"Amu are you excited for your second year of Middle School?", Ran asked me, as we walked down sidewalk next to Rima and Kusukusu, Dia, Miki, and Su floating behind me. I looked up at Ran who grinning at me. I nodded smiling up at her.
"Very!", I said pulling down my uniform shirt, which was just like the boy's only with a skirt and a yellow tie. I had altered it just like I had with my Elementary School uniform. I turned to Rima who wore her yellow uniform the way she had wore it last year. A skirt with socks that came up past her skirt. Her jacket was to big for her, and her long, thick blonde hair was hanging down.
"What about you Rima-chan? Are you excited?", I asked her. My pink hair was in a high ponytail tied with a X clip. I was also wearing the choker necklace that Rima had gotten me for my thirteenth birthday. It had a pink heart, a blue spade, a green club, and a yellow diamond. She knew me so well. Rima shrugged.
"Not really. I suppose it will be the same as it was last year", Rima said shrugging. I nodded, use to Rima's emotionless attitude. Kusukusu smiled, giggling.
"Rima-chan is excited! She wouldn't stop talking about it today at breakfast!", Kusukusu said smiling. Rima-chan got a shocked expression on her face, and she turned to Kusukusu.
"I told you to keep that quiet!", Rima snapped at Kusukusu. Kusukusu giggled. Dia flew over to Rima.
"There is no reason for you to feel ashamed Rima-chan. Amu-chan is your best friend, you can trust her", Dia said winking at Rima. Rima stared at Dia shocked. Just then I heard someone clear their throat. Rima and I turned around swiftly. I gasped. This girl was, well something! She had jet black hair, with white streaks in it. Her hair was in two long braids, and were tied together with yellow string. Her tie looked more like a necklace, and her jacket was unbuttoned as was the first two buttons to her top. Her skirt was short, and she was wearing yellow and black striped stockings. Her boots came up all the way to her knees like Nadeshiko's use to. Her eyes were a pretty green color, and she had tiny freckles against her pale skin. She smiled at us.
"Hello", the girl said with her hands behind her back. Her smile was blinding. I blinked, and stared at her with my mouth open. The girl chuckled.
"I'm sorry for interrupting you and your friend, but this fell out of your bag!", the girl said, beaming and holding out a piece of paper. I noticed how perfect her hands seemed to be. I took the paper and looked at it. It was a notice form telling me I could continuing being an Element at Sukwai Middle. The Elements were kind of like the Guardians at my old school. There was the Earth Element which was held by Kukai who was in his third year of middle school. The Air Element which Rima held. The Fire Element which was held by Tadase, the Water Element which was held by me, and the Light Element which was held by Nagihiko. I stuffed it back in my bag.
"Uh thanks?", I said making it sound a bit more of a question instead of a thank you. The girl tilted her head, bended her knee across her leg, and smiled.
"Oh no problem! I'm glad I could help! I hope to see you later!", the girl said waving, and walking past us. I turned to Rima who stared after the girl.
"Doesn't she seem a little to happy?", Rima asked as we continued to walk. I shrugged, while Su twirled above our heads.
"There's nothing wrong with being happy. I'm glad she's so peppy with the world. She looks like there isn't a thing that could upset her!", Su exclaimed. I smiled up at Su. She was always so happy. Rima sighed.
"No one is ever completely worry free. Just because she's seems happy doesn't mean she is. It's her outside character. It probably means that there is something really bad with her because of how happy she is", Rima said expressionless. I stared at her. Was that true? She didn't look like there was anything wrong with her. She seemed out of her way to be nice. Like she enjoys it. I shook my head. Rima was never happy when people were to happy. She wanted to give people real happiness, and laughter, but when she wasn't the one, she felt people were being happy for the wrong reasons. We walked the rest of the way in silence. When approached the gates of the school where we were met by our three favorite boys!
"Tadase! Kukai! Nagi!", I cried running over to them. I found myself in Tadase arms first as he swung me around. Hotori Tadase-kun was my boyfriend. He had the most beautiful blonde hair, and pink eyes. He kissed me on the cheek.
"Amu-chan! I was afraid you might be late! Our Water Element can't be late for school! Class starts in thirty minutes, and after Home Room we have an assembly. Apparently, we are getting a new Element", Tadase said smiling. I stared shocked.
"Really? Who?", I asked grabbing his arms excitedly. Rima rolled her eyes. Nagi turned to her. He bowed, his long purple hair falling past his ears. Rhythm grinned at him.
