Disclaimer: I don't own Lucky Star.
Late Transfer
Kagami took her seat near the middle section of the 3-C classroom. Other members of her homeroom class did likewise for the start of the day. It then dawned upon her that it was start of the second semester of her third year.
"The semester is finally over", Kagami noted. "There's only two more to go".
The year seemed to progress along slowly. It was no surprise due to the extensive studying that she had invested in her time. Kagami was geared towards getting into the university, refusing to become unmotivated. For the present, it seemed as if there was little else in mind.
She turned her head towards the door to see Misao and Ayano enter. Those two were nearly inseparable.
"Hiiragi!" Misao enthusiastically greeted.
"Good morning, Hiiragi-chan", Ayano added.
"Sup", Kagami replied.
Nevertheless, the pair kept the mood light and jovial. She was also able to see her other friends in Kuroi's class. Everything seemed to be in the right place, just like the previous two years. Not to mention, she looked forward to the Kyoto class trip with anticipation. Kagami got her first choices for her travel group. Konata's antics would make the trip more interesting. Tsukasa would end up in a tight spot due to her usual clumsiness. Miyuki would probably know more about the area than Kagami did.
"How can a group with so many differences get along so well?" Kagami pondered. "Ah, never mind".
The morning bell chimed, and her homeroom teacher, Hikaru Sakuraba entered the classroom on cue.
"Don't lose focus", Kagami reminded herself.
She had often repeated this mantra, and it proved to work every time.
"Good morning, class", Sakuraba greeted.
"Good morning", the class answered back.
"I have an announcement to make", Sakuraba stated. "We have a new student joining us for the remainder of the school year".
The class whispered with anticipation and gossip. Kagami raised an eyebrow.
"At this semester?" she thought. "It's odd for a student to tranfer so late, especially in the final year".
"You may step in now", Sakuraba said to the student that stood outside the door.
The transfer walked into the classroom with a slow, but steady gait. The student had a modest brown haircut and stood at a height that was slightly taller than Kagami's. His facial expression suggested neutrality with a hint of wariness.
"Allow me to introduce our new student, Masado", Sakuraba announced. "Masado is a transfer from another high school in the Tokyo area. He is here to complete the remainder of secondary education".
Masado gave a small bow and stood at the front of the class with little else to say. The class stared at him with intense silence. After a few moments, he turned to his homeroom teacher as if to expect more instructions.
"It's okay to be timid", Sakuraba told the uptight student. "You'll get used to it".
This drew a few chuckles from the class. The other students continued to stare at their new compatriot with uncertainty.
"Please be nice to our new addition to the class", Sakuraba ordered. "It's only his first day here. You make take your seat now, Masado".
Masado walked down the nearest aisle and sat down at the empty desk to the right of Kagami. He continued to look ahead with little emotion.
"I'll update everyone on the Kyoto trip later", Sakuraba started. "For now, let's get back to biology".
Everyone in the class got out their notebook in preparation for the lecture. Some of their eyes still fixed upon the transfer student. Masado paid them no mind, and he flipped a pen around his thumb.
Kagami couldn't help but to also stare at him from the corner of her peripheral vision. She could have sworn that she felt a cold aura emanate from the boy. She didn't know whether to feel disturbed or not.
"He almost reminds me of Minami-chan", Kagami thought. "Could he be the same case, or is he just the anti-social kind of person? Dammit, I'm losing focus. I have to concentrate".
Kagami switched her view back to her notebook, and she resumed taking notes.
"There are proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids", Sakuraba lectured.
A rubber band whizzed by Kagami's head. Milliseconds later, Masado keeled over his desk. Kagami spun in the direction of where the sound came from. A few boys on the opposite side of the room silently snickered to themselves, satisfied at their ability to taunt the transfer behind the teacher's back. Kagami glared at them for nearly hitting her and turned her head in Masado's direction. The said boy's facial expression of neutrality had completely disappeared. He angrily frowned and pressed the pen deeper into his notebook. The left side of his cheek was turning red from where the rubber band struck. Not wanting to provoke him, Kagami quickly turned back to her notes.
"Geez, did he think that I hit him?" she asked herself. "This transfer is starting to creep me out. I'll ask for a seat change later".
Kagami soon resigned to herself, acknowledging the fact that no one else would want to exchange seats with her in the class. She would just have to endure it for the time being.
"Looks like I'll have to bear with this for the rest of the day", she concluded. "I wonder if the others in Kuroi-sensei's class already know about him"…
After enduring long hours of sitting next to the transfer student, it was lunch hour. Kagami was finally able to move to another corner of the room. Her friends from Kuroi's class had decided to spend lunch with her, much to her comfort.
"So then I decided to buy the box with more packages", Tsukasa started. "I figured that it would give me a better deal".
"Did it?" Konata asked.
"Not at all!" Tsukasa answered. "The chocolate biscuit sticks in the original two pack were the better".
Kagami glanced at Masado. The transfer student sat, glued to the seat that he was assigned to. He looked forward in a slight glare, and continued to endure the torment from the boys who earlier flung the rubber band at him. Apparently, they were trying unsuccessfully to get him to talk.
"Aww geez, this guy's hard to crack", one of them said. "But once I do, you owe me that two thousand yen!"
"What, can't stick up for yourself?" another taunted.
