Lelouch Lamperouge had always lived his life as an only child. His father Charles was a distant man, head of a wealthy international corporation while his mother, Marianne passed away when he was the tender age of four.
He lived in a wealthy mansion in some obscure part of Britain, away from the nosy reporters and the ever annoying Paparazzi, surrounded by Mother Nature's verdant fields and forest which made great hunting and riding grounds.
There were many who would do anything to lead a life like his but to Lelouch it was the epitome of boredom. People outside of his family didn't even know his mother had given birth to him before she passed away, many of them learning of his existence at her solemn funeral.
He spent his days being privately tutored by teachers who knew more on how to praise him and his father than teach him, though the praise was not all undeserved. By the time he was thirteen Lelouch was on par with university students in terms of academics. He also had a startling amount of interest in chess in which he was self taught and undefeated, though his debut matches with the old people in parks had been extremely close.
But he learned. Lelouch was not ignorant of how easy he had life and he always strove to make his days count, a task which became increasingly difficult as he grew up.
He read books, classics, always had a go at chess when he was out in any city in any country he chose to visit on his will.
His mother had been the head of a daycare in Japan, a foreigner who had been raised in a Japanese orphanage. How she could love a man like his father, Lelouch would never know but he had no one to visit since his mother had no family. His father's blue-blooded relatives were amusing in the way how they thought the world revolved around those with money but Lelouch never could have a decent conversation with them.
Marianne had been an outcast when she was alive because of her heritage or rather lack of and Lelouch was no exception. Of course they told him he had his father's blood in his veins to his face with fake smiles but he knew better to trust them when his back was turned.
On his seventeenth birthday, Lelouch had had enough of his simpering aunts and obedient uncles with their dreaded children born to test his patience with their friendships and attempts at romance (from the girls of course).
The birthday cake he himself had baked brazenly stated him as 'Lelouch Lamperouge' with his mothers' maiden name instead of the one his father and all of his side of the family shared
It was a blatant act of rebellion Lelouch had pulled without thinking of what his father, who on the ghost of chance actually attended the party, would say.
But if anything, the man's mouth was twitching. It was, Lelouch thought in anger with the way Charles treated him like he had nothing to do with his only son. On the contrary, his father commended his bravery to not put up with false allies, be they family (he was not really ignorant of those who tried to sway his only child), enough forgive this act of insolence. Not that he ever deemed Lelouch worthy of being told and left him feeling he was going to be shot from sniper somewhere.
The only child of a wealthy man who had not remarried, once recognized by his peers when he decided to try a high school in London as the only scion of the owner of The Britannica Enterprise, Lelouch had no desire to continue his studies in his homeland and cancelled his admission weeks after said birthday.
A few years ago the apocalypse virus had broken out in Japan, a mystifyingly terrible disease due to which Lelouch had been unable to visit. But then a news channel aired a segment the next day Lelouch had spent at home about the improving situation in Japan thanks to the U.N.O.'s foreign aid.
"The formation of GHQ, formed by the U.N. has helped in rebuilding settlements and providing security to the still vulnerable state of Japan and will still continue to do so until the economy of Japan has stabilized." The newscaster said and the station switched to pictures of modern day Tokyo and other main cities along with coverage of those areas when the apocalypse virus had been prevalent.
And that was all it took for Lelouch to ring up his father, who surprisingly answered himself on the rare occasion of Lelouch contacting him himself.
"I want to go to Japan." Lelouch bit the bullet.
"Whatever for?" Charles inquired.
"For high school. Like the ones where mom was taught."
"You don't need school. You should start helping me with work." Charles said. He was a man of power unwilling to share it even with his family; no doubt his words caused a surprise to Lelouch. What had caused him to say such a thing?
"I have next to no social relations." Said Lelouch, hoping to decline swiftly without any backlash but his father caught on.
"Saying no then? You have nerve, boy." And Lelouch cringed. Whenever it came to his life decisions, Charles held the fact that it was he who was sustaining his life and whims over his head.
