Chapter 2
'New Start'
It's finally the first day of my high school. It's been two weeks since I moved to Tokyo and settled at the apartment grandpa provided for me.
I don't know anyone here, just grandpa's acquiantance as my guardian. I know nothing about him aside from the man's given name. Something about the man gives off a strong feeling of familiarity. My meeting with him was rather brief because he happened to be on his way to catch a flight to Osaka for a convention stuffs or something.
My apartment located at a third floor of the building. It is simple and comfortable, perfect for my taste actually. The ground floor had a convenience store and sushi shop, which I managed to land a job for Saturdays and Sundays.
In my living room, I bought a do-it-yourself cupboard shelf where I display my small flatscreen TV, a dvd, grandpa's trophies, few photo frames of me with grandpa, with my friend and some other stuffs.
I chosen a two-seater black leather sofa and two white bean bags for each side. Just like the color of go stones. A glass center table comes along with it. I place a thin wooden board over it which I drawn a grid to be look like a goban. And of course, I bought a kinda cheap go stones stored in plastic black and white bowl.
On the wall above the sofa, I hang the framed calligraphy I made with Sai's help. Kami mo Itte. In the corner table, I settled the framed sketch of Sai I secretly drew while he is playing Go. I smiled. I am pretty sure Sai will be glad to see it.
In the kitchen, I just bought three plates, three glasses and mugs. I also bought three pieces each of spoons and forks. And chopsticks! A ladle thingy and look-a-like stuff one each for cooking. As a grandson of a sushi chef, I bought a specially made set of a sharp knives for making sushi. It cost me a fortune anyways.
I also had a rice cooker, a pot, frying fan and a kettle. I managed to fill the cupboard with some spices just in case I'm in the mood to cook. And of course, I stocked some of my favorite instant ramen. I'm thinking to buy a fridge, but then again I guess I won't need it since the convenience store was just below mine.
I stored some toiletries, shampoos, soap and some hand towels for my bathroom. And placed a not-so-cheap laundry machine next to the bathroom door. I don't plan to wash my clothes manually.
Nothing special about my room. Really. A typical teenage bedroom. Just a bed, a table, and few books, novels I loved together with manga in the second-hand bookshelf I bought . I also kept Shuusaku's book with it.
In my desk, I had my computer I got from grandfather with a printer I also bought downtown along with the rest of my stuffs and appliances. Man, I can't imagine that shopping stuff will take me few days before I finally fill the house. Mostly second-handed stuffs hence I cannot to afford to buy new. I need to watch out my expenses!
I prefer to kept the goban in my bedroom since it's not just an ordinary goban. And covered it with a silky purple cloth to keep away from dust. It reminded me of Sai's silky purple hair.
I grabbed my bag and do the final check if I have everything I need for school. I looked at the mirror to take a good look at my gakuran. Look cool. All black. I passed by in the kitchen to grab my bento and ready to go to school.
"Shindou-kun, your guardian explained your situation and I personally called your middle school and they informed that you don't have any problem socializing with other student, am I right?"
I nooded. The principal of Haze High School meet me in her office. Although I cannot see any problem with my entrance exam result, including my middle school recommendation, the principal wanted to make sure that I won't have any difficulties in adapting to a normal school. It's not as if I'm abnormal. I am mute. Just a mute. And I pretty confident I am normal and more capable than they ever think.
'I am fine Kaga-sensei. Thank you for your concern. I will try to get along with the my classmate. I will do my best.' I showed my ready and prepared answers through my flash card. It's kinda hard to write to answer for every question so I had a ready ones.
"I wish you good luck. Just remember to ta..." She stopped, I'm pretty sure she felt sorry that she might offended me. "I mean to communicate with your homeroom teacher if ever you need a help for something. And as for your hair..." The principal take a good look at me. "Never mind..." She sighed.
I noodded then bowed my head modestly and take my leave. 'Is there something wrong with my hair?'
