(J.I.C.) Disclaimer: I don't own Free! or it's characters. I only own my OCs.
A/N: *04/24/18 update. Because I am working on ACT, another fic of Free!, I am going to let this story go on hiatus for a bit. Please also note that the story will be thoroughly plotted, edited, and trimmed when I come back to this, so anything you read from here on to the latest chapter may not be the same. If you want to get any updates, please click on my profile link for the latest news. Thank you for your patience, and I'll be seeing you soon! :D
Chapter One:
'It'll be a short visit with your grandmother, babe. Soon after you'll be home. It'll feel like a week, I promise.'
'Sam, you're grown up now, and you need some experience. I know it's not your idea of "visiting" your grandmother, but you'll learn to like it.'
'You really are moving, huh?...Then I guess you should know...You see, Brandon and I are...'
'Hey, there's something I gotta tell you. I know you'll hate me for this, but Jess-uh, Jessica and I had...so, I can't do this with you anymore...What was your big news again?'
Their voices echoed in my head, playing over and over again...and I couldn't say anything. I just sat in the dark while they continued on-
I sat up in bed as my alarm blared its annoying tune from my dresser. It read in bold numbers: 7:50.
"You have got to be kidding me! I thought I set it for 7:00!" I exclaimed.
I scrambled for the bathroom while slipping on my skirt. My hair sprung up from all different angles in the mirror and yet I had to put on a fricking tie, zip up my skirt, shoes, socks-
Man, and I have to hurry to catch the bus, and I've got only ten minutes...
Then I looked in the mirror and realized that the medicine cabinet was different. The toothbrush cup wasn't the same color or size, and my backpack wasn't in the hallway.
Oh, that's right. I'm in Japan, not Texas. Mom and Dad aren't here, and grandma's still in the hospital. There aren't even any buses around here...only trains.
I stopped brushing my teeth to look at my reflection. Even though my hair was a mess and I hadn't put on any makeup yet, I was the same as ever. Just lil' ol' Samantha from America who lived an average high school life. She was completely clueless as to what had happened when she was still home...
"Nope, c'mon Sam. You're a new girl. You can't go back to that anymore!" I said to myself, "Not gonna happen."
After finishing up, I headed into the kitchen to find some breakfast. I thanked God for the leftover omelet surprise grandma made for me. She could make anything her lil' heart desired, especially liver stew, and it'd taste like a sliver of heaven. How I wish she were here right now...
It was a shame that I had to rush through breakfast just to get to school. By the time I was heading out the door, I only had nine minutes before homeroom started. And I still had to meet one of my teachers.
I made it with the last swarm of people walking in a while there was a minute or so left. To my amazement, I found an empty cubby for my shoes right by the door. Everything was a piece of cake, but then came my worst nightmare: directory signs. Speaking Japanese was fine for me since my parents taught me over the years, but I could barely translate Kanji to save my life. While I stared at the sign on the wall, other people were eyeing me like I was a three-headed animal. Take a picture, it'll last longer; I snapped at them in my mind.
" 'Sumi masen' (I'm sorry-formal), but are you lost?"
Standing next to me was a girl with long locks of light blue and teal eyes peering up at me through blue-rimmed glasses. She stood straight and stiff like a porcelain doll, waiting for my response, but I was at a loss for words.
" 'Ano,' 'are you lost? Are you a new student'?" she asked in flawless English.
"Oh, um..'hai.' I'm a new student, " I answered back in Japanese.
"You're a transfer student, I assume?'
"Ah, yeah. I stick out like a sore thumb, don't I?"
She smiled kindly at me then showed me to the teacher's office. I happened to catch a very prestigious air about her as she led me down the hall. The way she carried herself seemed to put off that she was an aristocrat of some sort. As we passed some other students, they walked along the opposite wall. The girls either whispered or just stared as the boys looked in different directions. To me, it was like she was famous, or just avoided for some reason. I turned back to the girl, but she pretended not to notice.
My teacher, this "Ms. Ama," had already left when I got to her office. There was only a minute left for me to make it on time, so I had to run. Good thing I was fast on my feet.
"Oh," I said, "I never got your name."
"My name is Michiko...Michiko Ryuko," she told me.
