Chapter I-First Impressions are so Strange!
Light pink and white clusters of cherry blossoms decorate the trees and sail through the breezy spring air outside Kinomoto Private Academy- marking the beginning of a new school year.
A group of junior high students chat over a snack of curry buns and bubble tea during early break-their dark uniforms a stark contrast against the fragrant blooms.
"Have you heard the news?!" A short chin-length haired girl inquires.
Her friend responds immediately-reflecting the same enthusiasm. "Who hasn't? Deguchi-sama and Deguchi-san's only two children are enrolling today!"
"The whole family's made up of prodigies! Deguchi Jun is a five star world-renowned chef and owns a chain of popular restaurants called 'Lavender Rose.' And his wife-Ayako-san-is a top fashion designer whose threads are featured in both 'Raspberry' and 'Silver Circlet' Monthly Magazines."
A nearby boy adds his two cents. "Their son has an IQ of 190 and skipped several grades while the daughter is a master chess player and currently a finalist in the country-wide tournament. She also skipped a couple grades to start her first year in junior high. I can't wait to meet both of them."
~~Page Break~~please stand by~
Pink petals from the blossoming trees overhead drop into long pale blue hair streaked with egg yellow highlights. Shiro walks two paces behind her faithful older brother-Sora. Breaking the silence-she wonders aloud.
"Ne...Onii?" Sora turns his head slightly-silently encouraging her question.
"Do you think we'll be accepted by others this time? Or is it all a worthless wish?"
Sora stares straight ahead-ignoring the mischievous winds playing with his dark reddish brown hair. "There are no rules set in society-not even a main objective. There are consequences for losing too much and for winning too much. Do not pass Go. Do not collect twenty-thousand yen. And just from the looks of this place and the rumors spreading like a forest fire-there is only a fifteen percent chance we'll have no one who'll hate us on sight." He adjusts the leather briefcase in hand. "It's happened before and it'll happen again."
~~Hot pot is being cooked…..stir-bubble-bauble~
The duo part ways shortly after passing through the newly made temporary welcome gate constructed completely out of thornless read and pink roses with a dash of white here and there. Shiro heads over to the middle sch0ol section despite only being eight years old while Sora goes to the Advanced Algebra II class in the High School Building number three. All around them-whispers are created that pass through their distracted minds like water vapor.
"The girl is so cute~~ like a shoujo manga character from Kamichama Karin!"
"Eh? She's more like Anise-chan from Kiss of the Rose Princess with her unusual hair coloring!"
"She doesn't look old enough for seventh grade though."
"The boy is so cool! Those eyes!" ~sways slightly.
~~tick-tock-tick-tick….!~
Crisp white marks shape themselves from the long writing utensil clutched between the index and middle fingers of Sensei Takimura Maako as she writes Shiro Deguchi on the chalkboard. Besides the tall cedar wood desk stands Shiro-expressionless as ever-dressed in the mandatory sailor uniform made of dark navy-blue corron. The collar is white and ribboned with shiny red with a yellow tie holding the long sleeved dress together. Matching low silk stockings and polished black babydoll shoes complete her outfit. Her gaze is deep-as if looking deep within the soul.
"This is Shiro Deguchi." Sensei announces to the rest of her first period Advanced World History class. She smiles encouragingly to Shiro. "Deguchi-san-please introduce yourself."
Shiro stares right back-every emotion masked on her face.
"I have nothing to say. Can I go to my desk now?"
Sweatdrops...silence...stares…
"Of course-" Maasko states once she's recovered from her shock. She looks back at her roll book. "Please sit in the vacant space between Akagi-san and Kurosaki-san." She points to a blank seat between two girls….
Akagi-san has medium-length burnt-umber hair that turns a brilliant red at the ends. Her dark gray eyes twinkle with amusement as she tosses a not folded into an origami crane followed by Kurosaki's not resembling a leap frog.
The first one said: "Welcome to Anemone Class 7C."
"Shopping after school? There's a cute accessory shop and I could use a new barrette or twi." From Kurosaki-who was currently loosely braiding her pale icy blonde hair with a spare hair tie and fixing the ends with hairpins appearing from nowhere.
~~hot chocolate is brewing~please wait my return~~~
Sora 'patiently' waits for Shiro outside the entrance to the Kinomoto Middle School Section. His day was quite..amusing-to be honest. He breezed through his first few classes without a hitch-playing Angry Birds ( I don't own) behind a textbook and answering questions without even so much as glancing at the chalkboard. And what a coincidence that the entrance to the gymnasium was located directly next to the girls' locker room in which he oh so suspiciously peeked in and got two dictionaries thrown in his face -but not before he got an eyeful.
He tapped his foot rhythmically against the pebbled path impatiently. His jaw drops at the sight before him as his nose bleeds.
Sora's imouto-an anti-social-no-nonsense gamer-poker-faced chess opponent and his equal in every aspect despite the vast age difference was smiling and laughing-LAUGHING!-with two female classmates he'd definitely hit on if they weren't his sister's age for crying out loud! He could hand-count the rare times her lips turned up in the faintest curve-but never laughing.
"Onii." Shiro's voice startled him. Never had he heard her soft voice so-happy and full of life. Against his better judgment he reluctantly permitted his only sibling to venture into the Marketplace with two people she'd just met. As long as she's happy- he thought as his limousine pulled up and his old mentor and chauffeur-Kazuhiko-greeted him.