Hisao woke up in a strange room. Solid morning light shimmered against the light gray ceiling. He realized he'd forgotten to draw the curtains closed the night before.
I? He blinked. This is my room, isn't it? My room... The third room this year that I'm supposed to call "mine." Various things around the room reminded him that he was indeed the person who was supposed to be living there. His bags on the floor, his new school books on the desk. My numerous medications on the night table.
He stared at the bottles for a moment, deliberating, until he opened a bottle, shook out a pill, and popped out a tablet from a foil sheet. He downed them with a chaser of water without thinking about the chemistry. Finally, he slunk out from under the sheets and stretched his back.
Putting on a new school uniform feels like dressing in someone else's clothes, he reflected as he donned his new apparel. The artificial smell of generic detergent made him frown, but the feeling of fresh cloth against his back was a good one, a natural one.
It feels like a school uniform, as it should. It's not much different from what I used to wear before. He nodded to himself. That goes for other things, too. So far, this place seems more or less like a normal school. He sighed. Except for the people. He thought back to his talk with Kenji, Misha's constant laughter, Shizune's sweeping sign language gestures, and Maru's melodrama.
Well, I've only met four students so far, Hisao thought. Maybe they aren't that normal, but I'm sure others are. Or, perhaps, people like them are what passes for normal around here? Yeah, what does pass for normal around here? What do people do? I didn't see a lot of kids hanging around after classes yesterday, so maybe there are clubs. If so, I wonder if I should join one.
When he got to class, everyone was already there for the most part. Maru looked unusually sullen, at least when compared to the day before, and he almost decided to walk over and ask what was up. His thoughts were interrupted by the bell however, and he went to his seat instead.
Class went on much as it had the day before, and soon it was time to split into groups. Hisao once more ended up grouped with Shizune and Misha. He decided to ask Shizune about clubs. After all, she did say if I had anything I wanted to know, I should ask her, he rationalized.
Shizune stared at him for a moment after he asked his question, then crossed her arms and shifted her gaze slowly to Misha, who looked more and more preoccupied with trying to grind the eraser of her pencil down so that the top was perfect and evenly flat. Shizune gave the pink haired girl a glare that could melt straight through steel.
"Ahaha~!" Misha finally responded to the silent summoning. "Sorry, sorry, Shicchan~! Is there something you wanted from me?"
Shizune signed.
"Oh~... I see!" Misha frowned. "Hm... That's a good question, Hicchan."
She doesn't know? That's worrying... He frowned. Maybe I'm being too negative. Well, anyway, Misha, please don't prove me right.
Shizune signed again.
"Oh, that's right!" Misha smiled. "Everyone is encouraged to join a club. A lot of people do so because there isn't really anything else to do. There are also school events, like the festival coming up in a few days. Almost every student in the school tends to help out with it, doing whatever." She grinned. "So~! You actually transferred in at a busy time... maybe you can help out, too~!"
"Sure," Hisao replied. "What's the festival about?"
Misha froze, then grinned. "...Wahahaha~! I don't know, Hicchan, the truth is it's a local event, and I'm not from this area, so..." She started to sign desperately to Shizune, asking for her to bail her out.
Shizune adjusted her glasses at the end of an oddly grandiose flourish and started signing hard and heavy.
"Huh? Oh." Misha nodded and grinned. "Who cares?" Misha puffed her chest out as she shouted Shizune's words with a disproportionate amount of pride. Her loud exclamation drew attention from the whole class.
"The invisible watchers?" Maru suggested from his side of the room.
"Wahahaha~!" Misha grinned.
"Not so loud...," complained Hisao.
Misha frowned. "Human beings evolve with each new generation! The ideals and beliefs behind a festival will inevitably change with time!"
Shizune signed again with a frown.
"Now, it's about delicious fried food and amusing little games that you play to win prizes~!" Misha grinned again. "Hahahaha~!"
The teacher cleared his throat very loudly, and batted his long wooden pointer against his other palm like a baton. He shot a pointed gaze at the trio.
Misha stifled a yelp and quickly quieted down. Shizune didn't seem embarrassed at all, though, and brushed it off without a care as she signed.
"We are in the middle of class, and should start working," Misha suggested with a frown that quickly turned into a smile. "That's right, Shicchan~!"
Shizune and Misha shared a suspicious glance before Shizune began to sign again, a predatory look on her face.
"What?" Misha raised a finger. "That's right~! Hicchan, are you asking because you're interested in joining a club?"