"That's such a pretty name. I'm Samantha Mueller. Thanks for helpin' me to the teacher's office."
"Not at all. I hope your first day turns out well."
I grinned quickly before running out the door. Whatever groups of students coming in stared in bewilderment as I dashed down the hall. Two boys were carrying a large board as I was closing in on the stairs. My instincts naturally kicked in at that point. The next moment I found myself pushing off the ground with my hands and flipping over them in the air. The knees were a bit weaker than I imagined when I tumbled on the landing. I jumped up and kept going as I heard one yelling at me too fast for me to comprehend.
"Score one for Team America, bud!" I countered back.
With no time to lose, I climbed the stairs. Other voices were coming from above which I assumed were my teacher's and someone else's. I shouted at the top of my lungs, " 'Mattede!' "
When I finally got to the top stair, I found two spooked women. One was young with a brown, bobbed haircut, and the other was my age wearing her dark blue hair in a side ponytail. As I was trying to catch my breath, I asked, "Are..you..Ama-sensei?"
"U-uh, yes...I am. A-are you another stu-student?" the lady on the right replied.
" 'Hai' !" I stood up to face Ama-sensei and introduced myself.
Ms. Ama smiled and told me about her being eager to meet an American transfer student. She relaxed a little as she talked with me, but the other girl next to her seemed apprehensive. From the corner of my eye, I could see her bashfully looking at me and then down at herself. I immediately thought, Oh my God! She is so adorable! If you put some fake cat ears on her, she'd be so cute! And she's real short...just adorable!
Our teacher then took us down the hall towards the classroom. It was quiet between the three of us, almost as though we were being led down the Green Mile. I turned to my classmate to try to bring up a conversation, and boy, was she petrified. She was growing pale as we kept going and she tried taking a few breaths quietly so our teacher wouldn't notice. The last time I could recall someone being this anxious was when my Bio partner in 9th grade had to cut open a pig fetus. That day ended with her being held in the nurse's office after she fainted. Our teacher probably saw that coming...and he gave us a B+ for the effort...
But this girl before me was obviously so nervous for her first day. I felt that I had to say something or else she'd pass out. The only thing I could think of was to ask for her name.
"Misuzu-san, isn't it?"
We were left outside after Ama-sensei left to do roll call. She looked up at me, taking another deep breath, and mumbled, "Um..yes?"
I couldn't help but smile at her. She was just like a kitten. When Ms. Ama told me her name, I almost slipped up and said, "Aww..."
"I'm Samantha. You can call me Sam if you'd like.
"So you're a new student too? Where're you from?"
"Uh...Wakayama..."
Little Misuzu started to settle down after I got her to talk. On a whim, I continued on about the town and some of the other things I got to know after my two months of being here. Heck, I even mentioned a manga I randomly found in my dad's old box in the attic (which then led me to more manga searching at the local store). She seemed happy to talk about that small kind of things, so I tried my best to keep her occupied.
But then our names were called from the classroom. She lowered her head as she entered first, myself after her. I thought it was necessary to shut the door behind me, so I turned around and reached for the knob. But there was no knob.
"Um..Ms. Samantha, is there something outside?"
"Uh.."
I flipped back to her and said, "I can't find the doorknob..."
"Eh?!"
The classroom was brimming with whispers as they stared at me. I turned back to the door saying, "It's weird that-oh..."
Sliding doors+Japanese school=not in America. That equation didn't add up until I pulled the door out and shut it properly. My face was bright red when I turned to my teacher and tried to apologize.
"I'm so sorry, " I babbled as I bowed in apology, "I'm used to western-style doors that I forgot it was different at school here!"
Everyone was laughing at me at this point. Only Ms. Ama and Misuzu were the ones trying to comprehend my blunder. Ms. Ama sighed once she realized that there was nothing to worry about. My teacher continued with the introductions as mine had-unofficially-been established. She calmed the class and turned to Misuzu to introduce herself. Misuzu slightly nodded in response but kept her head down. As she gathered the courage to speak, she faced the class with an empty expression. But her eyes wandered to the corner of the classroom. I followed her gaze and found a boy with dark indigo hair and blue eyes staring carelessly out the window. Does she know him, somehow?
"Ms. Misuzu?"
