Disclaimer: I don't own anything
AN/ *Kagaku according to google translate means science and the suffix -dono means lord. The nickname means Science Lord or Lord of Science.
That girl is staring again. Cupid Aki stares at Natsuhiko Koyama regularly. Mostly in Biology Club though. She doesn't share regular class with him as she is in B class and he is in A class.
This unnerves Natsuhiko as he doesn't know anything about her. He knows everyone. Not personally but what their name is, academic standing, and what they look like. He only knows one of those three. Well he also knows she isn't very good at science. If she could engage in the science talk she would have by know instead of sitting and staring at the walls or her book.
She has never said a word let alone her name. She always seems to be glaring or smirking at something or someone. Her exspression only changes from these two setting when she is reading whatever book she had that day. She always smirks at him though. That is why it sends of chill up his spine when her blue eyes are fixed in him instead of something else. Not even her bangs that go past her eyebrows filter those eyes. She just stares at him like he is a ant meant to be squashed. He sneered at the thought. She is just a underling compared to him though. He is by far superior to her.
Aki just finds Natsuhiko interesting. His hair looks like someone dunked it in chicken grease and his teeth looks like he spends too much time gnawing on a textbook rather then calling a dentist to set a appointment—which he dearly needs.
She can't really talk to anyone. She can never pronounce the words right in Japanese. Her first language is English. She always feels so stupid when she tries to talk that she just doesn't really bother unless they are willing to talk in English. She can understand, thankfully, as she watched plenty of Japanese shows to keep up with the language. There is a lot she wants to say but simply can't do so she holds her tongue.
If someone saw a picture of Koyama they would think he would be unpopular but he seems to be a top dog of this school. She heard people talking about him when she first got here. It was some upperclassmen talking about some big shot from junior higher not high schooler coming to biology club.
Aki got there early so she heard the majority of the conversation. When she saw who the students were talking about finally come in she gave a second glance. She couldn't see this kid as being worthy of talking about. He came in like the cock of the walk.
His head was tilted back and looked his nose down on people. He always was shouting about something. He was a big mouth. Which was kind of fitting as one could most likely fit a softball in there.
She watched without any embarrassment at her staring. He was entertaining seeing him lecture the older students with his big hand gestures and loud voice.
One afternoon she was just watching Koyama explaining the topic at hand to someone who was sitting down while he was standing in front of them. He motioned real wide with his hand and he caught her eyes. The look she was giving was one similar to the bullies years ago. He over came them and showed he was better. He will do it again. He became silent and stared, not even facing her. He eventually turned because his head was at a uncomfortable angle to see her.
His lips quirked to a distasteful sneer. By then everyone was quiet and watching the face off. He was oozing superiority. He finally was on top after last year, after those years. No one is going to question him like last year. No one will question him period. No one will over throw him once again. He will squash any ideas before they form and become solid in people. She looked like she wanted to squash him which was a giant no no.
Aki never looked away. In Natsuhiko loud voice he asks the question on his mind, "Who do you think you are!?"
Now this is her turn to look her nose down on him with a amused smirk. She simply loves the fact she got under his skin. Without even insulting his ego. Even when she did talk, she found it is so easy to unnerve her peers by simply staring at them right in the eyes.
"Are you stupid or something? You seem like you never understand what is going on," he hissed.
She raised her eyebrows keeping her fixed eyes, tilted head, and raised corner of her lips in place. She didn't say a word to show she wasn't the least bit impressed by him. She was amused by the childish bahevior from a far but didn't want to deal with it up close so she opened her book to her page.
Her book was under the table in her lap so it looked like she was giving her defeat at the stand off by lowering her head in submission.
This was what everyone who was watching thought, including Natsuhiko. He went back into his explanation with even more of his ego dripping into his monologue on biology.
When his back was turned she rolled her eyes once more.
He was riding that high until the next day when he was telling the other four of the big five. (Of course they all went to the same high school, they followed
Asano Gakushū)
"Okay there was this disrespectful girl in Biology Club who didn't understand I was her better. She was staring at me like I was a bug in her eyes. She had the nerve to look me right in the eye. I accused her of not knowing even the simplest science and that got her to bow her head in defeat," gloated Natsuhikk.
Seo Tomoya congratulates, "Good job putting that girl in her place."
