I'm sorry for the late update. To those who reviewed, thank you! This is the next installment, I hope you'll give your helpful reviews again.
And to those who read my works, I'm making a Bleach-Naruto cross-over to be posted in both Bleach and Naruto fan fic archives. Featuring the unusual pairing of Shihouin Yoruichi (Bleach) and Hatake Kakashi (Naruto). You'll love it. I promise.
On to the 4th chapter…
Chapter 4
First Day – New School
"Good luck, Haruko-chan," a fellow freshman said.
Haruko sighed. "Thanks," she said, losing her energy.
"Cheer up, grumpy! You should look positively to the things you'll encounter there," Hana said. "And you'll be seeing a lot of hunks."
"That helps a lot," Haruko said sarcastically.
Hana frowned. "You're such a pessimist."
"Which reminds me, I have to do something about you and Mitsui-senpai," Haruko told her shocked friend.
"What?! You're really going to do it?"
"Yes. I'm serious."
"Why?!"
"Coz I want to help," Haruko said simply, walking with Hana.
It was actually the first time they walked together. Hana usually had her service but today, she insisted on walking her to her 'new' school for a week.
Haruko wasn't thrilled even a bit. What is the school thinking for sending three girls to an exclusive boys' school?! Are they growing nuts?!
Hana was fidgeting. "Please don't do it. I'm totally embarrassed!"
"Nonsense. You two look really cute," Haruko assured her friend. "I can already imagine you dating him. And he's really kind. He won't do anything to harm you."
"I know that," Hana said. "He's my brother's friend. My brother won't make friends with creeps."
"I'm giving you the view of someone who knows Mitsui-senpai both in and out of the court."
"Thanks," Hana said, smiling.
They finally reached the school. Haruko looked nervously at the entrance.
"Go on," Hana said.
"Haruko-chan!!" a voice called out.
It was Mitsui-senpai.
Haruko smiled as her friend quickly blushed and moved closer to her.
"I heard you'll be the rep from the state college," Mitsui said, smiling. "How lucky!"
"Thanks, Mitsui-senpai," Haruko said, returning the smile. "By the way, this is my friend, Hana."
Hana smiles shyly and bowed. "Nice to meet you."
Mitsui bowed too. "Cute friend you have."
Hana blushed even more. Haruko giggled. Mitsui raised his eyebrows in question.
"I don't really like to be here," Haruko said honestly.
Mitsui laughed. "Don't worry. You have your big brother's pals to watch over you. Not one man is going to lay a finger on you here. You might even have the whole basketball club protecting you."
The whole basketball club, huh? Haruko thought. I doubt Sendoh's going to be one of them.
Silly thought. She never wanted Sendoh to be one of them. And now, she was going to be in his school for a week. Imagine all those snide comments he can say to her when no one's watching! That man was certainly not the prince charming everyone makes him to be.
"Come on," Mitsui said. "Classes are about to start."
"Wait, Hisashi-kun," a voice said.
They turned around and saw a woman, clearly a teacher walking towards them. She wore a red formal dress that was to pass as conservative, yet stunning. Her blue eyes were peering at them in a kind manner from behind the oval-shaped spectacles. Her jet-black hair was drawn up in a bun.
"You must be Akagi Haruko?" the teacher said.
"Oh, good morning principal-san," Mitsui said, grinning.
Haruko smiled and bowed too, watching her friend Hana sneaking out of the group and whispering a 'good luck.' Haruko nodded at her secretly. "Good morning ma'am," she said to the principal.
"I'm Harada Satomi," the principal said. "The other students from your school are already in my office. You're the only one we're waiting for."
Haruko blushed. "Sorry Harada-sensei."
"Don't be. You're not really late. The other girls are just, well," the teacher was saying, as if searching for a word to fit the description, "eager to be here."
Haruko's eyebrows rose. Then comprehension dawned upon her face. They were attending the school of boys renowned for their basketball team, she thought wryly. And she remembered that her companions were Nagashima Miyaka and Osakada Yui, basketball fanatics and die-hard fan girls.
To hell with them.
"Haruko-san?" Harada-sensei said, concerned. "Are you coming?"
Haruko blushed. "Hai, sensei."
"Bye, Haruko-chan," Mitsui said, waving at her. "Feel free to approach us always."
"Thanks, Mitsui-senpai," she called out.
As she and the principal walked down the halls to her office, Haruko earned some appreciative stares from boys in the Engineering department. But none made moves to catch her attention. Haruko noticed that the principal seemed to command respect and good manners around her.
"I apologize for the attention you seem to get from my boys," Harada-sensei said as they approached their destination. "The Engineering department is known for its unruly students."
Whew… I'm glad I'm a Business Management student.
When they entered the office, she saw that her two companions were already seated.
Haruko nearly laughed. Miyaka was wearing make-up. Too much make-up, she thought. It made her look older. Her hair was in pigtails with a bit too decorative clips and pins.
Yui was busy brushing her short blonde hair and fussing with her clothes. Haruko noticed that she didn't wear her glasses and was having a difficult time groping around.
"Okay, welcome to Kanagawa Boys' College," Harada-sensei said. "You might think that our schools are getting crazy for sending three girls in an exclusive boys' school but we are not intending any harm upon you."
"It's okay, sensei," Yui piped up, smile sickeningly bright.
"Definitely," Miyaka added.
Haruko had no comments and merely looked away.
"Uhm… glad you think so," Harada-sensei said with an odd expression on her face. "I see that Yui-san is a BS Biology student. You can take your class schedule from Fujima Kenji who is waiting outside to escort you to your room."
"Fujima Kenji?" Yui said in awe. "The Fujima Kenji?"
"Yes. I see you already know him. It would be easy to spot him among the three boys waiting for you outside."
Yui nearly jumped in glee as she said a brief 'thank you' and sped off.
"Very enthusiastic," Harada-sensei said, chuckling.
"Now, Miyaka. You're a BS Applied Physics student. You can take your class schedule from Maki Shinichi who is also waiting outside this room."
Miyaka was stunned, as far as Haruko could tell. Maki is the college basketball captain of this school.
The girl had no reaction out of her shock and merely went out with trembling feet.
"She seemed less enthusiastic," Harada-sensei said, smiling at Haruko.
"I think she was overly-enthusiastic that she couldn't react," Haruko stated, returning the smile.
"I like you," the principal said. "You remind me of myself when I was a student. Strong and independent, unlike the two before you."
"I'm just not into the prospect of being in a boys' school," she replied honestly.
"I know what you mean. But you are the most excellent girl in your school, as the records and rumors tell," Harada-sensei said, peering at her from those glasses. "And you are extremely beautiful."
Haruko blushed. "Thank you, sensei."
"Very well, off to your class. Sendoh Akira will be your escort. The class schedule's with him."
Haruko stood rooted to the spot. Did she hear the name correctly? Akira Sendoh??
She recovered quickly though. "I'm sorry, sensei, but I have a question."
"What is it?"
"Why are you letting boys from the basketball team escort us?"
"It just so happens that the three are from the basketball team," Harada-sensei replied. "But they are still the representatives of their respective courses and they are the most brilliant students in each field."
"My brother was a high school basketball club captain in Shohoku High," she said. "And I know Sendoh Akira, but isn't he supposed to be a senpai? He's one year older than me."
"Oh… Akira-san shifted courses. He was once a BS Chemistry student. You know the rules, you must start over if you change your field."
Haruko understood. "Hai," she replied, moving out of the room.
"If you have any complaints or questions, my door is always open," Harada-sensei said.
Haruko bowed and left the room.
Great. Sendoh Akira – my classmate. Just great.