A/N: Hello my fellow fanfic mates. You (the reader) are probably reading this and wondering what new story have I concocted with the Digi-gang this time (Or you may be new to me). To be honest, I don't know, but I plan to find out. I'm basically redoing some of the first fanfics I made and combining it with this story since I didn't like how I wrote them the first time (I was so young and naive). This is probably my last major story I'll ever write, so enjoy it while it lasts. In fact its more of an Epic… and I mean that in its true literal terms.
I guess the reason why I'm writing this story is because I haven't really written one in a "school setting" before. Plus, I'm getting older which means things are starting to change in my life so I won't have as much time as I used to for fanfiction. I'll never forget the first time I found this sight and how excited I was that such a site existed; a place where people could come and collectively create and renovate stories, films, tv shows, and other mediums. And so over the years I've written a few fics as well as read from different fic writers and grown to love the craft. A few fic writers that have inspired me were: don'tchaknowme4life, blackandblood, hEaRtBrEaKeR19, ambiekinz, Red Page, Krystal Karpenter, and utsukushii04, just to name a few. I believe it is because of them that I am the amateur fanfic writer that I am today… but enough of all this sadness and let's get the party started.
Sidenote: I have a few OC's I plan to implement into this story as usual, and for all the parenthetical comments you may read throughout the story (Like this one), it's usually a comment either from me or the character depending on the point of view the story is in. I also subliminally add what I call Background Music (BGM) just to spice up the plot a bit. You're free to look them up on Youtube if you like (That's if it hasn't been removed). Well any who (before I run up your time and infringe on copyrights and trademarks and have someone send me a cease and desist letter), enjoy the story and I look forward to your thoughts… ok you can read the chapter now… but first let me get this out of the way.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Digimon in anyway shape or form and Copyright Infringement is not intended. (Why do we write this again? Has someone actually gotten in trouble for this before?)
Just A Day In The Life…
Day 1
(Just A Day In The Life of Takuya Kanbara)
Hey there buddy. It is I, Takuya Kanbara; the hotheaded goggle boy you all have grown to love many years ago. You probably just got through reading that depressing essay earlier.
(Me: I heard that)
But let's move on shall we.
It's been a year or so since the last time… since the last time I was in the Digital World that fateful day me and the other chosen digi-destined, brought peace back to the land of the Digital World.
Ever since then, I have grown distant with the others, Izumi, Kouji, Kouichi, Junpei, and Tomoki. It wasn't until a year later I met up with them again at school in Shibuya. After then, we picked up right where we left off as if we had never left each other, and boy those were good times. I still cherish them till this day you are reading this.
Any who, I am right now overseas in my apartment/dorm, which is vacant at the moment, telling you this story. Now how I got here you ask, I still can't explain. Well I can, but it would destroy the whole purpose of this author from writing this story, so before I go any further, "This is the story all about how, my life got flipped, turned upside down, and I'd like to take a minute so just sit right there. And I'll tell you how I became the student sitting in this old chair!"
(Cue Dream Sequence Music)
[One week before schools over at Shibuya Junior High…]
It was just another sunny day at Shibuya Junior High. The birds were chirping their sweet melodies, the clouds danced in the pristine blue-sky like fat fluffy bunnies, and the students in the classroom were dead…from boredom.
It was indeed that time of the year where the student body collapses and loses its focus and motivation to go on, and I speak for myself mainly.
Mr. Miyagi, our homeroom teacher who is a short fellow with sagacious eyes that have seen many things in his time, is rambling on about school and how our young futures are ahead of us all after graduation. He wished us the best of luck in our future prosperities. I don't have any by the way.
I'm on the farthest row towards the windows, which is not good for my attention deficit disorder I developed over years. No I'm not A-D-D but it sure does feel like it when I'm in class and the squirrels outside seem to be calling my name… every so often.
