Soushi grinned as he walked down the hall, the familiar mob of girls following behind him. The slap of high fives echoed through the halls, complementing the clicking sound of high heels against the tiled floor. Occasionally, one girl standing at their locker would be tapped on the shoulder and greeted with a flirtatious wink and as usual, they would melt. Today was different, for Riiko Izawa was the newest student at Sakura Gakuen and the last month of school for the other students. A light tap was on her shoulder and she turned around to see a handsome boy winking back at her. She rolled her eyes, grabbed her books and slammed her locker. The only thing Soushi could do was stare after her as she ran down the hallway.
Soushi was shocked at the girl's reaction yet intrigued, she refused him.
"What is there to not like about me?" he asked incredulously, scratching his head in confusion.
"Nothing Soushi, you're perfect!" his mob cooed.
Riiko stared at the map the receptionist had given her and started faring towards the right, then the left, not knowing where to go. In her confusion, she crashed into someone and they both ended up on the ground.
"Sor-"she began just to be cut off by a gorgeous blond boy, offering her his hand.
"No, I'm sorry. I should have been more careful." he apologized and smiled as he helped her up.
"Thanks. Um…could you maybe…help me get to my first class? It's my first day here and I'm really confused." She inquired, a bit of hope in her voice.
"Sure. By the way, I'm Knight." He introduced himself, flashing another smile.
"I'm Riiko." She said and grinned, handing him her schedule.
"We have most of the same classes, so you'll be stuck me for a while."
"Well, I don't really mind." She assured him, blushing a bit. He laughed and started walking, beckoning Riiko to follow. After a minute or so, they ended up in front of a door with white lettering on it, "Drama".
Riiko and Knight made their way into the classroom and found two seats. In wonder, Riiko looked around, her gaze stopping on Soushi, the boy that she had seen earlier. He noticed her and nodded, grinning. "Disgusting." She muttered under her breath and turned around just to see Knight looking down at her, trying to hide a smile. They sat down. The bell rang and a large brunette woman walked into the room, her eyes resting on Riiko.
"The new student I assume." she questioned.
"I'm Izawa Riiko." Riiko informed her.
"You will address me as Tanaka sensei but since you are new, you don't know what we've been doing. Well this month we're working on limitations. The class will be put into pairs but since we have a new student, there will be one group of three. I will be writing a play, and each group gets a scene from the play, each script will include a kiss between the members of the group. All pairings will be opposite sex. To become a serious actor or actress you have to erase your limits and get into everything you are told to do. The groups are self chosen, one girl and one boy except for these three, Asamoto Soushi, Tenjou Knight and Izawa Riiko. You will become the group of three. Izawa, I expect that you will erase your limitations as you are a student in my class."
"H-h-hai, Tanaka sensei." Riiko exclaimed in surprise.
"Isn't it great Riiko? We're together, so we can get to know each other better….but then again…we're also with Soushi." Knight said, giving Soushi a quick glance.
"So….he's Soushi?" Riiko questioned with wide eyes.
"Of course, only the most popular guy in Sakura." Knight explained.
"I would think that you might be the most popular. He seems like just some jerk." Riiko teased, succeeding in having a quick laugh escape from Knight. Soushi stared at Knight and Riiko, then slowly got up and walked towards them, yawning. As soon as he got to them, Tanaka sensei ran up to the group, a big smile plastered on her lips.
"Here is your script. I have a feeling that it will fit this group perfectly in the end." She assured them and scurried away.
"Huh, a love triangle scene…." Soushi said and started laughing hysterically.
"What's so funny?" Riiko asked, cautiously.
"I'm supposed to fall in love with YOU! I mean…that would be impossible! Sensei has NO IDEA!" Soushi screamed out in laughter. Just as Riiko was about to slap him upside the head, the bell rang for the next class and Knight dragged her off before she could do anything stupid.
Knight and Riiko were talking quite a lot and it seemed that they were becoming fast friends. It was the last period before lunch, History. In the last 3 periods Riiko had gotten fed up, in drama she was in a group with Soushi, in math her assigned seat was next to his, in gym he was her dance partner and in history, she was sitting next to him again. It was almost as if the school felt the need to pull them together. I think I know him pretty well by now, just another popular jerk. Why do I have to kiss him…I wish I could just switch groups…or even better…maybe we can kick Soushi out of everything…so Knight and I can so what we want. Knight is turning out to be a good friend, why can't I sit beside Knight instead of Soushi? She thought to herself as fatigue slowly kicked in. The monotone speech was not doing very well. Soushi suddenly tapped her arm, putting a note on her desk.
Okay, look. Let's make a deal.
You stop pretending you don't like me…
And I make you popular.
Riiko turned to Soushi, an are-you-freaking-serious look on her face.
"Why would I ever do that and why would I ever LIKE you?" she replied, rolling her eyes. Soushi chuckled and went on, writing multiple notes and throwing them at random girls. Then a note hit Riiko in the head. She tried to open it without making a lot of sound.
You're Riiko Izawa, the new student right?
Well, I'm Mika, I actually sit right beside you.
We should be friends.
Join my friends and I at lunch.