Hisao blinked. Did I imagine that glance? Misha's tone changed too... He frowned. ...though it does that every other word, anyway. "Yeah, I was thinking about it."
Misha and Shizune looked at each other again.
Something dark fluttered in his peripheral vision, which distracted him from asking what they had in mind. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the girl with long, dark hair get up from her desk and slip silently towards the door.
For a moment he thought no one else noticed, but he saw Maru's eyes on the girl's back. What, again? He glanced at the teacher, who was also looking at her as she left. Why doesn't he say anything?
"Hicchan?" Misha raised an eyebrow. "Is something wrong?"
Do I look as uneasy as I feel? Hisao wondered. Or was Misha just looking at me looking after the girl who left? "No, nothing," he said at last.
Shizune grinned.
"Okay~!" Misha smiled. "Well, like we were asking, you don't have any plans for lunch today, do you?"
I thought I would go to the library and pick up some books. He sighed. "...Not really."
Misha grinned. "Do you want to have lunch together then?"
"Sure," he replied.
Shizune smiled and nodded.
"Yay~!" Misha grinned. "Wahahaha~! Okay, Hicchan~! Perfect!"
The rest of the class passed uneventfully. The girl with the long hair never came back. Before he had the time to put any more thought into where she could have gone, the teacher informed everyone that it was time to stop working.
Shizune looked more than a little annoyed that the group only just barely managed to finish all the work on time.
Hisao was just glad it was finished at all. It's not a contest or anything.
Shizune frowned and signed.
"Yes it is, Hicchan!" said Misha with a smirk.
"Impossible," he declared.
"Really?" Misha's smirk widened.
He nodded. "Really." I've noticed this before, but it's kind of funny how Misha is always moving her hands and signing not only everything she says, but what anyone else is saying at any given time. Obviously, it must be so Shizune can understand it.
Shizune's eyes darted back and forth between Misha's hands and Hisao.
I don't know who I'm supposed to be looking at, he reflected. I'm talking to Misha, but that might be wrong; maybe I should face Shizune. I'm used to looking in the direction of the person whose voice I'm hearing, but really... Shizune can't hear me, but it would be disrespectful to talk to her only through Misha. Then again, isn't that what she's doing?
He glanced at the two. No, she's at least looking at me. This is all very confusing and will take some time to get used to. "It's not a contest, because contests are competitions over a prize. If there's no prize on the line, it's not really a contest."
Shizune's eyes flashed dangerously with a competitive glare. She stared at him, as if surprised that he was challenging her.
Maybe this is a contest to her,' he reflected, and then blinked. I never noticed how dark and blue her eyes are; it's truly an alluring gaze.
"Are you sure, Hicchan?" Misha asked.
"Very sure," Hisao replied.
Shizune signed.
"Hahaha!" Misha grinned. "You're wrong, Hicchan. Because~!, I don't want to be the slowest one in the class. Therefore, what's on the line is my confidence in my abilities, and the prize is the satisfaction of proving them. Wahahahaha~!"
Shizune pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose in a very matter-of-fact way.
He started to argue further, but the bell rang.
Shizune quickly got up and picked up her bag, and gave him an expectant look.
I had almost forgotten that I was supposed to have lunch with them, he reflected.
Shizune signed something.
"Where do you want to eat?" Misha asked with a smirk.
"The cafeteria?" Hisao raised an eyebrow at the question.
"Hahaha~!" Misha grinned. "That's so plain... Okay~! Let's go!"
Plain? he thought as he followed them. Well I guess... At my old school, I liked to eat outside, near the back of the building. It was a good spot, but I didn't find it until near the end of my freshman year. I wonder if there is a similar place to eat here. Misha seems to imply as much.
Shizune and Misha pulled Hisao towards the cafeteria, which was surprisingly not packed.
Maybe some students favor eating in classroom or outdoors, he thought. I saw some of my classmates had boxed lunches.
After they finished eating, Misha picked up where they left off earlier. "So, Hicchan, you wanted to know about clubs and stuff, right?, right?~?"
Shizune signed something with an amused smile.
"Right, Shicchan!" Misha nodded. "Okay, I guess it makes sense to ask first."
Misha and Shizune exchanged little nods of confirmation, and then turned to face Hisao again. Misha straightened her posture as if she was about to deliver a speech.
"Hicchan," Misha asked, "do you have anything you're really interested in?"
"I used to play soccer, but I'm not really into it," Hisao admitted. "I don't follow the teams and players or anything like that." He shrugged. "As of late, I usually just read a lot."