Any ways, as I looked across the room, I could see that everyone was either in tears or sleeping. Kouji, who is next me, is one of the sleepers. He is a solemn young man with dark navy hair as dark as the night. At school he looks different without his bandana he his notoriously well known for. To go unnoticed from the teacher, he held his face up with both of his hands so that the teacher wouldn't notice he was sleeping.
Behind me is Kouichi, Kouji's twin brother but with shorter raven hair. He was the optimistic one between him and his brother. He was awake, but daydreaming at the blackboard (the perfect spot to be daydreaming at) and focused on something productive in his brain like what the square root of "x" was.
Last but not least, Izumi, who we like to call Zoe as her nickname, is sitting diagonally behind me with her blond locks and green dazzling eyes, gazing at the teacher. She was one of Mr. Miyagi's favorite students since she got high marks in the class. She glanced at me and gave me this look that means "pay attention or else he'll call on you like always, Kanbara". So I did… and Mr. Miyagi is looking dead at me. I know it's coming so I brace myself for verbal impact.
"Mr. Kanbara", he says in this sagacious deep voice, the equivalence of Morgan Freeman's but in a Japanese tone, " Would you mind explain why you're eyes are wandering in my class, hmm?"
Of course he doesn't want an answer from me as he continues mortifying me in front of my peers.
"Am I not interesting, Mr. Kanbara." There he goes again using my last name as if I come form a prestigious family (No offense mom and dad).
"No sir. You're an interesting teacher, and I love your speeches." I said, trying to end the conversation, only to cause a stir of laughter. Believe me it was unintentional, as he stared a mud hole through me until he looked away and moved on with the class.
-xxx-
DIIIIIIIIING DOOOONG DIIIIIING DOOOONG… DIIIIIIIIING DOOOONG DIIIIIING DOOOOOOOOONG!
The long school bell rings and the class immediately becomes alive again as the students vigorously pack up to leave.
"And remember class, I have high hopes for all of you. Even you, Takuya Kanbara." He joked as he watched me watch him. Of course no one cares to see us have this silent eye staring contest as they leave the room like herds of cattle entering an open field called freedom.
As I walk out the door, Kouji, Kouichi, and Izumi are waiting for me like they routinely do. They were all wearing our school uniform in the colors of black slacks/ plaid skirts and gray vests and a white dress shirt underneath with red tie for the finishing touch.
"So what school will you be going to?" Kouichi asked me. He already was thinking about the future, while I couldn't even look past an hour from now.
'I don't know." I simply replied.
"You should seriously be considering your options, Takuya, because schools aren't going to be open for long… at least, not all the good ones."
I gasped in my head.
"We'll what about you guys? Where are you guys going?"
"Me and Kouichi are applying to the Shinjuku academy. We heard they have a good engineering program," Kouji said to me in this nonchalant tone he always has.
"What about you?" I said to Izumi. I catch her eyeing away from me.
She finally looked at me with this uncertainty in her eyes. "Well, I'm not quite sure yet, its either Fukuyama or the academy for me as well."
It was the first time it dawned on me that we all were possibly going to separate schools.
"Well I'm probably going to do the same," I quickly came up with an answer just so that I would seem to have a plan when I didn't.
"Dude, have you studied yet for the entrance exam?" Kouichi asked.
"No? Why?"
"Exams are tomorrow!"
"WHAT? HOW COME I'M JUST HEARING ABOUT THIS?" I shriek so loud the kids nearest us nearly have a close heart attack.
"It's been on the bulletin for the past few weeks," Kouichi pointed at the bulletin nearby with the flier on it to prove his case, "Plus, everyone knows that."
"I even tried to tell you about it." Zoe scolded me in a reprimanding tone.
"NO you didn't."
"Did too!"
We both have a quick staring contest, glaring into each other's eyes with sparks flying.
"If I were you, I'd go home as soon as possible, and study," Kouji informed with his arms folded, posing for all the fangirls walking by.
"Beans, your right! I got to get to it then," with that, I ran off to the nearest door to check out whatever schools would possibly take me in with open (or closed) arms.