Araki Teppei was confused what caused his companions annoyance, "So, Natsuhiko, this random girl was just staring at you not saying a word."
"Yes and so?" he asked.
Sakakibara Ren, who likes to stir the pot, took the chance to say, "Maybe she was just admiring your handsomeness."
They all tried to choke down a laugh at the thought. The four of them knew Koyama looked like a villain from a cartoon with his eyebrows and chin. He didn't though and considered it for a whole minute. Then he remembered the look the accompanying that stare. "Nope, this look in her eyes wasn't similar to the look the female population gives you Sakakibara."
Ren laughed at the thought of girls giving Natsuhiko a similar look. "Well, who was this girl anyway? It would be nice to know who made you loose you composure to."
"I..." he paused, "don't know."
"I thought you would know everyone by now, even the upperclassmen," said Teppei.
Natsuhiko was annoyed and with a bit to might bite, "I do know everyone, except her."
"Is she even in our year," asked Tomoya.
"Yes." He saw her walk past their classroom seeing her messy boy hair and said none to quietly, "There, there she is." He stood up and pointed at her.
All four turned their head to see her. Gakushū recognized her, "I know who she is."
"Who?" Asked Natsuhiko.
"She is Cupid Aki. She moved here from America with English as her first language and Japanese as her second. She is smart in B class. She would have made it to A most likely if the tests she took were in English and not Japenese," he explained.
"If she is from America how come more people aren't talking about her," wondered Teppei.
"She doesn't talk at all and she isn't very noticeable. I only know what I do from overhearing my father and the high school principal. I got curious and found her file. She doesn't get in trouble and her teachers liked her," he said.
"Hey, Asono, can you talk to her for me. I want her to understand how small she is compared to us," he said.
"Yes I agree she must understand the order of things."
"If you are really going to do this make sure it is away from other people to not attract to much attention," suggested Teppei.
"I think this is a stupid way to spend your time but if you are going to do this tell everyone but her Biology Club is cancelled. No one talks to her so no one will warn her so she will show up at the usual time," said Ren.
"Brilliant," they all said.
That is what Natsuhiko did too. The word spread easily amount the members but one was left out, Aki.
When Aki showed up to next meeting to find the room empty she didn't think twice about it as she is usually early. She just sat down and opened her book.
It was a good part so she didn't bother looking up to watch people come in.
The five of them made a half arc in front of her desk.
With Gakushū in front and with Ren to his right and Natsuhiko to his left since he wanted to be up close to see him work his magic on her as he is terrifying. The other two stood in the back.
Tomoya hated to talk in English to the natives in ELA. He found out that Japan taken some English words and gave them new meanings and then there was katakana words that got in the way. He understands why she never talks. It was always a low blow to his pride whenever kids laughed at his misuse of his words. Doesn't matter here though. He wasn't the one talking to her was he.
"Cupid," that got her attention. Barely anyone in her class knows her name. It shocked her to find that this kid with the blonde hair did. She didn't show it though she just looked up into his eyes. "Do you know who we are?," his words were slow and planned in English getting the sound right. He gave her a encouraging smile to soften her up. She kept her glare.
She pointed to Natsuhiko, "Duke of Science and that's it. But you look like a king and these are your minions." Her eyes looked over Ren and points at him and continued in English, "But, dude, are you a girl or a boy? I seriously can't tell."
Gakushū likes that she already understood he was a ruler at this place. Tomoya was insulted and amused by this girl, "We are not his minions," in decent English.
Ren wasn't paying attention to that part. He just heard "girl" when talking about him. He thought she was asking if he had a girlfriend. "Did I hear right about her asking if I had a girlfriend? If she did I think it is a little soon. And that is saying something"
Tomoya laughed, "No, she was asking if you were girl or a boy."
"I am a boy," Ren tried to say in English but ended up being scrambled.
Tomoya in English, "How come you think our male friend here is a girl?"
"A couple of my female friends sported the exact same haircut. Also I just can't tell if he was a feminine boy or he was just a masculine girl," pause, "Plus that is so a genderfluid haircut if I ever saw one."
They laughed at their friend realizing how feminine he really does look.
He glared and waited for a answer not trusting his own translating skills. "It's your haircut," they answered, "It's a popular girl haircut from where she is from."
They turn to Teppei for confirmation. He nodded his head.