"If you want to make friends, fine to me. I'll let you go. Get ready soon." And the call disconnected leaving Lelouch to wonder just what happened. He had never even been able to choose what subjects he was going to study yet his father had conceded to let him study in a country of his choice at least.
Tennozu High had an online registration site where Lelouch promptly filled his forms in the evening. His father came home later that night, a cheque-book in his hands.
"You'll have to prove yourself from now on." Charles handed it to him. It had a plain black, rectangular cover, filled with empty cheques. The shocking part was the name written on the other side.
It had said 'Lelouch Lamperouge.' The boy in question was quiet for a moment before he began walked away to pack his bags without a word of thanks to cover up his confusion.
Had he been disclaimed as a son or recognized as his own person? Upon contemplation it became apparent that his father did not want decide on an heir just because they have always, he wanted the best, fittest person to inherit his company. Lelouch had just joined the running to do so, if the name he chose for himself was also the name chosen for his personal assets any proof.
Lelouch had no desire to do so. He was perfectly capable of living by himself without any servants. He preferred a more simplistic lifestyle compared what he had been offered.
Lelouch could earn by himself too, either through gambling or with his computer skills. In order to get into high profile clubs and casinos to obtain access to high rollers Lelouch had acquired a quite the skill when it came to hacking. As he boarded his flight to Japan, he had no doubt he would live without his father's help.
It was a clear night with only a few clouds, the full moon visible as Lelouch stepped outside the airport in Japan, lugging small suitcase behind him.
Lelouch Lamperouge was seventeen years old. He had tall, slim build and handsome foreign features, his skin fairer than the Japanese natives. His eyes were his most charming feature, violet in color. His hair was long but neat, kept above the collar of his shirt while his bangs covered most of his forehead almost all the time.
He wore a white shirt, the collar loosened and sleeves folded upwards, evidently wrinkled from being worn throughout the day and were not even properly tucked in his black pants.
All was still, except for the cool wind and the light sky, littered with twinkling stars above Tokyo city. The decrease in pollution was remarkable.
Hailing a taxi Lelouch directed the driver towards Skyrise Hotel, a luxurious project launched by GHQ for foreigners, in fluent Japanese, a language he learned as an ode to his mother's native tongue.
The building was thirty stories tall, and Lelouch's abode was at the very top. The royal suite was enormous. It consisted of two bedrooms, a terrace and a lounge, a fridge that had drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and branded foods from around the world.
When he arrived, there was a huge basket of fruits and a tray of assorted chocolates on the expensive wooden table in the lounge. Sliding glass windows opened to the terrace and gave a breathtaking view of the city with its many skyscrapers.
The teen unpacked his belongings and made himself at home. Upon his instructions no hotel personnel had tried to come in and see him adjusted, leaving him totally alone.
Lelouch's retro flip-phone beeped, a specific tone reserved for receiving emails. It was his acceptance letter from Tennozu High and they requested him to start school as soon as possible since it was already on and he was a week late.
Tomorrow was a Sunday so he would have time to go out and buy a uniform for his new school. Opening his laptop, Lelouch busied himself with online chess. He was playing black; he always did.
His opponents stood no chance as Lelouch managed to checkmate them before they could even check him. As it was he was barely spending more than five to ten minutes per match, his difficulty set at "Master" which meant a maximum of 15 seconds per turn.
The prodigy made his opponents forget about some piece on the board until some turns later he sprung the trap with such elaborate planning that he had a counter for every counter possible and even those would eventually give Lelouch victory.
He had the rare foresight to predict the many results that the board could produce within the following turns and could manipulate the flow of the game to his liking.
-Would you like to accept a challenge from Triton?-
The screen said after Lelouch was finished with another boring match.
'Interesting name.' Lelouch thought and accepted. The game began.
Triton started slowly, moving a knight on the first turn. Lelouch made a strange move and moved a pawn from the front of his king. The other player, perhaps thinking that Lelouch had made an amateur move played the next few moves without much caution and soon found himself in a tricky situation.