-xxx-
Before I went home, I had to stop, smell the coffee, and take a break for the day. I passed by the familiar local café restaurant I was accustomed to. I unbuttoned the buttons on my black uniform suit that I was wearing, un-tucked my white dress shirt, and loosened my red tie, before I headed in as if I wear preparing to NOT impress an employer. My hair was a mess, but it was the least of my worries at the moment.
I tried not to think of the fact that I might not be going to any of the high schools the others might be going to, but it lingered in the back of my mind like an unforgiving past.
The café was mostly ghost town vacant except for a few adult couples sitting with each other, enjoying one anther's company. I could here the small talk they gave one another, accompanied by the laughter.
I sat down next to one of the windows, relaxing my mind for a bit, but before long I heard the familiar sound of a young woman's voice, beckoning for my attention. It was the lovely waitress Keiko Maruyama, who I've gotten to known, over the years of attending the restaurant. For some unknown reason we called her Lilica or Lily.
She looked at me with her hazelnut brown eyes as her auburn hair tied in a ponytail, flicked in its place. She tucked her hand in her apron pocket to bring out a pen and pad.
"Tough day I see. Would you like anything, Takuya? Perhaps the usual."
I stared at her with a perplexed expression.
"The usual? I have a usual?" my face flustered as usual whenever I'm around a female specimen.
"Yes you do," she said with a curious smile before she continued, "Every time you've had a great day you ask for a Coke. Whenever you've had a tough day you ask for iced tea." She read me like an open book, page by page.
Of course by now I am even more flustered with bashfulness, since I never realized I could be so predictable.
"Well today is something new…" I said with an awkward quiver in my voice.
"Really?" she replied, inquisitively.
"I'll have… a cup of hot cocoa."
She smiled and walked off, leaving me grinning like a goofy buffoon.
-xxx-
My head was slumped against the cold table, ignoring the countless other faces that have possibly been on the exact table (I could imagine the slobber as well).
Just then, my old friend who is a grade higher than me, Junpei Shibayama, comes walking in with a lethargic look on his broad face. We call him "JP" for short.
Not seeing me at first, he came up from behind then turned around and noticed my face. He took a seat right in front of me and unloaded his backpack.
He stood a well 6 feet and 4 inches (yeah he's a big guy), with brown hair like mine, and hazel eyes. He's somewhat chubby, but he lost most of his baby fat during puberty. Surprisingly, his voice dropped slightly to a more mature young teen voice.
"So what's up Takuya? I heard you and the others are graduating."
"Yep…"
"So you know what school you'll be entering?"
My stomach turned on its own.
"No I don't. Why does everyone keep asking me?"
He grimaced, "Because everyone wants to know, duh." He gives me a "you're a moron look".
"So how's high school? Think I'll survive?" I asked him as a witness to what goes on in high schools around the country.
"Haha, It's tough but you'll manage if you keep up with you're studies. OH yeah and don't do drugs and that sort of stuff."
I sighed but not because of his remark, but because I still had that unsure feeling lingering inside me.
"Here's your cup of hot cocoa!" Lilica the waitress said as she handed me the hot cup. She smiled at both Junpei and I before she went back to work, her ponytail flicking from side to side.
"Hey, you think you can get me something?" JP called out to the young woman.
"What would that be?" she asks as she turns on her heel.
"I was thinking maybe you."
She smirked with sarcasm and turned around ignoring his serious request as she returned to her job.
"First Izumi now her? You don't quit do you?" I scolded. He was a real hopeless romantic.
"Hey, what can I say? I'm a chick magnet."
"Pppppffft yeah right. When will you ever learn Lily is not interested in you?"
He glared daggers at my lighthearted insult. "Don't you have an exam to study for or something?"
I then and there quickly realized I forgot all about it. I already had trouble studying, but now I was going to cut my time short by overstaying at the café.
I jolted out of my seat and strapped my bag over my shoulder before I sprint out the door like a robber escaping the police. I left my drink behind without taking a single sip.
"I wonder if he's going to drink this?" JP looked around before he took a sip from the very mug OF COCOA I left by ACCIDENT!
