A/N: This would be my very first Akaga fanfiction. Hopefully, won't be the last one. I'm really nervous thinking about the idea of releasing this story on FFN; I was afraid since I usually only been around "K-ON!" fandom, so this is kind of a new thing for me and I just can't stop thinking how people will take it. And it's been a while too I'm not writing FFN story.

Okay, anyway, personally, I deeply apologize for any errors you'll witness all over this story.

Aside from that, I want to tell you a few things before you start reading:

+ This story based on my first Akaga dream... (It's High School AU) So yeah, I am telling you guys my dream about Akaga back then lol

+ Well, basically, I wrote this based on the first person POV. Kaga's POV. Again, I'm sorry if I make her a little OOC or something. Honestly, I barely knew Kaga from the game

+ This is an Alternate Universe (AU) story. So I might not bring up anything about 'shipgirls' or anything along that line

+ Like I said, there'll be "OOC"-ness at some point and not only for Kaga, so keep that in mind

+ This is a romance story. Maybe a little angst in the future (only a tiny bit possibility of angst though)

+ My English sucks, and I have no beta for now... bear with the errors, please...

+ Updates... Well, I still have a few on-going stories and stuff I need to do... So... sorry if future updates will take long...

COPYRIGHT: I do not own Kantai Collection or any of its character(s); but I do kind of own this story (I guess? lol)

"Spicing Up One's Life"

Prologue: Different

"Mm..." I murmured softly, staring at the ceiling. After a few seconds, I got up, feeling a little more awake and making my way to the bathroom.

It's been the third time now... I thought, looking at myself in the mirror then bend down to wash my hands and face. The cold water touched my face and I flinched a little. ...Cold....

"I can get used to this."

Everyone reading this story must have been wondering why my morning starts so plain like this. It was even unnecessary to mention it. But you need to know, there's a reason behind all of this and that is where everything looks a little interesting for you to go on reading this.

"Mm... First day..."

This is my story, the start of something different since three years ago in the first day of my Junior High School. Today is my first day as a High School student. It should be exciting, just like those stories I read in many novels and even everyone at my previous Junior High was so excited in getting into High School.

Well, no. Not me.

For me, being excited for something like that is pointless, a waste of energy. Those three years I spent on Junior High wasn't really that amusing. Every single day, I woke up, prepare, go to school, and go back home and studying. It was like an endless cycle of my Junior High School life. Friends? I am never good at socializing. I have a habit of giving that cold aura around people, every time I try to make one or they try to befriend me, I drag them away unconsciously. I got used to being by myself, besides, even the teachers never mind me being all alone in a group project. I'm glad that no one dares to push me in being with people I barely knew.

My sister was the only one doing that attempt. She said I need to learn to be more sociable. It's because she said that, I tried getting at least one person to be my 'friend' but it didn't end well.

She was amazed at how I can handle everything alone. She said that I'm the only person she knew that can stand being alone and I can stand on my own feet without anyone's helping hand. I'm flattered, but it wasn't true and I had to disagree with that. I still have her as my sister, I talk to her and after our parents passed away, she became the closest person I have. Probably, the only one I have. It's just that...

"I don't really talk much."

This is a bad and also a good habit of mine. I don't really talk to people, I talk only when it's necessary to do so. I took this side from my father, he even taught me and I think it really is growing on me. He always said that words are only words without action. To put it simpler: Talk less, do more. But people are different from one to another, some are talkative, some others are pretty much silent all the time and those people are mixing up together in this world. I just happen to be one of those 'silent' people who is surrounded by many talkative people and I don't fit in that well.

Even so, people seem to respect me well enough. Of course they do, why wouldn't they when I'm being that famous, smart and hard-to-approach character?

They're around me for things they can benefit and everyone is pretty much the same.

That's what makes it plain and a pain to get involve with any of them.

It's not really something I can be excited about, this is just another stage of three years studying until I graduate and move on to another stage of studying. Isn't life so boring like that? 'Sigh... She shouldn't have left that far...' Yes, Tosa shouldn't have left that far. She left to start studying overseas and seeing how she is being such a diligent girl, I think it was bound to happen sooner or later.

Still, I'm used to have her around this house. It feels less empty when she's around. Unlike me, she's quite energetic. Mm... Ah, I need to stop. I'm in High School now, there's no Tosa around and it's just the first day of three years in High School. Maybe I should really try getting friends... "Maybe...not yet."

