Taiga (whining): I specifically called you to pick me up so I wouldn't be late!
Taiga and Kai were running towards school.
Taiga: Why didn't you wake me up sooner? What were you doing?
Kai: Hey! Let's get something straight! First of all, I'm NOT your personal wake-up service! Secondly, we left late because of you! Who was it that kept on asking for seconds?
Taiga (stubbornly): You're the one who made the breakfast on your own, I never asked you to! It would've been a waste if I didn't eat it so you ought to be grateful that I helped you!
Kai looked at her like she was crazy.
She helped me? The nerve of this girl!
Kai (irritated): Oh yeah? Well give me back that lunch, you didn't ask for that either!
He made a grab for the lunchbox she was holding but she swiftly moved away.
Taiga: Stay away from me, you perverted dog!
Kai (angrily): Why you little—
Even though Taiga had deemed Kai's hospitality as unwanted, it seemed she had no intention of giving back the lunch Kai made for her.
Kai: I said give it back!
Taiga: Shut up! You scum!
The two of them yelling at one another must have been a strange sight to the other people on the road. Running shoulder to shoulder on the way to school, Kai and Taiga had begun a dangerous sparring war. There was no one else that could have created more trouble for others besides these two fighting on the road.
Kai: I refuse to give food to someone who calls me scum!
Using his height to his advantage and attacking from above, he tried once again to snatch away the box that Taiga was carrying in her tiny hands. However, Taiga skillfully dodged him using her small body by slithering around like a snake, and then she kept a good distance away from him. Up ahead, some people were giving them weird-almost frightened-looks over their shoulders and moving to the other side of the road.
Kai: It's unbelievable that such an ungrateful brat like you exists! I even cleaned most of your kitchen for you and you didn't even say "thanks"!
Taiga (stubbornly): I never asked you to do that either!
Kai (annoyed): You're absolutely ridiculous! Your entire apartment smelled hideous. Just how long has your kitchen been like that?!
Taiga: For about half a year.
Kai (disgusted): You really have no right to call yourself a human being.
Finally exhausted from running, they slowed down to a brisk walk. She gave him a silent, expressionless glance before moving forward quickly to put some distance between them.
She seemed so helpless that I just couldn't leave things like that. I wonder why I'm like this, especially since I hate getting involved with other people.
Kai continued to silently fume as he followed Taiga a few feet from behind. Or to be more precise, since they went to the same school, he had no choice but to walk behind her. Just then Taiga looked over her shoulder and snorted through her small nose as if to get his attention.
Taiga: Okami, don't forget-
Kai (sternly): Arito!
Taiga had a curious expression on her face, wondering why he just cut her off and said his own name.
Kai: Address me as Arito. "Okami" is a name that was given to me by my Sensei and only my clan members or people within that realm refer to me that way. As an outsider, it'd be disrespectful for you to call me Okami so just stick to Arito, ok?
Taiga looked at him in an irritated manner.
Taiga: Never mind the little stuff! Just don't forget that you're going to help me at school with Kitamura-kun, so don't even think about trying to run!
That sounded like a warning. No, it was another threat.
Once again Kai was unfazed.
Kai: When are you going to learn that you don't scare me at all? Not even a little, so just give it up already. Besides, I have no intention of helping someone who speaks to me that way.
Taiga (angrily): But you promi-
Kai: You think you can be rude to people and then ask them for help?! It doesn't work like that!
Taiga (defiantly): But you sai-
Kai: Technically, I shouldn't be held accountable for what I said in lieu of such a crazy situation but you better be lucky that I'm a man of my word. So I'm only going to help you one time! I'll come up with ONE strategy for you and that's it! Then our deal will be done and I won't have to be bothered with you anymore.
Taiga was about to protest again but she instantly stopped when Kai fiercely pointed his finger at her.
Kai (sternly): Now shut up and let me think!
Taiga scrunched her face in displeasure at being cutoff for a third time but she conceded to his demand and remained silent. Kai had a knack for thinking on his feet so it wouldn't take him long to come up with something. After a minute of silence-
Kai: I got it! Operation Basketball!
Taiga obviously had no clue what he was talking about so he explained further.
Kai: Aren't we going to play basketball in gym class today?