"Hmm... There is a book club, right, Shicchan?" Misha asked. "Right~ But~!" It seems like they have all the members they can possibly have right now. Sorry, Hicchan... It's a really popular club."
Shizune signed something with a grin.
"Ah, okay!" Misha nodded. "But more to the point, Hicchan, does this mean you don't have anything already in mind?"
"Not really," he admitted.
Shizune signed something, and then adjusted her glasses.
"Good! Great~!" Misha grinned widely. "That's great, Hicchan! Really great! Hahaha~! Wahahahaha~!"
Hisao raised an eyebrow. "Why's this so great?"
"No reason," Misha replied with a cheeky grin. "Well, Hicchan, other than clubs and the upcoming festival, there is one other thing..." She posed dramatically. "Student Council!"
I see, he thought. I didn't know this school had a Student Council. That was a very melodramatic setup, though, just to tell me that. He looked around for a moment. Sure enough, Maru was sitting at an adjacent table, looking on with interest along with the one-handed girl. ...Somehow, that fails to surprise me.
He looked at the two girls. I'm pretty sure the two of them know how dramatic that was. Shizune looks a little embarrassed about it, and Misha's laughing.
Shizune quickly retook control of the discussion though, in a manner of speaking.
"Hahaha~! Hm?" Misha looked at the signing. "Right, right... Hicchan, maybe you should join the Student Council! They could use more people~. Yes! Definitely! You should definitely join!"
"Why?"
"Well, for one," Misha began with crossed arms, "we could hang out every day, Hicchan~! Shicchan and I are both in the Student Council. Actually," she gestured toward Shizune, "Shicchan is the president."
Hm... I'm starting to get the suspicion that Shizune and Misha might not exactly be the most unbiased people to talk about this with, Hisao thought.
Shizune, as if reading his mind, quickly adjusted her glasses and signed something to Misha.
"Hahaha~!" Misha grinned. "Of course, we're not trying to get you to join just because we would obviously benefit from you joining the Student Council and therefor have an incentive to try and get you to-"
Hisao coughed. "So, you're admitting that-"
Shizune signed rapidly.
"Ahaha~!" Misha shook her head. "No! We admit nothing~! I mean, Hicchan, of course it would be nice if you joined, and we'd appreciate it. But even without all that, joining the Student Council shows a healthy interest in the workings of one's school." She nodded. "Yup~! It's true, Hicchan. Besides, don't you want to spend time with us after school, Hicchan?"
I can't tell if she is being genuine or if this is just really good acting, he thought. Both of them seemed to be trying hard to look their cutest, although he thought they were already pretty cute to begin with. "Well..."
Shizune signed something with a smile.
"So it's settled then," Misha said with a grin. "Welcome to the Student Council, Hicchan~!"
"What?" Hisao grimaced. "No. No!"
"Awww..." Misha pouted. "See, Shicchan? Of course it wouldn't go so easily."
Shizune smirked as she signed.
"Yup!" Misha smiled. "That's right, though, it would be boring if it went that smoothly. Oh well~! Shicchan owes me candy now!"
"You were betting on it?" He raised an eyebrow. "Hey, my life is not a game here!"
Shizune's eyes take on a competitive glint.
"Wahaha~!" Misha's grin was larger than Australia. "That's interesting, Hicchan. Let's play a game!"
Hisao frowned. "That's not what I said."
"How about Rich Man, Poor Man, Hicchan?" Misha put her hands on her hips. "If you lose, you have to join the Student Council~!"
"No, absolutely not," he replied.
Misha pouted. "Aw~, why not?"
"Well, because you two both have the same incentive," he pointed out, "and therefore the same goal, which is to get me to join the Student Council, right?"
Shizune signed smugly.
"Yup!" Misha grinned.
"Yeah, that isn't my goal," said Hisao. "But what this means is that both of you can team up and I'll be at a clear disadvantage. So, I will have to decline."
Shizune frowned.
"Hicchan! I'm very offended!" Misha had her own frown. "Are you saying you don't trust us, and that we would pull something so d-dis-in-gen-u-ous...? That makes me sad..."
He raised an eyebrow. "Sorry?" It's hard to tell where Shizune's influence ends and Misha's thoughts begin.
Shizune's frown deepened.
"In order to atone for hurting a young girl's feelings," Misha announced, "you should definitely join the Student Council!"
Hisao's other eyebrow raised. "No!"
"How about a game of paper football," Misha suggested with a smile, "instead of Rich Man, Poor Man?"
