Chapter Three
Fast Forward 4 years.
Ryder is 15 years old.
"This is you're captain speaking, flight 101 to Akiba has just arrived. Please fly with us again next time."
I tuned out the rest, it's the same with all airplanes anyway. I exited the airport and looked for my cousin.
"Ryder!" a voice called.
I turned around and saw my cousin. "Hey, Kai."
"So, how's life treating you?" he asked. Being subtle was not one of his talents.
"Great! The Treblemakers debut was a huge success! Dream Studios decided to give us a break from all the fame so we decided to go to school. Weird, right?" I informed him.
"Weird is an understatement. You have a break for a whole year and you decide to go to school?" he asked me rhetorically.
What I didn't tell him was that I have an ulterior motive. No, I wasn't going to take over the world. I wanted to see the girls again. After a few phone calls, I found out they all went to the same school. Otonokizaka Academy was its name. Choosing schools wasn't that hard. Though I was a bit bummed to find out that Anju-chan was in a different school.
Anju Yuuki was another friend of mine. She went to study in our school but transferred to UTX a year ago. She kind of became the voice of reason when Shiro was away in our group. She did her best to keep her in line. We unofficially became her overprotective big brothers though.
"Let's go to your hotel, you have school tomorrow. You're not an idol anymore so no special classes for you." Suggested Kai.
"Hai."
Now, I was really bored. Kai left an hour ago because he has something to do. I was left alone in my penthouse. It was a pretty big place for one person. Having nothing better to do, I decided to go out for a walk. I looked at my map for interesting places. My search was not in vain. UTX and Otonokizaka Academy were both walking distance. Since I'll attend Otonokizaka Academy tomorrow, I walked to UTX.
What I was not expecting was a huge crowd gathered in front of it. They were watching a group's performance in a sort of giant television. That was not what surprised me though. Anju Yuuki, along with two other girls, were singing and dancing in it.
Who are they?" I thought aloud, hoping someone will answer me.
"What?! You don't know about A-rise?!" someone said next to me. I looked at him/her and saw a short girl with black hair tied up in twin-tails and what seems like reddish-pink eyes.
"No, should I?"
"Well you don't look Japanese, are you a foreigner?"
"Well, you're half right. I'm half Japanese."
"So that's why you don't know them... They're A-rise, the most popular school idol group!"
"You seem like you're a big fan of them."
"Of course, I'm a fan! I love school idols! By the way, have we met before? You seem familiar…" she wondered out loud.
"That's not possible, I just arrived here today" I just thought of a huge prank! Professional Idols were not very popular here since they have School Idols. I'll pretend that I'm just a normal teen and at the end of the year, Boom! Imagine their shock when they find out they were going to school with a real Idol! That was like, the ultimate prank!
"Yeah, I guess you're right… But I'm sure I saw you some-"
"Oh sorry, I remembered something I have to do. It's was nice meeting you!" I interrupted her. Can't have someone ruining the prank before it reaches the real target!
The Next Day
Ring! Ring! Ring!
I woke up at the sound of my alarm clock. First day of school, one of the most dreaded things in the universe and worse, I'm a transferee. I quickly took a shower and changed into the Otonokizaka Academy male uniform which consists of a dark blue jacket over a white dress shirt with a red tie and black pants. I was halfway to school when I realized I rarely saw male students going to Otonokizaka, it was almost always female students I see…
"Ryder!"
I slowed down and waited for Kai to catch up. How did I know it was Kai? Well he's the only one who knows my name in Japan. Except the girls.
"What's up Kai?"
"Walking to school today?" He asked me. I just raised an eyebrow. Obviously I was walking.
"Kai, why can't I see other male students?" I was kind of freaking out. Maybe I went to the wrong school…
"You didn't know? Otonokizaka just became co-ed last year so there aren't a lot of male enrollees yet. The male to female ratio is actually 1-9."
"Oh ok… Wait What!?"
Ring! Ring! Ring!