Taiga: Yeah but usually each gender splits into two different games and play amongst themselves.
Kai: But before that we have a warm up period where people break off into pairs for ten minutes to stretch and practice passing balls. The gym teacher won't care about who pairs up with who as long as everyone has a partner. It would be a great opportunity for two people who rarely speak, to have a conversation.
Taiga was in shock, she couldn't believe what he was implying. So he said it bluntly-
Kai: Just ask Kitamura to team up with you. It's as simple as that.
Taiga (distressed): T-Team up with him? B-But no one in our class pairs up with the opposite gender! I've always teamed up with Minorin and you with Kitamura-kun. Now you're suddenly telling me to pair up with him?! I just can't do it!
Kai: Aisaka, if you want something bad enough then you've got to strike up the courage and go for it! No matter what it takes! It's like Sun Tzu said: "Opportunities multiply as they are seized!"
Taiga looked away fretfully, she just couldn't picture going up to Kitamura and asking him to be her partner. She was about to die from the mere thought of it. Even though she believed it was a good plan, her timidness wouldn't allow her to go through with it. So she decided to try to get Kai to come up with another strategy.
Taiga (condescendingly): What a dim-witted guy you are to come up with such an awful idea. No, I'm not accepting this second-hand crap! Think of something else!
Kai: What are you talking about?! My plan is great! What more do you want?!
Taiga: Think of something where I don't have to say or do anything and Kitamura just comes to me.
Kai: Stop being irrational! You can't expect things to just fall in your lap!
Taiga (challenging): That's just another way of saying you're not smart enough to come up with something like that. See, you're just proving that you really are an idiot!
Kai (challenging): Okay then, I can think of something illogical to suit you a bit better… Let's see...
Kai paused and tried to think of the craziest scenario he could.
Kai (sarcastically): Alright, how about you pair up with me. Then Kitamura will have to team up with someone else. I'll "accidently" hit that guy with a ball; I won't hurt him but I'll cause a big commotion and take him to the school clinic. That way you and Kitamura will be left behind and have no choice but to pair up!
Just then Taiga's eyes lit up. She knew Kai was making fun of her with this scenario yet she couldn't help but see him as a genius for coming up with it.
Kai: See how foolish that sounds, Aisaka? It'll be much simpler to just address Kitamura yourself.
Taiga: Ok, I got it.
Kai (puzzled): You do?
Taiga: Yep. I'm going to do exactly what you said.
Kai was slightly shocked by how quickly she had agreed to his plan, especially since she just opposed it with so much force. She had seemed like such a stubborn girl that he thought that she would argue with him till she turned blue in the face. Maybe he had figured her wrong.
Kai: Oh... Well… I guess that means we're done here.
Taiga suddenly stopped walking and Kai bumped into her from behind. In an apparent attempt to stop him from tripping over her, she elbowed him in the stomach. Honestly, she's likely to cause injury even when she isn't blatantly attacking someone.
Kai (annoyed): Hey, don't just stop all of a sudden!
Feeling aggravated that he had been hit again, Kai meanly looked at Taiga but she wasn't paying any attention to him. She then called out in an unexpectedly cheerful voice that surprised him.
Taiga: Minorin! Were you waiting for me again?
Minori: You're earlier than usual, Taiga!
Taiga ran to hug Kushieda Minori who was standing at a street corner just ahead of them. Kai just watched the scene slightly baffled by Taiga's display of affection towards Minori.
I guess unless you're Kushieda, you're bound to get bitten if you go near the Palmtop Tiger.
Minori's eyes lit up in a cheerful smile; the morning sun's glow illuminated her hair while her skirt fluttered in the morning breeze.
Minori: It seems like your cold is gone!
Taiga (cutely): Good morning Minorin!
Minori lifted her head and suddenly noticed Kai's presence, it made her freeze up and let out a long, drawn out breath.
Minori (alarmed): Eeeh? Wha-? No way! Could it be?!
Once again, Minori's antics confused Kai.
What is this eccentric girl going to say now?
Minori: I'm sorry, I didn't know that you and Arito-kun were having a relationship where you walk to school side by side, in a two shot style.
Kai's jaw dropped in disbelief.
Kai (appalled): You're wrong!
Taiga: Yeah, no one would use such an expression these days.