Triton thought he had dealt a good blow when he took out a black knight with a white pawn, he thought he had forced Lelouch to leave his knight like that. But soon he realized that his opponent was anything but careless and hurried to save his queen from the impending doom he could see on the board.
Triton should have been more cautious, but perhaps it was his own protective stance of his queen that allowed Lelouch strike his main piece down. Lelouch claimed his white queen by moving a black bishop from one end of the board to another diagonally.
But Triton used the next turn to put his opponent's king in check. From there on Lelouch kept his king moving, making it hard to trap him, until, finally, he was just three blocks away from Triton's own king.
Triton fought on total defense then, but then he realized he had already lost. He had been too dependent on the queen for his plans. Now his King was trapped between a rook, two pawns and the last of his escape cut off by the black king, just a square away.
If Triton made one move to avoid the rook and pawns that held him from moving forward or to the side, the only option was to advance diagonally, right in front of the black king and forcing checkmate himself.
Nor could he take out a piece to break free of the amazing formation that only a true master could make. Surely it was someone beyond hi
-Checkmate. Zero wins-
The screen read the victors' player name, making obvious what had been apparent to both the players for some time already. Triton had played well. Had they been across each other Lelouch would have praised him.
Such a satisfying match that was rare to find. Triton logged off without any comment on a rematch. Lelouch did not want to spoil his victory by proceeding with another inferior match and turned in for the night.
The first thing Lelouch had to do next morning was head over to the principals' office early in the morning. He took care to change from his outside shoes into indoor ones after finding his shoe-locker from the information he received in his the elderly Principal Takagi was absent and instead he was greeted with the sight of a tall, blonde girl going through a thin file inside a very typical headmasters' office.
"Good morning." Lelouch greeted in English as he walked in, confidence bleeding off him as he smiled charmingly.
"Good morning. I'm Kohouin Arisa, your student council president. The headmaster informed of your transfer to me last night. Due to his medical circumstances though, he isn't here today.
"I'm not sure how they do things back in Britain for private schools, but here there is a morning assembly daily and I expect you to be on time, Mr. Lamperouge." Her manner betrayed a no-nonsense attitude. Her posture stiff, her gaze harsh and she did not falter with her English like most. She was the image of aristocracy in Lelouch's mind.
"Of course Ms. President. I look forward to it." Lelouch switched to his fluent Japanese; he had been slightly nervous to use it before. A look of surprise decorated her face for a brief moment before Arisa composed herself again. A transfer student fluent in the language just one day after arriving in Japan? Little did she know Lelouch had learned the language when he was young and had only taken a crash-course for revision before coming to Japan. She'd have to look into it.
Placing his file on the desk Arisa walked past him and he followed her out of the office towards the gymnasium. He noticed student activity around him in the school corridor they were traversing, but in the opposite direction from the rest.
"Excuse me, isn't the assembly the other way?" Lelouch asked at last.
"Oh, I'm taking you through the backstage so you can introduce yourself in the morning assembly. It will help to break the ice with the whole school. Don't worry, nearly one-third of the student body comprises of students from overseas. Just say your name, a hobby you have and your favourite food." The blond said with a small smirk.
Lelouch gulped slightly before composing himself. All he had to do was say his name, a little 'Yoroshiku' and be done with it. He had brushed up on Japanese etiquette and figured he would have to bow slightly too, never mind the fact that oversea students which Kohouin had talked about came from prestigious and wealthy backgrounds from around the globe.
'Calm down, they are just ordinary students. Your father is not going to run you over if you just bow in front of them.'
Maybe he shouldn't have hacked into the school database after hearing rumors of the high foreigner count. Sure, he'd confirmed the figures that about thirty percent were students from abroad but among them had been a few names he heard only in the company of his fathers' meetings he would attend occasionally to alleviate boredom.
He preferred to meet people in person so that they could make their own impression before running through their backgrounds but his curiosity had gotten the better of him. Was he mentally punishing himself for betraying his own principles?
Was that it? Had been sent to Japan to be humbled, or to test how much pride of Charles he would carry? As he waited backstage he awaited Arisa's dreaded announcement.
