A/N: Hello, everyone who stumbled upon this story! I must warn everyone that the OC is the very epitome of wackiness. However, I must say that fic is important to me because it illustrates some feelings and dilemmas that I, and I'm sure many others, encountered in our younger years. And I must stress that Shishido-kun is one of my favorite characters in PoT, so I will try my hardest to present Shishido-kun in the realest way in this story.

And so, please enjoy!

Learning to Fly

It was only a normal Saturday in March. The weather was getting warmer as the seasons change, and the sun was making more appearance day by day. Endo Natsumi did not expect anything beyond drastic in her ordinary life. She was on her way to a usual social gathering with her parents; being the only daughter of the head of the Endo Corporations, social gatherings were quite frequent in Natsumi's life. However, no one would've ever thought that the driver of their limousine had been drinking not too long ago. No one would've ever thought that there was a taxi right at the corner. No one would've ever thought that this day would be the end of Natsumi's normal life.

"March 7th, Saturday, an enormous car crash…"

The news reporter retold the incident today with mild passion in her voice. The man watching the TV, roughly in his seventies, opened his mouth in astonishment. The fingers around the remote control loosened and it dropped onto his just-polished leather shoes.

"Master… Madam… Natsumi-sama…" he murmured frighteningly.

"The limousine was confirmed to belong to the Endo Corporation's president. The taxi carried a thirteen-year-old girl. The limousine driver, the Endo couple, the taxi driver, and the thirteen-year-old girl all died on the scene. The only survivor was the Endo couple's only child."

There was not much mourning for the deaths of this car crash. The Endo family pretty much only had business friends. And even with the death of its president, the Endo Corporation still flourished and was under control. Not many people knew about this incident, and the name 'Endo' was just too common for people to remember.

Step01: Sudden Death

"Natsumi-sama! Natsumi-sama!" a deep, strong voice echoed around the mansion. "Natsumi-sama! The limousine is ready!"

"Huh?" The addressed girl cocked an eyebrow at her servant, looking up from her shoe-tying position. "Who told you to get the limousine ready, Isono-san?"

Isono Makoto, currently age seventy-seven, most commonly known as Isono-san, was the head servant of the Endo house. Ever since the death of the master, Isono-san has been taking everything into his own hands. Although he was already at an old age, Isono-san's still as energetic as ever; no other servant in the house could do a better job than him. However, just lately, things were beginning to get a little out of hand.

"Natsumi-sama, surely you're going to attend your first day in school, aren't you?" Isono-san asked.

"Yeah, but I'm not going to ride that thing!"

"Eh?" Isono-san made a confused face. "But, Natsumi-sama, you've always ridden the limousine to school since grade school."

Natsumi seemed a little taken back, but she did not falter for more than a second. "Well… you know, I don't want people to stare at me weirdly. I'll become a staring-stock if I went to school in that thing."

"Oh, I see," Isono-san nodded. "Well then, let me tell Sasaki to prepare a smaller car…"

"No, there's no need to," Natsumi stopped Isono-san from picking up his walky-talky.

"But, Natsumi-sama, how are you getting to school?"

"With this," Natsumi answered expressionlessly as she held up the skateboard that's been beside her the whole time.

Isono-san jumped in shock as if he saw a lion come out of its cage. "No! That won't do, Natsumi-sama! That kind of…transportation is far too dangerous for a lady like you! What if you fall? What if you hurt yourself? How will I able to forgive myself?"

Natsumi's face darkened and she glared at Isono-san threateningly. However, just this once, Isono-san wasn't going to back down. "Natsumi-sama, I've simply allowed you freedom for way too many things! I didn't say a word when you wanted to transfer to Rikkai Daigaku Fuzoku, and I still didn't say a word when you suddenly wanted to go to Seishun Gakuen instead! This time, I will not allow you to put yourself in danger!"

