I entered the classroom. Since I was one of the first to arrive – the secretary and the doctor had arrived before me – I had the joy of sitting alone in an empty classroom. However, as the hands of the wall-mounted clock ticked towards 2pm, the rest of the students started to trickle in.
Scattered around the room, in their various cliques and outfits, the crew members of the Harekaze awaited the arrival of the teacher.
My right eye twitched. Already, the headache I could foresee in the future was starting to build up.
Really? Is this supposed to be my crew?
The school had stipulated a standard dress code. All students were expected to abide by the rules, with no exceptions save reasonable requests.
I could spot one girl from Damage Control wearing what was most definitely not the school uniform. Instead of the white sailor top, red scarf and blue pleated skirt that was the standard, she was wearing a pink-and-white track jacket over her sailor top, and replaced the school skirt with a pair of bike shorts. Her shoes weren't the school mandated brown shoes, but a pair of red sneakers.
And she wasn't the only offender.
Most of the girls – about half of them – were wearing non-school regulated clothing, had dyed their hair unnatural colours or some mixture of the above.
Why the Harekaze? I'm one of the leftovers…
As I sat there contemplating what was to be done, a familiar pair of girls entered the room.
"–and then there was a big fwoosh–"
"Eh? Hello there, Munetani-san" the taller girl said. Kuroki looked down at me from her full height of 169cm with a gentle smile that spoke volumes. "Long time no see."
The usual mask was quickly forced back on my face. "Likewise, Kuroki-san."
The girl bent over on the table as her friend walked on without her. She rested her elbows on the table, and continued talking.
"Cheer up! There's no one else I would rather have to be my Captain."
Author's Notes: It seems I finally got something out by a self-appointed deadline! I know I am 3 hours early, but there won't be any time after this so I am doing it now. This is just a preview of a new story idea I am working on. I will be publishing the rest of this tale after I finish Haifuri - Contact! so until my next update, I wish you a very happy new year.