Mika turned to smile at Riiko, she flipped her long, silky black hair to her other shoulder. She was beautiful, her red halter top and black mini-skirt adding to her beauty. Soushi never TAPS the arm with a new girl…something's fishy. Mika thought as she sweetly smiled at the plain new girl. Riiko shyly smiled back. A popular girl wants to be MY friend! was the only thing she thought and she glanced at the clock, waiting for the time it would be to have lunch.
The bell rang and Riiko was swept out with the crowd of hungry students. She got outside of the door just to see Mika, standing amongst a few girls. "Riiko! Over here." She waved Riiko over to the group. Riiko cautiously made her way over to the girls. "Ayoko, Yuki and Niko" Mika quickly introduced the other girls and dragged Riiko to a table right in the middle of the cafeteria. Two boys ran up to the table at once.
"Mika, what do you want for lunch today?" they asked, desperately, pathetically, like dogs.
"We would like some bentos today." She told them, filing her nails carelessly. She waved them away and smiled at Riiko and the others. Riiko shifted in her seat uncomfortably, Mika seemed a bit…snobbish.
"So, Riiko….You sit by Soushi a lot don't you? Aren't you two in the same drama group as well?" Mika questioned suddenly, interesting ringing in her words.
"Well….yes….but I'm a bit bothered by it….Soushi is so…conceited. It's disgusting." Riiko told Mika quietly, not wanting anyone to hear.
"Oh…well you're totally right, Soushi is a jerk. That's why I dumped him." Mika replied, grinning at Riiko, "I have never known anyone that felt the same way as me about Soushi. Maybe you and I are meant to be best friends, Riiko." She continued with a sly smile on her lips.
"Maybe, all the girls seem to like him a lot, but he's just a player. He's a little piggish." Riiko told her. They both giggled about the comment and talked until the boys came back with lunch. Mika didn't seem that snobby anymore and she seemed to want to be Riiko's friend. Maybe Mika and I will become really good friends. She thought as her newfound companions started on their bentos.
Soushi sighed and he propped his feet onto the lunch table.
"I got a few favors and I'm trying to get the new girl to like me. I now have a seat beside her in every class….but she still doesn't seem to like me. It's so confusing!" Soushi said and scratched his head.
"You aren't Riiko's type." Knight said briefly as he glanced over at Mika's table where Riiko now sat. Soushi looked over at Riiko for a long while and then he forced a laugh.
"I'm perfect, how can she resist me like that?" Soushi asked.
"Don't play with her. Wait until you like her to try this stuff. It makes a difference…" Knight tried to assure Soushi.
"You're my best friend Knight….but how can you like a girl like that? Straight light brown hair….brown eyes…normal face. She isn't really anything that special to be honest and I would NEVER like a girl…like that." He told Knight.
"She's nice and has a pretty great personality. I'm not convinced that she isn't special, and you aren't either. Saying all that stuff, you just want to convince yourself." Knight told him and shook his head as the bell rang.
"See you in class." Soushi said quietly as Knight walked off. Convince myself? No way. Riiko Izawa is some girl…and there isn't anything special. So I would like it if I could get her ugly face out of my head, it's been in there too much today. Just because she's different than the other girls, just because she isn't all over me…just because I don't have her….that's why she's there. It has nothing to do with how special she is…or how cute she looks…or because she's my perfect girl. I'll get her.
Riiko ran to her locker, quickly got her books and caught up with Mika and the girls. As soon as they got in the room, Riiko automatically knew who her biology partner was, the boy that was sickening her with the smile she had received from him all day, Soushi.
"Dammit…" Riiko cursed, causing Knight to leave his seat.
"Haha, I don't think you're very happy about your situation…" Knight laughed.
"Shut up!" she replied, slapping him playfully.
"Sit down." Knight told her as he went back to his seat.
Riiko reluctantly plopped down next to Soushi and waited for class to start. Soushi seemed a bit troubled, he wasn't bothering her like he did in the other classes. In fact, he just stayed in his position, his face propped up by his hand. Riiko pushed his arm and his face almost hit the lab table when it fell.
"Oh, I see, you want to touch me." He snickered and smirked at her, staring a little longer than needed.
"As much as I want to eat 12 scorpions in one try." Riiko replied, giving him an irritated smile back. I can't believe I felt sorry for this guy…. Soushi started moving his chair closer to hers. Riiko moved hers away.
"That's okay. I know you want me." He said and put on that obnoxious grin.
"Keep moving, because I'll just keep moving away." She told him causing him to think for a few seconds.
"Alright. Today we are dissecting frogs. One of you go get the supplies and the other go grab the instruction sheet." The teacher commanded. Soushi went off for the supplies while Riiko got the instructions. When they got back to the table Soushi handed the tools to Riiko.
"Sissy." She said and started cutting the frog according to the directions. She didn't even flinch…Crap, I can't use my line…Why is she the kind of girl I would like…Soushi thought, frustrated.
"I'll do it." He insisted, trying to grab the scalpel from her.
"You gave me the tools, what the heck is your problem?" she asked him, reluctantly giving him the scalpel.
"My problem is that you're my ideal girl…" he murmured quietly, it wasn't meant to be said out loud.
"What?!" Riiko asked her eyes wide, her face flushing bright red. She had heard every word, perfectly.