Kai (irritated): That's not the problem here!
Minori: Hmm! So nowadays it's…
Minori rubbed her chin, thinking hard. Then she shook her head in a frustrated manner.
Minori: I'm so out of my mind that I don't even know how to say it in modern terms! Oh yeah! You two have 'sworn to never part'!
Normally Kai would just silently shake his head whenever Minori used weird phrases. But he just couldn't tolerate such words to describe the relationship between him and Taiga.
Kai (sternly): No! We didn't swear to walk to school or anything like that!
Minori: Oh, so you two met by chance, huh?
Taiga finally spoke as she took Minori by the elbow and began turning her towards school.
Taiga: Something like that, apparently we live near each other.
She then turned her head towards Kai and spoke in a voice that was suddenly deadpan.
Taiga: Well, since we only met by chance, we'll leave you be.
Minori: See you later, Arito-kun!
Minori waved goodbye to Kai and he watched the two girls get further ahead of him.
So is this it? Have I finally rid myself of the Palmtop Tiger? She even said herself that she would leave me be. Plus, I completed my end of the bargain. Yeah, I'm sure that I shouldn't have to deal with her anymore. Good riddens! I look forward to returning to my peaceful life.
After finishing their morning classes, it was finally time for class 2-C to go to gym. Everyone changed into their gym uniforms and walked to the bleachers where their gym teacher awaited to give them instructions.
Gym Teacher: Today we're going to be playing some basketball!
Oh that's right. Aisaka is going to ask Kitamura to be her partner. Even if it's a girl like her, he definitely won't say 'no', he's just too nice. Well, since Kitamura's taken, who am I going to partner with? I get along with Haruta but sometimes his sense of humor can be a chore to deal with. Hey here's a crazy idea, what if I teamed up with a girl? I wouldn't be nervous like Aisaka was but who would I pick? I barely know any of them, or rather it's like Michiko said, I don't really pay attention to them. Here's a even crazier idea :what if a girl asked me to pair up? Yeah right, most of the girls think I'm callous so that would never happen …but I wouldn't be opposed to it.
Seems like Kai was a normal teenage boy after all, but little did he know that it would happen sooner than he thought and he would be very much opposed to it.
Gym Teacher: Okay let's start with warming up. Everyone find a partner and-
"Hey, Arito Kai! Let's pair up!"
That was a girl's voice!
Kai's eyes grew big in shock.
But who said it?
He eagerly looked around for the owner of the voice and once the girl stepped up, a confused look overtook his face just like everyone else in the class.
Minori: Taiga!
Aisaka Taiga stepped forward smiling and waving her hand at Kai; he was speechless. The gym teacher glanced between Taiga and Kai-
Gym Teacher: Alright! It seems we've got some eager and fired up spirits today!
Taiga walked towards Kai without saying a word and grabbed his shirt, then she pulled him towards the bin to get a basketball. Being that Kai was still shocked, he allowed himself to move along with her.
Kai (bewildered): What are you doing?
Taiga: I'm putting our plan into action. The 1st part went perfectly. Now it's your turn.
Kai was even more puzzled.
Kai: But this wasn't part of my plan, you were supposed to pair with Kitamura not me-
All of a sudden Kai's eyes grew big as he realized what Taiga's intentions were. Instead of the simple plan, she had chosen that crazy illogical plan that he wasn't even serious about.
Something is really wrong with this girl! She doesn't actually expect me to follow through with this, does she? Not a chance!
Taiga had stated that everything had went perfectly with the 1st half of the plan, however, she realized how wrong she was when she turned around to look at the rest of the class. It seemed that she and Kai had become trendsetters.
"Hmm. So it's that sort of day, huh? Alright, I'll team up with a girl, too. Anyone interested?"
"Me too! I wanna pair up with a guy!"
"Hey why not? Sounds fine to me."
"This could be fun! I'll show you girls how a man plays ball!
Though a few people still paired up with their usual friends, an excited mood spread throughout the class. It turned out that Kai's plan was so good that the others caught onto it and were using it to interact with girls or guys they normally wouldn't talk to. After noticing this, a sudden thought crossed Kai's mind and he looked across the room and saw a girl approaching Kitamura.