1-2. That's my classroom. I entered the classroom and noticed that most of the student are happily chatting to each other. Obviously, most of them came from the same middle school. I seated at last row next to the window. As always.
"Yo! I'm Kaga Tetsuo. I'm the captain of our school's awesome shougi club." The red head said, wearing white hakama and holding a paper fan in his right hand, suddenly appeared in front of everyone together with a fidgeting black hair four-eyed guy. The redhead tactlessly sat on our teacher's desk with a huge grin while fanning himself. "Anyway, I'm in second year, so Im basically your sempai. So you better call Kaga-sama-sempai once I decided to accept you as a member." He added. "Anyone just come to our club to test your strength."
I smirked. What a jerk?! I heard that Haze's shougi club was indeed the best in Tokyo and one of the best in all Japan but it doesn't mean the guy needed to boast about him being a captain. Ne?
I averted my gaze in the window to ignore him. I have no time to deal with him. And besides, I decided not to join any club in high school since I have a part time job to support my self, so I'm not interested to his crap.
"Hey you bastard! You...with the bleach bang...next to the window! Did you just smirked at me?! Don't ignore me!" He shouted that turned everybody's attention at me.
I kinda surprised but pretended to looked at him innocently. I smiled and pointed at myself.
"Yes you stupid!" He yelled as he walk towards me. "Are you making fun me of me bastard?! Say something jerk!"
'Jeez, what this guy problem?' I wondered.
I take out my erasable white board under the desk and write. 'I am sorry Kaga-SAMA-sempai.' I wrote SAMA in capital letter purposely. 'I am mute. So I cannot talk to you.' Then show it to him.
His eyes widen then grabbed my board and throw it away. "You asshole! Don't fuck with me!" He yelled loudly.
"Kaga-san...you're making a scene." The four-eyed guy said. Picking up my board and returned it back to me. "We have to go now..."
"Kaga-kun!" A middle aged female teacher entered, fortunately. "I think you are in the wrong classroom. Pease refrain from shouting and scaring our freshmen." The teacher said, glaring at the furious redhead.
"Hai Sensei." Kaga said apologetically and turned his attention back at me. "I'm not done with you brat." He threatened me.
I sweatdropped. Seriously... what his problem. And this is just my first day. I didn't even sit on my chair for ten minutes. It seems that those troublesome, noisy immature people attracted to me whenever I go. I am mute. And it will be worst if I am not. I sighed. Perhaps it's a sign for a lively high school life for me. Hee. As if.
Lunchbreak. I pull out my bento from my bag. Man, I'm hungry! I made sushi as usual enough for today's meal. I think I needed to write a plan for my daily food since Aya-san insisted that I must eat and prepare healthy food.
During the class introduction, everyone completely surprised to discovered that I am mute. One of my classmate commented that I looked normal.
Define normal please, dude.
I just wrote my name and sensei do a brief introduction for me. Just from where I came from. That's all. She understood well that it's not for her to decides whether I want to share my tragic life story or not.
"Hello, Shindou-kun." A sweet voice of one of my female classmate greeted. "Is it okay if we join you?" She asked. If I remember correctly her name is Fujisaki.. Akari. I just smile and nod at her. The other two girls and one guy joined us.
"Ne, Shindou-kun. Did you decide to join any club?" The guy asked.
I remembered this guy who joined us introduced himself for more than five minutes. Man. He even tell us about the name of their dogs and the name of his uncle's friend's auntie that a neighbor of so on... sighed...while the rest just say their names and sit. He's funny and easy- going. Maybe we can get along just fine. His name is Kento Mizuki. A black hair, tall as me with a quite chubby feature. But looked fine overall.
I shook my head. And scribble. 'I can't. I have a part time job.'
"Eh? Too bad. You look athletic you know. I thought I can invite you to join soccer club."
'I play soccer. And I can join the practice sometimes. But I cant join officially.' I wrote fast.
"Really?!" He beamed. "Great!" Mizuki-kun clasped in excitement.
