"Class, today we're getting a new student." Onsen Mark said to his students while holding some papers. "Wait, my mistake, that's two students."
"Where are they?" One of the girls asked.
"I'm not sure. Maybe getting their uniforms at the last minute or something. They better not take too long. Bad first impression getting tardy or detention on the first day." The burly teacher answered. "While we're waiting, we might as well start class. Everyone pass your homework forward."
Everyone did so, but Ataru rose his hand. "Sorry Sensei, but I can't. My homework caught on fire last night."
Everyone just looked at the teen, with the teacher frowning. "You expect me to buy such a stupid-?" He was cut off by Ataru showing him pictures of an angry fire-breathing Ten on his cellphone.
"The homework was just one of the things this little brat destroyed." Ataru claimed. "I think I need to replace some textbooks too."
"How recent was this?" Onsen Mark asked, not fully convinced despite the evidence.
"This morning. You're welcome to call my folks and ask them yourself." Ataru stated.
As tempted as he was, the teacher just gave the phone back. "Just make sure you have the assignment done and ready to turn in tomorrow."
Then there was a knock at the door. "Oh good, these must be the new students." Onsen Mark said, going to the door and opening it. "Come on in."
Two teens dressed in uniforms emerged into the room, one a male and the other a female just from the looks of it. And it was the female that got everyone's attention.
'Lum?' Ataru asked himself, completely shocked as she hadn't said a word about this before.
"Hallelujah! Lum is going to be in our class!" Megane cheered with his companions practically throwing confetti to this.
'Damn, why is she here?' Shinobu groaned.
"Settle down!" Onsen Mark ordered, and eventually the boys in the class, not just Megane's group, settled down. The only one not partying for this was Ataru. "Now, let these students actually introduce themselves."
"Hi everyone, I'm Lum Invader. I'm sure a lot of you know me from that tag race a few weeks ago. I'm sure some of you might be wondering why I'd go from potential world conqueror to mere student, and rest assured there is a reason for that I will explain. Just not right now."
"Why not now?" Shinobu asked, semi-yelling.
"Because it's complicated and I'm not sure yet how to explain interplanetary politics to those unfamiliar with them." Lum explained.
"Are you calling us stupid?" Shinobu asked, feeling a bit offended. It seemed Lum could only rub her the wrong way.
"No, just not educated in that one subject. I don't know about earth history, does that make me stupid?" Lum asked back.
"Heck yeah if you plan to live on this planet!" Shinobu claimed.
"Hey! Lay off her!" Ataru said to his childhood friend, not liking what she was saying. Shinobu looked back at him, a little surprised he spoke up. Lum smiled.
"Alright alright, enough of that. We have another new student here too." Onsen Mark argued, silencing the classroom.
"Well since I'm no alien I'm nothing to brag about apparently." The other student said, their voice less masculine than expected. "I'm Ryuunosuke Fujinami, I moved here from the coast when some bad weather and quarrels destroyed my home. Oh, and I want to make one thing perfectly clear right here and right now. I'm a chick."
Every eye in the room widened to hear that. Even Onsen Mark's eyes.
"You're a girl?" One of the boys asked.
Onsen Mark pulled out a notice about her. "But it lists you here as male."
"Thanks to my lousy old man. I'm registered legally as a male, but I'm 100% woman."
"Then why are you dressed and talking like a boy?" Perm asked, noting the uncharacteristic attire and dialect she was using.
"Lifelong habit. But I'm a girl. Got it?" Ryuunosuke answered.
"Maybe we should get proof, in case this is some kind of joke to sneak into the girl's locker room." One of the girls suggested, getting a few nods.
"Ms. Fujinami, I'd recommend having our school nurse confirm your biological gender before gym class today just so we can avoid any potential trouble later on." Onsen Mark suggested.
Ryuunosuke sighed. "Fine. Can we just drop it now?"
"Alright, take your seats." The teacher said, telling them where they could go.
Lum's seat was coincidentally right next to Ataru's on his left. "Hi Darling." She said with a smile, taking her seat next to him.
He looked at her, but he said nothing. His expression was also unreadable to her.
Lunchtime came and Lum had been hoping to understand if something was bothering the boy she liked. But before she could even get out of her desk when it was time to eat, a dozen boys surrounded her and even went so far as to shove Ataru out of his desk so they could keep him away from her. They started talking and asking questions in such mismatched tandem that Lum couldn't figure out even one of the things they were saying to her.
"Sorry everyone, I can't chat now I've got something already planned." She said, jumping into the air to fly over the hoard. Every boy tried to look up her skill, but it was too long for them to get a glimpse at her panties, making them groan. She landed beside a rising Ataru, and helped him up. "You okay Darling?"
