Quick update, huh? :D

Disclaimer: Own the OCs and the plot only.

Chapter 2:

Let's Get It Started

"Remember, Kayuki. Your school is Shitenhouji Chuu. It is quite popular because of its tennis club—that's what I heard from Mrs. Zaizen, tsk. Maybe because of her son—so if you get lost, just ask passers-by, Osakans are nice anyway. Then your class is 2-7, your bento is in bag already, also your books, and oh! I put extra money in your pencil case in case you run out of money or need to buy school needs, remember! Just for school needs, not else."

"Mom," I said after sighing. "A, the possibility of getting lost is low because I'll go to school with Zaizen, and he has gone there for two years. B, the teacher will escort me to my classroom. C, I certainly know where my books and bento are." Her possessive, too much anxiety traits didn't change at all, even though we had left for Osaka. Curse of the only child. "D, thanks for the extra money."

She raised an eyebrow. "You sound like your handsome senpai… what's his name? Oh, Inui Sadaharu."

She read my diary! "Sh—mom!" she was lucky that she was my own mom, who had brought me in her tummy for nine months. If not, I should have cut her neck in the most violent manner. "Itte ikimasu."

"Wait, Kayuki!" I stomped off, leaving her behind. I felt my cheeks heated. That was totally unacceptable. How dare she—

"Yo, Matsuyama." Zaizen popped out of his house. "Morning."

So, yesterday Zaizen and I met and conversed about many things at Shelter 421, and stopped when his bus arrived. At home, I found my mom's lips frowned, her eyes blazing mine in rage. She pointed to the clock, the other hand on stomach. I responded with a sheepish smile. After eating the burger ravenously, I told her what had happened (with a little hyperbole about Zaizen, of course) and her eyes lit up. What I knew before going to my bedroom was my mom called Zaizen's mom. That was it.

"Morning." I greeted back.

We walked in silence. I wanted us to behave like we did yesterday. He was quite funny and seemed never out of subjects, he was so 'now', so 'teen', he was up-to-date in everything. He was brilliant—unlike professor or Einstein—he was brilliantly creative. Yeah, brilliantly creative.

So creative that there was only silence between us.

We had reached Shelter 421, and—sigh—sat in silence. How boring.

I was an introvert. Just pictured an image of a nerd girl, it was me. Except that this nerd girl had mom who changed the monotonous braids with shaggy haircut, served veggies and fruits so her daughter didn't have to wear those geek big glasses, and again, donated some of her DNA of extrovertdemeanor.

But I felt he was different. He baited me into being talkative, something that only few people could do to me. Not that meant I had fallen for him on the first sight. I was peculiar and I had no idea about it. Yes, I didn't want to have a boyfriend in my junior high school period, because I thought it wouldn't last forever like a fairy tale, the boys in my age were mostly childish. But I had a crush when I used to go to Seishun Gakuen, my school in Tokyo. Peculiar, it was.

"Oi," Zaizen's voice (finally!) broke. "I sit here."

Wait. What?

"This is my seat. You sit there."

I gazed at him quizzically. "Well, it doesn't make any differences, does it? Just sit wherever." Do you think your dad owns this shelter? (Or he really did?)

Why did he become so annoying? A second ago I praised him, now he acted as if he was the ruler of the world. See? Childish. Or this Zaizen I Went to School With was Zaizen I Met Yesterday's twin?

Sorry, Zaizen. But your impressive first impression was torn to infinite pieces due to your bad mouth.

The bus stopped. We crossed the threshold, looking for a vacant seat. Since he walked before me, plus his tall figure, my eyesight was blocked. The bus was rather jam-packed, but not that crowd. I believed there were 2-3 seat left for us.

There was one seat left for us, and seemingly Zaizen had seen it. Alright. First, my mom twittered like no end this morning aaaaand annoyingly mentioned my crush. Second, my new neighbor whom I thought was friendly argued with me about the seat I took at bus stop. Third, he seemed to take his revenge.

Zaizen extended his hand in the direction of the empty seat, signing me to sit.

I sat uncomfortably, stealing glances to him while he stood beside me, hand clutching the handrail. His face expressed neutral look, as if the argue at Shelter 421 never to be happened.

Maybe he was as peculiar as me.

We parted at the temple-like school gate. Needless to say, I was befuddled. He should be my escort, but he joined his friends—he said there was urgency or what. So, I relied on my intuition to find receptionist. It took fifteen minutes for me to finally reach the classroom.

"Hajimemashite, Matsuyama Kayuki desu. Doozo yoroshiku." I bowed then picked my seat. Since it was my first time I did such an intro in front of the class, I looked rather timid and bewildered. I was anxious if they didn't welcome me, but in fact they were very friendly. They asked me a lot about Tokyo and I gave them good opinions about Osaka.

"Enough for the chit-chat." The teacher with frameless glasses ordered. "Now, I'm going to check the absences…" I heard several names were called. "…hmmm, Zaizen Hikaru?"

The door was opened.

"Present." A certain punk came, rising hand then swaying his feet to his seat. I just noticed that he was wearing two big green handbands on his left arm, catching everyone's eyes. How could I not see it before this? And how could I not have a thought that he might be my classmate? The teacher shook her head. "Mind to explain why are you coming this late?"

"Practice, sensei." He answered, eyes looking at sakura tree as if it was the one who asked him, not the teacher. "We have to prepare for National Competition, ah, hey Matsuyama." He turned his attention to me, waving with a smirk.