Simultaneously, Lilica walked by catching a glimpse of the greedy bastard drinking the hot drink. He looked back at her before he shamefully grinned. With disgust she walked off making a high pitched "hmph" sound.
The young man looked at her as she walked of. "Whaaat?"
-xxx-
"Mom! Dad! I'm home!" I yelled, but unfortunately my little brother, Shinya, came from behind the corner, ambushing me with his sneering insults already. What did I do to deserve this?
"So you finally found your way home Takuya-san. Impressive. I was afraid I would have to call the searching squad to find you."
"Haha very funny little one. Now where's Mom and Dad?"
"I don't know. I think they left to the market or something."
Some people say that my brother looks like me but shorter. I beg to differ.
"Shinya! What's taking you so long? I can't keep the game paused forever! Oh, hi Takuya." From around the corner, my young friend, Tomoki (who we call Tommy) greeted me. He had neat brown hair, and green eyes. He reminded me of my younger brother… but nicer… and respectful.
"Hey Tomoki. What are you doing here?" I replied. Apparently, he also made friends with my little brother and I'm afraid that would be a bad influence on him. "Clearly we were playing a video game before you came in." Shinya snapped.
"Hey! Watch your tone little one." I retorted as I walked over to the kitchen counter to check the mail that came in that day. I shuffled through a couple of junk mail, but before I put the stack of mail down, I saw one with my name on it with an emblem seal on it with the letters "W.L.A." on it. Before I could read it, my brother tugged on my trousers to get my undivided attention.
"Hey brother, you think I can have some ice cream?"
I don't know why he bothered asking me such a random question. He was just going to disobey my authority as usual.
"No! Mom wouldn't want that, plus dinner is ready on the stove."
He grunted before he stomped off into our room along with Tommy (yep that's right we share a room). "Hey, Takuya! You wanna play with us?" Tommy asked with his head peeked out the doorway.
I reasoned with myself, knowing I had a lot of studying to do for tomorrow's exams. Of course without thinking, I justified why I deserved to join them anyways since I had little to no discipline whatsoever.
"Sure. What are you guys playing?"
"Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3! I just got it today!" he bragged, knowing I've been saving up to own one of my own.
"Man you always get everything first…" and before long I put the stack of mail down to go sit down beside them with a controller to play the fighting game with them.
"Sorry to burst your bubbles guys, but I came to win!" I bragged.
"Really? How bout we play for money?" Tommy said, raising the stakes.
My eyes narrowed in on Tommy and his boastful remark. He couldn't possibly be serious.
"How much?"
"2000 yen!"
"Deal."
Shinya glared at me knowing the code of conduct of the household. "Ooooo I'm telling. Mom said not to gamble!"
"I'll give you half."
"Deal!" he quickly betrayed his statement earlier.
-xxx-
After -what seemed like minutes- hours of playing I realized how much I sucked and how I was getting my butt handed to me by a bunch of serious butt handling dealers.
"How's your thumbs?" Tommy mocked as his thumbs deftly controlled the game piece.
"Just fine." I retorted.
Just then Mom and Dad came in through the door. "Takuya! Shinya! We're back and we brought groceries!"
Shinya darted for the door to greet the parents. My body on the other hand didn't move due to the fact I was busy duking it out against Tommy.
"Takuya! Did you hear us?" my Mom spotted us in our room.
"Yeah, Mom. I'll be there in a minute."
"Hi Mrs. Kanbara."
"Hello Tomoki!" She acknowledges him, "As for you young man if you don't get up already…"
"But mom, I'm gonna lose."
"If you don't help your brother with the groceries that game won't be the only thing you'll be losing, mister."
I turned my head for a split second to face her, but when I looked back, I had already lost… the game and my money.
Tommy sprang up, thrusting his fist in the air, "EYEAH! Where's my 2000 yen!"
(Way to go Tommy. Right in front of my mom and her rule of no gambling).