Maya: Maruo-kun! Oops, I mean Kitamura-kun! Wanna pair up with me?
Kitamura gave Maya his usual, friendly, cheerful smile.
Kitamura: Huh? Ah, sure, since it seems Arito has deserted me...
Suddenly Kai felt a sharp pain in his stomach. Taiga had witnessed the same scene and reflexively elbowed him again.
Taiga (angrily): W-Wait! What's going on?! Why is Kitamura-kun pairing up with that weird girl?!
"Weird" isn't a word I'd use to describe Kihara Maya.
Kihara Maya was one of the most popular girls in the class, especially with the guys. The reasons for this are rather obvious when you consider that, even for a seventeen year old, she's got a rather good-looking figure. She's also the kind to put extensions on her already long eyelashes and a thin layer of pink lipstick on her lips. A lot of the guys in their class thought she was cute, even Kai did.
Kai: That's Kihara and right now she's demonstrating how to do this the reasonable way. Seems like the girl has a good head on her shoulders unlike some people I know.
Taiga wasn't listening to a word Kai was saying, she was thoroughly pissed off at seeing Kitamura with another girl. She had assumed that Kitamura would just pair up with a guy.
Taiga (angry): The plan is going all wrong! All wrong! This is why you're a useless dog! Why didn't you think about this happening?
Kai (angry): I'm not a dog! And I was never serious about that, you ridiculous girl! My real plan was literally what Kihara just did and from the looks of it, it was very successful. That could've been you if you weren't so irrational.
Before they could continue shoving the blame on one another, the gym teacher blew his whistle to signal the beginning of the warm-up session.
Taiga (determined): This plan is going to be a success too. It doesn't matter what gender his partner is!
While she growled at him, the sound of basketballs bouncing around rang throughout the gym as students began passing back and forth. The "crazy plan" was for Kai to "accidentally" throw the ball at Kitamura's partner during the passing exercises but he didn't have any intention of following through with it. He meant the whole thing as a joke, he never imagined that Taiga would take him seriously. Suddenly someone cried out-
"Ah!"
Taiga turned her attention away from Kai and saw Kihara Maya approaching her.
Maya: Sheesh! Kitamura-kun, where do you think you're throwing the ball?
Maya chased after the runaway ball but stopped when it bounced off Taiga's leg. Taiga scowled as she looked at the ball but didn't say anything.
Maya: Sorry about that, Aisaka-san!
Kai silently watched them.
I wonder if being a girl makes it easier to communicate with Aisaka.
Maya was smiling as she called out to Taiga where as a guy would be wearing an expression of dread and terror.
Maya: Can you pass it over, plea-Oh, wait-
She suddenly bent down.
Maya: My shoe lace is undone.
"Aisaka! Sorry about that, can you pass it to me instead?"
It was none other than Mister Nice Guy with the flashy glasses, Kitamura Yusaku. He smiled as he called out to Taiga.
As expected, Kitamura treats every girl with the same cheerfulness. That's probably one of the reasons many think of him as "innocent".
After coming to that conclusion, Kai turned his attention towards Taiga who seemed to stop moving like an engine out of gas. He couldn't see her face but her body was as rigid as a diving board. Suddenly she started moving- if you could call what she was doing "moving". Her movements were jerky and spasmodic as she took stiff steps towards the ball. Moving like a wind-up toy with damaged and rusted joints, she bent over awkwardly at the hip and picked up the ball with both hands. Without saying anything, she stiffly swung both of her arms forward, weakly throwing the ball at Kitamura. The ball barely bounced a few times before coming to a rolling stop at Kitamura's feet. He picked it up and waved a peace sign at Taiga with his fingers.
Kitamura: Thanks a lot!
Look at this geek with his peace signs and shirt tucked into his tight-fitting track pants! How does he get so much attention from girls?
It was a mystery to Kai. He just shook his head at his friend and turned his attention back towards Taiga who was standing as still as a stick.
Kai: Aisaka?
All it took was a few words from Kitamura and she dropped all signs of intelligence. Kai looked around and noticed that a few energetic students who were passing balls, had moved around a bit and gotten closer to them. Assuming that Taiga might get hit by a stray ball in her witless state, he roughly tugged on her sleeve and pulled her away from the other students. Then he turned her by the shoulder to look her in the face.
