Chapter 1

Ugh. School. I hate school. Don't get me wrong. I love school.

What's not to like? I like the teachers, the teacher-aides, English, Maths, Geography, Ancient History, Modern History, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Earth Science, Art, Drama, Design and Technology, Music-

Whoops. I get carried away sometimes. It's a habit of mine. Remind me if I get carried away to stop, can you? Thanks.

So I must sound like a bit of a geek, nerd or smart guy (Whichever term you prefer). And I am a bit of a geek, nerd, smart guy. Which brings me to my next point. Being smart has disadvantages.

'What?' you say. 'Being smart is bad?'

Yeah, I know, right? Intelligence is 100% beneficial in every way for a person. Or at least it should be.

But tell that to the miscreants who walk around the school like the own the place. For some reason, they've developed a mind set on the destruction of the next generation's doctors/dentists/Einsteins.

And here's future inmate number one.

"Oi Len!" calls Kaito Shion, "Can you come here for a sec? I want to test out this present my dad gave me yesterday." He lifts up a hand, showing his brand-new brass knuckles.

Kaito picks on the people of the lower social hierarchy in this school. Because bullying is a concept too large for him (three-syllable word), he does it with the aid of his brothers Akaito and Taito (yeah their parents were really creative).

Luckily for me, today there is a third choice between being beat up and being mashed up. I continue walking, pretending not to take notice of Kaito and his gang coming to assault me. They keep on advancing and fall into my trap.

See, I told you smartness is 100% beneficial.

Our paths have crossed exactly at the front of the headmaster's office. Kaito does not hesitate in giving me a 'friendly' punch in the stomach.

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCCHHHHHHHHH!" I yell as loudly as I can.

Kaito looks confused. "Really, Len?" he says, "I've hit you a lot harder than that many times and-"

"Oh, you have, have you?"

This booming voice does not belong to any of us teenagers. Big Al, headmaster of Kyoto Academy, loomed over our little skirmish. Kaito pales significantly.

"Come inside," says Big Al, with a slightly evil grin, "We can ah- talk- about this issue." He steps back into the shadows.

At least half of the school watches as Kaito walks tentatively into the darkness after Big Al and the door swings shut behind him. I almost feel bad about doing that.

You'd think a victory like that would make me famous, wouldn't you? But no. I'm under strict instructions never to become famous. Instructions issued by the second person I want to introduce to you, whom I have the misfortune to be involved with.

Rin Kagamine.

'You live under fear of a girl?' If you scoff at me for that, I have some nice scars I want to show you.

Rin and Kaito both love to bully me. They live for it. I would have said that they were made for each other if there wasn't one tiny problem.

I'm in love with Rin. Been stuck like this since grade seven and five years later, I still can't shake myself out of this fantasy that, one day, I might just have a chance with Rin. In my dreams.

Why do I like her? Well, yeah, she bullies me, but people always say there's a thin line between hate and love. And if you were there, you'd see why I like- love- her. The sun shining off her beautiful smooth skin, her shiny golden hair, the smile that's always there on her lips, her cute white bow dancing around on her head-

Didn't I tell you to stop me when I did that?

Now you think I'm weird. Well, time to experience her firsthand. Here she comes.

"Hey nerd, stop blocking the doorway. Some of us who have lives need to get somewhere."

Didn't I say how genuinely sweet she is?

"Why are you staring at me like that? You're weird as shit, you know."

"I wasn't- uh- staring at you-"

A smile plays around on her lips as my voice dies out. Sometimes I swear she knows I love her. Without a word, she continues past me, bumping painfully into my shoulder as she goes. In my current state, it's no wonder that I lose my balance and fall to the floor.

"You were lucky you only got away with a fractured elbow." My elbow's not really fractured but it still hurts, so I accept Oliver's hand and he pulls me up.

Who's Oliver? About the only friend I have here at Kyoto Academy, and it's really not my fault. When two of the most popular kids in the grade hate you and everyone else just doesn't know you exist, you don't have much choice. But I picked well.

"I didn't think receiving an injury was lucky. Enlighten me."

Oliver chuckles. "Rin's not in a good mood today. Someone stole her favourite keychain."

"Oh is that it?" I said, "I thought someone had just killed her mum from the way she was acting."

But my mind detected opportunity.

People who are reading this, I would be so happy if you could give reviews. I'm a new writer so it would be very helpful. (But please don't spam me about taking it slower)

Thanks and KEEP LOVING RIN