-xxx-
After I brought the groceries in, Tommy left to go home to his family along with the money he earned. Once that was over, I had dinner with my family, and went straight to my room to hit the books… literally. The time had long past for me to study, however, if I did now, I would be up all night, barely getting any well-rested sleep.
I made my way to my desk and pulled out my study booklet, the one I needed for tomorrow that was 3 inches thick.
"Takuya?" my dad knocked on the door. He was a tall man with long brown hair wrapped in a ponytail.
"Come in." I replied.
He walked in through the door as calm as a fox. "How's everything going?"
"Not so well."
He stood right next to me, silently reading the book over my shoulder.
"Its about the exam tomorrow isn't it?"
I nodded my head. He hit the nail on the head.
"I woudn't worry about it if I were you. You'll do fine." He said, comforting me in any way he could. Apparently he forgot about my previous scores when it came to tests.
"You really think so?" I said, agitated from stress.
"I don't think so… I know so."
His words were enough to put a warm smile on my face. He always knew how to encourage me, despite the overwhelming circumstances.
"But if you were to fail for whatever reason," there was a sudden change in his tone of voice, "Just know that when one door closes… anther one opens. That's what my dad use to tell me."
He left the room, leaving me with that thought to ponder on for the rest of the night. Perhaps he was right. Maybe I had nothing to worry about.
-xxx-
(BGM: Can't Go Back by Primal Scream)
On the morning of the day of the test, I sprang out of my bed. I nearly over slept with little than fifteen minutes to get ready, including transportation down there and all I had were my two soccer-toned legs.
After my traditional morning rituals and finding something to were -my uniform being the only option- I ran downstairs in search for breakfast.
"I see your exams to day?" My mom said as she walked towards the door, for work.
"Yeah." I wolfed down a waffle with no syrup and chugged it down with orange juice.
"Bye Mom! Bye Dad!" I shouted as I left the house wishing my parents a nice day, as they wished me good luck.
I jumped over a few fences and hurdles like an Olympic sprinter, only to show up seconds after they started the tests.
"Sit down!" the test coordinator ordered me to a seat next to Kouji with Kouichi and Zoe nearby. As flustered as I was –having not much sleep the night before- I pull out my pencil from behind my ear and opened up the test booklet to begin answering.
"You may begin!" The coordinator announced and stared the clock.
I flipped to the first page and what I saw made no sense to me like an undecipherable code.
"I knew I should have studied longer." I said to myself. It was as If the test was in a foreign language. I glanced to my right to Kouji vigorously filling in answer blanks like a test answering machine.
My mind pondered on the fact I probably wasn't doing so well. I had to make sense of this somehow or else I would end up failing. I began to compare math equations with something I could easily relate to in order to aid my horrible test skills. Soccer was the first thing that came to mind (after girls).
Even though the sport had no correlation to what I was doing at the moment, just the thought was relieving. It was as if soccer was my safe haven away from academics since it was the one thing I was good at. I was usually the first to be picked as captain as I played for our school team. I even remembered all the soccer games I attended. I was usually the one who scored the game winning point. I could even imagine all the fan girls chanting my name, as I would score the winning goal- TA-KU-YA! TA-KU-YA! TA-KU-YA!
I quickly snapped out of my trance and regained focus on the task at hand. Slow and steady wins the race,an old proverb I use to hear passes through my brain, but slow and steady can get you killed I added, which did not help the fact I had only…. TEN MINUTES TO ANSWER NINTY-NINE QUESTIONS! Where did all the time go?
I rushed through each problem like lightning mad, not carrying to check my answers twice. It was only a matter of time before I heard…
"PENCILS DOWN!" the coordinator announces in his unprejudiced deep voice.
All the students placed their pencils down with looks of worry, yet satisfaction on their faces… everyone except me.
The man took up my test booklet with a stern look on his face as if he knew that I did not do so well. I sat there imagining him waving his finger at me, disappointedly.
-xxx-
"So how'd you do?" Kouichi asked me. Him and the others were huddled around me with my head hung low and my hands jammed in my pockets. We waited outside for our test scores.