He blinked. "Paper football?"
Misha grinned. "Yeah~! It's a game they play in America~! You make a paper triangle, and then you try to shoot it past goalposts that the other player makes with their fingers! Isn't it cool~? It's the ultimate form of competition between two people, Hicchan~!"
Shizune signed something.
Misha blinked. "...And it's also played by elementary and middle school children, Shicchan? Wahaha! That means it's a game that really separates the boys from the men!"
"More like the boys from the slightly older boys," Hisao observed wryly. "Anyway, I'm not going to play that either. Just the fact that you know about it means you're probably surprisingly good at it."
"Hahaha~!" Misha grinned wider. "Yeah, yeah~, that's true! How did you know, Hicchan?"
Shizune frowned at Misha, which clued Hisao in that she probably wasn't supposed to admit that so readily.
I wouldn't say that I'm happy with their attempts to get me into the Student Council, but I'm a little curious about what the Student Council does here, he thought. I've never been on one before, or even known anybody who was a member, so it interests me. I also kind of like Shizune and Misha, so maybe it wouldn't be so bad.
Shizune signed something with a raised eyebrow.
"Okay, Hicchan, how about Risk?" Misha smirked. "The game of world domination!"
Hisao frowned. "I don't know what that is."
"It's really fun, Hicchan," Misha said with her hands on her hips. "You fight for control of the world, with armies and everything."
Sounds like Shizune would be good at it, he reflected.
"If you want to play," Misha said, "we can after school."
Shizune frowned and signed.
"Ah, really, Shicchan?" Misha raised an eyebrow. "We can play just for fun, Hicchan. Shicchan hasn't played in a long time, so if you want to, there are no strings attached~!"
"Well, okay...," Hisao said with a shrug.
"Okay!" Misha smiled. "Okay, okay~! Perfect~! We'll see you after school in the student council room, then, Hicchan!"
Hisao blinked. "Wait, why there?"
"Yes, why there?" asked Maru from behind Hisao, who jumped.
"Because~!" Misha grinned. "That's where we keep the game. Macchan, hi-hi~!"
Shizune signed something.
"What? Oh, do you have a question~?" Misha grinned at Maru.
"Just an observation," Maru replied. "Well, a few, really. I've been eavesdropping, I have to admit. You two have been rather heavy-handed trying to recruit this poor guy." He laid his hand on Hisao's shoulder.
Hisao gently brushed the hand off his shoulder with an annoyed frown.
Shizune signed something furiously.
"Huh?" Misha frowned. "Are you accusing-"
"I also note you're challenging a new guy to a game of Risk," Maru continued, undeterred. "In the council room. Alone. Against the two of you."
"Are you implying that I can't take care of myself?" Hisao asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Not hardly," Maru replied. "Honestly, I just want to play a game of Risk, and this is as good a pretext as any." He paused, then grinned. "I mean, of course! I have to watch out for you, you know."
Hisao rolled his eyes. I could have done without that last addition, even if I'm pretty sure he's kidding.
Shizune signed something with a smirk.
"Wahahahaha~!" Misha grinned. "Then meet us after class~!"
"Oh, it's on," said Maru with a competitive smirk. "I used to be pretty good, back in the day." Geez, I hope I'm not writing a check my skills can't afford. It's been a long time since I played a good game of Risk.
Shizune looked at Maru with a matching competitive smirk.
"Ohhh~!" Misha grinned. "Shicchan says to bring your best game, since you challenged us like that."
"I'll do that," Maru said as he turned to leave.
Lunch ended shortly thereafter.
During afternoon classes, Hisao noticed the long-haired girl come back and sit down in her seat without word. The only one he noticed have any reaction was Maru, who gave her a nod. He thought about asking Misha about it, but didn't want to be nosy.
Oh my word, I didn't expect my last chapter to get so many reviews! Thank you all so much! Alpha Centori, I still keep thinking of Weird Al when you mention that song. XD Yeah Way, it'll be tricky, but that's what character files are for. ;) The Mad Author, I'm glad you like it so far! James Birdsong, it is indeed 9 chapters, and now 10. :P I was gonna message you thanks, but apparently you have PMs disabled (which I didn't even know you could do), so yeah. Thank you all the same! AnimatorKing, I'm glad you found the story worth reading straight through! I hope you continue to find it interesting!
Anyway, I must apologize for how closely this chapter follows canon. Darn necessities. Fortunately, the next chapter will be a bit better in terms of that, so that's something to look forward to.