Disclaimer: All characters © to Square-Enix, Squaresoft, and Disney. Storyline for prologue and first two chapters are based off of Hana Yori Dango © Yoko Kamio.
Warning: Strong language and OOC, and dark themes. Don't like, don't read.
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Prologue
"Oh my god, where did you get that gorgeous watch?"
"Oh this? You know, it's a limited edition only; I just had to go and buy it."
"Wow! I bet it costs as much as my Dior purse!"
Kairi shot a disgusted look at the trio of giggling girls sitting next to her before rolling her eyes at the ceiling.
High school students being dropped off and picked up by chauffeurs...girls carrying around genuine Louis Vuitton or Chanel or Christian Dior purses...diamonds glittering everywhere on peoples' ears, fingers, wrists and neck...this place just gets less and less bearable each day.
Ever since Kairi Akutsu had first stepped foot in Shukumei Academy, she knew life would be very different from what her old life used to be, in an ordinary public school.
It was a place where all the celebrities attended, Shukumei Academy; the most prestigious private school on Destiny Islands.
From an outsider's point of view, it was an academy that everyone envied; where everyone longed to be.
But as a 'commoner' from a public school, it was a place Kairi knew that she'd never be able to fit into.
Kairi sighed and tucked a strand of auburn hair behind her ear. Staring idly at her desk, she tapped her pencil as she tried to block out all the conversations that reminded her just how different she was that were buzzing around her; a thing that proved very hard to do.
It's the fall of my junior year and I only have two more years before I can finally leave and move on with life somewhere else...
The buzzing finally subsided as her first period teacher traipsed into the classroom, his glasses flashing as the scanned the room for any misbehaving students.
"Good morning, class," he said calmly as he paced up and down the aisles between the desks.
"Good morning, Professor Tanimoto," the class chanted back.
As Professor Tanimoto opened his mouth to begin explaining the day's assignments, a shout rang from outside the classroom that caused everyone's heads to snap up.
"It's a red tag! IT'S A RED TAG!"
Slowly, Kairi's cerulean eyes looked up.
Oh no...not again...
The shouting outside grew louder.
"Pence Kimoto from 2-A got a red tag!"
At the front of the classroom, Zidane stood up turned towards everyone.
"Let's get him," he said, cracking an evil smile.
At once, every single student in the classroom rushed from their seats and out the door. Kairi, however, stayed where she was, refusing to join the mob. From what she could see, there was a mixture of excitement and even a hint sadism on everyone's face.
Letting out a groan, the redhead buried her face in her arms.
God, everyone here is so sick-minded and twisted and—
"Kairi?" said a soft voice from somewhere above her.
Her head shot up to see a blond girl with blue eyes very similar to her own staring at her.
"I don't quite understand what's going on...but shouldn't you be going too?"
She must be a transfer student, thought Kairi, as the blond continued looking closely at her. But she's probably gonna regret entering Shukumei Academy once she finds out about this disgusting ritual that we have.
Sighing, Kairi reluctantly stood up and followed her classmates' steps, with the blond girl walking shyly behind her.
"What is it with everyone?" she asked Kairi as they walked towards the source of commotion.
"What's the red tag for?"
"It means it's a declaration of war from the F4," responded Kairi in a monotone voice.
"F4?"
"The four upper class students that basically control this school," the redhead explained. "Those who cross their path get a red tag, and are bullied by entire school until they can't stand it anymore and leave."
The blond looked rather startled by this piece of information.
"But-but why does everybody listen to F4?"
"All four of them are heirs to the wealthiest families around," Kairi said simply.
"Isn't everyone at this school?" said the blond, raising an eyebrow.
Kairi let out a humorless laugh.
"No...there's a huge difference."
A group of boys suddenly sprinted past them, carrying a large bag filled with trash and whatnot, and were heading for the cafeteria. Kairi gave the blond girl a look that plainly said 'see-what-I-mean?'.
"Their parents gives enormous amounts of donations to the academy," said Kairi while the blond listened intently. "That's why even the teachers can't say anything about what they do.
"They're promised absolute freedom while they're at this school. That's why you won't see them wearing our school uniforms." She indicated the blue plaid skirt and white blouse she was wearing.
The two girls entered the cafeteria where the rest of the school was; everyone was chanting 'F4' repeatedly and clapping their hands in a rhythmic beat. Kairi noticed that the same three girls she had overheard from earlier were at the very front of the crowd, positively squealing with delight and admiration was on each of their faces. The redhead squeezed herself into crowd as she watched four tall silhouettes approach from the doorway.
