</COLOR><COLOR color="#2F4F4F">The past days had been really working out smoothly for Ryuuji Tsukino. One, because the heated quidditch match that they had with the Slytherins had already ended in their favor, and two, his injured shoulder is steadily healing. He really can't believe it, and in fact, until this day, he still remember the feel of the heat on his face, the way the wind blew, the cheers of the crowd, everything seemed to still be happening, replaying it self over and over in his mind. his team winning had really made him happy and proud. It was his first game, and though he hadn't really played that great as he had let the opposing team score two goals, it's an experience that he would never forget. Yes, everything had been well, at least, not until this morning. He was in his mission to search for the twins by then, hoping to actually have a chat with them as he hadn't really been able to talk to them after the game. He didn't really intend to the great hall though, but somehow, his feet had lead him to the crowded area. At first though, he didn't really have a slightest clue as to what is happening. Sure, it's only ordinary that students gather in the great hall, but there was really something that made him felt a little disturb as soon as he entered the area. People are whispering, and there are those who are pointing fingers at selected students. This had piqued his curiosity, and somehow, in one way or another, he discovered the reason why the students are acting a little bit rude at least in his opinion. RHI, the dreaded gossip magazine, had published another issue. He doesn't really know what it is with people who find enjoyment in other people's suffering. Really, a gossip magazine whose only purpose is to spread nasty rumours about someone? Not really productive. The authors could have done something better instead of making fun of other people. He didn't really intended to read it though, but somehow, he did. And what he read had almost made his heart stop. Ai, a first year hufflepuff that he had met sometime ago, was featured in it. And no, the article was not praising her kindness or anything, it was questioning her closeness with her twin! Incest? Trust him, he had been with the twins and he saw how they interact with each other, the twins are just close. Well, being twins, why won't they? Really, how could people misunderstood that closeness? He was just so angry then that he wanted to rip the magazine into shreds, but he didn't. What he need was to find the twins before they could read the cursed magazine - but deep inside, he knew that he cannot really stop the news from reaching them. Almost the entire school had read it already after all, and if the twins hadn't yet, then he was sure that their classmates had told them already.
Before he could even go and find them though, he had already heard the young hufflepuff shout her anger out in the area and storm out of the hall. He tried calling out to her, but somehow, because of anger, she seemed to be not aware of him. So what he did was to just follow her. Run after her. And that is why somehow, he ended up in the lakefront. Yes, the same place where he, together with the twins, he planned to go swimming. He paused to catch his breath then, watching as the younger girl sat on the grass and bow her head. He wasn't sure if he was already aware of her presence. Sadness seemed to have engulfed her whole being already. Slowly, Ryuuji approached the younger girl. He is the twins' big brother figure in the school, and he couldn't just let them handle all these stress by themselves. No. As their self proclaimed brother, he'll protect them. He tried to summon a smile on his face, all to not make the girl worry. All to not make the girl sad even more. And as he near her, he pat the younger girl's head and sat next to her. "Ohaiyo Ai-chan." He greeted her, trying to use his normal voice. Yes, he was definitely angry at whoever it was that had written the magazine. But he'll deal with that later. There is no room for his anger right now, as the bigger problem is how to comfort the younger girl and assure her that everything would turn out just fine.
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