"…." Natsumi stared at Isono-san's burst of anger impassively. "I changed to Seishun Gakuen only because Kanagawa is too far…"

"That's not the problem here!" Isono-san exclaimed, "In any case, Natsumi-sama, you are going to go to school on that car, and that's that!"

"Hmm…" Natsumi shrugged at Isono-san's reddening face, and walked out of the door anyway. "Unless you knock me out from behind, I'm not going to ride a car. I'm going to school now, and if I find any of you following me, I'll fire every single one of you. Understand?"

Isono-san sighed like a balloon being poked a hole. "Un…understood, Natsumi-sama."

"Don't be too upset, Isono-san," Natsumi said without looking back, "You were totally cool when you were getting mad back there…"

Isono-san watched his master leave while fighting back the tears in his eyes. Oh, Natsumi-sama, what has gotten into you? The sweet, polite, high-class Natsumi-sama who always faced everyone and anyone with a gentle smile on her face… is gone! Nowadays Natsumi-sama is like a whole new person. Can the aftermath of a car crash really be this much?

Kuru, kuru, kuru. Natsumi casually skateboarded her way towards Seishun Gakuen. It's really not like she had anything against Rikkaidai. When she found out that she was going to transfer to Rikkaidai, the thought of the distance completely turned her down. She was not going to skateboard all the way to Kanagawa every morning anytime soon.

"A prestigious student like Natsumi-sama should go to a private school like Rikkaidai!" She remember Isono-san exclaiming, "It's bad enough that Natsumi-sama wants to transfer out of Hyoutei Gakuen, and now you want to go to Seishun Gakuen? And it was Natsumi-sama's choice to go to Rikkaidai in the beginning!"

In all honesty, Natsumi only wanted to go to the closest school. And she only decided to transfer in the beginning of April, which is the start of a new term, and she only missed a week of school because she was in the hospital for car crash injuries. She didn't miss out on much. She doubted that she made many friends in her first year in Hyoutei Gakuen anyway.

"Natsumi-chan!"

Natsumi turned her head toward the feminine voice that called out her name. The girl had sandy-colored hair that had small curls, and her thin brows furrowed in anger as she approached Natsumi.

Natsumi observed the girl up and down, noticing their different uniforms.

"Natsumi-chan, don't you dare think that you can just switch schools out of nowhere without telling any of us!" the girl fired at Natsumi once she came into five-feet-range of Natsumi. "Transfer back to Hyoutei right now! Why would you want to go to Seigaku anyway?"

Natsumi stared at the feisty girl blankly. "Who are you?"

The young girl blinked, but regained her angry expression instantly. "Endo Natsumi! What is wrong with you? Don't tell me that you hit your head during that car accident, because I didn't hear anything about that!"

"Oh… of course not," Natsumi caught the sight of a name tag hanging at the zipper of the girl's schoolbag, "um… Akutagawa Chizu…"

The girl named Akutagawa Chizu raised an eyebrow, and then looked down at Natsumi's feet. "Oh my goodness! What is that, Natsumi-chan?"

Natsumi followed Chizu's gaze down to her feet. "Oh, this?" She got off her skateboard and held it up in front of her. Leaning in close to Chizu, Natsumi whispered in a low voice. "This is a skateboard. It's a specially designed plywood board with poly urethane coating used for skateboarding. Which is…"

Chizu stepped back and looked at Natsumi in bewilderment. "Stop!—Natsumi-chan, what are you talking about? Anyone can tell it's a skateboard! I was asking you why you have it!"

"Oh," Natsumi straightened up and puckered her lips. "You already know. How boring…"

Chizu eyed Natsumi cautiously. "Natsumi-chan, are you feeling okay? Don't tell me that… that thing with Atobe-senpai is still bothering you…"

Who's Atobe? What thing?

"I'm gonna be late for school," Natsumi said, waving her watch, "See ya later!"

"You wouldn't be late if you still went to Hyoutei!"

