Sup? So, first post of 2016. New story, because... because. I dunno, I was bored. This idea is a bit old but only now I decided to work on it. Anyway, insert usual disclaimers here, this story is full of oc's, so be warned. This is just a small adventure that is likely to have a few chapters. Nothing that big. Hopefully. So... yeah, on with it.
I panted hard as I sat at my corner. A pack of ice was almost immediately slammed on my face. Did he even know how that worked...?
The cheering was kinda loud for just a club challenge.
... Which I was starting to question why I accepted.
Dammit, Kyo.
I spat into the bucket by my side and began to hear the words of the aforementioned douche grinning widely at me.
"Dude, this is awesome! We are indeed closing the semester with a bang, this is a match for the whole student body of Gekkoukan to remember! I don't understand a lot of boxing, but keep your guard and the great work up, you're doing great," he said as he patted me on the back. I adjusted my mouth piece with a sigh and got up.
As Sanada-san got up as well and approached the center of the ring, I got a lingering feeling... I dunno, just a flash.
The bell would be tolling for me, that day.
... What the Hell was I thinking?
Shaking my head, I put my guard up.
...
Incoming.
The last day of exams before summer break... at last! We were mere hours away from summer freedom and I could not express how awesome that felt.
After stretching my arms and shaking my head, I looked back at my colleague sitting behind me. "Hey, Kyo, you ready for the last day of suf- ooof course you aren't..."
My friend was laid face down on his desk... apparently the other days did a number on him. "Third year, man... it's killing me... why can't it be as easy as last year... why?!" He sobbed once, always the drama queen.
I patted him on the back twice. "Did you study, though?"
"I did, but studying is ineffective in this system..." He lifted his face and pointed a thumb towards himself before grabbing my shoulders. "I've been awake for five days straight, Takeshi. Five! Days! Straight! And I can't answer these questions!" He removed the glasses from his forehead and hung them on his collar before leaning back on his chair and pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm so doomed... but hey, enough about me. How are you holding up?"
"I've taken the time off from boxing club to study since last week instead of pulling all nighters, so I'm kinda not as doomed as you... some harm intended," I said with a small and smug, but friendly grin.
"Some done," Kyo answered, rolling his eyes playfully.
"But look on the bright side, which happens to be our left right now," I looked towards the classroom's window. It was sunny outside... a perfect day, except for the exams. "It's summer in Tatsumi Port Island! We're young, this is the place to be, and we'll be free soon. Don't worry, man, we'll be hanging out with Keita and Shizuka shortly."
"I guess." Kyo was still looking towards the window... or to the left. I didn't know, he was looking at something.
And then I saw that gleam in his eyes.
... Hm... why did I feel a chill run down my spine?
Kyo and I always used to be in the middle of some shenanigans, mostly because of him. All the third year classes had some kind of class clown, but he was the like the boss of all of them. He was always up to something, and that got him in some minor trouble quite some times, be it with authorities, people stronger than him or girls. And I always seemed to be mixed up with his ploys, strangely enough... I should have known better than to trust him, but despite the rantings and 'told ya' speeches I wasted on him, it all ended up to be good fun. Served more or less as the basis of our friendship, you know?
I tried to search for the exact spot he was looking at: He was gazing at Sanada-san.
"Hey, man, you wanna start summer break with a bang?"
"What do you mean?"
"Do you wanna or not?"
"Uh..." I trailed off.
Kyo scowled in a way that I assumed was playfully impatient, then got up. "Be right back," he said before going towards Sanada-san's direction. They talked for a brief while and after the captain of the boxing team nodded, he darted out of the class with a smirk.
Why was I afraid?
Test would begin in some minutes... I didn't think he'd have that much time to plan something extremely wicked.
Eventually he came back and sat behind me again, before patting me on the back two times. I couldn't see it because I didn't bother to look back, but I could feel his smirk. Or maybe I could hear a low chuckle. I dunno.
I psyched myself as the teacher passed around handing the exams. I felt ready for them... would probably do well.
...
...
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand done! Everyone handed their exams and summer break had finally begun!
"Yeah!" I yelled out loud, couldn't resist it. Finally. As I turned back to face Kyo...
He was already standing up on his chair.
He cleared his throat loudly. "Ahem... Third year class F, a minute of your attention, please."
Most people turned around to face him. "After this long week of exams, I think you all deserve to be sent into summer break with a nice spectacle. And that's why I present to you the challenge of the semester... two of the best boxers from Gekkoukan are gonna duke it out at the gym, ladies and gentlemen!"
People started showing interest. They all turned towards Kyo as he spoke. Intrigued and curious expressions, mostly smiles all around.
"The challenger..."
... he motioned towards me...?
"Takeshi Yamamoto, will go up against the undisputed captain of the school's team..."
He motioned towards Sanada-san, who was already getting up and walking towards my desk.
Goddammit...
"Akihiko Sanada! This will be a match to remember, people!" He said, and people actually started cheering.
"Now, you, students of the third year class F will have the opportunity to witness this exclusive moment: The official face-off between the two fighters!" He continued.
Sanada-san had approached me, and was smiling as if to say 'play along, man'. Seeing little reason to not do so, I nodded as I took a somewhat lazy stance and put on a game face.