"Hurry up, Ryder! That's the warning bell!"
We split up when we reached the school gates, as a transferee I still had to get my schedule from the office. I even requested to be in the same class as Honoka, Umi and Kotori.
"So… Class A huh. Looks like I'll be late again! Kai could've at least told me where my room is."
And by a stroke of luck, I finally found it. I quietly knocked on the door and a teacher opened the door.
"Ano… Is this Ms. Guro's class?"
"Yes, it is. And who might you be?"
"I'm the new transfer student"
"Oh right! Please come in!"
I walked inside the room and looked around when I heard someone shout my name.
"Ryder-kun?!"
As soon as I saw her, I had no doubt about who she is.
"Long time no see, Honoka-chan"
"Ehhh, Kosaka-san and the new kid know each other?"
"I wonder if Kosaka-san can introduce me to him."
"He is sooooo cute!"
"Yes! Another guy!"
"That makes us three guys in this class!"
"He doesn't look Japanese…"
"Wow! A foreigner!"
"Calm down class. Now please introduce yourself."
"Eto… Ohayo! My name's Ryder Knight. Well Knight Ryder in Japanese culture. Pleased to make your acquaintance"
"Knight-san, where are you from?" a random voice called out.
"Please, call me Ryder. And to answer your question, I'm from Japan but my father is a foreigner."
"Okay, Mr. Knight, since you seem to know Kosaka-san, she'll give you the school tour. Please sit by her too."
"When did you arrive Ryder-kun?"
"Kosaka-san, please refrain from talking while I'm teaching"
After the teacher's scolding, Honoka didn't try to talk to me again but she gave me a note that said we'll talk later. And after what seems like an eternity, class finally ended. Since it was the first day of school, we only have homeroom and have the rest of the day to do what we want.
"Ryder-kun! Let's start the tour!" Honoka-chan said.
"Mind if we join?" I looked at who was talking and instantly recognized Kotori and Umi.
"Umi! Kotori! How's it going? Long-time no see huh?"
"When did you return?" Kotori asked me.
"Just yesterday actually"
"Enough talking! On with the tour!" Honoka said. Heh, they haven't changed a bit.
After the Tour
"Neh Ryder-kun, where are you staying?" Umi asked after the tour.
"Eto… I live in a hotel that's just walking distance from here… I think it was called Hotel Grande?" I replied. It was a nice hotel actually, or maybe it's just because I'm staying at a penthouse suite?
"Ehhh! THE Hotel Grande? Isn't that the 5 star hotel?" Honoka questioned
"Ry-kun's family must be really rich!" Kotori exclaimed. I didn't answer them because well they were already telling each other stories. Well, they were only half right… The Knight family is pretty rich but being an idol also added to that…
"Ryder-kun, Where's your bag?" Umi-chan suddenly asked.
I snapped out of my thoughts and realized where at the school gate. My bag was nowhere to be seen.
"Oh! Right! You girls go ahead, I'll just go back to our room!"
"Good thing Umi noticed it…" I was already leaving when I heard someone singing in the music room. I wonder who it is.
Maki's POV
I was lost in my song when I thought I heard something, I just ignored it and continued my song. As soon as I finished my song I heard someone clapping. I quickly looked up and saw boy… a boy with blonde hair and familiar icy blue eyes.
No way…
"Ryder?" I questioned warily
"Your voice is as beautiful as always Maki" the boy-no, Ryder replied
I quickly rushed over to him and hugged him.
"Looks like somebody missed me" he teasingly said
"B-Baka!" It's not like I missed him or anything, it's just that I was glad to see him yeah… it was a poor excuse even in my mind.
"When did you return? How long are you staying here?" I couldn't help it, I was very curious.
"I just got here yesterday and, as you can tell because of my uniform, I just transferred here! We'll be together again just like old times! Well except that we won't be classmates' but-"
He hasn't changed a bit
"Whatever Ry…." I honestly didn't care whether we were classmates or not, I was just glad he's back…