Chizu's voice faded in the background as Natsumi continued to skate toward Seigaku. By the time that Natsumi arrived at school, she had already completely thrown that incident and the name Akutagawa Chizu in the back of her head. She wasn't one that took many things seriously, after all.

Seigaku wasn't the biggest, fanciest school there is in Tokyo; however, it definitely has a good size, the greens, and the good views. Not only that, even the school uniforms kept her interest. Instead of the fancy uniforms that schools try to attract students with, Seigaku keeps the simple sailor uniform for girls, and even boys wear the all-black uniform that started all the way back in the 50s. When Natsumi first saw this, she wanted to shout "Ah! This is the hot-blooded youth!" Natsumi nodded to herself as to give the school her approval. She was following behind her new homeroom teacher to her new class—Year 2 Class B, and suddenly they stopped in front of a door. The homeroom teacher—Koike-sensei—turned around to smile at Natsumi warmly.

"Don't be nervous, Endo-kun, I'll introduce you to the class first and then you can introduce yourself," Koike-sensei said nicely.

"Oh," Natsumi replied simply.

The two of them entered the classroom of 2-7, and a wave of murmurs was created the second that Natsumi made her appearance. Despite her somewhat detached expression, Natsumi was considered to be very good-looking among her peers. And it seems like her new classmates don't disagree with that at all. However, to these student's comments, Natsumi only yawned without any covering.

"All right class, this is Endo Natsumi! She is going to be our new classmate!" Koike-sensei announced enthusiastically. "Endo -kun, why don't you introduce yourself?"

"Oh," Natsumi nodded as she turned to the blackboard behind her. Picking up a white chalk, she scribbled something on the board. Four characters—遠藤夏海-seemingly the characters of her name? Her classmates sweat-dropped at the ugly, no, non-legible handwriting; her handwriting doesn't suit her pretty face, does it?

"Um…" Koike-sensei coughed awkwardly, seeing that Natsumi had nothing to say. "Well, it's natural to be shy on your first day, Endo-kun! Now, if you would go take a seat in that empty spot next to Momoshiro-kun…"

Natsumi's eyes followed Koike-sensei's finger to a desk near the window. The boy sitting next to it suddenly raised his hand. "Over here!" he said in a bright voice.

Hm. This is youth. Natsumi nodded to herself as she made her way toward her new seat.

"Hi there! My name is Momoshiro Takeshi! You can just call me Momo!" Momoshiro, known for his friendly personality, introduced himself to her right away.

"Oh," Natsumi only nodded before plopping down on her desk. Faint snoring could be heard along with the smooth heaving of her back. Momoshiro looked at the sleeping girl awkwardly; did he do something wrong?

"Um…" the teacher scratched his head as he smiled weakly. "Endo-kun has been in the hospital for the last week, so maybe her condition is still a little shaky. Please let her take it easy, Momoshiro-kun."

Natsumi slept all the way until lunch break. In fact, she didn't even wake up to the bell; instead, she was woken up by Momoshiro. Natsumi half-glared at the boy who just woke her up, but the boy could not sense any of the negative atmosphere around Natsumi. Momoshiro waited for Natsumi to acknowledge him with some words, but decided to go ahead and speak since Natsumi didn't seem like she would open her mouth anytime soon.

"Hey, Endo! It's lunch time!" Natsumi raised her eyebrow at Momoshiro's obvious exclamation. "Wanna eat together?"

"Oh," Natsumi looked down at her bag and said, "I didn't bring lunch."

"Really? That's fine! I always buy it at the vendor too!" said Momoshiro enthusiastically. "I'll take you to the vendor, then! Come on, before the line gets long!"

"Oh."

Natsumi followed behind Momoshiro swiftly. People in the corridor looked at the pair pass by strangely; Natsumi was taking such light steps, yet she was right behind Momoshiro, who was hurrying towards the vendor. Luckily for the two of them, there was not a line at the vendor.