Natsuhiko was annoyed on how off track they were, "Why are we talking about hair cuts when we should be talking about how we are better than her!"
In English, Gakushū continued, "Good, you get I am the ruler of this school as I am number one. These are not my minions but my friends. They are also superior to you. Natsuhiko said you were being disrespectful to him in Biology Club the other day. Is this true or not?"
She was confused who he was talking about at first not recognizing the name. "Ohhh, you mean *Kagaku-dono. Sorry, I can't help staring if he is shouting and spitting at people all the time. And can you tell him real mature. He was being a true class act the other day." She kept her glare steady and a voice to accompany it.
Tomoya did it for him, "She said you were really mature the other day and a class act."
Gakushū continued, "He has the right to act however he wants as he is a top student at this academy. You are the other hand do not. I don't know if they have this thing in America or not but it is called respect and it is expected of a lesser to act that way to their superior."
She raised her eyebrows in disbelief at this guys adacity and smirked, "Act you say. So if I understand I have to be all polite in person but I can fling as much crap as I please behind your back if I want because I will just be 'acting' polite." She tapped her chin in thought, "and who even are you people and where is the rest of Biology Club, shouldn't they be here by now."
"It was cancelled. We wanted to talk to you. He is Koyama Natsuhiko, leading in science. He is Sakakibara Ren, leading in Japenese. He is Araki Teppei, leading in social studies. He is Seo Tomoya, leading in English. I am Asano Gakushū, leading in math and overall score at this school." He left out Akabane not wanting to ruin the impression he is hoping to leave.
She smirked, "Last time I checked this kid named Akabane Karma was number one and you are was number two. Unless," pause, "the school was wrong and you are a even lower rank. I don't respect liars and people who do try to impress some nobody, Asano, are even lower nor do I respect people who follow others like a loyal dog. I will acknowledge your smarts but not who you are. And I will admit though lying well is a good quality in a leader, to bad you don't. I would have believed you if I didn't think Karma was a funny name and remembered it."
She snapped her book shut to emphasize her next point, "I'm done here, Gakushū, Ren-Chan—sorry, even if I wanted to I couldn't pronounce your family name—,Kagaku-dono, Teppei, and Tomoya, have a nice day."
Aki is from the west. She uses first names and will continue to do so if she doesn't care what the people she is talking to think of her. The other day she was reading up on honorifics and thought Chan would fit him nicely meaning cute and a girl. She can't wait to move back to America—or any country that speaks English.
They all understood what she said as she said it to them insultingly slow. The fact she used their given names shocked them. Next to no one uses their given names. Well Natsuhiko didn't mind as much because he is Lord Science. Even though it is insulting she did acknowledge his scientific abilities.
When Aki was walking down the halls she smiled happy to finally be able to speak her mind. As much as she hates being invisible it is glorious at the same time. No one sees her so no one cares. Everyone knew her at her old school and who she was. Granted she knew them as well. Here she can be who she wants to be without people glancing at her.
Well she could speak her mind if she wanted but they wouldn't understand. It is like cursing at Spanish class kids in America. They have a vague idea what you are saying but don't really understand.
It is kind of the same for her here.
Not being able to understand others and being invisible is like a wall. She is protected from the others and the confusion of people. She was willing to be seen though just annoy some stuck up boys. This is gonna be fun.
"She called me Ren-Chan and told me straight out she wasn't going to use my family name!" Exclaimed Ren, "For the last time I'm not a girl!"
"At least she acknowledged you had a last name at all," remarked Tomoya.
"Maybe she doesn't now about naming here and meant to call us by our family names," suggested Teppei.
"She said—and I quote—'sorry, even if I wanted to I can't pronounce you last name' and she added a honorific to my given name to boot. She knows and did it to vex us," hissed Ren.
Ren and Teppei are usually the calmest of the five. Gakushū hides it well but he always wants to burns people who wrong him. He tucks his revenge away to use at a later time. Natsuhiko and Tomoya feelings are on the surface.
"Well that didn't work like at all," sighed Natsuhiko. "She is going to be a even bigger annoyance now." He couldn't help smiling though from the nickname.
"Stop smiling I know you got the better of the two nicknames," barked Ren, "like she is one to talk. If she wasn't wearing a skirt I would think she was male."
