Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon! This is all a product of my imagination and creativity. Excuse me for sharing my talent. Some names, places and such are made-up. Except for the original characters of the Anime and some city names.
Right Kind of Guy
Chapter 1: A Great Start
Right on time. Matt Ishida thought as he entered the steel doors of Long Beach International High. The bell just rung for first period as he entered the school. He walked calmly towards his locker and leaned on it. He looked at his watch. Approximately seven hours and 3 minutes 'til school's over. He sighed. It was a Friday—fly day. He has a meeting with the guys tonight at eight to shoot some hoops. He can't wait to get on the court.
He opened his locker and searched for his stuff, he better hurry or he'll be late. He can't stand to read another limerick in O'Connell's class again. He took out his green leather notebook and stuffed it inside his bag. After zipping his backpack, he ran through the nearly empty hallway and screeched his shoes as he got the O'Connell's door. He straightened himself and went to his usual seat—right in front of Mimi Tachikawa.
Now, Mimi Tachikawa was not the usual "ordinary" schoolgirls who waved pom-poms and talked about gossip. She was half nerd and half cheerleader. For the past three years of high school, she'd been the valedictorian, cheerleading captain, and last year, theprom queen. She was everything a guy could ever want. Smart, funny, attractive, and outgoing. What bothers Matt is that she's never had a boyfriend since grade school. With her charm and brain, how could nobody want her?
Maybe she did have a boyfriend but was smart enough to keep it a secret. Matt thought. He pushed the thought aside as Mr. O'Connell stepped in the room. Matt sighed. He prepared himself for yet another boring class of Literature. He never understood how people could love poems so much. They were all mushy and girly. Besides, literature never made any sense. Like the fact why authors used the word hath instead of has. Was it because of a tongue problem, or what? Nevertheless, Matt had to put up with it. Not because he was concerned with his grades, but because Mimi always seemed to be on cloud-9 every time she heard a romantic poem.
Ever since that day when O'Connell discussed about Romeo and Juliet, Mimi's been very attentive to his class. During the part when Juliet stabbed herself because of Romeo's death, Matt was sure he saw a tear escape Mimi's eyes. He smiled at the thought of that day. She looked so cute when she was touched. From that day on, Matt paid more attention to the class, hoping that it'd give him help with making a good impression.
"Mr. Ishida." O'Connell called. "You seem to be in a good mood today, good. Very good. I do hope that reading a poem wouldn't ruin your day?" He asked with a snicker as he motioned his thick brown literature book to Matt. Matt groaned. The old guy always seemed to love seeing him in a foul mood. He stood up and smiled wryly at O'Connell. He despised that man, with the balding-grayish hair and yellow uneven teeth. He was a monster, not to mention a freak.
He approached O'Connell's table and grabbed the book. He gazed at the title of the poem he had to read. Say Not The Struggle Nought Availeth. He groaned. Great, another of those –th poems. How much of a dunce could he look? Mr. O'Connell cleared his throat, which meant it was time for Matt to read it. He took one deep breath and started to read.
Matt finished the three-phrase poem smoothly; stopping once a while to properly pronounce a word. Slow, but well. He commented to himself. He was giving him a pat on the shoulder when he heard O'Connell laugh.
"You call that reading, boy?" He asked sarcastically. "I wonder if Japan was a good place to start education." The old man stated. That last statement cut into Matt like a knife. Just because he was from a completely different race, didn't mean he was stupid and uneducated. Sure, Japanese folk are hard to understand, but Americans are too. Matt wanted so much to jump on top of the aged man and cobble him into pieces. O'Connell looked at him sternly.
"Can you tell me, Ishida, what you understood from the poem?" He asked, malice glowing through his eyes. Matt grunted deeply, he could feel rage run through his body. If only he didn't need literature's help that much, he would've killed the man right then and there. Matt took a deep breath. "I-I think it's about a—availing ahem struggle…" he stammered.
Mr. O'Connell laughed really hard, and the whole class followed. Matt could feel his face burn, as it turned into a deep crimson. He observed the whole room and noticed that Mimi was looking at him disgusted. He gulped. Great, now Mimi is sure to hate him forever. O'Connell pat his shoulder. "That's okay son, I know how Japanese are poor in English literature."
Matt's face burned even more, his hands were balled into fists. He was so near the old guy that it gave a perfect angle to punch him. He was about to do so when Mimi stood up abruptly. "I think I can help him, sir." She said cheerfully. Now, Matt was really embarrassed. He didn't like the thought of being helped by a girl. Especially if that girl was named Mimi Tachikawa.
Mr. O'Connell let go of Matt's shoulder and crossed his arms. "Very well, Tachikawa, entertain me." He grinned looking like a maniac. Mimi cleared her throat and faced the entire class. "The poem by Arthur Clough, gives out a message to all those who are in the midst of trouble and problems." Mimi started. "It says that all the struggle and the problems we face are nothing more than bugs that gives reason to life itself. You see, without the problems we face everyday, life won't be that colorful. I mean, how could we live our life to the fullest if we don't even pass problems that teach us how to be ourselves and to help us find the inner self in us." The whole class cheered after Mimi finished. She smiled and sat back down.
