Partners
(Tsubasa x Misaki)
Disclaimer: I don't, and never will I, own Gakuen Alice.
"Okay, for our first activity, I want all of you to find a partner and sit together," after discussing the usual rules and course syllabus, Fukutan, their Architecture 111 professor announced and clapped his hands. The classroom buzzed as people asked others to be their partner.
Anna and Nonoko naturally paired up. Tsubasa just pulled his chair and table next to Misaki. Megane paired up with his seatmate who also didn't have a partner.
"Does everyone have a partner now? Here's what you're gonna do, together with your partner, color that house using the crayons I brought," Fukutan said as he gave a sheet of paper to each pair. On the sheet of paper was a drawing of a house front. "Let's see which pair will come up with the best color combination. You may begin."
Tsubasa and Misaki stared intently at the drawing for a while.
"It's a cabin-style bungalow, typical house. We should stick to simple colors," Tsubasa said after studying the drawing. She nodded.
"Probably only one color in different shades or just two colors," she said. "Which do you prefer?"
"Two colors, for the roof and the walls," Tsubasa answered.
"We should use white for the walls and a plain color for the roof," she said. "It's the best for this kind of house."
"Other colors look good for this too," Tsubasa argued. "Light yellow or cream or mint for the walls and then clay for the roof would look nice."
"But if you look at most bungalow-types, there's always white, plus I think this house is suited for a tropical area. The paint should have a bright or sunny feel to it too," she argued back.
"Isn't yellow sunny?"
"Are you going to color the window sills yellow too?" she raised an eyebrow.
Tsubasa let out a sigh. "Okay, then let's do this, we'll use white as the lining, clay for the roof, then yellow for the walls. Yellow is a homey color, it'll provide the balance between vacation house and home."
"What about we use white for the roof too? It'll look welcoming that way," she said.
"Let's leave it for now and see if it's better that way then color it if it doesn't," Tsubasa said and then took the colors they will need.
Tsubasa did the main part of the house. She was impressed. He made coloring using crayons seem like an art rather than an elementary activity. They decided to leave the roof white, together with the linings.
"It looks nice," Tsubasa smiled. "Homey and lively."
She agreed. They passed the paper then went out to eat lunch together with Anna, Nonoko and Megane.
"You guys, you were arguing during the activity, it was pretty loud, you know," Megane told them while they were eating.
"But it was pretty cute, actually," Anna and Nonoko giggled.
"By the way, are you done filling up the application form? Let's submit it after eating," she then stood up to get water. There were a few people at the water station so it took her a while to get back to their table. She brought two glasses of water, one for her and another for Tsubasa, but he wasn't there.
She was just going to ask when he came and placed a sundae cup in front of her then took his seat beside her.
"What time are you going home tomorrow?" Tsubasa asked her before drinking the water she brought for him.
"Maybe 8 or 9," she replied as she opened the sundae cup.
"Too early, let's go at 10," Tsubasa complained.
"Too late, what are you going home for if you're going to go late anyway? The earlier we get there, the more time we have at home. Besides, the train might get too crowded if we go late," she took a spoonful of sundae. "We're going at 9, that's it."
"They're arguing again," Megane shook his head. "I don't know if you two match well or not at all."
"And just so you know, not going together is also an option," Nonoko said as she and Anna giggled. They looked at each other as if realizing that just now. Tsubasa shrugged his shoulders.
"9 it is. Remind me to tell Kaname we're going at 9," Tsubasa said to her. She took his phone and set his alarm.
"Just in case Kaname-kun won't wake up early," she said. They then stood up to go to their next class.
They passed by the fair to submit their application form. Just as they were going to their classroom, they met Hayate, who was the same as that morning, sleepy and dragging himself.
"Hayate, your class is over?"
"Oh, Tsubasa, it's you. Yeah, I'm going to sleep now," he rubbed his eyes.
"You're not going home? Or are you attending the party later?" Tsubasa then looked at them. "They're my blockmates, by the way. Misaki, Megane, Anna and Nonoko. Guys, this is Hayate, we're classmates since grade school."