"How'd you think I did?" I replied.
"You did study right?" Kouji asked. It almost sounded like he was scolding me.
"Yeah, I did... I don't know. I just… goofed. And to think I stayed up all night for that thing." I shrugged and looked to the side dismissively.
"Don't worry about it. You probably did better than you think, knowing you and your dumb luck." Zoe teased with a genuine expression. Of course she had nothing to worry about herself since she always passed anything that came her way, including an invitation to this year's dance from the most popular guy of the school.
"Yeah, well we'll find out won't we." I said grudgingly. It was only a matter of time before the scores came out thanks to the speed of technology.
-xxx-
They finally posted the scores on the bulletin board for everyone to see. Yeah that's right… Everyone! Which means, if you failed miserably everyone would get to see it, no doubt.
The crowd of students were huddled around like a flock of geese scurrying for food at a nearby park. Mumbles of scores and names transferred through the air as people congratulated one another and cheered for their efforts. I could see groups of girls cheering with each other in a circle. Obviously they all were accepted.
"YES!" Kouji cheered triumphantly, discovering his name on the high ranks list.
"Good job brother, but it looks like I did better than you." Kouichi bragged, pointing at the records.
Kouji groaned, not liking the fact he came in second to his kin.
Zoe searched for her own score and was surprised, "Oh wow. I did better than I thought." She said innocently as she pointed at hers and was three places ahead of Kouichi.
"Not bad Izumi." Kouichi congratulated. I noticed him being such a gentleman of the whole situation. He couldn't possibly be pleased that she beat him onceagain.
Well despite all the good remarks I was hearing from them, I too wondered and hoped that I made it on the list. I searched through each ranks hoping I would miraculously see my name in gold letters at the top, displayed in scrolling letters. As I approach the last few names, I realize the shocking yet unsurprising truth. My name never appeared.
"I didn't get in…"
"WHAT?" my friends shouted simultaneously.
"What do you mean you didn't get in?" Kouji rushed over to me.
"I mean… I didn't get in. I didn't pass. I failed. I'm a failure! I get NOTHING! I LOSE!"
"Man! That… that must suck!" Kouichi said, stating my obvious feelings.
"You mean you didn't get in?" Kouji asked, repeating what I just said.
"I DIDN"T GET IN, ALRIGHT!" I yelled, causing a stir in the atmosphere of celebration.
"Sorry to hear that." Zoe said with her words of comfort. Looks like she was wrong about my dumb luck.
I glanced at them before I looked away from their concerned eyes. "Its ok… I mean we all can't be smart right? It's not like I care or anything," I lied out of frustration.
"Don't say that!" Kouji yelled, knowing the fact that I secretly did care enough.
"He's right! We know you care." Zoe added. She suddenly looked frustrated.
Kouichi took his turn of cheering me up. "Besides don't look at this all wrong. You can apply at another school."
After a while my head cleared as I calmed down and took their advice. They were right; I could still apply somewhere else.
"I guess you're right." My head slightly rose up.
"Of course we're right." Kouichi wrapped his arm around my shoulder with a snarky smile, "Now whataya say you stop this nonsense and lets celebrate, even if you didn't make it in!"
The others agreed along with him. I couldn't stop them from being happy so I had to go cheerfully along with them.
-xxx-
We approached the same café I attended yesterday. This time it was all of us instead of just me. We all took a seat as Lilica came by, ready to take our orders for our celebration.
"Hello guys! How is everyone?" she asked.
"Fine!" we all shouted; I was lying though. Everyone mentioned how he or she past the entry exam, while I shrunk in my seat hoping no one would notice me sitting there.
"So what would you guys like?"
Everyone ordered what they wanted while I asked for a coke, the "usual" drink that "symbolizes" my happiness.
She left after she took note, leaving all of us alone to discuss whatever came to mind.
"So what are you going to do now?" Zoe asked. The twins were silent, waiting for an answer, which put me on the spotlight. *Spot light music*
I glanced at them nervously before I feigned a haughty laugh.