"I'm fine, just hungry." He said, up on his feet then left the room, not bothering to wait for the oni girl or even invite her to accompany him.
Nonetheless, the green-haired girl followed him despite pleas from other boys for her to join them. "Is something wrong Darling?"
"Why are you here Lum?" He asked bluntly.
"What do you mean?" She asked, not understanding.
"You enrolled here, in my school and into my classroom. Without even telling me. Why?" He asked, his eyes and tone mildly accusing.
Lum blinked. "I wanted to surprise you."
"Were you really? Or was there more to it?" He added.
Lum frowned. "What are you saying? That I had an ulterior motive?"
"Did you?" He asked.
"No. I just wanted to spend time with you and surprise you. Plus if I'm going to be spending time on this planet I should learn more about it. I thought you'd be happy." She argued, hurt at how suspicious he was being.
"Were you really trying to surprise me Lum? Or were you afraid I was going to try and stop you if I knew this ahead of time?" Ataru asked, making the alien lose some of her steam. "Thing is, I would have supported your decision. I still do right now. I just get the feeling you're also here to keep an eye on me whether I like it or not."
"Why would I do that?"
"Because I have something I'm not supposed to have. Something that you might be blamed for me having. Something that if others found out I had because of you would get you in a lot of trouble." He answered.
Lum looked a bit surprised and slightly offended that he would accuse her of what he was accusing her of. "You think I'm just here to keep you under control for my own good?"
"No, not just that. I do believe you when you say you want to learn more and spend time with me, but I also believe your motives are not completely selfless."
"How can you say that?" Lum asked.
"Am I wrong?" He asked back.
Needless to say there was little interaction between them for the rest of the day.
When school ended, Ataru and Lum went home separately, Lum flying and Ataru walking. Ataru had no complaints, walking home alone with a lot on his mind.
'Lum may think she's just being innocent, but I know she wasn't just trying to spend time with me. Not that I'm not flattered and appreciative, but I'm still upset she thought she had to do this without me knowing.'
His cellphone started ringing, making the teen stop thinking about the issue and instead answer his phone. "Hello?"
"Hey Ataru, mind coming over for a bit?" Ken asked from the other end.
"Sure, no problem man."
"Thanks, and can Lum come along too? I think she could shed some light on this." Ken added.
"Sorry, she's not with me right now." Ataru confessed.
"Alright then. Just head over." Ken said, then hung up.
Confused, Ataru shrugged and headed to his friends house. Ken wasn't outside when he got there, so Ataru had to go into his room when he arrived.
"What's up Ken? What kept you from school today?" Ataru asked, seeing that Ken looked as healthy as he sounded over the phone.
"Something happened last night and I felt it was smart to not go out in public right away." Ken admitted.
"Ken, I was attacked by alien bounty hunters last night. How much worse could your night have been?" Ataru asked rhetorically.
"Actually, it was sort of the same thing." Ken claimed.
Ataru slightly jerked in place at hearing this. "Seriously?"
"Probably not the same way you were, but close enough." The foreign-born teen said. "I was out driving and ended up near a warehouse that was glowing." He was editing the story so he wouldn't have to explain the fact his car had more high-tech gear than Ataru was aware of.
"Glowing?" Ataru repeated.
Ken nodded. "Yeah, and I took a look inside. I saw people that clearly were not human and they were holding some strange animals in cages. They spotted me and managed to capture me, and what really makes this weird is that the leader, or at least I think he's the leader, he acted like he knew me."
"He knew you?" Ataru repeated, seeing what had gotten his friend concerned enough to stay inside for a day.
Ken nodded. "I have no idea how, and I don't really remember what all he said. But he said he knew me. I don't know what to think about that."
"How did you get away?" Ataru asked.
"Strangest thing happened, another guy who I'm hoping was human showed up and fought them off. He even uncaged this thing like looked like a lion. I don't know what happened after that, I just got away."
"That's good. Well, sorry to change the subject, but when you do back to school try not to freak out when you see an alien in the classroom."
Ken blinked. "Wait, you're going to use the watch in front of everyone?"
Ataru blinked too. "What? Oh no, not that. I meant Lum enrolled as a student."
"Ah, well that's much better. And I have no problem with Lum. But how did she get enrolled?" Ken asked.
Ataru shrugged. "No idea. I'm more concerned about why she did it than how."
"Why be concerned? If she's going to be here it gives her something to do during the day and it helps her learn more about this planet. It's not like many places in town would hire her for day time jobs. Well, places that intend to take advantage of her sex appeal would, but you sure wouldn't like that would you?"
Ataru mentally cringed, picturing Lum working at a strip club or as a waitress for one of those places where the servers were supposed to eye-humped by the customers. "Alright, that does make me feel better about her going to school. But still, don't you think she's up to something?"