Hayate nodded at them. "What party? Anyway, I'm still sleepy, I'm going to sleep for now." And Hayate went on to drag himself to the dorm again.
"I still don't get why he chose the morning schedule," Tsubasa scratched his head as they went on. "Actually, I don't get why he's always so sleepy. I know he plays a lot of video games, but he seems like he spends all of his free time sleeping anyway."
The party that night was held in a function hall near the university. Tsubasa and Kaname fetched Misaki from her apartment first and then went to the party together.
The room was filled with architecture students from all levels. Not all students attended but they were still able to fully occupy the large hall. The center of the room was made a dance floor while the tables were scattered all around it. There were already some students dancing while most were going around the tables.
They saw Megane, Anna and Nonoko waving at them from a table near the side of the room.
"I think at least half of each batch is here," Megane had to shout for them to hear what he was saying. Misaki took a seat beside Anna while he sat beside Misaki.
"Nobara-chan is not yet here," Anna leaned to Misaki for them to hear. Kaname had just pulled a chair for himself when he saw something from the other side of the room.
"Hey, Tsubasa, some of the upperclassmen from our dorm are there, let's say hi," Kaname tapped his shoulder. He looked up and saw a group of guys laughing and talking to each other on the other side of the room. It would be rude not to greet them, they did guide them when they found out they were architecture majors too.
"There are some of our dormmates who are also our senpais, we'll just greet them, I'll be back," he placed his hand on Misaki's shoulder. She nodded. He got up and went with Kaname to the senpais' place.
"Oh, it's Andou and Sono," three of them were their dormmates in the East Boys' Dorm. They are all seniors. "Hey guys, they're sophomores, they live in the East Boys' Dorm too. They're our batchmates. Is that Matsudaira the sleepyhead? Oi, Matsudaira, over here!"
Hayate looked as sleepy as ever. His clothes was also unkempt, as if he realized there was a party and rushed to take a bath and changed his clothes to get here. Some of the buttons of his plaid button down shirt was unbuttoned and his hair looked like he didn't even give it a brush of hand.
"Why are you always sleepy? I heard from your roommates that you don't really do much inside your room anyway," one of the seniors gave him a noogie.
"I thought you didn't know there was a party tonight?" he asked him.
"I heard from some of the third year senpais about it and I didn't like the food at the dorm so I went here," Hayate replied. He then looked up and saw the buffet table. "That's food, gotta go."
"Speaking of food, we better get Misa—" he turned to face Kaname but he wasn't beside him anymore. He looked around and saw him chatting with a group of girls. They looked like freshmen who were all swooning on him.
"Ever the ladykiller, that best friend of yours," he just scratched his head and told them he'll get back to his table.
Nobara was already there when he got back, but only Misaki's handbag was on her chair. Megane also wasn't there. Nobara, Anna and Nonoko all had food already.
"Where's Misaki? I was going to ask her to get food with me. And where's Mega—" he asked as he looked around. He then saw Megane talking with some guys, he recognized them as their batchmates.
"About time you got hungry," Misaki then arrived, carrying two plates full of food. She set one in front of him and another for her own. "It was a bit hard to get that here without bumping into anyone. Where's Kaname-kun? I wasn't able to get his food for him."
"Using his charms, as usual," he said as he picked up the spoon and fork. "You're the best, Misaki! You got everything!"
Anna, Nonoko and Nobara all got up later to talk to some friends they saw. He and Misaki stayed at their table, eating dessert.
"I saw some members of SCA here, maybe we can introduce ourselves later, or get to know other applicants too," he said. He took a spoon of cake but Misaki tapped the spoon with hers. They had filled one plate with all the dessert and decided to just share.
"I get the strawberry," she stuck out her tongue before getting piece that had the strawberry on top.
"Oh, Tsubasa-kun? I'm surprised you attended this party," a girl, a senior, was passing by their table but stopped. She had long hair and wore glasses.
"Shizune-senpai," he recognized her. "My friend insisted we come, and yet he left us here. By the way, this is Misaki. Misaki, this is Shizune-senpai, we came from the same high school, she's a senior now and she's also part of our student council. I heard Shizuka-chan went to another university."