"Now, on to matters of a different subject, we have a transfer student from Ashford Academy in London. Please, come on out."
The student council president conducting the ceremony took a few steps back from the podium and smiled encouragingly as Lelouch entered, walking with a natural pace, feeling the gaze of five hundred students on him.
Breathing in prior to standing before the microphone to avoid the slight sign of nervousness being transmitted, Lelouch turned to the crowd covering half of the spacious hall. He had never given an address as public as this.
"Good morning, my fellow students." Lelouch spoke a bit too melodramatically and winced as he paused automatically, like he was age-old character in one of the many profound novels he had read, like a leader or a ruler addressing his subjects, which were in this case the common masses.
He gave no thought to the confusion visibly present on the faces of his peers, attributing it to the way he was speaking before continuing.
"My name is Lelouch Lamperouge. My favourite past time is playing chess. I look forward to studying with you all. Please take care of me." And with his back still straight he tilted forward slightly, enough to accomplish his purpose and not touch the microphone with his face.
A collective gasp ran out through the hall and Lelouch looked up only to see the confused faces of the students openly gaping at him. A quick glance and the foreigners seemed mortified even.
'Just what did I do?' He wanted an answer to that question as he stepped down and Arisa concluded the morning assembly, trying not smile. She was sure she would crack her face if she did.
As the assembly dispersed Arisa again led Lelouch towards his class room, 2-C. He did not get a chance to question the students' behavior because Kohouin was quickly going over their study system, what was frowned upon and what was not in front of teachers to even let him interject.
"It's important that you attend homeroom first Lelouch. When it's lunch break please come to me in the student council room. I will be waiting."
"What ever for?" He finally raised a question as they reached their destination.
"That's for me to know and you to find out." She slid the door to his classroom open, ceasing all activity within the room. It was suddenly too quiet to question her further and Lelouch stepped in. The Japanese students were looking at him, somewhat in awe while the foreigners, seated in the back seemed downright cold, glaring at him.
He settled for taking a seat at the back in the opposite to the door and nearer to the windows. The student who sat beside him next to the window was had light brown hair with a slight blond streak on one side. The boy seemed lost in his own thoughts, but glanced in Lelouch's direction once, looking too shy to make eye-contact.
Their homeroom teacher entered and the class representative promptly announced, "Rise!" Lelouch stood up swiftly like nearly everyone else and that was when he realized the heart of the problem. Everyone who was not Japanese was either not standing properly, stifling a yawn or exchanging whispers with the person next to them or sitting in such a blatant show of disrespect that it was not even funny and the teacher made his way to the centre of the board.
"Bow!" Commanded and class rep next Lelouch followed along with the disciplined, respectful students. He peeked at the teacher and met his dumbfounded gaze, not knowing why he was being so much looked at.
"Sit!" And at last they were allowed to take their seats.
"Well then class, I'll be taking your attendance now. New student, take note to remember the name of your classmates, we're all like family in here." The teacher announced and began the roll call, Lelouch doing his best to record everyone's name.
The first period was maths, one of his favourite subjects. He focused solely on the teacher but couldn't help but feel there was a strange atmosphere in the classroom. There was a strange dichotomy present between people of different nationalities to which he felt was more to than that which met the eye.
After maths, Lelouch discovered that there were ten free minutes between each period for the students to unwind. While he expected his classmates to chatter away, everything was deathly still as a single boy rose in the classroom and made his way towards him.
His uniform was messy and out of order, with the tie loose and his shirt not even tucked in his pants. He had shiny brown hair and a hint of freckles on his nose with blue eyes. Lelouch recognized him.
He was none other than Clark Higgins, son of the owner of GreenAir, the airlines which had assisted U.N. on discounted rates to help with the transfer of resources, people, and trade cargos. In short, had majorly helped Japan with importing and exporting extraditions despite its crippling economy.
It wasn't until the brunette was looming directly over him did Lelouch recognize him.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, following these shitty customs?" Crass words spoken quite haughtily. Lelouch glared back at the use of English.
