What? Yes, I'm actually back typing
this up again! So much for writing a lot in the holidays... Yes, I'm
slack, I know! This is also the last chapter I have completely finished,
so I'm going to have to work harder, I can't actually *shocked gasp* have
everything typed up, can I? *laughs* Well, I guess it is an improvement
to how it is usually. This chapter isn't that long though... the reasons?
Well, I've come up with a few more ideas for fanfics, some I'm working
on at the moment, one which was spawned by my sister watching me obsess
over Fushigi Yuugi and one which is a bit of a crossover... all humour,
naturally! This chapter... well, it's not very funny for poor Doukun but
for me... maybe I'm just a bit strange...
Doukun
I still find it bizarre to be sitting with a group of people at lunch instead of indulging in a little private physics investigation, as one often does. Instead, I am currently sitting in this noisy canteen, prodding at food which seems inedible, although from the way my peers consume it, one would think it is palatable, not impossible to masticate, as is the truth. I feel awkward, finding it hard to believe people would accept me and harder still to accept they even like me. This is an experience as unfamiliar to me as skydiving and the sense of panic and dread in my stomach, making it hard to eat, must be akin to the feelings one would get skydiving without a parachute.
"You're pretty quiet, Doukun," Houjun says, smiling at me, "what's up, no da?"
"N... nothing," I stutter, feeling foolish and antisocial, "I am just feeling awkward as I am unused to being in a teenage social environment and I am dreading the fact that I may uncover your true motives for including me in your lunch time tête-a-têtes." Myojuan raises eyebrow.
"Is that so?" he asks, "we were just being friendly but if you want us to leave you alone, you can always just say so."
"It's not that," I blurt, feeling even more stupid, "it's just that no one is ever that friendly to me, I usually eat outside the library and study during the lunch time hours."
"Geeze, and you thought I was bad!" remarks Tetsuo to Houjun, with a laugh.
"You don't have much of a life then, no da," says Houjun.
"Yes I do!" I say, feeling indignant, "I achieve high marks in every subject!"
"That's not what I meant, I meant social life, no da. Don't you see your friends outside of school?" asks Houjun. I don't know how to break it to him that while I have many aquaintances, I have no real friends and haven't since I was in primary school.
"Parties?" asks Houjun, sounding desperate.
What the...?
"There are parties?" I ask in amazement.
"Yes, didn't you know?!" asks Myojuan in surprise.
"No! Why doesn't anyone tell me about these things?" I ask in surprise.
"Houjun, how does it feel to know you have changed someone's life forever?" asks Myojuan, laughing at my shocked face. This is incredible, I thought only young children had birthday parties but it appears I was mistaken. Since these parties contain members of a different age group, I can safely assume that there will be no pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey and the parties will be much more orderly then the ones I endured as a child.
"Perhaps they didn't invite you because you didn't seem interested," says Houjun, gently.
"Why would they make that assumption?" I inquire.
"Because you only seem interested in schoolwork. No offense, Doukun, but there is more to life and school than studying," Tetsuo replies. Huh? What are they going on about?
"Then why are we here then?" I ask, in confusion.
"To meet people, to socialise. It is important to build up a good social network, as it can lead to job references in later life," Myojuan says, winking to Houjun and Tetsuo. Is there some meaning in that wink? Before I can ask, Houjun says,
"So we insist that you do just that on Monday after school. We usually go for pizza after swimming, basketball or whatever we have on."
"But studying-" I start but don't get to finish.
"Do you insult us by denying us the blessing of your presence?" asks Myojuan. Oh dear, I seem to have offended him. But if that is the case, why is Houjun giving him thumbs up? They are acting most peculiarly. Could it be some unwritten rules of etiquette I am unaware of? I could be violating social laws by refusing them and risk retribution.
"I apologise, I am honoured to take up your kind offer," I say, bowing my head slightly. I simply cannot comprehend why they are laughing at me. Could it be they are trying to tease me? What have I done? I have opened myself to humiliation! How can I escape now? The bell rings and I walk the halls, contemplating my fate. I drift behind Houjun and Myojuan and open my locker. I can hear them talking and realise they are ignorant of the fact I can hear their conversation.
"How did you do it, Myojuan? I thought we'd never get Doukun to come along!" Houjun crows. I knew it. It was a plot to humiliate me. I push my head further in my locker, partially to look for my books, mostly to block out their words and hide my face. It doesn't work, their voices drift in still.
"I tried talking his language, that's all,"
Myojuan replies, "I didn't want to give up on him yet." Huh?
"Yeah, the poor kid seems so lonely, no
da. Have you noticed that he never seems to socialise unless he is forced
to, no da? I don't think he ever goes anywhere non schoolwork related.
At least he'll have some fun, I hope. It's hard to tell with him, no da.
I hope he actually makes an effort, has some fun with us, no da," Houjun
says.
"I think he's scared of us," Myojuan muses. Am I? I suppose so, they're intimidating, bold and laughing at life. They always know how to act, make friends, make people laugh. Am I afraid of them? I guess so, they can make your mood change with a word, sneer and make you unpopular. The popular people.
"I hope you haven't got him into thinking we go to every party, only Chuin does and he even goes to the ones he's not invited to, it's kinda expected!" Tetsuo laughs, walking past, apparently not hearing the conversation going on between them.
"Sometimes I think he just wants us to leave him alone at times, no da. How can we ever be his friends if he shuts us out?" Houjun asks, sounding exasperated. Friends? You mean... a warm glow seems to radiate from inside me. They want to be friends, they really do, it's incredible, it's never happened before, never, it's so bizarre, friends, friends, friends. Funny how one small word can signify so much, cause so much joy and gratitude. My mind seems to be reeling with amazement at this strange quirk of fate. I remove the books I need from my locker, neatly dropping them in a pile on the floor and banging my head on my locker door, such is the daze I am in. I pick them up and bounce along the corridors to catch up with Myojuan who is in my physics class.
"Hello!" I trill. Myojuan and Houjun exchange glances and look faintly surprised, obviously not expecting that. Who cares? I'm in a happy mood now and nothing can dampen it! Myojuan raises an eyebrow at me, as if to say What the...? but Houjun smilse back. I spring along happily, bumping into people and dropping things but not really caring much. I feel like how Miaka must constantly, like a bubble about to pop with happiness, except hers is sugar induced. Myojuan catches up to me, laughing.
"Geeze, what are you on?" he jokes. I flash him a smile as I sit down and he sighs.
"You're one crazy kid, you know that?"
he asks. I grin back at him.
What if Akugi:
Myojuan: Doukun, there are people out there! And they have a life!
Doukun: ARRRGGHHH!
Skipsida's Ravings:
Okay, this is a bit of a weird chapter, not to say the least, but at least Chiriko got to feel the sort of high which comes from laughter, cookies and m+ms. What next? *Doukun bounces in and glomps onto Skipsida*
Doukun: Let's be best friends forever and
ever and have tea parties!
Skipsida: *scared* I think I liked you
better before! If you weren't so kawaii, I'd be terrified at the moment!
*rubs him hair and her hand starts bleeding* It's started...
Myojuan: What?
Skipsida: He's started putting gell in
his hair!
Myojuan: We have created a monster....
Doukun: Party baby! Yeah! *grabs a bottle of sake and drains it*
Genrou: Waah! Give me my sake back you %$^%*^%&^%!
Doukun: Well ^*&^*&^*&!
Genrou: *in shock*
Skipsida: O-kay... Houjun! Change him back!!!