"Wasn't it the Duke of Science at first then it was Kakagu-dono. How many nicknames does this girl have for you?" Said Tomoya.
"What can we do about her. We can't her attitude spread to the rest of the student body," said Teppei.
"We do nothing," exclaimed Gakushū, "she is on a isolated island compared to her social status. The disease that is her attitude won't spread to the mainlands."
"Can we still do something as revenge for calling us by our names and calling me a girl," asked Ren.
"Fine but we must study her and find what will be most effective. That will be your job, Koyama."
Ren was happy and couldn't wait until their mastminded leader came up with a devious plan.
They all couldn't wait for that plan when they heard this shouted at them in the halls in Japenese, like she practiced it to make sure it was perfect for this moment, "Hello Big Five—King Strawberry, Seaweed Head, Kawaii Boy, Pinocchio, and Greaser—have a fantastic day." (Guess who got what nickname)
Aki was right by the girls bathroom waiting for them to pass. As soon as she said her piece she slipped in and hid in a stall. She did her hair into measley braids and wore some makeup that day. She had on fake glasses and a obnoxious shirt over her uniform. She deemed she look different enough that no one would know it was her.
She got out of her wanna be disguise to get back into her normal look.
She smiled genuinely into the mirror from her heart beating from the adrenaline from putting herself on the spot like that. She missed smiling. She did it often with her old friends. She just hasn't found many reasons to smile here so far as she tends to be frustrated about something or another.
She camped out for another minute or two calming her beating heart. This kind of things have her a thrill.
Akabane Karma was laughing his butt off. He walked right up to Gakushū, "King Strawberry, Greaser, Seaweed Head, hahaha, I'm dying here. Who came up with this? Do you know them?"
He growled, "Sadly, yes."
"Who are they, I want to applaud their nerve for doing something oh so daring?"
Natsuhiko opened his big mouth, "Good luck Cupid Aki doesn't understand Japenese at all. She just stares at you not even bothering to respond unless you talk to her in English."
"She is a foreign student from America so she can't understand the language as well as the next person. Good luck finding her as nearly no one knows who she is at this school," said Tomoya.
Karma nodded his head and in perfect English, "Thanks for the warning."
The rest of the day Aki tried to keep in her chuckles. Their faces were hilarious and ones of pure disgust and all during lunch she overheard people wondering who could have done something like that.
She wanted to thank Kagaku-dono for having his friends talk to her. She didn't want to do it in spoken Japanese but still somewhat in person. She will write a note in Japanese as it would be good practice for her.
She would give it the next club meeting which is tomorrow.
When she walks up to Natsuhiko without her glare but a smile he is surprised. She still makes eye contact but it isn't as piercing as it once was. She hands him a letter marked by Kagaku-dono. He puts it in his pocket planning to read it later when there is less people.
When he got home he read the letter to himself.
Kagaku-dono,
I should have asked this awhile ago but do you mind if I call you that. I think it is fitting as you are the head of Biology Club. I have been calling you that before I even knew your name. I always stared at you because of your passion for the subject not because I thought you were below me. I'm in there for the extra practice.
Thanks for introducing me to your friends. They are fun and smart. Sorry for being rude to you guys. It has just been frustrating being here and I let out some steam. It was nice talking to someone outside my family.
Sorry for the nicknames I gave your friends and you the other day. But after that I smiled the biggest I ever thought I smiled.
Now, I know this is annoying, but can you do me a favor and give Ren the other note in the envelope. I am sincerely sorry for questioning his manhood.
-Aki
P.S. If I ever talk to the your friends again(which is unlikely) I will call them by their first names as I am from the west and we use first names
The next day Natsuhiko showed the letter to the other four and gave Ren his special one.
It was just a whole paragraph praising his good looks and manly qualities. He was quite happy with it saying he might use some of the words she used to describe him in his next poem.
Tomoya forgave her instantly even though he didn't voice this. The other two weren't convinced.
Natsuhiko was though. She no longer just smirked at him in Biology Club but gave him a smile and a nod whenever their eyes met. She still stared but it wasn't with such sharp focus as before.
Even though her nicknames for the big five to her was a once and done kind of things Karma continued to call them theirs in class as long as he remembered to do it. He never found Aki like he was planning to.
Gakushū still tried to find a perfect weakness to her but couldn't find a crack in her wall to widen to the world.
AN/ this is done