"Yeah, anyway she's taking up a broadcasting course, that school's famous for it," she took a drink from the waiter passing by. "Are you joining an organization?"
"We're applying for SCA," he smiled at Misaki who just kept on eating.
"Akira's org," she made a face and then she got up. "Anyway, I hope you two enjoy the party."
"She's so beautiful, Tsubasa," Misaki said as she looked at Shizune's retreating figure. She had a strict air to her but she carried herself with elegance. She looked like a no-nonsense type of girl. "I bet she's the beautiful senior all you guys had a crush on back in high school."
"Nah, she's scary, you know," Tsubasa focused his attention on the dessert on the plate. He took a marshmallow dipped in chocolate then looked at her. "She's been part of the student council ever since elementary. I have a collection of notices for being late from her."
"Oi, Tsubasa, did you see Miss Scary-face? She's here," just then, Hayate came to their table with his own plate of food. He took the seat Shizune had vacated, the one in front of them.
"She was just here, from that seat you're sitting on right now," they both laughed as the look on Hayate's expression turned from sleepiness to utter horror. "He also has a collection of late notices from her."
"She's so scary, she even scolds me for sleeping behind a tree in the school's yard," Hayate told her and then he turned back to Tsubasa. "I'm surprised she and Shizuka-chan are sisters, Tsubasa. By the way, how's she?"
"I think she's fine, I heard she's taking a broadcasting course in another university," Tsubasa told him. "Hey, you got the strawberry, at least let me get the cherry!"
"Fits Shizuka-chan, alright. She was pretty loud, and always been a part of the school news team," just then, Hayate's look stopped on her, and he seemed as if he just realized something. "I probably shouldn't be talking about her, sorry, uhm, ah, what's your name again?"
"Misaki, and why are you saying sorry to me? Who's Shizuka-chan?" Hayate looked like he was sorry for bringing up her dog that just died.
"Eh? Tsubasa, are you hiding your past from her? How awkward must it be with Scary-face here earlier!" Hayate's look turned to horror again as he looked at Tsubasa.
"Shizune-senpai's sister is your ex-girlfriend?" she looked at Tsubasa. He just nodded.
"Sorry, Tsubasa, didn't mean to tattle about your ex to your girlfriend," Hayate looked down.
"I'm not her girlfriend, Hayate-kun," her's eyes widened. And then she turned to Tsubasa. "But Tsubasa, wow, if Shizune-senpai is that pretty, her sister must be too. Is she younger? Or is she older than you too?"
"She's not your girlfriend? Why didn't you tell me?" Hayate turned to Tsubasa.
"I didn't have to, you just assumed that, or did you hear about the house plan too?" Tsubasa just kept on eating as if it wasn't a big deal. "She's 1 year my junior, looks like a younger and brighter version of senpai."
"I see," she tried picturing a brighter version of Shizune. It was hard. All she knew was that she must be pretty. "Shizune-senpai must have thought I was your girlfriend too. She suddenly looked at me when you mentioned her sister's name. She might say something to her, is that okay with you?"
"Probably. But it's okay, don't worry," he smiled at her. "Wanna dance? We've eaten so much already."
She agreed and they left Hayate at the table. The dance floor was packed but they had fun, nonetheless. The others soon found their way to them and were dancing too. Some of the SCA members recognized them and they were able to chat with them a bit, and also met some of the other applicants. Kaname was sometimes with them, sometimes not, each time with a flock of girls with him.
The party ended at 10. Megane, Anna and Nonoko went back to the university dorms together with other North Dorms residents. Tsubasa and Kaname walked Misaki home, dragging Hayate with them. Nobara had left the party earlier.
"I didn't attend this party last year because I didn't have anyone to go with. Thanks, you guys, I met a lot of people because you made me attend this party," she smiled at them. They had reached her apartment. The three guys didn't step in anymore because it was getting late. "Oh, and Tsubasa, we're still going at 9 tomorrow. Good night, guys."