"I..I'm...Misuzu Kasumi. It is nice to meet you, " she squeaked in her little voice.
After that, I was called on to give my name. Not that "newbie," "fresh meat," or "typical American" were perfect enough to call me I did what Misuzu had done.
"I am Samantha Mueller. It is nice to meet you all. I hope we can all get along this year!"
Then came our seating arrangement. It was pretty clear where we would be sitting since only two empty desks were sitting in the far back right across from one another. Naturally, I took the one that was closest to Window Boy and his companion just for the sake of it. Misuzu quickly followed after me, taking her place on my right. Once that moment of awkwardness was over with Ms. Ama went on with our lessons.
The day unexpectedly went by like a second. Next thing I know there was a bell, and everyone's dispersing to get lunch. I had already packed mine in a rush which consisted of only a plastic boxed-salad and a juice box. Not my regular go-to meal, but I felt like I needed some vegetables for once. Misuzu was still packing away her things when I came up and asked if she wanted to eat on the roof.
"Th-the roof?"
"Yeah. I've always wanted to do that like in the anime."
"O-oh.."
She looked down, still trying to put away her things.
"Hm? Haven't you been able to do that before?'
"I...I don't think I have."
I gasped at her. All these people have been up there to eat at least once, haven't they? It's like how back in America we'd be able to sit outside for lunch during the spring. That was an initiation in a sort of twisted way. And you aren't a Japanese school kid until you've tried to eat on the roof.
"Then we're gonna fix that. C'mon!"
She picked up her 'bento' and followed me outside the classroom. I motioned for her to get closer so she could follow, but she was somewhat hesitant. I'd turn back and find her about a foot or two away up until we were already at the foot of the stairs. Just as we were about to climb the staircase, I noticed myself getting antsy. I was about to hop up and down like a kid for crying out loud!
When Misuzu finally got close enough, I reached my hand out to her.
"Let's go!" I encouraged her, "It's supposed to be beautiful weather out right now!"
"Uh..um..."
She put her little hand in mine, and I looked at her with a big smile. We climbed up the last of the steps then I pushed the door open.
The bright sunlight burst at us as we stepped outside. Misuzu stayed closest to the door, barely even taking in the view. I took a deep breath in and spun around.
"Oh my God, look at the view!
"Isn't it wonderful, Misuzu-san?" I asked her.
She was about to say something when a maroon-haired girl spoke up.
" 'Misuzu-san' ? As in 'Misuzu Kasumi'?"
"Gou-san?"
"Kou! You still don't remember?"
Oh...this is a bit awkward...I guessed that they knew each other from before, but it didn't add up if Misuzu was from a different town. Could she have been to Iwatobi as a kid?...
The other girl, Kou, sat down next to her friend and Misuzu. This meant I'd have to squeeze myself in somewhere...
"Mueller-san, right? You are from America?"
"Um..yeah." Or maybe not...
I took a seat next to Misuzu feeling as though I was about to be persecuted as a new student. It was more concerning than frightening for me, but it didn't turn out that way. Kou asked me about America. They were really small things such as the Statue of Liberty or the recent movie I've seen. I answered them on a whim which I shouldn't-didn't want to answer. My memories of home only brought up the pain...
I did my best to keep from choking on my answers as Kou became giddy with excitement (especially about her questions concerning Michael Phelps...that was beyond me, though).
"The newest movie that came out that I've seen was The Host, but I didn't get to see it right away. You see, I-ouch!"
Someone stomped right onto my hand as I was reaching for my lunch. There was a sharp pain crawling up my arm as I took a deep breath through clenched teeth. The person bent down and was in the middle of asking me something when I turned my head. We both stared into each other's eyes whoever knows how long. His...his eyes were a brilliant green I'd never seen before. They were so amazing...
'I know you'll hate me for this...but Jess-'
Brandon's eyes...
I quickly looked away to avoid that bitter memory. My attention snapped back to my hand sitting on top of a sopping mess.
"I'm fine, really, " I tried to reassure him, "however..."
He took a handkerchief out from his pocket and held it out to me.
"Oh, I-I..."
"Here. It's alright. You can take it."
Even his voice was mesmerizing. He wasn't like any of the guys I've met, and American good guys were hard to come by nowadays...