"Do you think she's going to hurt you?" Ken asked.
"No."
"Then what's there to be afraid of?"
"Couldn't she be trying to keep an eye on me? Control me? Make sure I only ever do what she approves of?" Ataru asked.
Ken looked like he wanted to facepalm at the moment. "Ataru, you haven't forgotten what Shinobu said to you right? Well here you have a girl who wants to be close to you and be everything you hoped Shinobu would be. And you're going to screw it up just to claim you're in charge of something?"
"What are you talking about?" Ataru asked.
"I'm saying that you can have a good thing with Lum, everything you wanted to have with Shinobu before she toyed with your emotions. Are you going to piss that away just because you're afraid she might try to control you?"
"Wouldn't you be afraid?" Ataru asked.
"Ataru, you know I've never had a girlfriend before. You not only had one, but once you lost her another one practically fell into your lap. And it's one that a lot of guys already have their eye on. Lum has done nothing to make you think she's a bad person and she's ignoring every other guy in town like you're the only man on Earth. And here you are standing here in front of me telling me you're upset that she might want you to make a few adjustments? Dude, how selfish can you be?"
"You think I'm being selfish?" Ataru asked, a bit offended.
"Before I answer, tell me one thing Ataru. Has she ever actually asked you to change anything about yourself?" Ken pressed.
"She moved in." Ataru answered.
"After you and her discussed the terms reasonably and with your parents too if I remember correctly." Ken countered. "I don't know why you're suddenly thinking she's going to try to whip you or something, but for crying out loud man you've got a good thing going with Lum. Don't screw it up just because you think you have to compete with Lum over something."
"I'm not competing. I'm just... I'm trying to stay in control of my life." Ataru insisted.
"And you think her going to school is her way of trying to take that away from you?" Ken asked. "When she could have easily handed you off to some aliens because of what's attached to your arm?"
"Well don't forget she did basically abduct me for some alien version of Setsubun." Ataru added.
"Your point being?" Ken asked.
"She took control once, what's to stop her from doing it again?"
"And I don't suppose the idea of discussing your relationship with her like rational adults ever crossed your mind." Ken said sarcastically.
"What if she won't let me?" Ataru asked, uncertain.
Ken blinked and stopped looking judgmental. "Wait, is that what this is about for you? You want to work things out with her but you're afraid she won't?"
"You said it yourself man, I've got a good thing with a good girl, and I don't want it screwed up. But I'm not the only one who can screw it up. That's what I'm afraid of, that Lum will make demands of me and expect me to heel like a dog."
"Well that puts a new perspective on this. And here I thought you were just trying to be macho." Ken semi-jested.
"When have I ever tried to be macho?" Ataru asked.
"Whenever there's a girl around, and now there's one around you all the time. You want my advice, try actually talking to Lum and see what she wants from you and is willing to give you. Just because you're both from different planets doesn't mean you can't compromise."
"Are you going to take that approach if you run into the guys you met the other day?" Ataru tested.
"What? No of course not. Those guys were nothing but trouble and if they come back this time I'll be able to kick the crap out of them. But it wouldn't hurt to have a guy with ten aliens literally in the palm of his hand help me out." Ken replied.
"Not quite literally, but you know I got your back Ken. I always have, haven't I?"
Ken nodded. "If you can, tell Lum about these guys and see if she can identify them. Here's some details I wrote down for you to give her." He handed his friend a piece of paper, which Ataru took and pocketed.
"Will do. Oh, by the way, there's another new student in class. A girl who you would swear was a boy if I didn't tell you ahead of time. Her name is even boyish, Ryuunosuke."
Ken looked confused. "Someone actually named their daughter Ryuunosuke? That's like naming your son Sakura."
Ataru nodded. "All I can say is if you ever do talk to her, definitely treat her like a girl."
"Thanks, and unless I'm abducted I should be in class tomorrow. Hey, while you're hear, what to play some games?" Ken asked, grabbing a video game controller.
Ataru nodded. "Sure, I'm in no hurry."
Unlike Ataru, Lum had gone straight home and went right to her shared room with him. Luckily she had no homework today, so she didn't have to get to work right away. But at the same time she had nothing to do to take her mind off her displeasure.
"Why is Darling so unhappy with me?" She asked herself.
The door opened and in flew Ten. "Lum! Do you know how boring it is here without you around?" He asked, trying to hug her.
"You haven't gotten into trouble have you Ten?" Lum asked, knowing her cousin was prone to mischief when bored.
"No, I'm a good boy." He insisted.
"Well the house is still standing so that's a plus. Still, you'll have to find ways to keep yourself occupied. Like go to school yourself."
"What? No way. This planet is so primitive I'd get dumber here if I did that." Ten argued.