"Shindou-kun. About Kaga-sempai. Don't worry about him. He acts like that but he's actually a nice person. I know him since middle school." One of the girls said. Kuno Kaori her name. I'm good at remembering names. Especially pretty girls. ^snicker^
Well, I don't really mind about him since I can't really blame the guy for accusing me of smirking, because I really did.
I smiled and continued eating. Man this is frustrating. I mean it's just the first of day school and a bully already noticed me. I really need to do something with my blonde bang to avoid them. I sighed. I felt like my blondeness is shouting 'Notice me sempai!' out loud. What a pain!
The first day of school finished so soon before I know it. I grabbed my bag, preparing to leave when Fujisaki called me. She's with her other two friends. Kaori Kuno-san and Rina Aoyama-san.
"Shindou-kun do you want to join us checking out clubs.?" She asked politely. Fujisaki is indeed nice, but really I don't need her to pity me. It's shows in her eyes, the way she look at me. It's full of sadness and pities towards me.
I can take care of myself just fine, And I hated it when someone looks at me and treats me as if I'm completely helpless. So I shook me head. I refused. 'Sorry, I need to go home early." I showed the flash card I kept with an instant answer. I'd been using it for answering the obvious questions and more faster for me to reply. Then I waved goodbye.
Honestly, I'm planning to go home straight but Mizuki-kun forcefully grabbed and dragged me to check the soccer club.
I lay down in my bed. Damn, I feel exhausted, after checking soccer club I hurriedly bid goodbye. But just when I thought Kaga-san totally forget about me, he showed up right in front of the gate.
He was with that four-eyed guy again and a short orange hair kid this time. At first, I thought they're going to beat me up. Three against one. But it never happen. It turns out that Kaga-sempai confirmed from our homeroom teacher Kuroki-sensei that I'm indeed mute and he wanted to apologized for misunderstanding.
He may sounded rude but I sensed the sincerity in his voice. I accepted his apology. We exchanged phone numbers and invited me to visit the shougi club whenever I have time. Then before I knew it, Kaga-sempai dragged me along with his other two friends to his older sister's restaurant to eat. I've been dragged around today.
"It's on me!" He said cheerfully. It's not that bad. Meeting Kaga-sempai, Tsutsui-sempai and Mitani-kun, also a first year like me was refreshing. They reminded me of my friends in Aomori. They never shown in pities and treated me normally, which I am very thankful.
My eyes turned at the computer. It was there for a weeks and I never turn it on yet. I checked my watch. It's too early for bed. Eight o'clock.
I turned on the computer and check the internet connection. Finally. I have connection. One of the few things I arrange when I arrive at my apartment. Internet connection.
I browse the net. Checking online manga updates and searching for a nearest companies that will help me with something important to me. I found many lists. I'm browsing and narrowing down the lists when a particular recommended site catches my attention.
NetGo. Let's play Go online!
It sounded cool!
To think that there's an online site for playing Go. How come I didn't know about it before? Tsk, what a stupid question? Of course there is. I just didn't think about the possibility before.
I click the site and browse. I'm amazed that you can challenge anyone to play against with and can watch someone's games.
But first I needed to create an account. I click to register. Damn, my heart beating so fast. I am so excited. It's been awhile since the last time I played Go. I wonder how well I can play against them.
After registration and verifying my email address, I returned at NetGo site and signed in.
Username: SAI
A/N: Hopefully you guys won't confused either Hikaru wrote or thought the words. I will try my best not to get you confuse. LOL
Oh well, I'm kinda free this week, so I'm in the mood to write. -'gonna be busy again next week for work. Trying my best to write..and hopefully to update my other stories.
(pls don't think I can update this story every other day..LOL... I just happened to have free time and in the mood. But I'll do my best to update asap.)
Thank you guys for following and favoriting this fanfiction. mwahh ^_^
'Blah blah blah' Hikaru's replied from his board or flash card.
'blah blah blah' character's thought