8 Chapter 8 Shoujo Effec

The news of Watanabe-sensei's shoujo effect, impacting the salary boys and girls of Class 1-A, had spread fast and wide across the school by the time the lunch bell rang out.

Other students seized the moment to have the affected return their unrequited feelings. Or payout on the unfortunate souls in embarrassing ways.

The problem was escalating at an unpredictable rate as infection spread.

Duran trailed after Fumio and Saski, who were attempting an escape from girls across the open courtyard between buildings.

'Yamaguchi-kun, what you think of me?' One girl persisted as she followed at their pace.

'Do you think I'm pretty.' Another desperately chimed. Knocking the other girl to the ground when she overtook her run.

'Fumi-chan! Say you like me too!' A girl cried out to him with a flirtatious, sing-song, voice.

'Tsubaki-kun, go out with me! I beg you!' A girl begged as she tried to hinder Saski's run with her leaping hug. And found herself flat on the ground.

So many girls pushed their way in and fought amongst each other to be by the boys side.

Although, they practically kicked Duran out of the way.

Duran squealed at the unexpected push and deviated off his path. He bolted back to the Block-B classrooms to find his sister.

He entered the upper hallway and found himself cornered.

'What now?' He groaned as he slowly backed away from the older boys advancing towards him. The air was thick with the same rivalry Fumio had faced with the girls.

'Dude. You're cute.' A burly senior leapt for Duran.

Duran was pushed and yanked back and forth into each of the boys. Their whole psycho-manic routine wasn't doing wonders for his mood. He managed to duck and dodge grabs, and flee up the stairs. Not hanging about to hear his "hot guy" ranking from his male peers.

He escaped up to the roof-top as fast as his legs could carry him.

'And stay out!' He yelled with frustration when he slammed the fire stair door behind him.

He was relieved when no one had followed him. And ecstatic when he found Himeko and Mei eating their lunch, peacefully, near a bird's-eye view of the interesting activity happening in the courtyard beneath them.

'Himeko!' Duran cried out and rushed to her.

'I was groped by maniacs,' he said as she hugged him.

Himeko gingerly patted his back.

'There. There. I can see it's been hard on you.' She cooed into his ears.

'It's awful.' Duran cried into her chest.

Himeko gave a sideward look to Mei.

'So it's true you were doused with Sensei's love drug,' Mei commented.

'Not doused, smoked.' Duran corrected her as he calmly pulled away from Himeko's hug.

For some reason, he couldn't look Himeko and Mei in the eye. They were too damn sparkly.

'Really? Come on Nii-san. Tell me how gorgeous I am.' Himeko joked.

'Shut up. This is embarrassing. Gênant soeur.' Duran grumbled.

He turned his back on her and stared at the carnage happening in the courtyard below.

'Don't tease Kita-kun. Looks like he and his class are going through an awful time.' Mei berated Himeko and faced Duran kindly.

'Awful? So looking at someone through a lover's eyes is awful,' Himeko answered back.

'Yes if it's forced upon you!' Duran snapped in response.

He saw members of his class chasing or being chased by others. Fumio was still running for his life to escape from the mob of desperate admirers.

'Suppose I should go back there and save him.' He mumbled, feeling instantly calmer. And felt like a coward for having ditched him and Saski.

'Don't mind her.' Mei calmly said.

She beamed with a sparkly smile too bright in Duran's eyes. They were tearing-up.

'Oh no. Did I make you cry,' she asked, concerned.

'No, it's not that. The effect has ramped up to a scale of fifty, causing my eyes to ache,' Duran explained.

He wondered if his other classmates were experiencing similar changes in symptoms, and felt bad for ditching Fumio.

'Damn.' He sighed.

Feeling a boost of courage, he turned to head back down the stairs.

'Where're you doing?' Himeko asked with concern.

'To save Yamaguchi-kun,' he said as he raced out of the roof-top and back the courtyard to save his friend.