Kagami found herself in a moral dilemma. She couldn't help but to feel sorry for Masado. Her immediate instinct was to stand up for him. However, she could risk provoking him and taking the brunt of his bottled up rage. So far, she had not seen anyone else talk to him. Because of that, she didn't know his true mindset. After deciding to play it safe, Kagami immediately turned her attention back to the conversation that her friends were having.
"What about the one that you bought?" Konata posed.
"Well, it had more packs, but they contained less biscuits per pack!"
"It's the reality of economics", Ayano concluded.
"Yep, tricky businessmen from the higher-ups!" Misao agreed.
"I would have fallen for the same thing too, sis", Kagami said.
"But you have to admit, that particular strategy is impressive", Miyuki added. "They don't list the exact number of sticks per pack. So even a wary consumer would have to take a guess at it".
"Yeah", Kagami agreed. "But the weight is listed on the product itself. Then again, that can still be misleading".
"It's why I buy manga!" Konata exclaimed.
"That's completely irrelevant to the product that we're discussing", Kagami told.
"Hey hey", Konata teasingly said. "I was just trying to switch the subject away from food. We don't want you to get too tempted now do we? I for one know your weak willpower in these matters!"
"Can it", Kagami huffed.
Looking from the corner of her eye, Kagami checked on the transfer student. Things were beginning to get more personal and close. Masado's tormentors hovered around him and got in his face.
"Hey!" one boy said to his friend. "Give me that two thousand yen bill! I have a better idea!"
"Here Satoshi", the friend replied.
Satoshi grabbed the bill and waved it wildly in Masado's face.
"C'mon, you know you want it!" he teased. "All you have to do is to say something!"
Kagami shook off the urge to help the transfer student. By now, her friends noticed that her attention was elsewhere.
"Hey, who's the new guy?" Konata asked.
"It's the student who just transferred into our class", Misao answered. "Masado, I think his name is".
"Last name?" Miyuki asked.
"Dunno", Misao answered. "But the way that he acts is just so creepy!"
"I agree", Tsukasa added. "Almost reminds me of Minami-chan".
Ayano had an idea of what Kagami was already thinking.
"Hiiragi-chan, I wouldn't advise it", Ayano cautioned.
"Aww, is the lonely Kagamin desperate for a mate?" Konata teased. "Do I sense a triggered event?"
Kagami paid her friend no mind. Meanwhile, the mocking finally cracked the new student.
"Why don't you put your money where your mouth is?" Masado retaliated.
His voice had the air of a cynical, yet collected attitude. However, he had raised it enough with the intent to cause intimidation.
"Say, that's not a bad idea!" one of the boys agreed.
Satoshi shoved the two thousand yen bill into the mouth his victim, causing Masado to fall backwards in his chair.
"Haha!" laughed one of the boys. "That was a good one!"
"Yeah!" Satoshi agreed. "'Money in your mouth' that one, kid!"
Masado looked up at the bullies from where he lay. His fists shook with rage, but he restrained himself from unleashing it.
Kagami had had enough. Letting her moralistic side take over, she angrily pushed her chair aside and intervened on Masado's behalf.
"Hey, leave him alone!" she yelled.
The bullies turned their attention away from their target, and towards Kagami.
"And just who do you think you are?" one of them scoffed.
"Someone that you don't want to mess with!" Kagami interjected.
"Hey, it's her!" Satoshi whispered with caution.
"What do you mean?" another boy whispered back. "Do you mean the girl who kicked in your nuts for flirting with her during first year?"
"Hey, I just got too physical that time", Satoshi answered. "Yeah, let's leave this one".
"I was starting to get tired of this anyways", his friend agreed.
"All right, Hiiragi", Satoshi accepted. "You've won this one. But your motives puzzle me".
"Look who's talking!" Kagami snapped back.
Satoshi sneered at her and picked up his bill before joining his compatriots on another side of the classroom.
Kagami turned around, only to see that Masado was sitting in his seat as if nothing happened. Then his head slowly turned in her direction.
"Hey, are you-?" Kagami asked.
She stopped midway in her question, suddenly realizing that his line of sight met hers. She froze with fear and turned red with nervousness. She almost wished that she had never stepped into the fray.
However, Masado did something different. He managed to crack a weak smile, and gave Kagami a nod. Not knowing what else to do, Kagami nodded back at him and slowly backed away until she reached the corner where her friends watched in an awe-struck manner.
"Whoa!" Misao exclaimed. "That was awesome!"
"Don't be so loud, Misao", Kagami chided. "I did what I had to do".
"Onee-chan", Tsukasa warned. "You don't want to make him any angrier. Besides, he's creepy".
"I'm beginning to have my doubts about his 'creepy' attitude", Kagami answered while looking down.
"Aww, is Kagamin coming on to him?" Konata joked. "Your blushing tells all! But Tsukasa's right, you know. Get too involved with him, and you may end up in an abusive relationship!"
"Shut up", Kagami bluntly said.
"Geez", Konata shrugged. "I'm just telling you what I know from gaming experience. You've triggered quite a few events, and I can see more coming on from the horizon".
"I guess she's correct in that aspect", Kagami admitted. "Let's just hope that these events don't get too out of hand.
Despite the friendly gesture, she was still uncertain about the transfer student…