And Manatsu-san’s my friend so don’t do the same to her.”
“How mean! You say it like we aren’t friends!” Jurina said, folding her arms.
“Of course we are,” Anna said, noticing someone’s shoe by the door. “Huh?”
Anna went to door and saw Manatsu and Risako. “Ah, you heard!”
“We’re sorry,” Manatsu said.
“Come, Anna, we’ll catch up with them later,” Risako said, dragging Anna away.
“Eh, wait, where are we going? Gorisa~!” Anna whined.
“Your voice is too loud! Other classes are going on!” Risako said.
Manatsu laughed a little, turning around when she remembered Jurina was still here.
“Um, about that kiss…” Manatsu started.
“Yeah, I went overboard,” Jurina said. “Yuria’s right. You’re cute so I just did it unconsciously.”
“Ha…” Manatsu blushed.
“Also, you heard right then, about Rena-chan?” Jurina asked.
“Yes, E’s top, right? She rejected you?” Manatsu asked, wanting to laugh.
“Don’t laugh!” Jurina said, looking away.
“I’m sorry. I’m just surprised, Jurina-san,” Manatsu said.
“Yeah, well, even I’m not flawless, Manatsu,” Jurina said.
“I still have things to do before the next class so I’ll see you around,” Jurina said, before leaving.
“See you…” Manatsu said, wondering what she should do. She thought about walking around the school though she was afraid of getting lost again, but she went anyway.
She looked through her phone as she walked the halls, heading to the dormitories. Anna, Yuria, Saya-chan, and Risako kindly exchanged numbers with her. It was Anna’s idea, of course.
Should I text one of them? Manatsu thought. She decided to text Yuria. Shortly after she heard a ringtone go off in one of the dorm rooms.
Yuria-san must be in her room.Manatsu noticed a room which door was open a little. Beside it on the wall were nameplates that read “Kizaki Yuria” and “Niidoi Sayaka”. She heard two voices talking, but one she didn’t recognize.
“Kuumin, let me get my cell phone~.”
“You really want to get up now? It’s been a while since we have…”
Manatsu peeked in to see Yuria and Yagami Kumi sitting on Yuria’s bed. Their uniforms were out of place. Manatsu blushed and quickly moved away from the door.
“I know. Let me just see who this was,” Yuria said as she sat on the side of her bed with her phone. “Ah, it’s Mukaida-san!”
“A classmate?” Kumi asked.
“Yeah, she just transferred here,” Yuria said. Manatsu took this chance to sneak past their door.
“Hey, Yuria! You didn’t close the door!” Kumi said.
“Ah, I’m sorry,” Yuria said, getting up to close and lock it.
“Mou, someone could have burst in on us,” Kumi said.
“You seem more excited than me though,” Yuria said under her breath, looking out the door. She was face to face with Manatsu.
“I heard that! Don’t blame me, blame hormones,” Kumi said.
“M-Mukaida-san?” Yuria asked. “How long have you been here?”
“Eh, she’s right there?!” Kumi exclaimed, quickly getting off the bed.
“I’m so sorry! I had your cell phone go off and since the door was open I peeked in…” Manatsu said before looking to the floor.
“Relax. It’s my fault for not closing the door in the first place,” Yuria said. Kumi came up beside her. “This is my girlfriend, 3rd year, Yagami Kumi.”
“Nice to meet you. Sorry you had to meet me in such a way,” Kumi laughed slightly.
“It’s nice to meet you, too. You’re really not angry with me?” Manatsu asked.
“Not at all,” Yuria said as Manatsu sighed in relief. “Hey, Mukaida-san, why don’t you check out your dorm why you’re over here?”
“Ah, that’s a good idea,” Manatsu said. “Then, I’ll leave you two alone.”
Manatsu went to search for her dorm. Kumi looked at her before turning back to Yuria.
“What?” Yuria asked.
“The way she said it meant…” Kumi said.
“It meant that we can finish what we started,” Yuria said, closing and locking the door before kissing Kumi while backing up to the bed.
When Manatsu walked into the dorm that she will be sharing with Anna, she first saw her luggage on top of a bed which she assumed was hers.
I might as well unpack, Manatsu thought as she got right to it. She didn’t bring a lot of things, but it did take a lot of work. Manatsu fell back on her head and sighed.
It’s only the first day, but so much has happened already, she thought before falling asleep.
Ten minutes later, the bell rings for switching classes. Manatsu sleeps through it. In class, Anna and the others wonder where she is.
“Maybe she got lost again,” Saya-chan said.
“Jurina, you were the last one to see her, right?” Gorisa asked.
“I haven’t seen her since we left here,” Jurina said.
“So did anything happen?” Anna asked.
“You really want to ask about that now?!” Jurina asked.
“Mukaida-san had gone to her dorm,” Yuria said.
“What if she fell asleep?” Gorisa asked.
“Then, I’ll go get her!” Anna said, standing up from her seat, but the late bell rang at the exact moment. “Or not…”
“I’ll text her. Maybe she’ll hear it,” Yuria said, getting her phone.
Fortunately, Manatsu’s phone was in her pocket and the vibrations surprised her awake.
“W-What?!” Manatsu got her phone and opened the text message from Yuria.
Urgent! Mukaida-san, you’re late for class!!! – Yuria
Since she just woke up, Manatsu was slow to realizing what she meant. That and Yuria used the wrong characters for the word “urgent”. She looked at the clock and jumped off her bed.
“I’m late~~!”
~
A new fanfic! Only SKE members and pairings in this one, though other group members appear.Has no relation to my other school fic. Hope you enjoy!