Matt noticed that O'Connell was frowning. He smirked. The guy always wanted his student to suffer; he fed from their anger and their helplessness. Maybe now, he knows that his class is capable of more things than he ever expected. He frowned at the whole class and at Mimi. "Good. But needs more improvement in speech." Matt was about to lunge at O'Connell when the school bell rang for second period.
O'Connell wrote something on the board and said something about a long test. Matt didn't even bother to listen. He took his notebook, stuffed it into his bag and went out the door. He took a deep breath. Free. The worst part of the day was over. Just six hours and 15 minutes more to go.
He was on his way to second period-Algebra when someone tapped his shoulder. He turned to see who it was and saw that it was Mimi. He held his breath. It was very out of the ordinary for her to be that close to him. She smiled politely, which made Matt's heart beat faster.
I was observing you a while ago and I noticed you need to deeply read the poem. You know, read between the lines." She smiled again. Matt was in complete shock, and anger. "I didn't ask for any of your opinions Ms. Know-It-All." He snapped and walked away.
Lunch bell rang, Matt sighed. He barely survived Algebra. Literature was hell, but Algebra—being the subject he hated most—went well. He was able to pass his homework and bet a B on the pop quiz. The day was starting to move swell. Just five more hours 'til basketball time.
Matt rushed out of the classroom and hurried off to the cafeteria. He had to see Michael and see if he and the gang were still go for tonight. He searched through the whole lunch crowd and spotted a group of guys on top of the last table who were wearing outfits of the same color—black. No wonder people usually stare at him wherever he goes. His attire was completely wacky.
He wore tight leather pants, a black cotton tee and a sleeveless black jacket. His hair of golden brown was smoothed down into a neat direction. He also wore black ankle high boots and black leather gloves with no fingers. He had a tattoo on his left shoulder and a nose ring.
If he were back in Japan right now, he was surely going to be a laughing stock. Good thing he wasn't there 'coz the tough crowd around Long Beach accepted this image. Maybe that's why he shifted into the present Matt Ishida from the past one.
"Yo, Matt!" Michael called. Matt nodded and approached the team. After doing their weird handshake, matt went straight to the point. "I was just wondering if tonight is still on." He announced to the group. For some reason, they all fell silent.
"What?" He asked them. Bryan, his co-swimmer and co-race driver stood up and looked at him. "Look man, I was really looking forward to tonight but I gotta bring my girl out to the movies." Matt grimaced. "You going soft on me man? Ditching me for a girl?"
Bryan looked offended. "Hey, just because you don't have a girl, doesn't mean you have to come on mine." He said. Matt raised both his hands in surrender. "Fine. Just at least try to come." He looked at the other s and shrugged. "We could just ask someone to take his place, right guys?" he suggested to all of them. Paul, another one from his swim team shook his head. "I'm sorry man. I promised my girl too."
Matt sighed and looked at the rest of the group; they all shook their heads. He looked at Michael with pleading eyes. "At least you're coming right man?" Michael stared at the concrete floor and Matt grimaced. "What? You're going out with a girl too?" he exclaimed. Michael looked up at him. "Actually man, I promised my Ma that I'll take her to my father's house." Matt grimaced even more.
"I can't believe you all ditched me for women. What's in them anyway?" He asked, raising his voice to an irritated level. They all looked at him sternly. Michael was the one who spoke for the group. "Listen Matt, we spend time everyday. During the street races, and our shoots, but we also have to spend some time with the women in our lives. Maybe it's time you got yourself one already." Michael suggested.
Matt snickered sarcastically. "Look, I have no time for women. So, if all of you are too busy to come with me, then fine." And with that he stormed out of the cafeteria.
The day went by dryly. Matt didn't pay any attention in the classes that he took. He was mad, bored and hungry. That scene at the cafeteria made him mad so much that he forgot about lunch. He found himself doodling is books and notebooks. He played deaf at all the teachers and students that talked to him. He was caught in his own lonely world.
He stood silently from his chair and walked steadily through the crowded hallways that were filled with after-school chatters. He passed jocks and cheerleaders, nerds and dunces. He walked past the buildings' doors and was greeted by a new sound. The sound of pom-poms being waved in the air, footballs being passed around, car tires screeching, and engines revving filled the air.
Matt sighed as he walked up to his Mustang. He should be part of the excited crowd, but because of the incident earlier at lunch, he wasn't sure what he felt. His blank self had once again reigned over Matt's body.
His face held no expression; his eyes were of a deep blue that twinkled as the sun hit it. His heart was at a steady beat, and his breath held in a silent pace. His thoughts were far from reality; his mind was filled of completely absurd things that a normal teenage boy could think of.
The words digital and destiny flashed through his mind. Death and Survival filled his heart. For that time being, Yamato "Matt" Ishida was no more than an alien to the human race of Long Beach. He was once again a loner, a nincompoop.
He drove his car carefully as he passed the busy streets of Long Beach. Never did he curse or yell like the other drivers when there was traffic or a lagging car. He never left his eyes from the road. He neither looked left nor right. He was determined to do one thing: go home and sleep for the rest of his life.