RyuXHayato FF – 1,618 words (about)

If history could be rewritten…

Part 1: First Day of School

If history could be rewritten, then the conflict with Ara High had already ended. Odagiri Ryu had never bowed down to their leader, and Hayato and his crew had already beaten the rival school. Hayato was the leader if the class, not Odagiri, and everyone followed him without reservation. They looked up to him, and he in turn protected them in fights. Odagiri Ryu was not a member of Hayato's crew; in fact, Odagiri Ryu had never even been to school before. This was his first day.

"Minna, we have a new student joining our class today," Yankumi announced to the members of class 3D. "He has never been to a school before, so I want you all to do your best to make him feel welcome. Ne? You may come in now!"

The class quieted and turned as one to see the new student. As he walked in, he glanced up at the menacing boys around him, then quickly looked back down and proceeded to the middle of the room, stopping beside the homeroom teacher.

"Odagiri Ryu desu," he said quietly. The class just stared.

What a weak looking guy, thought Yabuki Hayato from his seat at the back of the room. He looks scared to even be here. I'd bet he's never even been in a fight before. There's no way he's going to make it in this class.

Yankumi then showed Ryu a seat in the front-left corner of the room. He sat down quickly and faced front, acutely aware that the entire class was staring at him. So this is high school, he thought to himself. Well, it could be worse. Maybe they'll just leave me alone and won't ask me anything about myself. Ryu liked it best when he was alone, and he hated having to talk to strangers, especially if he was the topic of the conversation.

"Yosh! Everyone, let's begin where we left off yesterday. When x=…" Yankumi began the lesson immediately and the first half of the day passed without incident. Then it was time for lunch.

"Hey!" Ryu looked around in his seat only to see another boy's face peering closely into his own. He hurriedly leaned away, feeling uncomfortable at his classmate's close proximity.

"Hey! How come you haven't said anything all day? Are you stupid or something?" he continued. Another guy to the right of the first chuckled and slid up next to Ryu's desk.

"Naaaw, I don't think he's stupid," he sneered, "I think he's just too good to talk to us."

"What's that?" asked the first boy, his voice rising. A couple other students began to look around to see what was going on. "You too good to talk to us, Odagiri-kun?" He laughed menacingly.

"No," Ryu mumbled. He stared at his desk and began to open his bento box. A hand came down and snatched it out of his grasp.

"Umei! Take a look at this, guys!" The boy who had grabbed Ryu's lunch held it up for the class to see. The box was obviously expensive, and the food inside was homemade.

"You some sort of prince, Odagiri? You think having a fancy lunch makes you better than the rest of us?" The class began to get louder as some people grumbled in agreement. Yabuki Hayato looked up from his own lunch and began evaluating the situation.

"Taku", he muttered. Can't this guy keep from ruining the lunch break? Now I, as the leader, will have to go and settle the class down before another meaningless fight breaks out. Besides, if the new guy starts getting kicked around, then I'll have to step in and stop it, which would mean fighting with my own men and looking like a softy.

Grudgingly, Hayato stood up and began making his way across the room towards the surmounting tension, just as the bullying boy holding the bento threw it across the room. Hayato paused as the new student slowly stood up and turned to face his aggressor, arms rigid at his side, fists clenched.

"That was unnecessary. I wasn't doing anything to you, so why don't you leave me alone?" Ryu spoke in a cold voice that was somehow strange. His face was like a mask of calm, pulled too tight at the edges. His body was wound tight as if he was prepared to spring forward at any moment. Hayato hesitated.

"Let me give you a little tip, new guy." The boy who had slid up next to Ryu stepped forward and addressed him. "You're in class 3D, the worst there is. You don't get to decide whether something is necessary or not." He stuck his face in front of Ryu's and the boy flinched back. His attacker grinned.

"Get the picture? Your life in this class could be very difficult, or very easy. And that's entirely up to us, so watch what you say, ne?" The class laughed. Ryu's body relaxed some and he shrugged his shoulders.

"I understand," he said, quiet again. This is not the time for a fight, he thought. If I cause trouble here, it will mean even more for me at home later. Glancing around the room he noticed a tall guy who looked like he had been about to approach them, but had held back. What's his deal? he wondered.

Decidedly, Ryu walked across the classroom to pick up his bento, which had been scattered near the door. After he was finished, the class watched as he quickly exited the room. While everyone was distracted, Hayato slipped passed his friends and snuck out the back way. He hurried around the side of the room and down the hall, glancing around him to see where Odagiri had gone. When he finally saw him, he stopped and watched, unnoticed.

Ryu stood unmoving in front of a large garbage can outside the restroom, holding his bento over it. After a few moments had passed, he tossed the box and the lunch into the can and angrily kicked it. It dented. Sighing, Ryu turned the garbage can around so the dent wasn't visible, and then walked into the bathroom. Sighing himself, Hayato followed him in.

Why do I have to be here?, Ryu thought as he stood in front of the mirror, examining his reflection. He was very handsome, with a long smooth face and straight, elegant nose. People always told him he looked like his mother, who was considered a great beauty. Just thinking about it upset him. He leaned over the sink in front of him and splashed cold water over his face, trying to blur out his own image. He heard a shuffling sound behind him and quickly turned to see who had entered the bathroom.

Hayato watched as tap water dripped off his new classmate's face and ran in streams down his neck, wetting his uniform. I'm not sure if I've ever seen anyone who looked so miserable before, he realized. Something inside of him twisted at the sight of the other boy's sorrowful expression. He didn't look angry at being interrupted, just cautious. Hayato cleared his throat to break the silence.

"Hey." He paused. Ryu looked at him, unsure of what to expect. What does this guy want with me now? he wondered. Hayato continued.

"About what happened, back in the room? I just want to tell you that they're not really bad guys. They just get a little excited when they see a chance to show off their toughness." He watched the other boy's expression relax a bit as he spoke. Relieved that he had made the guy a bit less nervous, he went on, saying "But I should still warn you, the class you're in now is not a typical high school class. We are basically delinquents and, forgive me for saying this, you seem like you're not that used to confrontations like the one back there."

Ryu stiffened a bit at the thought that this other guy could be looking down on him. I'm not a baby, he thought. Just because I've never been in school before doesn't mean I've don't know how the world is like. This guy doesn't know anything about me! He shuddered, getting angry now.

Hayato hesitated as he watched emotions flicker over the new boy's face. He saw disgust, anger, and…fear? Then his face went blank, like he had cut off some connection that had been channeling his feelings. What's going on with this guy?

"Thank you for your concern," he said shortly. Hayato stared at him, still perplexed, and watched him leave the bathroom. More curious than insulted, he followed Odagiri back to the room, keeping his distance.

For the rest of the day, nothing eventful happened and it was soon time to leave. Odagiri Ryu's first day in Yamaguchi's homeroom had come to an end, and the boys of class 3D began heading out together in small groups. Odagiri slowly gathered his things and walked out of Kurogin Gakuen, alone.

Walking slowly, he reflected on all that had happened that day. Shit, he thought, as realization hit him. I threw away my bento-box today, which means I'm really going to get it later. Fear gripped him as he thought about what that meant. I don't want to go home EVER. I'll just walk around town until it gets late, then maybe he'll be asleep by the time I get home. But in the back of his mind, he knew that his father would be up and waiting, no matter how late he returned.

Filled with dread, Ryu walked down the street.