Kai: Aisaka, you—
He paused and took a step back, surprised by the rare smile on her face. He had to double check to make sure but she really was smiling. Her eyes were scrunched up so that she looked like a small kitten that had just finished eating its favorite meal. Her hands caressed her puffed up cheeks and her mouth hung in an open smile. Her face and ears began to blush a bright red. Then he caught a faint sound coming from her mouth.
Taiga: Heh, heh, heh, heh, heh...
Is she giggling?
Kai was confused by the sudden change in Taiga's demeanor.
Kai (yelling): What's wrong with you?!
She finally snapped out of her little stupor.
Taiga: Huh? What?! You're staring at me that's what's wrong! Wipe that dumb look off your face! You should be happy for me like a dog is when something good happens to their master.
Kai was so bewildered that he completely disregarded Taiga calling him a "dog" again.
Kai: Happy for what?
There was a pout on Taiga's lips but she was clearly in a better mood. Her hands grabbed her ponytail and she was slowly spinning... Almost dancing.
Why is she acting like this?
Kai wanted to ask what got her into this mood but it was difficult getting her attention as she spun around in circles. Her ponytail hit his arm a few times before he finally asked-
Kai (sternly): Hey! What the hell are you going on about?!
He finally had her attention. She stopped spinning to give him her usual scowl.
Taiga: Huh?! Have you forgotten what we're trying to do here? Geez, you're even stupider than I thought. Stop fooling around and wasting my time!
Kai was about to snap back at her but she cut him off.
Taiga: But since I'm in a good mood, I'll tell you...
Taiga began to giggle between her words at this point.
Taiga: Ki-Kitamura-kun just, heh, practiced passing the ball, heh, with me!
She just barely finished the sentence before degenerating back into her giggling stupor, meanwhile, Kai went right back into his stupor of confusion.
Is she serious? Does she think that what just happened now was progress?
Kai waited awhile for Taiga to calm down before clarifying.
Kai: Why are you giddy over something like that?
Taiga (irritated): Why shouldn't I be?!
Kai: Are you kidding me? The point of this wasn't to actually practice passing a ball with him. You were supposed to start a conversation and get to know him better.
Taiga's giggling and grinning came to a complete halt after realizing he was right. She then glared at him with her usual grim expression to make him shut up but instead he kept right on going.
Kai: All you did was throw the ball back to him. You didn't even say anything. In fact, you acted like a complete idiot. How could you be happy right now when all he did in return was—
Kai dramatically mimicked Kitamura, and held the ball in one hand while waving a cheesy peace sign with his fingers. Then he suddenly erupted in laughter due to the whole situation. After he finally managed to catch his breath-
Kai: You really are a silly girl, aren't you?!
Taiga (angrily): Hmph!
Once again growing tired of Kai's mocking, Taiga quickly turned and slammed her hand on the ball he was holding. The force of Taiga's strike caused the ball to bounce up very high, nearly touching the ceiling. When it came back down it almost landed on Kai's head but he skillfully dodged it, then Taiga caught the ball and said-
Taiga: You're right. Hmm it looks like you are useful for something every once in a while. Then let's continue with our plan, OKAMI!
With a high and mighty expression on her face, she let the ball roll off her hand and walked right past Kai, giving him a dirty look which he returned.
Kai (irritated): It's ARITO!
Taiga completely ignored him and maneuvered herself so that Kitamura's partner—Kihara Maya-stood behind her. Then her eyes glittered with an intense madness. She seemed to be engulfed in a burning aura of determination.
Taiga: Come on, practice time's almost over!
Kai glanced at the clock and realized she was right. The teacher would blow his whistle soon and the class would divide to play actual basketball games. He picked the ball up and looked at Maya—
I'm not hitting someone with a ball, especially not an innocent girl … But if Aisaka was that girl, I'd do it without any hesitation.
He quietly chuckled to himself which caused Taiga to give him an impatient look. He knew if he told her that he wasn't going to do it, she would go ballistic. So he decided he could stall time by passing the ball to Taiga first.
Taiga (confused): Hey, what are you doing?
She frowned as she caught the ball. Her eyes reflected the bright lights in the gym like a sharp blade in his direction.
