Totoro and Me: High School Romance

Disclaimer: Fujimaki Tadatoshi, Miyazaki Hayao

©minnieharis

[author's note]: This is the continuation of Totoro Boy. Three years after Tamara and Teppei's meeting, they become friends and keep in touch by mails. She came back during summer holiday and they met regularly everytime she was there. Tamara is now graduated from middle school in Toronto and chooses to continue her study in Japan. She will meet other Kuroko no Basuke's characters and involved in their circle of friends and possibly, romance! But I will ensure to not losing the taste of competition as you seen in the manga and anime. Hope you enjoy J

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TAMARA: My first day goes to school! I'm excited and yet a bit upset at the same time. It is because I know I won't stay in the same school with Teppei, but I'm so ready to start the day studying in Japan. The uniform is also good, though this one is not the sailor uniform. The normal blazer uniform matches with a black tie and pleated skirt which are really cute. I've never been worn any school uniform my entire life, now I feel like a character from manga or anime. Obaa-san prepares breakfast and a box of bento for me. Ojii-san offers to take me to Kaijou, but I respectfully turn down his offer. Teppei told me how to get there by train yesterday, and I prefer to take a walk and ride a public transport to his effort accompanying me. I surely don't want to disturb him with his daily routine.

"Don't worry. I'll just have to do the same like I was in Toronto," I tell him before going out. "If there's anything, please call us immediately," Obaa-san commands. I nod and say 'sure' to her. I'm wearing my favorite Converse sneakers and orange Jansport backpack on my shoulder. I'm still tightening my shoelaces when Teppei shows up.

"Good morning!"

It's a small surprise to see him in front of my door in the morning. "Let me walk you to the station."

"Isn't it on the opposite direction to Seirin High? You don't have to do that. I can go there by myself."

Teppei smiles. "It's not really far. C'mon. I'll take you there."

I flush. He is so nice to take me to the train station. I don't feel like resisting him, so I nod, pleased. We say goodbye to my grandparents and leaving.

It is our first time walking down the streets together after three years away, my heart is pounding harder than it normally does. Teppei is standing right here, side by side with me. He is so tall, I'm like a Thumbelina beside him. Okay, I'm joking. But seriously, he's way taller than I thought he would be. I always know he has loved basketball since he told me everytime I came. He's one of the best high school players and still does his best to be a pro. He talks about his teammates and how he feels guilty for not letting me go to Seirin High instead. I think Teppei is so sweet by thinking what's best for me, but I would be happier if he would just let me to go to the same school as he is and have so many memories together. It's not like just because I go to different school then we won't have any. I must be more grateful by getting a chance to move to Japan because Kouji did not allow me at first. And moreover, I can't think of how lonely Mama would be.

We walk to the station that is not far from our neighborhood. It is almost the end of spring and summer will come shortly next month, thank goodness I've cut my hair. I still can make ponytail, though now my hair's length is hanging around right on my shoulder.

"You look cute in that," Teppei says beamingly. I'm a bit flattered.

We arrive at the station. "I'll see you later, then."

I'm about to enter the gate station when he gently holds my hand. "Text me when you're going home. I'll see you after my basketball practice." I nod happily and step into the station. He waves at me as I turn back. I think I can face my day well with a lovely morning walkout like this. I'm enjoying sight-seeing on the train and hoping my day at school will be wonderful.

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Fresh spring air in the morning fills my lung, I can feel it spreading quickly, tingles me a bit. Here I am, coming into the school gate, I feel excited and nervous. Cherry blossoms trees bloom beautifully, petals fall endlessly blown by soothing wind. I sort my blazer and walk in. I must go to teacher's room to meet my homeroom teacher and submit my health application. I get the school map with me and shoe locker. I change my Converse with uwabaki-indoor slippers that worn in Japanese school.

Kaijou High is one of prestigious private schools in Kanagawa, and mostly known for its sports national record. It has complete sports club facilities, which are not really impressed me since I'm not so athletic and in fact I'm physically suck at sports. The only sport I can do great is ice-skating, if that counts.