"Oh ahahaha. Don't worry about me. I'll figure it out somehow."
Suddenly on cue, JP and Tommy came through the noisy door. There classes must have let off early
"Hey guys." they both waived.
"Hey!" we all welcomed them to sit down. Now the whole gang was together.
"So how did you guys do?" JP asked, referring to the test. He must have been the hundredth person to ask that same question.
The rest of my friends bragged while I withheld any information of my failure.
"And what about you Takuya?" *da boomp* he just had to ask me.
Everyone fell silent, but this time they all were because they knew the answer, all of them except JP and Tommy.
"What?" JP looked at everyone, confused that he may of said something offensive.
"We probably shouldn't talk about it?" Zoe said, warning JP from further damages.
"Why? He passed right?"
There was an awkward silence, which answered his question.
"Oh… I see."
"Look can we just stop talking about it already and move on!" I exclaimed.
"Oh sure"
"Yeah"
"Whatever, you say man"
Everyone talked simultaneously to one another as if they were in one accord.
"Here are your drinks!" Lilica came by with our orders. That was when she noticed the solemn look on our faces. "What's wrong?"
I sighed audibly.
-xxx-
"If you don't succeed, try try again" an old adage I had heard before, and so I did just that… or did I?
After I hung out at the diner, I went straight home and that was when I saw my dad who was probably waiting for some good news. He was sitting in his big chair, in the dark. It was almost mysterious, straight out of a suspenseful movie. I could visualize him with a gun concealed in his pocket or behind a book so that once I tell him I failed, he would shoot me dead… but that's only an imagination haha *sigh*.
"So how'd you do?" he asked in a flat voice. I couldn't tell if he was elated or distraught to see me.
I swore I was going to die if I kept hearing that same question. It killed me to tell him how I really did since I couldn't sugar coat it anyway for a "safe landing" if you know what I mean.
"Well Dad… I didn't do so good…" hiding my face with the top of my head, I braced myself for an "I'm disappointed in you Takuya" or "No son of mine fails a test and lives in my house" or even a gunshot, but instead he remained silent which creeped me out even more.
"Sorry to here that…" he said, and walked off as if he didn't hear the disappointing news.
I stood there, shocked. I didn't know whether he was going to get his samuari knife he kept in his room for times like these or if he was going to cry. I figured it was the former statement.
"OH! By the way, you have mail on the counter. You should check it out." I could hear a trace of assurance in his voice.
As ambiguous and confusing he was acting, I trudged over to the counter and saw the mail he was talking about. It was a little thick then the average mail. That was when I realized it was the same mail from yesterday that I forgot to open.
I looked at the front, which had my name and a medieval font design "W.L.A." emblem in the right hand corner on a symbolic shield. After ripping it open I read the letter that followed. My eyes widened with surprise. It was the school that I applied for a few months ago which my mom made me apply for. I never thought in a million –no- a billion years that any school would take me. It wasn't till later down the letter of admission I realized I was accepted through a soccer scholarship. (Figures) But at least it was something to be proud of. I read to understand where this school was and my eye grew two times wider. It was overseas. Just wait till the others hear about this, I thought. The idea of me studying far away slowly manifested in my mind. I was jubilant but nostalgic.
I took the mail and the brochure it came with into my room to read the rest of the requirements on behalf of attending this prestigious school. I didn't see him but my dad was outside the door smiling at me as if he were proud and knew all along.
It was just like he said. When one door closes, another one breaks open… or is stays open? No I think it was…ah whatever! All I know is that another door gets opened somehow. (So much for ending the chapter with a positive and profound phrase).
TO BE CONTINUED…
A/N: Well there goes the first chapter. I hoped you enjoyed it thus far. If you noticed I had a few references here and there hehe. So far I've had to do a little research to understand and incorporate some of the Japanese culture, and I learned quite a bit. By the way, my heart and prayer goes out to the victims of the Earthquake/Tsunami, and I hope you come back stronger than ever. Yeah I know I'm late… very late.