Chapter 1: The New Dude

Summer's finally over! School's back! New notebooks, new books and new stuff…So wonderful…

I changed into my favorite set of clothes for the first day of school: a white long sleeved collared blouse, a black vest, a red and white checkered tie and skirt and a pair of black sneakers. I run down the stairs, say good-by to my father and ride my bicycle.

Oh yeah…I forgot to introduce myself. Hi. I am Aomori Esumi. I'm 16 years old in Kudo High School. I usually come in the honors' list 'cause well…people say I'm a geek. God, I don't even have glasses and braces. But my biggest secret is that I LOVE basketball a lot. Yup. It sounds untypical for a brainiac.

Now here I am. Once again. In school.

"Esumi-chan!", a voice called. I turned to see who it was.

"Wayoko!!!", I yelled back. Well, Yoshida Wayoko has actually been my best friend since the first grade. Although she's from a different crowd as in the drama club, we still became best friends.

"So, what do you think of what I'm wearing?", she asked me. It was a long green blouse, white pants and green flats.

"Oh it's okay," I said being TOO honest. "But the green sucks".

And again. She goes on and on about how wonderful green is.

"Hey guys", said a sudden low voice.

"Hi, Ginko", Wayoko and I said. Maeda Ginko is my other best friend. She also comes from a different crowd --- the emos but we still managed to be close.

"Ew. Why are you wearing black?", Wayoko started. "It's supposed to be happy day today!" True, that she's wearing black on a happy day…but she looks cool in it. She wore a black headband, a black jacket with white shirt inside, black pants and black sneakers.

"Erm, black IS NOT an ew", Ginko replied."It rules". But before Wayoko could defend her side, the bell rang. We went to our classroom. Kobayoshi-sensei came in.

"Class, we have a new student", she said in her old woman tone. "Saitou-san, please introduce yourself".

A boy with spiky hair, a dark blue shirt and pedals came to the front.

"Hi", he said. "My name's Saitou Zaku". Upon saying that, since I sat between Wayoko and Ginko, they seemed to smile at me with mischief and looked at each other. Soon he sat down. After class, he passed by us and he looked at me. When he went somewhere else, Wayoko and Ginko began laughing like crazy.

"What's up with you, guys?", I asked.

"You know, about Zaku…", Wayoko began.

"He's the perfect husband for you!!!",Ginko said while laughing.

"Ew. I don't like him", I said. "He's not my type."

" Ahahaha!!!", Wayoko started laughing. "Overreacting is a sign of LOVE!!!"

"Shut up!", I screamed. "It does not."

"It does", said Ginko smiling mischievously.

The people around the corridors were looking at me---especially Zaku.

"People, what they are saying is not true!", I screamed upon embarrassment. "It's only a joke!"

"Haha! Esumi likes Zaku!", a boy yelled from the crowd.

I know I didn't so I screamed back that I didn't…except it wasn't powerful enough.