"Good morning Mashiro-chan", Nagi said smiling at her. I saw Rima's cheeks turned a light pink. Ran and Kusukusu grinned.
"Rima-chan is blushing! Rima-chan is blushing!", the two sang. Rima lifted her hand, and flicked Kusukusu. Kusukusu stopped her chanting while Ran giggled. Just then the bell rang. Kukai stuffed his hands in his pocket.
"Time for class. I'll see you guys at the assembly, then lunch, then the Elements meeting after school, okay?", Kukai said. We all nodded heading for class, me with Tadase's arm wrapped around my waist. Once we got inside, Tadase kissed me on the cheek.
"I'll see you after class okay?", he said. I smiled nodding, while Rima rolled her eyes. After that we went to separate classes. Nagi and Rima were in the same homeroom class as I was in. We were in the Lunar Class while Tadase was in the Solar Class. We opened the door, and everyone got silent. I walked in with my bag swung over my back. I made my way to the back of the room, by the window. There was a girl with blue hair and brown eyes in front of me. She turned around when I sat down.
"H-hello Hinamori-chan! I-I just wanted t-to say how ex-excited I am to b-be sitting in fr-front of you!", the girl finally managed to get out. I smiled.
"Thanks", I said with a nod. Rima took the seat next to me. She looked at the girl.
"You shouldn't be so familiar. We are after all the Elements of this school", Rima said quietly and expressionless. The girl looked shocked, and guilty. Nagi took the seat in front of Rima, and looked over at the girl. He smiled at her.
"It's okay. We are just like all the other students in this school. What's your name?", Nagi asked the girl. She stared at him with wide eyes.
"R-Runtino Ak-Akki", the girl said smiling up at Nagi. Miki, Su, Dia, and Ran giggled.
"Looks like someone has a crush on Nagi!", Ran said. Miki chuckled.
"She's not the only one, but she might have some completion", Miki said glancing at Rima. Kusukusu giggled. Rima shot her a glare. She tapped Nagi on the shoulder, and he whipped around quickly, his long hair barley missing Rima.
"You shouldn't be so welcoming to the other students. We are special, and the others should know. How are they going to listen to us when we tell them about rules and important stuff if they think we are just like them", Rima asked him, her eyebrows raised. I had to agree she had a bit of a point. Nagi looked a bit taken aback, and opened his mouth to speak just as our teacher walked in. She was a tall woman, with long dark green hair. She had blue eyes and she even had freckles. She smiled.
"Hey everybody, my name is Tyzua Nayumi, but you can just call me Nayumi, Nayumi-chan, or Nayumi-sensei", the woman said writing it on the board. She looked a little to young to be a teacher, but she was really nice. Everyone stood up, and bowed.
"Good morning Nayumi-sensei", the whole class chanted. Nayumi laughed. As everyone sat back down Rima raised her hand. Nayumi smiled.
"Yes Mashiro-chan?", Nayumi asked her. Rima stood back up.
"If you're our teacher shouldn't we call you Tyzua-sensei? You aren't our friend, you are our instructor. The only reason you are here is because you are paid to", Rima said emotionless. Everyone stared at her. The boys in awe, the girls glaring.
"She's so cool!"
"She's so stuck up!"
"Wasn't she in your class last year?"
"I remember her from last year."
"Her hair is beautiful!"
"Look how short she is!"
I heard everyone whispering these things, the boys whispering compliments, the girls whispering insults. Everyone turned to Nayumi waiting. To everyone's surprise she smiled, laughing.
"Very good Ms. Mashiro-chan, but since this is after all my class, and you are my student, I want you to be comfortable with me. And since I am getting paid to teach you, I find more students listen to me if they like me. And beside I find it a bit of an upside if I'm getting paid to teach a bunch of students who listen, and are eager to learn", Nayumi said smiling. Everyone gaped at her. Rima nodded.
"Fair enough, but if you don't mind I will call you Tyuza-sensei?", Rima asked. Nayumi nodded, and Rima sat back down. Nayumi went on to explain what we would be learning this semester. I turned to Rima, who wasn't listening to anything, but was reading a gag under her desk.
"Rima-chan, why did you correct the teacher? I don't think anyone cares what we call her", I asked her. Nagi turned in his seat to listen. Rima sighed.
"People shouldn't pretend to be something they are not. They just want to brainwash us, to make us think we are all friends", Rima said, not looking up from her gag. Nagi and I exchanged glances.