"Do you know of respect? I don't think you'd have any either way." He shot back, effectively channeling every eye in the room towards him.
"What respect are you talking about for these beggars? It's because of our funding that they're even existing. You seem new but it was with the help of western scientists which found vaccine to the apocalypse virus and our aid which is keeping this country from collapsing."
What the arrogant douche was saying was true, but that did not mean they owned Japan. Seeing Lelouch observing the silent classroom Clark smirked.
"These spineless idiots don't even understand what we say. Well, except for that bitch of a Student Council president." He said off-handedly.
"I could report you for these comments." Lelouch said, making an idle threat and wishing he was one of those who couldn't understand the nonsense Clark was spouting.
"You're threatening me? My father funds this school. Too bad he seems fixated on being an idiot and keep stressing this equality shit when obviously they all are in our debt."
So that was where his confidence came from. And this was the source of unrest.
Japan's most major cities had suffered at the hands of apocalypse virus which due to its unique nature not only ended human lives reducing the national workforce but also damaged buildings, homes, offices, schools, shops, everything living and non-living factor was affected in its wake.
Whole cities had to be rebuilt, resources provided, human and material to help Japan back up on its feet. Naturally, the country racked up a debt in trillions of dollars increasing the tax on everything.
Taking advantage of the crippling financial situation foreign investors bought huge estates in Japan, built successful businesses and provided money for many huge projects within Japan such as combating the accursed apocalypse virus.
They lived like nobles compared the people to whom the country belonged but it seemed like the foolish teenagers here were severely stepping out of the line. Lelouch didn't doubt they held any sway over their parents when it came to a show of power as with most rich families, and wondered if he could afford to make enemies with a certain Higgins family for the words he was about to say. 'Ah, the troubles of being rich.'
"You call them beggars yet the education-wise the Japanese outrank every other nation. Give it a decade, just because the leadership decided to take loans does not mean Japan has weakened. They've withstood two nuclear attacks.
While you say that the west found a cure for the apocalypse virus, the research team consisted of Japanese scientists as well which I might add were the ones who contributed the most as well as made the actual breakthrough. It matters not whose name was on the paper and who took credit for it, facts such as these will never change.
And while you think that you can get away with mindlessly insulting people, that money is power going by your mindset then I alone can deal with you. Crass of me, I know, but barking dogs don't bite."
Lelouch said and leaned back, making a very amused face which showed he was very pleased and full of himself and rested his face against his hand, not even standing from his seat to lock eyes. The class could practically feel the smugness oozing off him.
Clark Higgins on the other hand had never been so insulted. A blush spread across his face, even the tips of his ears were tinged with red. His hands balled into fists and shook with outrage and he stumbled over words. He wanted to pummel the pretty, arrogant boy before him.
"You…How dare you!" He snarled at last and reached for Lelouch's collar only to get interrupted by the door being opened by the next teacher. Lelouch thanked his lucky stars inwardly as he gave his would-be assailant a big smile. He had never been one for physical activity which included fighting.
From then on there was a huge change in the classroom, the back seats filled with the constant buzz of whispering and the students in front occasionally looking back to sneak a look at Lelouch while he tried to ignore them and focus on the board.
Before lunch break the teacher called out Lelouch to the board to solve some numerical during physics so that when class ended he was the first student out, walking towards the student council room. With directions from a few students he found it quickly and entered after a polite knock.
Inside consisted of a rectangular table in the middle of the room at the head of which sat Arisa Kohouin. The other seats were empty and paper work littered the desk. Next to walls were several cabinets and a bookshelf. Light shined in from the big, glass windows from behind the student council president.
"Hello Lelouch." Arisa said as she rose and walked around the desk to meet him. She held out her hand to which Lelouch gently shook with his slender one.
"Hello." He greeted politely and said nothing more, waiting for a response.
"I suppose you want me to get to the point then." The blond said mysteriously as she crossed her arms. "This would have required a test of some sort of but I suppose what happened in the morning is testament enough of your true personality, so we don't need to do anything like that."
"You were keeping tabs on me?" Lelouch quirked an eyebrow. This was definitely new.
