It was just another normal day at school. There was nothing out of the ordinary, but that doesn't mean I still wasn't paranoid. I came here to escape old memories that haunted me. To start over. I hadn't been the same since my parents had both either gone missing or walked out on me.

I ignored the Seiyo uniform, and as usual, went to school in my big jeans and a baggy sweatshirt. My hair was pulled up and covered with the hood. Dark sunglasses hid my face. As usual, no teachers said anything. Nor did they call my name on the attendence. They knew better. I had made sure of that. I was a special circumstance.

No one paid attention to the lonely student in the back of the class. I expect they all assumed I was a guy from the way I dressed. No one even tried to get to know me. They assumed I had a mental disability, or I was blind (the sunglasses).

No one ever cared enough to try and make conversation. They thought I was a freak. It's just as well. I had friends outside of this dumb school anyway. I didn't need to make friends or speak at all.

...that is, until I met Amu. With her cool and indifferent attitude, she immediately was put into the same social group as me. She was unapproachable. She ignored the uniform code as well. I suppose it started with an accident.

I been staying with my aunt for a month now. I walked out of the house with my uniform on and my hair all fixed. She thought I carried a pack of extra clothes with me for after-school activities. Little did she know that on my walk to school every morning, I went into McDonalds, changed into my usual sweatshirt and baggy pants, and bought myself a coffee.

As it just so happens, I forgot my shoes today. I was still wearing my neon pink vans. Yes, the ones my aunt expected me to wear. She bought them for me.

I had no other choice to come to school wearing them. Of course, leave it to Souma Kukai to notice. This kid was the popular heart-throb and captain of the soccer team. He and his crew of populars sat around me in the back of the class.

"What, are you gay or something?" He sneered. Then, he turned to his friends. "Hey, check out this kid's shoes!" They all laughed, turning to me. Well, this is what I get for wanting nothing other than to live my high school life unnoticed.

I ignored their taunting remarks for the rest of the day. I had gym for 6th period, and then school was over. But, not before I tripped Souma.

I couldn't help it.

He went sprawling into a mud puddle on the soccer field. The school population, who had just been dismissed, burst into either gasps or laughter. When he looked up to see me smirking, he lost it. His fist went flying into my stomach. I fell down backwards. Luckily, the hood stayed up.

I could tell he was about to pummel me, when his soccer team friends rushed up. Tadase and Ikuto were restraining him, while Nagihiko tried to help me up.

"Relax. He just shoved ya into some mud. Whatever." Ikuto deadpanned to him once we were both standing. I was trying hard to regain my breath after having the wind knocked out of me. I could only keep smirking while Souma looked furious.

His friends released him, as I struggled in their grasp. I couldn't get away.

"Listen. You're lucky my friends are such saps. I could easily end you right now. Just wait. I'll-"

I never found out what he would do, because it was at that exact moment that I punched his friend, getting him to release me, and kicked the idiot himself. Then, I ran.

By now, people had seen what I did, and were furious. After all, I had just injured two of their star soccer players. I had a crowd following me.

I soon tired, and just gave myself up to the mob. My mind numbed out most of the pain, after a while. Over the crowd, I was surprised to hear a voice.

"Hey." They stopped and looked up. "Stay out of this. It isn't your fight. Stupid." It was apparently some girl named 'Hinamori Amu'. They seemed to be scared by her mere presence, and obeyed.

Trying to get to my feet and steady myself, I was extremely relieved that my hood never slipped. She turned to me, smirking. "You're welcome." I just nodded, and she left.

A week after the incident, she came up to me after school. I had endured taunting and many, many bruises, in addition to my original ones. I was gathering my things and about to leave. I hadn't noticed, but she was waiting for me.

"Do you have a name, or are you just gonna stare at me, pervert?"

"I'm hardly a pervert." I growled in a deep voice, that could've passed for a guy's. I don't know what made me trust her. I guess since she was just as much of an outcast as I was, I decided to talk to her.

"Yeah? You were staring at me. And what's with the tone? I just thought you looked like you could use a friend." She raised an eyebrow. I liked this girl's no-crap attitude. Maybe I could be friends with a girl like her. I took a chance. After all, I did owe her for telling those guys off. I took off my hood, and my sunglasses, letting my long hair tumble down my shoulders. I could feel the smirk on my face.

At first, Amu was obviously in shock. Then, she composed herself, and was smirking right along with me. "So, you're not a dude?"

"I'm as much of a chick as you are."

"So Souma punched a chick in the gut?"

"The same chick who punched Nagihiko in the face and kicked the moron 'where the sun don't shine'." At this, she laughed.

"So what's with the get-up?"

"I don't have to explain my reasons to a stranger."

"Okay. I get it. I just thought you could use a friend after what happened."

"You'd be willing?"

"Sure. If you are."

"You won't tell anyone?"

"Nah. This can be our hilarious little inside joke." She smirked sarcastically.

"Thanks." And with that, she gave a small genuine smile, and said she'd see me tomorrow.

Oh, this is only the beginning...