"The members of F4 are...Hayner Tsuyoshi," Kairi pointed at the dirty blond muscular teenager, grinning from ear to ear as he smirked and winked his hazel eyes at random girls. "He's an outrageous flirt and player; don't let him trick you into sleeping with him. His father is lord of the 'underground world', if you get what I mean.
"Irvine Kinneas," A smirking, cocky looking teen wearing a cowboy hat came strutting into view, his long brown hair pulled back in a ponytail. "His father owns a wide range of artillery companies. Watch out for him too; he's an even bigger playboy than Tsuyoshi.
"Riku Takahashi." A calm faced, well built teenager with feathery silver hair walked in next. "He's the perfect son of a big business company owner. He's cool and quiet, and a pretty mysterious member of the gang."
"Finally...there's Sora Kumasaki." She indicated the tall teenager with brilliant ocean blue eyes and a shock of uncanny spiky brown hair. "The heir of the world famous Kumasaki Zaibatsu family. He's the leader of F4, and dictator of this academy."
The two watched apprehensively as the group of four swaggered towards a set of armchairs that were supposedly reserved for them; the chanting grew louder. After settling themselves comfortably, Zidane shoved Pence Kinimoto in the middle of the circle, right in front of the F4 members. The poor victim looked up at Sora, trembling and covered from head to toe in God-knows-what.
For a moment, Sora only scrutinized the terrified student as if he were a piece of gum stuck on his expensive shoe. Then he smirked, and leaned forward in his seat.
"Do it," the brunet said calmly. Kairi felt a mixture of pity and anger as she watched Pence shake his head, his face close to tears.
The crowd began chanting again.
"Do it! Do it!"
Pence only shook his head more, whimpering.
Sora suddenly stood up and the crowd immediately fell silent. Slowly, he walked towards the panic-stricken student, who tried to shrink away. But the brunet grabbed the collar of the other's shirt and his fist flew at his face, knocking him to the ground.
Kairi heard the blond gasp in horror, but she knew it wasn't over yet. Sora aimed a kick and it came in contact with Pence's stomach; she watched his face screw up in pain. Smirking as though proud of himself, the F4 leader kicked out again and another grunt of pain issued from Pence's mouth. The brunet then coolly ran a hand through his hair, smirking at the damage he had done.
"This is a waste of my time."
He looked back at his three friends, jerking his head towards the door.
Hayner stood up and clapped his hands together casually, looking as though if watching someone getting beat up was an everyday routine.
"Alright, people! Fun's over!"
Sora led the group of four and they exited the cafeteria, all walking with a bit of swagger in their steps. The crowd began clapping once more, but Sora's face remained impassive. As the F4 walked pass the redhead, Kairi shot a death glare at them, clenching her fist in anger.
Those bastards...
It was as if time had slowed down. As she watched the F4 leader strut pass, his eyes suddenly met hers in a piercing gaze. Her breath caught in her throat in her surprise, but he looked away coolly, his face indifferent.
Kairi quickly shook her head, snapping herself out of her reverie.
What..the heck was that?
--
The redhead sprinted through the deserted hallways, rushing towards the door that was marked with an emergency exit sign over it. She shoved it open and leaned against it, panting heavily.
"Those idiots!" she hissed to herself. "What the hell is wrong with F4?"
She stormed down the cement steps, reaching a small balcony that overlooked the school grounds.
"How can they think of those sickening games as some sort of entertainment? Ugh!"
She pressed herself against the metal railing, pounding hard on it with her fist.
"Watching their friend getting beat up and acting as if it's the best thing in the world, worshipping that group of imbeciles as if they were gods of some sort...they all make me SICK."
A rush of adrenaline filled her body as she ranted out all her anger. Taking a deep breath, she screamed out all her pent-up emotions.
"YOU BASTARDS! I HOPE YOU ALL DIE FROM OVER-NUTRITION!"
Her voice echoed throughout the school grounds and she felt a savage sense of satisfaction rising up in her chest. Breathing deeply, she calmed herself and climbed back up the steps.
You only have to put up with one more year of this, Kairi, just one more year...
Unbeknownst to her, a certain Riku Takahashi, who was laying on the second flight of steps, lifted the book he had been reading off of his face, his aquamarine eyes following Kairi as she pushed open the door and began trudging her way back to class.
Until then, I'm just gonna have to continue being the invisible, plain girl of the school and live life peacefully...
Or so she thought.
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