"Eh, hey," Confuse stares laid on me, asking for explanation. But I had no chance because he hastily added, fingers flicking as if he had a great idea after Pocky's invention. "Sensei, I suppose Matsuyama is blind about this school, and I think I can be her guide for today, so…" he rushed towards me and gripped my hand forcefully. I didn't think the teacher had time to warn him because in a few seconds I found myself in a corridor with hand entangled.

I released his grip.

"If you want to be my guide, do it fifteen minutes ago." I rebuked.

"You wanna back to the class? Fine." the Annoying Guy returned.

"Yes. With you." I glared back.

"No. You alone."

"No."

"Go with me or back to your seat listening to Literature's lecture, alone. You decide."

I personally didn't hate Literature, but sometimes it was boring. This guy, despite his smart mouth and cocky attitude, was interesting. Plus, today was my first day in school.

"Option one."

"I save you from boredom, you know." He pocketed his hands, mumbling. "I hate Literature."

"So, where is our first destination…" I saw him from the corner of eyes. "…my guide?"

He smirked. "This way."

Again, a huge temple gate welcomed me. I wonder what was on the founder of Shitenhouji's mind when this was built in 1912, Showa Year 4 (I read this when I was searching for receptionist). But this was Osaka, after all.

"Welcome to the tennis courts." He spoke in high pride.

"What's so special?" I muttered under my breath. Thank god it didn't reach his ears. "Shitenhouji Tennis Club is the strongest team from Kansai. We are dream team of every schools in Japan." He rambled nonstop. "The members are talented, particularly the regulars. Our buchou, Shiraishi-senpai, is a Tennis Bible. Nobody can win over his perfect tennis. My doubles partner, Oshitari-senpai, is Naniwa Speed Star, the fastest runner I've ever known. And I, Zaizen Hikaru, am well-known as Naniwa Tensai. I play in prodigy way, and if it combines with my senpai's speed, we're unattainable. Now we are rivaling other schools in Nationals. I'm sure we'll make it."

I caught Bible, Speed, and comment about himself. And thingamajig the Nationals. "Cool."

"Cool? It's Ultra Cool!" he exclaimed. "The best club in Shitenhouji Chuu."

"You know what? You sound as boring as Literature class." Silently I wished I was in classroom, daydreaming.

I thought he would get irate, then vomited curses words or what. His face surprisingly remained calm and collected. "This is appetizer. Next, we'll have main course." He let out a playful smirk, leading me entered the school's building.

"Ummm…" we were half way up the stairs. "Do you not afraid of detention?"

He stopped suddenly, and as he walked before me, it startled me resulting in almost fell backwards if only my hand wasn't quick enough to grip the nearest support, the stair handrail.

"Eh, gomen ne." he helped me getting up. "What did you say? Detention. Hmm. That's why we slink in order to avoid teachers catching sight of us, huh?" his teeth shined upon reflecting the sunshine. "C'mon, hurry up!"

Half-running and sometimes acting like culprits escaping jail, we snickered along our way. Then Zaizen pushed a door open and proceeded to walk in. I tailed after him.

"Scream as loud as you can here. This is my way to get out of detention. They can't hear us."

"Audiovisual room." I spelled the sign. "Nice idea. How do you spend your time here? Sleeping?"

He took an electric guitar, positioning his hand on it. "Creep? Mr Brightside? Champagne Supernova?"

Those titles were foreign to me. "Hmm… can you play Dear God?"

"Avenged Sevenfold, huh?" he paused, seemingly contemplating. Then he nodded. "I'm not into them much, but I can recall the keys, yeah." He stared at me. "It's a surprise that a girl like you have interest in such genre of music."

The room was slightly dark—only two neon lamps lightening it. I wished the darkness could hide flush that crept over my cheeks. "Yeah, mmm…" I shrugged. "That song is the mellowest from them, I think."

"I like A Little Piece of Heaven." He said. "Well, my role models are British indie bands, but it doesn't mean I don't accept the other. By the way, what kind of music do you like, Matsuyama?"

"Pop. It's everlasting." I grinned. "And a little R&B. I also listen to rock music."

"Oh, mainstream" he commented. "It's okay. Now, live from A/V room of Shitenhouji Chuu, an awesome guitar play by Zaizen Hikaru. A request from Matsuyama Kayuki, Dear God of Avenged Sevenfold."

We were supposed to skip a class. In fact, we spent 120 minutes outside, chatting and laughing and singing. It was exhilarating fun. I never felt this enjoy in school, honestly. I used to feel like a robot every day, doing the same things over and over again. It was true that we needed some change. Break the rule. Be a rebel. Although I disliked the statement 'Rules are made to be broken'.

If only I hadn't met him. I'd like to say that he came to my life in time, he spiced up my day when I immensely needed someone to do it. I got a feeling that this was going to be a good start for me to live in Osaka, and school at Shitenhouji Chuu. I hoped so.

I didn't see this coming. Yes, I was surprised that my first day in school would be skipping class, but that wasn't what I mean. I didn't see that there was a sudden thud, jerking our shoulders. A middle-aged man was blocking the entrance.

"You two, go to my office, NOW."

We exchanged worried gazes, sweat dropping. Good start, eh? We would see tomorrow.

Creep – Radiohead

Mr Brightside – The Killers (I like this one)

Champagne Supernova – Oasis

It is not necessary to look for these songs, but I do recommend them :)

(Also for Dear God, it is just awesome)

Sorry for the errors and possible OOCness /bows

Thanks for reading! Then, tell me what you think :D