"Your parents have been fighting again, haven't they?", Nagi asked Rima. Rima stopped turning the page in mid-turn. She looked up at Nagi, frowning.
"It is none of your business", she said to Nagi, glaring at him. Nagi took the hint, and turned around. Dia and Kusukusu shared a concerned glance, while Su, Miki, and Ran looked at Rima, sadness in their faces. I ripped out a piece of paper, and got out a pen.
Rima, what's wrong?
I passed it over to Rima, and it landed in her lap, on top of her gag. She sighed, and looked at it. She closed her gag, and set the note on her desk. She got out her notebook, and her pen. Then she passed the notebook back to me.
It's nothing.
I gave her a look.
Don't play that with me Mashiro Rima! I know when there is something wrong! You never speak out of turn, and you never talk back to Nagi!
I always talk back to Nagihiko
Okay this is true, but you are even more stern than you usually are. You are going out of your way. What's up!
Nothing, Amu, I already told you!
Rima we are suppose to be best friends. You can tell me anything!
Rima expression turned shocked, as she looked back up at me. I smiled and nodded.
Are you serious? About us being best friends?
Of course we are!
Rima stared at this for awhile, before sighing.
My parents told me last night that they are getting a divorce.
Oh Rima I am so sorry!
You shouldn't be. They are fighting now about who's going to have custody of me.
Rima I can't believe this! I feel so bad for you! Is there anything I could do?
No. No you can't. They've already decided no matter how much I tried to change their minds. I have to meet with a lawyer in a week about who I want to go with, not that it will make much of a difference. Nobody ever takes the kid's opinion.
Not true! You are a very strong hearted girl! They will have to listen to you! If you don't mind me asking, which parent would you choose?
There isn't really a difference. Both work all the time, both complain, both are the same. If I had to choose I would probably chose my mom. The mothers usually win anyway.
Oh Rima! I don't want you to have to go through this! Don't worry you won't go through it alone, I'll be right beside you the whole way!
Thanks Amu, that means a lot to me. Do you promise not to tell Tadase, Nagihiko, or Kukai about this?
Of course Rima! I won't breath it to a soul!
"Mashiro, Hinamori is there something you would like to share with the class?", Nayumi suddenly asked. Rima and I both jumped in our seats. Rima and I shook our heads. Nayumi smiled a knowing smile, and returned to her teaching. Rima and I exchanged smiles. Nagi turned to us. What, he mouthed. Rima winked at me, and I silently laughed.
When class finally ended, Nayumi said goodbye to everyone before they left. Just as I was about to walk out of the door, Nayumi called Rima and I to her desk.
"Can I stay too, Nayumi-sensei?", Nagi asked. Nayumi smiled at Nagi, and shook her head.
"I'm sorry Fujisaki-kun, but I need to talk to these two alone", Nayumi said smiling. Nagi looked over at us.
"We'll be out in a second. Go ahead to the assembly", I told him. He nodded, before bowing to Nayumi, and leaving. I turned back to her, worried. Nayumi folded her hands.
"I understand that the first day classes don't usually say anything interesting or give out homework, but I would like it if maybe you could discuss things during lunch, or your time after school and not during my class", Nayumi said looking at both Rima and I.
"Nayumi-sensei we are so sorry-", but Nayumi held up a hand, cutting me off.
"I know you are. Look I know you two are friends. Even more so I know what it is like to have your best friend sitting next to you during homeroom, but if this keeps up I am going to have to separate you. Now I don't want to have to do this because I know that you two enjoy being together, and I know that the moment I separate the Elements that not only will they not get anything done, but neither will their 'fans'", Nayumi said smiling. Rima and I smiled at each other.
"Now I hope that maybe you guys can keep what you have to say to yourself until you are out of class, especially since you two are Elements and the other students, young and old, look up to you. Now run off, the assembly starts soon", Nayumi said. We bowed to her.
"Thank you Nayumi-sensei!", I said getting ready to walk away, before Rime opened her mouth.
"Why did you want Nagihiko to leave?", Rima asked. Nayumi grinned, chuckling to herself.
"I want my pupils to like me, and I have a feeling Fujisaki-kun wouldn't be to pleased if I told off the girl he likes", Nayumi said winking. Rima looked taken aback. She recovered, bowing.
"Thank you Tyuza-sensei", Rima said, wrapping her arm around mine, and pulling me out of the room.