"Frankly, yes. The thing is that while foreigners live comfortably in Japan, their grades aren't up to the par with our national students when they apply for universities abroad in their homeland. In sports they might excel but not in any area of particular academic expertise.
"That being said, the school chairman Mr. Higgins wanted to make it mandatory that some other students were also allowed into the student council. You've already seen how his son is ruining this school." Arisa said and paused.
"I noticed. Why aren't there any measures being taken against a direct insult to the Japanese culture?"
"You can't exactly force a person to bow and they are careful in front of the teachers with how they treat others. Everyone is different but the bad eggs have too much sway over others, most of them children of corporate leaders who know each other." Arisa paced the windows, looking outside.
"Yes, the problem is that they don't think that we are below them, rather we are indebted to them and should be able to do as they please. There's also complaints from their parents as well. However, the student council president can't remedy this problem on my own. I need a suitable vice president."
"Aren't there elections for this?" Lelouch could see the way this conversation was going.
"Class representatives are voluntary selections while the student council president is selected by the teachers based on overall performance. Rest assured, in our school history we've had many non-Japanese students as presidents but that's it.
The students who know the truth compared to teachers who'd turn a blind eye to outrageous discrimination in fear of their jobs, not that I don't understand but…" She trailed off before snapping back.
"Anyway, I needed a fair candidate for vice president and I'm already impressed by your academic history-" This was where Lelouch interrupted.
"Are students allowed going through someone else's files?" Arisa stopped, but did not look the least bit ashamed.
"It's not every day an overqualified genius applies to a school in another country when he could go to universities like Cambridge, Harvard or Princeton. So tell me, are you up for it?"
"…"
"…"
"I respectfully decline." She blinked one, two times.
"But why? Don't you want to do anything about to change the mindset of these ignorant people? If it's you, they'll actually listen before judging how you look." Lelouch knew who she was talking about.
"They won't change, not until its been proven how horribly, inconceivably wrong they are. And if anyone did do that, they would have to deal with the benefactors who have a firm grip on Japan's market, who can charge them twice for a bottle of water just to show their monarchy. There have been numerous nations who have suffered at the hands of their very own rulers and now Japan has become one of them." Said Lelouch, looking her in the eye.
"You're the only person in the school who the majority will support, I can easily arrange an election." Arisa knew Lelouch was past negotiations now.
"Just let them say what they want, it's not as if they have any power by themselves." Lelouch was shocked to see her slam a hand against the surface of the table.
"You don't know anything…all you know is what the media has said. Any institute, be it educational or political is being severely manipulated. Yet everyone…everyone acts so blind."
Discrimination and crime existed in every state. Other than the display that very morning, Lelouch had yet to see just what Arisa was talking about.
"I apologize, but it's only my first day. Give me some time to think." Said Lelouch, giving an apologetic smile that made Arisa rethink the scenario from his perspective.
"How rude of me, I didn't even think you were coming to a school first time after years. Well, I'll contact you after a week. After that I'm simply going to hold an election for the vice president position. You're excused."
Lelouch simply left without a word, somehow feeling drained. He had never expected to be offered such a high position on the first day of school based on his own merit.
He did not leave for the cafeteria; he had always had a small appetite. Instead the boy took the remaining twenty minutes of his break to wander around the school. Lelouch made a note to get someone else to show him around the school too, perhaps get to know people.
From the windows in the corridor he could see a track field in the backyard of the school. Adjacent to it was another rectangular building with a blue roof and tinted windows which he concluded was a swimming pool.
There was also a gym located inside the school building.
The bell rang and quickly he turned, reaching his classroom just in the nick of time. The rest of day was uneventful, the class remaining peaceful even during self-study while Lelouch pondered about Kohouin's proposal.
If his father got word he would push Lelouch to do it, anything to be distinguished within the student body. Sitting behind a desk, taking care of complaints from students, keeping an eye over the various clubs this school had, would it fit well with him?
The bell rang and classes ended, snapping the boy out of his thoughts. He quickly returned for his afternoon classes, hiding his surprise at finding out there was a maths test.