"At least you wouldn't be bored." Lum pointed out.
"Do you really have to keep going? It can't be helping you." Ten asked.
"Yes Ten it can. Earth may not be as advanced as Uru, but they know some things we don't back home."
"Oh yeah, like what?" Ten asked in challenging disbelief.
"Oh, I know something that might surprise you, and it's made on earth. Stay here, I'll go get it." Lum said teasingly, and with the young boy's nod she departed the house again, still in her new school uniform. It felt weird to wear while flying, her bikini helpful for more than just sex appeal given how it reduced drag and didn't weigh her down, but she would make due with this for now.
It didn't take Lum long to find a store that sold what she was looking for. 'This thing sure surprised me the first time I saw it. I can only imagine how Ten will react. Luckily for me it's so cheap. Interplanetary currency exchange rates are hard to figure out, I'm still trying to find a way to convert some of my own money.'
Picking up the merchandise in question, she made her purchase unaware of the attempted flirting from the male cashier and left the store. Once she stepped outside, someone ran right into her and they both tumbled to the ground.
"Hey, watch where you're going!" The other person, a teen boy judging by the voice and size of this person, said like a grouch while trying to get up.
"You're the one who ran into me." Lum angrily jabbed back. She was able to look at the boy, seeing him dressed in a dirt-covered white hoodie with the hood up and dirty black jeans. His face was framed by messy black hair and looked pale with dark eyes that almost looked bloodshot. He looked... disturbing to her. Like he hadn't slept in days.
The guy looked at her briefly, and gave an unnerving smile. "If only I weren't in a hurry." Before the oni girl could question what that was about, he went back to running and turned a corner, disappearing from her sight.
Lum decided not following him was definitely the best idea. 'That guy is just... creepy.' She thought, picking up her item and taking off into the air again.
On her way back, she could see Ataru heading home too. 'I hope he's better now.' She thought, descending. "Darling?" She called out when she was sure he could hear her.
He stopped and turned around. "Hi Lum. What are you doing out here?"
"Just getting something for Ten. Should keep him occupied for at least a few minutes and make him stop thinking of his planet as some kind of slum." She started. "Darling, why are you so upset with me being in your school?"
Ataru sighed. "I was just afraid you were trying to keep me on a leash. I don't like being controlled Lum, and when you show up in my class and didn't even bother telling me you were doing it, to me it just looked like you were trying to keep an eye on me. Stop me from doing anything you didn't want me to do."
"Darling, were you going to do anything you thought I wouldn't like you doing?" Lum asked curiously.
"I dunno. I mean, yeah I have used the omnitrix at school and-"
"Darling do you know how stupid that was?" Lum almost yelled. "What would make you do something like that?"
"I wanted to teach a lesson to Shinobu."
Lum blinked. "You mean that girl that snubbed you?" He nodded. "Alright, that I'm willing to overlook. Any other times?"
"Not really, but if opportunities come up I'd at least like the option to decide for myself instead of need your permission to use this thing attached to me."
"Darling, I told you the omnitrix is not a toy. You can't use it recklessly. Someone will notice, and we'll both be in danger for it."
"And this is why I was on your case. I thought you were keeping me under your thumb just to keep yourself safe. So I wouldn't do anything that would make your dad mad at you. You did emphasize how important it was for you to bring the watch to the right person after all. Why wouldn't I think you were afraid someone would find out you made a mistake?"
Lum looked hurt at this. "I just wanted to get some common ground with you. And you assume I'm just trying to boss you around?"
Ataru put his hands on her shoulder. "I'm sorry Lum. I got paranoid and panicked. I don't want to make things worse, but I'm not the only one here who can make things worse. I'm afraid that unless we make it clear what we both want, we're just going to fight over and over again."
Lum nodded and pulled him into a hug to feel better. "You're right Darling. I'm sorry I got you so worked up. But please let me be able to surprise you on occasion."
"Alright, and I'm sorry for assuming the worst. Just promise me you won't act like you're just waiting to catch me do something wrong at school please."
Lum nodded. "I'm glad we worked this out. I don't want there to be a rift between us."
"Well, let's go home." Ataru said.
The two went back home together and Lum of course went to show Ten the thing she had mentioned to him.
"It's a box with a piece of paper sticking out." Ten noted when he saw it, not the least bit impressed.
"Take the paper out." Lum told him with a grin.
Ten did so, and to his surprise another piece of paper was right there in place of the first one. Baffled, he grabbed the second piece and pulled, only to see yet another piece sticking out of the box. He pulled out the third piece, and still more paper stuck out. He couldn't help but pull them out in quick succession, expecting the paper to run out at some point.
"This is brilliant!" He exclaimed when he finally conceded. All the while Lum chuckled.