Kai: I'm just waiting for a good chance. Come on, pass me back the ball.
She scowled as she threw the ball back at him with more force than necessary. Once the ball was in his hands, she gestured with her chin over her shoulder at Maya.
Do it! Her glaring eyes said to him. Kai mouthed silently to her: Okay, here it goes. Then he bounced the ball off the floor to make it look like he was preparing himself but he just ended up tossing the ball right back to Taiga who scowled deeply. Her reaction tickled him.
Taiga (aggravated): Hurry the hell up already!
She bounced the ball between both her hands with the expertise of a skilled basketball player.
Taiga: Here!
She threw the ball at his face so quickly that he almost didn't catch it. Even though his hands were able to intercept it, the ball traveled with so much force that the momentum knocked his hands into his face.
Kai (angrily): W-Why you...
He mumbled as he rubbed his face with one hand. Nowhe was starting to get annoyed. The Tiger and the Wolf were poking each other with sticks; it was only a matter of time before one of them had enough.
Taiga (impatiently) Hey! Come on! Pass the ball to me!
Taiga was putting on a brilliant charade. Despite what she was saying, her eyes told him that he'd be a dead man if the ball came her way.
Taiga continued to glare at him as she paced left and right impatiently, causing her sneakers to squeak on the floor with each step. Her arms were hanging loosely by her side, she clearly wasn't intending on catching the ball unless it went directly to her. But this time Kai didn't throw the ball to her, instead he gently rolled it along the floor in Taiga's direction, then he turned and walked away. It was his way of letting her know that he never had any intention of going through with this. Once the ball reached Taiga's feet, she exploded.
She picked up the ball and hurled it at the back of Kai's head with the strength of a hundred men. However, he expected such a reaction from her and skillfully caught it and flung it back with just as much force; the ball had now become a weapon. The two started dangerously flinging the ball at one another and it went on like this for a while. They had silently started a war with just a basketball. If either of them took their attention away for a split second, they would have been gravely injured. Unfortunately for Taiga, that's exactly what she ended up doing. Just as Kai thrusted his arm outwards and the ball left the grasp of his fingers, Taiga unexpectedly leaned back. It seemed that she had been distracted by something.
Maya (happily): Here it goes Maruo!
Kitamura (cheerfully): Okay!
The joyful scene was quite a contrast to the one Kai and Taiga had created. No killing intent whatsoever. Maya then passed the ball back to Kitamura.
Kitamura (encouraging): Nice pass!
Maya (flattered): What are you saying all of a sudden, Kitamura-kun!?
Just as the Palmtop Tiger growled with jealousy, the ball struck her square in the face, snapping her head back.
Kai (muttering): Oh shit!
I didn't do it on purpose!
He swore to himself as Taiga stiffly collapsed to the ground and the ball bounced away. It took him a few seconds to break free of the shock that gripped his body. He rushed over, knelt down beside her, and lifted her slightly with an arm behind her neck. It was bad. She was unconscious and bleeding from the nose.
It was an accident! I didn't mean to hit her!
Then the irony started to settle in-
This whole time she wanted someone to get hit with a ball, then she ends up getting hit with one herself. It's certainly comical. Plus, with all the crap she's done to me lately, it kind of feels like poetic justice but...I still didn't mean to do it.
Kitamura: What's wrong, Arito? Is Aisaka hurt?
Kai heard the gym teacher and Kitamura approaching from behind him. He refocused his attention onto Taiga and thought now would be a good time to let Kitamura take care of her-
No, on second thought, that doesn't seem like a good idea at all. I can't let Kitamura see her like this.
He thought about everything that had happened last night.
Every time she thinks of Kitamura, she turns into an emotional, blubbering idiot.
Guilt seized him by the throat.
If I let Kitamura see Aisaka like this- bloodied, unconscious, weak, vulnerable, and in every way she probably doesn't want to be seen, she'll become a total wreck.
Kai: Don't worry, she's going to be ok. But I'll take her to the nurse just in case.
He scooped Taiga off the ground and hid her face against his chest. He could hear the rumors spreading before he made it past the gym doors.
"Huh? What happened?"
"Okami took down the Palmtop Tiger!"
"So Arito won the second round! I knew he'd make a comeback!"