Chapter 12

The Field Trip

"Hey Takechiro, heads up!" Mandy called out. Takechiro was able to duck and grab the dodgeball, "You're out Gaz."

"Darn it! Heh, nice catch sensei!" Gaz gave the thumbs up, running out to the sidelines. All who's left on each side is just Mandy and Takechiro for Class E and Josie for Class C. "Gotta admit Takechiro, ever since you've been in that "Special Gift" class you've gotten a lot more agile." Josie praised, smiling. "I'm gonna enjoy this a lot more than I should." She gripped onto two dodgeballs as she chucked them over at Mandy Takechiro at blinding speeds. Takechiro was able to dodge it. Mandy, however, was not so lucky. "You're out Mandy."

"Yeah, yeah I know! Takechiro, win this one for Class E!" Mandy yelled, running out of the court. It's now all down to a good old fashioned showdown. Takechiro and Josie stood completely still as all they could is just stare each down with a ball in each of their hand. "Heh, you seem to be pretty excited about this Josie." Josie was smiling with her eyes glared, "How can I not? I've been waiting to inflict pain on you since the beginning of the school year last month."

"Sorry, but I won't be going down so easily." Josie dashed forward, letting the ball go at another miraculous speed. Jumping over it, in midair, Takechiro through the ball at Josie smacking her right on her forehead. She fell down hard onto the gym floor. "The winner of the weekly Dodgeball game is Class E!" Everyone from Class started cheering as Takechiro ran over to check up on Josie. He slid down right next her and started to shake her shoulder, "Josie, hey Josie are you ok?" In a split second, Josie wrapped her arm around Takechiro's neck tightly as she rubbed his face into a dodgeball, laughing. "You little twerp, I'm gonna have a bump there."

"Now remember everyone, this coming Friday is the Fall Field Trip. You can grab registration forms starting today and you need to have them in by Thursday before the trip itself."

"Yes sensei Jack!" Everyone yelled out, the bell finally ringing.

Cafeteria; Lunch Time

The table that the Eds used to be at is now the usual spot for everyone including the Power Puffs, Steven, Dib, and the Skull Girls, much to Eddy's dismay, "Oh great, you guys are here again? Can't you give us with low tolerance threshold a break?"

"Kiss the broadside of my knuckle Eddy." Josie threatened.

"N-Now now guys, you don't need to always start off with a fight every time you meet each other!" Takechiro lectured. Buttercup leaned up against the table, letting out a relaxed sigh, "Man, it's always nice to be hanging out in nice places with people."

"You can say that again Buttercup. I remember when all we could do was just stay in the house when we were younger." Blossom reminisced.

"So hey, you guys excited about the Field Trip?" Double D mentioned.

"Oh boy are we!" Steven leaped with joy, "But I can't. Pearl and them need me back in Beach City in case a monster attacks."

"Yeah, and as much as I try to convince my sisters, I'll be staying behind too to protect Townsville." Blossom chimed in.

"Hey, at least you'll be here defending it with brain boy." Buttercup teased making Blossom blush a dark red. "H-Hey me and Dexter share a really nice relationship! He's actually trying to make machines to keep the city safe so I don't have to work as hard."

"Speaking of which, are we ever going to meet this Dexter guy?" Takechiro tilted his head.

"Oh Takechiro, what about you? Are you gonna be going on the Field Trip?" Blossom poked at, changing the subject. Takechiro looked down and started fidgeting with his fingers. "Um….a-about that…"

"Hm?" Everyone leaned in close now, worried about why Takechiro went gloomy all of a sudden. "I…I don't think I'll be able to."

"Huh?!" The group looked at him in shock. "Wh-Why not Takechiro!?" Dib whined.

"My brother…"

"I-I don't-"

"Well most of the reasons why we ended up moving a lot and me leaving most of the schools was because I lost control of my power…"

"Well hey, you know how to use those particle things now! We know you can control it!"

"But my brother won't think that…"

"But Takechi-"

"Dib that's enough!" The table went silent. Takechiro got up and walked away into the hallways.

Walking near the lockers, Takechiro felt a hand on his shoulder and then a fist to the face. Josie was standing before him as he was knocked into one of the lockers. "You…..idiot!" Josie yelled.
"Eh?!"
"Is this the same Takechiro who the Delightful Children fear? The same one who cheated death?!...The same one who changed my opinions about him?..." Takechiro's eyes widened, staring at Josie who seemed rather empathetic to him. "The Takechiro wouldn't cower from the opinion of his own brother….if he really was your brother, he would know how responsible you've become…." With that, Josie left Takechiro by himself.

Townsville High Roof, After School Hours

Takechiro was sitting by himself looking down at his flip phone. Dangling on the side from it was a chain that his brother gave him, the kanji symbol for "little brother". Taking in a deep breathe, Takechiro pressed the number that had his brother on speed dial. Placing the phone up to his ear, Takechiro's heart started beating fast. From each passing connection beep, his heart seemed to spike up at a slightly faster rate, until…
"Hello? Ototo?" Hearing his brother call him in their Japanese talk made Takechiro go speechless with fear. He gulped out, "H-Hey Onii-chan…"
"This is a surprise. You don't usually call me at this hour unless you want something." He laughed. "So? Come on spit it out."

"Um…w-well…." Takechiro started to sweat a little.

"Hey if you're not alright with talking over the phone, you can always tell me when I get ho-"

"I wanna go on the field trip with Dib and everyone!" He shouted. At first, there was nothing on the other side of the phone. Takechiro couldn't even hear his brother's breathing. He heard a sigh seconds later, "Takechiro look, we talked about this."

"Onii-chan please. I-I've actually learned how to control my powers."

"Takechiro seriously, I think this is a bad ide-"

"You can trust me Onii-chan, I'll be with everyone and-"

"TAKECHIRO I SAID NO!" Takechiro's eyes went blank. His brother rarely ever yells at him. "….I'm just…worried."

"Why?...You're always so protective of me…I'm never able to do anything. M-…My childhood wasn't lived as how a child should because of my powers and our constant moving."

"Ototo…"

"But…this time it's different…"

"What?"

"I…I found people who I can trust. I…I actually have friends for once since we've moved here…and…I'm happy Onii-chan…" The other side of the phone was quiet again.

"….What the hell…I guess...it's alright if you go just this once." Takechiro's eyes beamed hearing this. "Oh god, thank you Onii-chan! I owe you so much and love you so much!"

"Heh, yeah yeah don't make me change my mind." He teased. "Actually, where is the Field Trip going to anyway?"

"OH!" Takechiro took out the brochure he got from the desk that was handing out the forms. "The land of a thousand mysteries….Gravity Falls."

To Be Continued in the Gravity Falls Arc