"What do you want to eat, Endo?" asked Momoshiro.

Almost instantly, Natsumi replied, "the super extra spicy curry bread."

"Eh?" Momoshiro was dumbfounded. "Is the... 'super extra' part really needed?"

"Yes," Natsumi said strongly, handing Momoshiro her money.

Momoshiro smiled at her and pushed her money away. "It's okay, Endo! Since it's your first day, the meal's on me!"

"Oh," Natsumi seemed a little taken back at Momoshiro's friendliness, but she accepted and put the money back into her pocket. "Thanks, Momo-kun!"

Momoshiro was dumbfounded again. Natsumi had patted him on the back as a friendly gesture after putting her money away, but it wasn't a gesture that he'd normally seen girls do. Especially for a person like Natsumi, who had big round eyes and wavy long hair which was typical for rich spoiled girls. Not only that, Momoshiro was surprised that Natsumi called him 'Momo-kun'. He didn't think that she'd heard him in the classroom, since she fell asleep so quickly. Nonetheless, Momoshiro still went on to buy the food.

When Momoshiro finished buying the food, he found Natsumi already sitting down under a nearby tree, staring off into space.

"Here you go!" Momoshiro handed the curry bread to Natsumi, keeping 5 more bread to himself.

"Thanks," Natsumi took the bread and started to eat right away.

"No problem! I, Momoshiro Takeshi, am known for my friendliness, after all! Hahaha!"

"That's very nice for you."

"You don't need to compliment me!" Momoshiro took a bite of his own food and turned to Natsumi. And choked. "Endo! You're already done?"

"Mhm," Natsumi replied briefly as she folded up the plastic wrapping. "I like to eat fast. I'm very time-efficient."

You don't seem so when you're sleeping in class, Momoshiro thought.

"Oi! Momo!"

Momoshiro and Natsumi looked toward the energetic voice that called out Momoshiro's name. There was a red-headed boy that half-skipped toward them, and behind him walked another boy who looked more mature. Judging by Momoshiro's smile, they were good friends.

"Kikumaru-senpai! Oishi-senpai!" Momoshiro shouted back at his seniors.

The red-headed boy was first to reach Momoshiro, and with a sly smile, he nudged Momoshiro's side. "Hey, hey! When did you get a cute girlfriend, nya?"

"Eiji-senpai…" before Momoshiro could open his mouth to deny it, Natsumi stole his chance.

"I'm not his girlfriend."

"Eh?" the senior named Eiji was a little dumbfounded at Natsumi's straightforward denial.

"Eiji!" the other boy finally caught up to his partner. He pushed Eiji's head down in a bowing gesture. "I told you not to assume things like that! It's rude!" He looked at Natsumi apologetically. "Sorry for the rudeness! I'm Oishi Shuichirou, a third year."

Natsumi stared at Oishi's face for a long time, but didn't say a word.

Momoshiro, sensing some awkwardness rising, decided to introduce his friend. "Oishi-senpai, Eiji-senpai, this is Endo Natsumi. She just transferred from Hyoutei."

"Eh? A new student?" Kikumaru perked up from under Oishi's hand. "My name is Kikumaru Eiji, nya! I'm also a third ye—"

"Oishi-senpai."

Kikumaru pulled to a quick stop as Natsumi suddenly spoke. Momoshiro turned to Natsumi, and Oishi, being the one who's suddenly addressed, straightened his back toward the young girl.

"Y…yes?"

"Your hair…" Natsumi said, her round eyes not leaving Oishi's face, making him a little nervous. "Do you use a citrus-scented shampoo?"

"Eh?" Oishi was completely thrown off by Natsumi's question. "Um… yes, I think so."

"I see," Natsumi nodded, and suddenly reached toward Oishi's face. Oishi, once again shocked by Natsumi's sudden action, almost backed away. However, Natsumi was not reaching for Oishi's face after all, instead, her hand swooshed over Oishi's shoulder and grabbed something. Natsumi's opened her hand again, and there it was—a centipede sort of worm.