I bit my lip as I took the handkerchief from him and wiped my hand clean. When I stood up to throw away my "lunch," he followed after me.
"Great..." I sighed as I watched my food go.
"I-I'm really sorry about this. Please, let me make it up to you."
"Oh no! I can't-I wouldn't want to-"
"I insist."
I pursed my lips as he gave me a small, encouraging smile. This guy was harmless, but that was the problem. I didn't want to take advantage of the poor guy even when he kept insisting. And everyone was still watching too...
"A-Alright.."
Both of us went down the stairs with him in the lead. I hadn't seen the cafe stand yet, and apparently everyone here buys lunch. But there were some others I saw that packed-
"Ah, M-Mueller-san, was it?" he said.
"Hm? O-oh, yes."
"So you're an American transfer student?"
"Yeah," I confessed, "guess my cover's blown, huh?"
He chuckled and then replied, "America is a very big country, and yet you came to a small town. Are you here with family?"
"Yes. My grandmother, in fact,. She and I live in town close-by. It's a bit noisy, though."
"Oh? How so?"
"There are construction workers two houses down and across from mine who are tearing apart this one building. They're taking their sweet time with it too."
"Hmm..by any chance, do you know what the building is called?"
"Agh, I don't know. I'm still trying to figure out my Kanji. But I do remember that one side has a massive painting of a child swimming. It's a bit creepy when you look at it."
He looked down for a moment as though he were lost in thought. I stopped next to him and asked if he was feeling alright. To me, he seemed fit as a fiddle, but something told me there was more to it.
"Oh, no! I-I'm perfectly fine...We're almost to the cafe."
I followed him after that awkward scene around the corner to the cafe stand. He sat back quietly as I looked at all the bread and sandwiches they offered (no hamburgers or anything? Just sandwiches?), finally deciding to get a melon bread. I felt guilt wash over me as he handed the lunch lady the money, even more so when she eyeballed us and muttered to herself about "flirtatious couples." Man, did he blush...
The walk back was mostly silent. I wanted to bring up something to get him talking, but I barely knew the guy. What was it that nice guys talked about? Sports? Books? Grades?!
"Umm..I guess this is your stop."
I turned to him when he suddenly broke my train of thought. We were already back on the roof beside my circle of friends.
"Oh..yeah. A-And thank you again..for buying for me..."
"N-no problem. Nice to meet you,..by the way.."
"You too. I'm Samantha. Or, here I would call myself 'Mueller,' wouldn't I?"
"Yes," he chuckled. Then he gave me his name. "I'm Tachibana Makoto."
His smile was unexpected. I stopped to look at him as he lit up like a candle with the bright smile. It was always cute when a shy guy opened up like that.
"I'll see you in class, then."
"Hu-oh, yes. See you then!"
He went back to his friends by the ledge, and I returned to mine. When I sat down, another girl joined the party. Her hair was long and blond, pulled into a ponytail, the end dip-dyed a sort of dark brown. She was most friendly to Kou and Kasumi. Probably another "old friend" of theirs.
I turned to Kou.
"Do you guys know him?"
"Know him? That's Tachibana Makoto-kun! Everyone knows his as the 'nicest boy on the planet.' And his shoulders..."
She sort of giggled to herself as she daydreamed about him. I didn't know what to do at that point with her smitten on his shoulders. Kasumi was confused as well.
"Ka-"
"So, are you a newbie too?" the blonde girl asked me.
"U-Uh yeah...am I that popular around here?"
"Puh-lease. This is just a small town. They're impressed with just about anybody. Like me."
"Where'd you move from?"
" 'Oh, y'know, the UK...then some other town here,'" she casually boasted in English.
" 'No way'!" I exclaimed back.
She and I chatted away in English about our own lives before Iwatobi. I learned that Ella spent most of her time in England with her family, then her father transferred here on business. It was most amazing to me that she was half-English, half-Japanese, so both languages were in the bag for her.
Because Ella was a first-year student and Kasumi and I were second-years, she had to leave us at our classroom after the bell rang. Like before my day began its second half and it ended quickly. Everyone left in groups while Kasumi and I were one of the last few left after Makoto and his friend. Now that I was looking closely, I could see that he was remarkably tall. He could be a basketball player for all I knew...