As expected, Misaki got to the station earlier than Tsubasa. She was 5 minutes early while Tsubasa was 5 minutes late.
"Tsk, tsk, you make a girl wait?" she shook her head in disapproval when he approached her. "And where's Hayate-kun? Is he not going home?"
"Here, I figured I'd be late so I got this for us," he was holding a two-cup coffee holder from a familiar coffee shop and a paper bag for pastries also from that café. She took one cup and they entered the train platform to wait for the next train. "Hayate was still asleep according to some people in their wing so I went alone. I guess he'll go when he wakes up."
The next train arrived and they boarded that one. They were able to find seats for the two of them and ate the buns he bought for them. It was a long ride and they talked about a lot before Tsubasa had to get off at the station where he'd be switching trains going to Shimoda.
"Hey, I want some crabs, bring me some on Monday," she joked as he was preparing his luggage.
"I'll just send them your address in Hamamatsu and make them walk there," he joked back. The train then stopped, and Tsubasa got off the train.
She felt a bit sad when the train went on again. She'd been riding the train since freshman year alone that eventually, the long trip didn't feel that long anymore. Riding with Tsubasa made it seem to her that those lone trips back and forth really were long.
It was Monday when she saw her friends again. The 'first week of school' hype was now over and the classes started to really kick off. So did the organization application process.
SCA is famous among the Architecture-based clubs as the one with the hardest application process, but that's because even the recruitment is in line with entrepreneurship. It's like a job application process where being considered for the job meant training and proving yourself. The application process would last until a couple of weeks before the end of the first term. Only then will the accepted applicants be selected and be proclaimed part of the organization.
Both in academics and the application process, Tsubasa was doing really well, she noticed. Tsubasa was the type you'd think would be cramming everything he needs to do and just pass whatever to fulfill a requirement, but he was always ready. They've had a few submissions for SCA like an autobiography and such, but while most would be cramming those before the sessions, Tsubasa would just pull out his when it's time to submit them. Same thing goes for their architecture classes. She didn't know if she had simply stereotyped him or he really was just exuding that attitude, but she had expected that Tsubasa would be doing their plates either last minute or last night. She was wrong. Tsubasa's plates were always ready and they were obviously not rushed. Tsubasa had a clean style and she noticed that from the careful formatting of his papers.
He was still always sleepy or inattentive in class, though. Like that afternoon.
"Okay, class, since Andou-san there looks like he's bored with our lesson, let's have a quiz, a quick recap of everything I've taught you so far," that was the first thing Jinno said when he got inside the room and saw Tsubasa's head face-down on the desk.
Tsubasa raised his head in confusion. The entire class whined. They just had a quiz the last meeting. And last week too. And last, last week too. At least those weeks they just had one quiz. It was the first time Jinno was giving them a quiz on both meetings. They all had no choice but to take out a sheet of paper. She gave one to Tsubasa before he even asked.
Jinno started the quiz and it was especially hard, aside from the fact that it was a comprehensive test of everything he's taught so far. "Okay that's enough, pass your papers now."
He then gave out the papers of their past quizzes. "Do you know why I teach Math for you Architecture majors? Because you tend to be lazy with this subject after a while, and that can't be for any Architecture major. Believe me, I've been teaching this subject for years, and every time, there would be those students who think they've mastered this and this is too easy for them and fail at the end. I hate that kind of student. But what I especially hate, are the ones who are at the top of the class, do well on the first half, then ultimately fail at the end. Andou, Harada, I hope you both are not that kind of student," he then gave them their papers.
They've had 3 quizzes so far aside from today's quiz, and when she looked at her papers, she had all of them perfect. She looked over at Tsubasa's who spread them on his hand like a deck of cards to show her and he also had them all perfect.
"This class is Narumi-sensei's block, isn't it? I've heard about you two, let's see if you're together for better or for worse," she blushed and got scared at the same time. "Especially you, Andou."
After re-reading this before submitting, I realized nothing much happened in this chapter. But I do hope you get a feel of how the characters are going to be from this chapter. Well, if you got to this part, please do leave a review for me too :) See you next week!