"A… a bug?" the three boys stared at the squirming creature in her hands, sweat-drops falling from the side of their face.

"This little thing was mislead. This is better for him," Natsumi said as she narrowed her eyes, and then threw it into a bush nearby. "It would be sad if he spent the whole day climbing up Oishi-senpai's shoulder, and end up with nothing to eat."

"Endo! I'm going to tennis practice, so I'll see you tomorrow!" Momoshiro said to Natsumi as the after school bell rang.

"Oh."

When Momoshiro turned to look at Natsumi, she already had everything packed up and ready to leave. He wasn't surprised, though, because after this whole day he'd already figured out that Natsumi wasn't exactly the ordinary girls he'd usually meet.

Momoshiro watched Natsumi leave the classroom without saying "good-bye" to anybody, not even him. He'd wanted to laugh, because he was supposed to leave first, but she beat him to it. Natsumi was definitely not what he thought she was. At first look, she had the appearance of those shy girls that lived in "greenhouses" all their lives. But looking at the way Natsumi walked away, with one hand stuck in her uniform pocket and the other hand flinging her backpack over her shoulder, she was more of a tomboy than what he'd imagine.

It didn't suit Natsumi's appearance. Not at all.

In fact, Natsumi had wanted to cut her hair shorter for a long time now. If it weren't for Isono-san saying, "Natsumi-sama, weren't you so proud of the wavy brown hair that you got from your mother?" she wouldn't have kept the inconvenient long hair.

This hair gets into my face all the time! Natsumi thought grudgingly as she skateboarded her way home, the wind blowing her hair in front of her face. Natsumi decided, for sure this time, that she would cut it no matter what Isono-san says.

It didn't take a long time for Natsumi to reach home. Sasaki-san, a man his mid-thirties, stood outside of Endo Manor's front gate with a slightly bored expression. Just slightly. Being a bodyguard and all, he needed a stoic expression, but what was he to do when he was told not to do his job for the whole day?

"Ah! Natsumi-sama, welcome home," Sasaki-san bowed at Natsumi as she arrived home.

"Don't be so tense, Sasaki-san," Natsumi barely looked at Sasaki-san as she passed him by. "Go get a massage or you'll age quicker than you think!"

"Na…Natsumi-sama!" Sasaki-san, trying to ignore the sudden change of attitude in his master, stumbled over his words as he called his master's name. "I think you should know… Atobe-sama has come over to visit you!"

"Oh," Natsumi replied briefly as she entered the house. Atobe… that name sounds oddly familiar.

Once Natsumi stepped into the house, before she could even take a breather, Isono-san rushed over to Natsumi and urged her into the living room. "You must hurry, Natsumi-sama! Atobe-sama has been waiting for you for five minutes! Oh, if only Sasaki picked you up at school, you wouldn't be—"

"Easy, easy, Isono-san," Natsumi frowned at the frantic old man. First of all, I don't even know this Atobe person!

But as Natsumi's eyes made their way to the inside of the living room, they lit up immediately. And at that, Isono-san rejoiced, thinking that Natsumi has returned to her normal self at the sight of the boy sitting at the leather seat with too much majesty for a mere middle school student. Natsumi advanced toward the boy with large strides, and he lifted his head at the sound of her footsteps.

"You're finally here, Endo," was what Atobe Keigo wanted to say, but before he could let the words out of his lips, the girl had walked past him to the bulky boy next to him.

"Good afternoon, Atobe-sama!" Natsumi said with strange excitement in her eyes, while holding up Kabaji Munehiro's hand in hers. "I never thought I'd get to meet someone famous in my life!"

TBC.

A/N: Please do not doubt, this is indeed a ShishidoXOC fic. Although Shishido-kun won't make his appearance until a few chapters later!