"Uh..Samantha-san, are you riding the train home?"
I turned to Kasumi and answered, "No, I"m sorry. I live nearby in town. Are you farther out?"
She nodded with a disappointed look on her face. Her eyes were on Makoto's friend.
"Hey, I'll walk you to the train. I've wanted to see more of the town anyway."
She smiled at me like a little kid at the candy store. I had just melted inside when she did that. Kasumi was so cute!
Odd enough that Makoto and his friend were going to same way, Kasumi and I ended up right behind them 'til we got to the station. Kasumi and I waved goodbye, and she headed towards the train as the warning alarm to get on was near the end. Her hand was out when Makoto's friend took it and pulled her in. I bet she was blushing all the way home...
After that, I walked home by myself. My next door neighbors greeted me as I got to the front door, which I quickly did back and went about my business. It was peaceful for the rest of the day until dark. I was just about to fall asleep when I heard a commotion coming toward the house. Only three people were walking down the street, two of them running their mouths and the other quietly leading the way. They were heading for the old building while I watched them from the window, probably gonna smoke or mess around in there. Great. I'm not gonna get enough sleep tonight...
I put on some different clothes and grabbed a flashlight outside, I turned to follow the annoying no-do-gooders. I walked up to the old building where no one was outside. Of course, everyone knew that you'd want to do your dirty business inside where others wouldn't see, so I started with the front doors. There was a registration desk in the main hall with dirt and mold growing in every corner. Looking at it just sent chills up my spine.
In a close-by hallway came a few echoes of what sounded like people shouting and kicking cans at the wall. I gripped my flashlight as I walked down hoping that they weren't gangsters. Because in America they meant business if they had numbers, but Japan was different. This small town could easily be taken by at least five yakuza members. They were powerful if they had underground connections.
It took a while before I came across an indoor pool. I had no idea that this was a swim school until I saw the hoodlums dishing it out on one end of the pool. I watched secretly as two of them threw off their shirts. Wait-
"What?" I mumbled, nuzzling my face closer to the window behind them. Then they began unbuckling their pants as the other two tried to talk them out of it.
"Hot damn! What's this, a new Japanese fighting style?" I exclaimed.
The two going at it were dressed in swim suits, completely oblivious to my sudden outburst. But the sidekicks turned to me. I quickly ducked under the window before they could spot me. My God, Sam can you make yourself any weirder?
It seemed as though things had calmed down when the red-head left and the other three came in. One of them I recognized as Makoto from earlier. Without thinking, I spoke out and asked, "What're you doin' out here, Tachibana-kun?"
(If none of you have ever heard a young man scream before...well, I'm sorry that I couldn't record that moment for you). The way he screamed would've woken up a town. I jumped out of my skin when he did that, but when he turned around I exclaimed in my native tongue, " 'Good Lord almighty! You were about to give me a heart attack'!"
"Ah, Mueller-san!"
"Yes..and what are you all doing here?"
"We could ask the same as you, Samantha-chan!" his shorter friend piped in.
"Nagisa," Makoto mumbled.
" '-chan?' Uh..you guys aren't...yakuza trying to sneak around, are you?" I quipped.
"Yakuza?!" the two repeated.
"So that's a 'no'?"
"No-no! We're not yakuza...uh, do you want to come with us? We'll explain everything on the way," Makoto replied.
"I will...I'd just hurry if I were you."
"What for?"
"I'll tell you when we get out of here."
I grabbed Makoto's arm and led the way out. By now it was more than ten minutes since I had left the house. In the end, we were left with a warning at school not to trespass on private property. I tried defending myself to the teacher in charge, but he just wrote me off like I was weaseling my way out of the situation. So now grandma would get a letter soon of how my first day went.
Makoto and his other friends came up to me at lunch and tried to apologize for getting me into trouble, but at this point, I wasn't as forgiving as I usually was.
"What were you all doing there at night? I should at least know that."
Makoto turned to me with a charming apologetic look.
"You see, it was about that particular building."
They walked me to the roof as Makoto explained the details. According to him, they were all a part of the old swim school when they were kids. There was a trophy they buried as a time capsule that they wanted to save, but their friend Rin showed up and challenged Haru (that dadgone silent type) to some kind of swimming match (I dunno-something that these Iwatobi boys do here). That was pretty much where I came in and tried to chase them away but to no avail.
