Original Music Makes 14 Chapter 14 Shoujo Effec

Fortunately, all the other kids were in class. Kou and Duran was able to rush down the hallway of Block-B's first floor science labs without distraction.

They ran up to Watanabe-sensei, who was opening the door of the far end laboratory.

'Watanabe-sensei. We have the cat fur.' Kou puffed.

'Not bad,' Watanabe-sensei said as he invited them inside.

Duran and Kou took a moment to recapture their breath.

They entered the room and were reunited with Himeko, Mei, Fumio, Aki and Saski.

Duran carefully placed the crumpled tissue next to the other ingredients that were lined up on the teacher's bench.

'Déjà vu.' Duran thought as his mind wandered back to the start of the snafu. He felt he had been running a yearlong marathon and ached that way too.

They gathered their teacher and attentively watched him mix the ingredients in a vial over blue flames of a Bunsen burner.

Watanabe-sensei covered the top of the vial with a funnel, where the thin hole was an entrance to space of a white paper bag. The bag expanded as purplish smoke filled it. He quickly disconnected and tied off the bag when it was at bursting level then swapped it with an empty one.

'FujitKun. Can you and Okadkun release the contents into the air conditioner unit down in the maintenance room? Tanaksensei is expecting you,' he asked the boy and handed Mei the responsibility of holding the bag.

'How are we supposed to put this stuff in the aircon?'

'Open the bag before the main vents. Ask Sensei who will tell you what ones,' Watanabe-sensei answered.

Aki and Mei raced out of the room to complete their mission.

'Okay my affected lab-ra, er,students. Breathe this in and go back to being the shy, awkward students that you are.' Watanabe-sensei chuckled as he unhooked the bag from the vial and passed the purplish smoke under everyone'noses.

Duran felt the same sensation he experienced the first time around. This time there were no twinkling stars or roses. Everyone and everything had returned to being dull and boring. Even his heart lacked the pace and flutters it once held in his chest.

'I dunna wanna be in love for a long time.' Fumio sighed deeply.

'I never thought I'd be so happy to feel dull and boring.' Saski sighed with relief. He still looked worse for wear.

'I thought all student council guys were happy being boring.' Himeko joked.

'Humph. Joke all you like but now that we're back to normal. I'll be expecting a full report from everyone affected. Especially, from yourself Sensei.' Saski retorted.

'A report on what?'

'On how everyone suffered under a botched experiment from their science teacher. The school board would want to be advised of this issue ASAP.' Saski stated.

'Tsubaki-kun. You are way too serious minded for a student of your age.' Sensei retorted.

'I'll consider your comment a compliment. My report to the student council and the school board will be swift. You won't be able to wheedle out of this one Watanabe-sensei.' Saski spoke his piece, turned and stormed out of the room, letting the door slam behind him.

'Can't blame him for being pissed.'Fumio commented.

'Me neither. His response was reasonable. Was it not Sensei?' Duran commented levelly.

'I suppose so. Well I imagine my review for employment is on the line. So, your music club will need another sponsor eh?'

Duran sighed when he realized it was like that. He left the science room feeling dejected and drained.

He was glad the remainder of the day passed like any other school afternoon, although the atmosphere was so thick with embarrassment a knife couldn't even slice through it. When the end-of-the-day bell rang out, all of Duran's classmates scrambled for their escape and didn't look back.

'Phew. What a first day aye Nii-san?'Himeko said as she meet up with him before the lockers near his class.

'Tell me about it. I'm so embarrassed I don't know if I should come back,' Duran replied and dodged eye contact with the other students.

The incident left a bitter aftertaste to the day.

'Kitkun.' A small voice came up behind him.

Duran turned around. He saw a tall and slender pale-face boy, behind thick rimmed glasses, standing before him. The boy bowed so low the fringe of his neat black hair flung forward over the top of his glasses. He wondered where he had seen the guy before.

'I'm really sorry about today. I don't know why I did what I did, and to a freshman on his first day. Please forgive me.' The boy apologized.

'Aah, yes, today in the hallway,' Duran said as he remembered seeing the boy amongst the group that had tried to seduce him when he was making his way to the rooftop.

'It's okay. It wasn't you but the effects from a botched experiment in our science class. So there's nothing to forgive,' he said kindly.

The boy sighed with relief and flashed a warm smile.

'Thank you. I'm Izuki Isao, a second year. If you ever need a hand in getting around school, with your studies or anything, I'm happy to help. It's the least I can do.' Isao offered to him.

'Nice to meet you Izuki-senpai. Actually, do you play a musical instrument by any chance?'

'Y-you called me Senpai. Thank you! Music? Um, well, er, yes. I sort of play the flute. Why do you ask?'

'My sister and I are thinking of starting up a music club,' Duran answered.

'Oh really! Then I'd love to join if you need members.'

'Excellent! Should the club be approved, I would like you to join.'

'I'll also let my friends know too.' Isao bowed.

'Thank you Senpai,' Duran said with a courteous bow. He felt his phone vibrating in his pant pocket at the same time.

'Senpai. Please excuse me.'

Isao cordially left them and met up with his friends at the end of the hallway.

Duran read the text he had received from Kou with Himeko.

'Why does Hayashi-kun want you to meet him outside a ramen house?' Himeko questioned him.

She was highly curious and wondered what had happened between the student council representative and her brother for them to start exchanging that sort of email.

'Because we stirred up some unpleasantness at that place.' Duran winced at the memory.

He explained the event to his sister as they made their way out of the hallway and for the main gate. Himeko couldn't stop her laughter.

They were half-way down the street toward the train station when she finally calmed down.

'Oh man Nii-san, you're entertaining.' Himeko smirked.

She wrapped an arm around Duran's head and braced him into a head-lock. Her other hand ruffled up his hair.

'Himeko! Cut it out!' Duran yelped as he struggled free from her Tarzan grip. She was more of a guy than he was.

'That aside. Whadya gonna do about the ramen house mess? You know they'll ask for compensation,' Himeko said soberly.

'I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.'

He wasn't sure what to do about the issue, but he couldn't run away from the trouble he caused either. Whatever compensation they demanded, he would have to pay it somehow.

His mind wandered to the issue facing Watanabe-sensei and the formation of the music club. He continued walking lost in thought and following Himeko's lead down the busy streets.

Chapter end