"You don't have to take it Mr. Lamperouge." Said the teacher but Lelouch declined.
"It's okay sensei, I know maths well." Lelouch insisted that he take it anyway. To everyone in the classroom it seemed like Lelouch breathed confidence.
After the test which of just average difficulty, Lelouch found himself being avoided by the students around him. As he walked out by the end of the day, the only thing he had gleaned from his classmates was the whispers behind his back and the occasional, but accidental, eye-contact.
Tennozu High was not just famous for its top-notch facilities but also because of the diversity of its extra-curricular activities. It had all sorts of clubs in it for sports, art and handicrafts, music, and various types of technology.
Lelouch had a brief encounter in the Chess club where the captain of the Tennozu Chess Team faced his most humiliating loss ever. Lelouch smiled politely and offered a few words of encouragement before quickly excusing himself after declining to join.
It was nearing four o'clock when Lelouch had finished checking out all the clubs (some of which he wondered why were even in existence, such as Building Gazing Club) that he came across a unique building located far away from the school building.
It was a two story warehouse, a crumbling old building. The huge metal doors were ajar which Lelouch pushed to make his presence known with omnious and rusty creaks.
Inside the floor was made of aged concrete blocks that stood out at various places and had patches of grass growing between the spaces and cracks. A computer, placed beneath a gallery that could be reached by the two staircases on either side was surrounded by three people one of two of whom Lelouch immediately recognized.
Ouma Shu, the boy who sat next to him and the girl called Hare who he ate lunch with in the cafeteria during break. The third boy was eyeing him with wonder.
"Oh wow, you're the new guy! Hey, wazzup homie bro!" Lelouch nearly tripped and face planted at the atrocious English and weird gangster sign movements.
"Souta, he speaks Japanese." Shu sighed.
"Indeed." Lelouch said calmly, a small smile decorating his face. "Lelouch Lamperouge."
"Yosh! I'm Souta, he's Shu, she's Hare and we are… the Film Maker's Club!" Souta half-shouted half-cheered, looking quite pleased at the introduction.
"This quaint building?" the dark-haired teen mused, inspecting roof above for any cracks like the ones that graced the walls and floor.
"It might not look like much and it gets very cold in the winter but it's a sturdy structure, this building." Said Hare, looking at her surroundings fondly.
The tapping of buttons on a keyboard brought everyone's attention to the computer Shu was wrapping up for the day.
"We're working on a project for the Film Maker's club. Sorry, it's a bit classified at the moment." Shu turned around to face the non-member with a small smile.
"I'm good with computers, maybe I'll lend you hand with video editing if I ever decide to join this club." Lelouch said. Hacking was more of his forte, setting up fake ID's to get into casinos and other places he wasn't allowed to.
"Oh, the charismatic and mysterious new student joins the Film Maker's club! We'll be instantly popular!" Souta jumped up.
"What about the other school clubs?" Shu said getting up from his chair and stretching. How many hours had he been sitting there?
"Not interested, but I'm going to have join a club anyway as per the guidelines of this school." Lelouch revealed no further about his dislike of physical exercise and desire to laze around a comfortable couch. If they needed his help he'd be quick to do whatever task they required for a mere school project.
"You seem serious about it." Hare crossed her arms. "Well, you're always welcome here to hang out, even if you don't join."
"Well then, maybe you should join to hang out." The comment caused Hare to elbow Souta in the ribs.
"Sorry about him, he's an idiot." Shu added his two cents before grabbing his school bag from the ground as Souta groaned at the statement and walked towards the aged door, the club members falling in step with him.
As they walked out they discussed the various roles the trio of the Film Maker's club had, barely fulfilling the minimum requirements for the members.
Souta was the on-field camera-man and worked together with Hare for publicity at school events concerning clubs while Shu was the editor who mostly worked behind the scenes. They reached the Tennozu's High's gates and Lelouch parted in the opposite direction, deciding to walk rather than take the subway on his way back from his first proper day to school in a long, long time.