Of course, it sounded like a farce to me.
"Then why did you have to break into the actual building when your trophy was in the courtyard?"
"We'd have to go through the back door to reach it. Though it would have been more convenient if we could have gotten in a different way."
I laughed and said, "Yeah, if only. But what was your other friend there for? Was it the trophy?"
The boys paused to look at each other. Nagisa then told me, "Rin-chan was a part of the swim club, too. But last night...he was different.."
"Oh.."
After that, the conversation dropped. I didn't know if I hit a vein with these three or not, so I wanted to change the topic before it just became awkward.
I turned to Makoto and said, "Um, Tachibana-kun? I'm sorry for earlier when I spooked you."
"O-oh, uh-"
" 'Neh,' Makoto-chan? Bet you're still gonna be scared of the dark after last night," teased Nagisa.
"Oi, Nagisa!"
Nagisa cackled and told me, "You should've seen him last night. He hid behind Haru nearly the whole time!"
"Is that right?" I replied.
I gave Makoto a sympathetic smile.
"If it makes any difference, I don't like horror movies in particular."
He smiled back half-relieved and half-embarrassed. If I didn't know any better, I could've sworn that he was blushing. The timid "hand-behind-the-head" gesture he made almost seemed surreal compared to the many time's anyone has seen it in Japanese drama, but he made it look good. What really caught my breath was his eyes. Right as he opened them, I thought to myself, Dear God, how beautiful a work You've done on this boy's eyes. Thank you...They were such gentle eyes to him which was an incredibly perfect match. And the green-
"Is there something wrong, Mueller-san?" Makoto asked.
"Oh, excuse me. I'm not one to doze off like that."
Before we could finish the bell rang, and Kasumi scooted in between us to walk back to class with me. None of us were able to talk to each other until the end of class came. Kasumi jumped at the chance for me to take her to the train station. I agreed, of course, but I had no idea why she was so antsy about it.
Just like before she and I were behind Makoto and Haru on the road to the station. Again I caught her staring at Haru, bashfully looking up and away as though she were confirming something. I automatically assumed that she had a small crush on him, so I whispered to her, "Y'know, a conversation doesn't start until you speak up."
"Eh?!"
She turned to me and asked, "W-What do you mean? That I say something to-"
"Well, only if you can. And I believe that's perfectly simple for you."
"I-talking to...Nanase-kun.."
"Uh-huh."
Kasumi immediately ducked her head down. I patted her back and replied, "No need to be embarrassed. It's simple. Here, lemme show you."
I walked up to Makoto with a tight grip on Kasumi's wrist.
"Hey, Tachibana-kun! Nanase-kun!"
"Oh, Mueller-san, hello! Are you taking the train as well?"
"Me? No, I'm just taking my friend Misuzu-chan. She's the one who catches the train."
I eased her closer to the group so she could speak. She kept close to me for the remainder of the walk as Makoto took over the rest. Makoto, being the nice one, asked her about her moving here and if she liked the town so far. She would've given him clear answers if Haru hadn't looked at her from the corner of his eye. Every time his attention was on her she started getting nervous. From my view, it looked like he was glaring at her and she started clamming up because of it. I patted her back again to help her, yet she had already made up her mind to shut down. So much for that...
She and Haru got onto the train as Makoto stopped to talk to me. He asked me, "Is your friend Misuzu-chan feeling alright?"
"Yeah, but she's a bit shy. I'm guessing she was scared when..uh, Haru was listening."
"Oh. I guess I can understand then. Haruka was always quiet when we were younger."
"You two were really close back then, huh?"
"Heh, yeah."
"Then I guess it's up to us to help our friends open up more, 'neh' ?"
He looked surprised to hear me say that as though I took the words right out of his mouth. I only grinned back at him like it was meant to be taken lightly, but his smile in return said something different. If only the warning chime hadn't gone off for him to leave. I would've been able to talk to him a little longer, but instead, we waved goodbye and parted our ways. As I walked home, I thought about all the smiles he'd given me in a single day. I wondered what tomorrow will bring...
A/N: *8/4/15 Edit*