I meet the Kaijou's headmaster, Mr. Tanaka, a very cheerful and nice person who has a look like Colonel Sanders. He greets me himself, because he knows that I just moved from Toronto and got good grades in placement test and only got average in Kanji test. I'm satisfied. Kanji is really not my thing. I'm introduced to Takeuchi Genta, my homeroom teacher. He is a Japanese History teacher and his homeroom is in class 1-2 and also the coach of basketball club. Mr. Takeuchi is a plumpy man and seems very decisive, but he speaks nicely to me and looks well-suited. He tells me that I can wait here and finish my administrations until the school starts. I also greet some teachers there and try to remember their names. I fill my profile data form and hand it to the administrator.

The school starts at eight. Mr. Takeuchi approaches me and tells me to get ready and walk into the class with him. I take a deep breath and walk as confident as I can. I know I should be familiar with all of this since I've known this from animes or mangas I read.

Okay, I don't care. Bring it on.

"There will be a new student join our class today. She's just moved from Canada. Help her out, okay?" I can hear Mr. Takeuchi's deep voice telling his students. "Come in."

I slide the door and walk in. I take a quick glance at the whole class while Mr. Takeuchi writes my name on the chalkboard. I stand up next to his table. They start looking at me and make noises. I clear my throat softly. "I'm Kannou Tamara. Yoroshiku onegaishimazu*." As I bow, some of them smiling. Mr. Takeuchi says that the class chairman, Oda will help me if I need anything. I sit on the desk that is still empty, there is one in the back of second row from the windows. The guy sits on the left near the window is tall-not as tall as Teppei and good looking. His hair is blonde and a bit long, framed his pretty face perfectly. He has a piercing in his left ear. He looks at me and smiles.

"Hi," he greets me in English. "I'm Kise Ryouta. You can also ask me if you need help."

"Err, thank you," I say shyly. He is so attractive I barely see his eyes.

At lunch break, the class chairman, Oda, takes me to a tour to know more about the school. It is a nice school, big, and surely lively. He shows me the school facilities that are all for sports. I ask him if there's any music club. He says there is one and I can go check on it after school. When we move to school cafeteria, I see Kise with some of his friends, waves at me. I wave back at him and get myself a mineral water for lunch and continue walking around. I accidentally glance at Kise's friends and see someone is looking at me. He has a pair of gray eyes and thick eyebrows. His hair is spiky black. He's stunned when I see his eyes. He blushes and quickly turns his eyes. Okay, that was rude of me.

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Our last lesson is Kanji Penmanship. The teacher gives a small quiz and we can open our dictionary to finish the quiz. My first day in school and I already got a test. Kanji is not my specialty, and of course I don't bring any dictionary with me today.

Kise hands me his dictionary. "You can use mine," he whispers. I reluctantly refuse, but he insists and put his dictionary on my table. I look at him as if I say if it's okay for me to use his. He nods and makes a sign 'it's okay'. So I beam and whisper, "Thank you."

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The class has finally ended. I'm relieved. I have passed my first day quite well. I make friends with the class chairman and some girls in class. They say we should hang out after school today, but I still have some things to do so I pass. I must submit my form to join a club before I go home.

I'm packing my books and realize that Kise's dictionary is still with me. He has gone to basket court. I ask the girl named Ogawa where the basket court is. She told me that the big building with a sheer gray-colored painting is the basketball court. It is the building that only used for basketball activities. This school surely costs for the best. I go there after I hand in my form of joining the club activities at the music club.

I take a peek from the side of the door, finding many girls are there on the side of the court, cheering and squealing. I see the basketball team is in the middle of the court, practicing. Kise is there, along with the guy who looked at me at the cafeteria. And once again, our eyes meet.

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*known as the introduction phrase or greetings, mostly translated as please treat me kindly

[next issue] Tamara will encounter Kaijou boys! As you know how shy the boys are, how would the girl face them? And Kasamatsu who earlier had eyes on her, can he talk to her casually? Lol I'm so excited just by thinking how I would make the continuation kekeke~ anyway please kindly review this, I'd love to know people's opinion about my ff! Thank you ^^