I sighed, glancing at the clock on my bedside table. "I should get ready." I don't want to make a fuss by coming late. So I got up and prepare myself for school. It never took me long to get ready. I've made sure everything's placed properly; especially my novel, it's a must because it's one of those things I can use to kill time. I think it's becoming a habit by now. I sighed softly, making my way to my bag on the couch and as I'm about to reach for it and take my leave, I suddenly remembered what I thought not long after I woke up.

"The start of something different." That's what I said, but will it really be like that?

I started feeling a little anxious. Even though I don't really want something different, yet when I said those words, I mean it.

I want it to be different.

[ Welcome and congratulations for all of the new students! It is- ]

Ah, this somehow feels a little different from Junior High.

[ -but it is a great opportunity for- ]

I sighed, feeling bored already by the speech. I pulled out my cellphone, checking on the time. It's still 8 A.M and it has been more than fifteen minutes the principal saying out his speech. I let out another sigh, a relief one since it seems the speech finally coming to an end.

[ -at last, I want to thank you- ]

It was then I feel something. It's dragging my attention that my head starts scanning through my surroundings. 'What is this...?' - not having any chance to think further, I caught a glimpse of someone's back; a girl's back that covered with such long hair, but what a bad timing it is, that once the girl is going to turn her way at me, the students stood up and started applauding on whoever standing on that stage.

[ Now, will you please- ]

She was gone, that girl.

"Mm..."

I wonder who is she...?

[ First year can now proceed to their own classes and start- ]

Well, enough about that. I need to go to class.

"E-excuse me." I turned around, seeing a shorter girl standing with her head down and somehow her face is a little flustered. I didn't get to reply when she throw me a question. "Um... M-my name is Chitose, do you remember me?" Well, I do remember her. She was that girl from the next classroom back in my third year of Junior High.

"I do. What do you want?"

"A-ah- No... Kaga-san sure have never changed, even in High School."

"I don't see the reason for me to do so."

This is pointless. I need to get to class now.

"It's nice talking with you, but I need to excuse myself."

I don't wait for any reply and just leave her there. It seems that she was going to introduce her friend to me. How troublesome. Why would you need someone to help you talk to someone else? Isn't she just being a burden? I don't get people like-... "Huh...?" What is this? I feel like stop walking and my eyes locked at the person a few feet away from me.

It's her...right?

I silently took a quite deep breath, then walks towards my classroom. A sudden realization hit me hard.

"You, over there. Come in now. Class is about to start." The teacher said from inside the class. I was unable to utter any word as I stepped inside the class and there she is. Standing in front of the whole student and looking at my way, too. This is new... I've seen beautiful girls for many times already, sexy ones, cute ones, naughty ones, maybe not all kinds but this girl surely just like any of the girls I've seen before.

Hm? She's...smiling. "You can take your seat." Ah...

"Yes, sensei." She's just like those girls I've seen before...

But what was I doing there? Staring at her? I don't even know what kind of expression I put on my face as I look at her face.

"You may continue." I watched the teacher mouthed that to that girl.

She smiled again, I can pretty much see she just said, "Thank you, sensei." Mm... "Good morning and welcome, first year students. Pleased to meet all of you." Polite and what's with that charming smile? "I am Akagi, second year and I'm also the student council president."

Akagi... Mm, she's the perfect student kind of girl, isn't she? I thought that kind of character only exist in fiction stories.

"And-"

"Akagi-san, do you have a boyfriend?" A student shouted, cutting off her speech.

There it is. The kind of guy who will just blurt out words mindlessly.

Stupid.

"I'm sorry, but I don't think it will concern you or any other people that much." She handle it good. I wonder if it happens a lot. "However, I'm not here to answer question. I was told by the principal that there'll be a student from this class who will need to skip first year and join the second year." So there's that kind of person in this class... Must be a gen-

"First year, Kaga." She suddenly said, looking through the room, probably wondering to who that name belong to.

"Kaga. The person with that name, please come with me to the principal's office now."

Oh, it's me after all.

I stood up from my chair and picked up my bag. "You're Kaga?" She looks a little surprised.

"Yes." I answered. Maybe I don't look like someone she expected me to be. Well, I'm not here to meet and match up everyone's expectations anyway.

"Please, come with me, Kaga-san." Hm...

What is this feeling...?

Is it just me...or that's just how she sound like...?

Different...

Akagi-san is different from anyone I met.