The captain smirked before striking his own stance and staring into my eyes.
...
More like deep inside my soul.
Those were the eyes of a freaking wolf, dammit.
... How was I supposed to face him, again?
"Look at the sparks flying! Can you all feel the tension rising between these two?! All the makings for the greates boxing challenge Gekkoukan has ever seen!"
As Kyo continued his wacky narration, Sanada-san broke his stance and offered his hand for a shake. I guess that was a habit he got in the years of boxing...? Shaking hands was not exactly a thing for me, but I shook his, anyway.
He gave my hand a firm squeeze, renewing the feeling that I was gonna get my ass handed to me that day, and went back to his desk to get his things.
I didn't even bother to register what Kyo had to say next. Dammit, man...
After the agitation died down and people started leaving the class, Kyo came to me.
"So, wh-" he started, but I quickly interrupted him by raising a finger in front of him.
"... For how long have you been planning this?" I asked him.
"... three months," he answered, a bit defeated.
... that... how... "You managed to keep me of all people in the dark about that for three whole months?"
He just raised his shoulders and gave a smile that made me think that he'd say 'ta-dah...?', if he thought about it in time. But he didn't. I know him well enough.
I actually have to congratulate him. To arrange all of that in three months and keep me from knowing anything... that was anchievement.
Besides, it could have been worse. He could be scheming far worse behind my back.
...
I subconsciously took my hand to my neck, but I caught myself doing it. Since it was there, might as well scratch the back of my neck to hopefully get rid of the chill in my spine.
I sometimes questioned my own luck with people.
Ahem... "... Okay, I'll play along. Would be a waste to let people down like that."
"Awesome!" Kyo cheered. "I even bought you the most badass shorts ever! Everyone's gonna have such a blast... I should have sold tickets for this."
... he what? "You... bought... shorts... for me?"
"Yeah! Isn't that awfully considerate of me?"
Do note that Kyo had to learn a lot about consideration. Sigh...
"Yeah. I'll, uh... go do some stuff and I'll be back in some minut-"
"The Hell are you talking about, the fight is in 45 minutes! Weren't you listening?!"
... Actually, no I wasn't. Must have been what he was saying when I spaced out during his speech back in the class.
"Ey, Takeshi! Did you get knocked out just imagining Akihiko-san punching your face in?" Kyo continued. I must have spaced out yet again. "Go there, get ready and put up a show for the school!"
Why was he being so pushy? Then again, that was just like him, so never mind. "yeah, yeah, I'll go there."
"Awesome! That's my man! See you there." He said as he brought his glasses down from his forehead to his eyes, then turning around and leaving.
Seeing no reason to linger around there, I began making my way down(town, walking fas- no, kidding) to the gym, not before stopping by the kiosk to buy some sweetlicious melon bread. People sporadically addressed me about the fight: apparently, the whole school was in the know and was gonna go see the show. Great.
Even though it was bad to fight on a full stomach, I couldn't resist the taste of that snack. I took a breather of five or more minutes before I went to the restroom.
...
...
"You gotta be kidding me..." I said aloud to myself with a deadpan on my face as I held the shorts Kyo bought in front of me. It was a blue, red and white striped pair of shorts, with the word 'FOX' written in big letters under its belt.
Where in the Hell did he get that?
The rest of the equipment was inside of a bag next to the shorts. I guess he bought everything in the same store. Or ordered everything from the same e-store. He surely had time for that, I didn't doubt anything, anymore.
I put on the shorts and everything else. Seeing that I was alone in the restroom, I decided to warm up and stretch a bit. A week and a half away from the club may have cause me to slack off a bit. But that was not going to change the fact that I'll at least try to try my best.
... or change the fact that I'd most likely lose. Badly.
Sanada-san was a monster... I'd like to believe I was second to his skill in the club, but even then, most of the guys gave me trouble whenever we sparred. Granted, I won most of the time, as well, but Sanada-san just stomped them all throughout. He had little to no challenge in the club.
Which was why I never even sparred against him, even though he asked me to a few times. I never thought I stood a chance.
But that day was different. People were gonna be disappointed if I didn't go against him. Besides, the woe was always in the way people looked at things. If I started thinking about it being fun, it was gonna be fun.
And fun it was gonna be.
See? It worked.
I heard my cellphone ring in the pocket of the pants I was about to put in my backpack. It was a message from Kyo: 'Can I come in?'
"Yeah!" I just yelled. Soon after, I heard the door opening.
"Eyo. We're gonna go in five minutes, I'll be the guy that stays in the corner and throws cold water in your face. That cool?" Kyo asked me.
"Sure, whatever." I answered.
"Great! We're gonna rock this club, dude. Say, did you like the shorts?"
"I just wanna know where you got that from."
"Internet."
Figures.
"Anyway, are you ready?" Kyo asked again. He seemed to be really cheerful today.
"I dunno, do I look ready?" I asked as I threw a one-two in the air, fast as I could.
"Hell yeah."
"Then I am."
aaaand first chapter done. I was gonna put the character sheet for Kyo and Takeshi under the author's notes, but meh. Anyway, same as always, review box below, Raidou the 16th, I approve this message. *thumbs up* See ya in whatever I write next.