The Straightforward and the Shut-In
-Chapter Two-
...
At exactly 8:03AM, a group of freshman high school boys found themselves standing before Hiromishimo High School. The school was on average size, only two stories high with a small greenhouse located behind the school.
One of the boys grinned and took a huge sniff of the summer* air.
"Smell that, men," Mikuo said proudly, in a mock Superman stance.
"That's the smell of hundreds of cute high school girls who can't wait to be claimed!"
Len scrunched up his nose beside Mikuo.
"I think that's the smell of your armpits—did you shower at all?"
Piko ignored the bicker between his friends that followed and continued to observe their new school for the next three years.
Most of the other freshmen seemed just as excited and anxious as Mikuo while the seniors and juniors looked bored and apprehensive. Piko's eyes caught bright auburn and teal several yards (meters) away, standing next to the main entrance. On further inspection, there was a short blonde girl with them as well, looking slightly annoyed at her friends.
She seems to be a tsundere* type, Piko thought, his otaku* knowledge always helpful. A tug at his uniform sleeve interrupted his thoughts.
"Yo, Piko, I don't smell weird, right?"
"Well…"
"Ha, even Piko agrees!"
"Shut up, Len!"
The bell rang before Len could make a smart-ass comeback and the whole school was called to the auditorium. '
The boys ended up sitting in the middle, between other groups of boys (much to Mikuo's dismay). After about five minutes of everyone finally settling down the lights dimmed and a graceful girl walked to the center of the stage where a microphone was located.
She smiled brightly, her pink hair shiny under the orange lights.
"Good morning Hiromishimo students, both old and new. I am the student body president, Megurine Luka,"
Many cheers from students sounded out after the introduction, all from students who'd been to the school since at least last year.
"She seems popular," Len murmured underneath his breath. A tall man with eccentric purple hair tied in an even more eccentric style perked up at the comment.
"Miss Megurine is quite the student," the man commented, his position seemed to be a teacher of some sort.
"She's kind to everyone and she's very beautiful. Her long pink hair is so silky, and her eyes…I wonder what color her underwear are, hehe!"
All three boys along with several other students scooted away from the male now murmuring to himself about his student's "perfect figure".
"The principal cannot make it because of difficulties so I will give the yearly opening speech this year."
The teen, whom Len found out was actually a senior, continued a briefing about normal school rules and dress code and all of those fun things everyone has heard a million times. As boring as the material was, the seniors and juniors seemed to be happy just to have Luka speaking. Len concluded that she had a very motherly vibe.
"Lastly, this year's student body president will be voted for next month. I will be transferring schools next week so please do your best, as the next president, to help everyone in Hiromishimo High to get along."
Many cries of disbelief and sadness chorused through the auditorium at the mention of Luka's leaving. Some girls even burst into tears.
"That concludes Hiromishimo's opening speech for 20XX. Thank you."
"I'm a little glad she's leaving," Miku admitted, twirling around in the nearly empty Girl's bathroom during a class break.
Miki looked away from the tiled walls to give Miku a questioning look. Rin sighed, having a feeling she already knew the answer.
"Less competition for guys. That Luka girl is really pretty."
Miku glanced at the mirror coyly, a smirk on her face.
"But I'm prettier, right?"
Rin rolled her eyes and Miki smiled politely, as if humored by her friend's arrogance.
"All guys are the same, it doesn't matter which one you get—they're all bad."
Miku pouted childishly in what she presumed to be a cute pose.
"You need a boyfriend, Rin. Then you'd see how great cute boys are."
Miki nodded from beside Miku, although for different more reasonable reasons.
Rin grimaced as she imagined Miku, only fifteen, with a babye on each hip and a cigarette hanging from her scowling mouth as she complained about her "baby daddy" leaving her with the kids.
"I think I'll pass on the teen pregnancy," Rin answered coolly, gliding pass her best friends as someone outside mentioned the tardy bell ringing soon.
Miku made a disappointed face behind Rin's back before turning to Miki, hands on her hips.
"We really should do something—Rin obviously needs something more in her life."
Miki nodded, coming up with plan ideas in her mind already.
"Maybe we should get Rin in extracurricular activities, help her find someone she clicks with."
Miku frowned and shook her head, teal ponytails swinging with the movement.
"That's too simple. Opposites are supposed to attract, right?"
"Well, technically the positive and negative charges are both fundame—"
The tealette shushed the girl before she could get a headache.
"Maybe we could—"
Before Miku could finish the sentence the tardy bell began to chime*. The girls exchanged fearful glances before rushing out of the restroom in lightening speeds.
In Chronological Order:
*Summer - Japanese schools actually begin in summer and there are three semesters.
*Tsundere - Probably one of the most important words in this whole fic. Tsundere is made up of the words "tsun", which means irritable, aloof, or disliking; "dere" means lovey-dovey, affectionate. So Tsundere is sort of like a person who seems hateful and rude (tsun) but secretly likes you or whatever they're tsundere over (dere). It's like being too shy to admit your true feelings so you're hurtful instead.
Tsundere example: "I'm n-not writing this for y-you specifically, I j-just had some extra t-time, that's all!"
Translation: I like you and wanted to write this for you but I'm too embarrassed to say it.
Check out TVtropes if you still don't understand. Sorry if I'm not good at explaining. orz
* Otaku - Otaku originally meant "house" but in modern times in Japan it refers to someone who rarely leaves the house, always on the computer gaming, etc. In other countries and this fic it refers to someone who watches anime or reads manga a lot. Piko is called an otaku because tsundere (above) is a common feature of anime and he must watch a lot of anime to know about it.
*Chime - Japanese school bells aren't the usual "rrrrrriiiiiiiing" In America and the UK but rather a catchy chime like "Diiing dooong diiing dooong diiing doong diiing dooong" (yes, they actually are this long, so no excuses for being late!)